She had no idea how late it was when she woke up again. Lailah had to adapt to the darkness of the room that was only lit a little by the pale light of the moon shining through the window. Dís was still asleep, cuddled against her brother.

Thorin!

Her breath catched as she remembered that he was in the same bed with her. Carefully she cast a glance at him, blushed when she saw he was awake as well. As he was aware of the movement next to him, he turned his head and saw Lailah watching him. He gave her a small smile before he checked if his sister was still asleep.

Slowly he shifted away from Dís and got up. Lailah followed him to the door. Silently they left the room. Once they stepped into the hallway he said, "I'm hungry, how about you?"

"Uhm—me, too. But dinner is definitely over"

He chuckled. "You might have missed it, but I'm the Prince and so I get food whenever I want."

She nodded, still too tired to reply anything. Suddenly he offered his arm to her.

"Care to join me?"

She looked up in surprise. "You invite me to a midnight dinner?"

She could not deny that her heart leaped a little and a strange heat crept up her cheeks.

He grinned at her. "I guess it's already past midnight, but yes, I do invite you to conquer the kitchen with me and have a late night dinner"

He still offered his arm to her and finally she linked hers to it. "Fine, lead the way" she gave him a shy smile and together they left the accommodation floor and headed towards the kitchen of Erebor.

After a silent walk they reached the kitchen which was empty and silent at a time like this.

"I thought it's always busy down here" she said and watched him while he lit some candles to give some light.

"It's late and even the cooks have to rest for a while. Don't worry, I'm able to fill the plates on my own" he replied with a smile and started to fill two plates with the leftovers.

Once he finished preparing their plates he handed her one and led her into the dining hall where they took their seats at the long table. Torches hung at the walls to give some warm light. They sat across each other but before they started to eat, Thorin got up again and excused himself for a minute.

While he was gone, Lailah began to wonder what was happening right now. Did she really have dinner with Thorin? Just the two of them in the middle of the night? She grinned and looked up when he returned with two tankards. He handed her one and sat down again.

She examined the drink and watched him surprised. "Grape Juice?"

He nodded and blushed a little. "I know you can't drink alcohol and you asked the barmaid for grape juice. I thought that might be your favorite drink"

She could not believe he had paid so much attention to her in Dale. She blushed. "Thank you, Thorin. And you're right, this is my favorite drink"

Lailah could see he was relieved and proud at the same time and she bit back a smile.

They started to eat, each of them looking up from time to time when both were certain the other would not look. Thorin could feel a strange warmth building up in his chest, a sudden new feeling that made him nervous. He placed his cutlery down to take a sip from his mead. He forced his hand not to shake and managed it quite well.

He cleared his throat. "Uhm...so, how do you like Erebor so far?"

Lailah had just took a sip from her drink and choked a little. "I—I like it here..." she replied a little uncertain. "Though I haven't seen everything which is quite normal because I'm here for two days now and-" her voice faded as she was aware of his amused smile. She gave him a questioning look. "What?" she asked and tried to sound as neutral as possible.

"I'm just—I just think it's amusing that you can't stop talking once you started."

"I'm sorry-"

"It's alright, Lailah. I said it is amusing, not annoying" he picked a piece of potato from his plate and pushed it into his mouth. She stared at him, uncertain what to reply and so she just kept silent and continued to eat as well.

Silence fell over them for quite a while until they both finished their meal.

"May I ask you something?" he asked and watched her curiously.

"Aye..."

"That night in the forest-"

"I already told you that I'm sorry. I wouldn't have killed you, alright? It was just—"

"Lailah! Let me please ask you just one thing and stop interrupting me before you even know what I was going to say" he said but she could sense a smile in his voice and gestured him to go on.

"Thanks...so, what I was going to ask was: Why did you act like that? Why was it so important for you that you kill the stag? I mean, all in all it's just a game."

She thought about it for a while, sipped at her drink before she replied quietly, "Not for me..."

"Why?"

She looked up at him. "I'm a woman. I am a common girl from the Iron Hills. Am not a princess nor royal at all. I may live with the Lord, live as his foster-daughter and I get all the love and respect I can get from him and my friends back home. And yet I always have the feeling I have to prove myself to them, to earn more respect. Killing that stag on my own would have been such a success for me that I simply couldn't stand that someone else tried to take that opportunity from me. And, to be honest, you've been quite stupid in the forest. I know dwarves are not the best hunters because of their heavy boots, their lack of moving silently...but you could have killed it. You just had to turn your upper body a little, you didn't need to move your feet at all and yet you did. I watched you and it made me angry. Before I could shoot my own arrow the stag was already gone. Well, I just had to—scare you a little. That's it, I had not the intention to kill you...I just wanted you to think I would have done it."

Finally she stopped. He stared at her, confused, shocked but yet there was still some hint of admiration. "I'm certain you don't have to prove yourself to anyone. You're a—you are an interesting girl, Lailah. You're able to make people laugh and everyone I know is so fond of you. Even my grandfather and it's really difficult to get through to him, to his heart and yet you managed to talk to him about his inner feelings. Lailah, you may not be royal but who cares as long as you are—like you are."

She blushed heavily and turned her face away from the light of the candle in front of them. "I never thought that foreign dwarves respect me for what I am"

Thorin didn't know what to say, the only thing that came to his mind was that silly word Dwalin came up with the night before. He couldn't help but chuckle, mentally slapped himself for doing. She looked back at him.

"What's so funny?"

"Well, I just had to think about something Dwalin had said yesterday in his drunken state"

"And what?" she asked curiously, her eyes shone in their bright amber color.

"I am not certain if it's alright to tell you" he mumbled.

She looked at him with puppy eyes. "Please, tell me"

He smiled. "Fine, but don't be angry, alright?"

She nodded confused and gestured him to tell her what Dwalin had said.

"He said you are a nice girl. And—and a—drop dead gorgeous...dwelf" Thorin finally managed to said, unable to even look at her now that he said it out loud.

It was silent for a second, his heart was racing when suddenly she laughed softly. A wave of relief washed over him and he looked back at her. Seeing her laugh filled him with joy and he smiled at her.

"He really said that? A dwelf. Never heard it before, but I like it. It sounds—interesting."

He kept silent. When she stopped laughing she watched him a little uncertain. "And he said I'm gorgeous? That's cute-"

"Yes, they all think you are" he added hastily. He was afraid she might think Dwalin had more interest in her than just friendship. He knew that was not true, at least he hoped so.

"And you?" she asked and regretted it immediately, felt stupid and ashamed for asking such a question.

He fumbled with a napkin, blushed again. "Uhm...what about me?" he tried to buy time to come up with a good answer.

She grinned teasingly. "What do you think? About me?"

He got an attack of sweating and shifted uncomfortably on his seat. "I-I think...I don't think...I mean, of course I think but..."

She laughed. "You don't think but you think?"

He sighed heavily and forced himself to calm down again. "I think you—are a nice girl. Friendly, funny...and yes, you are—quite good looking"

"Quite good looking? Oh, thank you" she replied playfully offended.

"I mean—you look good."

"I got that, Thorin" she said and got up.

"Wait, where are you going?" he jumped from his seat and followed her towards the wooden double-door that was leading outside on the balcony.

"I need some fresh air. Care to join me?" she said, friendly again and he was more than confused. Did he do something wrong or was everything alright? He sighed and entered the balcony with her.

The moon was big and round that night. "Full Moon...it's one of the most amazing things in this world" she breathed and stepped towards the balustrade.

"One? What else is there?" he asked and stepped next to her.

She giggled. "I've never seen them before but my mother once told me stories about the great northern lights. She said it's a big light mostly seen in the northern parts of Middle Earth, they appear in the night and shine in beautiful bright colors, mostly green or pink, or a mix of both. One day I'd like to see those lights."

"Sounds really beautiful" he said quietly and shifted unwittingly a little closer to her. She was aware of it and shivered a little.

"Do you feel cold?" he asked, unaware that it was him who made her shiver like this.

"Uhm—a little" she lied and turned around to walk on, away from him, trying to calm down again. What was happening? She knew him for two days now. How could he have such an effect on her already?

She sighed. "I think I need some more sleep. In my own bed, you know?"

He chuckled. "Alright, I will guide you back to your room"

She refused to link her arm to his and so they walked side by side back through the dining hall, through the throne hall and up towards the rooms. Once they arrived at her room she turned to look at him again.

"Thank you for that wonderful day and night, Thorin." she smiled.

He nodded and returned that smile. "It was truly a wonderful day and a nice dinner. Thank you for your company, Lailah."

They stood uncertain in front of each other. "Uhm—good night, Thorin" she said quietly and turned around but he took her hand, lifted it up to his mouth and placed a soft kiss on the back of it. His beard scratched just a little, was surprisingly soft. The feeling of his lips on her hand sent a sudden sensation through her body and she smiled nervously, blushed more than ever before.

He let go of her hand. "Good night, Lailah"

She entered her room, closed the door and leaned with her back against it. Her eyes were closed and a wide smile appeared on her face. Unaware that on the other side of that door, Thorin did exactly the same. They both shook their heads with a soft chuckle and stepped away from the door. Lailah changed her clothes and slipped under her blanket, Thorin entered his room to do the same.

She giggled quietly and drifted happily into deep sleep.

aaaw yeah, I had so much fun writing that chapter! Maybe I'll be able to upload another one later though I can't promise because I also plan to update my "Dragonwolf" story today :)

Like always – reviews are welcome!