The next morning Oda, Fili and Kili left with the three remaining knights of Duath for their daily patrol. Dis looked after them, with a worried expression on her face. She did not want to let Fili and Kili go, but she knew that her young sons needed a task. Dis also knew that Oda, Fili and Kili would take care of each other. Oda had become like a daughter to Dis, a daughter she would never have. Tears filled her eyes as she thought of her dead husband. They had had so many plans, plans which would stay unrealised forever. She jumped as she felt a heavy arm on her shoulder. Thorin managed to sneak up on her everytime. He was stepping lightly for such a tall dwarf. Dis saw the wound on his shoulder was healing well and smirked.

'The human girl has managed to tame the great Thorin Oakenshield.' she murmured and grinned at her brothers shocked expression.

'She did nothing of the sort.' he grumbled.

'You let her tend to your wounds. I remember you growling at Oin as he tried it.' Dis remembered.

Thorin wanted to object, but he did not know what to say and closed his mouth again. After the last night he was confused and troubled. He had enough on his mind lately, being the youngest king ever in the line of Durin and having to ensure his people a safe home. A home his grandfather had taken from people who had helped them in their misery. And now all he could think about was this woman, her voice, her touch, her smile. Thorin shook his head, trying to free himself from the pictures in his mind. Dis laughed quietly.
'You like her.' she stated firmly.

'Who? I do not like anyone.' Thorin grumbled. Dis only smiled to herself. She was curious about how long he could torture himself.

In the evening the knights returned from a boring and calm patrol. The three men, the woman and the two dwarves sat down in the pub for an ale, or in Odas case mead.

'You don´t like ale?' Fili asked her curiously.

'Oh she liked it.' Garain grinned at Odas death glare. 'A few years ago she just drank a wee too much and spend the whole next day throwing up.'

'Shut up, Garain.' Oda snarled but could not help grinning herself. She had felt so miserable that she had never touched another ale. Plus, she had not liked the feeling to lose control over herself. Oda had never let alcohol cloud her mind again since then.

They sat at the table in silence before Ours popped the question that was on his mind for days now.

'We need a seventh member.' he was no man of words. 'What about your uncle, Dwalin?' he asked Fili and Kili.

'He is our uncles cousin actually.' Fili mused. 'I am not sure wether he would join us...you.'

Oda watched Fili intensly. She had the feeling that this Dwalin was one of the dwarves who still did not trust the men of Duath. But there was mistrust on both sides. Oda had witnessed small fights and arguments between men and dwarves recently and the worst thing was, that her sister Runa seemed to enjoy the turn of events. The former queen hated the dwarves who had taken her kingdom from her and nearly relished their situation now. Oda on the other hand tried to make the best of the situation.

'We should ask him.' she decided and walked to the training ground with the other five knights, searching for Dwalin.

'There he is.' Kili pointed to the back of the training area. 'He is training with uncle.'

Oda watched the huge dwarf swing his war hammer at the dwarf king who ducked elegantly and swung his own sword. Shaking her head Oda walked closer, Thorins movements would reopen his injury. As the two fighters got aware of the six people joining them they broke off their fight. Fili and Kili stepped towards them, speaking to Dwalin in Khuzdul. Oda could see Dwalins gaze on her and she saw the dwarf shake his head. Sighing she walked towards him, guessing his trouble.

'I will not fight alongside a woman, a princess.' Dwalin spat out the word as if it was a bad thing.

'And why is that, master dwarf?' Oda asked and tried to control her own temper. This dwarf was a typical clichee of the dwarven race. Proud, arrogant and insufferable.

'A tiny little girl like you is not able to watch anyones back.' Dwalin growled. 'You would get yourself into trouble everytime we get into battle.'

Dwalin had not seen Oda fight the day as the orcs had attacked the Blue Mountains, but he was sure that without her warhorse the woman was no threat to him. Oda sighed and drew her swords.

'Fine. If I win you´ll join us. If you win...well pick something.' Oda frowned at Dwalin and saw Kili flinch.

'Oda, no!' he warned her, but Dwalin grinned.

'Alright, little girl.' he looked at her thoughtfully. 'When I win I will let you cook something nice for me.'

'You would not say that if you would know her cooking skills, Dwalin.' Fili grinned as Oda shot him a death glare. She already had enough of dwarves for one day and wanted to get it over with.

Oda preferably fought with her two light and short swords, without a hampering shield. But against Dwalin a shield would have been helpful. She looked small and frail against the huge and square dwarf with the warhammer. Thorin, who had been sparing with Dwalin, stepped forward.

'I do not think that this is a good idea.' he started, but was cut short by both Oda and Dwalin. Sighing he lifted his hands in defeat and gestured towards the training circle. He feared that he would have to scrape Oda off the arena floor afterwards, but sat down with Fili, Kili and the three knights to watch the spectacle.

At first the two opponents circled around in the training area, eying each other cautiously. Oda decided to make the first move and launched directly at Dwalin, surprising him. The woman was so fast that he barely lifted his warhammer as she had reached him. He countered her attack with the hilt of the hammer, pushing her back and swung at her directly afterwards. Oda ducked and felt the woosh of the hammer above her head. While swinging his hammer Dwalin grabbed her arm and pushed her towards the edge of the arena. Oda was so light that she nearly flew and landed in Thorin arms with a startled cry. Thorin was more than surprised to have her that close so suddenly and his breath got caught in his throat as he looked up and realised that Oda was practically sitting on his lap if his hands had not grabbed her waist and stopped her. Her lower arms rested on his shoulders and her hair, bound back into a ponytail, fell over her shoulders into his face. For a moment that felt like minutes Thorin held her like this staring up into her warm eyes and Oda looked back right into his icy blue eyes. As Dwalin cleared his throat Oda pushed back from Thorin and swirled around aiming for Dwalins ankles. The huge dwarf was surprisingly quick on his feet and jumped back, grinning.

Fili cheered at the two, amusing himself highly. As he turned to his younger brother he could see that Kili watched the fight through his fingers, his hands covered his face and his eyes were huge.

'What´s the matter, brother?' Fili teased him. 'Are you afraid that our little sister will hurt Dwalin?'

Little sister? Thorin looked at his nephews in surprise. He had not known that them and Oda had grown so close. Oda had spent so much time in their home, he should have known. Thorin smiled as Kili winced as Dwalin swung another blow at Oda. The young woman ducked yet again, but this time Dwalin caught her by her neck, pulled her back against him and held the warhammer against her throat. Would this be a real fight he could snap her neck with one swift move of his arm.

'I won, princess.' he growled.

'You think?' Oda snarled and suddenly Dwalin felt a slight pressure between his legs. As he looked down he saw that Oda was holding her short sword against his groin and that only a small move would deprive Dwalin from ever having children.

'I would call it a tie.' Fili stated and grinned at Dwalin, who frowned at Oda.

Everyone jumped as a female voice boomed from behind. 'Enough of this nonsense! You, Dwalin will join the knights and see to it that my sons return to me every day. And you, Oda, will help me in the kitchen while I will cook a decent meal for everyone here.' Dis ordered and stood at the training ground with her hands on her hips.

For the first time Oda could see, or better hear, the resemblance between Thorin and his sister, the commanding voice and the deep tone.

Dis smirked as Oda as well as Dwalin answered with a quiet yes ma´am.