. . .

DÍS

. . .

Dís stared at the men that surrounded them. Thorin had taken his clothes off on their command, but she couldn't move. One of them screamed at her that she had to take her clothes off as well, but the thought only already scared her to death.

"If you don't listen to us, you will have to live with a kid less."

She saw that Fíli wanted to open his mouth, but Thorin silenced him with a warning glance.

With her eyes aimed at the ground she did what the man asked her to do. She took off her fur coat, followed by the undershirt of mail that Thorin had given to her the day before they left. She did not take off her underwear.

"Come to me."

One of the men had an awful grin on his face and she shrunk back in fear. Her eyes flashed to the weapon that was aimed at her son. Did she have a choice? She hadn't felt anything those last days. She shouldn't care about the things those men would do to her, but she did. She didn't want anyone to touch her and she knew that was exactly what those men wanted from her.

In despair she glanced at Thorin, but his face showed ghastly features. He could not help her and she knew that. Everybody knew that.

With shaking legs she walked to the man that had called her. Terrified she looked at him. His glance wandered over her body and he seemed to like what he saw.

"I go first," he said to the other men. One of them made a discontented sound, but the other gestured that he better stopped whining.

"Leave her alone!" Thorin screamed fiercely when he realized more than one man would touch his sister.

"Shut up," another man answered.

In a flash he pulled back the string of his bow and an arrow swished through the air. Both her scream and that of Thorin echoed through the wood. She saw how Thorin tried to push Fíli away, but the distance was too little. The projectile pierced Fíli's lower leg.

Dís bend forward and vomited when she saw that the arrow stuck out of his leg. The cries of her eldest son were the biggest torment she'd ever experienced and she didn't care any longer when the man dragged her along and pushed her onto the ground.

Dís sobbed loudly, with such whines it sounded as if she was dying. She no longer cared for her own body, but thought about her boy that was dying from pain. She had to give the man everything she had. It was the only thing that could save her children.

"You're the first dwarf I fuck,' he grinned while he tore her underwear. A few moments later she was lying on the ground stark naked. She cried no longer. She didn't even struggle when his filthy hands glided over her upper body. She only snivelled, waiting until it was over.

The struggle however came back when he pushed her knees aside. She wanted to do whatever the man wanted from her, so that her children would be safe, but her body didn't listen to her. She started to writhe wildly again and tried to kick the man, but he was much taller than she and he would break her resistance anyway. It didn't even seem to harm him. He probably even liked it. She closed her eyes when she felt his stiff extremity touch her thigh, on its way to the place only one man had ever touched.

Suddenly the man fell next to her. In confusion Dís looked aside. It all happened so abruptly she did not understand what was going on, but she saw an arrow sticking out of his head. Blood welled up from the wound and colored his rough face red. Afraid Dís looked around. Between the trees she saw a slim figure, but before she could blink her eyes, he was already gone.

. . .

THORIN

. . .

With fear in his heart Thorin looked at the young boy that sat at the ground sobbing. Kíli stood next to him with a pale face, but he wasn't allowed to move. His thoughts wandered to his sister, who underwent the umpteenth terror. It was unfair and he was angry on the gods, who tolerated this injustice. Apparently they were chased away by the orcs as well, or by the dark power leading them.

Thorin's mouth however dropped when someone with an arrow on his bow appeared. The men laughed together while they divided his clothes. They didn't notice the stranger. But before Thorin could warn them – not that he intended to do so – they fell forward, all of them with an arrow sticking out of their heads.

Thorin immediately stepped towards the boys and stood protectively before them, although the dead bodies convinced him this stranger wasn't here to harm them.

"Dís!" A relieved sigh left his lips when his sister appeared from behind their saviour. She rushed towards them and embraced him while crying. Soon however she let go of him and bowed over Kíli. She pressed a kiss on his head and kneeled next to Fíli.

"It's going to be all right," she hushed while fondling his hair.

Thorin studied her face. This event had awakened her again. He walked to the pile of clothes and started to dress himself, while he glanced hesitating at the tall figure that searched the dead bodies. Thorin saw he put away a dagger in his robe.

"Thank you."

Two eyes that were as blue as the sea looked at him. His attention slid to the bow that hung over his shoulder. The top was decorated and from a different manufacture than the bows of their opponents.

"What are you doing here?" a cold voice sounded.

"We are looking for a new home."

Disdainful laughing made his shoulders hang.

"Here?"

"Wherever there's place for us." His stem sounded a little doubtful.

"Dwarves never come here."

He was distracted by Fíli's cries. "Can you help us?"

Thorin didn't receive an answer, but the other walked by. The stranger knelt next to Fíli and by that movement the hood slit aside, revealing a pointy ear. An elf. He wasn't surprised and hope arose. Maybe he was able to cure Fíli.

Thorin took Dís' clothes from the ground and gave it to her, while he observed the face of the elf. It was not a man, although the traits in her face were quite hard. She had a deep scar that immediately claimed all attention, stretching from her forehead to the left corner of her mouth.

"I will take you to Imladris."

Thorin had no idea what to say, but he was really happy with that announcement. He lift up the kid, who whined softly. Thorin knew he tried to be strong, but the pain was too overpowering.

Dís took Kíli's hand and they followed the woman, who stepped over the dead bodies.

"What's your name?" Thorin asked curiously.

She looked into his eyes shortly, but aimed her alert eyes forward soon. "That is of no importance."

Thorin considered his words for a moment, but still went through. "I have to tell the children who saved them."

A disdainful sniffing was the only reaction he got, by which he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"A name is nothing but a name."

"Still I would like to know."

"Then come up with a name yourself."

Thorin couldn't remember he'd ever met such a stubborn creature before, but he wouldn't complain about it. She had still saved their lives, while she was an elf. She could have left them to die as well.

While Thorin walked behind her, he realized she was more careful than he was. As long as they were hunted, it was better if he was silent about his name as well. "Is it far?" He couldn't take over her silence. He was impressed by the things she'd done, despite her distant attitude and not so friendly words.

"It will be when you keep talking to me."

Thorin considered these words as a treat and he kept his mouth shut, although his eyes assimilated every move she made. She moved gracious and was easily absorbed into the shadows, a talent he wished he had too.

. . .

DÍS

. . .

Dís tightly held Kíli's hand. Thorin carried Fíli, who couldn't stand on his legs anymore. She hoped Imladris was near, since her son looked pale and despite the good care of the elf woman she was terrified he wouldn't make it.

Her brother tried to start a conversation with the woman who'd helped them, but he wasn't very successful and in the end they walked in silence after each other through the forest, that cast long shadows upon them.

Dís was barely recovered from shock. She could still feel the filthy hands on her upper body. His disgusting breath still hanged in her nostrils, but she tried to focus on the unexpected turn things had taken: she was saved before she was dishonored. Still she thought to see shadows that weren't coming from the trees, as if evil men hid behind the barks and watched them with foul grins. Now and then goose bumps appeared on her arms, as if the ghosts of their attackers hovered behind them, determined to revenge themselves.

"We can't rest tonight," the elf woman announced after the sun had set, "but it isn't far."

A relieved sigh left Dís' lips. She was tired, but knew she wouldn't sleep tonight. Not after what had happened today.

Kíli couldn't go any further. His eyes closed sometimes while he was walking next to her and his steps became shorter. She knew she had to carry him, but she was dead tired as well. Still she didn't dare to ask the elf. She appeared to be a lousy mother if she asked if someone could carry her child. With squeezing jaws she lifted up Kíli and put him on her side. He immediately put a finger in his mouth and laid his head to her shoulder. She glanced at his peaceful face. Once again she realized the danger they'd faced. Her children could have died.

"Give him to me."

Dís looked uncertain at the woman. She didn't want to hand over Kíli. She didn't want to admit she was exhausted, but it was absurd to fight when she didn't need to. Sometimes it was courageous to accept a helping hand was a better solution than to keep going on stubbornly.

With mixed feelings she gave Kíli to the woman. She still hadn't said her name, but after her answer to Thorin Dís didn't dare to ask for it. It was her own choice to be anonymous, although Dís wondered why she wanted that so badly. Why did she wander alone in the forest? Would the shadows make her nervous as well? For some reason Dís couldn't imagine. At first sight she seemed to fear nothing.

Dís didn't know how much time had passed when they went into a small tunnel. It was darker than in the forest and even though Dís was used to darkness, as were all dwarves, she didn't particularly like it and grabbed Thorin's hand. He squeezed her fingers softly.

"We're almost there," he said.

Only a few moments passed before Thorin's words became reality. They stepped out of the tunnel and the view Dís saw before her eyes, took away her breath. The full moon shone upon a beautiful valley, that was crossed by shining streamlets. The sound of splashing water was everywhere and a fresh breeze waved through their hair.

In the distance hymns sounded that were unmistakeably coming from elves. Finally Dís had the feeling they'd reached their destiny, although it remained to be seen if they could stay here.

"I won't go any further."

The woman gave back Kíli.

Her words surprised Dís. "Why not?"

"I don't think a dwarf will ever be able to understand my reasons."

Thorin moved restlessly. He was on the verge of making an angry remark, but Dís quickly squeezed his hand.

"Thank you for everything."

The woman stared shortly at them, bowed her head and disappeared in the dark tunnel. Reluctantly Dís turned around. She looked at the splendid beauty of the valley that laid before her and unintentionally she wondered if this was only external disguise. What was the reason the elf wanted to leave? Was there a malicious person in charge of this community? Was the peaceful sight of the by waterfalls surrounded city nothing but a delusion?  

. . .

THORIN

. . .

Thorin somehow felt lost when the woman left them. Why didn't she help them further? She surely wasn't obligatory to help them, but he found it odd and he wanted to know why she refused to come along.

"Ssh," he comforted Fíli. The boy was crying softly and Thorin pushed his nose against his cheek. "They will help us here."

He had no idea where they actually were. The city before him was lighted by thousands of lights which seemed to move. There was a mysterious atmosphere, as if they had entered a land that only existed in ancient books. He laid his hand upon Dís' shoulder, pushing her gently. Together they walked over the path, deeper into the valley.

Whispering voices that sang strange melodies followed them and caused goosebumps on Thorin's arms. Elves.

He had only met a few in his life. He'd only seen the wood elves that had paid their tribute and had betrayed them when Smaug intruded the Lonely Mountain. That memory caused a bitter taste in his mouth, although his angry feelings were tempered by the help that was offered to them and the fact that they were the only ones who could help his nephew.

"Are you okay?" he softly asked Dís. He noticed she was short of breath, which often happened when she was nervous.

The moonlight revealed that she nodded shortly. "I just hope we will be welcome. The elf that saved us clearly hadn't much fate."

Thorin thought about her words and just hoped it wasn't the king of this strange land that had prevented her from coming further.

All those time they saw nobody. It made him nervous, for their songs made clear they were around and they probably observed them from the trees.

"Hey!" he called, maybe a little impolite. "Is there anybody who can help us?"

He didn't want to let Fíli die because the elves liked to play a game with them.

Nobody answered and Fíli started to cry louder. Even though his cries tore his heart apart, he didn't comfort the boy. Maybe it wasn't just his heart that was grasped by the shrieks of the little boy.

The situation did not change and Thorin started to lose his patience. He just wanted to call again when he saw two figures. They were both elves with dark hair and they stood in the middle of the path, as if they'd came out of the ground.

Now somebody had heard them, Thorin didn't know what to say. To his surprise, his sister started to talk.

"My son is wounded," she said. Her voice sounded so sad he believed even an orc would give in. "Can you help him? Please?"

"Of course." The voice of the elf was lower than Thorin had expected, as if it absorbed Dís' distress.

For a moment his glance went over Thorin's face, but then he turned around. "Please, follow us."

The other elf walked to Dís to take over Kíli, who was sleeping again. He was glad he could carry his own nephew himself. Despite his exhaustion and fear, he didn't want to give away the boy, not even to elves who seemed friendly and whose expertise they needed.