That night, the company were together once more, if only for several hours. Jessika's victory and movement through to the next round of the tournament meant that celebrations were in order.

Fain, on the other hand, was still reeling from his defeat, and spent the night in the living room with Amelia, who was doing her best to console her son. He had still spoken little to the company, even to Jessika. Fain was proud of his sister, especially with the way she had defeated Karmur, however, his loss rippled through his self-confidence, and he struggled to join in with the festivities.

Despite Riley's anxiety about the how the hell she was going to convince Shayla that going to find the Elves was in incredibly stupid idea that was more than likely going to get them all killed, she was put slightly at ease when she saw Bofur enter the King's chambers.

With his signature grin across his face and a pipe dangling from his lips, Bofur caught sight of Riley from across the dining chamber and just about dropped the pipe with the thousand-watt smile he lit the room with.

Riley's stomach flipped at the sight, and she really had to force herself to compose her reaction and quieten the feeling that had begun to seed within her chest. Instead of returning his incredibly bright smile, she averted her eyes and made for a pastry to cover up the smirk she was struggling to smother.

Bifur and Bombur made for what little available space there was at the dining table, while Bofur continued to stand in the archway.

"Jessika!" Bofur called from across the room, his sing-song voice ringing out and calling attention to himself. Jessika was currently laughing and drinking with Dwalin, animatedly discussing the bout.

Her head spun to the sound of her name, the wicked grin on her face unfortunately not detracting from the bruises that had already spread around her right eye and across her check. Bofur bowed deeply, flourishing his arm as he did so, and stood upright once more.

"I never thought I would celebrate the loss of Dain's kin, but today I shall gladly, and proudly, celebrate the defeat of an under-footed old Dwarf, too set in their ways to see we have incredible, resourceful warriors in our midst, because of their ancestry and not despite it, and because of who they are and not despite it!"

"Hear hear!" Dwalin yelled, standing abruptly and raising his tankard to the top of the Lonely Mountain, as every single member of the company and family also stood and raised their alcohol, including Shayla and Riley.

The cheers and roars of applause that rung throughout the chamber were almost deafening, though the volume of festivities did not seem to decrease from that point onwards. Everyone seated within the dining area, bar two, were full of delicious food, strong ale and good cheer.

Thoughts about the bolstering of Erebor and Dale's security were thrown to the wayside, at least for several hours. Even Fili was in the presence of the company, enjoying a drink with a proud expression on his face, but after some time he went to speak to Fain, who was still in the living area with Amelia.

Bofur had found his way to a spare space beside Riley, both of their heads spinning as they listened to the various stories being told and songs being bellowed. They didn't speak for quite some time; however, Riley was increasingly aware of the little distance between their shoulders, and the way she could feel the heat radiating from his body.

Once things had settled down a little, and slowly, members of the company stumbled one by one from the chamber in the early hours of the morning, Bofur turned to Riley, his toothy grin emphasising how intoxicated he was.

"Miss Riley," he drawled, leaning his elbow across the table while he observed her small smirk and rosy cheeks, with her blonde hair cascading around her face. There was a sparkle in her eyes he hadn't seen quite so bright before, even more so when he begun to talk.

"Yes, Bofur?" Riley mimicked his tone and movements, her opposite elbow leaned across the table so that she was faced towards him. From so close, she could see the way the mahogany in his eyes danced in the lamplight of the dining quarters, and the way his crow's feet crinkled as he watched her.

"You truly have a wonderful smile." Despite the alcohol numbing her nerves, Riley was taken aback by the comment. She just stared at him for several moments, feeling the frown on her face grow, when Bofur brought her out of her stupor, unsure of what his words had caused.

"I apologise if my words offended, Miss Riley, it was not my intent." Bofur's smirk turned into a sad smile, and Riley recovered slowly, unsure how much she should reveal.

If she was sober, she may have brushed the entire encounter off and carried on eating. But she wasn't sober, and there was a feeling in her stomach that made her feel like she should explain herself, for perhaps the first time in her life.

"No, don't be sorry... It's just... It's just, that's the first time anyone has complimented my smile, rather than told me I should smile. It's... It's not something I know how to react to..." Bofur's expression shifted and became almost quizzical as he contemplated her words.

Finally, after several moments where Riley wasn't entirely sure he would respond, he gently placed his hand on the arm she still had extended across the table. It was Riley's turn to look at Bofur quizzically, and before she could take her hand back, he spoke.

"I've found that living my life separate to what others expect of you is a more fulfilling way to be." Riley shrugged a little, moving the flagon to her mouth once more before responding.

"I guess I'm still trying to figure that part out." The smile that filled Bofur's face at Riley's words wasn't his hundred-watt grin, the one that brightened everything around him. It was a small smile instead, something that exuded a gentle warmth that Riley could feel within her chest, spreading through her limbs and to her fingertips.

She couldn't even convince herself it wasn't the alcohol.

"Well, I suppose the beauty is that you don't need to figure that part out all at once. Small steps forward are still steps forward." With those words and a squeeze from the hand that hadn't left Riley's arm, Bofur stood from the dining table and begun to fill the pipe that hadn't seemed to leave his fingers.

Riley exhaled a deep breath she hadn't realised she had been holding, watching Bofur's figure as he moved towards the living room.

It was as Riley was gazing after Bofur, her expression ruminant, that she heard a distinct and exaggerated cough from down the table. Riley's eyes narrowed as she met Shayla's small smirk and waggling eyebrows.

Without a word, Riley picked up a small roll of bread and threw it at Shayla, who, with the foresight to see the retaliation coming, had leant backwards out of the way. Unfortunately for Kili, who was facing away from the two Humans, copped the roll straight to the back of the head.

"Oi!" Kili yelped, turning around to locate the source of the assault, glancing down at the table to see the bread roll now bobbing in his pint of ale.

"Come on, that's my al-" Kili's words were cut short by a handful of ham that hit him square in the face, and slowly peeled from his cheeks and chin, before plopping unceremoniously into the flagon with the bread roll.

Riley and Shayla erupted with laughter, snorting between desperate inhales of air. It was as Riley's eyes were shut that Kili returned the favour, throwing half a block of soft cheese that hit Riley directly in the forehead.

Despite the fact that most of the company had already deserted the Kings Chambers, the raucous laughter amplified through the dining hall from those who remained. Riley opened her eyes, lifting them to watch as the cheese slowly melted its way down her forehead and dropped to the table below her.

It took several moments for Riley to respond, enough time for Kili to begin regretting his action, until Riley smirked a little and narrowed her eyes in devilry.

"Oh, it is on."

I don't know how many of you will continue on with this journey considering I haven't updated in around 3 years! A lot has happened in that time but I hope to finish this story one day soon. I obviously have a hard time letting go of this fandom, despite my reoccurring writers block. I've also finally changed the title as I didn't ever really love the original name, apologies if there is any confusion! Anyway, will update in the next week! Hope you're all well xx