Oh...my...gosh! I realize this was a looong hiatus for this story. Roughly 2 years since the last time this was updated. I won't bore you with the "life has been crazy" excuses and stuff like that. Suddenly, I had a peak of inspiration for this story again and here I am updating it again after that long time.

Not sure if anyone of you who followed this story is still interested, but if so please don't hesitate to review. You know how much I love receiving nice comments on my stories!

And now, without further ado...have fun!

It wasn't quite clear what time of day it was as Lailah awoke from her nap. Several hours had passed since Thorin had returned from his meeting with Thranduil. And as she, and pretty much all of the others, had suspected it did not go too well. No wonder had Thorin boasted with the fact that he had called Thranduil all kind of names. What was worse was that as punishment they refused to lock them into the same cell again and instead put Thorin into his own cell.

And again, she had found herself alone in the dark. A position she had hoped would never come again. Even though she knew her friends were right there with her didn't change the feeling of a cold hand squeezing her heart. She had mulled over possibilities of how to free them all and get them out of the Woodland realm and out of her uncle's reach. And just now, as she stared up at the ceiling of her cell she knew there was only one way to make that happen.

She shifted closer to the iron bars of the door and peeked left and right. She spotted a pair of guards and cleared her throat. One of them looked over and she waved at him, signaling for him to come closer. He said something to his partner, then came over to her.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Amin anta quen- a' i' aran." She said quietly even though it wasn't necessary to whisper since none of her friends would understand what she had just said. If they knew that she had just asked to speak to the king they would probably protest. And protest from them wasn't something she needed right now.

The guard eyed her suspiciously. "Mani uma lle merna tuulo' i' aran?"

She sighed, her fingers clutching the iron bars. "You know who I am," She whispered. "Amin naa nosse." She hoped playing the 'family card' would get this elf to finally let her out of the cell. He contemplated for a moment, but finally he nodded and pulled out his keychain.

"One wrong move and you're right back in there. Step back." He said and she did as he told her, waiting for him to open the door, then slowly stepped outside. She heard someone call her name. It was Fili who was right across from her. She saw him watch her questioningly. She placed a finger against her lips, hoping he'd understand to keep quiet for now. Even though she could see how much effort it took him to calm himself, he nodded back at her.

"Move." The guard nudged her lightly and she stumbled forward a little, then walked in front of him out of the dungeon and along narrow hallways and leafy alcoves until he made her stop in front of a wooden double door. "Wait here. I will announce you."

He opened the door and spoke to Thranduil. Just as she had hoped the guard came back and nodded. "He's awaiting you."

"Thank you." She said and stepped into the king's private chamber. She saw him standing by a window, wearing a lavish robe. He had a cup of wine in his hand as he turned towards her.

"I'm surprised you came to seek me out." He said, placing the cup onto a small table right next to him. "To what do I owe the honour?"

Lailah cast a glance around the room, ignoring the mocking tone he used and stepped closer. Her eyes resting on his face for a moment.

"I've had enough time to think while you kept me, and my friends locked up in the dungeon. And I made a decision. I come to you with an offer."

He raised an eyebrow. "I am all ear."

"I know what it is that you seek." She paced a bit. "The elven jewels hidden in the treasury of Erebor. Don't tell me you don't want them back."

"You're a clever girl. Though, I never had a doubt about that. You just happened to be…"

"It doesn't matter what you think I am. Thorin has something you want. You wouldn't dare go near the mountain again while it's still unclear if the dragon is still inside. You fear the wrath of dragon fire, uncle. I can see it in your eyes. Thorin and his company do not fear death. These dwarves are brave and would do anything to reclaim their mountain. Their home. Their kingdom. With all its valuables. And," She grinned at him, "I am sure you know where I am going with this, don't you?"

He remained silent for a moment. Then he said, "I do. You want me to set the dwarves free, let them move on, let them do the dirty work and claim what is rightfully mine once it's done. Why do you think Thorin would give me the jewels?"

For a split second she hesitated. Then she looked him in the eyes. "You'll have something he wants."

"And what would that be?" He asked, pulling at his robe as he folded his arms loosely in front of his chest.

"Me. You will keep me here. Under better circumstances than right now. I won't go back into that cell. I demand a proper room fit for the niece of the king. That's what I am, am I not? You keep me here and send the company on its way."

"And Thorin knows about this plan of yours?" He said amused. As she remained silent he dropped his arms again and grinned. "He certainly does not, I see. And I doubt he will agree to those terms. Why would you even do that to the man you…love?"

"I do it because I love him! You'd keep us all locked up for years, maybe even forever. This is the only chance I have to actually help the company."

"This is indeed an offer I might accept. There is just one detail you might have overlooked."

"What is that?" She tilted her head.

"If you go and say goodbye to your lover he will refuse to leave. I know of your history. He lost you once and he surely won't lose you twice."

That was indeed something she hadn't put much thought into yet. She knew Thorin would refuse to leave if he'd see her and actually had to say goodbye. The only thing she could do was not say goodbye at all. It ached her heart more than anything to even think about that but on the other hand she really wanted to help Thorin fulfil his destiny. Help him reclaim the mountain and become king under the mountain just like his grandfather had been.

A heavy sigh escaped her as she looked back up at Thranduil. "It is what I must do. I must sacrifice my happiness for this. Keep me here and send them on their way. I…I won't say goodbye."

Bilbo had never rushed so fast in his life. Through hallways and corridors. What he had just witnessed in the elven king's chamber was something he had to prevent. He had to stop this madness. Even though he didn't come up with a plan yet how to get the company out of this place, he wouldn't let Thorin go through this kind of pain again. Not after everything that had happened between Lailah and him in the past. Losing her again, even though he would know she is alive, and he would know where she is wouldn't ease the pain at all, he was sure of that.

Just as he rounded the corner to the dungeon he nearly collided with a pair of guards. He stopped just in time. Sure, he was wearing the ring and they wouldn't see him, but he tried to be as stealthy as possible. If something invisible would bump against them they would be suspicious and, as far as he knew, they could probably use some elven magic to make him visible again. Yet again, he wasn't so sure about that after all.

"I'm not so certain this is the right decision." One of them said.

"It is the king's order. We have no say in this." The other replied sternly, pulling out his ring full of keys. Bilbo eyed the set of keys. If only he could get his hands on these before the guards would set the company free. He had to speak to Thorin first.

Come on, Bilbo Baggins, think!

That was when he remembered something he had overheard earlier that day. He quickly hid behind a wall and removed the ring, the light of the sconce hanging above him making his shadow appear tall against the opposite wall that was visible to the elven guards. He cleared his throat a bit, hoping for a darker voice as he spoke,

"You! What are you doing down here? You're supposed to help with the wine barrels!"

The guards stopped in their track and turned around. They exchanged a confused look.

"The king ordered us to set the dwarves free. Then we will come and help." One of them called back.

"The king just ordered me to gather more men and prepare the barrels for the festival! Leave the dwarves to me!" He called back, squeezing his eyes shut, hoping his performance was convincing enough.

"Fine." The guards grumbled. Bilbo heard the dangling of keys. He peeked around the corner and saw the elven guard hang the keys on the wall. "Make sure you return my keys right after." The guard said.

Quickly, Bilbo slid the ring back on his finger and waited for the two of them to leave. Once the coast was clear, he stepped out of his hiding place and snatched the keys from the wall. He had to move fast. He hurried down a flight of wooden stairs and stopped in front of Thorin's cell. Of course, the dwarf king could not see him yet.

"Thorin?" He hissed.

Thorin looked up confused. "Who is there?"

Bilbo looked left and right, then pulled the ring off again. Thorin blinked surprised. "What kind of magic is that?" He stepped closer to the iron bars.

"No time for explanations, Thorin. We need to get out of here. And we have to get Lailah."

His eyes grew wide. "What do you mean? Where is she?" He tried to catch a glimpse at the cell he thought she was still in, but from his position he couldn't see it.

"She…she spoke to the king. Thorin, she's making a huge mistake. She offered herself for your freedom."

He clutched the iron bars. "What…what do you mean? Offered what?"

Bilbo sighed. "She said that she knows what Thranduil wants. Some jewels that are still in the mountain. She offered that if he keeps her here, in better conditions than these cells, in exchange for your freedom so you could reclaim the mountain and give the elven gems back to him. And he would give her back to you in return."

"She can't do that! We have to stop this madness."

"I fail to see how though. She is most likely with him right now. Or somewhere in a room maybe heavily guarded. It's impossible to find her and get out of here. It's your decision."

Thorin stepped away from the door and rubbed his face. He couldn't believe Lailah would do that. He wasn't mad at her. Not at all. He was concerned. He was sure Thranduil would trick her somehow. Most likely agreeing to her getting a proper room and once he and the company left he would send her back into a cell. Rotting in the dungeon all alone. He couldn't let her go through this torture again. Not after everything she's been through in the past. Then again, Bilbo was right. They had no clue where exactly Lailah was right now. Bilbo's strange ability to vanish into thin air might give them an advantage, he could go and search her. But how long would that take? Thorin had noticed Bilbo had a set of keys and only Mahal knew for how long he could use them.

"If you set us all free. Do you know which way to go to leave this kingdom? Do you have a plan at all?" He asked the hobbit.

"I do. But you all have to trust me." Bilbo said and opened the door to Thorin's cell.

The dwarf king stepped outside, looking around at the other cells he could see from his position.

"I trust you." Thorin then said. "And I trust Lailah. I know she will find a way out."

"Are you sure? Thorin, if you try anything on your own to bust her out we can all be thrown right back in these cells. Me included probably. And that will be the end of this quest. Forever, I fear."

"I know. I won't try. Lailah did this knowing how I would react. Trying to break her out of here without a plan will harm her more than anything. I won't put her in danger. I trust her. At least I know where she is."

Bilbo nodded. "Fine, now let's get the others and leave. I don't know how much time we have."

"Well this is just great." Dwalin grumbled as he looked out across a foggy lake sprawling before them. Alina shifted on his back, looking at Merlara.

"How do we get across this lake?" She asked the elf.

Merlara scanned the shore. If she calculated correctly this should be the time of day her friend would come to this side of the lake to catch fish. Where was he?

"You have to trust me."

"We do." Alina said. "It's just getting cold up here."

Dwalin crouched down and set her down gently. Then he pulled out a woolen coat from his backpack he had carried in his hand. "Here, put this on."

"Thanks, my love." Alina smiled and draped the coat around her. "Much better. This fog is really eerie, don't you think?"

"It's typical for this part of the lake." Merlara said, staring out into the fog. Suddenly her eyebrows furrowed. A smile curled her lips as she spotted the dark shape of a boat breaking through the fog, coming closer towards them.

"I knew he would come." She said and jumped up onto a boulder, waving at the man steering the boat closer towards them. He secured the boat and stepped off onto the shore.

"Merlara, it's been too long." He smiled as they embraced each other. She stepped back and looked him over.

"Too long, indeed. Bard, I'd like to introduce you to my friend. This is Dwalin and his beloved Alina."

Bard nodded at them, looking rather confused though seeing the elf lady with two dwarves. "You're not here just by chance, are you?"

"No, it's a long story. One I'd like to tell you somewhere less…open." She gestured around them. "Can you take us with you? Back to Laketown? I will explain on the way."

"I need to get these barrels onto the boat. If Dwalin will help carrying them we can be out of here more quickly."

Dwalin nodded and placed Alina down. Then he lifted one fish barrel up and carried it onto the boat. While the two of them did the work, Merlara crouched down beside Alina.

"How do you feel?"

She shrugged. "I guess I'm alright. I mean, as alright as one can feel with numb legs." She then nudged Merlara and cast a glance at Bard. "Now, spill…how do you know this man? This handsome man, if I may say."

Merlara smiled fondly. "It's a long story, as I said. But, to make it short…I once went swimming in this lake. At this spot over there to be precise. I got my foot entangled in some sort of strong seaweed and couldn't quite get away. It nearly dragged me underwater but then out of nowhere Bard jumped into the water and cut me free, pulled me back to the shore. That's how we met. He took me back to his home in Laketown. That's a town not too far from Erebor, actually. When I said once the company will get through the forest they inevitably will have to pass the lake and will come to Laketown. I am sure you will reunite with them there."

"I really hope they make it out of the forest." Alina mumbled. "It's been days now. Shouldn't they have left already?"

"Who says they haven't? Bard will certainly know."

Once the men were finished loading the barrels onto the boat, they returned to them. Bard brushed some sweat from his forehead.

"I think we're ready to go."

Merlara got up and approached him. "Is there a chance a larger group of dwarves came to Laketown within the past days?"

He shook his head. "No, if so I would have heard about it. The mayor isn't at his best behavior. Foreign visitors are more than suspicious to him. No, I can guarantee you no one came through. I'm sorry."

She placed her hand on his arm and smiled fondly. "Don't be sorry. I am sure they will try pass through though. Is there a guarantee the mayor will let them?"

He looked into her eyes and sighed. "I really wish I could give you good news, but chances really aren't the best."

Oh my, oh my, I wonder if Thorin will stick to the plan to escape without Lailah.

If you were Lailah, would you have done the same to help the company? Let me know!

And I hereby promise that the next update won't take another 2 years again xDDD