N.B. I apologize for a lot of this being filler but I have been so stressed as of late that all I've wanted to do is write fluffy stuff to make me feel better, for lack of a better explanation. Then I realized that I haven't updated any of my stories in nearly an eon so I decided, eh, why not? Anyways...here you go!

Chapter 3: Katâthhôr aktûb zu ra dharug

Fili's POV

I couldn't help but continuously stare at her in the firelight while we ate. She was chatting with Bilbo, though other members of the company joined in every so often. Kili was seated next to me.

"Something, or should I say someone, caught your eye brother?" I pretended not to know what he was talking about, though in truth I could feel my face flush.

"I do not know what you mean, Kili," but it was obvious he did not believe me.

"You fancy her." He said with a huge and cheeky grin on his face.

"I think she's sweet," I tried to cover up my embarrassment. I felt like I had been caught red handed and I didn't like it.

"Oh I know you think more than that about her. It's so obvious. Noble prince Fili, always so confident and regal, stumbles his words and fumbles everything when she is near. I mean I don't blame you; she looks like Yavanna herself came down and took form." He was so right. "Don't you think so?"

"I think, Kili, that Mahal couldn't have fashioned a more beautiful creature in all middle earth," I whispered, suddenly so embarrassed that I blurted that out in front of him. He grinned and chuckled at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Well she seems like you well enough," he said slyly.

"Oh? And how do you know that?" I wasn't going to let him raise my hopes. No. A girl, woman, as beautiful, smart and kind as she would not want some inexperienced warrior with naught even a proper throne. Not yet anyway.

"Fili, I see the way she looks at you sometimes. And she always wants to be around you, especially in danger. I mean, whose the first person she checks up on after we've had a scrap? You. And besides, who wouldn't like the brave, dashing and handsome young heir to Erebor. I know I would." He winked at me and I looked away, blushing and grinning. Then he pinched me, hard. And I mean hard, on my hand. It hurt like hell.

"Dammit," I said under my breath.

"Oh Fili! Did you just get bit by something?"

"What? No-" But Kili cut me off. "It's fine." I shook my hand but the skin was still red and raised.

"No look. It's all red. What if you got bit by something poisonous? Oin, come look at this!" He was making a huge deal about his pinching me but suddenly it dawned on me as Oin sat to look at it. Elia looked up at me, worried. Then she timidly came over to look at it; she was a damn good healer. Her and Oin would talk about different methods and herbs used for medicine from the East and West. It was absolutely adorable when she did that.

"I don't know what would do that, laddie," Oin shook his head. "Do you know lassie?"

She took her hand in my own and I swear I felt a spark fly straight up my arm. Her hands were cold.

"No, but it is already fading." Her voice sounded like a melody.

"See," I said, looking at Kili, "I told you it was fine." She let go of my hand and went to go sit back to her original spot but Kili was there, talking to some of the company. So she sat down next to me, so close but yet so far.

"I think I should be quite useless if something poisonous out here bit you."

"Oh don't say that. Just because it's a different poison doesn't mean you couldn't do something. You're very smart. I know you could figure it out." Her face visibly flushed under my praise and I mentally clapped myself on the shoulder.

"You're very kind, Fili." Now it was my turn to blush under her compliment.

"Are the animals of the east very different?"

"Some of them. The more south you go, in the jungle, they are very dangerous and very frightening. But where I'm from, none are so bad. We have direwolves, lots of birds and little mammals, horses..."

"Like Rhaelyr?"

"Yes. And bears, lions, in the south the mumakil and alligators. Strange beasts that are difficult to describe."

"I have never seen any of those. Well except a bear of course."

"You have never seen a lion?"

"No, but I've heard of them."

"They are magnificent creatures." She paused momentarily, so I waited, seeing if she would say something. "You look like a lion." She said so softly and so timidly that it made my heart swell.

"I hope that's a good thing," I chuckled, unsure if she meant that as a compliment.

"Oh it is!" I smiled at her shyness.

"Tell me about them. I've only seen a sketch and heard that they were called, oh what it is, king of the jungles?"

"Yes!" she laughed lightly. "They are very strong and brave. Majestic. But fierce too. They are hard to kill but their fur is so soft and very highly prized. It's a compliment, in the east, to be compared to the might of a lion." My face was probably so red. "Sakhabazu zurk kathrik (you look like a lion)," she said again so very softly. I had never seen her blush so furiously before.

"You speak Khuzdul so beautifully." I whispered to her. It was the truth; it was perfect and sweet and so sensuous when she spoke our secret language. "Izzûghizu sangimli (your eyes are like stars)," I quietly and she blushed furiously, biting her lip but smiling. "Do all easterners eyes look as beautiful as yours?"

"No, the eyes of men are black as night and only some dwarves have the, um, I don't know the word," she thought for a moment, "it doesn't matter. Only a few dwarves have eyes that look like mine. The rest have a mix of colors like any other peoples would."

"Why?" When I asked that question a shadow passed over her face and I frowned.

"It is a gift, from Yavanna, they say. A blessing."

"And what does that entail?"

"I suppose having some semblance of knowledge and control over creatures." I frowned. "It's hard to explain. When I was growing up, I had a pet direwolf named Vhaeka. I had tamed her when I was little after I found her as a pup. We were absolutely inseparable and we had this...bond." She frowned, clearly not pleased with her explanation but I think I was beginning to understand.

"That is quite the gift. And a huge blessing. That's amazing actually. A direwolf. So is that why you and Rhaelyr seem to talk to each other sometimes?" She blushed and smiled.

"Yes I suppose so."

"And what does he think of the company? Does he like me?"

"Oh he likes you best actually." I smiled, hoping that she intended that for deeper meaning.

"Ah good I'm glad." I paused, then grinned at her. "It's good to know that if I ever need a horse to talk to I always have him," I winked at her and she laughed loudly enough that the company looked over at her. She had just the most melodious and joyful laugh.

"What is Ered Luin like?" she asked me, her eyes full of curiosity.

"It is cozy. It's been my home my whole life. I think it's splendid really, but apparently it's nothing compared to Erebor so many who remember that great city are dissatisfied. But it still is grand. And beautiful. They are rich too, in gems and such. Though, they are less imposing than other mountains I'm told. I will take you there sometime if you like?"

"Oh I would like that very much," she smiled shyly.

"What about your home?"

"It is the most beautiful place I think, every place I have traveled to has just not compared. It is like Erebor in that it is one huge mountain, though it sticks out tall amongst a high mountain range. And it is right by the ocean. It's bigger than anything I have seen thus far."

"I've never been to the sea." She was being vague, although I prided myself in being able to get this much information out of her.

"Being near the sea is my favorite. I love it so much," she smiled fondly.

"I would like to see it sometime."

"Well, as soon as you are able, I would take you there if you like?" She was bashful when she said it, and I cursed myself for my mind wandering at that open ended statement to less than appropriate scenarios.

"I should like no one else to show me but you." I was startled by the huskiness of my voice, so I cleared my throat. "Do you mine certain things there?"

"We get lots of pearls from the ocean, and mithril." By this point the entire company had honed in on our conversation, though she didn't realize it at first. And for some reason none of them said anything. "And of course, gold, silver and all the other precious gemstones."

"Pearls? Those are rare indeed. They are prized and valued greatly out here."

"But they are not the most prized item, though they come close."

"What is then?" Now she had me all curious. What on earth could be prized more than a horde of rare sea pearls.

"Dragonstone."

"I've never heard of it." The rest of the company shook their heads.

"You don't have it out here, at least not that I know of. It's very rare."

"Well, what does it look like?" She fidgeted briefly with a curious look on her face.

"It is a bright clear white gem that is simply dazzling. When cut properly, the light from all colors shines from it, though subtley. Some of them are small, but we have a few great ones. The biggest is nearly half my size."

"Your people mine this stone?" Thorin shot up and she scooted a bit closer to me. I hated that he intimidated her so much. Though, I didn't blame her for being frightened of him.

"Yes why?"

"What you have described girl is the arkenstone. But there is only one arkenstone." Girl. That girl has a name.

"I do not know of the arkenstone."

"It is the heirloom of my people, a sign of divine right and a one of a kind gem."

"Perhaps out in the east it isn't though. You never know." Balin said kindly.

"That would defile the purpose of the arkenstone and everything my grandfather believed about it."

"Dragonstone is the most highly valued item in all of the east. Only kings and those of royal descent are allowed to wear it."

"No; it cannot be the same." Thorin stalked off and Elia sulked.

"Cheer up now, that's not your fault." I whispered to her as the company went back to ignoring us.

"I didn't know..." she seemed upset and I was too. Why Thorin was such an ass to her...it angered me.

"Just ignore him. Please try not to let him get to you." I pleaded with her.

"Alright, I'll try." I smiled at her in an attempt to cheer her up and she returned it. We chatted a bit more about anything that popped to mind really. It was then I noticed how easy it was for me to talk to her and how easily she conversed with me. And if we had a silence, it was never awkward. Rather it was comfortable. I loved it.

We settled down for the night and I went to sleep next to my brother rather than her. I did not wish to make her feel uncomfortable in any way, nor get the company talking even more. Before I left for my brother I whispered to her, "Are you warm enough?"

"Yes. Thank you." And I watched with a giddy heart as she went to sleep. Though, before I could lapse into a wonderful dream Kili woke me.

"So what were you talking about for so long?"

"Nothing of great importance." I tried to play it down.

"You two are so sweet. It's painfully obvious you fancy each other." He said coyly and I frowned at him.

"Come on lad, just man up and tell 'er how ya feel." Dwalin whispered loudly.

"Shhh! And it's not like that." I whispered back to him, now noticing half the company was awake and looking at me.

"Give her kiss," Dori said as Ori made a kissing noise into the air.

"Stop that," I hissed at them, but all they all did was chuckle.

"She likes you," Bilbo whispered and we looked at him, a bit surprised.

"I mean it," he said.

"You must woo her," Bofur said with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.

"All of you, enough!" I rolled over and pretended to go to sleep.

"Now now don't be that way young prince," said Balin and I rolled back over to look at him. "Finding love is rare enough for us, and finding one out here for you is a miracle. You should be happy and," he paused, smiling, "perhaps you could use our help in, uh, pursuing her?" He winked at me and I tried my hardest not to smile, though my lip was twitching.

"I don't think I would need any," I paused, looking at each member of the company who was awake, "any of your help in this matter. Thank you though. I'm sure I can manage just fine on my own."

"Oh I would say you are," said Kili, but I felt that he meant more behind that statement. After that I did sleep, and again I dreamed of fair Eliana.

Elia's POV

I slept quite soundly that night, and I blushed when I awoke, thinking of Fili's and mine's conversation last night. Gods he was so handsome and sweet. After a quick breakfast, we set out, with Kili riding beside me for awhile. I rather like Fili's jovial younger brother, though not in the same way I liked Fili.

"Did you sleep well Elia?"

"I did. And you?"

"Oh I should say so. Except I think I might have slept on a rock," his face became puzzled and his hair was still a bit of a rat's nest. In truth he looked quite comical. I laughed at him.

"So...Elia," he dragged out both those words and I looked at him curiously. He had a mischievous glint in his eye. "Are you betrothed, or perhaps courting anyone, back east?"

"Wha-? No, no I'm not." I could feel my face get hot.

"Really? I should think a girl as lovely as you would be snatched up at the first opportunity!"

"Hear hear!" said Bofur. "You must've had some suitors?"

"Well I suppose so yes. My aunt so desperately wanted to get me married. She liked to play matchmaker. I hated every single person she introduced me too," they all laughed.

"Pray do tell, why did you not care for them?" Kili said.

"They were all full of themselves. Very ostentatious, greedy, they put their gold before anything else." I shook my head, remembering the fools she brought to me.

"Now aren't you glad that not all of us are like that? I mean, look at the lads here. They're princes and they don't act like that at all," Bofur said and Balin nodded in agreement.

"No, they aren't at all," and my mind wandered to Fili, who was hardworking, generous and kind. Yet still so regal in his walk and mannerisms. He didn't have to flaunt being royalty or wealthy. You just knew by the air around him, yet he was so humble.

"Oh especially Fili. He's so humble, you know?" Kili elbowed me. I thought I would die of embarrassment. Speaking of Fili, where was he?

I spotted him up ahead with Thorin and Gandalf but I was careful not to let my gaze linger, lest I be teased mercilessly. Biblo came up on the other side of me. I was glad to see him, surely he wouldn't embarrass me so.

"Come!" Thorin shouted and we all hurried up. Fili lingered and ended up riding next to me, though we didn't speak much. After about an hour or so it began to pour. And I mean pour. I pulled up my hood, but I was soaked. We all were. I couldn't help but shiver, though I did my best to hide it. I ducked my head and tried to take my mind to a different place altogether.

"Eliana?" Fili came right up next to me. I looked up at him. He was soaked as well. "Are you alright?"

"Yes I think so."

"Do you want my coat?" Mahal his kindness...

"No I couldn't! I'll be fine." I mustered a smile, hoping that it would reassure him but he didn't seem to buy it though he did smile.

"Hear! Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori asked.

"It is raining, Master dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done." Gandalf shouted back to him. "If you wish to change the weather of the world you should find yourself another wizard." Dori didn't look pleased, to say the least.

"Are there any?" Bilbo asked.

"There are five of us, the greatest of which is Saruman, the white. The there are the two bluses; do you know I have quite forgotten their names? Eliana!" He shouted back at me. "What are the blue wizard's names?"

"Alatar and Pallando." I supplied, my lips shaking from the cold.

"And who is the fifth?" asked Bilbo.

"Why that would be Radagast, the brown."

"Is he a great wizard, or is he more like you?" I was surprised at Bilbo's comment.

"I think he's a very great wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the east. And a good thing too. For always, evil will look to find a foothold in this world. Do you know Elia, I think you would get along quite well with him?" I just nodded. I was too chilled to reply.

"Elia, you're shivering." Fili's worried voice came from right next to me. It was true, I was thoroughly chilled. I had never been one to stay warm easily. I looked up at him, about to tell him I'd be ok, but a part of me wanted him to hold me to keep me warm. A big part of me wanted that.

"Elia!" Kili gave Fili a worried look then hopped off his pony, helped me slide of Rhaelyr, hoisted me up, with Fili's help, onto Fili's pony. Fili took off my soaked cloak and wrapped his large one around the both of us. His hand tightened around my waist, sending butterflies to my stomach. I instinctively leaned back against him; he was so unbelievably warm.

"Are you warmer now?"

"Yes, thank you so much."

"You are the most welcome, and don't worry about it." I nodded and when I shivered in the wind that had picked up, he held me even tighter. I almost felt dizzy, but in a good way, from the contact.

Fili's POV

By Durin, how did this wonderful thing happen? Well I knew how, thanks to my cheeky brother. She was indeed freezing, her lips were blue, her teeth were chattering, her whole body shivered. Though, she was warming up in my embrace. How I longed to kiss her soft blue lips to warm them...I needed to stop, otherwise she might feel an unwelcome visitor pressed into her backside, embarrassing both of us. So, I concentrated on the road ahead, and every so often tightened my grip on her. Her waist was so tiny but fit perfectly in my hand. And when she pressed back into me, searching for warmth, butterflies set off in my abdomen.

We stayed silent, both (or at least I hope both of us), enjoying the warmth and contact. Well, warmth for her. She let out a petite yawn, and I smiled at how adorable it was.

"You can sleep," I said as I bent down to her ear.

"Now that would hardly be fair, seeing as you lot have to stay awake."

"I do not think so. I would sleep, if I had the chance. Plus, I am not yet that tired." I tried my best to be soft with her, though getting her to hear me in this weather was tough.

She nodded, but stayed awake for quite some time longer, until I felt her slump against my chest and her breathing come slow and steady. Kili came up next to me and grinned cheekily when he saw her asleep against my chest. This was possibly the best ever, her sleeping this close to me. Though I do wish it would have been someplace warm and dry, like a bed. But I could settle for this, I still loved it.

When we stopped for camp she was still cold and wet. We ended up at the mouth of a cave that provided some shelter. I helped her off the pony then made her sit in the cave, despite her protests that she should help. When we were all unpacked, a fire was stoked and dinner was cooking, and I put my fur coat around her shoulders.

"Hold your hands out." I told her and she complied. I then furiously rubbed my hands together, the friction creating heat. I then put my huge hands over her tiny ones. Her eyes grew wide and she smiled.

"Wow! That's so warm. Thank you." I couldn't think of anything to say so I nodded. We ate dinner rather silently, each of us trying to warm up more. Before bed she shyly handed me back my coat.

"Thank you so much Fili," she whispered.

"You are so welcome." I said back. "Goodnight Elia."

"Goodnight Fili." As I put back on my coat I noticed how much it smelled like her. The scent was enticing, her scent, which smelled vaguely of a flower, though I couldn't place which one. I buried my nose in my coat that night.

Some days later

Elia's POV

We stopped at an abandoned farmhouse to camp. The place made me feel uneasy, as it did Gandalf. Unfortunately Thorin would have nothing of it.

"Where are you going Gandalf?" Bilbo asked frantically.

"To seek the company of the only one around here whose got any sense!"

"And whose that?" asked Bilbo again.

"Myself, Mr. Baggins!" shouted Gandalf back angrily. I grimaced. This did not seem good.

"I'm sure he'll be back." I followed the voice to see Fili. I immediately noticed how sweet it was that he was petting his pony affectionately.

"Come on Bombur we're hungry!" shouted Thorin. I winced that time. The dwarf was excruciatingly intimidating.

Later that evening Fili and Kili had gone to look after the ponies and Bilbo was pacing, worried about Gandalf. Bofur was dishing up food and I was having a pleasant chat with Balin and Dori.

"Here Bilbo, do us a favor and give this to the lads. Elia! You go with him. I'm sure they," he cleared his throat, "Fili, would love your company," Bofur grinned cheekily at me and the rest of the company chuckled. My face turned bright red from embarrassment but I went with Bilbo anyways.

Rhaelyr trotted up to me, snorting with worry. I stroked and shushed him, until we came up to Fili and Kili, who were staring worriedly into the forest.

"What's the matter?" asked Bilbo.

"We're supposed to be looking after the ponies." said Kili.

"Only we've encountered a slight problem." Fili turned and looked at me anxiously.

"We had sixteen," said Kili.

"And now there's fourteen. Not including Rhaelyr of course. He's safe," Fili turned to reassure me. They went walking through the area the ponies were grazing hurriedly, taking stock one more time. They walked quickly, and I followed Fili.

"Daisy and Bungo are missing," Kili said.

"We-well that's not good," Bilbo sounded so worried. I tried to just keep quiet, lest I worry them further. "And that is NOT GOOD!"

I stopped right behind Fili. Something big uprooted a huge tree. It made me nervous.

"Shouldn't we tell Thorin?"

"Uh," Fili paused and grimaced. I winced for him. Thorin was not in a good mood and I would hate to think what would happen to the princes... "no. Best not worry him." He sounded even more nervous. I know Thorin puts so much pressure on him... "As our official burglar we thought you might like to look into it."

Bilbo looked nervous. "Well, it looks as if something uprooted these trees."

"That was our thinking," said Kili. I wondered how something like that got past them...

"Yes something very big, and possibly quite dangerous."

"Wait! There's a light, over here," he motioned for us to follow. "Stay down." Once we crouched over a fallen tree we heard sinister laughing.

"What is it?"

"Trolls," Kili said. Fili pushed me down further and crouched in front of me. Fili and Kili started to run ahead to get a closer look. Fili pulled my hand along with him, and when the trolls passed us he crushed me to his chest and into the tree, holding me tight. Though I'm sure it was just for protection, at least that's what I told myself.

"He's got Myrtle and Minty!" Bilbo looked angry. He had grown quite fond of Myrtle, which I though was sweet. "I think they're going to eat them! We have to do something!"

"Yes! You should!" whispered Kili as Fili nodded and let go of me. "Mountain trolls are slow and stupid and you're so small they'll never see you! It's perfectly safe, we'll be right behind you!" Bilbo vehemently whispered no. Fili grabbed the food from him.

"If you run into trouble, hoot twice like a barn owl and once like a brown owl!" Fili whispered to him as he pushed Bilbo towards the trolls. I had an uneasy feeling about this, but when Bilbo looked back at me I gave him a reassuring smile. But once Bilbo turned around they raced off, Fili grabbing me by the hand, back to camp. Rhaelyr followed us, and we burst through the trees, red faced and panting.

"What is it?" Thorin thundered as he stalked to us. Fili straightened and took a step towards him.

"Trolls have taken the ponies and..." Thorin was furious and I stepped back a bit. Thorin met my gaze and I looked away, slightly afraid. He cut Fili off.

"You had one job and you let..."

"Bilbo's out there!" Kili said frantically and Thorin sighed in frustration and anger, glaring at his nephews.

"Let's go!" They all grabbed their weapons and charged into the forest.

"Stay here Elia," Fili told me and I nodded yes. Rhaelyr snorted loudly and stomped his foot. As soon as they were gone I hopped on my horse and rode in the direction that Gandalf had ridden. Rhaelyr would be able to find him. We rode fast and hard until we found him. He stopped riding and he turned around.

"Eliana? What in the blazes is going on?!"

"Trolls," I breathed out and he didn't question me further. Again we rode swiftly to the camp, where we dismounted and I led him to the troll camp.

"Stay hidden!" Gandalf whispered at me and I complied. I nearly freaked out when I saw some of the dwarves being roasted around a spit, and I almost lost it when I saw one of those dwarves was Fili. Luckily Bilbo was biding them time until Gandalf could rescue them. Once they were done I emerged from the bushes and helped the dwarves off the spit. Fili hopped down right in front of me.

"Are you alright?" I asked him.

He gave me one of those warm and reassuring smiles that I was growing to love. "Yes, are you?"

"Yes," I smiled back at him and we returned to camp to gather our supplies, then to look for the troll horde. My mind may or may not have been wandering to him frequently.