A/N: Hey guys! So sorry that I ended up not posting last Sunday. There was a wildfire very close to my town and at first, I was on schedule with writing and everything was going great. First the fire knocked out my internet(which really wasn't that big of a deal since I could still write), and then a couple of days later, the fire knocked out the power to almost the entire town. So yeah, it slowed down my work and I ended up not posting. Have no fear though, I am posting two chapters today as a way of apology. If you guys want to be updated for when the next chapter us uploaded, don't forget to Favorite & Follow. I would also love to hear feedback by way of Reviews! Also, if there are 'get to know you- questions that you guys want to see Tori or Legolas answer, please post them into a Review. Hope you guys enjoy! Things are about to get spicy!

Nimyriel: Do not worry, there will be plenty more cozy moments to come. huehuehue...I have plans ;)

Julie010588: Thank you for reading as well as adding Starlight to your favorites and follow list! It means a lot!

Chapter 24: Dwarrowdelf

Six hours of rest we were gifted before Gandalf roused us from our sleep. During the watch he had made up his mind on which of the arched paths to take; the one on the right. It led us up and we climbed many stairs.

For eight hours we trudged through the dark on that path, seeing nothing and hearing nothing except for the steps of the company and the gear rustling. Slowly, the road widened at first, until the walls broadened outward. Fortunately, the cracks of misrepair that we had encountered from the previous road let up and it made our travelling a lot faster and smoother.

It felt like we had been walking for twenty or so miles when the wide walls completely fell away from view as we passed through another archway. The air at our backs was noticeably warmer than the air within the chamber before us, and I caught a faint fresh breeze that was ambrosia compared to the stale dank air that we had travelled through so far..

"I chose the right way," Gandalf nodded with a pleased smile to the emptiness before us, "At last we are coming to the more habitable parts, and I guess we are not far from the eastern side. But we are high up, a good deal higher than the Dimrill Gate, unless I am mistaken. From the feeling of the air we must be in a wide hall. I will now risk a little more light." The wizard raised his staff and slowly the dim glow of the crystal grew to the brightness of a bright flickering blaze.

Shadows melted away as the light licked up pillars all the way to a stone carved ceiling far overhead. Black walls glittered in the light like highly shined mirrors even though they were made out of the stone. On the far end of the hall, another archway stood proudly as a vanguard against the shadow beyond its borders. It was beautiful. How long did this take to carve? I reached out to one of the massive pillars and caressed the etchings in the smooth stone. Just as quickly as the light had filled the hall, it retreated back to the dim glow and all the splendor was reclaimed by darkness.

"That is all that I shall venture on for the present. We had better go no further until morning. Let us rest if we can. Things have gone well so far, and the greater part of the dark road is over. But we are not through yet, and it is a long way down to the Gates that open on the world." Gandalf wiped a weary brow before leaning against his staff to slowly ease himself to the floors.

One by one, the company sat in a ring together in the darkness. The shadow that clung to everything made it hard to fall asleep. The chill of the air, although it did not affect Legolas or I, was another reason that sleep was being evaded.

I sat together with the Hobbits to share warmth with them. Apparently I was a natural heater. Who knew? At least I'm useful for something. Some shite healer I turned out to be. I groused in my mind.

Moria heavily claimed the air of oppressive silence and darkness to which we unconsciously obliged. It was so quiet, I swear I could hear thoughts. Perhaps I'm a mind reader? Somewhat bored, I entertained the thought as I looked over each of the fellowship. Gandalf, nothing; Aragorn, I could tell was thinking about Arwen...But that could be because he was twadling the necklace she had given him with his fingers; Boromir, nothing; Gimli...Food-the lines in his face were set in a sour frown as he regarded a stale loaf of bread in his hands with disdain.

The hobbits? Food. When were they not thinking about food? Frodo seemed to have a very different air of thought about him from the rest of the hobbits though, but that was lost on me. I turned my eyes to the last in the group-Legolas. Aaaaaand nothing. All in all, the only bit of knowledge that I gained from that little exercise was that I still couldn't read minds; and perhaps a little bit of amusement as well.

Sam spoke up a question to Gimli about how long it took to build this hole, to which Gimli corrected him with a huff saying something about how Dwarves do not build holes. I beg to differ, but no one had asked me.

'This is the great Dwarrowdelf' or something or other. I was too focused on my own thoughts to really pay attention as Gimli stood proud and recited some sort of ballad in a hearty off keyed tone that grated on my ears. I was surprised that even Gandalf had let him continue, considering that the dwarf's voice bounced off of all the walls around us.

Completely tuning out that, my thoughts wandered naturally to more...interesting topics. Legolas was an interesting topic. Why had I seen that image so clearly? Why did it feel so real for that matter? I could still feel the ghost sensation of hands on my stomach. As if in response, my lower stomach clenched almost painfully and I winced. The aching let up after a moment, but didn't fade. I rubbed my abdomen and that seemed to help. I shifted and stood from the hobbit pile that had formed around me and several of them cried out in protest, but quickly filled the gap.

"Why'd ya do that?" Pippin whined as he held tight onto Sam who grimaced at Pip's sharp tone. I gave a pained smile.

"My pain is returning. I need to take some more medicine." Almost immediately, I heard movement behind me and turned to see Legolas already rifling through the med bag. Pippin nodded in reluctant understanding before I turned.

I drew closer to the elf as he pulled out another small sachet of dried herbs and held it up to me along with a waterskin. I grimaced as I grabbed it from his fingers, dreading even tasting their bitterness and he grinned. I took the herbs quickly and joined Legolas on the stone ground.

Since our last conversation hours ago, we hadn't really talked much, and the air between us felt...different. Not uncomfortable or awkward, just different. I lifted my knees to my chest and winced, readjusted, and then folded my arms around my legs before glancing over at Legolas as he put away the empty sachet.

Everything about him glowed in the dim light of Gandalf's staff. I looked down at my own hands and was surprised to learn that I did as well. How have I missed this? I held out my hand in astonishment as the light shimmered along my skin; looking almost as if I was looking at it through a lens with a bloom filter, but a lot more natural and softer. I caught Legolas watching me from the corner of my eye.

"Elves glow in the dark?" His full lips tipped up as I blurted out in common.

"I'm more surprised that you have only just noticed." I swatted his arm and he grinned as he easily transitioned the conversation into elvish.

"There's been a lot on my mind lately!" I bit out.

"Of course…," His smile fell slightly as he turned his attention briefly back to Gimli's tale about Moria's wealth in Mithril before meeting my eyes again, "I would be lying if I said that this darkness has not affected me as well...It is as if I shall never see the stars again." He shuddered. Seeing him so morose from his usual playfulness was disheartening and I found that I didn't like it one bit. I grasped his hand in my fingers and gave a firm squeeze.

"It won't be long until we are under the glittering stars once more." I smiled shyly as his intense eyes stared into mine. He pulled my hand toward him until I was wrapped up in his warm embrace.

"Thank you, Tori. I am grateful for your words of comfort." His gratitude filled me and I smiled into his tunic.

"And I am grateful for you." I whispered as I nestled further into his arms. He pulled me even closer at the same time I moved, which ended in a not so subtle position in which my lips touched the exposed hollow of his throat. My lips exploded with heat and I shivered as he froze; clenching his arms around me. Valar! What the hell do I do now?

I started to pull away from him, breathing in sharply in shock, when my nose was hit by an unfamiliar scent. It was musky, warm, slightly sweet and refreshing; A blessing compared to the Decaying and acrid air of Moria.

Curious, I leaned back into a still frozen Legolas and breathed in again. The scent was stronger and heady, and my stomach fluttered about with butterflies. My cheeks felt hot as I pulled away again.

"I'm sorry Legolas, I didn't-," I startled as I looked up into his eyes. There was that same look that I had seen ghosting his expressions every once in a while, but this time, I could feel the full force of it in his gaze. His eyes of melted silver bore intensely into mine and ignited a trail of fire from my cheeks down to my belly. His eyes darted down to rest on my lips and his brow furrowed as he leaned down closer to me.

Hy heart began to pound against my ribcage. What is he thinking? I pondered as I continued to stare into his eyes. His face still drew closer. What is he doing? His face now mere inches from mine, and I couldn't look away as he met my gaze again. His breath blew against my lips in a feather light whisper. I took a deep breath through my mouth to calm my raging heart, and it brought his attention back down to my lips.

His arms loosened around me and his hands rose to rest on my shoulders lightly. A line marred his brow and I reached up to clear it on impulse. His furrowed brow cleared and so did his eyes- as if he finally made a decision on his warring thoughts-as a hand grazed up to my neck and into my hair; burning a line of fire along the trail it followed.

I quivered under his hand as his fingers splayed into my roots and the warmth in my belly churned pleasantly. Slowly, he leaned closer, his breath becoming hotter on my lips. The tingle of his closeness tickling the nerves in them. Somewhere in the back of my mind I recognized that this would most definitely turn into a kiss if I let it continue. Should I let it continue? Do I want him to stop? I questioned myself and a loud, 'No!' roared back in response.

Giving into the impulse, I arched my neck and my eyes fluttered closed. I could feel him, closer, closer, closer, barely a hair's breadth away from touching his lips to mine and-

"And that's how I got this scar!" Gimli boomed with riotous laughter. Legolas pulled back and sucked in breath through his clenched teeth. Now that Legolas had leaned back, his scent that had filled my senses went with him, and I felt hollow, like I was missing something I didn't even know that I needed. My lips still tingled from his breath and I lifted my fingers to the sensitive skin. I didn't want him to stop...I frowned at that before looking up at him. His cheeks were brightening an attractive pink that flowed all the way to the tips of his ears.

"Tori I...please forgive my untoward behavior, it is inexcusable," He stood so quickly that my head spun, "I think it wise to retire for the night. Sleep well." Just as quickly as he stood, he retreated back to his own pack.

Fingers still on lips, I watched him as he placed his bedroll, "I didn't mind…" I whispered under my breath, and realized that I meant it. With how recent events had gone down between us, I was starting to see how much being around Legolas affected me and how much I actually enjoyed his ministrations.

I was disappointed as hell when Gimli had interrupted the...kiss, but even more disappointed when Legolas so readily apologized for his actions. I wanted it to happen. Perhaps I wasn't being too honest myself when I said that I didn't know what I was feeling for Legolas. No, I knew what they were from the start, but perhaps I was too afraid to call it for what it was: I liked Legolas...Like really really liked Legolas.

More than any sort of crush that I had for another on Earth. This like that I felt for Legolas went deep, and maybe it was even more than like. The heat in my blood cooled as I watched the rise and fall of his breaths. I didn't think that Legolas and I could ever be this close, especially when compared to our first month in Imladris.

A quiet fell upon the Fellowship as I thought and watched from the edge of the light. The hobbits were the next to sink down to the floor, unrolling their bedrolls with bleary eyes and instantly falling asleep right as they lay down. The men were slower to relax than the hobbits, but slowly, one by one, they rolled out their beds. I watched the hobbits for a little bit. I watched how each of them huddled together into little balls, trying to cover up every inch of themselves from the cooler air with their rag-tag blankets. I pulled mine out of my pack and walked over to them, draping it over their little bodies and smiled as they seemed to relax a little more.

I went back to my pack and unrolled my own bedroll and laid down; letting my thoughts free to wander more about Legolas and the would be kiss as my eyes finally glazed with sleep.

…

I woke with a start to whispers from the hobbits. I blinked my eyes a couple of times to clear the blinding light that seared my retinas before hooding them with a hand. Instantly I felt relief from the light and leaned up onto my elbows. Dense fabric fell away from my shoulders and I frowned. Didn't I give this to the hobbits last night? I fingered the fabric. I looked over to the hobbits; My blanket was still covering their bodies. But then, whose is this?

A light smell came from the blanket as it rustled against my skin that I knew without a doubt belonged to Legolas. I held the blanket closer to my chest and smiled a small smile.

Far above me in the ceiling, many pockets and holes were cut and were now filled with sunlight. It wasn't unpleasant to wake up with some sunshine for a change. I sat up more fully and my abdomen and hips cramped up. Ugh shite! Sore muscles! All the stair climbing had seemed to catch up and I was paying for it.

I stood slowly, wincing as the cramping intensified. What I wouldn't give for some bananas right now. I ignored the pain as I rolled up my gear and stowed it by the others over by the pillar we had camped by. I passed by as Frodo's curly head popped out from under the blanket. He rubbed his bleary eyes with his small fists and stretched with a yawn. The young Baggins stood and walked up to my side as we neared the ring of already awake companions.

"Good morning!" Gandalf smiled at us both, "For morning it is at last. I was right, you see. We are high up on the east side of Moria. Before the day is over we ought to find the Great Gates and see the waters of Mirrormere lying in the Dimrill Dale before us." It was a nice sight seeing the wizard relaxed enough to smoke his pipe.

"I shall be glad. I have looked on Moria, and it is very great, but it has become dark and dreadful; and we have found no sign of my kindred. I doubt now that Balin ever came here." Gimli had his pipe out as well as Aragorn. Legolas sat far enough away from the coiling pipe smoke and I made to join him.

He met my eyes and stiffened ever so slightly, and I stopped midstep, suddenly feeling very unsure of my step. Did I do something wrong last night? Is he upset with me? My chest ached and I rubbed the spot above my heart absently. Seeing that I stopped, he frowned before lifting an inviting hand out to me. His frown melted into a smile. Relief washed over me as I took his hand and sat by him.

We ate a breakfast of hard bread and meagre rations of jerky as we sat in silence. Slowly the rest of the hobbits woke and Boromir, the last to rise, joined as well. With the last of the gear packed, and our stomachs sufficed, we decided to continue on our journey through the Great Hall.