C3: Having it out

As the day passed much swifter than they thought, they briefly stopped in a heavily wooded area. Time may be pressing, but Gandalf felt the horse and ponies needed a break. For once, Thorin agreed.

As everyone dismounted and began to spread out each taking their own jobs, Thorin quietly observed everybody.

Bofur and Bombur quickly began to hand out food they'd prepared, not risking cooking anything whilst they knew Orcs where out here with them. Oin, Gloin, Nori and Balin were passing around pieces of parchment as if taking bets on how soon they would get to the Mountain. Ori sat by his pony, quickly scribbling something on his notes that he'd missed. Dori, Bofur and Dwalin rested their legs, not used to the sudden ride after walking and running for so long. Fili, Kili and Druili were taking the time to practice with their weapons, obviously making sure they were prepared for any sudden attack.

He felt a swell of pride as he watched the boys dodge moves and counter attacks. He'd helped them practice and taught them all he knew, so watching them dance around one another so expertly filled him with great pride.

Ever since the battle, he'd made sure to pass on what he knew to his Sister's sons. He'd never married, nor bore any children with any Dam from the Mountains, so they were all he had.

He began to remember life when he'd left and become the King without a Mountain. Without a home.

They'd been welcomed into a new and safer life close to the Blue Mountains, but the overcrowding and lack of resources that they had brought with them, still meant work. Not just for him, but Dis.

She'd lost just as much as Thorin and more, her husband perishing in the battle alongside. And yet, she forged on. She'd gotten work as a seamstress and within a year, had successfully saved up enough to begin building upon a cottage that had been abandoned. It wasn't until he visited her, did he find out she'd built a cottage big enough for herself, her sons and even a couple of extra rooms for him and any other that came to stay.

He hadn't accounted on Druili's sudden appearance in their lives. Whilst it had been irksome at first, he admitted to himself he'd grown fond of the child. Dam's had been known for their fierce and fiery nature, ruling the house with an iron fist and from the first time she'd stood up to him at the riverside, he'd known just how much of a true Dwarrowdam she was.

She was also stubborn, hot-headed and troublesome. And he'd become very proud of her on this journey. She'd proven herself just as strong as the rest of them and willing to sacrifice herself for the others safety.

He watched her as she moved away, laughing at her brothers and quickly disappearing behind an outcrop of trees. He made his way over to his nephews.

"Where is your sister going?" He watched them continue, unperturbed by her wandering.

"She said we were getting in her way so she's going to train against a tree," Fili swung his sword out with a smirk, "she said it's safer and if she does damage to the tree, she wouldn't feel as bad."

"She also said the tree might have more brains than us and dodge her attacks easier," Kili turned to him with a grin, "but then she's probably just intimidated by us."

Thorin gave his nephew a soft smile.

"I'll go watch her," he glanced around at the company and back again, "and bring her back when it's time to leave. Don't forget to eat something."

They nodded at him and he turned away, following the path that Druili had gone.

He'd walked for a minute before the sounds of her grunts alerted him to where she was. He caught sight of her in a circle of trees, swinging her hammer before stopping herself and bringing it down heavily onto the ground below.

He stood for a while and watched her, having never been there for her training. He'd seen her fight the Orcs and Wargs, but could not appreciate her skill. She was good.

She'd been trained secretly by Dwalin and when he'd found out, he was furious. He'd asked his friend to stop immediately but Dwalin declined, defending her vehemently. Dwalin had obviously never spoken to her about skill, but he assured Thorin she was just as good as her brothers, if not better.

Thorin had scoffed at him and they hadn't talked for months until Dis had forced them to apologise and accept that Druili would be allowed to continue training, albeit separately from her brothers so that Thorin would never have to keep an eye on her.

And now he watched her with great interest. Her stance was good, her balance impeccable (which was a surprise as she was normally very clumsy) but her technique was what drew her apart from Dwalin. She'd learnt from him and took what he said at face value but being smaller and sprier, she could attack and defend easier.

Thorin cleared his throat as he began to move towards her, careful not to startle her. She turned around to him and for the briefest moment, looked like she'd been caught doing something she hadn't. He'd recognised that look many times from her childhood.

She gave him a small, shy smile.

"Hello Uncle," she lowered her hammer, "is everything all right?"

He stood a few feet in front of her, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Everything is fine, I merely wanted to join you."

Druili blinked quickly in surprise.

"Oh."

His mouth twitched as he fought a smile and looked at her.

"Training hard?" He began to slowly circle her, knowing she might feel like prey. She refused to turn around with him though, merely glancing over her shoulders as they talked.

"Yep, gotta' keep the practice going," she chuckled to herself, "can't have those Dunderhead boys having all the fun out there, can I?"

She'd meant it to be rhetorical, but he answered her anyway.

"No, you can't," he came to stop in front of her again, "you're a part of this company and deserve a chance to fight alongside us. Pull your own weight and make sure those Dunderhead boys can keep up."

Druili's wide smile brought out his own and they both laughed as the awkwardness seemed to fade away, finally.

"Come," he took a step back from her and stood with her legs spaced evenly apart, "show me. I'd like to see."

Druili's startled expression lasted for a few seconds before she seemed to shake herself with excitement.

"All right!"

She quickly moved and began to practice all the techniques she knew. She threw punches, kicks and used her hammer as a makeshift crutch as she threw herself up and over it. She twirled elegantly through the air and landed on one knee, before making it out she was sweeping an enemies legs.

She continued on with a few more moves before spinning around and jutting her hammer out, stopping it only a few centimetres from Thorin's face.

She was pleased when he jolted ever so slightly in surprise.

She pulled it back and laid it over her shoulder, one hand on her hip as she allowed a touch of smugness to enter her tone.

"Call me awful all you want, I was bloody good."

Thorin's chuckle warmed her heart.

"It would appear...I underestimated you. You can hold your own," he approached her and came to stand in front of her, "Though, I do recommend you get a sword. Your hammer work can rival Dwalin', but I think you would fair nicely."

He moved to unsheathe his sword, but Druili was distracted by his tender expression and words.

"Dwalin taught me. That's why I'm nearly as good as him."

Thorin gave her a small nod as his sword came out of his sheath and carefully gripped the blade as he held the handle out in front of her face. She tentatively put her hands on the sword, afraid he'd change his mind or that she might accidentally slip and cut him, but he pulled his hand away when the weight of the Orcrist was in her hands.

"I remember," He stepped back to where he'd been before, "show me some more moves."

She hadn't practised with a sword since before the journey had begun, Fili allowing her the use of one of his swords to practice. The weight of the sword felt alien and unusual to her, but she quickly got used to it.

She parried and pivoted perfectly, surprised at just how well she could handle a sword if given to her. Instead of attempting to surprise Thorin again with a quick thrust to his face, she merely pretended to slash across his belly twice.

She moved back into a relaxed pose and let the sword fall to her side.

"Almost perfect," he came back over to her and stood behind her, "here. Let me show you."

His hands moved her into position, pulling her shoulders back gently until she had a better stance. He then gently grabbed her arm and guided it up until it was raised out in front of her, the sword pointing outwards.

"Your sword needs to be higher. If you want to strike across the chest and not the gut," he moved her arm with his hand, creating the 'slashing' pattern she had done earlier, "the sword is an extension of your arm."

He let go of her and stepped back, watching her attempt the move again on her own. Her back posture also seemed perfect and he couldn't find any more faults.

"I prefer the gut. Or lower." She turned to him and pointed the sword purposefully below his belt.

Thorin merely smirked and shook his head.

"You...You have so much of Dis in you."

He saw it for a moment. The briefest flicker of pain in her eyes. She lowered his sword and frowned at him.

"But I-I don't. She's not my mother," she sniffed and wiped the nose with the back of her hand as she tried to control her emotions, "As you know. As you've always known and always reminded me."

Thorin's mind filled with images of all the times he'd hurt her or said harsh words to her and he was filled with guilt and regret.

"Dru, I'm-"

She raised the sword back up and pointed it at him, her arm shaking as she did so.

"No. I think...I think I need to say these things to you. No, you...you don't get to justify your behaviour towards me. I was a child. I wanted a family and YOU...you made me fear to call her mother in front of you. You made me call my brothers COUSINS...because you were ashamed of me."

Her eyes begin to fill with tears, though he wasn't sure if it was sadness or rage she was building up.

He took a step forward and let the point of the blade connect with his chest, feeling it rest against his clothes.

"I was ashamed, but not of you. Never of you," he didn't take his eyes off of her as he began to explain, "I was ashamed that I couldn't care for you. I was ashamed of what my family name had become. I...I was selfish. And a coward. Another child to help raise, but...I rejected you instead. "

Druili's tears begin to pour down her cheeks, but she made no move to wipe them away.

"All I ever wanted was to be accepted by you. YOU. I can barely remember my real mother, but I remember her love...and I felt Dis' love the moment she picked me up from that stall. And Kili and Fili...they were there for me. I was so happy and grateful, but...YOU," she let go of the blade's handle and let it fall to the floor, choosing instead to pound her fists against his chest, "YOU. All I ever wanted was for you to say kind words to me. To not look at me like I was...like I was less than what I am. You are the only male in my life who I thought could-who I wanted to call-" her words cut off as she sobbed loudly, her hands suddenly grabbing the fabric of his coat as if she were trying to pull him close to head-butt him.

He looked down at her face and for the first time, realised that like Fili and Kili she too had seen him as the father they had lost. They had been told of their father by Dis and him, but Druili...she couldn't remember her father. And Thorin had been there to fill his place for her, but he rejected her. He'd rejected Fili and Kili, not knowing he was also rejecting her.

"I...I am truly sorry. I cannot ask for your forgiveness...only...a chance to begin anew."

She glared up at him through tears but another sob escaped her and she gripped onto his coat, pulling him close to her. Just as her head rested against his chest, he could make out her muffled reply.

"I'm still mad at you!"

He placed his hands on her shoulders and lowered his head to place a tentative kiss on top of her curls, the gesture seeming to make Druili cry some more.

One hand released his coat and wiped furiously at her nose and eyes, not caring if it stained her gloves.

"Don't...don't turn me away anymore. Please."

Thorin's chin rested atop of her head and he shut his eyes.

"No. No more."

They stood there for a few more minutes, Thorin waiting until her crying and sobs stopped. When she seemed to have control over herself, he pulled her back to look at him. One hand came off of her shoulder and cupped her chin between his thumb and finger, gently urging her to look right at him.

"Come," he gave her a soft smile, "show this old fool how to fight."

She sniffed and wiped away the rest of her tears and snot, Thorin not even grimacing as she left the remains behind on her glove.

Fili and Kili had eaten and come looking for Thorin and Druili, wondering if they'd killed one another yet.

"Five coins says she clocked him over the head accidentally and is hiding up a tree." Kili gave his brother a playful shove in the shoulder as they walked along.

"Ten coins says she managed to knock herself out and-" Fili was cut off by the sound of a sudden and guttural grunt from in front of them. They quickened their pace and saw the two they had come looking for.

Thorin and Druili had swapped back respective weapons and were duelling it out. She'd nearly swiped Thorin with her hammer, but he dodged successfully and was attempting to catch her off guard with his sword.

The thing that struck the boys the most, was their big smiles and sudden shouts of laughter mixed in with grunts of exertion.

As Druili landed a particularly hard blow at the ground, Thorin countered and using the hammer's weight to his advantage, kicked her back and held her at bay with his sword. She smiled up at him from her position on the ground and he quickly hoisted her back up, their hands staying connected as they laughed together.

Fili and Kili broke the moment by loudly applauding. Druili and Thorin both turned in surprise, having not expected to be interrupted.

Their hands dropped away from one another, but their smiles did not falter.

"Nicely done, little sister," Kili approached and clasped his hands together in front of him, "but you'll never take him out. He taught us everything he knows."

Druili arched a brow at him.

"Oh? Did he now?"

She turned to Thorin and shared a conspirational look which he seemed to understand. He turned to Kili.

"I taught you sufficiently," he glanced between him and Fili, trying to keep a straight face, "but every warrior has to hold back some secrets. That's the element of surprise."

Kili actually looked quite taken aback.

"Have you been holding out on us?" He sounded scandalized.

Druili stepped forward and positioned herself between her brothers and Thorin.

"I'm afraid that's all the time the King has for today," she shrugged her shoulders as if unable to fix the issue, "if you wish to discuss matters further, you'll have to give plenty of notice and book an appointment for...two weeks time?"

Fili had to turn away, hiding his smile and laugh behind a cough.

Kili just squinted and tried to look around her at Thorin.

"Come on, old man," he tried to goad Thorin with his usual cheeky boy demeanour, "tell us your secrets. Or are you going to let this...TOAD fight your battles for you?"

Druili licked her lips and readied her hammer.

"Oh...you want a fight boys?" She swung it around easily, showing off the moves she'd just been practising, "well, as his bodyguard I must make it my duty to protect him."

Kili burst into uncontrollable laughter.

And Fili turned back, just in time to watch Druili skilfully duck down and kick his feet out from under him, Kili falling backwards hard onto the ground below. She stood back up and kept her hammer in both hands, ready for his expected return assault.

"Oi!" He abruptly sat up and scowled at her, before looking over at Fili, "well? Go on, we're a team!"

Fili rolled his eyes but decided to play along. He pulled out his swords and twirled them around, deciding that if she was going to show off, so was he.

"Two swords, one hammer," he signalled to Kili who had stood up and was dusting off his backside, "and you'll probably have to deal with him at some point also."

Druili took her time. She looked between her brothers and a sly grin crossed her features. Lowering her hammer, she gave Fili a playful wink.

"Is it time to switch sides?"

Fili's grin widened, but his expression changed as he glanced behind Druili and arched his brow.

Druili realised why when strong arms encircled her waist and she was quickly and unceremoniously pulled off of the ground and against a strong chest.

She felt Thorin's laughter as it rumbled through his chest before he let it out with his speech.

"Since this traitor is on your side I will take her as my hostage," He shifted her about until she was pulled around to his side, albeit still wiggling to get free, "Now how will you bargain for your beloved sister? She's in the hands of certain doom."

Kili turned to his brother and gave him a nod before turning back to Thorin. They both sheathed their weapons

"Get him."

Druili's wiggling concentration was broken at his tone of voice and from her sideways position, looked up in time to see the two running towards her and Thorin at full speed.

As they both threw their full weight on both Thorin and Druili, Fili's arms tried to grab her and pull her free. Unfortunately, in the tangled mess of trying to free her and tackle Thorin, they found themselves all sharing the same fate.

They fell to the ground, Thorin still laughing loudly as Druili landed to his side and Fili followed with half of his body covering hers. Kili had managed to fall free of the bundle, but he still fell awkwardly over an upturned tree root, landing with his feet almost in the air.

"Great idea, you two!" Druili cackled and pushed away at Fili who resisted at first and pretended to be a dead weight on her.

"Shut it, you troll." He made to move and stand up, purposefully pushing her into the ground and rubbing at her face his dirty glove. She merely tripped his feet up again and cackled as he grunted in frustration, his face falling back into her arm.

She remembered another time he had called her that...

"I'm the troll under the bridge NOW! Pay up!" Druili yelled triumphantly but resisted punching the air in a victory since both her hands were occupied with her captive below her.

She'd been wrestling Kili around the floor for the better part of an hour and she'd FINALLY managed to flip him onto his front, straddle his back AND grapple one of his arms behind him in a firm grip.

"I'M the King of this land!" He began to wiggle anew, desperately trying to free himself, "You WILL obey me and-SHOVE OFF! YOU'RE HEAVY!"

Druili merely laughed and quickly flicked behind one of his ears before applying pressure back to his arm.

"Nope!"

"FI?!" Kili turned his attention to his older brother, who was caught between watching the fight play out and reading his book. He glanced briefly at his brother with a smirk before his eyes went back to his current page.

"Don't look at me, that troll got you fair and square."

Kili just gave a grunt and attempted to swing out with his free arm, but was distracted when he heard the front door close.

"What in the name of Mahal?!"

Thorin had come in from the early festivities of the Winter Solstice outside. Singing and merriment could still be heard from neighbours houses as he closed the door on that world and entered his own. That's why, he was pleasantly surprised to find one of his nephews nose deep in a book in his favourite chair and the other one, currently trying to escape from his younger 'cousin' as she had him pinned to the floor.

"Uncle Thorin!" Druili gave him a bright smile, not expecting it to be returned. He arched his brow at her but gave a brief nod before looking down at Kili.

"Well? What happened to you?" He felt his lips twitching when Kili swung out behind him with his free arm, missing Druili by miles.

"I am the King!" Kili turned back to him, still trying to wriggle free, "And this TROLL here has imprisoned me for not paying taxes! But I'm the King and these are my lands!"

"My lands NOW." Druili proceeded to rub this statement in by quickly lifting her backside off of Kili and bringing her weight back down on him, eliciting a grunt.

Thorin seemed to take in this information with interest. He walked calmly forward until he stood a few feet before them.

Druili and Kili stopped moving and just watched him, expecting him to tell them off and stop their childish behaviour. But he placed his arms around his back and clasped one hand in the other.

"My lord," he looked down at Kili, "perhaps it would be in your best interests to find out what exactly it is that the troll would like?"

Kili blinked a couple of times before contemplating this. He then brought his hand around and gestured at Thorin.

"Well, as my ROYAL advisor and wisest friend," he looked at Thorin as if he was stating the obvious, "I would assume YOU would do the talking for me. I am paying you after all!"

Thorin stopped himself from saying, 'no, you're not' but turned his gaze back to Druili.

"Well," he schooled his features into utter politeness, "as the advisor to the King, how may we secure his release today? What is it you need?"

Druili sat back and confidentially let go of Kili's arm with one hand as she rubbed and stroked her beard. Ever since the river incident, it had grown back to a nice length. She pulled her hand away after thinking for a full minute and pointed straight at Thorin.

"I require three whole apples-NO!" She put up two fingers and lifted her chin defiantly at Thorin, "THREE whole apple pies!"

Thorin thought he kept his features very neutral, but Druili could see his eyes warm and sparkle with merriment.

"Well, that seems doable-"

"Wait!" He was cut off by another voice and everyone looked to Fili who was standing up from his seat. He'd decided to forego his book and join in on the role-play in front of him. He held out his book pointedly at Druili and arched his brow.

"Not so fast! I'm the Bridge Guardian. You know, the bridge YOU live under? And you owe me a month's rent! Therefore, I'm afraid I'll have to confiscate those pies."

Druili looked scandalized, Kili began to laugh and Thorin released his hands to gesture at Fili.

"Then, as Bridge guardian, I must urge you, sir, to immediately destroy your bridge."

"Oi!" Druili immediately stood up and placed her hands on her hips, her feet planted either side of Kili, "How DARE you! We had a deal-"

She was cut off when Kili, ceasing his moment, swiftly turned over and swiped her legs out from underneath her. She tumbled backwards with an 'oof!' sound and landed on her backside.

"I'm free! The King is free! Long live the AHHH!" Kili had scrambled up on unsteady feet and made to run to Thorin for a celebratory hug, but Druili had quickly gotten up on bended knees and lunged forward, grappling at his waist.

Thorin didn't have time to react as both the children's weight came into his legs and he fell down, just managing to catch himself so he was on one knee with Kili and Druili looking up at him. Both looked ready to start apologising, Druili's eyes filling with tears.

But Thorin just burst out laughing.

He laughed until they began to laugh with him, the pure joy echoing around the house. Even Fili had dropped his book and was clutching at his chair for support at the sheer stupidity of his siblings.

"My King," Thorin managed to get out as he looked down at Kili, "this is most undignified behaviour!"

Kili, who was still scrambling around with Druili attached to his waist, looked up at Thorin in faux shock.

"I will not be spoken to like that! As the king," he looked between Druili and Fili, pointing at both of them, "I command the troll and the bridge guardian to take my former adviser prisoner! Get him!"

When Dis came in from outside still clutching the basket of laundry, she stopped in the doorway to her little cottage, unable to move at the sight before her. She had never seen her brother and all her children have so much fun together.

Thorin was standing, with Kili tucked under one arm against his side, Fili with his arms and legs wrapped around him from the back and Druili was holding onto one of his legs. Everyone was laughing.

Soon unable to control it anymore, Dis stepped through and joined in the laughter. Thorin turned to her with a playful glint in his eye. He managed to hobble until he stood before her and looked down at her, still laughing.

"You have a SERIOUS troll problem, madam!"

The sound of laughter echoed around the small house and just for the night, just for that moment, there was no wall built up between any of them.

"Oh, get off!" Druili cackled and eventually managed to shove Fili off of her completely, quickly rolling in to tuck herself against Thorin side.

He looked at her with a smile.

"Come on, I think it's time we get back to the company," she decided to break the moment up first, knowing that it had to end eventually, "our journey awaits, my King."

As they pulled one another up and righted their clothes and weapons, Thorin took the time to walk back with Druili, his hand resting on her shoulder and briefly squeezing it. She rewarded him with a nod and a smile, everything finally being out and open. All was well.

Finally, after Thorin had spurred the company on and they had all departed on their ponies from the wood, they travelled for a few hours more.

Eventually, with Gandalf and Thorin leading the way, they came across a field that met a thick tundra of trees. The party slowed and came to stand a ways back from it.

Druili's eyes searched the landscape and sure enough, as she'd first suspected when she spotted a large shape following them, the Bear beast was watching them. The travelling would not have been an issue for him at all. She gave him a small, shy wave not really expecting anything back.

"Set the ponies loose," Gandalf's voice called out to everyone, "Let them return to their master."

When they all clambered down and prepared their packs and supplies, Druili took the time to give her pony a proper goodbye. She placed her forehead against his long nose and sighed.

"Goodbye Buttercup."

The pony shook his head a couple of times and she could only laugh.

"All right, Jack," she felt his nose wander and began to nuzzle her stomach, seeing him sniff out her pouch, "I know, it smells of delicious apples. But alas, no apples remain. Nothing except for-Jack, you're a genius!"

She pulled back and quickly opened her pouch, diving in and pulling out the garments she had completely forgotten about since Rivendell.

"I DON'T BLOODY BELIEVE IT!" She exclaimed so loudly and suddenly that Fili came over to her and looked at her with concern.

"What?! What's wrong?"

Druili held the clothes in her hand and waved them around, her frustration evident as she groaned in annoyance at her own stupidity.

"After all that hassle and your huge tunic, I forgot I bloody well had this!" She stuffed them back into her pouch, finding no need to change into the items now, "I only just remembered and it's all thanks to Jack."

She turned back to her horse and gave his nose a big kiss. Fili just shook his head and marched off, exasperated by how strange his sister was.

She gave Jack one last big hug before stepping away and signalling for him to go.

He turned and began to gallop away with his kin.

"BYE JACK!" Druili shouted as she waved them off.

"Not my Horse! I need it!" She turned around at Gandalf's almost frantic voice. He came out of the Elven Gate in a hurry.

Druili began to gather around the party who looked just as confused as everyone else.

"You're not leaving us?" Bilbo looked almost like he was accusing Gandalf of something heinous.

"I would not do this unless I had to," for a moment, to Druili, it sounded like he had something to do that he'd rather not do at all.

Gandalf leant closer to Bilbo and Druili knew that whatever moment the two were having, they deserved their privacy.

She felt a large splash on her nose and turned her head skywards to see the rain come petering down.

"Ah Bollocks, rain again." She folded her arms over her chest and looked at Fili. He waited for a few moments before realising what it was she wanted.

"I'm not lending you my jacket this time. You got it covered with chicken broth two weeks ago!"

Druili looked around the group, who all pretended to be terribly interested in something else that wasn't in her direction. She caught Bofur's wink from the back and turned back to Fili with a smirk.

"I mean, I'm sure Bofur has room for two in his jacket."

She turned around with the intent to snuggle into Bofur for warmth but collided with Thorin's chest. She looked up at his dark and grim face and thought better of it.

She turned back around and opened her arms out, embracing the water as it fell.

"Or, I'll just-you know. I actually LIKE the rain. It's very refreshing."

She slapped out at Fili when he snorted beside her.

Finally, Gandalf turned back to address them all.

"I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor."

Druili took a breath and held it in as she processed that information. Gandalf would be there when they got to the Lonely Mountain. It seemed so far away and yet...it was closer now to them than it had been before.

"Keep the map and key safe."

Druili raised her hand out as if she was asking a teacher a question.

"Can I have it?"

"Where would you put it? Your pouch isn't ideal." Fili poked the pouch the was slung around her side, testing the flimsiness of the material.

"A woman has her," she paused thoughtfully, wondering if she should let Fili and Kili in on her hiding place, "secrets."

"And they are?" Kili asked, seeming genuinely interested. But Druili thought better of blabbing.

"Well, if I told you, it wouldn't be a bloody secret."

Gandalf had merely shaken his head at the exchange, a smile tugging at his lips. He came to stand in front of Thorin and his expression became very stern.

"Do not enter that mountain without me."

As he turned to mount his horse, Druili noticed the pointed look Thorin threw at Balin.

"If he thinks we're going to wait around for him when there's a chance to get into that mountain quickly," Druili muttered quietly, more to herself than to the others, "then he's going to be sorely disappointed."