Hello all. I am new to this site and have up until now been only a reader of Hobbit stories, but today I have decided to offer a humble submission. This is a Fili story with an OC. It takes place before the reclaiming of Erebor and I plan to have them do it in a whole new way. My apologies to Gandalf and Bilbo lovers...for they do not appear in the story. The rest of the thirteen dwarfs are here though, but mostly I focus on Fili.

I hope everything will be explained as I go along.

My OC's name is pronounced 'Day-lon-ess' if you are wondering.

Thank you for reading

~X~

~X~

A Different Kind of Thirst

Chapter 1

Thorin Oakenshield stood with his hands clasped behind his back, staring out over the cliff's edge…waiting. Waiting for word that the dwarves he had sent on the mission had been successful in their task, for their intent to take back Erebor depended on it. The remainder of their company had been camped on this outlook for two days, choosing this location for its excellent vantage point, ensuring that no enemy could successfully sneak up on them. There was only one way up or down the little hill from their location and if the almost invisible wooded path was carefully guarded, there was no way they would be set upon unannounced. The only drawback to the location was it offered little in the way of shelter, with only a small hollowed out cavity in the rock face behind them to provide a bit of cover. It was large enough to house the supplies and to keep their weapons dry, but hardly enough room for nine dwarves to huddle under should it begin to rain. Thankfully the sky was clear and there was no sign of a storm heading their way.

"You fret for nothing," Fili told his uncle, approaching from behind as he stared out into the setting sun. "Dwalin will not fail you."

"I know his heart is true and he is a mighty warrior…yet this plan called for stealth," he muttered, not bothering to even look over at his eldest nephew and rightful heir. The young prince had matured well, much more so than his younger brother, Kili, who still wore the mantle of youth with pride. With his golden mane and merry temperament, which he had inherited from his father, Fili was often referred to as the Golden Prince. While Kili, who favored Thorin's side of the family in looks, was described as the Dark Prince. Both boys had grown into men under the watchful eye and fine tutelage of their uncle, the rightful king of Erebor, after their father had been killed in battle defending their homeland. Thorin's sister, Dis, had looked to her brother for support and guidance on how to raise the two rambunctious dwarflings, and owed much to Thorin for taking them under his wing. Two finer warriors, and future dwarf lords, one could not ask for, and the young princes had earned the respect of all those who fought beside them.

"That is why you sent Nori, Bofur and Ori with him…to temper his erratic ways, and ensure success," Fili reminded him, yet knowing that nothing would ease his uncle's mind except the sight of the three triumphantly returning from the mission.

~X~

Thankfully they did not have to wait long, for only an hour after the sun had finally set, the signal was given that a mounted party was heading up the winding path that led to their cliff side encampment. Every dwarf leapt to their feet, drawing their weapons and readying themselves just in case it was not their brethren, but instead their enemy approaching. Yet when the stern face of Dwalin, followed by those of Bofur, Nori and Ori, came riding into view, the company gave a sigh of relief and lowered their swords.

"Dwalin!" Thorin greeted him, anxiously searching his warrior's face in hopes of determining the outcome of their mission. "What news? Have you brought me what I sent you to find?"

"Nay…we brought you something better," the massive dwarf informed him as he dismounted and pulled a thick blanket that was rolled into a long cylindrical tube off the back of his pony. He hefted it over his shoulder and brought it into the middle of the camp, laying it down on the ground before giving a tug on the exposed end. The blanket unrolled to reveal…a woman! She was small in form, even a few inches less than the shortest one among the company, with long blond hair that gleamed like a river of gold in the firelight. Both her hands and feet were bound by thick ropes and her once fine traveling pants and long button up tunic were now stained with dirt and dust from the road. The gag in her mouth kept her from speaking, and from the look of pure hatred burning in the girl's icy blue eyes, Thorin was glad it was securely in place, for right now his own violent temper was barely under control.

"You fools! I sent you to abduct a water prince and you bring me back…a woman?" Thorin fumed, unable to understand Dwalin's thinking. "How is this better than what I asked for?"

"Aye, our mission was to abduct one of the King's sons," Dwalin nodded gruffly. "However, we figured that the Water Lord's only daughter would work just as well, if not better!" He then folded his arms over his chest as a look of pride crossed his face. "And best of all, we didn't even have to breach the city to get her, for she came scaling over the wall all on her own last night, practically falling right into our arms. Pure providence, says I."

Everyone was silent, waiting for the exiled King to speak as he continued to stare down at the enraged, and now wiggling, girl lying at his feet.

"I had not heard that the king even had a girl child," Thorin spoke at last. "Are you certain of her identity?"

"She was wearing this when we found her," Ori spoke up, coming forward and handing Thorin a golden medallion bearing the crest of the Water Lord of Tellmar. "She has the powers of one of the royal family too, though thankfully not very strong. She tried to use them on us before we could subdue her. That is why we decided to bind her hands and silence her…for we did not want her to bewitch us with her voice or boil our blood from the inside."

"Those are just old wives' tales invented to scare children…and foolish dwarves it would seem," Balin huffed, glaring at Ori over his ignorant fears. "While she is sure to have some ability to control water, she cannot lure men to their deaths with only her voice, nor can she kill you with a touch." Or at least he hoped not. He then approached Thorin and stared at the medallion in his hand. "However, that is the emblem worn by the royal family, making it rather certain Dwalin is correct."

Thorin handed the trinket to Balin and squatted down in front of the girl, reaching out and removing the cloth from her mouth.

"Is this so, lass?" he asked in a somewhat kind tone. "Are you a child of Maldor, the Water Lord?"

"I am Daeloness, princess of Tellmar, and my father will have your head for this, dwarf!" she spat, giving Thorin a look that would have melted stone. "He, along with my six brothers, will kill you all for this offense!"

"Perhaps he will try," Thorin nodded, his own eyes hardening at her words. "Yet Thorin Oakenshield and the dwarves of Durin are not that easy to kill. I truly regret that I must embroil a woman in the hellish business of war, but neither am I foolish enough to turn down a pearl of high value…especially when it lands right in my lap. So until you have served your purpose, you shall remain here as our honored guest, little princess."

"You call this honor?" she asked, thrusting out her bound hands before her as evidence. "If so, I would hate to see how the mighty king in exile treats a friend! And, what exactly is my purpose, dwarf?" she asked, her ire still very evident from the way she addressed him.

"You are to be a bargaining chip," he revealed, his voice now deep and cold. "If Maldor wishes to have his only daughter back, then he must provide us with one of the ten mystic water stones in his keep."

"Did you ever think to simply ask him for one?" she hissed. "Perhaps trying diplomacy before abduction."

"Do you think me so ignorant or proud that I would not have tried such a thing first?" Thorin growled. "And knowing your father and his haughty attitude, lass…what do you think he might have said when I petitioned him for the use of a stone, offering him a sizeable portion of gold and jewels in return?"

Daeloness knew exactly what her father would have said to such a request from a dwarf without a kingdom, he would have laughed in his face. So having no answer for him, she simply looked away in shame.

"I explained to your high and mighty father that we planned to use the water stone to divert and dam up the river Celduin. For it is the waterway that splits above the Lonely Mountain and feeds down into the great halls and chambers of Erebor, exiting out the front doors of the mountain kingdom before it rejoins the river and flows past Lake Town. Our intent is to flood Erebor so quickly, that it will force the sleeping dragon Smaug out of his lair and into the open…where he shall be eliminated at last! Yet all of this must be done without the aid of pick or shovel, for any excavation to the earth around the mountain would surely be heard from within, alerting Smaug to our presence and destroying the element of surprise. Yet your father would not listen, and refused all my entreaties to be heard." Thorin now stood, towered above her like the ominous king he was. "I have waited many long years for this moment, princess…and I will stop at nothing to win back the home that was taken from us!"

And as Daeloness looked around at the determination shining in the eyes of each dwarf there…she knew he spoke the truth.

Well? What did you think? I know we did not have much chance to get into the meat of things, but the next chapters will be longer and build on that.

Please leave a review and tell me what you thought of it.

A kind word or two would make me wish to write faster and post more often. I have finished four chapters already and I have no intentions of giving up or leaving this story hanging.

Thank you