Lili avoided Thorin as much as she could the last two days. Dwalin sensed that something was different between them but no matter who he asked, they both said that nothing happened.

The Company left Rivendell early in the morning. They climbed up the narrow passage they had taken on the day of their arrival.
Lili carried her bag in which she hid the helm as well as some clothes to change. Her sword, bow and arrows were attached on her back.
She walked right behind Bilbo and nearly bumped into him as he suddenly stopped and turned to cast one last glance back down into the Valley.

"One day you'll return, I'm certain about that" she reassured him.

"You really think so?"

She nodded and looked back to the Company. Thorin had stopped and was waiting for them. He held her gaze for a second before he called, "I'd suggest you both keep up"

Lili sighed and walked on to follow the dwarves and Bilbo.

"Balin will lead the way. I guess it's better than waiting for that bright evening star so I can find the right direction" Thorin said with a mischievious smirk as she walked next to him with Bilbo and the rest in the front.

Lili couldn't help but chuckle and was thankful that he ignored the fact that she had kissed him two days ago.
She couldn't think of a good explanation for her actions lately. And yet she was curious about his thoughts. What was on his mind now?

What if he thought that she had feelings for him? And what if this was true?

"Look out!" she could hear his deep voice and felt his arm wrapped around her waist to prevent her from falling as she nearly stepped into a hole in the ground.

Her breath quickened, she wanted to push him away but her body didn't react. Instead she could feel something in her that enjoyed his sudden touch, his strong arm wrapped around her.
It felt like an eternity but in fact it was just a matter of seconds until he let go of her.

"You should stop letting your mind wander, Liliana. At least until we're in our night camp" Thorin said and walked past her to the head of the group.

Lili shook her head, took a deep breath and continued to follow them.

Bombur was walking next to her. She always wondered how he managed to keep up with them all for he carried a lot of body-mass with him.
She gave him a smile as he looked at her.

"Are you hungry?" he asked and revealed a piece of sweet apple-roll. For the reason that she had only eaten a piece of carrot cake in the morning she took the roll.

"Thank you, Bombur"

He smiled and Lili munched on the roll.

"I like your hair. It's beautiful" he suddenly said and Lili looked at him quite surprised.

"Oh, uhm—thank you" she mumbled.

"Ever thought about braiding it?"

"No, and I don't know if I want it to be braided. That would make me look more dwarvish than I want to"

Bombur chuckled. "I think you're very dwarvish, telling about your shortness. No offense, of course"

He could see the change of the color of her eyes and hurried on, "Would you like to cook dinner with me later?"

That calmed her down a bit, she just couldn't be mad with Bombur. It was a surprise that he even talked to her. She thought he might be unable to speak at all.

"Yes, I'd love to cook with you" she replied and he seemed to be very happy about that.

"Do you like to play a game?" he asked after a while again. They crossed a wide, grassy plain, the sun at its highest point burning down on them.

"What kind of game?"

He blushed a little. "Though it's more a game for little dwarflings but I think it's quite nice to pass some time now. It's called 'I spy with my little eye', do you know it?"

"No, I've never heard of it" she replied.

"It's simple. You say 'I spy' and then you add a color of something that's around us. Like 'green' for your tunic or 'brown' for Kilis hair. And I have to guess what it is. You got it?"

Lili laughed softly. "Sounds simple, yes. Who cares if it's a childrens game as long as it is fun? Alright, let's play. You first"

He smiled and looked around. "I spy something that is...wine-red"

Lili looked around, her eyes scanned the surrounding until she cast a glance along the Company.

"Bilbos vest?"

Bombur cheered, caused some of the dwarves to look back at them. Dwalin smiled as he saw her interaction with Bombur. "It's great to see she's warming up more and more" he said to Thorin who walked next to him.

"Mmmh...yes" he simply replied and his gaze drifted to Lili for a second.

"Still grumpy?" Dwalin asked and bit back a smile.

"I'm not grumpy"

"But something bothers you. You can tell me"

Thorin thought about it but shook his head.

"No, I can't. I don't want to talk about it right now. It would not be fair"

"Fair? Why, did Lili told you something you shall keep as a secret?"

"No—please, let's stop that. We're going to set our camp over there between those rocks" he replied and gestured to a rock-formation covered by some trees. He turned to announce to the rest of the Company they would stop there for today.

"Alright, one more try" Bombur said to her and Lili looked around, she really grew to like that game and Bombur was a friendly companion as well.

"I spy something that is...bronze" she finally said and couldn't hide a smile.

"Bronze? Oh, there's so much around. Uhm—Filis hairclips?"

"No" she smirked.

Bombur thought a while and it took him until they reached the nightcamp.

"Fine, I give up. What's the answer?"

"Thorins ear clip" she said and could see surprise on Bomburs face.

"You recognized it? It's normally hidden under his hair"

"I'm good in spotting hidden things" she replied and winked.

He chuckled and spread his bedroll, so did Lili.

As soon as they set the camp Bombur and Lili began preparing dinner and had a lot of fun.

"That is one delicious soup! Great teamwork of you" Bofur called and patted the backs of the cooks.

Lili was happy that the dwarves were satisfied with the dinner and she ate two bowls of it.
After finishing it she climbed up on one of the rocks to take a look around. She sat down, her legs dangled over the edge and she could see the slowly setting sun that painted the sky in a warm purple and pink with a little golden. She smiled and looked down into the camp.

"Be careful up there!" Dwalin called and she reassured him with a smile and a short nod.

The lower the sun set the more comfortable the dwarves got. Many of them took out their pipes and relaxed on their bedrolls around the fire.
Lili could see movement down there and was aware that one certain dwarf climbed up to her as well. Her heart bumped faster again and she tried avoiding to look at him until he finally sat down next to her with his pipe in the corner of his mouth.

"It's beautiful up here. I like to watch sunsets" he said and his eyes were fixed on the horizon. His voice was lower than normal so he was certain none of the others could hear their conversation.

"Can you explain it to me?" he asked and could feel her body tensed a little.

She looked him in the eye, tried to find the right words. Finally she shook her head.

He watched her curiously, took a puff from his pipe and looked back at the horizon.

"I'm not mad with you, Lili. I just wanted you to know that. I'm just confused"

"So am I" she finally managed to say and started fumbling at her tunic.

"Before or after you've kissed me?"

"Both..."

He nodded understandingly and decided not to push her too much for she still seemed to be afraid. But not of him, he was certain about that. Maybe she was afraid of what could be? 'What could be? Seriously, Thorin?' he thought to himself and cleared his throat.

"I suggest you catch some sleep. It'll be a forty day walk until we reach the Misty Mountains. We need all our power" he said and got up again. She nodded and followed him down into the camp. She could see Dwalin and Balin exchanging a look and a smile.

Lili didn't think too much about it and curled up on her bedroll.

Soon after that she drifted into a dreamless sleep.

So, yes according to the book it's a forty day march from Rivendell to the Mountains and that means I have plenty of space to write. I know that's very slowmantic and so unlike my other stories but I thought it's interesting to see if I can manage such a story as well :-D

Please leave a review if you like it! :)