Kate could hear loud noises outside and supposed the Company was still awake up on the balcony. Lindsey's laugh waved through the air and Kate frowned.

'What on earth are they doing that late in the night?' she thought and left her room to approach the balcony. She found the dwarves while they seemed to have some kind of a midnight-party. They roasted sausages over a fire made by burning the Elvish furniture.

Bofur, seeing Bombur sitting on a bench and eating a large bowl of food, looked at his sausage quite thoughtfully. "Bombur!" he called and as he looked up the sausage came flying towards him. Bombur caught it, but the weight of the sausage was simply too much for the bench and it broke. Bombur shrieked and dropped down to the floor along with all his food. The whole Company laughed uproariously.

"Hey, Kate! Come and join us!" Lindsey called as she spotted her sister leaning against a pillar. She stepped closer and her gaze drifted along the Company. With much relief she saw that Thorin wasn't there and so she lowered down next to Balin.

He shoved her a bit and sent her an amused look.

"What's so funny?" she asked curiously.

"Seemed it was a refreshing training today. For Thorin," he chuckled.

"Uhm—oh, you mean—"

"Well, he was soaking wet. What happened?"

"He said I should not show mercy and so I took advantage of him once he was not paying attention."

Balin chuckled even more. "I suppose he was not amused?"

"No—not really—"

"Did you apologize to him?"

Kate laughed. "No, why should I?"

"Right you are," he patted her back and she smiled uncertainly at him.

"Kate can sing very well!" Lindsey's voice suddenly spoke up and Kate let her gaze drift to her sister.

"What?" she asked because she hadn't quite listened to the conversation.

"Bofur asked if I could sing, but I told him that you have a much more lovely singing voice!" Lindsey replied.

"I don't know if I want to sing right now—or what I should sing—"Kate mumbled.

"Anything is fine for us," Dwalin encouraged her and she tried to come up with a nice song. Her mind was just then distracted as Thorin entered the balcony for he had been curious as well about all those noises. Her gaze met his for a second and he lowered wordlessly between Kili and Dwalin.

"So? Would you sing for us?" Bofur asked and watched Kate. She cleared her throat and Lindsey recognized the song immediately. She smiled as Kate sang:

I've been meaning to tell you
I've got this feeling that won't subside
I look at you and I fantasize
You're mine tonight
Now I've got you in my sights.

With these hungry eyes
One look at you and I can't disguise
I've got hungry eyes
I feel the magic between you and I.

I wanna hold you so hear me out
I wanna show you what love's all about
Darlin' tonight
Now I've got you in my sights.

With these hungry eyes
One look at you and I can't disguise
I've got hungry eyes
I feel the magic between you and I.

I've got hungry eyes
Now I've got you in my sights
with those hungry eyes
Now did I take you by surprise.

Kate fell silent and realized just now, that she had been holding gaze with Thorin through the entire song. A strange, heavy silence lay upon the Company for several moment and they all exchanged curious looks before Kate got up and left the balcony.

"Kate?" Lindsey followed her sister. They reached Kate's room and she turned around.

"Lindsey, please, I don't want to talk now. Go to Fili—have a nice party with them—"

Without a word, Lindsey pulled Kate into a tight embrace and whispered, "I could feel it—"

Kate frowned. "What?"

Lindsey smiled and sang quietly, "I feel the magic between you and I…'

The two sisters looked at each other and Kate sighed heavily.

"Get some rest," Lindsey said and placed a soft kiss on Kate's cheek. The young girl walked back to the balcony while Kate entered her room.

"What's wrong with her?" Kili asked once Lindsey lowered down on Fili's lap. Her gaze drifted to Thorin for a second who tried to ignore her look though for a split second his eyes found hers and it was that short moment Lindsey knew that something happened between him and her sister that night. Finally Thorin got up as well.

"And where are you going now?" Bofur asked amused.

"Catch some sleep. You should do as well," the King grumbled and left.

Kate didn't show up for breakfast on the next morning. Lindsey was highly concerned and gently knocked at her door.

"Who's this?" her sister's voice called and it was as if she was quite exhausted.

"It's me—"

"Come in!"

Lindsey entered the room and watched Kate whirling around the room with the sword.

"Really? You chose this instead of a nice breakfast with us?"

Kate stopped and watched her sister with a quite apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I just—I'm not that hungry and I know that Thorin wants me to disarm him tonight. I didn't really manage to do it yesterday. Well—not in a fair way. So I will continue my training to surprise him later—"

Lindsey chuckled and lowered onto the bed. "And the song? What was that about?"

Kate tried to ignore that question.

"He left soon after you did—"

Kate stopped again. "He did?"

"He seemed to be—distracted somehow. Tell me, what happened at the waterfall last night?"

Kate sighed and dropped onto her back on the bed. "I tried to disarm him and he was so—angry. After the days before I thought that we could get along but somehow he was so—different. Well, I tricked him and he dropped into the river—"

Lindsey laughed. "I suppose the King was not amused."

Kate shook her head. "He was very angry and yelled at me that he would let me get slashed by an Orc next time we're out in the wild. That was the point of no return for me and so I insulted him and called him stubborn and if he's not allowed to have fun and be spontaneous as a King—"

She fell silent and Lindsey lifted an eyebrow. "And then?"

"I wanted to continue but he—he—grabbed my chin and—and he—he kissed me. He was so strong and fierce first but grew so gentle while he deepened the kiss. And as quick as the kiss came the quicker he ended. There was no chance for me to say anything. He simply walked away and told me that we would meet again tonight."

Lindsey started at her sister quite in disbelief. "He kissed you? Out of the blue?"

Kate nodded and avoided Lindsey's gaze.

"Did you like it? I mean—do you—oh, what am I trying to say! Of course, you liked it! I've seen the look in both of your eyes while you sang the song last night. We all could see it."

"There's nothing, Linny."

"We'll see," the young girl chuckled and winked at her sister before she got up and left her alone again.

It was nearly time for her next sparring lesson and she got dressed. She took her sword and left the room. Her heart was racing in her chest while she walked down into the garden. Her gaze drifted to one of the stone benches and could see Fili and Lindsey cuddled up and kissing.

A smile curled her lips and she tried to pass by unnoticed.

As she reached the meadow, he was waiting for her like every night. She gulped and stepped closer. This time he was facing her directly.

"I'm glad you came," he said quietly.

"Well—why shouldn't I? We've been through more embarrassing moments to just stop these lessons because of—"

He raised his hand to silence her. She closed her mouth and saw that he watched her for a few seconds then gestured her to raise the sword. Once she did he immediately charged at her and she blocked his blows.

Their swords clashed in air multiple times. Kate was wondering if Lindsey and Fili could hear them. That was her mistake and once again he disarmed her.

"If your mind is wandering on the battlefield, you'll be dead within seconds," he grumbled and she picked up her sword again.

After another long session of clashing and whirling and circling around each other, Kate finally managed to disarm him.

"Yes!" she cried out happily and sent a triumphant smile at him. Much to her surprise he smiled back.

"Very well done. You've learned quickly," he said and picked up his sword. He approached her slowly and she felt a sudden wave of nervousness wash over her. He stopped a few steps in front of her.

"Turn around—" he commanded and she frowned.

"Why?"

"I'd like to show you a special move—"

She nodded and turned around; her back was facing him now. She could hear that he dropped his sword to the ground and stepped closer to place one hand on her waist. That sudden touch shot a wave of adrenaline through her body. With his other hand he pulled her arm up, so she was holding her sword horizontal to the side.

"And now?" she asked uncertainly and could feel some of his hair-ends tickle her neck.

"Now—," he breathed close into her ear, "You will pay for last night," and with that he lifted her up onto his arms. A surprised scream left her throat and with a loud splash she landed in the warm river.

Once she broke through the surface and caught breath again she could hear that he chuckled. Thorin chuckled about her misery and yet, just like she had told him in the gazebo, the sound of his chuckle made her heart warm up again.

"That was—"

"Unfair?"

She kept silent and crawled closer to the shore. She held her hand out to him and he watched her curiously.

"You could at least help me up," she grumbled playfully.

With a cheeky grin he took her hand but he should have known better. In the next second he landed head first in the river as well. Kate laughed once he broke through the surface again.

"You're such a beast," he grumbled while his hair clung to his face and covered his eyes. She chuckled and swam towards him. With trembling hands she started to pull his hair back and finally one hand rested on his cheek.

"If I'm the best—that would make you the beauty," she whispered with her lips just mere inches away from his.
There was no need for any more words. Their eyes were stuck and finally he closed the gap between them. His lips captured hers in a soft kiss and while her hand drifted to the back of his head he intensified it as he felt her fingers buried into his long, wet locks.

She could feel his tongue gently begging for entrance and with a smile she let him pass. She pressed her body closer against his while their tongues started a lovely dance. His beard softly scratched her chin, but it was a very pleasant feeling. Once they broke the kiss they simply stared at each other quite breathlessly.

"What's just happening?" he whispered and leaned his forehead against hers. She kept silent and simply enjoyed his warm body so close against hers while his hands rested on her lower back.

Suddenly he sang quietly, "It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside…"

She frowned and looked into his eyes again. "How do you know about that song?"

He smiled cheekily and tugged a strand of her wet hair behind her ear. "I've listened to you as you sang it for Lindsey in Bag End. And now I thought it just perfectly describes this whole situation. Kate, I don't know what is happening here. I just don't want to create a mess."

"You're not creating a mess, Thorin. I don't know what's happening as well but—I'm just so happy right now. You infuriate me, you annoy me, you make my heart warm up with each of your chuckles, and then again you make my blood boil. All those feelings confuse me."

"They confuse me as well," he whispered. They held gaze once more until she leaned in closer to him in hope he would response and kiss her back. And he did with a passion she never thought he had.

He lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist while he carried her to the shore and lowered her down on the soft grass. She didn't let him go and caused him to lie upon her. The water dripped from his hair down on her face and he began to kiss the drops away. One drop ran down the side of her neck and he traced it with his lips. She gasped as his beard softly tickled her neck, his lips started to kiss and nibble at her very sensitive spot.

Her hand ran down along his back and slipped under his tunic. She could feel every muscle of his body moving while he kissed her neck and collarbone. She cupped his face and pulled him up to place another tender kiss on his lips.

"I think it came from down there," Kili's voice suddenly waved through the air and they jumped away from each other as Kili and Dwalin walked down along the path towards them.

Thorin tried to steady his breath and Kate sent an uncertain smile at the two dwarves.

"Is everything alright?" Kili asked concerned.

"Of course, what are you doing here?" Kate asked a bit disappointed.

"We heard a scream and thought maybe you're injured. I mean—sparring with Thorin can be tough," Dwalin chuckled.

"Why are the two of you wet?" Kili suddenly asked and caused Thorin and Kate to blush a bit.

"I—I tripped and fell into the river. And I—I—I tried to grab his arm to prevent from falling, but we both dropped into the river," Kate explained.

Dwalin and Kili exchanged an amused look.

"Fine, but maybe you should dry yourselves up before you catch a cold," Kili said and chuckled and he left with Dwalin right behind him.

Thorin picked up the swords and approached Kate again. "They're right. We should stop for today."

She nodded slowly.

"Come on, I'll accompany you back to your room," he offered and together they walked back through the garden and pretended not to see the young couple still hugging and kissing.

Once they arrived at her room, he took her hand and placed a soft kiss on top of it.

"Good night, Kate."

"Good night, Thorin."

He turned to leave and entered his room at the end of the hallway. Kate stepped into her own room.

Both dropped onto their beds with warm smiles on their faces.

Now it wouldn't just be sparring sessions anymore.

They'd have more like sparring dates.