Thorin couldn't sleep. He was looking forward to the journey and the smell of vanilla that was a few feet from his body made him feel uneasy. Everyone slept peacefully. He listened a groan of pain, and glanced to the side, seeing that Kaira was having a nightmare. She gasped, murmured something that he could not hear.

Thorin wanted to get up and embrace her. But his pride spoke louder. She left him, after she had been promised to him. He had made a mistake. He had betrayed her with her best friend's mother. But I was 80 years older than Kaira. And she was just 40 years old. She was a child, innocent and delicate. And he, the prince of Erebor, had desires. He was young, immature and loved the freedom, women and parties.

He could never know that Kaira might know of his parties with women in the kingdom. She was always studying, learning to be a queen. He didn't want to compromise with these women. He just wanted the benefit of pleasure and no more. Everything for him was that. Gold and parties.

He still remembers her eyes watering when she caught him with another. Her eyes filled with disappointment and repugnance. His thoughts were interrupted when the woman awoke terrified. Her eyes were glowing in the dark. She got up from the floor and walked out of the room careful, worrying in not waking anyone. He saw the woman go into the kitchen and then disappear down the hallway leading to the front door. Thorin was in doubt if he should go see her or not. Ended up deciding it was better to see how she was not to cause more trouble for him.

The cold wind in the morning crashed into his face when he left the house of the Hobbit. Kaira was sitting on a bench outside, smoking a long and thin cigarette. He sat beside her, looking at the landscape. The moon was high in the sky, illuminating the pastures and the contour of the houses in the village.

-Did I wake you, my prince? –asked her, inhaling the tobacco.

-No. -he said, staring at her. She was kinda shaky, fingers trembled slightly. She continued to avoid the gaze of man. He thinks she was beautiful. –I can't sleep anymore….

-You have to rest, milord. -she said, but her voice did not seem worried. –You'll face great dangers ...

-And you? Why you cannot sleep, milady? -she laughed through her nose. She glanced at him, malicious. The cigarette smoke made her even more sexy.

-It has been a long time since someone called me like that.-She said bitterly

-You're noble. You would be my queen ... -Thorin looked back at the sky. Thinking about what might have been their wedding.

-But I'm not…

They were silent. Kaira felt disturbed by the presence of the king, she felt those same butterflies in the stomach that made her feel so passionate when she was young.

-Where were you during those years?-Thorin asked, looking at her harshly. Kaira put the cigarette in her mouth again and gave a sarcastic smile.

-This is not of your business, milord. –she replied rudely, looking at him with the eyes shining with anger. -When you betrayed me, you lost your power over me.

He laughed ironic.

-You were a child! I was a man…

-I don't want to talk about it. -She stood up abruptly from the bench but he caught her by the elbow, forcing her to look at him.

-I haven't finished talking! -he growled, approaching her. She looked at him with hatred and disgust.

-What do you want me to listen? You want me to accept that you were just sleeping with several women before you sleep with me? And if I do the same with you? I could... I could have slept with so many men of Erebor ... I was desired by them and you know it, don't you? -she teased, touching her lips against his. -I learned many things from you, Thorin. And one of them is how to have fun ...

Thorin felt his vision blurred in anger. She was his.

-Kaira don't tease me…The ring that is on your finger says you're only mine…forever! -he said through the teeth, pressing the woman against his body violently. The woman laughed coldly.

-My lord, I am so much yours than I'm to the world! -Kaira whispered in his ear.-You missed the chance to be the one for me.

She loosened up from the king' squeeze, and entered the house. Thorin was immersed in a feeling he had never tasted before, jealousy.

As soon as the sun appeared under the hills, the dwarves began to wake up to the quest. Kaira was already preparing breakfast in the kitchen. The smell of bacon and fresh cake was in the air, leading the men to the table. Kaira smiled at Fili e Kili who stole a loaf of bread that she had just removed from the oven.

-Good morning, pretty boys! –she said maliciously. –I don't really know you! Who are you, cuties?

They gave a sly smile and kissed her hand.

-Fili and Kili, my beautiful lady! - they said together. Kaira held her breath and gasped.

-Oh Valar! -She said shocked. –Fili and Kili? Oh my! You have grown so much! I saw you when you were little ones!

The boys looked at each other when she hugged them tightly.

-I don't remember seeing you before… -Fili said confused, looking at the woman in front of him carefully.

-Me neither! –Kili completed smiling.

Kaira would say something, but someone cleared his throat behind her.

-Good Morning, milady! –Balin saluted, the woman smiled kindly.

-Morning, Balin! I did some tea for you….I know how much you love the scents of citrus fruits in your tea.

Balin nodded, kissing the hand of the woman who was now without her leather gloves. The boys eye's widened when they saw the gold ring with multicolored stones.

-This is the Durin's ring? –Fili asked scared. Kaira blushed, turning to take the gloves that were on the kitchen table.

-I think your uncle'll explain everything better to you. -She put on the gloves and grabbed a bowl full of fruit. - Excuse me, but i have to take this to the boys.

-How did she get that ring? –Kili questioned the old dwarf who was still watching the place where the woman was.

-She was the bride of your uncle, boys. -Balin replied thoughtfully. -And as you know, once promised, she'll always be marked as his.

-I thought they only had an affair… -Fili whispered. -Why my uncle has never spoke about her? She is our future queen!

-Because she left him on their wedding day! -Balin replied sadly. -She made him a fool in front of Erebor.

-My mother has never mentioned it… -the two dwarves were shocked by the revelation. -She only said that our uncle'd never find a queen because he had lost his only chance to have one.

Balin nodded.

-It's never late to love again... -saying that, he walked toward the dining room where the talk was already audible.

Kaira was nervous. She knew they would end up finding out about the ring. But She was afraid that they'd hate her without knowing the reasons which led her to run away from Thorin. She took a deep breath and entered the room, the woman saw the dwarves eating fervently the food. She smiled at that Gandalf.

-Morning,Kaira! - he greeted her. –I love your food!

-Thanks! -she sat beside Bofur and Dwalin who agreed with the wizard. She noticed that someone was staring at her intently across the table. She knew it was the dwarf prince. Ignoring the look, she ate what she could, as her stomach looks weak this morning.

-We're leaving in 10 minutes… -Thorin said seriously, leaving the room with a dour expression.

The dwarfs nodded, getting up from the table to prepare to leave. Kaira was silent looking at who was now staring at her.

-Did something happen between you and Thorin? –the wizard asked suspiciously. –Because what has happened between you and him, it has not improved his mood at all today.

-He still thinks he has power over me. -she replied bitterly. -Changing the subject! Where is Bilbo? Will he not join us?

Gandalf smiled, standing up from the table.

-He will come, my dear. You'll see!

The dwarfs put everything in order and leave the hobbit's house. Kaira climbed on her pony, looked back and sighed. The hobbit was hoping that everything would be alright.

-Let's go! -Thorin shouted for all to follow the path toward the forest, leaving the hill and leaving the little Bilbo alone again.