Author's Note: Let the weekend begin, yeah? My grandparents are here from out of state for a visit, so I'm having a good time. Hope all of you guys are doing well, too! Enough chit-chat though, right? Here's the next bit of the story! As promised, this is from Kili's point of view as he's taken before the Goblin again. I think it's safe to say that things speed up significantly from here on out. And as one of my lovely reviewers said it, this is where the action starts happening on-screen. :) Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't have any right to these people. Isn't it tragic? *sniffles*

Ch. 11

Goblins were disgusting. Kili hated them. They were completely and utterly loathsome. Slimy, whining, diseased little creatures. Though they still were a visual embodiment of evil, at least orcs were less...gross. He wished they would stop TOUCHING him. Their clammy little hands gripped both arms, hustling him along, and pushed at him from behind. Kili had become acquainted with these particular goblins already while being interrogated. He wondered if the Great Goblin purposely appointed the most hideous of his servants for the job, just to add to the unpleasantness of the victim.

Trying to ignore his present position, he turned his thoughts to what awaited him in the Great Goblin's presence. Whips had hurt, but he had withstood them. The salt was AWEFUL, and the goblin brew that kept him from slipping into the relief of unconsciousness a cruel supplement. But Kili decided that even if he knew that that's what certainly awaited him, it would be much easier on his mind to steel himself and prepare. Certainly easier than being left to imagine countless horrible tortures, each more devilish than the last.

Kili shook off the dark thoughts. He wasn't one to loose hope or courage. It wasn't in his nature. So he thought of Bilbo, and kept his eyes open for a glimpse of the little hobbit. Perhaps, while he was rescuing the dwarves, he could burgle Kili his coat back. Kili allowed himself a little grin at the absurd notion.

A mighty shove from behind sent him to his knees, and his musings abruptly ceased. For as he raised his head, he came face to face with the malignant Great Goblin. He shuddered and gagged as the grotesque King slowly traced one of the whip marks along his back with his massive finger.

"Well, now. Is the naughty dwarf lad ready to be a good, obedient dwarfling? Or shall we have more talks?"

"Oh, I fully intend to be naughty, your monstrosity," Kili said, with a show of bravado. The King laughed gleefully at this response, licking his lips, and then leaned in close to Kili's face. Kili tried not to breathe at the stench of the Goblin's breath.

"How adorable. So the little warrior brat hasn't learned his lesson yet, eh?" he said, bringing snickers from Kili's guards. "That's alright. Whelps always take some time to train properly."

He suddenly grabbed Kili by the hair at the back of his head and wrenched him to his feet. Kili grimaced but managed to choke back the yelp of surprise and pain.

"You're shivering," the King observed, "My hall is a bit drafty, I suppose. I apologize. But that's not the only reason, is it? You want your little litter-mate back. My goblins told me you were quite...attached to the blond one while the salt did it's work. All in good time, little one. If you don't play along soon we might let him join you for extra incentive, and you'd be together again! Would you like that?"

Kili stiffened, spat in the Goblin's face and snarled a curse that Dwalin had taught him when Fili and Thorin weren't around. The Goblin abruptly lost his humor. He let go of Kili's hair and seized his arms, dragging him toward a wooden frame. Kili kicked and snarled like a wild thing, even getting up his courage and biting the monster. Nothing did any good. He was thrown face down on the rough, splintered surface of the frame, knocking the air from his lungs. He was pounced upon and chained down before he could so much as move.

The Great Goblin tilted Kili's head back until he could see his face.

"I am displeased with you, Kili. I was told you cried in your cell, but you've yet to make a sound in my presence, besides some extremely colorful language. We'll see what you're made of now, though. You think whips and salt were bad? We'd have used as much on a child. Oh wait...you are a child." Kili tried to twist his face out of the Goblin's grasp, but he squeezed harder, his nails biting into skin, and Kili stilled. The Goblin smiled and motioned to one of his servants out of Kili's line of vision. "Perhaps you disagree? You say you are a warrior. Well, I know dwarf warriors are fond of strong drink. We've no ale here, but allow us to offer you the best we have on hand. I think you may have tasted it before, but it really is better...hot."

A goblin stepped forward and handed the King a small black cauldron only a little bigger than one of Bilbo's teacups. The Great Goblin carefully took it with the aid of a grimy towel, so he wouldn't burn himself. It positively smoked. He began forcing it down Kili's throat. Kili writhed and fought and choked, but the Goblin persisted.

"There, Kili," the Great Goblin purred, "finish this up, and then we'll get started. Unless you want to tell me now?"

Kili gurgled, and choked, the scalding stuff running out of his mouth and burning his neck and chest as it ran down. Tears streamed out of the corners of his eyes, but he wildly shook his head. The King smiled and put the brew back to his lips.

"That's what I thought you'd say."

Author's Note: Uh-oh. Looks like our boy's in for it. Isn't he brave, though? What do you think of the Great Goblin in this chapter? Does he seem in character, or creepy enough, or does he just seem...weird? Stay tuned for next chapter, coming Monday to a Fanfiction site near you! (yeah, sorry, feeling dorky today.)