'Andra! Watch out!' Hippona yelled as she saw the orc arrow fly over their heads. The four amazons had spend the day on their horses and had visited the remains of Laketown. On their way back they had surprised a few orcs who had ambushed a caravan of traders. Hippona beamed with pride as she saw her daughter Kaledo shot one orc after the other out of her saddle. But the orcs were numerous. Only guiding her horse with her legs, Kassandra slashed out at the orcs with a sword in every hand as they ran out of arrows. Some of the traders managed to fight together with the amazons and after a while the orcs retreated.

The leader of the caravan looked at Kassandra with huge eyes. 'Are you a centaur?' he asked timidly.

Kassandra had to laugh. 'Centaurs are half men, half horse. Do I look like one?'

The trader smiled. 'No, you do not look like one indeed. Thank you and your uhmmm ladies for coming to our aid. I apologise for my men, they are not used to women riding on horsebacks like men and who fight fiercely as you did.' he added with a glance at his fellow traders who looked at the warrior women in awe.

'No need to apologise.' Kassandra smiled warmly. 'What was your destination?'

'Erebor, mylady. We seek for trade with the dwarves. I hear the mines are going well again. The new king under mountain has rebuilt this city faster than we had imagined. He must be a great king.'

'He is indeed a great king. We will accompany you to Erebor, for this is our destination as well.' Kassandra told the astonished trader.

'Now I know who you are! You are the future queen of Erebor! The princess from the south!' the trader exclaimed and wanted to kneel.

'Please! Don´t.' Kassandra kept him from kneeling. 'I am not Erebors queen yet.'

'Andra? Do you even have a wedding dress, yet?' Dis asked as she stroled over the market with her future sister in law.

'No.' Kassandra had to admit. 'The troian delegation has brought white silk and delicate fabric, but I do not know how my wedding dress shall look like. In Troy the bride sews and designs her dress herself.' she added.

'Durins Day comes close. Shall we look at some wedding dresses here to give you an idea?' Dis offered.

'That is a great idea! Thank you, Dis.' Kassandra sighed. She felt totally overstrained when it came to the wedding. 'I like simple dresses, but I know that Thorin would prefer something pompous and rich, worthy of a dwarven queen.' Kassandra sighed again. 'I will look like an exploded chicken won´t I?'

Dis had to laugh. 'Its your dress, you may design it as you wish. Thorin won´t get his eyes off you whatever you will wear.'

'I could design the dress in a simple way and use jewelry to give it some charm.' Kassandra mused. 'The more jewels the better right?' she asked Dis.

'In dwarven ways, yes.' Dis acknowledged. 'But do not forget you are no dwarf.'

'How could I forget. Lif and her entourage remind me of it every day.' Kassandra grumbled. 'Since my ladies and I saved the caravan from orcs she tries to spread rumors about the uncivilized and wild amazons. Riding around in the wild instead of knowing her place by the king's side.' Kassandra quoted Lifs words.

'Don´t bother about that evil twit.' Dis assured her. 'She can try what she wants, she will never destroy the bond you and Thorin share.'

'Thats not what I am worried about.' Kassandra stated quietly. 'I do not want Thorin to lose the support of so many dwarf lords because of his love for me. And he will lose much support when he marries me. Our child will have to bear even more than we do. I do not know if the dwarves would accept an half-dwarf on the throne of Erebor. I would not care if Fili stayed the heir to the throne, he is worthy of it. But Thorin might not accept that his son would be omited because of his mothers blood.'

Dis looked at her sister in law. She knew that Kassandra would do anything to support Thorin. Dis was afraid that Kassandra would leave Thorins side for the sake of his future as a king. If she thought that she was a burden she would sacrifice her love for him immediately and would make place for a dwarven queen. But that would break both their hearts.

'We will think about that when its due.' Dis comforted Kassandra. 'It might be hard for you and Thorin to become a child anyway.' Seing Kassandras surprised look she added. 'Dwarves rarely mix with other races. It might be difficult for you to become pregnant after all.'

'Oh.' Kassandra had no thought about that. She didn´t mind much because she never wanted children before she had met Thorin, but now the reality hit her as hard as a hammer.

'Don't worry, my dear.' Dis smiled warmly. 'See it that way, you and Thorin will have to practise alot.' Dis grinned as she saw Kassandra blush violently.

When they returned to Erebor and walked back to their chambers they heard two people fight. A male and a female voice came out of one of the rooms. Fili leaned against the door rubbing his hands.

'What is going on here?' Dis wanted to know.

'Their first fight.' Fili grinned.

'Whose first fi...NO.' Kassandra understood. 'Why are they fighting, what happened?'

'Well, one of lady Lifs ladies insulted Kaledo. Kaledo punched her right in the face and they started fighting - or at least what Lifs courtlady thinks whats fighting. She bit and scratched while Kaledo just tried to keep her away. That was an amusing sight I tell you. Kili rushed by to support his girl and stepped in between them just as Kaledo swung another punch at her opponent. Lets just say Kili looks like a racoon now.' Fili laughed as he saw Dis and Kassandra mouths open in shock at the news. 'Long story short, the guards managed to seperate the two wildcats and Kili dragged Kaledo to his room to calm her down. He probably thought that she would apologise for hitting him, but as soon as they arrived she started yelling at him for his interference. They are still yelling.'

'Oh for the love of...' Kassandra sighed. As much as she understood Kaledos outburst, she knew that would only bring trouble.

'Thats not funny.' Kili grumbled as he saw Kassandras smirk.

'You really look like a racoon.' Kassandra giggled.

'That stubborn bower.' Kili growled. 'I just wanted to help her for Durins sake!'

'Well, she did not hit you on purpose. And I am sure that she reacts that strongly because she feels guilty for punching you.' Kassandra tried to calm him down.

'You think?' Kilis face brightened up instantly.

'Do you have something to tell me?' Thorin asked Kassandra as soon as they were alone.

'I don´t know, do I?' Kassandra was not in the mood for a fight. She knew that what Kaledo did had been wrong, but there was nothign either of them could do about it now.

'Maybe you can explain to me why a rich gold trader came to me today, thanking me to have sent my horde of female soldiers to his aide?' Thorin asked with a smirk.

Kassandra looked up at him, completely flabbergasted. 'Your horde of what?' Then she realised that the leader of the traders they had met today had probably run into Thorin. 'I can explain that.'

'Yes, I think you should.' Thorins smirk faded. 'What were you thinking riding out there all alone? The orcs have become a dangerous threat.'

'I wasn´t alone, I had a horde of fighting women with me.' Kassandra said dryly. Seing Thorin cock his brow at her she added 'We can take care if ourselves as you know.'

'You are to be my queen. You have no business fighting out there.' Thorin tried to explain.

'But you are allowed to fight and risk the stubborn dwarf head of yours? And I have to stay behind and hope that you come back to me in one piece?' Kassandra snarled.

'Thats not the same...' Thorin was cut off by Kassandras furious interjection.

'How is that not the same? Am I to hide inside this cold mountain while you go out there and fight for your people? You can forget about that, Thorin Oakenshield!' Kassandra growled and left the room. It was not her style to run from a fight, but today she was exhausted and moody. It had been a hard day with too many thoughts torturing her. Kassandra just wanted to be alone. She stormed out to the look-out at Erebors gates and caught the fresh breeze. Taking a deep breath she tried to calm down.

In the meantime Thorin needed an ale. He went to the kitchen and saw Kili sit at the fireplace, his usually happy nephew seemed not happy at all. The other dwarves of the company had gathered around the huge table and were talking quietly. Thorin decided to join Kili by the fire.

It only needed a questioning look from Thorin to make Kili spit out one word. 'Women.'