When they stepped out of her front door Adela was startled by a pair of Royal Guards standing on either side of it.

"Pay them no heed," Thorin instructed. "They are simply a formality."

"You had no guards the night we saw each other in the Upper Quarters," she recalled.

"True, but I wasn't courting anyone at the time," Thorin explained, pleasantly surprised with how observant she was. "Now that I am courting you, there will always be a guard or two. Not that anything bad would befall you when I am near but like I said, they are more for ceremony that anything else."

Adela nodded and she and Thorin walked down the steps that led to the street.

"Where are we going?" She asked as they turned left, the guards a number of paces behind them, almost out of earshot.

"Nowhere in particular. I thought we could just walk." Adela nodded and the pair strolled in silence towards the southern part of the mountain, occasionally looking sideways at one another with shy smiles.

Neither knew what to say right away as this was unfamiliar territory for both. Now that their doubts and confusions about the other's feelings were gone and the tension of uncertainty was lifted both realized that they actually knew very little about one another. They finally had no audience or restrictions and it was almost more difficult to speak freely under such circumstances.

Thorin decided to break the silence first.

"Why did you leave that day in the market?" He asked in a much less forceful manner than the first time he questioned her about the matter. It was perhaps not the best topic with which to formally begin a courtship but Thorin needed to understand what happened between them in the past before he could look to their present and future.

Adela felt the same way and did not hesitate to answer.

"I was looking forward to seeing you that morning but I was also nervous. Rumors had been spreading that we were already courting and I was worried you had heard them and thought I started them."

Thorin frowned at this but continued to listen.

"When you arrived and I saw how you looked at me I decided that my fears were true. You looked angry, so in order to avoid any possible confrontations I found an errand to do then left."

"Why did you think I looked angry?"

"I don't know. Your gaze was so piercing and at the time I could think of no other reason for you to be looking at me in such a way," she explained.

"And now what do you think?"

"I think that...I may have been mistaken," Adela mumbled out the words, not liking the sound of them.

Thorin held back a chuckle.

"Will you not tell me why you had looked at me so?" Adela thought it was time for the prince to share his side.

"I had not heard the rumors about us and so had no intention of confronting you about them that day. I did however come with the purpose of seeking you out."

"Really?" She looked up at him.

He nodded. "I think you may have mistake my determination for anger. I so badly wanted to speak to you, know you better. You had been on my mind for some weeks and I wanted to pursue the matter and see where it would lead."

Adela shook her head in slight astonishment. He had come that day with his purpose being her. She felt so foolish now for the way she had reacted.

"I regretted leaving. Afterwards when I thought about it I felt so foolish and wished I had stayed. I must apologize for making such an assumption about you and your motives," she said sincerely.

Thorin looked down at her for a moment before turning his gaze forward but lowering his head slightly.

"I believe I had some apologizing to do as well. That night in the Upper Quarters...in the courtyard...I acted like a fool. I was selfish and rude," he confessed, and Adela could hear the subdued anguish in his voice. He had acted poorly that night and hurt her feelings but she also assumed the worse of him again.

She stopped walking and he did the same. She unhooked their arms, took his hands in hers and stepped closer to him. She looked up at him with bright eyes and he had an urge to lean down and kiss her, but he sensed that she had something she wanted to say. He also could not kiss her in public where anyone could see; it would not be proper.

Adela wanted to kiss him as well but felt like it was more important to get past their misunderstandings before they did anything else.

"What do you say, prince, to us taking one moment now to forgive each other for our actions in the past then never dwelling on them again?" She asked quietly.

"I think, my lady, that you could not have suggested anything better. And I forgive you."

"And I you." And with that she placed a soft kiss on each of his knuckles, laced her arm back in his and resumed walking. Adela was happy. She had not expected for him to be so forward with everything and it thrilled her that he was being open with her.

Thorin could not hold back the wide smile that overcame his face, happy beyond words at how the courtship was beginning. Having seen her stubbornness and fortitude before he thought that perhaps she would have given him more grief about his actions but he was fortunate that along with her tenacity she also had a level head.

They walked in comfortable silence for a bit and were soon nearing the Upper Quarters. As many dwarves were still sleeping and recovering from the previous day's celebrations not many were out and about, but the few that were could not hide their amazement when they saw the Prince walking with the dwarf he had danced the night away with, accompanied by two guards nonetheless. The formal announcement of the courtship would mostly likely happen later that day, they guessed.

Those who were close enough to the couple bowed to Thorin when they neared him and gave small nods to Adela. The prince acknowledge everyone with a small nod of his own while Adela tightened her grip on his arm whenever they passed somebody. It was all still too new to her and she was focused too much on Thorin still to worry about others. Thorin felt her tension and decided to take her somewhere she could relax. He thought for a moment then had the perfect idea.

He did not tell her his plan but instead took a slight detour instead of continuing towards the Royal Quarters and quickly found the stairs he had been looking for. Adela thought he had pulled her into a stone corner right before she saw the stairs, for they were well concealed behind a wall that blended into the mountain He and Adela climbed them, the guards not far behind. The steps led high and Adela could not make out what was at their top. She was curious then, when they reached the landing which revealed only a simple wooden door with a heavy lock on it.

"What is this place?"

Thorin said nothing and went to pull something out of his pocket. It was a simple silver key and easily slide into the lock. Before opening the door he turned to the guards.

"Stay here. I will call if you are needed," he commanded. The pair nodded stiffly.

Thorin then took her hand in his and opened the door.

Adela was blinded by the sun that shone through and she had to lift her arm up to block it from hitting her face. Thorin did the same as he led her onto the stone balcony and closed the door behind them. They each needed a minute to let their eyes adjust to the light and once they did Adela slowly walked to the stone railing and looked before her in awe.

The sun was still rising in the east and she could see miles and miles covered in its bright light. The sky was blue and clear and the air was light and smelled fresh. Adela's senses were besieged by so much that she jumped when Thorin came up behind her and put his hands on her waist.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he said, his breath ruffling the hair near her near.

"I know, prince." She put her hands over his but continued to look at the view.

"Away with the title. Call me Thorin."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then I will call you 'My lady'."

"Thorin it is then," she said with a smile. Thorin let his mouth fall just above her ear when he placed a gentle kiss.

They stood admiring the land before them for some time, Thorin's grip tightening on Adela the more she relaxed into him.

"This is my first time outside the mountain," Adela declared.

"I had figured as much." He would have been shocked if it wasn't her first venture beyond the stone walls of Erebor. Females rarely ventured outside the mountain and when they did it was due to great need. A smith's daughter had no cause to step outside the gate and only the males of the Royal Family had access to the few balconies that the Lonely Mountain boasted. "I'm glad I could be the first to show you."

At his words Adela turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. Thorin wasted no time in pulling her close and kissing her. He marveled at how natural it felt to have her in his harms. She fit so perfectly within them it was as though she were made for him. Adela let him control the kiss, content to let his tongue caress her mouth, causing a tingling sensation to spread throughout her body. She let out small sighs every so often, a sound that made Thorin's blood burn with desire, desire that he knew he could not yet unleash upon her.

He ended the kiss but held her close, his chin resting on top of her head, her hot cheek pressed against his chest. She could hear his heartbeat slowing down.

"Why me?" She suddenly asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Why me?" She repeated? "Why did you choose me? You could have any other female in Erebor." She elaborated, not lifting her head from its place.

Thorin did not need to think long to find an answer.

"I don't know. I just wanted you," he said lowly. "I have not able to get you out of my mind since the day I met you, even though after our first meeting I found you somewhat irritating." Adela smiled at this. "The more I saw the more I could not stop thinking about you. It was as if you had been carved into my mind and would never leave. There was something pulling me to you that I could not fight against. Eventually I realized I did not want to fight against it which was strange because I knew nothing about you. Does that make sense?"

"Yes it does," she said into his robes as she hugged him closer. Her mother had told her how the courtship with her father was and had explained feeling something very similar to what Thorin had just described. Adela also knew what he was speaking of because she felt the same way towards him. That was why she had been so hurt when she thought he had wanted her for less honorable purposes other than courtship.

Dwarves were a race guided by desire, but that desire did not apply only to gold. A dwarf loves only One during their long lifetime and if they find that someone it is almost impossible for them to ignore the pull they feel towards them, even if they do not know what that pull is right away. Most dwarves never look or find their One because they have no interest in love beyond the one they feel for precious metals and jewels, which is why there are not many courtships or marriages amongst within race. But the few that do extend their love beyond their craft are consumed by it and will never feel the same way about another. That is why most courtship end in marriages and why courtships are so full of feeling and passion right from the start, no matter how little the pair is acquainted with one another. Feelings and instinct often overrule sense and logic when it came to love and because of this, love amongst dwarves was by no means perfect but it was strongest and surest love found in Middle Earth.

Adela knew she did not love Thorin yet for it really was too soon to say so, but the need she felt to be near him promised of the things to come.

Thorin was glad Adela did not laugh at him when he explained his feelings for her. Once he answered her question he had been worried that the intensity of his response might have scared her but when she validated his words all of his worry disappeared. All he wanted to do then was savor the feel of her in his arms and the breeze moving her sweet scent around him. He was certain not every moment during their courtship would be as perfect as this one and that there would be challenges between then, but he was also certain that now that he had her he would never be able to let her go.

Edited 10/25/2014