Italicized words will mostly be thoughts. But of course some are for emphasizing. Long lines of italic words in quotes will be singing/reading from a book.

I do not own any of the characters except for Christianna, my OC. Everything else belongs to Tolkien!

A slither of a moon rested high in the sky when Christianna woke. She had to blink a few times to adjust to the darkness, for the main source of light came from the flickering flames of the fire. She sat up and could see someone, whomever was on watch duty, leaning against a large rock on the edge of camp. She sighed, rubbing her eyes with the palm of her hands. She moved to lay on her other side, hoping she could relax enough to sleep again. But something caught her eye.

Bofur's hat was resting oh so nicely next to the cloak she was using as a pillow.

You see, she hadn't been taking it like normal, and then she stopped talking. And he noticed her having trouble sleeping. Waking in the middle of the night, constant tossing and turning. Even though he had no idea what was wrong at the time, he wasn't about to deny her that comfort in case she ended up wanting it. So every night as he lay down for sleep, he placed his hat next to her. But, he made sure to wake up early and take it back so that she didn't feel bad about it.

She picked it up and held it in her lap. It didn't take long before the tears streamed down her face, every bit of the wall she built came crashing down. She turned to wake him and saw his bed empty, and realized that he was the one on watch. She stared at his form in the distance as she gathered her courage. Then draped her blanket over her shoulders and made her way for him.

He jerked forward and gave a worrisome look when she came up to his side. "Chrissy, darlin' what are you doin' up?"

She shuffled on her feet trying to think of what to say. She clenched and unclenched his hat and her bottom lip started to quiver. "I miss you." She squeaked.

Relief flooded thorough him at once. He smiled so hard that dimples formed. "Well that's no good. Come here and let me fix that." He outstretched his arm.

In an instant she dropped into his lap, curling herself so tight that she could have been mistaken for being smaller than him. She rested her head against his chest.

He blinked surprised. "Well I only thought to sit beside me."

Her cheeks flushed red and she pushed away from him. "I'm sorry!"

"Don't be." He said with a twinkle in his eyes. "This is much better." He grabbed hold of her blanket and shook it out, then wrapped it around the both of them. He rested his head on hers, and started rubbing her back. "How is the Khuzdul comin' along?"

"If my life ever depends on me pronouncing Khuzdul correctly." She paused. "Then I will surely die."

He chuckled quietly. "Well, your voice be too lovely for such harsh words."

"Bofur."

"Nothin' but the truth. Though me cousin is right honored." He watched as she started toying with his free hand, teasing him with light touches from her fingertips. He let her be for a few minutes before suddenly trapping her fingers between his own. She jumped in his lap and he laughed. "Sorry sunshine, but you are too temptin' for all that."

She had to bite her lip to keep from smiling like an idiot. "Do I get to ask you a question now?"

He lifted his head and looked down at her. "Aye. Ask me anythin' you want."

She pondered for a moment. "Where did you get your hat?"

"I had a feelin'." He adjusted his legs a bit. "It belonged to 'adad. 'Amad made it for him. So in love they were." She tilted her head to meet his gaze. "He was always leavin' to find better payin' work in other towns. The hat was so he always had home with him. But even when he did come home, he ended up in the mines." She squeezed his hand as she saw his eyes filling with water. "A cave-in is a death sentence for a miner. They were dug-out alive, but so crushed there was no hope. I was only in me fifties, but still the oldest." He took a few breaths to steady himself. "So I took me place as head of the household. Had to be strong for 'amad and Bombur. It was me job to take care of them."

She let go of his hand to reach up and wipe some stray tears away. "Oh Bofur. You are wonderful."

He leaned into her touch. "Anyone but you, and I'd be objectin' that." He smirked. "But I know you would only fight me. Afraid that's not the side of you I want to be on."

"Bofur!" She shouted.

He winked at her. "My turn?"

"Your turn."

He looked up at the sky and scratched at his beard. Then suddenly snapped his fingers. "What is courtin' in your world like?"

"Courting? Well. For one, it's called dating where I come from. And for the most part, isn't anywhere near as meaningful." She sighed. "There isn't really a rhyme or rhythm to dating. You just, go out, with someone. Basically, hang out. Get to know them. There's not much definition between a relationship and an everyday friendship. Except that you may be more romantic in ways to that person, amongst other things." She gave him a look, hoping he would understand what she was referring to. "Though even that is questionable these days."

"Chivalry is all but dead, morals hard to find. Nothing is sacred anymore. I thought it was normal, but as I grew up, and matured, suddenly I wanted something more worth while." She scoffed. "Anyway. So you date, and sometimes you break up. Since it's not formal really. Or you eventually move in together and get married, or don't, whatever suits you. There's no in-between stage."

"You don't speak so highly of marriage." Bofur stated.

"Well, no. Marriage isn't taken as seriously as it should be. People have been married for only months, days even, and have filed for divorce. Others lie and cheat." She gritted her teeth. "Even my own mom tells me that her marriage is a joke, and that I should never do it."

"Don't sound like no marriage I ever saw." He puffed out his chest. "Any dwarf who takes a wife is to guard her as his greatest treasure. That is, unless they have little ones."

She gave him a small smile. "Well naturally there are people out there who treat it properly. This is just general society as a whole. Those rare one's are few and far between."

"Do you not wish to marry then?" He asked hesitantly.

"Actually I've always wanted to be a bride, wife, mother. It's my biggest dream." She perked up. "I'm just not about to settle for less. Even if it means I live out my days alone."

"That be no way to live." He fidgeted with his mustache. "So then, you have no man waitin' on you back at your place?"

She shook her head. "No, actually, I've been single for a little over three years now. Haven't so much as caught someone's eye."

"I wouldn't say that now." He grinned cheekily.

"What about you?" She gestured. "Surely you have a lovely dwarrowdam waiting for you to come home."

"Afraid not lass. You see, in comparison to me brother, with his big beard and belly, I just ain't that attractive to the ladies." He chuckled. "I wished to marry and have kids of me own. Twas too busy takin' care of the family I already had. Then Bombur started havin' wee ones. And when Bifur got hurt, he needed help for a while. I got too old and accepted this was me fate."

"Bofur, just because you have a lot on your plate doesn't mean you should count yourself out. And you're not old!" She absentmindedly picked at his tunic. "If someone really loves you then they'll be glad to share in any concerns you have. Nor will they care you're above the normal age for courting."

"But you did not let me finish." He put his hand over hers, pressing it to his chest. "I have no special someone waitin' for me that's true. But that's because I have only just found her. She is me one for sure. I just ain't courtin' her properly yet."

There was that word again, one. His one to be precise. She wasn't sure her heart could handle him sharing such deep feelings for another. But she wanted to be there for him, like he had been for her.

So she swallowed her pride. "And why is that?"

"Well for starters, it be too soon, even if she was a dwarf. Normally you spend a few months gettin' to know one another. But since she is of a different race, I need higher born dwarves to permit the startin' of it in the first place. Like the king, or princes, royal advisers. I also need me family's blessin'." He paused. "For when you marry a dwarf, you become a dwarf. So they have to be judged as worthy enough to be welcomed into our culture. Which is also why it takes longer to court out of race. Since laws state that there is to be extra time, in order to make such an important decision. And so they can be introduced to pieces of the dwarven way of life, to see if they are intrigued at all. And if they even have interest in you."

By this point, Christianna was positive that she wasn't even breathing. She could feel him watching her, but couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze.

"She is not a dwarf?" She asked, trying to convince herself that's what he really said.

"She be of the race of men. And the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on." He said softly.

"A human?!" She squeaked and her body started shaking. "And has she shown signs of interest in your culture?"

"Aye." He paused at the thought of what his confession might do to them. But decided that it was time for his feelings to be made known. "She just started learnin' Khuzdul."

Her hands flew to cover her face as a sudden sob escaped her. He reached up and slowly parted her hands with his own. He cupped her face and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. Wiping away the tears as they started to fall.

"Can I take this as me sign that she has feelin's for me as well?" He asked hopefully.

She was convulsing as she cried now. Covering her mouth as to not wake the others. Her eyes were squeezed shut, but she still managed to start nodding.

It was a shame she missed the way his face lit up, for he beamed a smile as bright as the stars themselves. He shed a few tears of his own, happy ones of course. But he let go of her face in order to wrap his arms around her and pull her into an embrace. She buried her face in his neck and he placed a hand on the back of her head. They stayed that way for a while, he held her carefully as she cried until she got tired of it. When she grew silent he pulled her away from him.

He erased the traces of her tears with his sleeve. Then pushed her hair behind her ears. "I never thought I'd be alright with you cryin'. Does that make me a bad dwarf?"

She giggled and shook her head.

"Well bless me." He put a hand over his heart. "That be the sweetest sound me ears have ever crossed."

She tilted her head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

"That soft laugh of pure love and joy." He said dreamily. "I be the only one whose made it leave you. So it must be just for me!"

"You are a cheeky one, aren't you?" She smirked as she placed her arms around his neck.

"Yes ma'am I am. Though in me defense, for you I have to be." He cast his eyes away from her. "For what good am I if I cannot keep a smile on me face for you. How can I ask of you to rely on me if I cannot even take care of meself. I ain't-"

"Now wait just a minute!" She interrupted. "Have I been talking to a wall the past few minutes? You don't have to go through everything alone, not anymore. I wish to share in your troubles Bofur. Please?"

For a moment he just stared at her, and she thought he might cry again. But he suddenly nodded. And with a quiet "okay" he put a hand on the back of her neck. With the other he tilted her head forward, and brought them together until their foreheads touched.

Neither pulled away at the flash of light, for they had grown use to her passing memories to him. But her eyes widened at his show of affection.

"B-bofur?!"

"Ah." His whole body sighed. "Happiness."

Christianna slept that way. Curled up in Bofur's lap, nestled in his arms, and against his chest. One hand of his held hers, and the other ran through her hair. He didn't make any other movements until his King approached.

"Well well, what is this?" Thorin said smugly. "Balin told me everything. So I assume this means she is better."

"Aye. She will be fine." He confirmed.

Thorin sat and leaned against the same rock as the pair. "And what had her in such a state of distress?"

Bofur cleared his throat. "She ain't told me directly. But she has been passin' me some right nasty nightmares."

"Passing, nightmares?" Thorin questioned.

"She started passin' me thoughts and memories by accident the first week of the journey. I can see them in me head as if I were there. She's practiced, can do it intentionally now. Though some still slip through, especially when she's sleepin'." He laughed. "Oh but don't tell her. I've seen a couple she would die if she knew I knew." He winked and Thorin shook his head. "But her nightmares are all revolvin' around the same thing: someone she loved hurt her, bad; or just abandoned her altogether. I think some are memories though. She is fightin' things she fears, and overcomin' them. I will stay with her as long as she needs."

Thorin rubbed his temple. "I suspect this is my doing."

"What makes you say so?"

"I informed Christianna of the dwarven concept of a one." He smiled awkwardly at Bofur. "And all but told her she was yours."

The hatted dwarf looked sadly down at the girl in his lap. "She fears I will do the same." He wrapped her tight in his arms. "That'd be why she cried so much, and I'm the only one she shut out. You confirmed my feelings, and she had to face hers. I'd be afraid of them too if I were her." His eyes went dark. "The things that have happened to her and others. Parents desertin' their children. Parents killin' their own children on purpose. People forcin' another to-" He cursed. "I feel like I should burn just for sayin' it."

"Bofur, you can do nothing for the world she came from, nor for what has happened to her there." He reached out and gripped his friends shoulder. "She is safe now. Here with us, with you. Let her know the love of a dwarf who has found his one. I am positive she will be alright in time. Then we can move forward."

He tensed up beneath the other dwarf's grip. "Her ears, they be startin' to form a point, Thorin."

"I have seen. Most of the company has I am sure." He let his hand drop and brought it back to cross his arms. "Her hair, her magic. There is no denying it anymore."

He sat up straight. "At some point on this quest, we will learn everythin'. Then what? What will you do to her?"

"We have had our suspicions for weeks. If I have not done anything by now, do you truly believe that I will harm her, in any way?" Thorin spoke with authority.

Bofur hung his head in shame.

"She is your one Bofur. How could I deny something like that to my own kin?" He looked to the girl now. "She is loyal to me, anything I ask of her she would do. She is brave enough, and willing to risk her life for us and our quest." He paused. "Loyalty, honor, a willing heart. I can ask no more than that."

"What if she's an elf?" Bofur finally voiced what they had been putting off.

Thorin had to fight himself from looking disgusted at the word. "Tell me, Bofur. Would you wish this same happiness upon your King? Your cousin? Your friend?"

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Of course I would! I never knew something could feel so wonderful. So right."

"What if their feelings were toward a man? A Hobbit? An elf? One that was older, or younger than them?" He inquired.

"That don't change anythin'. What matters is if they have a good heart." Bofur all but shouted.

"Does she not?" Thorin inhaled deeply. "I can not lie. It is hard to think that she could be of the same race as those who betrayed my father, my grandfather. But she has done nothing against me."

"But what if-"

"Enough." He ordered gently. "You are upsetting yourself, for no reason. I have given permission for her to learn our culture and language. That is not something done lightly. Nor can I ever take it back." He reached for Bofur's shoulder once more. "So, yes. Even though she is an elf."

This time Christianna did not wake to darkness, but to light. The sun was rising, it's golden rays creeping up the edges of their camp. She yawned and tried to stretch, but found herself constricted. She blushed as she remembered the night before.

Bofur too had fallen asleep, his head atop her own. He was snoring quietly and she couldn't help but smile. It was then she noticed Bombur not too far away from them preparing breakfast. When he saw her stirring he smirked at her, causing her face to get even redder. Carefully, she grabbed Bofur's hat from her lap, and swiftly placed it on the rock behind them. She slowly lifted his head from hers and lay it back so that he was using his hat as a pillow. She stood and wrapped her blanket around him, tucking the edges in. She never stopped smiling, even as she stretched her whole body towards the sky.

She quietly made her way to Bombur. "Can I help you with something?"

He shook his head. "Just making some eggs and toast. Our stocks are all but gone. But I'd enjoy the company."

"Of course!" She exclaimed and sat on a nearby log. "Don't worry too much about the supplies though. It should be any day now..."

He raised an eyebrow at her and she averted her gaze. He finished a plate of food and handed it to her.

He specifically waited for her to start eating before he spoke again. "I see you two slept well."

She almost choked and started coughing right away. He bellowed as he laughed at her, handing her a mug of water.

"That was cruel." She said finally.

"I'm just preparing you for the day ahead." He said innocently. "Every member of the company saw."

"Oh, great. That's just, fantastic."

He laughed once more as he continued dishing out breakfast. She chatted with him for a while, occasionally taking the piss from someone else's smart remark about her sleeping arrangements. She finally took to packing up her and Bofur's things, that way all he had to do was strap them up to the horse. She was almost done when someone came up behind her.

"You should wake him."

Thorin.

He had the biggest, smuggest smirk she ever saw. "I know you were letting him sleep, since he stayed up so late. But the others will soon be ready, and he should eat before we leave."

With that he was off. She finished her packing and weaved around the others back to where she left Bofur. She immediately found a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

She knelt down and pushed his bangs out of his face. "Bofur." She called, trailing her fingers down the side of his face. "Bofur, you need to wake up now." He stirred a bit and his snoring quieted, but he still slept. Curiosity got the best of her as she reached his mustache, tracing it's shape and twirling the end around her finger. Then ghosting over his lips to the other side.

"Tell me why I'd want to wake when you're doin' that?"

She squealed and jumped up.

He opened his eyes and gazed up at her. "Mornin' sunshine." He grinned from ear to ear.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack!" She shouted.

He chuckled. "Sorry darlin'."

She couldn't even pretend to be mad at him for long. "Breakfast is ready. You need to eat quickly, we're almost ready to head out. I've packed your things already."

He hopped to his feet and picked up his hat, placing it in it's rightful spot on his head. "I could get use to wakin' up to you." He winked before looking behind her.

The company was quiet, too quiet for a group of dwarves. Obviously just pretending to be busy whilst watching the pair.

"Oh, it's like that it is." His eyes twinkled.

She too turned to look at them. "Yeah they've had a few choice words."

"Share them with me?" He asked, holding his arm out for her.

She nodded, threading her arm through his and walking side by side with him towards the others.