Dwalin stared after her as he staggered back on his feet. He still couldn't quite understand what just happened mere moments ago. He recalled the previous events and realized that, wouldn't Dain have interrupted them, Alina would have kissed him.

Slowly he walked through the snow and approached the stairs which were leading back into the fortress. Thoughtfully he pushed the door open and was immediately greeted by the warmth that was wrapping him like a blanket.

A smile curled his lips while he wandered through the marbled halls with old paintings hanging on the walls and the light of torches flickering and reflecting in the glass of the windows that were covered in a thin layer of ice.
He knew that a kiss from Alina was everything he had wished for. And it made him feel disappointed that little Dain had interrupted them. Though, that lad might have no idea that he had destroyed a special moment at all.

As he turned around the next corner, he saw Thorin and his brother standing together and watching a painting at the wall. They both looked up as they heard his footsteps and a broad smile popped up on Thorin's face.

"Had fun in the snow?" the Prince asked as his friend finally reached them.

Dwalin's gaze wandered towards the painting as well. "That woman looks like Lailah," he pointed out, desperately trying to ignore Thorin's question.

"That was a lousy attempt to change the topic, my friend. Well, but you are right. She looks like her and that's because she is her mother."

"No wonder that Lailah looks so beautiful. And I suppose that dwarf next to her is her father?"

"Aye—but now stop that farce and tell us how your time with Alina was," Thorin said and nudged Dwalin's arm. Balin chuckled amused as he saw the unnerved look on his brother's face.

"We just spent some time outside in the snow, that's all," he finally said, but on the other hand he wanted to talk about every detail and yet he was still too uncertain about his own feelings.

"And yet your eyes speak their very own language, brother," Balin said and patted his brother's back. "And I know you for too long. You're a lousy liar."

"I didn't lie. We really just played in the snow until—"

"Until?" Thorin asked and watched him in high anticipation.

Dwalin sighed. "I prefer not to talk about it in here. Let's find a more private place. Mahal knows who might hear us," he finally said and gestured them to follow him to the library.

Once they had checked that no-one else was in there, they finally lowered down on the sofa. "Alright—you want to know what happened? Like I said, we played in the snow. And—and we wrestled a bit and landed on the ground. She was on top of me and—well, it was just funny. We laughed heartily until I couldn't resist the urge to touch her hair."

He fell silent for a second, but the other two did not dare to interrupt for they could see he was reliving that moment before he continued, "We stopped laughing and just gazed at each other. She has such beautiful eyes, like the color of honey. And—and her hair, it's so soft. Well, she—she leaned in closer and just mere inches separated our lips from each other, but Dain interrupted us."

"Oh no," Balin mumbled and rolled his eyes.

"Exactly—and after that interruption she was different. Once Nain and Dain had left, she couldn't even look at me and just mumbled that she has to go. And then she left—without eve looking back."

His head hung low as he finally stopped talking and stared absently at his hands. His knuckles were still a bit red from the cold outside, so he began rubbing his hands.

Thorin and Balin exchanged another meaningful look and the young Prince said,

"Even though she fled, we now know that she likes you. Otherwise she wouldn't have tried to kiss you in first place."

"Exactly! And she fled because she was embarrassed. No matter how tough she might be—she is only just a young lass. Give her the time she needs, brother," Balin added and placed his hand on Dwalin's arm.

"We don't much so much time. We will leave soon and who knows if I'll see her ever again?"

"Of course, you will! The Iron Hills are just a two days ride from Erebor! Maybe she would even consider moving to Erebor as well. "

Dwalin chuckled and cast a glance at Thorin. "I'm not a Prince, Thorin. I highly doubt her parents will let her go for someone like me."

"That has nothing to do with being a Prince or not. If you love each other—"

"I don't know if I love her. I barely even know her! It wasn't love at first sight like you and Lailah had experienced."

Now Thorin couldn't help but laugh. "Love at first sight? You remember what happened on our first meeting?"

"Yes, but you didn't see each other properly and therefore it was not the first sight at all. The first sight was when she arrived with Nain in the throne hall, being introduced to you and your family. Tell me, what did you feel in that very moment you laid eyes on her?"

Thorin shifted and recalled his feelings that day. "Well—first of all, I was more than surprised that this girl had attacked me in the forest. And I thought she is beautiful, yes. But—"he fell silent for a second and finally sighed in defeat as he added, "I fell in love with her. I don't know how, I don't know why. I just did."

"See? And I—I don't know what to do. How can I find out what I feel for her?"

"How about a dinner? Just the two of you," Balin suggested and earned an agreeing nod from Thorin.

"Aye, that sounds good. A delicious meal, candlelight—perfect," the Prince added with a wide grin. "How does that sound to you?"

Dwalin chuckled quietly. "Quite cheesy, actually. Though, maybe I should give it a try, yes. Even if I make a fool out of myself, I don't have to see her again once we leave, right?"

"Let's see. I'm certain you will see her more often than you think," Thorin ruffled his friend's Mohawk and laughed, while already mentally planning the dinner.

While the three lads were plotting the candle light dinner, Lailah decided to spend some time with her brother and thus also taking the pressure off of Nain.

She found them outside in the courtyard where they fought a snowball battle.

"It seems like someone needs my support," she called and formed a ball of snow. With a grin, she looked at Dain who waved at her with cold red cheeks and a cheerful smile on his face.

"Two against one. Oh, you!" Nain laughed as he got hit by two snowballs against his chest.

"All is fair in love and war. That's what I heard," Lailah chuckled, placed one arm around his shoulder and kissed his cheek.

"Well, fortunately, we are far from war. And you don't have to worry about love, my child," he replied and gently stroked her hair and played carefully with the braid in her hair. That braid Thorin had made of her black strand and two blonde ones.

"The young Prince loves you very much. It makes me feel good to see you happy again. And it seems you are very happy, am I right?" Nain asked as a quite heavy gust of wind pulled at their attire.

Dain came running towards them and Nain wrapped his massive arms around them both. "Seems to be a quite uncomfortable day today. Playing in the snow with that freezing wind isn't so much fun," Lailah said and stroked her brother's dark hair.

They entered the fortress again and Nain excused himself. Lailah smiled and bent down to her brother and pinched his cheeks. "What would you like to do now?"

"I want hot cocoa with cream and cuddle a bit," he said with a bright smile. Lailah laughed and ruffled his hair before she took his hand and together they ran along the hallway towards the kitchen.

"My Lady, what can I do for you?" Margery, a burly dwarf woman with long, black hair approached them. She was the chef of the fortress kitchen and Lailah liked her very much.

"How often do I have to tell you that I'm not a lady, Marge?" Lailah said with a smile. "And you can indeed do something for us. Would you be so kind and prepare two cups of hot cocoa with cream for my brother and me?"

"Topped with a cherry!" Dain called and caused Margery to chuckle which made her belly bobbed up and down.

"Will be prepared," the elder dwarf lady said and went back to the oven where she began rummaging with cups, pots and bowls.

In the meantime, Lailah and Dain lowered onto a bench and watched the busy life in the big kitchen. Though this kitchen was not as big as the one in Erebor, but it was quite impressive nevertheless.

"Alina and the Mohawk nearly kissed today," Dain suddenly said which caught Lailah's interest immediately.

"They did? How do you know?"

The boy grinned cheekily, "They were outside in the courtyard. She was on top of him and I thought it would be fun to tease them. So I threw a snowball at them."

"Oh, Dain! That's not fine!" she chided him, but couldn't help but giggle.

She imagined how embarrassed Alina and Dwalin must have been after the interruption. Though she had the urge to go and talk to her friend, but she had also promised her brother to spend the day with him for a while and she couldn't just reject him.

"Your drinks are prepared," Margery called and placed a tray with two cups of hot cocoa topped with cream and a cherry on each, as well as a plate with chocolate-chip cookies on the table.

"Thank you very much," Lailah smiled at her and took the tray. "Where shall we go? To the library?"

"Aye, we could bring a blanket and cuddled on the sofa and you could sing a song or we could read a story," Dain said and followed her out of the kitchen. They stopped at his room and the boy took a warm blanket and finally they reached the library. It was unoccupied by now and they lowered down on the plushy, red sofa. While Dain cuddled up against his sister and drank his cocoa, Lailah leaned her head against his.

"Lailah?"

"Mmmh?"

"I'm so happy to have you as my sister," Dain mumbled and she sensed a slight crack in his voice. Comfortingly she pressed her lips into his hair, placed her cup down on the table and wrapped her arms around him.

"And I am happy to have you as my brother," she whispered.

"I miss mother so much," he sighed and pressed himself closer against her.

"We all do, my love. But she would not want us to be sad. She would want us to keep her in good memory. See us being happy and enjoying our life. That does not mean that you forget her or—or that you stop loving her."

Dain nodded silently, and Lailah felt that he began to fall asleep. Carefully she took the cup out of his hand and placed it next to hers on the wooden table. She leaned back against the sofa and held him protectively in her arms. Slowly her fingertips trailed through his thick, dark-brown hair and with crystal-clear voice she quietly began singing,

Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand
Hold it tight

I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry

She cast a glance down at him and smiled warmly as she felt his calm breathing and she continued,

For one so small
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm.

This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry.

Aware of her own teary-wet eyes she lowered her voice a bit more, trying to avoid it from cracking as she sung,

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here
In my heart, always.

Her voice faded off as she heard the door open and close. She didn't have to turn her head to know that it was Thorin approaching the sofa as quiet as he could. Once he reached them he knelt down in front of them.

Lailah sent him the loveliest smile he had ever seen on her face as he watched her with Dain sleeping in her arms.

"I missed you already—"he whispered and carefully caught her lips in a tender kiss; both careful not to wake the little dwarf.

"I miss you, too. What have you done the whole time?" she asked curiously, her heart leaped as he took one of her hands in his, stroking the back of it with his thumb.

"Most of the time I was with Balin and Dwalin. We plan a candlelight dinner for Alina and him. It seems he is really fond of her," he smiled and placed a trail of kisses along her arm. She had to pull herself together not to giggle as she said,

"So it's true. Dain told me they nearly kissed."

"Did he tell you that he interrupted them?"

She grinned cheekily at him and nodded. "Aye, he did—"

His eyes lighted up as he gazed at her in utter amazement. She frowned as she saw that look on his face. "What's wrong?"

"You never said 'aye' before. I thought that sounded quite adorable out of your mouth," he whispered and captured her lips in another kiss once more. She gently stroked his bearded cheek and shifted carefully, signaling him to scoop Dain up on his arms. Thorin did so without waking the boy.

"Let's bring him to bed," she said and together they left the library and tucked Dain in bed. They watched him for a moment and finally closed the door.

"Lailah—I'd like to show you something," he suddenly said and took her hand. She watched him curiously while he led her along the hallway and into their bedroom. He gestured her to lower down on the bed. She obliged and smiled at him, still confused what he wanted to show her.

"Thorin—what is it?" she chuckled as she saw him rummaging in his bag. Finally he pulled out a golden harp. She gasped as she remembered what Frerin had told her. That all dwarves in his family were able to play the harp. And never before did Thorin make an attempt to play something for her.

"Lailah, I don't know how often I already told you how much you mean to me. How much my heart is tightened around yours. I love you more than any word in this world could ever describe. And yet, I tried to come up with something that shows you the depth of my feelings for you—at least, a bit. And I know how curious you are about my harp-skills," he grinned at her and lowered down on the armchair across from her.

Lailah was unable to form any sentence and simply stared at him in high anticipation. He cast a quick glance at her and she nodded encouragingly. He inhaled deeply before his fingers began working on the delicate strings of the harp. Lailah was really impressed how smooth his rough hands pulled the strings and formed a slow, lulling melody.

He closed his eyes as his deep, vibrating voice began singing,

When I look into your eyes
It's lilke watching the night sky
or a beautiful sunrise
there's so much they hold.

And just like them old stars
See that you've come so far
to be right where you are
how old is your soul?

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up.

He opened his eyes and gazed her, saw her teary-wet eyes. With a smile on his face he continued playing the harp as he sang,

And when you're needing your space
to do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
to see what you find.

Cause even the stars
they burn
some even fall to the earth
we've got a lot to learn
god knows we're worth it.

His voice trailed off as he felt her presence suddenly close next to him, her hand gently stroking over his head, playing with strands of his hair until she placed one hand on his to stop him playing the harp. He opened his eyes and gazed into hers.

"This was the most beautiful thing one ever did for me, Thorin. This and naming a star after me—and simply loving me with all you have to give. Nothing will ever do us apart. Not our souls—not our hearts. I love you, Thorin. And I will always do. No matter what—"

He didn't let her finish that sentence, simply captured her lips in a deep, meaningful kiss. Once they broke it he leaned his forehead against hers and smiled at her.

"This song is our song. Whenever you'll sing it, you will know I am with you. Just like you are with the star. We'll guide each other, no matter where we are" he whispered and sealed her lips once more.