In the morning, Beorn had a full table set for them. The Dwarves kept quiet, Bilbo, Ruby, Fili and Kili were still asleep.

"So you are the one they call Oakenshield." Beorn said softly. "Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?"

"You know of Azog? How?" Thorin asked.

"My people were the first to live in the mountains, before the Orcs came down from the north. The Defiler killed most of my family, but some he enslaved. Not for work, you understand, but for sport. Caging skin-changers and torturing them seemed to amuse him."

Bilbo had woken during his explanation. "There are others like you?"

"Once there were many."

"And now?" the Hobbit dreaded the answer.

"Now there's only one. You need to reach the mountain before the last days of autumn."

"Before Durin's Day falls, yes." Gandalf nodded.

"You are running out of time." Though they did have enough time, the road could cause many time consuming inconveniences.

"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood." Gandalf said.

"A darkness lies upon that forest, foul things creep beneath those trees. There is an alliance between the Orcs of Moria and The Necromancer in Dol Guldur. I would not venture there, except in great need. Surely you have enough days to spare the trip around?"

"We will take the Elven Road, their path is still safe." Gandalf insisted.

"Safe? The Wood Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous. But it matters not." Beorn looked to the colourful quilt by the back of the cabin.

"What do you mean?" Thorin followed his gaze.

"The wood Elves have a strange affinity for Ruby." He said. "She might be your only way out of their realm. If you ever reach it alive. These lands are crawling with Orcs, their numbers are growing and you are on foot. I would hate to submit Ruby to such dangers."

"She is safe with me." Thorin growled.

"She does not need your protection, Dwarf, she is very capable on her own." Beorn towered over him. "If you hurt her in any way, I will not hesitate to maul you." He threatened lowly.

"I do not intend to. Ruby is dearer to me than any other has ever been." Thorin stood his ground. His hand went to his chest, but he did not seem to notice as he looked at the pile of bodies, Kili's socked foot sticking out from under the quilt. "She is a part of our company as any other, has protected and defended us fiercely and my nephews have welcomed her into my family. Though it is a relief to know she is protected by many powerful friends, I will take responsibility for her. She is my Lady." Beorn seemed to accept his answer and strode away. Thorin caught Dwalin's smirk. His friend knew. Mahal, he probably knew even before he himself did.

Walking to the last sleeping members of his company he looked down at them. His family. Ruby was trapped between the two Dwarves. In their sleep, they had assumed a protective stance around her, Kili on his stomach, his right arm and leg over her body, which was curved and snuggled into Fili's chest, who had his right arm under both Ruby's and Kili's heads. Thorin realized with a sad pang that his nephews were just children still, and while Ruby had revealed that she was even older than him, he could not help but wonder at his choice in taking them on this quest. He nudged Kili's foot and called out.

"Wake up! Get off her." The three jolted awake, and a small flame of pride nestled itself in Thorin's chest as he saw how all of them reached for weapons. Ruby took a few seconds more to calm down from her fright. Thorin needed to talk to her about her nightmares.

"Mornin' uncle." Fili stood and walked to the table, Thorin clapping a hand on his shoulder in greeting. Kili grumbled, flopping his head back down and earning himself a ruffle on the head by Ruby, who was slipping from under him and accepting Thorin's helping hand to stand. She shivered slightly and Thorin embraced her warm body. Her hair needed brushing and her eyes were droopy from sleep, but he could not take his eyes off her. She stood on her toes and kissed him softly.

"I missed you by my side." He rumbled as she rubbed their noses together sleepily.

"You were busy." She said. "And your nephews needed a cuddle." She did not mean it to insult them, and Thorin nodded understanding. He could not pass the opportunity though.

"I have never seen grown Dwarves clutching to a tiny woman as babes in their sleep!" he laughed loudly with the company. Looking back at Fili, the blond hid his reddened face in his breakfast.

"You're just jealous you slept alone." Kili mumbled, still half asleep by their feet. Thorin kicked him in the shin, effectively waking his nephew, who stood and slunk away to the table.

"Indeed I was." He turned back to the beauty in his arms when they were out of earshot. She had her head on his shoulder and was blinking heavily. When was the last time any of them had slept properly? Rivendell? That seemed like weeks ago.

"I'm just going to freshen up so we can be off." She said, pulling away. Thorin looked back at his company. Fili was slouched over his breakfast, Kili had laid his head on the table, little white mice climbing his hair. Dwalin refused to show any weakness, but his eyes were droopy and his shoulders sagged a little. Gandalf was quietly talking to Beorn, and the Wizard looked more like a frail old man. Bombur still had food in his plate and Bofur was staring at his empty pipe.

"We'll stay another night." Thorin declared loudly. "If we are welcome." He shifted his eyes to Beorn, who nodded. The Dwarves all sighed in unison, relief flooding them. This quest had turned out to be tougher than they thought.

"Beorn." Ruby walked to him. "I'd quite forgotten how big you were." She joked.

"It has been too long, little one." He put an arm around her shoulders as she embraced his waist briefly. "There are some old shirts you left behind if you wish to change." Ruby looked down at her torn shirt. "What happened?"

"Goblins." She spat. "Cut my hair, too." She pulled a handful of strands that seemed shorter than the rest. Instead of reaching down to her waist, they only barely touched her shoulders.

"The little devil nearly shat himself." Dwalin chuckled, remembering the terrified look of the Goblin.

"Should have killed him when I had the chance." Ruby muttered, inspecting the damage on her hair.

"Peace, little one, it is done now." Beorn shoved her lightly in the direction of the chest she was inspecting earlier. She grumbled, most Dwarves accustomed to her foreign words, and pulled out a change of clothes.

Ruby was still thinking about how she could manage the damage done to her hair when she reached a stream. It was wider and deeper in some places, perfect for bathing. Stripping herself from her soiled clothes, she jumped in the cold water. Scrubbing at her skin to get the blood and grime off, she dunked her head down to wet her hair. Sitting by the shore she started to part her hair in different sections and ran the edge of one of her smaller knives through the tips. Once she was satisfied, she finished bathing and dressed, her corset and the few weapons that remained back in place. When she finally returned to the large cottage, the Dwarves were either sparring in the back yard or helping Beorn with different chores. She watched Fili adjust his clothes. He was still unused to so many knives around his body, but he had liked Ruby's fighting technique and was adapting to it since she taught him in Rivendell.

"Zabadinhuh?" Thorin called. She turned and saw him leaving Dwalin to sparr with another as he approached her.

"You should all be resting." She said.

"So should you." He quipped. "Walk with me." He turned to the orchard and offered Ruby his arm. She rested her hand in the crook of his elbow. Thorin suppressed a smirk as he felt her fingers twitch at his bicep and could not resist flexing a little.

"Showoff." Ruby muttered, but rubbed his arm appreciatively nonetheless. He chuckled and stopped under a lemon tree. "Is everything okay?" she asked, sensing his distress.

"Ruby, I—" he took her hands in his. "Did you know that a Dwarf is only capable of giving his heart once?" he started. "We are born incomplete, searching for our other half throughout our lives. I have courted many Dwarf women in Erebor, and in the Blue Mountains, searching for my One." She looked at him, a mixture of curiosity and dread on her face. "I have never felt the way I feel about you before." He squeezed her fingers. "It is foreign and confusing to me, but I believe—" he licked his lips nervously. "I believe you are my One. Men lananubukhs menu."

Ruby did not need to know Khuzdul to understand what those three words meant. Her heart clenched in an array of feelings. She knew deep down that she felt the same way. But her mind kept throwing all her flaws at her. She wasn't of his kind. She didn't even know what she was. What if her life expectancy was similar to the Elves'? Could she stomach watching Thorin age and die? What if she died first? She knew the broken heart of a Dwarf could lead to an early grave. She couldn't bear him children. She had no home, or status to aid his Kingdom. She was being selfish pulling him into a dead-end relationship. The look in Thorin's eyes was pleading, hoping for acceptance, dreading rejection. He knew all this, she had told him, and he still had asked her to be his Lady.

"Miz azyung, will you not answer me?" he asked. He could see the turmoil in her eyes, he could guess what was going on in her mind. He opened his mouth to assure her that he knew the consequences of his choice, and that he still stood by it, but she started talking in a hushed tone.

"Thorin, I—I cannot give you or your Kingdom what you deserve. I could not bear to outlive you, or to know that my death would lead to yours. You mustn't pledge yourself to someone like me." There were tears in her eyes.

"I already have." He took her chin and raised her head to look into the watery chestnuts. "Please, I must know if—hmpf!" he was interrupted by Ruby launching herself up to his face and claiming his lips almost violently. He held her so tightly, a small squeak came from her throat. Her fingers buried themselves in his hair, pulling him painfully closer, but Thorin didn't mind. She reluctantly ended the assault on his lips and locked eyes with him.

"Zu'u lokaal hi." She whispered as tears ran down her cheeks. Thorin couldn't contain the cry of joy that lifted the weight off his chest. He took her waist between his large palms and lifted her, throwing her three feet in the air. Catching her again, he pressed her body flush to his, showering her face in kisses, wiping her tears away with his beard, basking in her soft giggles.

"I have no idea what that means, miz azyung." He admitted, pressing his forehead to hers.

"Yes you do." She traced the line where his beard started with her thumbs.

"I have something for you." He released her to search his pockets.

"Have you been looting another troll cave?" she watched as he pulled a small metal bead from one of his pockets.

"No." He was suddenly serious. "I have had this for decades. My mother gave it to me, so I could one day give it to my One." He studied the bead. It was golden, encrusted with a sapphire and a ruby. "It's almost as if she knew..." he showed Ruby the bead. The sapphire was the exact colour of his eyes, the ruby next to it seemed like an amazing coincidence. She watched as the Dwarf took a few strands of her hair from behind her left ear and started braiding. At the end, he clasped the bead firmly in place and tugged lightly at it to test if it wouldn't fall.

"It's beautiful, Thorin." She inspected her braid and its clasp. "Now I feel bad, I have nothing for you, yet you have gifted me twice."

"You are my gift." He traced her cheek. "Though I am a little jealous of Fili and Kili." He admitted. They had happily shown him the trinkets she had given them. "Thank you, for caring for them." He kissed her softly.

"You don't have to thank me." She shook her head. "I am honoured to have been accepted by them, and the company."

"Come, let us get something to eat." Thorin smiled. As they entered the cottage, a round of cheers ensued as the company saw Ruby's hair. Ruby flushed red and smiled shyly as Thorin kissed her hand. The Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf were sitting at the table, smiling widely at them. They sat and ate, making meaningless conversation. Thorin realized how much they had needed a break from this quest. As the day slowly went by, he watched as Dwalin taught Bilbo how to better use a sword, and Ruby was helping Fili accommodate his knives under his clothes. Soon the sun started to set, and after a quick dinner, they decided to sleep early, in hopes of a well rested night, and an early start tomorrow.

They lay in relative silence, Bombur's snoring almost a lullaby to the accustomed ears of the company. Thorin lay comfortably with Ruby's head on his chest. He felt her fiddle with the bead he had given her.

"You're brooding." He tried to keep his deep voice to a whisper. Ruby dropped the bead but stayed quiet. "Ghivashel? What is it?" he steered her so that she lay on him, their bodies keeping each other warm under her quilt. She rested her hands over his chest and played with a stray thread of his shirt.

"My mind is plagued, Thorin." She whispered. "I do not know what I am. I have no way of knowing if I am at the end of my life, or if it is eternal. Thoughts of my death causing yours haunt me, and even though I know I am being selfish, I do not wish to live in this world without you, dii lokaal."

"Do not worry about things that have not yet come to pass." Thorin rubbed her arms and back. "Can you not be joyous that we are together? That we are well? That my family and friends welcome you as one of our own?" Ruby sighed and lay her head down again.

"You're right." She said. "I'm sorry."

"There is nothing to forgive, miz azyung. All is well." He rested his hands on her hips.

"Not all." She said, a glint in her eyes.

"What do you mean?" Thorin was concerned by her words, but that glint eased his mind a little.

"I wish we could be somewhere more private..." her thigh pressed lightly between his legs and he gasped. Smirking, Ruby dipped her head down and kissed the line where is beard started. Shifting lower, she nipped at his neck, her hips undulating over his.

"Stop it, Baraz Kunzek." He stilled her hips, but craned his neck back to give ruby easier access to his skin. "Oh, menu gholush men." He muttered as she nipped and sucked at his pulse point.

With a loud smack she detached herself from his skin.

"Don't say that." Her voice was strained. Thorin lowered his head to look at her concerned expression.

"I did not mean it like that. No, don't cry." He wiped at her cheek. "Please, ghivashel, you know what I meant."

"I do, shir. It's just..." Ruby willed the tears away.

"I know." Thorin cradled her head in his shoulder. After a moment he frowned. "How did you understand that?" he asked.

"I've been having conversations with your company for long enough to pick up a little Khuzdul." She grinned against his neck. "Even a little Iglishmek from Bifur."

"You're amazing." He chuckled.

"I know." Came her smug reply. Thorin nudged her playfully and she giggled softly. Her breath sent shivers over his skin, making him sigh contently. She continued her interrupted ministrations on his neck, her hot tongue tracing lines to his collarbone.

"Ruby..." Thorin warned half-heartedly. He swallowed a groan as she bit his nipple through his shirt. Her fingers ghosted over his waistband, dipping in to stroke lightly at the dark hair underneath. He growled lowly and flipped them over, pulling the large quilt over them in an attempt to muffle their sounds. It was pitch black, so Thorin gladly relied on his touch to find his way around. He roughly shoved his hand down Ruby's pants and circled his middle finger on the pert nub between her folds. "Ah-ah-ah..." he scolded softly as Ruby bucked and mewled. "You wouldn't want to wake everyone, now, would you?" he continued his ministrations, the hard calluses on his hands making the experience far less delicate. He lowered his middle finger and slipped it inside her, her juices coating him up to his knuckle as she breathed heavily. Lowering his head, he kissed her and tasted blood. She was probably trying to keep quiet by biting her lip. "Don't hurt yourself." He muttered against her skin. His reply was a strangled groan as he curled his finger inside her. His thumb flicked against her clit, bringing her over the edge. Thorin sealed his mouth against hers in an effort to keep her quiet as she spasmed and throbbed around his finger. After she relaxed, he removed his hand from Ruby's pants, a shudder running over her body. He felt her hand nudging his trousers down but stopped her.

"What about you?" she asked as her finger trailed his member.

"We have to rest." He said, poking his head out of their makeshift tent and settling down next to her. "I will collect my debt another time." He grinned at her as she sighed and rested her head on his chest again. "Also, I do not fancy risking my company seeing you." He muttered lowly in her hair.

"You're a bit late for that, Thorin." She chuckled as his body went still. "You really think that such a tight-knit group travelling in the wild would have privacy?" she asked. "Most of them have walked in on me bathing as we made camp." Thorin's muscles went rigid. "I've even shared a river with your nephews." She mused at the memory. "Don't worry, they were very respectable." She patted his shoulder as he made to sit up. "It's not like I haven't been granted a few flashes myself."

"Really?" he calmed himself.

"Dwalin's not so bad..." she mused as a low growl came from the chest under her head. "I still prefer you." She giggled as Thorin wrapped his arm around her and hugged her tightly to him.

Translations:

men lananubukhs menu - I love you

zu'u lokaal hi - I love you

miz azyung - my love

ghivashel - treasure of all treasures

dii lokaal - my love

Menu gholush men - You will be the death of me

shir - dear

Iglishmek - sign language