"Do you think she is awake?" Kili asked, putting an ear to the door in front of them.
Fili shrugged "Knock louder."
Kili nodded pounding in the door once more "Nimeraaaaaaaa." He called in a loud sing-song voice.
"Durin's beard will the two of you knock it off!" Nimera's angry voice sounded from inside "You two could wake up the deathless himself with all the noise you are making!"
The door flung open moments later to reveal a slightly disheveled Nimera.
"Good morning!" Kili grinned
Nimera responded by shoving her sword and bow into his chest "Hold this." She grumbled attempting to quickly finish braiding her hair.
"Are you ready?" Kili asked as she took her things from him.
She nodded following them down the passage "What has you so energetic this morning?" Nimera scowled as Kili jogged up ahead of them
"Mr. Boggins will be arriving soon!" Kili said excitedly
Nimera's eyebrows lowered slightly "Who?"
"Bilbo Baggins." Fili clarified
"The hobbit burglar?" She asked, her interest peaked
"Aye, but I would not call him that when he is around." Kili shook his head "He doesn't like to be called a burglar, says he is a respectable hobbit."
"He will arrive soon then?"
"A messenger came from lake town early this morning saying he had arrived there last night." Fili nodded
"He's come all the way from the shire?"
"Aye he comes every year for Durin's day." Kili said, tossing his bag into the grass, the sky beginning to turn a pale shade of pink as they reached the small training ring.
"I have never heard of a hobbit traveling so far."
"Ah but Bilbos a special hobbit." Kili shrugged, taking a seat in the grass "Gandalf picked him specifically to be our burglar."
Nimera frowned down at him, nudging him with the toe of her boot "And what kind of expert tutelage are you going to give me from down there?"
"Oh no, I am simply here to referee." Kili said with a sly smile "Fili will be the one training you today."
Fili unsheathed his sword "Alright. Lets see what you can do."
Nimera looked back at Kili for a moment before drawing her sword, eying Fili carefully as he began to circle her.
Without warning he lunged for her, sword raised. Nimera quickly jumped away, spinning to his side as she tried to catch him off guard. There was a loud clang as he blocked her blow. Nimera pulled away as he rounded on her, bringing his sword down. She struggled to stay balanced at the force of the blow. She took a quick step to the side ducking under his blade.
"Good" Fili nodded as he deflected her next blow. "You are much smaller than most darrows but it means that you can be quicker. Do not get drawn into a battle of strength."
He rounded on her quickly, bringing his blade down hard. Nimera struggled to keep her blade up as he pushed down. She gripped her hilt tightly leaning forward in an attempt to push him back. He suddenly took a step forward pressing lower on the blade, throwing her off balance. He hooked his blade around hers wrenching it from her grasp, sending her careening to the ground.
Nimera tried to recover, reaching a hand out for her blade, her fingers brushing the hilt. She gasped as Fili grabbed her wrist, pinning it above her head, the edge of his blade pressed lightly against her throat.
"You let yourself be drawn into a battle of strength." He said quietly. Nimera nodded as she gasped for breath, her pulse racing under his grip.
Kili cleared his throat loudly "I do believe one of you is supposed to call a yield?"
"I.. I yield." Nimera breathed.
Fili pushed himself off of her offering his hand as he pulled Nimera up.
"You need to focus on out thinking your opponent, not out swinging." He bent down to retrieve her sword
Nimera nodded, giving the blade a few test swings.
He pointed the tip of his sword to her "Again."
It was Nimeras turn to circle him. She watched as the point of his sword moved in turn, his eyes following her.
She swung low, attempting to set him off balance. He read the motion quickly, lowering his blade to catch hers. She turned sharply, putting distance between them. Fili sprang forward to close the gap bringing the flat of his sword down, Nimera raised hers to block, faltering slightly as the full force of the blow pushed down on her. Their eyes locked as he drew her in closer. His eyes suddenly flicked to her hand, Nimera realizing his next move would be disarmament.
Fili's free hand grabbed her arm, just as Nimera ducked under his dominant side, crashing her into shoulder him. As Fili wrenched her sword from her grasp, he released his own at the shock from the blow.
Kili gave a low whistle "A double disarmament."
Nimera slid from beside Fili as he relaxed his hold on her arm.
She glanced over to Kili "Well Sir Referee, to whom goes the glory in such a case?"
Kili stood, tapping his chin for a moment in mock thought "I should think to the fairest maiden of them all goes the round."
He slung an arm around Fili's shoulder "Congratulations on your victory brother."
Nimera gave a hoot of laughter "Aye with golden locks like those you would give any noble woman a run for her gold."
Fili looked over at her "Oh? So if I am the fair maiden, I suppose that makes you the scaly old dragon."
Nimera clutched a hand to her chest with an exaggerated look of hurt
Kili laughed, leaning in towards Fili "Hmmm Nimera is right. Now that I look closer at you there is no mistaking your trollish features. You are no fair maiden at all!"
"Agreed." Nimera nodded, "I think I might see some orc in there as well."
Fili looked down at her, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Well if you are now the fair maiden and I the evil troll, then there is only one thing for it."
He bent down and grabbed Nimera around the waist, hauling her over his shoulder.
"If you want your maiden back, my ransom is a round of ale." He called back to Kili "For me and the lady."
"Oh dear Prince Kili!" Nimera cried pretending to struggle in his grasp "Save me. Do as he says!"
Kili puffed out his chest "For the good of the realm and for Erebor's greatest beauty I will do what I must!"
"And what exactly are the three of you doing?"
As Fili turned Nimera caught a glimpse of Balin standing in just inside the ring
"Oh hello Balin." Nimera greeted giving him a small wave
Fili cleared his throat, carefully setting Her back down "We were just finishing training for the Undül."
Balin raised an eyebrow, his eyes flicking down to where Fili's hand still rested on Nimera's hip "But of course."
"Is everything alright Balin?" Nimera asked
The older dwarf smiled "Everything is well, though I thought the lads might like to know that Master Baggins will be arriving soon."
"Are they close?" Kili asked excitedly as they followed Balin back through the passage
"Aye, we should just beat them to the gate." He nodded as they approached the large stone entryway.
In front of them Bofur, Thorin and Ori had already gathered. Bofur held his hand above his eyes, blocking the mid morning sun as he squinted into the distance.
"I see them!" He smiled pointing out to 3 riders mingled in with the crowd.
A small ripple of excited chatter rose up as the figures came closer.
The three elven riders held back as the fourth member broke away. The small figure giving them a wave as they departed.
Bofur jogged up to meet the pony, embracing the hobbit as he dismounted
"Bilbo dear lad, how was your journey?" Balin asked clapping him on the shoulder
"I will never be used to that beastly mode of transport. Dreadful things really." the hobbit muttered, casting a withering glance back at the pony "I should much rather travel by foot."
Nimera was startled as Thorin let out a burst of laughter "After all this, we have still yet to make an adventure out of you Master Baggins"
"You certainly travel with all the trappings of one!" Fili chimed in tapping his hip
Nimera looked from Fili to the hobbit in confusion. Her brows rose slightly, she noticed the small sword strapped to the hobbit's hip.
Nimera had met many hobbits before, but never once had she seen one outside of the shire, much less armed.
The hobbit glanced at her a curious look on his face
"Ah yes." Balin nodded "Bilbo Baggins may I introduce our ward."
Nimera dipped at the waist slightly "Nimera Lighthammer at your service."
"I should think I have had enough 'at your services' to last me a lifetime." Bilbo chuckled, bowing in return "Bilbo Baggins at yours."
The company laughed. "Come," Thorin said, motioning for Bilbo to join him "I am sure you are hungry after a long journey." The edges of his mouth turned up slightly. "Unless of course you wish to stay and make sure personally that your pony is brushed and stabled properly."
"Great Gaffer no!" Bilbo groaned following them inside the mountain "The more distance we can put between me and that beast the better!"