Firstly, I apologize for taking a little while with my update. I had finals last week and life's just been crazy!

Secondly, I do hope that people aren't losing interest in this story...I noticed that the last chapter didn't get as many views or reviews...I'm kinda starting to wonder a bit... :P

Thirdly, I realized that there are 9 chapters (10, including this one) that take place in Rivendell...I know I've kept the company there a long time and it might be dragging a bit, but don't worry, I promise that I have just one more chapter after this one in Rivendell and then the story will move on! The company will finally be leaving the city! Just continue to bear with me! xP

With that being said, let us carry on...! :)

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The next morning, Fili told Kili and Aira what had happened with him and Maori the previous night right up to before their first kiss. He wanted that to be a bit more of a surprise. Aira had once again spent the night with Kili, so they both were there when they awoke that morning for Fili to tell them. To say that they were excited would have been an understatement.

"I'm so glad you made amends with her, brother!" Kili cried out, pulling him into his embrace.

"I told you everything would be all right!" Aira added, patting him on the back.

"But wait: there's more," said Fili. Once he made sure they were both listening, he simply told them, "Before we parted ways last night, I kissed her."

Kili's eyes widened and Aira gasped, bringing her hands over her mouth. Fili couldn't tell if she was shocked with concern or with gladness. Honestly, she couldn't tell herself; she wanted to wait and hear the rest before she said anything.

Fili went on, "I felt the urge to kiss her and I started to give in to it, but then I stopped myself and apologized. However, to my surprise, she said she wanted me to…so I gladly obliged!"

A huge smile spread on Aira's face as she let out a loud, ecstatic shriek and jumped onto Fili, throwing her arms tightly around his neck and making him stumble back a bit. He and Kili laughed at her excitement.

"Oh, Fili, I'm so happy for you!" she exclaimed. "I knew she wouldn't turn you away so easily!"

When she let him go, Kili gave him a devious look and asked, "So…how was it?"

Fili smirked back at him, knowing his younger brother would ask such a question. "It was wonderful," he replied. "I didn't expect Maori to want me to kiss her so soon, but the fact that she did made it even better. It was just one kiss, but, by Mahal, I have never experienced anything like it."

Both Aira and Kili smiled cheerfully.

He kept talking, "The moment it happened, there was this rush of warmth that ran through my whole body unlike anything I've ever felt and it was…amazing! I'm almost certain she felt it, too, because she immediately kissed me back. It was…just unbelievable!"

Another high-pitched squeal escaped Aira's mouth.

Kili let out a hearty laugh and hugged Fili tightly, feeling very happy for him.

"I understand now, Kili," Fili whispered in his ear.

He smiled, knowing exactly what his brother was talking about.

Aira was smiling hugely and giggling lightly to herself. She was so overjoyed for Fili, not just because he had reconciled with Maori, but also because she was excited to hear that a possible romance was blossoming between him and her best friend. She could see how happy Fili was now and that made her just as happy.

"You see? I told you Maori fancied you!" she said to him.

Fili grinned at her. "I never doubted you, sweet sister," he responded, pulling her into a quick group embrace with him and Kili.

When they all pulled apart, Aira told Fili, "If only you could've seen how she looked at you when she first spotted you sparring or heard the things she said about you."

"What did she say?"

"Well, I asked her, when we got there, if she could spot which two of the Dwarves were you two, having told her much about the both of you. Maori was able to spot you both right away. She described Kili as the 'handsome, dark-haired one with no beard' and then you as the 'dashing, blonde one with the interesting lip-braids'."

Fili grinned enormously at that.

Kili, however, let out an upset gasp. "Fili gets 'dashing' and all I get is 'handsome'?" he asked, pretending to be offended.

Aira raised her eyebrows at him. "And why are you so worried about what another woman thinks of you?" she asked back, teasing.

"Well, I'm much more handsome than Fili!"

"In your dreams, Kee!" Fili said back to Kili, giving him a gentle smack on the arm.

"You both are very handsome lads," said Aira. Then she looked to Kili and told him, "If it makes you feel better, when I told her the dark-haired one was you; the Prince I was in love with, she gave me a very approving look and said, 'A very excellent choice!'"

That made Kili smirk gladly.

"But, then again…part of me thinks that maybe she only said that because she was relieved that the Prince she was clearly attracted to wasn't the one I was with…!"

Both the Princes chuckled and the Princess did, too.

Just then, there was a soft knock at the door. Kili was the one to tell whoever was on the other side to come in. The door opened and they all saw Maori stick her head inside.

Fili's heart jumped up into his throat as he saw her.

"Good morning, everyone," she said.

"Good morning," they all replied in unison.

"Did you all sleep well?"

"Yes, yes, we did," Kili responded.

Maori soon found Fili gazing at her and she smiled shyly at him. "Hello, Fili," she simply said to him.

"Hello, Maori," Fili replied.

The two of them just stared at each other, grinning timidly like little children.

Both Aira and Kili noticed this, exchanged a look and rolled their eyes at Fili and Maori's bashfulness. They weren't going to get anywhere if they kept gawking at each other like shy, love-sick puppies!

"Oh, for Durin's sake! Maori, get in here!" Aira cried out in an impatient yet glad voice, motioning for her best friend to come to them.

Maori obeyed and entered the room, carefully making her way over to stand between Aira and Fili.

"You know, we actually were just talking about you," Aira said to her as she put an arm around her shoulders.

"Oh, were you, now?" Maori asked curiously.

"Oh, yes! Fili was telling us how you two made amends last night and…are getting along quite well, if I remember correctly." Aira gave her friend a very devious smirk, hinting she knew about what had happened.

Maori blushed a deep red and stole a glance at Fili, who was also blushing. Normally, neither of them were ever this shy about this sort of thing, but for some reason, they now were and they couldn't explain why. Maori knew that Aira would tease her about this if Fili said anything, which she expected him to, so she just laughed.

"Yes, I would say we are…and I'm very glad for that," she said, smiling at Fili.

He gave her a smile back, took her hand in his, leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, which earned a giddy squeal from Aira and a teasing laugh from Kili while pointing at them.

"Oh, shut it!" Fili cried out, feeling slightly embarrassed, while Maori just giggled.

Kili then said, invitingly, "Maori, we were all thinking of taking a walk in the gardens this morning. You should join us!"

She was glad to receive such an invitation, but, opposite of her initial answer, she began to protest. "Oh, no, I couldn't," she said, holding up her hands. "I don't want to intrude on your time together."

"We've had years of time with just the three of us!" said Aira. "Adding one more person to spend time with us will not hurt, in the least."

"And any friend of Aira's is a friend of ours," Kili said, pointing between him and Fili and giving Maori a reassuring grin. Then he motioned to his brother with his eyes and said, "Besides, I know Fili would be very happy to have you along."

Fili just grinned and shook his head. "I'm never going to live this down…!" he thought in a pleasant way.

Maori felt flattered by Kili's remarks. She remembered Aira telling her on multiple occasions how much of a sweetheart Kili was and now she could see for herself just how true it was. "Well…if you insist!" she finally conceded. "I would love to join you all on a walk in the gardens."

"Splendid!" Kili exclaimed, throwing his arms up and overdramatizing it all.

Aira jumped forward, grabbing Maori's hand before turning back to the brothers. "I'm going to go change out of my nightdress first. Maori and I will come get you two when we're ready."

She gave Kili a quick kiss before turning to leave, pulling her friend right behind her.

"Well, don't I get a kiss, too?"

Both Maori and Aira stopped, giggling together at Fili's not-so-subtle and rather cheeky question. They both just knew that they wouldn't be able to leave without him saying anything. The two ladies stole a glance at each other, both of them of them grinning from ear to ear. Aira gave Maori a look that said, "You might as well."

Maori turned back around and walked back to Fili, who was looking rather pleased with himself for getting her to come back. Seeing this cocky look on his face, she figured she couldn't let him get what he wanted so straightforwardly, so she came up with a simple idea to tease him a little. She went up to him and barely brushed her lips just across his cheek and turned to walk away, smirking to herself.

Fili gasped. "Aw, you've got to be—"

He was cut short when Maori, still smirking, quickly whipped around, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and yanked him forward so their lips crashed together. She let them linger there for a moment, surprising him and Kili at how forward she just was.

Aira, on the other hand, was standing there grinning and thinking, "That's the Maori I know!"

Maori pulled away from Fili and asked him, "Now, is that better?"

"Much…," Fili breathed out, still wide-eyed and trying to set his mind straight again after it went mad from Maori's kiss.

Satisfied, Maori went back to Aira and the two of them left the Princes alone in their room.

"She seems like quite a keeper, Fee!" Kili stated to his dazed brother.

"So it would seem…," Fili responded as he raised a hand up to his grinning mouth, the warmth of her lips still lingering and tingling on his, and still staring in the direction of the door at the place where Maori had been only seconds ago.

Kili continued to watch his brother, amused at the trance he had fallen into. It was amazing just how strong of a hold Maori had over him in such a short amount of time. The way he kept lightly touching his lips and stared at the door really made Kili think he was under a love spell.

"Maori certainly has bewitched you," he said to Fili, making him snap back to reality. "And I thought Aira was the Dwarf Witch."

Fili bobbed his head and said in reply, "Well, it would appear she had a novice!"

The brothers just laughed.

"What is going on with you?" Aira cried out through a light laugh as she and Maori reached her room and shut the door behind them. "You are normally never shy, especially around men! But then, after last night…something's changed you, Maori!"

Maori just nodded. "Fili is what's changed me," she answered. "The way he makes me feel is unlike anything I've ever known."

Aira could feel her smile grow bigger and bigger as Maori continued to talk.

"You know that I'll flirt endlessly with other men, but I've never had serious feelings for one before. Then I meet Fili…and within seconds, my whole world has changed. Suddenly, I'm shy and giddy around him all at the same time. When he first kissed my hand yesterday, my heart stopped!

"After I left him in the stables, I didn't stay away from the city all day because I was mad at him; I stayed away because I was mad with myself. I knew I had overreacted and feared that I had forfeited any chance I could've had with Fili. And then, our kiss…." Maori smiled and sighed dreamily. "Oh, Aira, when he kissed me, I thought my heart was going to burst from my chest! I've never wanted anyone to kiss me so much like I did with him then. It was just wonderful!"

By this time, Aira's smile had grown so large she thought her face was going to split. She had never seen her friend so happy and excited and that filled her with absolute joy. Not just for Maori, but for Fili, too, knowing that he was feeling the same way. The two of them were absolutely perfect for each other! Aira felt even more grateful that they came to Rivendell. If they hadn't, Fili never would've met the perfect woman nor would Maori have met her Prince.

"Aira, can I ask you something, even if it's a little silly?" Maori asked.

"Of course, Maori," Aira answered.

"Is it possible—" Maori stopped, thinking of a better way to word her question. Then she proceeded to say, "I know it's only been a day and much too soon for this, normally, but…do you think I'm in love with Fili?"

That was certainly something Aira had thought about since Maori had first noticed Fili in the sparring area. She couldn't help but grin. Somehow she knew Maori would ask that question at some time. But she didn't know all that much about love. What answer could she give without discouraging her or encouraging her to take things too fast?

Just as this question entered her mind, a memory came to her of something a wise woman in her life had once told her. It was the perfect answer.

Aira clasped Maori's hand reassuringly. "I am no expert in love, but someone I know is, more than I. I'm going to tell you something that Thorin's sister; Fili and Kili's mother, Dis, told me once a long time ago. She said, 'Love can come to you in two different ways: it can come fast as light or sure and steady like the beginning of a midsummer's rain. Whichever way it chooses to bestow itself upon you, it is for eternity.' It well may be that, for you, love has come to you faster than normal, if you really think it's love you feel."

"I cannot be certain," said Maori, "but yet I can't think of any other explanation." She thought back to what Aira said Dis had told her. "And Dis sounds like a wise woman, indeed," she said to her friend, starting to feel a bit better.

Aira nodded, remembering the only Dwarf woman she had ever known as a mother. She missed her very much and it was sad to think that Dis still didn't know what had become of her since she never made it back to the Blue Mountains before going to Hobbiton.

She looked back to Maori. "I would just advise you to be careful and not rush things," she said. "While I do believe Fili may just possibly feel the same way, or is on his way to that point, you can never be too careful."

Maori gave Aira a grateful smile. "I will remember that. Thank you, Aira!"

Aira smiled back. "What are friends for?"

The ladies joined up with the Princes shortly and then departed for the beautiful gardens of Imladris. The trees and flowers were all in full bloom and all their different colors were quite vibrant in the morning sun. If they hadn't thought Rivendell was beautiful before, they certainly did now. It didn't matter to any of them that it was an Elven city; that didn't deteriorate from the fact that it was a wondrous place.

The two young couples were in complete delight as the morning drew on. Aira, Kili, Maori and Fili simply talked the time away as they walked among and sat in the gardens together, laughing and telling stories. Mostly it consisted of Fili and Kili asking Maori questions and she would ask the two of them questions in return, wanting to get to know each other better.

For Fili and Maori, this time together was perfect. They didn't mind that Aira and Kili were with them; they were still together and they knew that, to an extent, they didn't need to be shy to each other in front of the other two. They were beginning to get used to their newfound attachment. They had held hands during the walk and, as the four young people sat and talked, Maori sat close to Fili, laced her arm underneath his and rested her head on his shoulder. The way her head fit in the crook in his neck was practically perfect, like two pieces of a puzzle that were made to fit together. Both Maori and Fili enjoyed that feeling immensely.

The both of them, as well as Aira and Kili, who were both constantly thrilled with excitement, could tell that this was the start of something grand.

Later that day, when the four young people joined back up with the rest of the company for the afternoon meal, who all insisted that Maori join them, Kili raised an interesting question to the group:

"Why is it that Thorin and Maori are the only ones here that have Dwarven surnames? How come the rest of us don't have any?"

"Surnames are given the same way that swords are named: for the great deeds that Dwarves do in war," answered Balin after taking a sip of wine. "That is how Thorin got the name 'Oakenshield', the story of which, you already know. Although, there are times where the names are given based upon a Dwarf's occupation or skills, such as Maori's name, 'Irondelver', because of her great-great-grandfather's occupation as a blacksmith and a miner."

"Are there other ways to get a surname other than that?" asked Aira.

Oin shifted his ear trumpet and said in response, "They can be passed down as a family name, like Maori's, or, in some few cases, they can be given based on a Dwarf's personality or physical appearance."

Kili's lips spread into a smirk and he stole a look over at Dwalin. "So I guess I can start calling you 'Dwalin Baldhead'," he teased.

Everyone snickered at that, even Thorin. They all expected Dwalin to snap back at the young Prince, but instead he smirked at him in return and said, wittily, "Try it and see what happens, 'Kili No-Beard'!"

A chorus of "Oh's" and hearty laughs sounded from everyone at Dwalin's clever comeback. Nori and Aira were pointing jesting fingers at Kili, knowing the older Dwarf had him beat.

Kili's face scrunched up as he pretended to be hurt by Dwalin's remark. "Oh, that was below the belt!" he cried out in mock pain before succumbing to his own laughter.

"So how come no one else has a name?" asked Fili. "Most of us here have been in battle and have done great things."

"Some of us just don't want one," Gloin said in response.

Bofur then chimed in, "It doesn't make you any less of a Dwarf if you don't have another name."

Bilbo, who, all the while, had been sitting quietly and listening to the conversation, suddenly had a thought. He got it when he had watched Aira laughing at Kili a minute before. "Can Dwarf women be given surnames?" he inquired.

The Dwarves all looked at him curiously before Balin replied, "They can, yes. Not always for battle reasons, since most women don't fight in war, but yes."

Satisfied, Bilbo looked over at Aira and stated to everyone while keeping his eyes on her, "I think Aira should be given a surname!"

This took Aira by surprise and she gave the Hobbit an interesting look. But before she could say anything, all the other Dwarves began to shout and voice their agreements with Bilbo's suggestion. While she thought the whole idea was a bit random, and honestly was perfectly content with 'Oakenshield' being her given surname, she agreed to let them choose a name for her.

At first, she started to wish she hadn't because the names the others were coming up with for her were ridiculous.

Kili insisted her name be "Beautiful-Eyes", but that, not even being a Dwarven name, earned a lot of disgusted groans from the others, Aira included, despite his attempt to be his usual charming self.

Dori suggested "Wargslayer" for her deeds before their arrival in Rivendell, but Aira didn't really want a name with the word "Warg" in it.

Bifur, in Khuzdul, naturally, said her name should be "Stonewill" because she was a strong-willed girl, and, while Aira appreciated that, it just didn't sit well with her.

Just then, Dwalin pounded a fist into the table, his eyes wide and proud. "I've got it!" he exclaimed when everyone's startled heads turned his direction. He turned to Aira. "I've got the perfect name for you, Aira."

She gave him an inquiring glance.

He grinned largely and said, "Goldenheart. For the purity of your heart and soul."

Everyone was silent and Aira froze. She was so touched by Dwalin's statement; she couldn't find the right words to say to him. Her mouth just hung open and she stared at him.

Balin stood up from his chair, moved over behind his brother and laid a hand on his shoulder. Then he looked at Aira pleasantly and told her, "I have to agree with Dwalin. I think 'Goldenheart' is very fitting for you."

Aira gasped, a smile curling up on her face. Then she found herself looking over at Thorin.

He gave her a warm smile and said, "It's perfect."

"All in favor of giving Aira the name 'Goldenheart'?" asked Balin, raising his glass to everyone.

The rest of the company all raised their mugs and glasses and cried out, "Aye!"

Balin glanced back at Aira. "Now all that's left is for you to accept it."

She nodded, her eyes starting to fill with happy tears. "Yes, of course, I accept!" she exclaimed, earning loud shouts of gladness from the others. She stood up and moved over to Dwalin, who stood up as well. "Dwalin, that was so thoughtful of you," she told him, her smile getting bigger. "I don't know what to say…except thank you." With that, she threw her arms around Dwalin's waist and embraced him gladly.

He put his arms around her shoulders and hugged her tightly. "You didn't think the Oakenshield's were the only ones that loved you for your good heart, did you?" he asked with a merry chuckle.

Aira laughed, turned back to face the others and said brightly, "Airaním Goldenheart…I like the sound of that!"

Over the course of the next four days, everyone's routines were practically the same: a couple hours of sparring each day, taking walks throughout the city, resting, relaxing; Elrond even said they could explore his library if they so wished. Aira and Ori were the only ones that took advantage of that while the others took to doing whatever else they wanted. And, as Elrond had promised, Aira's wound was mending well and was almost fully healed, which made everyone happy. She had almost even forgotten about the wound, due to the lack of pain she felt from Elrond's healing.

Also as the days went on, Fili and Maori grew even closer together; something that did not go unnoticed by the rest of the company. They figured it was bound to happen since Fili had kissed Maori's hand when she was introduced to them. And, to the young ones' dismay, the older Dwarves had made yet another wager about how long it would take for the two of them to get together. When they told the company that it only took a day, to their surprise, Nori was the one who boastfully collected the winnings.

"Dwarves and their wagers…!" Maori had thought to herself.

Maori soon became fast friends with Kili as she and Fili spent a lot of time with him and Aira. He was becoming quite like a brother to her and she loved that very much. Her friendship with Aira had also been re-kindled and they grew even closer, as well. And her feelings for Fili only grew stronger as the days went by.

Though she could never find the right words to tell him, Maori knew that she loved him. While she knew that he cared for her, she suspected that his feelings weren't that strong yet. Unbeknownst to her was the fact that Fili's feelings were that strong. He truly did love her in return, but neither of them could find a way to tell each other.

Maori had never expected to find love when she had come back to Rivendell a few days ago. She hadn't expected any of the things that had happened, such as seeing Aira and Gandalf again and meeting such a wonderful group of Dwarves and a Hobbit. And it pained her to know that they would be leaving the next day. She didn't want to see Aira go again, she didn't want to say good-bye to her new friends and, most of all, she didn't want to say good-bye to Fili.

Maori kept getting a feeling that Fili was going to ask his uncle about letting her join them on the quest so they wouldn't have to say good-bye. She had approached him one day and asked if he was going to, to which he replied that he was.

The two of them talked it over and came to the mutual conclusion that Maori joining them on the quest would not be a good idea.

For one, it would be for selfish reasons on both their parts, just because they didn't want to leave each other and it wouldn't be fair to the others who had to say good-bye to friends and family that they loved and had to leave behind.

It also wouldn't be fair because Maori's reasons for going on the quest would not be the same as everyone else's. She never lived in Erebor nor had any ties to it, whereas the rest of the company did, hence why they were venturing on the journey in the first place. Maori would only be there for Fili—and Aira, as well—and they knew that would just be unreasonable. Despite how hard it was to admit, both Fili and Maori knew it was the right thing to do. They would just have to make the best of their remaining time together.

"Airaním…."

Aira, who had gone back to her room after dinner for a brief rest, suddenly was awakened by the sound of a soft, feminine voice calling her name. She sat up and looked around for the source of the voice, but there was no one to be found.

"Airaním…," it called again. It sounded like a whisper being carried in the air, beckoning her.

Curious as to what was going on, Aira got out of her bed and opened the door to her room. It was late evening and the sun was starting to set on the horizon, illuminating the sky with various pinks, oranges and reds. Aira stepped out of her room and followed the sound of the voice through various corridors until it led her to a gazebo, where she found a tall, feminine figure standing in the middle, who turned to face her as she approached.

The lady was slender, clad in a long white dress that flowed gracefully at her feet. Gleaming waves of golden hair fell well below her shoulders and her head was adorned with a very intricate headdress. The pointed tips of her ears were shown when the light evening breeze blew back a lock her hair, revealing that she was an Elf. The brightness of the sunset only added to her radiant countenance. She was strikingly beautiful; perhaps the most beautiful woman Aira had ever beheld.

"Airaním Goldenheart," the Elf lady simply said as her eyes found the Dwarf girl.

Aira let out a light snicker. "Do all Elves know everything?" she asked.

The Elf smiled, amused. "I am Lady Galadriel of Lorien," she informed her. "It was I who called for you."

"How may I help you, Lady Galadriel?"

"No, my child. I require nothing from you, but rather, I can help you. I called you here to me because there are things in your future I have seen that I must speak to you about."

Aira stiffened, unsure if that was a good thing or bad. "What have you seen?"

Galadriel's eyes closed and she began to speak, almost prophetically, "There is much ahead of you on your path, young one; many dangers you have yet to face and triumphs that have not yet come to pass. Do not fear the events of your past for they shall only blind you from the present and from seeing what is to come. Your part in the tale of this quest has only just begun. You have a great destiny before you that will be fulfilled in time. Your bond with the line of Durin shall be tested and the love between you and the youngest Prince will be tried…."

Her voice trailed off and she opened her eyes, sensing that Aira's mind was troubled. She found the young Dwarf woman staring up at her, a look of sudden fright in her eyes. Galadriel knew that she was troubled by the last sentence she had spoken.

"Be not afraid," she said calmly.

"But I am afraid!" Aira gasped. The last thing Galadriel had said had really struck something inside her just imagining anything happening with her and the line of Durin. She looked back up at the Elf Lady and said in a shaken voice, "Kili, Fili and Thorin are all that I have. They are my family; my world! If I lose them, I lose everything!" She felt tears spring into her eyes. "You tell me that my bond with them and my love for them will be tested and tried…my Lady, how can I not be afraid?"

Galadriel bent over, gave Aira a smile of reassurance and gently brushed away a single tear that had fallen from her cheek. "Do not fear, dear Airaním," she told her softly. "All will be well, for nothing is set in stone." She leaned down a little further and whispered, "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future."

As Aira's head lowered, Galadriel placed a soft, calming kiss upon her brow. However, when Aira looked back up to thank her and ask her more questions, she had disappeared.

Her head started to ache as a million thoughts flew around in her mind from everything the Elf Lady had told her. There dangers and triumphs ahead…her past would only blind her from the present and the future…she had a great destiny to fulfill…her ties with the line of Durin as well as the love between her and Kili would be tested…in regards to all these things, there was only one question that Aira repeatedly kept asking herself:

"What does all of this mean?"

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the voice of Thorin calling behind her. Bringing herself back to reality, Aira spun around to face him.

"Gandalf has asked for us," Thorin told her. "He says it's time to read the map."

Aira gave an understanding nod and joined him at his side as the two of them walked away from the gazebo with Galadriel's prophecy still echoing in Aira's mind.

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I do hope everything in this chapter isn't too much to process :P haha!

All I can say about the next chapter is that it's going to be pretty special :) So there's something to look forward to!

Also, I have an idea for a Thorin/OC story that's been on my mind for a while now! I haven't started it yet, but it will happen eventually, so stay tuned for that sometime in the future! :)

Leave me a review or PM me with any thoughts you had, I'd really appreciate it! :)