Bella sat nestled into the rock between the fire and the two princes. It was the third evening of language lessons. Personally, she thought that both her and Fili were already improving. They had also continued in their note passing throughout the day, at least whenever Bilbo wasn't sharing history with them.

Now, everyone was largely settled in for the night. Most of the dwarves were snoring. Gandalf was sitting on the edge of camp, staring out at nothing as he smoked his pipe as per usual. Bilbo was wandering about the camp silently before heading over to the ponies.

Bella smiled as her brother slipped an apple to his pony, whispering something into its velvet ears.

A distant, guttural scream ripped through the night, startling her out of her peaceful, semi-dreaming state.

"What was that?" she asked as Bilbo ran over to them.

"Orcs," Kili answered.

"Orcs?" Bilbo repeated, just as another scream was heard.

"Throat-cutters," Fili said matter-of-factly. "There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them." He cast a meaningful glance down to Bella. "A little rougher than those you may have met in Bree."

"They strike in the wee morning hours," Kili said, much like one telling a ghost story, "when everyone is asleep."

But this didn't send pleasant thrills through Bella. Far from the safety of the Shire. She only felt horrible chills.

"Quick and quiet," Kili continued, his voice growing softer as he hunched forward. "No screams. Just lots of blood."

Bella grabbed her brother's hand hoping to both give and gain comfort. Bilbo clutched her hand, his thumbs absently rubbing circles as his eyes darted about.

Kili burst out laughing.

Fili elbowed him. "Brother," he scolded.

"What?" Kili asked.

Bella's fear turned to anger. That little scamp! But even as she opened her mouth to release a lashing, someone else beat her to it.

"You think that's funny?" Thorin demanded, half-standing over them. "You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?"

Kili shrank back, even as Fili rested a quiet hand on his knee. "We didn't mean anything by it," the younger said quietly.

"No, you didn't," Thorin growled. "You know nothing of the world." He then stalked off, brooding as he looked down from the cliff they were camping on that night.

"Don't mind him, laddie," Balin said, leaning against the boulder behind them. "Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs."

"What happened?" Bella ventured.

"After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain," Balin answered, "King Thror tried to reclaim the old dwarf kingdom of Moria." A weight seemed to settle on his shoulders and seeped into his words. "But our enemy had got there first. Moria had been taken by legions of orcs, led by the most vile of all their race: Azog the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin."

Bella and Bilbo exchanged glances before glancing at Thorin. How had he managed to survive? Bella slightly shifted closer, anxious to hear what happened, as Bilbo settled down beside her.

Balin's eyes reflected deep sorrow as he continued. "He began by beheading the king." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner or killed, we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us."

A smile than graced his features as his eyes sparked. "That is when I saw him," he said, sending a meaningful look Thorin's way. "A young dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc. He stood alone," he continued, painting the scene with his words, "against this terrible foe. His armor rent . . . wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield."

Bella hugged herself round her knees. Rocking in anticipation. This was the sort of story that sent her Took sensibilities tingling. All the better when she knew that the hero made it safely out of harm's way.

"Azog the Defiler," Balin recounted, "learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken."

Bella smiled as she glanced over to Fili and Kili, the next generation of Durin's line. They had shared some of their adventures and misadventures over the past couple days. They were hardy folks this dwarves, Durin's line especially.

Balin's voice seemed to roll with the battle. "Our forces rallied and drove the orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated." His voice darkened again. "But there was no feast, no song, that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived."

Bella's eyes stung with tears as she witnessed this eldest dwarf's grief. To survive the horror of Smaug, only to live through it all again in this battle. She feared she wouldn't have had that same stamina and fortitude.

Balin then looked toward Thorin once again, drawing Bella's gaze to follow. All the dwarves were now awake and standing, facing Thorin as well. "And I thought to myself then," Balin said, respect and loyalty soaked in his words, "there is one I could follow. There is one I could call King."

Thorin turned then, indeed appearing every inch a noble king in the silver moonlight. He gave a bare nod of acknowledgment to the company as they stood in awed respect. He silently strode between them, returning to the warm firelight.

"What of the pale orc?" Bilbo asked. "What happened to him?"

"He slunk back into the hole whence he came," Thorin said, bitterness laced in his words. "That filth died of his wounds long ago."

Bella gazed after Thorin as he returned to his bedroll. She turned to Fili. "He has experienced a lot of pain, hasn't he?" she asked quietly.

"Aye," Fili answered, equally quiet. "At times I wonder if even my mother knows what all pain he carries." He then turned his face to her, eyes gently glowing as a tender smile appeared. "It is late. We should be rising early tomorrow. Losto vae, Bella."

"Losto vae, Fili," she returned. She half-smiled. "At least once your watch is done."

He chuckled, before sending his gaze outward once again.

Bella laid down in her bedroll, contemplating. "I suppose," she said quietly, "dwarves hate orcs more than they hate elves."

"I believe that would be a safe assumption," Fili said.

"Well then, your race and the elves have something in common," she said around a yawn.

"Oh?"

"I'm sure that elves hate orcs more than they dislike dwarves."

Fili chuckled. "Sleep, my peaceful ranger. You may continue your peace talks tomorrow."

Bella smiled as she curled up on her side. She spied Bilbo silently watching the dwarven prince before he laid down as well. She raised an eyebrow at him, curious.

Bilbo merely smiled with a light shake of his head. Nothing for her to worry about.

She gave a light nod of acceptance as she shut her eyes. That night, her dreams were filled with battling dwarves and orcs. But they held no fear, for she knew who would turn out victorious in the end.

Author's Note: Maybe a little shorter, but still important backstory. I know in the film it was both Fili and Kili who were teasing Bilbo, but I think that Fili wouldn't take the idea of an orc attack so lightly when a lady (and his One especially) is present.

"Losto vae" is Sindarin for "sleep well." Thus Bella's quick addition since it wouldn't be a good idea for the watch to sleep before they were relieved.

Any thoughts about the Battle of Moria? Any theories concerning a certain orc? (I could go either way: book vs. movie.) Interested in seeing your theories of which direction I chose. Oh, and it looks as though Bella is catching on that Bilbo has noticed something. Sure, Bilbo is telling Bella not to worry about it, but should she? I'd love to hear your thoughts.