If This Is to End in Fire Chapter IX

Chapter IX: Hide and Seek

A/N:Fan cast of Bifur is Don Cheadle.

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Tauriel did her rounds through the cells the night after the Dwarves arrived. The Woodland Realm rarely had long-term prisoners. Mostly it was drunk and disorderly Elves. The Dwarves had certainly shaken everyone’s routine.

Kíli threw a black stone in the air and caught it repeatedly. Tauriel found it odd. She had always been told Dwarves loved precious metals and gemstones, not a rock which could be found in a river.

“The stone in your hand, what is it?” Tauriel asked.

“It is a talisman. A powerful spell lies upon it. If any but a Dwarf reads the runes on this stone, they will be forever cursed,” Kíli said. He held up the stone, staring at Tauriel.

She stepped back slightly, unsure of how Dwarf magic worked.

“Or not, depending on whether you believe that kind of thing. It’s just a token.” The Dwarf smiled with kindness.

Tauriel smiled back. She did not think Dwarves had a sense of humor. All of the ones she met had been terse with her.

Kíli held the stone in one hand. “A rune stone. My Mother gave it to me so I’d remember my promise. She gave one to my sister and my uncle too.”

“What promise?”

“That I will come back to her. I mean, it’s a bit silly. She’s on this venture with us. But my Father… he forgot to carry it with him the day he died so she is rather superstitious about it. Not that I blame her.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Tauriel said.

“Thanks. It happened a long time ago. I was… almost six and a half. It’s been several decades. Fíli got so serious after…” Kíli cleared his throat. “Anyway, my Mom. She worries. She thinks I’m reckless.”

“Are you?” Tauriel asked.

“Nah.” Kíli tossed the stone in the air and missed. The stone skittered out of his cell. Tauriel stopped it with her foot.

She picked up the stone and inspected it. The Elf did not understand the words, but she could see the quality of the craftsmanship.

“Listen, I’m sorry about my comment earlier,” Kíli said, “It wasn’t gentleman-like of me. I wasn’t raised that way. I’m sorry.”

“You are forgiven,” Tauriel said, “But I’m afraid I must leave. I have tarried here too long.” She gave the stone back to Kíli. “Don’t do anything reckless or I will have to come by your cell again.”

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Bramble vaguely remembered some psychological study about how people would not notice a gorilla running around if they were told to focus on how many basketball passes someone made. It was the only reason she could think of for not being caught so far. The other possibility was the Elves were just stupid, but that sounded a bit too Dwarvish to her. Honestly, it was a bit unnerving the Elves who were supposed to be watching out for Orcs could not notice one single Hobbit stealing their food.

Security, overall, was rather relaxed once one was in the King’s Halls. Getting in and out was impossible. Bramble had gotten the key and map with ease. Thranduil had locked it up that night before he went to bed in his desk. Looking around at the king’s office, she guessed he was not involved with technology. When there was no blow-up the next day, Bramble realized Thranduil did not care much about the Dwarves and their quest. As long as the dragon did not come to Mirkwood, than it did not matter to the Elf king.

The Elves were good at one thing: making mazes. Bramble had problems figuring out where everyone and everything was. She knew where the royals lived, but little else. What she needed was to find a security room or at least a map.

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It was some time after her sixth meal in the dungeon when Dís received a visitor. She did not bother getting up from her cot. “Ah, Prince Legolas. What an annoyance.”

“I am not here to quarrel with you, Lady Dís,” Legolas said.

“I am not telling you anything. Not sorry,” Dís said.

Legolas held up a tablet. “Your children.”

Dís shot up and ran to the cell bars. “What about my children?”

Legolas hit play on a video of Fíli. “Is this some evil Elf conspiracy or something? Whatever. Hi, Mom. Fíli here. Not dead. I had some bread and cheese for whatever this meal is. Working on my great escape. So, don’t worry. I’m physically fine. Love you. Elves can go Ish kakhfê ai’d dur rugnu!”

“And your son,” Legolas said as he switched to another video, this time of Kíli.

“Why am I doing this?” Kíli asked.

“To reassure your Mother,” Legolas said.

“Yeah. Sure. You’re going to dub my voice over or something to make a ransom video.”

“You are not worth the effort,” Legolas said.

Kíli sighed and rubbed his face before speaking. “Hey, Mom. Kíli here. Not dead. I’m getting fed pretty regularly. Cheese and bread, mostly. I hope you’re okay too. Love you. Oh, and Elves suck!”

The video ended.

“What was that for?” Dís said.

“My Father understands the need for a parent to know their children are safe,” Legolas said, “We are not cruel by nature, Lady Dís. We do not desire any of you to suffer. We would not separate a mother from her children.”

Dís gave a smile of disdain. “You see, Elf prince, I know it is not true. If your Father did care about such, he would have helped my people. Do you not know how many orphans were created that day? Parents who could not even bury their children? Who had to watch them die? Does he not realize my own mother was among the dead? And he expects me to be GRATEFUL for this taunt! I will not see my children face to face while your father holds us prisoner.”

Legolas looked at Dís blankly, but there was a flicker of confusion in his eyes for a moment. “Lady Dís, this was not done out of malice.”

“Not just cruel, but a liar as well,” Dís said as she mimicked his words from before.

Legolas sighed. “I am sorry to have caused you pain, Lady Dís. It was not done on purpose.” He nodded before leaving her.

Dís curled up on her cot, feeling cold and more alone than ever. She was overjoyed to see her children well, but the sorrow came with knowing she could not see them again was worse than being shot.

A voice whispered, “Dís!”

The Dwarf looked around and saw nothing. “Am I being haunted?”

“No. It’s me, Bramble.”

Dís stood up and looked as far out of her cell as she could. “I think I’m hallucinating.”

“You’re not,” Bramble said as she took Dís’ hand.

Dís jumped, but relaxed slightly when she saw the distortion where Bramble stood. “You weren’t captured?”

“No. I am trying to find everyone. You’re the first one I’ve found.”

“How?” Dís asked.

“I couldn’t get to a security room, but I found the kitchens. I followed the food,” Bramble said, “Thorin asked me to get the map and key. Do you think I should give them to you?”

“No. What if they search my cell?” Dís said.

“Okay. Good point. Do you know where anyone else is?” Bramble asked.

“No. I just know Fíli and Kíli are alright. My guess is they put me as far from the others as possible, particularly Thorin.”

“Why?”

“I am the mother of the heir to Erebor. I could lead the Company if necessary. The Elves know, though, I won’t leave without my brother or my children.”

“Good to know. Dís, I have to go. I haven’t been caught yet, but it’s because I keep moving whenever there are cameras around, like now. I will find the rest of the Company and get you out, I promise.”

“Good luck, professor,” Dís said.

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It was somewhat easier from there to find the rest of the Dwarves once Bramble knew what building they were in. Hallways, doors locked and/or guarded, and a plethora of cameras separated the Company. Food was harder to come by and sleep was less likely. The Dwarves were more than willing to slip Bramble food.

The first Dwarf the Hobbit found after Dís was Balin. He was relieved to hear Thorin was alive and the map had been found. Balin was not happy about Thorin’s actions. “The boy is far too rash. The deal was our only hope. Save for you, of course.”

“Your confidence is overwhelming,” Bramble said dryly.

Dwalin was next and he was calmed to hear about his brother, Thorin, and Dís. Bifur was ecstatic to be able to be understood, even if it was just basic Khuzdul. Glóin cursed the Elves continuously. Dori, Nori, and Ori worried about their sisters. Bombur complained about the food. Fíli was on the verge of panic about her brother. Óin was getting new batteries for his hearing aids on a regular basis. Seeing Bofur again brought Bramble absolute joy.

“My dear lass! I would spin you around, but these bars are in the way!”

“Oh, Bofur, I think I’ve missed you most,” Bramble said. She was able to take his hand through the bars.

They leaned their foreheads together as best as they could. Bofur sniffled. “Now, namad, if you’re crying, I will be cross.”

“I’m not crying, except from maybe exhaustion. I think I have had two hours straight at one point. Everything else has just been naps of a few minutes. How are you?”

“Fantastic now you’re here! Where’s everyone else?”

“Nearby. Kíli and Thorin are the two I have left. Bombur and Bifur say hello. Bombur asks how the food is for you. She hates it.”

“I haven’t had problems with the food. Are you eating enough?”

“I haven’t felt the need to pass out,” Bramble said.

“Now that’s not good at all. Hobbits need to eat, particularly my little namad. If you challenged Smaug to a pie eating competition, you’d win!”

Bramble laughed. “Bofur, you are wonderful.”

“That’s true.”

She laughed again. “I have to go. I will come back and start delivering messages in a little bit.” Bramble sighed. “I’m not looking forward to seeing Thorin again. I’m sure he is going to berate me because of the spiders. He looked so angry when he realized what happened. It’s not like I brought the spiders down on us.”

“Trust me, professor, he wasn’t angry at you. He’ll be happy to see you. Even happier than me.” He winked at Bramble’s direction. “Just go find them and figure a way out of here.”

“I will.”

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Bramble’s heart stopped when she almost ran into Captain Tauriel. The Hobbit relaxed slightly when she saw the Elf was preoccupied with Kíli.

“I think you tried tossing this the first time we met,” Tauriel said as she held up a smooth stone.

“There’s only so much recklessness I can do in here,” Kíli said. He leaned up against the bars and smiled. “And how are you on this fine evening… day… whatever?”

“It is evening,” Tauriel said, “I am well.”

“So, do you Elves do anything fun around here besides hunting spiders?” Kíli said.

“We have fun just like everyone else. We have feasts, dances, parties, TV binges…” Tauriel shrugged. “Nothing other people do not have. Dwarves?”

“All of that too. Our biggest is Durin’s Day and it’s my favorite. It is coming up in the middle of October. We have this huge feast with so much food we have leftovers for everyone for a week. We dance until our feet are blistered and we sing until our voices are hoarse. Even Uncle Thorin is happy. He doesn’t dance properly though. He says he won’t dance until… well, things. As far as I know since the fall of Erebor he hasn’t danced except for my Mom’s wedding and for the parties thrown after Fíli and me were born.”

Tauriel smiled at Kíli which made the Dwarf’s cheeks turn slightly pink. “I’m talking too much. You. What is your favorite event?”

Tauriel smiled even broader. “It is Mereth-en-Gilith, the Feast of Starlight, which we will celebrate in a week and a half.” She stepped away for a moment, her eyes bright. “All light is sacred to the Eldar, but Wood Elves love best the light of the stars.”

Kíli said softly, “I always thought it is a cold light, remote and far away.”

Tauriel turned towards Kíli. “It is memory, precious and pure. Like your promise.” She gave the stone back to Kíli, their hands touching a moment longer than necessary. “I have walked there sometimes, beyond the forest and up into the night. I have seen the world fall away and the white light forever fill the air.”

Kíli looked at Tauriel with open admiration. “I saw a fire moon once. It rose over the pass near Dunland, huge; red and gold it was, filled the sky. We were an escort for some merchants from Ered Luin, they were trading in Silverbuck for furs. We took the Greenway south, keeping the mountain to our left, and then, this huge fire moon, right in our path. I wish I could show you...”

Bramble crept away. It was an entirely unexpected development and she had no idea what to make of it.

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Sometime after Bramble saw Tauriel left, the Hobbit went to Kíli who stood with his back to the bars of his cells. “Fíli and Dís send their love.”

Kíli spun around. “Professor!”

“Shush! Not so loud.” She placed her hand on his arm.

“Everyone is alright, professor?”

“Yes. I have found everyone except for Thorin. Do you have any messages you want me to carry? I can’t do much else at the moment.”

“Just that I am well. Are you alright, professor?”

“I’m fine, Kíli.” Bramble was silent for a moment. “So… any information on the Elves you could give me?”

“They aren’t pure evil?” Kíli offered weakly. “I don’t know, professor. There is nothing I could tell which could help.”

Bramble was glad Kíli could not see her smile. “It’s alright, Kíli. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

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Over the next five days, Bramble had added passing messages to her list of things to do besides looking for Thorin, finding a way out, and avoiding detection. Her exhaustion built to a critical point. The Hobbit was not sure how much longer she could keep going on like this.

On the thirteenth day of their imprisonment, Bramble found a small storage room with some blankets. The room was dusty from disuse. Bramble nestled into a corner, wrapping herself in blankets she found in the room. She was finally warm for the first time in almost two weeks.

Bramble was unsure how long she had been sleeping, but she awoke by the voice of Captain Tauriel saying, “I don’t know how you’re doing it, but if you want to not be shot, you had better make yourself visible right this second.”