Chapter 3
Amli couldn't help but sigh contentedly as the cool breeze hit her face. There was nothing better than a crisp evening where everything felt right in the world and at peace.
The smells of food wafting through the air accompanied by the sounds of happy homes were enough to warm any heart.
Amli's, this night, however were not fueled solely by the warmth of the charming Shire folk. It had been quite some time since she thought about her father let alone his dying moments. Argoth had died trying to protect his family, one that nobody in the kingdom wanted him to have.
They looked down upon him; spoke viciously behind his back and stripped him of his crown.
Yet did that faze him? No, the man married his human counterpart and bore two children. He took to proudly working on the farm that the two built together and was content.
Then there was dear Oleg who took to her like a fish in water. The first time the two had met, Amli was frightened to the point of tears by the burly dwarf with eyes cold like steel. She figured him to be a cruel step-father that would work her to the bone.
Yet the old softy simply bent down and wiped the tears from her eyes murmuring, "It will all be alright young one." Amli took to promptly flinging herself into his warm embrace afterwards.
She was the apple of his eye from that moment on. Unable to have children of his own, as his wife had died unexpectedly, Oleg took her under his wing. Read with her nightly, taught her the ways of weapons were only two of the many ways he prepared the half she-dwarf for the world.
She loved him dearly as did he. Amli taught him to open his heart again and he taught her to accept her differences.
"Are you well m'lady?" A soft voice questioned stirring Amli from her thoughts as Ori sat beside her.
"It is just Amli, Ori, and yes I am. I was just reminiscing about my past. Why do you ask?" She asked sending him a grin that caused a faint blush to pain his cheeks.
"You seemed rather distraught after your story…" He murmured grasping at his book though his sweaty palms made it difficult.
Giggling, Amli couldn't help but place a chaste kiss to his head. "That my friend was for coming to my aid when I needed it. You are very kind to practically a perfect stranger."
"I do not see you as such." Ori replied as Amli eyed him curiously.
"You lost your own home, and have agreed to help us reclaim ours. It takes a brave and honorable dwarf to do that even if you are a half blood." Amli couldn't help but send him a kind grin even though the compliment stung a tad.
"You are wise beyond your years Ori." That caused a rather handsome grin to paint his face as the young dwarf's chest swelled up with pride.
"Would you mind telling that to Dori and Nori once in a while? They treat me as if I'm an invalid." He said dejectedly with a dramatic sigh that caused a giggle to escape Amli's throat.
"They only wish to keep you safe but for you I will." Amli replied sending a wink his way
The dwarf however did not respond as he had usually. He remained still as stone, eyes gazing over her shoulder with a touch of fear on his face.
With her hand resting comfortably upon the hilt of the dagger, Amli turned prepared to engage whatever foe but found a familiar pair of green eyes gazing at her from the darkness.
"Not to worry Amli, I will protect you." Ori said grabbing his slingshot and standing in front of her. A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she stood up beside him.
"There is nothing to protect me from." Amli began gazing from Ori to the brilliant eyes.
"Come out from the shadows, Trouble." She called as her wolf hybrid emerged, silver coat sparkling in the light of the moon.
With one soft whistle, Trouble cleared and barreled straight into her arms. She couldn't help but laugh as the 150lb wolf-dog knocked her flat on her arse, licking her face and teeth excitedly.
Over seventy years had passed since the two were first acquainted and he still thought of himself as a bloody pup.
"Enough." Amli growled as the wolf got off and sat down beside her. Poor Ori paled considerably and looked as if he saw a ghost.
"I'm sorry that Trouble frightened you. He means no harm. Would you like to be introduced?" Amli asked scratching the spot behind Trouble's ear as he nudged her happily.
Much to her relief, the look of sheer panic passed from his face and it was replaced with one of intrigue.
"Yes, I would." Ori replied as Amli smiled gently pulling the dwarf beside her.
"Now you have to wait for Trouble to come to you." Amli said feeling a bit pleased with herself at the sly play on words as Ori nodded.
She watched proudly as Trouble sniffed and licked Ori's face causing the dwarf to laugh.
"He likes me." Ori ran his hand along the dwarf's fur.
"That he does Master Dwarf, do be warned the manner in which he is caring for you is associated with how wolves care for their young." Amli couldn't help her laughter at the dwarf's slight growl in frustration.
"Everybody's trying to protect me." He cried exasperatedly as Amli's laughter carried into the stillness of the eve.
The door of the hobbit hole flung open as the company appeared ready to come to Ori's cry. Their admirable bravery all but disappeared as their eyes fell upon the young dwarf and wolf.
"He's….he's…ah!" Dori cried falling as a fainting spell overtook him.
"What is the meaning of this?" Thorin's voice boomed cutting through the crowd before his figure had.
With Ori gone to check on Dori, Trouble stood before Amli barring his teeth freezing Thorin in place. The behavior ceased instantly with a small *tsk* from Amli as the creature ventured to her side keeping his eyes fixed on Thorin.
"I apologize for the disruption but it was merely my dog coming to visit."
"Dog?! Woman are you blind? That is a bloody wolf."
"I would appreciate if you would keep your voice down Master Oakenshield. I am well aware of what my dog is but I would not like to frighten all of Bag End with that information!" Amli replied tersely.
"I hope you do not intend to bring that with you on the quest." Thorin bellowed eyeing the wolf with disgust that it returned.
"Trouble follows at his own pace and comes at my calling so I do believe this matter is nothing you need to be concerning yourself with." Amli added calling for Trouble as the two walked into the backyard.
Leaving behind dwarves in a stunned silence which was immediately broken by Thorin bellowing as they all went back inside.
Fili and Kili seemed to linger longer than most. "She's got one hell of a spark. Uncle is absolutely furious." Kili said murmuring watching his brother's gaze curiously.
"I like her." Fili replied following in her tracks leaving a now stunned Kili behind.
Amli felt rather proud of herself as she marched off with her loyal dog behind her. No one would ever harm Trouble as long as she drew breath.
Sitting in the grass beside the hobbit's home, Amli grinned glancing over at her loyal friend belly up in the air awaiting a rub down.
"You've been a naughty boy, nearly scared those dwarves to death." She replied sternly at the wolf that looked innocently at her with his big green eyes. Reaching over, Amli ran her fingers through the coarse fur scratching lightly.
"Though I figure that it's good you met the company now. That way they don't end up wearing you like a fur." Amli continued scratching the spot behind his ear as the wolf nudged her leg happily.
"Come now, I don't think we're that barbaric." A voice called causing Amli to let out a startled gasp as she turned finding a smiling Fili making his way to them.
"You might not be but I would not count out Thorin Oakenshield." She offered tending to Trouble to keep him calm as Fili sat beside her.
"Uncle a majority of the time means well. He just doesn't know how to phrase things."
"Uncle?" She asked incredulously not daring to believe it.
"Yes is that a problem?"
"…for you maybe not for me." Amli murmured blushing slightly at her outburst.
"I'm so…." Amli began feeling absolutely terrible about the outburst until she heard his laughter besides her.
"That is the first time that I think anyone has been so free with their words in front of a prince." Fili replied grinning as Amli blushed ten fold.
"I'm doing well; manage to insult royalty and family in the span of five minutes." Amli murmured covering her face from embarrassment as Fili sent her another bloody heart stopping grin.
"Don't think twice about it. Though I follow my uncle's orders with no question, it is refreshing to have someone voice the feelings that I cannot express." Fili replied though his mind seemed to be in lost in thought.
"Cannot or will not?" Amli's sweet voice questioned placing the thought in his mind though he was quick to send her a glare.
No one would disrespect Thorin in his presence if he had anything to say about it.
"Forgive me my prince for I meant no ill will by my comment." She replied as a small awkward silence enveloped the two.
Trouble now sitting upright beside Amli nudged the she-dwarf gaining her attention. Leaning over, Fili watched intently as after quick whisper in its ear the wolf took off into the forest.
He couldn't help but feel bad about the outburst and certainly did not want to make the she-dwarf unnerved.
"I know it is just the topic of my uncle is a rather sensitive one. I'm very loyal to my brother and uncle." He said breaking the silence in the air.
"There is nothing more admirable then loyalty. I overstepped my boundaries greatly." The two shared a knowing glance as they looked up at the stars in the night sky.
"None of this my prince business, I am simply Fili." He added finding the tension between the two disappear as a smile graced her features.
"As you wish simply Fili..." Amli replied sending him a smirk as the two were called into the house to rest before leaving for their journey.
