Hey. What's going on? Got another chapter comin' at ya like a train. Only, not really, cause this one is kinda short compare to the last two.

Sorry about that.

Cheyanne couldn't breathe. Her eyes flew open, and she saw white all around her. She let out a scream, but it came out as a squeak. She couldn't remember a thing… And then it all rushed back to her like a train speeding towards her down a track.

She was wrapped in spider web and about to become one's dinner.

Cheyanne wriggled, but her limbs were stuck in place. The spider had really gotten her good. Panicking, she tried to scream again. This time, it sounded like an actual scream, but it didn't leave the cocoon of web that surrounded her. Instead, it echoed in her ears. She flinched as the web swayed, and before she knew it, she was tumbling downwards. She landed hard, and grunted in pain.

"Help!" she shouted desperately.

The web above her was slashed open, and then Thorin was visible, looking down at her in concern. His eyes softened when he saw she was okay, and she quickly reached upwards, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. She'd never been so happy to see someone in all her life.

As she trembled, Thorin returned the hug. "You're alright," he told her quietly. "Everything's going to be fine."

She let him go when she realized that she had just hugged him. Clearing her throat, she mumbled "Sorry" and brushed the rest of the web she was wrapped in off of her.

The others were all freeing themselves as well. Bofur gazed around. "Where's Bilbo?"

"Bilbo!" Dwalin shouted.

"I'm up here!" Cheyanne looked up just as a spider leapt at Bilbo from where he was on a tree branch high above them. Her eyes widened as he struggles with the spider, and she starts to run towards him when the pair suddenly falls from the tree.

"Bilbo!" she yelled, and was pulled to a halt by Thorin, who grabbed her arm. "Let me go!" she growled, pulling against his grip.

"You know he can care for himself, Cheyanne," Thorin said firmly. "We have to move."

Cheyanne sighed, turned to move, and froze. Spiders of all sizes were crawling quickly towards them, clicking and hissing. She stood, paralyzed in fear, until someone bumped against her. "Duck!"

She did as ordered, and a sword flies over her head and into a spider that had gotten very close to her. She uncovers her head and looks up to see Fili standing over her, shaking his own.

"Stop getting into trouble!" he teased, yanking his blade from the spider he'd saved her from.

There was yelp before she could reply, and they both turn to see Kili get snatched by a spider. It drags the dwarf away, and Fili runs after his brother, shouting, "Kili!"

Cheyanne climbs to her feet and hurries towards the dwarves, who were starting to head for a gap in the trees. More spiders were beginning to rain down on them, and Cheyanne ducks behind Thorin as he raises Orcrist to stab the spider that lands in front of him.

She heard a noise and glanced upwards, grinning when she saw Legolas slide down the spider's silk and land on top of it to kill it. He rolls off of it and up onto one knee, knocking an arrow in his bowstring and pointing it right at Thorin as he did so. More Wood Elves appeared, all holding bows and pointing arrows at the company.

"Do not think I won't kill you, dwarf," Legolas warned, lifting an eyebrow dangerously. "It would be my pleasure."

Elves had them surrounded on all sides. Truth be told, Cheyanne was glad to see them, because it meant the threat of spiders was gone. She was, however, dreading the talk between Thorin and Thranduil that was rearing its ugly head in the distance.

Kili's cry for help came to them. She turned around and saw the dwarf being pulled away by a spider. Fili moved to help him, but an arrow flew into the spider before he could do anything. Cheyanne twisted around to see Tauriel fly towards them, daggers flashing. She attacked a spider that was coming up behind her after killing like three others. Kili himself was having a problem, and he looked over his shoulder at the She-Elf in desperation.

"Throw me your dagger!" he hissed. "Quick!"

"If you think I'm giving you a weapon, dwarf, you're mistaken!" replied Tauriel as she finished off her own spider and whipped around, flinging her dagger into the one that had been about to eat Kili.

The dwarf turned around quickly and gazed at Tauriel with wide eyes. Cheyanne grinned to herself at the admiration in them.

Tauriel pulls her dagger from the spider and shoves Kili towards the rest of the company.

"Search them," Legolas commanded.

His Elves approach, sliding their arrows and bows away in synchronization. The one that came over to search Cheyanne narrowed his eyes at her clothing. He reached into a pocket on her jeans and pulled out the crystal Fili had given to her. She noticed Thorin's eyes change when he saw it, but he turned away as an Elf shoved him around roughly, going through his own pockets.

"Can I have that back, please?" Cheyanne asked nicely, turning to her searcher. The Elf hesitated momentarily before handing her the crystal. She slid it back into her pocket with a huff.

Legolas asks Tauriel something in Elvish. She responded, and the Elf that had searched Thorin passed Legolas Orcrist. He inspects it with a frown, saying something in Sindarin as he did so.

He turned to Thorin. "Where did you get this?"

"It was given to me," answered the dwarf.

Legolas pointed Orcrist at Thorin's chest. "No just a thief, but a liar as well," he said darkly before lowering the sword and shouting something in Sindarin.

Cheyanne is pushed forward, and the Elves march the company away from the spider massacre. She saw Bofur glance around before turning to Thorin. She heard him whisper, "Thorin, where's Bilbo?"

The dwarf looked around, but Bilbo was nowhere to be seen. Cheyanne, however, knew exactly where he was. She didn't look over her shoulder, even though Bilbo was trailing after them, invisible because of the Ring.

They are led over a bridge into the happier part of Mirkwood, the Woodland Realm. They stop before a great wooden gate, and the Elves on guard open it. After they had passed through, Cheyanne heard Legolas command them to shut it.

Cheyanne marched behind the others over suspended walkways of the Woodland Realm. It was beautiful, she admitted to herself, though not nearly as beautiful as Rivendell. They passed King Thranduil's throne, and he eyed her as they walked by, no doubt curious as to what she was doing with the dwarves.

They reached the area of the Woodland Realm built especially for the cells carved into the wood.

"This isn't the end of it, you hear me?" Dwalin threatened as he is shoved into a cell.

Cheyanne is placed in the same cell as Thorin. She leaned against the wall as he gripped the bars on the door in frustration. "Don't worry," she told him, "we're going to get out of here."

He let out a breath, shoulders lowering. She heard several other dwarves grunt and the cell doors rattle as they throw themselves against them.

"Leave it!" shouted Balin from the cell he occupied across from Cheyanne and Thorin's. "This is no Orc dungeon; these are the halls of the Woodland Realm. No one leaves here but by the king's consent."

"You hear that, Thorin?" Cheyanne asked with a laugh. "You can let us leave."

"That is not funny," he growled. Their cell door opened, and guard grabbed Thorin. He then reached in and pulled Cheyanne out as well. She lets out a noise of surprise.

"It appears we're being summoned by King Thranduil," she mused to Thorin as the Elf guard led them away from the cells. They back-tracked over the paths until they reached Thranduil's throne area again.

Cheyanne gazed around in wonder as Thranduil appears, cloaked in royal robes. "Some may imagine a noble quest is at hand," he began, addressing Thorin. "A quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon." He sat down on his throne and eyed them both. "I would say there is a more prosaic motive in mind; attempted burglary, or something of that ilk."

Thorin didn't say anything, and Cheyanne remained silent as well. Thranduil studied the dwarf closely. "You have found a way in. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule: the king's jewel, the Arkenstone." Thorin shifted at the name, and Thranduil raised his dark eyebrows. It bothered Cheyanne that they didn't match his hair color. "It is precious to you beyond measure. I understand that. But there are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems of pure starlight."

He looked over at Cheyanne, who lifted her chin, aware she was being appraised. "Before we speak further about what I have in mind, however, perhaps you would like to explain who your little friend is."

"What does it matter to you?" Thorin asked before Cheyanne could snap at the "little" comment. "She is a part of my company; that's all there is too it."

"I want to know why," Thranduil insisted.

"Tell me what you wish to say, and then we can discuss my hobbit," growled Thorin. He was beginning to lose his patience, Cheyanne could tell. Her heart fluttered at being called his hobbit by Thorin himself, and it took a lot of willpower to keep from reaching over and taking his hand.

Thranduil calmly turned back to the dwarf. "It is simple," he said, bowing his head. "I offer you my help."

Thorin glanced down at Cheyanne, and she lifted her eyebrow, signifying that yes, this was the offer Thranduil was going to make him that she had mentioned before. The dwarf looked back up the Elf. "I am listening."

"I will let you go," said Thranduil. "If you return what is mine."

Thorin smirked and turned away, walking to the edge of the platform they were on. "A favor for a favor," he mused.

"You have my word," Thranduil said, "one king, to another."

"Oh dear," Cheyanne said, tsking her tongue. She looked up at Thranduil. "Now you've done it."

The Elf raised an eyebrow, and she stepped back to await Thorin's rage with her eyes closed. It didn't come, however.

She opened one eye and glanced at Thorin before opening the other. "Uh… That's the part when you get angry and go off about how he has no honor and that he should die a death of flames," she told the dwarf, pointing towards Thranduil as she spoke.

Thorin turned and looked at her. "It appears you were wrong for once, Miss Baggins," he told her calmly. He walked back towards the throne and takes her arm, looking up at Thranduil. "You wanted to know why she's here, didn't you?"

Cheyanne stiffened as she realized what he was about to do. "Thorin," she whispered desperately, "please, don't."

He ignored her, keeping his eyes on Thranduil. "This hobbit can see into the future," he said. "I've seen her do it more than once, and she has never failed to be wrong." Thorin pushed Cheyanne towards the Wood Elf. "If you let the rest of us leave, you can keep her for yourself."

"Thorin!" Cheyanne exclaimed in shock. Her heart ached at this betrayal as she glanced up at Thranduil, who was looking down at them contemplatively.

After a long moment in which Cheyanne feared he would agree, the Elf laughed out loud. "No," he said, chuckling. "I'm sorry, Master Oakenshield, but I cannot take you seriously. I mean, just look at her. She couldn't possibly see into the future, and she is not worth my time." He shook his head. "It's my jewels for your freedom, or nothing."

Thorin released her arm, and she moved away from him, rubbing it. "Why did I believe that would work?" grumbled the dwarf. "You did not help us before, and you will not help us now."

Thranduil frowned. "I see you are just like your grandfather in ways of greed," he said. "I warned Thror of what it would summon, but he would not listen." He motioned with his hand, and guards grabbed Thorin roughly. Cheyanne was taken by less force, as she did not struggle, all the fight gone out of her.

"Stay here if you will, and rot," Thranduil said to Thorin. "Perhaps a hundred years will be enough for you future-seeing hobbit to convince you the gems are not worth it. One hundred years is just a blink in the life of an Elf, Thorin. I am patient. I can wait."

Thorin and Cheyanne are taken back to the cells and tossed into the one they had been in before. The master of keys locks the door and walks away, keys jingling.

Balin appeared from his cell. "Did he offer you a deal?" he asked hopefully.

"He did," Thorin responded, "and I gave him another he should not have refused, though unfortunately, he did." He rounded on Cheyanne. "Why did you stand there holding your tongue?"

"I am not yours to barter away, Thorin Oakenshield!" she retorted angrily. "You can't just give me away because you're too greedy to give the Elf his sparklies back!"

"Do not speak to me of greed," hissed Thorin. "I was trying to do what was best for the company. You didn't cooperate in order to save your own skin."

"Oh please. "What was best for the company"? You tried to give me away so you could keep some crystals for yourself!" she shouted. She fumbled around in her pocket and up her crystal. "Here, you can have this one," she spat, throwing it at him. "Now promise Thranduil his so we can get out of here."

"Thorin, is what she says true?" Dwalin asked from somewhere above them. "Did you offer Cheyanne as a trade for release?"

Thorin didn't respond. He glared at Cheyanne for a long moment before he held up the crystal. "Thank you for giving this back," he said sourly. "I was beginning to think having Fili give it to you for me was a waste. I see now that I was right."

Cheyanne's eyes widened. Thorin walked past her deeper into the cell, and she turned with his movements, watching him. When he'd disappeared into the shadows at the back of the cell, she groaned and covered her face with her hands, sliding down the wall into a squatting position.

"God," she half-sighed, half-groaned. "I need a drink."

A long time went by before Cheyanne heard talking coming from above the cell. She went to the door and leaned against the bars to listen. She didn't have the ears of a hobbit, but she could tell it was Kili. Someone responded, and Cheyanne assumed it was Tauriel. That's when she heard Elves laughing in the distance.

"Some sort of celebration." Thorin spoke to her for the first time since he'd stalked away, and Cheyanne jumped slightly at his voice. She glanced over her shoulder and saw him step closer to the cell door. "Probably celebrating our capture."

Cheyanne turned away from him and back to the door. "It's the Feast of Starlight," she told him. "Wood Elves love starlight; they think of it as memory."

"I remember the first night after Smaug took Erebor from us," Thorin said quietly from behind her after a moment. "It was cold, and the air stank of smoke and brimstone even after all the miles we'd marched to get away."

Cheyanne glanced over her shoulder at him. Thorin was staring at the floor of the cell, deep in thought. "Our people were terrified. We had no shelter, no food. I kept looking up at the sky and wondering why this had happened to us." His eyes closed. "The stars were blood red that night, though I'm not sure if it was just for me, or if everyone else saw the fire reflected in them."

Thorin's eyes opened again, and he looked up her. "That's my memory. Do you have one?" he asked.

Cheyanne gazed out the cell door, thinking. After a moment, one came to her. "My father… We used to go outside at night, and we'd lie down in the grass. He'd point to the stars and give them names. He'd tell me that when people died, they became stars, and that they got to choose what the name of their star would be. At the time, I believed him, because I thought he was the smartest person in the world." She closed her own eyes, remembering looking up at the stars as a child. "When he and my mother died, I would go outside and look up the stars, trying to figure out which ones they were and what they had named them."

She opened her eyes again and leaned her forehead against the bars. "After a time I realized that my father had been wrong."

"Why?" Thorin questioned softly.

"Well, first because there was no way he would have known the names of all those stars, and secondly because none of the stars were bright enough to have been my parents," Cheyanne responded. She laughed at herself. "I was a ridiculous child."

She listened as Thorin approached, and then he was beside her at the cell door. "Not at all," he said gently. "I hadn't known you lost your parents."

"Everyone loses their parents eventually," Cheyanne told him. "You've lost yours, haven't you?" She didn't turn to look at him, even though she could feel his eyes on her. "We're not exactly on the same boat, but we're pretty close."

"You always speak so strangely," commented Thorin.

"You should hear yourself from my end, pal," Cheyanne replied, grimacing as soon as she had said it.

"Pal?" Thorin queried, amused.

"Don't ask."

A silence filled the cell again. Cheyanne was well aware of Thorin gazing at her, and she was afraid she would crumble if she turned to look at him. Instead, she turned away from the cell door and moved deeper in, wrapping her arms around herself. Thorin turned around as well and continued to watch her. He was holding something, absentmindedly playing with it. She lifted her eyes from his hand and made the mistake of meeting his.

She felt something unspoken pass between them, and she pulled her gaze away quickly. "I-Is uhm… Are you alright?" she questioned hurriedly, trying the escape.

"Are you?" Thorin answered her question with one of his own.

"Well, I'm still a little upset that you tried to give me to Thranduil, and my back hurts a bit from when Bilbo cut me out of that tree, but other than that I'm fine.""

She saw Thorin bow his head from the corner of her eye as she stared at the wall.

"Cheyanne, I-" She glanced in his direction as he cut himself off and turned away from her. "Gandalf told me before at Beorn's that there's a bigger threat than Smaug. Is that true?"

Cheyanne let out a breath. Gandalf… He had been talking about the Necromancer. The White Council had been talking about him while the company had snuck away from Rivendell. Gandalf was worried about Sauron coming back, and he had every right to be. In fact, that's where he was headed right now, to Dul Guldur to face off against the evil being.

Did she really want to tell Thorin that, however? Especially when he had just tried to give her away because of her knowing things before they occurred? She didn't know what telling Thorin would accomplish; he wouldn't turn the company for Dul Guldur, anyway.

There was no point.

Thankfully, she didn't have to respond, because Bofur spoke up from a different cell: "Do you think the sun's risen yet?"

"No," replied Balin. "The Elves are still enjoying their festivities. Perhaps we should all try to get some sleep."

"That's a good idea," Cheyanne said to Thorin. "We should do that." She started to turn away, but Thorin caught her arm. Whatever he had been holding in his hand was cold, and he slid it down to her own, giving it to her. He then let go of her hand and walked back to the cell door.

Cheyanne didn't have to look down to see what it was he'd given her. She flips the crystal around in her hand briefly, watching Thorin all the while. He was framed by torchlight coming from outside the cell, looking very kingly. She let out a breath to slow her heart and put the crystal into her pocket before she sat down on the floor of the cell and leaned against the wall, suddenly exhausted.

It seemed resisting blue gazes that looked right into you was tiring.

Chey, I feel ya. Blue eyes are the worst. I mean, geez. There's just something about 'em. Not all blue eyes, though. Some of 'em are super okay. And not hard to avoid.