One year passed by and Kalea was already trying to get up and stand on her own. It wasn't easy for her and she could not stand for long, but nevertheless she seemed to have a strong will already.

It was a sunny afternoon and Mona sat outside the gate of Erebor with Kalea crawling around her in the grass. She was babbling and Mona watched her with a warm smile. The girl grabbed her mother's arm and pushed herself up and stood a little unsteady. Mona backed her and Kalea squealed with joy. She didn't stop babbling and Mona chuckled,

"Very good, my little sweetheart!"

Her gaze drifted towards the main gate and saw Thorin approaching them. Kalea tried to walk on her own but she fell and Mona caught her before she could hit the ground. Now the girl crawled towards him and suddenly said,

"Dadda! Dadda!"

Thorin and Mona exchanged a surprised look. "Was that—?" he asked and picked his daughter up on his arms. Mona watched them and said,

"I suppose that was her first word."

They smiled at each other while Kalea grabbed Thorin's braids and babbled again, "Dadda!"

"Yes, I'm your Dadda, my princess. I'm so proud of you," he whispered and she squealed which made his heart melt on instant.

He lowered down next to his wife and Kalea snuggled up on his arms and closed her eyes.

"Well, she's definitely a daddy's darling," Mona chuckled and kissed him. "Do you think Bilbo made it home safely?" she suddenly asked once they broke the kiss.

"He was with Gandalf, therefore I suppose he's home already. He might also know about Kalea."

"I can really imagine him while he reads the letter."

Thorin laughed. "Yes, and I'm certain he would like to grab his nephew and return to us."

They exchanged a look. "He won't—would he?" she asked uncertainly.

"No, I don't think so. He missed his home too much just to leave it that soon again. How old is his nephew anyway?"

"I don't really know. I never asked him, but he is still a young hobbit I guess."

"Bilbo would not take a young Halfling on such a long and dangerous journey without help from Gandalf."

She nodded and knew he was right. Kalea shifted and munched a bit while she continued to sleep.

"There is our favorite cousin!" Kili called as he and Fili approached them.

"She's asleep," Thorin said and signaled them to be a bit quieter. Kili sneaked and looked down at the sleeping girl. He smiled and Fili said,

"Well, we've been looking for you."

"What happened?" Thorin asked.

"Oh, nothing—we just thought, maybe you would like to have some private time together? We could take care of Kalea for a while this evening," Fili explained and Kili nodded enthusiastically.

Thorin and Mona exchanged another look. They both knew the lads were right. They had not much private time the past months.

"That seems to be a wonderful idea," Mona finally replied and Thorin nodded in agreement.

"Perfect! Now—would it be fine if we take her to Dale? Eolyn's parents invited us for dinner tonight and she would be perfectly safe there! We promise!" Kili said and watched them with his puppy eyes.

"Hmm—what do you think?" Mona watched her husband and could see that he was not very pleased about that idea. Kalea—that 'far' away from Erebor?

Finally he said sternly, "Just to Eolyn's house and back. No detours! No foolish actions!"

Kili saluted and replied, "Aye! We promise to bring her back in one piece."

Thorin scowled at him to signal how serious he was about that. Mona intervened,

"Don't worry. They love her just as much as we do." She gently stroked his cheek to calm him down. He nodded and added,

"Well, she will take a nap and you can pick her up in two hours."

Later in the evening, Kili knocked gently at the door of the royal bedchamber and entered.

"Is she ready, yet?" he asked and Mona nodded. She just finished dressing Kalea and Thorin placed a kiss on her forehead. He handed her to Kili but not without repeating,

"Take care of her!"

"Yes, no foolish actions. No detours. I know, uncle," he said and turned to leave the room. He stopped at the door and cast a glance at them again and added,

"Wish you a pleasant night." He chuckled, winked and left the room.

"Now, my lovely Queen—would you like to have dinner with me?" Thorin said with a mischievous grin on his lips and offered his arm to her. She smiled at him, linked to him and replied,

"Well, my lovely King—I'd be very pleased about that."

They chuckled and headed to the big balcony where Thorin had arranged a beautiful candle light dinner. The sun was already setting and the sky was colored in different shades of pink, red and gold.

They lowered down and began to eat and drink. During their meal they talked about random things and after finishing he said,

"I thought we might just sit here for a while and watch the rising of the moon?"

"That sounds amazing," she replied and they lowered down on the bench. He placed his arm around her and she snuggled up to him as close as she could.

They just sat silent for a while until she turned to look at him. She wrapped her arms around him while he embraced her and kissed her tenderly.

"I love you," he whispered between two kisses.

"And I love you," she responded softly.

He captured her lips in another kiss, now his tongue started to explore her mouth and dance with her tongue. She sighed in pleasure while he caressed her neck and ears with his fingertips. A shiver ran down his spine while her hands stroked along his waist, up along his sides and placed on his shoulders.

His hands ran through her hair and his nose brushed the outer reach of her ear. Her breathing came heavier as she felt his beard tickling her and he started to place kisses on that very sensitive spot on the side of her neck.
First he brushed it just with the tip of his tongue before he added his lips and teeth.

He wandered down to her shoulder and she started to moan his name in pleasure. He pulled away from her and she looked into his stormy-blue eyes. He got up and took her hand. Together they entered their bedchamber again. Once the door was locked, their lips crushed onto each other in a hungry kiss. Her hands were buried in his dark mane until they began undoing and removing each other's clothes.

"You're the most beautiful woman that ever lived," he breathed and kissed her once again. She pulled him towards the bed and lowered down onto her back. She was completely naked and so was he. His gaze drifted along her body and she could see how much he admired her.

Slowly he lowered down on top of her, pinned her beneath him and started to kiss along her shoulder. He gently bit into her soft skin and nibbled at her earlobe. Her hand grabbed the back of his head, buried into his hair while she moaned quietly.

He grunted into her mouth as he could feel her hand slowly wandering down on him. His kissed wandered along her chin, the side of her neck and down to her breasts which he nibbled, kissed and licked gently.

His lips wandered down along her belly, which was in her normal shape again, down to her thighs and finally pushed her legs apart. Slowly his lips trailed along her inner thighs. Her hand buried even more into his long mane and he bit back a smile. He began to tease her with his beard and telling from her shivering he knew she was already on the edge. She moaned his name over and over again while he caressed her slowly. She gasped and cried out,

"Oh—yes!"

His tongue started to explore her and her breath became even heavier. He kissed his way back up along her body again until he reached her lips once more. She could taste herself which aroused her even more. Her hands trailed along his back, felt every muscle beneath her fingertips and finally grabbed his backside to press him against her.

"P—pleeease," she whimpered and he kissed her again, hungrier than before. She moaned against his lips as he finally entered her. A loud moan slipped from his throat as she arched towards him. He shuddered and began to thrust very slowly while her fingernails traced along his back just to leave red marks on his skin.

"Ooooh, sweet Talos—oh divines, help me! That's so good, Thorin!" she cried out as he hit the right spot and they began to move in a common rhythm.

Suddenly he paused while he breathed heavily. "Wh—what?" she mumbled and looked up into his eyes. She saw his eternal love in them and a mischievous smile curled his lips as he leaned down and capture her lips in a deep kiss.

He began to thrust again, this time harder than before. His hands slid up her arms, found her hands and entwined their fingers which were now locked beside her head.

It didn't take long from that point and they climaxed together. He collapsed on her and she immediately held him very tight while she enjoyed his weight on her. They gasped, smiled and kissed until he shut his eyes and buried his face in the crook of her neck. She stroked his head and played with a lock of his wonderful hair.

"Thorin?"

"Mmmh?"

"I'm so thankful that the lads took Kalea."

She could feel that he smiled and finally he looked down at her. "Me too, my love. Me too."

Meanwhile, Kili and Fili arrived at Eolyns house in Dale and entered. Her mother approached them with a bright smile on her face.

"Oh, you brought the princess! She is such an adorable girl!"

Kalea reached her arms out towards the woman and Kili handed her over. She took the girl on her arms and began to talk with her. Kalea made some giggling babbling sounds.

Together they entered the living room and Kili approached his girlfriend, kissed her and said, "I hope it's fine that we brought her."

"Yes, certainly! My mother loves babies and especially when it's a princess. It will be hard to take her away from her," she laughed and watched her mother with the girl on her arms.

"Well, I suppose there is someone who will come and get her if necessary," Kili replied with a grin.

"Your uncle?"

"Aye, he's a very protective father. I'm certain he'll give them lads hell as soon as she starts to meet with boys," Fili chuckled.

"I will be protective as well," Kili added and Eolyn placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Dinner is ready!" Eolyns father called from the kitchen and they headed to the dining room to find a very delicious meal on the table.

In the middle of the dinner, Eolyn's mother suddenly said, "May I ask you something?" Her gaze drifted to Kili and Fili. They both nodded in anticipation.

"So, her mother—the Queen, did she really kill Smaug on her own?"

"Not on her own at all. She had a little help," Fili replied.

"But she gave him the death-blow. So—yes, she killed him," Kili added proudly.

"And is it true that she talked with the dragon? In another language?"

Now the brothers exchanged a look. "Yes, she has the power to talk with dragons," Fili explained.

"That's so impressive," Eolyn's father said before he stuffed his mouth with mashed potatoes.

"And will the princess have such powers as well?" Eolyn asked curiously.

Kili shrugged and replied, "Maybe. It is possible. I'm certain she is special as well. I mean, her mother is a Dragonborn. That means she has the blood and soul of a dragon. And her father is a mighty, majestic dwarf King and heir of the oldest dwarf tribe. She's a heir of Durin just like us."

"That sounds like the stuff that legends are made off," Eolyn's mother said and stroked Kalea's dark hair. The girl looked along the table and her eyes filled with joy as she spotted Kili. He winked at her and smiled.

"Ki—Ki!" she babbled and they all broke out into laughter.