Alina sat silently on her bed, her arms wrapped around her knees which she had pulled closer to her body.

She had no idea how long she was sitting there like this. After a quick glance out of her window she assumed it might be late afternoon already.

The images of the latest event between Dwalin and her were replaying in her mind over and over again. She still felt his strong hands holding her waist, keeping her on top of him.

A knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She got up from her bed and moved towards the door and opened it, already prepared to find Dwalin in front of her. A relieved breath left her throat as she saw her best friend smiling at her.

"May I come in?" Lailah asked and stepped into the room once Alina had nodded in agreement. "So—how was your day so far?" the blonde girl asked and lowered down on the other's bed.

"Telling from that grin on your face, you already know what happened earlier today," Alina said and closed the door. She approached her bed and lowered down next to Lailah.

"Indeed, I did. But I'd like to hear your version now. Come on," Lailah pulled her closer and watched her expectantly.

Alina sighed and blushed a bit. "I nearly kissed him—I mean, Dwalin—"

Lailah smiled brightly. "Seems I was right, huh?"

"I—maybe, I don't know. Oh, Lailah—"she buried her face in the pillow which made Lailah laugh and place a kiss on top of her best friend's head.

"I'm sorry that Dain interrupted you, but if it relieves you—Dwalin is just as embarrassed as you are," she whispered and lifted Alina's face up again.

"Really?"

"Yes. I think he likes you a lot. Hey, how about you and I go have some dinner tonight? Thorin and the others wanted to do a little walk and I thought it might be a nice idea if we dine together and simply talk a bit."

Alina rolled around on her back and cast a glance at Lailah. "That is a trick, isn't it?"

"A trick?" Lailah giggled quietly. "Why should I play tricks—?"

"Of all the people I know, Lailah—you are the worst liar," Alina gently pinched the other girl's arm. Lailah chuckled and turned on her side to look at Alina.

"Fine, it is a trick. The lads are planning a candle-light dinner for you and Dwalin. The plan was that Dwalin surprises you."

Alina groaned. "Oh, I should've known! That was your idea, right?"

"Nope, actually it was Thorin's. And Dwalin agreed to that so—he will be in the dinner hall at eight and he's really hoping that you come. That's why we made up that plan. Which was, by the way, also Thorin's and—well, you see he's not the best in making successful plans," she chuckled and earned a grin from Alina.

"I have nothing appropriate to wear for a dinner with him," she mumbled and squeaked as Lailah pulled her up from the bed.

"Well then—we still have three hours. Let's get started," she smiled and pulled her friend into the bathroom.

The three young dwarves stood side by side at the head of the dinner hall and inspected their own work.

"I'd say we did great, lads," Balin said and cast a glance at them. Dwalin fumbled nervously with the buckle of his belt and nodded thoughtfully.

"She'll like it, I am certain about that," Thorin patted his friend's back and grinned cheekily at him. "And now it is time for us to leave. Alina will arrive soon. Good luck," he added and signaled Balin to follow him out of the hall.

Dwalin turned to stop them but they were already gone. His nervousness grew even more and he felt sweat covering his forehead. He rubbed it away with his pocket-handkerchief and strolled towards the window, casting a glance outside down over the snowy landscape below the fortress.

"What am I doing here? Even if she likes me—I highly doubt she would go with me to Erebor. I can't give her a life of wealth and power. I'm a blacksmith, nothing more—"

The clearing of a throat pulled him out of his thoughts. He winced and turned around. He nearly gasped, but could stop himself from doing so in last second. His jaw opened and closed while he watched the beautiful dwarf girl with her long, auburn-colored hair and that wonderful forest-green dress.

"Uhm—hello, Dwalin," she said and blushed a bit as he approached her slowly. His eyes were fixed on hers as a warm smile tucked at the corner of his lips.

Suddenly he frowned. "You knew I would be here?"

She couldn't help but chuckle. "Lailah is a bad liar, I hope you know that."

"Yes, she told us, but we thought it couldn't be so difficult—"

"It's fine. I simply know her for too long now. But that doesn't matter, because actually I am happy that it was you who wanted to meet me tonight."

"I wasn't certain if you'd come if you hear I am here. So, are you hungry?" he gestured to the neatly decorated table where a delicious meal was already waiting for them.

"Actually, I'm starving," she chuckled and let him lead her to the table. He pulled a chair for her and once she sat, he offered her a goblet of wine. She had to admit, he really did everything to please her and that made her feel like a princess.

Finally he lowered down across from her. Uncertainly they stared down at their plates which were filled with chicken, mashed potatoes and carrots.

"I—uhm, I hope you like this?" he asked and watched her again. Alina couldn't help but chuckle quietly as she nodded.

"Aye, I like this a lot," she took the fork and tasted it. "That is extraordinarily delicious," she looked up at him and spotted somewhat like a proud smile. She frowned and looked down on her plate and to him again. "Did you cook this?"

"Surprised?" he raised an eyebrow and sent her a cheeky grin.

"Oh, well—a little bit, yes. I just can't imagine you as a cook," she cast a glance at him, her honey-colored eyes dived into his dark-green ones. He smiled and tilted his head a bit as he asked,

"And what can you imagine?"

"Well—,"she leaned her chin on her folded hands and watched him before she replied, "More like a fearsome warrior who would go through hell to protect the ones he loves."

He chuckled and pushed a piece of meat into his mouth. Thoughtfully he watched her for a while and once they finished their meal he said,

"Would you like to—uhm—take a little stroll outside?"

Alina felt more nervous than before. During the dinner they had at least the table between them. Now she had to be closer to him again and she knew this time there would be no turning back. And she didn't want to turn back.

"So?" he asked once again and offered his arm to her.

"Mmh? Oh, yes, that'd be lovely," she smiled and linked her arm with his. Silently they left the hall and stepped outside into the courtyard. The moon was not at its highest point, yet, and the snow glistened in the pale light.

"I should've brought my coat," she whispered as a chill breeze caressed her skin. Dwalin reacted quickly and placed his own coat around her.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled and blushed a bit. Alina cast a curious glance at him.

"What for?" she asked amused and could see he grew even more nervous.

"For taking you out here without thinking about your coat."

"That's fine—yours is warmer than mine," she said. 'And smells so wonderful,' she added silently with a twitch of her lips.

They stopped at a railing from which they had a wonderful sight over the lowlands below, the snow-covered treetops and the smoke from the chimneys rising up into the night-air.

"Tell me—is Erebor really that big? I have never been there and only know the stories every dwarfling hears about the greatest and mightiest dwarf-kingdom in Middle Earth. And I know the stories from Lailah, but I can't imagine how big it is. You grew up there, right?"

"Aye, I know this place very well, just like my brother and Thorin. Thorin and I practically grew up together—well, that wasn't your question, I know. So—yes, Erebor is really that big. Though I don't know how big it is described in the stories you know, but it is indeed very impressive. The Lonely Mountain standing proud and tall in a valley just as prosperous as the treasure halls inside."

"And there is really so much gold that even the King or anyone else knows how much it is exactly?"

Dwalin chuckled and scratched his neck. "Oh, well—I don't know if that is true, that no one knows how much it is. Just imagine an ocean—and you dive into it, and break through the golden surface again. That is what you could do in those piles of gold and treasures."

Alina grinned cheekily at him. "Have you ever done it?"

"Done what?"

"Swim and dive in the gold in an unnoticed moment?"

He blushed and shifted a bit, casting a glance down into the valley again. She laughed and nudged his arm. "Come on, is that a yes?"

"Maybe?"

She chuckled and shook her head in disbelief. He looked at her again and smiled as he added,

"We both did—Thorin and I. Though it is a few years ago. We've been dwarflings back then. We sneaked out of our rooms in the night and played in the treasury. It was fun and I don't want to miss these times."

Alina was well aware of the melancholy that seemed to build up in him. Carefully she reached out for his hand and touched it with her fingertips until she took it completely. Dwalin stood silent and stared into the distance.

"He really means a lot to you, right?" she whispered and saw him nodding thoughtfully. A smile tucked at his lips as he turned to look at her again.

"He is my best friend and even that would not describe the feelings I have for him. He is more like—like a second brother. I would never leave his side unless he'd ask me to do so, which I know will never happen. I know he feels the same about me. Whenever he'll need me—I will be there for him. I will stand by his side, no matter what."

With each word escaping his mouth, Alina felt more and more warmth in her chest. She couldn't stop from smiling brightly and finally, without even much thinking, she placed her finger carefully on his lips.

Dwalin watched her surprised; his heart began fluttering as their eyes locked.

"Dwalin—I know this is strange, because we know each other for just barely a few weeks now and—and yet I always feel like the happiest dwarf girl. I like to spent time with you and it fills my heart with ache whenever I think about that you're going to leave at the end of this week—"

She fell silent as she was aware that her eyes became teary-wet. He gently cupped her cheek with his warm hand and made her look at him again. A smile curled his lips while his gaze grew softer and softer with each seconds passing. Finally he leaned in closer, knowing that if he wouldn't make that first step now, he would always regret it.

Alina closed her eyes as their lips were just mere inches apart from each other and with one last deep breath they finally met in a careful, loving kiss.

A/N: Yay, finally Dwalina made it xD I know this chapter was more Dwalina than anything else, but I just had to get their relationship starting now because…well, I am sorry to tell you this…the next chapter will be very long, very dramatic and very, very hurtful.

The reason for that is...Smaug!

Stay tuned and thank you once again for all your support and wonderful reviews!