Wow this took longer then i thought to freaking do.

I'm not to sure about this chapter, so i'm sorry if i disappoint you. got a little side tracked with watching sherlock and trying to find a fanfic that would interest me. i have no idea what else i was going to type...my mind went boom and is not...working...HN.

Disclaimer. still don't own. only Balmung~

Chapter 14: Argument.

Two figures were sitting at a table in a vast field of flowers and blue sky's. Both drinking a mug of ale as they talked merrily. One had a main of black hair with some grey in it, a beard as well with braids in his hair. He had deep blue eyes that were relaxed for once at the moment, a fine jaw and strong nose. He wore a fine dark blue tunic with black pants and sturdy boots. He was significantly older then the other at the table, and radiated 'Royalty and Authority'. The other had shoulder length dark brow hair, some of it held back by a clip with runes engraved into them. Warm brown eyes that had a hint of mischief always present in them, a scruff of a beard and tan skin. Bearing resemblance to the first one, but unlike the other who seemed to rarely smile, he would just radiate joy. He wore a lighter shade of a blue tunic, dark brown pants with black boots. At the moment the two were waiting for the third member, to hear of the news of how their dear friends have been. Like they have been for the last few decades. The older of the two looked up, only to see the third member of their little trio walking over towards them.

"Anymore of that left?" the man said while pointing at the mugs as he sat down. The older one brought up another mug for him and slid it over. He caught it and murmured a thanks as he downed the drink.

"I take it she is not well then." he stated in a deep gruff voice. He was answered with a shake of his head, "Fili, What has happened to our little Bal?" he asked the blond.

Fili sighed but smiled. He loved how there was no more malice in his voice when he would speak of her now. "Gandalf fell." was all he said. He looked up to the other two and saw the sorrow fill their expressions at the news. He looked to the eldest of them with furrowed brows, "...she still blames herself for what happened to us. Balmung thought that I was a dream, and she said it was a cruel dream because she thought she was being tormented with seeing me! She said it was a reminder of what you told her uncle!" he sighed out while shaking his head at the words Balmung had said.

"But it wasn't her fault!" the younger of them said in disbelief. "She did all she could!"

"I know! Thats what I told her Kili!" Fili said in slight irritation before slumping into his chair.

"And what did she say to that?" Thorin asked as he rubbed his forehead.

"She said I was lying." Fili grumbled. Because he wasn't lying! He told her the truth of what they thought, but she just brushed it away! "stubborn dragon.." he muttered under his breath. He remembered as he watched her clean his sword and Kili's bow on the first week of the journey. She seemed so far away in thought as she did.

"Any other news?" Thorin asked after some silence. He quirked a brow when Fili shifted a bit and frowned deeply. "Fili?" he asked, he grumbled something. Thorin furrowed his brows in confusion since he didn't hear him. "I didn't catch that Fili. I'm not an elf."

sighing Fili sat up and looked into his folded hands, "...I think the human male, Aragorn I think his names is, she travels with has...Feelings...for Balmung." he sulked. Thorin raised both his eyebrows at this with Kili laughing loudly at him. "Shut up Kili!" he snarled as he punched him in the shoulder, "IT'S NOT FUNNY!"

"What do you mean?! ITS HISTERICAL!" Kili laughed out harder as he fell to the grassy floor, clutching his stomach and crying. "YOUR JEALOUSE!"

"NO ITS NOT! AND THERES GOOD REASON TO BE!" he defended himself. Thorin hummed in agreement with his older nephew.

"It is not easy to see your one with another, especially if the male harbors feelings, and not being able to do anything about it."

"Yes but that is not all," Fili's brows furrowed more,"Theres also another who's seems to fancy her."

"Oh Mahal, has she gotten that pretty?" Kili asked in wonder as he was able to stop laughing. He smirked as his brother nodded with a blush threatening to cross his face, "And who would the other mystery male be?"

"It's that elf from Mirkwood, Legolas." he growled. Kili stopped smiling at that and sat up in his chair frowning. Thorin's brows furrowed in irritation.

"I do not think now is the time to talk about Balmung's suitor's problems." Thorin said in a sigh, he watched as Kili patted Fili's shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Is there anything else of news?" he asked wanting to change the subject from his seething nephew. Fili thought about it for a moment, then a sparkle of glee came into his eyes.

"I saw Bilbo." he said with a grin. Thorin smiled, he lent forward with his hand folded in front, waiting for him to continue. "He's gotten old, still the same old hobbit we saw. Balmung does not live with him anymore, in fact she now resides in the black continent. She is no longer his heir to Bag-End because of that, he now has a new one. A Frodo Baggins. He's actually one of the companions on the quest that Balmung is on right now."

"She's on another Quest?" Kili asked curiously. "Whats it about this time?"

"Do you remember that ring that Bilbo had told us about? The one that makes him invisible?" he asked, they both nodded. "Yes, well it turns out that that was sauron's ring. So now their on a quest to destroy it in mordor." Fili grinned as he chuckled, "Gloins son, Gimli, is also one of the companions. Just as hardheaded as Gloin." he informed them as they all chuckled, the three went on like this for a good portion that Fili was there before it was decided that Thorin and Kili would join Fili in watching over Balmung.

Said dragon awoke early the next morning because of the nightmare she had. She didn't remember what it was about anymore, but had a feeling that she wouldn't want to. Getting up and stretching she turned to Narga, who awoke the same time as her, and climbed onto his back. "Come on Narga. We must go find the others." she yawned out. Narga made a growling noise before jumping back into the sky and flying back towards the group. As they flew she started to hum the misty mountain song under her breath, while looking up at the sky. There were a few stars still out, and as she looked at each constellation Balmung had found Durin's crown. The seven stars that were together, forming a crown that had belonged to Durin when he awoke. "Found it." she mumbled, then felt Narga start going towards the earth, she sighed at the short ride in the sky. She noticed that her companions were up and about, just starting to make breakfast in fact.

When she had touched the ground Aragorn was instantly next to her, giving her a startle, 'He is quick for a mortal.' she thought impressed by his speed from where the hobbits were to how he suddenly appeared in front of her in just a few strides. She opened her mouth to greet him a good morning but Aragorn her to it.

"Are you alright?" he asked as he examined her for any wounds that she could have gotten.

"Well, yes." she said confused, "Why would I not be?" she asked with a quirked eyebrow. Aragorn furrowed his eyebrows at her in his own silent confusion. "If this is about yesterday, then yes, I am fine Aragorn." she sighed out while crossing her arms.

"You were quiet for so long yesterday." he said as Balmung started to walk over to the group for food, Aragorn following next to her. "I-We-"he corrected quickly, "Were worried about you after you had stormed off." she scoffed with a smile tugging at the edge of her mouth. Their eyes met, making them pause in their steps, blue/green met with white/turquoise, holding their gaze for a few brief moment. Both seemed to have their gazes flicker subconsciously to the the others lips, making their heart's skip a beat before Balmung tore her eyes away. She briefly wondered what that was, she chalked it off as just the traces of a restless night. Aragorn wondered the same thing, he felt a tug in his chest. He briefly brought his hand up to where his heart was located with a confused face. Not knowing why it did that he completely dismissed it as they started to walk again.

"Aragorn, I am a woman. I do have things that I need to figure out by myself." she said and glanced at him, she chuckled at his raised eyebrows. "Aragorn, did you forget that I am a woman?" she said in a teasing tone. At that Aragorn's face flushed red, how could he have forgotten that she was a women after walking in on her naked. He started to fumble over his words slightly, making Balmung laugh as she put her hand on his shoulder. "I am teasing you Aragorn! If going by the reaction you and everyone else gave me when I was changing right in front of you, then I am very aware that you notice that I am a woman." she giggled as she reached the rest of her friends. Aragorn let out a breath of relief before chuckling himself and going to sit down next to her.

"Balmung?" Frodo asked as he came over to her as they walked. They had set out again after everyone was one eating towards Lothlorien, Haldir had said it would only be half a days journey to arrive or so. Balmung hummed as she looked down at the hobbit. "You said that you were raised by Bilbo. Correct?" he asked and she nodded her head. Cocking an eyebrow at him, wondering what he could be arriving at. "Right, well I was wondering if Bilbo still had the room in the west wing, the one across the spare, always locked or if it was opened when you lived in Bag-End."

"Bilbo locked that room? The one near the back door?" she questioned.

"Yes."

she chuckled as she nodded her head, "That was my room." she answered, "Why would he have locked my room?" she wondered in curiosity.

"I do not know," Frodo responded with a shrug, "but he would always tell me when I was a child that I was to never go in there-not that I could anyway." he admitted with a sigh before smiling. "I would always see Bilbo, when he thought I wasn't at home, look so far off when he would go up to the door..." he trailed off as he remembered how Bilbo would smile sadly as he reached out to touch the door. Some times Frodo would see him take out a key and seem to ponder whether or not to go in. Bilbo had actually opened the door once and went inside, he had quietly went up to the door frame and peeked in to see a room. A bed with light blue sheets, a fireplace at the end of the room next to the window, a giant hammer next to the wall, a dresser with small items: acorns, wilted flowers, toys, and a small jar. There was also a chest peeking out from the front of the bed. He watched Bilbo go slowly around the room, picking up some things and holding them fondly, chuckling and murmuring to himself. And finally he had sat on the bed as he pulled out a blue leather bound journal, flipping through the pages and smiling as he seemed to drift into a memory with small tears going down his face. Frodo had left after that, he already saw more then he meant to. After that, Bilbo had gone in once a month to make sure the place was clean. "...He said that he was waiting for someone to pay him a visit, and that he would unlock it when that person came. Now I know who it was and why I guess."

"Papa kept my room clean then?" she said softly, she had meant to go and visit him again. But she was forbidden from leaving her kingdom by the elders that 'Advised' the current ruler, and after her parents deaths she had to take over and was slumped with work. She sighed, "Frodo, would you mind horribly if I come to the shire and stay at Bag End for a few days?" she asked.

"Not at all." he said with a smile. It went silent after that as they crossed a bridge made of two ropes. Legolas and Balmung had easily crossed, along with the other elves, and waited for the rest to cross. But that was when the problem arose. Apparently, to Balmung's ire, it was agreed upon that Gimli was to be blindfolded as they walked the rest of the way. Needless to say both dragon and dwarf was furious about this.

"I will go forward free," Gimli said in a challenging tone, "Or I will go back and seek my own land, where I am known to be true of word, though I perish alone in the wilderness."

"You cannot go back." Haldir said sternly as his eyebrows furrowed in irritation that the dwarf was being stubborn. "Now you have come thus far, You must be brought before the lord and lady. They shall judge you, to hold you or to give you leave, as they will. You cannot cross the rivers again, and behind you there are now secret sentinels that you cannot pass. You would be slain before you saw them." Haldir ground out through grit teeth.

"Not if I go with him." Balmung snapped at him as she crossed her arms. At this Haldir looked at her, along with Legolas, as if she went crazy. "Gimli is an honorable dwarf, and I do not care if it is the laws that the lady of the forest has set, I will not let Gimli be blindfolded like some sort of criminal being led to the gallows!" she growled at them. 'I am sorry Galandriel, it would seem that we would have to speak to you another time.' she thought while staring at Haldir. She felt a hand pat her arm as she glanced down at Gimli, who had a grateful smile on his face, and gave her a nod. One which she returned before looking back at the elves. "And as for your sentinels, then no need to worry. I can smell them out. And this is no warning. It is a promise that I will not hesitate to slay them if they should do anything to Gimli." she threatened as Gimli drew his axe. That was all it took for the elves to draw their bows at them.

"Balmung!" Legolas said as he stepped between the two, grasping her shoulders so she would focus on him. "Balmung, stop this! Why must you fight against the laws here?!" he asked. "Please see reason!"

"Reason to what?!" Balmung snarled at him while smacking his hands off of her shoulder, Legolas seemed surprised by this for a moment before becoming irritated. "I do not see any 'Reason' in blindfolding Gimli! If you do not see a problem here then you have obviously forgotten how I was there when when you imprisoned my Friends!" Legolas growled in annoyance as he threw his arms up.

"You are still angry because of what happened to those dwarf's?" Legolas all but yelled as he grew more impatient and irritated that Balmung still defended the them. He never understood why she seemed to be friends with them! But that was mostly because he was brought up by his father to detests them. "Why do you always defend them so?!"

"Because you do not know them!"

At this Legolas scoffed in disgust, "I had known enough to have heard about what it is that dwarf-" he spat the word like a foul taste in his mouth "-said to you! I heard about how he has treated you In Rivendell once he found out what you were! And how you tried to-" but he was cut off when her hand came in contact with the left side of his face. Stunning the prince into silence, had Balmung just SLAPPED him?

"THAT DWARF HAS A NAME!" Balmung snarled at him as he turned his head back towards her. Usually Balmung would not been so furious over such comments to dwarfs, because face it, some DID prove true to not be trusted. But when he had mentioned her friends-THORIN of all dwarves!- and about that...particular incident that he had no right to bring up then saying she was livid with Legolas was far from the truth. If it was not for Legolas still being her friend, Even thats not looking like a possibility at the moment, then she would have probably ripped his throat out with her bare hands. He was lucky that she only put enough strength into her slap that it bruise for a long while. All the while the company was staring as they yelled at each other, the ones who understood the elvish language were interested and confused as to what exactly Legolas was talking about. And those who did not looked on frantically, not knowing what to do, as they saw the smolder seeping from Balmung's mouth while her ears starting to fold backwards. "His name was Thorin Oakenshield! And, despite what had happened, I held the utmost respect for him! In fact I still do! So unless you want both a woman's scorn with the Ire of a dragon upon you then do NOT say anything about Thorin Oakenshield or the company or so help me I will do more then just slap you! He was an honorable dwarf who risked his life for the good of his people, even go as far as to slay a dragon to reclaim their lost home, and deserves nothing but respect for it!" she narrowed her eyes further as the white of her eyes started sporting black spots, "HE was not the one who left a whole race to suffer the wrath of smaug's attack, having thousands, young and old alike, die from starvation or disease as they tried to find any who would help them."

His eyes widened at what she said, he was never very proud about what his father had decided when the dwarfs arrived in Mirkwood asking for aid and provision. His father would have probably helped if the dwarfs bothered to actually answer his questions and not be so damn stubborn. Then there was the whole incident in the first age between the two races, but would rather not think of that. "Balmung-" he started before gritting his teeth and clenching his hands in fury, at seeing that Balmung clenched and unclenched her hands, taking a threatening step forward, obviously she was not going to listen to him at the moment. "A plague on Both Dwarves and Dragons for their stiff necks!" Legolas growled out. Finally Aragorn decided to intervene, he pulled Balmung back and away behind him while giving a stern look to Legolas. She looked ready to strike him again.

"Come! If I am still to lead this company, you must do as I bid." he said before quickly turning to a fuming Balmung, "Balmung, please. Calm down, it will do you nor Gimli any good if you let your anger get the best of you!" he whispered, "Let me talk to them and get this straightened out, yes?" he asked as he waited. Balmung closed her eyes and took a deep breath before letting it out and nodding. Aragorn also nodded his head before turning back to Haldir. "It is hard upon the dwarf to be thus singled out. We will all be blindfold, even Legolas. That will be best, though it will make the journey slow and dull."

Gimli laughed suddenly, "A merry troop of fools we shall look! Will Haldir lead us all on a string, like many blind beggars with one dog? But I will be content, if only Legolas here shares my blindness." he then grinned at Balmung who had the corner of her mouth up in a taunting smile. "Do you not think so, Bal?" he asked, he did not know what was said when she and Legolas were arguing. But he caught the name of Thorin and quickly came to the conclusion that she was defending the dwarfs, he's always had an inkling of respect for her whenever he heard the story's about her from his father and uncle. Now it had grown ten-folds when he saw her defend his kin so adamantly when most would have only halfheartedly defended them.

"I think it is a fare agreement." she agreed stiffly. But Legolas did not.

"I am an Elf and a kinsman here!" he said, becoming angrier in his turn. Aragorn sighed as he turned to him.

"Now let us cry: 'A plague on the stiff necks of Elves!'" Aragorn said pointedly, "But the company shall all fare alike. Come, bind our eyes Haldir!" he prompted him with a wave of his hand. And after much complaints from Legolas they had started to move again. Treading carefully in a single file line as Haldir was in front of the line with the other elfs in the back. The front half of the line consisted of Aragorn, Balmung, Gimli, and Frodo. The other half was Sam-Right behind Frodo -Merry, Pippin, Legolas- The elves decided that it was probably wise to not have Balmung and Legolas near each other at the moment- and then finally Boromir. As they walked Legolas kept brooding about missing the colors of the trees and the beautiful forest.

Currently Balmung had been grumbling under her breath about the stubbornness of the elf near the end of their line with a few choice words. She felt Aragorn grab her hand and give it a squeeze to get her attention. She stopped muttering death threats and turned her head towards Aragorn's direction. "Yes Aragorn?" she questioned after a few moments of silence, 'When did he grab my hand anyway?' she thought, also mildly wondering how long he was holding it making her heart flutter for some odd reason.

"Do you want to talk about that?"

"Talk about what?" she asked, feinting ignorance.

"Talk about why you slapped Legolas."

"Legolas was being an arse." she huffed out.

"Bal." Aragorn said in a warning tone, hearing her let out another huff. "I will not press what that was about if you do not want to speak of it, but know that I am here should you need to talk." he sighed out.

"hm." she hummed, then slightly smiled as she remembered something. "I thank you Aragorn. And I may tell you my good sir, IF you still hold up your end of the bargain to answer my questions truthfully. After all, I never got the chance to ask when we had left into the mines of Moria, and it is only fair that you do since I have answered about my and Bilbo's relationship." she said while shrugging her shoulders, and laughed when she heard an exaggerated sigh.

"Ah, I was hoping you had forgotten about that." he mumbled with a smile. "Very well, then. But let us question and bother each-other of our personal life when we arrive at Lothlorien, after resting and eating, for now let us talk of other things."

"And what, may I ask, do you want to talk about?" she questioned in amusement.

"Oh, I am sure that we can find something to speak about. Like say, I ask you a question then you ask one and so forth." he explained, "Here is my first question, are you really not affected by the lust for gold?" he asked with laugh when he felt Balmung slap his arm. "It is a valid question that I am curious about."

"Yes it is true. I am no treasure dragon. I find no interest in gold, for it is useless to me. The only reason I would ever have it is to melt down into raw material for forging a weapon or armor." she answered truthfully, "My question is, why you have decided to be holding my hand prisoner in your own?" Balmung asked teasingly while griping his hand lightly, then it disappeared from her grasp making her furrow her brows in confusion. She could not see it due to the blindfold but Aragorn's face was sporting a tint of blush.

"I am sorry, I did not mean to make you uncomfortable."

"You did not," Balmung said while reaching back out and taking his hand in hers again, "I find it pleasant to know where you are so I do not accidentally bump into you. Now answer the question dear son of man."

he was quiet for sometime, thinking on why he did have the need to hold her hand while making patterns on the back of her hand with his thumb. At first it was just to make sure she didn't kill Legolas and calm her nervs. And he should have let go after she did calm down, but he didn't really want to. He felt something warm in his chest when Balmung said that she did not mind the contact, and wondered why he had that warm feeling when he is near Balmung since it's only ever happened around Arwen. The thought of Arwen made him become slightly sullen, having to let her go with the rest of her kin to the undying lands. "...I think it is so I do not have to worry about you-" just then Balmung let out a surprised yelp as she tripped on a root, stumbling into him and almost dragged him to the floor if he didn't put his foot forward to steady them. He snickered, "well, tripping. But it seems I finished too late since it has happened anyway."