Chapter 22 - Choice 10 : Alright, I follow you. I'm starting to get hungry.

- "Alright, I follow you. I'm starting to get hungry."

- "Great! Come!"

Fíli grabbed Aghäte's wrist and gently pulled him towards the living room. During the walk, she told him she already knew the way but he ignored her.

In the living room, there were only the three brothers Bombur, Bofur and Bifur. The larger dwarf immediately understood why the half-human was there and he served her a big bowl of hot soup. She sat down at the table and Fíli sat in front of her. The three brothers also joined her to make conversation.

- "No news from the Arkenstone?" she asked during the conversation.

- "No…" the young blond dwarf said.

- "And Thorin is starting to doubt us," Bofur explained. "He thinks one of us has the stone but he doesn't want to give it to him."

- "It's absurd. After everything that's happened, your whole trip, he doubts you…," she sighed disappointedly.

- "Don't worry, everything will be fine as soon as we find the Arkenstone!" Fíli said. "Come on, let's change the subject! Bombur, didn't you find a room full of beer barrels?!"

- "Yes! But I have tasted it and it is undrinkable …"

The discussion about the beer continued for quite a while. When Aghäte had finished her meal, Fíli suggested going out to walk. Without thinking, she followed him. He seemed to be heading somewhere so she stayed by his side along the way.

They arrived in front of a room she knew but hadn't yet entered.

- "Why did we come to the armoury?"

- "I thought I would find you an armour to protect you if anything happened in the next few days. With the elves' arrival in Dale, we better beware."

The young dwarf entered and began to search. Aghäte dared not enter, as if she needed the approval of a dwarf before she could. She lost herself thinking about Dale and the army of the Elven King.

She jumped when she felt Fili's hand take hers to bring her into the armoury. He led her to some armours and she smiled.

- "Fíli, these armours are for dwarves. With my human build and especially a woman, nothing will suit me."

- "Wait a minute, I will look anyway."

He searched and turned over all the armours. The metallic sound of banging weapons and armours created a deafening din. He also searched the storage but he didn't seem to find anything. Aghäte could see he was starting to lose his calm. She walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder to make him stop.

- "If I fight, I will be in the distance with my bow. Don't worry, I don't need to-"

- "Of course you will need it!" he shouted. "Whichever side you choose, we don't know what can happen if a war breaks out! We can't always be by your side if something happens! We can't protect you!"

Aghäte remained motionless, because of Fíli's shoutings. She took a few steps back. He had never shouted at her, even for a laugh or for fun. She let him catch his breath.

She guessed the "we" he had used meant "I" but she didn't say anything. He suddenly came to his senses and turned to her, his eyes full of sadness, fear and regret.

- "E-Excuse me," he stammered. "I shouldn't have shouted like that …"

- "It's nothing. It's normal to worry about the situation. But don't worry! If there is a fight, I'll take care of my own safety. You can focus on your uncle," she smiled.

Fíli was watching Aghäte attentively but he didn't smile back. The dwarf understood she knew his duty to his uncle came before everything else. She understood him, but he blamed himself.

He came closer to her quickly and hugged her. Embarrassed at first, the half-human eventually closed the embrace. She felt he was squeezing her as much as possible without hurting her. Compressed like this against each other, she could feel the dwarf's heart beating fiercely. She thought he must have felt hers because it was pounding just as hard. Realizing he needed reassurance, she spoke softly to him, patting him on the back.

- "Don't worry about me, Fíli."

- "But if something happens to you, I would never forgive myself."

- "If you came here, it was to help your uncle to take Erebor back, right? Focus on it. Nothing will happen to me. I remind you I'm a half-elf," she laughed.

- "Yes, it's true. I almost forgot about your size," he replied, smiling and pulling away from her a little.

- "Hey, that's not courteous!"

As they began to bicker, they didn't hear footsteps coming in their direction but a deep and firm voice called out to them.

- "What is happening here? Fíli, I heard your shoutings from the treasure room."

Thorin walked up to them and looked at them, waiting for a response. Aghäte pulled away from Fíli's arms before he came to their side. She suspected he had seen them, but she stepped back out by politeness. She let the nephew answer.

- "Excuse me, uncle. I was looking for armour for Aghäte and not finding any, I lost my temper."

- "Obviously, she won't find a suitable armour here. She's a human and with us females don't fight. Come on, don't stay here," he said, gesturing out.

Like children being scolded, they didn't wait a second longer to leave. After leaving, Aghäte suggested going to her room so that Fíli could see the painting of his mother and uncles.

The half-human opened the door to her room and let the young dwarf enter. She led him over to the restored painting. The room had cooled off since this morning. The fire in the fireplace was out. Aghäte proceeded to rekindle the fire while she let Fíli examine the painting.

- "My mother didn't want us to accompany our uncle. She said we were too young with Kíli."

To erase the silence that had taken place, Aghäte stood next to the dwarf and looked up at the painting.

- "Do you miss her?"

- "Of course. But not as much as Kíli !" he laughed. "When our uncle allowed us to go with him, she didn't want to hear about it. Then he finally persuaded her."

- "Thorin looks very young in this painting. Also, his brother by the way."

- "Uncle Frerin died young… In the battle of Azanulbizar. He was half my age …"

Fíli turned to Aghäte. He slipped his left hand over the half-human's cheek and stroked it with his thumb. She shivered at the touch of Fili's fingers on her skin. Dodging the dwarf's gaze at first, he turned her face to look at him.

- "Promise me you will not take any risks if the war breaks out."

- "I can't promise you that, Fíli… Do you think I'm going to stand idly by here?" she asked, ready to sulk if he insisted.

- "Stubborn as you are, I guess not."

Fili smiled and continued to fix her in the eyes. The flush rising to her cheeks, she finally smiled back at him. They stared at each other for a long moment until Aghäte put her hand on the dwarf's.

- "Go to bed, Fíli. It's getting late now."

The young dwarf stared at her a little longer before sighing. He pulled Aghäte's face to him to kiss her on the forehead. After wishing her a good night and getting his jacket back, he left the room.

Aghäte sat for a few minutes on her bed; the time it takes for her heart to calm down and her cheeks to return to a normal color. She could finally sleep until the morning.

.

Continued in chapter 23