He opened the note again: "I know what you've done. I will not be so kind next time. Consider this a warning. I suggest you put your petty threats to rest. It's not worth it. I know what you're doing." His breath hitched.

Suddenly, he was running down the maze of passages and hallways of Erebor, turning every other corner he saw. The footsteps behind him grew in pace and Stonehelm's heart was in his throat out of fear. He was scared out of his wits - the man who left the note, the basket, the threat, was going to kill him. The shadows grew - the shadow was getting closer.

He blinked and soon was staring into Brilin's dead face. The head with nothing attached. Stonehelm let out a strangled shout and tumbled backwards, colliding not with the wall but with a living and breathing body - someone taller than him and more powerful than him.

Their face was hidden in shadow and Stonehelm clawed for freedom, desperately trying to separate himself from the other being. The creature stepped closer and his airway constricted. A hammer suddenly came down-

Stonehelm gasped frantically - shooting out of his fitful slumber and into the cold air.

For a brief minute, he panicked, believing he was suffocating to death in a dark place. He tried to locate his throat as he struggled for breath. Finally, he was able to breathe once more though the dream had consumed him. He swallowed worriedly and glanced around the dark room.

He feared someone was already watching him.

A sharp clang of a piece of silverware hitting the floor startled Stonehelm from his stupor as he stared blankly at the bread cart in the market. He flinched, realizing how childlike he must seem to those around him and especially that creature surely watching him. Sure, he had not the slightest idea who killed Brilin, but he was sure the being was close by... watching his new prey cower and slowly succumb to paranoia.

He straightened somewhat and glanced casually around the hall. He did not like feeling this way. Feeling powerless and submissive...

No, he was invincible and he never got caught.

In the back of his mind and in the pit of his gut, he cursed himself. He should have been more careful in his plans. He should have never given that - what he realized now or rather what was pointed out to him - petty threat for Brilin to deliver. He should have chosen someone a little more wiser. He should have gone about the whole ordeal a different way.

A hand landed roughly on his shoulder and he jumped sky high.

"Whoa, didn't mean to startle you," a female voice said with mild confusion and a bit of humor.

His eyes were wide and wild. He turned and struggled to focus on the dwarf's face. After several moments of heavy breathing and nervous sweat beading on his brow, he saw that it was only his sister.

Her hand touched his forearm. "Hey, you alright? You look awfully pale," she noted with concern.

He ran a hand over his upper lip and down his beard. "Y-yeah..." He prayed she would take no notice of his very unsure answer.

A shift behind her caused his eyes to flick over her head. Dis was standing there, waiting patiently. Running into him had obviously not been part of the plan. Her face held a light and polite smile.

But her kind smile had fear seizing his throat in a quick second. He remembered that note in reply to his threat against the Line of Durin. Could she possibly know what had happened? Could she, in fact, be the killer? His lungs burned as if he were on the verge of suffocating. He struggled to let out a very strangled breath. "N-no... I'm gonna head up to bed. Long n-night," he managed out before rushing away.

Dyla frowned after him. She looked to Dis with questioning and curious eyes. "Wonder what happened to him. He looks like he's seen a ghost."

"He's got an awful lot on his shoulders from what you've told me," Dis took a guess.

The other woman nodded vaguely and watched Stonehelm disappear into the crowd at an alarmingly fast pace.

The throne room had been steadily filling with dwarves of all status since Thorin had walked through the halls of Erebor.

Fili stood off to the side of the grand room with Grana and Yttir, a very disgruntled look to him. He watched with great disapproval as the dwarves kept coming and coming and coming. It had been spoken - to the whole population of the kingdom - that there would not be any formal ceremony or gathering for reinstating Thorin or even welcoming him back.

He chuckled darkly to himself, why should they welcome him back? Dwarf had abandoned and left them in the dark!

His gaze turned hard and stony with every passing figure. Now was the time he wished looks could kill.

He grumbled under his breath and avoided looks from Yttir and Grana, who looked pleasantly entertained by the whole matter. He nodded a guard over. "Mnia, you and Mycrof, take those that don't have a place in the council outside. Lock the doors. I want no interruptions." Thorin still had yet to be informed of the many situations in the mountain, so technically, Fili still ran this joint.

"Yes, sir," the dwarf bowed.

Fili watched him and Mycrof corral the lot and eventually push them outside the doors. He stood back against the wall with a content smile growing on his face.

Yttir glanced at him. "I wouldn't go lookin' so smug yet," he whispered wisely. "See, have you told Thorin of the riots yet?"

The blond's short-lived smile vanished to a reluctant and distasteful frown.

The older dwarf pressed on. "The imprisonment of Dain's army? The failing upkeep of duty that was placed upon your brother?"

"I haven't had the chance to," he growled, suddenly on edge. "I haven't had a moment alone with him. I would have, believe me, I would have. He just arrived and high-tailed it straight here." He shot a glare at Yttir.

"We must get on with this," Grana cut in nearly as impatient as Fili felt.

Fili understood and took note of the council gathering around the throne. He and the others traveled to the floor to join the crowd. Then he caught sight of Ori who stood beside Thorin, a little notebook in his hand and a quill in the other. The dwarf looked small and more timid than usual. His eyes were even a little shadowed and troubled; he looked miserable.

He excused himself from the two dwarves and crossed the room, pulling Ori aside. He didn't let the startled brown-haired dwarf have a chance to get a word in before he spoke, "Are you alright? You don't have to be here."

Ori opened and closed his mouth.

"Blyska can take notes." Fili hoped he was assuring the timid dwarf and not at all wishing to chase him away. "You don't have to do this."

A torn look flickered in Ori's face. "I want to be of some use," he spoke quietly. "I finished sorting everything out in the library and I'm getting tired of sitting in the chambers while everyone is out and about, being productive for the kingdom." He tried to glance around at anything else but Fili's prodding blue eyes. "W-with recent events... i-it keeps my mind off of things." He quickly glanced at the younger dwarf. "Please, Fili. I need a new job."

Fili eyed him carefully before his eyes softened for his friend. "I'm not pressuring you to leave, alright? I just want you to know you aren't obligated to be the scribe for this meeting." He rested a comforting hand on Ori's shoulder.

He nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Fili."

The blond cracked a smile and descended the stairs to the crowd of council members. He reunited with Grana and Yttir, the latter sending him a curious look. He brushed it off.

Thorin took his place on the highest level of the room. He looked out at the gathered dwarves.

Fili had a feeling a speech was coming, he was only hoping it wouldn't be so dreadfully long... though, did his uncle look... nervous?

The older dwarf cleared his throat. "I know I owe all of you an explanation." He let out a nervous chuckle - Fili folded his arms across his chest and watched him carefully. "Plain and simple, I never should have left. I had a reclaimed kingdom to run and I completely abandoned it. There is no excuse for it.

"I have returned free of personal obligations. I am here solely to serve the people, to be a proper king as Thror was before the gold-sickness."

There was slight and skeptical muttering throughout the crowd and Fili watched Thorin.

"I am here to regain what trust I have lost and I-"

A dwarf standing beside Grana interrupted him. "My Lord, what of the Consort? Folks say he didn't arrive with you."

Thorin's eyes seemed to go distant for a brief moment before he chuckled, dismissing the question. He turned to Klyska. "Alright, I think I'm ready to be caught up on everything."

Fili noted his stiff smile. He glanced at Yttir who also looked confused with Thorin's refusal to answer the question about the Consort.

"Is the Consort well, my lord?" another called from the crowd. "Will he be returning?"

The dwarf king pretended not to hear. Instead, he addressed another member of the crowd. "How has your family been? Having things improved from last time we spoke?"

While the dwarf answered Thorin, Fili cut away from the crowd and bounded up the steps to Ori again who beat him to it.

"Don't ask me why he's avoiding questions of Bilbo. I haven't seen the hobbit either," he said.

Fili let out a grunt and nodded to Klyska to begin the reports.

The other dwarf cleared his throat and opened his book of notes. All eyes turned to him. He made sure to project his voice:

"Dwarves have continued to arrive from the Blue Mountains. They were given housing and have been assessed at what jobs suit them best. Labor has increased. We currently have four hundred miners, sixty toymakers, and Dwalin has taken several new recruits under his wing..." He paused as he second-guess his choice of words. "Uh, if you could say that.

"Market days have flourished. Grains are coming in steadily from Edoras for eight silver coins, medicinal herbs have been traded in return for iron, used in the forging of new miner's equipment.

"Workers have recovered a few more chambers in the mountain that had been unreachable since the initial arrival. They have been deemed stable and will house families."

He turned to a new page. An uncomfortable look passed over Klyska's face and a sinking feeling settled in Fili's stomach.

"Oh, yes." He looked quite anxious. "Uhm, fifty or more of the citizens have started a riot in the few days before you arrived, sir. They have been ignored - for the most part. We have not reprimanded them, only stated there is nothing amiss to cause a riot."

Fili cringed.

"Also, the imprisonment of Dain's captains has been resolved. They all have been released though I'm sure you want to speak to them."

Fili wanted to hide.

"And the kingdom for the most part has been steady though we have teetered without our king. Fili has fulfilled his duty as your temporary replacement, but he is not yet our rightful ruler." He shut his book.

Fili thought all things he hadn't had time to tell Thorin had been said when another look crossed Klyska's face.

"Prince Kili, however, has not done any work while you have been gone. He's remained missing in action since Dain's army arrived."

The blond winced - he would gladly address everything and anything but Kili.

Thorin, who had been nodding steadily at the news of his kingdom, blanched at those last bits. "R-riots? Imprisonment?" His voice was hoarse.

"Yes, sir," Klyska nodded dutifully. Then his eyes shifted to Fili who was pinching the bridge of his nose. His mouth parted a bit as he realized the king had no idea what he was talking about. "I-I apologize, sir. D-didn't Fili or Master Dwalin tell you?"

Ori wanted to comfort the stressed out dwarf. "I haven't had the chance to speak with him."

Klyska seemed to shrink in on himself as he prepared himself to be reprimanded for assuming without asking. "Oh, my apologies, sir. I thought you already had."

Fili shook his head. "It's alright. I'll just... speak with him now."

He met his uncle's eyes and wasn't surprised to find a burning and questioning fire in them. He swallowed and hoped that their conversation wouldn't be that volatile.