Chapter 12: Sleep Paralysis

Life is wonderful. No, for real, I am not being sarcastic. Life is indeed fantastic! It has been two days since the incident of the lake, and let me tell you things have been doing great. Ever since then, I have been pushing myself to be a bit more productive and get less on Thorin´s nerves. Just yesterday I made all the meals by myself, almost without the dwarves´ king telling me to. I volunteer in half the duties Thorin ordered yesterday, and even check out the area during nighttime with Fili and Kili!

Yep, I was a renewed, self-sufficient, strong, positive, independent and less whining woman. Complaining days were over for me.

"Ugh! My feet are killing me! Are we there yet?"-I said to my grizzly friend, and just anybody who was willing listened to me. We had been walking all morning.

Well I never said I was perfect.

"I thought you were going to complain less kid"-He said still walking.

"And I thought you were going to be a great side-kick and support, when we came in here…"- I spat irked.

"Oh come on Kid, are you still angry for this morning?-Valentino let out a playful laugh at my expression. Oh did I mention that I possibly/maybe could have had a romantic moment with Kili? And that this mass of fat and fur ruined it just for the fun of it?

$Flashback$

So it was morning and everybody was asleep, except for me, because you know, my new strong and independent woman facet allowed me to wake up early and it had nothing to do with the fact I had to go to the restroom/bushes and I couldn´t go back to sleep again thanks to most of the dwarves snores… No of course not. Anyway I decided to go around exploring, since it was at least two hours more before the company woke up.

I walked around for a while until I was at least some yards away from them. I sat down under a tree´s shadow and decided to have a moment of peace. The breeze smelled delicious, fresh and pine stained, the birds were already singing their music to the upcoming breaking dawn. It was still a bit dark, but it was only a matter of time before the pink and orange colors tinted the sky. It was so soothing, so relaxing it almost made want to sleep…no wait… I have to go back to the camping…eh...it´ too far away from…here…I will go later…only… 5 minutes….only….

And that was the last thing I remembered, before slipping into my siesta.

OOOOOO

I was woken up by a strange sensation, something was off. Instantly I opened my eyes and found myself face to face to a hideous looking black wolf. It growl at me, allowing me to meet its yellowish and sharp fangs, I look from its fiery eyes to meet with his rider´s ones. It was an orc, a nasty and dire looking orc.

My heart instantly began to violently pulse. How? This couldn´t be possible. I couldn´t had possibly walk that far from the camping. Wait, does that mean the day the orcs attacked for the first time, is today? Holy Shit! I was not prepare for this! Nobody is around what am I suppose to do!?

The orc smiled sinisterly at me and approached with his wolf. The animal started barking rabidly at me, rapidly approaching at my sitting figure. Immediately I prepared to flee from the scene, but when I tried to move, my hands did not responded. I panicked, I wasn´t availed to move anything, neither my legs nor my arms, not even my head. I was paralyze and trapped on my own body. But why? I didn´t have a reason to be like this! I gulped, the orc had noticed my disability, he gave a sick smile to prove it. The orc hit the back of the beast, ordering it to finish me.

My only option was screaming, but when I tried, my vocal cords were sore and useless. Nothing came from my mouth, nothing but a pathetic whisper that not even the sharpest ear could listen to. It was my end.

The beast run to me until it was just a few inches from my face. A heavy feeling was felt on my chest; I knew I was going to die. I could smell the decay in it´s mouth, decay I was going to be soon part of. It growl at me and I closed my eyes, then his sharps fangs pierce my face…

"AAAAAAGH!"

"Lulla what is the matter!? Calm down it's me, Kili!"

"Kili?"

I came back, somehow, the wolf and the orc weren´t anymore in front of me, instead, Kili was in my face looking at me with worried eyes. No wait what?! Holy shit!

"Ah!"-I screamed again, making Kili back off, startled by my sudden outburst. This allowed me to stepped aside, and realize I was availed to move again. I understood it now; I was having a bloody sleep paralysis. Ugh, some time since I had one of those.

I looked at the sky, the sun had started to arise now, I had probably been asleep about half hour.

"Hey are you alright?"-Kili asked, standing up and making me turn my attention back to him.

"Yeah I was just having a really horrible dream"- I scratched the back of my neck, a bit embarrassed.

"What was it?"- Kili said stepping closer, concern still on his voice.

"Some wolves eating me alive…I´m okay now don´t worry"- I assure him.

"Sure?"-He asked once more looking carefully at me.

"Yes, what were you doing here anyway?"-I said rapidly changing the subject.-"Please don´t tell me the company has already start leaving?"-I said in horror."They will kill me for not having the breakfast ready!"-Kili chuckled at my face dramatic face.

"Oh no, no don´t worry. They are still asleep"-He said-"I just woke up early and didn´t saw you around, so I deicide to see if you weren´t in trouble or something"

"Aww you came to my rescue, that's so sweet"- I teased.

"Yes, you are definitely a walking danger"-He chuckled.-"You could have probably set the forest on fire"

"Haha"-I faked laugh.-"Really funny"

Says the guy I had to chase toward 7 realms while he sleepwalked

"Well they are probably going to wake up soon, better start the breakfast. Want to join me?"- I invited, hoping I could have some alone time with Kili for once.

"Of course"-He accepted, and my inner fangirl almost let me let out a squeal of delight.

Thanks for the opportunity universe!

OOOOOO

I was doing the breakfast along with Kili, well Kili was just keeping me company and we were actually having a nice time. We were chatting, making jokes, and even start tease each other, and I am proud to tell I just burn my fingers twice, for staring at the handsome dwarf. Yep progress is possible.

"So you never had dream paralysis before?"- I asked curiously at him.

"No, I haven´t, but Fili once had one when we were children"-He said staring at the space on remembrance.

"Oh really?"-I asked, getting interest into knowing a bit more of his and Fili´s childhood.

"Yes, we were sleeping together…"

Oh there goes another burned finger.

Damn it Kili you can´t just tell me those kind of things when I am cooking! My imagination is really wild you know? Keep it up and you might as well make me set my whole hand on fire.

"And one night I woke up in the middle of the night, to find him by my side shaking violently he looked completely frightened and I didn´t knew what to do, I was scared I had no idea what was going on with my brother. I tried to speak at him but he didn't respond or move he just kept staring at the ceiling. I though he was going under a spell or something so I just screamed for uncle Thorin. He immediately came to our room, and by the time he came back FIli had woken up. He told us he thought a goblin was going to take him, and that he couldn´t move. Later that night our uncle told us what dream paralysis was, and he stayed on our room until we sleep again… we were really small.

"Aww"-I said and he seemed a bit embarrassed for my fangirl sounds.-"that´s so cute"

God the fanart I could be drawing right now.

"Do you have brothers or sisters?"-He turned to look at me.

"Umm well, I was only child for a long time, but I do have one, a small little guy of six"

"Oh really?"-Kili said as he raised his eyebrow. -"You never mentioned him before, what´s his name?"

Cuuuuuuuurse me! Now I have to invent something….

"Cato…"-I struggled.

Where have I heard that name before?

"Cato?"-Kili sounded like he haven´t heard that named before, which he probably not. But hey, it was either that or Toboe.

"Yep, he likes constructing things"-I said, before he could questioned my family´s choice of names.

Lego things…

"Does he like swords?"-He asked, curiously.

Awww Kili do you like children? Because I can make you some…What the hell is going on with my head!?

"Yes he does, and he likes to practice with sticks and actually hit me with it when I am trying to read…"

Fanfiction

Kili chuckled a bit.

"What do you like to read?"- He said, his eyes were looking directly at mine, I could tell he was genuinely interest.

"Stories about adventures"

Stories about you falling for me… and possibly every single fictional character I have had fall for.

"Is that the reason why you joined?"-He asked

"Partly yeah…I wanted to have one of my own"-"What about you? Why did you joined?"

"To help my people and to have an adventure"-He said simply, his chocolate yes sparkling in excitement.

"Cheers for our adventurous inner child"-I said raising my water cup and start drinking the liquid. When I retired the cup from my face, I catch Kili looking at me strangely.

"What?"-I said a bit startled.

"No nothing"-Kili shrugged and turned to look at the breakfast.-"It´s just that you have a really peculiar way of drinking"-He said now looking back to me,

Peculiar way? What does that mean?

"How do I drink it?"-I asked interest in knowing how the hell I looked like when I drink.

"You swallow big amounts of water with each gulp"-He pointed and slightly touched my throat with his index finger, I could feel my cheeks already heat up.-"You are a fast drinker".- I turned to look at him and he retired his arm, slowly putting it back to his side next to me. He gave me a smile."I would be really interest in watching you on a drinking contest, you swallow fast"

"Oh hehehe"- I laughed knowing it was true and also to shrug my tension."I know, well I am not really fond to alcohol so I don´t think that could happen"

"Oh you are not?"

"No, I find their taste to my tongue"

"That´s because you haven´t taste a good one"

"Oh really?"- I said.

"Yes my dear Lulla I am afraid you haven´t yet found the right liquor, they are a lot good ones out there and I will one day with pleasure introduce you to them"

"Well that´s really kind of you Kili!"-I said jokingly.-"Thanks for trying to save me from my ignorance!"-I said sarcastically

"What kind of person would I be if I didn´t save ladies in distress"

"Hey I am not a lady in distress!"- I accused taking my spatula from the still cooking breakfast and using it to smack Kili in the shoulder. He flinched a bit and laughed at my offended attitude.

"Are you sure? You seem to find trouble easily"-He teased.

"But you haven´t had to save me!"

Fuck you Kili is anyone has been a damsel in distress in here is you!

"In fact it is me the one who saved you the other night when you were walking around the forest!"- I said as matter of fact, and proud I have possibly got a point.

"The night you strip me from my shirt?"- He teased and chuckled at my jaw drop.

"I already told you it was you who did that!"

"I don´t recall doing such thing"

"Because you were asleep you idiot!"- I responded.

"Well Lulla is the first time you refer at me with such words, I am kind of hurt"-He faked as he touched his heart dramatically.

"And it won´t be the only thing I heart if you continue this"-I threatened and he chuckled as he raised his hands in surrender.

"Alright, I won´t mess with you anymore mighty Lulla"-He said as I returned to my sit.-"But to be fair I did kind of save you once, I had to bandage your own caused injures".-He said recalling the day I tried to depilate a la macho man. "By the way how is your leg?"-Kili said a touched the side of my thigh, instinctively I moved it away.

"It's alright thanks"- I said and he looked at me curiously.

What kind of mood was this?

Starting to feel a bit uneasy, I stand up and started to put the now cooked breakfast on each of the men´s ´plates. However I could see from the corner of my eye Kili was looking at me…

No for real what kind of mood is this…he is looking way too much at me…could it be that...

"Lulla?"-He said and stood up, gathering some plates and starting to help me. God he is so handsome.

"Can I ask you something?"-He asked calmly

"Sure"-I asked a bit unsure

He looked straight at me with his dreamy brown eyes, he look curious and yet a spark of seriousness, I wanted to look away. The only thing separating us, was the empty plate I was holding in my hands. Ugh Kili is not fair, your face is too handsome to look away.

No really now, I am not kidding, what kind of mood was this? He is looking too much at me…Could it be….was t this actually happening? Did I entered the twilight zone, was this sleep paralysis? No it couldn´t be, Kili didn´t thought of me like…

"Have you ever-"

But before I could even know both of as were separated by a 450kg force that passed between us.

"Oh look you made breakfast early"-The person I was going to hate most for the rest of the day said to me. He looked at breakfast on the fire and then to the now separated Kili and furious me. He smiled sheepishly.

"What?"-He asked.-"I am not going to look"

I turned to look at Kili, he was about to say something, but then the voices of the company started rising. They had obviously woken up.

"Kili?"-Thorin´s voiced was heard closed.

"I better leave now, see you on breakfast Lulla"-He gave me a smile before leaving.

And as easy as that my magic moment was gone, far gone, forever. I had one chance, just one chance and it had to be killed by..

"You know the mustard actually improves the taste"

"YOU!"- I spat before throwing myself at the fur mass and start a useless quarrel.

Oh joy

$End of flashback$

"You really are the person I hate the most"-I state to my bear.

"I thought that was Thorin"-

"No, I have develop a strange empathy/possible affection for him"-I said crossed arms; Tino turned around and gave me a serious look.

"What? You like him too? Kid I think is not morally correct to mess with the uncle and the nephew…"

"Woah! Who talk about that, you perverted piece of"-I had to lower my voice, since the walking group was staring to glanced at us.-"Nobody said that, and don´t try to change the subject, I am still mad at you"

"Oh please, kid, I was making you a favor"-He scoffed.

"Favor? That was the most cockblo-"-Once again, I had to lower my voice, since now Kili and Fili were both glancing back at me. I was walking at the end of the group, about a few feet behind Gandalf and Bilbo."You ruined my moment"

"Like you did it with Becca and me once"-Valentino said and turned to look at his mate, who just smiled sheepishly at me.

"That´s different, she is your mate, you guys can do whatever you want since is mutual. But my moment with Kili was like a one-shot opportunity, it was just the magic of the moment and its never going to repeat, our relationship is as platonic as that…"

"Look at the bright side kid, it will never work, he is a dwarf and you a human, you are not even the same age, how old is he anyway? Don´t they age slower than humans?"

"No need to bring that up! I am not even sure!"

He is right to some extended, but it was not like I was going to be here forever right? RIGHT?

"Well just look at it like a good favor from the good old me, kid"

"Kid, Kid, Kid! Could you please stop calling me that? I am 18 years old remember?!"

"That acts like 8 years old most of the time"-He stated and I heard Becca snickered."So nope you are still a kid to me"

"At least call me by name!"

"Lulla?"

"No! I am talking about my real name!"

"Oh! You mean…"

"Lulla?"-Gandalf said as he walked to me-

"Yes?"- I asked and decided to instead, walk to him. He gave me a gentle smile

"I don´t mean to interrupt your lovely conversation with your pet, but the gentleman in here are getting a bit irritated, with the level of voice on your bear´s growl, so could you please tell him to speak a bit lower- I looked from him to the group, some of them did looked annoyed, not that I could blame them, since pretty much all they could hear from Tino were growls.

"Oh alright, no problem"-I said and smiled at Gandalf who just smiled back.

"Thanks Lulla"-He said and returned to the company, while I returned to Tino and Becca.

"You heard him, shut the hell up…"-I said dryly

"You are being really rude to me"-He faked offended.

"Good, you deserve it! You aren´t going to be so easily forgiven, in fact I am not talking to you for the rest of the day!"

"So mature for an 18 year old, fine I have Becca to keep me company"-He said glancing at his mate.

"Good cause I have good old Bilbo!"- I said glancing at the Hobbit.

"Bye then"-He said shaking his paw on a dismissing manner.

"Sayonara"- I saluted and gave a last smirked before I start to joined Bilbo´s side

He let about a short chuckled. Indeed, we were two mature master minds.

"Yo Bilbs! What are you doing?"

OOOOO

Of course by dinner time I had completely forgiven the bear…for the most part, but enough to talk again. I made a meal for everyone and since I still got some of my "special" "forestry" condiments, everyone enjoyed them delightfully. Yep I was the queen of the kitchen; in fact these dwarves would be nothing without me. I was practically the boss in here.

"Human what is taking you so long?!"- Thorin asked from the other side of the forest.

After Thorin of course…

"I am on it"- I said in a voice that most likely sound like 50s housewife. I really felt like 50s housewife… well at least I didn´t have cloth to wash. Valentino chuckled at my irritated expression.

I was cooking a few yards away, because you know… I like privacy when cooking and I also didn´t want them to question: What was that strange yellow and red liquid I was pouring on their food?

"What are you laughing at"-I said to the bear.-"Aren´t you suppose to be with your girlfriend?"

"She went for food"- He said as he laid down in the floor.

"Why don´t you eat from mine?"-I asked half offended.

"Because the savages on the other side will eat it all"- He rolled his eyes, and rolled to laid now with his stomach up.

"Hey! I always save you some!"- I defended

"Its not enough!"-He protested, and returned to laid on his stomach.

"And that was the reason you decided to sneak out and buy fast food on our world?"

"For the most part"-He stated, and started to stretch his pats.-"I rolled my eyes and continued preparing the stew. It wasn´t until I looked back at Tino that I noticed the absence of a certain device.

I let out a loud gasp and dropped my mouth, making the grizzly jump in surprise.

"What? What is it?!"-He asked frantically.

"The watch! What happened? Why don´t you have it on your wrist?!"-I pointed accusingly with my spoon.

"Oh!"-He said.-"God Kid, you are so scandalous! Calm down, the squirrel has the watch"

"Traitor?"- I asked half skeptically and half worry.

"Yes Traitor has the watch"- He assured.

"Why?!"- I asked and suddenly the reddish squirrel came from a tree hole, with indeed the device on his mouth.

"Because you broke it when you tried to snatch it away from me, and since now it is loose around the wrist, the rodent likes to take it off when I am around"-He said pointing at the squirrel.

I look at him incredulously.

"And you are not worry because…"- I stated, waiting for his uncaring answer.

"Because he have been doing it all day, I trust him, and he knows it's important"

"He knows? How do you?-I started but Tino cut me off with a bored expression.

"I am a bear remember? I understand other species. Can we move on with this?!"

"Of course not! What if he looses it! No I am going to take care of it right now!"- I started walking towards the grizzly, all my intentions to take away the watch and put the only possible way of going back home, safe. But of course the bear saw this and immediately raised his hands and took the wrist away from the squirrel.

"Wow, hold on, strong independent kid, between you and the squirrel I rather have it back"

"Why?"

"You loose everything"-He rolled his eyes and started putting on his watch.

"If you don´t give me that watch now I swear I…."

"Human, if you don´t bring the dinner now, you will make nocturne watch today!"- I heard Thorin boomed from the other side.

"I AM GOING DAMN IT!"- I turned to look at Tino but he was now far way from me,

"Well kid looks like the males need your services and it looks like is time for me to pick up Becca, so see you later"

"We are not done yet Grizzly"- I threatened, the spoon helping me to give a menacingly effect.

"Lulla, we are starving"-I heard Fili said from the other side, and also a few steps coming towards here.

"It looks like we are"-He gave me a smirked "Bye kid"-And with that he teleported to God knows where, leaving me alone with the stew…. Oh Holy shit the stew!

And as quick as I could I went and turned off the fire.

OOOOO

"So you had a dream paralysis today?"-Bilbo asked curiously as we were all sitting around the fire and eating our delicious stew.

"Yep indeed"- I said and took another slurp from my stew. God, I am an amazing cooker.

"That must have been scary!"-Bofur said- "What did you dreamt?"

"A wolf eating me…"- I said."Not a pretty memory"-I said, shuddering a bit.

"Ugh! I had one of those once too! Awful experience"-Dori commented

"What was it?" – I asked curiously.

"I dreamed a deteriorate creature was on my chest, it look awful, skin was falling from his face and his mouth smelled like decay, I couldn´t move nor scream and this thing just kept screeching at me!

Eventually the conversation subjects escalated to weird dreams and let me tell you this people had the strangest dreams ever! Bombur admitted he once dreamt he was a woman and was married to an elf. It took us some minutes to finally stop laughing

"Lulla what has been yours?"-Bilbo asked from my left side.

Slash, Slash, Slash, taking over the world with frogs, Kili and I having a sexy time…

"Well I once dreamed about you"-I said thoughtfully.

"Oh really?"-He said, I could see he got a bit comfortable, probably thinking I had another type of dream about him, and he wasn´t the only one the dwarves were looking weirdly at me too.

"Yeah you were wearing a corsette and singing on a pub, you had a pretty voice"- I gave a smirk and listen to the laughs from the group. Bilbo had the most hilarious expression.

"So Kili what is your weirdest dream yet?"- Bofur asked to the handsome dwarf a few dwarves away from me.

"Well, you remember the time I sleepwalked?"-He said looking at all the group. I took another sip from my drink.

"Oh the time we found Lulla taking off your shirt while you sleep"- Fili said teasingly, and made me spitted my drink, the dwarves let out loud laughs.

"That one!"-Kili chuckled

"How could we forget"-Thorin joined in my embarrassing session.

"I already told you it wasn´t like that!"-I protested, but it only made the males laugh harder.

"Well I was dreamed the strangest things I ever saw, I was on a fighting arena, and there was this man that spat fire from his mouth, he tried to killed me, then I was at strange room, where everyone was dressing on strange clothing, and suddenly a lot of ladies were over me calling me some name… I think it was Aiden Turner…"

To that point I had already start to chock on my drink, but nobody was putting attention since they were busy listening to Kili.

"The strangest part was when I was falling into a volcano. While I was falling two hobbits were having some sort of fight -"

Whoa this could go wrong!- thought as soon as I looked at Gandalf´s perked up attention.-"I got to do something…."

"It was over a ri-"

"WATCH OUT!-I screamed as soon as the hot water started to fall from the cauldron and angry and surprise shouts were thrown to me.

"What on earth!"

"Lulla!"

"Human!"

OOOOOOO

Obnoxious POV

So basically Lulla threw the stew cauldron off, pretending she had tripped over it. When they asked why I did such thing she argument that' she thought she had seen a snake and she was just trying to get rid of it. It only took about 7 minutes of Thorin screaming at her and other 8 of Gandalf lecturing, before everything went back to normal. Luckily no one got burned with the water, and everyone was too tired to pick back to the subject, so Kili never got the opportunity to finish his dream. Yep, the human was proud of herself.

Everything was okay now, they had already shrugged off the event, and everybody was just preparing to sleep. Thorin was going to make his usual nocturnal patrol, and Lulla being the new productive, strong independent woman decided to help, but since she was scared of Thorin still being pissed at her, the human decided to join the good old Kili instead.

"Hey I think I will join you two tonight"- She said stepping between the two brothers and then glancing at Kili.

"Why? Will you try to seduce my brother, Miss Lulla?"-Fili teased, the human stepped aside and look at them. Thorin had stopped on his tracks and turned around, interest on the answer.

"Oh Fili please" She started.-"Your brother isn´t that lucky"-Lulla said and pinched the brown haired dwarf´s cheek, before heading off to the area. Kili touched his cheek and glanced at his brother, who did the same, they shared a look, before both finally shrugging and end up following the human. Thorin smiled and let out a small chuckled as he continued on his way, in the other side. The human was indeed interesting.

During the nocturne patrol, Lulla attempted to be productive and actually tried to look for something suspicious, but from there to the way back to the camping, she just kept joking with the brothers while she uselessly attempted to untie the new developed dreadlocks on her now not so smoothly hair. Life was wonderful for young Lulla… for now of course.

OOOOOOO

A/N: There goes today´s chapter! I hope you like it! Next Chapter will be up soon, and for real start to follow the story line again. I know I said this was going to do it, but I just had to do this chapter. Anyway I hope you all have a great week, see ya next time! :D