Big thanks to MoonsHollow and xoulblade for following.

ColorGuardianoftheGalaxy – Sounds about right.

Celebrisilweth – Hopefully this can be something they laugh about later….much MUCH later

Eruwaedhiel95 – Glad you are enjoying it.

Rachetg – It'll certainly be a shock for her.

Stolen Ponies and Hungry Trolls

Fira's whole body couldn't be more still. She could feel the water lapping against her back and she took a deep breath.

"I know you're there."

For a second nothing happened. Folding her arms across her stomach Fira turned round so she was facing whoever had been spying on her. She wasn't going to cover up for their sakes. They had no right to come down and watch her bathe like she was some commodity. In the ever decreasing light her sharp eyes caught movement from a small area of brambles to her right.

"Come out before I make you."

Her hand was already moving towards the sheath strapped to her thigh when her watcher slowly got to their feet. Dark hair fell over a very red face and as Kili's eyes locked onto her Fira suddenly felt an urge to cover herself up; especially her arms. When she had tried to shift again the burns had increased so now her forearms were badly scarred as well. But instead she simply titled her chin up slightly and shot him a glare. Happy to see he was doing everything he could not to look at her.

"What the hell did you think you were doing?" Fira didn't bother glancing at the dwarf as she strode through the river towards her pile of clothes. All of them had dried off but they were no good until she herself was dry. Grabbing her blanket Fira made quick work of rubbing herself down. When she looked up she saw Kili had his back to her.

"I…I wasn't. It's not what you think. I heard you singing and…" trailing off his shoulders sunk.

"If I had known you were…busy I'd never have come. You have to believe me."

Fira did believe him. Kili was no creep that much was certain. As she pulled her tunic over her body she glanced down at herself. Her wet hair stuck to her dry clothes but other than that you wouldn't have known she'd been in a rainstorm several hours ago. Sliding her coat on Fira casually sheathed her weapons as slowly as she could. She knew Kili could look now but she couldn't deny it was fun to make him suffer like this. However she only had so many weapons and once her last knife was sheathed there was nothing else but to tap him on the shoulder.

"Turn around."

Kili gave a small nod before doing so. The blush still hadn't left his cheeks and Fira knew she was in a similar state. Of all the dwarves to see her it had to be Kili. Brushing herself down she bit her lip. He'd have seen her scars and her bruises. He must have. Nothing else would explain the hatred running through his eyes. Fira turned to go – hoping to get away before any questions were asked – however Kili grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her back.

"Those…those bruises," he choked, "What happened?"

"I…nothing." Fira tried to ease out of his grip but Kili simply tightened his hold.

"I'm not an idiot you know. Someone did that to you deliberately," he lowered his voice, "Was it…was it one of the company? Fira I swear if any of them did this I'll see they're punished."

Fira shook her head. "No, no it…" her mind was at a blank. Sol's face flashed through her head and an idea came to her. Gently prising Kili's hand from her arm she looked down at the floor.

"Last night I was collecting some firewood when some men found me. I refused to give them what they wanted so they beat me. I escaped before they could do anything else."

Kili's eyes were boring into hers and Fira prayed she hadn't been too obvious with her lie. Although the anger didn't go it faded slightly and Kili nodded.

"That's why you were crying last night wasn't it?"

Fira had no need to answer; Kili was already nodding. With a sigh he knelt down and grabbed the water bottles with one hand before gently caressing her face with the other.

"You should have told us. We'd have wasted no time in hunting them down."

Fira gave a small nod. Yet more lies were now being added to the already huge pile. Kili gave a small smile.

"Well, at least you weren't…you're alright now."

Nodding Fira stepped back from him. She had to do what she could to increase the distance between her and Kili. Once the truth came out he'd look at her with nothing but anger and revulsion. She wouldn't be able to bear it from him. Kili raised an eyebrow at her actions but said nothing. Instead he glanced up as another voice was coming closer.

"Kili? Kili where are you?"

Fira looked over at Kili who gave her a bashful smile. Both of them hurriedly smoothed their faces out as Fili came into view.

"There you are! I know you hate filling up water bottles but really Kili!"

Fira realised he hadn't yet noticed her. However that didn't last long. Fili gave her a hurried smile; eyes widened when he saw her wet hair and damp clothes.

"Fira I..?" He then narrowed his eyes at Kili who was already shaking his head.

"No! Fili I wasn't..!"

Fira placed a hand on his shoulder.

"He's right. It was just a misunderstanding."

Fili nodded slowly and Fira knew Kili was sending her a grateful look. As he took the water bottles into his own hands Fili gave a good natured shake of the head.

"Kili I know you think she's beautiful but really."

Even though Fili winked at Fira; she knew Kili had gone redder than anyone had ever seen. Unsure of how to react to this herself Fira watched both the princes carefully. It had only been a few hours since they had been told to look after the ponies and she had a funny feeling that's what they were meant to be doing now. Rubbing her arms Fira snapped her fingers as both brothers were now whispering furiously to each other.

"Not trying to be rude…but aren't you meant to be looking after our rides?"

Both gulped at the same time before pushing past her and running off into the woods. Fira rolled her eyes before following them. Even though she was shorter than both of them she found it easy to keep up with them. She hadn't expected them to panic so much. After all the ponies were tied up. But as she got nearer she heard Kili swearing. Heart sinking Fira quickened her pace until she was standing beside both brothers. Her eyes scanned over the small area where the ponies were tied up.

"Everything seems alright."

Fili shook his head. But before either of them could speak Fira caught the sound of footsteps right behind her. Hand hovering over her sword she spun round to see Bilbo standing there with two bowls of stew in his hands.

"Fira?" He blinked before handing over the bowls, "Bofur sent me with these for Fili and Kili."

Nodding Fira chewed on her bottom lip whilst Bilbo gave her a soft smile.

"Thorin also told me to bring you back to camp."

"Why?" Kili's voice was sharp and Fira, Bilbo and Fili glanced at him nervously. Bilbo shrugged.

"I don't know…does it matter?"

"Thorin might be our leader but he doesn't need to treat Fira like something off the heel of his boot. She stays here with us."

Fira raised an eyebrow, "I don't suppose I get a say in all of this?"

Kili's face paled and he nodded. Fira folded her arms before smiling at Bilbo.

"Like he said. I stay here with them."

Bilbo gave a small sigh and for a second Fira pitted him for having to go back and tell Thorin the news. However, she also noticed that the hobbits interest was fixed on the backs of Fili and Kili.

"What are they doing?"

"We're meant to be looking after the ponies." It was as though Kili could read Bilbo's mind. Fili nodded.

"Only we've encountered a slight problem."

"Which is?" Fira didn't like the sound of this. Fili bit his lip.

"We had sixteen."

"We now have," Kili did a quick head count, "Fourteen."

Pushing past the pair Fira hurried towards the remaining ponies. All of them were stomping their feet and tossing their heads. Rubbing them down soothingly she whispered in their ears. Telling them it would be okay. But she could feel their fear, their terror. Patting Minty's nose she looked over at the others.

"Daisy and Bungo are missing."

Fili gulped and at that point Fira remembered Daisy had been his. Kili rubbed his brothers arm whilst Bilbo was pacing up and down.

"Well that's not good. That's not good at all!"

"Tell us something we don't know," Fira muttered. Bilbo sighed.

"Shouldn't we tell Thorin?"

Kili shook his head, "Err…"

"Best not worry him," Fili interjected. Fira couldn't help herself.

"Scared he'll tell you off?"

"Yes." They both said. Kili sighed.

"If Thorin finds out… he'll do more than tell us off."

Remembering his earlier worry about not being good enough Fira moved beside him and took his hand.

"We'll find them. They can't have gone far."

Giving her a grateful nod Kili squeezed her hand before they both turned to watch Fili who was talking to Bilbo.

"Seeing as you're our official burglar maybe you could take a look."

"I…well…" Fira knew Bilbo wanted to be anywhere but here. Ignoring Kili's confused glances she took the bowls from the hobbits hands and gave him a smile.

"I can take it from here if you like."

He shook his head, "No really, I don't mind."

"Bilbo, be honest with me," Fira made sure she was keeping her voice down, "How helpful do you think you can be here?"

She wasn't trying to goad him or laugh at him. She just didn't want him to make a fool of himself. Nodding Bilbo gave her a grateful smile before turning and heading back to the others. Placing the bowls of stew by her feet Fira rubbed her hands.

"What was that for?" Fili asked. Fira shrugged.

"He won't tell Thorin if that's what you're worried about."

Ignoring them Fira turned and looked down at the huge trees. Two had been uprooted and her stomach churned at the thought of something big enough to do it.

"Well?" Kili asked. Fira forced down her sarcastic comment.

"Something big uprooted these trees."

"That's what we thought," Fili said. Fira rolled her eyes. Why bother asking her then? She took another look. The ponies were all tied up and in the spaces where Daisy and Bungo should have been she could see the ropes had been torn apart.

"Something big and…possibly quite dangerous."

Kili gulped and Fira had a sudden urge to stay close to him.

"Hey," Fili whispered, "There's a light!"

He was crouched down behind another fallen tree. Fira hurried over so that she was in between both brothers. Up ahead she could see where Fili had been pointing. The light was huge and in the silence of the night Fira could make out harsh laughter. Kili hit the bark with his fist.

"What is it?" she whispered. Kili's face was unmoving.

"Trolls."

Fira nodded, "Okay so maybe this is the point where we go and tell Thorin?"

She got no reply. Instead both brothers jumped over the fallen tree and began running towards the light. Both of them hid behind two huge trees and Fira shook her head before getting up and following them. Crouching beside Kili she was aware of his eyes watching her.

"So we still aren't telling Thorin."

Kili shook his head before grabbing her by the hands and pulling her to her feet.

"You go and tell him!"

"Me? You honestly think he'll believe me"

Kili bit his lip, "Maybe not but it'll be safer."

"For you or for me?"

"For you of course" Even though Kili was making every effort to keep his voice down Fira knew he was getting more worried by the minute. Freeing herself from his grip she stepped back.

"I'm going nowhere until we have some sort of plan."

Kili opened his mouth when the ground shook. All three of them dropped to the ground as the trolls footsteps got closer. Fira froze at the sound of two more frightened ponies in his grasp and as she raised her head by a few inches she saw the two animals kicking in the trolls huge hands.

"He's got Myrtle and Minty!"

Kili shook his head, "I think…I think they're going to eat them. We've got to do something!"

Fira nodded, "I will."

She already had a plan in mind. She was small and could easily get past the trolls. And with her magic she could quieten the ponies and get them away without anyone noticing. Finally her power was actually coming into use. However Kili was looking at her in horror.

"You?" He shook his head, "No you're going back to camp."

"I'm not a child Kili."

"I know but we should be going."

"Why?"

"Mountain trolls are slow and stupid," Fili explained calmly. Kili nodded.

"It'll be perfectly safe."

Fira scowled, "It'd be just as safe if I went as well. In fact more so because there's only one of me and two of you!"

"Yes but," Kili rubbed his forehead, and Fira sighed.

"Plus I think Thorin would be annoyed if he knew I'd let two princes go off to fight trolls whilst I stayed behind."

"For the love of Durin not that again!" Kili snapped, "Fira I keep telling you us being princes has nothing to do with anything!"

"Oi!" Fili hissed, "If you two are quite finished!"

Kili gave a small nod before shooting Fira a glare. Fili sighed whilst Fira glanced over their shoulders – the colour draining from her face.

"Thorin!"

Both brother spun round and Fira took her chance. Sprinting through the trees she knew it wouldn't take long for her to reach the trolls. Bringing out her sharpest knife Fira crouched down at the edge of a huge clearing.

"Oh…" she said weakly.

The three trolls were far bigger than she had expected. The smallest – and the thinnest – sat in the middle whilst the one on his right was stirring something in the pot. The other was downing some sort of drink. Out of the corner of her eye Fira caught sight of the terrified ponies. Not bothering to wait she hurriedly skirted the edge of the clearing. The one with the drink wore a thin vest and as he began talking about their last meal Fira willed herself not to be sick. Instead she kept her gaze on the ponies.

"It's okay," keeping eye contact she let her magic do it's work, "It's okay. I'm going to get you out."

The ponies quietened but they were still nervous. As she reached their small pen Fira wasted no time in resting the knife on the thick rope.

"OI!"

She froze as one of the trolls yelled. Glancing round she watched as the biggest grabbed it's mug from the smallest.

"That's my grog."

"Lovely," turning back to the ponies Fira began sawing at the ropes. But they were incredibly thick and she knew this wouldn't be done in a few minutes.

"Hang on a minute," the troll at the cooking pot stopped and Fira realised he was looking around.

"I can smell something."

Fira's knife fell from her hands as the smallest troll looked straight at her. It got to it's feet.

"Something tasty!"

She backed away but the troll was too close. It's hand grabbed her around her waist – pinning her arms to her side – and lifted her into the air. Fira kicked out and the troll tightened it's grip.

"Gotcha!" it cried. The cook jabbed her cheek with it's finger.

"Now then. Are there any more of you hiding where you shouldn't?"

Fira shook her head, "No. No just me."

It occurred to her that this was yet another perfect opportunity. If the company were killed by trolls then that was her done. But instead she carried on shaking her head.

"She's lying!" the smaller troll said.

"No I'm not," Fira could feel her voice wavering, "No I'm really not."

"Hold her over the fire Tom," the cook said, "Make her talk."

Tom nodded and as she was carried towards the fire Fira's struggling increased. The biggest troll however held out an arm to stop Tom. Fira relief was incredibly short lived however as that same troll grabbed a huge knife.

"I've got a better idea. Why not skin her instead? If she doesn't talk we can use her as garnish."

"Good idea William," Tom laughed. William nodded and Fira could feel the tears starting to drip down her cheeks. This was not how she had imagined she would die. Being skinned and cooked by trolls.

So busy chapter then to make up for the fillers. Sorry for pushing Bilbo out of the action but I can't get enough of Fira/Kili moments and I wanted her to have some hero time. I also love seeing Kili's protectiveness around her. Let me know what you think xxx