CHAPTER TWO

"I did it all to break every one of your preconceived notions that you have."

-Halestorm: "Uncomfortable"

The storm had carried on all through the hours of the night, the gusts settling as the thin light of the morning breached its way into the mountain pass. He'd managed a look out the front door to see that snow coated the ground still, but except for a few crystalline breezes, the storm had worn itself out. The sky was biting blue, the clouds thin and scrubby above. It remained bitterly cold, but that wasn't a considerable problem. It seemed they would be back on the road before the sun rose for noontime.

Kili hadn't seen Gwen yet that morning, and he thoroughly ignored that this fact put his stomach in a tight knot as he chewed a piece of slightly burnt, completely unimpressive toast.

A burst of cold air flooded the room as Oin stormed back inside, stomping the frost off of his boots. "It's not looking good," he told them.

Thorin stood. "What do you mean?"

"It's bloody fine out there," Dwalin protested.

Oin shook his head grimly. "I'm telling you, Thorin, it looks an awful bit like yesterday morning, and you know how the weather turned on us then."

Thorin let out a low growl, his frustration not necessarily directed at Oin, but at the situation. "That's not very confident."

Oin squinted at him in confusion, cupping his ear towards Thorin in an effort to hear him. "What was that?"

"Do you know the weather will turn foul?" Thorin said, louder this time.

Oin shrugged. "Not positively, but it'd certainly be safer—"

"Safe," Thorin scoffed. "None of this quest is safe. If you're going to tell me to hold up in this miserable place just because the weather may get uncomfortable—"

Balin stood, sensing Thorin's growing temper. "Ah, Thorin, let's take a moment here to consider our options."

"Our time is short enough already," Thorin said tersely. "We cannot afford to have delays on every part of this journey."

"The weather would keep us from getting anywhere fast," Balin assured him. "Besides, with another day of rest, we'll travel twice as fast tomorrow."

"It does not make sense to halt travel for an entire day because there may be an inconvenience," Thorin nearly spat back.

Kili cringed. He hated it when Thorin got worked up like this. There was a point where he would stop listening to others entirely. Not even Balin or Dwalin or Dis could speak to him when he was like that.

Of course, it was possible that Thorin was completely right, albeit inconsolable. Part of him wanted to carry on as quickly as possible to avoid any chance of them arriving too late at the mountain. Still, he was exhausted, after a night of Balin's snoring keeping him half awake, and his feet continued to ache from their aggressive march the previous day. A look at the rest of the company showed he was not the only one having the road take a toll on them. He'd never seen Bombur eat more sadly, and there was no conversation as they all listened to the argument in progress. Bilbo, in particular, looked absolutely exhausted. His eyes were surrounded by dark rings, his frown lines deeper than they ever had been before. They didn't look a company fit to travel.

It seemed this was also the conclusion that Thorin came to as he sighed heavily, turning to face them, his voice laced with frustration. "We stay until tomorrow morning, and leave before dawn."

They all managed to stay silent until Thorin had passed out of earshot into the back room, but the moment it was safe, they let out a collective breath, as cheerier chatter broke out about the room. The dry toast in Kili's mouth suddenly tasted quite a bit better as he turned to grin at his brother. "Mahal almighty, a day to ourselves. What in Arda are we going to do with our time?"

"Take a nap, probably."

Kili rolled his eyes, nudging his brother in the shoulder. "We just woke up."

"Balin snores like a forge," Fili shot back, though a look in his eyes said that he wasn't truly as tired as he was saying. "But what do you have planned, brother mine?"

"Nothing particularly," Kili replied. "Although I thought a spar could be good, to keep me from getting rusty."

Fili grinned. "A noble plan. Meet outside in five minutes?"

Kili held out his hand for a firm handshake of agreement and the deal was sealed.

It had become almost entirely pointless for the two brothers to spar. They knew each other's fighting so well after years of working together that they could easily predict the tactics that the other planned on using. To a certain degree, this kept things interesting though. It was like a game of chess, each of them thinking three moves ahead of the other. Their blades flashed and clashed in the sunlight, their coats cast aside minutes earlier as they worked up a sweat. Kili had to squint to see, as the sunlight reflecting off of the snow made the air almost painfully bright, but he felt good. His blood pumped, the cold air stung its way into his lungs, and a permanent grin had etched itself onto his face. He had just worked Fili into a corner where he thought he might be able to trip him, when the inn door flew open. Something in his gut leapt a little as he saw it was Gwen, dragging a silver tub behind her.

Evidently, his attention had been drawn for longer than he thought, as Fili caught him by surprise with a sharp shove to the chest that sent Kili hard onto the ground, knocking the breath from his lungs. Fili burst out laughing, sheathing his sword as Kili sat up and heaved for breath. "Brother, you've gotten predictable." Fili waved at Gwen. "Just got to wait for a pretty lass, and you're out."

Kili sent his brother a playful glare, reaching up a hand for help. Fili yanked him up to his feet. "I was winning," Kili explained to both Fili and Gwen as he shook the snow out of the collar of his shirt.

Gwen quirked a brow, stepping closer. "I'm sure. Aren't you two a little old to be wrestling in the snow?"

"We were sparring, actually," Fili said, sniffing in feigned offence.

"And there was very little snow involved before you walked out," Kili said, as he bent down to scoop his sword off the ground. Unbeknownst to his brother, he had also grabbed up a handful of snow, keeping it hidden in his hand.

"We're mature," Fili added. "Would you like to—"

Before he could finish that sentence, Kili had pulled his shirt collar away from his neck, shoving the snow down his back. Fili's reaction was immediate, something between a shout and a squeal tearing from his lips, but Kili was already bounding away from him, snickering the whole way. "You jealous little twat," Fili shouted at Kili, trying to get the snow out of his clothing before it could melt. Gwen was poorly covering her laughter with a cough, and Fili's attention snapped to her. "Are you laughing at my misery?"

"Valar, never," she protested, catching herself, and trying to keep a smile off of her face.

Fili didn't seem to take this answer seriously, as he leaned down, fast as lighting, scooping up some snow, and lobbing it in Gwen's direction. "That so?"

She managed to dodge the blow, but the snow grazed her side. She was quick, Kili would give her that. "Hey! Watch it, dwarf! I'm an innocent bystander."

"Not for long," Kili muttered to himself. He had used the momentary distraction to work his way behind Gwen and form a nice round little projectile of snow. He took careful aim, and it landed perfectly, bursting ice all across her back.

Fili was sent cackling at that, and Kili would have laughed if she hadn't whirled on him, eyes blazing. "You little bastard."

Kili took off running, back around to his brother, unable to keep from laughing at the teasing anger on her face. "It wasn't me!"

Just as Kili found shelter behind his brother, the dwarf was turning to him, sweeping his feet out from under him, landing Kili on the ground once again. Fili had little time to celebrate this victory as a snow ball hit the back of his head with a cringe-worthy crunch.

It wasn't long before all-out war had been launched. Short alliances were formed, but none of them lasted more than a moment. Gwen had taken mostly to fleeing, as none of her blows after the first one on Fili hit their mark. Kili's aim was spot on, but he found himself too often distracted trying to crack jokes or quips. He had, however, managed to get Fili face down in the snow, and he would be lying if he said he didn't kick a bit of snow over the back of his brother's head just to help keep him down.

When he had turned around, he saw Gwen standing a few yards away, looking ready to bolt as she analyzed his actions with careful eyes. He feigned a run to the left, causing her to jump a little, before he launched himself straight towards her, nearly slipping on the frosty ground. He chased her a good length down the road before a large rock in her path slowed her enough for Kili to catch up. She already had herself halfway crawled over the rock, but Kili threw his arms around her waist, hauling her back towards him. She was light, but Kili's footing was poor, and he became unbalanced quickly, and tumbled backwards, Gwen's weight crushing his chest as she landed on top of him.

By the time he sat up, she was trying to stand, but Kili wouldn't have any of this. He got a grip on the edge of her coat, and pulled hard, sending her sprawling back onto the ground, spitting out curses. Kili managed to grasp her ankle, yanking her towards him, but he failed to account for her having grabbed up a handful of snow. She shoved it into his face, and Kili jerked back as frost invaded his nostrils. He spluttered and the sound of her laughter filled the air, bright and loud. By the time he had cleared his eyes, she was scrambling to her feet, something Kili simply couldn't allow. He moved silently, but as quick as he could, grabbing her around the knees, with both arms. She crumpled immediately, yelping as she hit the ground. Kili was on top of her, pinning her wrists to the ground and locking her legs underneath his

She struggled for a moment, but quickly realized it was futile, letting her head fall onto the snow beneath it with a sharp laugh. Kili caught his breath, the grin fading from his lips to be replaced with breathlessness as he got a good look at her. In the struggle, her hair had burst free of the scarf it typically stayed wrapped in, and Kili could appreciate it fully. It was somewhere between curly and wavy, long and wild, a shade of dark brown that stood out brilliantly against the white of the snow. It framed her face softly, a few strands sticking to her sweaty skin. Her cheeks were flushed with cold and laughter, and for a moment, he lost himself as he took in her smile. It lit up every inch of her face, crinkling her eyes into dark, glittering slivers. Her lips were pink, her teeth bright white, and Mahal, she was…something. His heart thudded, and not just because of the exertion, and he found himself drawing closer to her, as a lick of heat curled in his stomach. "You surrender?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" She asked, a chuckle breaking her heavy breaths as she smirked up at him. He couldn't tell if an odd sort of fire had crackled to life in her eyes as well, or if it was his imagination.

Before he had too long to dwell on this, she had taken his distraction as an opportunity to curl her legs up against his chest, and with one push, she shove him off of her. She scrambled away as he reeled, kicking up sprays of snow as she went. She was already running when Kili staggered to his feet, but it seemed luck was on his side. Her foot caught something along the side of the path, and she went stumbling. She fell face down into the snow, and Kili took full advantage of it, pinning her with a knee placed gently on the small of her back, keeping her face down in the snow, spluttering and flailing. "Tap the ground to surrender."

She screeched something inaudible, and Kili laughed, moving her hair up off of her neck to pile some snow there. He was momentarily distracted as he saw that half of her neck was adorned with curls of black ink creeping up from the cover of her collar, but he stored this fact away to investigate later. It took only one handful of gritty snow, shoved down her back to have her tapping out.

Kili laughed in triumph as he got off of her, letting himself catch his breath, his pulse still pounding hot through his veins. Fili was just trotting up to them as Gwen sat up, brushing herself off and shaking snow out of her clothing. "Is it over?"

"I won," Kili told him, smug.

"Barely," Gwen scoffed bitterly as she gathered up her hair, deftly pulling her scarf back around it. "It was by a technicality."

"If I remember correctly, you surrendered, love," Kili said, reaching out to tap her flushed nose with his finger.

She batted away his hand, glaring at him, although there was little ire in it. "Stuff it, Durin."

Fili snorted, and offered Kili, and then Gwen a hand up. "It's been years since I've had a good romp in the snow."

They started back in the direction of the inn, all of them tired, knuckles stiff with the cold, but feeling delightfully energized. "This is the first 'romp' I've had in the snow," Gwen said.

Kili and Fili nearly stopped dead in surprise. "Really?" Kili asked.

"How?" Fili said, squinting in disbelief.

"Didn't have snow where I grew up," Gwen said with a shrug.

"Where in Durin's beard did you grow up where there's no snow?" Fili asked, sounding aghast.

"Rhun," she said simply.

Kili's eyes widened. "Rhun?"

"Truly?"

"I've got no reason to lie," she said, seeming a little taken aback by their astonishment.

Kili had only heard tales of that dusty eastern land. North of the Harad, but no more civilized. Miles of only sand, strange beasts and plants, and a vicious people carved by the unforgiving place. He had never imagined meeting an Easterling.

"You don't look much like one of them," Fili commented warily.

"I suppose that's true," she admitted. "But not all of us look so swarthy, especially in the area that I was raised."

"How did you end up here, then?" Kili asked as the inn came into view.

"Master dwarf, it was foolish of me to tell you where I'm from," she admonished. "Much less what I'm doing here. Try again later."

"Alright," Kili said, although his curiosity was piqued.

"What'd you bring a tub out here for?" Fili asked as he spotted it, abandoned out on the porch.

"Oh," Gwen said, as if just remembering her original purpose for coming outside. "I need to pack it with snow. I was going to have a bath."

"We'll help," Fili told her as he stepped up to drag it down onto the ground.

She nodded her thanks, and they all set about gathering armfuls of snow, and filling the metal tub. A thought occurred to Kili. "How are you going to get this upstairs?"

Gwen looked up from packing the snow down. "Hm?"

"Good luck trying to haul this up that ladder, much less once it's melted." He raised a brow. "Unless you were just planning on bathing in the common room."

"You would like that, wouldn't you, Master Dwarf?"

Kili thought for a moment, pausing to let the feeling pump back to his cold, bare hands. While the thought of seeing her undressed was certainly not unpleasant, the thought of Thorin, Gloin, Bombur and anyone else seeing her bare was decidedly less good. "No, don't think I would."

"You can use our room," Fili offered.

"Really?"

"Aye, why not? I'll make sure there's no one in it, and get the fire up."

"Thank you," Gwen said, sounding a bit surprised. Fili nodded, then disappeared inside.

"You don't have to look so shocked," Kili told her with a smile as he shoved more snow into the tub.

She shrugged. "You're all very friendly."

"You saved Mister Boggin's life. We're obviously going to be grateful for that sort of thing." She smiled a bit, and Kili couldn't help but add, "Besides, you're fun."

She scoffed, but didn't protest, and they worked in silence until the tub was filled to the brim. Both of them had to carry it, weighed down as it was. They shuffled through the common room, and most of the dwarves were too occupied by their discussions, games or work to notice them. The bedroom was empty, save Fili when they came in, and Gwen quickly excused herself to gather her things for the bath. A few pans of hot water had the snow melted and while it was certainly not luxurious by any means, they managed to get it a bit warm by the time she returned. She thanked them again, and Fili left immediately, taking his sword to clean. Kili lingered, leaning in the doorway. "Door doesn't bolt," he explained. "I'll watch it though."

"Can I trust you?" she asked, tone more teasing than anything, as she raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"Come on, love, give me some credit," he fired back. "When I see you naked, you'll want me to be seeing you." He let his tone fall low, and his eyes travel over her body, although he decidedly ignored how nice that suggestion actually sounded to him.

To his absolute pride, she flushed a deep red. "Didn't your mother teach you anything about respect or manners?"

Kili laughed. "She certainly tried." Before he left, he found himself turning back. "There is actually something I'd like as payment for our help."

"Aye?" she prompted.

"I'll ask one question, and you have to answer honestly," he told her, grinning.

She sighed, perching on the edge of the tub. "Ask."

"What brought you here?"

She snorted a little, shaking her head in exasperation. "You really are fixated on that, Master Dwarf. I'm a merchant. Picked up some things in Bree, and I plan on selling them. Satisfied?"

"Where are you planning on doing that selling them?"

"You said one question," she admonished. "And that's all I agreed to."

"Fine, Fine," Kili allowed, backing out of the room. "You got me there. Have a lovely time washing up."

"Goodbye, Master Dwarf."

"Try not to think of me too much," he added with a wink.

"Oh, stuff it, Durin-son."

Kili found himself feeling well rested, and a little tipsy as the sun set outside of the inn. The storm had started up again mid-afternoon, and the whining of the wind set a steady din throughout dinner as it scrabbled for purchase on the boards of the building.

The innkeep and his daughters had made up a thick stew, with carrots, potatoes, onions and sausages, and while it was a bit bland, they had all started drinking before the food was ready so there was hardly a care in the world about the actual taste of it. It was warm and filled their stomachs, and that's all they really cared about. Except Bilbo. He was perhaps a little more upset about the lack of flavor than most. Gwen had once again joined them for supper, albeit a tad reluctantly. Kili had a sneaking suspicion that her reluctance was only put on at this point.

"How long 'til we're out of these bloody rocks anyway?" Fili asked.

"Another week, I give it," Bofur said with a shrug.

"Really?" said Ori. "Dori was calling two."

"With how Thorin's pushing us, I'll give us half a week at the most," Kili tossed in.

"Not a chance," Bofur huffed. "No one's passed through that fast."

"Oh, aye?" Fili said, raising a brow. "And how do you know that?"

"Oh, laddie, I know things that you haven't even considered," Bofur scoffed, finishing off his mug. "Lots of things," he added, shooting Fili a frighteningly saucy wink.

Kili recoiled at that, directing his comment to Gwen. "Mahal, I don't like that. Not one bit." Gwen didn't seem to hear him though, enraptured as she was by glaring at her bowl, stirring it sluggishly. "Now, love," he started, getting her attention. "What did the poor soup ever do to you?"

She shrugged. "They hardly gave me anything but carrots."

"Don't you like carrots?" Fili asked, as he scraped his bowl clean with a chunk of bread.

"Well enough," Gwen explained. "But I don't have anything else." She shot a glare at Nori's bowl which seemed to be brimming with everything but carrots.

The dwarf noticed her gaze and shrugged. "I just don't like em, and I thought I'd mention it to the serving girl. Hardly thought that'd leave you with just carrots."

Gwen groaned, sitting back in her seat with a huff. "I just want some meat in my mouth. Is that so much to ask?"

Any dwarf that heard her comment reacted either in mortification or bursting into chuckles. Clearly, Gwen had fully intended her comment to come across as suggestive as she hid her laughter behind a gulp of ale. "You could have said that earlier," Fili told her, maintaining as much seriousness as he could for the sake of humor. "I'm sure Kili would have been happy to oblige."

This comment was even more amusing to the tipsy dwarves. Bofur, who had recently returned, laughed loudest of all, smacking the table hard enough for it to shake as he sat down. Kili took the jibe in stride, smirking as he scooped up a piece of beef onto his spoon from his near-empty bowl, holding it across the table to Gwen. "Right you are. Would you like a taste, love?"

To Kili's surprise, Gwen leaned out across the table, locking eyes with him as her lips closed around his spoon. Before Kili could process, she was back in her seat, giving her lips a slow lick, that if Kili didn't know any better, he would have thought was an attempt at seduction. He fought down the heat in his gut as he returned his spoon to his bowl, loudly fake whispering to his brother over the howls of laughter around him, "We should get her drunk more often."

"I'm not drunk," Gwen protested. "I'm tipsy."

"Oof, well, I'd hate to see you drunk, lass," Bofur told her, as he caught his breath from laughing.

"Would you, really?" she asked, tone teasing.

"No," Bofur snorted. "I really wouldn't." He tucked into his next mug of ale.

The laughter died quite suddenly, as Thorin strolled up to their table. "Having a good evening?"

Gwen busied herself with her bowl of carrots, while Kili shrugged. "Aye sure. Nothing too wild, though. Just your typical bantering and merriment."

Thorin gave Bofur a stern look as he downed the rest of the mug, only just after he'd filled it. "Not too much merriment I hope? We have an early morning tomorrow."

Bofur lowered the cup somewhat sheepishly. "Aye, Thorin. Noted."

Thorin shook his head, allowing a slight chuckle to grumble out of his chest. This humor faded as his gaze turned to Gwen. "I don't think we've met."

She stood quickly, brushing the crumbs off of her. "We haven't." She offered a hand. "Gwen."

Thorin seemed slightly wary as he took her hand, but did shake it. "Thorin. I should thank you for retrieving the Halfling."

Gwen shook her head. "It was nothing."

"We bid you safe travels," Thorin said stiffly, before leaving back to the hearth where he and Balin had found chairs and pipes.

Gwen sat down again, and frowned. "You know, I don't think he's all too fond of me."

"Thorin's not fond of anyone," Fili explained, and while his tone was light, Kili could tell that he was also trying to comfort the girl.

"Sometimes I don't even think he likes us," Kili added.

"I don't know about that," Fili snorted. "He likes me, I know that much. You?" he eyed Kili up, then shrugged.

Kili elbowed his brother in the side.

As the night drew on, the air grew warm, lit up all golden. The room was filled with the sound of chatter, laughter, and a soft, strumming stringed instrument. The innkeep had brought it out midway through the night to entertain them, and the dwarves had been generous in tipping the man, especially for the few songs that his daughters came out to sing. Bofur had tried to bring out his flute to play, but Dwalin had taken it away only a few minutes into that mess of a drunken show. The dwarves had sung too, of course, great, raucous songs complete with heavy-footed, jolly dances. Kili had seen Thorin slip away into the room fairly early in the night, which Kili thought probably contributed to their freedom of spirit and drinking.

The most recent tune came to an end, and Kili fell, sweaty and breathless, into the empty seat beside Gwen. "'Ello, love."

She nodded in greeting, her posture relaxed, cheeks flushed slightly with drink. She seemed almost pensive though, looking out at the room with half-glazed eyes.

"Could I tempt you with a dance?" Kili asked, leaning in to her.

She half-smiled. "I don't really dance, Master Dwarf."

"Don't dance?" Kili repeated, scooping the drink out of her hand and taking a swig of it, before placing it back. Gwen rolled her eyes slightly at this, but didn't protest further, taking a sip of her own. "Don't they dance out in Rhun?"

"Of course they dance," she scoffed. "We have great parties, lasting days on days," she sighed, a warm spark of memory lighting her dark eyes. "We'll go through a dozen casks of the finest wine and liquor, and then another two dozen of the cheapest. Eat and drink until we're about to burst and then dance for hours and hours, a different partner for every dance and for every night."

"Nighttime partners?" Kili said, raising a suggestive brow.

Gwen didn't deny his implications, shrugging. "Things are different there." She took another swig. "I don't dance though."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to," she replied simply.

Kili frowned. "I'm positive you'd be good at it."

Gwen snorted ungracefully. "And how are you so sure of that, Master Dwarf?"

He sighed, the fog in his head preventing him from presenting a well-reasoned argument. "You just look it. I just know, aye?"

"You don't know," she said.

"I do."

"You don't."

"Don't suppose you want to prove that point with a dance?" Kili asked, hopefully.

She rolled her eyes, but a chuckle fell off her lips. "Nice try."

With some good drink in her system, Gwen seemed to laugh and smile more easily. There was little other discernible change in her attitude, her movements were still calculated and smooth, her words careful and delicately pronounced, but it seemed she was more comfortable being happy. It was a welcome change. "Thank you," he said, settling back in his chair, allowing himself to get a good look at her. Her cheeks were flushed pretty pink behind her freckles, and her dark brown eyes glittered back the golden light of the tavern. Her hair was still bound up in a dark red scarf, wrapped all about her head and neck, although, as per usual, a few strands of it had slipped out to frame the sharp shape of her cheekbones and chin. The light danced about her features, and Kili felt a warm knot form in his gut. She was all angles and shadows and strange and fascinating. "Why don't you let your hair down?" The question popped out half without his bidding.

She seemed surprised by his words. "My face would burn, and my hair would fill with sand in a moment. It's a practicality."

Kili raised a brow. "Love, there's not much sand here, I promise. And," he looked up at the rafters searchingly. "I don't really see much sunlight."

She gave him a, exasperated look. "It's habit then."

"A habit I don't suppose you could break?" Kili said, allowing one of his hands up to brush a curl of hair from her cheek. It was falling dangerously close to her lips. Not that Kili was watching her mouth, really. It just happened to be where his eyes fell.

She didn't reply, and it took a moment for Kili to realize this and meet her eyes. Her mind seemed to be churning, and her eyes flickered all over his face, lingering sometimes. Where, he couldn't be sure. But the heat in his gut only wound up tighter as his finger brushed her cheek, the skin soft under his callouses. The moment between them was quite abruptly broken as the room fell quiet, and one of the girl's voices broke out, clear and high.

Of all the money that 'ere I had

I spent it in good company.

The spell broken, Kili yanked his hand away, willing himself not to flush. Gwen turned her face, breaking the eye contact, and clearing her throat. Kili smiled, taking in the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. That was odd. But not bad.

And all the harm that 'ere I've done,

Alas it was to none but me.

The soft strumming instrument joined in, and Gwen's eyes finally flickered up to his again. She opened her mouth to say something, but Kili beat her to the chase. "I like you."

She either choked or scoffed, but Kili could have sworn the flush on her cheeks darkened as she stumbled over her words. "You're sappy."

"I do," he chuckled, leaning back in his seat as the music thrummed on softly though the air, low chatter filling the room once again. "Like you, that is."

"I can't imagine I'm your type," Gwen laughed, though the flush remained. It sounded almost like she was challenging them as she stared, fixated by the rim of her mug. "I hear dwarf women are much better endowed than I, in facial hair and elsewhere."

Kili shrugged. "Dwarf women are fine, but to be honest, they all seem to remind me of my mother."

Gwen snorted, taking a drink. "A brave woman, to be sure."

"She is," Kili agreed, smiling at the thought of Dis. She could be a pain in the beard, but Mahal, he did love that woman.

"Either way," Gwen said, a rueful smile on her face. "It doesn't matter if you're screwed in the head, because after tomorrow I doubt we'll be seeing each other again."

So fill to me the parting glass,

Goodnight and joy be to you all.

That thought hit Kili like a punch to the gut. It was hard to tell if he'd forgotten it or chosen not to think of it, but he wasn't happy being reminded of it. "Suppose so," he mumbled, suddenly feeling like he needed another drink.

So fill to me the parting glass,

And drink a health whate'er befall.

Then gently rise and softly call,

Goodnight and joy be to you all.

Something kept him from standing up, and instead, he found himself asking, "Why do you travel alone?"

"Because I don't travel with anyone," she replied, smirking slightly.

Kili was the one rolling his eyes this time. "Then why don't you travel with anyone?"

"Because I travel alone," she said, mirth twinkling in her eyes such that Kili couldn't even find himself too frustrated at her. To his surprise, she spoke up again a moment later, and Kili looked to see that her smile was gone. "One pair of feet treads light. The moment the footprints are made, the wind washes them away. Fourteen pairs," She smiled at him humorlessly. "Well, fourteen pairs tread the sand deep. No wind takes that."

Kili looked at her for a moment, and thought he saw something sad flicker behind her eyes. "Gwen, you aren't on sand anymore. You're on stone."

Her smile disappeared, her eyes darting away from his, and Kili saw her hands clench around her cup. "Perhaps, Master Dwarf."

Then gently rise and softly call,

Goodnight and joy be to you all.

Kili found he couldn't sleep. Balin's snoring was insufferably loud, the floor kept creaking at his slightest movement, and there was most certainly a twig in the sack of hay that he was given to sleep on. His tired feet brought him up off the ground after a few hours of useless tossing and turning, and he yawned as he found himself padding out of the room, scrubbing a hand over his tangled hair. The light in the hall was dim, the lamps flickering low, but it was enough for Kili to see by.

He had heard creaking above him on and off for the past few hours, light but steady. Gwen was awake and moving. He managed his way down the hall without tripping, and climbed up the ladder easily. At the sound of his gentle raps on the trap door, the footsteps fell silent. It was a few moments, but Gwen's muffled voice drifted to him through the floorboards. "Hello?"

"It's Kili," he said, before a yawn hit him.

He could have sworn he heard a sigh, but after a few creaking footsteps, the door lifted open, and he saw Gwen, vaguely illuminated by a cold blue light. Her hair hung free on either side of her face, almost brushing against his cheeks as it hung down, and Kili couldn't help but smile a bit goofily up at her. "I can't sleep."

Gwen rolled her eyes, though she stepped back, giving him permission to come up. "And what if I can?"

"You weren't," Kili said as he crawled his way up, shutting the trap door behind him. The attic was cluttered by stores of grain and corn and hay, with a low ceiling, but it was illuminated throughout by cool light. Kili's eyes found a small window at the far end. The storm had died down a little, but still, the air was frothy with snow.

Gwen hauled a bag of hay over to join the one she'd evidently been resting on, before flopping ungracefully onto it. Kili followed her lead. The bags were well placed, putting them a few feet away from the window. Through the far off silhouettes of mountain peaks, the full moon left a round white imprint on the silver skies. The wind rushed gently over the roof in their silence, and Kili found himself shivering against his will. Without saying a word, Gwen shifted closer to pass him a thick wool blanket. She pulled her own up off the floor, tucking herself in from toe to chin. "It's cold," Kili said, wrapping up, bidding himself to stop shaking.

"I hate the cold," Gwen mumbled. Her eyes were fixed unseeingly onto the window pane.

Kili nodded. It really was cold up there. But at least it was quiet. Exhaustion was already beginning to tug at his eyelids as he turned his head to look over at her. She seemed tired. But not sleepy. Something deeper than that. "Come with us." The words left his tongue before he had thought of them.

"What?" she said.

"You have to get through the mountains too. And it's cold."

She shook her head. "Master Thorin wouldn't allow it."

"He might," Kili insisted. "He allowed Bilbo."

"Aye, but I'm not Bilbo."

"Obviously," Kili yawned. "Promise you'll ask him tomorrow morning?"

She sighed. "Kili—"

"Promise?"

She hesitated, and Kili hoped that she'd answer soon. He was fading into sleep fast.

"Aye."

He smiled as he drifted off into the darkness.

Hey friends! Thanks for reading. Thank you to everyone who faved and followed, and especially those who reviewed. You're all excellent. The song is not mine, it's called "The Parting Glass," and it's been done by hundreds of people, so you should look it up. It's pretty. Don't forget to let me know what you think of this chapter, (Constructive criticism is wonderful) and I'll update again next Wednesday.

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