Frêllian sighed. She had no clue what time of day it was, nor how many days had passed. All she had, was her instincts, but she did not dare trust them with all the elven magic lingering around. She was sure at least three days had passed, judging from their meals. But she couldn't tell for certain. And who knew how long they would have to dwell down here in these damn cells?

But she had to keep faith! Bilbo was still out there, she was sure of it! Though the hobbit had once been a scared little fellow, Frêllian had noticed a change within Bilbo. Ever so slightly Bilbo had started to show more of his bravery and he had even saved them from the giant spiders! He sure knew how to defend himself now adays, especially with the training she had given him.

Suddenly a voice snapped her out of her thoughts and Frêllian looked up to see a she-elf standing in front of her prison. Her curious eyes scanning Frêllian carefully. Almost assessing her.

'You are not a dwarrowdam,' she stated, a look of interest on her face, instead of hatred. 'You have the built of a warrior and you carry yourself with pride. Yet you are too fine featured.'

'What of it,' Frêllian growled, not even looking at the female anymore.

'You are a child of the moon, a ferian. Though I must admit, I had thought ferien to be much larger, and much more menacing looking.'

From the corner of their cell, Fíli shook his head in silent warning, mouthing a 'no' to Frêllian upon noticing the smirk on her face. But she ignored him. If the elf wanted fearsome, then she'll have fearsome!

'Perhaps you have been misinformed then,' Frêllian stated, turning around to face the she-elf. 'As you can see, there is nothing frightning about me.'

She flashed the elf a smile, purposefully showing off her sharp fangs. Walking closer to the door, Frêllian kept her eyes trained on the she-elf, like a predator stalking their prey.

Within seconds a large white wolf stood on their hind legs, with its front paws resting against the door. A manacing growl escapes its throat, before snapping its jaws at the elf.

'Or perhaps we are as menacing as you think, but you have never met one before,' Frêllian growled lowly. Her voice a mixed with a feral sound. 'Which explains why you look so frightened.'

Her yellow eyes watched as the elf took a step back. She could hear Fíli sigh from behind her, but chose to ignore him once again. He would not spoil her fun!

'Oh if only you could smell it, Fíli,' she started after a moment of silence. 'The sweet scent of fear. It's one of my favorite scents, because it means food.'

By now her eyes werr on the she-elf again, watching her every move. Hearing her ragged breathing, even if she tried to conceal it.

'I wonder if your king will be frightened too, if he knows who is amongst his prisoners.'

'Lord Thranduil does not fear a lone ferian,' the elf replied bravely, as she found back some of her courage. 'He has dealt with them before and only their alpha is a match to him. And none of us has had dealings with them in ages.'

Frêllian smirked. So it seemed the elven king has had dealings with one of her ancestors. Or perhaps it had just been an ordinary alpha? Then this will surely be interesting.

'An alpha you say? Just an alpha without any special titles?'

The she-elf shook her head. Good! That was all Frêllian had to know. With a blink of an eye, she turned back and reaches her hand through the bars. The startled elf gasped in surprise as Frêllian took hold of her collar and pulled her down.

'Then surely your king will fear for his life once he knows who I am!' As she spoke, Frêllian made sure to keep her voice low and menacing. 'For I am the Alpha Supreme, queen of all ferien! And it would be wise to release me and my company, if you want to keep peace.'

With that said, Frêllian released the female forcefully. She had seen the fear in her eyes. And even in this form, she could smell the fear coming from the she-elf. Yes, she knew what the alpha supreme was. Though she might not know of the powers, she knew the danger of holding royalty prison.

'You really think that scaring that she-elf is going to make Thranduil free us all,' Fíli questioned as he made his way over to her. 'Because I don't think it'll happen.'

'No, it won't,' Frêllian admitted, glancing over to the dwarf for a moment. 'But I had fun scaring her.'

Later that day - or night - the same female elf had returned. Only this time she kept her distance from the ferian.

'So you decide to waste your time in the presence of your prisoners,' Frêllian began as she eyed the other female. 'Personally, I would have stayed with the others, enjoying whatever party you are throwing up there.'

Instead of answering, the elf walked away which humoured Frêllian. She watched the she-elf inspect the other prisoners, before halting in front of the one Kíli was in.

She heard her ask the said dwarf a question, but now Frêllian was no longer interested. Her attention now on the dwarf to her right.

'You know, if we were able to pick this lock, we could escape tonight,' she told him in a hussed voice. 'Those bloody elves are celebrating something, so I bet most guards are gone as well.'

'Well I don't know about you,' Fíli began, looking at her with a doubtful look in his eyes, 'but I don't know how to pick a lock. I'm not exactly a burglar.'

'No,' she agreed with a playful smirk. 'More like a spoiled prince.'

Fíli smirked at this, noticing the playful twinkel in her eyes. A big improvement to the usual haunted eyes. Though she tried to hide it, he had seen straight through her façade from the start. But as strange as it may seem, during their stay in the cells of the elvenkingdom, Frellian had started to losen up as the days passed by.

It was almost like she could relax eventhough she was imprisoned. Then again, that might just be the reason why, Fíli realised. Out in the open they had always been an easy target. And with a pack of orcs, wargs and ferien hunting them, Frêllian might feel responsible for the safety of the company - or pack or whatever she called it. She grew up with those hunting them down, so perhaps she might feel guilty about it somehow. Which there was absolutely no need for, if you' were to ask him.

Or there might be more to to it? Frêllian was the alpha supreme, queen of the ferien. And with that title came responsibility. Just like Thorin, who seemed to be the same as the said female in a way, now that he thought about it. Though with Frêllian still being a young ferian, her playful attitude shone through at the moments she relaxed.

It made him wonder. Did his uncle used to be as easy going as Frêllian? That was hard to imagine. But if that was indeeds so, did the hardness of life and the responsibility of being the heir to the throne make him the dwarf he was today? And did that mean Fíli would turn out just like his uncle one day?

Or was it the character that set Thorin and Frêllian apart? With his uncle always being as serious as he was and Frêllian being playful by nature? And would Fíli be able to deal with the responsibility in his own way once he would feel the pressure of the crown?

His eyes set on the ferian with a soft expression, while she in her turn looked at something outside of their cell with a smirk. The playfulness he had gotten used to, evident in the twinkling of her eyes.

'What are you up to?'

She turned her head towards him, the twinkle still in her eyes as she answered.

'It seems your brother has an admirer,' she told him. 'I'm just pondering over all the possible ways I can tease him with now.'

At this, Fíli smirked as well as he moved over to the ferian. She pointed towards the cell Kíli was in and to Fíli's surprise the she-elf Frêllian had scared earlier, was having a conversation with his brother.

'Really,' he began with a frown. 'Of all females, Kíli has taken interest in an elf?'

'Well of course he can do better than that,' Frêllian agreed. 'But it is something to pester him about. Besides, your uncle would never approve. So no need to worry about it.'

He looked over to Frêllian for a moment and back to his brother. Then he turned around with a sigh, seating himself on the stone bed. Of course Frêllian was right. Thorin would never approve Kíli courting an elf. And Kíli would never go against their uncle. He might be a rebel, but he had respect for Thorin.

But who would Thorin approve? Dwarrowdams were rare and back in Ered Luin the youngest was at least twice their age.

Perhaps Dain had a couple of dwarrowdams at his court closer to their age? And would that be a match Thorin would like to see? Sure their uncle would like to see at least one of his heirs to produce an heir of their own.

Unwillingly his eyes travelled back to Frêllian. He remembered seeing her in this form for the first time and how beautiful he had thought her to be. And after traveling together after such a long time, it would become a difficult task to find a dwarrowdam who could match her beauty.

No, he told himself as he looked at his hands with a frown. There was no dwarrowdam alive who could even dream of coming close to Frêllian's beauty. Only with ferian blood could one come close, for what was part of their beauty, was the fact that they held the beauty of the moon.

Once again he looked at Frêllian as a single question enter his mind.

Would Thorin approve of Frêllian?

Shocked by his own thoughts he started to lay down. Where had that thought come from? It wouldn't even matter if Thorin would approve. There would be no need for it, because Fíli would never court the ferian.

Besides, there would also be Dwalin to approve such a match. And from the way Fíli had seen the said dwarf look at Bilbo at times, he knew the warrior was not yet ready to let go of his most treasured jewel.

Besides, Frêllian had her own responsibilities. She had her own people to lead. Far up in the north, in a forest. A ferian such as herself would never feel at home behind walls.

As Fíli found himself thinking of even more reasons to dismiss his thought, he eventually found himself fall asleep.

Frêllian woke up by a sudden sound. On instinct, she concentrated to see if she could hear anything. But she was met by silence. The only sound she heard, was the snoring of Fíli and some other dwarves.

'I'll wager the sun's on the rise,' she heard Bofur say from his side of the dungeon. 'It must be nearly dawn.'

'We're never going to reacht the mountain, are we?'

Ori his question irritated Frêllian, for it meant he had no faith in Bilbo. But when she opened her mouth the defend her friend, another voice spoke up. A voice she hadn't heard in a long time.

'Not stuck in here, you're not!'

'Bilbo,' the ferien called out in both surprise and joy. 'What took you so long?'

'Oh, you know. Sightseeing, grocery shoping, the usual.'

She chuckled at his sarcasm, as the hobbit opened the celdoors. At the same time he shushed the dwarves as they called out his name in surprise as well. Telling them that there were still guards nearby.

Once he reached Frêllian and Fíli, the ferian embraced him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek in thanks. Telling him she had never lost faith in him.

'Not that way,' Bilbo called out in a hushed voice as Dwalin ordered Ori to head upstairs. 'Follow me.'

With that said, he started leading them through the Woodland Realm. Sneaking through the halls as quietly as dwarves could, until they found themselves in the wine cellar.

'This way,' Bilbo told them as he eyed the sleeping elves.

Next to her, Kíli whispered in frustration upon realising where they were. But a not too soft nudge in his ribs from Frêllian immediately shut him up. But it didn't stop the others from getting mad at the poor hobbit. Even telling him he was supposed to be leading them out, not further in.

'And you all have done a wonderful job at finding a way to escape in the passed weeks,' Frêllian scowled at them, shutting everyone else up effectively. 'And while we were enjoying our stay, Bilbo has had the opportunity to snoop around.'

Bilbo nodded at the ferian in gratitude, before continuing leading them into a large room. Several barrels were stacked sideways down the middle of it. And Frêllian noticed all of them were opened on one end.

'Everyone, climb into the barrels,' Bilbo ordered them in a hushed voice. 'Quickly!'

'Are you mad?' Dwalin questioned in anger. 'They'll find us!'

'No, no they won't,' Bilbo promised, almost begging them to cooperate. 'I promise you. But please, please! You must trust me.'

Still no one seemed to listen to Bilbo, debating whether or not to sit inside a barrel. All but Frêllian, who had made her way into one. She trusted the hobbit with her life and would not doubt him in situations like these.

'They will find you even faster if you don't shut up and listen,' she snapped at them.

Then she turned her gaze to Thorin. The only one to have yet to speak up. He nodded, before commanding everyone to do as Bilbo told.

'So,' Bofur asked, poking his head out of a barrel. 'What do we do now?'

'Hold your breath.'

'Hold my breath,' the hatted dwarf repeated. 'What do you mean?'

After a terrifying experience concerning barrels, elves, orcs and water, they finally made it to the shore. Though not everyone had come out of their outbreak without a scratch. With Kíli having been shot by an arrow. Though luckily the arrow had hit his leg an not anything fatal. Still the wound would slow them down tremendously.

As Frêllian wrung out her hair, a strange scent filled her nostrils. A scent she vague recognized, but did not remember. But before she could search for the source, Dwalin sat down next to her. A concerned look on his face.

'I'm fine,' she answered his unspoken question. 'And you?'

'A little sore,' he told her with a small smile. 'Though better now that I know you're alright. That damn hobbit might have gotten us out, but I do question his method.'

She smirked. She might not know her father as well as she would have like to, but if she was anything like him, than he might just have stated he was afraid. Though not obvious to others of course! As a born predator, Frêllian would do anything to hide her fear. And with Dwalin being the proud warrior he was, he probably did the same.

'Don't be ungrateful, old man.' Laughing at the glare Dwalin gave her, Frêllian stood up. 'We got out and we still have time left to reach the mountain.'

'Which is why we cannot afford to waste any more time,' Thorin stated as he moved ahead of the group. 'Come on, on your feet!'

Suddenly the strange scent became stronger and Frêllian noticed something sneak behind a pile of rocks. Of course Dwalin noticed too and grabbed a branch out of instinct.

But before he could do anything, an arrow hit it. Next to them, Kíli lifted his hand to throw a rock, only to have it shot out of his hand too.

'Do it again, and you're dead,' a voice threatened.

Looking at the person, she realised it to be a man. Lucky for them. A man they could handle. Even on her own, Frêllian would be able to take him out. But they weren't here to start a fight. Not if it was not necessary.

'Excuse me,' Balin began, approachig the man with his hand held up in the air. 'But, uh, you're from Laketown, if I'm not mistaken?'

Frêllian shot her uncle a curious glance. Sure Laketown was the closest man village in the area, but that did not mean he hailed from that place.

'That barge over there, it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?'

The man turned his head, with Frêllian following his gaze. There was indeed a barge in the waters behind him.

'What makes you think I will help you?' The man asked gruffly as he made his way back to the barge.

'Those boots have seen better days,' Balin noticed as the stranger started loading the empty barrels into his barge. 'As has that coat.'

As her uncle tried to make a small talk, probably to have the stranger to help them, she silently agreed. Even the dwarves seem overdressed compared to him. He was wearing rags and the weather was getting colder by the day.

'I would like to know who you are and what you are doing in these lands.'

'Our business is our own,' Frellian growled as she moved closer to the man. 'All you need to know is what we need. And that's food, supplies and weapons.'

'Yeah I bet,' the man stated, glaring at her. 'No doubt you lost everything during whatever trouble you had with Woodland elves.'

'Trust me, you're going to be in a lot more trouble if you don't help is out.'

'Since when do dwarves let their women do their fighting?' There was a hint of humour in his voice, still his glare remained.

'You better watch it, you pathetic human,' Frêllian snapped, her eyes flashing yellow for a moment. 'Or else I might have myself feast on human flesh tonight.'

With a smirk, she showed off her long canines.

'You are a ferian?'

'I never did have a taste of men. I wonder what they taste like?'

It didn't seem to phase him though, as he continued to glare at her. But then he decided to ignore her completely. Instead he focused on Balin and Thorin.

'Not even a ferian will help you in this, master dwarf,' he told them. 'No one can enter or leave Laketown without permission from the master. And all his wealth comes from trade with the Woodland Realm.' His eyes travelled over to ferian for a moment as he paused. Then he looked to Thorin once again. 'His fear of the wrath of king Thranduil is much greater than a rogue ferian.'

At this Dwalin scoffed as Frêllian muttered at the insult. But Thorin silenced both of them with a simple gesture, before turning his attention to the man.

'A rogue ferian, you say?' His voice held a hint of humour as he smirked. 'Is that what you think she is? Then you are a fool indeed. And if your master doesn't fear her, he too is a fool.'

'Tell me, why should we fear a single ferian, hm? By the looks of it, she has only come of age just recently.'

'Aye, that she has,' Thorin agreed, his smirk not faltering. 'But as young as she might be, she is the most powerful ferian you'll ever see. The alpha supreme, queen of the ferian.'

This did seem to surprise the man as he looked over to Frêllian. Her arms crossed as she glared at his shocked expression. They were wasting time here and she did not like it at all.

If the human was too stupid to comprehend what was going on, they should find another way across the lake. Or they should simply take his barge by force!

'So tell me,' Thorin continued. 'Who will your master fear more? One single army of elves? Or a whole army of ferien?'

The man stayed silent, but his posture visibly changed. Then he sighed in defeat, telling Thorin he could not promise him anything.

'And you better be able to prove who he claims you to be,' he added as Frêllian boarded the barge. 'And you will still have to pay me for the crossing.'