"Alright Boys! I do believe its done." She grinned from ear to ear. Hands placed on her hips with a sigh of accomplishment. Bombur smiled at her as he tasted the soup they just finished. "It's brilliant Lass, I knew it was missing a ladies touch."

She giggled, "I simply added a touch more seasonings, Bombur. Your recipe is just brilliant by ones self."

"Oy, why thank you, Miss Aviel! It was a specialty of mine back home." The oversized dwarf stated with a sense of pride covering his features.

"I bet many of your kin came from afar to visit and have a taste of your stew, Bombur." She smiled at the pleasent thought, looking about the table for a serving spoon.

"Not just his stew Lassie!" Bofur pitched in, as he grabbed enough bowls for everyone and set them beside the pot near Aviel. "His bakery just may have been one of the best in town!"

Her eyes widened, "you have a bakery, Bombur? That's lovely! I'm sure your sweets are as delectable as this stew." She beamed at the thought. Her mother used to take her to dwarfish bakeries back in the Blue Mountains to pick up various breads before they made the long journey back home, though they intended to save a couple for the house, they had always somehow managed to eat them all along the way, as they were so tasteful. And the bakeries left such an impression on the young hobbit that she wanted to work at one herself when she got older, often pretending she did when she played amongst herself with a small tea set her mother had gotten her, or forced Bilbo to play as one of her costumers, much to his disliking.

"Aye less, I often miss it." Bombur sighed with a content smile. Thinking back to the fond memories where they had stayed and built their lives after Erebor. She passed him a sympathetic look as she gave his hand a small squeeze, a token of comfort. He looked at her with a nod and they went back to filling up bowls and calling over the dwarfs, one by one from their tasks.

"We'll get you a good one when we make it back home, Bombur! Don't ya' worry!" Bofur gave him a big grin.

"Mhm! I'm sure it'll be the best in that whole part of middle earth!" She grinned goofly. Making the other two laugh loudly. Earning glances from the company around them, curious as to what was so funny. "You should try my sweets sometime, Miss Aviel."

"Oh, can I?!"

"Of course! You're one of us, after all." He grinned and Bofur nodded. Her eyes widened a moment before she smiled cheesily. "Thank you, Bombur! I'd love to." He nodded, satisfied with her response. The three of them then continuing their work with a smile on their faces.

After several dwarfs had gotten their dinner, she hollered out for her fellow hobbit. "Bilbo! Food is ready!" As she continued to stir the pot so that it wouldn't burn, and she heard the ever familiar voice from behind.

"He's been gone for quite some time now." Bilbo looked worriedly to Aviel as he makes his way to the food, the she-hobbit shared the look with her brother. Already knowing what he was speaking of, as she too, was beginning to become concerned for the gray wizard and how long he was taking to calm down.

"And just what happened to cause such a collected man to get so worked up, moreover?" Bilbo wonders more to himself than to her. She shrugged gently, focusing on her work in front of her. "Perhaps just a disagreement? Should I set out to find him soon? It's going to get dark and his food will become cold." She suggested.

"Who ya' lot talkin' about?" Bofur pipes up beside her in curiosity as he listened to their exchange, continuing to laddle more bits of hearty stew into a bowl from the large pot in front of him, Aviel and Bombur. As they were the assigned cooks for the evening, after Thorin finally found her a task to help out with. Or rather she kept mentioning her excellent cooking skills until he let her help them, though not much help was needed, as she found their food to be quite good already.

"Gandalf." Bilbo said with worry continuing to drip off his tongue.

Bofur chuckles in return, "he's a wizard! He does as he chooses. And Lass, don't take this the wrong way alright? But sundown is really no safe place for a lady, even if she bares a sword." putting down the laddle he grabs another filled bowl from his side. She sighed, she knew at some point someone would use the 'but you're a woman' card. At least they mean well though. "Here, do us a favor; take these to the lads." He points with a motion of his head in the direction of Fili and Kili watching the ponies a bit deeper into the forest. After the confusion of who he was talking about erases from Bilbo's features, he goes to grab a bowl in each hand, but Bofur quickly makes a 'ayyee' sound followed by a tisk. "Not both of them, take this one to the lad Fili." Bilbo gives him an odd look but turns on his heels with a shrug none the less and heads towards the ponies.

"'ere lassie!" Bofur shoves the other practically boiling soup towards her face, giving the girl a surprise to say the least. As she almost spilled the soup that she was scooping into a different bowl for Ori. Sparing the hat bearing dwarf beside her a small glare for almost making her lose some of the precious soup, she turned to the younger dwarf on the other side and gave a small smile along with a full bowl. "Here you are, Ori! Enjoy the stew."

He let out a shy smile and took the almost heaping bowl with his knitted gloves. "Thank you, Miss Aviel."

"Ah just Aviel is fine, Ori." She laughed. His shy and polite personality is quite cute, if she would say so herself, really makes her want to protect him.

Though he seemed hesitant to use informalities, he slowly nodded his head before walking to eat near the fire with the rest of the company who were chuckling loudly over something another dwarf said. she turns back to the man still holding the food up for her to take, a large smile stuck on his features, she definitely felt he was up to something. "What are you on about? Wasn't Bilbo taking those?"

"Aye but I think those lads can really recharge in your company, lassie. Especially a certain dark haired prince, if you will."

Giving him a weird look, not fully grasping the concept of what he meant, but understanding it was something about Kili, she takes the bowl none the less and tosses a small, "If you say so, my friend." Over her shoulder and heads after her brother, trying to remember properly where the horses were moved from the main path. And hoping Bofur remembers to stir the stew, but since Bombur was there, she decided not to worry. And Thorin couldn't get mad at her bringing his nephews stew, right? Her task was basically done, anyhow.

Pushing the thoughts aside as she finally spoted a couple horses, she grins, a mischievous look tugging at her features as she thinks up a way to startle the unknowing lads. They weren't expecting her there, after all. And she'd bask her wits on any form of revenge she can get on the heirs of Durin for all those times the brothers teased her about her hair being messy while they were journeying. Bloody dwarfs and their hair, always making sure its down nice. Where as she didn't even have the wits to remember a bloody hair brush. Much too focused on the Incarnation, incineration, bits. And what she might possibly need to survive this journey, much less the aesthetics.

She grumbled in annoyance, as her free hand combed through a lock of her hair, attempting to tame the wild bits of strawberry blonde. It wasn't very messy, aside from a couple bits here and there. And she knew they only jest, simply doing it to play with her. But if she can get back at them, boy will she try. As she crouched lower to the tall grass, tall at least for her stature, she made her way past a few of the ponies, keeping an eye out for the boys with the soup still steaming in her hands. Nothings better than a good hearty fright to get someone back.

But as she rounds a few trees and makes her way deeper into the small forest area, she finds the boys looking rather troubled. Her eyebrows crinkle at the sight of their worried glances around the area. "Is something wrong?" She mumbles, more so to herself as she stands up to her full height. All thoughts of mischief replaced with curosity as she made her way closer to hear their conversation.

"Shouldn't we tell Thorin?" Bilbo says almost breathlessly. The poor hobbit always got worked up so easily, but he looked quite concerned at the moment. Enough to worry Aviel. Something was definitely wrong.
"No, we don't need to trouble him." Fili said as he looked around for something once more.
"Tell Thorin what?" She stands beside Kili, as he was the closest to where she came from, and they all jumped from the new appearance. She giggled at the reaction, at least she got to play with them a little bit. Pay back, my friends. Payback.

Kili looked at her beside him in surprise, just how did she get so close to him without him noticing her?

She watched with a playful grin as Fili and Bilbo coughed into their hand to hide their embarrassment after being startled but the sudden feeling of eyes on her had brought her to glance up to meet dark chocolate ones, a small smile gracing his lips at their sudden eye contact, she grinned warmly back at the dwarf prince just next to her.

His eyes were really pretty, that she had already noticed back at her and Bilbo's house, guiltily admitting she did catch herself staring at them quite a few times. but as she continued this journey she began to notice the bits of gold that highlighted his dark brown orbs, and how his eyes naturally sparkled a bit with mischief and happiness. that was until however, she saw that there was something else that had his smile wavering a bit. Worry, perhaps? Oh, right. Something happened. A light blush crept to her cheeks as she realized she had been staring and she quickly pulled her eyes from him to study the situation a moment.

"What happened here?" She looked towards the broken trees and back at the boys who are now wincing at the question.

"W-well uh-" Fili trailed off, looking around as if in search for an answer.

A laugh escaped her lips at his surprise. "Did you really not expect me to ask?" She laughed.

"Well you see, we were suppose to be watching the ponies." Kili butted in with a proper explanation. She nodded with a small hum for him to continue. "And we were," he paused yet again, his eyes searching the sky for words to slightly sugarcoat the situation. She giggled and nodded for him to continue. He's cute, so it's okay. W-wait, no, focus Aviel! she blinked the thought away and used quite a bit of strength to focus back onto the story. Just what is it with her today?

Fili then found the words to interrupt his brothers elongated story, or just grew impatient, either one really. "Two of the ponies are missing, and we thought as Bilbo is our official burgler, he would be willing to find out just what it is."

"Ah, well, let's see here," he went around a tree trunk, soup still in hand. As his chest puffed out in pride at them wanting his help. "clearly whatever uprooted these trees had to be big." Aviel rolled her eyes a bit at the obvious, thanks brother, for pointing out that bit of information.

"That's what we were thinking." Fili said her thoughts with a nod, crossing his arms as he let Bilbo ultimately figure it out.

"Very big." Kili nodded in agreement.

"And possibly very dangerous." Aviel shuffled her feet, quietly handing the bowl to Kili.

"Ah, thank you." He whispered, slightly surprised she brought him the food as a smile graced his lips. She returned it with a playful "Anytime, your Majesty." To which both of them laughed quietly, their eyes lingering a bit more than before.

"Wait, over there! I see a light!" Fili's voice rang to their ears, making the two of them look anywhere but the person beside them as a flush riddled their cheeks. Honestly, Aviel, just what are you doing? She huffed inwardly at her odd behavior as she ran to crouch down behind an upturned tree with the others, shoulder to shoulder with Fili on one side and kili on the other. Bilbo to Kili's right.

"Stay down!" Fili mumbled, eyeing the strange light coming from the side of a rock-like mountain.

"What is it?" Bilbo said, slightly frightened, slightly curious.
"Trolls." Kili whispered to the group, just before jumping the log and running closer to the light, leaving his bowl on the uprooted tree as he ran. Bilbo, Fili and Aviel ran after him to get a closer look. Aviel taking notice to her brother running the other way to grab the food bowls then making his way back to the boys. She had to hold back a giggle at the sight.

Suddenly, the ground starting shaking along with every loud bang in the distance. Confused only a moment as Fili shouted "Hide! It's getting closer!" Her eyes widened as adrenaline kicked in her veins, the footsteps were coming quickly!

Looking to the tree just in front of her, Kili had already leaned in position against it. He's eyes met hers and she cursed under her breath, she turned to go behind the small bush beside them to find none other than her dear brother occupying the space. To her right, sure enough Fili was well tucked behind the nearest tree. Her eyes widened as the footsteps were almost right where the blasted thing could see them. Turning on her hills to just bolt it away from the clearing she felt a strong, yet gentle pair of hands grab her wrist and yank her back. A small but echoing 'ouf' sounded throughout the forest as her back hit a hard object. Both of their eyes widened at how surprisingly loud the small sound was in such a quiet area and immediately each put a hand on her mouth, as if to stop the echo.

They held it there as the loud footsteps bounced the dirt below them, until it slowly faded past them. Kili's eyes were on her hand on his the whole time, he didn't know exactly why he felt so drawn to her, they hardly knew each other. And yet, at this very moment, with her so extremely close to him and their hands touching, his heart could not race any faster. Even back at Bag End, with just a glance in her direction he felt the urge to know her more. Her eyes continued to stare at the forest in front of her as she was too focused on the dangers around them. She'd never seen a troll before, let alone fought one. But they sure were intimidating in size.

Feeling its okay to speak now, they both released their hands. "You're not exactly the master of hide and seek, are you?" He whispered, his eyes sparkling with amusement at the memory of her struggling to find a hiding spot in a quick manner. She laughed quietly, sending him a playful glare. "I'll have you know I won twice as a child!" She stuck her tongue out at him in thumph, this time he laughed, his chest sending vibrations against her all the while.

"The trolls got Murtle and Mindy!" Bilbo called out in a panic, earning her attention. Now that makes four ponies missing.

"Over here!" A harsh whisper came from just a bit past where Fili was hiding, even closer to the cave like area next to the mountain. She felt Kili's grip on her loosen just enough to get her attention onto the whole situation at hand. There was no space between the two of them as she was against his chest, one hand of his holding her closer to the tree, or in this case, him, to keep her out of sight and the other that was originally placed over her mouth, hers on top of his, now dangled at his side. She glanced up in surprise only to meet dark brown eyes already staring at her. Her eyebrows furrowed at his thoughtful expression.

A pair of light footsteps then ran past them, likely Bilbo running towards Fili, the gentle sound waking them just enough for Kili to blink a few times and release his grip on her completely. Hurridly averting her gaze onto the dirt below them, she quickly moved away from him and made her way to where the other two hid behind a log, Kili following after her. As they both tried to ignore the butterflies in the pit of their stomach and the warmth tinting their cheeks at the sudden intimacy.

Kili began to believe that he might have liked the feeling of her that close, too much. He suddenly felt relieved and protective of her, as if nothing would happen to her with her near him, that he'd do anything to see fit that she'd be fine. And he felt some form of warmth in his chest, a bubbling feeling of completeness with his arms around her. It confused him greatly, the sudden emotions, but even still he had to will himself to let go of her. Luckily, Bilbo ran past them just as Kili got sight of Aviel's confused expression, it was enough to wake him from his trance.

"I think you should go, you'll be fine! It's a piece of pie really." Fili ushers Bilbo closer to the troll cave as they meet up to the other two. Bilbo nods and heads to where the light came from. Aviels eyes widen a bit at the mere thought of her brother dealing with those things. "He's not going alone, right?" She asked worriedly.
"Of course not, Lass! We're going to go get some help from the others and then head back to help the hobbit." Fili looked at her reassuringly. Kili nodded at the new plan as they started to back up towards the camp. She stood still for a moment, deciding if she should see if Bilbo could handle this well himself, in turn proving himself to the company, or if she should follow her instinct and help her brother instead. The boys looked back at her in confusion. "Aviel? You coming?" Fili asked with his brows furrowed.

"I'll go with Bilbo." She decided, adjusting her hair to be out of the way, in case there will be a fight on her hands.
"You mustn't, Aviel!" Kili said without missing a beat. The worry clear on his face.
"I recken thats not the best idea, lass. If you want to keep an eye out for him just wait here while we grab the others." Fili insisted. She turned to glare at the brothers as they looked one last time in the direction bilbo ran off in. She had known from her talks with Dalana, that dwarf women were rare to come by, only 1 in 3 dwarves were women, and thus, dwarf men tend to be far more protective of women. But she is no damsel in distress. "I respect your nature and I appreciate your kind intentions. But If you believe I would just stay put in these situations, you are mistaken." She huffed before leaping over the log they had hid behind and quietly running towards the small clearing behind a rock hill they had taken the horses to. Unsheathing her two blades from her hips as she ran.

"Aviel!" Kili shouts exasperated, his eyes widened.
"-you've got to admit it Ki, she's one fiesty little lady." Fili chuckled as she absentmindedly spun her blades around in her hands a few times while she ran, before turning a corner and leaving the brothers sight.

"I should help her then." Kili goes to unsheath his sword, but his brothers stops his hand. "She'll be fine for now, she's with her brother after all. Let's go get uncle."

"But-"

"We must hurry, Kili." The blonde dwarf pressed his brother.

Kili's mouth pressed together into a tight line, his brows furrowing in a worry that he probably had yet to even understand the reason for. Slowly, the brown eyed dwarf nodded. "Let us go." Fili said running towards the camp, kili fast on his heels. The sooner they get Thorin, the sooner they can help Aviel and Bilbo.