I have returned to this story! Huzzah! Hopefully it'll stay that way and this story doesn't die... I better not even talk that way right now right? How was your Holidays? I wish you all the best this year! May it be full of happiness for you. Ah, and don't forget to share your thoughts with me on this! Anything and everything is appreciated. (^_^)

" A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17

The night was a peaceful calm, only the nocturnal creatures could be heard singing or running about. It was one of the most peaceful nights Alicia had ever had in a while. It was peaceful until she felt something heavy fall across her stomach. It landed with such a thud she might have flinched were she not so groggy. Her eyes did flutter open though. Alicia stared at the invading object, identifying it as an arm… Dwalin's arm.

Alicia's head turned right, regarding the massive warrior next to her. Dwalin didn't seem bothered at all. When did she even fall asleep again? Dwalin murmured something in his sleep. His grip twitched and tightened till suddenly he yanked her to him in the strongest one-armed grip she had ever encountered before. She gasped quietly in surprise more than pain. This guy was supposed to be sleeping and his grasp was still this tight?! Alicia blinked awkwardly at the situation, but then his large nose started rubbing the back of her shoulder as he mumbled unintelligibly under his breath. Oh dear, oh my, oh lord…

Alicia subtly tried to pull away, but then his grip tightened a little more and whatever he was saying was now more of a guttural growl. Alicia tried maneuvering to where she could at least breathe a little better. How on earth was she going to get out of this one? What if she had to pee and he won't let go?

What if the others started waking up and saw this? Would she get stoned? Do they do that here?

Maybe is she just played it cool for now, he might loosen his grip enough for her to slip out.

Alicia waited, and waited. Dwalin's hold on her was not letting up.

Alicia pouted comically. Eyes darting about. "Help.." She breathed out in near defeat.

' Heeeeeeelp." She whispered again as she tried once more to free herself. Not to give mixed messages, she actually quite liked hugging, but she also liked to breathe and have the freedom to go to the bathroom if she still needed.

A barely held back snicker caught her attention above her. "What have we here?" Fili smiled down at her.

Alicia looked up at him, bug eyed and pleading with a sheepish smile. "I seem to be a little stuck. Help please?"

Fili's entire face was smiling. His mustache braids shook with the mirth of stifled giggles. He squatted down, pretending to examine something critically. " Hmm.. Dwalin's grip is like stone. I'm afraid you're stuck there till the morn." He said sympathetically.

Alicia pouted at him. "Not okay."

Fili shrugged. " Sorry milady. At least he's warm. Ladies like that right? Enjoy it while it lasts." He looked around. It was his turn on night watch and he couldn't be distracted for too long.

Alicia though, glared laser beams at him. Her hand shot out to wrap around his ankle, almost making him trip had he not felt it before moving. "Help me or you'll be stuck here with us too."

Fili only smirked at her. He made a show of sighing and squatted back down. "Alright. I'll tell ya a wee secret about Dwalin. He's got a soft side. It's usually right here." Fili reached over carefully. Very gently he prodded Dwalin's ribs. It took a few more gentle prods before the older warrior flinched and shuffled enough to release his hold on her. Alicia quickly shuffled away. She smiled a little at noting that Dwalin was a little ticklish. How funny!

Fili stood back up then. "Usually, it is unwise to wake a sleeping warrior like that. But sometimes they're too exhausted you see…"

"Yeah I know." Alicia huffed. "Balin already gave me his two cents on that. But I have a legitimate reason for it at least." Alicia stood up to dust herself off, also habitually looking out.

"You should go back to sleep. You do not have a watch this night." Fili whispered politely, then smirked again. "And this time be at least an arm's length away from Dwalin if you can help it."

"I will soon." The woman replied as she turned to get a gulp of water. She glanced back at his smirking features. "You knew that would happen?"

Fili shrugged. "I knew of Dwalin's habits. I did not know you'd be sleeping by him this eve."

"And even if you did, would you have warned me?" Alicia smiled.

Fili put a head to his chest. "Milady wounds me. I would not be so chivalrous if I did not care for the company's lady now would I?"

'The company's lady?' The words stuck in her head easily enough. Was that really the truth or just more of Fili's flirty jokes?

Fili gazed around as she went about her own business until she spoke again. "Does everyone here think I'm trying to be a hero?"

The blonde dwarf looked back at her pensively. "My brother ha shared his, concerns with you." He stated. Though it was a rather unnecessary statement. "As far as I know, no. Only my brother has a jealousy of you."

"Jealousy?" Alicia could not help but repeat incredulously. She would have outright laughed if it weren't actually a serious matter. Her entire posture slouched at the realization. "I don't mean to provoke anyone to jealousy."

"I know. My brother was out of line when he said those things to you. I suspected something was off when the two of you came back from the scouting and he looked so peeved. I asked him about it and that's how I found out."

Alicia waved it off. "No it's alright. Had he not said then I wouldn't have known. At least it's brought to my attention."

Fili's lips quirked up to a small smile. " Thank you for not taking it as a joke or overly offensively."

Alicia cast a sideways confused look. "What?"

"Normally when this happens, the other person is either outraged by his disrespect or they dust his concerns off like he is but a silly dwarfling still. You could have fought back with him or told Uncle Thorin about it. Instead you went to just sit with Dwalin." Fili explained better.

" And I got the breath squished outta' me." She joked in dry humor.

Fili nodded once. " You didn't even bring it up with him. I was half expecting you to do so."

Alicia had no idea she was being watched that whole time by Fili. It made her a little uncomfortable inwardly, but would she not be the same if it was her brother?

Alicia raked her mind to think of how best to handle this situation. Would a simple apology be enough? Did she even owe him and apology? She dropped her head, sighing at her options.

"Do not worry Alicia. I will speak with my brother on this." Fili said. He must have heard her sigh.

But there we go! Let Fili handle his own brother.

Alicia lifted her head, smiling appreciatively at him.

"Thank you." She said sincerely. There were really no words to say after that that didn't sound like a useless compliment or some rude comment. It was apparently enough for Fili though since he nodded back and returned to his watch.

In the silence, sleep was starting to come over her again, and so she returned to her spot by Dwalin. Now that she knew how to make him ease up, she certainly did not mind being a teddy bear.

Gloin had the last watch, and was therefore the first to start breakfast. Well, that wasn't really a requirement as the morning watch, it was just more of a consideration towards Bombur. Gloin was hungry though and so his 'consideration' did have a slight selfish motivation behind it, but he wouldn't be admitting that last part to anyone. As they were now closer to the mountains though, less wildlife was to be seen in the night. It gave an illusion of solitude, like they were the only ones there with the night bugs. Gloin was aware as the rest of them, that the mountains will have its own fair share of dangers. Still, it felt like the first stretch was nearly over and that gave Gloin something to be happy about.

Gloin made a cursory glance at his kin sleeping like rocks. Rocks that could snore loudly that is.

For some folks, the louder they snored depended on how tired they were that day. Gloin didn't cxare much of that theory to pay that much attention to it, but he certainly wouldn't doubt it right now. At least this day they were able to take it a little easier than yesterday. He did make a double take though when he spotted Dwalin and Alicia. Now there's a new sight. His eyes became soft as he watched them, the tiny wrinkles around his eyes folded from a fond smile. Such a scene brought memories of when his own son may have nightmares, or when he and his brother growing up had nightmares. He wondered if the lass must've had a nightmare too. Then his smile turned to one of mischief as he thought of how the others might jest at Dwalin and her when they wake.

The morning meal was cooked within a few minutes. In the next few minutes the companions began to rise.

Just as he had suspected, Ori started drawing it, Fili snickered with Bofur, Kili looked like his eyes were going to roll right out of his head and Thorin almost matched the same look. That made Gloin snicker. Rarely did Thorin have a look of genuine shock on his face where people could witness.

Once the first noises were being made, Alicia was awake.

So light a sleeper she was. The red headed dwarf had no idea how anyone could be such a light sleeper all the time. Humans. Humans and elves actually.

She gently squirmed from Dwalin's arm, getting up to stretch better.

Gloin sat at the side while a few others had dispersed here and there. He stared at the open locket in his hands, almost wishing they could talk back. He once heard a long time ago that ancient elves used to talk to each other through a mirror or bowl of water. The red head's nose turned up in result to the preposterous elves. He heard the sound of light footsteps coming his way, though he made no move to look up. He could tell it was the lass. Long limbed gangly skinny thing came and crouched nearly across from him.

" Are you alright?" She asked him with a slight head tilt.

He did look up then with a short lived tiny smile. "Aye wee lass. I'll be fine."

"Be fine?" she repeated with frowning eyebrows. "What's wrong Gloin?" she asked more adamantly, obvious concern in her voice. Her eyes flickered down to his locket and a knowing expression fell over her eyes.

"I simply miss my family is all." Gloin said. It was the plain and simple truth. He watched as her face changed from worry to care.

" I understand. Want to tell me about them?" she offered. Oh the lass did not know what she had just gotten herself into. Gloin could indeed tell her about his family. He could recount the first time he met her to the day Gloin was born up to now in vivid detail. But for now, perhaps he'd try to control himself.

"If ye take the most brilliant ruby in the whole heart of the mountain, polish it to perfection, give it a soul and a name, cut it into the most perfect dwarrowdam ever born, eyes and beard like diamonds and heart of purest mythril, even the gold jewelry would pale in comparison, then ye'd have Nidhi. Daughter of Dasoir. My heart and mother of my wee lad."

So much for control.

Alicia took it in stride though. She only smiled and listened. If she was faking it though she was doing a fine job. " She does sound wonderful. And so does your son."

Gloin's smile grew a little more then. "Aye. Do you know, around only a third of our population is female? Because of their rarity, many outsiders truly believe dwarf women just do not exist! That we just grow right out of the stone! A lad even asked me in my earlier years what kind of stone did I grow from. I told him fire stone of course," Gloin said with a playful wink. "but what a load of malarkey that is! So to find a wife, is a rare thing and no amount of treasure could compare to it."

Alicia's eyes widened in surprise. " Really? Why is that?"

"I don't pretend to know all of Mahal's intent on his people, nor what the whole Valar's reasons are. We are simply not as, eh, fertile, a people as others. A dwarven pregnancy lasts a year. This is also why women and children are fiercely guarded. A dwarf would never harm a woman or child of any race for that matter, under very harsh punishment." Gloin rambled on. " The eldest or married lady becomes the head of the house once they become of age by our customs and thus never leaves the safety of the mountain unless necessary and even then they tend to have escorts. Even with only a third of our population being female, only half of them are even interested in marriage, preferring to stick with their craft instead."

The woman showed acute attention to Gloin's words the whole time until she stopped him a moment.

"Should you be sharing this with me? I thought Bofur said dwarves didn't like to talk about their culture with outsiders."

Gloin smirked humorously. "Right he is, when it comes to the more imperative facts. What I share with you is still general, and a bit of myself to share with whom I choose. Thank you for your respect of our customs. Though I still say some of your own make me quite ill content. For you would not be alone were it my choice."

Alicia gave a small shrug and a kind smile. "We have different lives to live is all. We don't choose our problems; we only choose how to survive them."

Gloin heaved a heavy sigh then, his brown eyes took a far away look as he looked aside. " Aye. I hope that I will still choose wisely so that my family will be proud of me whether I live to tell it or someone must tell it for me."

The woman gave a wry smile. "You are a warrior, a diplomat, a father and husband, and that's just from what I know about you. So to me, you're already someone to be proud of and more than capable of this quest."

Gloin's broad smile was a genuine reaction. " Why thank you lass. What a sweet thing to say."

Alicia grinned back, and after a muted peace, she spoke again. "Why did you leave, if you don't mind my asking."

Gloin's eyes returned to hers and in them this time was a fatherly twinkle. "What if suddenly the winds came from the east instead of the west? How do you know when to move with it or not? If it's the world you seek, you best know how to read it." He shook a finger pointedly to emphasize his words.

Alicia blinked at his odd answer, still offered a smile for it.

Gloin chuckled at her, raising his hand to pat her shoulder.

The lady left him to finish his smoke and his reminiscing over his family. When he returned, she greeted him with a big smile, squatted over some wooden figures being aligned on a painted cloth.

"Come play Ori's game with me Gloin."

"Hmm I think not."

"Why not?"

"Because lass that is a strategy game." Oin put his two coin in.

Alicia looked up at him. "Oh he doesn't like strategy games?"

"No, he isn't any good at it. Too much thinking." Oin smirked.

"Shut up 'afore I knock yer teeth out!" Gloin grumbled. " Old git.."

Needless to say that by this point Alicia had gotten used to their arguing too. She merely smiled at the entertainment.

"See? That's about the extent of his wit there." Oin continued unfazed.

Gloin gritted his teeth. " oh like ye'd be any better."

"Of course. I know how to play it and win. I canno' say the same for you."

And there's the challenge. Alicia need only sit and watch.

Gloin narrowed his eyes at Oin. "Didn't know you knew anything that didn't have to do with flowers."

"Aye I do. But do you?" Oin shot back.

Gloin stared at him.

Oin stared back then said. " She's waiting."

Gloin snorted as he turned to sit across from Alicia. " Alright lassie. Let's play."

Alicia grinned ear to ear. They took their turns and for a while, Gloin was winning. He too was grinning ear to ear, chuckling and boasting about his skills. " Don't feel too bad now lass. It's just a game, after all it's me yer playing against too."

That was until Bifur came leaning over Alicia's shoulders. He leaned in close enough he could nearly rest his chin on her shoulder as he scrutinized the game. His arm came around and picked up a piece.

"Oi." Glion said. " What are you doing?"

Bifur made a move, taking one of Gloin's pawns, and since it was still his turn he was able to make another move that took out three more of Gloin's pawns. The red clad dwarf was waving his hands frantically now.

"Oi! Oiiii! You canno' play for her! Bugger off! Shoo! Cheater!" Gloin's rants and face was so priceless Alicia was doubled over in laughter. Bifur retorted back in his native tongue, which of course Gloin had a comment for everything.

"That's not how you play!"

"No it doesn't get to move there!"

Gloin ranted as he still played against Bifur. At the end of it, Gloin's eyes were round as he saw that the tables had turned. Now he looked like he was about to cry.

"Game bully!" Gloin pointed an accusing finger at Bifur.

Of course Bifur merely smiled and shrugged, whistling as he walked off again, leaving Alicia in a laughing fit and Gloin with his arms crossed and equally cross look on his face.

The girl sat herself up again, smiling kindly to her opponent. "You're a great and skillful player."

"Don't you try to sweeten me up!" Gloin mock pouted. "You let it happen. You could have told him no."

Alicia giggled even more. "I was curious at what he was doing."

"'Curious' she says." Gloin mocked.

" Okay okay." Alicia smiled. "Next time we'll play with no interruptions. And at least I know not to play against Bifur till I get really good at this."

Gloin merely grunted. It was still obvious though that he truly took no offense to anything that had just happened.

Alicia turned at the sound of Thorin's voice calling his commands out.

She smiled back at Gloin, standing up and tugging at his hand to help pull him up. "We're moving out again."

Gloin moaned in protest, though still allowed himself to be pulled up. He followed her back to the ponies, saddling up with the others. Everyone was so used to it by now that it barely even took ten minutes to get ready, and for elvish ponies of course, they bore their bearers on long day travels very well. The day's ride went by rather fast for a change before Bifur found a new camp for the eve. It was actually the second spot he found that he deemed safe enough. The first had signs of unwelcome creatures that had been there. The tracks were old, but enough to make note of it. Thorin and Dwalin agreed that until they entered the mountains, the next nights shall have two per shift and the hard riding would be eased to accommodate any lost sleep. Gloin was completely in agreement with the plan too.

The leader of the company made his usual stalking around the perimeter of their latest camp. His bright blue eyes rotated this way and that as he surveyed the ground until his approval was met. As he approached closer, Alicia looked up in time for their eyes to meet. She broke into a small smile and nod of polite acknowledgement. Thorin returned the nod, finding a place not too far to finally get off his feet. A muted sigh exhaled from him as he leaned back. Balin had reassured him that they were on track, and still making good time. Though for him, they could never move fast enough. Right now all he wanted was to finally be there, or somewhere with a roof and an actual bed with a wider variety of food options. Poor Bombur had run out of options to try to change it up a little from the same old thing. Everyone knew better than to complain though.

He did not need to look directly at her to see the lady of the group approached him, holding out a bowl of dinner to him. The lead dwarrow took it with another small dip of his head.

"How are you?" She asked him.

"Mmm. The sooner we get there the better. There is some comfort in being near mountains again at least." Thorin answered.

"Really?" Alicia begun to smile. " Because you have friends that live near these mountains we're about to be at?" The lady sat down cross legged near him with her own bowl.

" Not in the misty mountains no. Though it is natural for all dwarrow to feel better when they are nearer a mountain or in it. It is our natural home after all." Thorin made a subtle gesture to the others scattered about.

Alicia observed them too, noticing that indeed their moods had lightened up, they seemed almost care free and more relaxed as they casually carried on about their business. She watched as Kili would wander about, he'd stop and see something someone had and take it. When Nori or even Bofur saw it after a double take, they'd take it back.

Alicia smiled fondly at them. "It's nice to see everyone in better spirits. I feel like I haven't seen them like this in too long of a time."

Thorin took a bite. " It has been too long." Then after some time, " What of you? I assume you shall now accompany us?"

At this Alicia's face fell again. "If all goes right, not too much longer. I mean to say, the road that I've been studying, it's coming up in the mountains. I had to travel through caves just to get here so it would only make sense that I'd travel through more caves to get back."

Thorin frowned at this, but said nothing as he ate. She did glance at him expectantly, still Thorin said nothing. "You're not going to call me stupid?"

Now the raven haired dwarf looked at her with his own 'WTF' face. " Stupid?"

Her mildly suspicious look didn't change. "Yes. Or foolhardy, or what was it….. Mysterious brat?"

Thorin blinked unsure of whether to humor that or not. Experience with his sister however, taught him it is wiser not to laugh.

"In our history of time together, I have never had a reason to call you stupid exactly." Thorin said instead. "Mysterious I do agree upon however."

Alicia shrugged one shoulder as a smile tugged at her lips. " Well, I'm an original." She said with poise.

Thorin's head bobbed in a half nod. "Aye. There are few who do the things you have done, much less a woman."

Alicia bit her lips before talking again. "I know I don't have enough information or history to say that I am in fact going the right way to get back home. I know nobody has time to can afford to help me on it and it is very dangerous and too foolish sounding of a plan. I heard it already."

"Then I have nothing left to say on the matter, seeing as you are aware of it all already. I will not repeat unforgotten knowledge." Thorin summed up.

Alicia fell silent then. It did not easily show in her face, she had gotten good at schooling that, though the slouching shoulders, the tilted downward head and of course the silence, was not so easily hidden.

"I understand you know." Thorin broke that silence. "I find no fault in your desire to go back home. To be with your loved ones in places you are more familiar with. Your methods are questionable, but what you want is not unreasonable. I cannot say that I would not go to extreme measures to get back to my homeland either." Thorin paused for a second. "I might have already been doing so already…"

The woman smiled, a dry humored snort blew from her nostrils. 'It's easier when people believe in you.' Alicia thought to herself.

"Would that you could go home in a less arduous task." Thorin commented. "When we reach the mountains, then you will part ways with us?"

"Yes." Alicia replied weakly.

Thorin frowned at her clear uncertainty. "We will speak with Gandalf on the matter. Perhaps he can give some insight on this." He hoped at least.

The corners of Alicia's rose colored lips tugged upwards in a hint of an appreciated smile. "Good idea."

She ate half her dinner in the silence that stretched then spoke again. "I've really enjoyed my time with you and yours, despite the dangers that's transpired."

Thorin nodded once. "I understand there are naught but humans in your world. What do you make of the first dwarrows you've met?"

"A lot." She chuckled.

"A lot of what?" Thorin had a hint of a smirk, trying not to sound overly interested.

"A lot of things I might never have considered before." Alicia said with a growing smile. "I didn't know dwarrows liked to throw food." She stated using the correct word. Thorin hid his growing smirk.

"I didn't know dwarrows liked angles so much."

"How do you mean?"

Alicia gestured to the company. "Your sense of fashion. The stitches or the designs on your weapons. There's a lot of angles and polygons designed to make very bold statements."

Thorin nodded in agreement to that. " Dwarrow like to add more dimension to their wares."

Alicia rubbed her lips clean, nodding along. "I learned a lot about middle earth both by being with you all and through research of my own I got to do." She continued. " I didn't know hair and braids were so important and I always admired the hair accessories and beads. I kinda want shoes like Balin's but I really like his coat, gloves like Nori's, a warm hat like Bofur's…"

Thorin's brows rose he imagined the truly mix-matched accessories on a human lady. He even had to snort in dry humor at the silly notion. Alicia grinned even more at realizing she caused it.

"Sometimes they're either grumpy about everything or happy enough to break out in song." She continued. " You're very close knit. Ya'll don't get beat up easily, but ya'll easily complain about it, and thus showing some back bone and sass is something ya'll seem to have much respect for." 'Things I happen to suck at unless it's life or death situations…' She thought to herself. Thorin again nodded his affirmation.

"All in all, I liked learning a lot, and spending time with you."

Thorin turned slowly to regard her. "I have dwelled amongst Men before in many towns and villages. It is rare to hear a truly sincere comment from a human. We are seen as a dangerous, dark creatures of some sort. Lesser to the others."

Alicia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Well, firstly, I'm not from middle earth. But even so, I grew up in very diverse, environments. So race is just not a first thought upon meeting someone for me. I had to be taught and reminded that coming here." Thorin grimaced. Not a nice thing to learn.

The leader of the company did well in not showing on his face how awkward or even comical that was. It did not inspire appreciation or insult. He looked away at the dancing shadows in the branches of the trees, letting the silence hang. Then another thought, or rather, memory came back.

'The fact that God A stopped God B from destroying them says to me that people B are supposed to be there, with their own soul, purpose and lifestyle, regardless of who does it. It would… rightfully happen.'

Those were Alicia's words long ago to Gandalf's vague question of 'perspectives.' The lady had left in the woods and did not hear the grumbles of his men at how angered and hurt they were while buying supplies in the previous town. All the jibs and judgmental looks they had received in that unfriendly town was a sour reminder of the hard times when they were scraping for provisions during the times his people were refugees. God A was Eru, people A were the elves. God B was Mahal and people B were the dwarves. In her vague answer, she had perhaps given one of the best compliments to the company right then. She may or may not have seen them, but Thorin saw them.

He knew his men well enough to see a head rising, shoulder straightening, face slacking from its pinched features and eyes softening. It was something they needed to hear and to hear it from a near complete stranger had a newfound 'weight' to it that boosted the inspired confidence.

Thorin turned back to Alicia then. She looked back at him, a sheepish smile on her face. Her shoulders shrugged again in a more remorseful manner.

"Do not ever change the way you see life and the world." Thorin said to her. "No matter the world you're in."

The lady next to him smirked confidently. "I don't plan on it." She promised.

Aye the lady next to him was a rather 'multi-layered' individual. Innocent and people pleasing as any child, unpredictable and cunning in a fight. She was confident in her abilities enough to pursue them, and humble enough to acknowledge her faults. It may have been hard to tell what she was thinking at times, but she was no liar when she spoke either. Loyalty and willing heart was something she displayed every day in her search for a way back to her people to serve them once more. In comparison, Thorin felt as if he had a few more things in common with her than not. It was easy to speak with her, even on sensitive matters. Thorin assigned watches for the night. Two per shift just like he had planned for the next two nights, then their first day at the mountains they could take off to rest up before entering.

"Myself and Bombur shall take the first. Alicia and Balin the second, and last is Bilbo and Kili."

Bombur only had to lay his hand on Alicia's shoulder and her eyes were fluttering open. He smiled down at her. " It's ten o'clock now. Your turn till two. Then you wake Bilbo and Kili." He whispered to her.

The survivor yawned and forced herself to get up. She was sleeping so well too. Such is life.

She got up to stand, stretching to get the blood flowing again. On the other side Thorin had woken Balin, who was rubbing his eyes and waving goodnight to Thorin.

Alicia walked slowly about before she found a spot and sat down for her watch. The mountain range at her left, the open range at her right and her back to the smoldering pit that acted as their fire. There was no wind blowing that night. It almost felt like a typical night in her home town. She still did a few small stretches, just to help stave off boredom.

Then a branch snapped behind her. Alicia turned around halfway, but remembered Balin was there. Out of her peripheral she could see that it was he who broke the branch, so she turned back to the fields around her. It wasn't much more different than yesterday other than the foot of the mountains getting closer and closer.

She had never before been anywhere near mountains before, and it actually made her apprehensive to think about traversing that on her own. Another leaf crunching sound on her right pulled her from her thoughts. Alicia looked over, brows and face furrowing as she tried to pierce the darkness with her vision.

'Hmm…could be a nocturnal animal.' Alicia mused as she moved to a squatting pose from a sitting pose.

Another gravelly sounds way too close made her jump. She tensed and whirled back around to see Balin.

Balin! He was standing no more than three feet from her, clearing his throat so nonchalantly, with an almost bored like expression on his face. How he got from across the camp to right beside her so quickly and quietly made her want to start seething on the inside. No way she'd show that to him, so she schooled her expression to an impassive look as she got up. Alicia wandered over to the source of the first sound she heard just for her own reassurance before meandering to the other side of camp. If he was going to be on her side, she'll just move to his. That'll help keep more eyes in more directions. Still she was confused as to why he had suddenly just decided 'I'm going to stand creepily close to this girl here, just because I'm a mean old man.' Eh, that was Alicia's own internal rants.

At one point an acorn had hit her on the arm. But who threw it? She wasn't sitting under an acorn tree… Alicia whirled again frowning at Balin. Once again he was looking far too nonchalant for her taste. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at him. Really? He was going to do that now? What a jerk! Nope, nope, calm down. Maybe that's what he wants you to do is over react. Or just piss you off for his own amusement.'

Alicia turned her pout to the woods, glaring at any shadow that even tried to look scary.

When he'd start walking she'd ignore him until for some annoying reason, he'd have to stop right in front of her. Alicia quickly averted her eyes from the scarlet wall blocking her field of vision and would move to another spot.

At this point now she had one ear and eye on the dwarf too, which meant every time he moved, she moved. She kept the fire between the two of them and any sleeping bodies too was a benefit. He found some spot to sit and stay stationary for a time finally. Alicia counted the heads to help keep her mind off it and that's when she noticed Bofur was sitting up. He had his pipe between his teeth and gazing out idly as he smoked. What was he doing awake?

Alicia went over to ask him.

"Oh I just couldn't sleep. Nature's call woke me an' I'm waitin' ta get drowsy again is all." Bofur smiled up at her. His brown eyes twinkling with lively mirth.

"…Okay…" Alicia said awkwardly as she was squatted next to him. "Try not to stay up too late though, You ought to get your rest while you can." She smiled at him.

Alicia continued smiling until two large hands slapped themselves down onto her shoulders, making her visibly jolt and eyes glaring so hard one was twitching. "You ought to get back to your watch lassie. Anything could happen at any second. That's why there's two per shift now." That annoying, condescending, patronizing, stuck-on-his-high-horse old dwarven santa claus! It actually took effort on her part not to turn around swinging at him. Now she was seething. Alicia shrugged off his hands violently. "Leave me alone and get back to it then." She growled over her shoulder at him.

She didn't have to even look at him to know he was grinning…bastard.

Bofur was wise enough not to make any comment on it. Instead he looked at his pipe as if he'd never seen it before. 'Eh, whatever.'

Alicia's jaw was tense, but she hated teeth grinding and so often tried not to clench her jaw too much too often. Alicia stood up, glancing at the woods too. "Nature's call." She mumbled and strode inside. After answering it, she found a pine cone and quietly crushed it to as many tiny pieces as she could, packing them in her fists. From there she walked back to camp, impassive face, eyes watching everywhere especially Balin. He blinked once at her and turned his back. That's when she took her own opportunity to sneak to his bedroll and scatter those pinecone pieces all over. It may not be much of a very good prank, but if it worked out the way she hoped, he'd be very itchy. She ranted in her head, things she wished she could say to him, knowing that that would only make things worse in the long run.

This was the worst. There was nothing worse than going to bed angry, especially when that source of your anger would not be losing much sleep over their bastard antics.

Even in all her efforts of thinking happy thoughts, there was this nagging other voice talking to her; 'Why didn't you tell him off again? If your other friends like Lonnie, or Idalia was there they'd have that dwarf in their pockets so fast it would be Balin who went to bed angry and defeated.' The voice pointed out. 'Go on, try to think of something to retort!'

But then another more calm voice would interrupt. " No no. Let it go. Retorting is what he wanted. You were right for holding your tongue. You let him bother then he truly did win.'

'But he's won anyway! Either way he'd get the better half of the deal! Know why? Because you suck… You've gotten better over the years but you still suck!'

Alicia paused in her internal bashing, now frowning at herself. What the heck was she just doing? Arguing with herself? Alicia shook her head. Women I swear…

Alicia actually wanted to sleep by Dwalin, she could really use another hug right now. However, he was currently next to B-ullying A-rse L-ord I-ndignantly on a N-otorious level.

Ha….Heh heh…

Yeah she's probably the only one who would think that's funny or clever, but hey at least she was smiling again.

Then she smiled even more so when she saw Balin did shift and roll uncomfortably for a little.

Ha! Hope it gets all in your beard!

The girl rolled over to get comfortable again. Tonight she'd sleep happy no matter what.

Oh Nooo! I made Balin a bad guy! Blasphemy! jk. I know what I did, please don't hate me for it. There is a method to my madness. First off, I ask 'What If' a lot. For instance, what if the OC and Balin actually did not get along so well at first? What if Thorin did not have such a problem with the OC at first but it was a slow build with the rest of the company? That was basically what I have been doing thus far. As creatures of habit, dwarves don't like change. Well, it's difficult to rush a dwarf in general. But I have done things differently in this story with these questions in mind and straying away from the popular stereotypes to see where that leads me. (Not there's anything wrong with te popular stereotypes, I just like to try new things) Don't worry things will get better between Balin and Alicia, (spoiler) I'm just approaching it differently. Again, I'd love to hear from you, haven't heard much from anyone on this story in a while. (^_^)