The Slave Caravan

Where's Fili?

    I woke up in my bed. I sat up at a single touch. I looked up to find Uncle Thorin. I rubbed my eyes a bit and looked at him. His lips were in a straight line and his face was stern. I wiped the drool off my cheek and sat up in bed. I stretched a bit and then looked back at Uncle Thorin. His eyes were pierced at me.

"Where's Fili," he asked quickly. I looked around the room. He wasn't there. My memory of last night flooded me. I jumped out of bed and grabbed Thorin's arm.

"He was with a girl last night. He was drunk and I tried to get him to come back to the Inn. I went to go find help, but by the time I got back to help him he was gone with the girl. Thorin, I think they did some things that I don't want to think about," I explained as I thought back of last night's events. Thorin grabbed his coat and put it over himself.

"Kili, get ready and begin to look for Fili. He could be in some major trouble," Thorin told me as he opened the door. I opened my mouth to question him, but he ran out of the room before I could get the words out. I looked down at my many layers of shirts. I began to put everything on. I then grabbed my quiver and bow. I put both of them over my shoulder. I looked around the room only to find Fili's things that he had left last night before we went out. I kneeled down and began to pick through his things. He still had one of his knives on him which was probably a good thing. I then stood back up and decided to go search for Fili. Something told me he was in danger.

    I had met up with Thorin. We had searched everywhere in the town and we had not seen Fili. Thorin wore a rather angry face. I felt like this was sort of my fault. If only I had taken away his third ale.

"Kili, I don't think you know the danger of his absence," Thorin spoke. I looked up at him and shook my head a little. I looked down at the floor not wanting to look at his angry face. He put a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at Thorin who still wore a stern look. He let out a heavy sigh.

"In the past three weeks people have suddenly gone missing. Family members went searching for their lost one with only news that people were being taken by enslavers. Fili might have been taken last night. That's why I ordered him to come straight to the Inn. Of course out of stupidity I got drunk. I am partially to blame for his actions. He didn't know and now he might be gone. We just have to keep on searching."

Thorin's words brought my heart to stop. Fili might be taken by enslavers? He couldn't have. That girl he was with, was she part of this? Questions raced through my mind. I put my hand over my forehead and began to think hard. The hay field was the only place I hadn't looked yet. Before I could even think my feet were taking me towards the field.

    I searched endlessly for a sign of Fili. Maybe, he was here. Just maybe he was sober enough to run away from that girl. That girl I knew she was a trouble maker! I then came across something shiny. I ran towards the shiny object and brushed the hay off of it. I picked it up and let out a loud cry that could have echoed for miles. It was Fili's dagger. I knew it was his because of the Durin symbol scratched into the pommel. I looked around me to find any other clues. There was one clue that I wasn't fond to find. Blood. It wasn't so much blood, but it was enough to sicken me. I put my finger into the small puddle of blood. It was still nice and warm. Which meant that Fili had just been taken. I stood up and ran towards the town. Fili had been taken. We needed to gather a search party.
   
    I went into the Coal Inn to find Thorin and a few other dwarves talking. I quickly walked towards Thorin.

"Fili's been taken. He's been taken by enslavers. I found blood and here's his dagger," I presented it to Thorin. Thorin took the blade and stuck it into his boot. He didn't even change a single face expression when I told him that his oldest nephew was now a slave. He looked at the dwarves behind me. I turned around to find Gloin, Bifur, Dwalin, Oin,  and Balin.

"Fili has been captured by enslavers which means that Bofur, and Gimli might have also been captured by enslavers," Thorin announced to the others. Dwalin's jaw tightened at the news. Gloin mumbled something under his breath.

"With such an emergency the caravan of merchants will be led by someone else other than myself since I will be going to collect Fili and the two others," Thorin added. Kili turned to Thorin hoping that just maybe he would be able to join in on this search party. Thorin looked down at Kili.

"Go get two ponies," Thorin told me as he handed me a small bag of gold. I was honored to do this task. I nodded my head quickly and rushed out of the Inn to go fulfill my task.

    I mounted my pony. I waited as the six other dwarves mounted their ponies. I wanted to hurry up and get to Fili as soon as possible. I wanted to get my brother back even though he had only been gone a day. I knew he was in great danger and I didn't want to wait any longer. I was so eager to get my brother back. I turned to Thorin who was mounted on his pony. I kicked the side of my pony and I was off.