Hiya everyone! Sorry it's been a while, I need some time to develop exactly where I wanted this story to go. X3 Anywho now you get to see more of Kíli! I hope you guys enjoy this update!

~Kassi


Chapter 8: Trouble Enough for Four!

Dwin tried to hide her panic, giving a rather stiff nod the the soldier that just informed her that Prince Kíli required her presence. He left her tent and Dwin rested her head on the cool wood of her desk, taking deep breathes. She swore the dwarves were trying to kill her. Within the four days Kíli had woke up, the three rascals had been causing a fair bit of chaos. Which Dwin had to clean up after, normally in the form of treating the numerous injuries they had managed to get. Ranging from Kíli bruising his broken ribs falling from a wall to Mazrlafm having a black eye from backing the other two in a fight. Why the three had decided getting into a fight when Kíli had a stiff shoulder and brokens ribs and Fíli on crutches, she would never know. The refused to give her any reasons and tried, horribly, to reassure her by telling her the men looked worse than they did.

With a deep sigh Dwin hurriedly put on her jacket and rushed out to find the errant princes. Mahal knew what they did this time, she shuddered imagining what horrible injury they could have. Mazrlafm could have broken something, Kíli was unconscious again, Fíli have damaged his leg even more. She cursed mentally, why in Durin's name did they decide always to involve her? If she wasn't worrying about them, she was angry at them!

Dwin almost shrieked when a hand on her arm suddenly pulled her behind a pile of crates. Her balance being horrible, combined with the unexpected motion, made her topple heavily to the ground. Dwin glared up at the three grinning faces above her.

"What are you idjits thinking of! Pulling ladies behind boxes, didn't your Ma's teach ya better?" Dwin growled at them, getting up and brushing any dirt off her jacket. All of them shushed her and returned to peaking over the crates. She looked at them, curiosity winning over the anger. They seemed to be uninjured, at least no more injured than normal, "What's going on?"

"Shh, we're watching the target." Kíli said, he turned back and met her eyes, then pressed the tip of his hand against her lips. She blinked at him, definitely quiet now, then he returned to peaking over the crates hid them. Dwin huffed quietly but remained silent.

"Ya wouldn't want him to notice us, would ya Dwin?" Mazrlafm threw a devious grin her way. She just pouted and glared, waiting for the explanation she would eventually get. Kíli's fingers was still on her lips and Dwin, getting slightly uncomfortable with the sensation, licked him. He cringed away and jerked his fingers away dramatically. Though unseen by Dwin the younger prince proceeded to wink at his brother, to which his brother responded by rolled his eyes. After five more minutes of the silence Dwin scooted between Mazrlafm and Kíli, peaking over the crates; her eyes scanning for the target of their watch. She saw the wizard talking to an older dwarf, but even the boys weren't fools enough to mess with a wizard. At least, she hoped they weren't. So she moved on from the duo quickly, she saw quite a few dwarves running around, but none of them stuck out to her. Frustrated she pulled herself down so she was hidden again.

"Who are we looking at?" She hissed at them, Fíli rolled his eyes at her while Mazrlafm laughed, as quietly as he could, at her. Kíli laughed as well but gestured for her to look up again, she complied, looking around again. He came nearer to her, leaning to whisper in her ear. Dwin clutched the crate, desperately trying to hang on to her frustration, anything, that would distract her from the odd sensation of Kíli's close proximity.

"You see the tall dwarf, to the right, talking to the smaller dwarf in knit?" His breath tickled her ear. Dwin had to stifle a shiver that went down her spine. She focused on the task in front of her, she spied the pair Kíli pointed out. Recognition filled her, the tall dwarf was the grum- Dwalin- that was his name. Then next to him was the dwarf that helped her check Dwalin's ribs.

"Dwalin and, oh- what was his name?" Dwin whispered back, loud enough for the other two to hear. She racked her brain, but didn't come up with a name. Had she actually heard it?

"Ori." Fíli supplied helpfully. They watched for a moment, Dwin didn't see anything too interesting. Except, now that she thought about it, Dwalin seemed to yield to the smaller dwarf rather easily. And if Dwin's prior experience was anything to go by, that dwarf didn't not yield well usually. And was the smaller dwarf giving Dwalin a scarf? It wasn't near any holidays, and unless it was Dwalin's birthday, that definitely could be a courting gift. Dwin was struck with how nice a couple they would make, it was too far away to see if they were blushing. Both seemed a bit nervous, with conviction Dwin decided that Dwalin, indeed, just got a courting gift. She snuck a glance to either side, she realised what was happening, did her companions though?

"Why is Dwalin the target?" Dwin asked finally, she felt like she had seen enough, and intruding on a private moment. So she sat on the ground with her back resting on the crate.

"He's been acting strangely lately." Fíli responded, his eyebrows narrowed in either confusion or frustration. Dwin couldn't decide which.

"Yes, that and he's been... almost cheerful. Which is very unDwalin-like." Kíli added, "So we're trying to find out why."

"And why am I needed for this?" Dwin asked with an amused smile at them.

"What, your too busy for us now?" Mazrlafm asked, indignation seeping into his voice. Dwin rolled her eyes at him.

"Of course I am, but that's never stopped you before." Dwin snorted and looked at the other two, the looked away sheepishly, "Lads, why am I here?"

"Well Dwin," Kíli started, throwing an arm around her shoulders.

"It's just well, Dwalin seems to like you. Which is rare by the way." Fíli said with a grin her way.

"And if this goes south, he's much less likely to get mad with you with us!" Mazrlafm finished, smiling broadly. She raised her eyebrows, unimpressed.

"You want to use me as a dwarf shield?" Dwin wasn't amused at the prospect and was considering leaving, a flurry of movement caught her attention. The dwarves had rushed to look over the crates. Dwin craned her neck backwards, trying to see what was going on, "What's happening?"

"They're gone! They started walking away then a group of dwarves past them, and now we can't find them." Fíli moaned, sitting on the ground pouting. They cursed and grumbled about the loss of their targets, while Dwin sat laughing at them. All four of them jumped in surprise when a deep voice rumbled from behind them.

"What do yer think yer doing behind there?" Dwalin growled at them. All them looked up with wide eyes, the boys turned to her.

"We were just..." Kíli started, obviously scrambling for something to say. With a mental groan Dwin sat up to look at Dwalin.

"We were hiding from Dain. He wanted help with some paperwork." Dwin said quickly, with a glare at Kíli. Damn them for getting her involved, again.

"But we better get back. We lots of... Books. To read." Kíli finished running off, Fíli and Mazrlafm right behind him. Dwin looked, wide eyed, between their retreating backs and Dwalin. They just left her! She gave Dwalin a sheepish look, with a grunt he waved her off. With a grin she hurried after the trio, preparing the verbal lashing they were going to get.

Alas, Dwin didn't get the chance to give the trio the punishment she had hoped. As a soldier came to inform the Princes' that their uncle was awake. Dwin felt joy at the news. Not only because her King was getting better, but that his loved ones: Bilbo, Fíli, Kíli, would get him back. Dwin wondered how things with Bilbo were going to proceed, he was technically still banished but his refusal to leave the King... The King wouldn't make Bilbo leave, would he? Dwin hoped not, she only hoped that King Thorin realised Bilbo was his heartsong. No dwarf would turn away his One.

So Dwin ambled her way back to her tent, Mazrlafm had slunk off somewhere to avoid Dwin's ire. It was pleasant to have time to herself, but unfortunately it left her alone with her thoughts. Those thoughts which now were centered around her family back in the Iron Hills. She missed them. With the chaos that had come after the war she hadn't had much of a chance to write a longer letter, plus the mail service wasn't set up yet. Dain had a personal Raven which she borrowed, but he needed that for more important things then sending her letters to the Iron Hills for her. When she got to her tent she moved to her desk, where all her letters were. Pulling a few out of the stack, she read them over. Most of her letters were from her mother, who would sometimes relay messages from her father. Her brother Dag sent his own, but they were few and far inbetween. Dwin really didn't mind, Dag never was one for words. Like many Dwarves he prefered to take action, which Dwin understood, in many ways she was very similar to her brother.

With a long sigh she read the most recent letter from her mother, which had been five days before the battle. A part of the letter said that she was proud of Dwin for going to war. Even days later, reading over the words gave Dwin a feeling a warmth. Healers were important in dwarven society, but it was the warriors that gained merit and rank by war. Even so, it was very honorable to participate in war in any way. Dwin was proud herself for being able to aid her brethren, even in the small way she did. It meant even more to have her mother recognise her

Though the work was not over, Dwin heard about how some from the Iron Hills were staying to help rebuild Erebor. Dwin couldn't wait to see the Golden city back to it's former glory one day. With King Thorin finally awake and the war over, progress could finally begin. Dwin heard the flap to her tent rustle and turned around to see Surir walking in.

"Dwin." Surir greeted with a smile, she stood in the doorway, a shadow passing her face.

"Suri, is something wrong?" Dwin asked quickly, panic shooting through her. Surir chuckled and shook her head.

"Nay, lass. Nothing's amiss. Just wanted to check up on ya." Surir said, settling on the cot, studying Dwin.

"I'm good. Taking the rare moment of peace to write to Ma." Dwin said with a fond smile.

"Aye, she'll be wantin' to know every detail." Surir chuckled, she peered at Dwin, "Lass, do ya miss home?"

"Of course." Dwin said, curious about what caused that question, "I miss Ma and Da, but I don't regret coming if that's what this is about."

"I wasn't thinking you regret coming. You had a duty, just as I did." Surir said, looking away, seeming lost in thought, "I just know how easy it is to miss home now that we have down time."

"I'm fine." Dwin shrugged, "It's not often a lass like me gets out of the mountain."

"Aye, we are fortunate in that regard. Adventure's in our blood, it's good for a dwarfindam to go out of the mountain occasionally. Good for the character." Surir said with a grin, "Aye, it's pretty out here isn't?"

"That it is. Once everything grows back it'll be a breath-stealing sight." Dwin agreed, the landscape was beautiful, even with the damage done to it. Surrounded with gentle cliffs and forests, the Lonely Mountain sat in the middle. It's regal peak touching the clouds. The forest already had started to perk up with life, as if with the end of Smaug's oppression had lifted the weight off their branches. Dwin thought the Iron Hills were truly impressive, but nothing could compete with the scenery currently around her. With a sigh Surir, seeing Dwin lost in her thoughts, got up and clapped Dwin on the shoulder affectionately. Surir left Dwin to herself and Dwin got started on her letter.

"Dear Ma..."