Reforged and Strengthened

by jezzibee83

A sequel to Reforged. Reforged and Strengthened follows the Reforged Universe and the lives of our favorite Sons of Durin and their elf, Tauriel. Watch as they fill their lives with adventure, love, and family in a world they earned through hardship and battle. Read Reforged first.

43. ACT IV Chapter SIX

Authors Note: Sorry this took an entire week. It's a longer chapter and there has been A LOT that I have to fix and adjust, then go back and REPROOF, then fix and adjust again. Takes honestly way too long for something I do just for fun, lol. Go ahead and enjoy.

Chapter Six

Viltarra paced the small structure with four cots inside, clearly frustrated. Tarrah was watching her from where she sat on another cot just across from her, while Vin kept following his daughter, attempting to hand her a plate of food she was refusing. "Gem, you need to eat something."

Thorin lifted a brow as he looked up from a map he was currently going over with Bard, who was trying to search through old, surviving records, to find some clue as to why they had not found anyone in either pile.

"TWO days. We have been searching for TWO FULL DAYS! And we have found nothing. No signs of anyone. Why are we in here and not still going through rubble!" Viltarra glared at her parents, then at Thorin and Bard who had all but ordered her to stop an hour ago.

"Not quite two days, and we still have more than enough out there clearing the wreckage, Viltarra." Thorin grumbled as he turned back to the map. "You have been working nonstop since the quake. Take some time to rest." He too wanted nothing more than to keep digging until he found his family, but they needed a plan. There HAS to be a reason why they have not even found evidence of a single one of them having even been there. By now, they should have found a body, or clothing, or something. But all they have from four days of non-stop labor, is a growing pile of brick and building rubble.

Huffing, Viltarra plopped down on a free cot and took the plate her father forced in her face. She was kind of hungry, so if she cannot go out and help, she might as well eat.

"Maybe this is something…" Bard pulled another large, mostly singed, piece of parchment and pointed to some faint lines crisscrossing the city. "It almost seems like there is some kind of underground system. It makes no sense, as in reality…those should not even exist. This map…." He scanned the document. "Actually, predates the city by nearly a few hundred years, and it is as if someone came in as an afterthought and drew the borders of Dale. If you look here, and here…" Bard pointed to the outline of Dale's walls. "These lines and styles do not match the other clearly older and more faded lines drawn. This map was updated after the city was built." His suspicions were confirmed when he flipped the map over to find two dates etched in the corner and his eyes went wide. "Make that a thousand years before Dale. My god, this was under our city the entire time. How did we not know?"

"You have been in Dale for only three years Bard, and all of your efforts have been focused on the structures above ground. You could not have known." Thorin pulled the map closer so he could see the dates for himself. "This map predates Erebor as well, we likely would not have any record either." He flipped the map back over and studied it silently, his eyes scanning all of the twists and turns the supposed subterranean corridors took, but not one seemed to make it above ground. Thorin rubbed his fingers through his beard on his chin and nodded. "There seems to be no in or out to these halls, but it is our best bet to where my nephews and daughter fell in. It may be faster to get through another way. Do those other maps show any entrances we can get through? Perhaps your ancestors used them for something?"

Bard searched the other rolls of paper, his finger tracing the nearly completely faded lines for several minutes before he shook his head and sighed in frustration. "Either they never found them, which I find hard to believe, or the more likely reason, they purposely chose to keep them hidden. But why would they do that?"

"Because perhaps this was not their land to take." A soft voice filled the tent as both Thorin and Bard turned to see Legolas flanked by Nagar and Nelithi enter. "Forgive the intrusion, my father sent me to see that all is well here in Dale, as well as in Erebor, as he had not received any messages from either of you since the quake. It would appear you may be in need of some help and I would like to offer my assistance. Did you say Tauriel is missing?"

Thorin grumbled then nodded. He was hoping to not have Thranduil's intervention on this matter, but at this point, however many he can get to find his family, he will take. "They have been gone since the quake the day before yesterday. Her, Kili, Fili, Naurfaer, and several others. How goes Mirkwood?"

"We have much damage, glass that must be reworked, and several downed trees that are far older than even your mountain." Legolas said as he made his way over to the table where the two kings had the maps they were studying rolled out in a pile. "My father said this quake was nearly as bad as the one that hit the area four-thousand years ago."

"So it was something natural then? I had feared it could have been something…more." Bard said, almost relieved that they were not dealing with anything nefarious again.

Legolas nodded. "From time to time, yes, they happen. May I?" Thorin pushed the map to the elven prince who scanned the document while the two other elves stood silently at the door. "Where did you find this map?" Legolas asked, peering at Bard.

"It was part of our records. Why? Do you see something you recognize?" The Lord of Dale looked back over the map as Legolas nodded his head.

"See these?" He ran his long, slender, finger along the nearly completely faded decorative border of the one side of the map not burned or torn. "It is old, and I cannot read it, but I recognize it from some manuscripts in our own records hall. It is said to be from a race of elves thought to be a myth…but now I am not so sure. My grandfather was fascinated by them and collected every account he could find of the people who were once called the Búlë kal nórë. If they did exist…and this map is correct…" Legolas eyed Bard, "…then these were once their lands. Your forefathers, if they came across the underground caverns, kept them quiet as to keep their hold on the city in fear my grandfather would claim it as elven lands by right."

Bard stood and stared at the young prince. "And now? If it is correct…would you claim it as yours now?"

The elven prince folded his arms and stared hard at Bard. "Fear not, lord of Dale, my father is not my grandfather and has no interest in your city, though he may like to know what was found and may request your permission for our scholars to study these halls if you will allow for it." Bard thought for a moment, then nodded and Legolas continued. "He will, however, be rather interested to know Tauriel is missing. He speaks of her often and I believe his true motivation was to ensure she was well."

Thorin stood rigid, but forced himself to relax. He may have an amicable agreement with Thranduil, but he still was not overly fond of the elf…which he believes the sentiments are quite returned. However, what Thorin never understood and will likely never understand, is why the elven king was so cold and harsh to Tauriel, banishing her and nearly executing her one moment…only to act as if he genuinely cared for her even so much as nearly ordering her to return to live in Mirkwood just a year ago. These elves can be confusing, if this is how they show they care, he is glad his daughter has had a chance to see what true love and affection is through joining his family.

Still, he will welcome whatever help if it means they can speed up the process of getting Tauriel, Kili, and Fili back home safely. "That tower fell over and we believe just before it did, the street collapsed on either side, which was where Kili, Tauriel, and Fili fell in. The tower was the issue as it collapsed over wherever they fell…at least….we are hoping that is the case, and our biggest concern is the tower collapsing further as we continue to disturb the area."

"How can you be sure they are still alive?" Legolas asked. His voice was not harsh or cold, rather he was thinking realistically.

Bard stared back down at the maps, bracing his hands on the table. "My ten-year-old daughter is with them. Call it a foolish hope, but until I find proof of the otherwise, I will believe them all to be alive." He closed his eyes as his head dropped. "I never should have let anyone near that tower. We knew it was unsafe which was why it was closed off and barred shut, but we never thought something like this would happen."

"There is a saying I heard on my travels once…" The dwarven king spoke softly. "…a cracked egg in a pot, will never a fledgling hatch." Thorin lifted a brow. "I believe it means what is done, is done and cannot be undone."

"An interesting choice of phrase." Vin chuckled from the other side of the room and Legolas quirked a brow in amusement.

"Interesting saying, and unfortunately true." Bard agreed, once again staring at the map. "It appears we don't have any other choice but to keep digging and hope to find an entrance. The lines are far too faded to see where they go, and the map is burned mid-town, so they could end up anywhere in Dale."

"Or perhaps…not in Dale at all." Legolas added. "The city Búlë kal nórë, if it existed, could doubtfully be in the exact location as Dale. It would logically be in the area, perhaps several miles from here. But the direction, I cannot say. What I can say, is we are here to help. I do not have many, my father gave me a dozen guards to bring. The rest, I am afraid, are helping to restore Mirkwood and could not be spared."

Bard moved from the table and placed a hand on the elven prince's shoulder. "We appreciate whatever help you can offer."

Thorin nodded his own agreement. "I will call for more to come from Erebor. We could use more hands in digging, and I will have Dwalin lead a team around the perimeter of Dale, searching for any indication of a hidden entrance. Can't ask for anyone better than a dwarf to find hidden tunnels."

Bard fully agreed and watched Thorin leave the room to send Kaw back to the mountain with a message to Dis, Balin, and Dwalin. At least the large raven was eager to help, often seen circling the skyline of the city calling out for Tauriel and Kili whenever he was not needed as a messenger for Thorin. While the dwarven king sent his message to Erebor, Legolas sent his own message to Thranduil then ordered the elves with him to begin working on clearing rubble with the humans and dwarves.

Thorin watched the black raven fly to Erebor with a troubled expression. Why had they not found them yet? Any of them. He felt every bit as frustrated as Viltarra and Bard. Deciding he needed to do something to keep his emotions at bay, Thorin opted to not return to the tent and instead, turned to pick up a shovel and join Aeodhen who was using a stick to try and get a purchase on a particularly large brick with an elven guard who had just joined them. This was not going to be easy.

"How are your feet, Tauriel?" Tauriel hummed and looked over at Kili who was already removing one of her leather boots as she sat back against one of the brick walls in the wide corridor. It was not lost on her in any way, that since their little argument earlier that day, not once had Kili called her his favorite nickname. He was clearly still displeased with her, though he seemed to be trying to hide it or push past it. Which reason it was, she did not know, neither could she tell. Her dwarven husband was better at hiding his emotions than she was.

Looking at her swollen ankle, Tauriel slowly pulled her foot from Kili's gentle grasp before he could touch the sensitive flesh. "They are fine Kili. No worse than anyone else's who have walked the same distance today." They had been going nonstop and only now, decided to rest after hitting many dead ends, doors leading to caved in halls, and turns that had them going in circles.

Naurfaer guessed they had only made an hours' worth of progress…for nearly ten hours of walking. The humans were the ones who put their foot down, Rosyn complaining loudly about blisters forming on her feet, and Bannick all but shouting for them to stop for at least a few hours to rest. Tauriel, just wanted to get home, and would take whatever pain and discomfort it caused her, to just keep going. She was not interested in resting or comfort, all she wanted…was to get home to her son.

Kili, however, narrowed his eyes at her and reached back for her foot. Even in the darkness, he could see the blisters beginning to form at the base of her heel and the swollen size of her good ankle. He had not even pulled the shoe off the bad ankle yet. "You don't need to hide things from me, Tauriel. I can not just see, but I can feel your discomfort coming from you. Why are you doing that? Why won't you just let me share your pain?"

This time, Tauriel did feel Kili's dislike through their link and she stared at her husband who was almost glaring at her. "I am not doing it on purpose, Kili." Tauriel tried to ease his mood, but Kili was not buying it and wordlessly continued to remove her other shoe. He hissed as he looked at the black and blue ankle, tracing it with the pad of his finger.

"I thought you were supposed to heal quickly?" Kili lifted his eyes to her.

"I used to." Tauriel huffed. "But it seems the worse the injury is, the more time I now need to heal…far more time than I ever needed before."

"It is her mortality." Naurfaer surprised them both as he seemed to come right out of the shadows and knelt down to Tauriel, taking her foot from Kili and looking it over.

"Starlight, you never said your ankle was this bad." The taller elf looked at her, shaking his head. Tauriel set her jaw and attempted to pull her foot away, but Naurfaer held firmly to it, and gave her a disapproving look. "Stop it, I am trying to make sure your stubbornness has not damaged it further."

"It is FINE!" Tauriel growled through her teeth, sounding more like Thorin and less like the now over 600-year-old elf that she was supposed to be.

"It is NOT fine, Tauriel!" Kili yelled. The entire group went silent, all having had been in their own conversations as they took a break.

The younger prince glared at the group who had turned to watch him, and they went back to their own business after a brief moment of silence. Kili turned back to Tauriel, his jaw set in a hard line. "It is not fine." He repeated, his voice lower this time. "This, is not fine." He pointed to the ankle Naurfaer still held. "You have to tell me when you are suffering, you need to communicate, so we can help you."

"Help me? How, Kili!?" Tauriel shot back. "We are, Valar knows where. I don't even think we are in Dale anymore, and have not been for some time, unless we are going in circles still as we have been doing all day. The city is not that large, we should have found a way out by now…but all we hit are dead ends, and doors leading to piles of rubble. This place keeps going on unceasingly, but there must be an end somewhere. I want to be done with this as much as you do, but the only way we can all truly rest, is to keep going."

"You need food." Kili added, sitting hard on the ground at her feet and despite his annoyance with her, still picked up Tauriel's uninjured foot and began kneading it gently with his fingers.

"We all need food, Kili." Tauriel sighed, leaning back and groaning involuntarily at the pressure. Kili made certain to avoid the angry red welts forming from her boot and continued his ministrations silently, trying to ignore his own stomach growling. Admittedly, some of his frustration may be from being hungry; nearly an entire day with no food is a long time for a dwarf to go, and far too long for an expecting mother.

Tauriel felt her bad ankle be placed on something soft, and realized Naurfaer had removed his vest and balled it up, placing her ankle so it was slightly elevated. "It will help with the swelling a bit. Unfortunately, I can do nothing for hunger or thirst. We need to get out of here. Maybe I should track ahead."

"Absolutely not!" Tauriel snapped. "We are staying together. Give me a few moments, and I can be up again."

"Tauriel, Tilda is fast asleep, and you are not the only one who needs a rest." Kili sighed. He looked over at the human girl who had her head resting on Fili's thigh as Leotti tucked her cloak around the young girl who was shivering in her sleep. They felt cold and heat differently, dwarves and elves, so while the humans all had their hands and cloaks wrapped tightly around their forms, the five dwarves, and two elves, were not bothered by the mild temperature in their underground prison.

"Hey, little sister, nobody is going to separate, we will all stay together." Fili whispered. He knows his brother and sister are currently having some sort of tiff, and he won't really get into it…but that does not mean he won't do what he can to keep her stress low. The last thing they needed in this situation, is for his very pregnant sister to go into early labor down here. He shot his brother a look, Kili simply locking his jaw and continuing to work the knots out of Tauriel's foot.

There was a spell of complete silence, and Kili placed her foot down. "As much as I think we need to get some idea of how far this goes, Fili is right. We are not going to leave anyone behind. We will all stay together. But…" Kili stared hard at Tauriel, "…I need you to understand something, Tauriel. Though you think you are sparing me some pain or discomfort by keeping everything to yourself, all your sufferings, all your worries, and fears. You are doing the opposite in fact. This hurts me far more, than any shared pain we can endure together." Not waiting for a response, Kili rose and walked away; opting to speak to Dynni and Naglur who had the light and were inspecting an archway ahead with more runes and images, rather than remaining with Tauriel.

The eleth's emerald eyes followed Kili before they went back to her ankle. "I never wished to hurt him, ever."

"I think he knows that, though I doubt it helps." Naurfaer answered. "He loves you, and he is worried."

Tauriel nodded and closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the stone walls. The cobblestone laden ground had turned to dirt days ago, which would have been their first clue that they may have left the limits of the human city behind, though the runes and images on the walls became more relevant and detailed as they went. At one point, they even passed two large statues of what seemed to be feathered dragons, though one was missing a head, and the other, the wings were long turned to rubble scattering the ground. Naurfaer has had a time with reading what faded runes he could, whispering his findings reverently to Tauriel and Kili, who seemed to be the only two who were interested.

Yet with all the twists and turns they had gone, it was nearly impossible to figure out where exactly they ended up. If Tauriel's senses were right, however, they were heading the opposite direction of Erebor and her forest. But what was beyond Dale? She did not know, as she had never been further than the lonely mountain.

"Starlight." Tauriel hummed, then slowly opened her eyes to look at her concerned grandfather. "Your mortality is seeping deeper into your spirit."

The eleth nodded, her heart breaking at the sadness in his eyes as he looked at her. "I feel it, auduadarya. More and more each day, I feel it. I never quite understood what it was to get older because my entire life was spent in Mirkwood around other elves, but now that I have spent time intimately with other mortals I see it, and each day I feel as if a stone has been piled on my own soul, pulling me down more and more. What is going to happen?" Tauriel's voice was quiet and nearly had a fearful quiver to it as she finished, proof that although she was 600 years old, she was still very, very young.

Naurfaer moved and sat beside her, placing an arm around her and pulling her tightly to him. "I don't know." He answered after a few moments. "This path you chose, is a unique one, but not one you are on alone, Tauriel. You have to learn to trust your heart, and those around you to catch you when you fall." He looked at his granddaughter for a moment. "And remember…we are not going to walk away from you, starlight, if you fail, or get hurt. You, are not on your own anymore, I have told you this, yet you hang onto some false belief that you are only worthy of love and affection, if you are infallible."

A tear fell from Tauriel's eye, and she turned her face into Naurfaer's shoulder. Hurting Kili, is never something she ever wanted to do, yet it seems as if she had done just that. "I had to be so in Mirkwood. Failure, was never an option for me, weakness, could never be seen."

"First of all, everyone fails, starlight. Everyone. Me, you, Kili, Thorin, Dis, Thranduil... I can guarantee you, that even the great Manwe has had his fair share of failures. It is how we learn and develop. Could you hit the center of the target when you were first handed a bow?"

Tauriel shook her head and Naurfaer gave her a knowing smile. "Of course not. Because you needed to learn and improve before you gained the skill. Emotions, I like to think are nothing but skills we learn to gain control over, just like the bow and your daggers. The more you use them, the more you understand them, and the better control you have over them…and by control, starlight, I do not mean hiding them away." He arched a brow, despite knowing she could not see him.

"You, are mortal now." Naurfaer said softly. He brushed some of the hair that had come out of her braids away from her face. "That is more than just, knowing your life will expire at some point. Because, honestly, whether or not you are mortal, there is an end to your life. That end could be in a few months, or several thousand centuries; by illness, blade, or when Arda itself comes to an end. Regardless on how, eventually, all life here on this world will expire. Even my life will have an end, Tauriel. But I know that you can already see that there is far more to mortality than your life ending. Your body, as an elf, was perfectly preserved, and injuries are simply, re-mended. But I know your senses are already diminished, starlight, and though you are stronger than any human, and much more resilient, your constitution is now closer to the dwarven people you love. Even their strength outweighs your own, though your speed and agility will always be superior to theirs."

Tauriel chuckled. "Except for now. I do not believe my agility is any better than a trolls." She looked down at her stomach and sent some love to her son who was rather displeased recently, likely feeling her own discomfort combined with the lack of food and water she has had recently.

"I beg to differ; I quite remember you taking Naglur down just last week. His strength may be greater than yours, starlight, but with your training, and quick movements...even in your condition...you will always have the advantage."

"That...is not necessarily true." Tauriel sighed. At Naurfaer's look, she continued, staring darkly into the wall across from her. "Dwalin was able to not only surprise me, but also keep me in his hold when I first met him. That was not the only time either, Aeodhen nearly took me down, and even Thorin got the better of me when he was under the influence of the Arkenstone. Clearly, I am lacking...lacking in so many ways." Tauriel softly finished, looking to Kili who was nodding and patting Dynni on the shoulder.

"First off, you are not lacking, Tauriel. So enough of that." Naurfaer admonished quickly. "Dwarves are strong beings. It is well known, that a dwarf can quite easily overtake an elf in brute strength, and can even have the advantage in certain scenarios. However, the one thing elves have over dwarves, is our centuries of training, our speed, and our agility. That is it. So you were distracted, and Dwalin got the better of you. That does not make you lesser. Not to mention, Thorin, was under the influence of a powerful object which was feeding his mind. I doubt even Thranduil would have done better than you, and you were trying not to harm him. Factor that in starlight."

"What is more, Tauriel…" Naurfaer continued before she could interrupt. "…is you are trying to learn how to adapt to senses you were used to relying on your entire life. It is little different to someone losing a sense like sight or hearing and trying to adapt to a new way of living. It is natural to make mistakes and fumble as your system learns, adapts, and adjusts to its diminished senses. That is not to say you are not still you, Tauriel, your centuries of training and skill is all still there. That is apparent on how well you took down Naglur, fought and survived in a battle of 100,000 orcs and goblins, and let's not forget to mention a certain trove of spiders AND clearing out that fort last year? Alone?"

Tauriel huffed out a laugh, remembering the massive number of spiders she blindly took down in her rage, in addition to the orcs who were still in that horrible place where they had taken her beloved from her. She shook her head as her amusement quickly turned to fury, even catching Kili's eye as he turned to look at her, concern clear in his expression despite the fact he remained where he was. She really had some making up to do.

Naurfaer hummed, knowing he was right, then sighed dramatically. "Too bad we are no longer living in the great days of old." Tauriel looked at him, torn between her curiosity, and not really wanting to know when he used that particular tone. She was not given a choice, however, because whether she wanted to know or not, Naurfaer was going to say what he wanted to say. "A dozen or so thousand years ago, I knew of several elven lords who would shave the heads of young elves, then place a spell on them to remove their sight before setting them high on a mountain. It was their right of passage to make it back without their vision, only using the skills they had acquired over time and training paired with their other senses to survive and make the journey."

"An why did they remove their hair? Seems like a wee bit much don' it? Wha' does havin' yer hair taken have ta do with provin' yerself? Elves." Naglur grumbled as an afterthought from where he was clearly eavesdropping as he sat directly across the wide corridor.

Naurfaer, however, shrugged. "I never asked, but I did help out a few of the younglings who were struggling. For one thing, I never thought it was a winning idea, and considering it was done away with long ago, many others felt the same. I think, if I had to guess, though, it was to help do away with vanity. Would you like me to help you with that, starlight? A clean start."

"Touch her hair, and I will kill you." Kili growled from across the corridor. He loved Tauriel's hair. Even when he was not himself, he loved Tauriel's hair. If anyone so much as threatens, or even hints, at cutting it or altering it in any way…they will be getting the full on Durin's son's wrath and be introduced to the sharp end of his sword.

"I'd like to see you try, little prince." Naurfaer challenged.

Having reached his limits likely from the lack of food and frustration of still being stuck down here, Kili stormed over to Naurfaer only to be stopped by Leotti who placed a hand on his shoulder. "Kili, he did not mean it."

"Alright, enough is enough." Tauriel sighed and pushed herself away from her infuriating grandfather when Kili was getting visibly...and mentally...upset. Naurfaer, though wise most of the time, can act like a child at the worst moments. Though truthfully, they were all about at their limits by this point and if anyone were to snap, it would likely be her Kili…or Fili. "We need to just, rest. We will press on in a few hours."

"I am going to look ahead." Before anyone could stop him, Kili stormed into the darkness.

"KILI!" Tauriel called, straining to get to her feet.

Fili, thinking fast, carefully placed Tilda's head on the ground; making sure to pull Leotti's cloak up so there was something soft between her head on the dirt floor. "It's fine Tauri, I will go with him. Naurfaer, think you can make another light?"

Naurfaer shook his head. "Take this one. Just, don't go too far."

"I am coming too." Tauriel attempted to bend and grab her shoes, but a sudden pain ripped through her side and she cried out as she fell against the wall.

"TAURI!" Fili moved quickly but Tauriel lifted her hand.

"I'm fine Fili." She took a moment to catch her breath.

"No you're not. You both are being stupid, and stubborn. You are far from fine, and in no reality are you coming with us." Fili helped her sit back down as she clutched her side until the pain was gone completely. "You need food, and rest, and we need to get out of here." Before Fili rose to stand and follow his brother, Kili came running back, looking at Tauriel with apprehensive eyes.

"What happened!?" Kili dropped to his knees and leaned forward, grasping Tauriel's face as he anxiously looked into her eyes. He was simultaneously checking on her, and his son. His very hungry son who needed food, like Tauriel.

"She tried to follow you, Ki. What else do you think Tauri would do?" Fili huffed and stood. They were trying to keep their voices down, as Bannick had begun to snore along with his wife…both clearly needing sleep. Dynni and Naglur too chose to sit against the wall and rest, though they were both watching Kili and Fili while they had light. They would remain behind to help guard the group from…nothing. There was virtually nothing in this place.

Kili glared at his brother, then turned to Tauriel. "Stay, rest. I need to get you out of here. What was that, by the way?"

Tauriel shifted, feeling the pain just a bit more, though it was gone just as fast. "I believe, it was nothing but a cramp, Kili. Give me a moment, and I can get up."

"No." Kili shook his head, giving her a stern look. "You, will stay right here. That is not an option Tauriel. I won't lose you, and I won't put you or our son's life in danger. Stay. We will be back soon." Rising to his feet, Kili gave Tauriel one final look, and walked away once more…Fili shaking his head and following with the light.

Tauriel felt more than heard Leotti sit beside her, though she did take her hand as the light faded, fully encompassing them in complete darkness. "He will be fine Tauri." The eleth heard her friend say softly.

"I know." Tauriel answered, though her eyes never left the darkness Kili and Fili descended into. After three hours with absolutely no light, Tauriel lost the ability to remain awake, and closing her eyes for only a moment, she was completely lost to her dreams.

"Tauriel…" The world around the eleth was dark and foreboding, but there was a light coming towards her. It must be Kili and Fili returning. Rising to her feet, Tauriel began walking down the dark, empty, corridor…heading straight to the light ahead of her.

"Kili?" She called back as she walked barefoot across the dirt floor. Where did everyone go?

Transfixed by the light ahead, Tauriel continued to move forward, ignoring the pain in her feet as she stepped on the small, sharp, rocks as she went. "Kili?" She called again. But nobody answered. As the light grew, Tauriel's pace picked up speed. Something did not seem right. Kili was admittingly quite upset with her, but he would never completely abandon her…would he? Of course not. Her mind argued with her.

Yet another part of her mind snapped back, that she hurt him by keeping things from him…whether it was intentional or not…so he should leave her. She deserves to be left behind. She was, after all, left by her parents. Her grandfather left her to Mirkwood. Thranduil banished her from the only home she knew. It was only a matter of time before these dwarves would see she is undeserving of a family. Undeserving of love.

Suddenly, Tauriel's foot hit a smooth, cool, stone and it stopped her in her tracks. Looking down on the ground, she of course saw nothing. That did not feel like any of the rocks she had been stepping on. Using the wall as support, Tauriel lowered herself to the ground and ran her hand around the dirt and sharp rocks until she found the smooth, round, stone her foot had just hit, and she once again lifted herself to her feet.

Running her fingers around the stone, she felt the grooves of an etched in word and traced the dwarven runes now so deeply familiar to her. Innikh De, the stone read. "Return to me." Tauriel whispered to herself. This was her runestone, hers and Kilis. Why was it here? It was usually on her bedside table, next to the framed portrait from her birthday that Kili, Thorin, and Fili had made for her.

Tauriel wrapped her fingers tightly around the stone and continued to walk forward. The corridor was getting warmer and the light ahead brighter as she moved. It appeared to be an archway of sorts, and the closer she got, the hotter it became. At least now, she could see clearly with the light spilling into the corridor. "Hello? Kili?" She called again.

Yet only silence filled her ears. Knowing she had nowhere else to go but forward, Tauriel continued to step through the archway and had to shield her eyes from the blazing light of the room. "Tauriel, please take your place before the mark."

The eleths eyes widened as she stared at the scene before her. It was hazy, but very real. There, with leaves and twigs in her hair, was a version of herself seemingly no older than Toki. She remembered this day. It was to be her first trial with the bow. She was the youngest to be allowed to do so, Legolas having had praised her skill so well, the elders had allowed it.

Tauriel looked away, she did not wish to see this, just as she did not wish to remember it. She heard the murmurs of judgments criticizing her rumpled clothes and wild manner. She had been practicing so hard the night before, she had fallen asleep beneath the tree and was nearly late for her trial. All she wanted to do, was to prove she belonged there, to show she was special. Maybe then they would accept her.

Unfortunately, her large ears had heard the harsh words whispered about her, and it pierced her ten-year-old heart, and she immediately began to doubt herself. Still, she took a deep breath as she held her bow steady, loaded her arrow, and shot. But she missed her mark. Twice more she tried, and twice more, she missed her mark.

Having been standing on the outside, Tauriel watched the look of severe disappointment cross Thranduil's face, as he wordlessly walked away, never again coming to one of her trials. Some of the younger elves laughed at her, and the instructor shook his head. Nobody came up to her, nobody comforted her, even as tears began to fall down her small cheeks, she stood there alone. Until, that is, the instructor excused her, and she ran into her forest and sought comfort in the trees…her only friends, who could never talk down to her. It was the first memory Tauriel had, that made her realize how alone she was in this life.

"Tauriel…" Wishing to get away, Tauriel eagerly sought out the voice but was once again privy to a memory she never wished to re-live. "My lord, I am…honored…by your suggestion, but I must respectfully decline." Tauriel's heart hardened as she watched a now, somewhat elder, version of herself who had only just reached her five hundredth year. It was when they were allowed…if they choose…to begin courting.

Oh…she remembers this quite explicitly. Thranduil felt it was in her best interest, to seek a mate to…what was his words… 'Calm your temper and teach you restraint in your emotions.' Naturally, he would never force a match, but he quite readily pushed elves in her direction at every turn hoping that one would look past her…eccentricities…and take her as his wife. He would see her wed to anyone, as long as it was not his son.

This particular elf, was only one of many, but, the difference was, he had no qualms with sharing her elven shortcomings with the entire court. Though, she did often wonder if he in fact knew she was there in the shadows of the overhang listening, would he have been so forward with sharing his judgments, and thoughts of her.

Thranduil, simply lifted a brow at the elf named Taerith. He was a Sindar elf and a son of one of Thranduil's counselors. She should say IS the son of a counselor, as he was quite well when she saw him last…though part of her would very much like to amend that very fact with a few choice flicks of her daggers. She huffed to herself and forced herself to watch the memory play out as Thranduil began to speak. "And why, would you deny such a request, may I ask, with so little chance given to her?"

Taerith did not even look nervous or intimidated, then again, he was considered the epitome of what an elf should be, proud, intelligent, controlled, and always one step ahead of his emotions…so maybe he just hid his apprehension well…or not. "I mean this with no disrespect to you, my Lord, for I know she is not of our people and only dwells here in Mirkwood out of the kindness of your benevolent heart. But Tauriel is most certainly, as wild as a fire in the dry season. She lacks all decorum, and follows her emotions to their fulfillment rather than learning to withhold them."

Even now, Tauriel snickered. He never really even talked to her, let alone gave her any type of chance. None of them really did at this point in her life.

"She is young, Taerith, she simply needs to learn." Thranduil sighed.

"Young she may be, my Lord, but I do not wish to subject myself or my family to her…exotic nature. But there is more, I do not feel even an inkling drawn to her features. There is nothing graceful about her, not in her mannerisms nor in her character. The largeness of her ears and that vibrant hair only distract from any, amiable, features she may have. Many, including myself, say even those are lacking in attractiveness. I can say much more, but the final notion I wish to infer is the creature's keen interest in a violent attitude. Just yesterday, she threatened to take a blade to Otwyn, who had only sought to correct her stance in training. She lacks all humility, grace, and decorum, my Lord, and truthfully, I feel these traits are permanent."

After several moments of silence, Thranduil nodded. "I do understand, and agree fully. I thank you for your honesty and perception. You may go." Taerith bowed and gracefully left the room and both the younger Tauriel, and the elder one bristled.

The eleth hated that it took nearly an entire century to realize Taerith was very wrong. She had humility and she had grace. As for decorum, Tauriel quite believed herself to have proper etiquette and has never once been told otherwise by her dwarven family. What Taerith was basing his opinion off of, she did not know. It was not as if she stood and danced on the tables during meals, or was loud or obnoxious in any right. She spoke up for herself, was unafraid to question those around her, and would not take ill-taught instructions from somebody who knew not what they were talking about. Otwyn was hindering in her corrections, not helping, and Tauriel called her out on it. Otwyn was the one to instigate the situation, Tauriel just finished it.

"That girl shall never be matched." One of the councilors in the room said, shaking his head as Tauriel turned her attention back to the proceedings. "I will never question your decision to make her a captain, my Lord, but, that child is far from one of us. Whatever her parentage is, she is not of any clans associated with Mirkwood, and I often wonder if she is part something different from the eldar altogether."

Thranduil hummed. "I do not disagree on her parentage, but her skill in battle is quite nearly unmatched for her age. I made her captain, because she surpassed her peers with great precision, as well as those far older than her. I made her captain, because she proved herself capable of the position. It was no easy feat, but she earned it."

"It is all she will ever earn here." The councilor sighed. "I can see why none wanted her as a child. You did try and get several couples to take her on as their own, did you not?"

Tauriel stared hard at the two elves she had known her entire life. She remembers the pride and joy that had filled her that moment when Thranduil spoke so highly of her. He had never said such things to her in person, though Legolas often relayed these kinds of messages to her privately whenever they were training together. But, she also remembers every feeling of joy, happiness, and validation leaving her when she was frozen to the spot on the balcony above, listening to them speak of something she had always longed for…a family.

"More than a few times, in fact." Thranduil placed a hand on his chin as he leaned against the armrest of his throne. "Each one declined, afraid her…unique qualities…would soil their family names, and their lines. Tauriel was always a difficult and emotional elfling."

"Was?" The councilor breathed out a small laugh. "If it was not prince Legolas himself who had brought her here, claiming to have seen the destruction the orcs left behind, I would have believed her to be left at our gates, abandoned by her own kin. Perhaps they visited Lothlorien and looked in Galadriel's glass then chose to take her to a sanctuary nearby. For all we know, they are out there in their own clans having given her over to another who would willingly take up responsibility to raise her." The elf clasped his hands before him. "Difficult to love, that girl will always be."

"Well, she is a ward of my court, Alasyr. Should nobody want her as a match, she will simply continue to fulfill her position as captain. Whether or not her parents wanted her is neither here nor there anymore. The records state they are dead. I tire of speaking about this. Tauriel resides here, regardless of if she is wanted or not. We must make the best of the situation." Thranduil stood, and began walking away, not seeing the devastation on the eleth only 100 years younger than she is now.

It was not that Tauriel was completely without friends in Mirkwood, though the few she had apart from the elven healer Ivethin and of course Legolas, only became her friend after she rose through the ranks as she did. In truth, she actually lost more friends than gained for such a feat. But through it all, not once did either Ivethin nor Legolas ever judge her. But she was alone much of the time, so very alone. She would dream of having a mother and father, or a sibling, and she would beg the stars every night to send someone for her, someone like her, someone who understood her and accepted her flaws and all.

Legolas, was the closest thing she had to someone who loved her in Mirkwood, and to this day, she will always consider him far more than a friend. But it was not until a company of dwarves came to Mirkwood a century later, that Tauriel found true love and companionship for the first time in her life. But even that was…is…not perfect.

Brushing the tears away that were cascading unceasingly down her cheeks, Tauriel backed from the scene and turned only to see another, one she had seemingly summoned. "KILI!" This time, she was watching an adult version of herself running under bridges in search of Kili. Valar she did not wish to see this. Her mind, seemed to have other ideas as the moment she opened her eyes, she saw the lifeless form of her dwarven prince in her arms. He had left her alone. She should have gone with him, in that boat on Lake Shore. She should have taken his hand in hers, and followed him. Instead, she watched as the light left his eyes completely, and he left her. Just like her parents, he left her.

"Tauriel…" Whipping her head around, Tauriel came face to face with the object of her thoughts who was very much alive, though he was scowling at her. "I have been calling you. Why didn't you answer?"

"KILI! I am sorry, I just could not find you." Tauriel moved forward to touch him, but Kili moved several steps back.

"I came to say goodbye." Kili folded his arms across his chest and watched her with a cold expression on his normally warm and loving face.

Tauriel stared hard at him, confused. "Goodbye? I do not understand."

Kili rolled his eyes. "Now I know you are lacking in communication skills, but I did not think that extended into your ability to comprehend the basics, Tauriel. We made a promise, that we would be open and honest with each other. But no matter what I do or how hard I try, you refuse to share everything with me. To even trust me! I don't even know you, do I? Because clearly, you keep important things from me. I have given you everything I am, but in return, I get only what you feel like sharing. So I am going to do what is best for me, and my family, and dissolve this." He signaled from himself to her. "Just remember, you did this to yourself." Kili shook his head. "You know…they were right in Ered Luin, it is impossible to truly love an elf. Goodbye, Tauriel."

Before Tauriel could respond, Kili had turned from her and began walking away. "Kili?" She cried out. "KILI! I AM SORRY KILI! COME BACK! PLEASE!" She could not let him go, not like this, never like this. Taking a step forward, Tauriel stopped instantly when her bare feet hit a rocky shore and she could feel the burning heat of flames kissing her cheeks. Lifting her eyes, Tauriel could see the blazing city of Esgaroth ahead of her. She could also see Kili walking towards the flames as if the water of the lake did not exist.

"KILI WAIT!" Tauriel began to chase after him, calling out to him to stop as she ran across the rocky shore, but she soon lost her footing and fell to the ground. Tauriel watched in horror as the rune stone slipped from her hand and hit a large rock so hard, her precious stone shattered into pieces scattering the rocky shoreline. Crawling on her hands and knees, Tauriel scooped up the pieces and began to sob. Broken. They were broken. The runestone, her and Kili, they were broken and it was her fault.

"Tauriel…"

The eleth brought the shattered pieces to her chest as she heaved with sobs. At least until a roar filled the air, and she lifted her head to stare at the lake. Her heart stopped as from where Kili disappeared, there was now a dragon rising from the ground, who was not but fire and bones, and began stalking towards her. Tauriel tried to back up, but she was unable to move, all she could do was cover her face as the dragon's enormous mouth came down on her, and she screamed.

"TAURIEL!" Chest heaving, Tauriel blinked in the darkness around her, until she realized her arm was covering her eyes. She removed it, and tried once more to look around. She could feel her heart still racing, even as she locked eyes with a very concerned looking Kili.

"KILI!" Before he could say a word, Tauriel had launched herself at him, Kili barely had a chance to react and catch her as she wrapped her arms firmly around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. "I am so sorry, please, don't leave me. Please, Kili. I am so sorry. I promise, I will be better. I promise." Over and over, she pleaded and cried. Thranduil would be filled with disappointment if he saw her now, completely giving into her emotions and unable to control them like an elf her age should.

"Leave you?" Kili pulled her tightly to him. "Tauriel, I told you I would be coming back."

"I think she was having a nightmare." Naurfaer quietly relayed, giving Tauriel a concerned look and rubbing her back lovingly as she leaned into Kili. "Ithildin was prone to night terrors when she became stressed, even into her adult years. There would be many nights when her thoughts were racing so much, she refused to sleep altogether; afraid of what she may see. Not to mention, we already know Tauriel herself is prone to them, from your journey here, just a few years ago…though those were just slightly different and forced onto her by a creature of darkness. I personally found Tauriel more times than I can count in the throes of a nightmare when you were…well….last year."

Kili nodded and began running his fingers soothingly through Tauriel's long hair. He has shared a bed with his wife for almost four years, he knows she gets nightmares, but they are never this bad…excluding the ones Sauron gave her…he shuddered at the memory as he clung to his wife. "Hey now, I am not going anywhere. I told you we would get through this."

"I broke us. I…it is my fault. It is only a matter of time before I cause you to wish to leave, they all leave…or want me gone from their lives." Tauriel whispered.

"What?! You did nothing of the sort, and that is certainly not true." Kili gently pulled Tauriel's face away so he could look at her. "If we break, from something as small as a communication error, then we were not strong to begin with. I for one, do not believe that for a moment, Tauriel. We are unbreakable, you and I. You're stuck with me, I am afraid. I believe I told you not so long ago, you would have to put an arrow through my head, to be rid of me. That is as true today, as it will be fifty, a hundred, even four hundred years from now. It is you and me against the world, Tauriel. Never forget that." Kili leaned his head forward, pressing his brow to hers.

"Amralime, we have things to talk about, but I am not ever going to leave you, and we are not broken. I am sorry if I made you think otherwise. I am just, so worried about you, and about Fin. I was not raised to hide how I feel, and I understand we may clash with our upbringings more than a few times because we were taught and raised so differently. But we will work through it. We just…need to get out of here first. Okay?"

Kili felt Tauriel nod against his head and he pulled her tight against him once more, her head nestling into his neck as she wrapped her arms tightly around him.

"Tauri…" Fili squatted next to his brother, having brought the light closer to the pair. Naurfaer was still rubbing her back and Leotti was quietly sitting on Kili's other side, watching her friend with a worried expression. The rest of the group was getting ready to move, while giving them a moment of privacy. Even Tilda sat a few paces off, just watching quietly as she tried to wake from the few hours of sleep she just had.

Fili brushed some of Tauriel's hair away from her face and gave her a smile when he caught her eye as she turned her head in his direction. "You have more than just Kili, little sister. You have me, and Viltarra. You have Naurfaer, Thorin, and mam. You have family, and friends in Erebor who would not abandon you. None of us are going anywhere and there are no conditions for our love and friendship." Leotti too nodded her agreement. She was still a bit shocked to hear her friend scream, which unnerved her a bit. Something was bothering Tauriel, and she did not quite understand what it was, but she would be there for her friend in any way she can. It seems like right now though, the one she needed most, was exactly where he should be, holding her close. It made her miss Ori though, all the more.

The moment Tauriel's knees began to ache, she pulled away from Kili. Her prince followed her, however, and brushed the tears from her eyes. "Enough of these, ya? You have nothing to worry about. I want you to put all those dark little voices in your mind away completely, because they are wrong. Besides, we have enough stress with what we are going through without those added nuisances, I really don't want you to be worrying about you and I anymore because we are fine. It is not good for you, or the baby, to keep berating yourself unnecessarily." Kili closed his eyes, and leaned forward, pulling her lips to his as he simultaneously sent his love for her through their link. It was exactly what she needed right now, which should not surprise her, because Kili always knew what she needed.

Tauriel hummed and sighed into the kiss then pouted as Kili pulled away. She then scowled when he began laughing at her expression. "We can resume that later." He wagged his eyebrows and got to his feet, leaning down to help her up as well.

"Any luck with finding a way out?" Naurfaer asked, rising himself and retrieving the cloak Tauriel had been sitting on and placing it around her shoulders.

"Yes…and no." Fili answered.

"Well is it yes…or no?" Leotti said with a huff, not in the mood for Fili or his riddles.

"I believe I said, both." Fili lifted a brow in challenge.

"There is a slope upwards just about a mile ahead, but it stops at what looks like some sort of underground spring. Fili was not sure if the light would work under water, so we decided to come back and talk with everyone. It is likely, it exits out into a lake or reservoir. We just don't know how far we would have to swim underwater to get out…or if there is even a large enough space to get through." Kili interjected before Leotti could snap back at Fili. Honestly, he was tired of being down here, and just wanted to be home with his wife, and son.

There was some muttering from Dynni and Naglur before surprisingly, Rosyn, the woman from Dale and Bannick's wife, nodded in agreement. "Then we shall swim. Will that light work in the water?"

"Of course." Naurfaer nodded. "Is everyone able to swim? Tilda, little one?"

"We lived on a lake, my da taught me how to swim before I could walk." Tilda answered. "And I can hold my breath longer than anyone at home, including da."

"Very good." Naurfaer praised. "Well, let's go then."

Leotti looked apprehensively at the group walking ahead of her as she wrung her hands and followed silently. It took just over an hour for them to walk to the pool, with the last half taking the longest as just like Kili had said, it was quite an incline. It really did not make much sense considering they did not fall far. The only explanation Leotti could give was they had slowly been descending deeper into the earth this entire time. She feels like she should have noticed that particular detail as a dwarrowdam.

When they reached the pool, Leotti's anxiety only grew. She had slightly hoped Kili was exaggerating about the water, but just a few meters from where she stood, there were several steps that led down into a large, black, pool of water. The surface moved and waved calmly as if taunting her, and the occasional ring would ripple across the top from droplets of condensation falling from the ceiling.

"Well, does someone want to check it out? Or do we want to risk all going in together?" Bannick asked, as carefully took the several steps down to the pool and carefully knelt at the edge of the water, sticking his hand in the surface. "It's a bit cold too." He sighed.

"I will go first." Naurfaer volunteered. "I can hold my breath much longer than any human, dwarf, or even elf. I will need the light though."

Fili handed the light to Naurfaer and nodded. "Do you want me to come with you? Might be best to have two of us go."

"Do you think you can hold your breath long enough? It could be awhile." Naurfaer eyed Fili, who was tying back his hair into a knot on his head, not unlike Viltarra's, using a piece of his tunic he tore off.

"I can hold it long enough. Let's go. I miss my wife, and I really want to get out of this place." Without much preamble, Fili stepped down into the pool and shivered. "Mahal, it is cold." He sent Kili a wink and waded further in until he was completely submerged then popped back up. "Oi, Naurfaer! You commin?"

Naurfaer nodded and lifted Tauriel's chin to look up at him. "We will be right back. I don't want to hear any more talk about people leaving you, because I won't ever be doing that. None of us in this family will."

"Thank you." Tauriel said quietly, and smiled when her grandfather pulled her into his arms.

"Stay safe, starlight. We will be back soon." He gave his granddaughter one final smile, then followed Fili into the water. It was cold, but he did not feel the need to exclaim it. Many of them already looked apprehensive, so he kept his thoughts to himself for once, and with a deep breath, the pair dived under the surface…plunging the small cavern they left behind into darkness.

The reservoir was deep, but seemed to consist of only one corridor sized tunnel. Fili easily kept up with Naurfaer, pushing himself through the dark water and following the light the elf had in his grip. He forced his focus on going forward, but after a time, he could feel his lungs begin to burn. He would need to turn back soon, and they would have to form a different plan, because if he cannot go this long, he doubts either of the human adults, and certainly not Tilda, could make it.

However, just when Fili was about to signal Naurfaer to stop, the tunnel curved upwards, and Fili kicked his legs hard to gain speed to reach the surface, but was stopped by what appeared to be a hatch of some sort. Signaling for Naurfaer's help, Fili and the elf frantically pushed against the barrier. But it was Naurfaer pulling one of his blades out and shoving it into what seemed to be a locking mechanism Fili missed, that had the trap door slowly floating down enough for Fili to swim through and break the surface with a deep and heavy gasp for air.

"Well, this is interesting." It took a second for Fili to get control of his heaving chest, then he looked around as he stood in the shallower parts of the somewhat large, semicircular, pool. They were in a massive, dimly lit cavern that looked well lived in with large barrels and crates lining the walls with torches on each side bringing both light and some semblance of warmth. The pool took up most of an entire corner of the room and was seemingly being filled by water cascading down the walls out of the mouths of the same dragonlike creatures Fili had seen depicted numerous times in the corridors they left.

Pulling himself from the water, Fili listened for any movement, or steps. "I was hoping that maybe we'd end up in some lake or even a lower level of Erebor, but I know for certain we didn't."

"Definitely not Erebor. Our mountain is several miles southeast of here. But this does seem to be inhabited." Naurfaer wiped the water from his face after climbing from the pool, and looked about the room. Though the area was lit and warm, nobody seemed to be around. "Whatever it is, it is definitely not abandoned, or it would not be lit up like this."

"Should we get the others?" Fili picked up some discarded ceramic bowls sat on the edge of the short ledge containing the pool of water. The craftsmanship was not of dwarven make, at least not that he could recognize, it actually didn't look elvish though either if he compared it to Mirkwood's styles. He placed the bowl back on the ledge and turned away from the pool. Several empty buckets were stacked against the wall and another few were sitting on the pools ledge by the bowls. "I think they use this area for the water, if there really is someone down here."

Naurfaer nodded. "I think we should go back, and decide on what to do as a group. At least here, we can seek out an exit, rather than dealing with that endless corridor."

Fili agreed and both climbed back over the ledge and into the water, waded to the end closest to the wall, and disappeared into the depths once more. Had it taken them just a moment more, they would have seen two hatted dwarrow, stepping into the room, one looking curiously around. "What is it, Barzâ?"

"I think, it was nothing. But I thought I heard someone. Go ahead and continue to the feeding in your assigned area, you know what happens when they are kept waiting. I still need to get my water." The second dwarf nodded, and Barzâ stared at the water pooled around the base of the fountain, then eyed the dark rippling surface for several moments, before getting the buckets and going back to work.

Fili was again, the first to pop up, shaking water from his hair as he carefully waded to the dirt covered stone steps. Naurfaer came shortly after, not even bothering to rid himself of excess water, he was likely going to be wet again very shortly anyway.

"Well?" Tauriel asked, pushing herself from the wall and walking towards her dripping brother and grandfather.

"There is an outlet, but it is a bit of a distance away. We can make it though." Naurfaer looked at the little girl who was at Kili's side, and knelt down to her level. "It is a bit of a ways to go though, little one, do you think you can make it?"

Tilda looked up at Kili then at Tauriel, before turning her eyes back to Naurfaer. "Yes. I can do it."

"Brave girl." Naurfaer tugged on an elven braid Tauriel must have put in her hair while they waited in the darkness, and Tilda beamed.

"I cannot swim." The voice was quiet and towards the back of the room and all eyes turned to Leotti who was now staring at the waters with fear in her eyes. "And I am afraid of water, I can't go."

Tauriel walked up to her friend. "We can help you, Leotti. It is not as hard as it seems, and I know you can do it."

"We are definitely not leaving you here, Leotti. You will be completely alone, and truthfully, I don't think there is any other way." Kili added, looking to Naurfaer who nodded in agreement.

"Little Otti, you are coming with us. Come on, you left your home in Ered Luin with nothing but a few chests, and built one of the arguably, most successful businesses in Erebor with almost nothing. You are braver than you think, just, take one of our hands, and all you have to do is kick. That is it." Fili gave her a look and smirked. "I happen to have firsthand experience with your kicking talent, so I already know you can do that well."

"My friend Alys used to be afraid of the water." Tilda took Leotti's hand. "She fell in the lake when she was little, before she learned how to swim, and had been afraid ever since. But the summer before the dragon came, my sister showed her she did not have to be afraid, and Sigrid and I taught her to swim together. It is not so scary. You can hold my hand Leotti, I will help you."

Leotti had to fight the tears back at the kindness and bravery of this young human. Of course, there was no way little Tilda would be able to haul her through the water. Leotti may be short, but all dwarves weigh much more than they seem to…as Tauriel herself has come to learn. They are dense beings made up of stone and muscle...or so the stories say, and anyone who has tried to lift a dwarf…would likely agree. "Thank you, Tilda." She hugged the little human and stepped away, only to have her hand already in another.

The small dam looked up to see Fili smiling wide at her. "My wife would murder me in my sleep if I risked my life to save yours, only to leave you behind to who knows what. I have you, little Otti. Just hang onto my hand, and I will make sure you get to the other side."

Leotti eyed the black depths ahead wearily, then nodded, so Fili handed her a tie. "You may want to put your hair up, Leotti. It will help keep it out of your face as we swim." Leotti took the tie and looked over at Kili, who already had his hair up on top of his head, and was rather quickly braiding Tauriel's own thick, fiery, locks, back into one large braid for her.

Even Dynni and Naglur had their hair gathered on their heads and away from their faces, though they could do nothing for their longer beards, and not one of the dwarves removed a single layer of clothing…or their weapons…unlike the two humans who stripped out of their thick coats and vests worried they would weigh them down. Tauriel kept her weapons, although, she did remove her heavy cloak, dropping it to the floor revealing her twin daggers which were typically always at her side as she turned to the small blonde dam gesturing to the tie she still held in her shaking hand.

"It will help, Leotti." Tauriel gently reassured. Leotti sighed and began gathering all her hair and braids together and carefully tying it up. She eyed the humans who were just watching; despite Rosyn saying they should go, they too did not seem so eager to jump into the unknown, though they surprisingly kept it to themselves.

"Are we ready?" Naurfaer was already walking down the steps and back into the pool, still dripping wet from just exiting moments before. He readjusted his belt that held his weapons as he waited for everyone to follow him.

"Are you going to be alright?" Tauriel looked over at Kili who was giving her a concerned look.

"I will be fine, Kili. There was a hot spring much like this in Mirkwood forest I frequented quite often. It too had a cave secret one would have to swim underwater to find…it was a nice retreat…perhaps I can take you there the next time we visit Mirkwood." She smiled at her husband who was still giving her a look laced with worry, so she reassured him once more, brushing away a stray hair he missed that was falling in his face. "I am unafraid." Tauriel loved going to her spring, not many knew of it, so she was often able to gather her thoughts as well as relax her muscles after a hard day of training. It was one of the things she missed most, and she looked forward to getting Thranduil's approval for her to bring Kili for a visit. She looked down at her large stomach and sighed…preferably AFTER she gives birth.

Turning to Tilda, Tauriel leaned down to place a hand on the little girl's cheek. "You stay with Kili and I. Take my hand, and we will all go together, the three of us."

Tilda nodded, and took Tauriel's hand as the three of them were the last to slowly enter the pool. "Mahal, it is cold." Kili immediately shivered and scrunched his nose in annoyance.

Tauriel laughed. "It is not so bad." Of course she felt the biting cold, but there was a little girl who needed to see bravery, and if both she and Kili reacted harshly to the temperature, Tauriel was afraid it may cause Tilda to do the same so she did all she could to keep her reaction mild. Perhaps, this was exactly why Kili was upset at her, for holding things in; but in this moment…her judgment was telling her it was for the best.

Afterall, there was no other way, and staying behind was not an option. Though she was worried the cold may affect her son, it would only be for a short time so she hoped her body will quickly readjust for him. Tauriel did send calming waves to her unborn and tried to do what she could to expend a bit of energy in maintaining her body heat to protect him. It would not do much, but it was better than nothing.

"Everyone stay close, and together. We really did not explore much and I cannot guarantee there are not pockets or caves we missed under the water. As far as Fili and I could tell, it is a straight shot. If I was not confident all of you could make this, I would not risk it." Naurfaer looked to the humans specifically. They had less lung capacity than elves and dwarves, so this would be far more difficult for them than anyone. "But, it really is not too far, and I am confident this is the way to go."

"Then let's get to it and go home." Rosyn took another step forcing away the biting reaction to the temperature. She had jumped into the frozen lake more than a few times when they lived in Esgaroth, and this was nowhere near how cold that was.

"Alright, everyone take a deep breath and we go on three." Naurfaer watched everyone nod, and just as he instructed, the group filled their lungs with the last bit of oxygen they will get…and one by one, they dove under the surface.

The tunnel was large and quite open, Tauriel had been expecting a narrow passageway like the one in her hot spring. She held tight to Tilda's hand helping the little girl along as best she could while keeping a portion of her senses on her son and on Kili who had her other hand and was also lending her his strength by slightly pulling them along.

Several minutes felt like an hour and Tauriel quickly realized Tilda was losing strength and beginning to struggle. She peaked over at where the little girl was and tightened her grip on Tilda's hand, but Tilda was beginning to let go. She was losing consciousness; this was too much for her. Tauriel sent panicked emotions to Kili, because that is all she could think of to do since they could not outright send thoughts.

Of course, it worked and Kili immediately looked over at her, and thankfully realized, Tauriel was motioning to the small child whose head was beginning to bob lifelessly. Kili's reaction was instant, and he released Tauriel's hand knowing she would be alright, and swam over to wrap his arms around Tilda and kicked hard to gain speed.

Kili trusted Tauriel would be fine as he swam to the lead and past Naurfaer. This had to have an ending soon. As Kili was about to lose hope, the tunnel arched up and Kili forced himself to sink to the floor, and kicked off the ground hard, darting upwards with a boost of speed, passing the wide-open door, and breaking the surface before anyone else in the party. He quickly lifted an unconscious Tilda into his arms and forced his weighted legs over the small ledge and out of the pool before gently laying her down on the dry surface. "Come on, sweet girl, wake up."

Naurfaer and Tauriel were next to come over, Tauriel carefully falling to her knees and placing her hands on the child who was losing life fast. "She must have swallowed some water. We have to clear her lungs. Kili, stay there, Naurfaer, do compressions when I say. I will give her some air. Once we get her heart going, I will be able to use my gift." Not waiting for them to answer, Tauriel, with great difficulty in her condition, leaned over the small girl and gave her a few breaths.

Naurfaer seemed to know what he was doing, because she did not even need to signal him to begin gentle compressions. Tilda was small, and just a child. Pushing too hard or incorrectly would do more harm than good.

Fili ran to his brother and sister when he exited the water and Leotti looked on with horror, but that horror completely turned to concern when she felt a knife being pointed at her back.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here!?" Leotti looked over to see a dwarf nearly a head taller than her, with two very small blades. One pointed at her, the other at the pool were Dynni, Naglur, and the two other humans were taking deep breaths having just surfaced.

"Who am I? Who are you?" Leotti demanded. She was wet…cold…hungry…and her hair was a mess. Add that to the fact she was just FORCED to confront one of her greatest fears, and doing so holding Fili's stupid hand. Don't get her wrong, she loves Fili like an annoying older brother, but she was done being nice and ready to go home. She eyed the being holding the weapons and realized it was another dam, though it was a bit difficult to tell with that hat over her head and the odd, belted, sack like clothing she wore.

Leotti's eyes traced a large scar maiming one side of the dam's face rising from her neck, to her forehead before it disappeared beneath the cap on her head. It was large, but it did not deter from her clear beauty…if she was cleaned up a bit and perhaps put on something better catered to her figure. Maybe a long tunic-dress draped with furs around the collar and some fitted boots…oh…with a thick belt and large, silver, buckle…she has just the material. Leotti paused and internally shook her head. Always the seamstress, even in threatening situations.

Still, Leotti stared at the dam whose hair was completely hidden underneath the large hat that fell over her eyes, and whose beard was dark and filled with dust, dirt, and what looked like soot. The same dust, dirt, and soot that covered her from nearly head to toe with only a few areas she had wiped away on her cheeks and hands.

"I believe I have the weapons here." The hatted dam exclaimed through clenched teeth. Leotti turned her eyes back to the scene to see Tauriel begin to place her hands on Tilda's heart and begin speaking in elvish. Whatever she was doing, Leotti hoped it would help, but she clearly needed time.

"Oh aye, ye may have weapons…if yeh call those hair pinned sized blades weapons…" Naglur exclaimed with a growl, "But so do we lassie…an ours are a bit more substantial."

Leotti's eyes widened as both Dynni and Naglur pulled their axes, stepping in front of the shivering humans who had no way of protecting themselves. "Now, we got the advantage, larger weapons, and there are more of us, than you." Dynni exclaimed, gripping his axe in both hands, and getting into battle ready position.

There was some coughing and Leotti hazard another peak at Tauriel to see her pulling a now awake Tilda into her arms as Kili patted the little girl comfortingly on the back. However, Naurfaer was gone completely. Though where he went, was quickly discovered as the dam dropped her small blades completely when she felt the end of one of Naurfaer's menacing short swords push into her back. "I would not be so quick to think you have advantages, when you are not paying attention to your surroundings well enough."

Fili too had a blade Leotti had not even realized he was carrying pointed at the now weaponless dam who was eyeing the group now with a newfound wariness.

Finally seeing what was going on around her…talk about diminished senses Tauriel thought bitterly to herself….the eleth forced the little girl behind her and a bit clumsily…for an elf…climbed to her feet…ignoring the pain in her ankle…and pulled her blades beside Kili, who had pulled his own. She swayed a bit and had to grip Kili's shoulder as he stood behind her to catch herself. Her gift really took a lot out of her now that she was mortal, but with a small rest, she would recover.

Tilda was not too injured or lost, and it only took Tauriel a few moments of chanting to have the little girl coughing up the water she had swallowed. She should be able to do that without it affecting her too much, and it frustrated Tauriel to no end that the gift she was blessed with to heal others, now had a price…and that price was her energy. She really needed food and to get a good, full, nights worth of sleep.

Though Kili held his blade up in defense, he did eye his wife warily. It took her only a moment, however, to right herself and stand up straight, holding both her weapons steady. He needed to get her home, but it does not look like that would be happening with the reception they just got.

Outnumbered…and out-weaponed…the dam lifted her hands in surrender. "Smart idea." Fili said, trying to get in front of Leotti since like the humans, she did not have any weapons. He really needed to have a talk with Ori about that. "Now, who are you and where are we?"

The dam sighed. "I am Barzâ, and this is the watering room." Her eyes widened as she took them in. "You are not dressed in our garments! Are you from the outside? The surface? How did you get here!" She eyed the watering fountain behind them with an expression Fili translated to surprise and not a little frustration.

"Surface? More like dark tunnel." Bannick answered unhelpfully, causing Naglur to glare at him and turned to the dam. "We got trapped after tha' earthquake near a day ago and were led here after wonderin' some underground corridors."

Barzâ nodded, having had to deal with the aftermath of the shaking that had everything in chaos since yesterday. "An where were you from, BEFORE the quake?"

"Half of us hale from Erebor." Fili answered, "The rest come from Dale."

"Impossible." Barzâ exclaimed, leveling Fili with a dark look. "For one thing, young one, you are not old enough to have been born in an age when Erebor was habitable. A dragon has made it his home now. As for Dale…" She turned her shadowed azure eyes to the humans. "The dragon made certain it was cleared. The city of Dale is not but a place for the dead now."

"Erebor was reclaimed and has since been restored." Kili slightly relaxed his grip on his sword but still watched carefully for signs of danger. How is it, he keeps finding himself in these situations?

Barzâ shook her head in denial. "I do not believe you. Nobody on arda has the skill to down a dragon Smaug's size. It is a lost art, dragon slaying, and those who were able to do so have since left the land hundreds of years ago."

"The descended of the last lord of Dale, Girion, lives. Passed down to him, was a black arrow, and he was able to pierce the dragon's heart, downing the beast just over three years ago. With the dragon gone, we were able to reclaim our homelands." Fili eyed the dam who had turned her eyes to him, then to his brother and was currently looking at Kili with an odd expression before shaking her head in disbelief.

"You are telling me, Erebor is home once again to the dwarven people…and Dale has been brought back to life?" Barzâ looked between the dwarves, but it was Fili who answered once again.

"Erebor, is again in the hands of the true heir of Durin, my uncle. He has reclaimed the mountain, and has since restored it." When the dam nodded in shock, Fili lowered his weapon, but kept a grip on it.

"I…" she was about to say something, but there was a commotion in the distance, the sound echoing through the open archway causing Barzâ to look out the door, then back at the group. "If you are truly from the outside, you are not safe here. You must hide. I do not know why you have come here, but it was a foolish thing to do." She looked to the door once more as the footsteps got louder.

Acting quickly, Barzâ gestured to a far corner. "You must hide yourselves." She whispered hastily. "QUICKLY!" Tauriel took charge, being the captain she was, and pushed the two humans, and the still shaking little girl, where the dam had been pointing. Naurfaer, along with the rest of the group followed suit, though they were all still a bit confused as to what was happening…and where they were.

Barzâ, as quickly as she could, grabbed the two buckets she had dropped when she saw a group of strangers emerge from the well and filled them once more before walking out of the watering room hoping to not draw attention. It that was indeed a way out, she was not about to let it be known to anyone. How had she missed that?

"You there, dwarf. Why are you not on your time, you are to get your rationed water and return to your assigned area…why are you dragging behind?" Tauriel could hear the deep growling voice and she felt shivers run down her spine. That sounded like an orc to her. What have they gotten themselves into now? She looked down at her swollen stomach and sighed. She just wanted a normal, boring, average pregnancy. But instead, it looks as if she will be in the thick of it once more. Maybe, she really is a magnet for trouble.

"If you must know, I slipped and had to refill my buckets. Believe me, I would much rather be in my nursery then out here with you, which is another thing I want to bring up. I would greatly appreciate it if your troublesome captains would keep their large, bulbous, overgrown noses out of my pens!" Barzâ challenged. "Three times, they stepped on the eggs I was cultivating. Because of them, I lost yet another batch. Do you know how DIFFICULT it is to breed these creatures? Of course not, because your brittle iron brain cannot see past that wart on the tip of your nose."

There was a loud smacking noise, followed by a crash that sounded like the water buckets falling to the ground. "I would bite my tongue, if I were you, dwarf. You are lucky I did not just kill you, but they want me to keep you alive for some reason. Now go fetch some more water and get back to work." Tauriel heard the sounds of footsteps walking again towards the door and she stiffened in place. Kili wrapped his arms around her back pulling her tightly to his front, but the sound continued past the doorway and away from the room once more.

There was a scraping sound, and soon Barzâ was walking back into the room grumbling as she dragged her now emptied buckets back to the pool. She ignored the group and went right to the water, filling the buckets, then dropping them unceremoniously to the ground and looking to the group, her hands on her hips in pure annoyance. "Now what am I going to do with you? You certainly cannot stay here, you should go back." She folded her arms looking far too much like Thorin for Kili and Fili's liking, then looked at the group.

Tauriel, however, shook her head. "We cannot. Our youngest barely made one trip, another so soon would likely cost her life for certain." The little girl trembled in the eleths grasp, tightening her hold on Tauriel's wet vest as her eyes fearfully looked at the water, though she said nothing.

"You don' need to do nuttin' lass but point us to the exit. We can take whatever is here." Naglur lifted his axe and Dynni followed suit right away. Tauriel, however, shook her head once more, and so did Barzâ.

"If you have a death wish, feel free and get out of my hair. But for anyone who wants to live, I think an alternative plan ought to be considered. Besides, there is no way out of here except the supposed way you came." Barzâ folded her arms and considered the group. "I think I can at least find you something to change into. If you blend in, it can buy us some time."

"Do you have any food?" Bannick asked hopefully, his wife also looking eagerly at the dwarf. "We have not eaten anything since the quake."

"I do not have much, they keep most of the meat they bring for themselves and ration out what little they have remaining to us, but I have something I can give you. First, I need to find you some dry clothes. I take it there is no chance you will just, go back the way you came?" Barzâ eyed the pool.

Tilda once again looked fearfully at the water, so did Leotti and Tauriel shook her head. "We nearly lost Tilda, I won't risk her life anymore if I can help it." Tauriel placed her hands on Tilda's shoulder and pulled her close. She was pale, wet, and shivering, but alive by a miracle. She can thank Manwe she still could call upon her healing gift, even though it took a lot out of her, and truthfully, she wants nothing more than to lay down and take a long nap. But this is clearly not the place for that.

Barzâ hummed, and nodded. "I need to take these to the pens, stay here I will be back with something for all of you to wear."

Picking up the full buckets, Barzâ made for the door but stopped. "Don't draw any attention to yourself, and for Mahal's sake, if anyone comes in here…which is doubtful…do not kill them. Life is hard enough down here as it is for these folks, but we make the best of it." With one final glance, the dam left the room.

"Naurfaer, any idea where this could be? I mean, you have been all over, right? I thought we were going to end up in some, lost elven city, not whatever this is." Fili looked hopefully at the taller elf, who was shaking his head.

"I was quite hoping we would find the city of the Búlë kal nórë, but I distinctly hear orcs and goblins. I have no idea what this place is and I am quite wary to find out." Naurfaer looked at the group around him. "For right now, it is best we do as Barzâ suggests and remain hidden until we can find a better plan. There has to be an exit here, some way out."

Tauriel looked at her surroundings, seeing the thick mosses on the walls growing everywhere except for the algae covered corner where the water fell down the wall into the pool they came from. Still, despite all the green and brown mosses and algae, Tauriel could easily make out the similar carvings to the corridors where they had once been just visible under the thick moss, as well as the creatures head's spitting water into the pool from high above that were near exact copies to the two statues they had passed in the darkness. "Maybe…" Tauriel said in wonder, "…this is exactly what you thought it to be, the lost elven city, but time has since made it something else."

Naurfaer eyed the room and nodded. "I suppose when we see more of it, we shall know for sure. More than anything though, I want to get you home." Tauriel smiled softly and nodded, too tired to do much more.

It took only a quarter hour for the dam to come back, this time she had a bag flung on her back. "I grabbed a bit of everything, some for the humans, and some for the dwarrow. I even have something for you little one." Barzâ smiled at Tilda who looked at the bag.

Then Barzâ eyed Tauriel and Naurfaer. "I believe you will fit in the human clothes just fine…" She indicated to Naurfaer, "But…you may need to be a bit creative. Breeding is explicitly monitored, and one must be assigned clothing for it. I would say, it is best to find a way to hide evidence of that belly, but I don't think you can."

"Breeding!?" Kili said, his face twisted in horror at the crude description of the beautiful gift his wife carried. Breeding…as if she was no different then a common ram. "What is this place?"

"Something of nightmares." Barzâ said quietly, her eyes tracing Kili's features. "But we do not have time to speak here, more guards will be around shortly.

Tauriel sighed and nodded. "I will make do."

"There is also your ears to do something about." Barzâ eyed the appendage on both the elves. "We have no elves among us, it would be best to not make your race known." She waited for Tauriel and Naurfaer to nod then continued. "That is all I can say now, get dressed. The next watering shift is due to start in ten minutes and I need to get you out of here so you don't draw attention. Quickly!"

One by one, Barzâ passed out the clothes to the wet group who began to strip their outer layers off before they pulled the dry clothing over their heads. "One can say, you are in a desperate need of a seamstress." Leotti grumbled as she looked down at the sandy brown, burlap like, tunic which was more like a sack then a top then at the baggy dark brown trousers, and maroon sash now tied around her waist. The humans had the same attire, but their sashes were a muddy green rather then red. Leotti wonders if there was a reason for that since it seemed the dam was adamant they wear the respective colors.

Tauriel, for her part, was able to get one of the dwarven tunics over her head, but the trousers were a challenge. "Just keep on the ones you are wearing." Barza suggested after seeing the eleth struggle for several minutes to get the pants over her own. "They are not so different that they would draw attention. But the sash…." Barza sighed and looked at her. Tying anything around her waist would be a dead give away that this was an expecting mother. Shaking her head, she passed Tauriel a muddy green sash. "I am sorry, I do not have a way to conceal your condition, but I would advise you do not bring attention to it."

Nodding, Tauriel tied the sash around her waist and pulled the edges of the tunic up to create a more baggy look. It was not perfect, but because she was so naturally small anyway, it actually worked in hiding her stomachs quite large swell. "Now, for the ears…wear these." She passed both Tauriel and Naurfaer hats identical to the one she wore and watched them both place them on their heads, pulling them down as far as they could to cover the appendage.

"Well, there you have it." Barzâ nodded. "You look human enough to me…sort of. It will have to do though. Now, I need all of you to follow me. Don't talk to anyone, don't react to anything, and definitely do not show those weapons. They are forbidden, so it is best if you have them, to keep them well hidden." She patted her own very small blades concealed beneath her tunic, before gathering up their wet clothing and placing them in a large barrel then covering it with a lid to keep it all well out of sight.

When several of the group gave her a disbelieving look, she smirked. "Nobody uses these barrels but me anyway, or not often at least, they should be safe here. Now come with me and remember, keep quiet, and for Mahal's sake, keep your heads down if you want to live."

Kili took Tilda's hand and sent a worried glance to his wife. She needed to eat and rest. He sent a prayer to Mahal that by following this dam he knew nothing about, he was not securing their fate and allowing them to be pulled to their deaths, rather than finding a way out of this mess. Maybe they should have risked going back through the water and tried the dark cavern again. Or maybe, if they did, they would be spending eternity walking the dark labyrinth.

"I will be fine, Kili." Tauriel took Tilda's other hand and gave her husband a small smile as they followed the dam from the room.

What they saw when they stepped out, left them breathless. Wherever this place was, it was large. Certainly not the size of Erebor or Dale, but the multi-story underground city had each of them gaping at where they ended up. This, is not good, Tauriel thought as she tightened her grip on Tilda.

"By Mahal, what am I seein?"

"I said to keep quiet, I will explain later." Barzâ shot Dynni a look and ushered them down the corridor and a few sets of stairs. There were orcs and goblins everywhere and the place smelled like rot and sweat. But besides that, the city was almost surreal.

The entire, clearly subterranean, city was nothing but a large open hole, while the cities paths snaked around the entire perimeter, winding up hundreds of feet. They were deeper than they thought, Tauriel sighed as she tried to not look about in awe at what she saw. Statues, waterfalls, and stone made up the entire place, though many of the obvious water features were dry and crumbling. Moss hung from every crack and cranny, and if she looked down over the rail-less pathway, she could see a dark, almost black, pool of water another few hundred feet below.

What made both Naurfaer and Tauriel almost stop, was the statues obviously depicting an elven race which were nearly everywhere; elves carved with larger ears and long thick hair. That was not all that made them unique either, as even some of the males she passed, had facial hair in varying lengths and even had clearly sculpted ornamentation such as beads and chains designed into the feature. Facial hair was something no elven race was said to have, not unless they were mixed with humans. One might think these were a race of dwarves rather than elves, if it was not for their tall, slight, figures, and large, pointed, ears. A small hand on her back had Tauriel realizing she had indeed stopped before one of the stone statues several heads taller than her. It depicted a crowned elf with a long beard, staring forward with vacant eyes as his hand rested on the back of the same large, feathered, creatures seen all over the corridors and the watering room.

"Amralime, we have to keep moving." Tauriel looked at Kili who eyed the statue, then looked around to make sure they were not getting attention drawn to them. Wherever his eyes landed, pairs of orcs and goblins marched the paths both above, and below them. It sent shivers down his spine, and had the voice in his head telling him to grab his wife, his brother, Tilda, and go back to the dark corridors. At least there, no orcs could be found.

It was too late, however as Barzâ was forced to come to a stop when two large orcs stepped out of the shadows near a doorway, having seen Tauriel stopped on the path, though they addressed the dam rather than the disguised eleth. "You, dwarf…where do you think you are going?" The taller one growled as he looked at Barzâ then at the group of humans, elves, and dwarves behind her. He walked around them, sniffing as he inspected the small party. Kili had to force down a growl when he got close to Tauriel, running his thick, deformed, fingers over her long, red, hair before stepping away and turning back to the lead dam. "This don't look like the approved help you are allotted, she-dwarf. Have you got authorization to take more on?"

"First off…" Barzâ huffed, "What do YOU know about approved help? You killed three of my best researchers, thinking they were the same person and reassigned ten of them to the lower muck pits. Do you know how long it takes me to train someone in the nursery? Decades, is how long. These are hopefully some replacements for your follies." She folded her arms in annoyance. "What we are being forced to do, is already nearly impossible without intervention, and we have only JUST made some progress after over a thousand years of study and work, most of that happening long before I came. So unless you want to tell your superior you are slowing progress because you refuse to let the only being in this place who can understand these creatures get the resources she needs, I suggest you let me pass so we can get to work. OH, and maybe this time, do your own job, and leave me alone to do mine. Or you can report to whatever master you are getting orders from, that the blame falls solely on yourself for not allowing us to meet the now impossible deadlines they keep giving us. Got it, orc?"

Fili had to smother a smile, he liked this dam, she had some guts. Not many beings in arda would talk to these dark creatures without an ounce of fear like she had.

"You are lucky, dwarf, that your abilities are so…unique." He leaned down and sneered in Barzâ's face, grabbing her chin forcefully and holding it tight in his massive grip. "Although, I would learn to bite your tongue in the future, lest you lose it."

Barzâ struggled until he released her, and she glared darkly at him until he backed away, then rubbed the ache away from her jaw. "Good thing I need my voice to get your work done then." She shot back. "May we go now? I have to get this sorry group trained and put them to work as quickly as possible before there is a new batch of hatchlings to observe."

The orc looked hungerly at the group, Tauriel and Kili moving closer to each other to help conceal the small girl who was holding tightly to their hands. Finally, the creature stepped back to his companion, and without another word, Barzâ continued forward, passing the sneering orcs who simply watched them go.

Luckily, they were not stopped again as the group was ushered through a doorway and into a large room with piles of mud, rock, and crates fill to the brim with dried moss. Tauriel had to use her free hand to cover her nose when an extremely pungent smell overtook her senses.

Barzâ, seeing her, laughed humorously. "You get used to it, it is from the creatures we are breeding. They have scent glands that can knock a full grown troll over."

Tauriel nodded as her stomach heaved, and she forced herself to try and acclimate to the smell. Kili must have got a bit of it from her, because he too was looking a little green. Then again, Tauriel took a look around the room and they all looked ready to empty their stomachs so perhaps it was not so much shared between them, as it was just a common reaction. Unfortunately, though, if they were to get sick…there was not much to empty as their stomachs were all baren of food.

"By my beard, I dinna know how ya can handle that." Naglur growled with his hand over his nose, trying not to breathe. Even Tilda had her tunic pulled up over the lower half of her face in disgust.

Shrugging, Barzâ shut the large door after peeking around, and sighing. "Never really bothered me, truthfully. Some animals are fluffy and friendly, others spiteful and vile. All are unique though and deserve respect…or at least those animals of the natural order." She said cryptically before looking around the group of nine and shaking her head. "I really don't know how to help you, but we are just entering our evening hours and they tend to be a bit more…lenient…at this time with breaks and rest so you should be safe here while we figure something out. Nobody voluntarily comes into this area but me, as it's too close to the pens for everyone's like."

"What exactly is this place, Barzâ?" Naurfaer was the only one not covering his nose as he curiously lifted some of the moss and inspected it closely. "Is this for feeding?"

"Bedding, actually." Barzâ hummed. "As long as I have been here, this place has no real name, though the people have come to call it Minamu-alzân, or Minam. All are brought here against their will, and nobody is allowed to leave the city without the promise of death. Everyone I know, who has even tried to escape, were quickly made an example to all in the harshest way. They never survive." She looked to the ground and shook her head. "There are some who have been here so long, they created as much normalcy for themselves as possible and accepted their fate…not even trying to leave. Some are even granted the ability to bear children, though why anyone would do such a thing in this place, only Mahal, our great maker, knows."

"How long have you been here…exactly?" Bannick asked, gagging and coughing after regrettably taking a deep breath before speaking.

Barzâ smirked. "Much longer than most of you have been alive." The smirk turned to an expression of deep sadness. "Too long. Although, being here for more than a day, is too long. If you knew what was good for you, you would go back through where you came from. The only thing here, is horror and death."

"Why are ya not takin' those dark creatures down. I will more than happily show them me axe." Naglur moved to grab his weapon, but Naurfaer quickly stayed his hand.

The taller elf shook his head and clenched his jaw. "Foolish words that will only bring your death. You know nothing of your surroundings, neither have you count of the enemy. Think, before you set yourself to a one-way path to the afterlife, Naglur." The dark-haired dwarven guard huffed and folded his arms in frustration, but remained quiet.

Happy to see the younger dwarf remaining where he was, Naurfaer turned back to Barzâ. "You said they bring others here…do you know how?"

"I wish I did." Barzâ sighed, planting herself on a table and sitting back on her palms. "The way is either hidden, or they plug it up whenever they use it. I am thinking the first. They never allow us on the top two levels for reasons they never gave, it is likely that is where the exit is." She rubbed her chin in thought. "We had a few brave souls, including myself, who have been able to get past the guards and make it up to the restricted levels, but we found nothing but locked doors and more orcs."

Kili lowered his brow, folding his arms as he scowled which had Barzâ staring hard at him once more. Her expression almost wistful before she blinked and turned away. "Do the orcs ever leave?" Kili finally asked, leaning against the table Tauriel had pulled herself up to sit on to give her throbbing ankle and sore blisters a rest.

The dam nodded. "For a fair few reasons actually. To hunt themselves some meat, they refuse to share until it has near gone rotten, to test the…" Her eyes went to the door and she sighed, not finishing her thought and instead moving onto another. "…and when numbers get too low here to keep the work up, they procure new workers by invading nearby towns and wondering caravans. It breaks my heart each time, some of them are mere children…babes even, their parents slaughtered by an orc raid. I was just about to reach my 30th year when I was brought here, nearly lifeless. In the aftermath of Smaug, I got lost in the chaos, and like vultures picking off the weak, the orcs and goblins that ran this place took any of the humans and dwarves too vulnerable to fight, and brought us here. They do not do much in the ways of tending or mending the ill or injured unless they need you for something. For the most part, they figure if you die, you die, and they replace you. But if you live, it's additional labor and worth the trouble of getting and keeping you here."

"So, what, ya do not do anythin' about it? You jus'…roll over an' let em keep ya down here like scared little field mice?" Dynni asked, anger clear in his features.

But Barzâ too looked furious as she jumped back to her feet and stormed up to Dynni. "As I told you, anyone who tries anything here, is killed instantly. In the time I have been here, we have tried once, just once, to form an escape group…a resistance if you will, but the orcs found out and they killed almost EVERYONE involved. If even one of those orcs or goblins gets word we are having this discussion, regardless of my talents, they would sever my head from my shoulders. We are nothing to them, but replaceable. As long as we keep our mouths shut and do the work they order us to do, we can at least hope for a better life before we die." She held Dynni's glare for several moments then turned away. "Me and a few others have been trying to find anyone willing to try again, but most are too afraid to even consider it. They would rather just…work and die in this hole."

"You are slaves." Naurfaer stated quietly, his eyes filled with sadness.

Barzâ nodded. "Prisoners more like, but I suppose so." She turned from the group and pulled the hat from her head. A mass of thick, ash covered, curls came spiraling down the length of her back and she shook them out a bit, causing a cloud of dust to fill the air, though it did little to clear her hair of the substance.

"We lost nearly 200 good people…men, women, dwarf, and a few dams. It took them months to bring the numbers back up and the remaining workers were set to triple time with no rest and half the rations…and they never let our numbers rise above 300 again. That was twenty years ago, and we just have not been able to get anyone willing to try again. Believe it or not, there are many who have fallen victim to these creatures beliefs, and are eager to bring their insidious plan to life, while the rest of us do what we can to slow the progress. But we cannot stop it completely. There are too many of them, and not enough of us to do anything to stop them."

There was silence in the room for several moments before Kili looked around. "How many orcs are there?"

"Not exactly sure." Barzâ thought. "At least ten times the numbers we have. If we tried to fight them, it would not be a battle, it would be a massacre. We lack not only the numbers and skill, but the weapons as well as the fortitude to do so. The only blades we have, were smuggled in or made from materials we have found, and they are few and far in between. As for the desire…" She leaned back against the table and looked to the ground. "After what happened those two decades ago, those who survived are either too old to do anything and have been slowly killed just because of their age, or have decided to stay quiet and keep their heads on their work."

"What if we were able to help?" Kili looked at the dam, then at his brother who was nodding in agreement.

Barzâ, however, laughed. "Listen, youngling, a group of thirteen is not going to take down well over three-thousand orcs and goblins. As admirable as the suggestion is, you may want to put your energy in coming up with a plan to get yourselves out. Because as it is, you are just as stuck down here, as everyone else."

"Not so stuck, we know at least one way out." Leotti chimed in. "I mean, it leads to a caved in dead end, but it is technically an exit from this place…and I am beginning to think a better alternative."

Lowering her brow in thought, Barzâ stared hard at Leotti. "Tell me of this place you came from?"

"The corridor?" Leotti asked. "It is underneath Dale, or it was. We have been walking it since we fell in and spent hours lost in dead end corridors, so truthfully, we don't even know where we ended up."

"But it leads to the city of Dale? Directly to the city?" Barzâ clarified.

"More like a pile of rubble." Bannick huffed.

"Aye, but rubble, can be cleared with the right amount of numbers." Barzâ stood, beginning to pace the room. "If we time things right, we can get a group out of here, and enlist some help to cleanse this place of those orcs. They cannot accomplish what they set out to do, we cannot let them. I have been doing my best to make sure progress is slow, but not so slow to get my head removed."

"What exactly are you doing?" Tauriel asked, afraid to find out.

The look on Barzâ's face darkened. "Cultivating mounts for an army. I do not know of all the details, they do not say much to us apart from orders. Most things said between them are spoken in their own foul tongue. But from what we can make out, there is want for a reemergence of dark creatures once called fellbeasts. They had been mostly killed off ages ago during the great war, but, we have been ordered to bring them back and somehow, they got their hands on a few remaining specimens found in this region alone after centuries of searching, and this city was tasked with their revival."

"Fellbeasts?" Tauriel asked, looking from Barzâ to Naurfaer who was rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I have never heard of such things."

"Neither have we." Kili said, gesturing to his brother who was nodding in agreement.

"Think, relatively small, foul smelling, venomous, dragon that cannot breathe fire but has a vile attitude, and you got it essentially correct. Horrible dark creatures who are unnatural in every way, created from things that no longer walk middle earth; creatures that were once good, wholesome, beautiful creatures…turned twisted and wrong. They are impossible to manage, and because they like to eat each other…and their young, it makes them almost impossible to breed and raise. Only the fully grown adults can be trained, and it takes near 60 years for one to reach that stage. Which is helpful in slowing things down." Barzâ smiled mirthlessly. "I am the only one who seems to be able to work with them through their brooding stage, without getting killed. I guess you can say I have a way with animals." For the first time since they met Barzâ, her dark, azure, eyes twinkled and Tauriel gave her an odd look as she wondered why this dam seemed so familiar to her.

Slipping off the table and walking up to the dam, Tauriel reached a hand out to her messy, tight, curls, but her hand froze in mid-air. "Forgive me, but, your name, Barzâ…red…is it a nickname?"

"You know Khuzdul?" Barzâ asked surprised.

Tauriel nodded. "I do, I was taught the language when I moved into Ered Luin."

The dam lifted a brow, then hummed and walked over to a bucket of water and leaned in, dipping a bundle of her thick, grime covered, curls into the water then shaking off the excess water to reveal brilliantly auburn red hair, even wet it almost shined. It took several moments for Tauriel to try and figure out why her memory keeps wanting to recall the figure before her, when she knows for certain they have never met.

Barzâ had been in this place since Smaug attacked Erebor. She was only 30 at the time, making her about Thorin's age when the dragon came. Maybe she knew Thorin? Then it hit her like an errant arrow. The small painting Thorin had shown her, of the young dam. A young dam who had a way with animals, was five years older than Thorin himself, and had never been seen since she ran back into the mountain that fateful day. Maybe…maybe she did not die at the claws of the dragon…maybe…

"I think I know you…" Tauriel stared wide eyed at the dwarrowdam. The dam before her was much older, and had certainly been through a lot if the scarring on her face was anything to go by, but there were too many coincidences for her thoughts to be incorrect. "Can I ask you…did you know the royal family, in Erebor? Before the dragon came?"

Barzâ narrowed her eyes at the elf and stared at her silently for several minutes, as if appraising the being before her. Slowly, she nodded her head yes. "I was raised with them, the children of Thrain."

Kili and Fili gaped at the dam and Tauriel's eyes widened. This was the dam in the picture! She had to be! That hair, was unmistakable for one thing, and despite the years, she looked very much like the thirty year old dam she had been. With exception of the silver streaks in her tight curls, and the beard that ran down her cheeks, that is. "You are Nyaunni, are you not? You got out of Erebor….you survived!"

Barzâ gaped at Tauriel and backed away several steps. "I have not heard that name in over 170 years. Where did you come by it? I know for certain we have never met."

Both Kili and Fili were looking at Tauriel with matching expressions of confusion, as was Leotti. The humans along with Dynni and Naglur just seemed lost.

"You have never met me, but I…I was shown a small portrait of you just over a week ago in Erebor. Thorin spoke to me of you." Tauriel finished, watching the dam carefully. Maybe she was wrong…but she did not think so.

The dam clenched her jaw and stared hard at the eleth no more than half a foot taller than her. "Thorin…you said? Son of Thrain?"

The question was asked almost as if she was trying not to hope, but Tauriel nodded. "The very same."

Barzâ was nearly frozen in shock. "He is alive? And…he told you…an elf…about me?"

"Uncle tells Tauriel far more than he tells anyone." Kili sighed, giving his wife a look. He really should not be as frustrated as he was, that this was something else she had not shared with him.

"Uncle?" Barzâ's sapphire eyes turned to Kili and looked him up and down. He certainly had the look of a son of Durin, tall, proud, and obviously very young. It is no wonder he kept reminding her of Thorin, they had the same blood.

"Aye, I am Kili, my mother is Dis and this is my elder brother, Fili." Kili answered with a small smile, tamping down his annoyance with his wife. They really needed to talk about being more open.

"Dis?" Barzâ hummed in thought then smiled. "The lady Dis? Not the little thing that used to run the mountain." She chuckled. "I remember her being quite spirited."

"She still is, and still does run Erebor." Leotti snorted, as all the dwarves in the room nodded in agreement. Naurfaer even smiled knowingly. Dis really did run the mountain, well, it was more she kept her brother in line.

"So, you are Nyaunni?" Tauriel asked, after several moments of silence.

"I was, a very long time ago." Barzâ, answered quietly. "But I am afraid not much of her is in me after all this time. I had to grow up. This, is a harsh life to live, and not one for a gentile lady of her house, who knew very little outside royal life. Nothing is handed to you here, and mistakes…can cost you dearly." She ran a hand up the deep scar on the side of her face and sighed.

"Listen," Barzâ continued after a moment of thought. "I know several who would risk anything to get out of this place. But, it is not safe to get them together. Stay here tonight, rest, and eat." Barzâ…or rather…Nyaunni, reached up and pulled down a jar and several bowls. She then opened a cabinet, shuffling around a bit, and retrieved a box before setting everything on a barrel and looking at the group expectantly.

The dam smirked and gestured to what she had placed down. "Look, this in no way is going to make any of you happy, but down here, it is all we have to eat apart from the occasional dry bit of mostly rotten meat during ration day the orcs reluctantly pass over. So you can either accept it and eat it, or starve. I will not listen to complaints, the people here get nothing better. I need to go and speak to a few others. Do not leave this place, for any reason, understood?" She gave them all a look, and without another word, placed her hat back on her head, and left the room.

There was silence for a moment, then Bannick stepped towards the barrel. "Honestly, I am starving. Whatever it is, it cannot be that bad." Rosyn, his wife, nodded in agreement and stepped towards the jar and box, but just as quickly as they opened the container, they shut it just as fast.

"Is there some kind of joke?" Bannick asked, Rosyn scrunching her nose in disgust as she backed away from the barrel.

Naurfaer watched with one brow raised, then stepped towards the offered food. "It surely cannot be that bad." He lifted the container and peeked inside then rolled his eyes. Humans.

"What is it?" Kili asked and stepped beside Tauriel's grandfather and looked inside himself. "Ohh…" His eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected sight. The container, was filled with dried grubs of all sizes. The jar, had some sort of large beetles, and there were several other insects Kili could not name preserved for consumption mixed in. He picked up a large larva, and eyed it, before popping it into his mouth…the two humans making all kinds of noises of disgust behind him.

The young prince chewed several times, and swallowed hard. It was not horrible, but the texture…was quite undesirable. He felt more than saw Tauriel come up beside him and grab a bowl. As if she was dishing herself up some of his mam's cooking, the eleth simply took a bit of everything including the large looking beetles, and then moved away to make room for others. Naurfaer too did the same and went to sit beside the eleth. Even Leotti, though not incredibly pleased by the choice, remained silent as she passed a small bowl to Tilda who was curiously watching beside her, then took some for herself.

Fili looked at the two adult humans who were refusing to eat, and set his own bowl he just filled down and glared at the group. "You need to eat something, and sure…this may not be cheese and bread, but it will give you the protein and nutrients you need to survive. You are going nearly two days without food…and I know for certain a human cannot survive much longer. I would not be so foolish to snub your noses at a meal…even one like this. This is all these people have to eat…if we do not get out of here…it is either this…or death."

The heir to Erebor gave them a hard look, and turned to sit with his brother and sister. Fili could also not help the smile of pride fill his face to see Tilda chewing with her eyes closed tight, being leagues more mature than the adults of her kind.

"I have eaten worse." The little girl said in surprise as she opened her eyes and dug in. An impressed Naglur chuckled; neither he nor Dynni seemed to mind the food at all and were both eating it with gusto.

Tauriel, however, seemed to be having a slightly difficult time keeping it together as she forced herself to eat as much as she could. "You okay, little sister?"

Fili sat just before her and eyed her carefully as she held a hand over her lips trying to keep everything in. It took several moments, but finally, she was able to swallow and keep it down as she shook her head. "I need to eat, I know I need to eat, but my body is being rebellious."

"Baby doesn't want bugs." Kili chuckled as he crunched into a beetle, his face scrunching in distaste though he ate the entire thing anyway. "Just like mam makes it." He grumbled in a mocking tone.

"Food, is food." Naurfaer said, having no issues with eating his bowl of insects. "There are many cultures throughout arda who would consider this not only a delicacy, but a feast. The only difference between you and them, is what you were raised to believe. I dwelled among a human city in the far north who ate nothing but a variety of insects along with several grains and vegetables they grew. Killing animals was against their beliefs, so they got their proteins from the insects, and the rest of their food came from their harvests."

The humans simply stared at the group with twin looks of revulsion, but grumbling stomachs eventually gave in and the pair took some for themselves.

"We should get some sleep." Fili suggested, sitting against the wall as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

Dynni was already asleep while Naglur rolled his eyes at his training companion. "Yeh can sleep, I will jus' keep watch thanks. Tha' smell will be keepin' me up if I try."

Tauriel tucked a piece of Tilda's hair behind her ear as she rested in-between the eleth's legs, already asleep. She needed to rest after what she went through in the water. "She is so brave, for being so very young." Tauriel sighed.

Kili hummed in agreement. "You need to sleep, Tauriel." He finally said, and wrapped his arm around her the best he could with a little human in her lap.

"I cannot." Tauriel turned her head and looked to her husband. "Not until we are safe."

Kili watched her carefully, she looked exhausted. She even had dark circles under her eyes and a faint sheen to her already pale skin. "Amralime, you used a lot of energy healing Tilda, too much energy. I cannot just see it, but I can feel it as well. Just, take a few hours and let your body recuperate. Are you worried about nightmares?"

Despite the fact Tauriel did not answer outright, Kili could tell he had hit the nail on the head. They were all in very real danger being here, and the stress they were under was enough to give them all nightmares, his beloved elf even more so. He remembers the many times he has had to wake her while she was in the throes of terror filled dreams, though they have become rarer in recent months, as has his.

However, when things become, overwhelming, for her, they do tend to manifest in what Naurfaer called, night terrors, and Kili has had to help her through it. Of course, if she just…talked about what was bothering her and maybe allowed someone to help her…specifically her husband…him…maybe she would not have her feelings so bottled up…they would attack her resting mind. Just food for thought, and something to add to his discussion he will be having with her when they get out of this. Which they WILL get out that is.

Kili lifted his free hand and reached across himself to graze the circles under her eyes. "I am here, Tauriel. I won't let anything happen to you."

"And I won't let anything happen to you." Tauriel smiled back, but leaned herself into him and allowed Kili to tuck her head into his shoulder as she still held Tilda close. "I miss my baby." She finally said quietly. "I know he is alright, Kili, but I miss him so very much."

"Me too." Kili sighed into her hair, and kissed the top of her head. "But at least he is with mam and uncle right now. I trust them to keep him safe, and they will."

Tauriel nodded her head and smiled into Kili's neck. "I think we can save them."

"Hmm?" Kili asked, playing with a piece of Tauriel's hair as Naurfaer turned his head to the pair along with Fili.

The eleth sat up fully, making sure not to jostle Tilda too much. "Actually, I know we can save them. We can make things right here. Everyone here has been stolen from their families, their homes, and their people. We have a chance to make it right. We were not brought here as they were, we found our way here." She looked at Kili and Fili. "There is no doubt in my mind that Thorin will stop at nothing to find us, including tunnelling through Dale if he had to. He is likely in the city right now, you know this as well as I."

"Which means…" Fili sat up. "That support is likely not far behind with how long we have been away.

"Even if the plan with Nyaunni does not work, it will only be a matter of time before Thorin has this place breached." Tauriel added with a nod.

"That won't be good." Naurfaer hummed, rubbing his chin in thought. "He will not know how many are here, and without Erebor's ranks, there is not much we can do. The best plan, would be to get to Thorin before he gets to us."

The group fell silent. "So…we wait to see what tomorrow brings?" Kili asked, leaning back against the wall once more.

"It would be our best plan." Naurfaer nodded as he eyed the door opposite the one he came through.

"What is it?" Fili asked, curiously looking to where the elder elf had fixated his gaze on.

"I think I can figure out that look." Tauriel sighed. "Do not even think on it. Nyaunni said to stay here."

"What Nyaunni does not know, cannot harm her." Naurfaer said already rising to his feet. "Are you not the least bit curious?"

"To get closer to the smell rather than further away? Absolutely not." Tauriel glared at her grandfather, knowing he was going to do what he wanted to, and nobody here would be stopping him.

"Closer to the smell? You are not actually thinking about going into see those…creatures…are you?" Kili asked as he watched the elf walk to the door. Naglur just watched with a lifted brow as Fili too stood. "Not you too Fi?" Kili groaned, knowing if his brother went, he too would have to go, then Tauriel would want to go and he had zero desire to put her in any situation where she was both uncomfortable, and in possible danger.

"Somebody has to keep an eye on that one…" Fili grunted.

Groaning quietly, Kili too got to his feet. "Fine." He looked to his wife who, just as he predicted, was carefully placing Tilda's head on the ground then very un-gracefully trying to get herself to her feet. "Stay here, Amralime." Kili tried, but was quickly the target of the fiery eleth's glare.

"Do not think, for even a moment, that I am remaining behind." She held Kili's stare for several heartbeats before looking to Naglur. "Keep watch, we will return shortly."

"Hey, wait for me. No way am I getting left behind." Leotti was already on her feet as well, though truthfully, she did not want to go anywhere near whatever was on that other side of the door…but neither was she going to be abandoned.

Eyeing the former Mirkwood captain, the younger guard thought about saying something…but Naglur had made the mistake of questioning her once, and he lacked the energy to do so again, so instead, he just nodded and watched as they pushed the door open and left the room. He shook his head at the group. "Trouble…the lot of em. Mahal certainly blessed lady Dis with patience ta handle that mess." He sighed and turned his attention to the sounds around them, keeping lookout as everyone else slept on, unaware of the heirs of Erebor, and their elves, had even left the room.

Across the plains, Dis stood on Tauriel and Kili's balcony and looked over at the city of Dale as Finli slept in her arms. He had been coping better than she had expected, but was showing signs of missing his mother and father deeply. This morning, he cried for Tauriel for several hours, then Kili, and only stopped when he finally cried himself to sleep. Dis was worried something had happened to her children, but when Finli woke up from his nap, he seemed alright.

Thorin had been sending Kaw back and forth with reports, but so far they had not made much progress. The building that was collapsing is still the biggest issue, because much of the portions still remaining upright…show signs of it falling completely into itself with just the wrong move.

As for Erebor, her people were able to get everything stable and cleaned up practically overnight…for the most part. It is their greatest talent, tunneling and building underground, though they decided to only focus on the inhabited portions of the mountain. The mines were going to have a bit of a setback in progress to get them reopened, and there were deeper parts of Erebor still needing heavy renovation which Dis was still waiting for the quake damage reports on; it was in no way a priority right now though, the priority was the human city, and getting her children back.

Unlike Erebor's quick turnaround, however, Dale, due to the instability of the building that fell, was slow going. Dis has been sending more and more teams over, hoping their numbers will make a difference, and Thorin is hopeful they would break ground by sunup. Tomorrow, will be two days without her children and she was deeply worried about them.

Despite the time that has lapsed, Dis and Thorin both believe Fili and Kili, as well as Tauriel, are all alive and she prayed Leotti was as well. All of them were smart and resourceful, and if they have not found signs of them yet, it is likely they too are finding a way out wherever they are. She just hoped, it won't be much longer.

Dis pulled Finli closer and buried her nose in his thick, dark, hair as her eyes were locked on the human city whose fires were burning bright. If anyone can find them, it would be her brother. Thorin, will never rest until they are home alive and well, of that, she has no doubts. "Please keep them safe, Mahal, and bring them home to me."

With another prayer sent to her maker, Dis turned to go back inside, waiting for her family to once again, return to her.

Authors Notes: Haha! Nyaunni is alive! I am not going to lie, I spent WEEKS going back and forth about having had her alive or not. But alive won out. Like I said, this was originally going to be something short and light…but turned into this super long mess dramatic XD. It is FARRRRRRRR from over though. Stay tuned, much more to come.