If I said Fili was feeling protective after my near death experience I would be underplaying things entirely. He hovered over me like a protective mother lion over her cubs and let out the most God awful snarl when Oin told him to bugger off so he could treat me. Okay so Oin didn't exactly say 'bugger off' but you get my drift.

If I'm honest I can see why Oin needed Fili to go. Firstly, as I winced while Oin was cleaning my feet, applying some foul smelling goo stuff and bandaging them, Fili looked like he wanted to snap Oin's fingers. Secondly, to treat my ribs Oin had to have me lift my top and apparently it wasn't considered appropriate for Fili to watch this, he wasn't supposed to see me like this until we were married. Even though this was something Fili was well aware of, it still took Kili, Dwalin, Balin and Bifur to tug him away.

"Jesus that's cold." I muttered shivering as Oin applied another ointment all around me from under my breasts all the way down to the lining of my breeches.

"That it is lassie, but it will do you the world of good. Should have you fixed up in no time." Oin chuckled conversationally as he finished spreading the stuff. "Now where is…ah, here we are." With a grin he pulled some more bandages out of a pack and began tightly wrapping them around my midsection.

"Dude, ow!" I moaned as the bandage pulled particularly tight across what I could only assume was one of the broken ribs.

"What's going on?! Mimur?!" Fili called desperately trying to turn around. When he found he was unable to in the hold of the others his voice took on a darker tone. "Oin if you have hurt her I'll skin you alive."

Oin's eyes widened, almost imperceptibly, as he continued to bandage me with much shakier hands than before.

"No, no!" I spluttered in a mild panic, "No skinning necessary! I'm fine Fils, just A-OK."

"Just what?!" His voice raised a few octaves and he sounded even more worried than before.

My eyes flicked to him and I saw him start to tremble slightly with the effort to break free from the others. "It means I'm absolutely fine, feeling wonderful!" I called, when his struggling stopped, I knew he'd calmed down.

From then on I bit my lip to stop any sound escaping me while Oin was treating me and after another painful minute or so, he was done.

I do actually feel better.

Whatever the smelly stuff Oin had put on me was, it must have been working. With a spring in my step I moved over to Fili who gently encased me in his arms once more, glaring at anyone who came too close to me, and growling lowly.

"Shut up." I hushed him, putting a calming hand on his chest as he threw a furious look Oin's way, "I'm fine, and these are our friends, they are not going to hurt me."

Grumbling slightly, Fili listened and moved us slightly closer to the others. It was only by a small amount but hey, Rome wasn't built in a day you know? And anyway the other dwarves seemed shocked enough that I'd managed to get him to do that.

Huh… guess when Kili said Fili was wild, unpredictable, ferocious and downright intimidating he really wasn't kidding. Some of the company look worried just standing near him right now… Kili included.

When it was clear to Thorin that Fili wasn't going to attack anyone who dared come anywhere near me, he focused in on the keyhole.

Finally, I didn't jump off that cliff for everyone to lose the moonlight. I'd honestly rather we open it sooner rather than later, even if we are taking the chance there's a blood-thirsty dragon inside who has an downright detestation for dwarves.

Everyone stepped forwards into a line as Thorin stared from the key to the keyhole with a slightly manic glint in his eyes.

I'm sure this is going to come back to bite us.

Then with a deafening chink in the silence, as Fili's arms wrapped possessively around my waist, Thorin slid the key into the keyhole. Logically I knew it had to work, I knew it had to open the door but I waited on baited breath with everyone else, until finally Thorin turned the key. There came a slight grinding noise, a loud clunk, Thorin placed both hands on the wall and pushed, arms shaking with the force exerted and the door swung open. It hit the wall with a slight crunch and an echoing thud.

"Dude. Heavy much?" I mumbled, feeling the need to attempt to dispel the jittery feeling which had taken over.

Everyone ignored me. "Oh I get it! we're totally having a moment here." Kili shot me a withering stare and Fili chuckled into my hair.

Bifur gave me an amused glance before signing, 'Listen'

To which I replied, 'I am listening'in Iglishmêk of course.

I think that was Bifur's way of saying shut up…

On this thought, I fell silent and settled for moving my lips restlessly from side to side. It was just so bloody tense, which made things totally awkward. I hate tense moments, I never know what to do with myself, and this is why I say to Kili I'll probably do the complete wrong thing when Fili and I get married.

I smirked to myself; Fili and I are getting married. I'm not dead, and Fili and I are getting married. I'm going to be Mrs…well… Mrs Fili to be honest, with this whole no dwarf last name issue but still... That sounds awesome!

"Erebor…" Thorin groaned completely awestruck, yanking me from my thoughts and back to the moment we were having.

If I'm honest this was the moment I expected him to walk in, he didn't.

"Thorin…" Balin was chocked up as he stood next to his friend, unable to continue and Thorin clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder in comfort, neither made a move to enter though.

Well this is just getting too much.

"Pops without meaning to destroy the moment here, you going in or what?" I asked quietly.

If I was returning home after sixty odd years or whatever, I would have run in like a bat out of hell, screaming and touching everything I could get my hands on. Then again, if I was returning home after sixty years I doubted there'd be a dragon inside but still… I did expect him to at least go through the damn door.

My words seemed to be all the encouragement Thorin needed. He took slow steps into the mountain, Balin and the rest of us following closely behind, however he stopped in the doorway, and this was more like it.

"I know these walls," He whispered running a hand gently over the inside of the corridor. "These walls… this stone… You remember it Balin, chambers filled with golden light…" If I didn't know any better I'd say Thorin was about to start crying, but Thorin Oakenshield didn't cry, not ever.

"I remember." Said Balin, still sounding tearful as he followed Thorin inside.

This finally seemed to be the moment we were all going to enter. As we moved forwards I heard two slight sniffs from behind me and realised Fili and Kili were also struggling to keep their emotions in check.

With a small smile and a lump in my throat I paused just inside the doorway. "Well Prince One, Prince Two… welcome to your kingdom." I curtseyed and then turned to Thorin, "Welcome home, King Under The Mountain." I curtseyed low again and this time the rest of the company joined me, bowing.

This all seemed to be a bit much for the three dwarves in question, who had to suck in deep breaths, Fili and Kili walking past to stand next to their uncle. I felt myself becoming a little tearful as I watched them all looking at each other with love and adoration in their eyes, as they surveyed the corridor.

That however, was when Bombur created a moment of his own. "And welcome, future Princess under the mountain to your new home."

He dipped into a low bow and the rest of the company followed suit, I paled and swallowed thickly as Fili held a hand out to me and tentatively I walked over, grasping it firmly. We all, (Thorin, Fili, Kili and I) turned to look at the others, who were just straightening up.

"My dear dwarves and hobbit…" Dwalin announced gruffly, "I present to you, the royal family of Erebor, minus one, Princess Dis, may she arrive safely."

I gulped, "Dudes, while this is all overwhelming and awesome…" Eleven sets of eyes flicked firmly to my face, "If any of you ever bow to me again, I swear to God, I will totally cut you. Way too creepy, and anyway, you're my friends."

They grinned and Thorin stepped up behind me, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder smiling down at me.

"Zalia is right; every dwarf here deserves to be here as much as we do if not more. I don't want any of you to ever bow to us again." His voice shook with emotion but the meaning in his words was clear as the dwarves surveyed us.

"We made it sister." Kili said, taking my other hand and squeezing it gently.

"Sure did Kils…" I whispered, "Sure did."

"Here in lies the seventh kingdom of Durin's Folk." Gloin read in a rough voice, staring up at a carving above the door. "May the heart of the mountain unite all dwarves in defence of this home."

There were runes impeccably carved around a depiction of a throne with a glowing jewel set in the back of the throne high up.

I squinted at the carving frowning slightly and narrowing my eyes. "Very awe inspiring guys… but one quick question…" Balin turned to me smiling kindly as Fili looked down at me curiously. "In what world exactly do you get that from…" I indicated to the carvings which just looked like a load of lines and dots to me. "…From that?"

Balin chuckled shaking his head slightly, "We're definitely going to have to teach you Khuzdul lassie."

"Yeah sweet, lines and dots and shit… all a bit like Morse code really." I muttered still frowning up at the carving, tilting my head to the side slightly as if that would help.

"What's Morse code?" Ori asked in a low voice.

"Erm… it's like a signal language thing. We use it on ships a lot… I was never very good at that either…" I grinned at him. "I know the phonetic alphabet though, that I can do."

"The what?" Dwalin queried looking mighty confused.

I feel we may be getting a little off track here.

"Yanno, like; Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu. You use it in the army… communicate in codes and shit… or like… to spell crap out over the phone…" At their blank looks I shook my head, "What am I talking about, of course you don't know. Sorry."

As they all continued to stare at me with raised eyebrows, I felt a blush begin to heat my cheeks and I pressed my side into Fili's. I was going to have to stop saying such inappropriate things.

Bilbo, my wonderful little hobbit friend, decided this was the time to cut in. "Erm, what is…that, exactly?" He indicated to the carving just as I had done seconds before.

Balin turned to Bilbo, taking a deep breath, still slightly tearful and answered in a weak voice, "The throne of the king."

"And what's that above it?" Bilbo continued.

I stepped forwards and clapped Bilbo on the shoulder, "That pretty little shiny thing would probably be the reason for you, Mr Burglar."

Bifur and Bofur guffawed and the others gave me wry smiles at Bilbo's wide-eyed look.

"What, didn't think this was a holiday did 'cha?" I chuckled slightly. "You have a very weird idea of holidays if that's the case."

Bilbo glared at me in a half-hearted manner.

"The Arkenstone." Balin cut in seriously watching us both from imploring eyes.

"Arkenstone…" Bilbo nodded, looked up at the carving and then swiftly back to Balin, "What's that?"

"That…" Thorin's deep rumbling voice made me jump slightly as Bilbo and I twisted to face him, "Master Burglar, is why you are here."

"Ooosh! Told you so!" I smiled jovially at Bilbo, once again all I received in response was a glare.

The dwarves all began to crowd around Bilbo and Bilbo gulped looking up at the carving once more. I frowned. "Okay guys, let's not get hasty yeah. How about Bilbo can scuttle on down the tunnel, find out if the treasure is there… and yanno, the big scaly lizard we're all really hoping has decided to move out… and then once he knows he can scuttle back up and tell us eh?"

"That seems…" Thorin struggled for a second looking down the tunnel, in such a way it seemed he was battling with himself. "…Acceptable." He finally finished.

"I… I don't want to go down there alone." Bilbo whispered to the company as he stared at the tunnel. "What if…" He trailed off and swallowed nervously.

"Well, I'll come." I said stepping forwards, "I don't smell right anyways…. Then again this is according to Beorn and not a dragon but I'm totally willing to take that chance." I smiled at Bilbo.

His grateful face was quickly cut off and I was faced with Fili's chest instead.

"Well hello… now if I could just…" My attempt to move around Fili was blocked again. I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest, staring up at him from under my eyelashes a slightly exasperated look on my face.

"You're going nowhere." He snarled, and yes, I do mean snarled.

The feral look I'd seen in his eyes that day in Rivendell was back and it sent a jolt of fear up my spine.

Kili is most certainly correct, Fili is completely intimidating.

"Erm… yes I am."

"No Mimur. You're not." His words were coupled with a harsh look and the crossing of his two bulging arms in front of his broad chest.

He looks a bit like an immovable wall…

My brows knitted together as I tilted my head slightly surveying him. "Fili." I raised my eyebrows and set my jaw.

"Mimur." He copied me.

Obviously, we do not agree.

"You're being ridiculous." I dead-panned.

"Oh!" His voice took on a slightly exaggerated tone, his eyes widened and he swept his gaze over the others. "Do you hear that guys? I'm being-" He stared at me again, eyes frosty, voice low once more. "-ridiculous."

Allowing myself a little inward smile at Fili's use of the word 'guys', I knew I would rub off on him eventually, I huffed again. "Well you are."

"You fell of a mountain the last time I left you with him." Fili spat and his words made Bilbo flinch slightly.

"Correction, I dived off a mountain. Stupid I'll grant you but-"

"No buts." Fili stepped closer to me making me shrink back against the wall feeling exceptionally miniscule at that moment. "You're not going."

If I was the height I was in my world right now matey…

I levelled him with a glare. "Look-"

"Can you two continue your marital spat another time?" Kili asked sliding a hand in between us as if that was going to help any. "Balin's going with Bilbo." He fixed us both with an irritated stare.

Oh… well when was this decided?

Bilbo shrugged and gave me a small smile as Fili moved out of the way. "Thanks anyway Zai."

I grinned back, "No problem Bilbo." Attempting to move forward to hug him, I found myself unable to shift and I comically stumbled backwards. Clearing my throat slightly, I twisted my head to glare at Fili who had my hand in a death grip, obviously preventing me from chasing after Bilbo and Balin.

"Would you just stop?!" I snapped at him, fire in my eyes. "I am not going anywhere. I want to give my friend a hug! He's about to face a dragon for Christ's sake!"

It didn't occur to me at the time, as it hadn't many times before, that Fili had no idea I was cussing at him when I used the term 'for Christ's sake' considering he didn't know who Jesus was. However, my tone must have conveyed enough irritation and annoyance because he let go of my hand allowing me to step forwards and envelope Bilbo in a hug.

"Go n-éirí an bóthar leat…" I said, voice thick as I pulled back from him, hands resting on his shoulders. "…And if anything is to go wrong, may you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you're dead. But remember Bilbo, as my dad used to say to me, it's better to be a coward for a minute than dead for the rest of your life."

Bilbo gave me a watery smile. "Thanks Zai, that is…" He paused for a moment looking oddly amused. "…wonderful advice, actually."

"Always the tone of surprise." I muttered patting him on the shoulder as I stepped back towards Fili.

With a nod to the rest of the company, Bilbo and Balin set off down the tunnel. They'd only taken a few steps when Bilbo stopped and turned back to face me, looking quizzical. "Zai, what was the first thing you said?"

I beamed at him. "I said, May the road rise with you, which means may your journey be successful. Irish blessing mate."

He nodded smiling once more, before taking a final gasp of air and setting off to continue down the tunnel, quite literally heading into the dragons lair.

If he dies, man will I miss that hobbit.

As they turned the corner and disappeared from our sight everyone stared at the spot, waiting fearfully, until a few minutes later Balin ambled back up the tunnel.

"Well… what now?" I whispered.

Dwalin exhaled heavily and clapped a hand on my shoulder, before taking up a seat against the side of the tunnel, leaning on the rough wall. "Now lassie, we wait."

Fili and I sat down against the opposite wall. Fili tugged me between his legs and I leant against his chest, quite glad for his possessive streak when I was sure the wall would be freezing. He wrapped his arms around me, adding to my warmth. Kili sat one side of us and Thorin the other, while the rest of the company found other places to rest I fiddled with one of Fili's hands.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, you're hands are creepy huge." I mumbled, as I compared Fili's large, stout, thick hands to my tiny, thin, delicate ones.

He nuzzled his face into the side of my neck. "I know Mimur, I stand by the comment that yours are just small though still…" He sighed and the warm air tickled my neck with his beard. "Men lananubukhs menu."

I giggled at the sensation, "What does that mean?" Why he thought it was appropriate to speak to me in Khuzdul I'll never know.

"It means I love you." He replied pressing his lips gently to my neck and sending tingles throughout my entire body.

"Right well in that case, graim thu."

I felt his grin against my skin. "What does that mean?"

"It means I love you…. Sooooo…" I took on a tone which obviously displayed my interest in knowing the answer to the next question and the fact that I was badly hiding this interest. "What does Mimur mean?"

He chuckled lightly and the beads at the end of his moustache braids tapped gently against my neck, leaving cool spots in their wake. "Nice try."

"You're no' fair." I mumbled, glaring playfully at the opposite wall.

Kili smiled over at us, flicking a large, smooth, black stone over in his hands. It looked like it had runes on it but I couldn't be entirely sure. "Honestly, you both make me feel queasy."

"Jealousy does not suit you brother." Fili replied smirking as he levelled Kili with a playful look.

"Oh yes," Kili shot back, tone mocking, splaying a hand over his heart. "I'm just positively filled with it. It's crushing me. I really want Zai for my own."

Fili laughed heartily at his little brother's mocking, making his chest rumble beneath my back and then all became quiet.

"This feels like the beginning of the end." Bofur stated breaking the uneasy silence everyone had fallen into since Fili and Kili's sibling banter had ended.

"Dá fhada an lá tagann an tráthnóna," I replied smiling. "No matter how long the day, the evening comes."

"Well aren't you just a bucketful of weird phrases in foreign languages tonight?" Kili smiled, happiness shinning in his voice and eyes as he shoved me on the arm playfully.

I shrugged. "I guess that's the effect of falling off a mountain. I remember dad's Gaelic lessons so much better."

"What lick?... Who's licking what?" Kili glanced around the corridor confused, looking very lost and bewildered.

I laughed lightly, biting my lip to stop it spewing loudly from my mouth at his words. "Gaelic. It's the language they use in Ireland Kils… oh." I gasped for air. "What lick… that is just too much."

"If I remember correctly you once referred to Khuzdul as gobbledygook." Fili dead-panned making all the dwarves eyes flick to me accusingly.

"Honestly Fils… you're a fabulous betrothed... person… you're meant to have my back!" I moaned.

"Gobbledygook?" Thorin asked levelling me with a hard stare.

I clenched my teeth and pulled my mouth down in a fearful kind of way. "Well… yeah but… hey! I know how 'bout I tell you guys some Irish phrases."

Thorin narrowed his eyes at me.

What? What's wrong with that… I oh!

"No, no!" I explained hurriedly. "It's not secret or anything, honestly we don't mind who learns the language. It's all cool."

Thorin swallowed, appraised me for a few more moments, then said, "Well in that case, go ahead."

I grinned, "Okay right, thanks Pops. What do you guys want to know?"

Bifur replied in thick Khuzdul and I stared blankly at him, with a slight laugh Bombur translated. "He said, how about something to do with home? Considering…"

"Sure." I smiled and racked my brains. "Ah I know. Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin. There's no fireplace like your own fireplace."

The dwarves smiled at me. "And something to give us hopes for the hobbit, taking into account he's not the strongest." Dori suggested.

"An té nach bhfuil láidir, ní foláir dó bheith glic. He who's not strong must be clever." I replied immediately.

It was then that Thorin made a request, lowly he asked, "Something for loyalty..." He frowned slightly and clarified. "...standing together?"

I bit my lip considering this for a while. I knew quite a few, but one stood out. "Ní neart go cur le chéile. There's strength in unity."

Thorin nodded seemingly impressed by my choice as Fili used one hand to fiddle with my courting braid.

"Zai you are just brimming with peculiar sayings. Quite the little weirdo." Kili announced ruffling my hair.

"Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile. It takes one to know one." I winked at him and that seemed to be the conversation over.

Fili and I sat in silence a few moments more, while the others muttered and mumbled between themselves.

"I love you." I kissed the back of his hand as I spoke lowly, the words not meant for anyone else.

"And I love you." His breath ghosted across my ear making me shiver and I leaned back slightly pressing myself further into his body and tilting my head to look up at him.

"I can't believe I'm saying this… considering it was never my thing after mum and dad, but I can't wait to marry you."

Never my thing. Ha! I swore off the marriage situation entirely.

A grin tugged at the corner of Fili's mouth as he nudged my nose with his own. "And I can't wait to marry you either. I'll be the luckiest male alive, with the most beautiful, adorable, feisty, courageous, intelligent, infuriating wife."

I felt my face flush and I nervously ran a hand over the scar on my face. Fili slapped my hand away, "Scars and all Mimur. There is no one more attractive to me."

My tongue darted out and wet my lips as I gazed up at him. "Then you must know, that there is no one more handsome to me, not in Middle Earth or any other world or place."

As Fili's lips lightly brushed mine, soft padding footsteps came up the tunnel. We broke our kiss and looked towards the entrance.

Bilbo Baggins had returned clutching tightly in his hands, a golden cup.

What the...?

"Correct me if I'm wrong..." I stated, voice filling the chamber. "But that does not look like an Arkenstone to me."

Well what did you think of this?

Sorry it was a bit longer to update than normal. Will try to have another out tonight or tomorrow now I'm back in the swing of things but I couldn't decide whether to go book or movie or mix the two here. So I'm going for a bit of a mixture.

I hope you liked it and it was worth the wait, even if it's not exactly brimming with either excitement or sweetness, and I will endeavour to post another asap.

Thanks for all the favs, follows and reviews.

Rue :)