First things first! I hope that you and all of your loved ones are staying safe through these bizarre times! I wish all of my readers and fellow creators good health and are finding ways to not go insane!

Now for those who forgot what happened in the story I ask that you reread the story before you leave it; if you can't I have no hard feelings if you unfollow. Hopefully, you can read it after I complete it. Thank you for giving my writing love while I had a hard time loving anything really.

Anyway! Thank you to everyone who favorited and followed! And a special thank you to reviewers. Every kind word is appreciated – and constructive criticism is welcome.

Princess of Greenwood2, inperfection, Femaleninja22 – Thank you so much for the kind words and I hope you enjoy this part.

Ryan Skye – Thank you so much! I'm sorry for the turmoil my story is putting you through, but we will make it through this I promise!

Rossi's Lil Devil – Unfortunately, as you will see Thorin will never get the chance to touch Gelon or Gannion. Though their reunion probably isn't exactly what you wanted I hope you will still enjoy that too! I will be sure to make it up to you with wonderful love scenes later, promise!

dragonegyptianblue – Why yes. Yes they are! I hope that you enjoy.

ChelseaSW6 – It's definitely a rough spot; no doubt! Thranduil doesn't know about what Gelon and Gannion are doing. Gannion just intercepted the guards taking her to the cell and took her.

ro781727 – I don't have a definitive plan for where they are going to end up when they are dead, but I will guarantee a swift end for these rogue baddies.

angel897 – Thanks for the kind words! And yes: I is ALIVE!

I've decided to do a story recommendations corner for my lovely friends here on FF. Cherrybombb has requested some Fili and Kili stories this time around and I will be happy to oblige. I'm gonna do one of each; let me know if you need more!

WritingWright: Under the Mountain (Fili/OC) *Complete*

EvilBunny91: A Whole New World (Kili/OC) *In Progress*

Calla Mae: Cosmic Love (Thorin/OC) *Complete*

Tauriel is restless, angry, and hurt. Tahna and the dwarves arrived five days ago. Since then the Captain of the Guard hasn't stopped moving; constantly throwing herself into her daily tasks and the preparations for the Feast of Stars. She hasn't eaten much, nor has she slept for more than handful of hours. The foreign feeling of time quickly slipping away brings fear to her heart. She would go to Tahna soon, she would, but she is having a hard time finding the words she wanted to share with her. Should she demand to know why Tahna broke her promise? Could she pour out her heart about the disappointment that she threw away the life her father had saved? Maybe she swallows the pain and tells her human sister that she loves her before she dies? Before her execution…

For what feels like the hundredth time, Tauriel stops and sways on her feet as her head throbs with sharp pain. Her lungs tighten at the thought of an execution; it would be her job to oversee it. Could she do it? She fights the tears in her eyes, gritting her teeth, and after a moment continues forward. She has to put it out of her mind and continue doing her duty. It is a long walk to the dungeons where her guard post for the evening is. She stops like this a few more times before she reaches her destination when the pain becomes too much for her to bear.

Thorin and Thranduil's words swirl in her head and crush her with their weight. She is thrown continuously between hopeful and desperate. She could try and save Tahna, take to exile with her as her father did, but at the same time she wishes to remain loyal to the kin that remains in the Greenwood. Tauriel has a duty and obligation to Thranduil and her people; at the same time, Tahna is the only person she considers close family. It rages like a war in her heart and leaves a devastating ache throughout her body.

When she sees the guard she is relieving, she hides her pain and bids him a good night. Once he is gone, she looks into the cell nearest her. It is the tallest of the dwarves and he watches her with angry, narrowed eyes. For a moment Tauriel is lost, picturing Tahna fighting alongside this dwarf and sharing meals with him. She wonders if he cares about Tahna like she does; if he would die for her, like she would. He seems unsettled by her staring and turns away from her.

This knocks her from her reverie so she turns and begins taking stock of the dwarves. Given that it is near dawn, most of the dwarves are sleeping at this time. When she passes by Thorin's cell she is actually disappointed to discover he is sleeping. He is leaning against a wall, with his arms across his chest. As much as wishes for his advice, she decides against waking him and continues on her rounds.

Tauriel stops when she sees Kili throwing a stone up into the air and catching it. He pauses momentarily as he looks up at her before resuming with a small smile on his face. It is a dark smooth stone, with some kind of writing on it, but she cannot make out what it reads. Ready for any kind of a distraction from the pain, she asks…

"That stone in your hand; what is it?"

"It is a talisman," he says. "A powerful spell lies upon it, but," he says with a serious face, "if anyone who is not a dwarf reads these ruins they will be forever cursed." He faces it towards her, daring her to read it.

Under most circumstances, Tauriel would have erred on the side of caution and walked away. However, these are Tahna's friends and she is doubtful that they would make use of a malicious spell like that. Then again, considering the situation Tahna currently found herself in, maybe it is a hex. Tauriel puts aside her superstitions and kneels down in front of his cell.

"What about for people who might already be cursed?" she asks sadly. His eyes widen in shock at her reaction and lower them to his hands, where he now hides the rune stone. He thought she might find it amusing, but it seems his plan has backfired.

"I'm not sure if I'm honest," he shrugs and smiles. "I've never really believed in that sort of thing. It's just a token; a rune stone. My mother gave it to me so I would remember my promise."

"What promise?" asks Tauriel, genuinely curious.

"That I would come back to her; she worries. She thinks I'm reckless," he says with a chuckle. For a moment, Tauriel can see an image of her father smiling at her as he balanced precariously on a small rock in the raging river. A memory from her childhood…

"Are you?" asks the elleth with a tiny smile playing on her lips.

"Nah…" he says as he tosses up the stone once more. This time though he misses and fails to catch it. It clatters loudly as it strikes the ground and bounces away from its owner. With the speed it's flying it will be only a moment before it goes over the side of the pathway and into the depths below. However, Tauriel's reflexes are fast and she catches it just after it passes the cell bars. She handles the stone delicately, tracing the runes with her fingertips. She has no idea what it says, but doesn't stop her from admiring the care that went into its creation. She digs in the pocket of her cloak and pulls out the moonstone her father intended to give to her before his death. She puts them side by side in her hands. Looking between the two of them it doesn't take long for her tears to begin falling.

"This is a moonstone," she shows Kili proudly. He looks at the glittering stone in awe. "My father was bringing this back from a merchant on the Western shore. It was supposed to be a present asking for my forgiveness for his foolishness," she chokes out. "He and Tahna were returning for a visit when they were ambushed by an orc raiding party lead by Gijak. He didn't survive…" After a couple drops fall onto her hands, Kili cautiously stuck his hands through the bars and gently grasps her hands holding the stones; they are warm and comforting. She grips his hands tightly. "She is all I have left. Now she will die here…I don't want to lose her too." His thumbs begin to move in soothing circles on the back of her hands.

"She is sorry you know," he says. Tauriel raises her head to look him in the eyes. Her confusion must have been apparent because he continued. "When we were in Rivendell, Tahna made you a promise not to come here. She told us about what you said; well, Thorin and Fili, anyway. She was distraught about breaking it; cried even. She didn't want to-"

"But why? Why would she come here?" she asks desperately. At that a look of guilt passed over the young prince's face.

"She told us about the elf girl she killed when her mind was lost to the madness of the wood. She feared for us, that we might come to harm or hurt one another. She refused to let us travel through the woods without her foreknowledge and protection," Kili replies. He has a look in eyes that is conflicted as he tries to pick the right words. "We had planned to travel north and avoid the wood altogether…but the plans changed. It couldn't have been avoided…" His voice has a solemn tone with the last of his words.

"She was trying to protect you…" she says with a shaky breath. She had to protect them from what the elves of the Greenwood couldn't; what Thranduil wouldn't let them. They had lost the Elven Path to the wood some time ago. Once one of the most travelled roads in all of Middle Earth, it lies abandoned in the shadows because they refused to help. There is a pregnant pause where she looks away from Kili, thinking. Suddenly, her eyes returned to his, flaring with anger.

"We lose more of our forest every year to that ill begotten fortress in the south. It poisons the land, the animals, and the minds of those who dare to enter." She pauses and shakes her head. "The Elvenking talks about is protecting our lands, but we cannot manage even that. We have left so much of your realm to wither and die; people suffer because of it. It's his fault and I will not let him take anything else from me."

She pulls one of her hands back and puts the moonstone back into her pocket. Her other hand presses Kili's rune stone to his hand and wraps his fingers around it tightly. She places her other hand over his fist. Kili can't help noticing how delicate and warm her hands are compared to his large ones. His face flushes from her touch and meets her eyes again. For the first time since their conversation began Kili could see hope and determination in her eyes.

"I'm going to find a way to save her!" she says in a hushed tone. With elven hearing one couldn't be too cautious about eavesdroppers.

"I believe in you," says Kili with a nod. "Go to her."

With a smile Tauriel pulls away and calls up the stairs for a guard. Some of the dwarrow who had been sleeping are awakened by her call and watch her warily. She watches the stairs and waits intently from just outside Kili's cell. It gives the dwarf a chance to admire her closely. She is lovely to Kili; regardless of the standard of beauty held amongst dwarf kind. She has a light about her that at times seems as far and distant as the stars, but could then become as comforting and close as a hearth fire. He can feel her conviction in her smile and he cannot help smiling too, filled with pride and joy. He is glad that she would hold her family above the orders of her king; he is secretly happy that in that way they are the same. She wipes away the tears from her cheeks and calls out again.

Within the same moment two more sentries appear from above. They look around as though expecting something amiss. Tauriel approaches the confused guards.

"Baurni tirdh i naugrim," she says in a commanding tone. "Iesten tirad i Dunadan."

"I adaneth?" asks one, sharing a concerned look with his companion. Tauriel notices this right away.

"Athon. Naman raeg?" she asks. She looks between both of them and when neither of them answers she yells. "Aphredim!"

"Limion a Orelon nae oi arahadhw sam," says one elf. He pauses before he continues, "Ti uoio anhae dan." Both guards look guilty for their obvious failure to report something so important. However, Tauriel couldn't have cared less about that.

She goes pale as she quickly comes to the only conclusion. Limion and Orelon wouldn't have risked Thranduil's wrath by disobeying him; not to mention that they had no vendetta against Tahna. She's not dead, but there is only one other thing that could have happened before she reached her designated cell; Gelon. He and his son are the only ones who would have defied Thranduil's orders to get to her.

"Tauriel, what is it?" asks Kili as he clings to the bars of his cell anxiously. He saw when her face transforms from confusion to complete horror. "What's wrong?" She doesn't look at him. Instead, she grabs the arm of one of the elven guards and begins running back up the stairs. She turns back only once to shout.

"Dartha si!" she says before she completely disappears. Kili spares the new guard only a glance before looking over at his brother's cell. He must've woken when Tauriel shouted and is looking back at Kili's cell questioningly.

"Something wrong with Tahna," says the young prince. It's the only guess he can make from the reaction Tauriel had. Fili's face contorts into something dark and angry as he regards the sentinel. Kili wonders what this new elf told Tauriel to illicit such a strong reaction, but from the look on his face he wouldn't answer them if they ask. Neither of dwarrow would be getting any sleep until Tauriel's return.

It's been a few days since Gannion locked me in the cell. They haven't used that ringing monstrosity again and I'm thankful that I recovered my hearing. It took me quite some time before I realized I could hear again; noticing only when I could hear the water running in the walls. I was running round trying to use my remaining senses to dodge the elves' attacks. Now that I can hear once more it's becoming a little easier to dodge them.

When my hearing was impaired, it was hard to dodge anything. I'm very certain that Gelon was too excited at having me in his clutches that he was more concerned with making me hurt than his initial plan of dragging it out. However, I have been luck that my night time vision has become much better over time.

It is not surprising that Gelon has been exceptionally vicious in his attacks. He plays with my uncertainty, switching between harmful and harmless weapons. He has been dousing me in freezing and scalding water; causing me to scream in surprise every time. My shoulders and back still have blisters from the initial contact with the boiling water. However, my feet are freezing in my boots and it's getting harder to feel them beneath me. My clothes are damp, but at least they no longer cling to my body uncomfortably. They made so much noise when wet; if the elves couldn't see me in the dark then they certainly would have heard the movement of the sopping fabric.

His favorite assault comprises of cutting me with spears and arrows. Many of the strikes left superficial and shallow cuts, but they stung and made me jump. I suffered only one major wound to my hip; it happened when he thrust a spear down to probably nick my thigh, but I managed to catch it with the chain of my bonds. I tried pulling it down, hoping to arm myself against him. Unfortunately, he managed throw down a small blade and it cut my foot. I faltered and he used that moment to drag the tip of the spear through the tender flesh of my hip.

When he feeds me it always strikes me in the face. The problem is that I can't tell if it's food until its impact; he occasionally switches out my rotten scraps for stones. He aims around my eyes, as though threatening to blind me. When I tried to shield my eyes, he retaliated by cutting the top of my ear. I can never see the food myself in the dark, but I can smell it and feel it. They cut it into indefinable shapes so I would have to smell it or put it in my mouth to find out what it is. I spit out a few pieces of rancid meat, but managed to stomach a moldy biscuit and some slices of rotten apple. Water is easy enough to get; I just have to use my lips and tongue to suck it into my mouth from the walls and the floor.

My body is screaming from exhaustion. In these days, I have had only a few moments of rest. My skin is tender with pain and the muscles beneath throb with soreness. The few things I have been able to consume upset my stomach and I can feel the pain from being unable to relieve myself. I'm not afraid to do this in front Gelon; I did it ranger camps all the time. However, when I tried on the first day Gelon threw a live coal at my lower back so it would roll along my exposed ass cheek. The burn was minimal; the water dripping into the room is cold and it eased some of the pain. Even now my skin stings back there, but I try to ignore it. Since then I have had to wait until Gelon left to handle such business.

Even elves need sleep; not as much as the other free peoples of Middle Earth, but they do still need it. With Mereth-en-Gilith soon approaching they would be using more of their energy to enter a more spiritual state. That is why for the third time, Gelon has left to rest; leaving Gannion as my torturer. Despite his obvious hatred for me, he doesn't seem as enthusiastic about delivering my punishment. He has never used any of Gelon's more creative methods; sometimes he would forgo a spear altogether and use a simple staff to poke and hit me.

His attacks are just as random as his father's, but he would leave me alone for long periods of time. It gives me a chance to catch my breath or see to my wounds as best as I could; I even got to sleep a couple of times. Hardly any of his jabs resulted in injury; mostly he would strike near me with the air whipping by my skin or hair, prompting me to move. Where Gelon's campaigns would last for hours on end before he left me alone for a moment; Gannion would hardly be after me for thirty minutes before he stops. It is in that interim when he finally speaks to me.

"I'll kill you if you ask me too," he says casually. I look up at where I hear his voice, but I can't see him. However, I think I might see the material of a boot resting against the metal.

"A kind offer," I breathe. My voice is rugged with the amount of screaming I have been doing recently. "But I'm afraid I'm going to have to refuse." I end my brave statement with a rather uncontrollable and pathetic coughing fit. Eventually, silence descends once more.

"I'd rather just kill you and be done with it," he says with bitterness in his tone. "You won't receive a better offer at this point." He leans forward so that the lone torch that remains on the wall lights up his face.

Gelon and Gliwen both took after their Sindarin ancestors in coloring, but not Gannion. from what Hadrien told me Gannion's mother had been a Silvan elf. His eyes are a light green framed by dark brown hair akin to Kili's color. I'm surprised to see tiredness on his features; as though these activities wore him out more than he enjoyed it.

"If it were only myself, I would take your offer," I tell him. "But there are people waiting for me. I cannot give up on them; I must try to fight for them."

"You are foolish," he groans as he settles himself into a more comfortable position on the grate above. He lays flat on his stomach and his knees supporting the legs he swings in the air above him. His arms crossed together beneath his chin in order to support his head. He is safe up there and he knows it. I may have a few stray arrows down here with me, but I could never reach him from down here.

"You have no hope of escape," he continues. "Even if you did, all that awaits you is an execution. At least with me, I could end your suffering quickly."

"Wouldn't that anger your father?" I ask.

"My father wouldn't mind too much," he says with a shrug. He must have seen my disbelief because he sighs. "I said I would end your suffering. My father can just as easily find enjoyment in the desecration of your corpse." Ah, now that I believed.

"But you wouldn't?" I ask. He looks down on me silently. "You don't want to carve me up?"

"What's the point?" he says as he looks away from me and into the darkness of the upper chamber. "Gliwen is dead. This won't bring her back and there is nothing in it for us, not really." Silence hangs in the air delicately.

"You seemed eager before; when you collected me," I comment.

"I thought we would only carve you up a little. Maybe take a few teeth or fingernails. I would have been alright cutting off a few toes or an ear," he says distractedly. "Then just before you'd bleed out we would each run a blade through your heart." Despite the horrific details, I'm somewhat comforted by his disappointment. "That was the plan and it shouldn't have lasted more than a day, but seems that Gelon has his own ideas." I let the silence permeate a little before I ask something else.

"What do you plan to do after?" I ask. He looks down at me with a look of complete shock. "After you are through with me and I'm dead; what's next?" His eyes lose their surprise and turn into something distant.

"I suppose if Thranduil doesn't kill us for kidnapping and killing one of his prisoners," he grumbles. "We will do what we've always done." He doesn't expound on what that means, even though it looks like it's bothering him.

"Living in the dungeons?" I joke half-heartedly. I don't know where my attempt at humor came from; it's hardly the time. I can tell from the look on his face he doesn't appreciate it.

"You humans are so short-sighted. This current state is only because of what you did," he spits. "Once you are gone we will rejoin our brethren in day to day life and pretend like it never happened." Despite his firm voice, I can see it in his eyes that he is unsure.

"Is that what you want? Or your father?" I ask. Then he goes quiet, eerily quiet. For a moment my body tenses, thinking he might decide to hit me for my poor jest. Then he speaks with surprising quiet.

"I just want my sister back," he says. His eyes are sad and distant now.

Despite the pain he and his father have put me through, I feel sympathy for him. I know all too well that desperate want for someone I love to return. My parents and Hadrien are the first of many I want to see again. Because of this I understand his want to kill me; it's the same way I feel about Azog. I know in my heart that the desire for their return outweighs the hatred you have against the one who hurt them. If there is a chance I could have them back if I gave up Azog and Bolg, I would without question. That desire to have them back is the doorway that made room for the Hadrien, Tauriel, and the company of Thorin Oakenshield. With the time and care of these wonderful people, I have slowly been letting go of my hatred. Perhaps one day, Gannion might be the same.

"I forgive you," I tell him. At those words he locks eyes with me; his body is tense like I hit him. "Gliwen told me that before she died. I told her I was sorry, that I made a mistake, and she forgave me…" I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes before they began falling down my cheeks. His form became a blur as I cry. "I would dishonor her if I didn't do the same for you."

He made some sort of choking noise before everything became silent again. When I wipe away as many tears as I can there is something visibly different about Gannion. It looks like he's crying too. The difference in his face is minimal; no red eyes, no running nose, but there is a glint on his cheek like the trail of a tear. His eyes are hazy and unfocused. He picks himself up and walks away into the darkness.

I wait anxiously, but he doesn't return. I take this time to relieve myself and rub some fresh water on my wounds and cool my blisters. I lean against the wall with the torch and listen, hoping to hear something in the darkness. However, there is nothing. Until Gannion jumps up suddenly, moving closer to the grate. I can barely see him, but he's looking at something else in the upper room. The door slams open and Gelon comes rushing in. Something is amiss if Gelon is frantic; I can practically feel the pressure of the air change. He approaches his son hurriedly, from the sound of his voice.

"Nati cened an men," he says in a flurry of movement so fast, I can hear his robes rustling. I can feel my heart sinking in my stomach as I strain my eyes in the dark, trying to see him. "Ti henia man nam cared." He tosses his son a long pike. Gannion catches it, but doesn't move. Gelon takes up a bow and searches for some arrows. "Dravadh i huwen," he spits hatefully.

As soon as the last word left his mouth, a small creak can be heard from behind me. I turn to see that a fragment of light is leaking in from the doorway. The door has opened slightly and without another thought I take off running for the exit. At first my captors are confused, trying to locate the origin of the sound until Gelon sees the door.

"BAW!" he screams. Just as I grip the door a searing pain shoots through my right leg. I pull myself out and kick the door shut with my good leg. Once it's shut I look down at my leg and I can see an arrow sticking out of my calf an inch or so above my ankle. It hurts; sweet Valar above does it hurt, but I am free.

"Tahna," says a voice. I recognize that voice, but I don't see him. I look up and down the hall; still nothing. Before I have time to call out, the hobbit appears suddenly from thin air. He appears alright, if a little pale and disheveled. I'm surprised and a little delirious from relief.

"Have you always been able to that?" I chuckle lightly. He ignores my question and busies himself with my wound. He breaks off the arrow head and pulls the rest of the arrow out of my leg. I hiss at the pain and he ties it off with a cloth from his pocket.

"We need to move," he says quietly. "They're coming." He begins running down on side of the hallway. "This way!"

I stumble and hobble a little bit, but I do my best to keep up with the hobbit. The blood leaking from my wound will make me easy to track after they got down from the higher levels. Once we reach somewhere relatively well hidden I tear off more of my tunic and tourniquet my leg further in hopes of stemming the blood flow better. I can tell from the light in the halls that we are finally getting to the higher levels of the underground kingdom, but just as soon as the difference is noticeable, Bilbo pulls me down a corridor. There is a door covered in cobwebs and it looks like it has been unused for some time. Bilbo slowly opens the door, but even then it creaks loudly. I limp my way through the door to the back wall, leaning on both the cold stone and an old box.

"Stay here," says Bilbo. "I'm going to find Tauriel and I'll be back. Just stay quiet," he notices my inability to speak so all I can do is nod as I try to catch my breath, "and please don't die."

He closes the door and tries to clean up any nearby evidence. Then the sound of his scuffling feet disappears altogether. I find myself alone in the dark once more. I focus on my breathing and not passing out. This is the first real rest I've had in days and I can feel myself on the physical break from exhaustion. My whole body is in pain and as I settle into a sitting position my body screams in agony. I want to sleep so badly, but I have to fight at least a little longer; if I'm not careful I might be caught and killed. I can only hope that Tauriel and her guard found me before Gelon and Gannion did.

Tauriel collects an entire squadron before they make their way to Gelon and Gannion's rooms. She was hopeful that they would find them there; optimistic that they might end this quickly so she could be sure that Tahna is alright. Unfortunately, in their search the guards find that they haven't been to their personal chambers for weeks. If they are not here then there is only one other place they could be.

Gelon had been one of the finest musicians in Thranduil's court. He played a flute like he had once been a lark. It is what had drawn his wife, Brilwen. They had been deeply in love and their first child had been conceived within five years of marriage. Gannion had been born in the spring and they adored their son. Another twenty years passed when Brilwen became pregnant again. This child didn't survive as Brilwen had been attacked by goblins from the Misty Mountains during a trading expedition.

This is when Gelon began to show his darker half lurking within. Despite, his wife's survival he became violent at the loss of his child. When the elven guard captured the goblins and brought them back for punishment and execution; Gelon couldn't insert himself fast enough. Hadrien told Tauriel that the mourning father had locked himself in the lower levels for long periods of time; refusing to leave unless his wife asked for him. According to reports, he is as much a natural at torture as he is with music.

Once the incident passes, many forget or ignore the behavior, writing it off as grief. It would be another 50 years before their last child, Gliwen, is born. The complications from the loss of their second child took its toll during the third pregnancy and Brilwen died. As an infant Gliwen spent most of her time with the wet nurses in the infirmary, leaving her father alone with Gannion.

Once again, Gelon became angry, but with nothing to hurt or torture he turned to training his son rigorously. His wrath began to imprint itself on his son, who obediently followed his father out of love and pity. It is only when Gliwen reaches 100 years of age that Gelon once again returns to the life of a charming musician. It is a horrifying cycle that many now became wary of. Naturally, when Tahna accidentally killed Gliwen, it sent the flute player into the worst of his fits.

However, with Hadrien's interference Gelon is once again denied a chance to reflect his pain onto the flesh of another. He enjoyed the screams and the fear, like an orc would. It made Tauriel's throat tighten just thinking about what he must be doing to her right now. Her hesitation to seek her out might have just killed Tahna outright; she should have taken more care.

They are making their way down to the lower levels when Tauriel hears a low whistle down a corridor. She looks in that direction and sees a small creature, perhaps even a child beckoning her down the hall. In his hand is a bloody rag, but it doesn't appear to be hurt. Tauriel recognizes the fabric from Tahna's shirt and tries to call out to him. He quickly puts a finger to his lips when the other sentries catch up with her. His face is sincere and he looks desperate. Tauriel makes a snap decision.

"Tirith i tovn pathu a togti i Aran," she orders them. She uses her body to block off the way where the small man hid. The elven sentinels passes her quickly, focused in their task. After they pass her, she retreats into the hallway. The man quickly reveals himself to Tauriel. Ever cautious, Tauriel pulls out a small dagger and holds it to the side of his face.

"Speak," she barks, "Tell me what you know." He looks her in the eyes bravely, trying to ignore the elvish dagger against his cheek.

"Tahna is alive," he tells her. Tauriel's breath stills a moment, but Bilbo continues. "But she's badly wounded. I hid her in an unused broom closet in one of the upper levels. She has two elves after her; they have been hurting her since our arrival. I have been trying to find you, but you kept moving. So I bided my time by her prison and waited until her captors were gone. That's how we got here…" He makes a small shrug at the end of his explanation as the ending is obvious.

"You are her friend," she says gently as she puts her dagger away. It isn't a question. This little person snuck in here for a purpose; that's clear to the elleth.

"Bilbo Baggins, at your service," he says with a small, charming smile.

"Take me to her, please," she says.

With a nod Bilbo begins leading Tauriel through the maze of the Elven Kingdom. They try to be quick, but also cautious as not to be seen. Tauriel couldn't imagine what someone would say if they saw her following Bilbo through the passageways. However, she kept her focus ahead of her. Her sister needed her now and she would not fail her.

I am awakened by a sound, completely unaware that I nodded off. For a moment I'm not sure what it is that caused me to wake. I look around the room, not that I can see anything too well in the dark. Then I hear it again; I can hear someone standing outside the door. When I focus my vision I can even see the shadows of feet moving around at the bottom of the door. I can feel fear and panic beginning to consume by thoughts. It's got to be elves; but which elves?

I stay quiet and do my best not to move. Then I hear them speaking; there are two of them. I wonder if they can hear the frantic beating of my heart. A small cut on my back begins to pinch against the rough stone wall. I stall a whimper in my throat, praying that any second Tauriel or Bilbo will call out to me from beyond the door; it never comes.

One voice rises to a shout and though I cannot identify what he says it's definitely male. A cold dread fills my heart. Bilbo wouldn't shout like that. It's Gelon and Gannion; I know it is. They must have tracked me down already; it's never difficult with any wounded animal, but I had hoped for a little more time. Perhaps I slept longer than I thought; who knows how long they have been standing out there while I have been sleeping. I might have never known if they were there or murdered in my sleep, unawares. My whole body is tense fighting the fatigue I feel. I do the only thing I can and remain still. I have to wait them out. If I'm not careful my panic will cause my breathing to labor and give me away. I try to calm down like when I would meditate with my fellow rangers. Within a few moments, my breathing becomes easier and I can feel my heart beginning to slow. They stand there speaking in angry, hushed tones for many minutes.

It seems to be working in my favor as the door never opens; they don't even attempt it. They leave to follow other possible routes, but soon they would realize my trail ends in only one place. I wait a little longer, putting more distance between us before I absolutely have to move. I count for one full minute before I lift myself to my feet and begin for the door. I don't bother opening it slowly with the door like Bilbo had. Every elf within a certain earshot would know, including Gelon and Gannion.

Once the door is open I make my way back to the stairway Bilbo brought me up from. I have to decide between up or down. I'd rather not go down, so I begin climbing upward. My leg injured makes progress difficult, even when leaning on the smooth stone walls. I only make it up a few flights when someone calls out behind me. This time my heart soars. I know that voice!

"Tauriel!" I exclaim as I turn around.

When I turn I see her running up the stairs with Bilbo beside her. I stop and try to run back towards her. She is smiling at me, but then her face turns into a panicked grimace. She stops where she stands and draws her bow. As she does, I can feel a shadow descending on me. I turn my head to see Gelon leaping down the stairs looking more an orc than ever before with his blade drawn. He is about to bring his blade down on my head, when something grabs my knees and I collapse on the stairway; my injuries sing upon impact.

At this point I have lost sight of Gelon, but I hear a solid thud before he falls beside me. His blade clatters loudly as it falls down the stair. When I turn to my side I see Gelon with an arrow through his throat. His eyes are wide and full of rage. He tries to speak, the blood bubbling out of his throat and onto the stone below. He even tries to move himself toward me, but he's choking and his body won't follow his commands. It is only a matter of seconds before he stops moving altogether.

For several moments there is nothing, but silence and my heavy breathing in the corridor. I have a hard time tearing my eyes away from Gelon, afraid he might still live. However, small hands move my face away from his and I find myself looking into gentle brown eyes.

"Tahna," says Bilbo. "Are you alright?"

He must have been the one who pulled me down when Gelon launched himself at me. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I grab Bilbo tightly and hold him to my chest. My bound hands are pressed awkwardly between us and his head rests on my painful shoulder, not that I care. I hold him to me like a lifeline; proof that I'm still alive, that I am free. He tries to hug my arm with one hand and rub my head with the other. Tauriel is by my side in an instant and grabs my available shoulder, burying her face into my hair. Both of them are holding me as best they can in my battered state. I feel a chill sweep across my skin and I cling to them for warmth. My friend and my sister, they came for me; they saved me. I don't think I have anymore tears, but if I could I'd be crying with joy. Then Tauriel looks up, hearing someone approach.

"You must hide," she says to Bilbo. He looks over at me for assurance and I nod.

"I still have time, but you mustn't be captured," I say. "You are the only hope of getting us to the mountain, Bilbo." With a final hug, he completely disappears. I can hear his footfalls as he moves back into the deeper part of the kingdom. Tauriel looks shocked, but doesn't say anything. I smile at her as her eyes become stormy.

"I'm so sorry, Tahna," she says as she stands. Just then Gannion emerges from a vestibule on the stairs below us. Instinctively, Tauriel rises and nocks a second arrow, pointing it right at his heart. The elf sees his father on the stairs and surprisingly doesn't react. He is frozen in place staring at the lifeless body beside me.

"Dannael megil!" she cries. I don't think he heard Tauriel, but as if hearing their captain's distress, the regiment she assembled appeared from below. They draw their weapons and hold them to Gannion's back. The whole time he didn't move. One of the squad removes Gannion's sword and begins to bind his hands. That is when he finally realizes what is going on, but even then he doesn't react. It is then that he moves his gaze – to me. He watches me with silent regard until he is dragged beyond my sight.

Then a different solder comes to my side, removing the metal manacles from my wrists gently. I can see that they have been rubbed raw in my struggles. The skin is cracked and has bled quite a few times. I'm a bit more concerned about the rust that has formed on the dark metal; I fear that it might give rise to an infection if my other wounds weren't already. That's when he produces a small rope. When I look up at his face he gives me a pitying look. However, I don't put a fight and extend my hands. He gently wraps the new tether around my inflamed wrists. I must look awful to receive such kindness.

Tauriel looks like she's in pain and refuses to watch. Instead she instructs the others to bring Gelon's body to the king for report; once she finished he would be taken to the infirmary in preparation of a proper burial. The guards position his body for easy transport and wait for other to retrieve a litter to take him the rest of the way.

When my hands are properly bound. The soldier tries helping me up the stairs, but my limp halts our progress. When Tauriel notices my leg wound, she comes to my side and examines it more closely. She throws my hands over her shoulders and hiked my aching thighs to her waist. My chest is pressed against her back and I can smell the fresh lavender in her hair. She continues up the stairs with ease as if she were completely unhindered. The others follow behind her dutifully and silent about my treatment, including the kind one who did the rope on my wrists.

"Goheno nin, Elruin," I whisper trying to be discreet. I am right by her ear so I know she can hear me with ease. "Gi melin."

"Gi melin eithro," she replies quickly. Her grip on my legs tightens as I begin to fall asleep on her shoulder from the gentle rocking motion. The scent of her hair and the warmth of her body help lull me into a deep sleep.

Oh my goodness. Parf Edhellen, the elvish dictionary I have been using, is starting to accept fan-made words. I didn't use any here, but I'm starting to think I'm in trouble…

Sindarin Translations:

Baurni tirdh i naugrim. - I need you to watch the dwarves.

Iesten tirad i Dunadan. - I wish to see the Dunadain.

I adaneth? - The woman?

Athon. Naman raeg? - Yes. What's wrong?

Aphredim! – Answer me!

Limion a Orelon nae oi arahadhw sam. - Limion and Orelon escorted her from the Throne Room.

Ti uoio anhae dan. - They never brought her back.

Dartha si! – Stay here!

Nati cened an men. - They are looking for us.

Ti henia man nam cared. - They know what we are doing.

Dravadh i huwen. - Kill the bitch.

Baw! – No!

Tirith i tovn pathu a togti i Aran. - Search the lower levels and bring them to the King.

Dannael megil! – Drop your sword!

Goheno nin, Elruin - Forgive me, Star Fire

Gi melin. – I love you

Gi melin eithro. – I love you too.

Next time: Tahna is reunited with the dwarves! Tauriel and Thorin begin plotting…