Gandalf issued a loud, firm order. "Don't let her stab with that ring….it's poisoned."

Holla was made completely immobile with rough hands holding her to the floor. 'How and what do they know,' screamed through her mind. She felt the ring ripped from her finger by the wizard, which he pocketed.

"She is harmless now. Let her rise," Gandalf instructed.

She was hauled to her feet and still held immobile by guards. She noticed that even Lord Dáin deferred to the wizard.

"Take her to a chamber close by," Gandalf issued a final decree. "I'm going to get King Thráin." He had another thought. "If anyone was pierced by the ring, inform Lord Óin immediately." He hurried out the open doors, pushing through pressing dwarf bodies into the same like cluster of elven guards.

All talking in the tent of Lord Círdan ceased when the horn sounded. Thráin wasn't sure what that blast from the elves meant, but saw Lord's Glorfindel, Erestor, Taíban, Vellon and Demythel rise, leaving half eaten food on their plates and vanish without making a sound. He was always amazed at how quietly an elf could move.

"Should I be worried?" He asked the remaining elves in general.

Galadriel focused on her water glass, but no reading came. "I'm not sure what is happening," she finally confessed.

"If it concerns us, our lords will let us know," Elrond answered Thráin and to show he wasn't concerned, shoved half a biscuit into his mouth.

Thráin wasn't as convinced. "I wonder if I should send ah squad of warriors an fetch the youngsters back."

Elrond wanted to ask Glorfindel the situation, but knew he would learn more if he waited. "The lords will let us know what is transpiring. For now, you are our guest and we will see to the safety of anyone outside the mountain that is nearby. If you wish, I will send a group of warriors and escort the lads back." He forced a smile and saw the king wasn't relaxing in his chair like when he first sat down.

"I will get ah report before making my mind up about the lads," Thráin conceded and returned to his breakfast.

When five high ranking elven lords marched in a unit towards the mountain, their kind cleared a path. The lords noticed several warriors from all elven realms joining them; all armed to the teeth. It was a large group that was stopped outside the entrance to the mountain when the wizard appeared from the dimness of the mountain the moment they arrived.

Gandalf stopped before them. "Is Thráin with you?"

The seriousness of his tone had the lords looking beyond him to the interior. They saw an abundance of dwarves milling about.

"He's in Círdan's tent. We heard twin horns," Glorfindel spoke for the group.

"One ours and one yours," Balin inserted before Gandalf could reply. "We need the king, but don't want to talk here."

"I was on my way to fetch Erebor's missing leader." Gandalf finally got a word in. He glanced down at Balin. "Come and we will have a meeting before interrogations. Have you eaten?"

Balin nodded. "Aye, I managed to pull my drinks before the others so was up early and had a fine breakfast of leftovers."

Gandalf snorted. "By about two drinks as I recall. You were so drunk, your lovely wife threatened to leave you on the floor where you finally came to rest."

"You have me mistaken for the lads," Balin cheerfully lied as they allowed the elven lords to provide escort. As they moved towards the tents of the leaders, he was aware of Erestor issuing orders to have extra guards near the entrance.

Erestor figured their light banter was to dispel fears among listening dwarves.

Thráin just finished his last bite when Balin and Gandalf preceded the lords into the tent. Waiting servants quickly and efficiently removed all evidence of breakfast from the table.

Thranduil lazily stretched in his chair. "What emergency disrupted our meal?"

"We have caught the lass that poked Lióni." Balin delivered the news and shook his head at the tea offered him.

Thranduil couldn't hold back his smile. "Let me speak with the dam. I will glean from her sorry dwarven carcass what was going on in her tiny brain to try and kill the only halfway interesting dwarf in the mountain."

"If her answers aren't ta my liking, I may take ye up on yer offer," Thráin replied. Done with the elven king, he turned to the others. "What happened?"

Everyone paid attention to the report. Thráin noticed Celeborn and Galadriel were once again holding hands and envied them their bond.

"I just reached the entrance from patrolling with Radagast deep in the mountain. I saw Lord Dori on call and went for a private word. I no sooner ascertained the whereabouts of King Thráin when a guard told us a dam wished to speak to a Durin about….," he paused and Galadriel looked into his mind.

'Go ahead and tell them and we will face the fallout here before it becomes general news among the dwarves, and hope we don't have to go to war with them.' Galadriel issued the command directly into Gandalf's mind.

He raised his eyebrows in her direction and saw her nod.

'She was seeking the whereabouts of the band of dwarves we slaughtered.' Galadriel mentally told all the elves in the tent after reading Gandalf's mind.

The extended silence made Thráin angry as only a dwarf could get and he pressed. "What did she wish ta know, Gandalf?"

'Galadriel, I'm not sure we should tell the dwarves.' Círdan spoke into the elves minds.

Thráin was surprised when nobody acknowledged his request and extended silence dominated the tent. He knew they were speaking silently to each other and now wanted more than anything to know the topic.

It was Elrond that finally broke the spell that seemed to come over the elves. "There was a band of dwarves, about five miles east of here. Galadriel's insight told her they meant to disrupt the wedding and harm you and yours. Since you were busy getting two of your children married off, I gave the order to have them killed."

"That's not what we agreed to tell him," Gandalf sputtered in indignation. "You know very well it was my suggestion that the dwarves not make the mountain, so Celeborn and Glorfindel took care of the small problem on their way to clean out that cave right before the wedding."

"We agreed not to ever let the dwarves know what we did and it was I that gave the orders to kill first and ask questions later," Celeborn objected.

"I wanted so much to go and kill them, but Círdan overrode my offer." Thranduil flippantly threw in.

"I was responsible for Thranduil," Círdan acknowledged. "I wouldn't let him join the hunt for sake of peace with dwarves he must maintain."

"You say dwarves were killed not far from here and we weren't going to be told, were we?" Balin asked in disgust.

Thráin and Galadriel remained quiet, both listening; he to the excuses and she into his mind; looking to see if they lost a valuable ally. The Valar wasn't allowing it and she had no insight.

Thráin raised a hand and all talking and finger pointing ceased. "How about someone just tell me the truth."

"That would be my job," Glorfindel spoke up with seriousness that belied his cheerful nature. "It was I who stumbled upon the dwarves the first time. I didn't like the answers they gave me or the strange markings on their skin. I returned and sought the advice of the lords and lady. It was unanimous that we exterminate the threat quietly and before they reached the mountain. Celeborn and I led the attack and we burned their bodies in a ravine. I can take you to the site if you desire."

"I looked into Glorfindel's mind when he reported back to us, and it was I who gave the order," Galadriel stated, drawing Thráin's eyes to her.

He held her gaze. "What am I thinking?"

"That you wished you had made the decision."

"Thráin, we only wanted to insure the wedding went off without problems, and after the attempt on Lass Lióni, felt it was justified," Gandalf implored with his tone. "If Lady Galadriel said they were malevolent, believe her."

"I want to know how the dam fits into all this." Balin brought her back into remembrance.

"She was asking about her husband, who I'm assuming was in the group that we killed," Gandalf continued where he left off before the myriad of interruptions.

Thráin sighed and stood. "I will interview her myself."

Gandalf also rose. "King Thráin, the elves are our friends. Don't shut them out."

"This has nothing ta do with elves. It is ah dwarven matter an we will handle it from here." He paused at the entrance and turned back to the elves. "I will join ye again shortly with ah report an we will compare notes."

"I will come with you," Gandalf towered over the king and Thráin knew better than to refuse one more powerful than him.

Thorin slipped into sleep again. His belly was full and his morning husbandly activities relaxed his bones to jelly.

Lióni propped on pillows at his side and started reading the accounts of previous Durin marriages and intimate moments of honeymoons. She was surprised the old book went back so many generations and started with Durin III.

Thorin's soft snoring brought memories of her mother and grandmother complaining about their dwarrow's snoring keeping them awake. It was the first time she heard him and thought it cute. Tuning him out, she was soon absorbed in the book.

Thorin's personal servant and contemporary of Picket, servant to the king, rang the bell and waited outside the entrance to the chamber. There were six guards stationed nearby to insure nobody got into the honeymoon area.

Lióni's head swiveled in the direction of the sound.

Thorin snorted and rolled over, ceasing his rumbling, but didn't awaken.

She was unsure if she should wake him to see who was disturbing them. It wasn't time for food, as their first repast was still settling. Making a decision, she laid the old book carefully on a table by the bed and rose quietly. Donning a dressing gown of scarlet, she padded on bare feet up a set of stone steps and veered out of sight of the chamber.

The guards came to attention when she appeared. Wyden, the servant, bowed, face flushing when he saw her state of dress. "M'lady, I am so sorry ta bother yer honeymoon, but Lord Dáin requests ye an yer husband's presence."

She blushed at Thorin being referred as her husband and the thrill brought goose bumps. "What is so important you interrupt us?"

Instead of answering, Wyden bowed again when he saw who was standing behind her.

Lióni felt arms circle her waist and she was pulled back against her husband.

"I woke to a lonely bed," he whispered into her left ear. Actually, he woke when she left his side and he watched her don the robe and hurry up the steps. Curious, he followed.

"The bell sounded," she spoke normally, drawing his attention to the waiting servant.

"Did you forget to bring us something?" Thorin finally addressed him.

"No, M'lord. Lord Dáin wishes ta see both of ye."

"He can in a week," Thorin replied and went to lead his wife back into the chamber.

"They caught the dam that harmed yer lady," Wyden added swiftly. Dáin wanted to surprise them with the news, but told Wyden to use it if Thorin wasn't going to cooperate.

Thorin and Lióni turned as one and stepped back to the servant.

"The king is being told right now, but Lord Dáin wants ye present when she is questioned."

"Where is Dáin?" Thorin asked.

"He has the dam in Lord Dwalin's office. He is waiting for ye outside the door."

"Inform Lord Dwalin and my sister and invite them also to the party," Thorin ordered and swiftly escorted his wife to dress.

Lióni realized it was the first time dressing in front of her new husband and caught him staring. Likewise she watched him pull on his short knitted undergarment and fasten the two buttons before reaching for socks.

"I don't recall any Durin ever being dragged from his honeymoon," Thorin complained and went to fasten the buttons at the back of her gown. He pulled her hair to the side and dropped kisses on the back of her neck.

"If you keep that up, I won't care what they do to the dam," Lióni stated and moaned her approval when his hands snaked around to cup each breast over her silver gown. His pressing desire into her buttocks told her the drug was still coursing through his blood.

With a curse he was going to personally strangle the dam, he let go and offered his arm.

Two guards fell in behind them and they stopped outside the next chamber.

"Are Dwalin and Dis joining us?" he asked their ranking guard.

"Aye, they will be here momentarily," the guard retorted. He noticed the Crown Prince was sporting the elven sword.

Dwalin, with Dis on his arm, stepped into view and joined them. Dwalin was likewise sporting a sword.

Thorin smirked. "Tired of being alone already?"

"Just an interlude." Dwalin gave as good as he got.

The guards had a hard time not laughing and remaining their statue positions along the walls.

"Did you get the message?" Thorin changed topics.

Dwalin nodded. "We also want a look at the dam that tried to harm the lass here." He nodded to Lióni.

The four, with their personal guards, made haste to Dwalin's office.

Holla's eyes popped when the king entered the room she was sequestered in. With him were several Durin's including those just wed and the wizard.

Lióni instantly recognized her and approached. Before she took three steps, a hand settled on her shoulder and squeezed. "That's close enough," Thorin spoke into her ear.

"Why?" Lióni asked her.

"The wizard made me." Holla cast a glance at Gandalf.

Following her eyes, Thráin commented. "I doubt that wizard was to blame."

Holla shook her head. "No; one like him, but evil."

"Describe the wizard?" Gandalf asked in what he hoped was a neutral tone.

"Tall, like you. His hair and beard was white and he wore black robes."

"Black, not blue?" Gandalf clarified.

"If they were blue, they were so dark as to appear black, but I'm sure they were black."

"Where did you see this wizard?" Thráin stole the next question.

"At Dol Guldur."

All eyes shifted to Thráin.

"When?" Thráin stated with authority. His formal tone wasn't lost on the Company.

"It was after word reached us that Erebor was reclaimed and the dragon killed. The Ringwraiths told Sauron and instructed a group of us to go north and meet a wizard at an abandoned place called Dol Guldur. That's where we met the wizard. He checked all the dams over and I was chosen to learn how to communicate in my head with him over distances. They separated us dams from our husbands. We were escorted to Erebor by orcs and our husbands were to follow by the space of two weeks."

"Since you're here; how did you get in?" Balin asked. His mind was already going over steps to make sure no unknown dwarf ever entered the mountain except through the front door.

"There was a tunnel dug a few miles from the main gate and it came out inside the mountain. Orcs made it for if the dwarves ever drove the dragon away. That's what the wizard told me. Once inside the mountain, it was easy for us dams to mingle with the newcomers because everyone thought we were from another group. We changed our stories, depending on which group we were conversing with."

"What did the wizard want you to do, besides try and kill my wife?" Thorin sarcastically queried.

Holla saw rage in his eyes and hoped her death would be swift, for she saw no mercy in them.

"I was taken in the night back to the tunnel, where the wizard's orc servant gave me the special ring that Sauron himself cast a spell upon. I had to be careful never to poke myself or would suffer like those with skin broken."

"What exactly does the spell do?" Thráin asked.

"I'm not sure. I was told to poke the lass wedding the Crown Prince. The wizard kept close to the mountain and every day would ask me if the dwarrow arrived. When it became clear they wouldn't in time to disrupt the wedding, the ring was a backup plan."

"Did the wizard say why he wanted my wife dead?" Thorin's hand rested on the hilt of his sword for emphasis he meant business.

She pointed to Lióni. "My job was to prick the skin. The wizard told me it would make sure no baby was ever born and the Durin line would go to Dáin Ironfoot. Sauron is scared of any offspring coming from you, Prince Thorin. He didn't say why."

"I thought he would leave dwarves alone after getting the Durin's Ring of Power?" Dáin tossed out. "He got that from Thráin fifty years ago. What else does the Durin lineage offer that might be a threat?"

Gandalf wasn't sure. "Maybe we should bring the lady here for her insight."

"Do you think Lord Celeborn will allow it?" Thráin countered. He would never permit Lis near someone like this dam.

"We can ask."

Thráin nodded. "Maybe you should go and ask for us."

"Don't kill her before I return," Gandalf threatened and hurried out.

Thorin wrapped an arm around his bride and drew her against his side. "My vote is to throw this dam into the dungeon until we are done with our honeymoon."

Lióni shook her head with a slight smile and looked into his eyes. "I think our honeymoon would be sweeter knowing the truth and isolating this threat for good, and then we can work on that baby that Sauron desperately doesn't want born." She turned her attention back to the dam and noticed two guards, Warhammers at the ready, standing behind her. She met the eyes of the dam. "What was in it for you personally to harm me?"

Holla shook her head vehemently. "Nay, M'lady, I am not receiving any reward. All I want is to be reunited with my husband. You see we live south of Moria and in constant fear of the dark lord. I have dwarflings he will kill if I fail." Tears filled her eyes. She never knew a place like Erebor existed having been born from generations of dwarves that knew only service to Sauron.

"You say he was in a different group trailing by two weeks..." Thráin drew attention back to him. Before he could continue, the door opened and Nori escorted Thekk inside.

Thekk's eyes zeroed in on the dam. "That's the one who paid me ta take her into the abandoned hallway." He took a step in her direction, unmindful he was in the presence of many Durin's and the king. "Ye cost me the gold an my vaunted position as an elite guard. I'm on probation without ah salary. All because ye propositioned me an in ah moment of weakness, I caved."

"Your choices are your own," Thráin reminded him. He signed for Nori to keep Thekk quiet.

Nori slapped Thekk on the back of the head with his Warhammer. "That was a tap. Next time, you will wake in the Healing Hall; now keep quiet."

Guards adroitly moved out of Gandalf's way as he hurried between tents, ever inward until pushing inside Círdan's large mobile domicile. "Lady, the dwarves are asking for you." He looked directly at Galadriel, avoiding Celeborn's piercing gaze.

"Why did you feel the need to come to me instead of calling?" Galadriel asked.

"Because I feel the dark wizard may be close and don't want to give away that we have captured his handpicked dam. I would like her to contact him and see if we can gain his location."

"What is the plan should you succeed in finding out where he is hiding?" Celeborn, usually quiet, asked.

Gandalf finally looked him in the eye. "Radagast and I will deal with him. I'm afraid if anyone gets involved outside us, they will be killed."

"And if he kills one of you?" Galadriel, fingers laced with her husband's, asked.

Gandalf let a ghost of a smile crease his face as he looked fondly upon her. "I doubt any wizard is able to withstand two wizards together."

Galadriel fluidly rose, fingers slipping from her mate's. "I will come."

"Is this a closed party, or can anyone look upon the dam?" Thranduil asked.

Gandalf sighed. "I'm sure Thráin won't toss you out on your pointy ears if you should happen to follow the lady."

Thranduil also stood with a huge smile. "The dwarves are so entertaining at times."

Gandalf's eyebrows rose when all the prominent elves rose. "I don't think Thráin bargained on this."

"He said he was going to meet with us," Círdan reminded him.

The chamber grew much smaller when the elven lords, plus Galadriel and Arwen crowded in.

Thráin, to his credit, didn't bat an eye, but turned back to the dam. "Start at the beginning and tell us the important parts that ended you standing here before all of us."

"My name is Holla and I'm a dwarf in service of Sauron and his dark minions. My kind fought for him as far back as the War of the Last Alliance. That way of life is all I knew until coming here. As a vassal to Sauron, I had to obey his commands or watch my dwarflings be killed and eaten by orcs and Wargs. The plan was to infiltrate the mountain and kill, hopefully the king and his son. The dams were to come first and mingle with the dwarves and learn all we could about those living here and the rulers and how to get to them. Being servants in laundry gave us access to the homes of ranking Durin's. I myself have been inside the home of Lord Dáin taking laundry to his wife. It would have been easy for me to prick her with the ring."

Dáin reached for his sword, intent on killing the dam and consequences be hanged.

"Let her continue, Lord Dáin," Galadriel, reading his thoughts, commanded.

Seeing what the lord was planning, Dwalin placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know it was agreed that you got the next kill, but at least have more patience than I did when beheading that fool of a guard."

"I'm not noted for my patience or agreeable nature," Dáin growled back, but let his hand slide away from the hilt of the sword.

"Have you used the ring on anyone besides Princess Lióni?" Balin asked.

"She injured two guards trying to subdue her today," Galadriel replied.

Holla turned stunned eyes to the tall, beautiful ethereal apparition dressed in a white gown that seemed to glow. "Your husband is dead," Galadriel added.

"Then I wish to die as well," she whispered.

"Not before you give us every name of the dams that's invaded my mountain," Thráin demanded.

Galadriel started speaking and Balin motioned for Ori to quickly start writing. Soon the names of the others spilled onto the paper.

Holla stood in silence, not trying to stop what was happening to her.

"Can you contact the wizard?"

Holla didn't respond until one of the guards poked her in the back, drawing her attention back to those in the room. "What did you ask?"

"Can you contact the wizard?" Gandalf repeated.

"Maybe. He's always initiated contact. He doesn't know the dwarrow are dead and sent me to find out what happened to them."

"We found them a few miles from here and killed them," Glorfindel said with authority.

Again she looked upon one that glowed with power. Never had she seen a being that looked like him and decided he was a god that she displeased.

"I told him this morning that the wedding took place, but succeeded in my mission."

"Yes, and Radagast undid the spell from the ring," Thorin responded. "You will tell that slimy worm, the princess will bear me healthy sons that will help end his life."

"Try and contact the wizard," Thráin commanded.

Holla looked around the room. Normally she would be in awe of such venerable company. "I'm not sure how."

"Concentrate and reach out to him," Galadriel commanded. She would help establish a connection.

Holla closed her eyes and tried to remember how the invasion of her mind felt. She sensed another presence and called out mentally. 'My lord, are you there?'

Saruman heard the faint call and something he couldn't quite place. It was a familiar presence, but distant. 'You have something to report?' He took a chance. The other presence strengthened and searched for him. GALADRIEL! He would know that powerful energy anyplace. Now was his chance to get revenge for her driving Sauron from Dol Guldur.

'The dwarrow are dead; killed by the elves before reaching the mountain. A wizard called Radagast broke the spell of the ring on the princess. We have failed Lord Sauron.'

He felt trapped and knew Galadriel was seeking his identity and location. Another moment and he might be exposed. Instead of answering the dimwitted dam, he used the connection to throw a beam of white hot light back through the dwarf and into the invading mind.

Holla cried out as her brain fried.

Galadriel was stronger, but had her guard down, not expecting a fast reprisal to her probe.

Celeborn reached out, grabbed his wife and felt his hands burn and Galadriel collapse into his arms, unconscious. "Treacherous dwarves," he screamed in rage, sure his wife was dying. He scooped her legs up, holding her against his torso, and saw the chaos in the room.

That the dwarven dam was dead was obvious by the way blood streamed from her eyes, ears and mouth. The dwarves were being backed into a corner by long elven swords. Gandalf was screaming in his amplified tone not to harm the dwarves and the room darkened. Thorin was trying to protect his bride, as was Dwalin, by thrusting them behind and drawing their own swords. It was folly to go against Glorfindel, who held them at bay from reaching Galadriel.

Gandalf, with his ring, heard the mental shout of Elrond screaming that the Lady Galadriel had been attacked and prepare for war. All his hard work of bringing the elves and dwarves together was unraveling before his eyes.

Outside the chamber, horns calling both sides to battle were echoing off the stone walls on both sides.

If the Lady died, Gandalf knew war would ensue and Sauron would win. He had to make the elves understand. He had little concern for the moment about the dwarves. He would deal with them in time.

Celeborn heard Erestor call out that the way was clear for them to get their ladies to safety. When chaos erupted, Erestor fled the room and called for the army to invade and make a secure path from the chamber to the doorway. Dwarves, uncertain what was transpiring, saw an army of elves pour into the mountain with weapons drawn and mustered their army to meet and hold them off.

Celeborn made a dash for the entrance, figuring he and his beloved would die together like his parents did. When the elven army saw the Lady in his arms they knew what to do; keep everyone away from her.

Small skirmishes broke out and Gandalf was kept busy breaking them up as he trailed the elves. His amplified voice had never been used this frequently and his throat became sore with the efforts to avoid open war. He urged the elves to leave the mountain as their lords and ladies were now outside. "Close the gate," he ordered when the last elf departed.