PLEASE READ THIS NOTE:

First off, yes, I am back. I got a bit distracted playing Skyrim over the last few days. Next chapter is exactly what you all have been waiting for.

Okay, so I have had to take some liberties with timelines and ages due to the face that the movies and the books and lore don't really mirror proper ages and events. For one Dwalin was born two years after Erebor fell, but from the way the movies tell it.

So, I corrected myself first of all. Thorin WAS older than Dwalin. He was born in Lonely Mountain and grew up there before Erebor fell. Now the movies push up the Battle of Azanulbizar quite a bit. So, in reflection I also have gone with this timeline. Between that battle and the Quest for Erebor there was actually about 169 years. Adaira is actually older than previously thought because after all wizards can be wrong sometimes and I already had planned to add that part in.

So, I played with the timeline and took liberties with ages in order to combine the books and movies. I already have started writing a second Hobbit story that I might eventually post which strictly follows the books. For now, it is just for me.

Now that you know the liberties I have taken, please enjoy.

When I woke up the next morning, I had a bright smile on my face, and I hummed as I got dressed into another new dress which had been left for me. It was a dusty purple color with white flowing sleeves. It made me feel beautiful even if it was once again simple. I braided my hair into a long braid, my warrior and family braids falling free down by the side of my face and I braided some of the poppies into my hair. I stepped out of my room, waking Fili as I did so, and he grumbled as he wiped a hand down his face and got to his feet. We joined the rest of the Company who were already awake, and I sat beside Fili and Kili who kept shooting me looks.

"Poppies," Bilbo said in surprise as he sat down near me with his breakfast and I smiled brighter, flicking my eyes covertly over to Dwalin who had his head down, suddenly very interested in his food. "They're lovely," Bilbo added, and I grinned brightly as some of the dwarves snorted and smirked.

"Thank you. I quite like them myself," I told the hobbit before turning to my food which Bombur had handed me as soon as I joined them. I continued to hum happily after I finished eating and Dwalin seemed to be trying to catch my eye. I rose and handed Bombur back my empty plate and Dwalin rose as well and intercepted me before I could sit back down.

"Can I talk to yah?" Dwalin asked me and we both turned to look at Thorin who had looked up at his words. Thorin nodded his consent and I turned back to Dwalin who looked expectant.

"Of course," I told Dwalin and he nodded before offering me his arm. I slipped my arm through his and let him escort me away, the dwarves jeering behind us until Dwalin flipped them off over his shoulder. As always, Dwalin had his axes strapped to his back, ready for danger at any moment.

"Sorry 'bout that," Dwalin told me as we started to walk through one of the gardens nearby. I smiled up at him and he turned a bit pink around the cheeks.

"No worries. You wanted to talk?" I asked Dwalin and he nodded but said nothing until we strolled over to a bench. He sat down, hands on his knees, looking unsure of himself and I sat down beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He jumped slightly and looked down and I smiled at him encouragingly. "You can tell me anything. I won't judge you," I told Dwalin and he blew out a deep breath before looking up, squaring his shoulders as he seemed to make up his mind.

"I had to talk to yah. I know yah forgave me for what I did, but I need yah to understand why I did it," Dwalin told me before wiping a hand down his face and looked back at me. "I don't know how to say this….," He began, and I patiently waited for him to collect his thoughts. "Birashagmi," He said before he turned more towards me. "It was wrong of me to tie yah up like that. I only ever mean't to keep yah safe. I lo….," He said before stopping himself and he heaved out another deep breath before continuing. "I worry 'bout yah is all," Dwalin apologized and I smiled at him softly and put my hand on his shoulder again.

"Men kemgu gajum menu," I told Dwalin and he looked relieved by my words. "I worry about all of you too," I told him and Dwalin's face fell someone, his expression unreadable and I frowned slightly before continuing. "That doesn't mean I try to hold you back when there is danger. I know you all will fight even if I like it or not. All I can do is be ready to patch you back up when the fight is over and give you a hand when you need one," I told Dwalin truthfully. I feared for the company, but I knew that they would have to fight, that I would have to fight, but when it was over, I was the one who could patch them up.

"Aye," Dwalin said before he pulled a face as I squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. I frowned at his reaction and noticed him grimace as he rolled his shoulders a bit as I took my hand away.

"I saw that," I told him, and he gritted his teeth together. "What's wrong?" I asked him worried and Dwalin tried to shrug it off, but winced again, making me more worried.

"It's nothing," He grumbled, and I raised my eyebrow at him and gave him a pointed look.

"It's not nothing if you are in pain," I told him, and he looked away from me. I put a hand over his that was resting on his knee and reached up, pulling his face back to mine. "Let me help you," I told him and whatever he saw in my eyes made him sigh as I pulled away from him, giving him some space.

"It's my shoulder," Dwalin finally admitted after a pause and I nodded, as I ran through several causes for injury and how to fix them. "Being on that spit…," Dwalin added and I nodded in understanding.

"You know, I was terrified as soon as I saw that you were all captured. I…I haven't had anyone I consider as friends or family since adad…. Well, losing you all would have been…I don't even want to consider it," I admitted to myself and Dwalin and his face did that thing again before he waited for me to speak.

"It's why I was so angry before at you. I get that you thought you were protecting me, but if I hadn't gotten free and learn later that you were all eaten by trolls…I could never have gotten over that," I explained to Dwalin and he seemed to finally understand my ire. He picked up my hand which was between us on the bench and he squeezed it gently before letting it go.

"Anyway," I said, trying to brighten the mood. "Let me take a look at your shoulder," I told Dwalin and I waited for him to move but he just sat up straight, waiting for me to begin. "Um…I'll need you to remove your axes and your shirt so I can examine it properly," I told Dwalin after a beat and he seemed to flush as he reached up with his good arm and unstrapped his axes from his back, carefully setting them down beside him on the grass before he pulled his shirt off.

Being next to Dwalin was like being next to a mountain. He was broad of shoulder and his muscles bulked him out quite a bit. I wouldn't lie. I kinda liked what I saw. Dwalin had even more tattoos on his arms, chest, and back. There was hair that led from his belly button down in a little happy trail and I blushed behind him and tried to just focus in on his shoulder. His right shoulder was deformed, and the skin was mottled with purple, black and yellowing bruises. When I touched his skin lightly, goosebumps rose up on his skin and he shivered slightly. I ignored it though, knowing that I was playing on a fine line. I knew what I was doing, I was testing one last time to see if I was correct. Dwalin seemed to preen under my touch after that as I inspected his shoulder, running my hands gently over it and prodding at the bruised flesh.

"This is more than a simple strain," I said finally, and I fixed Dwalin with an annoyed look. "Why didn't you go to see Oin? Even though I was mad at you at first you could have come to see me too. This is serious Dwalin," I told him hurt that he didn't trust me and worried that he had let it go this long. "Your shoulder is dislocated. You could have seriously damaged you shoulder by waiting this long," I scolded him and what he said next shocked me.

"I wanted it to hurt," He told me in a quiet voice, and I frowned deeply as I gazed at him, our eyes meeting, brown and blue.

"Why would you want it to hurt?" I asked Dwalin softly, our face close together and he looked away from me then, not answering me. I got to my feet and then climbed up onto the bench, knelling on the stone as I tried to find the best way to do what needed to be done.

"What are yah doing?" Dwalin asked me as he reached up with his good arm and held me by the hip to steady me as I swayed slightly.

"Trying to get enough leverage to pop it back it," I told him, grabbing him by the elbow and lifting his arm slightly as I tried to start guiding the joint back into place. "This isn't going to be pleasant," I warned him, and he grunted at me, his other hand still steadying me.

"Never is. Just do it, Adaria," He told me, and I nodded grimly before pulling his arm down and around, grasping his shoulder and guiding the joint back into place. His shoulder popped loudly as the joint finally slipped back in and Dwalin swore in Khuzdul as he gritted his teeth.

"Sorry, lass," He apologized as I checked his shoulder one last time before I carefully sat down beside him once more.

"Don't be. I know that must have hurt quite a bit," I assured him before I smiled at him. "I think that is the first time you've ever used my name," I pointed out and Dwalin looked at me in confusion. "You always call me lass," I added, and he nodded in understanding.

"Do I?" He asked me and I nodded in confirmation. "Do yah mind?" He asked me then and I frowned before shaking my head.

"No, no I don't mind," I told him before frowning more deeply as I considered everything that had occurred between Dwalin and I since we left the Shire. He didn't exactly act like a man in love, always pushing me away or telling me that I didn't belong in the Company. "Dwalin, do you…dislike me?" I asked Dwalin, needing to know the truth as he put his shirt back on.

"Yah think I dislike yah?" Dwalin asked me in surprise, his eyebrows raising higher than his nonexistent hairline. "No, lass. I like yah well enough. True, I dinna trust yah when we first met, but I have no ill will towards yah," Dwalin told me and I nodded, reassured by his words. Dwalin didn't seem like the type who would lie to spare me my feelings.

"I think we both got off on the wrong foot. Do you want to start over?" I asked Dwalin who actually smiled back at me.

"Aye, I'd like that," He told me, and he rose to his feet. "Dwalin, son of Fundin, at yer service," He reintroduced himself, bowing low to me. I got to my feet as well, smiling back at him.

"Adaira, daughter of Frerin at yours and your families," I reintroduce myself with a little curtsey as was proper and Dwalin nodded, looking pleased.

"Care for a proper walk?" He asked me, after picking his axes up and strapping them to his back once more. He offered me his newly fixed arm and I stared at it for a moment, lost in thought. "Let's see what these khuthûzh call a home," He added, and I grinned up at him as I slid my arm through his.

"I'd like that very much," I told him, and we resumed our stroll through the gardens. "You know…I admire your bravery," I told Dwalin, looking up at him as he stared forward, a blush rising on his cheeks and turning his ears pink, I looked away before continuing. "When the Wargs attacked…I was too scared to think at first," I confessed and Dwalin grunted before speaking.

"I've lived through worse. Once you're more confident with a blade, yah'll find yer own bravery. Yah do well with that bow of yours. Even got an up on those trolls," He responded, and I snorted and shook my head.

"It is kind of hard to miss a troll though," I told him, and he laughed at that, throwing his head back slightly, the two of us engrossed more in our conversation than in looking about the halls we walked through.

"Ye'd be surprised. I have no skill with a bow myself. Thorin has some, taught Kili himself he did. You're on yah way to being as good as both of them. Given more time," He told me, and I blushed slightly at his compliment and shook my head once more.

"If I could actually find a sword that I could properly lift I think I would be a little better at sparring. As it is, I'm only slightly improving with daggers," I told Dwalin truthfully and he shrugged at my words.

"Yah did well enough with your adad's dagger," Dwalin pointed out and I was the one who shrugged this time.

"I doubt a fancy blade made the difference. It was nice though. It was like adad was still there to protect me," I said lowly, more to myself than do Dwalin, but he seemed to have heard me as he grunted.

"How about a spar? This time I'll teach yah a few things," Dwalin asked me and I smiled up at him, nodding in agreement.

"You know, I would like that," I told him and he escorted me back to my room where I changed into a tunic and leggings once more before we meandered our way through the city and back to the training area.

Fili and Kili were already going at it as we arrived, the only two in the area. Maybe the elves had heard that we had come here to spar and decided to give it a wide berth. Fili seemed to have the upper hand in the battle, but when he was distracted with Dwalin's and my arrival, Kili side swiped his leg and Fili landed on his back. Kili seemed pleased and offered Fili a hand up, but Fili only grinned and pulled him down onto the ground beside him. They wrestled for a few seconds as I shook my head and loosened up for my lesson.

"There you are!" Kili shouted from beside me, finally having escaped from Fili. I jumped slightly and he laughed looking pleased with himself.

"Come to join us?" Fili asked, looking between Dwalin and I with a suspicious look on his face.

"Master Dwalin wanted to show me a few things," I explained to my cousins and Kili waggled his eyebrows at me. I slapped him in the shoulder, and he yelped as Fili crossed his arms over his chest, Dwalin on the other end of the space, seemingly unfazed.

"I bet he does," Fili said, and I rolled my eyes at his childish behavior and innuendos.

"Thought I might as well give it ago, even if it turns out that I still suck at this," I said more to myself than to Fili as Dwalin walked up to us. When I turned around, he was frowning down at me.

"That's now way to approach this hûfuk kurûdaz," Dwalin told me and Fili and Kili shot Dwalin looks that I couldn't quite read as Dwalin stopped as if realizing something. I frowned, not knowing what he had just said. I was very out of practice speaking Khuzdul after all.

"I don't know that one," I told Dwalin honestly and he looked a little relieved. I knew it was something good, but not the meaning given Dwalin's and my cousins' facial expressions.

"It's…don't worry. It's a friendly term," Dwalin assured me and I raised and eyebrow at him. That still didn't answer my implied question.

"Very friendly some would say," Kili muttered under his breath just loud enough that I could hear him, and he and Fili exchanged looks.

"Yah've got to have a good head on yer shoulders when yah approach this. Don't tell yerself yer beat before yer down," Dwalin instructed and I grumbled slightly and rolled my eye.

"Fine," I said, sticking my tongue out at him and he chuckled.

"Let's show her how it's done," Dwalin said to Fili then, picking up his sword and tossing it to him. Fili expertly caught it and swung it around a few times. "Unless yer afraid to ger yer ass whipped," Dwalin taunted him, making a "Come at me," gesture with his hands before he picked up his axes.

"I can take you," Fili boasted and Dwalin laughed. I stepped forward then and put a hand on Dwalin's arm, stopping them both and they looked at me, cooling their heels for a moment.

"You're shoulder needs time to heal," I told Dwalin and he kind of rolled his eyes at that and I smiled at him and squeezed his arm slightly. "Which is why you should try to fight with just your other one," I added and Dwalin laughed. I hadn't lied to him. I knew he was going to fight whether I thought it best or not, but I also knew that if I voiced my concern her would listen and hand Fili his ass one handed. I stepped back from between them and Fili rushed forward, already trading blows with Dwalin who had switched his axe to his other hand for me.

It was easy to see that while Fili was fast, jumping around a lot, Dwalin was like a mountain, unmoving. He easily deflected Fili's blows before his came raining down on Fili who did all he could to hold out against them. Dwalin moved only when he needed to, faster than you would think for a dwarf so big. His blows were fierce, and I would hate to be on the receiving end of his full force. Fili tried his best, but in the end, Dwalin managed to knock his sword out of his hand and had him dead to rights. Fili conceded to the loss and grumbled as he picked up his sword and trudged back to us. Dwalin on the other hand turned around and pulled his shirt off, wiping his face on it and dropping it on the ground before he turned back to me, muscles flexing as he gestured for me to come closer.

"I'll not go completely easy on yah, but I'll not trade blows with yah like I didn't yer cousin," Dwalin told me and I nodded in understanding. Kili provided me with a second dagger and I pulled my adad's dagger from its sheathe and faced Dwalin head on. He was slower in his movements now, more controlled in a way and I could tell that he was holding back quite a bit. He showed me how to use my daggers when face with and axe before he borrowed Fili's sword to show me how to defend against one.

"Yer form is better, as is yer footwork," Dwalin complimented as I jumped back and caught his sword with my dagger before twisting to the side and out of the way.

"Akminruk zu," I told him with a grin and I noticed as I quickly took a look over my shoulder and the growing buzz of voices that some of the others had turned up to spar and where watching our fight in interest.

"Tashf!" Dwalin ordered then after I stood still for too long. "Yer not moving yer feet," He added, and I made sure to get moving again rather than standing still and just trying to fend off his blows. My eyes darted over to the others again for only a second and I could have sworn that Bofur was passing money to Gloin. The only person I didn't see was Nori.

My arms were beginning to turn to pins and needles as they absorbed Dwalin's blows and I knew that if I had to fight like this for much longer that I wouldn't be able to fend him off for long. I remembered Nori's lessons from the road in slight of hand and cheating during a fight and I decided that maybe if I mixed both styles together, I would find a way to fight on my own. Dwalin's stance was wide, perfect for what I had planned. He brought the sword down once more and I caught it with my crossed daggers.

Using the moment of his blow, I slipped to the side, so I was standing by his shoulder and forced his sword down. I then knelt on one knee and pulled my daggers free before I rolled through Dwalin's. I was a bit winded by this point, but I managed to get up on one leg and then another as Dwalin still tried to figure out where I had gone. This gave me time to wrap my arm around his throat, which I had to stand on tiptoes to do, and press my father's blade to his throat. He stood still, the both of us breathing heavily as some of the dwarves jeered at us.

"That's cheating," Dwalin accused and I laughed at that just happy that it had worked.

"I doubt Orcs would fight fair. We both know I can't best you in a fair fight," I told Dwalin and he chuckled at that himself.

"True, but you shouldn't stand about yapping," Dwalin said and he reached up quicker than lightening and knocked my arm aside. His grasp on my wrist was tight and he forced me to drop my dagger as he spun around behind me, twisting my arm behind my back. I tried to defend myself with my other dagger, but he knocked it out of my hand, and I was stuck, my back pressed to his front, the both of us breathing raggedly and he leaned in towards my ear. "Where'd yah learn something like that?" Dwalin asked me as some of the dwarves catcalled at Dwalin.

"Nori's been giving me lessons in slight of hand," I told him before I leaned forward and brought my head back, headbutting him in the chin. He didn't let me go though and only chuckled which infuriated me.

"You forgot pickpocketing," Nori added, and Dwalin and I both turned our heads to the side where Nori was suddenly standing, a sly grin on his face. Dwalin released me and I rolled out my shoulders. He hadn't hurt me, but it was still a little stiff.

"How did you get there?" I asked Nori in confusion, not having heard him approaching us.

"You said my name," Nori simply said as if that answered everything. When I looked up at Dwalin he looked furious as he glared down at Nori who seemed unfazed by Dwalin's ire.

"Yah what?!" Dwalin roared at Nori, heaving breaths in an out, his fists clenched tightly until his knuckles turned white. I was alarmed by his anger, but not afraid of it.

"Knew it would just eat yah up inside to learn that I spent time with yer O…," Nori began to taunt Dwalin who advanced towards the thief who danced just outside of his reach. He was interrupted before he could finish that sentence by Thorin who had arrived just in time it seemed.

"Ikhuzh!" Thorin shouted at Dwalin and Nori and Nori smirked at Dwlalin who growled lowly in the back of his throat and glared at the thief. "Rather than antagonizing one another, you should be readying yourselves for the road ahead," Thorin told both dwarves before he turned to Dwalin. "You agreed to set aside your differences for the sake of the quest," Thorin reminded him and Dwalin growled again and cracked his knuckles.

"He was asking for it," Dwalin all but growled through clenched teeth and Thorin nodded before thumping him on the back.

"Nori," Thorin said, turning to the second party in this situation.

"Yes, your kingliness?" Nori asked, trying to look innocent as he studied his nails.

"Have you truly been teaching my nâthuê kurdu thievery?" Thorin demaned, looking between Nori and me and I shot an apologetic look at Thorin.

"Not as such yer royalness," Nori answered him and Dwalin growled under his breath at Nori's almost mocking of the situation. "Her moral compass is better than my own. Mainly I taught her slight of hand as she said," Nori added, shrugging and Thorin nodded after a moment's consideration of his words.

"As much as I don't like it…good work," Thorin finally told the thief before he turned Dwalin. "Want to spar?" He asked and Dwalin grinned at that.

"Thought ye'd never ask," Dwalin told him before he walked away and picked up both of his axes. Thorin leaned in a bumped foreheads with me and then readied himself for a fight as I walked out of the rink and stood next to Gloin.

There was something almost beautiful about how Thorin and Dwalin sparred with one another. It was like two mountains crashing together, each equally as strong. Steel met steel and the sound rang out around us, each equally matched. I watched the rippled of Dwalin's muscles as he fought and then something changed within me. It was like a spark, something that had always been there, but it suddenly burst into a flame. I felt heat rise within me and it flowed through me comforting and warm. It burned brighter and brighter without fizzling out. It was a strange feeling, but not uncomfortable and it seemed to burn brighter the longer I watched Dwalin. It was like I couldn't pull my eyes away from him.

The fight lasted longer than the others, and for once, Dwalin was beaten. Thorin managed to get a one up on him, first knocking one axe away and then the next. Dwalin took it good naturedly, but even after the fight was over, I still felt that fire within me. I frowned to myself and finally looked away from Dwalin. Was this what it felt like to Recognize your One? I still hadn't Recognized him. Maybe Dwalin was right and while I was his One, he was not mine. I needed confirmation and who better to ask than a dwarf who had already experienced it. I turned to Gloin who was watching me with a funny look on his face and a knowing smile.

"Can we talk privately?" I inquired and Gloin nodded in agreement.

"Aye," He told me before he looked to where Thorin was sitting next to Dwalin, both shirtless and teasing one another. "Thorin," Gloin called over to them and both men looked our way. "Gonna take the lass for a short walk," Gloin informed him and Thorin nodded his consent before returning to his discussion with Dwalin. Gloin and I didn't go too far away, just far enough to have some privacy form the others. We found a sort of gazebo with vines twisted around the marble and fragrant flowers blooming along the vines. We sat together on a bench and Gloin turned to me as I played with my hands in my lap. "So, what's eatin' at yah lass?" Gloin asked me with that same knowing smile on his face.

"How did you know that you had found your One and she you?" I asked Gloin, cutting to the chase and he hummed and stroked his beard, thoughtful.

"For my Dana, it was her smile that I noticed first," Gloin finally said before he got a wistful look in his eyes. "Drew me right in and lit up my own face. Felt like my whole life was dark without her in it. Every second I was away from her was torture and it still is," Gloin explained to me and I nodded in understanding. "She and my wee lad are all I can think about," He added, and I put my hand over his and squeezed it. He patted my hand and then he continued. "For my Dana, she told me it was my voice. She said every time I spoke it gave her goosebumps. It was something small at first, almost hard to notice, but then I couldn't help but always notice it. It's different for every khazad though," Gloin finished and I hummed and played with my hands in my lap again. "Did you Recognize him?" Gloin asked me after a moment of silence and I looked up from my hands, a little pink in the cheeks.

"I think so," I finally settled on before sighing. "It was like I always felt it when he was around. A little spark, but then watching him fight with idad it was like that spark turned into a flame," I admitted and Gloin nodded and smiled at me knowingly.

"Best talk to your idad then lass," Gloing told me, patting my hand once more before rising. He helped me to my feet, and I couldn't help but smile, knowing now for sure that I was Dwalin's One and he was mine.

Dwalin's POV

A good spar had been just what he needed to work though his frustrations. The last few days had tested his will more than any other time in his life. The closer he got to Adaira, the harder it was for him to stay away. Her touches and tenderness with him left a trail of fire up his skin and every time she smiled at him, it took all his will power to remind himself that no matter if she was his One or not, he wasn't hers. The lass was just being kind, as she was with everyone in the Company. She had said it herself, she worried for all of them. She didn't pay any close attention to any of them save for her cousins and Thorin as was proper.

But…he loved her and more than he ought to. Holding her close to him and protecting her felt right. Righter than anything else in his life. And like it or not, he wasn't doing anything to discourage her gentle touches and kind words. He no longer could push her away with being harsh. He had already tried that, and he saw how much that had affected her.

His resolve was slipping away with every smile and every touch. The selfish part of him said to give up reason and just tell her, court her properly and hope she Recognized him as he had Recognized her. He had never done anything selfish in his life. Duty and honor had always been his companions, and never once had he taken something that didn't belong to him. Not that Adaria belonged to him, she wasn't a possession, but she was the other half of his soul, the One his maker had created just for him. Would it be so bad to tell her?

Pushing her away hadn't worked and his resolve was crumbling. Before he did anything, he would regret, he needed to talk to Thorin. Thorin after all was her guardian and her uncle and if anyone would be opposed to this match, it would be him. Not that Thorin had spoken out about what he knew so far, but being on the road and on this quest, they hadn't had time to really talk about it save for a few passing comments in Bree. Mahal help him, he just couldn't stay away from her anymore. When she walked away with Gloin, Dwalin saw his opportunity, the others beginning to spar with one another so their conversation wouldn't be overheard.

"We need tah talk?" Dwalin said, cutting of Thorin and Thorin raised an eyebrow at him.

"I thought we already were," Thorin told him and Dwalin shook his head before blowing out a breath. "What is it, Bâhaê-ugmalul?" Thorin asked him, sitting forward with his hands braced on his knees.

"Who are you calling old?" Dwalin ribbed, Thorin's words not making it any easier for him to get this out.

"The pair of us. We're not the same dwarves who fought at Moria's gates," Thorin told him and Dwalin nodded in agreement.

He had been fifty- seven when he fought in the Battle of Azanulbizar, still a child, the same as Thorin, though Thorin had been older than him then. All dwarrow who had been deemed Battle Ready were forced to fight. Fight or die. They were no longer as spritely as they had been when they were younger. While they were middle aged, they were not old. Darrow could live for three hundred years or so after all. He was two hundred and twenty-nine now. Twice Adaira's age if the wizard was correct about her being ninety-nine.

"Aye, I had more hair then. The lads scared it clean off and put grey into yers," Dwalin joked and both he and Thorin chuckled at that as Dwalin gestured to his bald and tattooed head. "Ah, those were the glory days," Dwalin said with a sigh and Thorin nodded in agreement.

"Older we may be, but we are great warriors still," Thorin told him and Dwalin laughed at that before slapping Thorin on the back.

"And best they not forget it," Dwalin said and Thorin nodded and actualy smiled at his words. "Still doesn't stop the crick in our bones," He added and Thorin smiled wider at that before sobering.

"You didn't ask to talk about greying hairs and stiff joints," Thorin countered with a knowing look, cutting right to the chase.

"No," Dwalin said before he tried to figure out his next words. He decided to just come out and say it. "Ah hell Thorin, yeh known what I want to speak of," Dwalin said and Thorin nodded, looking at him expectantly.

"I'd hear you say it first," Thorin told him, not making this easy for him.

"Adaria is my one. You know it and I know it," Dwalin began and Thorin simply nodded, giving him a chance to speak. "Does she know?" Dwalin asked, wanting to know first if anyone had blabbed, especially his nadad.

"Aye, she does," Thorin told him after a moment of careful consideration and Dwalin swore up and down, before quieting as the other gave him curious looks. He flipped them off as the thief smirked and him and turned back to Thorin.

"Mahal help me, I love her Thorin. I thought that if I pushed her away, she would find someone better than me, but I canna deny it any longer," Dwalin told Thorin fiercely before wiping his face with his hand. "I know I've been an ass to her. I know I'm too older for her, but Mahal help me, she's my One," Dwalin admitted, finally getting the words out and Dwalin looked away from Thorin who put a hand on his bad shoulder. Despite the pain, Dwalin didn't shake him off.

"When did you know?" Thorin asked him and Dwalin knew that he meant when did he Recognize her.

"The moment I laid eyes on her. When she spoke to me, I knew. It was like a hammer had fallen on an anvil inside of me. Every time she speaks, I feel and when she sings…," Dwalin told him quickly, getting it all out and he chuckled in disbelief before continuing. "Yah should have seen it. She had me all tongue tied. I nearly forgot my own name. She made me feel like a beardling standing in front of her."

"Aye, I've noticed," Thorin told him with a laugh and Dwalin swore again. "So, you drove her away because you thought it was best for her?" Thorin asked him with a raised eyebrow and Dwalin nodded.

"I thought it was best for her. I'm an old warrior. I've got nothing to give her. She deserves better. A lord's son or something. Mahal, she's yer heir, Thorin," Dwalin pointed out and Thorin nodded, rubbing a hand over his chin before talking.

"And if she never Recognizes you? What would you do then if sahe married another?" Thorin asked him and Dwalin sighed again as he thought about his answer.

"Guard her. Protect her. Support her where I could," Dwlin answered him truthfully and Thorin hummed at that before leaning forward on his braced arms again.

"You caused her great pain by your actions. How do I know you would be her protector? Would you support her decisions, especially when she becomes Queen one day?" Thorin questioned him and Dwalin considered his words carefully.

"Mahal made her to be my One. Denying her is denying his will. If she blessed me by accepting my courtship, I'd always listen to her and support her in what she deicides is best. I'd fight her battles and protect her from all those who wished to do her harm," Dwalin told Thorin after a moment, and Thorin smiled slightly at that and nodded, seemingly pleased.

"Are you certain of your love?" Thorin asked him and this was one question Dwalin didn't have to think about.

"More than my own life. She's my atamanel," Dwalin told him firmly and Thorin patted his shoulder once more before he smiled at Dwalin who felt hopeful by this.

"Then I give you my permission to court my niece. Only…," Thorin said, looking at Dwalin with a firm look. "…if you tell her why you rejected her to begin with," Thorin told him and Dwalin, ever a reserved darrow, was positively bristling with joy.

"Aye, that I can do," Dwalin said as Gloin and Adaira returned and Dwalin caught her eye and she smiled at him brightly from across the training hall. "Mahal, what could I give her for a courting gift?" Dwalin said as he turned back to Thorin, breaking eye contact with his One.

"You have more to offer her than you think. Come to me when you are ready," Thorin told him, patting him on the back once more before he rose to spar some more with his nephew.

Adaira's POV

That night, we had a merry time with more music even though we were back to eating the Elven food that everyone so despised. I had showed Bombur how to make a dressing with strawberries and some vinegar and while faces were still made at the food, it seemed to be enjoyed far more than the first night. After dinner, I had approached Thorin and sat with him in the corner, further away from the others who had taken out their instruments and had begun to play a lively too.

"How do I make a courting bead?" I whispered to Thorin over the din and he turned to me, looking very surprised by my words.

"Have you Recognized Dwalin?" Thorin asked me in an equally quiet voice and I looked across the way to where Dwalin was sitting and playing his fiddle and I msiled as the fire burned brighter with in me.

"Yes," I told Thorin as Dwalin looked up as if he felt my gaze on him. Our eyes met and this time we didn't look away from one another. "I have," I added and Thorin patted my knee as I smiled softly at Dwalin from across the fire which merrily danced on both of our faces.

Khuzdul:

Birashagmi- I'm sorry or literally I regret

Men kemgu gajum menu- I accept your apology

Khuthûzh- Elves

Adad- Father

Hûfuk kurûdaz- Joy of hearts

Akminruk zu- Thank you

Tashf- Move

Ikhuzh- Enough

Nâthuê kurdu- Daughter of my heart

Khazad- Dwarf

Idad- Uncle

Bâhaê-ugmalul- My oldest friend

Nadad- brother

Atamanel- Breath of all breaths