Chapter 9

I really had believed we made it there on time, but obviously everybody started early and the party was fully on when we arrived. I searched through the crowds, trying to find Thorin. I let go of Fili's hand a while ago, but was still holding onto Kili's, I realised that and dropped it, not wanting anyone to draw conclusions.

Finally I saw him, I pulled up my dress and ran for him. Thankfully Thorin saw me coming soon enough, to catch me in his arms and I hugged him tightly. "I wish you the best of all birthdays, dad." Lately I enjoyed calling him that and he seemed to enjoy it too. "Sorry I didn't come early, I was sleeping and no one woke me, then I wanted to surprise you with the dress." I apologized and he only now acknowledged the dress. He put me down and spun me around three times and stopped me when he was facing my back, I knew he loved the tattoos. "The sight of my little princess being so happy is worth every wait." He turned me around again "When you show off your tattoos I always feel proud of being loved enough by you to put me under your skin" I smiled up at him, when I showed him the tattoo of his symbol for the first time, he cried. The only time I saw Thorin Oakenshield cry. "Anyway" he switched topics, I knew he felt uncomfortable talking about feelings. "Where and when did you get the dress?" he looked curious "Oh, Kili brought it this afternoon." I said lightly and Thorin looked really surprised, he raised an eyebrow and shoot me a questioning look, he wanted explanations. "Well, you see, I maybe, kind of, eventually, did enjoy wearing a dress yesterday, at least a little and not the whole day, and Kili must have guessed that. So he thought he'd get me another one for tonight in your favourite colour", I tried to explain, without making it sound weird and leaving out that dark blue was Kili's favourite colour as well. Thorin bought it and smiled again "He seems to have developed a good taste in pretty dresses, chasing down girls must have surely helped in that." Somehow Thorin's words hurt me, but I tried hard not to show it.

I hugged him again and wished him a great party, then I left, so he would spend time with the other guests too. I walked around aimlessly, searching the faces of the people trying to find someone to talk to, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around with a huge smile on my lips, expecting Kili or Fili or both to be behind me. As I turned around I faced Kain, the son of Dain Thorin's cousin. I didn't like Kain, he was just a bore and a nuisance. Since he arrived he always brought me down and bossed me around, he thought I was ought to be somewhere in the kitchen and not in the forge.

Normally there was arrogance on his face, that only left it when he talked to Thorin, but I suppose that was just show and he even thinks he's better than him. Surprisingly that look was not on his face now, he looked confused, then amused and finally he seemed pleased with himself, I wanted to punch him in the face.

"What is the matter?" I barked at him, giving him an evil look along, trying to make it obvious, that I didn't want to talk to him. "Why so harsh, little miss?", he said, looking down and giving me a smirk, I didn't understand. "I see you've come to your senses, at least as long as it comes to proper dressing. I have to admit" he continued and eyed me up and down "that's quite a nice body you have there." Now I understood his look, it was want and lust. "Have a drink with me, little miss. Won't you?" that was not a suggestion, he said it like a command. He couldn't be serious about this, I mean he hated me. Everything about me, my opinion on equality of man and woman, my ideas for the kingdom, that Thorin preferred me over him and my boyish style, well the last one was out for today. But still why would he want to drink with me. I looked at him and caught him starring at my body like I was his dessert. And then it klicked in, he really wanted to get me into his bed. I was so mad, I couldn't even say anything. He ran his hand up and down my arm, now looking into my eyes. I was shaking with anger, but still kept quiet. "We could have a lot of fun tonight, little miss" and suddenly a fist hit his cheek and he let go of me. "Never touch her again! If you will, I'll kill you. I swear." Kili put his arm around me, leading me away, off to some corner. Fili was at my other side "I'll talk to Thorin tomorrow. He has to leave." Was all he said.

Did that really just happen? Did Kili just really punch Kain in the face. I stopped "Kili you can't just punch him in the face. Are you insane?" I asked, wondering what went through his mind. "I couldn't let him harass you!" his voice was louder than normal, also deeper and filled with rage. I tried to calm him down a little "he didn't harass me. He just wanted a drink with me." "Oh I saw the look in his eyes, like he wanted to fuck you right there and then and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have liked that.", his tone was harsh and I took a step back, slightly frightened by his look. I've never seen him like this before, so aggressive and ready to tear some heads off. As I took a step back, his expression softened, he pulled me back to him and hugged me. I felt his lips at my ear, a shiver ran down my spine and a thought popped up in my head. I want to fuck him right here and now. I was shocked at my own thoughts.

His voice pulled me out of my not so safe thoughts. "You are mine. I Love you. And I don't want anyone to touch you." He whispered, not exactly what I wanted. That sounded like he wanted to hide me away and lock me up somewhere. I felt panic taking over. "Don't get me wrong, my princess. I'm not going to lock you up and hide you away, but I'm not exactly comfortably with other man looking at you like this."

I relaxed again. I will have to stop that, panicking at little things, but I guessed that would get better in time.

I let go off Kili, smiling at him and then smiling at Fili, who watched us suspecting. He'd find out in no time, we would never be able to keep it from him, he knew us too well. "Come on guys, let's get drunk." I was going to drag them to a bar, when Dwalin approached us, in his hand four glasses of beer. He smiled at us "Aye let's get drunk, but drown it fast, dinner's almost ready." We each took a glass happily and drowned it in one sip. I was really happy in that moment, the beer was just the perfect temperature, dinner would be ready soon and Kili stood next to me, our hands occasionally touching. Each touch sent a smile to my face and a flutter trough my body. "Time for dinner" Kili announced, he took my hand in his and pulled me over to our table. It was the same we sat on yesterday, Thorin already sat and motioned me to sit next to him, not without shooting a quick glance at Kili and my hands which were still interlaced. He'd know it soon as well, oh what were we thinking we will never be able to keep it a secret. I walked over to my seat and hugged Thorin close to distracting him of Kili and me. "How are you doing?" "Good, really good, honey." He lifted me off the ground. Oh god, he was drunk. I giggled like a little girl. "Let me down Thorin, please." I was still laughing when my feet touched the ground again.

I sat down and hoped Kili would take his place by side, but before I could even call for him, Dwalin sat next to me. So I spent my dinner between Thorin and Dwalin, drinking, eating and listening to their stories, of their youth about girls, fights and drinking. I had a really good time, when dinner was over the dancing music began to play and we were already a little intoxicated. I was waiting for Kili or Fili to come over and take me dancing, but was much surprised as Dwalin held out his hand to me. "You serious?" I asked "100 % my lady, I promise I won't let you fall." I laughed and took his hand, even though I was a little disappointed that Kili wasn't the first one to ask me to dance this evening.

When the first song was over I glanced at Kili, who smirked down at me, he wasn't going to come to my rescue now. Dwalin wouldn't let go of me anyway, he held onto me, one hand at the small of my back and the other one kept a firm grip on my hand. "One more my lady?" he looked down at me with a huge grin, how could I deny him another dance? I nodded and we started spinning around again.

And so the evening continued, I danced with Dwalin and Thorin and some of their friends, between the dances I looked over to Kili, who sat in his chair, a glass of beer in his hand, watching me with that smirk I didn't fully understand, and talking with his brother. Fili was sometimes dragged away for a dance by some girl, they also tried to get Kili to dance with them, but he denied them all. I was confused, really confused, he wouldn't dance with me and neither with another girl? Didn't he want to enjoy the party? He winked at me and I blushed. I was on my way over to him, to ask him for a dance myself, when Thorin got a hold of me again. I sighed and gave my plans up, no getting away from the dancefloor tonight.

"So who is that guy making you blush?" he looked into my eyes, they looked down on me with curiosity and clouded with alcohol. I laughed loud, I already had an excuse, because Dwalin asked me that earlier. Back then I had almost panicked and told him about Kili, but this time I kept cool. "He's called dancing and drinking." He laughed and threw me up in the air, I yelped in surprise and slight fear, drunk people shouldn't throw other people around. But ever the protecting father he caught me securely again and let me down. "I know about that." he laughed again, god when was the last time I saw him like that "now go over to the little ones and get drunk, like really drunk." He finished and ushered me over to Fili and Kili. Who laughed their heads off at the sight of the drunk Thorin and the confused me. I sat next to Kili "When was the last time he was that drunk?" I asked enjoying the view, Thorin was dancing with a woman, who looked really happy. "Mhh must have been his birthday last year" Fili assumed, finishing another glass. I laughed at him, and suddenly shrieked, Fili looked at me questioning, I just shook my head and he looked away again.

The reason why I had almost screamed out, was making it's way up even higher. Kili had put his hand on my upper thigh under the table and now it was wandering up my leg. I punched his arm and he put his away, "What was that for?" he asked innocently. "Oh you know exactly what that was for." I said and leaning closer to him I continued "why didn't you dance with me, or anyone?" he chuckled "you would have wanted me to dance with another girl?" he teased me. "No, I would have wanted you to dance with me. But I wouldn't have minded you dancing with Fili or Dwalin." I could play this game as well. Kili let out a loud laugh and I had to draw back a few inches, after his laughing he leaned in even closer, his lips almost touching my ear "I just love watching you dance, the way you spin around in your dress. When you lift up your skirts so you don't trip over them. When you breathe so heavy your chest goes up and down and I can't take me eyes off your breasts. And your smile, that's probably the sexiest thing about you. I just love watching you enjoy yourself."

He leaned back in his chair again, taking another sip of his beer. My breath caught in my throat, I blushed and my mind just revolved around his words and his lips at my ear. "Did I make you speechless?" Kili's voice was deep and husky, filling me with a desire I've never felt before. I kept silent, unable to say a word. "Or did I occupy your mind with other things?" he bit my earlobe and I trembled. I felt a shiver down my spine, goose bumps spread all over my skin and I felt my nipples stiffen. I got up, looked around and set down again, I didn't know what to do. So I took Kili's glass and downed it in one sip. Kili next to me couldn't stop laughing, I filled the glass and emptied it again. An idea came to my mind, an evil idea. I got up and walked over to Fili, Kili's confused look following my every step. "Come on Fili, let's go dancing." "Would be my pleasure." He answered, got up and took my hand to lead me to the dance floor.