The next morning I awoke with a crick in my neck, a bruise I could feel forming on my thigh and a dry throat. But all that fizzled away when Kili moved in his sleep under me. I'd stayed resting right beside him with my head on his chest the entire night, sleeping so heavily I didn't even move! He breathed steadily, his breath hitting my neck and travelling down my spine as he muttered in his sleep. Totally incoherent but adorable none the less, I giggled as he spoke nonsense and cuddled myself into him a little more.
I heard some of the others stirring and prayed we wouldn't have to leave yet, I could happily stay cuddled up to Kili all day. But Fili rolled over on the other side of Kili and grinned sleepily.
"Well aren't you two adorable?" He asked rhetorically, winking as I glared at him. Kili muttered louder, his hand moved over my hip, tightening a little as he woke. I peaked up at him, his tired eyes found mine and couldn't stop the smile that took over my face.
"Shut up, Fili. Or I'll start singing again." If I was standing my knees would have gone weak at that voice, sure Kili's voice was gorgeous normally, but first thing in the morning it was so deep and husky I had rethink the words he'd actually said as Fili laughed.
"God no." I whispered.
"Hey!" He nudged me while Fili laughed more, standing up and going to irritate Gloin by the looks of it.
"Come on, Princey-Poohs up we get." I sat up, pulling him with me. He let me drag him upright but then let his body lull against me, sniggering as he did.
"I don't want to, Es." He winged, falling back onto the floor like a stroppy teenager.
"Fine, I'll go find breakfast with Fili." I grinned sweetly before jumping up and skipping off towards Fili with a giggle as I heard him scramble up from the ground.
Quicker than I'd seen him move in a while he was up and behind me, wrapping as arms around my stomach he pulled me back into his chest.
"Oh no you're not." He whispered in my ear, with his deep morning voice, his lips brushed against my ear sending a butterfly shiver down my spine to the pit of my stomach. Luckily he didn't seem to notice my involuntary twitch as he let go but grabbed my hand and pulled me into the forrest my heart hammer in my chest as I stumbled after him, for once trying to look as elegant as at least the clumsiest elf and failing miserably.
Kili's POV
The past 2 weeks had been the longest 2 weeks of my life. When we first got separated from Eska I wasn't too worried, and the worry I felt I hid, knowing she'd reflect the way I acted, the odd thing. Then the rest of us were spread out through the dungeon and the only person within talking distance was Bofur, although he had kept me good company for the duration of the 2 weeks.
After 4 days I was panicking, none of us had come up with a way out, apparently. The way we were spread out through the dungeon was that we could at least hear one of the others, we had to communicate in a chain, that was how we found out Thorin was safe, unharmed and well fed, putting some of my worry to rest.
But none of us knew where they'd taken Es, and that worried me more than my own fate did. What if they thought she was the weak link because she's a girl? What if the reason they weren't questioning us more, torturing us for the answers to their questions was because they were getting it from her? But Bofur spent a long time assuring me they wouldn't hurt her, although they were keeping us prisoner they won't hurt us, he believed they were gentle and were just worried and suspicious of us and were only keeping us so they could find out our plans, not that we'd tell them of course.
For some reason, after about 10 days I believed him, but I still missed her. Those gorgeous midnight blue eyes, her long, thick black curls that just got bigger and curler when she couldn't wash it. And that smile, that bright smile that was so contagious I'd noticed even Thorin couldn't stop himself grinning when she laughed. As sappy and ridiculous as it sounds, thinking of her helped me from going insane those 2 weeks.
I could have kissed Bilbo when he found us, he said he knew where Eska was, but she was the other side of the town, so he took us to the barrel storage and went back to get her. After 2 weeks, all I wanted to do when I first heard her again was kiss her, wrap her in my arms and go. To be honest I was losing the will to carry on with the quest. But I would stick to my word and help Uncle and Fili and the others to reclaim our home. Really all I wanted to do was run away with her, away from all the danger that I could never seem to protect her from, and make her mine.
And that was another thing I'd thought far too much about in the 2 weeks. Making her mine, and not in the matrimonial way. All I could think about was her in the elvish dress she wore all that time ago, still fresh in my mind. But the…not so majestic side of me couldn't stop thinking about her out of the dress. My imagination ran wild with all things I thought about her doing. I know I shouldn't think that way, she's a soft, beautiful woman that deserves to be treated with complete respect. But out of all the girls I've known, none of them have ever driven me to think about them so graphically, even I was embarrassed about the things I thought of doing to her, to that body. Gods, maybe I had gone mad in the prison.
Those thoughts made me almost dread seeing her, thinking I'd struggle to control myself around her, but as soon as I saw her I was calm again, I didn't even know I wasn't calm, but the sight of her soothed me and I couldn't stop myself going to her, but stopping myself from touching her in case I couldn't resist dragging her to the nearest empty room and locking the door.
And now I was pulling her through the forest in search for food, she kept tripping and I did try my best not to laugh at her lack of co-ordination.
"You know what I was thinking?" I asked as we slowed down, strolling through the quiet tree's.
"That you could also eat a big piece of steak and a mountain of chips right now?" She grumbled sighing at the thought.
"No." I laughed at her. "But that would be better than whatever we find out here." I sneered at the berry bush she'd found, causing her to do that gorgeous giggle as she picked the fruit off the bush. "No, I was thinking we should train you for distance archery."
"Distance archery?" She asked stopping and staring at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, so you can shoot things further away." I shrugged, kneeling next to her to help with the berries.
"So I can be further away from the fight more like." Shit. How was she this beautiful and clever?!
"No-no I just…"
"Kili, I can fight." She said as if she'd already told me a million times.
"Doesn't mean you should."
"But I want to."
"Eska." I whined stopping and turning to look into her eyes. I knew she could, she was more than capable of holding her own, but I'd already almost lost her too many times. She just partially glared at me, but I could see the smile playing at those perfect pink lips.
"How do you know I can't already fire a long distance arrow?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow and grinning mischievously as she popped a berry into her mouth. That feeling in the bottom of my stomach caused an internal spasm and I had to look away from her.
"I don't, but I'm just assuming, of course being a girl means you only know the basics." I shrugged, peaking up at her as she gawped and nudged me, causing me to fall to the side with a laugh.
"Hey! I take that as a challenge." She stood and wiped her hands on her dress.
"Good, it was intended that way." I stood up too standing at least 6 inches taller than her, she had to look up through those thick dark lashes at me. All the while glaring playfully.
"What's the challenge then?" She asked, crossing her arms, I thought for a while watching her as I did.
"Did you see the bridge down the river from were we slept?"
"Is that what that big wooden structure is?" She said dumbly, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, well done you're learning." I patted her head, making her glare more. "I'll go put some pinecones on it, first one to hit one wins."
"And what's the prize if I win?" She asked, stepping closer. I was itching to reach out and touch her but I stopped myself.
"I will buy you dinner when we reach the next friendly town." That's a good offer, right?
"At an Inn?" She asked curiously.
"Of course, dessert and all." She grinned up at me.
"Oh you do spoil me, Sir!" She giggled and turned skipping back towards the camp.
"Hey, wait!" I shouted after, catching up. "What's my prize if I win?"
"You won't win." She shrugged and carried on. "But on the off chance that you do, I'll give you a kiss." She said carrying on. I stopped in my tracks. Did she just say what I thought she did?
"A what?" My voice betrayed me as it came out sounding like a prepubescent teen dwarf whose voice was part way through breaking. Wonderful! She just giggled, looking over her shoulder as I tried to recompose myself.
"A kiss. But you're not going to win." She said smugly. This sudden confidence she'd found in herself was so bad for my self control, every word she was saying made me want her more and she knew it! She was playing on it! Gods, she's a minx! I smiled to myself.
"Oh I am definitely going to win now." I hurried up and walked with her back to camp.
When we got there Eska told everyone about our challenge, Thorin in particular gave me a look that pretty much said 'If you lose to a girl, you're out of the family.'
"Now this is going to be good." Fili grinned, throwing an arm around my shoulder as he walked with me to the bridge, it was quite a long way away, I'm not even sure I could hit it.
"Yeah, especially with the stakes she's set." I rubbed my neck, suddenly wanting to win even more as I looked back at her laughing with Bofur.
"What are they?" He asked, raising a quizzical eyebrow as I chucked the pinecones around.
"If she wins I'm taking her out for dinner." Fili stopped, putting his arm out to stop me too.
"You've started courting her?" He asked excitedly.
"No, no, it's just dinner."
"Of course, and you'll treat her to…dessert, yes?" He winked and hurried ahead, knowing I'd hit him for his crudeness.
"Fili!" I caught up and swatted his head. "No, well yes," I started and he looked at me in shock. "but not that kind of dessert, you foul sod!" I said quickly, making him laugh.
"And if you win?"
"She'll kiss me." I said nervously.
"And you're worried about that?!" He laughed, I just gave him my best black look as he stopped himself laughing.
"Well kind of, but I just really don't want to lose, so I'm nervous about the actual competition now." I stuttered out, what the hell is wrong with me!? I've kissed dozens of girls, gone a hell of a lot further too, so why am I so nervous about a simple kiss from Eska? But I knew really, it's because I've never had real feelings for any of the other girls I've been with.
"Just relax little brother, you'll win either way."
"How?" We'd reached the bridge and were now lining the pinecones up, far enough apart.
"Well," he started, leaning against a post. "If you win you get a kiss, right?" I nodded. "And if you lose you get to take her out for dinner, alone, just the two of you, in a romantic setting, alone, drinking wine, alone."
"Alright, alright! Gods, I get it, we'll be alone!" I laughed, starting back towards the others.
"Well, you know, it's not like you've exactly had a lot of alone time together." He shrugged, kicking the dusty soil. "But it's a win win situation either." He shrugged as we got closer.
"But you are going to have to tell me every detail of the date if there is one."
"What are you, a girl?"
"You know me, can't go a day without a little gossip." He did a high pitched giggle and spoke like a girl, making me laugh.
"So." Eska grinned, strolling over to me, bow and arrows in hand. "You ready to get beaten by a woman." The others 'oohed' at her comment.
"A woman!?" I scoffed dramatically. "You're barely out of school." I grabbed my bow and arrow as Bofur laughed, the others all watched us, even Thorin and Gloin looked interested in our little contest.
"Says the dwarf who has less facial hair than a new born dwarfing." She grinned, as the others all laughed.
"Are we going to continue talking, or are you going to draw an arrow?" I smiled at her playfully and aimed for a pinecone at the end of the line. They were so far away I could barely make out the outline of it. "Fili, count us down?"
"Ready Eska?" Fili asked, standing oddly close behind me.
"Ready."
"Kili ar-"
"Just go, Fili." I sighed.
"3." I pulled the bow tighter, the wind was deceiving, it seemed lighter than it really was, but it would pull my arrow to the left so I aimed further across to the right.
"2….1!" As he hit 1 I released my arrow, but something knocked the end of my bow, I mentally cursed my luck as I watched Eska's arrow sail towards the one of the pinecones, knocking it into the water the other side of the bridge, whereas mine flew up too high, lodging into the bridge railing.
I turned around, looking to see what knocked my bow, only to find my brother, standing grinning at me cheekily.
"Fili! I would have hit one!" I started quietly as Eska and the others celebrated her win.
"Look, I'm just speeding up the courtship that you two have been stupidly avoiding entering for too long now. Just think of me as your very own cupid." He winked, hitting my arm and walking over to congratulate Eska who was smiling victoriously, if losing meant I'd get to see that smile more I'd lose every competition against her.
Gods, am I getting sappy!
Eska's POV
"You lost!" Bofur laughed as we started off again. We'd eaten breakfast, a barely nutritional meal of berries and nuts. Delicious! The path past the bridge was wider and clearly more used, which meant we were at least getting closer to civilisation, well one that hopeful won't lock us away from each other for the next few weeks! I smiled as we walked, the sun was shining through the leaves in the trees, a soft breeze traveling down with the river on our right. This part of the forest was beautiful.
Apparently everyone found it greatly amusing that Kili had lost to a girl younger than him. Bofur kept giggling and shaking his head while the others kept making witty remarks.
"Highlight of the journey!"
"Best thing I've seen in a long time!"
"But you never lose at archery!" Dori laughed.
"Yes I lost, shut up." Kili groaned, I highly doubt they'd let him live it down anytime soon. But weird thing is I know he could make the shot. He was much better than I was, I hadn't even aimed it right I could have sworn I was going to lose. But he did! What if it was intentional? What if he didn't really want to kiss me? No, no that can't be true I mean he'd pretty much lost his composure when I said that would be his prize for winning. Which was pretty funny and incredible good for my dwindling ego. Don't even ask where my courage had come from for that! It just kind of sprung up after seeing him for the first time in weeks.
"Oh Princey-Poohs, it's ok, there'll be other chances to win something." I patted his shoulder causing him to pull a childish face.
"Oh don't you start." He grumbled but smiled anyway. "I've got to take you out for dinner now."
"Oh and you sound so excited about it! " We both laughed a little as the others stopped their teasing, for now at least. "I'm going to eat everything."
"That makes two of us." He did that stupidly adorable grin. "Although it'll probably cost half my share of the treasure but I don't care as long as I don't have to any more damn berries!"
"Not even in a nice fruit pie?"
"No way. My Mother ruined pies for me." He made a sour face.
"I thought you never ate the pies she made?"
"Oh no, I never ate the apple pies, I was her pie sampler for years after Fili's reaction to the apple pies. Berry, Honey Cream, Potato, Chicken, Steak, Lamb. All disgusting." I smiled to myself as he listed them off, sounding more disgusted with every one. "My Mother's an angel, but she can't cook to save her life."
"You missed out Egg." Thorin added, causing both the brother to simultaneously shudder. I looked over at Thorin who poked his tongue out and grimaced.
"Egg?!"
"Yes she likes to experiment does our dear Mother." Kili laughed.
"Egg was the worst." Thorin groaned with a reminiscent smile.
"No, no, no, Uncle." Fili started. "I think that award goes to cheese, pickle and herring." To that they all made various horrified faces.
"I had tried to forget that one."
"It was the sizes of the blasted things!"
"Honestly Eska, you should have seen it." Thorin nudged me.
"Bad huh?"
"We'd each get near enough a mountain of the stuff and we'd have to pretend to like it!" He said like an outraged teenager. "She'd sit there, watching each of us with those eagle eyes, making sure each of us finished every bit of it." Thorin smiled at his nephews, genuinely and brightly. It was refreshing seeing this calm relaxed talkative side of Thorin. He never just chatted with us. Normally just walking on at the front of the group, being broody and mysterious and grumpy. I tried to imagine Thorin, Fili and Kili sitting around a table with giant servings of pie that they forced themselves to eat.
"Remind me to never take you there for dinner." Kili whispered, his hand pressed softly against the small of my back as his voice turned my leg to jelly. And his damn words! The simple thought of him thinking of taking me to his Mother's house for dinner made my heart beat with excitement and nerves. I decided to go along with it.
"Only if you remind me to never let you cook. You may have inherited your Mother's skills." I poked his chest after whispering back. He looked down at me with a kind of smile he'd never given me before, it was soft and caring. I could definitely get use to that smile.
"Well of course I'd never cook. You're the woman, aren't you?" He stroked a finger down my cheek as if he'd said something loving and hurried over to Fili before I even worked out what he'd said.
Dumb Bastard.
I know, its kind of rubbish, but I like it as an in-betweenie chapter, I don't think there was nearly enough dialogue in 'The Hobbit' book, and I like conversation, so I've added heaps more in.
I think there's going to be about 40 chapters, give or take a few, so we're only just half way there, and I'm so sorry its such a slow process!
AND I've changed the title because I'm considering a sequel, however everything turns out after the 'Battle of the Five Armies.' there may be one, but I'm not sure, what do you guys think? Yes? No? Forget about the whole thing cause it's a stupid idea? Give me your opinions, please!
Thanks for the feedback, it's brilliant as ever, you wonderful people!