"Dis…" he ducked his head under a low hanging branch, slowly approaching her. The reflections of moon upon the still water made it look like a mirror; the subject upon its surface was the fair princess. The soft rays and the starlight made her look even lovelier. He took a deep breath as she turned around to greet him. "Why are ye here all alone?"

"I just needed to get away for a moment… to collect myself…." she smiled as she dipped her naked feet into the pool. The water rippled and the moonlight danced about. The water was crisp and it made her skin tingle. It was refreshing after being on her feet all day, doing her part to help her people survive the harsh conditions. "Am I needed back already?" she pouted as there was a hint of irritation in her voice.

"No… I'm nae here because of Thorin, Dis.." he shook his head. He now needed to choose his words and timing carefully. Too soon and she would think he was joking. Too slowly and she would lose her patience with him. "I wanted to speak with ye…"

"Well, you are now, aren't you?" she lifted a brow with a look of amusement, a slight giggle in her voice. "You're not still upset about that one time I braided your hair to the tree, are you?" She bit her lip from laughing too hard. They were children back then and she enjoyed every moment of it. Then again, that was what he got for falling asleep around her.

"Hah! Ye got me good that time! Nae again, I'll tell ye now!" he snorted as he smiled as well. Seeing her like this, so casual, so… exposed with her skirts pulled up and her naked in the water, it took all his strength to not blush. She was the first and by far the most beautiful princess the Line of Durin had to offer. He fumbled his hands into his pocket, rolling around the beads he had made for her. "No, it's a different matter entirely…" he collected himself as he offered her a hand. It wasn't an unusual gesture. He helped her up many times before. They've known each other their whole lives.

"Oh?" she took his hand and stood up, brushing herself off, wiggling her feet to shake off the excess water. "Aren't you acting odd, Dwalin? Usually you just blurt things out without the anyone's heed." She stood before him, looking up with him with smiling clear blue eyes, just like everyone else in her family. But hers were less piercing than they were captivating and lovely.

Instead of letting go of her hand, he held it between his own two. The gesture made her blush and worried at the same time. He smiled at her and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Dinna ye fash, lass. Nothing is the matter… I promise ye…. it's just I think there's something wrong with me…"

"What? Are you ill? You're not going away, are you?" She frowned in concern.

"Well… stricken, more like…. there's… something wrong with me heart, ye ken?" He struggled to find the words.

"Then you have to see Oin! That's horrible news!" She was now very concerned. Heart issues? How? He was as healthy as a bull all his life.

"Oin canna do anything for me, nor any of his potions or tonics. I think only ye can help me...ye ken?" he reached into his pocket. "...it's because I'm stricken with love…"

"W-what?" she withdrew her hand. She could see that now. It was as clear as the waters beside her. Dwalin? With her?

"Dis…. I… I am in love with ye…. and I've been in love with ye nearly all my life, ye ken?" he pulled out the beads from his tunic and offered it to her. "I...I wish I was good enough of a smith to forge these m'self… but…" he stepped closer and threw caution to the wind. He wrapped his arms around her and even dared to kiss her as gently as he could upon her soft cheek. His lips lingered there for a moment as he pulled away. "Will ye marry me, my love? I will do anything for ye, Dis. Just say the word."

In his mind, he rehearsed the scene, the speech, the actions and time and time again, he imagined how she would respond. "Yes," she would say. "Of course!" as she was supposed to throw her arms around him and smiled brightly, "I love you too." And then he would have the honor of plaiting her hair and adorning it with the beads, like so many other couples he had seen done so often before. And then their first kiss as lovers, full of passion, full of joy. If only...

Her hands dropped to her side and she stood as still as a stone pillar. Not a single syllable was uttered as she pushed herself free from his embrace and did not even look at him as she stepped away from him. The smile on her face and the look of concern was now replaced with apathy. Her was as pale as the marble statues once carved in the House of Durin. Lovely, but unfeeling. Her answer was there, not in words but in action. She turned around, picked up her boots and headed back towards the camps. He bit his lip and bowed as she walked past him, his hand still clutching the beads tightly. There was nothing more to be said. She answered.

He walked over to the pool and slowly opened his hands, letting the beads slip and fall into the black water. Plop! He watched them sink down to the bottom, the light of the jewels encrusted in them winked and eventually faded. All that was left was his reflection upon the black pool, still as glass. Plop plop. New droplets disturbed the surface for a brief moment, forming ripples, then dissipated to nothingness.

Dwalin closed his eyes and turned away. The cool air kissed his cheek. He pulled his cloak tighter about him, clutching the fabric together over his chest as he walked towards his tent.