Disclaimer: I don't own any familiar characters, and or anything pertaining to the world of the Hobbit. All, but my ocs, are owned by J.R.R Tolkien (who probably hates us for doing this to his work).

Chapter 30

The fresh smell of iron and sweat hit her senses as the armed dwarf barreled toward her. Magdalen didn't flinch, instead lowering her stance into a fighting position. The tips of her fingers brushing the compact dirt of the arena, feeling the thundering vibrations of heavied footsteps. She connected her right knee to the ground, keeping her shifting weight even and balanced beneath her. The grip around her short sword tightened as she prepared herself for the impending impact. The barely dwarf roared as he raised his mace in the air above him, ready to bring it down with all his might. As if in slow motion Magdalen threw her weight down dodging the brutely force by a hair. Rolling onto her side she felt the breeze of air as the metal tip swished above her. Magdalen landed, with little grace, to the side of the stumbling dwarf. Her muscles burning as she pushed herself up, standing at her full height behind her opponent. Holding her sword in a strong line at her side, ready for his next move.

Dwalin had taught her a lot in the year since she had arrived in Erebor, but there was one lesson that stuck with her the most. She would never be able to beat a dwarf in hand to hand combat. At first, she didn't believe it, she could do anything Dwalin could do. She was very wrong. Dwalin had beat that into her. She had her limits, a one hundred and thirty-five-pound human wasn't going to take down a two hundred something dwarf. It was impossible. Dwarves were, literally, made of stone and in turn heavy on their feet. But in this lesson, Dwalin had taught her the key to her success in battle.

Magdalen kept her distance from the dwarf as he took his time to center himself. He twisted, growling as he looked over his shoulder. She could see his movements beginning to slow. His erratic breathing and diming eyes showed that his stamina was beginning to wan. The dwarf turned to face her, his eyes never leaving hers as he loudly cracked his neck. The dwarf shouted something in khuduzl before sending his mace spinning in the air above him. He was trying to intimate her. Though she was not so easily scared, she had faced worse. Letting out a battle cry the dwarf began to charge her again. She felt a small tug on the corner of her lip. The dwarves around them shouted at her, instructing in various ways. But Magdalen knew exactly what she was doing. Her wrist was loose as she spun her sword around. He was coming at her in full force, mace ready to take her down. Though she had other plans.

Bouncing on the balls of her feet, Magdalen jumped out of the dwarf's reach. She reached out her leg, allowing the unbalanced dwarf to catch on her limb. She watched in satisfaction as the dwarf fell like timber beside her. Magdalen stepped forward pressing the heel of her boot into the dwarf's wrist, the tip of her sword pressed into the back of his exposed neck. The shock left the room around them quiet. Karron was a skilled and renowned warrior, feared by many. She couldn't blame them for their fear, he was built like a tank. And he wouldn't be taken down so easily. Magdalen had been surprised when he agreed to her chanellge. When she first began to train with Dwalin, Karron wouldn't even look in her direction. He ignored the 'simple human', his name for her, but she heard the remarks he made about her.

Magdalen couldn't name what had gotten into her that morning. But when she heard his booming laughter, she quickly felt the need to knock him down a peg or two. Looking down at the dwarf now, she certainly had done so. She reached down for the abandoned mace, releasing Karron from her hold. Karron pushed up onto his forearm looking up at her from the ground. Twin rivers of brownish blood painted the corners of his lips. Dirt highlighted the deep crevices of his face, making him look much older than he actually was. His dull green eyes stared at the open hand in front of him. He let out a hot breath, and for a moment she thought he wasn't going to take her hand. Karron pushed himself off his stomach, coming to rest his hands on his knees. Magdalen let her hand fall, just as she felt his calloused hand cover hers.

Magdalen pulled with all her might, helping the warrior back on his feet. She hadn't really done anything to pull him up, but it was more about the gesture of respect. Karron came to his full height, which only came to her shoulder. He looked up at her with a stone face, unmoving and cold. The room around them stilled, no one dare speak a word. Magdalen held out the mace to Karron in the space between them. Slowly his hand wrapped around the mace carefully resting at his side. She turned to leave the arena when she felt his hand caught in hers. Her head snapped in his direction, to find his head nodding vigorously. Karron squeezed her hand before holding above his head, his broad chest puffing as he addressed their crowd.

"Zhahyad, azaghâl, zhahyad!" Karron announced in khuzdul.

Magdalen knew very little about khuduzl, Balin had only taught her the basics so far. Khuzdul was not an easy language to learn. But she knew what azaghâl meant, and she couldn't help but grin as the crowd began to chant along with Karron. Warrior. The dwarves were calling her a warrior. She turned to face Karron, raising her closed fist to her chest, a gesture mimicking Karron's gesture.

"Dolzekh menu" she stumbled through her pronunciation of 'thank you'.

The message seemed to be received as he bowed to her.

"Hurmel." He replied before turning to walk away, the dwarves parted as Karron made his way through the crowd.

Magdalen spun on her heels making her way through the arena stopping to thank the dwarves as they congratulated her on a battle well fought. Her eyes set on the upper level of the training area, she knew Dwalin had watched the fight. He was always watching her when he was in the training arena, always making sure she never took on too much to handle. She was surprised when he hadn't intervened. Magdalen knew he would tell her how stupid it was of her to challenge a warrior like Karron. But she couldn't wait to see the admiration in his eyes as he told her off. She knew she had made him proud. Her eyes stopped the top of his bald head above, his back turned to her as he spoke to someone she couldn't see. Magdalen grinned as she raced up the steps.

"Dwalin!" She called reached the upper level.

She raced around the circular pathway toward her hulking dwarf. Dwalin's grumpy face appeared over the fur of his shoulders. He turned to face her, his arms folded over one another in disapproval. Just as he turned he revealed not one, but two figures behind him. Thorin stood tall, his demeanor calm and kingly. Beside him was Fili, hands folded firmly behind his back. She was taken back when she saw his face, which held no smile, or trace of happiness as his dark eyes watched her approached the group. Her steps slowed as she arrived in front of the three men. Magdalen ignored Fili's burning gaze as she jumped from joy in of Dwalin.
"Dwalin, did you see that!" She didn't even try to hide her growing grin.

Dwalin hummed his face set with disapproval. Magdalen's shoulders slumped.

"Come on, you can't tell me that wasn't awesome!" She still was beaming.

Dwalin's face didn't change. " "No, girl, it was senseless. Karron could have killed you if he wanted." He growled, like a scolding father.

Magdalen rolled her eyes, her hands resting on her hip. "But he didn't, because I didn't let him. I had a really good teacher who once told me 'they can't do anything to you if they can't catch you.'" She mocked his deep voice.

Dwalin looked back at Thorin for help, only to find Thorin suppressing an amused smile. Dwalin glared at Thorin before dropping his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. Dwalin knew when he lost.

"You did well, girlie." He muttered under his breath.

Magdalen bounced on the balls of her feet, nodding her head with satisfaction.

"That was quite the battle, Miss Magdalen, "Thorin added cheekily.

Her attention moving away from her old warrior to the king and Fili.

"What are you doing down here, don't you have kingly things to do?" She bantered at the king.

Thorin raised an eyebrow at her sass. The things she said to him never cease to amaze him. He shook his head.

"So you are aware that I am the king?" Thorin wondered aloud jokingly.

Magdalen grinned, laughing at his reply. "I figure someone must be running this place, it's certainly not Kili."

Fili snorted as her quip. Thorin glared at Fili, shaking his head slightly "Certainly not."

Her eyes met Fili's gaze. While they weren't as hard as they had been, his eyes still weren't openly warm as they looked at her. Magdalen furrowed her eyebrows, giving him a questionable look. He looked away as Thorin cleared his throat. Magdalen grinned at the dwarvish king.

"Have you thought any more about me coming?" She smiled sweetly at him.

May had arrived in Erebor and had news that King Thranduil would be in attendance of the Amnesty Festival this year. While the festival was supposed to represent the prospering peace between the three kingdoms, it was clear that the grudge between Thorin and Thranduil wouldn't disappear anytime soon. Kili had told her after Thorin stormed out of dinner that Thranduil hadn't attended the last two festivals after the two king's got into a little squabble. Thorin hadn't planned on attending the festivities this year, leaving Fili as the head diplomat. But with the news of Thranduil's attendance, Thorin threw a fit about how 'had to attend'.

"No elvish king is going to make me look like a selfish fool!" He growled one night over dinner.

Of course, everyone had ignored him leaving him moaning and groaning to himself. As weeks passed and they began to prepare for the festival, Magdalen realized she would be left alone. She would have Deamra and Dis, but most of the company was traveling to Dale with Thorin. She would be lying if she said she was resentful that they were journeying into the world without her. She had been in Middle Earth for a year and she hasn't seen anything past the valley.

Magdalen brought up the observation casually over dinner one night. Hinting at the idea of her attending the festival with them. Kili had been all for the idea, Thorin, however, wasn't thrilled by it. Though after her relentless pestering his tune quickly changed. She began asking him every chance she got. And every answer was:

"No." He answered firmly.

Magdalen frowned.

"Please Thorin, let me go with you." She begged.

Thorin grumbled as he turned to walk away. "We will speak more about this later." He stated to Dwalin as he passed.

Dwalin gave him a firm nod.

Magdalen wasn't going to give up so easily. She followed his trail. Fili sighed glaring at Dwalin as she passed him.

"Come on Thorin, please! I will be on my best behavior. You can't keep me locked away, that's criminal."

Thorin rolled his eyes as he continued walking.

"I am the king, I can do as I please." He replied.

Magdalen let out a small frustrated yell, she hated when he said that. She was getting nowhere begging. She needed to make him let her go. Dwarves were creatures of their word, deals were an honored thing. Her eyes wandered over the arena below. Her body froze as a brilliant idea popped into her mind. She grinned like the Cheshire cat.

"I'll make you a deal!" She shouted stopping him in his place.

Thorin turned to face her, his thumbs hooking over his belt. His face twisted with curiosity.

"What kind of deal?"

She grinned knowing that she had caught his attention.

"Fight me." She said plainly.

His face dropped with surprise.

"What!" Both Fili and Dwalin shouted behind her.

She held up a hand stopping the oncoming wave of questions.

"If you win I will stop asking to go, and I'll stop talking about it altogether."

His face softened liking that part of the deal.

"But if you can't knock me down I can go with you, for the whole week."

Thorin stared at her, taking a step closer to her. "Are you sure about this, Magdalen?"

Magdalen held out her hand to Thorin.

"Of course I am."

Thorin looking past her, to Dwalin and Fili and then to her outstretched hand. He nodded taking her hand shaking it lightly. He tugged her closer.

"I will not take it easy on you, Miss Magdalen." He said seriously.

Magdalen smirked.

"I do not expect you too."

Dwalin had ordered everyone out, telling them to prepare for their guard shifts. Soon the training room emptied leaving the four of them alone. Thorin flipped the Orcrist in his hand, his weapon of choice. And a beautiful weapon at that. The dwarves may have hated the elves, but there was no denying the craftsmanship. Magdalen studied the weapon wall picking out the perfect object to make her plan work. She felt a presence beside her as she picked up various swords, she didn't turn to face them.

"Magdalen, what do you think you're doing?" Fili hissed in her ear.

He was closer than she thought, feeling his warm breath sliding down her neck. She ignored him, running her hand along the metal of the blade in her hand.

"Picking a sword, Fili. What does it look like?" She said playfully, looking over her shoulder.

She found he wasn't amused at her jest. His hand covered her wrist, making her put down the blade.

"Magdalen this isn't a joke. Challenging Thorin? Are you crazy? You're going to end up in the infirmary." His voice rumbled in his chest.

Magdalen arched her eyebrows, shaking off his grip.

"I'm a big girl, I can handle myself." Her anger began to boil.

She knew what she was doing. Couldn't he have a little faith in her?

"An adult would have more sense than to challenge Throin over a silly trip!" He raised his voice.

Magdalen bit the inside of her cheek so hard she began to taste iron. She could see Thorin and Dwalin now staring at them in interest. Fili must have seen this too, now taking a few steps back from her. Her eyes snapped back to him.

"Don't like what I'm doing," She picked up a small sturdy machete, "don't watch." She spat heading to join Thorin and Dwalin.

"Fine!"Fili let out a groan storming off, away from the impending disaster.

Thorin watched as she approached him, anger rolling off her in waves.

"A little spat?" He asked innocently.

Magdalen's nostrils flared, rolling her neck back. "Are we going to talk, or are you going to do this?"

Thorin nodded, though a smirk still played on his face. While Karron was an exemplary fighter, Thorin was on a different level. Thorin was the definition of a warrior, he would not be knocked on his feet so easily. But she wasn't here to fight him. She was here to win. Magdalen made the first move, slashing her machete toward his middle. Thorin spun raising to clash his sword with her machete. The blow knocked Magdalen back a few steps. She held out her hands to gain her balance again. Magdalen gripped the leather-wrapped hilt, her chest rose with a sharp intake of breath. She lunged at him again, with a swift swipe of her sword. Thorin once again meets her strike, locking their weapons in an intense battle of wills. Gritting her teeth she willed her muscles to spin their sword above them, leaving his abdomen open.

Magdalen took the opportunity, kicking her leg toward his stomach, pushing on him to create a distance between them. However, Thorin's reflexes were quicker than she accounted for. As he was knocked back his hand shoot out to wrap around her ankle, dragging her down as he stumbled back. Magdalen let out a yell of pain as she kicked her leg out of his grasp. Feeling the pull of her bones. She stumbled for a moment, before balancing herself.

"Give up yet, gultalut?" His voice was light and smug.

"Not yet. Come on old man, you tired yet?" She smiled picking up her machete once again.

Thorin growled storming at her. She stood in her spot waiting for Thorin to reach her. Dwalin began to yell at her to move, the worry in his voice would have been endearing if she had time to think about. When Thorin was only a foot away, Magdalen turned her back running out of the arena. She could hear Thorin and Dwalin's confused yells. But when she reached the wooden pillar, she began to climb. Her machete digging into the wood, helping her climb higher and higher. When she reached the top she sat down on the wooden base, where it met the stone rail of the upper level.

She looked down at Thorin and Dwalin who stood at the base.

"What are you doing! Get down here and fight me." Thorin shouted.

Magdalen shook her head. "No." She replied.

Thorin gaped at her before looking at Dwalin.

"You can't just... walk away from this fight. You've lost you're own deal."

Magdalen smirked again, kicking her legs childishly.

"No, I didn't. Quite the opposite really."

Thorin growled. "Stop speaking in riddles! You gave up the fight, I won!"

"No, the deal was if you can't not me down I win. You didn't knock me down, therefore I win." She explained.

She could see Dwalin's shoulders shake as he quietly laughed. Thorin stared at her wide eye.

"You cheated!" He pointed up at her.

She shook her head. "Nope, you agreed to my terms. I have two witnesses."

Dwalin patted Thorin's shoulder. "I'm afraid the girl's right."

Thorin dropped his head. "I have things that need to be tended too. I will not fight you on this any longer. We will speak later about this trip." He warned her as he stalked off.

Dwalin's face filled with merriment as he followed his king. She watched as the pair climbed the steps, Thorin grumbling all the way. Magdalen waved happily when Dwalin looked back at her. She caught the sight of Fili standing on the upper level. She spun around landing on the walkway behind her. He was hunched over the rail looking down at the arena below them. She stood beside him staring out into the arena.

"You should have had a little faith in me." She spoke quietly.

Fili ignored her comment.

"I knew what I was doing. I had a plan."

"Do you always have to push things to their limits?" Fili muttered his hands pressed into the rail.

Magdalen snapped her head, staring at him. "Fili, I won. You could be a little happy for me."

She stared at him appalled by his sudden attitude. Fili slowly met her gaze, his face filled with dread and worry.

"I am happy for you, Magdalen. It's just.." His thought trailed off.

Magdalen was becoming concerned, her small hand reaching out to cover his. Fili sighed dropping his head.

"It's just that I worry about you." He admitted under his breath.

"I worry you?" She couldn't help but smile at that statement.

Fili glared at her from the corner of his eye. "Do be so smug about it. You always seem to put yourself in the path of danger consistently. How could I not worry about you?" His voice was cold and worried.

Magdalen could feel his genuine concern for her health and safety. It echoed in her mind that he had held her not once, but twice at the brink of death. She placed her hand on his bicep, she could feel his arm flex as her hand came into contact with it.

"Fili, it's sweet that you worry for me. But I promise I'm fine, I'm always fine." She reassured him.

Fili shook his head, turning to face her fully. In a turn of events, his hand reached out cupping her face in his hold. Magdalen stared up at him dumbfounded.

"Magdalen, you're not always going to be fine. That's not how life works. You can't always count on luck to be on your side."

Slowly her hands covered his wrists. The pads of his thumbs brushing over her cheeks, making them tingle in his wake. She blinked rapidly.

"Just… Just promise me you'll be careful. That you'll think before you do anything stupid."

Magdalen scowled at him, but he didn't seem to care. Bringing his face closer to hers.

"I'm serious, Magdalen."

She sighed leaning into his palm, enjoying the warmth for a second. She nodded slowly, "I promise, Fili."

Fili slowly released her from his grasp, a rush of red covered his face. Magdalen bit her lip staying close to him.

"But you have to admit that was a great idea." She smiled at him. Fili let out a laugh, she couldn't explain it but her chest tightened at the sound of his voice.

"And just because you worry about me, does not mean you get to act like a dick." She pressed her finger into his hard chest.

Fili smiled. "Forgive me for 'acting like a dick'."

Magdalen couldn't hold back her laughter, it was odd hearing Fili, a prince, say the word dick.

"I forgive you, just don't do it again." She warned him playfully.

She turned moving to walk past Fili, reaching out to take his hand as she passed him. Dragging him behind her she looked over her shoulder.

"Come on, I have a trip to pack for." Magdalen grinned.

Fili rolled his eyes. "You're impossible."

"But you love it." She teased.

He did indeed…

Guys we're at a 100 followers! That's crazy to me. I know it may not seem like a big deal, but it is to me. I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who follows the story and leaves overwhelming positive comments. I was always told I was a bad writer, and so I've never published my stories anywhere. I know this is just a silly little fanfiction, but it's still something I'm proud of. It's really hard for me to share my work. But you guys make me keep writing! So thank you, y'all the best.