Hey guys! Sorry this has taken me so long to get up, but I really hope you like it!:) School is over for me now, so I shall have more time to wrote, thanks for reading!:)

"What do you think he wants?" Kili asked for the third time as the three Durin's walked through the hallway to the great hall, where Dain had summoned them.

"Can we ever truly know? It is Dain." Ailyn replied.

"We're about to find out." Fili spoke as the three approached the doors. Two guards that were posted outside opened them, and closed them as the three entered.

The great hall was cold. No fires were lit, the only light coming from lanterns around the room. Dain was seated at the head of the table, waiting. The three young Durins shared a glance before slowly moving forward to the three chairs opposite of Dain. Ailyn noticed how Kilis walk slowed, as he slightly sunk behind his brother. Ailyn and Fili walked side by side, their heads held tall, and their posture excellent. Despite the stern decorum Ailyn showed, her heart was thumping in her ears, as her blood rushed. Dain remained silent until the three were all seated to face him.

"The three of ya, are probly' wonderin' why I brought ye here." Dain began before leaning forward over the table, "ya three disobeyed my orders."

"If this is about Dale-" Kili began before Dain cut him off, "I do not want answers from you." He looked back to Fili and Ailyn, "ya two are the oldest after all." The two shared a glance before Dain continued.

"Explain as to why did ya disobeyed my orders." Dains eyes settled as Fili as he glared at the golden haired Dwarf. Much to Ailyns surprise, her cousin remained silent. She looked up to see Dain still staring at her cousin, his gaze cold and harsh.

"We do not take orders from you." Ailyn spoke up swallowing. Dain shifted his gaze to the Dwarrowdam, "what was that lassie?"Ailyn swallowed before continuing, 'with all due respect Dain, we do not take orders from you." Dain stared at her for a moment his gaze steady, "then who do you takes order from?"

"From Thorin." Fili answered, "and we will continue to do so."

"Thorin is not…" Dáin paused, "present at the moment."

"He woke up last night." Ailyn spoke up, staring at the Dwarf lord across from her. "Oin said that he will recover in time."

"In time Lassie." Dain moved his eyes towards her, "what makes you think he will wake fully at all?"

"He is Thorin Oakenshield." Kili spoke up, "a great fighter and leader. He is strong."

"That is not what I witnessed during the battle for the mountain." Dain answered slowly, "he was slow to act, and then he went after Azog himself? It was not a wise move, and look where he is now. He may not be the fighter he used to be. I escaped the battle light scaved compared to him."

"He took on Azog the Defiler, and won." Ailyn answered her voice becoming annoyed, "you did no such thing Dain. With all due respect." Dain looked over the three, his face beginning to grow red with anger.

"You three have done more harm than good, I am afraid." Dain sighed, "not the men of Dale will come crawling back for more help, and take all that we have here in the mountain." He let out a dark chuckle, "do you three truly think we have anything to spare?"

"I think we know what it is like to have so little that our fathers must stay up all day and all night just to make sure we are fed." Fili answered sternly, "all three of us are very aware of the struggles life and present. When we were in the Blue Mountain the race of men there did not turn us away. We will show the same respect to the men of Dale."

Dain opened his mouth, but Fili stood, "I suggest you let us, and Balin handle the situations in Dale. Seeing as you do not truly understand the situation itself." As Fili pushed in his chair, Kili and Ailyn stood and began to follow Fili out of the room.

"Ailyn." Dain called suddenly, stopping the Dwarrowdam. She turned to look at Dain, then back at her cousins. She nodded for them to leave, before slowly making her way back to Dain who was now standing.

"You said your father awoke the other night?" He questioned calmy.

"Yes." Ailyn answered.

"Why was I not alerted?" Dain questioned, making Ailyn tilt her head to the side in question.

"Should you have been?"

"I think so."

"You seem to think too much." Ailyn snapped, causing Dain to laugh.

"I see ya have ye father's fire. Stubbornness." He walked around the table to her, "some may even say it is a bit out of control, for...someone of ya status and position." Ailyn stayed silent for a moment, "what do you mean?"

"Well perhaps Thorin decision to put a sword in ya hand was not the wisest." Dain shrugged, "some think he should have done something different."

"My father taught me how to fight in order to survive." Ailyn crossed her arm, "but of course you would have no need of that, for you still had your stronghold in the Iron Hills, when Erebor was lost."

"But there is surly no need for ya to continue such a practice now. Since ya have the mountain back, ya should think of takin' up a more, traditional role. One that would be more respectable for a...princess of Durin." A small smile grew upon his lips.

"I assume you are coming to a point, Dain?" Ailyn asked staring a the Dwarflord.

"Perhaps it would nay be such a bad thing for ye to think about putting down ya swords, and takin' a husband." Ailyn stood still staring at the Dwarf before shaking her head, "I assure you I have no need for such thing."

"Ya may not want it. But it would be the best thing for a Dwarrowdam such as ya-self." Dain growled taking large steps towards her, "you should begin thinking of others, instead of only yourself."

"Is that what you think?" Ailyn asked, anger growing in her voice, "that I am only interested in helping myself? Why, because you have done so much for us? You may have helped win the battle for this mountain, and yes, a very large part of your men are helping in the repairs of Erebor. But do not for a second think that this is your mountain, or that I am bound to take a husband simply because others have done it before me. Do you think you can simply talk to my cousins as you please?" Ailyn stepped closer, "do not forget the oath your swore to your king. Most importantly, Fili. Kili and I?" She lowered her voice, "do not forget who we are." Dain stayed silent as Ailyn turned and walked from the room, leaving the lord of the Iron Hills in a red hot rage.

XXX

"What did he say Ailyn?" Fili asked for the third time as Ailyn was tossing daggers into a target, but only becoming more angered as she could not hit the middle. Her side ached as she went to throw a dagger again, but Filis hand caught her arm and took the dagger.

"What did Dain say to you?" He questioned.

"What did he say to you?" Ailyn shot back, "I saw the way you acted in there Fee. You were silent, and then you got angry and stormed out. That seems like something Kee would do, but not you." She shook her head.

"Dain, is…aggravating." Fili answered, "you know that." Ailyn scoffed and turned away picking another dagger from her belt, "aggravating…that word is too nice. He thinks…he thinks I would do much better in a gown than in armor. With a husband by my side instead of an army, or a sword.

"He said that?" Fili asked stepping to the side to look at Ailyn.

"He said some of it, implied the rest." Ailyn answered glancing at the ground.

"And you responded?" Fili questioned watching his cousin carefully. It was no secret that Ailyn took after her father in every possible way but one. Her anger. Her anger was not like Thorin's, it was not heavy and dark, it was not something that could be kept pushed down for too long. Ailyns anger was hot, and rash, quick and harsh.

"I spoke by disagreement with him." Ailyn answered before turning to face Fili, "don't worry, he's still standing."

"We have to be careful with this Ailyn." Fili answered, "until more Dwarves arrive from the Blue Mountains, and Thorin recovers fully, we must be careful."

"I know…" Ailyn sighed before sitting on a wooden bench, "I know."

"You're tired."

"I've been trying since I was five years old." Ailyn looked up at her cousin, "we all have."

"And we have done it, have we not?" Fili chuckled lightly, "it doesn't matter what Dain says, Ailyn."

"It should not be." She sighed shaking her head and getting up, "I need to rest." Ailyn stood before backing towards Fili, extending her hand for the knife he still had. Fili sighed lightly before tossing the dagger at his cousin. Ailyn caught it easily and turned to leave the training room.

Even though Ailyn was tired, she found that she dreaded the sound of silence. But this time it was not because of the war cries that rung in the back of her head, or the clashing sounds of metal on the battlefield. Her mind was focused on Dain and her father. She took the daggers from her belt and went to put them on the desk near her bed when she stopped staring at her hands. She held them out in front of her, stilling grasping the daggers. Both her hands were shaking. Ailyn focused and tried to hold them still, but still they shook. She let out a sharp breath before setting the daggers on the table. Laying on her bed she gently rubbed her hands against one another trying to calm herself. She fell back onto the bed, closing her eyes slowly, steading her breathing.

XXX

"Steady now," Thorin spoke, standing off to the side his arms crossed over his chest. Ailyn and Fili stood across from one another. Ailyns hair was pulled back in a braid as she clutched two twin sparring rods, just like Fili, although he was quiet taller. He had started his training a two years earlier than Ailyn had, and she was determined to catch up. Both of them had finally convinced Thorin to let them try their skills against each other.

"First one to either be disarmed or to yield wins." Thorin announced, giving his okay to start the match. At first the young Dwarves simply walked in a circle around each other. Fili was the first to take a swing at his cousin, just at the head, Ailyn ducked quickly before swining her sword to strike at Fili's leg, but he blocked it with his sword, shoving her back onto the ground. He looked over his shoulder to see if he had done something wrong, but Thorin only gave a single nod. Before Fili could react, Ailyn kicked his feet out from under him, getting back up. Fili turned around and got up quickly, before turning and clashed his swords with Ailyns. While neither of the two would actually hurt one another, they both knew that they had to prove to Thorin that they were more than capable. The two continued to parry back and forth, trying to get the upper hand. Both were quick and light with their steps, making Thorin smile softly.

Fili had knocked Ailyns sword out of her right hand, she stuck up her arm and blocked his next blow with her one sword. Ailyn sucked in a deep breath before taking her free hand and clutching Filis arm before treating it away and pulling him down to the ground with her. They both fought for control, Fili's sword was placed on Ailyns neck just as she pulled a dagger from her belt and placed it to his neck as well.

"I yield." Fili smiled before falling backwards onto the ground with a laugh, "you're tougher than I thought Ailyn."

"I am a Durin." Ailyn smiled before helping her cousin up.

XXX

Ailyn bolted up from her sleep at the noise of someone pounding on her bedroom door. She jumped up, and ran to the door, opening to a concerned looking Kili.

"Kili?" Ailyn asked, holding her side as she ached. "What is it? What's going on? Is it Thorin?" Kili shook his head gulping in air from running, "It's Dale, it under attack. Orcs." He spat the name. Ailyns stomach hollowed out. "How many?" She turned and rushed to the wardrobe in her room, throwing open the doors and grabbing a leather bodice before slipping it on and tightening it down the side.

"Where is Fili?" She asked as she grabbed her two swords, putting them in her sheaths on her back, before tucking three daggers into her belt.

"Already down there." Kili answered with a frown, his bow in hand, "Dain tried to stop him…"

"Yes, well, Dain should know that is isn't likely that he is going to stop any of us." Ailyn grunted as she walked out the door followed by Kili. They made it all the way down to the entrance of the mountain, before they were stopped.

"Where are you two going?" A taller Dwarf asked his hand on his sword. It was the same Dwarf that Ailyn had met in the hallways, but now he was in full Iron Hills armor. Too much armor, Ailyn noted.

"Heading to Dale, to help against the Orc raid." Ailyn answered and left to step forward before the Dwarf placed a hand on her shoulder pushing her back.

"We have strict orders not to let you out of the mountain." He answered folding his arms over his chest, "especially to Dale." Kili and Ailyn shared a glance before Ailyn spoke again.

"Who's orders?" She asked, despite knowing the answer.

"Lord Dain." The Dwarf answered in a firm tone.

"And your name is?" Kili questioned with his bow in hand.

"Revlon." He looked at Kili, "son of Bulvon." Ailyns attention flicked to behind Revlon as screams sounded from Dale. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of black smoke rising into the sky. She went to run forward again but was caught by Revlon. Ailyn looked up at him and tried to get past him but he pushed her back again.

"Don't try that again." He ordered, "I have my orders."

"I don't take orders from Dain Ironfoot." Ailyn answered through gritted teeth, "my cousin is already down there now let us through."

"You don't command me." Revlon scoffed, "I serve Dain Ironfoot, lord of the Iron Hills." Ailyn glanced at Kili with a questioning look before he nodded slightly. Ailyn turned her head towards Revlon, "We do not have time for this. More or I will remove you." She stepped forward as her words did not seem to phase him.

"You may serve Dain, but I am above him." Ailyn kept her voice even, she had never liked to use her stature as a weapon, but there were times when she had no choice, "I am Ailyn Oakenshield, daughter of Thorin Oakenshield, King of the Long Beards, King Under the Mountain and heir to the throne of Durin." Revlon stared at her for a moment.

"Now, please, get out of out way." Ailyn spoke again holding her head tall. Revlon swallowed before slowly stepping aside. Ailyn and Kili took off towards Dale, never once did they slow down until they were near the entrance of the city. They would hear shouts and yells, while the air filled with the smell of smoke.

"FILI!" Kili yelled calling for his brother. Ailyn looked around before finding the smoke, "Kili," she pointed towards the far end of Dale. "There." Again the two took off running. Dale was empty, all the houses were shut, with no movement. The two Durins continued to run, until they both suddenly came to halt, as Ailyn pulled Kili behind a building. She put a finger to her lips as deep voices could be heard arguing.

"We should be burning the rest of this place." One Orc snapped as four stepped forward down the street of Dale.

"We have our orders!" Another, taller one spat, "burn the city, after we find them!"

"Let's just put arrows in their heads and be done with it!" Another orc grumbled dragging his bloodied weapon on the ground, "the oldest one is already here."

"We need the other two!" The taller one ordered, "Now shut up!" Kili glanced at Ailyn as he knocted his bow with an arrow. Ailyn nodded slowly arming herself with her swords. When the orcs had their backs turned towards the two. Kili stepped out and aimed his arrow, before losing it, sending it flying into one of the orcs skulls. The monster let out a wail as it died falling to the ground. The other three turned quickly with a growl before charging at the two. Kili notched another arrow, while Ailyn moved forward swinging her swords at two of the orcs, one was hit in the knee while the other ducked and came back around, hitting her in the back. She let out a grunt before turning quickly sticking her left sword into the side of an orc. Kili had taken on another orc, landing an arrow in its head, just as other came up behind him.

"Kili!" Ailyn yelled, "Behind you!" She let out a surprised grunt as she hit the ground her swords flying out of her hands. She fought the orc on top of her trying to reach one of her daggers in her belt. The orc laughed as the creature captured the Dwarrowdams arms digging his claws into her left arm.

"Daddy isn't here to save you is he." The orc taunted.

"No, he's killed enough of you." Ailyn spat back before ripping her arm away, and went to grasp her dagger. The orc grabbed Ailyn throat and growled.

"And now we can kill him." He spat before laughing darkly, "he isn't awake yet. Have you ever wondered why?" The Orc taunted making Ailyn's eyes go wide as she stopped struggling.

"What do you mean?!" She demanded, but the Orc only laughed, "tell me!"

"Your cousin isn't the only one to come in contact with poison!" The orc spat before gripping Ailyns throat again, squeezing. Finally Ailyns hand wrapped around her dagger. In one swift movement Ailyn jabbed the dagger into the Orc throat, black blood oozing from his dead body. She shoved the Orc off jumping back up grabbing her swords. She turned ready for another attack at the sound of an approaching orc, but suddenly the dark skinned monster stopped before falling forward onto the ground. Ailyn looked up breathing in heavily to see Fili standing before her.

"You two took your time." Fili spoke helping his cousin to stand.

"Well, it seems that you rather had everything under control." Ailyn stood, "apart from the town being on fire." Fili chuckled, "Bard has men on the fires. They were just empty shops. I chased the rest of the orcs over here." The two turned as Kili called to them, warning of more coming. Fili spun his sword in his hand before rushing forward with Ailyn at his side, while Kili moved on top of a barrel shooting down all the Orcs he could hit. Fili swung his sword to the side, while Ailyn to the other, both fighting swiftly and smoothly. Fili's dagger landed in the head of an orc as Ailyn turned to stab one in the back that had found its way to her cousin.

"Where are these coming from?" She asked pushing one back, and stabbing another.

"Bard said they came from the south part of the forest. He didn't see them until they were in Dale." Fili answered. Kili landed an arrow in the head of the last orc letting out a breath.

"How is everything?" Kili questioned as he approached his brother.

"Few dead, mostly wounded." Fili frowned wiping his forehead with his sleeve, "Bard has people putting out the fire, and tending to the wounded now. Dwalin is down here somewhere." Fili looked around. Ailyn let out a long breath before looking around, her eyes landing on the corpse of the Orc. His words still ringing in her head. She let out a low groan, gripping her side.

"Ailyn." Fili spoke looking over to his cousin.

"I'm fine." She waved him away.

"Go back to the mountain." Fili half asked, half ordered, "rest, we'll clean this up." Ailyn went to protest but her side had begun to bleed again.

"Don't hurt yourselves anymore." She spoke before turning and making her way back to the mountain. By the time she had gotten back a layer of her undershirt had been soaked in blood. She entered the mountain and leaned against a wall breathing in heavily.

"What in Mahal's name have you done?" A Dwarf ran over to her. Ailyn recognized the Dwarf to be Revlon and rolled her eyes.

"It's nothing, go back to your post." She pushed off from the wall and began to walk towards Oin's office. She pushed open the door and began to look through the wooden cabinets that he had set up.

"What are you doing?" Revlon questioned from the door, "you should go get Oin."

"I know what I'm doing." She sent a glare at him before pouring disinfectant over her wound. She flinched slightly before grabbing a needle and thread, a part of her stitches had come undone. Slowly and gradually she began to stitch her wound up.

"What are you-"

"I know what I'm doing." Ailyn snapped before finishing in a hurry before grabbing a few things from Oins office and raced up the stairs to her father's room. She burst through the doors to see Balin and Oin in the room. They both looked up in alarm, at her entrance and possibly at the state of her. Ailyn knew was still bleeding a bit, and was covered in black orc blood.

"Ailyn." Balin stood quickly. Ailyn set the bottles on the table Oin was at.

"Check for signs of poison." She ordered, "now!" Both Blain and Oin rushed over to Thorin and began to look him over. Slowly Oin lifted one of Thorin's hands, to reveal that his fingernail were growing back.

"How did ya know, Lassie?" Oin asked as he ran to his desk and began searching through the supplies he had.

"Nevermind how I knew." Ailyn swallowed staring at her father, "just fix it. Please…" She whispered, unable to move or tear her eyes away from her father. Blain and Oin went to work trying to figure out what kind of poison that Thorin had been infected with.

"Orc poison." Ailyn muttered out still standing in the middle of the room. She replayed what the orc had said in her head again and again. She was snapped back to reality by harsh coughing. Her eyes darted towards her father as he tossed in the bed coughing. Ailyn went to walk towards him but stopped abruptly as Thorin shot up from the bed and leaned over the side, black liquid falling from his mouth.

"No...no-no!" Ailyn called tears gathering in her eyes, "Adad!"

"Ailyn you need to leave." Balin spoke trying to push her back from Thorin, "he'll be alright, Ailyn. Ailyn you need to leave." Ailyn fought against Balin her eyes on her father as he continued to cough, and cough. Strong arms suddenly wrapped around her as she found herself being pulled from the room. Revlon kept his grip on the Dwarrowdam as he pulled her from the room, surprised by how strong she was.

"Let me go!" Ailyn shouted as she as taken from the room, the doors swinging shut, "let me go!" She yelled struggling and trying to get lose from Revlon's grip,"he's my father! Adad!" Tears ran down her face as her legs gave way and she dropped to the ground.

"Ailyn!" Fili ran to her, dropping to his knees beside her, immediately wrapping his arms around. Dwalin and Kili were right behind him, but they didn't stop and ran straight to Thorin's room.

"Kili!" Fili called still holding Ailyn as she half cried, half screamed into his shoulder. Fili looked up at Revlon, "what in Durins name happened?!" He demanded.

"He got sick...started coughing up black…" Revlon stood still staring at the door, then to the Durins on the floor.

It was odd, he thought. Seeing them in a pile on the floor, nothing more than crying children. Despite what Dain had said about them a part of Revlon had always respected the Durins. The stories he had heard about them. The three youngest, fighting side by side on the battlefield...never letting anything hurt one another. They were lethal, and true force to be reckoned with. Thorin, an exiled king who brought his people to life again. The Dwarf king who lead countless battles for his people, who fought beside his men, with no thought for glory. The Dwarf who trained his only a child, a daughter no less, to be just as fierce and strong as any warrior who had come before her. They were all worthy of the name of Durin. But now...he looked down at the daughter of Durin, and the golden haired lion on the floor, and they looked so different. So small.

"Come on." Fili stood up slowly, bringing Ailyn into his arms, "he'll be alright." He whispered into his cousins hair, preying to Mahall that it was true. Fili was aware that is would take a lot to break his family. Losing Thorin...that certainly would.