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.

76. ACT V Chapter 18

Authors Note: Loook…I got another chapter done. I do so hate to leave such deep cliff-hangers. You're welcome.

Trigger warning…there are some kind blood and a few disturbing things that happen in this chapter. Just, a heads up.

I kinda got this up before I got any reviews, so my shout out is to everyone. HI! Love you guys!

Also my stats aren't working, so it literally looks like I have zero people reading this over the last two weeks. Lol. I know that isn't true…because I read this too and I at least count for one. XD. Anyway. See you at the bottom!

Chapter Eighteen

"She is getting worse." Tauriel said, pacing the area that smelled of rot and decay. There was no getting used to that smell, the smell of death that came from the room where the pit resided just a thin wall away from where they were all waiting. She needed to get out of this room…to find something to help her friends, and ease both Nelithi and Etta's pain.

"Be patient, daughter of the forest. Help is coming. Your chance to play your part is near. Do not be rash."

Tauriel huffed out a breath in frustration directed right at Aule, who seemed to want her to just sit here, and wait, while the elven people were dying just a floor or two above them. Kili had found Fili, she knew that since Kili had excitedly told her so not an hour ago, and Kili had said Fili was going to get back up. He all but ordered her to listen to Mahal, to wait for him to come, to stay safe. But Tauriel was slowly losing patience. If she can just, do something now, it can help them win the battle inevitably ahead.

"She's a hybrid, Tauriel." Lorilyn said, staring at the creature on the gurney and the two standing beside it. "She has no right to be alive in the first place. Her life, belongs to others she stole it from."

Ivethin eyed the pregnant eleth looking as if she wished to disagree, but instead turned her focus to Nelithi who was having another episode that left her curling into herself and sobbing on the stained, torn, blankets she lay on. At the moment, Ivethin was able to use some of the liquids Tork had brought along with some tinctures stored here, and has been able to inject a mixture into her arm she hopes will, if nothing else, help with the pain. Tauriel let her be, opting to move to see what she can do about Etta since Ivethin's hands were occupied with helping Nelithi.

"I do not understand it." Tauriel sighed, eyeing the healing lesions on Etta's back. "They do not appear infected…yet…she clearly has a fever and is completely unresponsive. This isn't making any sense."

Ivethin let out a deep breath and stood, walking over to Tauriel. "Can you use your gift? Perhaps, that can help her…or Nelithi."

Tauriel looked to the ground. "No." She ran a hand through her hair. "I cannot use it anymore Ivethin, not to the extent we would need it. Even healing little things such as a small fever, has me in bed for three days. The last time I used it to save a life…it was almost my end, I…I barely made it back to the living world. My gift takes energy, too much now that I am…"

Ivethin saw the words…now mortal…remain unspoken on Tauriel's lips. It made sense, and she would never ask Tauriel to sacrifice her life for anyone. The cost was too great to even risk it. "Alright. If it is not the lashing marks, then we need to consider it to be something else…something we cannot see." Ivethin cocked her head to the side. "Lift her leathers." She gestured to the tight leather armored tunic Etta and her sisters wore which they had laying loosely across Etta's front mostly for added warmth and protection from exposure.

Tauriel did as she suggested and Ivethin put her hands on Etta's belly, searching carefully. After a moment, with no response from Etta whatsoever other than a small pitiful noise when Ivethin's cool, thin, fingers prodded and poked likely a sensitive area, Ivethin pulled the leathers back down and shook her head.

"Just going by what I see, she has had a lot of trauma. It is possible…" Ivethin paused, giving Tauriel an apologetic look. "…it is possible the damage is not just on the surface, but internally. She could very well be bleeding out, and if that is the case, not even I can help her, Tauriel."

Etta gave a gasping breath, then settled again.

"It doesn't seem fair." Tauriel said softly after a moment. "She could have given me away. She was right there, right in front of me, and if that guard listened to her, if he even just looked…he would have found me. Instead, he pulled her away, and punished her for doing exactly what they ordered her to do." Anger filled her, and she furiously threw an empty glass bottle against the wall, the pieces shattering and scattering across the stone floor. "IT ISNT RIGHT!" She seethed through her teeth.

"HUSH!" Ivethin admonished. "We do not need to be found." She watched as Tauriel took a deep, cleansing, breath. "You're right, Tauriel. It just isn't right, and it isn't fair. Not for any of us. But it is our reality right now and we must accept our limitations."

Tauriel paced again. "I need to do something. Tork has been gone for two days. We have to assume he could have been discovered." She looked to Nelithi who had her back to them. "She needs more liquids, Ivethin. Her and Etta."

Etta gave another gasping breath, her eyes wide and unseeing. Then, her lips moved. "T…t…"

"She is trying to say something." Ivethin said, leaning over the hybrid.

"Tauriel." Etta finally said, then gasped. "He…he…help." A long, low, breath, left her dry lips, and she did not intake another.

"Etta?" Tauriel said leaning over her, her hand on Etta's neck then her chest, but the hybrid didn't move. Tauriel shook her head, her eyes frantic. She leaned in, listening for any sounds of breathing, or a heartbeat, but there was only silence. "We need to do compressions." Tauriel said, moving to take her position, but Ivethin's cool hand grabbed Tauriel's thin wrist.

"Compressions cannot help one who bleeds from within, Tauriel. She is gone." Ivethin tried to pull Tauriel into her arms, to offer comfort, but Tauriel pushed her off.

"You give up so easily…" The eleth snapped, ignoring the hurt expression on Ivethin's face. "…a healer is supposed to HEAL. Is it because she is a hybrid that you refuse to care for her? Do you share Lorilyn's opinion?" Tauriel backed away from Ivethin, her head turning side to side slowly, as if she couldn't believe this to be true…not about Ivethin…not the healer who never gave up on anyone, who has saved thousands of lives, brought thousands of lives into this world, and has even come to Erebor to save her own life and her family's. The Ivethin Tauriel cares for, the one she looks up to, would have not sat there and LET Etta die.

"NO." Ivethin said, her blue eyes wide. "Tauriel, I give you my word, if there was something that could be done, we would have done it. But even if we were in my halls, or any true healing halls, even if she were an elf, a dwarf, a man; the extent of her injuries were too great for her body. Perhaps, if we had known what it could have been earlier, and I had the proper tools, we could have done something. I have lost many lives to injuries I could not see, Tauriel… and it is deeply painful to feel like I had failed them somehow…but we cannot save every person who seeks our aid, not every time." She clasped her hands in front of her. "Being a healer, is one of the most difficult paths to take…because even if you were the best healer in the world…you will fail to help and save many. Like we failed her."

'Tauriel. Help.' Those were the last words Etta spoke.

The red-headed eleth turned to the two sisters who seemed to not understand what was happening as they still stood by Etta. How was she going to tell them so they would understand? How do you explain to beings who were mentally toddlers, that they had lost their sister.

Tauriel remembered a time nearly a decade ago, when Finli came into her room holding a raven in his arms. At first, Tauriel thought it was Kaw, but this raven was all black with no patches of white whatsoever, and too still to be their energetic feathered family member. "Can you help her, mama? I think she was attacked by an eagle, and I can't find gam."

Finli loves the raven room, even to this day, and spends time up there when he needs to get away. Usually, he asks Tauriel to come with him, so they can spend the day together and watch the birds come and go from Erebor; other times, he asks Kili or someone else in the family. Tauriel respects his desire for peace, as long as he has at least one adult with him of his choosing.

Tauriel did not know who he had with him in the raven room that day, but she knew he must have been up there going by the straw on his trousers and boots. She recalls Finli setting the raven down in a box and bringing it to the bed to show her. He was maybe ten at the time, still so small, and so innocent, her Finli. The world has yet to touch her children, and she thanks the maker for that. But she cannot shelter them forever, not from pain, not from the horrors of life outside the mountain, and certainly not from loss.

The raven was in bad shape, so bad, Tauriel knew there was no way she could help it. "My darling." Tauriel said taking his hand, an eye on the still raven in the box. She realized it was leaving this world to fly into the next even as it lay struggling to breathe before it went completely still. Releasing his hand, Tauriel moved to the bathing room to grab some fresh linen, then she gently placed it over the raven to cover it."

"Will that help her, mama?" Finli asked, confusion in his brown eyes, those same brown eyes that belonged to Kili.

"No, my love." Tauriel said placing a hand on Finli's cheek. "Only Aule can help her now."

"The maker?" Finli cocked his head. "Are we to ask for a miracle? Should I take her back up to her home to rest? She has a nest; I know where it is. Will the maker help her there?"

Tauriel took a breath, then sat beside Finli, pulling him into her arms where he went willingly. Tauriel buried her nose into Finli's dark hair, closing her eyes. "She has already gone home, my Finli."

"But…she is still here mama."

Tauriel swallowed. "Her body is, but her spirit has begun the journey to another home. She flies to Aule as we speak. She will reside with the ancestors of these halls where she will be well cared for her service to our mountain, and our people."

Finli tensed when he realized what his mother was saying, then, the tears came in great, heaving, gasps. Kili came running in, likely because Finli sent waves of distress through the link he never really severed between he and his parents. Not at that point yet, at least. Even the twins came in, not quite understanding why their elder brother was sobbing. Kilion had yet to be born at that time.

Tauriel and Kili spent the day with their three sons, explaining to them the best they could about what happens to a raven when it passes. Then, Kili explained to their sons what happens to the dwarven people when their life comes to an end, just like he had done for Tauriel so many years before. The children were young, too young to understand death. They buried the raven in the garden later that day, when they were ready. Finli had requested the entire family be present for the ceremony…which they were.

Tauriel looked over at Atamen and Arice. Even though Finli was very, very young for his people even now at nearing twenty, he was still older in mind compared to Arice and Atamen; the two sisters were currently far closer to Vilia in mental understanding.

With careful steps, Tauriel moved back to Etta. The shroud they first used to smuggle them here, was now bunched at her feet. Taking a breath, Tauriel pulled the shroud up to completely cover Etta, she then looked to Atamen and Arice who watched her with their strange, violet, eyes. "I am sorry." Tauriel said softly.

Atamen was the first to walk to stand beside Tauriel and look at Etta, Arice slowly following. "No…no pain?" Atamen asked.

Tauriel held in a sob. She had put up walls for the moment, not wanting to bother Kili when he was so focused on coming. He was already going as fast as he could, troubling him with something he cannot help her with right now, would only bring him pain and frustration.

"No more pain." Tauriel said quietly. She watched them look at each other, then together, Arice and Ateman began rolling the table towards the door.

"Where are they going?!" Lorilyn asked as Arice opened the door, and Atamen rolled the table out of the room.

Without answering, Tauriel followed them to the next room over. If the smell of death was almost too much in the room next door, it was almost intolerable here. Yet Atamen and Arice did not stop, nor did they react as they moved to where a small ledge sat before a gaping hole in the earth. Then, slowly, they tipped the gurney until Etta slid off. There was a splash, and Tauriel realized the hole was filled with dark water.

Stealing herself, Tauriel moved to stand between the sisters who watched the ripples in the surface as the body of Etta entered the water. Tauriel tried not to see the limbs of elves and orcs protruding from the black surface, she tried to keep the bile from rising at the smell, as Arice and Atamen took a moment to watch their sister slowly sink beneath the inky water.

"I…help…you." Atamen said. "For Etta. I help you…Tauriel." Tauriel must be difficult to say, as it sounded more like Tore-all whenever they said her name, but Tauriel didn't care. Arice nodded her agreement, repeating, 'For Etta.'

Tauriel turned, knowing they would follow, then went back to the next room over. Of course they did follow her, and stood watching as Tauriel paced again. She was done. No more sitting around and doing nothing. Tauriel was never designed to sit and do nothing. It is how she ended up following orcs to find Kili when he had been shot in their first life, and how she tore herself away from Kili's pleading eyes on the rocky shore of Lake Town only to follow Legolas to Gundabad, then join the fight in the battle of five armies against her own kings orders only to lose her soulmate to Bolg.

It is how she snuck into a hall with a meeting between Manwe, Aule, and three sons of Durin, giving up her mortality to give them a chance to do things right. It is how she saved Kili's life when Kaulithah was about to kill him for not choosing her. Countless memories, countless moments when Tauriel following her instincts were the right thing to do.

So now here she was again, needing to get out there, to take control of the situation and tear this place down. "I am done sitting in this room." Tauriel said, her green eyes blazing. "I need to do something."

"Tauriel." Ivethin shook her head, she knew that look in Tauriel's eyes. "We cannot leave." But Tauriel was already at the door. "Stay here, protect Nelithi as best you can and watch Lorilyn. We need to get her out of this place before that baby comes, for both their sake."

Without looking back, Tauriel left the room once again, making the shadows her ally. This time, however, there were a lot more people out. Humans with masks covering their faces were running the halls in units while hybrids looking stronger and more alert were repeating orders in the bright, sunlit, training courtyards. Each one had a large deadly whip in their hands made of leather and metal which snapped and echoed as they practiced wielding them. Orcs monitored the darker hallways, keeping out of the light when they could, though they barely flinched when their skinned burned as they passed through an unavoidable bright beam. It was proof enough for Tauriel that these hybrids of orc and elf were able to walk in the daylight, while the orcs still could not.

If Tauriel understood what was happening here correctly, the entire place revolved around one man named Gerheb. A man. Not an elf, not a dwarf, but a mortal human being. Tauriel hated her elven mind automatically considering Gerheb to be of less significance because he WAS nothing but a man…but the reality was…that is exactly what he was, an inferior human being. He was no god, nor divine creator, yet he was here playing the part. Perhaps, it is time, to remind this human just how insignificant he was; to remind him of his own trivial mortality.

Tauriel had a general idea where the man ought to be. It was the middle of the day, so it was likely he was hurting more of her people in the great, circular, room. Tauriel may have been adopted into the dwarven race, and the dwarves were, in fact, her people now, but Tauriel was still an elf…albeit a mortal elf…but still an elf. So in that way, and perhaps only that way, the elves of middle earth will always be her people. It was more than that though; these were innocent elves who did nothing to bring this on.

Now, the difficulty comes with actually finding her way around the massive compound. Slinking around the corner, Tauriel listened for footsteps and voices. When it was apparent the area was clear, she would move on.

Level upon level Tauriel would move silently in the shadows. In her hand, was the dagger she took from Tork's room; she held if firm and at the ready, just waiting for anything to attack her. She moved door to door, shadow to shadow, then stopped and took a breath when she realized across the way, was the door Tork had taken her through when he showed her the lab that first day she had awoken in this place. If she could get up there, she could have the high ground and throw a dagger into that sick human's skull.

"PLEASE! Please! She cannot be strapped to that thing again. Please. I will take her place."

Tauriel's head whipped so quickly to the sound of Tork's voice, she nearly felt dizzy. It was coming from inside the room, but it hit Tauriel's ears as if it was spoken right beside her. Who was he talking about?

Tauriel sprinted across the hall and grabbed for the door handle. Locked. Oh sweet Valar, she had not been prepared for that.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?"

Tauriel spun, her dagger flying into one of the three guards who stood behind her, the man letting out a gasping breath and falling to the ground. Tauriel ran to get her weapon, but two sets of rough hands grabbed her and held her in place.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." A deep voice taunted in Tauriel's ears. Tauriel recognized the timbre of the voice but her mind took a moment to recall the name…it as…Kayris. The one who had attempted to stop Tork when he was bringing them to Ivethin and Nelithi. "You didn't think we would stop looking for you, did you? You have been very difficult to track down, elf. But it appears, all we needed to do was wait for you to come to us."

"Release me!" Tauriel hissed.

"So feisty….and beautiful. You elves are creatures of alluring nature, I must confess." Kayris pressed his nose to her neck, his lips grazing the skin had Tauriel stiffening. "Hmmm. Gerheb usually pays me by gifting me time with one of the females still under the influence of the draught…but I must say having one who is…responsive…sounds far more enticing. I think Gerheb will understand if I…do a thorough search and maybe a bit more before turning you over to him." He slipped his hand down her hips, to her inner thigh. "A very thorough search." He pressed his lips to the skin beneath her ear, his teeth skimming the surface. Tauriel could feel him press himself fully against her, and she waited for the right moment to slam her head into his and knock him back against the stone wall where she dropped and twisted to get away.

"GET HER!" Kayris called, grasping his nose which now had blood pouring out of each nostril.

Out of the shadows stalked four hybrids, one flicking her whip at Tauriel who was able to jump away just in time. However, she had not anticipated Kayris moving so quickly, or ignoring his clearly broken nose. He took the knife from the other guard on the ground and threw it into Tauriel's calf. The red-headed eleth dropped to the ground crying out in pain. Her temporary shields kept Kili from knowing or responding to her predicament and she was fine with that at the moment and left them up. He was coming, she knew he was coming, and unless he was here...he could do nothing to help her in this situation. She was alone.

Tauriel stared at the blood coming from the new wound, and closed her eyes as her hand went to the hilt of the blade. Slowly, Tauriel pulled the weapon from her flesh, the blood dripping from the knife to the stone floor. With an impressive move, Tauriel ignored the pain and got to her feet. She would not go down this way.

Evading the cracking whips, Tauriel maneuvered herself into a position where she can keep all five of her attackers in view. "You have NO rights to me." Tauriel spat at Kayris who only seemed to be more excited by her ability to continue.

Footsteps approached and more hybrids filled the area. Tauriel counted, four, eight, twelve, twenty. She was well trained, and even eight she thinks she could take…but twenty all focused on her? This was no hive of spiders or clan of orcs…these hybrids were well trained with senses Tauriel had no real understanding of. With little choice in the matter, however, Tauriel knew the fight was inevitable and she stood her ground.

Once, twice, three times her opposition circled her…and she watched how they moved, how they tuned themselves to her, how they sized her up. This was not going to be easy, but it shouldn't be impossible…not with her training both in Mirkwood and Erebor. She was hurt, yes, but though the still bleeding wound did cause her pain, the cut was in no way lethal and she still felt she had more experience than any in this fight. Tauriel…was ready to take her time, to think, and to let her instincts tell her when it was time to make the best move.

The hybrids though, were not so patient, and went straight in for the attack. Tauriel did not want to kill them…not after her time with Etta, Atamen, and Arice. So she simply tried to incapacitate them. One by one, they used whips and strange weapons Tauriel had never seen before to attack her. Despite the searing pain in her calf, Tauriel was able to roll, jump, or dodge each strike. She was getting tired though, and losing blood…but she was nowhere near ready to give up or give in.

Kili. She should use her bond to ease the pain…to send some of her pain to him. But as she was about to mentally remove the barrier she currently held tightly in place, Tauriel hesitated. She would be consciously causing him pain. It was one thing if it had happened when their barriers were clear and open…but this time Tauriel would be knowingly hurting him and she couldn't do it. She would just have to keep on doing this alone. She could handle this. She could handle this. She could handle this.

Another jump had two hybrid's whips tangling with each other and Tauriel was able to use them to pull their wielders and shove them into another group. They fell forward, but easily corrected and flipped around. But not before Tauriel was able to get her hands on one of the whips. This, was foreign to her; a weapon she had never used. But…a weapon is a weapon. Tauriel flicked the whip, a hybrid jumping away but not before the whip connected with Kayris who had been calling orders from the sideline. The man lifted his hand to his cheek, feeling the blood as it seeped from the clean cut. He growled and cursed, then ran at her, rage clear in his dark eyes.

But Tauriel's instincts were faster. She smirked and watched him, then at the right moment, she used the whip to encircle the man then shove him into the far wall so hard he was rendered breathless. With Kayris finally incapacitated, Tauriel pulled her dagger again and twisted in time to evade the hybrids hand about to slam into Tauriel's jaw.

"ENOUGH!" A voice roared. Tauriel was nearly about to throw her dagger at the sound, until she turned to see none other than Gerheb holding Ivethin in his grasp. Her pale skin looked unhealthy in the sun, and her eyes, emotionless, as they flicked to Tauriel then looked away from her. "I have grown wary of your ways, Kayris. Get out of that mess and take the hybrids back into training. They clearly aren't ready if they can't take down a SINGLE elf. And you!"

The man, Gerheb, turned cold, dark, eyes to Tauriel. "Causing all kinds of trouble, aren't you? Perhaps this will get you to fall in line…either drop the weapon…or this one dies. You know her, don't you? This elf who was stowed away with the other one? And oddly enough, my pregnant elf that I paid a lot of gold for as well. I don't appreciate my things being taken from me…or running away."

"I am NOT your thing, human. Now, let her go." Tauriel growled.

"You are in my place of work, surrounded by my people, and my creations who are under my command….yet you THINK you have a say in here? Interesting. Very interesting." Gerheb tightened his grip on Ivethin. "You know, as much as I wish to entertain your little...passion based mission...I am really quite done here. Bind her."

Something shot at Tauriel, some sort of projectile that hit her from behind so hard, it had her falling to the ground as two men bound her arms. "Cause any more trouble, and I will slit this one's throat here and now." Gerheb warned as he saw the flash of defiance in Tauriel's emerald eyes. So instead of shoving the two human guards into each other like she wanted to do, she allowed them to bind her hands while she glared at Gerheb, her eyes burning with fury.

"Good girl." Gerheb said in a tone one would use for a dog. Before Tauriel could say a word, she was being shoved into the lab where Nelithi was already hooked to the machine. "Now I like to think of myself as someone who is merciful…so I developed something special, a type of draught, that is designed just for elves…it is one of a few actually. This particular one puts you in a deep sleep so the pain the machine causes is minimal as long as one is under its effects. The body may know and react...but the mind is blissfully unaware...or so I like to think. Unfortunately, I am a bit low on supply at the moment, and I am not feeling very generous today. You know, I think I will accidently forget to administer it to you…and your friends. You can beg though…and perhaps, my human memory won't slip so much."

Tauriel lifted her chin as they shoved her to the table. She fought, but it was useless with so many around her and the threat of Ivethin's life if Tauriel tried to get away again. Gerheb lifted a brow as he waited for her to plead…but Tauriel's lips remained tightly sealed.

"Perhaps, you can beg for your friends then?...No? Guess they are not your friends after all." Gerheb gave her one last look then shrugged. "Well I did offer." He said then stopped to stare at a massive man who had his mouth gagged and his hands bound above his head with both leather and some sort of metal chord. The blood falling from lacerations in his wrists made it clear he had been trying in vain to fight his bands. "And what am I to do with you, Tork?" Gerheb asked as he pushed Ivethin to a worker to strap her to a table.

"Let them go!" Tauriel said as the workers locked her in place. "Take me, but let them go!" She looked to Ivethin who was shaking her head to Tauriel, then to Nelithi who was pale as death itself but staring up at the ceiling.

"Still trying to make demands, are we?" Gerheb shot over his shoulder. "You know, I hadn't thought to check the old lab beside the pit for you when you went missing. It wasn't until one of my hybrids caught your recent trail coming from the room and informed my commander of where you could be. They tracked you through the halls as you came right to me. I also found two of my youngborns there who seemed rather…defiant. I am working through that as we speak. And that elf I purchased…well…you cannot imagine my excitement to have her back. I am making sure that child will be in my labs by sun-fall. I had hoped to get at least a few extractions from that elf…but I don't think she will survive long enough with what we will have to do…and that is all thanks to you. In fact, I suppose I should thank you...I would have likely never found them otherwise."

Tauriel's eyes widened. She did this. It was her fault they were found. She led them to Ivethin and Nelithi, to Lorilyn, Atamen, and Arice. She foolishly followed her instincts, and for the first time, they failed her and it was not just her that would pay the cost…but all of the innocent lives in this building.

'Through failure, comes success, daughter of the forest…you of all beings should understand this. Brace yourself for what is to come. I cannot shield you from what is to happen. For this is the path you chose for yourself, thus it is the path that must be.'

Tauriel felt the whisper as if it was in her ear. Even Aule sounded disappointed in her. Tauriel could only imagine the look of horror on her Kili's face, the furious set of Thorin's jaw as he reminded her she was not impervious to death and harm, the worry and sorrow in Dis's eyes and the fear of losing someone in the family she loves so fiercely, the anger in Fili's blue eyes both for himself for not being able to protect Tauriel, and anger for her, for choosing to do something so reckless, something that hurt their family.

A healer's path is one of the most difficult to choose, Ivethin had told her, because at some point, you will fail others. Tauriel was no healer, but she was failing all in this room, and she was failing her family. She came here, to get the elves out, but she was impulsive and headstrong…she acted on her emotions…and it finally caught up with her.

Tauriel didn't even flinch as the large needle was stabbed into her arm. She held her sobs when another worker lifted her head and she felt a knife shave a patch of hair before the stinging of needles replaced the cold fingers. She didn't react when one of those odd sacs was rolled in and connected to her. She wanted to wonder if a hybrid was already formed in there, waiting for her life to animate it...but she no longer cared. Her time had run out, and she was alone.

Gerheb waited, watching his workers strap the three elves in. There were already four others in the room hooked and ready for extraction. They were given the draught, but Tauriel, Nelithi, and Ivethin would be forced to feel the true force of his work as their immortal lives were pulled from their very beings.

"This will be, excruciating." Gerheb said unapologetically. "And I really don't feel like listening to your screams." He handed his workers gags for the three elves, and moved to the machine as they were forced on all three of them.

Tauriel eyed Tork who stared at Nelithi. She tried to catch his eye, but he refused to break contact with the dark-haired guard of Mirkwood. She did see him tugging and pulling at his cords and chains to no avail.

Movement, had Tauriel turning back to Gerheb who stood before the stone. "This is for the greater good of this world." He said, then, placed his hand on the machine.

At first, nothing happened, then, the stone began to glow brighter and brighter, and searing, tearing, wrenching pain filled Tauriel's entire being. She felt like she was being torn apart, piece by piece. The scream that erupted from her was only held back by the gag in her mouth. However, she was unable to keep her carefully held barriers up any longer. With all her energy in her body flying to protect its vital organs, those barriers crashed down and Tauriel's mind screamed for the one being she needed. She screamed for Kili.

"KI!" Fili ran to his brother who was panting on the ground, but Kili pushed him away and dragged himself to an aelúg.

"Take me to her!" Kili begged. The flier looked to Fili, who nodded.

"We go now." Fili agreed, helping his brother up on the golden brown aelúg before climbing up on another and watching as his wife joined Saphyra. He turned back to his army. "DIVIDE INTO GROUPS. WHEN WE LAND, WE MAY NEED TO GO RIGHT INTO BATTLE, SO BE READY. LET'S GO!" He ordered.

There was a rush of flapping wings as they took off speeding forward, but a howling filled the air from the ground and Fili looked down to see Hiril leaping into the air trying to follow him and Dungael watching her before trying to follow as well.

"STAY!" Fili tried but Hiril was running now into the sands below them, dodging the dwarves and avari still on the ground trying to stop her...and Dungael was not far behind.

"NO!" Viltarra cried out nearly falling off her aelúg. "HIRIL!"

Fili saw the sand stir, he knew what was about to happen. But fortunately, his rider did as well and swooped his aelúg down who snatched Hiril from the sands with its back claws while another dived and grabbed Dungael just as a massive were-worm broke the surface with such velocity, the two aelúg they rode had to shoot high into the air to get away from the gaping teeth filled mouth large enough to swallow both aelúg whole.

"By the creator!" The rider said evening out, Hiril now firm in the aelúg's claws. He looked down to see the worm burrow back into the sands, instantly becoming invisible. "You are a troublesome lot."

"You don't know the half of it." Fili muttered as they leveled out with the rest of the group. He eyed his wife on Saphyra's aelúg now beside them; she seemed relieved. He glanced at Hiril who had her tongue out lolling in the wind, while Dungael had his ears pinned back and kept kicking like he was trying to run. He eventually stopped and instead just kept turning his head every direction when he realized he could not get free. Serves him right, Fili thought, for trying to follow a son of Durin...his entire family is as the Avari rider said...a troublesome lot. He shook his head and focused on looking out for whatever this complex was they were headed to.

As they flew, Fili kept one eye on Kili, who was wiping constant streams of sweat from his brow, yet he clung on and held tight to the rider in front of him all the same. Fili refused to lose sight of him though and asked the rider to stay close. His greatest fear right now was Kili falling to the sands below where the were-worms waited to be disturbed.

Fortunately, they were barely in the air for five minutes when Fili spotted something looming in the near distance. "I think that's it!" Fili called to the rider in front of him. The Avari flier nodded as they flew closer. Good. The flight was shorter than he thought. He looked to the sun which was just beginning to set. He wishes they had the cover of nightfall, but this will have to do.

As they got closer, Fili eyed the massive compound, and the guards looking right up at them. They would need to handle them first. "Can you get me close without getting attacked?"

"How far can you jump, dwarf?" The flier called behind him.

"Just get me as close as you can!" Fili huffed and pulled his blades. His wife was just to the right, and he watched her pull her own weapon. He mouthed to her to be ready and stay close, and she nodded her understanding.

Suddenly, the aelúg were descending but not slowing; it will be a quick drop, and he understood why. This was to be their chance. Fili spied the wall of the compound, counted to three, and jumped from the feathered creatures back the same time Viltarra had. Hiril too landed beside them and nuzzled Viltarra who smiled softly and patted the warg, while Dungael shook out his fur and moved to Fili's side...the dwarven prince rolling his eyes. "Are you sure you are a wild creature?" He huffed at the warg who growled a bit as if he understood. Well...it was far better to have a set of teeth on your side, than at your throat. He should be grateful for whatever powers brought him some extra help. Fili didn't bother to look back at the aelúg riders, he already knew they were immediately flying back to get more backup...and he had more than a few guards to take care of.

The battle began only moments after Fili and Viltarra jumped down from the sandstone wall. He felt arrows whiz past his face and knew his brother and likely Legolas were taking out as many as they can before pulling their blades. He doubted they would waste all of their arrows, but they will pick quite a few off using the long-ranged weapons they mastered.

So far, it was just humans he was crossing swords with as he ran into the fray. He kept a fierce eye on his wife, who had just shoved two guards off the wall to the sands below. Fili watched them plumet, then as soon as the guards hit the sand, three smaller worms were fighting over their bodies. He turned away, running to join the Avari and the Stonefoot dwarves take out all of the guard on this level.

It surprised Fili a bit, just how many guards were here. He saw Kaw and Umyra swooping down and attack a group of guards surrounding Legolas who was now easily taking them out with his dual blades. The elven prince glanced his way, and in a move faster than Fili could see, had already drawn his bow, knocked his arrow, and released right past Fili's head into a guard who was about to put his blade into Fili's back. Fili nodded his thanks and decided he should probably focus on the battle.

Naurfaer was there too, his dual blades in each hand as he tore through the onslaught with the grace and ease of a being who has seen thousands of battles...it looked more like a dance than a fight even as he finished them off. He nodded to Fili as he ran up to him. "We likely don't have long before the secondary defenses begin...we should get inside now, before they start blocking all entrances up."

Fili nodded, then paused and growled. His wife was currently surrounded, both Dungael and Hiril at her back with their teeth bared and Viltarra wielding her sword and seemingly assessing her best move as the guards circled her. It was both horrifying and intoxicating to watch. In a blink of an eye, Fili had thrown two daggers at the same time Naurfaer and Kili threw theirs effectively taking out all but three of the guards which Hiril and Viltarra easily took on. Dungael let out a snarl when one of those guards attempted to stab him with a dagger...and he sunk his teeth into the guards arm and pulled. The guard cried as he dropped the dagger and attempted to get the warg to release his arm...but Dungael only growled and locked his jaw.

Fili rolled his eyes and moved to run over to finish him off, but Kili was faster and released an arrow into the mans skull. It was only when he went limp that Dungael let him fall to the ground. He shook his head and trotted over to Fili who lifted a brow. "Are you seeking praise like a domestic pup?" He asked the warg who only licked his chops and stared at Fili. "Ug. Fine." He said patting the warg on the head. "Good warg." He praised while rolling his eyes yet again. Dungael's ears went back but he allowed the action. Fili then looked to his wife and folded his arms. "I said, to be careful, nunguame."

Wiping her blade, Viltarra lifted a brow at her husband. "I could have taken them." She huffed then flinched when an arrow pierced the head of a guard running at her.

"I am in awe that any of you have survived any battle before this, with your lack of focus." Legolas said, pulling the arrow from the struck guard, wiping it, and shooting it right into another. "Perhaps instead of observing, you should join the fight."

Both Fili and Kili scowled. "We were helping Viltarra keep from getting herself killed." Kili said, flinching when his brother's wife glared at him.

"I was perfectly fine!" Viltarra said seething. "I would have handled them on my own, thank you. And I had the wargs."

"There were eight of them, Viltarra." Fili shot back, but she just shrugged. Mahal, in training her to fight, he has created a monster.

Bofur along with several dozen Avari and Stonefoot guards were deposited on the roof not seconds later. "Makers beard. I am late to the battle...did yeh save any fer me?" Bofur huffed, his axe in his hand as he looked around at the groups of dwarves and Avari elves fighting. "Looks like there is more than enough up here ta handle wha' is left now. Anyone gone inside yet?"

Fili shook his head. "Not yet." He turned to his brother, gesturing to the door ahead. "We need to find Tauriel, Kili." His brother was both quiet and pale with flecks of blood on his bearded cheek, but he turned to Fili as he spoke, so Fili knew he heard him. "Lead the way baby brother, we got your back."

Kili nodded as he spun away from his brother only to call his ravens down to him. "Be my eyes, and see ahead. Find her." He ordered and both flew inside without so much as a sound. Kili pushed his pain away, and ran in after them, his brother and sister along with their wargs, Bofur, Legolas and Naurfaer just behind him.

The string of guards did not stop once inside. With Kili at the front and Naurfaer taking up the rear, they fought their way through the constant onslaught of human guards. Hiril seemed to have let go, if only temporarily, of her dislike for the wild warg as the two in tandem took down guard after guard alongside the dwarven royal family.

"I thought there were supposed to be orcs and hybrids here?" Viltarra said, pulling her blade from a guard who had lunged at her. She didn't take pleasure in taking lives...but these humans who stole the lives of the innocent were nothing but monsters.

"Speak, and they will appear." Naurfaer warned as he smelt the orcs before seeing them. But the sounds of cracking whips and scuffled feet had the three royal dwarves, Bofur, Legolas, and Naurfaer pausing. There was a battle up ahead of them.

Bofur scratched his head, his axe at the ready though he made no move towards the clear sounds of battle just out of sight. "Though' yeh said we were the first in, lads? Yeh sure ye were both payin' attention?"

Fili looked confused, ignoring Legolas's knowing smirk. "I was sure we were." He nodded to his brother to continue around the corner.

When they reached the fight, what they saw, had them all pausing yet again. Just ahead of them, there was a massacre of orcs and human soldiers. In front of the bodies of the fallen, where two groups of the hybrids who seemed to be facing off with each other...a dozen wore basic leathers, and a half dozen in fighting armor, holding long and rather dangerous looking whips. The two groups were not fighting, but they were hissing at each other.

"Should we go around?" Bofur suggested, trying to decide if it was best to just start attacking…or to find an alternative route. Though his words were nearly inaudible, the two groups of hybrids turned to them…so going around was definitely no longer an option.

Hiril growled, her teeth bared as she now stood in front of Kili at the head of the group...the first wall of defense. Dungael followed her actions, clearly accepting her as dominant to him, as he stood beside the armored warg and let out his own fierce, teeth bared snarl.

But Kili lifted his hands. "I won't harm you." He said to Fili's utter horror as he inched around their wargs. Viltarra and Bofur too were giving Kili matching looks of disbelief while Naurfaer and Legolas just seemed to be eyeing the hybrids with interest.

Two hybrids came forward. They were battered and clearly injured, but it did not seem to be phasing them as they slowly stepped closer to Kili.

"Ki..." Fili warned but Kili held a hand up to quiet him.

One of the hybrids came so close, it was almost nose to nose with Kili. It cocked its head, the violet eyes unblinking as it stared at Kili. "You...help?"

Kili nodded. "We are here to help. I, am Kili." He eyed the hybrid, wondering if it had been one of the ones Tauriel had mentioned to him. "Do you…do you know Tauriel?"

"KILI!" Fili ground out through his teeth. His brother was going to get them killed...or in the least, himself and Tauriel.

"Tauriel knew three of the hybrids." Kili shot over his shoulder to his brother. "Sisters, she called them. Etta, Ateman and...Arice. Maybe these hybrids know them, or her." Kili looked to the hybrid, hoping he was doing the right thing. At least, it was worth a shot; far better than fighting them, he thought to himself recalling how well the battle went outside Mirkwood.

"Etta." The hybrid stepped back. "Etta...no more pain. She goes home. Tauriel helped us; we help Tauriel."

Kili just nodded not quite knowing what it meant by Etta going home, or what exactly the hybrid was trying to communicate. But it didn't seem to elaborate...or perhaps it couldn't. Instead, the hybrid pressed a hand to Kili's chest. "Kili." It said, then pressed a hand to its own chest. "Ateman."

Kili's eyes widened. It was the hybrid his wife had mentioned. His eyes flicked to the second hybrid that had been beside Atamen, and who was currently staring down the hybrids holding whips. Her violet eyes never left them, though Ateman nodded towards her. "Arice." It...she said. "We help Tauriel." Ateman repeated. Despite the mispronunciation of his wife's name, Kili understood. "She speaks to the others." Ateman said, pressing a hand to her temple. "Here."

"Fascinating." Naurfaer said, his eyes wide as he slowly stepped towards Atamen. "I think she is trying to say is they are communicating...telepathically." He looked the hybrid up and down and pressed a hand to his chest. "Naurfaer."

"No-fair." The hybrid repeated.

"No...Naur...you know what, close enough." Naurfaer said hearing how she was unable to pronounce Tauriel's name so he doubted they could get his. "Is that how you speak to each other? From here?" He put a finger to his head, and Atamen nodded.

"We know nothing else." One of the whip wielding hybrids hissed out loud to Arice before Naurfaer could say or ask more.

Kili thought it was safe enough to slowly walk to them. "Can you understand me?"

"You are, different." A hybrid said, eyeing Kili almost curiously. "You are not, the same." It pointed to the orcs and man, then to Naurfaer.

"No. I am not the same." Kili agreed. "I am a dwarf. You are not the same either, you are different, new."

"We..." The same hybrid said, looking to Atamen and Arice, then at the youngborns behind them. "...we are different."

"You were made by someone who wanted you for nothing more than to train and to fight for them." Kili's eyes softened. "But, you can be so much more than that. You can make your own choices. You can choose what to fight for, or even, to not fight at all."

"I do not understand, choose." The hybrid said, the others around it nodding.

"A choice, is something you...it is..." Kili scratched his head. How does one describe what a choice is...without using the word...choice?

"It is fight, or run." Viltarra said stepping up beside Kili. "It is stand or sit. It is hit or stab."

"Could yeh use different words lass?" Bofur grumbled. "Maybe not ones that remind them they are supposed the be killin' us?"

Viltarra rolled her eyes. "Choice is freedom to pick between two things. You are making a choice now...you choose to ask questions, to listen, over fighting."

The hybrid nodded. "My youngborn...sisters...choose to help this, Tore-all…over father."

"I do not know this, father, you speak of. But Tauriel…I cannot think of a better person to follow." Kili said honestly. "Look...the world, is vast...big. I cannot force you to make a good choice...but I can say that if you help us...I can promise you freedom IF that is something you want."

"Freedom." The hybrid looked around. "Freedom from?"

"Pain." Kili said, pushing his own pain away that was ripping through his body coming from Tauriel. He did his best to send her comfort, but he is not sure how much it is helping her. He needed to get to her, he was burning to get to her. "Freedom to decide what you want to do…" Kili continued. "…to follow your own paths. To not have to do what others tell you, and to not be punished when you make a choice for yourself."

"Freedom." Arice murmured, and nodded. "Freedom, sisters. From father. From hurt. We choose, for we. Not him. But us. For sisters."

"They must all be female." Naurfaer muttered looking at all the hybrids. Though they looked slightly different, some taller than others, some with more angular features, others with softer features; they all had the same violet eyes and almost feminine shape to their bodies.

"Freedom." Kili said, nodding his head at Arice.

"We will help." The hybrid with the whip who spoke earlier stood tall. "I am called Soona." She looked to Kili. "The elf you seek, is one level lower. Come. I lead you."

Fili looked to Kili, shaking his head in disbelief, as they followed the hybrids to Tauriel.

Tauriel's entire body was failing her. She could not describe the pain. Nothing she has ever endured, would compare to what she was feeling. What was worse, is her mind was also on fire. It was as if something was piercing her layer by layer, searching, searching, searching…but never finding what it seeks.

"We are getting nothing!" The assistant yelled to Gerheb. "Can you increase the power?"

Gerheb nodded, and the stone burned brighter. Even through the gag, Nelithi and Ivethin's screams filled the room. Tauriel realized hers had joined them as well. This was to be her end. She failed everyone, and she failed the Valar who put so much faith in her. The Valar who fought to return them to middle earth so they could fight and save lives who would have otherwise been lost. He has left her to her choices, left her to her consequences for her rash actions. She was alone, so very alone. In pain, and alone.

'Brace yourself, daughter of the forest, just a moment more. I have not forsaken you, you are not alone my child. Be strong. Only a moment.'

Tauriel didn't think she had a moment. She mentally clawed her way to Kili, pulling herself across the bridge linking them in their minds; her body, even in her mind, was a dead weight as she scraped and pulled her way towards him…towards his comfort, his warmth, his embrace that promised sweet escape from the horrors she was enduring. Kili was not ignorant of her either, and kept repeating the same thing to her…'I am coming. I am coming. I am coming.' He was close too, she could feel it, so close. She could not give up now. She wouldn't.

When the piercing pain prodded her again, Tauriel decided to do something about it and met it with everything she could give, trying to force it from her mind, from where her children resided, where Kili resided. Whatever she did must have done something because the stone at the center of the circular room pulsed and flashed in a way it had not before.

"Still nothing!" The assistant called to Gerheb.

But Tauriel ignored him. She mentally pushed at the machine again, her mind battling where her hands and blade could not. Suddenly as her mind began to wane from the loss of energy her body was exerting to keep her conscious, she felt a deep strength, a heat fill her that did not come from the burning machine.

"I am here, amralime. To fight for you." Kili whispered to her when he realized what she was doing. "I am nearly to you, but I am already with you. Take whatever you need from me, and fight, fight for us, fight for what is happening here, fight knowing I am at your side. As long as I am living, my beautiful star, you will NEVER be alone."

Tauriel felt a tear fall down her cheek, then met the force of the machine again. She was like a mental battering ram, attacking the invisible weapon still relentlessly searching her for something it will never find.

Gerheb seemed to realize something was happening and stared at her, his eyes widening when he realized what was happening, but too late. "What ARE you?! You are no immortal!" He said as the machine began to buzz and flash brighter. "GET HER OFF THE MACHINE!" He ordered the assistant.

Tauriel was feeling the pain ebb, or maybe she was getting used to it. But the prodding didn't cease. "You made a vital mistake…" Tauriel hissed in her mind to the machine...to the stone. "This mind, belongs to only one other…and that is not you." With all the energy she had left, Tauriel enfolded her entire being around the waves of energy attacking her; she will smother it with her light.

A scream sounded from the center of the room at the same time metal and leather snapped, clothes ripped and tore, and a roar erupted that would have sent chills down Tauriel's back, if she had heard it anywhere but here.

With the stone, the machine, practically fighting to take life from all who were hooked to it, Tauriel's conscious state was beginning to fail. Too much of her energy was being lost, too much of her mental energy was still trying to smother whatever power or force resided in that stone. But even through her failing state, she saw a look of pain fill Gerheb as he tried and failed to remove his hand from the stone. Tauriel saw his flesh begin to melt as if the stone was taking life straight from him for failing it.

Then, she saw a massive, winged, lion attacking the guards and workers in the room. It roared and bared its teeth; fangs two feet long dripping with saliva were now piercing the worker beside Nelithi who had gone still. Once the worker was dealt with, claws ripped and tore at the elven guards straps, but the machine was still on and still taking life from her even as she sat unbound on the table.

Before Tauriel could try and get the beast's attention, the door slammed open, and Kili came racing in, a sword drawn as he stared at the winged lion who turned to roar at Kili. Tauriel could even, just barely, make out sounds of fighting outside the door as two hybrids came in behind Kili.

No…no no. They were going to hurt him. Why wasn't he paying attention! "KILI! THE HYBRIDS!" Tauriel cried in her mind, unable to speak around the gag. Kili glanced over his shoulder to the hybrids who instead of attacking Kili, had their eyes trained on the massive winged lion.

"They are alright." Kili said out loud, but gripped his sword when the lion snarled angerly at him.

"DON'T HURT HIM!" Tauriel said quickly. "He's safe. Kili. He wont hurt us."

Kili flipped his blade ready to fight the creature who growled at him, but just as Tauriel had said, it didn't attack.

"The stone, Kili." Tauriel urged him when she saw that he wouldn't harm the winged lion who stared at the dwarven prince. "Ignore him, Kili. Get that human's hand off the stone meleth nin. It is what powers it. Hurry! Please!" She flicked her eyes from Kili to the stone at the center of the room. She was unable to move much, because of the restraints, so all she could do was turn her head just a bit and desperately try and get Kili to go to the stone before he came to her.

Kili eyed his wife, then the stone with the man still screaming as he was being devoured by the stone itself. Since the winged beast didn't move to attack as he passed, Kili focused all of his attention on the human pulling and tugging at his appendage attached to the bright, rounded, stone.

As Kili approached, the man paused his pulling and snarled at him. "If you even so much as TRY to do anything dwarf…they will all die." He laughed, the sound harsh, cold, and mad. "I gave my soul for this stone…it is tied to me. What I order of it…it obeys. One more step…and it will be all of their ends."

"It looks like it is fighting that." Kili said, his eyes going to Tauriel for a split second before going back to the man. Gerheb, his wife sent him quickly. But what if he was right…what if Gerheb had the ability to order it to kill them.

"He is lying." Tauriel said through their connection. "At least, I think he may be. If he could, he would have killed me when that stone began to take from him. I do not think, he can do as he says."

"I don't know if I am willing to risk it." Kili seethed through the bond.

"Kili, if it does not stop. I won't survive much longer anyway. We have no choice. Get him off that stone, by any means. And please, please do it quickly Kili. I can't…I can't hold this anymore."

That was all Kili needed to move another step towards the man. At his approach, Gerheb stared wildly at him, but there was no indication he could do as he claimed. The pain pulsing from Tauriel to Kili never increased, neither did it wain. It remained the same. Kili…was calling Gerheb's bluff.

Kili eyed the man again. He needed to stop the connection, according to Tauriel. Deciding the best course of action was to simply remove the mans hand, Kili lifted his blade to make the strike. "This, is for Vin...a hand for a hand." He brought his blade down, cleanly removing the man's arm straight from his shoulder.

With the connection finally broken, the stone pulsed and glowed a moment more, then went dead. It was nothing more than a black, empty, sphere that reflected nothing even as Kili looked at it. Shaking his head, Kili turned from the stone, ignoring the man bleeding out on the ground as he raced to Tauriel. "Tauriel!" He removed the gag and the needle, his mind pushing away the echoing pain it brought him as he did. He then cupped her face, his hands holding her head tightly on either side as he leaned over her. "Look at me, amralime! Look at me Tauriel. Please, please look at me."

"Kili?" Tauriel slowly opened her eyes and looked up, taking in the dark brown eyes, the strands of hair framing a handsome face, the thick, dark beard lining his jaw, and the braids falling across his shoulders as he looked down at her. So familiar, so warm, so comforting. He was her home, and he was here. "You came. My Kili. You came."

Kili let out a half laugh, half sob and pressed his forehead to hers. "I am here. Your Kili, is here."

"Help me out? Please?" Tauriel tried to move, but she was still being held down by the leather straps that attached her to the table. Kili pressed his lips to hers briefly, then pulled away and began removing the straps that held her down. He hissed at the bruises around her wrists and her ankles. He wondered if those bruises were everywhere those straps held her down…likely.

"Anywhere else, amralime?" Kili asked once he got the last strap undone and the tubing made of something Kili had never seen, moved away from her. He tried to ignore the rolling of his stomach when he realized it was connected to some sort of pulsing sac a yard away.

"I think, just one more." Tauriel turned her head a bit, and Kili almost roared in pure fury. In her hair, her beautiful hair, the hair Kili worshiped, the hair he associated with his Tauriel, in that hair, they had shaved a small patch away and stuck yet another needle in its place.

As gently as he could, Kili pulled it out, his eyes widening when he realized it wasn't just one needle, but dozens of them all placed together. The line from the needles led directly to the stone making Kili wonder if that is how it connected to them. Again, it was something he really did not want to think about, not until they were safe. Throwing the tube away, Kili pressed his hand to the bleeding spot, putting pressure on it as he helped Tauriel sit up. "Slowly, amralime. Slowly."

"I am fine, Kili." Tauriel breathed, closing her eyes to help with the dizziness. "Help Ivethin and Nelithi." She didn't open her eyes, but was remaining upright which was a good sign. Kili pressed his palm to her face, and leaned up to leave a kiss on her head. "Don't move." Only when she nodded, did he turn to Ivethin who was closest to them.

Ivethin was deathly pale, but breathing heavily. "Ivethin?" She didn't open her eyes, but she did move her head slightly towards Kili. The first thing he did, was remove the strip keeping her from being able to talk, then he took his blade out and cut every strap on her. Still, she didn't move. "We are getting you out of here, Ivethin. Don't worry. I am getting you out."

Her eyes finally opened, and she looked at Kili, a soft smile on her lips. "She never gave up on you." Her voice was hoarse and tight, but she was speaking and that was a good sign.

"And I would never give up on her. How are you feeling?" Kili took the needle out of her arm, then waited for her to turn her head to get the one at the back. Kili ground his jaw, seeing the purple and blue marks likely from being subjected to that, thing, for longer than Tauriel...possibly multiple times. He was already about to go on a rage inspired murder spree in search of whoever dared to TOUCH his wife's hair...let alone remove a patch of it. Though the real culprit was bleeding out on the ground below the stone, and of course, the bodies of the workers littering the floor. It is likely, the one to blame for the crime of touching Tauriel is already dead.

Kili sighed, focusing on Ivethin as he slowly and gently removed the tube from her neck and used a piece of his tunic he tore off to wipe the blood away. Ivethin had a larger spot of hair removed, and it broke Kili's heart to see the strong eleth who has made it her life's work to heal, be subjected to this kind of horror. "Do you think you can sit up, Ivethin?"

The eleth nodded, and with Kili's assistance, Ivethin slowly sat up and sat for a moment, then carefully, attempted to slide off the table. She had been steady sitting up, so Kili stepped away warily watching as she began to get off the table and onto her feet…however the moment she tried to straighten was the moment her legs began to give out.

Kili of course noticed right away, and caught her before her body crumpled to the floor. "Woah there." He scooped the tall eleth up and placed her back on the table she had been on moments before. "Careful Ivethin, you are going too fast for yourself. Just...lay here and rest a moment, okay?"

"I need...to see...to Nelithi...and Tauriel." Ivethin gasped.

"No. I am the healer right now, and my orders, are for you to stay here." Kili said taking her hand. "Relax."

Ivethin tried to move again, but her body failed her so she was forced to remain laying on her side. However, a searing pain in his calf, had Kili whipping his head to Tauriel who was now off the bed and gasping in pain.

"Amralime." Kili growled as he ran to her, but she batted him away.

"It isn't life threatening, Kili." Tauriel said but accepted his arm around her...mostly because she just wanted to touch him, to physically feel that he was there. Tauriel was turning to Nelithi, so that is where Kili helped her to. Kili lifted his brows as a man, a massive, unclothed man, was cradling Nelithi in his arms. His golden blonde and auburn streaked hair that was usually up in a knot on his head now fell loosely over his shoulders and hid his face from view, but Tauriel could hear him speaking.

"It was not a full extraction. It was not a full extraction. She is alright. They couldn't have taken enough to...to...to. No."

Tauriel looked to Kili, her eyes filled with worry, then she turned back to the man and reached out to press her hand to his large shoulder. She never realized he had red in his hair along with the golden blonde; it must have been hidden in his usual style. "Tork?"

Sea-green eyes with hints of yellow swirling around the edges looked up at Tauriel. "It wasn't a full extraction, bunny. It wasn't." He shook his head, his arms engulfing Nelithi and pressing her to his broad, bare, chest. "She isn't...she cannot be...it wasn't a full extraction."

Tauriel ignored the pain in her calf, and knelt to the ground, Kili helping ease her down. It was easier to get on her knees than it was to squat, so she welcomed the solid floor where Tork sat with Nelithi in his lap.

"May I?" Tauriel asked, reaching a hand to her friend.

Tork swallowed, his arms tightening around Nelithi, before he nodded and released her enough for Tauriel to get close enough to check her for life.

Tauriel's fingers felt around her neck, Kili's hand on her tense shoulder to offer his support as Tauriel searched. She let out a breath of relief when a very faint, but steady pulse thrummed under her fingers. "She is alive." Tauriel said. "Are you able to tell if she is breathing steadily?" It was too difficult for Tauriel to tell from this angle...so she tasked Tork with checking to see if she was in fact, taking in air.

Tork looked down at her, and pressed a massive hand to Nelithi's cheek, then trailed it down to her sternum where he let it rest. Tauriel watched, then smiled when she saw the very subtle rise and fall of Tork's hand, the evidence of Nelithi's breathing.

Relieved that her friends were safe, Tauriel looked around the room at the four elves who were still connected. She prayed they were still alive. "We need to get the others off the machine as well." Tauriel said, trying to rise from the floor, but failing.

Tauriel tried to ignore the sacs they had been attached to, it was disturbing to see. She wondered if whatever was inside was conscious while it was forced to intake whatever that stone took from the elves, but considering she knew it was nothing more than an infant, and likely one which was yet to be given life, she let her thoughts on the matter go. She will deal with that if or when she is forced to.

Tauriel felt pressure on her shoulder and looked up to Kili who was leaning over her. "Just, stay a moment amralime. I will free them." He waited for her to nod, and ran to the first of the four unconscious elves to remove their straps but stopped before he even got the needle out of their arm. Tauriel watched as he searched for something, then ran to the next one, then the next, until he looked down to the ground with an expression of defeat marring his normally youthful features. Tauriel felt the rush of sadness and fury fill her and she did not need him to say it out loud…she understood just by feeling his emotions. The four did not make it. Her fault. This was all her fault.

"Stop." Kili sent her. "I never want to hear that again, Tauriel. None of this, is your fault."

"I should have been faster. I should have not been so rash in my choices. I should have tried harder to save them."

Tauriel could FEEL the anger radiating off Kili despite him being across the room double checking Gerheb and making sure he wasn't a threat to them, then he found some coverings and pulled them over the four elves after removing all of the connections.

Tauriel didn't say anything further. Nothing Kili could say to her right now, would make her feel less guilty…less at fault for following her instincts instead of listening to reason and making a plan. Shaking her head, Tauriel's eyes fell on her mentor still laying on the table, and her friend who still saw her as her captain…a captain who has failed to protect her is what Nelithi should see her as.

When Kili came back over, Tauriel peered up at him as he stood just in front of her. "We need to get her and Ivethin to safety, Kili." She paused, only now realizing Kili was here in the compound, a compound with uncrossable sands filled with worms before it, and swarming with human guards, orcs, and hybrids once you cross its gates. "Kili…how did you get in this place? And where is Fili?"

Tauriel looked around again, searching for her brother, but he was nowhere in sight. However, before Kili could answer, Naurfaer ran into the room with Bofur at his back. "We got the entire level clear, Fili, Legolas, and Viltarra are moving on with the hybrids. The hybrids are now banding together which is making it far too easy to take the fort." He paused and smiled. "Hello starlight."

Naurfaer came to Tauriel and dropped to the floor, pulling her into his arms. "You really have to stop putting yourself in these situations." He breathed into her hair as he gripped her tightly.

"Only when the world is safe enough not to have to." Tauriel said honestly. She felt Naurfaer nod and pull away but she tightened her grip just…needing to know she was no longer alone in this and her family was here, really here. "Thank you for coming."

Naurfaer held her close, and pressed a kiss to her hair. "We will always come for you, my starlight. You will never have to be alone, never again." He finally pulled away only when Tauriel loosened her grip on him. He brushed a lock of her red hair from her face and gave her a smile. "We work together, ya?" Tauriel nodded, a smile now gracing her features…though it was a bit sad and forced, it was still a smile.

"Is this your husband? The one you said was coming?" Tork looked Naurfaer up and down after assessing the rather close embrace. But Tauriel shook her head, her nose scrunched in distaste at the frustrating insinuation that happened far too often.

"This is my grandfather." Tauriel corrected then reached up behind her and took Kili's hand, her husband now standing just behind her scowled at Tork. She leaned back against Kili's legs and sighed at the contact. "This, is my Kili, my one, my husband."

Tork nearly choked. "The dwarf? A dwarf...is your mate...you mated with a dwarf?" He blinked at Tauriel, then shook his head. "But...your different species entirely...you have different makers...are you even...compatible?"

Tauriel flushed, then the heat rose in her cheeks up to her ears. "I don't see how that is your business." She seethed.

Tork blinked in confusion, then his eyes flicked to Tauriel's chest as he recalled her telling him she was a nursing mother. "Well...you MUST be compatible...because I do recall you telling me you have an infant."

"We have five children." Kili said.

"Five?!" Tork's eyes widened...then they narrowed and a smirk planted itself on his face. "Five children. Well, well, well, you ARE a bunny, aren't you."

"Do not make me kill you Tork." Tauriel growled. "Not after I have grown so fond of you."

Tork smirked again, but didn't bait Tauriel further, though he did give her a look of concern when she hissed as she tried to stand. "Are you alright?"

Tauriel didn't answer, instead, she tried to get to her feet again but the knife wound in her calf was making it increasingly more difficult. It took Kili leaning down, and hoisting her up to her feet then steadying her with his hands on her hips to get her to stay standing. Tauriel's eyes were closed both in pain, and in mortification that she was unable to get up on her own, but Kili pressed the barest of kisses to her jaw and Tauriel let out a soothing breath.

"We need to find Fili...did you say Viltarra was here? I don't recall you mentioning that through the bond." Tauriel gave Kili a surprised and slightly annoyed look.

Kili sighed deeply. "Yes. She joined me in Lorien and I have been busy trying to get to you. I figured you would find out when you saw her."

Tauriel chuckled softly. "I can only imagine your surprise when she showed up."

Kili tensed, recalling how Viltarra came as he was not in the best of states. He hadn't told Tauriel about that yet either...but he will. "I will tell you everything, but we really need to get out of here first.

Tauriel nodded, about to begin formulating a plan when she paused, looking over to see Bofur with his boot on the outstretched arm of the man still laying on the ground at the base of the stone. "Wha' do yeh suppose we do with this one? E' was tryin' te reach fer that there stone. Thought it was best 'e did no' touch it. Looks important. Is tha' what the lady of Lothlorien was talkin' about? Sure looks it."

The stone. Tauriel looked up at the large, spherical, black, stone and felt something cold fill her. Something unnatural. "That, is not of this world. It ought to be destroyed."

"NO!" Gerheb shouted clearly awake to all of their surprise. He was currently fighting to get his one arm free of Bofur while his body angled itself towards the stone. Tauriel was impressed he was even still alive with the amount of blood pooling on the floor from his severed limb.

Tauriel ignored the man and limped up to Naurfaer, who was looking closely at the black, spherical stone. "I don't quite know what to make of this." He said, glancing at Tauriel and Kili who had moved to stand beside her. "It doesn't appear to be a Palantiri…it is spherical, but not perfectly so, and it has too many imperfections. I think Galadriel and Celeborn were quite correct in both what they thought, and what they saw. It looks as if this were created by someone attempting to copy one of the Palantir, but was unable to do so successfully. It has power, I cannot deny that, but it is also clearly unstable and unpredictable…something the Palantiri are not."

"What is a Palantiri?" Tork asked from where he stood, Nelithi still in his grasp.

Tauriel glanced at him, but didn't answer. She knew OF them, but not enough to form a true answer. All she could say, is whatever this stone was, she had a difficult time being near it. It was as if every instinct she had, declared it to be wrong. She didn't need to even look at Kili to know he felt the same.

"A very old means to see and communicate through." Naurfaer answered the shifter as he continued to study the stone. "There were eight created; seven of which exist in middle earth. The possessor of a true Palantiri can connect their stone to one of the others and use them to speak through or…in some cases…to spy with. But, not just anyone is able to use them; they are a device of great power and require a certain, type, of person to get them into focus…one of strong will and understanding; one who can channel its power without being consumed by it."

"It feels wrong to me." Bofur said glancing at the stone.

"Me too." Kili said, relieved it was not just him who felt the wrongness of the stone. He was still terrified, even after all this time, that the ring he wore marred his mind…but…perhaps, it really didn't.

"Both of you feel that way?" Naurfaer asked. "And you, starlight?"

Tauriel forced herself to look at the stone. Part of her saw nothing more than a slightly oblong sphere. Something she has seen in carts of stone carvers in Erebor or Dale. But…another part of her…was revolted by it, repelled by it. "I do not know how I feel." Tauriel finally said, sharing her torn thoughts as best she could.

"Well…it looks like any other lovely, polished, stone to me…but you two, you are dwarves." Naurfaer said folding his arms and looking at Bofur and Kili. "And you…" He turned to Tauriel. "…were changed by Aule and Manwe…not to mention you are so bound to Kili; it wouldn't surprise me if some of his dwarven instincts are leaking into you."

"What does them being dwarves have to do with that rock?" Tork asked from across the room as he gently placed Nelithi on the table before wrapping one of the shrouds around his waist. "Looks like any stone to me, and I would think nothing of it if I did not know what it was capable of."

"That's the beauty of it isn't it." Naurfaer said, scowling at his granddaughter when she slapped his hand away before he could get the appendage close to the stones surface. "I am not stupid enough to touch it, starlight."

"Your hand, was awfully close." Tauriel huffed. "And you forget, I know you. Kili had to remove that mans arm because the stone was devouring it. I really don't feel like finding a way to get you unstuck because you decided to touch it."

"I am with Tauri. If this is the result…" Bofur said his foot still holding the man down. "…then I bet it best we don' touch tha' stone."

"It should be destroyed." Kili said. "There is no beauty in that…thing."

"Only a dwarf, and one who has witnessed its power would agree." Naurfaer said. "We, only see a stone…but you see it for what it is…something wrong. As a people of the earth you are connected to all of the soil and rock of arda…so in a way, you are connected to that stone as well. You know it is, or has been made…unnatural…and every instinct you have drives you to eradicate it from your presence."

"Can it be done?" Tauriel asked.

Naurfaer looked the stone over again…being careful not to get too close so he wouldn't distress his already stressed granddaughter. He rubbed the back of his neck then nodded. "I really don't see why not. The heartstone was one thing…but given this already has some clear microfractures over its surface…I do not doubt a good swing from even the blunt end of my blades will do the trick…but it is probably best I do it right." He smiled at her and leaned in close. "Special mithril from Valinor, this is." He held one of his blades up for her to see. "So yes. I can destroy it, starlight, and it won't hurt you or anyone again."

"NO!" Gerheb yelled out, thrashing and pulling at his remaining arm still held firm under Bofur's large boot. "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!"

"Don't know what we are doing?" Tauriel growled, her emerald eyes flashing down at him. "We are destroying what never should have existed." She limped towards Bofur and Gerheb. "You have DESTROYED lives. You have stolen mothers, fathers…children. You have created when you had no true right to do. You, are the dark shadow falling into this world, and we are the light to keep you in the corner."

"You cannot stop this work, elf." Gerheb coughed, a sickening wet sound. "You may think you are doing good…saving the world…but this is only one place of many throughout arda working to bring the TRUE master to power. My daughters, MY creations… born of corruption…were brought to life through HIS power, not your absent Valar. They will be our rise to victory. You can kill as many as you want here…but more hide in other shadows and when this war is over and Sauron rules…it will be MY name whispered in reverence for the work I did while you rot under the ground."

Tauriel glared at the man. "You will pay for what you have done…"

A shattering crash filled the room and Tauriel whipped her head around to see Atamen holding a large, iron, rod. On the ground, lay the shattered pieces of the stone now scattered around them. "No." She said to Gerheb, pure rage shining bright in her violet eyes. "We choose different."

Another hybrid, one appearing to be slightly older, stepped around Atamen. "We do not have to be what you say."

"YOU WILL NOT REBEL AGAINST ME! I AM YOUR CREATOR! I MADE you!" Gerheb screamed. "YOU WILL OBEY!"

As he said this, both Atamen and the other hybrid grabbed their heads, fell to their knees, and cried out in pain.

"What is happening!?" Kili looked between the two hybrids, his eyes wide.

"It is how they are controlled." Tork said. "I can't really explain it, but from what I understand, their minds are hived to Gerheb, but a few of the commanders are able to control them through stones linked by their blood. When they act out, or don't follow orders...this is their first string of punishments." He looked to the ground. "He only kept the hybrids who fall in line, the rest…the rest had Etta's fate…or far worse."

Tauriel had had enough. With Naurfaer in reach, she grabbed the second blade she could see at his waist, then, with the practiced aim of one who has been working with blades for six centuries, she threw the mithril blade at Gerheb where it pierced his chest. He gasped, unable to grasp at the blade embedded in his rib cage with his single arm still pinned. His eyes widened as he let out a wet, blood filled, cough, then, he went silent and still.

The moment the life left Gerheb, his hold on Atamen and the other hybrid released and they blinked, looking around in a slight daze.

Tauriel went right to them, limping and fighting to push her pain away. "You are alright. He cannot hurt you anymore." She held out her hand, and Atamen stared at it for a moment, then, allowed Tauriel to help her to her feet.

"Are we free?" The hybrid asked. She looked to Kili who smiled at her softly.

"You are free, Soona." He said.

Tauriel looked to Kili who knew the hybrids name. Kili saw the look and smiled. "We met her on the way in." He answered before she could ask...likely already seeing the question in her eyes. "Atamen and Arice had rallied them together. Amazing individuals, and I think...you might have helped with that."

"A bit." Tauriel said. "Though losing their sister Etta, I think was what pushed them over the edge."

"Etta, is free too." Soona said. "What of those yet to be given life?" She gestured to the sacs on the table and Tauriel had to fight not to cringe at the prospect of what was inside them. She looked at the sacs, then back at the two sisters in front of her. They looked far more like beings of the eldar than they do of orcs and Tauriel was thankful for that.

Knowing what she likely had to do, Tauriel moved to one of the sacs and stared at it. "Kili, hand me a knife." She said softly.

"Amralime…"

"No." Soona said stopping Tauriel. "We will do it."

Tauriel's emerald eyes stared into Soona's violet orbs, and she nodded and stepped away. Atamen moved to Soona's side and they gently pried the sac open. Both curious, and slightly wary, Tauriel watched as Kili moved to take her hand.

Inside, they pulled out the lifeless body of an infant not fully formed. "It has no life." Soona said then moved to the next, to find the same thing. Within every sac, was yet another lifeless hybrid waiting for the energy they needed to form and gain life. When she opened the last, and placed the unformed body on the table, she looked back to Tauriel.

"There is no life here. But no more pain either. They too, are free." She said softly.

"Free." Atamen repeated.

"It is for the best." Naurfaer said as he turned back to the shattered stone.

Kili eyed the pieces scattered across the ground. "Should we do something with that?" He asked even as Naurfaer used his blade to destroy the larger pieces before gathering every bit of the scattered stone up and placing them in one of the coverings he found laying about. "Should you be touching that, Naurfaer?"

"It's dead." Naurfaer said. "But...I don't want anyone even getting their hands on the pieces. We will get rid of it properly and thoroughly...just in case."

"Good plan, lad." Bofur said, his eyes scanning the ground to make sure no pieces were missed…but Naurfaer was very thorough and had collected every piece both large and small. "I knew we kept yeh around for good reason."

Naurfaer laughed, tying the cloth holding pieces around his shoulder where it hung like a side bag then stood at the door and waited. "I think we are done here. Let's go find Fili and see how the others are doing. Legolas is with them and the rest of the hybrids..." Naurfaer paused and looked at Soona and Atamen. "...is there a name you call yourselves?" He asked.

"The others call us Kakxik-kul. In the other tongue...it is...difficult to translate. I do not know the words." Soona said.

"It is blackspeech." Naurfaer gave Soona as serious look. "It means, army of the father."

"He...is the father." Soona said pointing to the lifeless form of Gerheb. "We do not fight for him."

"Then it sounds to me like you need a new name." Naurfaer rocked on his toes, his eyes twinkling. "Is there something you wish to call yourselves?" When the pair just looked at him, he smiled softly. "You don't have to decide now, think about it."

"What about Nelithi and Ivethin?" Tauriel said looking to her elven friends. "And the others?" She glanced at the covered bodies, the frustration she failed them once again filling her. "I still…I still don't really understand what has happened here…what he was doing."

"It is…the deepest crime of life." Ivethin breathed from where she lay on the table. The group looked over to her, Ivethin's blue eyes open but unfocused. "To steal from one that which was not freely offered."

"Can someone translate?" Bofur asked, rubbing his head in confusion.

Ivethin looked to him, slowly sitting up. Naurfaer ran to help her, and she nodded to him gratefully. "I do not fully comprehend it…as I never deemed it possible until now. In full honesty…I still do not understand how this is possible even with all my studies in healing and how the many bodies of Arda work. But…" She eyed the now empty sacs and the shrouded elves. "…that stone is a conduit. It somehow, is attuned to the eldar, to our very lifeforce. I believe…it sucks from the host not just life, but blood and essential elements of our basic makeup, pulling it from us to give to another. I…I could…I felt as if it was also in my very mind."

"I felt that too." Tauriel said. "Or, it tried…but…" she glanced at Kili. "…but it was unable to get in. No…that isn't right. It was searching for the connection to my immortality."

"And you don't have one." Naurfaer said nodding.

"And I don't have one." Tauriel agreed. "So I was able to fight back because it couldn't connect to anything it understood."

Ivethin blinked at Tauriel. "I do not know how you were able to do that, Tauriel." She paled a bit, but continued. "I tried to fight it. But its strength was beyond mine."

Naurfaer rubbed his chin. "Maybe, it is because it had something to hold to in you Ivethin, as well as Nelithi and the others. Tauriel was something new to it; an elf, who is mortal. She was able to fight, because it was confused."

Ivethin's eyes widened then, her face softened and she smiled. "Nobody could have done what you did today Tauriel, except for you. I think…you saved all of us."

Tauriel, however, thought rather differently. "My foolish actions killed those four, and nearly killed you and Nelithi. And Lorilyn…she could already be dead."

"You will find her." Ivethin said softly.

"Can I ask…what is with the sacs? And aren't there supposed to be orcs involved if they are half and half." Kili said, still uncomfortable with the sacs and the unformed beings laying on the tables around them.

"We come from them." Soona said softly.

"They carry them…the sisters." Tauriel clarified, recalling having been watching high up on the next level on her first day when they pulled a fully animated infant from a sac. "I…if I am understanding what Ivethin is saying, then both our energy and our blood are being poured into them…we are both giving these, sacs, our lifeforce, as well as some of ourselves as well. Like the womb we carry within us, forming life from every part of us after sharing a deep intimacy with our mate." She glanced at Kili then back at the group. "Yet instead of being inside, it is done externally, and all who give to it act in place of a mother. I can only assume they gather some material from the orcs as well."

"You are, unfortunately, likely far too correct." Ivethin said, anger in her voice. "I have been in this room, too many times now. Sometimes, the sacs are further along than these, and I have watched as they remove infants from them. They do not bring orcs in here, so I can only assume as you, Tauriel, that somewhere in this place they draw what they need from the orcs. But their make up…" She glanced at Soona and Atamen. "…comes mostly from what is pulled from the eldar. It is why, they look far more like us…than they do orcs."

"They are aged as well. Atamen and Arice are only weeks old…yet they appear to be near physical maturity." Tauriel paused in thought. "Ivethin, do you think…they are immortal?"

"That…I cannot say. I suppose it depends on whether Iluvatar and Manwe accept them. Only time will tell such truths." Ivethin sighed, swaying a bit on the table and stiffening as her body fought off phantom pains…pains she has felt since the third time on that machine…pains that Nelithi suffers even more for.

"We need to get you out of here." Tauriel said, limping over to Ivethin. "You and Nelithi. I will find Lorilyn and the others."

"You go, Bunny. I will make sure they get out of here safely." Tork helped Ivethin to her feet, supporting her as she nearly fell to the ground. He waited patiently beside her, as she steadied herself and was finally able to stand. She gave Tork a nod that she would be alright. With Nelithi fully unconscious, he needed both his arms to hold her…so he wouldn't be able to carry both her and Nelithi. Strength-wise it wouldn't be a problem, but he only had two arms and both, would be cradling one elf.

Tauriel nodded to Tork, but Kili was the one to speak. "Take them up to the top level. We have transportation across the sands."

Tork nodded, looking uncomfortable, then he said softly. "I can get across the sands." He turned apologetic eyes to Tauriel. "I am...so sorry Bunny." He waited for Tauriel to understand but she just seemed confused, though her eyes did soften as she looked between him and Nelithi on the table.

"You do not need to apologize to me, Tork. I understand you do not want to leave Nelithi." She gave him a knowing look, but Tork flinched as if she were cutting into him.

"You don't understand, Tauriel." Tork said, using her true name. He looked to Nelithi, still unconscious on the table, then to Ivethin standing beside him. "I am the monster in this tale."

"A shifter is not a monster, Tork. You fought for her." Tauriel tried but Tork shook his head.

"I brought her here." He said softly.

Shock filled Tauriel's features and Tork took a breath, turning away from her. "That balcony I showed you...it is where I bring them in. It is my job, to carry them over the sands and the worms."

"The…sands?" Tauriel asked, looking to Kili who was glaring darkly at Tork. "You…brought them…across the sands?"

"This place is surrounded by sands, amralime, filled with worms who…." Kili began but Tauriel dismissed him.

"Yes, I was told and shown the lands beyond the compound. Sands stretching far to the horizon in which one would not survive crossing." She remembered the endless dunes stretching in every direction, and what lives beneath them.

Anger and fury flashed in Tauriel's eyes directed right at the shifter. "You...you brought us over? You brought HER here?" She stepped towards Tork. "Why...how...how could you?"

"I DIDN'T KNOW YOU!" Tork roared then shook his head. "I didn't know HER!" He gestured wildly to Nelithi. He ignored Kili's growl and continued. "All I knew, was your race KILLED my family. I hated you. I was happy to kill as MANY of your kind as I could find in retribution. I have killed many elves Tauriel. And not once, did I feel an OUNCE of regret for the blood that stained my hands."

Tork glanced at Kili, who had his blade out as he stepped in front of Tauriel; he was ready to protect her against him. But Tauriel placed a hand on Kili's shoulder to calm him, though her eyes still had that pure fury that had Tork wondering if tigress would have been a better nickname for the she-elf.

"I was wrong." Tork said after a moment. "I didn't want to believe you about the other shifter, about how it was a set up. But, I went searching for proof a few nights ago when the shift changed. I broke into Gerheb's office, and searched for anything indicating what you said may be true. Then...I found the maps, and the orders. They were folded into a large book...a record of all attacks they were ordered to perform. With it, a letter from my mother withdrawing her support from our people. She...she had had a change of heart and did not want to be a part of the death of innocent lives…elves or no. Her words…her words were clear in the matter, and final. All my life, she supported the ways of Sauron…until she opened her eyes to life outside his hold…and could not, ever again, take a life to feed his need for power. Those…were her words in her hand, in that letter. And just behind it, the order to slaughter them for their defiance and abandonment. Because they needed me, for my ability to shift into a winged creature, they made it look like the elves did it; all so I hated the elves enough to not question my orders."

Tork ran a hand through his red and blonde streaked hair. "And I didn't. I hated elves. I hated you all. I never thought…I…when Nelithi smiled at me, when she spoke so kindly to me …I have been so confused. So at war with myself and my feelings with your kind. But I understood everything when I read my mothers letter. What was happening here…it was wrong, and my mind was made. I was getting you three out of here. That night. But...I was caught before I could come to you."

"That's why you didn't return." Tauriel said. "Why you never came back."

"I cannot tell you how much I regret..." He sighed. "…but I will fly Nelithi over the sands. I will find somewhere to keep her safe, and Ivethin too, until you can come meet us."

"How can we trust you?" Kili snarled.

"You can't." Tork shrugged. "But I give you my word I will keep them safe until you arrive."

"Fine." Tauriel said, knowing her friends needed to get out of this place. "We need to get the other elves out as well…we have been in here much too long."

"I think the Avari are working on that." Naurfaer said glancing out in the hall and nodding to someone. Tauriel peeked out to see elves running past the door led by another elf who seemed to know where she was going.

"How did you get across the sands?" Tork asked pulling Nelithi into his arms. "The reason this place has thrived, is because it is suicide to try and get here. And that, is if you even know this place exists. They work hard to keep it unspoken of by outsiders. And the worms help with waylaying curious travelers foolish enough to even attempt to brave to cross the sands. So how did YOU make it across? How did you even know where to go?"

"Kili is connected to me." Tauriel answered before her husband could tear into Tork. "He was able to find this place, simply because I was here. As for how he got across...if it is a deadly as you say, I am rather curious myself. Meleth nin?"

"We flew." Kili simply stated. When Tauriel lifted a brow, he sighed. "We found some Avari who had Aelúg, like auntie Nya's. It's really a long story and that particular side of it, you will have to get from Fili." Tauriel nodded.

"Looks like it's about over." Naurfaer said as he leaned back into the room. "Saphyra said the orcs and humans are holding the lower levels secure but it is only a matter of time before they can get it open. What is your name, by the way?" He looked to Tork, waiting.

"Tork." The large man responded.

"Tork." Naurfaer hummed. "There is a gathering on the other side of the sands. It should be safe enough for you to stop there. We will join you once we get this place cleaned out."

"Alright." Tork agreed. He had nothing more to say, nothing more he could say, and Tauriel knew it.

"Let's go find Fili, with our family's luck, he is probably finding trouble." Tauriel said, taking Kili's hand, and leaving the body of Gerheb and his room of horrors behind.

Authors Note: "Reunited and it feels so goooooddd." Lol. Sorry for some of the disturbing images guys. And Tork is a flying lion! YAASSS. Gryffindor for the win. Lol. JK. Wrong fandom. Now we have hybrids switching sides, and the family coming together…but there is SO SO much more to come. We head to Fili in the next chapter, then to what is happening in Erebor. Don't think this is anywhere near over yet. More horror and drama ahead. See you soon!