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.

46. ACT IV Chapter NINE

Authors note: Got another one done, so here ya go. 😊

Chapter Nine

Kili chuckled at the large raven sitting on his shoulder as they rode past the boundaries of Mirkwood. Kaw had flown down nearly half a mile ago and settled on Kili almost the moment he had pulled a morning snack out of his bag. Dis had made certain he, Fili, and Thorin had food for the road, and plenty of it. In fact, most of his bag was filled with all of his favorite travel foods and Kili suspects, she had made Fili's favorites for his bag as well.

The younger prince rifled through his bag and realized there were also a few treats from Viltarra too; some cookies and some pastries were among the goods his mother had provided. He would have to thank his sister for that. Kili broke off a piece of bread and handed it to Kaw who took it and held it in his large claw as he balanced himself enough to eat while the horse continued to walk.

"He is getting fat, Ki. You shouldn't be feeding him that kind of stuff." Fili lifted a brow at the raven who croaked angerly at the prince, but continued to eat his food.

Kili, however, rolled his eyes. "He is not, if anyone is fat, your horse is. You ought to exercise Kit more, Fi, or he will need to ride you, just to get around." Kili eyed the cream colored horse who was currently on one of the last few holes on the girth strap around the horses growing belly.

The golden-haired prince glared at his brother. "Kit, is fine. He just needs a larger saddle."

"No lad, yer horse needs less sugar cubes and more runnin'." Bofur laughed from his pony just behind the princes. Fili snickered as he bit into a bun his wife made him.

Kili shook his head then looked to Legolas who was speaking to Naurfaer just ahead of them. "How long until you think we will make it to the river?" They had been on the road for about two hours now, and Kili was worried their calculations for the city were a bit off. He really wanted to be back home to Tauriel and Finli no later than tomorrow.

Thorin had asked both Kili and Fili if they were certain they wanted to go. Both of his nephews had been gone from home and their families for several days already, he would not fault them for wanting to sit this journey out. But it was not within Kili's abilities to sit things out, and he knew his brother to be no different.

Legolas looked to the trees then back at Kili to answer. "We should be reaching the river in less than a mile. I can hear it just beyond those trees. From there, I do not doubt it would be more than an hour to reach its end. Likely less."

"I wonder why nobody has ever found this place already." Fili said, taking a swig of water from his waterskin.

"That would likely be in thanks to Smaug." Naurfaer replied. "There are likely few in these lands who did not know of the dragon dwelling in the mountain and were told and warned to keep clear of these lands. He did have to come out to hunt and eat, so those who did not heed the warnings, paid the price with their lives."

"It is true." Legolas said. "A part of the reason my father kept our people to our lands, is for their protection. A dragon, is not a creature you wish to encounter, and his wrath would quickly bring him to destroy your entire city. We had no desire to set the forest on fire by trespassing on the lands the dragon claimed."

"I doubt it would be undisturbed for much longer though." Bofur said, unwrapping what looked like a type of fruit cake Bombur must had made for him. "With the lands free an all, we will be seein' more folks commin' and goin' through these parts."

Nyaunni listened quietly from the back of the group. Of course she was not alone, Taughin was riding beside her and Thorin kept coming to the back to speak to his nephews, though he always lingered, looking at her. But she refused to meet his gaze. She was not ready to give into him, and neither does she think it fair she has to. All she wants to do, is get to Minam, get those orcs and goblins out of the city, and then, decide on what she…Nyaunni…wants to do with her newfound freedom.

Kili glanced behind him at the quiet dam. She rarely was quiet when they were under the city, opting to take charge and lead. Something was bothering her and he can bet it has something to do with his uncle. Kili tried to get out of Tauriel what she knew of Thorin and Nyaunni, but all she would say is they were dwarflings together and she believes he was fond of her. Whether that was all Tauriel knew, or not, Kili did not know, but it was enough for him to piece together on at least Thorin's side, his uncle held this dam in some range of affection. Whether that was romantic or not, was the thing Kili did not know.

One thing he did know, was how to tell a female was upset, and Nyaunni, was clearly unhappy about something. He was not at the meeting between Thorin and her last evening, he only got the synopses of what happened, but if what he heard was true…which it looked more and more like it was…uncle Thorin upset Nyaunni which to Kili means, she cares about his opinions. If she did not, she would not be shutting down as she was, and instead would fight him to be heard. That could only be an indication of affection there, which really was not a good thing, as it was not a healthy way to build a relationship.

Shaking his head, Kili passed the rest of his bread to Kaw as they continued. One of two things will be happening soon, either a yelling match is in the making…or an irreparable crack will form in their relationship, and this will only end in something that could have been beautiful and lifechanging…but was kept from fruition thanks to stubbornness and pride. Maybe he should talk to his uncle?

"I see the river!" Kili was forced from his thoughts as Bard called out from the head of the group. At the moment, Thorin was with the lord of Dale at the head of the small company. Well, smaller. Their were currently only sixteen of them. Aeodhen had originally planned on coming with this group, but was instead walking with Erebor's guards along with Ryas, who led Dales guards; so Gloin took his place.

Once again, Gimli wanted to come as well, but he is still considered too young to join a true battle like this…especially considering they do not know what they are truly up against. So Gimli firmly told his son no, and that he only had to wait another handful of years before he would be allowed to come. The young dwarf was furious, and grumbled his way through sewing trousers in the great hall.

Kili smiled to himself; he remembers being told 'no' far more times than he can count before his seventy-fifth year. Fili had seen several skirmishes around Ered Luin before Kili came of age, but in a way, so did Kili. The difference was, Kili, being a prince and in deep training, his uncle felt he was skilled enough to utilize his talent as an archer to take out orcs from the higher ground. He was never able to fully engage though, until he proved himself with the sword as well as his bow…and of course turned seventy-five…which was his mother's law. Though he was, unlike the other younger dwarves, allowed to go with his uncle to visit other clans long before he reached adulthood.

Gimli will have his time though; Kili just knows it. A spirit like his cousin has, is one of fierce courage and his willing heart will have him running to battle sooner in his life, rather than later. Maybe, Kili should start inviting his cousin to some training sessions. Everyone can benefit from a bit of extra training, and Kili has a feeling, Gimli will one day need it.

"Where do we go from here?" The group had gathered to a stop and looked about the area.

Thorin followed the wide river with his eyes as he considered a plan of action. He had been expecting a shallow, narrow, slip of water more like a stream then a full blown river. But this looked both much wider, and deeper, then he had anticipated. "We follow it north. Dwalin…ride ahead with Gloin and Nori, go to the end of the river and come back with a report. I want to see how far away it is. Take Kaw with you and send him back if you find trouble."

Then looking at the rest of the group, Thorin continued. "We will keep going at a steady pace. Keep a lookout for anything that could be an entrance, I do not think we are far."

"I will go with them." Bard said as he rode ahead with the three dwarves.

Thorin nodded and watched them go. "Let's keep moving."

Kili reached up and scratched Kaw on the head before he gave him instructions and sent him off, watching as his and his wife's raven soared into the air and followed the group who were near out of sight.

Nyaunni could not help but smile as she watched the raven press his head to the younger prince's brow before he flew away. It made her miss Dajnel all the more. "Nyaunni, you said you knew my uncle when you were young, what was he like?" The dam looked to the golden-headed prince who had asked, then his brother who had slowed his horse to listen. They were now all at the back together, Taughin nodding and moving ahead to give them space to talk.

"Well, for one thing, that, was a very long time ago…Kili?" She asked eyeing the prince.

"Fili, actually." Fili responded with a smile. "That rat's nest for hair over there is Kili."

"My hair is not a mess, thank you." Nyaunni eyed the younger prince who was huffing and rolling his eyes. His hair, was actually in quite a disarray, though his braids were perfect. It was as if he had spent all of his time preparing on those, with the rest of his hair being an afterthought.

"Tauriel usually does his hair, she must have been busy this morning." Fili goaded.

"We were both busy." Kili said with a broad, lecherous, grin, causing his brother to scrunch his nose up in distaste.

"To much information, Ki. I could have lived without hearing that." Fili shook his head and looked back to Nyaunni. "Mam said, uncle was always the serous one, and you said Frerin was the opposite. Did uncle Thorin ever get into trouble as well?"

"Do not answer that, Nyaunni!" Thorin shouted back. They were not such a large group that conversations could not be heard from any distance.

Nyaunni returned Thorin's glare and lifted a brow before looking at Kili and Fili. "You mean like the time when Thorin lost a bet with Frerin and Dain and had to attend a yule feast dressed completely as a dam."

There was absolute silence, before both Kili and Fili broke out in uncontrolled guffaws and Thorin glowered. "You said you would never tell anyone about that." The dwarven king huffed.

"Did I now? It has been so long, it appears that my memory has slipped some. I am afraid I do not recall any such promises." Nyaunni inspected a hangnail on her finger, ignoring Thorin completely. "It was a rather stunning gown too, trimmed with blue velvet. I believe he even had gems in his hair that I may have contributed."

"The money, I would pay to see that, would be substantial." Kili said, turning red with laughter.

"Blue is a good color on you Thorin." Naurfaer chuckled as Legolas held back his own laughter.

"Thor was furious." Nyaunni added, almost sadly.

"I could not sit for two weeks." Thorin grumbled, remembering the furious talking to he got from his grandfather, who took it upon himself to punish the first born son of the crowned prince to his mother and father's horror. It was the first time they had seen Thor act so violently and until now, Thorin never understood the slow change in him taking him from a stern, but kind dwarf who headed the family, to one who coveted power, gold, and pride over everything, including his family. Only after being influenced by the Arkenstone himself, does Thorin truly understand what his grandfather went through.

Nyaunni, though still rather angry with Thorin, gave him an apologetic look. She remembers the flogging he received, and had even been in his quarters that evening, placing herb-soaked cloths on his back. It was unlikely he escaped that punishment without scarring. It was a harmless prank if you asked her, and most found it rather humorous. Thror, however, saw it another way.

"There was also that time when you got into your fathers ale stores." Nyaunni lifted a brow and smirked as Thorin went red.

"What happened?" Fili asked, truly needing to know. He had never heard either of these stories.

"Nothing you need to know." Thorin growled as he shook his head no at Nyaunni.

The dam, though, was not in the mood to cater to his ego. "Well, let me see, that first time, he decided to spend the evening in the hot springs deep in the mountain, and then went for a stroll through Erebor…sans clothing. He ended up locked in a dungeon cell, and was only found the next morning…completely passed out and naked."

"Did you forget to add how I got into that cell?" Thorin challenged, causing Nyaunni to breathe out a laugh.

"Do not go blaming me, Thorin, for your poor choices. It was either Frerin and I locking you in a cell, or explaining to your father and grandfather why you were stark naked, and sheets gone when we were not even allowed to drink. I was going to let you out in the morning before the guards found you." Nyaunni folded her arms, still holding the reins of her pony steady.

Thorin lifted a brow. "And yet, it was my father who retrieved me. When exactly where either of you going to show up?"

"I overslept because I was up over half the night, trying to keep you from falling to your death, and Frerin I assumed had done the same." Nyaunni huffed. "It is not my fault I did not wake. You, were the one to drink that entire barrel. Not me, and not Frerin."

"Wait...wait…wait…" Kili said, looking between Nyaunni and Thorin. "You were naked?"

"We were swimming." Thorin huffed.

"YOU…were swimming. I, refused to get in." Nyaunni said lifting her chin. "It was not appropriate to go swimming in such undress.

"That is not how I remember it." Thorin said accusingly, quite recalling several images of the red-headed dam climbing into the heated water.

Nyaunni whipped her head to the dwarven king. "I doubt, you can recall anything from that night…with exception of a bad headache and that tongue lashing from your mother. Be glad your grandfather was otherwise engaged; I am sure he would not have been pleased."

"He never really was pleased…with anyone." Thorin sighed and the group fell into silence. Nyaunni watched Thorin turn his attention back to the front before she looked back to Fili and Kili, but it was Legolas who spoke.

"I remember once, very long ago, when Tauriel was not yet even seven years of age. She had decided clothing was quite optional, and it took a small battle everyday to get her to dress before leaving the nursery." Legolas chuckled to himself. "I fear if she finds out I told you, I may lose an ear."

Kili stared wide eyed at Legolas, then broke into another round of laughter. He could quite picture his fiery wife doing such things, though his laughter died and he stared hard at the prince. "My wife told me of growing up in Mirkwood. The difficulties she had, and the painful memories she endured."

Naurfaer looked at Legolas, he too was waiting to see how the elven prince responded. "My granddaughter said your father called her a silvan elf…is that true?"

Legolas nodded solemnly. "I am afraid the order of counselors in Mirkwood makes it standard practice to label all elves who cannot prove their ancestry, as silvan. I do not personally agree with such a practice, but it is the way it has always been."

"Maybe it is time for change. I have seen the pain it can cause, and it is not right, Legolas. I know you care about Tauriel.." Kili said, giving the elven prince a hard look. "…and I also know the few good memories she has of her youth are in most part, associated with you. But I will say this, the pain, I have seen my wife in from the things she went through, is nothing short of abusive and I will not tolerate that. Nobody should have to have gone through what she did, nobody."

"I do not disagree. I did all I could to protect her as often as I was able, but I fear I could not shelter her as I wish I could have." Legolas sighed. "I am ashamed to say, I was blind to much of her pain. I do not know what she has shared with you, because she has not done so with me. The only indication I had, that I had failed as a friend, is the happiness she exudes now, with your family, that I had never seen her have before. For that, I am truly and most heartily grateful."

"It is not without its difficulties. She seems to have it in her head that everyone she cares for, will one day leave her. An idea she got from her time in Mirkwood." Kili growled, and his scowl only increased when Legolas simply sat quiet, with nothing he could say to make things better. One cannot undo the past, all they could do was move forward, and hopefully be better.

"We have a choice in our lives, to make the most of what is happening around us…or not." Nyaunni said quietly. "We do not always have a choice in where we grow up, I know that far better than most. When that place we are living in during our most vulnerable years, is filled with hardships, and abuse, we learn to done armor and build walls around the parts of us that are most sensitive; our hearts, and our emotions. But that armor, is not infallible, and can be pierced when true affection comes into play." Nyaunni brushed a stray curl from her eyes. "Those we care about, have a way of bypassing that armor and that should be a good thing…but sometimes…it can cause us more hurt."

The dam glanced at Thorin who was watching her acutely, then turned his eyes back forward. Nyaunni looked back at…great…she forgot again which one the dark haired prince was already…at least he was looking at her with a soft smile as he spoke. "I love my Tauriel, with all that I am. But I understand what you mean. We cannot open ourselves fully to another, without making ourselves vulnerable to them. But in my experience, which to you, may be quite short, I have learned that the good, overshadows the bad tenfold, and can bring such a sense of happiness and completion as you will never know. As such, maybe, piercing the armer we build, may not be as bad as one might think."

"Well said baby brother." Fili nodded in agreement.

Naurfaer, however, gave them all a sad smile. "I do not doubt that both of you have much joy to come in your lives yet, you are both very young. But may you never suffer from the deep pains that can come with the hurt of true betrayal."

Nyaunni just looked confused, but Kili, having personal experience with Elbereth, fully understood where Naurfaer was coming from. Fili seemed to have an idea as well, though he only encountered her that one time and the rest of his knowledge came from stories.

Seeing Nyaunni's questioning expression, Fili gave her a sad sort of look. "It is a long story, and one far too dark for this journey." He eyed his brother who now had his eyes staring ahead and the group fell into silence once again.

It was not a half hour later, that Dwalin and Nori came riding back. "The end is no' fifteen minutes ride ahead, Thorin."

"Thank you Dwalin. Where are Bard and Gloin?" Thorin asked, eyeing the pair before him.

"Scopin' the land. They also sent Kaw back to the troops. I hope yeh don' mind lad." Dwalin looked to Kili who nodded his understanding, he trusted Kaw to come back.

"What is the plan then?" Naurfaer asked from atop of Galaddal.

Thorin looked to his nephews, then Nyaunni who refused to meet his eyes, before responding to Naurfaer. "We get to the end of the river and make camp. We need to find the entrance before we can do anything. With any luck, we can be infiltrating the city tonight, or early tomorrow."

"The dawn…would be best." Nyaunni said, Taughin and Ygatt nodding in agreement. "The city, runs on different times. I always kept time, from the moment I entered the city. It kept me from losing myself. The dawn…is when the orcs are least active."

Pyloh rubbed his chin in thought. "I agree with Barzâ, dawn would be best. I don' think we ought to camp at the rivers end though. Ya said it is a fifteen minute ride? Maybe we should settle here then, and send a team teh search."

"That is a sound plan uncle." Fili added, nodding to the younger dwarf.

"Very well." Thorin said after a moment of thought. "Bofur, Nori, Dori, stay here and make camp. If Aeodhen arrives with the guards, fill them in on what is going on. Fili, Kili, and everyone else come with me." Thorin kicked Rhya into a trot and headed to where Bard had remained.

Kili looked back at Nyaunni who sighed, and they all pushed their animals to follow. Just as Dwalin had said, they came to a stop at the rivers end not fifteen minutes later. Jumping off Maryn, Kili tied his mare to a tree beside Galaddal several yards from where the river roared.

"Fili, Kili, do not stray far. We are surveying only." Thorin ordered. He placed his hands on each of his nephews' shoulders. "You have both been through enough, and I promised both Viltarra and Tauriel I would get you back home. See what you can find, but stay in sight. Understood?"

Both princes nodded. "I will stay with them, Thorin." Naurfaer tied Galaddal beside Maryn and walked over to the family. "Nyaunni can join us. We can do this in pairs." The dam in question lifted her azure eyes to the elf and nodded.

"Fine." Thorin grumbled, having hoped to be able to talk to Nyaunni in private as they searched. But the fact she was walking off already meant that was quite unlikely anyway. "Report to me if you see anything that could lead us to the city. If you see an orc, alert the group." With that, Thorin turned on his toes to join Bard talking to Dwalin and Legolas several yards away.

"Ain' e' a pleasant one." Ygatt grumbled, Pyloh agreeing as the pair along with Taughin began their own search.

"He can be reasonable." Naurfaer supplied as they walked away.

Nyaunni, however, looked skeptical. "Oh? Can he now?" She kicked a rock across the ground looking at the surrounding area. It is here…she just knows it. This area…feels familiar. The roaring sound triggers memories of her youth, but it was so long ago, she had difficulty separating the reality…from the recurring nightmares. Looking back at the princes and the elf, Nyaunni gestured to the area. "Well? Are we going to find a way in? Or just stand around like gossiping goblins?"

"Gossiping goblins? Do goblins gossip?" Fili asked, both curious and amused.

The dam lifted a brow. "Clearly, you have never lived among the race. You will find, that though goblins and orcs are insidious creatures…in many ways…they are not unlike us. They have likes, dislikes, talents, skills, and absolutely no moral compass. But they do like to brag…or….at least the goblins do. The orcs are another thing altogether. Also…goblins sing…and do it quite often."

"OH THAT….I knew." Fili said with a grin. "Ki and I were privy to quite the performance from a goblin king on our travels to Erebor, weren't we Ki?"

Kili nodded and smiled. "Was not half awful too…good rhyme and cadence." Kili scanned the area, truly not wishing to relive the brief time he thought Tauriel was gone to him. This was bad enough that he was away from her. It will be the longest he has been gone from her side since his return from the hands of an evil version of Elbereth. "Where do you think this entrance could be?"

"Could be anywhere." Kili turned to nod at Legolas who had been speaking to Thorin and Bard. "The area is secure. Bard said he had not been searching for an entrance, rather he, and I believe, Gloin, was his name, had been making certain there are no orc parties in range."

"With all the water in the city…it has to be near the river. It can be no other place." Nyaunni looked around and began walking towards the end of the river, the two dwarven princes, and the two elves trailing behind her.

Kili walked the edge of the raging waters, following it to its end. The waters simply seemed to disappear into the ground at the rivers close. Though not before cascading down a waterfall about twice Kili's height. "Moss…." Kili eyed the plant as he carefully slid down a steep hill and began climbing the wet, slippering, rocks.

"Kili! Be careful." He heard his uncle yell. "Fili, go with your brother."

Within seconds, Kili could see Fili sliding down to join him in the climb, along with Legolas and Nyaunni. "Did you see something Ki?"

Kili shook his head. "I just figured I would check this out." He had to begin raising his voice the closer he got to where the water fell to the ground. Though ground was not the correct phrase. Instead, piles and bushes of the same moss growing in Minam, formed over large rocks that did not look natural.

"This is it." Nyaunni said in awe. "It has to be here. Those rocks, are the same as in the city, and that moss grows everywhere. The entrance has got to be here."

"KILI! FILI!" The two princes looked up to see their uncle who was calling them up.

"We better go, come on Ki." Fili pushed his brother back and they began carefully climbing up the slippery rocks once more. It took a few minutes to reach the top but when they did, everyone was gathered together near a narrow ledge that led behind the falls. "What did you find uncle?"

Thorin gestured to Naurfaer who was stepping back out from behind the water and pushing everyone away swiftly. "Go." He hushed over the sound of rushing water and the group gestured to Bard and the others to go to the tree line. "Quickly."

Seeing the seriousness in Naurfaer's expression, Thorin did not hesitate to usher his nephews away from whatever danger Naurfaer had seen, and not one of them uttered so much as a word until they were a safe distance away, standing beside their horses and hidden in the tall, thick, trees. "What did you see?"

Naurfaer turned to Thorin then back to the waters edge just as seven orcs came from the falls. Thorin had to place a hand on Fili's shoulder to stop him from drawing his weapon and running out. He shook his head and put his finger to his mouth. Of course, this hiding went well beyond Thorin's natural instincts to run into battle and destroy the enemy, but what they were doing…required something tactful, rather then vengeful.

If they, in any way, alerted these orcs that someone was out there, they would alert the others, and it could, and very well would, mean carnage for the people below. An orc, will kill every hostage he had, before admitting defeat; even if that means taking himself down with it. Unless, there is a chance at preserving his plan. Only then, will he flee.

But with an army of six thousand, it was likely these orcs and goblins felt secure enough in their numbers to only send out a group as small as this to scan the area.

"Do ya think they saw us?" Taughin asked, eyeing the patrol. The colors they wore, meant they were high guards, they were the ones who left the compound, and brought more workers. They rarely descended beyond the second level, and when they did, it meant trouble and death to the workers. They weeded out the sick, the old, and the weak; often taking them up to the higher levels. Some of the younger group, and the workers blinded to what was happening around them, believed the orcs were releasing them to the surface. But Taughin, Nyaunni, and the others knew better. They were being consumed. If they could not be good workers, then it meant, they became food.

"I don't think so. I got out when I heard footsteps coming from what looked like a large crevice in the stone." Naurfaer whispered as the orcs walked in the opposite direction of where they hid.

"They are not searching the area, they are leaving." Nyaunni said, seeing the group disappear. "They are going to find more workers…to replace us."

"Well, we cannot let them do that." Legolas pulled his bow, and with a flick of his wrist, knocked an arrow, and let it fly; instantly downing the orc in the back. Kili quickly came to himself and followed suit, Bard pulling his bow as well; the three archers taking out all seven orcs before they had a chance to draw their weapons or call for help.

Nyaunni stared at the lord of Dale, the young dark-haired prince, and the blonde elf then turned her eyes to where the dead orcs lay. "That was foolish." Before they could argue she shook her head. "You now put us on a timeline we cannot divert from. Those orcs not returning, will no doubt draw the attention of the others. When they come up to see them felled, they will know someone has discovered this place."

"How long do we have?" Bard asked, still holding his bow and eyeing where the orcs had emerged from.

"They will spend the night away, and be back after dawn." Ygatt relayed.

"Then we have until dawn." Thorin grumbled. "We have all we need from here, let's get back to the others and put together the infiltration plan. This will be tricky, but, it will work."

Grabbing the reins of their horses, the small group made their way back to Bofur and the rest of the group. They would wait here, for the troops to appear, who should be here within the hour having gone on foot. "Take some time to rest, we will decide how to begin when Aeodhen and Ryas arrive. Bofur, can you make us some food?" The hatted dwarf nodded and the group began to prepare themselves for what was to come.

"Well…is this it?" Aeodhen stopped when he stepped before Thorin who had been speaking to Bard, Naurfaer, and Legolas. Kaw flew down to Kili's shoulder and preened his hair as the young prince laughed and scratched his feathered chin.

Bard shook his head, responding to Erebor's head guard. "It is fifteen minutes ride ahead."

Aeodhen leaned around the tall human but all he saw was river. "Are we sure it is where the entrance is?"

"Orcs came out." Thorin said, eyeing Nyaunni who still refused to look at him. Sighing, he looked back to the captain of his entire force. "We had to dispatch of them, but there were only seven. We have until dawn before suspicion of their whereabouts from the others below brings about an investigation."

"An dawn…" Taughin said. "…is the best time teh begin."

With everyone there, Thorin, along with the rest of the group began putting together a plan. In small teams, they would slowly enter the city in a way that would not bring alarm. They would have to take down any orcs and goblins they encounter quietly until they made themselves a pathway to the lower levels. They should have the numbers to clear the higher most levels of the compound enough to get their troops in and as many workers as they could out.

Once they had enough of their own in the city, then and only then would they begin the battle. "Does everyone understand?" The sun had already left the sky by the time everything was hashed out. Of course, they could not fully prepare for all of the variables, especially considering they do not fully know the true number of orcs and goblins there were. But, they felt they had well enough to take care of them.

When everyone nodded, Thorin dismissed them. "The rest of the night is yours. We come together before dawn." With that, the group dispersed to begin their own preparations for the battle ahead.

Thorin stepped around the fire Bofur had made and took a seat beside Nyaunni who was sitting on a rock looking towards the direction the orc city was located. "I brought you something to eat." The dwarven king passed a bowl of steaming travel stew to the dam who continued to ignore him. Thorin held it out for several seconds, but when it was apparent she would not move, he sighed and held the bowl in both of his hands.

"Nyaunni, I am sorry about yesterday. It was not my intention to upset you." He placed the bowl on the rock beside him and stood to leave, but she stopped him in his tracks as she began to speak.

"I remember this." The red-headed dam looked around the area, the river in the background filling the air with the sound of rushing water. However, the sounds of life were limited to the horses and ponies they had brought, and Kaw's coos as Kili fed him from his own bowl.

There were no other sounds of wildlife outside their camp, which meant the creatures here believed this to be too dangerous of a place to dwell. Considering the orcs and goblins below, it made sense.

"How did they get you, Nyaunni?" Thorin once more sat beside her, though her back was all but turned to him. "I know it was a long time ago, but I remember so vividly personally making sure you made it out of the mountain. Why…why did you run back in? I have tried to make sense of it for all these years but every reason I could think up…just did not fit. If you had stayed with the group…"

"What? None of this would have happened?" Nyaunni huffed out a laugh, still looking in the distance. "Now who is being naïve, Thorin? That city would have still been there, and those orcs still raiding nearby settlements and travelers seeking workers to fill their numbers."

"I never said you were naive, Nyaunni. I was just trying to build a solid plan from experience." Thorin was trying to keep his frustration down, but it was becoming difficult. Why was she not listening?

Nyaunni turned her head slightly to give Thorin a side eye. "I am no dwarfling anymore, Thorin. I helped run the only resistance we had in that city."

"And how did that turn out?" Thorin growled, though he instantly regretted the words that fell from his lips.

Nyaunni looked both furious and hurt and stood to storm away, but stopped with her back to him. "I have made mistakes in my life, Thorin. Many of them and all to try and save the only people I know. I was a child when Erebor was taken, those people in Minam, are all I have had, and Dajnel too. She came to me, when I had given up, Thorin. Given up! So yes, your words hurt me, because they were true. My mistakes and misjudgments cost two hundred lives. If you, for even one moment, think that guilt does not already rest heavily on my shoulders, then you have grown to be a fool."

As Nyaunni began to walk away, Thorin took two bounding steps and stilled her with a hand on her arm, holding her in place. "Why did you run back into Erebor, Nyaunni? Why did you go back inside the mountain when I told you to stay outside with our people?"

The dam stood frozen for several seconds, and turned to look at Thorin. She looked weary, and the youthfulness that seemed to surround her was instantly gone. Standing before Thorin, was a dam who had seen hard times, a dam who was every bit of the two-hundred and twenty-four year old she was. Even her eyes spoke of distant horrors she lived through, and the scars maiming the side of her face seemed deeper and harsher as she stared hard into Thorin. "When the dragon went inside Erebor, I felt his wrath overwhelm me, it burned with rage. He was going to kill and consume everyone still remaining in that mountain, and you were still inside. I ran back in, Thorin, to find you. Because I could not lose you."

Gently pushing his hand off, Nyaunni stormed away and this time, Thorin let her go. All these years, he believed she ran back in to save an animal or something of the like, but she ran in…for him?

A hand fell on his shoulder, and Thorin turned to look into blue eyes almost identical to his own, and just beside him, was a warm set of brown. "Uncle, are you alright?" Fili eyed Nyaunni who was speaking angerly to Taughin who was trying to calm the fire in the irate dam. He recalled all the times Viltarra has gotten upset these last few months, and how Hiril would help calm her…maybe…Dajnel does the same for Nyaunni. "I think she misses her fellbeast. Dajnel would not have caused any problems, if it upset Nyaunni this much to not have her, maybe we should have let her come."

Thorin shook his head. "Before dawn breaks, we make our move. I want you two to stay together. If something were to happen to either of you, I am quite certain your wives would team up and dispose of me…as would your mother."

Fili eyed the only father he knew and shook his head. Of course, his uncle would not want to talk about it. That, should have not been a surprise.

"I doubt Tauriel would do anything to purposely harm you, uncle." Kili said with a chuckle. "She loves you far too much. Though Viltarra…you may have to worry about her. She has become quite adept with a blade." The younger prince rubbed his chin remembering the dam nearly overtaking him in their last training session, and he was not even holding back. Even Tauriel was impressed by Viltarra's progress.

Fili smiled wide. "She certainly needs a warning label." A very subtle smile tried to make an appearance on Thorin's face at the thought of his newest niece. It was not something he admitted until several months ago, but Fili chose well in Viltarra; she compliments him and the family in many ways. She is a fast learner too, and has been quite eager recently to take on tasks to help run the mountain, though they are fewer and fewer these days as the mountain has began to nearly run itself.

"You know uncle…" Kili began, eyeing Nyaunni. "…I have been told more times than I can count, that when Tauriel is angry at me, to just let her be so she could work through it on her own. But what I have learned, is though that may be true with some…others need to know you would be willing to go after them, despite you thinking otherwise." Kili smiled softly. "We don't know what will happen tomorrow in Minam, so maybe, try talking to her again before morning."

Kili patted Thorin on the shoulder and turned to go, Fili turning to follow his brother, though he too stopped and looked at Thorin with a small smile. "Kili may be young, but I think he is right, uncle. Put yourself in Nyaunni's shoes. She has a people to save, but she cannot do it herself which means she now must rely on strangers to make that happen. How often have you butt heads with Thranduil for the same reason? Or had to swallow that great Durin pride to seek council with the other Lords before Ered Luin was stable and self-sustaining? Or even Bard in that first year we got Erebor back?" Fili gestured to Nyaunni. "We are nothing but strangers to her, strangers she is being forced to rely on. She may have known you once, but, how long ago was that? If I were to give any advice being a happily married dwarrow myself, it is this…words spoken in anger to those we care about can cause deeper wounds than swords…and take twice as long to heal. That healing process, however, can never begin, until one of you lets go of your pride and is willing to give."

Thorin gaped at his nephew. When did either of them get so wise? He watched Fili go, though he did look back over his shoulder, and softly said, "I think she is worth it, uncle, but the real question is…do you?"

Grumbling to himself, Thorin turned towards the fire and sat brooding until Aeodhen and Dwalin came over and drew him into more plans for the early morning. Should he listen to his nephews? Probably. But at the moment, Thorin needed to focus on making sure everything goes to plan, or it would not just be their lives, but countless others.

"Ya alright Thorin?" Thorin looked to Dwalin who was lifting a brow and chuckling, knowing exactly what was going on having been privy to the volatile argument between the pair the night before in Erebor. "Yeh and Nyaunni eh?" He chuckled. "I never thought she could be this fiery, always a quiet lass she was. I like her spirit though, she has quite grown into it." Thorin glared at Dwalin and his old friend chuckled in response to the silent attack. "Don' overthink it, an it will handle itself." The large dwarf pulled out his pipe, and filled it before using a small stick he had sitting partially in the fire, to lite it up…giving a few puffs to get it going.

"I am not overthinking anything, I just have had enough being talked AT about it." Thorin huffed and stared hard into the flames. Dwalin shook his head, knowing there was a time to push Thorin, and a time to let him be. This was certainly a time to let him smother his own flaming forge, so the pair sat silent through most of the night.

When it neared dawn, Thorin ordered the group up and sighed as Kili was laughing quite loudly as water dripped from Fili's furious face. Thorin rubbed his temples, he really did not want to know. "Kili, get the horses, Fili, wipe that off and help your brother. I want us out of here in a quarter hour."

"Yes, uncle." The two princes answered, though Fili shoved a still laughing Kili as they made their way to the horses causing Thorin to shake his head. Some things never change.

The company had been riding for only fifteen minutes when Thorin called for everyone to stop. "This is where we leave the horses." He jumped off Rhya and scanned the area, Nyaunni, Kili, Fili, and the rest of the group quickly following suit. Just behind them, were the armies of Dale and Erebor walking in groups of tens.

In the early morning darkness, flashes of memory filled Nyaunni's mind. She hated it here, hated the feelings of terror that overtook her by simply standing in this spot. At just over twenty-nine, she was no different than a fifteen-year-old human girl when Smaug came. Then, she remembered the horror of feeling the dragon's power and wrath, and realized Thorin was still in the mountain. Without thought to herself, she ran back into Erebor, ignoring the calls of her caretakers and tutor in favor of making sure Thorin would not be consumed by fire.

The mountain was filled with smoke and chaos. Most of all who remained inside Erebor were trying to flee the massive dragon who was making his way through the mountain to the gold chamber, or, they were laying lifeless on the cold, stone, ground.

"THORIN!" Nyaunni remembers calling over and over, until her throat burned, and she could yell no more.

The stress of parts of the mountain the dragon had hit cause walls to come crumbling down as she ran, some columns even falling to the ground around her, but still she kept going. With Thror so invested in his gold, she had assumed Thorin had gone there to get his grandfather out of the mountain, so the treasure room is where she was headed. If she had just stopped by the throne room, she would have seen Thorin and his father dragging Thror out as he cried for the Arkenstone, but Nyaunni was moments too late to see.

Instead, she burst through the door of the room piled with gold as her eyes searched the piles for any sign of the royal family. However, instead of finding Thorin or Thror, or even Thrain, Nyaunni came face to face with a large, smoking, snout.

The crimson creature breathed her in, and Nyaunni stood frozen, staring wide eyed at the creature who was giving her almost a curious look. He had won, the mountain was his, and the rage had turned to pride and delight at his accomplishment.

Nyaunni felt the heat from his breath as he backed her into the wall. "Well, hello. You smell…delightful…yet there is something oddly enticing about you. You are not like other beings I have encountered in my life…you are different."

Smaug turned a big yellow eye towards her, and she saw the pupil dilate as she felt his interest in her fill her mind. "You are a quiet one, there are not many quiet dwarves. Come now, tell me why I should not…eat you?"

Nyaunni tried to force the terror down as she calculated how far she would have to run to get out the door. It was only a few meters away, but Smaug's massive claw was resting directly in her path. She took a deep breath and tried to speak, but her throat was sore from all the yelling she had done searching for Thorin in addition to the smoke she had been inhaling. So instead of words, great, gasping, coughs arose from her throat, and she had to brace herself against the stone wall behind her to keep from falling to the ground.

"An interesting creature, you are, but I am losing patience." Smaug leaned in closer, his teeth bared. In that moment, Nyaunni knew if she did not say something, her life would be forfeit. Though her life was likely forfeit anyway.

"WAIT!" She rasped, coughing once more. "Wait." She tried again with a bit more success. "I…I am not like the others. I have a gift, one passed down to me from nearly a hundred generations ago. I can feel what the creatures of Arda feel. Not physical pains, but…their emotions…their feelings."

"And what are you…feeling…from me?" Smaug said as he backed away just a bit.

Nyaunni's heart was hammering in her chest, but she forced her mind to calm as best she can. "I…you are pleased…and curious. I intrigue you, but you do not know why."

"Hmmm." Smaug hummed in thought. "Lucky guess. What else?"

What else? Nyaunni was not used to forcing her gift, in fact, she really did not know how. It just sort of…automatically worked. But she had to try if it meant maybe, she can live a few minutes more. "It does not work as easily as that. I feel many things from you, and most of those I do not understand, but, there is a darkness in you, that keeps you bound to the extravagance you seek."

Smaug was as silent as a butterflies wing as he watched her. "How old are you, dwarf?"

"I am not yet thirty." Nyaunni said quietly, but her voice carried across the vast room.

"Thirty? So young for a dwarf, barely a hatchling." Smaug lazily slid his tail from side to side as he sat thinking. "The gift you bare, is one I have never come upon in my 2000 years of life. One who feels what is often hidden from your kind, the very nature of beasts." His voice hissed naturally as he ended.

Suddenly, the claw ten times her size slid away and Smaug was backing off. "I believe you have a purpose to fulfill, beast friend. Go…before I change my mind."

Nyaunni could not believe it, the dragon had stepped away from her and gestured to the exit, and she did not hesitate to run. There was a part of her that was worried he would pursue her for his own pleasure, but Smaug did not. Instead, she could hear the loud rumble of an enormous body falling into the gold and coins that filled the treasure hall.

Despite that, Nyaunni still ran through the corridors, not slowing once. She was closer to the side gate than the front, so she made for the stairway that led into the depths of Erebor, passing more bodies and carnage as she went. She wanted to be sick. Finally, she reached the steps that ascended up to the higher levels of the mountain and pushed herself forward until she made it to a large black gate that was ajar, and ran through, slamming it hard behind her as she ran towards the light.

The breaths were leaving Nyaunni in great, heaving, gasps as she kept running. She needed to get to the front of the mountain, but something from behind her grasped her tightly. "Here we go' a live one." The voice was deep and harsh, and she could smell a putrid stench coming from whoever…or whatever…was holding her.

"Put it with the others. We got enough for now. Gonna be a good haul we'll be getting." Before Nyaunni could try and get away, something hard smashed into her head and she remembers nothing between that, and waking what felt like hours later.

"It's awake…shall I bludgeon it again?" Nyaunni looked up from where she had woken on a pile of dwarves in humans in a rocking cart. The creature had to be an orc, not that she had ever seen one before, since she rarely left the safety of Erebor, but she was a good student, and he looked like all the illustrations she had seen.

She had to get away, Nyaunni knew this was almost certainly worse than the dragon. These were creatures, but they were not, and she felt nothing from them. All she felt was fear, and that was coming from herself. So Nyaunni leaped over the humans and dwarves in the cart and tried to run, but one of the orcs was faster and grabbed her by the hair. "Oi! You belong to us, dwarf."

Nyaunni cried out as he dragged her by the hair. She desperately needed to get away, but she was overrun by exhaustion, fear, and confusion. "LET ME GO!"

The orcs only laughed darkly in response, and her feet slid across the dirt and rocks on the ground as she was forced forward. She felt the tears falling down her cheeks, and the terror in her heart, and she tried everything she could to get away, but nothing she did was of any help.

Looking around her, desperately hoping she could call out for help, Nyaunni realized, she had no knowledge of where she was. She saw no roads, cities, or any indication of civilized life. Only trees, a river, rocks, and shrubbery.

"Just, knock it out!" Came a hiss, and before she could cry out, her world darkened once more. The next time Nyaunni awoke, she was in Minam.

Now, so many years later, Nyaunni felt that shadow of terror as if she was watching her very own story unfold before her eyes. Life in Minam was harsh, regulated, and filled with pain. But She was quickly learning, it could be just as bad out here.

"Kili, send Kaw to the back of the group to let them know we are about to begin." Kili nodded to his uncle and signaled for Kaw, who flew down and landed on Kili's arm so he could give his raven the message. "You know what to do Kaw." Kaw affectionately nipped at Kili's hair, cooed softly, then took flight, heading back the way they came.

"Now, we wait until dawn to make certain no others have left the city, should be less than a quarter hour." Naurfaer said as they put enough distance between them, and the underground city entrance; choosing a somewhat concealed grove of trees to help keep them out of sight just in case any of the orcs did perimeter sweeps. They had made certain to hide the dead orcs before they left the day before…for good measure.

Thorin folded his arms and leaned against the trunk of a tree beside Rhya, who snorted and stamped her foot. Nyaunni felt she was as grumpy as her partner. They deserve each other, she hmphed to herself as she sat hard on the stump beside Naurfaer, who lifted a brow.

The tall elf smiled brightly…which for some reason annoyed Nyaunni even more…as he leaned into her with a mischievous look. "Is there something you wish to say?"

"There is always something he wishes to say." Kili rolled his eyes as he sat right on the dirt ground and pulled something wrapped in a piece of cheese cloth out from his pocket, and began consuming it slowly.

"Is that a cookie?" Fili groaned as he sat beside his brother. "Where did you get a cookie and why are you not sharing it!?"

Kili stuffed the entire thing in his mouth before Fili could swipe a piece, then gave his brother a teasing look as he chewed and swallowed the treat. He had assumed mam and Viltarra had given Fili the same goods he had…but maybe…he had assumed incorrectly. "Clearly, my wife loves me more than yours does." Kili finally answered, crumbs flying from his lips as he did.

Fili glared at Kili. "Did she BAKE that cookie? Cause I happen to know, Tauriel…does not bake."

"Of course she didn't…mam did." Kili smiled. "Tauriel just packed me up some for the road to go with what mam and Viltarra made me."

Fili huffed and folded his arms, why is it they all spoil Kili? He knew he should have checked the kitchen before he left. Suddenly, another of the round treats appeared before his eyes, and Fili followed it before plucking it from the fingers who held it. "If you would have looked in your saddle bags, you would have seen that they also packed some for you." Kili chuckled having reached into Kits saddle to pull a satchel out Fili clearly had missed and passed it to his brother, before pulling a third cookie out for himself and began happily devouring it.

"How old are you two?" Nyaunni said, eyeing the two princes who acted more like dwarflings then dwarves who had come of age.

"Babes, if you ask me." Naurfaer snickered, then laughed at the pair of identical glowers aimed at him. Legolas nodded in agreement with Naurfaer, being only a few centuries short of three thousand himself.

"I am 86, and Kili here is turning 81 in a few months." Fili answered, wiping the bits of cookie from the somewhat itchy tunic he wore.

"That is it?! 86 and 81, and you are both married already?! Nyaunni gaped at the pair, she had thought they would be at least 120 if not a bit older. "You are BARELY of age."

"Hey now, I have a child, and a second on the way. I am very much an adult, thank you." Kili, of course, said this with pieces of cookie flying from his mouth which did little to help his case.

"I think he left his maturity with Tauriel." Naurfaer laughed out, shaking his head and fully accepting the dark glare Kili shot him with equal amusement.

"And how old are you, Naurfaer?" Kili grumbled.

Nyaunni just watched the exchange with curiosity, at least until Naurfaer once again turned sparkling eyes her way after ignoring the dark-haired prince. "I think you should know, Thorin is not always like this. He just takes some getting used to."

The dam lifted a brow and stared at him. "Mhm, I think, perhaps, you may be mistaken, but I will consider your suggestion." She eyed Thorin who was across the way, nodding his head at Bard, though he did catch her eye and give her a lingering look before going back to the lord of Dale.

Nyaunni found the two VERY young dwarves and the red-headed elf to be rather amusing, and could not help but join them in laughter as Kili and Fili told animated stories of their childhood as they waited for dawn to approach.

They seemed to be nothing like Thorin, and shared laughter and jokes freely…until their uncle came and silenced them with a penetrating look. He did not even need to say anything to suck the joy out of the moment. Nyaunni has had enough of that in her life to last several eternities.

"You will get us found, the both of you." Thorin berated his nephews. "You know better than this! What has gotten into you?"

And just like that, the easy smiles, and laughter was replaced with solemn silence, and weapon prep. The only noise, the sound of blades being sharpened and the horses and ponies nuzzling their noses into the ground in search for edible plants underneath the pine needles saturating the dirt floor.

Just as the sun began lightening the sky, Thorin called the group together. "It is time to go. Nori, Dori, Gloin, Dwalin, Bofur, and Bifur, go to the back and each of you join a group of guards. You will be leading them inside. Aeodhen, make sure the others listen." The small company nodded and followed orders instantly.

"Everyone know the plan?" Bard eyed the group after sending his own captain to aid Aeodhen.

"Aye, complicated, but efficient. Let's get it done then, me blades itching for some orc flesh." Dwalin who had been in the first group of guards just behind them, dropped his furs to the ground, and resecured his hammer so it was not easily noticed. The others quickly followed suit.

Dressed in the garb of Minam, Thorin and Naurfaer stepped up to the top of the small waterfall. Thorin ducked low as he slid down the steep embankment and landed in a small shrub just in front of the narrow pathway behind the falls, then signaled for Naurfaer to follow. However, when he looked back, the family elf was nowhere to be seen. Though Legolas was coming down along with Bard.

A hand on his shoulder nearly startled him and he turned blazing eyes on his daughter's grandfather, ready to kill him. How, did he manage to get on the opposite side of him! Stupid, silent, elf.

"What?" Naurfaer asked when he caught the look, and Thorin grumbled and rolled his eyes before focusing on the falls. They both saw the movement at the same time. Just behind the water, in the darkness, a single orc could be seen staring out the rather wide entrance.

Thorin gave Naurfaer a nod, and slowly, left the cover of the bush and hugged the wall where the orc could not see him just behind Naurfaer. The pair made certain there were no other orcs beside him in the entrance. When it was apparent he was alone, with just a quick swipe of Naurfaer's blade, the orc was instantly killed. Thorin made good work to dispose of the body into the falling waters to the pit of moss and stone below, then stepped inside the dark entrance where they met up with two goblins who did not even get the chance to pull their weapons before Thorin drew his sword and took them down.

A final orc was all that was left in the entrance, but he too was quickly taken down leaving them alone in a small room with descending steps to a tall door. "Go signal the others." Thorin ordered, keeping a lookout, and Naurfaer barely stuck his head out and called for Bard, Legolas, Nyaunni, Taughin, Kili, and Fili who all came crowding the outer room. "Kili, can you get the door?"

Kili pulled a pin from his hair as he nodded and moved to begin taking the lock off the floor to ceiling door. However, as he did, Nyaunni rolled her eyes as she searched a dead goblin, and before Kili could even insert a pin, the key was held in his field of vision. "Perhaps, a key may be of use?"

"I could have done it." Kili grumbled in response, though he took the key and unlocked the door. The next room was also full of orcs, and Fili was able to take three of them down just with his throwing knives, while the rest of the group dispatched of the others.

The deeper they got in, the more they had sent in, creating a stream of dwarves and humans from the outside. Eventually, Nyaunni stopped them. "I believe this leads to the uppermost layer of the city. How we missed this after all this time…feels…indescribable."

Not only was the entrance hidden, somehow, the orcs had created a series of entranceways that camouflaged into the walls behind them, making them completely invisible to anyone looking up at them, yet, obvious to anyone coming through.

Nobody ever made it up to this uppermost level, whenever they tried, it was instant death. Yet, now seeing it, Nyaunni wonders if it would have been worth it to try harder to get up here. "We should keep moving. Pyloh…we need you at the front." The youngest dwarf in the group nodded and moved forward.

Pyloh was the one who took the lead through the second layer, having been one of the only ones currently still living, who had come to this level and survived…multiple times. They had to dispatch of a few orcs and goblins, but as a whole…this was looking easier than they had anticipated.

Once they were at the door that led into the city, Thorin looked to the group behind him. "We need to start getting people out. Nyaunni, Taughin, where do we need to begin?"

"Follow me." Nyaunni moved to take the lead, but paused and stared at Thorin. "Unless, that is, you feel I am lacking in some way to do this?"

Thorin scowled and gestured to the entranceway, not saying a word, which may be the wiser path to take. Nyaunni hesitated a moment, then leaned out the door and slid from the room, Thorin and the group following behind. With them, were five guards ready to take the place of the first group; Legolas and Bard staying behind to instruct the guards as they came, and to keep an eye on the orcs and goblins so they could signal if things began to escalade before they were ready.

According to Nyaunni, there were approximately three hundred dwarves and human workers…give or take a few…down here. They would only be able to get a hundred or so out before all chaos broke loose. She thought they were doomed from the start to alarm the orcs and goblins running this place, but she had misjudged this groups skills.

As silently as a shadow, orcs and goblins were taken out the moment they came into sight and long before they even realized they were being hunted. When they came across the first group of Minam, the ten workers had no clue what to make of these strangers promising them freedom, but it was Nyaunni who reassured them. "We are going to actually do it this time, Osha, I have been to the surface, I have been out. All you have to do, is follow Fili." She indicated to the younger dwarf who nodded, though it was actually Kili she had gestured to…he thought it wise not to correct her at this time. "He and his brother will get all of you out. Listen to them and you will be free."

There was some slight hesitation, but soon they were all throwing their tools down and walking from the room, the guards now remaining behind. Layer by layer, they destroyed orcs silently and liberated the humans and dwarrow along the way. It was just too easy, and both Thorin and Naurfaer, who was beside the dwarven king, were beginning to feel as if something was about to go terribly wrong.

Of course, they were right, as one of the humans Fili and Kili were leading out, began screaming out to their captors. "A BREACH! A BREACH! INTRUDERS IN THE CITY!" He continued to yell until Fili shoved him away and pulled his blades.

In more numbers than they anticipated, orcs and goblins began streaming into Minam at every level. "AT ARMS!" Thorin and Bard both yelled from their respective places in the city, and the guards they were able to get in, instantly pulled their blades and began to run into battle.

In seconds, the small city was filled with the sounds of screaming and clanging metal, but things were about to get worse. Suddenly, a cacophony of roars filled the air, and Thorin whipped his head in the direction they came from, only to see similar creatures to Nyaunni's 'not' dragon clawing their way up the stone and moss walls. The difference was these creatures were far more twisted and gruesome. He stared until Pyloh yelled out, "THEY RELEASED THE FELLBEASTS! RUN!"

As the others moved to get away, Nyaunni pushed Taughin back towards the exit where she could see the blonde elf shooting arrows left and right. "Go get the others Taughin, we need as much backup as we can get, and get however many you can out of here as you go."

"No, I ain't leaving you." Taughin shook his head.

But Nyaunni pushed him once more. "You must, I will be fine. Go!" She watched as Taughin looked at her then turned to run. "WARN THEM THEY ARE POISONESS!" She yelled as she watched him go.

A shadow fell over her, and Nyaunni felt a dark hunger fill her as she turned to look at one of the creatures she hatched and raised…eye her with ferocious eyes. However, before she could try and calm it, the creature shrieked and cried out as a greatsword pierced its spine, then with a mighty swing, severed its head from its body.

"When I yell move, Nyaunni…I MEAN MOVE!" Thorin jumped down and pushed her through a door as another beast was running at them. "Exactly HOW many of those creatures are there!"

"Enough to be a problem!" Nyaunni shot back as she drew an axe and slammed it into an orc in the room they had entered, before following the passageway towards the main path that spiraled around the city. "Do not let their teeth pierce your skin Thorin, their fangs have a poison in them, and it only takes a prick to get a lethal dose in your system."

"I think I know well enough to avoid teeth!" Thorin growled out as he turned back at Nyaunni, but froze when he saw his nephews a level up, with not one, but three of those creatures. "No." All the color drained from his face and he turned to Nyaunni. "What is the fastest way up!"

"This way!" Nyaunni ran towards some rickety wooden scaffolding and began climbing the ladder, Thorin directly behind her. As they reached the layer, Thorin sprinted through the open pathway, stopping only when he was blocked by ten orcs and six goblins growling at him.

Gripping his blade, Thorin leapt into battle. It was not until he took down three of them, that he realized Nyaunni was just at his back, skillfully severing the heads off the goblins as if she has had centuries of practice with that axe. She took down another goblin and lifted a brow. "What? You think I just sat around here like a good little worker? I got these scars for a reason you know."

Thorin gaped at her as she made quick work of an orc and he helped take the other two down. Maybe…he misjudged her knowledge. Maybe they should have considered her plan. But it was too late now, and his nephews were in trouble, so Thorin took off once the small group was dead on the ground, and raced through his battling guards to Fili and Kili.

By the time he got there, the pair were down to one of the fellbeasts, who was twice the size of the other two. "She is full sized, and angry." Nyaunni said in Thorin's ear, he eyed her and readjusted his grip, running into battle with his nephews.

Nyaunni tried desperately to send soothing and calming waves to the beast, but she was beyond her abilities, so she tightened her grip on her axe, and began swiping frantically at the creature's clawed legs.

Finally, with four of them working the fellbeast, they were gaining headway and Kili saw an opportunity to get underside the creature and disembowel it. However, these were not mindless creatures, and the beast saw the young prince make his move and roared. Just before she sunk her teeth into Kili, Fili pushed his brother out of the way, and the fellbeast's caught Fili by the arm instead, and yanked him against the wall where he fell to the stone path.

"NO! FILI!" Kili watched his brother in horror, but still took his chance, sliding underneath the belly of the creature and standing before thrusting his sword up, and dragging it as far as he could.

The creature screamed out in pain, her winged claw swiping at Kili, causing the dwarven prince to fall hard to the ground where he slid to the edge of the path and had to grasp at the arm of one of the stone elves to keep him from falling over the edge to the pit below. A hand leaned over the paths edge, and Kili grasped it gratefully, realizing it was his uncle who pulled him up.

Kili looked to the felled creature, then ran to where his brother landed. Nyaunni was already there, pulling away his torn tunic to get to the gashes underneath. Fili was currently unconscious, and already breathing heavily. "The venom works fast, and will spread to his organs if we do not act quickly."

"VENOM!" Kili cried out, eyeing his brother in horror, remembering only now what the dam had warned them about when they first encountered the beasts in the nursery what felt like a lifetime ago.

"KILI LOOK OUT!" An orc party had filed down to their level and Kili moved out of the way just as a sword was thrust where he had been crouching down moments before. Thorin, who had warned his nephew, pulled one of Fili's blades he could see, and threw it directly into the orcs head. It gave Kili a chance to quickly make work of the others.

"This does not look good, Thorin, give me your sash." Without hesitating, Thorin removed the sash around his waist and Nyaunni tied it tightly around Fili's shoulder. The fellbeasts fangs had sunk into his upper arm, though it did not seem to reach further. "It moves fast, and kills slow if a person is strong and healthy. The humans have no chance, while we dwarrow tend to be a bit more resistant. But without any type of medication or antidote, there is nothing that can be done. Death is inevitable."

Thorin looked around, because of the fellbeasts giving the orcs and goblins the upper hand, they were losing this battle. He could see his troops being forced into corners, and some of Bards guards doing all they can to get the captives out. But it was futile, the orcs on their own, or even with the goblins were something they could handle, but these fellbeasts…they were the catalyst that would lose them the battle.

Tauriel paced her room as she chewed at her nails nervously. Something was wrong, very wrong, and once again, she was stuck in Erebor, unable to help. The eleth huffed and sat hard on the edge of the bed Viltarra was sitting on. "I do not like this."

Viltarra nodded in agreement. "At least they should not be gone long. Just a day or two, and they will be home was what they said. So they should be back by this evening at the latest." The girls along with Dis had decided to remain together, neither sleeping the night before as both were worried about their missing sons of Durin…including Thorin.

"And you believe that?" Tauriel asked, lifting a brow. Though she sighed after a moment. "I am sorry Viltarra, I do not mean to bring negativity, but I truly believe something is going to go very wrong, and my intuition has never failed me before."

Dis lifted her eyes from her knitting and watched her two daughters carefully. Her motherly instincts said to comfort them, to tell them it would be fine. But something deeper, felt the same as Tauriel. Something was wrong, and she knew whenever Tauriel felt it, it was always true, especially if it involved her youngest son. "Is it Kili, darling? Do you feel something?"

Tauriel looked to Dis and nodded looking into the dark sky. It was still several hours from dawn, and the sky had yet to herald a new day. "My Kili is far away, so I cannot get much from him, but his heart beats strong in my soul, telling me he is quite well. But amad, my own heart is heavy, as if it senses a great defeat coming; and the air smells of something fowl…marking the day as one filled with darkness and death."

"Defeat!?...Death?!" Dis stood, her work falling to the ground as she began to pace back and forth before Tauriel's large, open, windows. She mumbled to herself, then looked at her daughters. "I will go. If they are overwhelmed, they need more men. I will take another troop."

"I will come with you." Tauriel moved quickly to retrieve her bow and daggers, but Dis grabbed her shoulder stopping the eleth in her tracks.

"Absolutely not, you are too far along to do this, Tauriel. You would be risking your life, and his." Dis indicated to where her son grew, but Tauriel shook her head.

"Amad, you have no idea where they are. I can help. I may not be able to pinpoint Kili perfectly, but now that we are fully bonded, I have a better sense of where he is." She smiled at Dis and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Also, do not forget, Kili losing this battle, means my life is lost as well. Whether I am here in Erebor, or helping, my fate is his and his alone."

"And if you think you are leaving me behind, you are greatly mistaken." Viltarra huffed, walking to the door. "Finli can stay with my mother, my father will want to come."

Before any more arguments could be given, Viltarra was out the door and into her chamber, ripping off her tunic and pulling the chainmail Fili made her over her head before replacing her tunic once more. She then grabbed one of Fili's fur vests, secured her blade at her back, and finally sheathed a set of daggers in the belt about her widening waist before moving to the door.

However, a small whine had her stopping as Hiril tugged gently on Fili's vest she now wore. Viltarra ran her hands through the wargs hair and tried not to let her emotions overtake her. If Hiril did not have that fracture, she would be coming with, but in her condition…she would only harm herself further. "You stay here, girl. I must go, but I will be right back, okay?"

Of course, the warg did not answer in normal terms, but she did lean her head further into Viltarra then lay on the floor, watching her go.

Viltarra met Tauriel and Dis in the hall, Dis having had gone into her own room to get a sword, and to both of their surprise, some armor. "What, did Thorin never tell you I trained? Do not give me those looks. I am no simpleton on the battlefield. I may not have seen much action, but I have defended Ered Luin several times in our early days."

Tauriel nodded as she held Finli in her arms, the toddler half asleep from being woken long before morning. "Are you sure your mother would watch him?"

Viltarra nodded and the group quickly made their way to the markets and to the bakery where she knew her parents would already be up and preparing for the day. "Mama!" Viltarra called out as she opened the counter and walked past the displays.

"Viltarra! Gem! Has something happened?" Tarrah came running out of the kitchens with Vin carrying a tray behind her.

"Mama, can you watch Finli and Hiril?" Tarrah eyed her daughter, then Dis and Tauriel, all three with weapons on their back, and she glared hard at the trio.

"Oh no!" Tarrah pointed her finger at them. "Where do you think you are going off to?! You both have CHILDREN on the way in just over a months time, and you think I am going to just let you go off? What is on your minds to do such a thing?"

Dis stepped into the bakery, her armor shining in the light of the lanterns. "Tarrah, we do not have time. I do not want them to go either, but Tauriel's connection to Kili will help us find them faster, and she believes there to be a problem. Viltarra should stay here, I completely agree…"

The younger dam in question began to argue in protest, but Dis stopped her. "But, it is her choice to make."

"Mama, da, you taught me to be independent and fight for what I believe, I am going, they are my family, I need to go." Viltarra refused to back down.

"Then I shall go too." Vin pushed the tray further onto the table and kissed his wife on the head. "I will make sure she is alright, my jewel, and I will bring her home, and Fili too."

Tarrah sighed, knowing this battle was lost before she even began it. "Very well. I will watch Finli then, and the warg pup as well. Please do not be long."

Tauriel tightened her grip on her son, not really wanting to leave him, but Kili needed her, so she kissed her son who had fallen back to sleep, and carefully passed her little treasure to Tarrah. "I hope you know what you are doing." The dam said as she secured her arms around the sleeping dwelfling and shook her head as she watched her husband, daughter, Dis, and Tauriel quickly head out of the market.

Before going to the stable, Dis burst into the records room calling out for Balin, who was before her instantly, having thankfully been awake at this hour…likely worried about what was happening just hours away. "What is it Dis, did yeh get word from Thorin?"

"Not as such, but Tauriel believes something is to go wrong, and with her connection to Kili and her usually spot on intuition, I am quite apt to believe it. How fast can you get half of the remaining guards together? I am bringing more with us."

Litin, behind Balin, made a few mental calculations then nodded. "Just under an hour." He said in a matter of fact tone.

"Good, that should leave more than enough to protect Erebor until we get back. Can you have them armored up and at the gate within the hour?" Dis stared hard at Balin, and for a second, the white bearded dwarf saw Thorin before him. He blinked it away and nodded.

"Half that, actually." Balin replied moving to the door. "I am coming to."

"No." Dis said, placing a hand on Balin's shoulder. "I want you, Bombur, Oin, and Ori to stay here and watch the mountain. I will take a raven and send word. Litin…"

The scribe startled a bit at being directly addressed by name, but nodded. "Yes, my lady?"

"Go get Oin. I think it is best he join us, because we may need a skilled healer." The young scribe nodded at the regal dam, and ran from the room just in front of Dis, her daughters, and Balin. Vin would be meeting them at the stables, as he was going to grab his own weapons in the royal wing.

However, when Dis entered the stable, she looked around concerned. "Not many options left to ride in here, is there? I will go see what I can do about getting us some mounts." Seeing one of the stable workers entering to begin his early morning rounds, Dis made a beeline for him and left Tauriel and Viltarra behind.

Tauriel scanned the empty stalls, and paused on the feathered dragonlike creature trying to get out of her stall. Slowly, the eleth walked over, Viltarra following just behind her, as the pair came to a stop before a clearly upset Dajnel.

"You are not thinking what I think you are….are you?" Viltarra eyed Tauriel, then the fellbeast who was chirping and calling out…likely to Nyaunni who was clearly too far to hear her.

Tauriel eyed Viltarra then looked back at the fellbeast who had gone silent and was leaning her head out over the stall door and sniffing Tauriel with her narrow snout.

The eleth smiled softly, and ran her hands up the smooth, gray, scales, that turned to feathers just behind her eyes. She was quite beautiful, with the light streaming in the stable and bouncing off the iridescent feathers.

Before she realized what she was doing, Tauriel had opened the stall door and Dajnel eagerly stepped out.

"Tauriel! You have got to be joking." Viltarra leveled the clearly mad eleth with a look as she continued to run her fingers along the creature's neck. But the real surprise came when Dajnel lay herself almost flat on the ground and gave Tauriel a meaningful birdlike chirp.

"I think, she wants us to ride her." Tauriel said, as she threw caution to the wind, and carefully pulled herself up just in front of Dajnel's wings. Viltarra huffed and stalked over when the creature stared at her and waited, unmoving, for her to climb on, then she rose.

"JUST WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?" Dis came running over just as Dajnel made for the door, and the fellbeast stopped in place and looked back at her. "Oh for Mahal's sake, can this family do anything normal? Move forward, I am coming up."

As if sensing what was happening, Dajnel leaned forward once more, and Dis was able to haul herself up behind Viltarra. It was a tight fit, but since Dajnel was just about the size of a horse, body wise, excluding tail, it worked. "I don't suppose you know how to control this thing, do you?" Dis asked as she looked back at the clearly worried stable hands watching them.

"Not really, so hold on." Tauriel replied. She was able to get Dajnel to stop just outside Erebor where Balin was standing with half of the remaining guard, including her own team, and a raven they would take with them. "Balin, I am afraid we must move quickly. We will get ahead and I will have the raven come back to the group on foot to give a heading, then send it to Erebor with an update."

"Aye lass." Balin said, eyeing the creature all three sat upon. "An…are ya sure about that?"

"Not really, but she seemed eager to go, and I have a feeling, she might be able to give us a good idea of where to go." Tauriel said then looked to the front of the guards. "Oin, Naglur, I will send word to you, stop only if you must. I do not know how fast she runs, but if it is at least horses speed, we should get to Thorin and the troops quickly. Go past Erebor to the trees, and follow the river, that much we know, but stay on your guard. It should not take long to get there, a few hours at most on foot. But finding a way in, that will be the challenge."

The pair nodded in agreement, and Tauriel did as she did with Galaddal, and gave some gentle pressure to get Dajnel moving. But instead, the fellbeast remained where she was, looking about her curiously.

"So…how do we move?" Viltarra asked, watching the troops begin to head out past the side of the mountain between Dale and Erebor.

"Perhaps, we should go back and get the ponies." Dis suggested as Balin stood back, watching apprehensively.

"She is right lass." Balin began but had to quickly jump back when Dajnel finally got the point and began running.

"MAHAL!" Dis cried out as she grasped onto Viltarra, who was holding tightly to Tauriel. The eleth had her hands in the featherlike mane as she tried to get a handle on the speeding creature. The movement was nowhere near like a horse, and Tauriel had to shift the way she was sitting to adapt to it.

Just when Tauriel was getting a good grip and understanding of the beast's movements, Dajnel reared up slightly and the three riders had to once again grasp tightly to stay on. "What is she doing!?" Viltarra cried.

Tauriel was just about to answer that she did not know as her experience riding fellbeasts was limited to just now. That is, until she realized Dajnel's eyes were focused solely on one thing…the raven taking flight. "Oh, Valar above." She said when she realized what was about to happen.

Just as she suspected, the fellbeast mimicked the raven's movement and extended her wings, briefly catching air for a moment before touching back to the ground. She did this twice, before she got the hang of her own rhythm and beat her wings, catching the wind, and lifting ten, twenty, then fifty feet into the air above the mountain.

"NO NO NO NO NOOOOO!" Viltarra cried out, immediately encircling the eleth with her arms just above her protruding stomach, Dis doing the same to the still rounded, but slightly smaller dam in front of her. "TELL IT TO GO DOWN TAURIEL!"

The eleth, however, had her eyes closed and a wide grin on her face. She, was flying. It reminded her of leaping from branch to branch as she raced through the forests tall trees. Her hair was dancing wildly in the air around her, and her heart, for only a moment, slowed as Dajnel experimented with her newfound ability. For several minutes, they just soared high in the air.

But a quick downward drop had Tauriel opening her eyes and once again, clinging tightly to the feathers where she sat, though she did laugh out loud as the fellbeast righted herself several meters above their company. Dajnel circled the troop of dwarves, who looked up surprised, Oin shaking his head as he jogged to get as much headway as possible. "AYE LASSIE?! GOT ROOM FOR ONE MORE?" The old healer called up with a chuckle.

"YOU CAN HAVE MY SPOOOOTTT!" Viltarra yelled back but her words turned to a shriek as Dajnel picked up speed and soared past the group to the trees ahead which according to the map, led to the river.

"I think she knows where to go." Dis called forward, having finally caught her breath after nearly having a heart attack a few moments ago.

"Me too, and it feels right." Tauriel called back, feeling her connection with Kili strengthening with each league they went.

Dajnel, was fast, very fast. They were maybe in the air for just an hours time, however, when the fellbeast began losing momentum and altitude. "HANG ON!" Tauriel called back as Dajnel tumbled to the ground, nearly causing all of her riders to fall from her back.

"They should call her a fallbeast…not a fellbeast." Viltarra said as she landed on shaky legs, trying not to be sick. She looked around her and sighed. "Where are we?"

"Tauriel was last to slide from the feathered creature and had to pause when her son seemed to need a moment to readjust. He gave a few good kicks, and sent her a deeply unsatisfied feeling, causing her to chuckle. He clearly was not as thrilled as she was with flying. Though he never did like to be knocked around for some reason, Finli used to love movement, but this one, does not.

Once she got her own bearings, Tauriel took in her surroundings. "For whatever reason, she sensed something and stopped."

"Or…" Dis said, stroking the fellbeast who was gasping on the ground. "It was too much for her."

Tauriel whipped around and starred worriedly at the poor creature who was making a pitiful sound as her head was in the dirt trying to catch her breath. "Oh, oh no." She ran to Dajnel and lowered herself carefully to the ground to stroke the fellbeasts snout. "Shhh, slowly, shhhh." Tauriel cooed soothingly. She looked up at Dis who was giving the creature a worried look.

"She is only a few years old, and she has never been out in the open air, until Nyaunni got her out. This was the first time she has flown; I am quite sure. I think she will be alright; she just needs some time to rest." Tauriel signaled to Dis to help her stand, the dam instantly going to her daughter, then the eleth emptied her satchel and looked around.

Through the trees, she saw something that had her heart picking up speed…just beyond a line of trees was the place where the forest river broke off into the river that supposedly led to the city. "We found it." She called back. "The river that leads to Minam, it is just here. All we have to do is follow it and we will reach the city." Before they could though, they had a fellbeast to care for. Tauriel took her empty bag, and dragged it into the shallow, but clean, water.

The satchel was watertight for the main purpose of keeping the rain and moisture out to protect her things. But for this one instance, it was the only possession she had with her that could also keep water in. With a bag of water, Tauriel carefully carried it over to the exhausted fellbeast, and once again, lowered herself to the ground, placing the water before the gasping creature. "I know you cannot understand my words, Dajnel, but try and drink this, it will help."

It took several tries, but soon, Dajnel understood what was being offered, and drained the water in two, large, gulps. Dis then took the empty bag and refilled it four times more before Dajnel seemed to have had enough.

"What do we do now?" Viltarra said, her hands running comfortingly along Dajnel's back. "She cannot possibly take us further, it would only cause her more harm."

Dis eyed the river and shook her head. "At least we are not far, if those maps were correct." She looked to the sky, the light of the sun just visible on the horizon. "Dawn is coming."

For nearly two hours, they stayed there thinking. When the still running troops caught up, Oin went straight to Tauriel and Dis who were trying to figure out a plan if the fellbeast was unable to continue. Viltarra, was sitting with the creature, holding the bag of water in case she needed more.

"Everythin' alright?" Dis nodded at the old healer.

"Flying was too much for her, but she is doing better. We were just about to continue on foot as soon as we can get her to stand. We are not leaving her behind." The elder dam sighed and eyed the creature who had her head up and was picking at a rogue feather, then began preening Viltarra's hair, the younger dam trying to shew the creature away before she pulled out her braids and family beads.

Dis chuckled when Viltarra gave up and folded her arms grumpily as Dajnel pulled and preened her messy waves.

Tauriel shook her head with a smile. "I am beginning to wonder if fellbeasts are closer in relations to giant eagles, then to dragons."

"That would make your uncle happy." Dis snickered. "Oin, have the troops keep going in this direction. It should not be much longer and we will catch up.

Oin gave her a look. "Are yeh sure?"

"Let us not waste time, keep following the river." Dis responded firmly. Oin nodded, and beckoned the troops forward, Tauriel and Dis watching as they faded away ahead of them.

It was nearly another half hour when Dajnel finally stood and shook her feathers out before lowering herself and chirping. "Are you sure you are up for that?" Viltarra asked, knowing full well the creature could not understand her. Yet, she chirped again and so the three climbed on and braced themselves as she clumsily took off into the air once more.

They once again flew over the troops who were jogging along the riverbed. Tauriel nodded to Oin from Dajnel's back as they flew ahead of their people, this time staying with the troops as they ran. It was fortunate the river ended just ahead, as Dajnel landed once again, but this time, not for reasons of exhaustion; though she was panting and moved straight to the water to begin gulping the liquid down in earnest.

This, was the end of the river. But in no way were they alone here, and Tauriel quickly caught sight of her precious Galaddal, who was nickering and tugging at his ties as he saw her approach. The eleth made her way to him and calmed him with a soothing greeting in Sindarin. "I am here my friend, but where is our Kili?"

Maryn along with the other horses were attached to the same tree, all looking at her. She was about to go and untie them when a feathered mass landed on her shoulder. "Nana!"

"Kaw! My little darling." She scratched him on the head and smiled. "I need you to get a message to Balin. Tell him we arrived with the troops." Tauriel released her raven into the air, knowing he would be faster at getting a message to Erebor then waiting on the other raven who was flying high.

"Do ya think it is here lass?" Oin asked knowing of all of them, the former captain of Mirkwood's guard had far more experience in leading a group to battle than any of them.

Tauriel looked around; she knew they would not tie the horses too close to danger, so they had a little bit of walking to do. "It would be best to leave Dajnel with the horses. Galaddal has some rope on his saddle we can use to tie her up."

Viltarra eyed the fellbeast who was trying to catch a fish in the river and sighed. "Will she even stay?"

Neither Tauriel, nor Dis, had the answer, but they had to try. So with a bit of teamwork, the three were able to place a rope around Dajnel's neck and guide her to the horses. She had actually been successful in her hunt, and was contently eating a large fish she plucked from the water, making their job a bit easier.

"Alright, they are not far from here, we know that, but we need to find out where." Dis said, drawing her sword. Viltarra did the same as Tauriel drew her bow and ordered Oin and the guard to keep moving as they searched the area. By now, the sun was high in the sky, though the morning chill still lingered.

Tauriel was first to pick up a sound of movement coming their way and she drew an arrow, catching the attention of both Dis and Viltarra. "Someone is coming." Was all the eleth said, and the two dams lifted their blades just as a large group of humans and several dwarves came running towards them.

The group froze when they saw the trio, and one of the humans put their arms out stopping the mass behind him before addressing the eleth and two dams. "Tell me, are you with those who are fighting in Minam?" The elderly man asked, his burlap tunic covered in dirt and soaked with sweat. He warily watched Oin approach weapons drawn as he stood ready to protect Tauriel, Dis, and Viltarra if necessary.

"We are, where can we find them!" Dis yelled out, waving her hand as a silent order for the approaching guards to stand down.

The man eyed the group, then nodded his head towards the way they came. "About fifty yards away, is a small falls. Go behind the water and you will find the entrance. But, I would not be so keen to go, the orc numbers are overtaking all who came."

Tauriel signaled to the masses of Ereborian guards behind her all standing at the ready, waiting for orders. "We brought help." The eleth smiled and without another word, stormed past the group from Minam, with Dis, Viltarra, and Oin hot on her heals.

"WAIT!" Tauriel paused as the elderly man called after her. She looked back and lifted a brow, impatiently waiting for whatever he had to say. "Do you have any more weapons?"

"Benjim, no!" One of the human females cried, but he silenced her with the shake of his head.

Tauriel looked to Dis, them back at the man. "We may have some…" She did not know exactly the reason he was asking, but she had hope.

"Then I will fight too. You need as many as you can get, and though I am old, I have strength yet. They killed my children, and my wife, and I am tired of cowering away." The old man, Benjim, stepped towards her, and behind him, all but five stood ready to fight.

"Are you certain?" Dis asked.

"I am." He answered.

Both Dis and Tauriel looked at each other, then nodded. "Naglur, Dynni, get them weapons, as many as we can spare. The rest of you, remain here and if others come, stay together. Let's go."

Small axes, swords, and daggers were dispersed to the Minam captives, but they were not the only ones. As they got closer to the falls, another several dozen joined their ranks, ready to fight for what was taken from them. With a nod to Oin and the guards behind them, Tauriel, Dis, and Viltarra stepped into the dark entrance of the underground city.

Authors note: SORRY! It's a bit of a cliffhanger. Normally I do all kinds of warnings…but you all should know by now I don't leave you hanging for too long. I will try and have the next chapter up by the weekend. I still have to work like any other adult. Sorry again! XOXO