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.

81. ACT V Chapter 23

Scroll down for the chapter because I'm gonna ramble like usual! If you don't want to read it…just scrolly scroll scroll for the chapter below.

Also I apologize in advance…this chapter and the few to follow were a request. You know what you did. I love you. But you know what you did.

Again, I apologize on behalf or …it appears quite a few people are still not getting notifications including me. Stats and notifications have been down since September and there is no news on when they will be back up. So if you are reading this and you have not received recent notifications of chapter updates, please check the precious chapters to make sure you are caught up. I think this is the third chapter I have posted since notifications went down.

A few shout outs for my reviewers!

Docnikki: He he he, I can't wait to get my Ereborian Airforce up and running. Unfortunately it will take a bit of time. I think it will definitely give them something to do And of course Thorin HAD to blow his lid…it was just a very him thing to do lol. Definitely got the mama bear coming up too! And There will be a bit of permanence with what happened to the elves in the Rhun…the after affects will just be part of their life now. But I am sure a certain clever elven healer will no doubt find something to make their pains more manageable.

Syeern: Ohhh, Tom Bobadill! You know he has not made an appearance in this fic yet. That would be a fun twist, him and Goldberry. Good suggestion, I will think about that. And you just wait for mama bear mode…its in here. AND I have absolutely nothing against your seasters XD. Honestly I love merfolk lore, its really interesting and dark. I mean, who doesn't love the singing ginger in the little mermaid or the girl in Aquamarine, but come now….wouldn't it be much more fun to lure men to their demise? Just saying. I always thought there was more to the Tolkein world, especially knowing about his mentions of werewolves and vamps. Why not merfolk, fae, gnomes, and more. It's a world…they could be there. So maybe we will see some more of that in the future. I have not decided…but who knows.

RinaHaven: Welcome home! Congrats again! I love the banter too. It's fun to write and reminds me of my friends and family too.

Unorthodox-Oblivion: Love you too. 😊 Here's another one for ya.

I think that is everyone….yep. That's everyone. Love you guys, and anyone who just reads this without writing anything. I appreciate you joining in on the journey.

Again, I do apologize…this isn't my fault. Love you and see you at the bottom!

Chapter Twenty-Three

When Naufi was thrown to the ground, he made sure to keep his cries to himself. Do not show weakness, Dwalin had told him and his brother once when they where allowed to jump in on a small training session with Fin. They were still too young to be allowed into official training with Dwalin, but he lets them join in once in a while...when he is in a good mood.

Their mother and father, and their uncle Fili were the ones who have taught them most of their weaponry up until this point. But it won't do Naufi any good, because he isn't even allowed to use true sharpened blades until he is Finli's age without direct supervision. His mother double downed on that rule after Orin swiped one of her daggers because he wanted to show Naufi a trick uncle Fili taught them one night, and the razor sharp blade accidently cut Naufi's hand when he tried to take it from his brother wanting to try the trick as well.

It ended up with him in Oin's office getting four stitches in his palm and his mother lecturing them for two hours about proper blade handling as well as restricting all of them from being allowed to go near sharpened blades until they can prove they are both proficient in wielding them, and responsible enough to ask rather than take. Finli was of course furious at his brothers since he was lumped into it as the punishment became a family ruling. But he seethed quietly, as Finli usually did, and instead let his anger out in training, not holding back even a bit when he slammed into Orin.

Naufi blinked back tears, he wished Finli was here now. His elder brother always knew what to do, and what to say. He blinked then shook his head, no, he doesn't wish Finli was here, because that would mean the nosegoul got him too.

The small dwarfling heard a door slam and footsteps move away leaving him alone. They didn't even take him out of the sack, and it took Naufi nearly a half hour to get it open. When he crawled out and looked around, he shivered and wrapped his arms around himself. Naufi had never been in a cell before, but this is not what he thought of when he pictured one.

After some begging, his pop did take he and his brothers to go see the dungeons of Erebor, but in comparison to this place, the cells at home were like royal suites. This place was dark, wet, freezing, and smelled like the icebox in the kitchen when something spoils and da or uncle Fili forgets to clean it for nan. There was some light coming from a torch across the way, but the rest of the place was in shadows.

"Hello?" Naufi asked the darkness. His voice echoed in the halls, but only his own voice reverberating off the stone walls answered back. He watched the cloud from his breath rise and dissipate as he rubbed his hands up and down his arms to try and warm up. He needed to get out of here, or he will either die of the cold...or whatever they had planned for him.

Rising to his feet, Naufi tried the door and of course, it didn't budge. He was instantly annoyed that he didn't pay attention when Toki was teaching Finli how to pick locks. His da knew, maybe when his da takes him home, he can ask him to teach him. If his da finds him.

Naufi scowled and kicked a stone across the ground. "They will come for me." He said to himself. Of course they would. He called for them, for his mama, and his da. They would come for him. They were always there for him, always. Even when they were especially exasperated with him and his brother, his mother and father always held them close as they sternly rebuked him while also showering him with their love. He wanted his mama and his da. He should have listened to his nan, and to his pop. They will hate him forever for this. They might even tell him he can't come back to Erebor. He will have to live with the elves in Mirkwood or the humans in Dale if they let him.

Suddenly, Naufi began to cry earnestly. He didn't want to live with the elves or the humans. He wanted his mama. He wanted his da. He wanted Fin, Orin, Kilion, and Ithtiri. But he may never see his siblings again even if his mama and da find them. Pop and nan will be furious. He will be banished from Erebor forever because he was stupid and didn't listen when his pop said to stay with the family. His curiosity and love for a stupid, sick, chicken, may have lost him everything.

For hours, nobody came to check on Naufi, nobody brought the little dwarfling food, or water. For most of the time, little Naufi shivered in fear and disappointment in himself. He ignored the soothing warmth his mother and father sent him. They were coming, that much he gathered, but what was the point when he wasn't going to be allowed to go back to Erebor anyway?

It took another few hours of constant tears before Naufi had nothing left to cry. He didn't feel any better, and to make it worse, he was now hungry and his throat was so dry from the frigid air it burned with every breath he took. He was currently sitting on a stone in the only part of the cell that had light. The darkness was frightening, and Naufi was afraid if he stepped into it, something living in the shadows would haul him away to an even darker world.

'A son of Durin knows when to let fear guide them to safety, and when to let fear drive them to stand up and fight. Fear is not the absence of courage, but rather the drive for it.' Naufi lifted his head as he remembered the words his father told him, the words pop had taught his da growing up. Naufi, was a son of Durin, and the son of Kili and Tauriel...who were favored by their creator so much he gave his mama and Fin a mark to prove it.

Using his sleeve, Naufi wiped the tears from his eyes. He, was a son of Durin. He and his brother came up with a plan to trap a nosegoul, he can figure this out. His da always said he and Orin were too clever for their age, far cleverer than even he was. No more crying like he was a simpering tot. He was a dwarf, proud and strong; the mightiest race in Arda. He will face this, and when he is free, he will stand tall and accept his banishment.

Although, he is part elf too, and his mama says elves have their own kind of strengths that are different, in many ways, to those of their dwarven people. Quieter strengths, she would tell him when he asked, strength of the mind and spirit, strength in emotional intelligence. Though she would smile and say she never excelled in being able to control her emotions, and Naufi felt the same. Still, maybe, he can live with his uncle Legolas since he is part elf; even if he doesn't look anything like an elf despite his own mother being one. One thing he knows for certain though, he will definitely steer clear of Thranduil...he doesn't seem tolerant of anything at all when he visits Erebor.

With a renewed hold on his emotions, Naufi stood, but tripped over a loose stone and fell to the floor. He sighed and pushed himself up, grumbling at the grime that now covered his hands and knees. The scratches from the stone ground stung his palms, but Naufi ignored the discomfort when a soft 'tink' filled the silence as he stood. Naufi looked down to see the tin filled with the grease he and Orin made, now laying on the ground just at his feet. A wicked smile flit across his face as he snatched it up, then began digging through his pockets and pulling out everything he had. They didn't search him, and that was probably their mistake.

The things he pulled out really did not amount to much; along with the grease, he also had a bit of yarn, a ripped piece of parchment with a sketch of his parents he did, a few copper coins, and...his pocket slingshot! It was no dagger or bow, but when it unfolded, it was a rather accurate shot.

Of course, it was not much in the ranks of weaponry though. Not many would be so lucky to survive a war brandishing only a slingshot. Still, Naufi was rather fond of it. His uncle had made one for each him and Orin for their last birthday, and Ori was the one to teach the twins how to use them. Ori preferred slingshots and often relayed the humorous story of how he tried to wield it in battle on their journey to Erebor...rather foolishly he chuckled.

Naufi searched the ground, gathering as many small stones he could find and fit in his pockets. Fortunately for him, there were more than enough on the cell floor where the light touched. Despite feeling far more courageous than he felt earlier, he still would not go into the shadows. His fear had not completely gone away, it was still there.; Naufi, had just decided to not let it rule over him for the time being.

The first thing Naufi had to do, was figure out how to get out. He tugged on the door again, and still...it didn't budge. Naufi then tried to squeeze through the bars. He was small, but the bars were still too close together even for him. He couldn't even get his head through.

Maybe lockpicking wasn't so difficult as it seemed. Naufi pulled a clip from his hair that was tied back much like Finli's and his fathers was. Orin tended to prefer his mama braiding his back, and Kilion just like his to hang loose with a few braids in it. Naufi wanted to be like his father though, so he would run into the bathroom every morning to do his hair just like his da. It has been hard with him gone, and with mama gone. He still did hair the same way every day though.

Naufi shook his head as his dark, copper, hair came falling into his eyes. The beads from his family braids hung heavily at his shoulders, but he tried to ignore them, hoping his pop lets him keep them even when he is banished. With his hairclip in his hand, Naufi reached around the door and tried to jam the clip into the lock.

Unfortunately, it did appear lockpicking was in fact, as difficult as it seemed; all that happened when Naufi jammed his pin in, was his clip ended up severely bent. His da had made that clip for him and it meant a lot to Naufi as it matched his father's own clip perfectly. So Naufi carefully fixed it hoping it wouldn't break, then fastened it back in his hair. He could try lockpicking again, but what was the point when he clearly got nowhere.

Naufi sighed and fell back against the wall. How was he ever going to get out of here?

"What are you?"

Naufi started and blinked as he stared into a pair of violet eyes looking right at him.

"You are no elf. You are far too small." The creature whispered in a hushed voice.

"And you are not an orc, at least, I don't think you are." Naufi said eyeing the odd looking person leaning against his bars. He thinks it was a female but he couldn't place her race.

"I am in part." The being said softly. "Though I am told I am also in part an elf."

"I thought you were too pretty to be an orc. I am an elf in part too." Naufi said unable to keep from staring at the tall creature peering down at him. "I am also of the dwarrow." He added shaking his head to clear it.

"You are very small. Are they taking such small beings now? Are you a youngborn?"

"I am a dwarfling, if that is what you are asking." Naufi answered. "And I was taken from my home. I don't know what they want of me. But they did take my mama away. My da went to find her. She's an elf, and he is a dwarf. You said you are part orc…are you like the others? The human guards and the nosegouls? Are you here to hurt me?"

The being stared at Naufi then pulled away from the bars and walked several cells down. Naufi pressed himself against the cell door to see where the violet eyed being went. She seemed to be looking into other cells, slowly disappearing into the dark shadows as she moved away from Naufi's cell. But soon enough she was coming right back and stepping into the light. "Are you the only one?" She asked.

"The only one…here?" Naufi clarified. When the other person nodded, Naufi nodded. "I think so. I have not heard anyone."

"I am not here to harm you, to answer your earlier question. I am Tuhkna. I am one tasked with ensuring all elves have been removed from this level before the others take notice. My sisters are gathering to take their leave. We have been, freed."

"Are you a prisoner like me than?" Naufi asked curiously.

"In a way, I suppose. But we have done some terrible things." Tuhkna said slowly. "We have killed, taken elves from their homes, and caused much harm to innocent beings. Or so my sisters have said."

"Do YOU think you have done bad?" Naufi asked, slowly backing away from the elven orc female.

Tuhkna blinked her violet eyes and cocked her head. "I do not know. Are such things truly bad when you are taught and trained to do them? Have you taken a life before?"

"I am not even allowed to leave the mountain." Naufi declared. "And yes, killing is bad."

Tuhkna only shrugged. "I did as I was ordered and taught to do. Though, I do feel a kind of, heaviness, in here…" She pointed to her stomach. "…my sisters say, we were taught wrong. I believe them."

"Mama says, when you feel like you have heavy stones in your gut, you are feeling guilty about something." Naufi claimed. "She said saying you are sorry, can turn those stones to feathers."

"Sorry? Guilt?" Tuhkna hummed quietly. "Very well. If you say it helps. I am sorry." She said, then she waited. After a few moments, she blinked again. "I do not feel as if they have turned to feathers."

Naufi chuckled. "Because you didn't do anything to ME. You have to apologize to the people you hurt or wronged."

"But they are likely dead." Tuhkna said in a nonchalant tone.

Naufi gulped and took another step away. He didn't know what to say to her and eventually, she seemed to understand that. "I do not wish to add more stones to my belly. Do you wish for me to open the door? I do not think it wise, to keep you here. Khamul leads with intent to do harm. You will be killed if you remain."

"Yes!" Naufi all but shouted.

"Hush!" Tuhkna admonished stiffening and peering behind her. "Someone is coming. Get back against the wall and say nothing or it will be your life."

Naufi's eyes widened when a very large pair of orcs came trudging up the steps. Tuhkna did not move, instead, she stood attention.

Whatever they were saying, was beyond Naufi. He had never heard that kind of speech before. Yet, he also could not move either and sat against the freezing wall as she suggested and stared at the orcs. He had never seen one in person. He had seen illustrations of them, and learned about them in his lessons, heard stories of the horrors, but this was the first time, Naufi has actually seen one.

One of the orcs grunted and growled, then threw a few pieces of bread covered in mold onto the ground and kicked it into Naufi's cell.

"Food." It grumbled. "For the Ereborian rat. Do yeh want some water too?"

Naufi didn't know what to do or say, but slowly he nodded. It was his mistake, as the orc smiled and took the bucket from his companion, then threw the contents at Naufi soaking him to the bone with the dark, murky, and rancid smelling water.

The orcs both laughed then turned to Tuhkna. "Lord Khamul is havin' a meeting with the others. He is not to be disturbed. They are plannin' what to do with the little rat from Erebor. Think we might have the king of the dwarves here fer a visit soon. Been wantin' to taste dwarf blood." The orc licked his dark grey lips as he leaned into the cell. "Maybe…I will get ta cook you fer supper tonight if things go our way. Tender little morsal you appear to be, Erebor rat."

Naufi backed far against the back wall, shivering from the dripping water, though he glared at the orc as he backed away.

The orc huffed another laugh then turned away, shoving his companion towards the steps. "Dwarf flesh for dinner tonight! We will FEAST!" He yelled as he and his comrade laughed going down the steps.

Naufi felt a drop of the water fall down his face, his stomach turning from the smell that was now soaked into his clothes. He lifted his emerald eyes to Tuhkna who was watching him again. "Can you really get me out of here?"

"I think it best I do." She said pulling a strange looking key and using it to unlock the cell door.

"What did they say, when they came up?" Naufi asked. "I don't know your language."

"It is the tongue of Mordor." Tuhkna said. "The language we were taught."

"But, you speak common." Naufi said walking towards the open door.

"Yes. We learn it as well. But only from the others we were raised with. It is not formally taught, though we speak it far more often." Tuhkna looked off into the distance for a moment, then looked back down at Naufi. "Do you have a name?"

"Yes." Naufi said. "My full name is Naurfaer, son of Kili and Tauriel. But everyone calls me Naufi."

Tuhnka cocked her head to the side giving him a curious look. "Tauriel? I know this name."

"You know my mama?!" Naufi said excitedly.

Again, Tuhkna looked off into the distance before turning back to the dwarfling. "Tauriel, is the name of an elf who was the first to show kindness to my kind. She helped bring an end to the place we originate from. My sisters are gathering because, in part, of what this Tauriel and those who came to stand by her, taught us. We can be better."

"That's her! That is my mama. She makes everything better." Naufi beamed with both excitement and pride. "Do you know my da too? Kili? Son of Dis?"

"I do not know this, Dis, but, if your father is a dwarf, my sisters are whispering of dwarves who where among the battle. I have told them of whom I am speaking, and my sisters have made getting you to safety, a main priority…in gratitude for Tauriel and what she did." Tuhkna eyed Naufi up and down, than the steps that led away from this floor of cells.

"What is it?" Naufi asked looking at the stairs. "Are those orcs coming back?"

Tuhkna shook her head as she eyed Naufi. "I am only trying to decide a way to get you out without getting you killed or further targeted by Lord Khamul."

Naufi's eyes widened and he gulped as she steered him slowly down the spiraling stone steps. A few, she had to help him maneuver as there were entire steps missing in certain places that he could not get over on his own. It was not until they reached the lower levels, that the real danger became apparent.

"They are everywhere." Naufi breathed as he peaked through a hole in the wall to see human guards, orcs, and the same creatures as Tuhkna moving around the open halls of the fortress. "How are we supposed to get through that?"

"Carefully." Tuhkna said. She nodded and Naufi realized she had caught the eye of another…whatever she was…who was able to divert a group of human guards away from the stairs. "My sister will clear a way."

"She is your sister?" Naufi whispered.

"All of my kind, are my sisters. We are linked in our minds." She pointed to her head. "They know of our new priority and will assist before we make our leave of this place and join the wizards in blue."

"Like Gandalf?" Naufi asked.

"I do not know this name." Tuhkna said.

"Are you all leaving tonight than?" Naufi asked.

"Do you always ask so many questions?" Tuhkna gave Naufi a piercing look. "And yes. We aim to leave quietly, as my sisters suggested. If we gain the attention of Khamul, we may as well forfeit our lives. He is not one to have tolerance for those turning from the master."

"Can he really not be killed?" Naufi asked yet another question causing Tuhkna to shoot him a somewhat exasperated look.

"When we asked too many questions when I was a youngborn, we were punished. Severely." She lifted a brow.

"Mama says, questions are how we learn." Naufi said in a matter of fact tone. "And gamp says you can never ask too many questions."

"What is a gamp?" Tuhkna asked.

"Grandfather. As in, your fathers father. I have three. Pop Thorin, grandda Vin, and gamp Naurfaer. He's who I am named after, and technically my great grandfather. But we just call him gamp."

Tuhkna sighed, not quite understanding, but clearly afraid to ask more. "Are you capable of keeping silent?"

Naufi shrugged. "Depends on who you ask. But the short answer, is probably?"

"That is a question, not an answer." Tuhkna shook her head. "Well, youngborn, your life is about to depend on it. When I say move, we go. Be silent, remain in my shadow if you can, and…"

Tuhkna froze when a commotion caught her attention. One of her sisters was currently being slammed against a wall by a large orc who was screaming at her and repeatedly hurling her against the stone as if she were nothing but a rag doll.

"He's hurting her!" Naufi said in a hushed voice. "Why isn't anyone helping her!?"

"Because if they do, we will all be killed and so will you." Tuhkna watched, her eyes fixed on the black blood trickling down her sister's temple as she was forced to hear her plead to her sisters to not interfere. All she had done to earn her fate, was to order the large orc and his group to mind the front gate as she was tasked to do by Khamul and his council. Many of the larger orcs felt they were above Tuhkna's kind, and any orders that came from the sisters were an excuse to kill or seriously injure one of the creatures created from their flesh.

"Halfbreed, elven, mutt! Nobody orders me about!" The orc gnashed his teeth. There was a soft whooshing sound before the orc dropped his prey as a stone shot right into his eye. He yelled out curses in his tongue as Naufi smiled wide.

"Got him."

"Foolish youngborn!" Tuhkna admonished and shoved him into an alcove as a massive fight broke loose below. Naufi was able to see a bit of it around Tuhkna, and smiled even wider when he realized the orcs and the humans were turning on each other while the sisters appeared to take several steps away, though some did come to the aid of their bleeding sister. Naufi was glad he was able to at least stop that orc.

"Is this your choice of weapon?" Tuhkna asked, eyeing the slingshot he had in one hand, and a stone ready in the other.

Naufi looked to his weapon and shrugged. "Actually, I am much better at shooting a bow. Me and my brothers have been learning archery from my mama since before I can remember. I want to master the sword too, like my da; he's good at both the bow, and blades. But mama says I am too young for regular sharp weapon practice, but I get to do it sometimes with their supervision. This, is just for fun." He gestured to the slingshot. "And it is fun."

Naufi saw an orc coming towards the steps, and knew they would be caught if he didn't do something. With a practiced aim, Naufi shot the stone at a far wall where it bounced off the stone and hit the orc right in the temple. It immediately diverted the orcs attention as the shot appeared to come from the opposite direction.

"You are very proficient in that." Tuhkna said, impressed by what he had been able to do.

"Are they just, going to keep fighting?" Naufi asked when the battle continued to rage below. "Aren't they all on the same side?"

Tuhkna shrugged. "They will fight, until the weak concede. It is the way to keep only the strongest in power."

As she spoke, Naufi could see many of the human guards ducking out while the large orcs seemed to be winning the fight. It only stopped when a piercing and almost ear shattering screech filled the air. Naufi covered his ears in fear and for the first time, even Tuhkna looked afraid as she leaned back far enough to be hidden further in the shadows.

The halls went silent for several minutes, then the sound of feet shuffling replaced the quiet and it was apparent, whoever was still down there was moving quickly. Tuhkna put her finger on her lips and signaled for Naufi to stay where he was.

It felt like an eternity before Tuhkna gave him the signal to follow her once more. By now, the massive unroofed hall was nearly empty apart from a few of the sisters, who nodded to Tukhna as she stepped down.

"What was that sound earlier?" Naufi asked as they joined a larger group that surrounded Naufi keeping him hidden as they made their way through the open area of the fortress. The sky was clear, so no snow was falling here...but Mahal was it cold.

"That, was the command of the nine." Tuhkna said in a hushed voice. "There are three here right now with Khamul being the head of their order here. There is only one other who has more authority, the lord of Angmar, though I have heard some call him the witch king. But I do not know what a witch is."

"My uncle calls my mama's closest friend, Leo, a witch." Naufi said. "But I am not supposed to tell anyone."

The group stopped at a hall that led to yet another set of steps. "This fortress has one way in and out." Tukhna said, nodding to her sisters who still flanked them. "But it is heavily guarded and we are not to leave without orders."

"All entrances are guarded." One of the sisters hissed. "The spies in the air say an army marches close. The lords are preparing for negotiations and battle with the dwarves."

"Dwarves?" Naufi said in surprise.

"Your people are coming for you." The sister confirmed.

A roar filled the air, and a chill ran down Naufi's back at the sound of it. He looked up to see guards running up the stairs above them, armed and ready to fight.

"What was that?" Naufi asked the sisters who encircled him once more.

One of the orcs yelled out to the group of sisters in passing, and they pulled their whips and blades. "A beast has landed on the top spire. We have yet to confirm what it is." Tuhkna looked at the guards and orcs splitting between going to the front entrance, and going to the upper part of the fortress. "If we were to leave now, we would be killed." She said in a slightly defeated tone.

Naufi was about to ask what they were going to do when a very familiar black shape fluttered over him. He blinked as it circled around and out of sight. "Kaw?" Naufi muttered.

"What is a Kaw?" Tuhkna asked. "I only spy a raven."

"It is Kaw! He is our raven! Pop is here!" Naufi ignored the fear that came knowing his banishment was as close as the dawning sky. He could see the light of the rising sun just cresting over the eves of the dilapidated roof system. He had been there all afternoon, and all night. "He is looking for me!"

"We will get you to him." Tuhkna promised.

Tauriel had not slept, but she was in no way tired as they flew through the night. Tork was fast, faster than a horse on the ground at top speed. He soared over the trees with speeds she did not know were even possible. She ignored the ache in her back as she held on so tightly to Kili, she knew he would have bruises around his waist.

As they reached the greenwood, Tauriel told them to fly over Mirkwood and she was glad she did, as just at the large gate where there was enough clearing in the trees to see below, Tauriel was able to see quite the gathering of guards preparing to march into the forest. "TORK, LAND DOWN THERE! BENEATH THE TREES!"

Tauriel yelled over Kili, hoping the shapeshifter could hear her. Apparently he did, as he was descending so fast, Tauriel had to again, hold tightly to Kili to keep from sliding off.

When they hit the ground, there was a commotion as the elven guards of Mirkwood instantly drew their bows at Tork.

"Lower your weapons!" Tauriel ordered in sindarin as she slid down from the winged lion who folded his wings and seemed completely nonplussed at the arrows aimed at him.

"Tauriel?"

The group parted and Thorin came storming through. Tauriel smiled wide and ran to him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Adad!"

"Well, ain' this a wonder." Aeodhen sighed beside Dwalin who shrugged and held out his hand. The captain of Erebor's entire army growled. "Tha' was not our bet."

"I told you she would be ridin' in before we even made it to the pace, and here she is." Dwalin said.

"Ridin' a horse. Tha' is no' a horse."

"Didn' specify wha' she rode, and she rode tha' didn' she?"

Aeodhen grumbled again and reached into his pocket to pass Dwalin a few pieces of silver. "Yeh can have the whiskey later."

"I will be countin' on it." Dwalin hummed as he watched Kili get pulled into an embrace as well.

"What happened uncle?" Kili asked as he pulled away from Thorin.

Thorin ground his jaw. "Gandalf was right. A Nazgul came to Erebor. I ordered Dis to take the children into a back room, but apparently, somehow Naufi got out of the mountain. I am still working out how and why."

"And they took him?" Tauriel said, anger in her tone and expression.

Thorin nodded as Thranduil joined them on his massive stag. "Tauriel." He bowed his head in acknowledgement. "It warms me to see you are returned safe. And Legolas?" He looked around Tauriel at Kili, then at the winged lion who stood shoulder to shoulder the same height as the stag.

"He is coming by boat with Ivethin, Nelithi, and those who survived. I will explain fully later." Tauriel said.

"I expect a detailed report." Thranduil nodded.

"My report, will go to Erebor, but I will endeavor to appraise you of what happened, as I am sure Legolas will."

Thorin wanted to applaud his daughter who held her chin high and looked directly at Thranduil who seemed rather displeased by her answer. She deserved to be free to speak as she wishes, and not feel as if she has to bow to another's will or power. Tauriel, is a lady of Erebor, not a captain of Mirkwood any longer.

"What is your plan uncle?" Kili asked, taking his wife's hand in his.

"I sent Kaw ahead to find Naufi, but we are to march on Dol Guldur."

"Suicide really." Thranduil sighed in a bored tone.

"Then don't come." Thorin growled at the elven king who lifted a brow.

"A child was stolen, I will not allow that in my lands." Thranduil said. "And, even more, it was Tauriel's child. Suicide or not, I will join your forces and march with you to retrieve him…to whatever ends."

The anger that was in Tauriel softened a bit. That, was the caring side of Thranduil coming through; the one that showed she did mean something to him. Maybe not the something she had needed him to be growing up, but, he at least felt enough to personally come to help them save her son.

"Has he been able to communicate with you, nâtha?" Thorin asked.

Tauriel sighed and shook her head. "Not much. He was terrified though, and we felt that keenly."

"And he is alive and not far, and that is enough for me right now." Kili said turning back to Tork who bowed low to let him up. "We will fly to the fortress."

"What, exactly, is that?" Thorin asked eyeing the winged lion.

"This is Tork, adad." Tauriel said. "He is like Beorn and has saved my life a few times now. I owe him much for his willingness to help. I will explain fully later."

Thorin grunted but nodded. "Fine. Be careful and as soon as you find Naufi, get out. With any luck, our presence by foot will draw the Nazgul out of your way and turn their focus on us. You cannot kill them Tauriel, Kili, do not forget that. We are holding back any attack until necessary, but they took my grandson, nâtha, from my mountain. I will kill whomever I have to in order to get him back. And we will get him back."

Tauriel nodded, fury still burning deep in her eyes. She too will kill any who get between her, and her son. Tauriel turned from Thorin and accepted Kili's hand to pull her up on Tork who took off into the air once more.

"We march!" Thorin bellowed mounting Rhya who stamped at the ground; the shaggy horse easily dwarfed by Thranduil's stag beside her. With another order from Thranduil to his own guards, the army from Erebor and the army from Mirkwood moved towards Dol Guldur.

"I think we should land on top and work our way down." Kili suggested. Tauriel could feel his anger, worry, and burning desire to pull that fortress apart with his bare hands pouring from his connection to her. Kili was a passionate soul, and felt things in a way Tauriel never knew was possible before he entered her life. Kili's emotions ran deep, almost too deep sometimes. But they were also addicting; so addicting. There was not a day in Tauriel's life, that she did not CRAVE to feel Kili's emotions, his vibrant joy, his smoldering love, the raw and unbridled passion he had for her, and their family.

Tauriel was pulled into him in every way, and she loved every moment of it. And now that they can share full thoughts, Tauriel cannot wait to explore their new gift in all aspects of their life. Right now, as they soared through the air, her hair whipping behind her, Kili made plans through their connection. Once they land, they will split up and go floor by floor to find Naufi. Whoever finds him, will alert the other and they will get out of there.

"Stay away from the nazgul, amralime." Kili warned through their connection as Tork seemingly spotted a place to land after Kili confirmed it was the location. "Because if he so much as touches you or goes near our son again, I won't be able to control myself."

"Only if you promise the same, Kili. For whether or not my blades can remove him from this world, if he has put a finger on Naufi, or hurt him in any way, I will accept my place in Valinor while causing that thing as much pain before I go as I can."

Kili stiffened, but what could he say? He felt her press her lips to the skin right below his ear just as they descended quickly. But the spire was not free of guards who were seemingly ready and waiting. Tork roared and swiped several away as his massive paws touched the ground.

Tauriel and Kili jumped down the moment Tork hit solid ground, their weapons pulled and the battle once again, commencing. Orcs both large and small poured onto the landing but Kili and Tauriel were unstoppable. Their matching rage fueled them as their blades struck human and orc alike. Big, small, it didn't matter, the pair easily took care of them.

"Tauriel go find Naufi!" Kili said as Tork who managed to turn back into the towering being he was normally, threw on his trousers, then picked up a sword from a fallen guard and began aiding Kili. "And be careful."

"You too, Kili. I love you." Rather than respond, Kili sent the feelings pouring into her as he fought off an orc nearly the size of Bolg but fortunately, clearly less skilled in combat or Tauriel would have stayed. She will definitely be having nightmares and flashbacks when she manages to get sleep again, because even getting a glimpse of Kili in battle with that orc had her ears ringing with the sound of piercing armor.

"I am alright, Tauriel." Kili soothed when he felt her pain through their bond and recognized her fear for what it was. He shot her a smile as he pierced the orc through the chest. "Go." He sent her.

"I have his back, Bunny." Tork yelled out as he pushed an orc off the spire who had attempted to run at Kili. They were once his allies...but after what they did to his family and the lies they fed him for years about it...they could all rot in the underworld for all he cares.

Tauriel ran inside, not bothering to respond. If she can't trust Tork now after everything he has done...than what would that say about her? With her daggers in her hands, Tauriel became death himself as she tore through the corridors and halls. There were far less guards and orcs here than there were in the compound, so it was not as if she was constantly bombarded. It seemed the larger of the groups had met them on the spire and these were only the few trickling up to join them.

When she reached what appeared to be a main floor, Tauriel closed her eyes and tried to search for her son through their connection. He was here, and he was close. "I am coming my little darling. Mama's here." Tauriel said to the connection, though she would be surprised if he heard or understood.

Her blades sang with the need for retribution, for the blood of those who dare take her child from her. There was no mercy in Tauriel's heart when one of the humans turned fear-filled eyes on her, but before she could make a killing blow, she held him to her face and gave him one chance. "Where is my son!"

The fear in the mans eyes blazed and he pointed to a set of steps leading up. "The...the cells. I only jus' transferred here...please...I...I don' want ta die. Please."

Tauriel glared darkly at him, her normally warm and vibrant green eyes were now dark and filled with hatred and malice. This, was the elven captain of Thranduil, the elf who worked her way up through the ranks so fast it angered the other guards who both envied her, and hated her for her natural skill; the elf who destroyed an entire colony of giant spiders alone, the elf who could be a harbinger for death when she wanted to be. Even more, this was a mother, who was willing to kill as many as it took to get to her child.

"Perhaps, you should have considered this when you chose to side with THEM." Tauriel hissed. "If I find you were the one to take him from me, I will hunt for you. You will never be safe, and you will never find a place to hide from me. Do you understand?"

The guard nodded, his helmet falling to the ground as his body trembled in fear…Valar above he was young. Tauriel still had no pity for him as she spat, "Take me to him."

Again the guard nodded as Tauriel slowly released him, her blade at his back as he turned and began leading her to the cells on the upper floor. The empty cells.

"I...I don' understand." The guard said, his voice breaking. "They, they weren' touchin' 'im. They mus' 'ave moved 'im."

He cried out as Tauriel slammed the man against the wall, his head cracking as it hit the stone. Fortunately he was not a large man in any right, in fact, he was shorter than Tauriel and it took her a moment to realize, in human years, he couldn't be more than seventeen. Younger than her Finli and just a bit older than Naufi himself. Though Naufi's elven and dwarven blood had him looking closer to a small eight- or nine-year-old human. Her Naufi.

Tauriel growled, her teeth bared. "Where...is...my...son?!"

"Please. Please, I don'...I don' know. Please."

Tauriel had her blade at his throat but...she couldn't do it. He was too young, too young to be in a place like this, too young to have understood what he chose for his life...too young to know he was being manipulated. "Are there others as young as you here?"

The man, boy, nodded. "My team...we...we just came from the camps. I 'ave a younger brother here to. It's jus' he and I. Please. If you kill me, he has nobody. Our family, they won't want us back. They did no' want us to begin with."

"How old is he?" Tauriel asked, her blade still at the boys throat as he took a gulp.

"Fifteen." The boy said. "Bu' they think he is eighteen, and I twenty. It was the only way we could stay together, if we lied an' came here. They were shippin' the younger boys to the other side of Arda...I couldn't...please don' kill me. Please."

Tauriel closed her eyes and slowly lowered her blade. Children. They were children. "Get your brother, and get out. Remove all your armor, and run. Heading this way, is an army of dwarves and elves, tell the king of the dwarves, Tauriel sent you, and you seek asylum."

"Bu' were will we go? An' won' they kill us?"

"You will be going to your people. There is a city called Dale. A human city. I know their king, if you are truly ready to change your life...we will see that you and any who follow you will be granted safety."

"Thank you. Thank you...yes..." The boy nearly fell to the ground when Tauriel released him and he ran from the room.

Tauriel pressed her head to the cold stone and turned to look at the prison. It was so dark, so dark and wet, and her baby was here, her Naufi who had Kili's brightness for life. She glanced at the open door, seeing a piece of parchment on the floor and picked it up. It was a torn sketch of her and Kili, something just mindlessly done on a piece of paper. It was nothing more than a child's drawing, but Tauriel knew it was her. She reached into her pocket and fingered the little doll Naufi and Orin had made her she has had since she left. She kept it hidden away, not wanting it to get ruined or found and taken...but removed it from her deep pockets in her soiled clothes from the compound and placed it in the deep pockets of the dress the Avari gave her that made her look like a walking flame.

Turning on her toes, Tauriel knew she had to continue her search for her child. She shoved the piece of parchment into her pocket along with her doll, re-gripped her daggers, and readied herself for the onslaught still to come.

Tauriel was barely down the spiraling steps when a deep sense of cold filled her entire being that had nothing to do with the frigid temperature she was trying to ignore. At first, she thought it was Kili, but he appeared to be fine. He was somewhere just above her, telling her he was alright when she quickly inquired about him.

'DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST YOU MUST RUN! NOW!'

Tauriel didn't hesitate as the voice of Aule filled her. Kili's panic was immediate as he must have heard the echo through their bond as he urged her to listen and to go. Tauriel felt liked she was flying as she flew down the steps but fate had other plans for her, as she came face to face, with a creature that made her blood turn to ice.

"Elf." The creature hissed.

Just past the towering creature, were a group of familiar beings with violet eyes staring at her. One had their head cocked curiously, her brows lowered as she stared at Tauriel. She nodded once to nobody in particular, and Tauriel knew, at that moment, the violet eyed hybrid recognized her. It was one of the sisters in the forest that day she was taken, Tauriel is sure, but there was something else in her look, a deeper recognition.

Tauriel held her ground as she turned her eyes back to the armored being and she lifted her chin. "My son. Where is he." She said in a steady, but threatening tone.

There was no discernable face on this tall creature, just a black cloak held in place by armor...it made Tauriel uncomfortable. But she did not tremble once, she did not back away, she held its eyeless gaze as it stepped towards her.

"You...are the dwarf child's mother? An elf?" Its voice was a whisper in the shadows, both unpleasant, and unnatural. Tauriel felt goosebumps rise on her skin but willed them away.

"I am his mother, and you will release him to me! Immediately." Tauriel ordered. She ignored Kili begging her to run as he fought his way to her. It pained her, to feel his outrage, to hear the desperation in his voice as he was both too close and too far to help her.

"Find Naufi." Tauriel begged in return. "Find him and go. If things go bad, do not look back, Kili. Remember your promise to me."

Kili roared in pain through their connection and she turned her entire focus back to the being in front of her who was laughing.

"Can you make decisions for the lands here, female?" The creature hissed. "Do you speak for the kings of Dale and Erebor?"

Tauriel stared at the being. "I do not." She said honestly. "But I do speak for my family, and my child, when I promise you retribution if he is not given to me, now."

The creature cocked its head. "So you are nothing, but an elf, who mated with a dwarf. Unnatural. An abomination, the child is." It wheezed. "The world would favor it being removed."

Tauriel ground her jaw and glared at the evil shadow before her. Nazgul, her mind called it. She knew little of them, only rumors were mentioned in texts and if she is correct, she recalls there being mentions of nine who could only be killed with special weapons and who are capable of killing with only a touch. A being who was both in the world of the living, and the dead...yet it calls her child unnatural?

"What authority do you have to claim my child to be unnatural? You, who should have died long ago, and stayed dead." Tauriel growled.

"By the authority of the masters who created this world." The Nazgul said in an even tone. "By those whose songs you owe your life. If we are not to be, we would not be. So we know we are doing the work of the gods, elf."

If Tauriel was furious before, that claim had her raging. "YOU DO NOT SPEAK for the makers, creature of the dark!" She seethed. She felt the burning anger of Aule flow into her, and the mark on her arm blazed but not unpleasantly.

"And you do, elf, who mated with a dwarf? You who chose outside her species, and a dwarf no less. A creature who should not have been." The Nazgul taunted. "Created by a Valar who strayed. It is no different than Morgoth, who sang his song to create his own creatures just like Aule. This makes them the same...does it not? Both going against the wishes of Iluvatar yet only one is praised for it. Pity and favoritism are the only reason dwarves breathe our air, elf. Is pity why you bedded one as well?"

'Keep calm. It bates you, Daughter of the forest. But it cannot harm you as you bare my mark; I will protect you from their otherworldliness. You still cannot kill it. Not with the weapons you bare.'

Tauriel forced her temper down and filed that information away, feeling a bit of relief knowing she had some kind of protection from the thing standing before her. She heard soft shuffling and lifted her eyes past the Nazgul to see a group of the sisters begin to surround them. Each one had their whips out at the ready in one hand, and dangerous looking curved blades in the other.

"I ask you again, where, is my son!?" Tauriel took a step forward, placing her right in front of the towering, black cloaked figure.

The slap came before she realized the Nazgul lifted its hand. Blood dripped down her cheek and she pressed her hand to it.

"Hold your TONE female." The Nazgul screeched, then his voice turned almost pained, as he looked down at his metal gloved hand. The hand, that was emitting some kind of steam, or smoke, as if the mere touch of Tauriel burned it. "What, manner of creature, are you to burn one of the nine by touch!?" The Nazgul hissed angerly and took a step away from Tauriel.

Tauriel pulled off her bracer, and held her wrist high. "I am Tauriel, of Erebor. And though I do not hold true authority for Aule, I bare his mark and I DO speak with his voice when I say YOU, creature, are the abomination. First, you WILL give me my son. Then you will stay away from my home, and my family."

"Erebor will be ours!" The Nazgul screamed.

"Erebor will NEVER be yours!" Tauriel yelled back stepping towards the Nazgul who took a step away from the approaching elf. "Every attempt to take her, has failed. The dragon. Dead. The armies of orcs and goblins. Dead. That elf who dared take my Kili from me, dared to try and turn him to take the mountain from within. Dead. I swear, on the Valar above, that if you keep coming near Erebor, no power in this world could protect you from your fate."

The Nazgul had had enough, and pulled his weapon; Tauriel had never seen anything like it, an iron grip, with a chain from which the head of a war-axe swung. "I may not be able to touch you elf, but this can!" He lifted his hand, swinging the chain above and released it just as Tauriel moved and rolled away. She turned and hissed but froze at what she saw.

One of the sisters whips cracked as it wrapped around the Nazgul's weapon while the others closed in on him.

"What is this?" The Nazgul growled breathily. "How dare you defy us!" He made a screeching, ear piercing wail that had Tauriel pressing her hands to her ears…but the sisters, ignored it and attacked.

"NO!" Tauriel cried, but one of the sisters held her back.

"Your son is on the next floor with one of our sisters; Tuhkna she is called. She waits for you. Go. Now Tauriel. Go. We will not be slaves to these creatures anymore. We take a stand, now. But you must live." She pushed Tauriel away then joined her sisters as they leaped at the Nazgul knowing full well, they could not kill him. The sister who had pushed Tauriel away, had jumped onto the Nazgul's back attempting to jam her blade into his neck much like Kili had once done to Bolg so long ago.

"GO!" The sister yelled and Tauriel ran. She followed the hall, but was stopped several times to fight an orc or human coming to the Nazgul's aid. Tauriel dispatched of them as quickly as she could as she raced through the corridor. She ran up a set of steps but all she found were empty hallways.

"NAUFI!" Tauriel cried. "NAUFI!" She opened doors to empty rooms and more open stairwells. She knew he was here, she could feel he was here, but unlike her ability to track Kili…the connection she had to her children was just slightly different. Just different enough for her to not be able to pinpoint exactly where he was. But she knew, she just knew she was now heading in the right direction.

"Where are you Tauriel?! Why aren't you answering me?!" Kili yelled in her mind at the same time she heard a very soft, "Mama?" coming from up ahead.

"NAUFI!" Tauriel yelled and followed the sound. Around another corner hidden in an alcove with two sisters on either side of him, was her baby. Tauriel fell to her knees as he ran to her. The pain in her calf long forgotten as she battled her way to her son did only now pulse angerly, but Tauriel ignored it as she let out a sob when Naufi ran into her arms. She instantly buried her nose in his dark chocolate and copper, hair. Her Naufi.

"Mama!" Naufi clung desperately to her. "Mama I'm sorry."

"Shhhh. My precious star, shhh. I am here. Mama is here." She rocked him and only pulled away when he loosened his grip a bit. As he looked up at her with the same emerald eyes she saw when she looked into a mirror, Tauriel cradled his small face in her hands, looking him over. He was covered in filth, but he seemed unharmed. "Oh Naufi." She pressed her lips to every part of her face and Naufi was soon burying his head back into her shoulder. "Are you hurt my darling? Did they harm you?"

"No." Naufi sniffled. "Is da here?"

Tauriel smiled and nodded. "He is here." She quickly told Kili that she found Naufi. He was exasperated with her for not answering him earlier, but he responded that he was coming and to get out.

"There is some kind of rebellion happening, Tauriel." Kili said across their connection. "The hybrids from Rhun are fighting. We need to go. Get out any way you can!"

Tauriel didn't hesitate as she lifted Naufi into her arms and turned to the sisters. "Do you know what you are called now?" She asked.

"We are the Kalarmime. Sisters born of the dark, but seek after the light." She looked at Tauriel. "You, are Tauriel."

"I am. What is your name?" Tauriel asked.

"She's Tuhkna, mama. She helped me out of the cell." Naufi said, his arms wrapped around Tauriel's neck, though he turned to look at Tuhkna who nodded.

"Thank you for saving him, Tuhkna." Tauriel said with a bow of her head.

"He is, a courageous little youngborn." Tuhkna said. "But truly you must go."

"Aren't you coming too?" Naufi asked, his eyes wide with worry.

"Your mother is here now, so we must go aid our sisters in battle." She answered.

"Will I see you again?"

"Still so many questions." Tuhkna narrowed her eyes at Naufi who smiled at her. "Likely not." She eventually answered. "Our sisters call from the outside world, and bid us to join them. If…if we are able to…we will heed their call."

'If they are able to.' Tauriel thought. Meaning, if they survive. When Naufi pressed his head to her temple, Tauriel sighed. She needed to get him out of here, he was freezing and shivering in her grasp likely from both the shock of what was happening...and the freezing winter chill. She felt for Kili, searching for the line that bound them and set herself in his direction.

"Please, try to get yourself out." Tauriel said, looking at Tuhkna one last time. The sister nodded but did not respond as she pulled her curved sword, and with a meaningful glance at Naufi, ran down the steps with her companion right behind her.

"Can we find da?" Naufi asked. "I want to see him."

Tauriel pressed a kiss to his head as she too took the steps down. She had to both get to Kili, and get to either the main entrance or make her way back to the spire and hope Tork was nearby to fly them out.

"MAMA!" Naufi warned and pointed behind her where a human was drawing an arrow which they had aiming right for her. However, before Tauriel could set Naufi down and pull a blade, another arrow pierced the mans skull.

"MAHAL!" Kili cursed as he jumped down from a hole in the wall above them. "They just keep coming from nowhere!"

"DA!" Naufi cried and Tauriel set him down so he could run to his father who snatched him up and held him tightly. Tauriel tried to keep her own tears at bay as Kili held their son with such tenderness, and such love, that it was difficult to look away.

"We need to get out of here Kili." Tauriel said. "Where is Tork?"

"Right here Bunny!" Tork said leaning against the wall. "You ready to go yet? This your pup?" He gestured to Naufi who was blinking up at the large man.

"He's big." Naufi said.

"Wait till you see what I can do." Tork grinned, then looked to Tauriel. "We really need to go though. The army just got here, and there's talk that Khamul is furious."

Tauriel nodded. "The nazgul…I had an exchange with him earlier."

Tork snorted. "Unlikely. You would be dead. Though I see you are not unscathed." He lifted a finger to poke at the bleeding cut on Tauriel's cheek, but she batted his hand away.

"He was not a fan of me telling him what to do." Tauriel huffed.

"Than it really was not Khamul." Tork said, his voice sobering. "There are three wraiths here, according to the orc who was a talker. Before I removed his head, he realized who I was and laughed as he claimed to have been present when my family begged to be left in peace, and were instead, left in pieces. His own words he should have kept in his throat."

"Tork." Tauriel said with pain in her voice. "I am so sorry."

Tork nodded. "My family chose to follow a people who do not tolerate it well when there is a change of heart. It was an error, that cost everything. One day, I hope to find my own peace in it, but right now, it helps to decapitate as many as I can get my hands on."

"Decapitate?" Naufi asked. "What does that mean?"

Tauriel sighed and pushed Kili, who still held their son tightly, towards the way she was heading earlier. "It is time to leave."

"Do you know where you are going?" Tork asked following directly behind them.

"Do you?" Tauriel shot back. "This way." She finally said.

"Oh? You say that so confidently little Bunny."

Tauriel ground her jaw, really wanting to loose a dagger at Tork right now. She wouldn't, but it was tempting as he can be most infuriating. "When I confronted the Nazgul, I think I was near the main entrance." She looked around the fortress. There was no roof above her head, only mazes of stairwells and buildings covered in vines and moss.

"Any way you can just, fly us out from here?" Kili asked.

"Fly!?" Naufi's eyes widened in excitement. "We get to fly?!"

"No." Tork grunted eyeing the area. "There isn't enough open space to get out. If we can get a bit higher, I think I can spread my wings enough to get some lift."

"WINGS!?" Naufi stared at the large being, his emerald eyes searching for what he clearly did not see. He scrunched his nose, in the exact way Kili did…and apparently…Tauriel too. It had Tork laughing wildly.

"A family of bunnies!" He said. "Do you do it too?" Tork looked at Kili expectantly, leaning into Kili's face that caused the identical reaction instantly…poor Kili couldn't stop it because it was just his natural reaction to the situation. He scrunched his nose and Tork's bellowing laughter filled the air. "Bunny noses. Don't worry though, you are too late to earn the name for yourselves. Still, it is funny."

Tauriel rolled her eyes while Naufi didn't seem to understand what was going on. "How come he says he has wings…I don't see any wings."

"Wings." Tauriel hummed, "We need wings."

"What about Kaw?" Naufi asked. "He is here somewhere. I saw him. Flying high."

"You have seen Kaw?" Tauriel asked. When Naufi nodded, she whistled and waited for her raven to make an appearance. It took a few minutes, but eventually she spotted a black creature flying above, searching. She whistled again and he banked then flew right to her.

"Nana!" Kaw bobbed his head excitedly.

"How is he going to help?" Tork asked lifting a brow. "You gonna ride him out?"

"We can't do that. He's too small." Naufi said.

Tork rolled his eyes. "That's the point, kid."

"I don't get it." Naufi blinked as Tauriel sent Kaw back into the air.

"He is going to lead us out." Tauriel pulled her dual swords, and began leading the group into the hall. She kept an eye on Kaw who flew overhead, guiding them through the maze of outdoor halls and dilapidated looking buildings.

"This place is a mess." Tork said. "I am glad I didn't end up here. A bit miserable isn't it?"

"And the other place wasn't?" Kili asked.

Tork shrugged. "At least it was warm. It's freezing here."

"Is it because you lost your shirt?" Naufi asked. His chin was resting on Kili's shoulder as he was looking back at Tork who had taken up the back of the group.

"I didn't lose it, it is here in my bag." Tork patted the side bag with the remainder of his clothes.

"If you are cold, then you should put it on…maybe you should get a coat too. Gam always makes sure we have coats on before we go outside…so we don't get too cold." Naufi said. He lifted his head, his eyes widening and he pointed. "ORC!"

Tork spun and took the creature out as it was about to jump off the upper landing directly onto Tork. "Good eye kid."

Naufi didn't respond, his eyes too focused on the dead creature. He did slip his hand into his pocket and pull out his slingshot….just in case. His da still held him tight, and with his free hand, Naufi gripped his father just as desperately. Who knows how much longer he has with his parents, before he is told to leave them. Naufi ignored the tears that were threatening to fall and instead, leaned his head against Kili's as they moved quickly through the outdoor corridors.

"I hear fighting ahead." Tauriel said and sighed in relief when she finally spied a massive entranceway that was open, and a bridge that led out of the building. The fighting, though, was not what she thought. The battle did not include her family and her adopted dwarven people, nor did it include the elves of Mirkwood. No, it was a full blown rebellion. Not just the sisters had joined in either, but some of the human guards were now fighting against the orcs.

"We need to get through that, don't we?" Kili asked eyeing the entranceway, and the battle just before it.

"Sounds about right." Tork hummed, his blue and gold eyes trained on the fighting happening not far from them.

Carefully, the group edged around the battle, both Tork and Tauriel had their weapons at the ready, but they seemed to go completely unnoticed as they went shadow to shadow until they made it to the bridge. But their luck was running thin, as a group of massive orcs who had just defeated some human guards, turned their way.

Faster than an arrow, Naufi had pulled his slingshot and hit one of the orcs in the eye.

"Good shot Naufi!" Kili praised as he ran. It had slowed the lead orc down enough for Tauriel to draw another in battle. Naufi pulled another stone and soon it too was speeding towards the same orc attacking his mama. She was good though, and had the orc on its knees in just a few moments while Tork took out the other one.

"Come on!" Tauriel yelled as she sped past Kili towards the bridge.

"They are going to follow us!" Tork said as he heard the first signs of howling. "Wargs. They released the wargs."

"Let me down da!" Naufi wiggled but Kili held firm.

"No. Not until we are safely across." Kili growled.

"I have something that can help!" Naufi said. "Please da. I can help!"

Kili sighed and slowed his pace, reluctantly placing his son on the ground. Tauriel whipped around and snarled at Kili but he lifted a hand as Naufi pulled a tin from his pocket, carefully opened it, and then poured the entire contents across the bridge as quickly as he could.

Kili had no idea how so much of whatever he had, came pouring from such a small container, because it seemed as if there was no end to it and Naufi was able to get a line of the mysterious liquid across the majority of the width of the bridge before it was seemingly empty. He then replaced the lid, pocketed the tin, and lifted his hands for his father to snatch him up.

"What in the name of Mahal was that, Naufi!" Kili asked.

Naufi simply wrapped his hands around Kili's neck and smiled a lopsided grin that was all his father's. It had Tauriel nearly smiling herself. "Just something Orin and I came up with."

"KILI!"

Kili turned to see his uncle just ahead, his sword drawn as he stood at the head of the army from Erebor, and just behind them, Thranduil still astride his stag and an army of elves with their bows drawn at the ready.

"UNCLE!" Kili said as he raced across the bridge to the dwarf who was his father in nearly every way. Thorin seemed relieved when he saw Naufi in Kili's arms but his attention was diverted when the sound of howling was replaced by cries and metal hitting stone.

"BOOM!" Naufi yelled out. "DOWN FOR THE COUNT!"

"What..." Thorin asked peering from his grandson's wide smile, to the wargs and orcs slipping instantly to the ground the moment their feet...or paws...hit the bridge. Some even slipped off the side into the deadly moat surrounding the castle, sinking into the thick sludge that swallowed them whole.

Thorin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Naufi...is that what I think it is?"

"Isn't it great?!" Naufi said before his giggles erupted again when one of the large orcs attempted to stand, and fell into a warg who began gnawing on his leg from the ground.

Thranduil lifted a brow as he slid to the ground and walked up to the group. "Interesting tactic. But efficient."

Naufi's cheeks brightened at the praise but he still smiled as he hugged Kili tightly and looked back at the fortress. But something had him stiffen in his fathers grasp. "The nosegoul." He whispered, all of the humor gone from his voice, and in its place, fear.

Tauriel followed her son's gaze to see not just one, but three Nazgul standing on a banister high above the bridge. Kili placed Naufi on the ground and slid him behind him. He tried to push Tauriel back as well, but she knew he could not hide her from their sight; she knew they saw everything from their height.

Gripping her daggers tightly, Tauriel stared into the face of the tallest of the Nazgul who wore a helm with two massive horns bending back. Tork was right, it was not the same Nazgul she confronted...that creature was to his right...still living. Tauriel's heart broke at the implications and wondered if any of the sisters were able to get out.

"That, Bunny...is Khamul." Tork whispered to Tauriel, glaring up at the creature whose faceless head was turned in their direction.

"Oakenshield." The horned helmed Nazgul wheezed.

Thorin growled, his posture rigid as he stared up at the Nazgul. "I WILL SAY THIS ONE TIME." Thorin bellowed. "IF I SEE YOU, OR ANY OF YOUR ILK NEAR EREBOR AGAIN, IT WILL BE AN ACT OF WAR!"

"That goes for Mirkwood as well." Thranduil hissed taking his place beside Thorin. "We cannot keep you from dwelling in your own fortress, but we will remove any who cross its borders. The greenwood, is officially at war with Mordor, please share that with your master."

Tauriel glanced at Thranduil, her eyes wide in surprise as the elven king continued. "You dare take our people, and think there will be no retribution for what you have done? Know this wraiths...if the time should come that a great battle darkens these lands once again, it will be me who will be sending you to the depths from whence you came."

The Nazgul stared continuously at the group below them, then turned and disappeared into the fortress. The orcs on the bridge were once again on their feet and standing back. Only a few wargs were left, baring their teeth at the army across from them. They faced off for a few minutes and Tauriel wondered if they would attempt to charge again, but to her surprise, the largest of the orcs said something in blackspeech, and he and his comrades turned and moved back inside.

"That was far too easy." Dwalin grunted.

"Speak for yourself." Kili sighed turning to kneel down to his son to check on him. The dwarfling had gone silent, and Kili really wanted to get him some food and a change of clothes…his son was covered in dirt and rancid water that was drying but still…he needed to get out of those clothes before the weather caused his death. They will have to stop at Mirkwood before going home. "Can we go uncle?"

Thorin nodded, he moved to take Naufi to put him on Rhya, but the dwarfling stiffened as he reached out for Tauriel. "I want to go with mama."

Tauriel smiled softly, taking a step towards her son only to freeze in place as her ears began to ring with sounds happening so fast, her body and mind could not keep up. She heard crying, screaming, and blades being drawn.

She saw a baby being placed in her arms, Finli. His calm yet passionate spirit strengthening her soul every day. She saw her twins, both having escaped their cribs and running right into her and Kili's room having never once given an indication they were even trying to walk. They fell to their bottoms several times but got right back up as they laughed and held up pudgy arms to their surprised parents. So proud, Tauriel was of them.

She saw her little lion. So gentle, so kind, so connected to those around him. Kilion is, in mind, closest to Tauriel's temperament, closest to that of an elven child. And he shows great aptitude for mental abilities with his talent for understanding emotions around him. He keeps even her grounded.

Then, she saw Ithtiri. So small, and looking so much like her. Ithtiri was a perfect copy of Tauriel...with Kili's eyes. Even her little ears had more of a point to them then any of the other children. Though she does have predominantly dwarven features, those features were still in nearly every way, Tauriel's with a dwarven twist.

Her babies, she heard all of them crying for her.

But there was more, she heard Kili's screams so deep and so fresh, she was taken back to the time he was stolen from her. She heard and felt that raw pain coming from her mate...or maybe...

Tauriel's mouth opened and closed as she looked down to see the shaft of an arrow with the head dripping with her blood protruding from her chest. Or maybe...the pain was coming from her.

"TAURIEL!"

"MAMA!"

"Kili…" Tauriel looked up at Kili just before she felt her legs collapse to the stone bridge just before Kili caught her.

"NOOO!" Thorin roared as he looked to the elf who had become the daughter he never had, the daughter he did not know he needed in his life. He quickly glanced up to see one of the Nazgul emerge from the shadows, a massive bow in his hands as he staired down at Tauriel.

"I do not FEAR Aule. He is nothing to me. A valar who failed where Morgoth succeeded." It hissed. This was not the one to wear the horned helm, but the one who had been at his side. "A creature with the power she has...shall be removed from this world, and her children with her." He raised his bow again, pointing towards Naufi but Tork was faster as he threw his sword straight for the Nazgul at the same time six elves and three dwarves with tall shields marched in front of both Naufi and the fallen Tauriel.

The Nazgul easily evaded the blade though he was not the target. Tork's flick of his wrist had it spiraling as it flew up and it snapped the string on the Nazgul's bow, breaking it in his grasp.

Tork said something in blackspeech that had the Nazgul hissing down at him before he spun around and retreated back into the fortress.

"Tauriel...Tauriel...look at me. Please." Kili ignored the Nazgul, he ignored the army around him, he even ignored his son's cries as he held Tauriel in a way to keep the shaft from pushing through her even more. It was large...larger than a standard arrow...almost like the one they shot in his leg so many years ago.

Pulling the dress away a bit, Kili closed his eyes as he saw the evidence of black spreading across her skin. Poisoned.

"Come on love. Please." He begged again, ignoring the shaft to get his wife's attention. Tauriel's eyes were blinking rapidly, but seemed lost to what was going on around them. Though she did lift a pale hand to reach for Naufi as her lips moved, shaping his name.

Kili shook his head as she went limp in his hold. His mind hurt, it was on fire like...like someone was carving out a piece of it. "No, no, no no no no NO!" Kili was panicking. He had an idea what was happening...she was dying. Dying in his hold, her mind breaking away from his. A pain worse than anything comprehensible, he had been told, is what it is like to lose a bonded mate.

"DO NOT TOUCH THAT!"

Kili looked up to see Thorin attempting to remove the shaft imbedded in Tauriel's chest only to have Thranduil falling to his knees and grasping the hand of the dwarven king before he could even touch it. "If you want her to die faster than she is, take it out. But I would advise you to keep it where it is, or we have no hopes saving her. If that...is even possible."

"MAMA!" Naufi screamed out.

"SOMEONE GET HIM BACK!" Thorin ordered; Dwalin immediately grabbing the dwarfling who was fighting him tooth and nail to be let go.

Aeodhen had a group further surrounding those on the ground, their shields acting as a wall despite no further creatures coming from the fortress. "Ge' the lad into the center of the elves. I don' think he should see this." He suggested to Dwalin who eyed where he knew Tauriel to have fallen, before he took the still screaming and kicking Naufi further into the group of elves and dwarven guards...both sides watching him with looks of pity, rage, and sadness.

"Help her. Please help her." Kili begged Thranduil, even holding the limp Tauriel out to him."

Thranduil just eyed Kili before he began to examine Tauriel. She was pale...so ghostly pale. He also noted her breathing was...nearly non-existent. He eyed the shaft, then took out his blade. "We cannot remove this here, but we need to cut it down. Her best hopes are in Mirkwoods medical halls. I have what I need there, unless you have athelas on you?"

Kili closed his eyes and shook his head. "It is in my pack...on the ship."

Thranduil nodded. "Then if you can hold her steady..." He got to his knees as Kili and Thorin held her in their grips. With his razor sharp sword, Thranduil very carefully, and as gently as he could, removed the end of the shaft protruding out of Tauriel's back and then the arrowed tip at her chest.

Kili closed his eyes, not feeling anything coming from Tauriel which had him far more concerned than if he felt the shaft in his own chest. The only thing keeping him from running into that place and facing the Nazgul himself, was the knowledge that time for Tauriel was short...and he had a son he could still hear hysterically screaming for Tauriel from only a few yards away.

"Oh, Bunny." Tork said as he knelt down beside the group.

"Time is not in our favor, we need to move." Thranduil ignored the man just a bit taller than he was. He stood and eyed the dwarven guards around him, calling out orders as one of the elves brought his stag over. "I will carry her."

"NO!" Kili roared as he tightened his grip on his wife.

"Do you wish her to die here then? I suppose it is your choice as you have the right to make decisions for her as her...mate." He said the last word with a bit of spite as he stared down at Kili.

"Never...even insinuate such a thing." Kili growled as he looked to Tork. "Can you fly us to the elven city?"

"Just tell me where to go." Tork nodded before he stepped back and instantly melted into a massive lion with wings, not even bothering to remove his trousers which were now shredded on the ground.

Thorin blinked but decided now was not the time to ask. Like Beorn indeed. He quickly stood to help Kili up. "We will meet you in Mirkwood. How fast do you think you can get there?"

"I pray...fast enough to save her." Was all the answer Kili got before he paused. "Can you bring Naufi?"

"Go, Kili. I will personally ensure he gets to you." Thorin said as Tork got the hint and took off into the air. Kaw soared with them, likely acting as a guide.

Thorin eyed them, then turned to the group on the ground...charging towards the center to grab his grandson who was still crying and shaking. "We need to go, and you, are coming with me Naurfaer."

"Mama? Is she..." Naufi hiccupped but Thorin was not in the state to give him false hope, so he just turned away knowing Dwalin would follow. Once he pulled himself up onto his horse, he took the sobbing Naufi and kicked Rhya into a run. They needed to get to Mirkwood…and fast.

Authors Note: DON'T COME AFTER ME! I will have the next chapter out as soon as I can but I do have to work. I wish I can say it gets better soon…but it doesn't. I am so sorry. Don't hate me. Pray for Kili. He will need your support. Love you guys. I will TRY and post another one tomorrow night PST. If not, definitely Tuesday.