Zoor Se Dovahruth
Eighteen

-Rozol Do Faal Dilon-
Harbinger of the Dead

Deep in the tresses of Dol Guldur, a darkness grew in the shadows, feeding on the death, decay, and desecration of life. The old fortress seems abandoned, but any person who dared to set foot in the old Silvan Elf fortress grew faint of heart from the ominous presence within and so would never return. It was here that the one known as The Necromancer took refuge, building back his strength and his army.

Azog the Defiler had escaped the wrath of the Dragon Child only days earlier; her aim was true and pierced his chest just past his heart. But what the little minx didn't know was that she didn't hit him as deep as she thought. Her fair word of warning wasn't forgotten and Azog had not dared to attack her so suddenly with a Dragon at his rear and an undead assassin at her flank. That would have been futile. Instead, he reasoned to letting her believe in what she wanted, allowing him to get away safely and to report to his master of his findings. His patience in having Oakenshield's head would pay off soon enough and this girl would be the perfect addition to his master's throng of warriors. It would please him just to see the look on Oakenshield's face when he had the girl in his clutches.

Azog gradually makes his way down a platform within the fortress and waits patiently for his master to show himself from within the shadows. A darkness flies about, thickening before the Pale Orc in a black mass but holding no shape or form. The air suddenly speaks to Azog in a menacing dark tongue, "We grow in number. We grow in strength. You will lead my armies."

"What of Oakenshield?" Azog demands, his needs only fueling him to ensure the job would be finished. He and Oakenshield had unfinished business and he would be damned if his master did not give him what he wanted!

"War is coming," the mass replied simply.

"You promised me his head!" Azog thundered. This was his revenge! He would not just set it aside like some little child being scolded by their parent. But his master still never answered his question, "Death will come to all."

"The girl, the Dragon Child, what of her?" Azog asked, his rage still boiling within him. The black mass was silent for a second or so, as if it were thinking over the question carefully, "Bring her alive. We will turn the Dragon over to our cause."

And with that the darkness disappeared into the shadows, the mass gone and the air clear as day. Azog, still boiling about the circumstances, turned on his heel and called for his son, "Bolg!"

The Pale Orc's followers cleared the space as another large and dangerous Orc made his way down the platform to stand before Azog. They both glare at one another, their missions both set on the same thing, "I have a task for you. Do you still thirst for Dwarf blood?"

Bolg, whose left eye is clouded and blind, growled back at his father in agreement. "You will find and kill Oakenshield. Then you will bring me back the girl, alive!"

…

In the deep depths of Mirkwood, where the dwarves were being held prisoner, Thorin was brought down into its cold, damp, and dark snare. The dwarves of the company notice there leader and jump up with anticipation, some concerned he'd come down alone, hoping to see their mistress archer along with him.

When the door to Thorin's cell clicked at the sound of being closed and then the jangling of keys locked him within, he turned to watch the elf leave, his fate and his companions' sealed within the halls of this repulsive kingdom. Balin pressed his forehead to his cell door, "Did he offer you a deal?"

"He did. I told him he could go'Ish kakhfê ai'd dur rugnu!' – him and all his kin!"

Hearing this, Balin closed his eyes and sighed wearily in frustration, "Well… that's it, then. A deal was our only hope."

"Not our only hope," Thorin reassured, his gaze lingering up into the higher levels of the kingdom where he knew Keeva was still being questioned for her actions. "Keeva is still there. She is far more cunning and skilled. She may find a way."

"Aren't these elves some sort of distant kin of hers, or something?" Bofur asked out loud for the rest to hear. A hum of unison filled the air of the room, all of them seeming to remember her recalling something along the lines of being a Wood elf, but she always just told them she was a Bosmer, and they never questioned that, "Aye, perhaps so," Dori nodded while giving his brothers a hopeful look.

"Why did the king want to see her?" Kili asked, his eyes glancing over at his brother fleetingly. He'd known Fili wanted to ask, he wanted to know if she was safe but was too nervous to ask. Kili had no problem helping his brother there at least.

"I was barely there long enough to hear," Thorin admitted. But his eyes traveled across the chamber to the opposite cell from him, in it occupied Dwalin, who seemed grim in the low light of the dungeon, "But she did admit to thievery and stole the Prince's weapon. She may have the worst of it out of us all."

After Thorin said this the dwarves grew quiet with worry. No one spoke to anyone; they kept their heads down, eyes on their hands or feet and contemplated the punishment of their dear friend. The silence only went on for a half an hour or so until the guards made a round in the dungeons to ensure that their prisoners where still within. But it was the startling sound of thunder followed by a dragon's roar that had their guard about jump out of his clothes and hurry up to the higher levels of the kingdom. The sound was monstrous, deep and echoed throughout the elven halls sending chills down even the most brave of elven warriors. Fili stood, worry etched into his brows as he grasped the bars of his cell.

It was Keeva, there was no doubt about that and he worried deeply that the dragon had surfaced from his grave to destroy the kingdom containing it. Most of all he worried Keeva was perhaps harmed, hurt deep within the halls of this kingdom and he could not reach to help her. His fists tightened, the knuckles turning white, and her groaned to himself as he started rattling the door again, his hope to break it open to save her. But he knew better. There was no hope of freeing himself and his little Halfling was all alone.

…

Keeva's little spout of rage was ignored like a little child having a temper tantrum. This did not bother her much but she was still frustrated with the fact that she was not being listened to when it came to the danger within her. She was a hazard, a hazard that she did not want to inflict upon innocent people, or her friends for that matter. Though Fokeinvokul had promised her their safety, she could not deny she felt some mistrust with his words.

Needless to say, Keeva was left alone most of the night, so she slept and allowed her wounded leg to heal in the time that she did have. She was awoken some hours later, perhaps only a few because she still felt the sands of Akatosh still within her heavy eyes, and found she was being graced with the king's presence.

He stood before her, his blue eyes quite dangerous in her opinion, gazing down at her form before he set on the edge of the cot and pulled her marked arm into his lap. Keeva watched him cautiously, but didn't dare to ask him what he was doing. His thumb brushed over the letters once more, the skin burning but he still never reacted to the pain, "Such a shame this delicate skin should be marred and branded like some common cattle."

Keeva could feel her heart pound in her chest from her nerves building up, warning her he shouldn't be touching her skin. Thranduil's biting gaze flickered up into her own and Keeva found she had to hold her breath to urge the uneasiness to go away. But the king smirked and stood quickly from the cot, wandering off in one direction of the chamber to collect something. When he returned he held an amethyst and quartz crystal about the size of a small knife. He sat at the edge of the cot and took her arm in his lap again.

"This rune will protect you," Thranduil began, taking up the quartz and starting to inscribe lightly on her arm over the pump lettering. He went over and over the same letters, a faint glow from the crystal, and then the letters on her arm began to react. "You are more important than you realize and I will have you here one way or another. If that means I must bind your spirit to this earth, so be it."

When Thranduil released her arm to take up the amethyst Keeva recoiled, holding her arm to her chest and stared at the king pleadingly, "You do not know what you are dabbling with."

"But I'm afraid I do," he warned her darkly with the tilt of his head, his eyes powerful and demanding, "I have the power and skill necessary to obstruct the connection between the creature and yourself."

He took her arm from her once more, strangely gentle – she had expected him to yank her appendage from her grasp - and set it on his lap with care. Keeva continued to stare on hopelessly, still feeling her fate and the fate of this land were in serious danger. He then continued to inscribe on her arm gently with the amethyst crystal, the same light producing from this stone in just a darker shade of purple.

"I will ensure the spirit of this creature is closed off from the mind, body and soul. You may become aware of the sudden absence of your spirit, but to make certain of this lands protection I must do this."

"You are needed here within the wood," Thranduil continued but paused with his inscriptions and he peered up into her eyes to tell her the rest of his objective, "There are dangers within the south that mean to do our people great harm. You're gift – the ancient magic running through your veins – will keep that evil at bay."

"What danger? The spiders?" Keeva asked, her eyes lifting up from her arm to his face. He returned to inscribing on her arm, finishing the rune with skilled precision, "No, my dear. There are far darker and more sinister dangers growing in the shadows of Mirkwood."

After he said this, his blue eyes slowly peered up into hers and Keeva couldn't help but swallow nervously. That one look warned her that there was surely something evil coming to get her and it was also that look that told Keeva, Thranduil did not plan on giving her up so easily.

…

Keeva had immediately felt a sort of disconnect with her spiritual energy after Thranduil had finished his task and left her promptly to be dealt with by hand maidens. She scoffed at the idea of having someone help her dress and bathe. It was all too personal, too forward, and revealing.

The She-elves were already too tall for her stature, making her feel like a terribly awkward child, and they stripped her of her clothing like she was such. When they shimmied her leggings down to the floor – her bodice and top already removed from her – she stood bare for them to see. Keeva shyly covered her meager breasts with her arms and turned her gaze down at her feet. The She-elf's spoke quietly to themselves, eyeing her up and down, trying to figure her size and what to put on her. One left after another spout of banter and returned quickly with a bundle of fabric in her hands.

She stood before Keeva and held up a chemise made for a child of their race. Keeva lifted her arms and they slipped the piece of clothing over top of her and letting it drop across her already thin form. Next came the corset, which in Keeva's opinion could have gone without, but they forced her into it and tightened the laces. Lastly one of the maids held up the green dress and threaded Keeva's head through the opening before forcing her arms into the sleeves. The dress was truly meant for a child and hugged Keeva's slightly curvier form in the most uncomfortable of ways.

When the She-elves looked over their work and nodded with approval, they then moved to Keeva's hair. One picked up the braid Fili had given her and Keeva jerked away, her eyes warning the elves to try and touch her again, "Don't touch my hair."

The maidens both looked at each other uneasily and then back to their mistress, "Mi'lady, we must make you presentable for his grace."

"You may dress me in the finest clothes and you can adorn me in jewels," Keeva warned sarcastically, her gaze never wavering with a passion, "But you will not touch my hair. Removing ones braids is defiling and I will not have you taint such a sacred bond."

"I'm sorry, Mi'lady," one of the elves replied, her eyes lowering with guilt, "We did not know."

Keeva's naturally caring eyes soften after realizing how sharp and rude she'd been to the maidens. It wasn't their fault she realized and they were just doing what they were told. Keeva shifted uncomfortably, "Sorry, they- they just mean a lot to me."

Both of the She-elves nodded, still not so comfortable around the already strange girl. She was a marvel to them. Keeva was every bit as elvish as they, yet she was no taller than a dwarf. They were not sure what to think of her. "If Mi'lady is alright now, I can show her to the dining hall. His grace is waiting along with his son."

Keeva nodded uneasily and followed one of the chamber maids out of the room. They wandered back through the paths that Legolas had guided her through only a day earlier and Keeva tried her best at memorizing each turn. If she was going to escape, she needed to know where she was and how to get where she wanted. Her escape would take some planning but Keeva reasoned with patience, skill, and a little prayer for Lady Luck, she could get herself and the dwarves out of there in one piece.

In the lower halls of Mirkwood, Keeva was lead into a section of the kingdom only known to house the royalty of the Wood Elves. This portion of the kingdom was particularly natural, the roots of the trees were long and elegant, smooth but also riddled with little vines covered in various colors of flowers. Keeva actually took her time to examine the area, mainly because this place reminded her of the imagined world of Valenwood her mother would try describing to her. Keeva wanted to think this is what her mother's homeland resembled and silently she accepted the thought, hoping her mother would have been happy that she'd at least seen a place close enough to her native land.

"Mi'lady?" the hand maiden called to her, a curious glance thrown her way as she was woken from her thoughts. Keeva nodded, her gaze dropping back down to her feet and she returned to the hand maiden's side, "Beautiful, isn't it?"

Keeva smiled slightly, "I was just thinking about my mother. I think she would have liked it here."

"You mother," the She-elf paused before they continued to walk down the path, her eyes lingered on Keeva's face so that she could honestly understand this little woman, "Where is she, if I may ask? Most would not let their daughters leave their sight. Yet you are out traveling with a band of dwarves on the adventure of the century."

"My mother was killed," Keeva said quietly and a small smile pulled at her lips as she thought of her mother detesting the idea of holding her daughter down, "And she would have never held me back from such an adventure. In fact, she would have pushed me out the door."

Whatever the She-elf thought of her now, Keeva could not worry about. Just as the hand maiden had meant to reply to her answer, Legolas rounded the corner and startled the lady elf into silence. Keeva awkwardly glanced between the Prince and her hand maiden, who'd bowed gracefully and kept her gaze towards the floor.

Keeva remembered the few times her father had introduced her to Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak. "When you address the Jarl, curtsy as your mother has taught you and address him as 'My Lord'."

With a deep breath, Keeva nervously dropped her gaze, curtsied, and addressed the man before her, "My Lord."

When Keeva raised her eyes back up to meet Legolas, she was pleasantly surprised to find that he had a faint smile pulling at his lips, "My lady, come. You must be famished."

"Aye," Keeva reasoned as she was led by the Prince the rest of the way. Keeva could feel Legolas's stare every so often and she wondered if there was something wrong with her to earn such a reaction. Though she wasn't sure she had the courage to be so frank as to ask him… well, she probably did. She'd been bold enough to swipe his knife. How much bolder could she be?

"You're staring… why?" she blurted out quickly, keeping her gaze ahead of her and not daring to look the Prince in the eye. Legolas smiled again and paused at the entrance to their dining hall before answering her question, "I find it amusing in your choice of attire."

"My choice?" Keeva drawled, her eyes becoming very pointed. Legolas chuckled lightly, "Aye, maybe not your choice. But you have to laugh, if just a little, in the fact that the only clothing in your size is that of a mere child."

Keeva scoffed, "I may be short, my Lord, but I'm definitely not a child."

Legolas surveyed her form from top to bottom and then back up, a brow rising in jest, "Not a child you say?"

Keeva glared at the Prince but when a throaty chuckle came from Legolas it was then that Keeva realized he was teasing her, just as she had done unto him! Suddenly, she felt quite embarrassed with her behavior and flushed as bright as an apple. Legolas calmed himself and smiled softly, easing the sharp features of his face into something friendly and kind, "But really, you look quite charming, Keeva."

The Halfling thanked the elf in front of her and he quietly urged her to walk in as he followed after, admiring the meekness of her walk and the way she presented herself now that she wasn't playing a warrior.

The dining hall was as beautiful as any other part of this Kingdom, the similar roots of trees creating a chamber where a quaint chandelier of candles lit the room with a soft glow. There were more candles upon the table but what caught her eye were the plates of berries, grapes, and other fruits that Keeva had yet to try. When she looked back to Legolas for further instruction, he pulled her over to a chair near the head of the table and assisted in seating her. The room was empty for the time being – it just holding Keeva and the Prince - but Legolas sat across from her and began to fill his cup with wine. "Would you like some?"

Keeva nodded slowly, unsure if this wine would be as strong as the wine her father often would sneak to her when her mother hadn't been looking, and Legolas poured her a glass before the Halfling started filling her plate with the new fruits she'd yet to try. That seemed to interest her more than anything else within that room. Legolas took to nursing his cup and smiled up at her quickly but the smile seemed to last only for a few seconds, "My father will join us shortly. He's tending to some business about our border patrol."

"The spiders?" Keeva asked, she was interested in what may be trying to break into the Elven kingdom, it was such a beautiful place and she couldn't reason why they didn't have infiltrations more often. She reasoned Tauriel's involvement with the Mirkwood Guard had something to do with it. She'd been skilled enough to even cripple Keeva when she needed to. Legolas nodded as he also started to fill his plate with the delicacies on the dark wood table. "Yes, unfortunately, once we think we've destroyed them all, more seem to come back."

"That's a problem," Keeva noted dryly, her eyes glimmered sarcastically. Legolas looked at her pointedly but smirked none the less, "You're commentary is not necessary."

"Bosmer humor, my friend," Keeva grinned quickly but hid it just as fast as it appeared. The conversation dropped and the two slowly returned to the meal on their plates, there gazes avoiding each other just out of uncertainty. Thranduil entered quietly and Keeva was forced to stand before he sat – Legolas had looked at her insistently to follow his lead when he spotted his father. After Thranduil sat, Keeva and Legolas resumed their places and continued to eat, eyes case down and as silent as the snow fall on a winters night. The silence was broken quickly, unnecessarily – in Keeva's opinion. She could have gone the entire dinner in a shared quietness.

"You are much more becoming now, my dear," Thranduil addressed, giving the girl a short glance, "I assume the dress is quite narrow but it will have to do."

"Thank you, your grace," Keeva answered, keeping her focus on her plate. She still was not very happy with him. He'd cut off her direct spiritual connection, leaving her empty in a displeasing way. He hadn't even given her a choice! So she reasoned to giving him the cold shoulder. Not that it was working…

"We will discuss the matters of your stay tomorrow," he continued as if she were still listening. Keeva sighed inwardly, even wanted to roll her eyes like a crude teenager, but she held back the urge, "With the threat in the south, I will have you join the Mirkwood Guard on scouting trips. You will do your duty and in return your friends shall remain unharmed."

Keeva's eyes shot up at the mention of the dwarves, even Legolas noticed how lively she'd become at the mention of the men down in their dungeon, "May I see them?"

Thranduil dangerously paused and slowly directed his gazed at her, "No."

"Why not?" Keeva asked, her tone taking on that of demanding. Thranduil's brow rose slightly, astonished that this girl was even brash enough to ask, "I do not have to give you a reason."

"Most would be courteous enough to do so," Keeva challenged, blue eyes twinkling with mischief. "Or do you just treat all your guests' like prisoners?"

Legolas stopped chewing the food within his mouth and gave Keeva a look that said she needed to stop. He didn't just react this way because he was the king's son. He did it because he actually liked Keeva and didn't want to see her down in the dungeons suffering the same fate as her friends. Thranduil's gaze bore into her for a long while and slowly a smirk pulled at his lips as if he'd finally figured her out, "You wish to see them?"

Keeva nodded, "Then do as you're commanded and you will have permission to visit."

Keeva's lips pursed with some distaste. She wasn't keen on giving into the king's demands but if she wanted to find her friends, to see them and make sure they knew what she was planning, then maybe they could get out of Mirkwood much faster. Keeva muttered a few phrases of dragon speech under her breath, just the grumblings of a girl who did not like the circumstances but the look on both Thranduil and Legolas's faces was more than enough of a warning to keep her mouth shut.

These elves were touchier than their counterparts in Rivendell and they certainly were not the fun, loving, and easy going dwarves that she was used to. Keeva preferred the later more than anything and reasoned to visiting her friends after she finished with her plate. They would make better company, even with them behind bars. Besides, Keeva was keen on speaking with a particular dwarf she'd been thinking about since their company had separated. She had to admit that talking to him would ease her mind about the absence of her connection with the spirit.

Keeva excused herself after she'd finished, giving the excuse that she must give her blessing and prayers to the God of Song and Forest for her misguidance in partaking in the particular foods that evening – which was really not true. She did respect Y'ffre in some aspects but the Green Pact was something her mother had forgone and in return so had her daughter. But Legolas and Thranduil did not need to know that. Instead, after pretending to follower her way back to the healing chamber she resumed down the paths and passages to the dungeons, using her Night Mistress, Nocturnal, to guide her through the shadows undetected. There were few guards and those that she did pass had no clue there was a stranger in their midst.

Keeva waited patiently for the last guard to leave the dungeons. When the click of his boots had faded into the distance of the passages, Keeva snuck around the corner and down the path to the first set of cells on the left. Coming out of the shadows, Keeva allowed herself to be seen in the faded light of the candles and torches. Dwalin, from across the dungeon shot up from his spot in his cell with huge eyes, "By my beard, is that you Keeva?"

With Dwalin's exclamation the other dwarves of the company perked up in unison, their eyes flickering with hope and light, "We knew you wouldn't leave us down here!"

"A wonderful surprise ye are, Miss!"

They all jeered with excitement and Keeva was quick to hush them into silence again with a look of insistence, "My friends, you must be as silent as the grave!"

Her sudden need of their cooperation was noted and they quickly hushed themselves into quiet murmurs. "I came to check on you, how do you fair?"

Keeva walked further down the path, her gaze landing on Balin, who rested his head against the bars of his cell and smiled upon her, "We fair well for now. They have not tried to harm us. But how are you, my dear. You look a little pale."

Keeva swallowed, brushing her hair out of her face as she looked around at the dwarves before her. She hated seeing them like this. They were her friends and she had promised to protect them, "The king has plans for me. He says if I do what he asks of me, he will grant me permission to visit you."

"Plans?" Thorin asked, a sudden hint of mistrust in his voice. That startled Keeva more than it should have. She cared what Thorin thought of her and to hear such a note of discord in his voice unsettled even the warrior in her.

"Aye, he told me there was a prophecy," she nodded, not quite as thrilled as most would be if there had been a prophecy made about them, "It went… Fiery hair and crystal blue eyes. Lost amongst stars, and omen from the night… leathery wing of black, the frost descends so mean. The dragon's child come to save the king."

Balin's usually sweet and kind eyes darkened, "Miss Keeva, you speak the tale of Glaurung's children, the Father of Dragons."

"What do you mean?" Keeva asked, stepping forward towards Balin's cell. The old dwarf sighed, his eyes falling to his feet, "The tale is not unknown to many. It explains the creation of Drakes and then tells of a forbidden child spawned from a lost the descendants of Glaurung. This child is brought back to the land of their ancestors, their fate set to prove that, unlike their kin, the child was true, brave, and most of all good. This child proves this through their saving of the king's life, the king mentioned in the story. Though, nobody knows exactly which king it is…"

"Thranduil thinks it is he," Keeva grumbled, her eyes rolling slightly and this earned her a few soft laughs from Balin, Thorin and Kili. When she spotted the young brunette dwarf her mind flashed a quick image of his brother, her mind quickly searching him out in the many cells in the dungeon. When Kili realized what she was looking for, he smiled and nodded next door to him at the very end of the path. Keeva quickly padded down the path and fell to her knees at Fili's cell door. Fili had known she was close by within the dungeon, he'd heard her voice while she spoke with Balin, but he had not expected her to just drop down before him in such a manner. She seemed exhausted, her eyes wary and she almost looked sick, but she smiled never the less, always trying to make him happy, "How are you?"

Fili scoffed, "You shouldn't ask me that, not with the way you look."

He dropped down to the floor, so that he was level with her, and then rested his forehead against the cool bars, "Mi'lady, what has happened to you?"

Keeva's usually strong demeanor slowly began to crumble in front of the only man she felt comfortable to relax around. Her brows knitted and a tremble upon her bottom lips spoke volumes of the state she was in. Fili reached out, capturing the first tear to escape her beautiful eyes with his thumb, "Oh Keeva, what have they done?"

"They blocked it-" Keeva choked, her eyes rose to meet his only to release more of the tears she'd been holding back, "my connection with the dragon. He blocked the only thing left I have of my home."

Fili shushed her, brushing her cheek lightly, "Keeva, it's going to be alright. It's okay. Don't you worry."

When Fili had finally calmed down the distressed Bosmer, he smiled lightly at her. It was not the first time he'd seen her cry, but it definitely was the first time she'd cried openly in front of him, it was the first time she'd come to him for comfort and Fili was more thrilled with the fact that she was comfortable enough to trust him with her feelings. So much so he almost wanted to tell her he loved her. But this was not the place or the time. Telling her such a thing would only make matters worse and he didn't want to confuse her any more than she already was with her own feelings. At least what he thought she was feeling.

"Mi'lady, when we get out of here, you and I are going to find a way to break the spell," Fili insisted, his eyes focused and determined. He couldn't imagine what she was feeling right now, how empty she must have felt, or how lonely it must have been. One's spiritual connection always urged that feeling of hope and to not have that, to have that taken from you, must have been devastating, "I promise you that."

She nodded weakly and glanced up into Fili's eyes shyly once more, a blush coming across her features. "Thank you, Fili."

Keeva then took Fili's hand from her cheek and pressed her lips to the top of it. It was a simple act, but the meaning meant more to the both of them than any of the other dwarves would have realized. Fili knew right then and there that this woman he deeply cared for was finally reciprocating his own feelings. For Keeva, this was the biggest chance she could have ever taken. Her little heart was pounding so hard in her chest, afraid of Fili rejecting her affection. But to her surprise, Fili gently took her hand as well and pressed his lips to the top of it.

When he pulled away, his eyes smiling down on her, she giggled softly and shook her head as she couldn't help but smile back, "I should go before they notice I'm not in my room praying."

One of Fili's brows rose making the girl chuckle a little, "Aye, it was the only way to get myself out of the king's sight. But I will return tomorrow, hopefully with a plan to get us out of here."

"Make haste, Mi'lady," Fili told her, placing one last kiss on her hand before she left. She bid her friends a good night and hurried back into the shadows for her quarters. Fili glanced over briefly at his comrades, who looked him over with wicked grins. Fili smiled cheekily, "Aye, can a dwarf get a little privacy around here?"

"Not when you're wooing the only woman in our company," Kili fired back, this smile never dying. The dwarves all chuckled and returned to their comfortable spots within their cells. Fili did the same, tempting himself into sleep in hopes that he would have wonderful dreams of a particular girl and her lips on his skin, and his on hers.

…

A/N: Hmm, I think I'm happy with this. I've reread, reedited, checked it over and over at least a dozen times and I think I just can't do anymore with it. So there, I've no more to say about that!

Anyway, Thranduil is trying his best, pretty much, to subdue, bind, and forever lock away Keeva within Mirkwood. The rune (It's called a Algiz for reference) is a protection spell against the connection or like with the divine or archetypal consciousness, in other words the spirit. Typically, from what I understand, this rune is actually mean to help one with their high self, but within this story it is meant to protect and cut off oneself from the danger of the spiritual plane – or 'Oblivion'. This is Thranduil's way of forcing Keeva to lose her sense of self, her connection with her soul and spirit, mentally crippling her to staying within Mirkwood.

On the other hand, Fili recognizes that Keeva is sort of losing it, that she's lose her sense, her hope in other words, and he feels terrible because he is stuck within the dungeons unable to help her. But he knows that when he does get out he has to do something. He wants to take care of her. Keeva finally realizes that she can't be strong all the time, that at some point she doesn't have the energy to, and she knows that if there is one person she would have in her life to protect her it would be Fili. So she took that chance. And I think it was the right time too.

Again, the two still have a long way to go considering the journey they are both on. But they are headed in the right direction.

So I have to thank those that left reviews the last chapter. The lovely Dalonega Noquisi, Marina Oakenshield, as well as Savarra. Thank you so much for taking your time to write something out for me! It really means a lot and I really appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hobbit or Elder Scrolls. Any character that is not familiar is of my own creation.