Author's Note: Just in case this is needed here. WARNING: Bella will be experiencing the curse of women. Sorry, squeamish readers, but as one fanfiction author, Laora, pointed out, it would happen.
"Kili, where did our brothers go?"
The dwarf turned to see Bella standing a couple feet behind him, loose fists resting on her hips as her eyes continued to roam over the campsite.
"They went to gather firewood as soon as we were settled," he answered.
"And that was about a half-hour ago," Bella said, giving him a knowing look.
Kili brushed it off. "Fili never makes trouble."
Bella raised an eyebrow. "Really? I'm pretty sure you have both told me of times when both of you were to blame for one misadventure or another."
"Right," Kili admitted. "Trouble does seem to find us for the simple fact we are of the Line of Durin. Let's go." He slung his bow and quiver over his back. "Sure you won't freeze if we have to rescue them?"
"I'll have you know that I never freeze in the middle of a fight," Bella answered, following after him. "It was only because I saw the dead eyes of the orc that I received that bad shock."
"Well, then I'll just make sure that you won't see anymore dead eyes," Kili said. He smiled as their banter continued. His brother's hobbit was a feisty lady, and he liked that. Maybe he could talk her into joining in on their next prank on Uncle Thorin.
"We are dead," Bilbo said from his perch on a rough boulder.
"No, we're not," Fili countered beside him, shifting his feet a little higher from the wolves' snapping jaws. "I may be, but you're totally safe. Bella would never murder her own brother. Her suitor that once again landed her brother in the frying pan, she may very well murder."
Bilbo rolled his eyes. "I highly doubt that. She loves you too much. She may give you a beating or some other form of punishment, but she wouldn't kill you." He sighed, looking beyond the wolf pack and over the evening landscape. "When do you think they'll suspect something's happened?"
"If they haven't already, I'd say about now," Fili answered. He turned up to the hobbit. "Still secure there?"
"Surprisingly yes. Dare I ask if you have had experience with this before?"
"Kili and I were chased down by a pack of wolves once, although we climbed a tree that time and not a boulder."
Bilbo and Fili had been gathering wood and having friendly conversation. That had all ended when a passing wolf pack had decided that a hobbit would make a fine meal. Bilbo most certainly did not yelp when Fili scooped him up round his waist and raced the both of them over to a tall boulder that the wolves couldn't climb. And it was here that they still sat waiting to be rescued. Apparently Fili had decided to leave all his various knives and such back at camp so the both of them could be ensured of a peaceful talk. And as had happened the last time Bilbo had attempted that, trouble had appeared.
"Think maybe next time we ought to have at least one knife each to see if we can stave off trouble?" Bilbo asked, finally.
"That might be a good plan," Fili answered.
One of the wolves leapt higher than the others.
"Look out!" Bilbo cried, even as Fili raised his arm up to shield himself.
A strangled yelp broke from the wolf as an arrow pierced through its neck.
Bilbo whirled his head round to see Kili and Bella running toward them full tilt, pausing only to take aim and loose their lethal weapons on the beasts. Then Bella was among them, slicing and stabbing, never once allowing the wolves a chance to lay harm on her. This was the first time he had ever seen his sister fight and he was amazed to see how she seemed to dance around her opponents.
"I'm falling in love all over again," Fili said dreamily. "If being the occasional damsel in distress means that I get to see this, I won't complain."
Bilbo wasn't sure if he should be amused or disgusted by the young dwarf's love-struck expression. He didn't mind romances, no not at all. But this was his sister that was being stared at. "If we weren't in such a precarious position I would slap that look off your face," the hobbit grumbled.
Fili had the decency to look at least a little shame-faced. "Sorry, but I never thought that someone could dance through a fight like she is right now."
Bilbo shook his head. Allowing himself to turn back to their rescuers. The both of them were just finishing off the last two of the dozen or so wolves.
Bella turned to them, breathing hard. "You two alright?"
"I'm fine," Bilbo answered. "The blond here is a little too starry-eyed."
"Hey!" Fili protested.
Bella shook her head as she started pacing among the wolves . . . retrieving her knives. "Dare I ask how you two managed to land into trouble this time?" she asked.
"These wolves wished to know what hobbit tasted like," Bilbo answered, starting to ease his way down. "They didn't realize that we come in side dishes of cold metal."
"And why didn't either of you have your knives?" Kili asked.
"'Ensuring peaceful talks,'" Fili answered. "But since that only seems to land us in trouble, we have both agreed to carry at least one weapon each in hopes of avoiding further danger."
"Although," Bilbo said, half-smiling, "I believe that Fili may be reconsidering it since he loves watching his darling melethen come in knives dancing to the rescue."
"Bilbo!" Fili cried as Bella lightly blushed.
Clearing her throat, she managed, "It would seem, Kili, that it would be safe to leave them to their firewood."
"Aye, yet it also seems a crime to let such fine pelts go to waste," the dark-haired dwarf said, running a hand through the thick fur.
Fili also turned to examine their former attackers. "I believe that some of them would be salvageable, and we are making good time. Uncle surely wouldn't protest preparing winter things for our ranger and burglar."
"What are you talking about?" Bella asked.
Fili smiled up at her. "Did you or your brother pack winter things when preparing for your adventures?"
"Um." She turned to Bilbo. "We didn't."
"We had no plans of traveling in late autumn or winter," Bilbo said.
"Well, then, we should take the best of this lot and maybe even start keeping some of the rabbit skins so that we can make sure you both will be warm," Fili said.
"Alright," Bilbo said, "Bella and I will take the wood back to camp and then ask a couple of the others to come back and help you haul the load."
"Sounds fair," Kili said. "Fili and I will sort through these to see which are best."
Bilbo led his sister back to where the wood had been abandoned. "What do you think about wearing the skin of your foe?"
"I'm not sure what I think," Bella admitted. "But no matter what I think, I best just get used to it since that will be the only way I'll actually be warm this winter."
So it was that before the sun had disappeared Fili, Kili, Dwalin, and Gloin had retrieved four of the wolves. Out of the twelve these wolves were the ones with the finest and least damaged coats. Thorin, his nephews, Dwalin, Gloin, and Nori set to work skinning them, promising the hobbits that the following day they could join in on the fun as well. Bilbo could hardly wait.
Bella wrinkled her nose against a foul odor that permeated the early morning air. She sat up, sleepily looking toward the campfire to see Bifur and Bofur stirring a couple pots.
"Morning," Bofur practically chirped.
"Morning," she yawned. "What in Middle Earth is that?"
"Wolf brains. In just a couple minutes we'll mash them all up into a lovely delicacy."
Even as Bella screwed her face up in disgust, Bifur cuffed his cousin upside the head.
"You know I was just teasing, Bifur," Bofur protested, shaking his head. "It's a natural tanning solution. We'll rub it into the wolf skins to make them all nice and soft. It will take a couple rubdowns, but once we're through, you and your brother'll be able to wrap those skins round yourselves as though they were the finest elvish blankets."
"That's a high promise," Bella noted getting up from her blankets and daring to spy the mixture.
"We've done it before, and we'll do it again," Bofur said. "The other lads managed to flesh the skins before settling in for the night. Bifur and I rose early to get the brains prepared. Now, usually just one brain each is enough for wolves, but just to be extra sure, the lads harvested a few extra from the other wolves."
"Ah," Bella said, recalling the game pouches that had been carried in alongside the wolves.
"You and Bilbo will now be able to join in on the fun," Bofur continued. "Even Ori. We'll need all the hands we can use to get these skins tanned properly before we need to move on again."
"So how much do these skins need?" Bella asked.
"Well, the plan is to brain the skins this morning; let them dry until evening; brain them again, and then wrap them all up in nice, hot wet blankets for the night. So tomorrow should be the softening process, unless your One and his brother convince Thorin to allow them to do a third and fourth braining from the start."
"I do not believe it wise," Thorin said, rising from his sleeping place. "We've never done more than two before aside from spot braining tough parts. Better to be safe than to potentially ruin a fine pelt by making it too soft and potentially weak."
Bella nodded thinking she understood at least part of that. "When are we starting?"
"Directly after you have a bit of breakfast, then we'll start," Thorin answered.
Bella ate some traveler's bread and an apple before approaching where the wolf skins had been stretched and pegged to the ground.
Thorin was already there rubbing a bit of stone all over the skin. "Preparing it for the brain mash," he said. "Bofur will be bringing a pot over in a moment and you can start working it in."
"I guess this is going to be a messy bit of business," Bella said.
"Tanning usually is," the dwarf said.
The hobbit nodded. "Well, I guess I should take the necessary precautions then." She took off her traveling coat, rolling up her shirt sleeves to above her elbow, and removed her skirts so that she was covered only by her breeches and her mid-thigh tunic.
"I didn't expect to see a respectable hobbit dress down," Thorin said.
"This respectable hobbit doesn't exactly want to smell like wolf brains for weeks until we find a river to wash in," Bella returned. "So, while waiting for Bofur, I'd like to know how to prepare the skin."
Fili finally woke when the sun was leaving its earthy bed. In his defense he had been up half the night fleshing the pelts. And based on the odor that surrounded him, he had best have a bite of breakfast and help with the braining. A bit of bread and jerky later and he returned to the pelts as he rolled his sleeves up and tied his hair back.
He froze in surprise when he spied Bella working alongside Bilbo and his uncle. Of course he remembered what she looked like wearing Bilbo's clothes that first day she joined them. But those pants had reached down below her knees and were very loose. She now wore pants that barely covered her knees and even if they weren't tight, they were certainly more fitted. He was relieved that her blouse covered most of her thighs or he wasn't sure how he would have reacted. As it was, he was already feeling somewhat embarrassed.
A stern clearing throat, made him jump, looking to the deadly glare of Bilbo Baggins.
"Fili," Thorin said. "About time you got up and joined us."
Fili coughed a bit, forcing himself to refocus. "Uh, right. Sorry." He quickly moved to another pelt where Ori and Bifur were working. Catching Bella's gaze, he gave a sheepish wave and smile.
She sent him an amused set back before scooping more brain onto the pelt. Brown tendrils of her hair had escaped her braid, nearly hiding her eyes as she worked. Her strokes were firm and steady as she worked as though she had been braining pelts her whole life.
Fili sighed. It was official. He was totally lost to her. No one should look good spattered with brain innards, but somehow Bella managed to look beautiful.
"Oi, lad," Bofur said, carrying a fresh pot of brains, "are ye 'ere to brain pelts or stare at your One and Only?"
Fili glared at him before turning to help Ori and Bifur. Yet he couldn't help but feel as though at least half the Company was staring at him as he worked. What had Mahal been thinking when he decided that his One should be a Hobbit that he'd meet on the quest for Erebor?
"Would it help if you knew that Bilbo glared at everyone but Thorin today?" Bella asked. She had washed her hands and gotten her skirts back on before approaching Fili.
"What?" Fili asked.
She smiled. "I do believe he terrified poor Ori and your brother skittered away liked a whipped puppy. I doubt that even half the dwarves he glared at even glanced my way."
Fili smiled a little. "I am sorry about earlier," he said. "I shouldn't have stared. It's just so rare to see you wearing pants is all."
"Understandable," she answered. "And I think that I would be safe, with you being such a gentleman."
"It may be a struggle," Fili admitted, his cheeks reddening, "but I wouldn't wish to dishonor you in such a way."
"Good to know," she said, briefly touching her forehead to his temple. She was rewarded by his stunned face as she slipped away. A glance back revealed a dreamy expression that sent her into light giggles. It would seem that she would be needing to release her heart onto her sleeve a little more if Fili was already that lovesick.
She paused, was she that far along? Or was she not? Perhaps the difference was in their age. According to hobbits she was a middle-aged woman bordering on spinster. Fili was just barely an adult by dwarven standards. Of course he would react like a love-struck tween and she would remain level-headed. Right? Oh, how she wished there was someone that she could ask.
"Is something bothering ye, lass?" Balin asked.
Bella half-jumped before giving a short laugh. "Oh, just a lady's worries."
"I'm willing to be a listening ear," the white-haired dwarf said, patting the bit of boulder beside him.
She smiled as she accepted his offer. "I'm just thinking over how Fili and I are reacting differently to our courtship, and maybe even wondering if it can still work despite the vast differences."
"If you were doomed to failure, he wouldn't be your One, and you wouldn't be his," Balin said.
"And how does one actually know for certain that someone is their One?" she asked.
Balin gave her a careful look. "You hobbits aren't familiar with the concept, are you?"
Bella slowly shook her head. "Bilbo and I have heard stories of course, but at least for hobbits," she shrugged, "I've never heard of hobbits having a One. But that could simply be because it's something hobbits consider unnatural and so they never talk about since it would be viewed improper."
"Well, I'll confess that I'm not the one to ask for how you know about your One," Balin said. "You should ask Gloin or Bombur for that. I do know however that when a dwarf is denied their One . . ." He sighed. "It is a sad sight to behold."
Bella's heart clenched as she turned to fully face Balin. "What happened?"
"I have seen this happen only once, because it is very rare for Ones to be denied," Balin said. "But a dwarf had discovered his One among the race of Men. As you can imagine, the lass's family wasn't very approving, but the lass herself seemed very accepting of his suit.
"But before a year was out, a message was sent to the lad. The lass had married another. We dwarves never learned the whole story, if the marriage had been agreed upon by the lass or if she had been forced into it. But, it didn't matter.
"That letter was as good as a dagger to the lad's heart. He sent a letter back, asking if it was true. He was just barely hanging on as he waited for a reply, dying by inches before all eyes. Then a letter arrived. The one he had sent, unopened. He died that very night."
Bella trembled as she thought of that happening to Fili. She couldn't do that to him, and yet, wouldn't it be just as horrible or worse if she ended up living a lie?
"Talk with Bombur and Gloin," Balin said. "I'm sure that it would help you."
Bella nodded. Sweeping her gaze across the camp, she spied both of them, thankfully together. She murmured a casual farewell to Balin as she approached the only two married dwarves of the Company.
"Ah, afternoon, lass," Gloin greeted. He raised a bushy eyebrow. "What's the matter, lass? You look as though a thundercloud has broken over you."
"I need to know more about how someone knows they have found their One," she said.
Bombur nodded while exchanging a look with Gloin. "You either haven't seen the signs or you don't know how to interpret them."
"That is why I need to know." She glanced over to where she last saw Fili. "For his sake."
"I would have thought that you knew, from how you two acted around each other the first part of our journey," Gloin said. "Even yesterday, you were acting as a proper One pairing."
"And it was just yesterday evening that I noticed Fili reacting like a love-struck tween and now I'm realizing just how different in ages we are, not to mention that I am not reacting nearly as love-struck as I would imagine I should if I knew for sure that he is my One." She sighed as she flopped down cross-legged on the ground. "I asked Balin about it and he said that I should talk to you two about it."
"Hmm." Bombur tossed another chunk of meat into the pot. "My wife knew before I did."
Bella perked up. "You didn't know at the same time?"
"Nope," Bombur said. "Though I may have mistaken it for what I tended to feel for one of my favorite sweet meats. Mm-hm."
Gloin shook his head. "Despite his talking stomach, it is true that One's discover each other at different times on occasion. Happy are the couples that know in the same instant, Dis and Vili for example."
"Fili and Kili's parents?"
"Aye. I hear that they barely met eyes the first day they met in Ered Luin and the both of them knew that they were each other's One. They were nigh inseparable after that. Although, Thorin and Frerin nearly made Dis forever furious at them when the both of them put the poor lad through the gauntlet. But her brothers were convinced that not just anyone could have their little sister. She was a princess after all. It was only after Vili assured her that he was fine that she was willing to forgive her brothers."
"That was near opposite of what happened over that troll incident," Bombur noted. "Though whether that should be comforting or not, I'm not too sure."
Bella recalled another incident, nearly two weeks before the trolls that was also similar to what they had described. But had it been because she was defending Fili or because she was defending herself?
"So, how do you know that you have found your One?" Bella asked. "Especially if it isn't that instantaneous knowing that you see the stories?"
Both dwarves shrugged. "It's a bit different for everyone, I suppose," Bombur said. "As I mentioned earlier, it was as though I had found and was about to enjoy a favorite dish and yet it was . . . deeper, more profound . . . as though it had come straight from my soul instead of it being anything physical."
"For me," Gloin said, "I looked at her and knew that my heart belonged to her and no one else. It was something that would never change in a thousand years." He gave her a rare smile. "When it happens for you, you'll know beyond any shadow of doubt. Just give it time."
"Should I say anything to Fili about it?" she asked.
"Possibly if the subject comes up," Gloin answered. "But it's possible that he may already suspect it may take some time if at all since you're a hobbit. Always be honest with your One, whether you know it for yourself or not. Dishonesty is just as harmful as rejection."
"I'll remember that," Bella promised. She sighed. "At least I now know that it's not unusual to not know for certain at the same time."
"Aye," Gloin said. "They may make you think that in stories, but they fail to share the whole truth. Everyone's different, lass. Don't forget that."
Bella nodded. "Thank you." She left them, feeling a bit lighter as she viewed her blossoming relationship with Fili.
"Now, we need to work this almost like a double-handled saw," Fili said. "You and Kili will be pulling together while Bilbo and I will be pulling together on this side."
"But, when we say," Kili said, "Fili and I will be pulling to the side, while you and Bilbo pull the other way."
"So," Bella said, "Kili and I will be pulling together back and forth while I'll be helping Bilbo pull side to side."
"Precisely," Fili and Kili answered together.
"Let's do it then," Bilbo said.
That said, the four of them started working their wolf pelt over a semi-pointed boulder to soften the stiffness out of it. A pot of brain mush rewarmed from yesterday was waiting in case of any trouble spots. Then once they were through with the pelt, they would take it to a small smoking cave that would help preserve them from any moths.
Arguably the work would have become a bit dull, but they soon made a game of it. They sang songs that they could work to the rhythm of. They made up stories upon each pull of the pelt. The only time they paused was to take a short break or to re-brain a tough spot.
Now, Bella would be the first to admit that nothing exceptional happened that day, aside from the fact that all the pelts were finished in enough time that Thorin decided that they would pack up and see how far they could go before full night set in. But she felt comfort in that although Fili's eyes were as love-filled as ever, they were more like they had been shortly after Rivendell. Even if a tiny bit of her missed that love-struck expression just a bit. Yet it wouldn't be until she could confidently state her own feelings in the positive, that she felt she would feel completely comfortable seeing those eyes cast upon her.
It started with a deep-seated ache. An ache that she knew would worsen the moment she acknowledged the source. But it was either acknowledge it now, or later when it had made a wretched mess.
"Bilbo," she said, "I need the pain draught."
He blinked owlishly at her then understanding flooded his face. "Ah, a bad one this time. I was starting to suspect it was overdue."
"Shut it and give me the draught," she grumbled.
He gave her the small vial before giving an apologetic smile. "Try to take it easy today."
She snorted as she escaped behind the lone bush along with her bag. As if. Thorin would be pushing them just as hard if not harder than usual. There would sooner be a green forest in Mordor. She growled low as she was greeted by the deep, wet scarlet. She hated the monthly curse of womanhood, especially when it afflicted her like a bad stomach flu.
Arguably Fili was sometimes accused of being an oblivious idiot, but he liked to think that he was observant when it came to women. So when he noticed that a thunderhead had taken residence over his amralime's face, he figured it was best to approach with caution.
"Is something wrong, Amralime?" he asked, crouching by her sleeping place that she was still packing.
She shot him a glare. "I'm fine."
He raised a single eyebrow. "I'll ask permission to disagree. Your face is both dark and pale, something I never imagined that I'd ever see."
She growled as she roughly shoved her blankets into her pack.
Fili deftly snatched them away and rolled them for her, tying them securely. Yes, he was well aware of the burning glare that she was sending him, but he also noticed that she wasn't really making any move to stop him. Giving the roll back to her he said, "Please, talk to me, Melethen."
She blew out a long breath. "I'm tired, achy, and sick to my stomach because it hurts so much."
Ah. Fili could guess now. With a slight smile he shared, "When Mom feels that way, Uncle calls those her bear weeks."
Bella snorted. "Yeah, I feel like I was mauled by a bear."
Fili figured it was best not to correct the usage of the term. "Anything I can do to help? Anything at all?"
She sighed, giving him a look that was almost affectionate. "If I was at Bag End, I would be curled up in a blanket by the fire with some tea and a good book. That way the pain will just ease away into the background. I can't have that luxury here. I know that Thorin wants to make up for time lost over those wolf pelts. Besides, I signed up for this journey, I'll just have to tough it out." She stood, swinging her pack onto her shoulders and headed towards the start of the line up.
But Fili could see how the pain she mentioned was making her limp and move much slower than usual. Her pale face made it appear that she was about to pass out any minute.
"She's stubborn, a little too stubborn," Bilbo said beside him, adjusting his own pack.
"Is she afflicted only once every few months?" Fili asked. "Or was I just oblivious the first couple months of this quest?"
"Oh, it comes every month," Bilbo answered. "It's just very rare that it hits this hard. The other times since this quest started, she was able to survive the limited pain with about half a pain draught. This morning she took a whole vial and I doubt that did little more than take the edge off it." He sighed, shaking his head. "It goes through cycles. I suspected this rough one to be coming at some point."
"Any chance of her accepting help?" Fili asked.
"Only if it's forced upon her," Bilbo answered. He turned a wary, suspicious eye on him. "What are you thinking, Son of Dis?"
"A possible way of making the trek a little easier on her today," he answered. Hardly fifteen minutes later, everything was arranged and he put his plan into motion. Under the circumstances, Gloin was willing to carry Fili's pack in addition to his own. Kili only needed to know that Bella wasn't feeling well and he was willing to carry her pack. (No need to forever scar him with the knowledge of female maladies.)
Nori slipped Bella's pack away as smooth as one pleased, the hobbit barely being the wiser. Fili stepped into place in time for Bofur and Bifur to scoop her up onto his back. Bella cried out in surprise, but wrapped her arms round his neck on instinct to remain in place.
"Fili Son of Dis, what is going on?" she demanded, but already her voice sounded drained of any energy for anger.
"Just making sure you don't end up passing out along the trail side," Fili answered. Just in time, Oin and Gloin wrapped blankets round them so that Bella was secured without fear of falling off.
"This is embarrassing," she moaned. "I'm not a babe that needs carried."
"No," Oin said. "You are a stubborn lass that needs to be cared for even if you refuse to take care of yourself. Now, allow yourself to relax as your body is demanding. And if you need anything to help with those cramps, don't hesitate to ask. Not only am I able to help as a healer, but there are three dwarves here who deal with women and their monthly afflictions regularly. No need to be shy about it."
Bella groaned, curling up a bit. "It is impolite to speak of it in the Shire," she said in a voice Fili barely heard.
"Just among menfolk, or all-folk?" he asked.
"All except for relatives," she answered.
He bit back a light chuckle. "At least tell us if you need a pain draught or something hot to ease the pain."
It was a couple hours later that Bilbo jogged up to them. He held up a small vial. "That first draught is going to wear off soon," he said.
"Yeah, lot of good it's done so far," Bella said, claiming the vial and drinking it. A moment later. "You gave me one laced with a sleeping draught didn't you?"
"Best that you escape the pain as much as you can," Bilbo said, reclaiming the vial. "Besides, I doubt that Fili's going to let you go anywhere for now."
"I don't know whether to love you or hate you right now," Bella mumbled, her head settling into the base of Fili's neck.
Fili smiled, pressing a light kiss to the inside of her wrist, just barely catching the lingering scent of the wolf brain mixture from a couple days ago. "Rest, Amralime. All will be well."
She drew her wrist back to her, then a moment later, she truly relaxed. Her even breathing broken only by the rare whimper of pain.
Fili did his best to stay on smooth trails to avoid jostling her as much as possible. Thankfully, she managed to sleep most of the day, only truly waking once they stopped for the night, and that only long enough for a good meal.
She did however insist on retreating behind a boulder for a time. When she emerged again, she looked as miserable as a half-drowned kitten. "I am so ugly and disgusting," she mourned sitting on her bed.
Fili knew from observing his mother and uncle that it was best not to confirm or deny such claims. So he only lightly brushed some wayward tendrils from her face as he said, "Still my amralime." He touched a kiss to her temple.
Bilbo gave her another pain-sleeping draught.
She drank it then curled up on her side.
Fili nearly yelped when Bella dragged his arm around her waist.
"My hot water bottle," she mumbled. Then she was asleep once again, with an unrelenting hold on his hand.
He looked up apologetically at Bilbo, but the hobbit shrugged. "She can occasionally be possessive when she feels like this. Most likely come morning she'll be thoroughly embarrassed and be apologizing for a good half-hour for making such a scene. But I'll trust you to be a gentleman for the night and not make a further scene."
Fili nodded, before settling down behind Bella. He smiled softly as he closed his eyes, cushioning his head with his free arm. He was only vaguely aware of the blanket being draped over the both of them as he fell asleep.
Thorin released a small smile as he covered his eldest nephew and future niece-in-law with a blanket. Gloin and Dwalin had informed him that morning of what was happening, just in case a halt was needed to be called. But Fili had managed and they had all made good time.
Further into their quest and actually seeing the two interact on a day to day basis, Thorin had noticed that the hobbit didn't yet have the shining of a person who had discovered their One like Fili had. Oh, he could tell that she loved Fili, but there wasn't that adoring knowing. At least not yet. For Fili's sake, he prayed to Mahal and Eru that she would come to that knowing. Though whether before or after Erebor was retaken, he wasn't sure which was best.
Ones known to each other rarely left each other's sides, feeling lost without having their other half beside them. Yet, they were also able to tell how the other was despite the distance. Thus both a curse and a blessing. So, Thorin would just have to accept whenever Mahal and Eru felt best.
For once the dwarven king wished Gandalf was there to speak to. That wizard would know whether or not hobbits had Ones, and if the halfling would ever feel the same for his nephew as his nephew felt for her.
He truly wished with all his heart for her to experience for herself the deep devotion that sets in when a person discovers their One. It would make things so much easier for the both of them.
Author's Note: Well. This was a long one. But I enjoyed the opportunity to explore dwarvish Ones/Soulmates.
Fur tanning information taken from "Tan Your Pelts With Nature's Tools" by Jim Miller from Traditional Tanners website. Most talk was about raccoons I think, but could possibly still be applied to wolves. My apologies if this is wrong. Admittedly, possibly filler so that it wasn't just a whole lot of boring walking from Rivendell to the Misty Mountains. But those pelts will be put to good use, better than letting them go to waste.
For those wondering and/or with criticisms, I based poor Bella's experience on my own, well aside from the being on a quest when it happened. Sometimes I can go for months with minimal cramps that are easily taken care of by one painkiller or none. Then every so often, there will be a doozie that even the max amount of painkillers will hardly touch as though my body is punishing me for the ones where I hardly felt anything. So, yes, it would be possible for Bella to experience that monthly affliction without Fili knowing about it and then being made very aware of it. And for anyone wondering "why?" I just wanted to see how Fili would handle the situation. I think he did pretty well.
It was about this time that I realized the sort of age gap is between Fili and Bella. In actual years, Fili is about three decades older than Bella, but based on how their races develop, Fili is late teens early twenties while Bella is more middle-aged. (Maybe this is why Thorin tends to be the other half of the pair off.) However, Fili and Bella just continue to work so well together that, not to mention I was over fifty thousand words into this commitment. (And I'm rambling. Never mind me. Stopping.)
Any thoughts about any of the events? Any favorite bits? Any frustrating parts? We have one more chapter before we reach the Misty Mountains. Think things will continue peacefully? Or do you suspect that I'll toss some excitement in there? I'm not saying anything just yet. Just wanting to hear your thoughts. Hoping to hear from you.