A/N: And so the company now gets to deal with Thranduil. I do not like him and that's probably a bit obvious in this chapter. During Fíli and Rhae's discussion of Thorin I've used some thoughts Richard Armitage shared in an interview about his character. Thank you for all the new favorites and follows! I am so honored! Please let me know how you like this chapter and as always, let me know if I fudge something up. :)

MyPetalHeart: Thank you!

Miracle Jane: Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so glad you are enjoying it! I will indeed be continuing! :)

As always, everything is Tolkien's or PJ's...only Rhae is from my brain.

"Search them."

Rhae glared at the elves as they began yanking weapons from the group and digging through bags and pockets. While she was raised among elves in Rivendell and still remained close to them, she had never liked the Woodland elves. Beorn had been correct when he'd told the company all those days - weeks? - ago that they were less wise and more dangerous than the elves of Rivendell or Lothlorien. Luckily there had been few run ins with them during her years as a Ranger; the few she'd had were more than enough. It still puzzled her how these elves could be so arrogant and cold to other beings. The blonde leading this group was no stranger to her and she cringed inwardly knowing where they were going to end up. She watched as the elves searching Fíli became a bit exasperated at the never-ending supply of weapons he had hidden on his body. He winked at her from the corner of his eye, a smug grin on his face.

"Hey, give that back! That's private!" Gloin reached for something the blonde was holding. She saw the locket he always carried in the elf's hand.

"Who is this? Your brother?"

"That's my wife!" Gloin said indignantly.

"And what is this horrid creature? A goblin mutant?" he sneered and Rhae wanted to hit him for his arrogance.

"That's my wee lad, Gimli." The blonde raised an eyebrow but, surprisingly, handed the locket back to the red haired dwarf. A sigh next to her drew her attention back to Fíli, who was frowning when the elves found yet another knife in one of his hidden pockets. The tall brunette that was searching her was getting just as irritated as he continued to locate daggers on her person.

"Armed females make you nervous? Afraid we may relieve you of what passes for your manhood?" she asked in a sickening sweet voice. Fíli snickered. The elf glowered and shoved her slightly into the blonde dwarf next to her.

"Keep your hands off her!" Thorin yelled, trying to lunge towards her. The blonde leader eyed him contemptuously as a couple of the elf guards pushed him back into place with their arrows in his face. He then said something to the red headed she-elf that had saved Kíli from the last spider.

"What are they saying?" Fíli asked.

"He asked if all the spiders were dead and she said they are but more will come," Rhae translated for her companions. The leader looked at her with suspicion.

"You can speak our language?"

"Of course I can you pointy eared fool. I am a Ranger," she sneered with a roll of her eyes. He glared at her response but didn't answer. Another elf handed him Orcrist and he slid it out of its sheath.

"This is an ancient elvish blade, forged by my kin."

"They weren't your kin," she spat.

He glared at her again. "Where did you get this?"

"It was given to me," Thorin said angrily.

"Not just a thief but a liar as well," the blonde replied, pointing the blade at him.

"You know not what you speak, Legolas," she fired at him. "Lord Elrond himself gave that sword with his blessing. As it was his kin that forged it I believe that negates any false claim you think you have on it." By this point the company was rather enjoying Rhae's constant baiting of the elf. She could see him straining to hold in his temper and she smirked, almost daring him to hit her. He seemed a bit surprised that she knew his name.

"Enwenno hain," he finally ordered. There was no need for Rhae to translate as the company was forced into a line and were herded through the trees. They grumbled and cursed at the elves as they were lead along but were momentarily silenced as they finally broke through the edge of the forest and were able to gulp in their first breaths of fresh air in ages. That relief didn't last long. The heavy doors of the Woodland realm slammed shut behind them and their captors marched them over raised wooden walkways, winding throughout dim caverns. The architecture was similar to Rivendell but not nearly as fine. While Rivendell was open and welcoming this was anything but, seeming to reflect its leader's desire to remain as isolated as possible. They reached a large open area and she immediately spotted the King of the Woodland Realm reclined upon his throne. Thorin and Rhae were pulled forward while the rest of the company was pushed and shoved down a flight of stairs. The voices of the dwarves eventually faded, though Rhae wanted to laugh at the curses she heard hurled at their elvish guards. She and Thorin were left standing before Thranduil's immense throne. She tried to keep her face impassive as the silver haired elf studied them.

"Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror," his arrogant, silky voice purred, a hint of derision in his tone. His cold eyes flicked to the female. "And who is this? Your camp follower and evening entertainment?"

Rhae's eyes flashed fire and before anyone knew what was happening a dagger flashed through the air and embedded itself in the arm of Thranduil's throne, barely missing his fingers. He flinched, yanking his hand back from where it had rested. Thorin wanted to laugh at the elf's momentary awkwardness. He remembered her reaction when he'd questioned what she could do for his company and, considering she'd been right in his face at the time, was glad she hadn't run him through.

"I am Stryker, a Ranger of the North and friend of Rivendell and Lothlórien. Call me a whore again and my aim will be for a different spot." This seemed to give the Elvenking pause. There was no doubting the fire in the woman's eyes and while he wasn't worried about her, possibly angering Elrond and the Lady Galadriel was not something he was in the mood for at the moment. He frowned thoughtfully, curious as to how she managed to get a weapon past his guards.

"What is a Ranger doing this far east and in the company of a group of dwarves?"

"And why would you care?" she shot right back.

"You were trespassing on my land and I want to know why."

"I didn't see any signs proclaiming your boundaries. We weren't aware we were anywhere near your lands." So that wasn't entirely true, at least in her case. She'd known they were heading in the general direction of Thranduil's kingdom though where the edge of his realm lay she couldn't say.

"Still, you were on them and you will tell me why."

"Well we weren't planning on paying you a visit, that's for sure; stories of your hospitality are well known. There's many places I'd rather see than this dimly lit hole. Your furnishings leave a lot to be desired as well." A mischievous glint came into her eyes. "Are you compensating for something with that monstrosity you're sitting on?" The elf glared at her, his eyes like chips of ice, and the guards behind them shifted uncomfortably at her insinuation. Thorin snorted but otherwise remained silent and let Rhae have free rein. He was enjoying seeing her anger directed at someone else.

"What were you doing in the forest?"

"Traveling down a path."

"What were you doing on the path in the first place?"

"Walking."

Thranduil frowned at her obstinacy. "Where were you walking to?"

"The Iron Hills."

"So why is a Ranger traveling with dwarves to the Iron Hills?"

"To be introduced to my husband's kin." Thranduil noticeably jerked at her words and glanced between the two of them.

"Your husband's kin?" he said incredulously.

"Indeed," she replied, taking Thorin's hand in hers and flicking her braids onto her shoulders. The Elvenking just stared at them, his eyes wide in shock. Rhae smirked as the great Thranduil had nothing to say. She could see the frantic nature of his thoughts as he tried to decide if she was telling the truth.

"Dwarves do not marry outside their race," he countered.

Rhae snuggled closer to her dwarf. "Perhaps but this one did."

The look on the elf's face was an amusing mix of surprise and disgust. "Why would you marry a dwarf?" Thorin stiffened a bit at the implied insult but Rhae squeezed his hand reassuringly.

She raised an eyebrow. "I know it would be hard for your cold, empty heart to understand how two beings could fall in love, you who now lack any love or compassion. You were not always so blind to the feelings of others." The look Thranduil gave her could probably freeze many where they stood but she didn't falter. She had never liked him and so had no remorse for the words she flung in his direction. After a moment he seemed to regain control of himself and his usual mask of haughtiness returned to his face.

"Traveling to the Iron Hills? Forgive me if I am skeptical. Some may imagine that a noble quest is at hand. A quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon. I myself suspect a more prosaic motive: attempted burglary or something of that ilk." They just stood silently. Rhae could feel the anger radiating off Thorin in waves. Thranduil focused intently on him, scrutinizing the dwarf's face.

"You have found a way in. You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule: the King's Jewel, the Arkenstone. It is precious to you beyond measure." When he got no response he continued. "I understand that. There are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems of pure starlight. I offer you my help"

"I am listening."

Rhae looked between the two in vague surprise. She had never imagined that there was something the elf wanted in the mountain. She certainly didn't trust his offer of help and knew Thorin didn't either.

"I will let you go if you but return what is mine."

Thorin turned, releasing Rhae's hand and taking a few steps away before saying thoughtfully, "A favor for a favor."

Thranduil nodded slightly. "You have my word. One king to another." Rhae smirked at the pointy eared bastard's words. Didn't he realize his words carried no weight, no value with Thorin? Not after his actions when Smaug took Erebor. Her husband still had not turned back to face the elf king but she could see how tightly he clinched his fists.

"I would not trust Thranduil, the great king, to honor his word should the end of all days be upon us!" The volume of his voice rose, as if he wanted to make sure all of the Woodland Realm heard his words. He spun and pointed up at the throne. The Elvenking seemed shocked at his words. "You lack all honor! I've seen how you treat your friends. We came to you once, starving, homeless, seeking your help, but you turned your back. You turned away from the suffering of my people and the inferno that destroyed us. Imrid amrad ursul!"

Again Rhae wished she was more fluent in Khuzdul because whatever he had said sent Thranduil leaping from his throne and he approached them both, leaning over Thorin in anger.

"Do not talk to me of dragon fire. I know its wrath and ruin. I have faced the great serpents of the north," he spat. As he spoke his face seemed to contort momentarily, revealing burns and scars and a milky, unseeing left eye. It was gone before he'd straightened to his full height.

"I warned your grandfather of what his greed would summon but he would not listen." He turned from them and returned to his throne. Rhae wished he'd trip over that damned flowing silver dress he was wearing. It would please her to no end to see him face first on the steps. "You are just like him."

Thranduil motioned to the guards who grabbed them and began hauling them in the direction the rest of the company had been taken.

"Stay here if you will and rot. A hundred years is a mere blink in the life of an elf. I am patient. I can wait." They were pushed to the stairs but of course he had to have the last word. "Put them in separate cells."

Thorin was thrown into a cell by one guard while Rhae was pulled along as another guard searched for a place to put her. It appeared they were all full of dwarves, all yelling at the elves, and she was eventually shoved in with Fíli. She glared at the elf as he relocked the gate, the fury in her eyes causing him to fumble with the keys for a second. After he'd walked away she leaned her head against the bars. She could see Thorin across from her.

"So much for my diplomatic skills," she murmured in wry amusement.

"I take it that did not go well?" Fíli asked from behind her.

She gave him a smile. "Considering I buried a dagger into the arm of his throne and insulted his manhood, I'd say no." He shook his head with a smile; she would never cease to amaze him.

"Did he offer you a deal?" Balin's voice came from somewhere above and to her left.

"He did. I told him he could go ish kakhfê ai'd dur rugnu!" There was silence from the dwarves as their king's words echoed through the dungeon.

There was a frustrated sigh from Balin. "Well...that's it then. A deal was our only hope."

"Not our only hope," Rhae heard Thorin mutter under his breath. She wasn't sure what he meant but she wasn't about to yell across to him. She slumped against one of the walls and slowly slid down until she was on the hard floor.

"What did Thorin say to Thranduil?" she asked Fíli, closing her eyes and leaning her head against the stone behind her. There was a pause and she opened one eye to look at him. There was a sheepish smile on his face.

"Basically that he was going to pour...dung on his head."

She sat up straight and gaped at him. "Truly?" Fíli nodded. Her laugh filled the silence. "Oh I'm sure that sat well with oh high and mighty himself." She chuckled over the thought for a little while longer. Then she leaned back against the wall again, closing her eyes with a sigh. The fog was gone from her mind but the effect of the spiders' poison was still making her feel ill. All she wanted to do was sleep.

"Are you alright?" Fíli had moved next to her, offering one of the apples the elves had given them. She bit into it gratefully and nodded. "You don't look so good."

"Thanks," she said dryly. "I'm still feeling the effects of the spider poison. All I need is some sleep." She balled up her cloak, using it as a pillow as she curled up on her side.

"We were worried when they brought us down here without you and Thorin."

"He wanted to know where we were going and didn't believe that we were headed to the Iron Hills. Accused us of conspiring to burglary." She lowered her voice to a whisper, forcing him to lean over to hear her. "He suspects our true purpose and is resolved to keep us here until Thorin reveals all."

"My uncle would rather die than tell the elf anything."

She nodded slowly at him. "We need to find a way out of here but I don't know how since we're all locked behind iron bars."

"Not all of us." She turned and looked at Fíli. "Bilbo is not here." Rhae thought about it for a moment and then smiled.

"Well then there's hope after all."

A few days passed with no change in their situation. If it hadn't been for the guards that checked on them every now and then, bringing them food, it would've seemed that Thranduil had forgotten there were even dwarves in his dungeons. Fíli had watched Kíli talk with the red headed elf every time she came to check on them. It seemed his little brother hadn't soaked in their uncle's hatred of elves. That had been the only distraction to break up the monotony of their days. Now he sat watching Rhae as she slept. He'd never felt more awkward in his life than when that elf guard had tossed her into his cell. The last week or two, at least it seemed like that long though he had no idea how long they'd been lost in Mirkwood, had been a lesson in self control. That first night after Thorin and Rhae had been joined had been misery. To lay there watching, even through a drunken haze, his uncle led his bride up those stairs made him almost physically ill. He'd drunk a lot of Beorn's mead that night and the next day. Thankfully Rhae had not acted any differently and he'd been able to get through the days without drinking. Evenings, however, hadn't been as easy to endure, especially when Thorin would take Rhae upstairs, but he'd managed somehow. The daily sparring sessions and preparations for their journey had done much to relieve his pent up frustration. Then of course there was the fog that blurred his memories of what exactly happened during their march through Mirkwood. And now...now he was locked up in an elven dungeon with the one person he did and did not want to be around.

The noise the elves made when they brought them some more food and water finally woke her. He motioned to the tray of food on the floor. After glancing up and down the passage way she grabbed a piece of bread and settled back on the ground. The two of them sat cross legged near their cell door, quietly eating. At least, Rhae mussed to herself, the elves weren't trying to starve them. If Thranduil didn't want information from them she was sure they would be starving. Peeking through the bars again she could see Thorin across the way, staring in her direction. She gave him a small smile, hating this forced separation.

"I worry about Thorin no matter the outcome of this quest." Rhae looked at Fíli curiously, interested to hear his reasoning. "Reclaiming Erebor for our people has consumed him for so long, it kept him going during the hard years while he toiled in the towns of men. It sustained him while they built our new home in the Blue Mountains. It has been the one thing keeping that ember of existence alive inside him. If we should fail I'm afraid that spark will finally go out."

Rhae remained silent for several moments as she considered his words. She had only known Thorin a short while. Fíli had grown up next to him, seen his uncle struggle, knew so much more about him. He was also a level headed dwarf with much more intuition about those around him than his brother. If he was concerned then she knew there was cause to be.

"And if our quest should not fail? If we are able to find the door and slay the dragon?"

He looked down at his hands with a sigh. "You are aware of the sickness that gripped my grandfather and great-grandfather." He looked up at her for confirmation and she nodded. "I am very afraid of what the gold in that mountain will do to Thorin. I wonder if the years away from it may have loosened its influence or if time has only caused its potential to grow stronger. Will we reclaim our home only to lose him?"

There wasn't much she could say in response to that. "Fíli, I have promised your uncle that I will not leave his side no matter what happens. He is all too aware of the sickness that treasure has caused in his family. I will not leave him and I will help him fight it with all that I have." She reached over, gripping his hand reassuringly. "Hopefully between all of us we will be able to keep Thorin from succumbing." He squeezed her hand in thanks. "And what about you and Kíli? Are you concerned about the dragon sickness taking you as well?"

He jerked in surprise at her question. She waited as he thought it over. "No. I'm not worried about us. Perhaps its because we were not born to that treasure and so don't feel its pull like Thorin does. We've never seen it, never been near it, only hearing about the great treasure in stories from those that were there. It is the legacy of our people and so I want to see it returned but beyond that I hardly think about it. There are more important things in this world than gold." He paused, seeming to laugh at himself. "I'm sure you're surprised to hear those words from a dwarf," he teased.

"It is certainly not something I would expect to hear but you are not your uncle, Fíli. You aren't going to think or do things the way he does. You're not going to want all the same things he does."

"I'm sure all that gold will be nice but its not the pinnacle of my desires. If I could have it my way I would not be Thorin's heir." He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "I truly hope he has a son to fill that spot." Rhae felt her cheeks warm a bit but said nothing. Of course it would be expected of her to give Thorin children and most especially a son to follow after him as King Under the Mountain. That particular situation wasn't something she'd thought on much; they would cross that bridge when they came to it. Right now they had more important things to consider, the first being how to escape Thranduil's dungeon. Fíli had said that Bilbo hadn't been captured but they hadn't seen hide nor hair of the hobbit in the days they'd been locked away. She couldn't think of any way out. Even if they could escape their cells, the doors to the Woodland Realm were sealed by magic, still leaving them trapped.

"I'll wager the sun's on the rise. It must be nearly dawn." Bofur's normally cheerful voice sounded so defeated that Rhae wanted to scream. She would have no problem slamming a fist in the face of any elf that was even in the tiniest way responsible for the state of the company.

Ori's voice piped up, fear and sadness clear in his words. "We're never going to reach the mountain, are we?"

"Not stuck in here you're not."

Rhae jumped to her feet in shock. "Bilbo!"

She wasn't the only one to exclaim in surprise. In fact they began to get so loud in their cries that Bilbo had to shush them.

"Shhh! There are guards nearby!" She watched as the Halfling first unlocked Thorin's cell , the dwarf lord giving the hobbit a grateful smile, then quickly moved to free the rest of the company. She grabbed him up in a tight hug. Never had she been so thankful for the resourcefulness of hobbits. Ori headed for the stairs leading upwards but Bilbo stopped them, indicating a different direction.

"Not that way, down here. Follow me." Rhae was surprised that the dwarves were able to sneak through the Woodland Realm so quietly. There was some whispering but nothing that she felt alarming. They finally came to the bottom of some stairs, stepping onto a wooden floor and were greeted with the sight of two elves passed out on a table, several empty bottles of wine laying around them. Her eyes widened incredulously.

"This way," Bilbo motioned, leading them further into what they now recognized as Thranduil's wine cellar.

Kíli was not amused. "I don't believe it! We're in the cellars!"

"You were supposed to be leading us out not further in!" Bofur said in annoyance. The rest of the dwarves began to complain and she tried to quiet them, reminding the group that there were two elves just behind them.

"I know what I'm doing!" the hobbit insisted. "This way."

They came to a large room with several barrels stacked on their sides in the middle of the floor. The company first stared at the open barrels in front of them and then turned to stare at Bilbo.

"Everyone, climb into the barrels! Quickly!" Rhae didn't need to be told twice. She trusted Bilbo and knew that their options for escape were slim. The rest of the group did not share her confidence.

"Are you mad? They'll find us!" Dwalin argued.

"No, no they won't, I promise you. Please, please you must trust me!" Rhae could hear the pleading in his voice and turned from where she was about to climb into a barrel. She caught Thorin's eye and saw the indecision there. Seeing her following the hobbit's instructions, not to mention the frown on her face, convinced him.

"Do as he says." The dwarves finally clamored into the barrels, much to Bilbo and Rhae's relief. As Thorin wiggled his way into one he looked at his wife, already laying in one of the top barrels, and saw her nod at him. If she trusted the Halfling in this then he would trust her. Once they were all in there was a moment of silence. They poked their heads out to see Bilbo standing at the end of the stack, his hands on a large lever.

"What do we do now?" Bofur asked.

"Hold your breath." They all stared at Bilbo in confusion.

"Hold my breath? What do you mean?" Bofur was cut off when Bilbo pushed the lever, opening a trap door beneath them, and the barrels rolled out and dropped into the river hidden below the floor. Rhae looked up to see the door snap shut.

"Where's Bilbo? Did he follow us?" Thorin glanced around at the others after she spoke, trying to locate the hobbit.

"I didn't see him jump after us," Ori told her.

Rhae grabbed the edge of Thorin's barrel. "We have to wait for him."

He nodded slightly. "Will give him a couple of minutes. If he doesn't appear we have to go. We can't risk the elves discovering where we've gone."

They waited in silence. Rhae began to fear that they would have to leave without him when there was a creaking sound and the floor tipped again and Bilbo fell into the river. Nori grabbed a hold of his arm and helped him hold on to his barrel.

"Well done, Master Baggins," Thorin complimented.

Bilbo just waved a hand weakly in his direction. "Go," he managed to sputter out. They began paddling with their hands, the river pushing them along. Rhae began to hear the sound of pursuit and knew their disappearance had been discovered.

"Hold on!" Thorin yelled. She turned around just in time to see the waterfall before they were dumped over it. The river was now a white frothy mass of rapids, the barrels nothing more than little corks to the power of its current. They were slammed into the rocky edges as the river twisted, sometimes a barrel being momentarily submerged as it hit a large wave of water. Rhae began to feel slightly sick as she was roughly tossed and turned and repeatedly thrown into the rocks. She could hear Kíli laughing hysterically somewhere close by and knew he at least was enjoying himself. They rounded a corner, spotting a guard post built over the river, and saw the elves hurrying towards it. Rhae knew what was going to happen even before the first elf got to the top. He pulled a lever, closing the gate under the stone walkway. The dwarf filled barrels piled up against its iron bars, unable to go any further.

"No!" Thorin cried in frustration. Rhae couldn't see what was going on in or around the guard post; she was completely underneath it, her barrel wedged next to the gate. There were sounds of fighting and then the unmistakable growling of orcs.

"Watch out! Those are orcs!" Bofur yelled, confirming what she had heard. She felt helpless as she watched the creatures throwing themselves at the dwarves. She watched as Bilbo managed to stab one that lunged at him and Dwalin elbowed one hard in the face. A sudden movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she turned to see Kíli climb from his barrel, leaping to the stone and running up the stairs to the walkway. She couldn't see what happened after that, slamming her hands against the gate in frustration. Rhae saw the same frustration on Thorin's face as he was wedged in the same spot she was.

"Kíli!" His brother's voice rang out, full of fear. There was an increase in the sounds of fighting above them when suddenly the gate opened and their barrels floated through. She heard Fíli call out his little brother's name again as the current whisked them down the river. There was a momentary sensation of weightlessness as her barrel went over another waterfall. She felt a stab of panic when she wasn't immediately popped back to the surface. She was trying claw her way out of the wood surrounding her when it finally reemerged, leaving her gasping and sputtering for air. Glancing around she realized her situation hadn't improved. There were orcs following them along the edge of the river, being closely pursued by the elves. As they approached a narrower section in the river, orcs on both sides began firing arrows at them, most falling harmlessly into the river but a few sticking into the sides of the barrels.

Thorin had gotten a sword at some point and slashed at the orc that leapt at his barrel. Seeing one jumping from an overhanging tree branch towards Balin, he threw it, pinning the orc to the tree. It dropped its weapon right into Thorin's hands as they floated underneath. He tossed it back to the dwarves and they passed it along until Fíli grabbed it, killing another orc. They were rushing towards another low hanging tree branch, this one with several of the creatures balancing on it.

"Cut the log!" Thorin yelled, slamming his sword into the wood as his barrel sped by. Several of the company behind him managed to do the same and Rhae cheered as she watched the branch give way, dumping the orcs into the raging river. The rapids seemed to intensify and she was sure she was going to be sick as her barrel spun wildly. She sunk to her knees, her hands gripping the top of the barrel, trying to suck in gulps of air. Waves of water kept breaking over her head, though thankfully she wasn't completely submerged again. Squeezing her eyes shut she attempted to quiet her mind, hoping that it would help calm the rest of her body, including her stomach which felt like it was going to plop right out of her mouth any moment. She could hear the yelling of the company, the growls of the orcs, and the calls of the elves but she was too dizzy to care.

Revised/Edited March 2016