I LIIIIIIIIIIVE! *Impersonates Mushu* Hahaha, hey lovlies, how are ya'll durin? (get it? Get it?! I try.) I know it's been a while, but hear me out! This chapter is the longest by far- it took me nearly a week to write (during classes), and then I had to go back and revise it like 957,098,345 times (also during classes. I'm not even sorry). I wanted it to be perfect, because if one little detail is missed, the story won't make sense in future chapters. And don't even GET ME STARTED on dat elvish. It's so annoying to translate :P Aaanyways, did anyone watch the Final Four? Any basketball fans out there? Those freakin' games had me staring at the tv like this 8O. It. Was. Ridiculous. I couldn't even do my homework. Then yesterday, my physics teacher brought up The Hobbit, and I went off. Like seriously, I know everything about that movie. I've even watched it so many times I can now quote any line (anyone with me there?). Alllright, I'll stop rambling now, back to watching Naruto!

Please enjoy! :P

LandOfTheLivingSkys - DON'T FEEL BAD! I rarely review (I'm trying harder now, hehe ^_^), even my most favorite stories. But thank you for doing so, I'm glad you are enjoying it :D

angelrider13 - No, no it's not, 'cause even I wanted to punch him in the face (or gut, or...), and I'm the writer! Haha just imagining you beating up Thorin is making me laugh (and feel better :P). Glad you liked the adorableness!

creepyLOTRfangirl55 (I'll have you know I snort into my drink every damn time I read your username) - GRL, SO. DID. I.I was, like, fanning myself and couldn't even calm down enough to finish my dinner. Omg, I srsly can't wait for the next movie (or until the next dvd comes out with deleted scenes... and maybe bloopers?). *Gasps* what if there's a deleted scene where they show Fíli and Kíli almost drowning, like in the book? My precious babies! 8o *grabby hands*

LilaPanthera - *winces* Maaaybe not as quick as you would have liked, but it's here at last! Lmao Fíli! That's the type of crap I would pull with my sister, haha, only it wouldn't be as funny -_- Yeah, the separation idea sprang on me during school, so I spent the majority of my Euro history class writing the chapter instead of taking notes... Worth it. I promise, more chapters like this are definitely coming, they are so fun to write!

Angel of the Night Watchers - Your welcome! And yeah he does, I'm surprised Kíli's head hasn't exploded yet (that wouldn't be good o_O)

Magdalenara - M-Magnificence?! *puffs out chest* Well, if you insist... The whole "One" idea I got while reading some fanfictions on AO3. I liked it so much I decided to incorporate it into this story (plus it fits very well with everything I have planned). Yes, lovable, huggable Thorin (pfft) really is a lego in the heel. I love Dwalin! I've always felt that under that scary, rugged exterior is the biggest teddy bear of them all (can you picture him as a babysitter to dwarfling! Fíli/Kíli? Cause I can!). I'm sorry about your laptop! If it makes a difference, when I was rereading the chapter before posting it, I laughed so hard I spit my smoothie all over my laptop... My precious smoothie *cough* er, I mean laptop...

RascalLil'Pixie - Thanks dude! Your review made my day 10 X's better, which was truly needed, especially since it was a day full of essays and exams...

laurenandalexandria - Your emotions must have been so confused! Like, what's wrong with this girl?! Haha I'm glad you are enjoying the story :)

Dalonega Noquisi - Bahaha that he is :P

Ninfalis - YAY! I'm glad you do :D

Daybreak95 - Cheeky! Kíli for the win! Who knows, maybe Kíli will disown him, it's a myyystery...

hisdeadpansy - Thanks! Hope you enjoy :)

Chapter Twelve

An Alternate Perception

Try as she might, Gwyn could not recognize the person staring back at her. It mattered not that she turned her head every which way, squinting in an effort to distinguish any feature- anything, anything at all. The woman was beautiful, with long, pale blond hair that framed her face in luscious waves, falling in gleaming tendrils down her back and coming to rest just above her hips. Her pursed lips were slightly plump and glossy- perfectly shaped. Gwyn let her eyes trail over cheeks the color of a newly blossomed rose, the angular cheekbones accenting the stranger's features, causing them to look both beautiful and primeval, and altogether regal. Letting her gaze trail up the foreign face- past the shapely chin, the straight nose, the perfectly plucked eyebrows- to the eyes. Intensely turquoise in pigment; the kind of irises that would both pierce and spellbind harmoniously, that seemed to be able to look deep into a soul and read it like a book. Her eyes. Her face. Gwyn pulled back from the delicate, intricately carved handheld mirror that Athae held up for her, a gasp falling softly from her lips. Hesitantly she touched her cheek. Even before, back in her village, when she had caught a glimpse of herself in the nearby lake, or in one of her more well-to-do friend's hand-mirrors... I've never looked so... celestial before.

"Mellonamin?" Melui called hesitantly, causing Gwyn to snap from her reverie with a start. Blinking, Gwyn fought down a blush of embarrassment upon seeing the three elves staring quizzically at her, Athae frowning from Gwyn to the hand-mirror.

Clearing her throat in the awkward silence, Gwyn gathered up the skirts of the dress Hilneth had graciously lent her. "Should we go, then?" She asked, before exiting her temporary room hurriedly. Not until she was out in the hallway, alone, did Gwyn wince at her own stupidity. She had left before the elves had even time to reply, and she wasn't in the slightest certain of where dinner was taking place. As if complaining, her stomach rumbled loudly, causing Gwyn to wrap her arms around herself self consciously. Behind her, one of the elves laughed, a high, trilling sound. All so suddenly they were surrounding Gwyn once more, smoothing down wrinkles in her skirt, adjusting the simple satin belt than rested around her waist, fixing her hair just so. Gwyn humphed internally, wanting to bat them all away from their nitpicking. But something told her to stay her hand, and as the entourage began to make their way down the corridor, Gwyn couldn't help but roll her eyes. She did not enjoy this constant attention, it didn't suit her. Years of working on her family's farm, hunting, chopping firewood, while at the same time learning all the things a young woman should know without the help of a mother, had hardened her, made her vastly more independent than even some of the young men of her village.

"Oh Gwyn, you look so lovely now that you've scrubbed yourself of your travels." Raweru sighed, flitting past the disconcerted girl and fixing a strand of her hair just so as she went.

"And you wear my dress better than I do," Hilneth said, smiling sweetly. Gwyn couldn't help but smile back fondly. This dress most likely costs more than I'll ever see in my life... It was kind of Hilneth to lend it to her- she reminded Gwyn of the younger girls of her village, just reaching their teens. So eager to please their elder sisters, their minds whirling with eager, wondrous thoughts of the future.

"Hannad." Gwyn said slowly, the elvish that the girls had taught her while dressing her slipping off her lips like a river over stone. The others gasps, Melui and Athae applauding lightly.

"Mae pennen, Gwyn!" Athae praised.

Gwyn smiled, unable to ignore the sudden tug at the back of her mind, her tongue curling at the feel of the graceful, lilting language. Something was oddly familiar about it. With a shrug Gwyn pushed away the thought. There were a lot of travelers at the Markets during the springtime, perhaps I heard it there...

"Û, Raweru! Mankoi lle irma sint?"

Gwyn blinked. About her, the elves had begun to speak quickly in their native tongue, and with a frown she realized that they appeared to be having a small argument.

"Avon." Raweru retorted quietly to her friends.

"Avo bedo. Heniach nîn?" Melui hissed fiercely.

Raweru wrinkled her nose, looking confused. "Avo garo am man theled?"

"An ngell nîn, Raweru," Athae beseeched, and Gwyn felt her spine go ridged in a moment of sudden clarity. While they had been assisting her, she had asked the elves to teach her some of their language. It had been easy enough for Gwyn to learn the simple phrases they had given her to recite, but now- She sucked in a breath, recognizing several of the words she had learned only hours previous.

"... She... may... not... know..." Gwyn scowled upon deciphering the elvish, brows knitting together, staring at Athae in utter confusion. Know what? I may not know what?

Frowning fiercely, Raweru suddenly snapped back, "Pedin i phith in aníron!". The whole while, Hilneth and Gwyn stared with wide eyes as the elder elves fought. Suddenly, Raweru turned to Gwyn, excitement barely contained in her shining green eyes.

"So, which one was it?" She asked, a slight accent to her words in her haste to speak Westron. Gwyn blinked, shaking her head perplexedly.

"Pardon?"

"Raweru-!" Hissed Athae, while Melui shook her head angrily, but their friend did not heed them.

"Which one of your parents was human, and which one-?"

"Antolle ulua sulrim! Mani naa lle umien Raweru? Dina, pe-channas." Athae snapped, while Melui added heatedly, "Rhaich, Raweru! Dôl gîn lost!"

The damage was already done. Though she pretended that nothing had really occurred, that she had never understood what Athae had said, nor heard what Raweru had asked of her, on the inside, Gwyn was reeling. She didn't have much time to contemplate on the bizarre incident, however, for at that very moment they rounded a corner, revealing the dining area, set out in a beautiful, open space where one could stare endlessly at the many waterfalls and setting sun, all thoughts of food vanishing from the only a heated, warning glance or two shared between them in lieu of their previous arguing, the elves accompanying Gwyn surrounded her quickly, beginning again to whisper and titter excitedly in their fluid language.

These elves are very fickle, aren't they? Gwyn rolled her eyes.

*~WE~MUST~AWAY,~ERE'~BREAK~OF~DAY~*

"There is nothing to eat."

Kíli sat, arms crossed over his chest, pouting moodily. From the other dining table, Fíli rolled his eyes at his brother, sighing before resuming his examination of the green, wavy plant fronds the elves deemed edible. Across the table, Ori was downright refusing to even try a mouthful, Dori's coaxing failing miserable in his attempt to get his brother to eat. Even Bombur was a little hesitant, eyeing the "food" with small, hungry eyes unsurely. Fíli frowned, sniffing the leafy green thing suspiciously before recoiling at the unappetizing smell. It smelt cold. And raw. And tasteless. A sixth sense, one often speculated to be shared between siblings, alerted Fíli to Kíli's stare, and with darting eyes, the elder of the pair spotted his younger brother watching him sulkily. Unable to speak to his brother, as the elves had sat them so far away from one another, Fíli merely fixed Kíli with the regale, most mature glare he could muster before pointedly taking a bite of the leaf. Kíli needed to keep up his strength, they all did, and if that meant gritting their teeth and eating some strange, green leaves then- He immediately wished he hadn't bitten the frond. The plant almost had a sour taste to it, but was more watery and bland a thing than Fíli had ever tasted in his life. Gagging slightly, Fíli felt his eyes begin to water as he forced himself to chew and swallow, unable to see the amused faces of Dori, Ori, or Gloin, his gaze screwed up until all he could do was squint. That was more disgusting than that squirrel Kíli tried roasting when Uncle took us on that hunting trip to the East Sea...

"Y'alright laddie?" Balin asked, leaning forward to peer past Bilbo in concern. Fíli nodded, coughing slightly, which was only made worse by Bombur's not so helpful thump on the back. The familiar, sound of Kíli's laughter caught Fíli's attention, and with reddened ears he turned to glimpse at his brother as well as Bofur, who sat beside Kíli, doubled over in a fit of snickering, Kíli pointing a finger at Fíli as he clutched his stomach, eyes brimming with glee. Bofur was actually wiping a tear from his eye. Fíli sighed, and was about to shout some sharp remark that was sure to get the two fools to hush up when Bofur's eyes suddenly went wide, his mouth falling open to hang slack-jawed. Beside him, Kíli, who had been taking a tentative sip of the wine administered in fine glass goblets, choked, spitting his drink all over Nori before his head whipped in the direction of Fíli and Bombur, cheeks aflame. Frowning, Fíli eyed his companions, all of whom's eyes were growing steadily larger, faces redder, and mouths wider. Even Nori, who's beard and face was sprinkled with large droplets of wine, was gaping at whatever was behind Fíli.

What in the name of Durin's... Fíli grumbled before turning round annoyedly. ... Beard... She's magnificent.

The song of the elven instruments was dwindling to a soft end, another harmony fading in gently to take its place. As the strings of the harp and lute were strummed and plucked, the flute lacing together the melody into one of mystery and elegance, several elf maidens parted to reveal one who was far fairer than any maiden who attended the dinner. Her deep green dress fell about her gracefully, clinging to her in just the right shape and setting her mystic eyes alight, framed by pale, gleaming blond hair that cascaded about her face in ringlets. By far the most astonishing sight, yet indistinct compared with the surrounding elves, was the ethereal glow that emitted like a halo around her slight frame. It almost matched that of the elves beside her. Fíli felt his own eyes grow wide. He was awe-struck- if he had not already known her, he would have guessed Gwyn for an elvish princess.

The music continued to play, sounding far sweeter than it had before the arrival of the girl. The area where dinner had been set up had lapsed into complete silence, more than one mouth hanging open among the dwarven party to gape in astonishment at Gwyn. Small smiles played on the lips of both Gandalf and Elrond, though Thorin was staring with narrowed eyes and a furrowed brow, suspicion clear in his gaze. The elves, servers and those attending, smiled at Gwyn before returning to their duties and food. Passing a look thrice over Gwyn, Fíli felt his eyebrows rise considerably, unable to take his gaze from the strange beauty before him. She was a jewel; a lady standing poised before them, meant for the high, shining halls of some far-off, grand kingdom.

At the moment, Fíli could not for the life of him recall what Gwyn had looked like previously, when her face had been covered with grime, and her clothes less than acceptable considering her gender. Gone from his memory were the many nights where she had sat- just as filthy and pig-mouthed as the rest of them- round the fire, listening to tales that were exaggerated increasingly as the dwarves all vied for the satisfaction of impressing Gwyn the most. Vanished was the friendship Fíli had forged with the young woman, shared words and jokes disappearing in the face of such comeliness.

Gwyn looked around self-consciously, her cheeks growing steadily redder as aqua eyes scanned the rooming, coming to rest on- Fíli followed her gaze, though he was already certain of whom she was looking at- his brother, who had gone paler than the whitest cloud, and was frozen in a perfect likeness of the stone trolls. Fíli smirked. Kíli would not meet Gwyn's gaze for more than a second, eyes flicking this way and that- anywhere but upon the girl who so obviously only had eyes for him. Out of all the charming elves in this place, she can think of only Kíli, Fíli mused, eyes dropping from his brother's flustered expression to stare at the strange green food upon his plate with a smile.

Still appearing to be painfully conscious of all the attention she was drawing- the astounded ogling from widened eyes- Gwyn swallowed, visibly steadying herself before her shy gaze returned to roam the Company that she'd become such a part of over the past weeks.

"What, are you all shocked to see me without pants on?" The mixture of nervousness and innocence in her small voice, so unaccustomed to such keen attention, broke the spell held over the room somewhat. Eye blinked, pupils grew back to their normal size, heads began to turn, murmurs circled. With a sigh Gwyn departed from her elven escort, breezing past the first table of dwarves as she made her way towards an open seat. Gandalf and Elrond both had offered for her to sit amongst them at the high table, but respectfully Gwyn had declined. She'd rather sit with her companions, she's explained embarrassedly, where she could be less conspicuous. Elrond had smiled and assured her that if that was what she wished, than so be it.

"You look pretty, Gwyn!" Ori called suddenly- bashful- as Gwyn passed, causing the poor girl to blush furiously and duck her head.

"Thank you!" She piped quickly, her head turning so that she could smile in the young dwarf's direction. If it were not for Dori catching him, Ori would have went toppling right off his seat. Ori's bravery prompted a slew of compliments that nearly had Gwyn tearing back down the corridor to her room.

"Aye, you look lovely lass!" Balin called, while Oin cried, "A right beauty!"

"Very presentable indeed." Bilbo murmured, smiling fondly at Gwyn.

"It is as if I stare upon an elf-maid of Lorien." Gloin muttered, half to himself.

Dwalin, Fíli, and Bombur (who had paused long enough to look up from his food) all nodded in Gwyn's direction as her eyes passed over them shyly. Fíli had a devilish grin captivating his features, eyes flicking to Kíli absently, enjoying his brother's state of turmoil. However, it was Dwalin's expression that captured Gwyn's attention the most. With soft eyes and a small smile replacing his normally rugged, fierce expression, she hardly recognized the dwarf. Pressing on to the second table, Gwyn quirked an eyebrow at Nori, who was still staring open-mouthed at her, his face and beard wet. Has he been crying? Little by little, the surge and ebb of conversation was beginning to return to the room, allowing Gwyn to relax a little more. Meaning to walk around the table to take up the empty seat by Nori, Gwyn leapt back in surprise suddenly. There was a great rumble as the dwarves all chuckled, and Fíli craned his neck in an attempt to see what had startled her.

In his eagerness and sheer awe, Bofur had evidentially flung himself from his seat, landing on the hard stone with a bounce, and insisting with an even broader grin than usual (if such a thing was even possible) for a protesting Gwyn to take his seat. "It would be my honor." He persisted loudly, to which Gwyn could only gape. "It would be an honor, my lady. After all, you did save us from those wargs, with Gandalf's help o'course." At this the rest of the Company- save Kíli, who was still frozen stiff, and Bombur, who refused to cease in his eating- agreed loudly, causing Gwyn to plop down hurriedly, hiding her red face behind a curtain of pale blond hair. Fíli watched as slowly Kíli came to life, turning his head slowly to stare at Gwyn, who sat beside him. Say something smooth, brother. Show her your intelligence actually surpasses that of a common troll.

"Oi!"

A gasp followed by rapid movement- shuffling limbs and flying hands and fingers- and quarreling grunts caused Fíli's attention to be drawn back to his own table. A large bowl of brown chips had been placed almost directly in front of Ori, although it was nearly obscured from view by the many hands attempting to snatch at the contents.

"That's mine, put it back!" Ori cried at Bombur, who had managed to sneak a chip off of the youngest dwarf's plate. Their bickering over the food was beginning to drown out the elven musician's melodious tune (not that Fíli minded), and a little anxiously Fíli turned, afraid of what Thorin must be thinking- until he caught the pleased smirkof his uncle. Fili caught Thorin's eye, sharing a knowing smirk before the elder of the two nodded, smiling at his nephew. Turning round, Fíli wasted no time in diving into the chip fray.

*~WE~MUST~AWAY,~ERE'~BREAK~OF~DAY~*

He didn't want to look. He didn't want embarrass himself. What should he say? Probably something idiotic... Kíli thought, his tongue as tied as ever. Out of his peripherals, Kíli watched as Gwyn sat down beside him, gazing at the assortment of food that had been lain out for the Company. An elf glided past, offering her a drink, and Kíli took the distraction to turn away in the direction of Fíli. Still, he smelt the fragrant perfume of flowers, and heard the softness of her voice as Gwyn spoke with the elf beside her. She seemed to get along with them far better than the rest of them did, taking to the tall, ancient folk almost naturally. Catching his brother's eyes, Kíli scowled at the frown on Fíli's face, shaking his head once. He knew what his brother was thinking. Talk to her, say something... Just make sure it's intelligent, brother. But he couldn't. Kíli hadn't been this nervous since the day decades ago that he had finally gotten up the courage to tell Thorin that he'd rather be trained in the bow and bolt than with the age old tradition of axes, and then he had had his mother's support- she'd stood behind him (quite literally) when his decision had been made plain to his uncle.

How was he supposed to talk to her, anyways? For Kíli, the image of the Gwyn he'd known was far from the essence of such lady-like poise and beauty beside him. The girl who was quiet when alone, and loud when with friends. The girl who always had the best jokes, besides Fíli and Bofur of course, and seemed to think more about the world and life- their inner mechanisms- than any other person Kíli had ever met. That girl, the old Gwyn, was lost in the strange woman who now sat beside him. This was a person foreign to him- with features that captivated him into silence every time he looked, and eyes that caused his mouth to go dry within seconds.

He'd never really noticed, Kíli realized, how beautiful Gwyn actually was. Even when it was just the two of them, or- Kíli ducked his head in humiliation- when he'd caught himself staring at her from a distance... He could see it now, he could understand the emotions people had tried to describe- the feelings felt when eyes were laid upon their One. Before, back in the Blue Mountains, Kíli had never been too interested in the ladies, though both he and his brother were considered quite the lady's men from behind closed doors. In truth, Kíli knew that- though both he and Fíli were constantly attracting attention from the other gender (and sometimes the same, he thought with a shudder), it was Fíli who was idolized. What with his golden hair and respectable beard, as well as being Thorin's heir, Kíli paled in comparison. He only had stubble in comparison to the small beard Fíli had grown at the age of seventy seven. Kíli was aware how fair in complexion he was, how his kind disliked the fact that he wielded a bow more often than even a sword. He was a climber of trees and wanderer of woods, far slighter and nimbler than even Ori. Kíli was different, though over the years he had learned to accept his distinct traits.

When he'd first seen Gwyn- really seen her, as she slept in the light of the morning dawn, after the terrible business of fixing her ankle the night before- Such feelings that he had experienced could not truly be put into words. It was as if the world were rotating, the trees, mountains, horses, comrades- everything besides Gwyn- falling away. All he could see was her, but not in the way others would expect. Kíli had not noticed her soft lips, her blue eyes, her pointed nose and sharp cheekbones, unsure eyes and slender limbs- no. He had seen within. He had seen her heart- figuratively speaking- and soul; the person she was. No, the young heir of Thorin had not noticed beauty or physical attraction. He had seen Gwyn for who she really was, and in that moment something had clicked into place within his heart. At that moment, the young dwarf had know. He would do anything for her, would be anything for her- he wanted her. Wanted her so much that it hurt. He loved her. They had only just met, and he loved her more than he'd ever loved anything else before. And these facts frightened him, confused him, tortured him in the darkness of night. From the moment Kíli had set eyes on Gwyn, the world had flipped, and nothing was ever the same afterwards.

"Kíli." Her voice was so sweet. Flinching out of his pensiveness, Kíli forced himself to turn his head so that his eyes were staring into Gwyn's. A small smile was playing on her lips, a slender finger reaching out to point at the bowl to his right. "Can you pass the lettuce?"

Is that what it is called? He wasn't very good at distracting himself.

Kíli couldn't help it- he froze up, panicking. Her eyes, beginning to cloud with confusion, were holding him entranced- his heart was thudding so fast it hurt. Quite suddenly he'd forgotten how to form words, and all she could do was continue to torture him and stare, stare, stare with those innocent blue eyes that never failed to hold him spellbound. He'd never beheld eyes like hers before, not even back in Ered Luin, among the fairest of dwarf-women-

"Ow!" Kíli yelped, his shin throbbing from the sharp kick delivered to him under the table from Bifur. Gwyn jumped a little, bewildered eyes widening. Fighting down an embarrassed blush, Kíli cleared his throat. "How- how pretty you look, Gwyn." He said, passing the bowl to her quickly. Gwyn eyed him for a moment, brow knitted, before smirking.

"It's a bit fancy for me. Personally I'd rather just have my old clothes back, but when I asked, the elves that were helping me nearly fainted. 'Sevig thû úan, and these filthy rags stink of troll!'" She mimicked, which set Bofur and Kíli to laughing, while Nori grinned to himself.

"When did you learn how to speak elvish with such an excellent accent?" Bofur inquired, leaning forward in curiosity.

Gwyn laughed. "It's one of my many talents." She said mysteriously, to which Kíli snorted loudly.

"Ah! Gwyn." He complained upon receiving a sharp nudge in the side. Gwyn laughed, leaning closer until her lips just barely grazed his ear. Kíli repressed a shiver at the strange feeling that suddenly woke within him.

"If you think I've forgotten the whole 'bathtub' incident, you are sorrowfully mistaken, master dwarf." She whispered slyly. Kíli's breath caught in his throat. He'd been wondering when that would come up. Unable to help himself, Kíli turned, pulling back slightly so that he could take in her grinning face and shining eyes. Aulë she is stunning. How is it possible that this beauty is truly my One? Shaking his head once, Kíli looked up at her, smiling cheekily.

"It was an accident, Gwyn." He atoned.

Gwyn sighed. He is a terrible liar.

"You ferret". Gwyn hissed. Bofur was calling her name then, asking what all the whispering was about. Winking at Kíli, Gwyn turned, smiling. "Oh, just your average secret or two." She responded, which caused Bofur and Nori to glance knowingly at one another.

Instantly the atmosphere lightened, a knot unraveling in Kíli's stomach somewhat. She's still the same. Still the same Gwyn. He told himself. Despite the fancy clothes and clean face.

Looking over, Kíli grinned at her, reaching over to brush a strand of hair from her face. "You really do look beautiful." He whispered so that only Gwyn could hear, his grin widening at the pink that tinted her cheeks. Giving him a playful shove of the shoulder, Gwyn pushed the bowl of lettuce towards Kíli.

"Oh shut up and eat," She muttered, though she was unable to hide the laughter in her voice. "pretty boy." Kíli nearly choked on his drink again, causing Nori to hold up his plate in front of his face. Bifur chuckled- at least it sounded like a chuckle to the youngest of Thorin's nephews- and grunted something in Khuzdul that Kíli did not understand in the slightest, though the old dwarf was snickering to himself at what evidentially had been a joke.

"What was that?" Kíli asked Gwyn, recovering from his second coughing episode. She merely shook her head, eyes round, feinting innocence. Across the table, Bofur- who was attempting to balance a green leaf atop his hat- snickered, snorting loudly.

"Oh nothing." Gwyn said, patting Kíli lightly on the arm before looking away and rolling her eyes.

Kíli shook his head. Women.

Ten minutes later, Bofur took it upon himself to become Fíli's stand-in as Kíli's personal humiliator. Turning to Gwyn, he beamed. "Lass, how's about I tell you a little story O' when young Fíli and Kíli nearly burnt down half the village."

Kíli nearly fell out of his chair, managing to grip the table in time to steady himself. "Bofur! That's not a good- What? No." He groaned, but was cut off by Gwyn's hand before his face as she attempted to cover his mouth and silence his protesting.

"No, I want to hear, Kíli!" She giggled, Kíli giving a half-hearted attempt to push her hand away, laughing. Finally, he sighed, unable to resist her smiling face.

"Fine." He groaned. "Just leave out the bit about the bakery, will you?"

Bofur only laughed. "Not a chance, lad. That right there is the best part!"

*~WE~MUST~AWAY,~ERE'~BREAK~OF~DAY~*

"So here these lads are, racin' through the bakery with nothing but their bare bottoms as coverin'!" Bofur chuckled, Nori snickering beside him. Across the table, Kíli winced, his cheeks heated, wishing that he could escape the torture of Bofur's words- it was embarrassing. He didn't need that image filling anyone's head- he was trying to prove his maturity on the quest, for Aulë's sake! And this wasn't helping in the slightest. Kíli pressed his lips together, eyes wondering above him, staring at anything, anything at all but Gwyn, who was enraptured in Bofur's tale.

"Fíli was shrieking something fierce about their family's barn catching aflame, an' tiny little Kíli kept screamin': 'My arse is on fire! My arse is on fire!'"

I want to set you on fire. Kíli thought annoyedly, resting his head in his hand and rolling his eyes to the sky in annoyance.

"Then the old dwarf who owned the shop- he never forgot you lads, Kíli- came round the corner, and I said to him, 'you better go and check on this fire o' theirs, quick!'"

Bofur was nearly in tears now, and with rising horror Kíli suddenly remembered, though the fog of youth had caused him to forget for decades, what came next.

"Then Fíli leaned over and whispered something into his brother's ear, and the little thing shrieked like a lass and looked at me, then down, then back at me and he said-" By this time other dwarves who had heard the tale before had caught on to where the story was going, and were trying their best to hold back their laughter. Gloin suddenly burst out into a hearty guffaw, nearly falling out of his chair as he banged the table hard with his fist.

"He was cryin', he was so scared!" Bofur laughed hysterically, his hat askew, though he hardly noticed. "An' he said, 'Bofur, Fíli said that the fire would make it fall off.'"

Kíli closed his eyes in frustration, forcing a sigh through his nostrils. This situation could not be any worse.

"And I said, 'Make what fall off, Kíli?'"

By Durin's beard, he's really going to say it isn't he. Kíli's eyes snapped open, mortified. In front of all these people, he's going to-

An' the wee lad looked at me and said- with the most terrified expression- he said to me, 'My peni-'''

"Okay!" Kíli shouted, half standing and throwing his arms out in an effort to silence Bofur. Beside him, Gwyn was still piecing the story together, but when she came to the final realization she clapped a hand to her mouth in order to muffle her sudden shriek of laughter. Down at the other table, Fíli was howling, eventually ending up out of his seat, upon the floor. Bombur blinked in concern for the younger dwarf (though he didn't pause in his consumption of everything in sight) as he continued to cackle. Even Thorin, from where he sat at the High table, was smirking to himself. Frowning, Kíli hid his hot-faced embarrassment by taking a long drought from his cup, setting it down harder than he'd meant when it was drained.

Suddenly and quite without warning, Kíli let out an almighty belch. All at once, the entire Company broke into whoops and cheered rowdily, the elves serving them looking slightly miffed. Kíli laughed good-naturedly along with them, the youthful sound ringing clear into the growing dusk. Turning his head, the young dwarf's hysterics suddenly died out, fading along with the rest of the dwarve's liveliness as they all gazed upon the frowning face of Gwyn. Reaching out a tentative hand, Kíli unsurely placed it on her arm. "Gwyn? I'm sorry- I didn't mean to offend you." Already he was kicking himself internally. She was a lady, regardless of what they'd seen her as before. Now that they were in Rivendell, Gwyn had the chance to revert back to the young woman that she had been before the trolls had attacked her village. He'd gotten too comfortable, all those weeks before not even taking into much consideration the fact that Gwyn was a lady, regardless of the way she acted around them, the way she'd dressed and joked around. What he'd just done- The rudeness- In the presence of a lady- She was probably so offended-

Flinching, Kíli pulled his hand back in shock as Gywn suddenly opened her mouth and, smirking, let out a belch both louder and longer than Kíli's had been. Dwarves and elves alike turned in their seats and stared, open-mouthed and flabbergasted, at the unladylike sound emitted from her mouth. When the dining area finally grew silent, no one noticed Gandalf and Elrond smirking together at their table. The distant rush of the waterfalls seemed louder than ever to Gwyn's ears, and nervously she shifted- Maybe being a woman excluded her from such activities altogether in the eyes of the dwarves? This damned dress doesn't help. She thought annoyedly, plucking at the draped fabric of her sleeve.

A great, roaring cheer suddenly broke out from the dwarves, causing Gwyn to jump visibly in surprise, a hand flying to her mouth to smother her small squeak of fright. From the other table, Dori and Ori, and Gloin were giving her a standing ovation, while Bombur, still chewing, had thrust both of his fat arms into the air victoriously. Balin and Oin were clapping loudly, nodding their heads in approval and grinning broadly. Beside them, Bilbo was staring at her in shock, though even from that distance Gwyn could detect the slight rise at the corners of his mouth. Meanwhile, Fíli had slumped against the table-side, his sides shaking from laughing.

"Your face!" He kept shouting, pointing a shaking finger at Kíli. "You should have seen your face, brother!"

Dwalin, too, was chuckling to himself, his great paw-like hands raised high as he joined in the applause of the dwarves. At her own table, both Bofur and Nori were applauding madly, Bofur even getting up to stand on his seat as he clapped. Bifur blinked curiously at Gwyn, and through his beard she could have sworn that he was smiling. Beside her, Kíli's face was the epitome of astonished discombobulation. Awed, he was staring at her with a slowly growing grin.

Leaning forward, Gwyn punched him on the shoulder softly, beaming. "Yours was weak," she teased.

Kíli only shook his head, laughing. "What are you?" He wondered, half to himself, his words drowned out by Bofur's excessive cheering.

"I knew you had it in ya', lass!"

*~WE~MUST~AWAY,~ERE'~BREAK~OF~DAY~*

"Gwyn?"

"Hmm?"

The young woman paused in her staring, drawing her reluctant eyes from where they had been observing the beauty of Rivendell. It was an hour after dinner, and as the sun finally had dipped below the horizon, leaving the valley to fall into a peaceful dusk, Thorin, Bilbo, and Gandalf had disappeared with it. The rest of the Company had returned to their makeshift camp, some still laughing over the eventful dinner.

Turning so that her back was leaning against the pillar she stood beside, Gwyn was surprised to find not only Dori, but Nori as well, standing before her. The corners of her lips turned upwards instantly, and she stood up straighter. "Yes?" The solemn faces of the two dwarves caused the happiness to fade from her features as quickly as it had come. "What is it? Dori, Nori, is something wrong?"

"No," Said Dori quickly, allowing a reassuring smile to flit quickly onto his features. "We just- we wanted to- He would- Without you he would be-"

"We wanted to thank you." Nori interjected over his brother's bumbling. "For saving Ori."

Gwyn took a step back, bumping against the column behind her gently. "Oh, no, no. I-I didn't save Ori, please don't thank me-"

"No, you did." Dori persisted gently, silencing Gwyn. "You shot that warg that was about to- about to-"

"The point is," Nori said quickly, for Dori looked as if he were going to cry. "You saved him, and we are forever in your debt."

"Forever grateful," piped up Dori, who had composed himself some.

"Thank you." The brothers said, bowing to Gwyn, who was becoming more and more flustered by the second. She hadn't really considered it, her actually saving Ori's life- in fact, she tried to keep her mind from wondering to the attack on the whole- but now that she thought about it, if she hadn't shot that warg, Ori would most likely either be dead or in a great amount of pain. Gwyn shivered at the thought, looking over to where the youngest of the Company was busy scribbling into his tome. I wonder what he's writing. Turning her gaze back to the brothers before her, Gwyn shook her head.

"I would have done anything to protect your brother." She swore solemnly, meaning every word. Ori was too young- too innocent for death. They nodded, Dori clapping her on the arm (which was as high as he could reach) before waddling off, whipping his eyes, to rejoin his youngest brother. Nori, however, stayed a moment, his eyes on Gwyn's.

"It means a lot to him- that you said that, I mean." He said, his voice husky, shifting from foot to foot. Gwyn had never seen the dwarf so disconcerted before. "Means a lot to me too, Gwyn. Thank ye'." Nori clapped a hand to her arm before he too wandered off. Gwyn blinked, shaken, unsure if she could return to inspecting the valley after- And that's when she remembered. Like she had saved little Ori's life, another had saved her own. "Dwalin." Gwyn muttered, before turning on her heel and hurrying off in search of the brawny dwarf. She found him as she had been, kneeling between two pillars, staring out at the magnificence of the valley whilst simultaneously rearranging his pack. Edging up to him cautiously, Gwyn took a moment to gather her courage before clearing her voice and nearly whispering, "Um, excuse me, Dwalin- er, Mister Dwalin?" She had no idea whatsoever how to address the frightening dwarf, and so automatically decided to refer to him as Kíli did.

Stars above, I've most likely already offended him. Gwyn moaned to herself. Dwalin straightened, looking up for whomever had called his name. Upon seeing Gwyn- who was nearly shaking with nervousness before him- he stood, and with a sudden jolt Gwyn realized that she had grown over the course of the weeks she'd spent with the dwarves. Whereas before she had been of equal height with Kíli, now she stood at least an inches taller than Dwalin. Which meant that she was nearly four inches taller than Kíli now.

"Yes, lass?" Dwalin asked, and Gwyn was surprised with the lack of gruffness in his tone. His voice was actually quite gentle, like how a grandfather would speak to a child.

Shuffling slightly, she dropped her gaze to the ground and back before responding. "I was wondering if- No, I mean-" Gwyn paused, sighing in exasperation at herself. "I wanted to thank you."

"For?" Dwalin asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Saving me, back when the wargs- When they first attacked. I-I was too small, I would have been killed if it had- But you... You pushed me. Out of the way- You saved me." She finished breathlessly.

*~WE~MUST~AWAY,~ERE'~BREAK~OF~DAY~*

A thousand thoughts rushed through Dwalin's mind, but only two remained, the very same that had stuck in his head when the beasts had attacked them. How could I have let you die, you who are so young yet so bright in both mind and soul? Was what he wanted to say. There used to be many like Gwyn, back in Erebor, and even the Blue Mountains. Young dwarf-maidens with dreams of the future, young dwarves whose hearts were far larger than the newly forged battle-axes they attempted to lug about. But as the winters grew harsher and the food scarcer, the tough times seemed to press down harder each year upon the shoulders of even the most resilient of his kin, until nothing remained within them but the knowledge and will to survive.

How could I have done that to you and Kíli? It would be unforgivable, the consequences- for him, guilt, but for Kíli... Unbelievable pain and heartache, more-so when the younger dwarf realized what he'd truly lost. To never find your one was a harsh reality to bear- Dwalin knew from experience, as he suspected Thorin did as well, the loneliness, the pining, the despair that slowly faded with age, though never completely. It was unthinkable, for a dwarf to lose their One. For after finding one another, the pain- the excruciating, heartbreaking agony- of parting, of losing one another, was enough to drive a dwarf insane. Dwalin had seen it happen, had witnessed with his own eyes the slow demise and eventual death of the wife of one of the dwarf-warriors who had fallen at Azanulbizar. It had been such torture to watch, Dwalin couldn't even begin to imagine how it felt.

"It would rip even the strongest warrior to shreds." His mother had once told him after Balin had asked, back in the days were they still struggled to lift axes that now Dwalin would merely scoff at.

"It would destroy them from the inside out."

He had shuddered at the description. A fate more terrible Dwalin could never think of. Nothing could surpass such a never-ending torture. And Kíli was so young- if Gwyn had died... Dwalin could not bear to think what would have become of the energetic dwarf, and subsequently, Fíli and Thorin- Yet he mustn't think so darkly. Gwyn was here, she was alive, and so was Kíli. That was all that mattered.

Yet finding one's soulmate had, in a time vacant of dragons- a time long past- been easier, more effortless, what with the great halls of Erebor. Dwarves from all corners of Middle-Earth had flocked to behold the kingdom's splendor. There they would often meet their One- that was how Víli and Dís had met. That was how his parents had met, his father nearly tripping over the battlements of the great front gate upon sight of his mother. Yet now, it was only once in a lifetime- and dwarves did not live short lives- even to see such a match in Ered Luin, a fact that saddened many hearts that had beat before the time of Smaug. So rare was it for a dwarf to find their soulmate, if they had been home in the mountains to the north, a great celebration would have been thrown for a week at least. Kíli really had no inclination of how lucky he was, to find his One. His brother, uncle, even Dwalin himself would most likely never cross paths with their own.

Straightening, Dwalin eyed Gwyn for a second, noting how she scuffled her feet, bit her lip, played with a bit of her hair- she was nervous. Suddenly it was not Gwyn before him, but Kíli, the surrounding makeshift camp vanishing as Dwalin recalled a time decades past when the youngest nephew of Thorin used to stand before him thusly, displaying both a fearful and nervous air. That was when Kíli had started to call him 'Mister' Dwalin- he could still recall the young lad's high pitched voice, his big brown eyes and prominent lisp. It was impossible to be angry at Kíli as a child (and even still to this day), which frustrated Thorin to no end at times, for how could he punish a dwarfling so young and innocent, such a rascal as he had been in his younger days, long before the fall of Erebor?

Instantly, Dwalin's hard exterior began to melt. He stepped forward, past his emptied pack, he clapped a large hand on Gwyn's arm. She flinched slightly, looking as if she wanted to do nothing more than turn tail and run, perhaps into the safety and reassurance of Kíli's arms. Dwalin ignored Gwyn's display of discomfort. She needed to know that he wasn't as dangerous as she seemed to think- well, not towards her, at least. Goblins and dragons were another story.

"Lass," he said, in a voice so fatherly that Gwyn blinked, taken aback. "You have no idea the hold you have over us all."

Gwyn hid her shock with a frown. "But Thorin-"

"-Nevermind him for now." Dwalin interjected dismissively. "What I'm trying to get at, Gwynith, is that you are very special, very important. Everyone and everything you come into contact with is affected by your spirit- even Thorin." He added as an afterthought. Dwalin sighed.

Even her damn horse had adored the child. Dwalin thought morosely. He wandered briefly if the same thought had not just occurred to Gwyn, for a sudden look of the uttermost sadness caused her pretty features to darken, her eyes looking a bit too watery for Dwalin's liking. He had never been good with tears- he was too awkward, to unsure; more suited for the numbness of battle. Hesitantly Dwalin reached out a hand, patting Gwyn comfortingly on the arm.

Fortunately, at that moment Balin chose to break their silence, calling across the room for his brother to come and assist Oin and Gloin in starting up a fire, as the two had begun to bicker between themselves. Turning to Gwyn, Dwalin squeezed her arm gently before letting it go, taking a step back to fix his gaze on her. She was taller than before, he noticed, and shone with an ethereally pale light, much like the elves. No doubt it had something to do with whatever she had bathed in, for the light emitting from Gwyn was duller than the others who dwelt within the Valley of Imladris. Nodding, Dwalin cleared his throat. "Aye, you were meant to find us- destined for it, I reckon. There's something you need to discover, Gwyn, something about yerself." He said softly. "And I think you will, given time." Suddenly, as if waking from a dream, Dwalin shook his head, coughing before looking about himself. The dusk air was cool, yet comfortably so; here and there fireflies had started to appear, one landing on Gwyn's shoulder, unnoticed.

"You have no need to thank me, Gwyn." Dwalin said. "Only know that if you ever need to talk, if you wish, you may do so with me." With that, Dwalin nodded once, making his way past Gwyn towards the center of the room, where Oin and Gloin's argument had slowly begun to rise in volume.

Gwyn barely was able to gather enough of her wits about her to nod in return before Dwalin was gone.

Thorin was right about one thing. Dwalin couldn't help but think. There is something strange about that girl. Something just not right. It was noticeable, though barely so. Only a patient eye and a keen perception would allow one to see the changes that were occurring not only within Gwyn, but physically as well.

Dwalin was far out of earshot for him to hear a confused Gwyn murmur, "Thanks, Dwalin."

Now where had Kíli gotten to?

Mellonamin - My friend

Hannad - Thanks

Mae pennen, Gwyn - Well said, Gwyn!

Û, Raweru! Mankoi lle irma sint - No, Raweru! Why do you want to know?

Avon - I refuse/I won't

Avo bedo. Heniach nîn? - Do not speak. Do you understand?

An ngell nîn, Raweru - Please (for my joy)

Pedin i phith in aníron! - I can say what I wish!

Antolle ulua sulrim! Mani naa lle umien Raweru? Dina, pe-channas. - Much wind pours from your mouth! What are you doing, Raweru? Be silent, idiot.

Rhaich, Raweru! dôl gîn lost - Curses, Raweru. Your head is empty.

Sevig thû úan - You smell like a monster

Elvish translated from these sites: grey-company(.org), realelvish(.net) & arwen-undomiel(.com)

Stop. I want you to sit a moment and take that all in, 'cause it was a lot. And oho, ohohoho, just you WAIT until the next chapter. I've already started writing it, but had to stop several times because the feels almost killed me. Seriously! I won't say much more than that, but let's just say that Gwyn and Kíli find themselves with some time... away from prying eyes. For, like, the whole chapter. Gah, my heart!

Also, I would like to send my thoughts and prayers to the victims and their friends/families of the Boston Marathon Explosions. Watching the tragedy unfold and knowing that I was powerless to help was very hard for me, and I can only pray for the recovery and strength of those affected. Stay strong, my friends!