Disclaimer: I don't own anything, except for Lili, Leo and anything else you don't recognise from the book of movies.

Thank you, thank you to everyone who has reviewed/followed and favourited this story, I can't tell you how pleased I am that so many of you are enjoying the story!

I feel I should apologise for the tardiness of this chapter, sorry. Unfortunately life got in the way and I had a busy few weeks.

Hopefully this chapter will make up for the wait. Also I feel like I should apologise for the last chapter, I think I may have shocked a few of you with Lili's dream…ahem.

Let me know what you think of this chapter, I'm not sure if Thorin is sliding too far out of character.

Enjoy xx

Chapter 24.

Fili frowned as he followed Lili and his brother further into the trees to collect fire wood. Lili was walking beside Kili, her gaze on the ground as she looked for fallen branches, her left arm held close to her side.
He'd awoken just before dawn to find the place beside him, once again empty. Only this time, Lili had moved on her own free will, not snatched from him by the tortured nightmares and fever.
While the notion of her not being there when he woke, had irritated him, especially when he was aware of his uncle's growing interest. He had been quietly relieved when he noticed her sat beside Bilbo, the pair talking quietly.
Now, however, his irritation was growing, she'd barely spoken a word to him all day, in fact if he didn't know any better he'd say she was trying to avoid him.
Well that just wouldn't do.

Lili could practically feel Fili's gaze burning a hole in her back, as he walked behind her. As she bent to pick up a small broken branch, she mentally berated herself for being such an idiot. All she had to do was act normally instead she was making the whole situation with her dream, awkward.
Stop blushing, like a bloody school girl every time either of them looks at you!
"Let me," Fili offered taking the branch from her.
She blinked at him in surprise a small blush heating her cheeks, before a tiny feminist voice sniped in the back of her mind. You're perfectly capable of collecting firewood.
"I can manage, thank you." She told him, reaching to take the branch back.
Instead of letting her take back the branch, Fili turned away and immediately began collecting more fallen branches.
"You should be resting, it's been a hard few days," he retorted, casting her a sharp look over his shoulder.
"It's been hard for everyone, not just me," she pointed out, moving to pick up another piece of wood.
"I think what Fili is trying to say is, we've been worried about you," Kili intervened gently, offering her a soft smile. "You should be taking it easy," he added gathering several branches of his own.
"I'm fine, just a few bruises and scrapes," Lili defended picking up two more branches and adding them to her small bundle.
This time Kili took them from her and added them to his own pile, flashing her a grin as he did so. "We're just looking after you, little sister."
Pausing Lili felt a smile tug at her mouth and the familiar mix of warming affection and cool grief swell in her, "little sister?" She smiled, "Leo calls me that in Gaelic, deirfiúr beag."
Kili smiled, his dark eyes shinning as he regarded her, the sense of kinship tightening between them.

Fili hesitated just behind her, his gaze pinning Kili for a moment. What was he playing at? Kili knew very well, he didn't see Lili like a sister.
His younger brother held his gaze for the briefest moment before he returned his attention the pretty woman standing between them.
"Leo's the eldest?"
She nodded, moving to retrieve another branch, "yes, by thirteen minutes. At times the way he acted you'd think it was thirteen years." She chuckled softly, before it merged into a scowl when Fili took the wood from her hand. "He's a typical over protective big brother," she admitted.
"Do you look alike?" Kili questioned curiously, "Thorin said you looked the mirror image of your mother, except the hair colour of course."
This time she hesitated, before she shook her head, "We're similar, as far as being non identical twins go, but where as I clearly followed our mother, I suppose it's fair to say Leo takes after our father. We both have the same black hair and green eyes, but Leo is taller."
"The language… Gaelic? Do you speak it often?" Fili mused, his own curiosity overruling his irritation.
Lili grinned, bending to gather another branch, "All the time, especially between ourselves and when we go back to Ireland, to visit our Grandparents. It's something that always come naturally to slip between languages, Gaelic is an important part of our heritage."

A comfortable silence settled over them, as they continued to gather firewood. It was another few moments before Fili found himself once again watching Lili closely as she continued to chat with Kili, the two of them really could pass as kin. With almost matching carefree smiles and their raven hair and light steps.
He felt his chest twist sharply, did she see him as just kin, a brother?
He wasn't sure that would be enough for him. He wasn't even aware his feelings had drifted beyond those of friendship, until Lili had gotten sick. It was in that moment he realised she had stolen into his heart and he couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her.
"Come on, let's get back to the others," he told them, glancing around at the darkening trees.
When he got no response, Fili turned slightly to look at his brother and Lili. Both of his companions had gone perfectly still, their attention held by something to their left.
"Kili?" Lili murmured softly.
"Mmm," Kili grunted quietly, his dark eyes locked on something Fili couldn't see from where he was standing.
"Are those pheasants?" she questioned in a whisper.
Pheasants? Fili made to step towards them.
"No, no, don't move you'll scare them away," she hissed softly and offered him a brief glance.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Kili mused quietly.
Lili nodded slowly, flashing him a smile, "supper." Turning slightly she nibbled on her bottom lip and glanced at Fili, "if I can catch one, will you…you know," she mimicked pulling the neck.
With a small chuckle, he nodded and felt his heart flood with affection for the pretty raven haired woman, looking at him. She could face down entire orc packs and fight hordes of goblins, but she couldn't dispatch a pheasant for supper.
Durin's beard, she was adorable.

The harsh alarm call of several pheasants caused Thorin to turn his attention to the trees, as he and Dwalin both left the safety of the darkening cave entrance.
"It's probably just the others returning," Dwalin surmised softly.
Thorin nodded, even as his hand came to rest on the hilt of his sword.
Another bout of squawking and flapping wings sounded, followed by the rustling and snapping of twigs.
Just as he felt a twinge of suspicion prickle through him, he heard a triumphant, feminine shriek that threatened to make his lips curl in a smile.
"I caught one! Quick, Fili," Lili's exclamation bubbling with laughter.
Her delighted voice was followed by the familiar voices of his nephews, as they appeared to be hunting the squawking birds.
"Over there, Fili!" Kili's voice sounded, "grab it!"
"Quick, quick, there!"
Dwalin chuckled with a shake of his bald head, "aye, to be young, eh."
"Aye to be young," Oin muttered from behind them, his trumpet held to his ear, "but they seem to have forgotten, some of us would like to eat and warm up before nightfall." He grumbled.
"By the sounds of it, they're not only gathering firewood, but supper as well," Gandalf mused with a smile, his pipe glowing red as he took a deep draw.
The sound of laughter, intermingled with the flap and flutter of wings, caused Balin to join them, and he smiled fondly. "Aye, it's been a long time since I've heard them laugh so freely."
Thorin nodded, it was true it had been a long time since he'd heard his nephew's laugh with such abandon. He'd expected so much of them, forced them to grow up too soon and accept their future responsibilities.

Moments later the trio emerged from the dark trees, laughing amongst themselves. Fili and Kili both carried armfuls of wood for the fire, while Lili walked proudly between them, her eye gleaming and cheeks slightly flushed, in her hands, hanging by their feet were three pheasants, freshly killed.
Even as she smiled, Thorin caught the wince of discomfort as she moved. As soon as she noticed his gaze she straightened slightly, hiding her apparent pain.
"Roast pheasant, anyone?" She asked, offering him a warm smile.
He forced himself not to frown and returned her smile, before he glanced over his shoulder calling for Gloin, "Gloin, get a fire going."
"Aye, right you are," Gloin nodded, as Fili and Kili both deposited the gathered wood inside the cave.
"You'll need a spit for roasting the pheasants," Kili commented with a grin.
"What was that?" Bilbo wondered from further inside the cave. "Oh Gloin, there's a tinder box in my pack," he added, as he noticed the red haired dwarf searching in his cloak pockets for the two flint stones they'd found on the eyrie.
Pausing in his search, Gloin immediately moved to where Bilbo had stored his pack, muttering a gruff, "thank you Bilbo,"
"Did you say pheasant?" Bofur demanded, appearing behind Balin.
"He did," Lili chuckled lightly, "we caught supper," she told him triumphantly.
"These will make a welcome change from rabbit," Bilbo commented, smiling at Lili as he took the birds from her, "I'll start plucking."
"Right, you pluck and I'll gut," Bofur smiled cheerfully, clapping Bilbo on the shoulder.

As the others moved back into the cave, Thorin gently caught Lili's elbow drawing her attention to him.
She tensed under his touch and he was curious to see her gaze drop, avoiding his.
"Are you alright?" He murmured softly, tempted to spread his hand over her left side, just to see what her reaction was. Would she look at him then? Would she pull away? Would she continue to hide her evident injury?
"I'm fine," Lili replied quietly, remaining perfectly still.
A flash of irritation rolled through him, she clearly wasn't fine.
"Your ribs?" he challenged softly, his rising frustration causing him to slide his hand carefully over her side, fingers flexing against the fabric of her coat, applying just enough pressure that she could feel it through the layers of her clothes. She would not hide things from him.
She froze, her breath hitching in her throat and her eyes snapped to meet his, wide with surprise, lips parting with a stilted gasp, "bruised," she whispered.

He felt a trickle of triumph, fizzle through his blood and despite his mind whispering to keep his distant, he leaned close and flexed his fingers around her narrow ribs, "you're certain?" he growled tightly.
That time she cringed in his grip, but didn't entirely pull away.
"Hiding an injury doesn't benefit anyone," she growled back at him, her startled look becoming accusing and her gaze dropped to his shoulder.
She placed a tentatively hand against his left shoulder, her fingers splaying against his cloak, probing gently as she traced the muscle. "I wasn't the one who was nearly killed," she muttered.
Thorin swallowed heavily at the warmth of her touch and felt his blood flush with answering heat. "I am not as fragile as you are," he pointed out throatily, a tingle of discomfort pooling over one particular spot in his shoulder.
Emerald eyes gleamed as she lowered her hand a small frown marring her brow. Her attention was momentarily drawn to the cave as the warm glow of the fire flared to life and the chatter of the others rose with the fires warmth and light.
Clenching his free hand, Thorin fought the itch in his fingers to trace the lines of her frown. Her tongue flicked out to moisten her lower lip and found his gaze drawn to her mouth instead.
Durin help him, why was he so drawn to her?
Turning her attention back to him she took a step back, causing him to drop the hand he kept pressed against her rib cage.
"I may not be built like you, but I'm stronger than you think," she told him sharply.

Lili felt her heart kick up a frantic rhythm as Thorin stepped into her personal space, his large hand spreading out over her bruised side, "your ribs?" he challenged in a low growl.
Instinct made her freeze, like a rabbit cornered by a fox.
She could feel his powerful fingers flexing over her ribs and in response a small slither of discomfort answered his touch.
Even with the brief ache humming through her, she was also aware of the spark of heat that suddenly flashed through her and her gaze snapped to meet his in startled awareness. "Bruised," she managed to whisper.
Images of her dream, rose quickly to the forefront of her mind and a blush crept over her cheeks.
It was like he was purposely crowding her, overwhelming her senses until she crumbled and admitted to the injury he assumed she was hiding.
He was regarding her curiously, his usually sapphire eyes, looked almost black in the growing shadows and the bruises marring his features added to his dark look.
His palm slid gently over her side, before his fingers curled around the expanse of her rib cage and he leaned towards her, "you're certain?"
His grip tightened just enough for a true flash of pain to radiate through her side and she cringed, biting on the inside of her cheek, so she wouldn't pull away.

She wasn't hiding an injury, her ribs were just bruised, but the way he was acting made her feel like she should be guilty…and give in to whatever he wanted.
"Hiding an injury, wouldn't benefit anyone," she commented, her gaze resting on the shoulder, she knew he'd injured in the fight with Azog.
A spark of defiance flittered through her, how dare he accuse her of concealing a more serious injury, when he had done the exact same thing.
Two could play this game.
Suddenly nervous, the butterflies fluttered in her stomach and she tentatively placed a hand over the area of his shoulder where she'd seen the blood. She splayed her fingers carefully, feeling beneath his cloak, testing and probing the muscle and felt him tense beneath her palm.
"I wasn't the one who was nearly killed," she pointed out softly.
"I am not as fragile as you are," he rumbled, his voice little more than a throaty growl.
She felt her blood rush and a tendril of heat curled low in her stomach, at his husky tone.
Why did she suddenly feel weak kneed? She lowered her hand slowly, ignoring the urge to continue exploring the bands of muscle she could feel beneath her fingers.
The fire flared to life inside the cave and the low hum of the others chatting intensified and momentarily drew her attention.
What was she doing out here with Thorin? When she could be inside by the warm fire with the others? She licked her suddenly dry lips, feeling nervous again.
Flicking her gaze back to the dwarf in question, she frowned and took a step back, causing his hand to drop from her side.

Where had this sudden draw come from? This attraction? Ever since she thought he was going to die, it was like she couldn't get him out of her head.
"I may not be built like you, but I'm stronger than you think." She told him, ignoring the ghost sensation of his hand still pressed against her side and his fingers curling around her ribs.
At her words, he smirked, a rough chuckle sliding past his lips and he took a step forward, "yes, you're certainly full of surprises," he admitted, his gaze drifting to her mouth in a brief moment of male interest.
Lili felt a bubble of anticipation build inside with his look. She'd been attracted to men before and with the exception of Ryan, she never felt compelled to act on it, but standing in the dusky light with the soft rustle of the trees and hum of nocturnal insects, she was sharply aware of Thorin.
She once again found herself assaulted by the images of her previous nights dream. How she'd imagined his hands and his mouth against her skin…
Taking a shaky breath, Lili gave herself a mental slap. Stop it!
Just as she made to take a step towards the cave, Thorin once again caught her arm, his eyes taking in ever detail of her, sweeping over her in a scorching look.
Her nerves skyrocketed once again, under his scrutiny.
He frowned for a moment and opened his mouth to speak, only to snap it closed again as Fili abruptly appeared at the cave's entrance.

As Lili made to take a step towards the cave, Thorin felt the unheralded rush of selfishness. He wanted a few more moments with her, alone, testing this new...
Tension, between them.
Originally he had pulled her aside to assess just how badly she'd injured her ribs, but the moment they were alone he found himself ensnared by her. Suddenly all he wanted was to touch her.
He gently caught her arm, halting her retreat from his presence.
He was not some ignorant, naïve boy. He recognised her look of interest, her blushes, her lingering touch. She appeared to be just as aware of the shift between them as he was, of the attraction, perhaps she even returned it.
He wanted the chance to find out, without the distraction of the other members of the company. He wanted to know what it was about her that seemed to pull his attention.
For the love of Durin, what was happening to him?
He let his gaze sweep over her, taking in ever detail of the ebony haired woman stood, beautiful but tense, before him and he frowned.
He didn't want her to be nervous around him, she had no need to be and he opened his mouth to tell her so.
Movement from the corner of his vision, drew his attention and he caught the dark look of Fili, as his eldest nephew appeared in the mouth of the cave.
Dropping his hand, he glanced briefly at Lili, "as soon as we have a spare moment, we'll continue your training." He told her, his voice sounding huskier than he hoped and he resisted the urge to clear his throat.
He watched the surprise flash in her eyes, before she nodded quietly and stepped away from him. The tension and pull between them, snapping and shattering like crystal.

Thorin remained alone in the growing darkness, long after Lili and Fili had returned to the safety and warmth of the cave.
His mind awash with thoughts and feelings he instinctively knew could lead him to ruin.
She wasn't even of his people and yet he couldn't ever remember being so drawn to a woman.
Dwarven women were few and far between and even fewer were what he considered attractive and while he had, had his share of curious human women briefly grace his bed, none of them had captivated his attention like Lili.
Dropping onto a nearby tree stump, he sighed heavily.
Durin help him.

"It strikes me, that for someone who claimed he wouldn't be held responsible for her fate or guarantee her safety, you are paying a great deal of attention to the fifteenth member of this company."
At Gandalf's soft tones, he stiffened indignantly and he cast the wizard a writhing glare. "I'm merely giving Lili the skills in which to protect herself," he defended sharply.
At his glare, Gandalf simply chuckled and came to stand beside him, "I see a change in you, Thorin Oakenshield," the aging wizard took a deep breath of contentment and nodded, "and I think it has a great deal to do with that young woman inside."
Thorin remained silent, his gaze drawn to the sky as a distant rumble of thunder sounded. He listened as the thunder rumbled angrily, deep and threatening.
"I hadn't expected to become so attached," he admitted begrudgingly as the sky lit up in a silver, white flash. "I was content to treat her as another member of the company, nothing more and then something changed between us and it caught me by surprise."
Gandalf remained quiet for several moments as he listened to the approaching storm, "It is no bad thing," he commented calmly, "and completely understandable. Lili is quite lovely."
"She is," Thorin agreed, "she is also everything a dwarven woman isn't."
"Ah," Gandalf chuckled, his beard twitching, "that my dear, Thorin, is only an obstacle if you make it so."

Thorin fell silent and allowed himself to mull over the wizards words. He didn't even know what he felt for Lili, was it simply lust? Was he drawn to her beauty out of loneliness? He had been so consumed by his quest to reclaim Erebor that he hadn't allowed himself the comfort of a woman's touch or attention, for a long time. It was true she could set his blood aflame.
Or was it the beginning of something deeper? Lili knew how important this quest was to him and she could have left the company when they'd reached Rivendell, remained with her own kin, but she had chosen to stay with them instead, resolved to help them return to the lonely mountain and faced numerous dangers in doing so.
Sighing heavily, Thorin felt at a loss and it wasn't helped by the growing suspicion that Gandalf seemed to be keeping something from him, "what is it that you're not telling me?" He questioned broodingly.
Almost immediately Gandalf shook his head, a small smile playing on his mouth, "oh nothing, simply that I believe Lili was put upon this quest for a reason, reasons we have yet to understand."
With a frustrated scowl, Thorin wasn't sure what unsettled him more. The prospect of the wizard was hiding something important from him, or the knowledge that he may already be lost when it came to Lili. Helplessly lost before he'd even had time to realise it.
Why is it, women, regardless of their race all seemed to have an innate ability for complicating things?