Gráinne huffed impatiently as she thumped by Fili and Kili's ponies. The three creatures would nicker or groan to each other occasionally, almost as if speaking to each other.

"It seems our beasts have made friends!" Kili observed curiously, an innocent smile gracing his features.

"It seems that they have." The elf mused, though she didn't seem to be focusing on them. Her eyes were cast upon the king, glaring holes into the back of his head.

"You alright there, Rena?" Lothrena started at the nickname, turning to the blonde dwarf.

"What did you call me?" His face crumpled in concern, reaching out to cup her shoulder.

"I meant to offense, if you don't like it-"

"I love it, Fili!" She giggled at the dwarf's red cheeks as she patted him on the head. "Much better than 'elf' or woman', anyway." She huffed, casting dark eyes upon the king. The prince's eyes darkened in concern.

"I take it's not as sorted out as I had hoped, hmm?"

"I'm afraid not, Fili." She sighed, looking back to him. Before she could brush off the prince's saddened expression, his pony let loose a great, painful whine. The elf's hazel eyes snapped to the creature's face, giant tears beginning to roll down it's fuzzy cheeks.

"Thorin." She called, her voice having found power once more. When the king did not respond, she tried again. "Thorin!" This time, his great eyes were cast upon her but he did not falter. "We must stop."

"We stop when I say, woman, and I say we ride on." With a growl, the elf whipped Gráinne's reins, tromping up to cut off the temperamental king.

"A pony is hurt, your majesty, and I will not sit idly by while it suffers." The king cocked a great eyebrow.

"What care do you have for ponies?" He huffed.

"They do not call me the Child of the Forest for nothing, Thorin. Animals are a part of me as much as the earth itself, now I will ask you once more. Stop."

Blue eyes bore into hazel, both screaming a challenge. It was the king who broke first, nudging his horse with a growl. The small creature took the cue to trot on, leaving the stunned elf behind. Eyes narrowing and lip curling in distaste, the elf huffed before returning the back of the group. With a loud thump, she slid from the saddle on her warg's back.

"What do you think you are doing? The brunette prince hissed in fear. "This will only anger him more!"

"I will not let this poor creature suffer because your uncle is stubborn enough for 6 dwarves."

"Rena, stop. He's going to have your head!"

The elf ignored him, stepping before the blonde prince's injured pony. "And just what do you think you're doing, elf?"

With eyes ablaze, she turned to face the king who had stopped the group and trotted up on his own pony.

"My duty, your majesty." She snapped before turning to the pony once more.


"That was a very brave thing you did." A small voice startled the elf as she worked carefully with the pony's chipped hoof.

"I only did it for him." She said, patting the halted horse affectionately. "Injured himself pretty good back there." The hobbit nodded somberly before plopping down next to her.

"Why do you care for the animals so deeply?" The elf paused, looking to the small man at her side.

"They're my family. I protect them, it is my duty." He nodded, looking to the pony lying comfortably on the ground. "What is it Bilbo?"

The hobbit started at the sound of his name, fiddling with his thumbs absently. "That doesn't really seem fair." He admitted, looking to the elf.

A kind smile spread over Lothrena's lips. "Actually, it is. I owe my life to my forest and the animals. They took me in when my family was killed and have protected me ever since. It is only fit that I do the same for them. Besides, I love the earth. It's not a chore."

The hobbit nodded quietly, watching as the elf ran her fingers over the pony's smooth hooves. It was all healed, he noted. A smile passed over his face as he watched her comfort the creature, running her hands through its fur and cooing softy.

The fire crackled across the clearing, the sun still setting the sky a warm amber in its decent. A shiver ran through the elf. It was going to be a cool night.

Rising from her perch, Lothrena stepped away from the ponies and into the company once more. She glance over her shoulder as she walked, smiling to herself as the hobbit began to talk with his pony once again.

Plopping down beside the large warrior, Lothrena nuzzled into Dwalin's warmth, sighing when he wrapped a great arm around her.

"Come to steal all my warmth, lass?" The gruff chuckle rumbled against her ear on his chest, almost lulling her to sleep.

"You know it!" She chirped, curling closer to his warm frame, arranging his furs across both of them. His large hand clapped her on the back from probably the tenth time since she met the dwarf, but this time it was gentle. A comforting gesture.

"Don't look now," a mischievous voice whispered in her ear. "But your admirer is watching." Cracking her eyes open, they caught onto the youngest Durin. She pursed her lips as a creeping feeling swept over her. Eyes, she realized. Eyes that were boring holes into her skin.

"My admirer? Who -" A chill ran over her as she realized the direction the sizzling glare was coming from. When she looked up, her eyes locked with the piercing, almost glowing orbs of Thorin Oakenshield. A dark glare was set on his brow, his knuckles white as he clutched his furs. She watched as his jaw shifted slowly, grinding his teeth no doubt. not once did his eyes leave her. A blush spread over the elf's cheeks as she realized what was going on. He was jealous of Dwalin.