Updated November 11th, 2021
Original Authors Note: This chapter and the next have some graphic, so if you cannot handle that, you may want to wait. This is going to be an INTENSE ride so hold on tight and don't give up on me. I promise, just hang on….so sorry. Love you!
Chapter Six
Tauriel kept looking to the door. It had been over a half hour since Dis and Viltarra had left, she wondered what they were up to. "Tarrah, do you mind watching Finli for a moment? I want to make sure they aren't in need of assistance."
"Do you think something is wrong?" Even as she asked, the dam was taking Tauriel's place near where Finli still sat on the floor, now playing with Kaw who was dancing around the babe while Finli choked out in laughter.
"No. But I think I want to check to be sure." Tauriel gave Tarrah a smile and stepped out the door and across the hall. She knocked softly before slowly opening the door to Dis and Thorin's shared sitting room.
"Dis, Viltarra? I just wanted to see if…" Empty. She took a second to listen in around her, but only silence met her sensitive years. Just to be sure, Tauriel knocked on Dis's personal bedchamber door before opening it, but that too was empty. Doing the same with Thorin's…knowing he was not home…she was met by yet another lifeless space.
Where could they be? Tauriel sighed. Maybe they went to the kitchens. Deciding to ask the guard when they left would be the next best idea, Tauriel left and began her trek down the hallway, until a blinding pain filled her mind and the eleth fell hard to her knees grasping either side of her head. She could hear Finli's screams down the hallway and began forcing the pain away.
The Eleth immediately jumped to her feet and ran down the hall, bursting through the door. "What happened!?" Grabbing for her son, Tauriel began trying to sooth him.
"Honestly Tauriel, nothing." Tarrah answered, looking stunned and surprised herself at the baby's sudden outburst. "He was just laughing at your raven, then he suddenly stopped and began to scream. No bites, nips, or falls. He just…"
Tauriel went white. That was not her son that had caused the pain in her head, but one who was connected to them both. "Kili." Tauriel breathed. Valar not again. When will they have peace? Kaw was making a kind of high twilling sound as he lifted a small black eye at her. Tauriel looked down at him. "Kaw, rad-ada."
The bird croaked and flew out the still open chamber door. She had opted asking him to find Kili in Sindarin, thinking it would be better than to alert Tarrah or her inconsolable son of danger that may not be anything more than an accident or misunderstanding. Maybe Kili got hurt in the axe competition he was talking about, or fell off the table after having too much ale.
"DA! DA!" Finli began to sob over and over.
"Shhh, calm my little star." Tauriel hushed, rocking her precious son. "Da is just fine. He will be here soon. Shhh."
"Tauriel. What is going on?" To her embarrassment, Tauriel forgot about Tarrah.
Tauriel sighed over her sobbing son. "Truthfully, I cannot say. We need to speak to the guard. Neither Viltarra nor Dis are in their room. The guard should be able to locate them. I need to find the boys as well. It is likely nothing, but, when he is like this, he will calm for no one but his father. Come."
Pushing her panic aside, Tauriel and the still wailing Finli slipped down the stairs. Tarrah, who was trying to remain calm, was only steps from the eleth who stopped at the guards at the bottom of the stairs. "Have you seen Viltarra and Dis? Did they come by here?"
They nodded at Tauriel, giving Finli a sad look. "Aye my Lady. They left by this way not a half-hour ago along with Prince Kili."
Oh no, that was precisely not what Tauriel wanted to hear. "Where is Thorin and Fili?"
"I believe they are at the training grounds my Lady." The elder guard responded. "At least, that is the last I heard, do I need to alert captain Aeodhen my Lady?"
Biting her lip, Tauriel thought. It could be nothing, but, she felt in her bones something was wrong. "As a precaution, I think that wise." She finally responded after a moment.
The guard nodded and disappeared, leaving the second guard in charge. Without hesitation, Tauriel made for the training center, still trying to sooth Finli. Kili was fine. Kili was probably helping Dis and Viltarra get something. He was fine. However, the painful throb in her mind spoke the contrary and caused Tauriel to pick up her pace.
The eleth's sensitive ears picked up uproarious laughter even over Fin's cries. Not caring about making a scene with Finli's wails for Kili, Tauriel slid into the room. Maybe the guard was wrong, or maybe Kili had headed back here. Her eyes searched even as all heads turned towards her and the screaming child. Long black hair, pulled back, with bits framing a smiling face and warm brown eyes was all she needed right now.
"Tauri! You look as if you could use a drink lass! Maybe 'im too." Dwalin chuckled but stopped as she stared at him. "Lass?"
Thorin pushed through the group. "What is going on? Tauriel?"
"Where's Kili?" Tauriel tried to keep her voice steady. To push her emotions aside. She was proud the small phrase came out smooth and semi-calm.
"What do you mean? He was heading up to say goodnight to you. Mahal. Not again." Thorin cursed.
Fili came up behind him, adjusting his vest and smiled, but the smile immediately fell from his face when he took in her expression. He looked at Tarrah who looked just as worried and then to Finli who's cries echoed off the walls. He was working himself up into a fit, his cries beginning to cause him to take great hiccupping gasps.
The room once filled with celebration and laughter, was dead silent. "Tauriel. Where's Viltarra." The seriousness in Fili's voice would have been frightening if she was not currently working herself up into her own internal panic. The voice in her head that sounded oddly like Thranduil was berating her about not having control over her emotions.
"I do not know." Tauriel quietly responded. The response could barely be heard over Finli's wails. "Her and Dis stepped out to go and retrieve something and they never returned. I thought little of it as they were only going to Dis's chamber until they had been gone for longer than expected. I sought them out but, they were gone. It was not until Tarrah and I approached the guard that I found they had left the wing at all. He was the one who had said Kili was with them."
Turmoil broke out but Thorin called for silence. He came towards Tauriel and pulled her aside, eyeing Fin. "You know something more, what is it nâtha?"
Tauriel nodded as Finli's cries covered their conversation. "My connection to Kili is, painful. Something is wrong, and all my instincts are screaming its truth. I believe it is why Finli cannot be calmed. He is connected to Kili as I am, if he felt the same…pain…I did, he knows something is wrong as well. I know it seems odd, but, it is my only indication and I wish I can say it has been wrong before, but it has not."
The dwarven king eyed Tauriel, taking in her pale complexion and troubled expression. "Go nâtha, take him up. We will find them." Thorin looked at Finli, then back at Tauriel, knowing the argument that was about to happen.
"NO! I will come too." Tauriel declared.
There it was, Thorin sighed to himself. "Tauriel. You cannot leave your son like this."
"I will leave him with Shaada, Thorin." Tauriel shook her head and responded. "He will be safe with her. Please adad. I need to go. I need to find him."
Thorin looked at Finli, stroked his head, and lifted his hands to take the babe. With hope, maybe he can calm him enough so he could at least breathe. At first Fin protested, throwing his head back and trying to grasp at Tauriel. Then, Thorin began to sing softly.
The vibrations coming from Thorin's chest were nearly identical to Kili's. Suddenly, hiccups turned to gasps, and gasps turned to sniffles, and finally, Finli quieted, the only sound coming from the soft hums Thorin was emanating.
Tauriel leaned in and placed a kiss in Finli's dark, thick, hair as the babe succumbed and lay his head on Thorin's shoulder, his thumb in his mouth, but his eyes wide yet unseeing. It was an eerie and haunting sight.
"Bofur, Bifur, Dwalin, go get Aeodhen and search the mountain. Tauriel, Tarrah, Naurfaer, take Finli to Shaada and meet us at the entrance hall. Everyone else, get your weapons and follow me."
Thorin passed a now calm Finli to Tauriel as she turned and left the room, Tarrah and Naurfaer hot on her heels. She reached Shaada's door and knocked softly.
The door opened and the dam smiled at the eleth. "Tauriel? I was not expecting you tonight. How can I be of service?"
"I am so sorry to impose Shaada. Viltarra, Dis, and…" Tauriel swallowed. "…and Kili are missing. I…"
"You need not even ask." Shaada stepped forward to retrieve Finli, who went limply into her arms. "I will make sure he is well cared for until you come back." Tauriel nodded and had to force back the tears as she watched her son for a moment more.
"Thank you Shaada." Was all Tauriel was able to get out as she forced herself away from the door.
They all but ran back up the corridors, but stopped just before the throne room. Tauriel turned to the other two with her. "Remain here, I will only be a moment."
Not waiting for a response, Tauriel raced up the stairs and into her rooms, grabbing her blades and bow before coming back down. Without a word, she shot past Tarrah and Naurfaer, who though he has said nothing, not once has stopped giving his granddaughter worried glances.
Fili was the first to come up to them when they met the group at the mountains entrance. "The guards at the gate said they saw them leave. Mam had told him they were going to be gone for a small amount of time to get some flowers, but that was the last they saw of them."
So, they were not in the mountain. Tauriel felt her hope slipping away, but one look at Fili made her realize that it was not just her who was missing their mate. "We will find them Fili." Even as she said the words, they felt like ash in her mouth. Saying them out loud likely helped Fili as much as they had helped her...not at all.
"They are probably at the forest's edge. There were some lovely bushes of roses and wildflowers there. If I know my daughter any at all, she would have wanted them as part of the ceremony." Vin smiled and placed a hand on Fili's tense shoulder. "They probably just lost track of time, or maybe they somehow got stuck. Keep the worrying for when we have enough solid evidence to do so." He then turned to Tarrah. "My gem, please remain here in-case they return and send word." Tarrah looked none too pleased to be told to stay, but agreed to wait in the mountain as a precaution.
Vin's wise words filled Tauriel with little comfort. They seemed to appease Fili, but her mind screamed Kili was far more than in danger.
Thorin began bellowing orders. "Break out in teams and scour the area. We are losing light and fast so be quick. Tauriel, can you use Kaw to survey from above?"
Tauriel shook her head. "I sent him to find Kili, and he has yet to return." Thorin nodded and began sending groups out. Tauriel stuck with Bofur, Fili, and Vin. The trio following Vin's direction towards where he thinks they may have gone and Tauriel used her senses to search beyond what dwarven eyes could see.
The eleth jumped when something bumped her side, but it was only Hiril who must have been released to help the search. The warg paid the group no attention as her nose pushed her in the direction they were already headed.
Tauriel began chasing after her and stopped in place when she saw the first of several orcish bodies. "THORIN! OVER HERE!" She called back over her shoulder.
"Great maker's hammer wha' 'appened!" Bofur searched the ground for familiar bodies, but none could be found.
"KILI!...KILI! WHERE ARE YOU!" Tauriel began frantically calling out at the edge of the woods, her eyes continuously searching the darkness within.
Hiril let out a howling cry a few steps away, and Tauriel turned to see her nudge something dark on the ground in the grass. She sprinted and fell to her knees. Kaw. Her beloved Kaw. "Oh, my little darling." Tauriel cried as she stroked his feathers. The raven gave a small croak and gasp for air at the contact and Tauriel sighed, relieved. He was alive, but his wing was far from well. He will likely survive, but it is unknown if he will ever fly again.
"Tauri! Come see this lass!" Tauriel placed her vest over Kaw to keep him warm and help with the shock before she stood to follow Bofur's voice. She could see Fili yards ahead with Vin looking over something. The eleth turned to Bofur who was kicking one of the felled orcs. "This one aint dead."
Thorin reached them and looked down at the orc who was gasping shallowly, not far from death but alive enough to talk. The king bent down and pulled at the axe blade in its neck causing the orc to open his eyes and gasp in pain.
"I thought orcs didn't feel pain?" Thorin gave him a chance, just one. The orc looked up and laughed but stopped when Thorin grabbed the axe once again. "Where are they?" He demanded.
"Somewhere you will never find. Not if you searched for a thousand-years dwarf." The creature gasped.
Thorin growled then bellowed, "Tell me WHERE THEY ARE!"
His demand was once again met with laughter a second time, followed by a wet, blood filled, cough. "Go back to your mountain dwarf. Mourn your king and his kin. You will see them no more. The sons of Durin will either succumb, or fall." A final laugh and the orc went silent and still, the last breath he took leaving him like a hiss.
Thorin roared and slammed his blade into the orc's chest. The creature was already dead, but Thorin needed a momentary outlet for his frustrations, though it did nothing to help. "Search the forest, search the trees. FIND SOMETHING!"
Tauriel stood and went into the forests where Fili and Vin had disappeared. Seeing them several yards away, she ran towards them. "What is it?" Tauriel knelt down beside Fili who was looking at something in the mud.
"Tracks. But they stop at the river." Fili picked up the pendant he had given Viltarra, the clasp was broken, meaning it had fallen off her at this point. He gripped it in his fist and bowed his head.
"Fili, we found a live orc, he said 'mourn your king and his kin. You will see them no more'. It just, does not make sense. Thorin is here, as are you. They only have Kili and Kili is not the king." Fili looked up at her, but he honestly had as much of an idea as she did. So, they continued to scour the area for anything to go off well into the night and into the next day, but they would come up with nothing.
Viltarra could feel her legs ache fiercely as she was once again, pushed forward. She stumbled over a root, cursing as she tried to right herself. "Keep moving, dwarf!"
The dam grumbled at the order given by one of the elves. "I could if you would remove this stupid rag around my eyes!"
"And have you try to escape again?" Came the frustrated response. "Not likely, now move or die dwarf. We only need one of you to live so one or two dead would be no matter to us."
Mahal, Viltarra hopes Kili and Dis are alright. She has not seen either in hours thanks to the rag. She has no idea if they were awake yet but at least that elf had given away enough to know they live, or, at least one of them lives.
Viltarra knew they had been walking all night, but was having difficulty gaging the distance or direction they had gone. She felt herself be forced to a stop and someone saying something in a language she had never heard before. It was not elvish or Khuzdul, or any form of mannish she has heard on her travels.
"It's black speech."
Viltarra felt relieved. "Kili!" She whispered happily. "You're alright!"
"Aye." Kili sighed. "My head is killing me, and I cannot see a thing, but, I am okay. Mam?"
They both waited but no words came. "I don't know Kili. What are we going to do?"
Before he could respond someone came back and they were moving again. Viltarra felt the change from a crisp autumn morning to a stale, cold, air as they were forced forward. They both lost track of direction as they were winded through corridor and finally were thrust onto the ground where their blindfolds were removed.
Kili looked to Viltarra who was looking at Dis. Dis looked a bit out of it, but she was conscious for the moment. She nodded at both to signal she is alright and Kili took stock of their surroundings.
The room they were in was cavernous and in ruins. Dilapidated stone heads lay on the ground in crumbles and a large opening where it looked as if a long-gone glass window once took up most of the wall sat behind an old stone throne. Orcs lined the entrances as did a handful of male elves. Then there was one female who stood staring at the group with emotionless blue eyes. Her long red hair that peaked from her hood made Kili's heart painfully clench. He leveled a glare at her, but she only stared back, clearly unphased.
However, the red head did stand straighter when a taller, more imposing elf walked in. "Did I not say bring the child?! What is this? Someone better explain immediately."
"My Lord, we were presented with an opportunity to capture all three sons of Durin, I could not pass it up. Would they not serve as a better prize, a better…substitute? We know they are susceptible. The child was an unknown."
Child?…Finli! Kili growled deep in his chest. "You come near my son, and you will die before your eyes have a chance to fall on him."
The once silent she-elf stepped away from the wall. "Spirit. I like it. You will need if for the road ahead dwarf prince." Kili glared at the red-head who was smirking back at him.
"Elbereth, enough."
The eleth leaned back against the wall silently, the smile still on her face as she watched the tall elf come closer to them. He was as tall as Thranduil, with long black hair and deep blue eyes, not unlike the female smiling at him. He looked at Kili, then at Viltarra and Dis before turning to the two elves who had taken them. "Tell me again who you brought me?"
One gulped and looked at the three on their knees. "The sons of Durin my Lord."
"Mmm. Funny, I see only one son of Durin, the other two are females. Useless the dwarrowdams are, but he will do. You might live yet if your plan works. We only need one, after all. Take them down to a cell. Elbereth, when you are ready, he is all yours."
Kili did not like the look of pleasure that swam on her face, but he had little time to dwell as they were once again on the move. This time, Dis, Kili, and Viltarra were taken further into the compound and eventually pushed into a cell with the door slammed shut behind them.
"Why is it I keep finding myself in a cell!? I never had this problem before I met your family." Viltarra's declaration had no bite to it, despite the annoyed tone.
Kili gave her a small smile but turned his attention to Dis who began to have beads of sweat form on her brow. "Mam?"
"I am alright darling, just a bit out of sorts." Dis sighed, then looked at her son and Viltarra. "We need to come up with a plan."
Kili eyed her but nodded. The longer they remained here, the less their chances were of getting out alive, but first, they needed to get their hands free. "Viltarra, if I turn my back to you, do you think you can get these robes off?"
Viltarra looked at Kili's hands. It looked as if it was only a rope with a basic knot, so it should be simple enough to untie. "I think so." She turned her back to Kili, blindly grasping for his hands and lifting herself on the balls of her feet to get a little higher and reach the knot placed on top of his wrists.
"Why must you be so freakishly tall!" She lamented as the balls of her feet began to ache.
Kili rolled his eyes and bent his knees a bit to make it easier for her. "I'm only a few inches taller than Fili, and I am shorter than my own wife. I would not call that freakishly tall, dear sister." Viltarra froze even as the rope fell to the ground and Kili rubbed at his sore wrists. He turned to her and saw the look, instantly regretting his use of words. "Oh, Viltarra. I am so sorry. Tauriel is always berating me to think before I speak, I don't think it is a talent or skill I will ever possess."
The dam nodded and turned her back to him. "Can you unbind me please?"
Kili nodded and attacked the ropes with vigor, easily undoing the knot before kneeling and doing the same for Dis. Kili watched her rub her wrists warily. Something was wrong…she is being much too quiet. He kissed her temple and stood, taking Viltarra's hands in his. "I will do all I can to get you home and back to Fili. I swear to you." He pulled the dam into his arms and held her tight.
Viltarra sighed. "I believe you Kili. Thank you. I would like to know why they kept saying they had three sons of Durin."
"I think I know the answer to that." Kili stated as he pulled away. "Mam is wearing Thorin's coat, that mixed with how well they resemble the other means to the untrained eye, and maybe in the distance, she looks enough like uncle to be mistaken as him. AND this…if I am correct," Kili pulled at Viltarra's vest, "…is Fili's. You and Fili have similar colored hair. I can understand the mix-up. I do not like it, but I can understand it."
"Idiots can't tell a dam when they see one." Dis scoffed but wrapped herself further in Thorin's coat. For warmth or for comfort, Kili did not know.
"We need to get out of here. They have some plan that sounds as if it includes me, and I am in no hurry to find out what that is." Kili stepped towards the cell door and craned his neck to peak out and see if there were any guards. The way looked clear, so Kili pulled a clip from his hair and reached around the bars to the lock. These things rarely were a challenge for him. It only took a moment and the lock "clicked" freeing the door.
"I do not know if I should be proud or mortified you can do that." Dis gave her son a pointed look.
Kili rolled his eyes as he stepped out and checked the hallway, making certain nobody was coming, then turned back to his mam. "Decide when we get back to Erebor. They mentioned my son, I will not let them near him. We have to get back. Can you walk mam?"
Dis was already on her feet but she stumbled and leaned heavily against the wall. Concerned, Kili stepped towards her. First, he checked the deep bruising on her face, likely a concussion. He then opened the greatcoat belonging to Thorin and looked for any indication she had been wounded, but the only spot he could find was a small nick in her side. Kili ripped the hole open to inspect the wound that was no larger than a gold coin in length. He had received worse from parchment. The size was not what worried him however, it was the slightly familiar black tint that was apparent around the edged.
"No." Kili breathed. What did Tauriel call that? A morgul wound? Poison is what it came down to. "Mam, I am going to need you to stay strong."
Dis lifted a hand to Kili's cheek, rubbing her thumb along his stubbled jaw. "I am not going anywhere my darling. Let us be rid of this place." Still, Kili eyed her with worry. He needed to get her to Tauriel or Ivethin. They can help her.
Stepping out of the cell, Kili waived them forward and they inched their way out of the cells and into the dark, mazelike, corridors. Whoever had them captured, there were not many of them. At least not that Kili could tell with all the deserted halls before them.
This place must be an older ruin as many of the walls were cracked and some of the rooms they passed had been caved in. Even the ceilings above them were barely hanging, supported only by what looked to be very decayed beams of wood.
Luck was on their side, as they found a main corridor with an exit and ran out into some sort of outdoor garden. Or what had been a garden at some point.
Kili took Viltarra's hand as the dam supported Dis and they walked through overgrown hedges. But a sound had the young prince stopping and listening, his eyes searching for where the noise had originated; someone was yelling orders not far behind them. Their time was up, their escape had been discovered. Cursing, Kili tugged on Viltarra's hand and pulled her and Dis around bend after bend.
The footsteps were coming behind them and getting louder, which could only mean they were getting closer. Yet, Dis's labored breath could be heard over the yelling guards and approaching orcs. "Kili, stop. Leave me behind. I am slowing you down."
Kili, however, ignored his mother's pleas. "No mam, I am getting both of you out of here. Come on."
Spying a gate ahead and forest beyond, Kili felt his hopes rise. Kakhf, if was locked and the mechanism was either nonexistent, or missing on this side of the gate. He pulled the clasp from his hair again and reached through the gate to begin picking the lock on the outside.
These bars were smaller, making it more of a challenge to get the pin in the right spot. He could feel the ache in his arm as he forced it through the bars in an odd angle in order to reach the lock on the opposite side.
"Kili…."
"I know Viltarra. Just one more…"
The click sounded and Kili pushed the door open just as several orcs ran around the corner. Cursing again, Kili grabbed Viltarra and Dis and shoved them through the gate, then to Viltarra's horror, slammed the door shut between them.
"KILI! NO! What are you doing?! Open this!" Viltarra was yelling as Dis fell to the ground.
Kili grasped the bars as he shook his head no. "I need you to get mam out of here, otherwise she is not going to make it. Go get help. This is the only way Viltarra. Now go!"
The young prince gave her a sad look as the dam began to realize what he was doing. Kili could ask Viltarra to give his love to Tauriel, to tell his son he loved him too, but, it is likely he will not survive this, which meant Tauriel will not survive either, and Finli…his Fin will be raised by loving uncles and grandparents. He turned out fine being raised by Thorin, so will Finli. With a set resolve, Kili ran back at the orcs and threw himself into battle.
Viltarra tugged at the once again locked gate even as she saw Kili race into the oncoming orcs. She looked down at Dis who was panting on the ground. Fire and forge! With no other choice, Viltarra grabbed at her...well, in all technicalities, mother, and began dragging the half conscience dam away. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she pushed the panic aside as she looked around the dying forest. Direction. She needed direction.
There was a path ahead, but it would be best to stay off it. Readjusting her purchase on Dis, Viltarra made for a trek alongside the road. It was not easy and several hours into her walk, she had to put Dis down to take a break. Going this rate, she would never make it back before Dis gave out fully.
Morgul wound. Morgul wound. What had Tauriel said about how she healed Kili? She let her mind slip back to the few times she spoke with Tauriel about her healing experiences. Viltarra was never comfortable around a sickroom but did possess a few skills she had learned on the road to heal a wound. Her father had said it was necessary for her to learn in case something happened and she was the only one that could help.
However, Viltarra's medical expertise was limited to how to clean a wound, stitch it, and wrap it. As a baker, she was not unfamiliar with knife wounds and has had to stitch them herself a time or two when gold was tight. None of that helps with poison though. Tauriel had mentioned a plant, what was it!
"Come on Viltarra, you can remember every ingredient and cooking instructions for hundreds of recipes, but you cannot remember a plants name…or lines for your wedding for that matter." The dam tugged at her hair and looked around. Tauriel had said it was considered a weed to men, but not dwarves, and had small white flowers…KINGSFOIL! Viltarra searched the ground and huffed out a laugh. There was some on the ground barely a yard away! A huge patch of it. She dropped to her hands and knees and pulled, grabbing as much as she could carry.
With no bag, Viltarra contemplated how to carry it until she pulled her handfasting sash from her pocket. She fingered it for a moment and sighed, placing the large bundle of flowers in and wrapping it up tight before shoving it into Thorin's very large coat pocket on Dis. She was about to heft the dam up when her luck ran out once again.
"Well, here you are." That is all Viltarra heard before her world dimmed and she fell to the ground in a heap beside Dis.
"What does he want done with them?"
The elf looked down at the pair of female dwarves. "I was told to throw them into the lower pit and remove the ladder. Lord Herdir wants them alive, for now. Said they may be of some use if the other one doesn't cooperate."
The next time Viltarra woke, it was to rain falling from above. She opened her eyes and groaned. The light streaming in meant it had to be at least mid-day if not later. It was difficult to tell with the dark clouds and pouring rain.
Standing, Viltarra took note of where she was. They were surrounded by walls on all sides, some of which held cracks large enough for Viltarra to realize they were partially underground. The hole above her had to be at least 30 feet up, if not more.
With the walls being unclimbable and no ladder in sight, Viltarra came to the realization that there was no way out. They were stuck, and likely going to die here, unless someone came and found them. Viltarra pulled Dis away from the dripping rain and sat her against the wall. She searched Thorin's coat pockets and thanked Mahal when her hands came across the over-stuffed sash.
Tearing a clean piece of fabric from her blouse she untucked, Viltarra stood under the opening to get it moist and sat beside Dis. She opened the jacket and began wiping the wound the best she could. It was so small, and so shallow there was not much to clean. She took some of the kingsfoil and ground it in her hands a bit before placing it on the wound. It was a complete guess and she prayed it would work. She then took the sash after placing the large pile of kingsfoil on a fallen stone, and wrapped the sash around Dis's waist, securing the end.
Viltarra observed her work and sat back against the moist wall, placing Dis's head in her lap and stared ahead. "Where are you Fili?"
Kili struggled at his restraints. He was strapped to a table in a dark stone room. His only hope was that Viltarra had gotten a way, reached Mirkwood or Erebor, and would be coming back with reinforcements soon. He could feel the blood drip from his nose and lips from a very one-sided battle he was quick to lose.
Kili knew his being re-captured was imminent, with any luck though, it gave his mother and Viltarra the chance they needed. If not, he will be meeting them both in the halls of Mandos soon, along with his wife. His poor precious Finli, his beautiful son. He prays Finli will one day forgive him. There is little doubt Thorin and Fili will do well by him if Kili does not survive.
A light filled the room as the door opened. Kili turned his dark eyes towards the red-headed she-elf. "Awake are we? And how are you feeling?" Kili pierced his lips.
"Not talkative? I heard dwarves rarely kept their lips closed. Your people always seem to have something to say." She walked into the room and adjusted some of the straps and he shifted at the coldness from her hands. "No matter."
Kili's brown eyes followed her as she pulled a box from somewhere he could not see and tipped it upside down, something small falling into the palm of her hand, and she held up a simple golden ring with a sizable gem attached when she realized he was watching.
"Already married, thanks but no thanks." Kili tried to move his hand away when she approached with it, but the restraints would not give.
"There is that spirit." She grabbed his hand and forced the ring onto one of his fingers and stood back as if waiting for something.
Kili looked at the ring then back at her. "Am I supposed to model this for you or something? Have you got a matching necklace to go with it? Although, I recommend a broach. Very lovely, broaches are. My wife hates them. Too gaudy she says."
"SILENCE!" The eleth yelled. "This may seem all games to you, but, you will soon realize the severity of your predicament. It is curious, however, that you are exhibiting none of the signs of being affected."
"Affected by what?" Kili asked, rolling his eyes. "A ring? You will have to try harder."
The eleth snorted. "Oh, believe me dwarf. This is only the beginning. Unfortunately for you, it appears we will need to...help your mind along with accepting the ring. I had hoped it would come to this. I very much enjoy this part."
The she-elf, Elbereth, Kili remembers, pulled a long dagger out. "You see, for some, more weak minded beings, it does not take much. Put one of the rings on and their minds are ours. For others, their mind fights the ring. For how long, is dependent on how strong willed they are or how resilient to pain. Amazing how, influential, pain can be."
Kili gasped as she pulled his boots off his feet and placed the dagger at the bottom of one foot. He felt his entire body clench as he felt the knife cut into the soft flesh, but he withheld his screams. He would not give her the benefit of hearing his pain.
For hours, Kili became her plaything, until the door opened, and a familiar elf walked in. Kili was panting, exhausted from holding back his cries, but he looked up and laughed. The elf who had just walked in, was wearing a makeshift patch over his eye.
"Missing something?" Kili taunted. He probably shouldn't, considering his predicament, but hey, they have already been torturing him, and were likely going to kill him anyway, so what was the harm. He lifted a brow at the elf with a patch over his eye. Kaw. His good bird.
"Elbereth, our Lord wants an update."
Elbereth eyed the elf then Kili, before nodding. "Yes commander. He is fighting the power, whether he is knowingly doing so or not is unclear."
This, commander, glared at Kili who was closing one eye in a mocking fashion. "Clearly, you have not broken him yet. Chain him to the wall, I think I would like a moment with him."
Kili wagged his eyebrows at the commander. "You know, normally I insist on a drink first. But for you I'll make an exception. Always wanted to court a cyclops."
The hand came before Kili could brace himself, and he spit out some blood from the hit. Seconds later, a pair of orcs came in and they removed the bindings and pulled Kili to his feet.
The dwarven prince gasped in pain when his cut feet hit the cold, stone, floor. "Ah, there it is." The commander smiled. "Now, against the wall."
"You know, my wife says that to me sometimes. I fear I will never hear that phrase the same way again." Kili teased between pants.
"Let's see if we can shut you up." Kili grasped at the chains and pressed his face to the cold stone as he felt the first crack of the whip. He counted in his head. Two. Three. Seven. If he can just, endure, and hold it in, they would not win. But nearly an hour of whipping and Kili's resolve crumbled.
Viltarra looked to the darkened sky she could just make out through the small gap. So far nobody has come to check on them. Considering there was no way out but up, and no means to reach that high, she is not surprised none had come to see to them. The rains had left several puddles and Viltarra scooped her hands in one and brought the cold water to her lips. She scooped some more and knelt beside the other dam.
"Dis?" Viltarra looked over at Dis who sat against the wall with her eyes closed. She was pale and breathing hard. Not good signs. "Dis I need you to drink something." The older dam opened her blue eyes, identical to Fili's, and smiled softly, nodding. Viltarra helped her drink before she sat beside her.
The pair sat quietly for a time, but Viltarra jumped to her feet when an ear-piercing scream filled the silence.
"Kili." Viltarra breathed as tears fell from her eyes. She looked down at Dis who was trying to get herself up.
"Kili? KILI! LEAVE HIM ALONE! KILI!" Dis's yells ricocheted off the stone walls before her strength gave out and she fell to the ground, sobbing. "Kili. My precious baby boy."
Viltarra sat beside Dis and pulled her into her arms. What can she say? Maybe that was not Kili? Unlikely. We will get out of this? Equally unlikely. Instead, she remained silent and listened to the screams that pierced their souls for the next hour. After that, the night went eerily silent.
Original Authors Note: Yes I know, horrible. I told you I was in a bad place. I wish I could tell you it gets better in the next chapter…wait. Hang on let me go back and check…WELLL depending on your definition of better….
I will have it to you tomorrow though. I hate things lingering so I will get these posted as quickly as I can proof them. I have to also finish a paper for my international business class. Shudder. You know what, I will try and finish proofing it tonight. There is no way I can sleep after reading this chapter. Sorry. Again. Don't hate me. Hugs!
PS: the next few chapters may need a run to the store for tissue and chocolate. Just saying.