By nightfall they had reached a proper place to set camp. Kili had taken Lori down from the pony's back and then went to help around. There was not much she could do besides occasionally offering a hand when asked. Bilbo was nowhere near as strong as a dwarf and Lori even less so. Although she found her use with Bombur. Lori enjoyed cooking and was quite good at it; she was extremely happy to find that she did have something to do. Bombur was happy to have her along, effectively splitting his work in two and making it easier.

Bilbo watched them built the fire, not saying a word from his place next to Gandalf. Unintentionally he looked after his cousin to see that she was alright. The hobbit found her close to Bombur, quietly saying something to the corpulent dwarf who was smiling and nodding along. Bilbo sighed heavily. He had signed the contract in a moment of frustration and was now caught in a journey that might bring his end about. Even worse, he had brought his cousin with him. Lori hadn't been made for any of this; she could get hurt out there in that big world.

With his peripheral vision the male hobbit caught something unexpected. It seemed that he was not the only one whose eyes sought Lori. The leader of the company, Thorin, was too watching the petite woman helping with the food. Bilbo scowled for a moment. What was that dwarf doing, looking at Lori so intently? He was about to walk to his cousin when Balin sat himself on Bilbo's free side.

"How are you keeping up, lad?" the elderly dwarf asked with a certain gleam in his eyes and a smile on his wrinkle face.

A bit perturbed at the show of interest, Bilbo replied warmly, "I am well, thank you. To tell the truth I am more worried for Lori."

"The lass?" Balin asked as if surprised. "I wouldn't worry about her. She seems to be finding her place just fine." The dwarf stroked his beard a few times before taking out his pipe. "Shall we smoke laddie?"

Not knowing how to politely refuse a dwarf Bilbo took out his own pipe. Despite the inconvenience his surveillance of Lori did not end. Bilbo carefully trailed her form as she laid down next to the large food pot, from time to time stirring its contents and simultaneously holding a conversation with Kili and Fili who had joined her next to the fire. She did indeed look to be integrating in with ease. And that was perhaps Bilbo's biggest problem. Lori had signed the contract too.

Gandalf watched the hobbit next to him in silent contemplation. Bilbo Baggins, he thought with a smile, was worrying himself over nothing. The quest they had set off on was perilous, indeed, but not without its rewards. And those did not number to the gold they would receive. His cousin Lori seemed to be taking it better. The young lass had the brothers, Fili and Kili, on her side and Bombur too. Not to mention that the dwarven king leading them had been throwing her stealthy looks since she had joined them. The wizard had noticed something back at Bilbo's house too. They seemed to be like magnets, attracting one another.

Darkness was a thick shroud now and the only light came from the fire lit in the middle of their small camp. Lori had placed her bedroll next to Bilbo's and closed her eyes, burrowing into her cousin who instinctively put a hand on the crown of her head. Excitement still coursed through her so she was very sure sleep would not come for some time yet that did nothing to stop her from reclining on the ground and enjoying the warmth of the flames. She was off onto an adventure of her own. What more could she ask for?

Thorin watched the cousins with curious eyes. It seemed that hobbits were extremely demonstrative creatures if their behaviour was anything to go by. Out of them the women were most likely to initiate contact. Lori had been the one to eliminate the distance between herself and her cousin and the burglar had automatically responded to her actions. Inwardly, Thorin wondered if she would also be like that as a lover too. Would she wrap herself around her partner like a vine, gluing her soft body to his side? Shaking the thought away he stared into the horizon. There was no time to dwell on such thoughts. Time rolled slowly past them.

In the sky, the moon had begun to shine its pale light over their site, as it came out from between a spread of clouds. The silvery brightness seemed to find Lori first. Or maybe that was because Thorin had noticed her first in the glow, through half-closed lids. She had turned away and she slept facing a faraway forest. Growing uncomfortable with his increasing awareness of her he turned his gaze away and sleep took him.

For some reason he could not fathom Bilbo jumped awake. Groggily he raised his head and was greeted by darkness and someone's snoring. Looking to his right he saw Lori still slept peacefully. He removed his hand from her silky hair and got up to his feet. Feeling his pockets he found and apple and went over to Myrtle to feed her the fruit. The beast had scarcely finished eating when a sound horrifying as nothing he knew spread through the sky. It was followed by more of the same. Worry filled Bilbo.

Having been woken by the unknown cries Lori put a hand to her dagger. What on earth had made those sounds? The metal warmed under her touch and she felt slightly better but no less scared. Those were no promises of anything good.

"What was that?" Bilbo made himself spout the question, despite not wanting to hear any bad news. The only one awake seemed to be Kili, who was keeping watch.

"Orcs," replied the young dwarf with a serious face. The fire cracked menacingly at the mention of those creatures and Lori shivered only thinking of them. She knew enough about them to be thankful they had not encountered any yet.

Unsettled, Lori got up, hand still clenching her knife and walked closer to the fire. "Orcs?" she could not help echoing Kili's answer, promptly waking Thorin.

"Throat cutters," Fili told her, putting a pipe to his lips. "There'd be dozens of them out there. The low lands are crawling with them."

"They strike in the wee small hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no scream, just lots of blood," Kili continued in the way one does a scary story. Lori shuddered and gulped. Kili smiled at his brother; they had managed to frighten the newcomers.

Apparently their uncle did not consider the joke to be made in good taste. "You think that's funny?" Lori watched the dwarf rise and throw his nephews an angry glare. "You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?"

"We didn't mean anything by it," Kili responded like a child being caught stealing cookies before dinner. Lori had the impression that they were only sorry for upsetting Thorin and not for frightening poor Bilbo and herself.

"No you didn't," Thorin voiced sternly. "You know nothing of the world." He walked straight past Lori who squashed the impulse to turn and follow him, maybe sooth him somehow. What a foolish thought.

"Don't mind him laddie," Balin wisely recommended, coming out of the shadows. "Thorin has more cause then most to hate orcs." That piqued Lori's interest. As if sensing it, Balin turned his face to her. "After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first. Moria had been taken by legions of orcs, led by the most vile of all their race," the dwarf paused to fortify their interest, "Azog, the Defiler. The giant Gundabad orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin."

Gasping, Lori pressed her fingers to her lips in horror. Nothing good could follow. Balin persisted. "He began by beheading the king. Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner or killed, we did not know." The woman turned her sad eyes to Thorin whose back was facing them; she understood the pain of losing family. "We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us. That is when I saw him," Balin said with a proud, small smile and looked to Thorin. "A young dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe. His armour rent, wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield."

Her breath caught in her throat, Lori felt her heart pounding. "Azog, the Defiler, learned that day, that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied, and drove the orcs back." Lori breathed in relief. "Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast, nor song that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived and I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one I could call king."

Every dwarf was on their feet by the end of Balin's tale. Even Thorin had turned around, free of the painful memories for the time being. Kneading her hands together, Lori blinked away the tears that had gathered in her eyes. She could only thank whoever had watched over Thorin and kept him alive quietly in her mind and heart.

"And the Pale Orc?" Bilbo asked a bit unsure of himself. "What happened to him?"

"He slunk back into the hall whence he came." Lori attention snapped from Bilbo to Thorin who was delivering his answer. "That filth died of his wounds long ago."

Opting to ask no more Bilbo turned to the fire, warming his hands. Lori sat down next to him, lost in her own thoughts. She now knew considerably more about Thorin. She may even be able to connect with him on a certain level. After all, both had lost people dear to them. It was not the same but still, there was a chance. Brushing her fingers through her hair, Lori only now noticed the riot her tresses had gotten into. "That's what I get for turning around so much," she muttered under her breath. Lori had never been a peaceful sleeper and more often than not she spent the night tangled in her sheets from all her moving about.

"What?" Kili leaned closer to her, having probably heard her complaint. "What is it lassie? Are you afraid? You may come and sit between me and my brother. We shall keep you safe," he said as Fili winked at her.

Face a furious scarlet, Lori objected vehemently. "No, no. I'm not afraid, at all. I'm not. Just annoyed if you must know." The brother laughed at her reaction, mirth shining in their eyes. Shoving a hand in her pocket she pulled out a small black circular band which she used to tie her hair back, out of her face.

"Suit yourself, lass," Fili jokingly carried on, "just know that you are more than welcome to slide between us anytime you wish. Is she not Kili?" The younger dwarf nodded.

"There will be no such things going on," Bilbo growled irately. "Do you hear me? Neither of you will come anywhere near my cousin."

Doing it perhaps just to spite Bilbo, and to have some fun, Kili and Fili looked and one another and shared a smile. They both climbed to their feet, confusing the hobbits and pulled Lori between them, hugging her at the same time. Lori resisted for a few good seconds to given them satisfaction, because she had seen the mischievous exchange between them. Bilbo was not amused at all and was trying very hard to get the brothers to let her go.

Had Thorin not ordered that the camp be moved Lori would have probably been referee to a fight between Bilbo and the dwarf brothers. Thinking that she might ride with her cousin the woman packed her things after washing her face with some water she had. She was just about to ask Bilbo when she was lifted from the ground a strong set of hands. It had been on the tip of her tongue to yell but her senses alerted her of no danger so she kept quiet. Lori turned around to see who had taken her up now, thinking that it might be Fili this time. It wasn't.

Hazel clashed with grey and Lori's mouth formed a small inaudible sound. Quickly she turned her head to face the road. "Thank you, but I could have ridden with either Kili or Fili. You didn't have to trouble yourself." Her shyness was acting up again.

"My nephews," Thorin started, the closeness enabling Lori to feel him at her back, "are better not left to their pranks for too long. And your cousin seemed most opposed to it." Little did Thorin care for Bilbo's opinions. He had seen the chance to keep her next to him and took it.

Lori bit her lip. "They are your nephews?" She had not known. At least he was not alone like she had feared. A smile passed on her face.

"The sons of my sister," Thorin volunteered. He turned back and yelled out at the rest of the group, "We are moving out." Two arms passed Lori's middle as Thorin took the reins and they started advancing. It was nice, having her at such a close distance. At first she had been tense yet as they went her frame relaxed against him. Further on the way they even started talking.

Dark skies spread out ahead of them. Lori looked at those angry clouds and knew they would not be able to avoid being caught in the downpour they would shower on the earth. Sighing, she closed her eyes. At least it had not started yet, although the wind was a bit strong. Thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance and Lori smiled wryly. She had thought too soon. As if to agree with her, the sky started dripping water. It turned out that a shower was not what was waiting for them. Instead a torrent of water fell from above. It was raining cats and dogs.

"There. Mr Gandalf? Can't you do something about this deluge?" one of the dwarfs Lori did not yet know the name of questioned, with no small amount of revolt in his voice. Indeed this rain was nothing pleasant, it made her light clothing stick to her body.

"It is raining, master dwarf," the wizard said to him and looked up at the cloudburst. "And it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard."

Whatever else was said Lori did not catch. Quite on accident and unthinkingly she had leaned backwards to avoid some of the rain, her back touching to Thorin's front. For a split-second she froze until one of his arms pulled her even more into his chest. Taking that as a sign that he did not mind her being practically stuck to him, Lori burrowed deeper into the warmth he offered.

Through their current position Thorin could feel that the woman's clothes were soaking wet. Of course that when she appeared, with her cousin in tow, he had not taken the time to carefully survey her garments. It had not been of much importance then. But now, the cloak she wore was not a heavy one; it had been made for the temperate climate of the Shire. Besides she had only put it on when the rain began. Underneath she had a flimsy shirt and a pair of travelling breeches; no wonder she was sopping.

After what felt like hours the heavy rain finally stopped and they continued their way until they reached a clearing. Gaining enough confidence to jump off the pony on her own Lori no longer waited for anybody's help. She got off and listened to the chores that were being split between the members of the group. Gazing around Lori found what looked to be ruins.

Perhaps it had been the house of a farmer, a human home by its architecture. The wood was splintered and cracked, what remained of it anyway. It looked like something had crashed into the house, something big. Even the barn had not made it unscathed. Gandalf seemed to have some reservations about this place too. Thorin and the wizard were talking and Lori turned to help with the fire.

"Everything alright? Gandalf, where are you going?" Bilbo called after the wizard. Lori dragged her head up in time to see Gandalf departing in what looked like an angry march.

Her brows furrowed at his reply. "To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense."

Bilbo's confusion only grew, and so did Lori's. Had there been an argument going on. "And who's that?" her cousin pressed on.

"Myself, mister Baggins," Gandalf retorted. "I've had enough of dwarves for one day."

"Oh my," Lori said to herself, "this cannot be good." They were alone, without Gandalf in this place that made her feel at least unsettled. "Do you think he's coming back?" she asked Bombur. The dwarf shrugged. Lori looked to her cousin with a pleading expression. She wanted to talk to him.

Leaving his pony where it was, Bilbo approached Lori. "Don't worry. Gandalf wouldn't just leave us. He'll come back. You'll see." At any rate, the hobbit hoped it would be so. "Lori, can we talk?"

Nodding in agreement she let Bombur deal with the meal on his own. "What is it that you want to say? If it's about Fili and Kili, don't bother. Those two are only joking."

"I don't know, Lori. They might not be," Bilbo teased. No, he was not worried about them. "How come you've gotten so close to Thorin?"

Feigning shock was the only option Lori saw to this. "What do you mean? I am no closer to him than to any other of the dwarves here."

"Do you think I was born yesterday? I noticed how touched you were by Balin's story and I think even a blind man could see the looks you were giving him. And the next thing you know you are even riding with him," Bilbo sarcastically questioned, placing an arm around her shoulders.

The reply Lori was about to give was lost when Kili, out of nowhere, put his own arm over her shoulders and leaned conspiratorially in, bringing his head to the same level as their. "What are we talking about?" the dark haired dwarf asked with a grin on his face.

"Nothing that concerns you," Bilbo snapped at him. The words barely left his mouth when another joined their small circle. Fili used Bilbo's shoulders as support and beamed at Lori who was blinking like an owl.

"Are you sure?" the blond dwarf whispered. "Whatever it is I'm pretty sure we can do something to help."

Swatting his arm away Bilbo retreated. "We'll talk later," he told Lori and went to Myrtle who nickered softly when he patted her mane.

Alone with Thorin's nephews Lori graced each with a shy smile. "Shouldn't you be watching the ponies?" She distinctly remembered that it had been their task appointed by their uncle.

"Fili, Kili!" Thorin's voice sounded from behind the three. "Leave the girl alone and go to your posts. If anything happens I will blame it on your lack of attention."

Cocking her head Lori grinned at the dejected looks on their faces. They were so funny; just children pretending to be grownups. Or were they grownups pretending to be children? It was hard to tell, especially with men. Complicated creatures. Lori was going to help Bombur with their dinner when a large hand gripped her wrist. Doing the only thing she could think of Lori smiled at him too and questioned his intentions through her eyes.

"Are they bothering you?" He seemed genuinely concerned that she would be troubled by the antics of those two. It was amusing to witness. "I can talk to them if you'd like."

Vigorously shaking her head, Lori refused, "They remind me of my siblings actually; forever planning some sort of tomfoolery that would land them in trouble. I'm sure they mean no harm by it though." She bit her lip gently. He still hadn't let go of her wrist. "I should go help Bombur now." She said it as if it were an afterthought.

Realising his hold on her had not slacked yet, Thorin released her wrist. He watched her hurry to Bombur's side and tell something to the round dwarf. Absentmindedly he sat on a stone and looked over the camp. They had done a quick job, his men. Thinking back to the day's happenings Thorin was attacked by the memory of Lori pressed to him. The armour had not let him feel her very clearly but even drenched she had been warm in his hold. Having to encircle her waist had been a bonus as had the fact that she had trusted him enough to not protest when he placed her on his horse.

She was a friendly sort it seemed. Her eyes sparkled with fondness for the dwarves in the camp and was always willing to help. Why had her cousin brought her with him? Thorin dismissed the thought. Why should he care? The only fact that held any importance was that she was there. Lori found his gaze and held it with her own until her eyes focused and she went bright red. Jumpily she turned back to what she was doing. Interesting. She was also very bashful, one might say.

On more than one occasion he had seen a blush colour her cheeks. Her cousin seemed to have none of her inhibitions, but then again one could tell that the burglar was her senior in age. Lori looked to be a woman in her youth with those luminous eyes and radiant smile, in a tiny face surrounded by a river of chestnut locks. Her maturity was given away by the curving lines of her frame and a certain glaze she sometimes got in her eyes. The look of an innocent young lass. She had many years and much experience to gain.

At the same time Thorin was busy with his contemplation of Lori, the girl was having some thought of her own. She was thinking about Bilbo and his consciousness about her admiration for the dwarven king. Of course she could have denied it to her cousin, told him that he was imagining things. But would that be of any help to her when she already knew what it was that she was feeling? Not really, her mind concluded. What was in her heart was already there and therefore unchangeable. Bilbo would just have to deal with it. Lori smiled at the image of her cousin trying to dissuade her. His words had been of disapproval, but he could not possibly understand how deep her emotions were.

Meanwhile Bilbo's sharp eyes were scrutinizing both dwarf and hobbit. Could his cousin really be in love with Thorin? Bilbo shivered at the very thought. He hoped not. It was bad enough that he had let her in on this perilous expedition; the only thing he did not need now was for her to get it in her head that she loved the dwarven king. Rudigar would murder him on the spot if he came to deliver the news that Lori had gone and got herself tied to someone. For Lori's father it was that he did not want his daughter out of his sight or without a person he trusted. Add to that that the old hobbit trusted very few and there was the perfect recipe for disaster. Belba on the other hand, was more like her daughter than most thought. They were both timid when one first got to know them but ever so slowly as they would get used to the new acquaintance they'd grow warmer and friendlier.

For himself Bilbo could only say that he was a Baggins of Bagg End. His trust and consideration had to be won, and until now these dwarves had not done so. Especially not their aloof and arrogant leader. That man's ego could hardly fit in a whole castle. Not that Bilbo had actually seen a castle before. It would be better for Lori if she would keep her distance. Yet he had read her behaviour like an open book. That girl was smitten. What was he to do?

"What are you thinking about so hard, mister Baggins?" Kili sat down next to him. For some reason Bilbo was grateful that the beardless dwarf had got his name right.

Turning a harsh stare to the dark haired young man, Bilbo countered, "What kind of man is your uncle?" Fili sat on Bilbo's other side and looked to his brother.

"He may seem unapproachable," Fili supplied, "and a tad haughty," Kili continued, "but he is only looking out for his people. He is a good leader and a capable fighter." Fili put a hand to his knee, "Uncle just needs someone to be there for him."

"That was deep," Kili mock praised his brother, getting a punch in the shoulder for his jest. "But really now mister Baggins, I wouldn't worry for the little lass that much. Uncle likes her, so he will take good care of her. Have no fear."

"And here I thought I was the only one to notice the sparks fly between them," Fili stated derisively. "But they don't seem to be making much of a progress." An impish smile lighted his face. "We should help them along, Kili. It would be the right thing to do."

The hobbit was about to tell them off for their impulsivity. "How can you be so sure that he likes her? How do you even know that she likes him?" He was not about to tell them his conviction that Lori certainly liked their uncle.

"Oh, he's sweet on her alright! He let her ride with him and wrapped her in his overcoat. Saw it with our own eyes, didn't we Fili? Come to think of it he never lets her slip too far out of his sight." The older brother nodded.

"This proves nothing. He could have just been acting nice because she's a woman," Bilbo pointed out. "And he could be watching her because she's a hobbit, a liability."

"You're a hobbit and I have yet to see uncle watch you the way he looks to her," Kili mentioned nonchalantly, slowly patting a pony that had wandered close to them. "And he is seldom nice to people based on their gender. Dwarven women are no different from their menfolk."

"Really?" Bilbo had heard about that but until now he had never had any confirmation. Well, that explained why their numbers were dropping considerably.

"Yes, the same. Power, skills, beard and all." Fili supplied with a chuckle. "You can imagine what a treat it is for us to have your cousin here."

"Don't even think it," the hobbit warned, his eyes darkening. Could those two be serious for more than a few minutes at a time? Probably not. "I'm serious. Don't you dare think it."

"I bet uncle's thinking it," Fili goaded the Halfling sitting next to him. Kili picked up on his brother's game and added, "Why I bet he's thinking it right now. By the way Fili, Dwalin owes us a few good coins. I told you that she liked him."

"You made bets on this?" Bilbo was once more scandalised. "I cannot believe it." He put a palm to his forehead and rubbed in small circular motions.

Fili shrugged, while Kili grinned proudly and could not help saying, "We also lay a wager on whether they would last until the Lonely Mountain before taking a tumble in the hay." He did not notice the deadly glare shining in Bilbo's eyes which had been levelled at him. "I betted that they wouldn't last more than half a moon."

"I have more faith in uncle's self control. I dare say they will last until they find a bed to fall into together," Fili contradicted his brother with an assured look on his face.

Both dwarves were unaware that as they were talking Bilbo was plotting their deaths in the most torturous, horrifying ways he knew of. He would skin them alive and boil them in hot water. Maybe he would take their hearts out with a blunt knife. Perhaps even feed them to Smaug if he got the chance.

"Say, mister Bagging," Kili started with a cheeky rise of his eyebrow, "would you like to put a bet too? You never know when luck decides to be on your side."

The crazy look in Bilbo's eyes grew tenfold. He was going to poison their food and bury them. And put worms in their grave. And let said worm eat them.


A/N: Firstly, thank you for the lovely reviews, for favouriting and following. You guys are the best. The next update will be in a week's time. Meaning that you will see the next chapter on Friday or on Saturday. The reason is that I have school and a lot of things to do. I believe I've been generous and you will not hold it against me. I am counting on your understanding. You are all such nice people that I'm sure you will not get mad.

Drop a line if you're in the mood and you will have my gratitude and a virtual cookie. I wish you all a nice productive and prosperous week.