She skipped down to the dungeons and went to the first of Calium's men.

"Hi!" She said cheerfully.

The man looked at her, "Uh...hi...?"

"Is it boring in there?" She asked, trying to make him believe that she was just a curious young dwarf.

"What do you think?" He answered sarcastically.

"Sorry." She said, face downcast.

The man quietly chuckled, "Well thanks, but I don't need your sympathy. I'll be outta here soon."

"I guess." She smiled at him, "I guess you're glad that your leader made that deal with Dain, huh?"

"Yep."

"Why were you with him in the first place? I mean, like, if it were me I would just like leave him." Kítra shrugged, "It seems pointless to have been with him!" She kept her tone careless, trying to keep the man at ease.

The man shrugged, "I work for him."

"Doesn't he ever give you a break from just following him?" She asked incredulously.

"Well ya, we're getting a vacation soon, or at least I hope so..." The man trailed off.

Kítra looked sympathetic, and she actually honestly felt it, "He has never given you a vacation? Why? It seems cruel!"

"It's a job, girl. That's just life." The man sighed, "Why does it matter to you?"

She shrugged, "I was just bored and wanted someone to talk to, and you seemed bored too, so..." She trailed off.

"Well you probably shouldn't be here." The man eyes her, suddenly suspicious.

"I guess." She sat down on the floor and slouched, putting her head in her hands.

"What was happening up there?" Curiously, the man inquired.

"Dain and Callium were talking." She shrugged.

"Is he gonna let us go?"

"I think so. That was Calium's deal."

"Finally. I just wanna be home." He smiled vaguely, "I actually have little girl around your age back home."

Kítra perked her head up, "You do? Where do you live? Maybe we could play together! It gets lonely here, but if she could visit, it wouldn't be!" Kítra was ecstatic. 'Now I'm getting somewhere!' She thought.

The man shook his head, "Sorry girl, my wife would kill me if I let my child near a dwarven place. Especially one that imprisoned me." He chuckled softly.

Kítra looked totally cast down. "Well, um...maybe I could visit? I mean... Well, I don't wanna invite myself over, but it gets lonely, and..." She trailed off.

"You should go before you get in trouble, child." He abruptly ended the conversation and turned away from Kítra.

Kítra sighed, "Okay..." She stood up and walked slowly away.

Back at the throne room, everyone was waiting expectantly for Kítra to return. Fili absentmindedly rubbed his tunic.

Kítra decided to talk to at least one or two more men before returning. She shook herself and tried to get herself out of the pretended sadness that the last visit had 'caused' her. When she was ready, she skipped up to the next cell. "Hi!" She said brightly to the man.

"Shove off." He muttered.

Kítra raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?" She asked, "I mean, there's nothing bad that's happening."

The man stared at her angrily, "Get outta here! Did you not hear me the first time?"

"Did you know that you're going to be free today? Maybe that will cheer you up." Kítra told him, ignoring his rudeness. The man ignored her and stayed silent. "Sheesh, no need to be crabby." Kítra muttered, turned, and walked away. She tried the next cell and found it was also unsuccessful as the man totally ignored her. Kítra headed back to the court room and told them all what she had found.

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Hope you guys are liking it!

Have a wonderful holiday!

Love you all!

Ithildae, Evara, and Aris