FOUR

Fili was not sure what she was supposed to think of Beorn the gigantic skin changer. When they had arrived at Beorn's house tired and hunted by Azog, and Gandalf had introduced them to the man Fili had not been sure if she should run away screaming or smile. In the end she decided on the smiling part and now a day later she wondered if it had not been better running away screaming.

Somehow the big man had taken a liking to Fili even though she was a dwarf; he showered her with gifts, extra food and warm water to wash in. He would call her Lady Dwarf, bow and smile at her like a love sick puppy, it was sweet but Fili was not sure how to get Beorn to stop. Kili thought it was hilarious, Gandalf and Bilbo found it amusing and so did Balin, whilst the others did not really know what to think of it. Thorin, well Fili had no idea what he thought about it as she had seen very little of her uncle since they had arrived.

"Does my Lady Dwarf wish for a bath?"

"No thank you, perhaps later in the evening?" said Fili smiling gently at Beorn.

"Of course!" rumbled the big man.

Fili could not help but let out a relieved sigh when the skin changer stepped out into the fresh air. On Gandalf's advice after consulting Beorn they would stay a day or two at the skin changer's place to rest before they would continue, apparently the only way forward now was through Mirkwood, and if Gandalf's and Thorin's worried expressions was anything to go by then it would not be easy. Mirkwood was Thranduil's territory and the elf king and Thorin did not get along, it was a recipe for disaster.

Walking outside too, Fili followed a small trail that lead into a small wood behind Beorn's house. Some of Beorn's dogs were playing in the front, happily barking at each other and wagging their tails. Although they were special dogs, standing on their back legs serving food and understanding normal speech in the end they were still only dogs.

It was nice being able to be alone with her own thoughts for a longer time for once not needing to worry about being attacked or someone trailing behind her to make sure she was safe. Although the others knew she was very capable of defending herself which she had continuously shown on this quest, they still insisted on her never going anywhere alone. Humming, Fili walked around in the forest sometimes the dogs would appear and walk behind her and sometimes she would be all alone. She walked around for hours until her stomach started to rumble, reminding her that she needed to eat.

"Well I'd better head back or else they'll probably send out a search party if they haven't already."

Walking backs she was accompanied by three of the dogs, two walking on each side of her and one in front leading them back. It was probably a good idea has Fili had not exactly been watching where she had been walking and would probably have gotten lost trying to find her way back to Beorn's house.

"Fili where have you been I almost forced your brother to go looking for you!" Bilbo looked somewhat disappointed at Fili when she got back to the yard.

"I was out walking Bilbo, I was completely safe the whole time," Fili tried calming her friend down.

"Well tell someone before you leave the next time," said Bilbo with a sigh. "Come on, I'm hungry, the others shouldn't have started yet."

"I'm sorry Bilbo, I'll try not walking away on my own next time," reassured Fili the flustered hobbit.

It was nice knowing someone cared if a certain dark haired dwarf now would only do that too then she would be happy- wait? When did this become about Thorin? Shaking her head in frustration Fili tried to focus on Bilbo's voice and not on the voices in her head. Thorin was good looking and there was nothing wrong about thinking that but that was all it was, yes nothing else was going on.

"There you are sister, you almost scared the life out of our burglar by disappearing like that," shouted Kili over the table grinning at her like a loon.

Ignoring her brother, Fili sat down beside Bilbo at the table immediately getting a plate in front of her filled with all kinds of delicious food. Looking at the others plates it was obvious that Beorn had gone an extra mile in preparing her food compared to the others. Thanking their host, Fili dug into the food. She could feel a pair of eyes staring at her but she did not dare look up from her plate and see who it was.

Dinner went like most other dinners, Bombur ate everything that was placed in front of him and more, food was thrown over the table and ale was passed around. Gandalf seemed to be in a good mood, taking part in the jokes and the histories being told. To put it simply, it was a fun dinner; Fili had not laughed so much in a very long time.

"We will be leaving tomorrow, time is of the essence here," said Thorin after dinner.

"Beorn has promised to borrow us horses and supplies," filled Gandalf in as he lighted his pipe.

Taking advantage of the fact that there was endless of food in front of them, the whole company ate so much that they could not move and then some more. Who knows when they would get proper food like this and where they could eat as much as they wanted after this. Ale was downed like it was water and loud laughter went round the table.

Thorin watched Fili from his seat, the blond dwarf in question was sitting in between her brother and Bilbo happily chatting about something. She was still wearing her old clothes form before Rivendell, which hid very well all those soft curves that lay underneath. Damn Kili for putting the idea of Thorin and Fili marrying in Thorin's head and damn that blasted Balin and his words, after their small talk he had not been able to get the idea out of his head. Thorin could easily admit that he had been surprised at how good both Fili and Kili had adapted and behaved on the journey, Kili and his bowman ship and Fili and her wit and excellent swordsmanship. There was not much that passed her without her knowledge and she had this really sneaky way of getting people to do as she said, then again that was something she always had been good at, female or not.

Forcing his gaze away from his niece, Thorin somehow got into a discussion with Balin and Dwalin of what Dís' reaction to all these new changes in her son would be. It was not a very pleasant discussion on Thorin's part as he only could see his dear sister killing him in some painful way but if there was something he had been taught about his sister over the years, then that was that you could never know how she would react. No, it was better if he did not think about that, after all they would first have to get through Mirkwood and face a dragon before he would need to face his sister. Thorin could not help but wonder if there was something wrong with him, he would rather face an army of dragons without any weapons or armor than face his sister when she was angry. Then again, anyone who knew Dís would say the same thing, so Thorin concluded that his sanity was still safe for the moment.

HOUSE OF DÚRIN

Fili was tired and even a bit tipsy from the ale, when she decided to get some rest. Most of the dwarves were shit faced, singing and dancing on the table; even Bilbo had joined in when he knew the song. Gandalf was sitting on the side watching, Balin had left some time ago and so had Thorin but the rest were still in full swing enjoying Beorn's hospitality. Kili looked like he was about to crash but Fili decided not to interfere, after all he was not the only one.

Stepping over a passed out Ori, Fili made her way towards her room. Unlike the rest of the company Fili had been given her own room by Beorn. Thorin and Gandalf had also gotten private quarters but that was expected, after all, Thorin was the leader and a king and Gandalf was Gandalf. Taking a towel and some clean clothes Beorn had given her, Fili made her way to the bath house that was situated beside the big house. This could possibly be the last time in a very long time that she would be able to have a proper warm bath inside and Fili was determined to enjoy it fully.

The bath house was divided into two sections, first came the small room where you could leave your clothes and dry off and then there was the second room where Beorn had built a sort of bathtub in wood although it did look a bit more like a pool of sort as you could fit quite a few people in it. Slowly stripping out of her clothes fighting with her breeches Fili hummed under her breath an old song her mother used to sing not noticing the middle door between the two rooms opening.

"Fili?"

Spinning around to face where the voice had come from, one leg still in her breeches and the other one free Fili let out a surprised shriek as she lost her balance falling forward. In a not so elegant way both she and the other person went crashing to the floor. With a soft thump Fili landed on a hard chest, her face inches away from a very naked chest that was covered in dark hair.

Fili tried to speak but she could not get anything out, it was as if someone had sown her mouth shut. It did not take her long to get her brain up to speed though, and she could feel her whole face turning a very dark red as she took in their position on the floor. Thorin was laying on his back only a towel around his waist, his skin still wet from the bath, with her on top. Fili who had been in the process of taking off her clothes was practically naked too her breeches tangled in her legs but that was about the only thing she was wearing at the moment. Her breasts were pressed up against his chest, their legs tangled, and Thorin had still his hands by her waist from when he caught her when she fell forward.

She did not know why she did not move, she should but instead she just laid there staring back at him as surprised as he was, their eyes locked on each other. Her breath came in short bursts and Fili was very aware how her every breath made her chest press into Thorin's very well sculptured chest. There was something in his eyes that made her unwilling to get up; it was the same fire that she felt in her own body, a fire she had tried to ignore for some time now. It scared her but on the same time excited her. When Fili had still been male, she had lain with a few girls but this, this was totally different somehow.

Fili is not sure who leans forward or if it is both of them, but suddenly they are kissing. Thorin's hands moved from her waist to grip at her neck, his big strong hands keeping her from moving away not that she wants to either way. It is raw and passionate, Fili can feel how the blood rushes through her body lighting her on fire.

"Thorin are you there? Gandalf wishes to speak with you." It was Balin's voice seeping through the door.

Thorin pulled away from her so fast he could has well have been stung, his breath heavy and his eyes dark he moved towards the door grabbing his clothes.

"I'm on my way old friend," replied Thorin.

Still sitting on the floor Fili watched Thorin leave, she could feel the burn on her face from her blush and her lips were swollen from the kisses. She did not know what to think. Getting up and into the water Fili forced Thorin out of her mind and instead concentrated on the feel of the warm water against her skin. It was hard but she could not get hung upon such trivialities, she was a Dúrin a simple kiss should not make her go weak in the knees like that. Ignoring the nagging voice in the back of her telling her it was not just a simple kiss that it was so much more Fili went back to scrubbing her body with soap.

HOUSE OF DÚRIN

To say that Thorin was unmoved by the kiss would be a huge lie, his heart was still hammering in his chest and his whole body was on fire when he sat down beside Gandalf by the table. He was unable to concentrate, the only thing his mind could think of was the smooth and creamy skin against his bare skin, how those soft round breasts perfect to take in his hands were pressed up against him and those beautiful green eyes that looked back at him. Yes, Fili was by far one of the most beautiful women had ever set his eyes on but on the same time he could not let his desires run away with him, she was young and deserved so much more than him.

Talking with Gandalf did not take long and when they were done it was time to head for bed, they had an early start the next day. Most of the company had already fallen asleep, Bombur's snores echoing through the house, Nori was talking in his sleep, stepping over a passed out Dwalin, Thorin watched Kili sleeping with his back towards the hobbit, both looking so very relaxed and young in their sleep that it made his heart ache. They would not be as young and innocent when this whole quest was over, and it made him sad.

"Something seems to disturb you my friend."

"Balin…, it's nothing, you should not concern yourself," said Thorin in a low voice.

"Has it something to do with a certain lass?" wondered Balin his face morphing into a knowing smile.

"Leave it Balin," muttered Thorin.

"As you wish but remember sometimes the Valar work in mysterious ways, after all happiness comes in many shapes and forms."

With those last words Balin left Thorin alone with his thoughts. Heading back to his own room, Thorin tried not to stare too much when he walked past Fili's room. Her door was slightly open and light flowed out from the room, stopping outside the door, Thorin got a good view over a well shaped back. Shaking his head the exiled king forced his legs to move forward and locking himself into his room. Sitting down on his bead Thorin let his head fall into his hands.

"Thorin… you are screwed," muttered he to himself, "I don't even want to know what Dís will say about it."

He had kissed his niece in a bath house while both of them had been practically naked and then he had run away like a coward leaving her there alone. Closing his eyes the last thing Thorin thought of before falling asleep was of a pair of soft lips pressed against his own.

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