Finally back at camp after first filling the waterskins and then scouting ahead, Fíli and Kíli split up as they rejoined the company.
Kíli noted that the blue wizard was once again sitting with her eyes shut, holding her necklace, now on the edge of the camp and away from the others. He walked over and sat down a few feet from her, wanting a moment of rest before they set out for the day's travel.

"Your pendant," he started. "Is it magical in some way?"
She looked over at him with mild surprise, gripping it a bit tighter. "No."
"Ah." He nodded. He tried not to take offense at her protectiveness of it. As if I would steal something. He took a deep drink from his waterskin.
"You seem- calmer, after you hold it," he remarked lightly.
"Oh," she seemed to press it more against her chest, smiling softly. "Yes, I suppose." She tucked it back under her overshirt. "It's nothing particularly special. But it was a gift from my father to my mother."
He raised a brow. "Oh?"

She turned to face him better, her expression growing more affectionate as she spoke about it. "He made it for her, as a token of their love. She wore it always. When she passed, he insisted I should have it. And," her smile faltered, then came back somewhat forced. "Now that he's gone, it reminds me of them both."

Kíli was surprised to hear that both of her parents were gone; they were the same age, after all, and his mother was still alive. He wondered only briefly what had happened to them, instead thinking suddenly that her strange behaviours and attempts to befriend each member of the group likely stemmed from a sort of solitude.

Kíli knew little of true loneliness; he had a large family of Durin's folk that doted upon him, and friends in the mountains. But he knew the feeling of longing for someone in particular. He recalled times in his life when he was upset that Fíli was away from him, and even thinking on it now, his eyes darted to scan the camp until he spotted his brother. The thought of being parted permanently from Fíli was something he couldn't bear to dwell on.

Kíli nodded, looking knowingly at her. "I have something similar." He pulled out a rounded stone with runes carved into it. "It is a talisman…. A powerful spell lies upon it. If any but a dwarf reads the runes on the stone, they will be forever cursed."
She raised a brow.
"Or not. Depending on whether you believe that kind of thing."
"Do you ask if a wizard believes in powerful spells?" She snorted as he held it out in his open palm.

He smiled crookedly. "It's just a token… a rune-stone. My mother gave it to me so I'd remember my promise."
She studied the stone, silently reading the Khuzdul inscription 'Return to me'.
"She worries. She thinks I'm reckless."
"Are you?"
"Nah," he grinned, shaking his head. He tossed the stone and went to catch it from the air, but missed and knocked it to the ground between them.
"Mm." Andréa picked it up, then reached over to press it into his hand. "Be sure to return to her."

Kíli tilted his head, wondering if she'd read the stone, or simply guessed at the promise.
She pulled her hand back and sighed, smiling. "Gandalf calls me reckless as well, but I have none who worry about my return. You have many who would mourn you."
"I think Gandalf would mourn you?" he countered.

She laughed. "Gandalf is a great wizard, and he would not rejoice if I died. But make no mistake," she turned back to Kíli with an abnormally serious expression. "He was the one who asked that I protect Durin's sons with my life."
Kíli's brows raised. Though he did recall her oath, he'd begun to think it was simply an excuse to have her along, like Bilbo.
"And I suppose I am suited to it," she shrugged.
He forced a scoff. "Surely you see that we need not that sort of protection."
There was something uncomfortably patronizing in the soft expression she held. "For now. But the road is long."

When they made their way on their ponies, Kíli waited some time before letting his mount slow down to ride side-by-side with Fíli. They were spaced enough that if they spoke quietly, he was certain nobody would hear. He leaned over a bit and tried to look nonchalant as he glanced toward the front where Andréa was riding behind Gandalf.

"I wish to befriend the backup wizard," he whispered.
Fíli grinned, raising a brow in confusion over why this was a secret conversation, or a conversation at all. "You have my blessing."
"No, that's not-" He scoffed in annoyance at his brother. "What I mean is, I wish for us to befriend her. Together."

Fíli was quite amused by Kíli's behaviour. Usually if he wanted to befriend someone, it was simply done - and before Fíli could question it, there was another companion near his brother that Fíli would eventually also come to befriend. Still, he tried not to offend Kíli by laughing or smirking at him, keeping a neutral expression.
"Then we shall," he nodded.
"Okay." Kíli's face was abnormally serious as he rode his pony back into formation, leaving Fíli to quietly laugh where Kíli wouldn't see it.
What in the world was that?

That night when they broke to make camp, Thorin barked out orders.
Fíli and Kíli were tasked to gather firewood, so Kíli was sure to walk past where Andrea had just set down her belongings on the ground. "You come too, wizard."
She looked up in confusion to see him gesturing with his head in the direction where the trees got dense while Fíli caught up to him.
"Help us get wood."
"Oh!" She scrambled to her feet, forcing a smile. "Of course! Happy to help."

She followed the two brothers into the thicker woods, looking about for kindling and fallen branches. Fíli and Kíli were seasoned pros, however, and soon Kíli was carrying an armful of wood for their fire.
"Doesn't seem like I'm much help," she hedged, lagging behind them with only a few pieces.
Fíli raised a brow. "Have you not done this before?"
"Not- on my own, no." Her shoulders hunched self-consciously. "Shall I see myself back to camp?"
"No," Kíli insisted. "We're just more practiced."
"We'll teach you," Fíli added. "Come along."

The two spent the next ten or so minutes lazily walking about and explaining what to look for and what types of wood pieces were good for the fire and which weren't worth bringing back. After they'd finished properly explaining, they took turns giving pointless instruction to elicit eye rolls and snorts from her.
"And you might think a slug-covered log would be good for added fuel, but not so."
"Nor a fungus-infested one. Could poison the air."
"And rocks won't do, either."
"No, don't want those. Won't burn."

She stopped walking, noting that between the three of them, they had possibly too much firewood gathered.
"Shouldn't we get back to camp now, before Thorin thinks us lost?"
The brothers exchanged a slightly concerned look, then nodded in unison. They turned to walk back the way they came.

"Good thinking, backup wizard." Kíli agreed, walking at her side.
"Must you call me that?" She laughed.
"Do you take offense?"
"No, but… It's an odd title."
Kíli smiled crookedly. "What else would we call you?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Alas, I have finally learned everyone's name in the company and now I suspect perhaps you've forgotten mine."

"I haven't," Kíli said lightly.
"Oh?" She raised a brow, but he only smiled back at her.
"I haven't," he laughed now, quite amused by not calling her by it. "Backup wizard."
He caught the glint of mischief in her eye when she smiled and stopped looking at him, focusing on where she was stepping.
"If you say so, Fíli."

He raised his brows, glancing to Fíli and then back to the wizard. "You think yourself funny."
"Whatever do you mean, Fíli?"
Fíli smirked at his younger brother. "Yes, Fíli, what is funny?"
"Fíli." Kíli's voice took on a warning tone as his patience at the teasing grew thin.
"Yes, that's what I said." Andréa replied lightly. "What else would we call you?"
His face fell slack into annoyance. He was quiet while they walked back to camp, not wanting to give in and lose to her in their little game.
Fíli thought it was quite funny that Kíli was letting her teasing get under his skin - especially given that she was just doing as he had to her - and he hoped it went on all night.

When they arrived with their bundles, Gloin set to work lighting the fire.
Fíli wrapped his now-free arm around Andréa's shoulder. "Well done. Now you can gather tinder on your own."
She smiled brightly up at him, slightly proud. "Thank you for teaching me."
He led her like this over to her pack, letting go to grab it off the ground. She looked at him with confusion as he started walking off with it.
"You sit with us tonight," he explained lightly, not waiting for her.
She hurried to catch up with him, and Kíli smirked slightly to himself as he watched her follow Fíli over to where the brothers' things were.

Kíli sat down beside Andréa and gave her an appraising look. "I suppose you've earned your keep today, backup wizard."
She put a hand on her chest and her tone became mocking. "Oh, thank you for saying so, Fíli."
Kíli played it up, sneering a bit in a joking way. "Well, we'd started to think there wasn't much use for a backup wizard, but at least you can carry wood."
"Oh, I wouldn't want to replace you as the king of wood gathering, though, Fíli."
"That is quite the throne," Fíli agreed, smirking.
Andréa put her hand on Kíli's knee as she looked to Fíli. "Well, Fíli is very talented, you know."
Kíli put his hand over hers and flashed a smirk. "You think I'm talented?"
She batted her lashes up at him, her voice turning breathy. "Oh yes, Fíli."
He narrowed his eyes at her.

Things continued on much like that while they had their supper. Between their typical conversations, Kíli would try to goad Andréa on in some way, but she'd turn it around on him, calling him by his brother's name over and over, showering 'Fíli' in compliments.

When the real Fíli got up to take their dishes back, Kíli leaned in close, staring down his nose at her. "You really think so highly of Fíli?"
She raised a brow. "Should I not think highly of Thorin's nephew?"
He smirked, pressing ever closer. She leaned back a bit, but kept eye contact.
"What precisely makes you think highly of me?"
She raised a brow just slightly, not sure if he was truly asking about himself or his brother - the use of Fíli's name for both of them was starting to grate on even her.
"Well, Fíli, you're good natured. Always laughing and smiling."
Kíli grinned back at her, moving even closer. "And?"
She receded a bit more, propping herself with her hands so that she didn't fall onto her back. "Friendly? And... Perceptive."
He was quite charmed by the compliments and pressed further. "And?"
"Strong." She was barely holding herself up now, leaning far back in response to his approaches. And she was running out of things to say about him. She barely knew him, after all.
"Aaand?" He hovered over her, smirking.

She glanced down at his lips, then back to his dark eyes. "Handsome."
A devious smile played on his face as he studied hers. "You think me handsome?"
"Yes, Fíli."
He frowned deeply in displeasure to hear his brother's name again and his voice turned scolding. "Andréa."
She flashed him a wide grin, having won their game. "Kíli?"

He grinned when she said his name, at last, and reached out to tickle her sides.
She squealed in surprise, then started smacking him with her hands as she fell to the ground beneath him. "Stop, stop!" she laughed as he continued his attack.
She was saved when Fíli returned, picking Kíli up by the armpits to get him off of her. "Enough, children," he teased.
Andréa wiped the tears from her eyes, snickering and catching her breath. "You are a sore loser, Kíli!"
"Oh, he's a sore winner, too," Fíli laughed.

When they laid down to sleep for the night, Kíli's bedroll was set out between Fíli's and Andréa's. She'd settled down first, and smiled when Kíli rolled over to face her.
"Goodnight Kíli," she murmured sweetly.
He smirked. "Goodnight backup wizard."
She scowled and kicked his foot, soliciting a laugh from him.

When her scowl turned to a smile, his face softened. "Goodnight Andréa," he amended quietly. They stared at each other in the silent dark for a time and Andréa felt a fluttering flip in her stomach. She thought she might turn to stone under the watch of his deep brown eyes. Eventually she curled more into herself, pulling her blanket up to her cheeks. She shut her eyes and tried to will herself to sleep.

Kíli grinned to himself while he watched her, the tender way she'd said goodnight to him replaying in his mind.
It shouldn't have bothered him so much to have her call him by his brother's name. He'd been called Fíli countless times in his life. Even by people who should have known them from each other. They were always together, after all, so people naturally thought of them as a unit. It was common. He was used to it.
But not from her. She'd learned his name first, and had been sure to get it right every time.

Except tonight, when she'd called him handsome.
He closed his eyes and let sleep take him.

In the morning, Kíli and Fíli invited Andréa to go scouting ahead with them. Eager to learn more about safe travel methods from the dwarves, she readily agreed.
They walked down a dry hill under the cover of the trees.

"What if we see something dangerous when we're scouting?"
Fíli turned to her with a stern expression. "We quietly return to the company and alert Thorin."
Kíli nodded. "Primarily we're wanting to see trouble from far off to avoid it completely."
"Hard to see ahead in the middle of a forest."
Kíli pointed upward. "We can always try a different vantage point."

Andréa grinned and approached a tall nearby tree. She gestured to the older dwarf brother. "Fíli, help me up."
He nodded and gave her a boost up into the lower boughs. Soon she had climbed up and out of sight.
"You can see pretty far from up here!" she called down. "What exactly are we looking for?"
Kíli scoffed and gestured for Fíli to help him up next. "Signs of trouble," he called up as he made his way toward the top of the tree. "Tracks, or places likely for ambush."

Andréa looked down to see Kíli climbing up.
"No, not that one," she cautioned, but he was already putting his full weight on a weak branch.
As it snapped, she swung down and collided with him, pushing him toward a nearby limb.
He grabbed her and the two fumbled across several branches in a panic until they were face to face.
Kíli was holding a branch above his head, his other arm around her waist and his back against the trunk of the tree.
He looked down at Andréa, who was clutching his torso. "Heh."

Andréa let out a small sigh, catching her breath from the brief scare. "You need to be more careful."
He raised a brow at their positioning and smirked. "If you wanted to hold me, you needed only ask."
She rolled her eyes and let go, walking back a step on the branch and grabbing one nearby for leverage. "I should have let you fall."
"How did you know it would break?"
"On my way up, it barely held me. You being larger and heavier than I am, it stands to reason it wouldn't support you."
"Are you calling me fat?" He feigned offense, but could not hide his smile.
She stared up at him and batted her lashes. "I would have said it was your big, dwarven muscles, but-" she patted his gut. "You tell me."
He sneered playfully at her. "Ha, ha."

"What do you see up there?" Fíli called up.
"Oh, right," Kíli refocused and climbed up further to look out over the canopy at the fields below.
Andréa followed suit, being sure to stand on a different limb than he was. She popped her head up over the canopy. "Show me what to look for."
Kíli smiled to himself, puffing his chest as he pointed. "See how thick the wood gets ahead? That'll be a good ambush point. And that boulder in the fields by the road. Bandits or worse could be hiding behind it. Don't see anything unusual though."
She pouted. "That's it?"
Kíli looked over at her, wounded. "Did you expect something more?"
"Well, yes?" She glanced over at him. "Aren't you a great dwarven warrior?"
He squinted at her, getting defensive. "I can't spot something that doesn't exist. The path ahead is clear."
She looked him over, seeming disappointed. "Alright." Her head ducked down under the canopy.

By the time he got himself below the canopy, she was already down on the ground with Fíli.
Andréa took her staff back and stared up as Kíli climbed down, watching to see if he'd break another branch.
When he landed, he looked over to Fíli, somewhat deflated. "Didn't see anything of note. Woods get thick up ahead, and a boulder in the field."
Fíli smiled and clapped a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Good news, then."
"You would think." Kíli looked over at Andréa with a sour expression.
She covered her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh.

Kíli couldn't help but smile and let go of his annoyance. "It's going to be a good day for travel," he decided.

After dinner that night, Andréa helped to collect the dishes from each of the dwarves. She stopped in front of Ori, who was writing in his book. She glanced at the pages upside down, the cirth runes indecipherable. "Oh, what are you writing?" she grinned.
Ori looked up at her somewhat dumbfounded, then pulled the book against his chest to hide its contents.
"Ah, something private," she nodded awkwardly and turned to walk away.
"I'm taking a record of our journey," Ori said at last.
She stopped and turned to face him, her face lighting up again. "That's a wonderful idea. The tale of the reclamation of Erebor is sure to be one told for generations."
Ori let out an awkward laugh.
"You'll have to read it to me when we're done." She winked at him, then returned to her task.

When she collected the dishes from Fíli, Kíli and Bilbo, Fíli slapped an open seat near them. "You should come sit with us."
"Oh, yes, do," Bilbo added.
Kíli grinned. "You'll fit right in."
"Oh, no, I don't fit in anyplace," she laughed.
Bilbo laughed along. "Oh, right. Wizard. Much more important."
Her smile faded, and any humour in her voice. "No, I don't think myself above any of you." She swallowed, looking embarrassed. "I'm truly sorry if I gave you that impression." She turned and took the last of the dishes over to where Bofur was cleaning them.

Kíli and Fíli exchanged a look while Bilbo stared after her, pointing and mouth open, but unsure what to say.
Bilbo turned to Fíli and Kíli, somewhat distressed. "I was just trying to continue her joke."
Kíli's eyes were on Andréa, across their camp, while he replied to Bilbo. "Her joke was that she is odd. An outsider. She thinks herself below us, if anything."
Bilbo furrowed his brow. "But she's a wizard. Surely a wizard is not below a hobbit."
"Don't sell yourself short, Mr. Baggins," Fíli clapped Bilbo's back. "You're our burglar, after all."

While Fíli and Bilbo continued talking, Kíli watched the backup wizard. He noted the way her face lit up when Bofur praised her for returning the dishes to him. He watched her join in the washing without hesitation, smiling to herself as she rubbed them dry. She looked up at Bofur and said something Kíli couldn't hear; but he heard Bofur's laugh through the muddle of low voices around the fire.

Some time later, Andréa walked back up to Bilbo, Fíli and Kíli, and plopped down in the seat they'd offered her earlier.
"She's returned!" Kíli wrapped an arm around her shoulders, sliding closer. He leaned in toward her face, noting the surprise it held at his actions. "I was just telling these two how you tried to push me out of that tree earlier." He clucked his tongue, shaking his head. "Such a troublemaker."
She gaped at him. "I believe you mean to say how I saved you from falling out of the tree?"
"Is that what happened?" He feigned confusion, the smirk on his lips betraying him.

"You almost fell?" Bilbo seemed genuinely concerned.
Andréa turned to face the hobbit and nodded. "Alas, Kíli does not know his own heft, and followed foolishly behind me on a weak branch."
Kíli raised his brows at her, his mouth falling open as he removed his arm from her. "That is the second time today you have called me fat."
"No, but it is the second time I've called you heavy." She poked at his arm. "You are a dwarf, after all."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, the big folk say that dwarves are not born, but rather," she gestured with her hands, a playful smirk on her face. "Pop! Out of the ground, fully formed and made of stone."
Fíli laughed while Kíli narrowed his eyes at their backup wizard.
"You should know better than to listen to big folk."
"Really?" She leaned closer to him, putting her hand on his arm. "Then, tell me, where do little dwarrow come from?" She gestured to Fíli and Bilbo. "Enlighten us, please."
He smirked flirtatiously. "Do you ask for a demonstration?"
She feigned naiveté. "Are you prepared to offer one?"
Kíli snorted.

"Did you say dwarrow?" Bilbo asked, confused.
Andréa's facetious demeanor dropped and she smiled at Bilbo, nodding. "Dwarrow. Plural for dwarf."
"Though most people say dwarves," Fíli raised a brow.
"But dwarrow sounds cuter," she argued, picking at the hem of her sleeve.
Kíli furrowed his brow. "You think dwarves are cute?"
She nodded, glancing up at him sideways. He couldn't tell if she was joking or not.
"Dwarves are strong. And brave. We are not cute."
"Oh, don't say that, brother. I think you're very cute." Fíli cupped Kíli's chin affectionately. Kíli scoffed and batted his arm away.
"Dwarrow," Bilbo repeated, certain he'd never heard that word before.
Andréa put her elbows on her thighs and rested her chin in her hands. "Dwarrow," she sighed dreamily.

Kíli snorted. "You like the word that much?"
"I like- Yes. I like dwarrow that much."
"Oh, that's right," Bilbo recalled. "Gandalf said you had a special interest in dwarves."
"Mm, well, they're quite secretive, you know. They hide away in mountains and shun others." She leaned toward Bilbo, stage whispering. "They even have their own language they don't teach anyone else."
Kíli then leaned in conspiratorially, his voice somewhat mocking as he continued on with the stereotyping. "I've heard they're all really greedy and obsessed with treasure."
"Oh?" Andréa turned to Kíli with surprise, her face turning affectionate. "I've heard they're steadfast artisans with loyal hearts and handsome beards."
"No, that is true," Fíli nodded, rubbing his own beard thoughtfully.

Andréa sighed wistfully. "Oh what a dream it would be if I could meet but a handful of them," she lamented theatrically, wrapping her arms around herself. "Perhaps a dozen or so; great warriors and descendants of Durin. Alas."
Fíli started laughing, which made Kíli laugh. When Bilbo let out his own chuckle, Andréa's facade broke and she grinned at them all, relaxing beside Kíli. "I quite like hobbits as well," she added softly.
Bilbo raised a brow. "Oh really?" He suspected she was simply being kind. "What about hobbits?"
"Their glorious feet?" Kíli suggested.
"Smooth chins?" Fíli asked.
"They love a good meal and a good tale," she smiled. "So they make wonderful tavern companions."
"Have you spent many nights in taverns with hobbits?" Bilbo laughed.
"Yes," she answered seriously. "Do you forget that I'm older than you, Mr. Baggins?"
"No, I didnt, I- I just thought a wizard would have better things to do than faff about in taverns."

She shrugged and tilted her head at him. "You say wizard as though it is a trade or obligation."
Bilbo furrowed his brows. "Well, isn't it?"
"Gandalf might think so. But I see it as much like being a hobbit or dwarf. It's simply what I am, whether I make use of it or not."
"Seems a shame to waste such a gift."

"You think I waste my gifts? Truly?" She clutched her chest. "I am protecting Thorin's Company with my life, and Mr. Baggins thinks it a waste." She looked to Fíli with mock distress. "Do you think me a waste?"
Fíli reached out to hold her hand in a comforting gesture. "Not at all. Master Boggins is being far too unkind."
"That's not what I meant-"
"It's alright, Andréa," Kíli wrapped his arm around her again. "We shant let the nasty hobbit say any more hurtful things."
"No, I-I didn't mean-" Bilbo sighed and rolled his eyes as the other three began to laugh at him for thinking they were offended. He glanced out over the camp and happened to make eye contact with Thorin, who was smirking in his direction.

Thorin immediately looked away, feigning indifference.