From Other Worlds

The Dwarven Escape

Kili stopped shouting when everyone else did.

Rayna knew Khuzdul. There were dozens of times he wanted to call her by a sweet name in his tongue because he assumed she didn't know the language. He couldn't help but think that things may have been different if he did. Maybe things would have been different if he kissed her in Rivendell, or the tavern.

"Not in here you're not." Bilbo's familiar voice took Kili from his thoughts. He rushed to the cell door as other dwarves cheered, excited to be released.

"Wait? Where's Rayna?" Bilbo looked around.

"The princeling took her." Fili answered.

"We have to find her." Kili ran to his uncle and brother.

"You heard what she said. If we have the chance to escape, we need to take it without her. She knew this was going to happen." Thorin reminded him.

Bilbo paused, "Maybe this was her task. Follow me." Bilbo turned to head for the cellar.

"Are you sure this was her task?" Kili asked, almost desperate for it to be wrong.

"It could have been. She never told me." Bilbo then gestured for them all to be quiet.

Kili resolved to not waste her efforts if it was her task. He reminded himself of it when the arrow hit his leg. He reminded himself of it every time the thought crept into his head at Bards, or the masters manor.

Even as the fever crept in and he lay in a bed at Bards trying to stay alive while Fili kept a tight hold of his hand.

"I never told her." Kili breathed out. Fili didn't have to ask, he already knew.

"She knows Kili. It would be impossible for her not to know."

"We left her. We left her in the dungeons and I never told her. I never told her that she is my One."

"She told us to leave, Kili. It could have been her task, making sure we get out of the dungeons."

"Then she is gone home, free. And I still never told her that I loved her."

"Kili." Fili was firm in his tone, "I truly believe that she always knew."

~

Legolas made sure Rayna could keep up as they tracked Tauriel and the orcs. It was made easier by Rayna simply telling Legolas to follow the river. Legolas gestured for Rayna to stay low as they came upon Tauriel, unsure if she would loose an arrow into her.

"I could have shot you."

"If I was an orc you'd be dead by now." Legolas teased his old friend, "We have closed off the kingdom."

"I cannot go back."

Legolas sighed, briefly wondering how he got to where he was now, "I'm not asking you. But you cannot hunt 30 orcs alone."

"I'm not alone." Tauriel smiled to him.

Legolas looked back to Rayna, tilting his head so she knew to come out from the cover.

"My Lord Legolas. What have you done?" Tauriel took a few steps forward.

"She's a Halenar, Tauriel."

"She could just be saying that." Tauriel stepped closer to Legolas, speaking quieter.

"She knew all of what you have been saying about Spiders not being the only evil, Tauriel. If you have never met before today how can she know that?"

Rayna stepped closer, "Hate to break this up but you can believe me or not. I don't really care. I haven't fulfilled my task and a dwarf is going to die if we don't get moving. In fact all of them are if we don't get moving because they are being hunted. If they die then I came here for no reason and do your legends ever say anything about that happening?"

"We have the same goal, and to meet a Halenar in our lifetime is unheard of." Legolas took Rayna, maneuvering her to his back where she held on tight and began running towards Laketown. Tauriel behind them with a smirk.