Balin asked his king and old friend, "Do you doubt anyone's loyalty here?"

Thorin turned from his grandfather's broken throne to look at Balin. Bilbo looked at the king's advisor. Thorin's eyes stopped at his advisor's brother. Dwalin didn't break from Thorin's stare. Dwalin cannot fathom why he thought his loyalty is questioned. Thorin stepped down the steps heading to the Fundin brothers. Thorin pointed his finger at Dwalin, "He who leaves at night, not searching for the stone, to wander somewhere in these halls!"

Balin slowly spoke, "The Arkenstone is the birthright of our people, yes."

Thorin didn't waver his stare off of Dwalin. Dwalin watched his friend with gritted teeth. Thorin stopped in front of Dwalin, "Then all should search for it. It is the King's jewel, is it not!? I am the King."

Balin glanced at his brother. Dwalin's fists clenched and unclenched. Balin and Bilbo knew where Dwalin sneaks off to. It is surprising that their King do not remember he officiated the union between Dwalin and his elf. Thorin came close to Dwalin, "Where have you been sneaking off to?"

Dwalin bit back an answer. Balin tried to veer Thorin's attention, "We shall find it, Thorin. Don't worry."

Thorin sneered turning his heel, "If I find out someone is withholding the jewel, I will be avenged!"

Thorin stalked out of the throne room leaving the trio. Balin turned to his brother, "Ye need to be careful. Ye need to lessen yer visits, brother."

Dwalin growled, "Yer bannin' me from seein' my One? My wife!"

Bilbo stepped down the stairs quickly to the brothers. Bilbo shook his head, "No, no, no. Just not many visits where Thorin suspects you. Who knows what would happen if he were to follow you by chance."

Dwalin's lips tightly frowned. Dwalin growled lowly, "If he hurts her, I would..."

Balin placed a hand on Dwalin's shoulder, "Aye but ye won't. He won't either. To prevent that, just tell Miriel what is going on."

Dwalin shrugged off his brother's hand. He grumbled walking away. Bilbo turned to Balin after he watched the younger of the two leave, "This is heading down south quickly."

Balin rubbed his beard, "Aye. There is no tellin' what Thorin would do when he finds there have been elves in his halls. Especially an elf who is a wife to a dwarf."

Bilbo threw his hands into the air before landing them on his hips, "He should know her. He hasn't forgotten any of us since we arrived."

Balin bobbed his head, "Aye lad but the sickness is nothin' to fool around with. I've seen King Thror being swallowed by it."

Bilbo frowned at the mention of the previous king of the mountain. This isn't going to be easy for any of them.


Dwalin sat amongst the company with his arms crossed. His jaw clenched. It was a couple nights ago on the same day Thorin suspected something. He saw his One one last time before he had to lessen his visits.

I heard the usual footsteps coming up the steps. There stood my balding dwarf but there was a scowl on his face. I knitted my brows together, "What's the matter, melleth?"

He grumbled, "Thorin is questionin' my loyalty."

My face held confusion which led Dwalin to explain, "I've been skippin' out of searching for the stone to come here. He wants the damned stone to be found."

I swallowed, "That stone would make him worse if it lands in his hands."

Dwalin saw my nephew a few paces behind me before turning his attention back to me, "Ye have no idea."

I licked my lips, "I have a feeling you are going to lessen your visits to us."

Elrohir mumbled, "Good don't need to see him every day."

I turned to my nephew sharply, "Elrohir leave us. Stay away from the company especially Thorin."

Elrohir didn't need to be told twice by his aunt. He heard the tone. Silently he stepped away wandering the unused halls. Dwalin reached for me. He pulled me against his body. His lips mumbled against my clothed skin, "Stop bein' harsh to the boy. He is simply jealous."

I pulled away slightly looking at my dwarf. I questioned, "Jealous?"

Dwalin nodded, "Guessin' he was close to ye after yer sister went on, right?"

I could see where he was going with it. I nodded slowly. He continued, "I am takin' ye away from him."

I frowned, "Don't be absurd. You're not taking me away from my family as I wouldn't with you."

Dwalin moved his hand to my hand giving it a squeeze, "But the lad don't see that. Be easy on him."

I licked my lips, "I am guessing Balin spoke with you about this after I am sure you let out your frustrations about my nephew to him."

Dwalin's cheeks turned a rosy hue. A smile graced my lips as I reached down giving him a kiss on his lips. I whispered, "I will not be harsh with him anymore. Now how about you and I make this night worth it till we are reunited again?"

Dwalin's ears perked up at the sound of that. Dwallin yanked me closer to him. Immediately his lips were drawn to mine. I do not mind having one long night with my husband... Even if it is on the floor of a ruined hall.

Where Elrohir lurked in the darkness, he closed his eyes as he could pick up the sounds of his aunt being pleasured as well as the grunts of the dwarf. It echoed down where he was walking to be far away from the couple. He moved his hands to clamp down on his ears. This is not what he wanted to hear. He is sure if he told his brother, he would laugh at his expense.

Dwalin definitely pleasured his wife till it was dawn. They both knew it would be a while to throw off the dwarven king's suspicions. However, it didn't help that he would want to go back to his wife and hold her close. If anyone in the company told him in his younger years, he would be bonded with an elf he would of laughed in their face then threaten their life for thinking of a thought. Dwalin remembered the vision his wife told him inbetween their physical love.

My finger twirled circles on his bare chest. His muscled arm wrapped around my lithe body keeping me close. Our body heat shared between the two of us. I watched my finger do its ministrations. I spoke softly, "Dwalin."

A low deep hum came from his chest. I continued, "I had a vision while you were away helping Thorin."

Dwalin asked, "What was it?"

I smiled softly to myself, "You were teaching our two sons how to fight with their weapons of choice. Your daughter wanted to join but you tried your hardest to tell her no even though in your culture a woman can fight."

Dwalin glanced down looking at the tossed up silver hair bundle, "Was I successful?"

I chuckled pushing my cheek against his peck, "No. Not one bit. However you did took pride when she chose axes."

Dwalin smiled big, "That my girl."

I nuzzled my face into his side. Dwalin bravely asked his wife afraid she would turn the idea down, "Want to have another go?"

I lifted my head from his side with a mischievous smirk, "Always."

Dwalin couldn't think of having bairns of his own let alone three. Now he has a wife to call his own with the possibility of having bairns between the two of them. Earlier in the evening, Thorin had the company build a wall of broken stones to keep the humans out. It didn't strain Dwalin's muscles as he had hundreds of years of training to build his muscle. Kili stood up against his uncle which made Thorin angry slightly. Kili isn't wrong with what he said to his uncle but his uncle isn't wrong either. Kili nudged Dwalin, "You have an angry look on your face."

Balin shoo the young dwarf away, "Don't you bother him, laddie."

Kili followed Balin's instruction leaving the two brothers alone. Balin glanced down at his brother who glanced up at him. Balin spoke, "You need to have a skip in yer step, brother."

Dwalin uncrossed his arms, "My wife is the dark halls with her nephew. I very much want her here with me."

Balin let out a sigh, "I understand that, brother but Thorin..."

Dwalin growled, "The dwarf who questions my loyalty."

Balin let out another sigh as he felt like he growing tired between his angered brother and his sick old friend. Balin suggest, "How about the day after tomorrow you can go see her? It should've placed the suspicion down in Thorin's thoughts especially the humans from Laketown residing in Dale."

Dwalin felt his heart beat slightly faster at the thought he would see his wife, his One in two days time.