Hey guys! Thanks for all the feedback on the last chapter!

*WARNING* just so you know, there is a lot of swearing in this (very short but sweet, I think) chapter.

*edited May 2017

Chapter Twelve: Keeping Up With The Company Of Thorin

Here's advice: think hiking or climbing a mountain is a fun idea? Think that it'll be fun with your friends and that you'll all be very happy? That it'll all be good jolly fun?

Well, think again, it is not the least bit fun in anyway. It's long hours of feeling like your legs are about to fall off and if you place your foot in the wrong place that's it, you're dead; with no rest, no potty breaks and not being able to eat something. No time to catch your breath and no time to let your mind wander because if you don't keep your attention on the ground beneath you, there's a high chance it might disappear out from under you.

This is exactly how I feel as I grip onto Kili's hand (a ripped piece of fabric around my palm to stop the gush of blood from the angry, pink gasp nestling along the length of the inside of my hand) as he walks in front of me and I hold onto Fili's as he walks slowly behind me. Their hands are just as cold a mine, but it is only me who trembles though it isn't from the horrible weather that's attacking us. It was my idea to hold hands like preschool children during a school tour (great analogy there, Libby) in case one of us slipped then we would instantly be able to pull them back up safely onto the track. Yep, that was the reason; not because I was scared and not because I needed a little bit of comfort.

Not one bit.

If my grip on either of the brother is too tight or sore, neither one protests against it. I like to think my idea was smooth, hiding my true intentions to calm the ear that's ravaging my torn and tired body but I should have known that I could never get anything by them; my knuckles on my injured hand have turned a pale yellow from being stretched so tightly across the bone. The rain can't even squeeze itself into our encased palms, tears rolling off of our bent fingers. An anchor, holding me to the ground as he walks in front of me, the hood of his cloak pulled up but doing little to right against the battering wind and rain. Sometimes, I think he turns back to look at me but I might be imagining it though the thought is comforting. I squeeze his hand, as if it's a comfort, as if to say don't worry, I'm here, I won't let go.

Fili's grip is somewhat looser, as if unsure to hold on to me, but sure enough to know that he did not want either of us to fall to our death.

I hold back many profanities as I glare through the rain, my eyes very heavy and I'm pretty sure there are purple bags underneath my bloodshot eyes. And no, they aren't red from crying, they're red from the lack of sleep I've been having. It can't have been so long ago that I was in Rivendell, the fire crackling and spitting warm while I'm curled up into a ball, asleep and safe. It couldn't have been so long ago that I was in my own bed, beneath the floral duvet that smelt like vanilla, sluggish and content. It couldn't have been so long ago that I lived a different life.

When Balin said cave I thought he actually meant a real cave and that obviously meant real shelter. And when Thorin has allowed us to rest, I thought that maybe I could snatch a few hours of sleep. At least, that's what I had, incorrectly, assumed.

But no; what he meant cave he meant a large dent in the mountain that reminded me of a doorway. The rain still attacked us from all sides and no matter how much I tried to ignore the freezing cold water bullets, they wouldn't leave me alone, their cold wet fingers sliding down every crack and crevice they could find, burning my body with their freezing touch. When Thorin had meant rest he didn't mean sleep because, apparently, that would result in us falling off the mountain side and dying.

Knowing me, that would most definitely happen.

During the night, I had found myself wedged between the two young Dwarf brothers, most of my weight leaning against Kili as I curled into a little ball with my forehead resting on my knees. I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from snapping at anyone and everyone over my hunger. Whatever food we had managed to consume in Rivendell was long since gone and none of us, not even the great and might Thorin Oakenshield, thought to pack for the long journey. However the downpour of rain promised us that we wouldn't have a shortage of drinking water any time soon. I was half tempted myself to lift my head to the sky and let the drops of water fall on my tongue. Due to the downright shit conditions, we hadn't been able to start a fire and eat something.

No, we had to starve out in the rain on a fucking mountain. I had been holding in my pee for far too long that I was sure that if I had another slip on the path like last time then whoopsie daisies, there goes my bladder.

And clean underwear.

With the storm becoming a lot worse than before, we edge along the steep mountain track with the rain soaking our clothes and skins; the thunder up ahead crackles every few seconds, making my heart race. My hair is plastered to my cheeks and my clothes are like a second skin to me; I'm positive that if it were silent then you could hear my clothes squelch with every step I took. The wind is threatening to knock me from my feet, playful as it runs its hands through my drenched hair, knotting the strands of hair into an even bigger mess. If I didn't tend to it soon, I'd have nothing more than a bundle of knots and tangles which would soon be too impossible to brush out, resulting in an inevitable make shift hair cut.

"This is just fucking great!" I growl over the sound of the rain and the thunder. "This is exactly what I wanted to do; walking up a mountain during a thunderstorm! I mean, of course there isn't a chance we won't get struck by lightening up this high! Come along, Gandalf said; it'll be great, he said!"

Through my own ears, I sound loud and my voice is high pitched but the wind had carries my voice away from the Dwarves ears, the howl of the cold mountain biting at exposed skin. I'm left cursing the wind and the rain, the sky and the earth, Gandalf and his stupid ideas. "I swear to fucking God that I am fucking done! I am fucking, fucking done with this fucking - "

A sudden clash of thunder silences me with a squeak. My grip on the two brothers' hands tighten, a jolt of pain jumping up the hand I had injured when I nearly tumbled off the mountain's edge, as the sky flashes with bright, sharp light.

"Hold on!" Thorin bellows from his position at the top of the line. Hold on to what exactly?

I'm just about to shout that up to him when from the corner of my eye I see Bilbo loose his footing, falling in the same manner I had in the previous day. I let out a gasp as I let go of Fili and Kili's hands, my own flying to my mouth in shock with wide eyes. Not the best idea I've had when standing on a thin path with the wind attempting to push me to my death. "Bilbo!" I practically scream at the sight of the yelling Hobbit as he is about to fall over the ledge only to be hauled back by Dwalin and Bofur in time before he can become nothing more than a speck on the ground below.

I quickly do the sign of the cross (which I haven't done in a very long time as I whisper in ainm an Athair agus an Mhíc agus an Spioraid Naoimh, áméin.) as Thorin yells through the storm. "We need to find shelter!" Well, no shit Captain Obvious.

"No shit Captain Obvious!" I growl under my breath, voicing my thoughts. I feel the ground underneath me rumble and with a girlish squeak and cold wet hands, my fingers wind themselves around Kili's arm as his other one goes around in front of my waist to press me up against the mountain rock, saving me from falling over the edge and plunging to my death.

I have no objections whatsoever.

"Look out!" I hear Dwalin's rough and coarse voice through the wind and rain. Look out for what?

I gaze up to see a big massive fucking boulder that is flying through the air.

Right for us.

Huh.

That's probably what we had to look out for.

I watch as it comes closer and closer to our group until, finally, the rock shatters upon impact on the side of the mountain, shattering as easily as if it were nothing more than fragile glass. I let out a short yell as I watch the broken pieces tumbled down. Rocks that range from the size of my fist to the size of my whole body to even the size of a double decker bus fall down past us, chipping away at the track beneath our feet, forcing us to press our backs further into the jagged rock behind us, too scared to take a breath lest a rock falls down and hits our chest due to it expanding even a tiny bit. Soon, the avalanche ends and I can see from where I stand the rocks tripping and rolling down the side of the mountain, impact making a cracking sound that echoed on.

I peek out from under my hiding spot to gaze up at the sky, searching for whatever the fuck threw that Goddamn boulder. As I do, something sails past my face and a sharp pain executes from my eyebrow down to the bottom corner of my lip. I gasp at the pain as my hand flies to the source of sudden burning in my face. With shaking hands - more so with the cold than the fear - I press my fingers on my cheek and, as I pull away, I stare at the crimson red that is mixing with the freezing cold rain. It drips down, the sharp hue turning pink and it gets absorbed in the make shift bandage I have around my hand, staining the none too clean cloth. I can taste the blood in my mouth. I close my eyes in terror as Kili, with more force, pushes me back against the wall; the blood stings my eyes as I continue trying to blink the pain away.

"This is no thunder storm!" Say what now, Balin? "It's a thunder battle! Look!"

Are you kidding me? Are you actually fucking kidding me? A fucking thunder battle? What the fuck is this shit?! What the fuck even is a 'thunder battle'?! I am so fucking done with this fucking shit; I swear to fucking God, I am six hundred percent done with this bullshit! Opening my eyes and reaching up to wipe away the blood, ignoring the sharp ache that explodes whenever I move a face muscle, I look up to where Balin is pointing, feeling very disgruntled and annoyed of the situation. Through the flash of lightening I can make out enormous, moving shapes that are - obviously - giant stone men.

"Well . . . fuck . . . me," I breathe in awe and fear as I watch the giant stone... thingy... guy pick up the top of one of the mountains - yes, he fucking just picked it up like it was a pillow. I really don't want to know what he's going to do with it.

"Oh, bless me," I hear Bofur say, his voice full of wonder, "the legends are true - !" Oh, isn't that just fantastic to hear? " - Giants! Stone giants!"

"We don't need a history lesson now, Bofur!" I stress through gritted teeth as I watch the 'Stone Giant' through squinted eyes; I gaze at it as it rolls the mountain top to one arm and slowly raises it back. "What's he doing?! Just what in the name of fuck is he fucking do - ?!"

I stop dead as the Stone Giant throws the boulder, making it fly over our heads. My eyes follow it, feeling fear and shock flow through every vein as the enormous lump of rock connects with - well, what do you know - another Stone Giant.

Yippee, there's two.

"For fucks sake, this isn't a goddamn Michael Bay film!" I curse as high as I can, desperately trying to mask the fear that's eating me alive on the inside.

Stone Giant Number Two falls back as the rock hits the side of - what I assume is - its face, making the ground beneath my feet shake every more. I whimper as I tighten my grip on Kili's reassuring hold on me, hoping that this will all be over soon. On hand winds itself around Kili, ignoring the irritation as the side of the mountain scrapes the back of my hand as my fingers catch onto the material of his drowned cloak, trying to hold onto him as tight as I can. His own arm reached across me, pushing my back against the wall; my other hand blindly tries to find Fili's, grasping it and holding onto it as tight as I can, interlacing our fingers. For a moment I think he's about to pull away when his grip tightens on mine.

"Take cover by the wall!" Thorin orders, his voice husky and slightly cracking. If I go any more by the fucking wall I will be a part of the fucking wall! I don't pay much attention as my eyes begin to burn from the blood and how long I've not been blinking for. Keep calm, keep calm, keep calm.

Can you just imagine if someone tried to force that damn meme of "Keep Calm and Try Not To Die" on me? I'd probably wouldn't hesitate to round house kick them off the mountain.

"Hold on!" Dwalin roars as more rocks from above rain down upon us, chipping whatever left of the destroyed path way. I make sure to keep my head covered by keeping held down; one injury is enough for me. I feel the ground beneath me shaking and I cast my gaze downwards, my eyes widening with fear as a crack begins to grow between the space of my feet.

With baited breath, I watch as it grows larger and goes up along the wall behind my back. "Fuck!" I scream as the ground rumbles, making Kili stumble forward and lose his grip of my arm, my own loosening despite my instance and I'm left without my anchor. The unsteady rock separates completely underneath my feet; my foot looses grip on the slippery path and, as I am about to skid and fall to my death, the tight grip on my hand yanks me back from the chasm between Kili and I and I'm pulled to a warm and very soaked chest. I don't hesitate to wrap my own arms around the Dwarf, wanting to bury my face into him but too frightened to look away as Kili is taken further and further away from us.

"Kili!" Fili thrusts one arm out while keeping his other wrapped around me so that I don't fall. I watch Kili grow farther and farther away from us. "Grab my hand!" Fili's voice has turned slightly desperate as he goes to lurch forward before I pull him back to so that he won't slip and die.

"Careful!" I shout, my throat becoming sore and scratchy from how much I'm yelling. I grab a fistful of the back of his cloak and I shove him against the wall (not that way, you pervs) as I press myself against the jagged rock with realisation hits me like that boulder had hit Stone Giant Number Two: the group had been separated.

My stomach ties in knots at this and I swallow the lump of terror in my throat as the image of the other half of the group disappear behind rock and rain. The Stone Giant - a.k.a Number Three - slowly stands to its - feet? I think so. Anyway, it gets up but as it does, a Stone Giant leans forward and head butts it with its own with such force that causes our Stone Giant to fall; I almost plunge forward but I get pulled back by Fili. Both of us are hanging onto each other, too scared to let go in case something happened. My heart is racing like mad, each beat tripping over itself and I can feel and hear Fili's own wildly beating heart, threatening to break free from his rib cage. He holds onto me tightly, too afraid to let go lest something happened. I briefly let myself hide my face into Fili, trying to stop the sobs that are clawing their way up through my throat. My fingers ache from how tightly I hold on to Fili, his own going to my head, cradling it as the gash on my face burns.

Peeking through, I can't see the others that were riding on Stone Giant Number Three's other knee and I begin to think the worse; are they dead? Did they slip and die? Were they crushed to death? Are we next?

As these thoughts continue to run in my mind, I stop dead as a scream leaves my mouth as I watch Stone Giant Number Two punch our own one, making it begin to fall back.

When the world suddenly whooshes past, I briefly catch glimpse of the other group; through the rain and the moving Stone Giant, I can make out Kili's scared face and I can't help but smile in relief, knowing that he's safe, that he's alive. It's only when the giant jolts again, that the brief meeting ends. Then something happens.

The Stone Giant's leg freezes for a moment as his body continues to fall. My hand drops from Fili's back to clutch at his hand with as much strength as I can, keeping myself pressed up against him as his hold on me begins to become too tight for me to breathe. The sight of the side of the mountain rushing towards me leaves me wanting to throw up, though I know there's nothing in my stomach. Everything is still for a moment, the piercing wind stops howling, the rain stops beating down on me and I can hear my heart beat in my ears and Fili's own hammering beneath his chest.

Then the wall begins to meet up with our Stone Giant's knee.

I let out a scream as Fili gathers me in his arms, letting out a little yell of his own and the others do the same. The knee of the Giant surges forward in a lazy movement as the rock clashes against each other. From out place on the ledge, we are propelled forward, our limbs flying around like a rag doll's. I fall out of Fili's arms and my body is thrown up against the wall, my left arm and the back of my head instantly exploding with pain. I let out a yell of pain through my teeth as I lay on my back on a the track. Black dots dance in my eyes as I roll myself onto my chest, getting to my hands on knees. Spitting onto the rock path, I see and taste the metallic rust of blood, scrunching my nose up in distaste. It's only the wind and I together, its fingers caressing my skin as if to say sorry for being so horrible lately.

My bones rattle, from fright and the cold. I wonder if I've died again, that the clouds I'm staring at are the same ones I stared at when I lay on that road a lifetime ago. I'm alone and the space around me can't be filled, the pain subsiding slowly, creeping away. The first breath I take is sharp and tears at my throat, rain drops falling on my tongue and pooling. I hear a moan and a shuffle beside me and my eyes meet Fili's dazed eyes. He takes a few moments to regain himself before his hand darts out to grab my own, as if to make sure I'm real and very much alive. I don't know how I manage it, but I gather enough strength to curl my fingers around his hand. The relief that passes his face replaces the worry instantly.

I can hear the roar of Thorin's desperate voice shouting. "No! Fili!"

I sit up and my hand flies to my sore shoulder as I pray and hope that it isn't broken or popped out of its socket. Beside me, Fili begins to stand shakingly to his feet, the braids of his moustache sopping wet and dripping. I lie there for a moment, turning my eyes up at the empty sky as my upturned palm begins to collect a small lake. A hand appears in my line of vision and my eyes trail up to see it connect to a shoulder, Fili's shoulder to be exact. His mass of blonde curls are flat and plastered to his cheeks. There's a shay smile on his face, one I can't help but return. I reach my uninjured hand out, Fili wrapping his fingers around mine yet again as I'm tugged to my feet. My ever faith companion bumps against my thigh; I let out a sigh of relief at the sight of the leather messenger bag; if I had lost it I would have gone mad or insisted to look for it.

Fili steadies me as I groan at the pounding pain at the back of my head. "Fucking Hell, let's never do that again," I grunt as I use my good hand to wipe away the pieces of wet hair, casting him a grateful smile. I can here the pounding of feet and I step aside in time to see a mass of brown hair fly by me.

"Fili!" I see Kili lurch forward, pushing through the other Dwarves as he embraces his brother in a body breaking bear hug. "You're okay!"

"Of course I am," Fili mutters as he hugs his younger brother back, his eyes darting to my own over Kili's shoulder, "when haven't I ever been okay?"

Thorin rushes forward and practically peels Kili off of Fili as he embraces his nephew in his own bear hug.

"You had me worried," I hear Thorin murmur for Fili's ears only.

I feel awkward around the displays of affection and I slowly edge away as I cough awkwardly, taking hold of my injured arm. Around me, the others embrace their own, letting out shouts of relief and hugging each other affectionately. It's strange, watching them see if the other is okay. Once again, I'm an intruder and also an outsider. I'm standing to the side, silent and unsure, holding my sore arm to my side as the rain drops catch themselves on my eyelashes, desperately trying to hold on before they inevitably fall, rolling down my cheeks. There's an ache in my chest and I can't let myself look at the scenes in front of me; was this a reminder that I didn't belong? Was this a sign that maybe, just maybe, I was as alone as I felt? I turn away from the sight, stretching my fingers to check if any pain shows up in my arm but am glad when nothing happens. A sigh leaves me while a lump forms in my throat. I don't care, I don't care, I don't care.

Boy, don't I feel awkward!

"Libby!"

I turn around and something very warm knocks into me, encasing me. I let out a squeal as I try to regain my balance. "Holy shit on a cracker!"

"You're alive!" Well, obviously. I crane my head back as the grip on me loosens and Kili's smiling face is shown. His hands move from around me to be placed on my cheeks as his smile widens, eyes grazing over mine. There's a slight tightness when he sees the angry gash on my cheeks and forehead. His thumb runs beneath the injury, the smile just about falling before being picked up again when he saw that I was, indeed, alive and somewhat unharmed.

"Amazing, I know," I shrug as I let out a chuckle. His thumbs graze across my cheeks as I stare into his eyes. Stop being so adorable and hot you piece of shit I nearly died here! The last thing I need is to think of what your lips are like!

Suddenly, the smile from his face slips as his hand moves higher to rest above my eyebrow. "You are hurt," he states as his glove clad fingers run down along with cut, just stopping at the corner of my mouth. The rain beats down on us, making me shiver as they fall down the back of my neck. I try to swallow the lump in my throat as I drop my eyes, all too aware of how close he is, how soft his touch is against my cheek, as if he's afraid that should he press down then I would shatter into a million pieces. Maybe I would.

"Oh, it's nothing," I wave him off but he doesn't listen to me. I watch a drop of rain fall down Kili's cheek and over his lips. He dismisses my words and turns his focus from the cut to my eyes.

"It's not nothing," he insists, dipping his head so that he wouldn't have to raise his voice above the whistling rain. "When we're out of this storm, I'll make sure Oin tends to it. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Oh.

Oh, dang.

Rose petals bloom beneath my pale cheeks at his words and I'm all too conscious of his touch and his lips.

Don't think about kissing him, don't think about kissing him, don't think about kissing him -

"I want to kiss you," I blurt out.

And I'm just going to go die in a hole.

His eyebrows scrunch together. "What?"

Really? He couldn't hear me? I mean, granted the thunder storm is still going on and the wind is picking up, but come on he had to have heard me! I stare at him through narrowed eyes, acutely aware of his grip on my face. "I said I want to kiss you!" Couldn't have just left it, could you Libby?

"What?!"

"I said - !"

"Where's Bilbo?!"

Really? Fucking really?! I pull my head free from Kili's grip as I look around to find the Hobbit. My heart leaps in my throat as I realise that he isn't anywhere I can see him. Where the fuck is he? "Bilbo?!" I yell out at the same time Bofur shouts, "Where's the Hobbit?!"

From the corner of my eye I see something moving. Snapping my head, I shout in alarm at the sight of Bilbo hanging onto the ledge of the path. "Bilbo!" I scream as I push past the others. Oh, God, hold on you small adorable bastard! I push past Bofur as he followed my line of sight. Leaping forward so that I land on my knees go to grab onto him.

"Get him!" Someone shouts as, one by one, a few of the Dwarves fall down beside me, thrusting their hands out and yelling at Bilbo to hold on. I press my body against the path as my fingers graze Bilbo's. "Take my hand, Bilbo!" I squeak down. Both my arms are over the ledge as Bilbo's terrified eyes meet mine. He swings his body in a way to gain momentum as he slightly jumps, taking a grip in my hand. I growl in pain as I feel the cut on my palm slowly being reopened painfully and slowly.

I let out a breath of relief until my own body begins to fall over the ledge. "FUCKING SHIT!" I scream as half my chest is over the ledge. I hear the Dwarves letting out exclaims of shock as multiple hands grip onto my shoes but with my weight and Bilbo's it's too much. As my whole torso is about to go over the sharp edge, someone grabs onto my waist and hauls me up, taking Bilbo with me.

The others grab Bilbo up by the scruff of the neck and as the weight of his small body is released from my hold I fly back. I land on something soft, the air whooshing out of me like I had been pushed in the chest. What the - ?

I blink the water out of my eyes and, as I look down, I realise with horror that I am lying on top of Thorin. With a scream, I push myself away from him, landing roughly beside the said Dwarf as he struggles to his feet. An embarrassed blush blossoms over my face as I turn away from Thorin and watch as Bofur holds Bilbo sturdy on his feet. I sense a little bit of a bromance.

"I thought we lost our burglar," Dwalin says as he clamps his hand down on Thorin's shoulder, all signs of panic leaving his face. Uh, hello? I nearly died too? Am I just invisible? Great, even when I could have died, I'm still as invisible as the rest of Maroon 5.

Ignoring the complete and utter awkwardness, I get to my feet while my frame shakes uncomfortably - from the fear or the biting cold, I have no idea. I cross my arms over my chest sticking my hands underneath my armpits while my teeth chatter loudly. I probably look like a drowned rat with my knotted, tangled hair and the fact I look like Casper the Friendly Ghost.

"He's been lost ever since he left home," Thorin snaps as he draws himself to his full height. I cast Bilbo a look from the corner of my eye, seeing his face start to slip. "He should never have come; he has no place amongst us." There's a tension in the air as I watch Thorin drag his icy blue eyes to my quivering form. "They both don't."

Ouch.

I think my soul has ripped slightly.

I promptly glare at Thorin until he turns his back from me calling Dwalin as they enter what appears to be a cave, making me stare daggers at his stupid back. The other Dwarves quickly go to follow him, passing both Bilbo and I pitied glances, one occasionally clamping a hand on the back as though to say don't worry. I ignore them as I make my way over to Bilbo, trying to not slip and fall. The hobbit looks dejected, downcast mood matching the weather.

"He didn't mean it," I tell him, the words forced through in a far too cheerful voice that does not match my current mood, "he's just a grump and you know how grumps are."

Bilbo - who's eyes were still glued ahead - slowly turn towards me with a sad smile on his face. He detaches his feet that are rooted from the spot and goes to follow the trail of Dwarves but stops at my shoulder, resting his weight against his walking stick that is as tall as himself if not taller. "It is good that you have such high hope and spirits, Miss Libby," he sighs, the sad smile still on his mouth. I blink at his words as though waiting for him to explain, which he does. "We're going to need someone who has as much hope as you when this all goes down."

With those slightly haunting words, Bilbo parts and I stand there for a few seconds, shocked and confused as ever before I turn on my heel and shout "Hey! Wait for me!"

There are three things that I'm absolutely positive of:

1: I might have pneumonia.

2: I am probably going to piss myself in my sleep and

3: I have no spare blankets to sleep in.

With everything I own soaked to within an inch of its life, I have the blanket draped across the surprisingly dry rock in hopes that it too might dry but there is no change yet. I'm sitting with my back away from the other Dwarves as I desperately try to garner even a sliver of warmth. My hands are ice cold and pale as snow - much like the rest of my body - and they shake very badly.

The other Dwarves don't look as affected by the after affects of the storm - Hell even Bilbo looks as warm and unbothered and he's still wearing the simple clothes he left The Shire in! I'm sat scrunched into a ball with half of my face buried into the soppy scarf and my knees drawn up to my chest. The light headiness has stopped me from even moving to lie down.

My stomach rumbles uncomfortably as it demands to be fed. I don't even have the power to tell it to shut up.

I can hear the slight chatter amongst the Dwarves as they set up their bedding, yawning every once in a while. I watch as Bofur, Bombur and Dori hand out the rations of food - mainly consisting of apples and dried pieces of meat. Well, slightly dried - ish.

I turn my head back with my eyes finding a spot on the rock and sandy floor of the cave to glue themselves to. My tongue feels heavy and swollen in my mouth due to my lack of access to water. Dispelling all thoughts of how wonderful it would be to just stick my head out of the cave and jut my tongue out in the rain, I close my eyes as my body continues to shake.

"Here," a voice speaks.

I turn my neck upwards slightly to see Kili's bedraggled self before me; his hair is still dripping and his clothes look darker from the rain but he seems more dry and warm than I do. In his hands he hold a very soggy apple and a wet piece of jerky. In all honesty it's the best food I've seen since Rivendell. But my hands are frozen from their position under my arms and all I can do is stare at the food with my stomach rumbling.

With much pain, I detach my hands from the once place in my body that has warmth and slowly reach out to take the food. My hands shake like mad as they take a grip of the wet and soppy food; but as my fingers take a hold of the pieces of food, they brush against Kili's very warm and smooth hands. I see him flinch at the contact - maybe from the coldness of my skin or just the thought of me, I don't know.

"You're ice cold," Kili breathes. He moves himself in front of me and squats down in front of my shaking form. Resting the food in my curled up lap, Kili takes a hold of my cold, tiny hands in his very warm paws. I shiver on the contact - and it's not because of the cold.

"I - I'm f - f - fine," I chatter as he continues to hold my hands in his own. I swear to God, if I wasn't frozen in this spot . . .

"I'll call Oin; we don't want your cut to get infected," he says reassuringly, as he releases one of his hands while keeping one in the other, carefully tracing the numbing cut from above my eyebrow to my lip. I had totally forgotten all about it due to the fact that we were in the middle of Giant Stone things fighting. My heart stutters at him once again tracing my face, but it burns; I have no rain or near death experience to focus on, only him.

"O - O - Oin?" My teeth chatter as I try not to bite my tongue off. Oh, Hell no; he's not making this any more of a big deal than it actually is. Relaxing my tense and rigid back, I fall forward onto Kili's warm (and very muscled might I add) chest with my head resting in between the crook of his neck. At my sudden contact, Kili pulls away but my body falls with him.

"D - don't . . . M - move," I say in a slight pant as try to desperately leech the heat from him. "I j - just . . . n - need to . . . g - get w - warm." Yeah, sure; that's the only reason.

After a few minutes of my heavy breathing and my shivering, I feel Kili slowly and hesitantly, raise his arms up around me and bring my body closer to him. I bring my hands up along his chest, clutching at his tunic as I feel the cold start to ebb away from me. "Is t - this t - the part w - where w - we g - get naked a - and s - share each o - others b - body heat - t?" Ever so charming, Libby. I hear Kili's shocked splutter as I smile, nuzzling my head into his neck.

"What?!"

I hear a collect of 'shh' from the other Dwarves as they go to lie down in their dry blankets. I stifle a giggle as I watch Kili steadily turn red. I give him the tiniest of a shove with the hand resting on his chest. "I - I w - was only m - messing, you d - dork." Though I wouldn't mind it if we did.

It's silent for a moment before Kili replies with a stuttered, "O - Oh." Libby; Master Of Flirtations.

Suddenly, I pull away again, teeth chattering and eyes wide. "A - a - are you o - okay with t - this? If - if you're uncomfortable w - with t - this I can s - stop."

He stares at me, eyes equally wide as I await his answer. Remember, kids: consent is the most important thing.

"It's alright, I don't mind," he replies, almost bashful. Still, I don't lean back into the hug, in case there's still some hesitation. My eyes narrow and my eyebrows quirk before he sighs heavily before, quite to my surprise, he pulls me back into his chest, my uninjured side of my face pushed against his chest, my arms reaching up to wrap around and meet at the back of him, my fingertips ghosting each other.

I stay still his Kili's arms, trying everything I can not to fall asleep. But the fact is he's so warm and soft and there is no denying it: we are cuddling. His arms are wrapped around me in a strong hold, legs stretched out with his back against the wall. I'm resting against his chest, my body curled up against his. I probably look like a small child but, honestly, I really don't care.

"He didn't mean it," I hear Kili whisper into my ear quite out of the blue. I lift my chin up as I stare up into his eyes.

"W - What?" I chatter, trying not to bite off the tip of my tongue. My voice comes out in a hoarse and dry whisper; the Dwarves have begun to fall asleep, every one of them ignoring Kili and I's little show of . . . well, whatever. I only catch a sliver of blue eyes that come from Fili but I ignore him; I'm quite comfortable here with Kili without being disturbed.

"Thorin; about saying you should never have come and that you don't belong," Kili averts his eyes from mine as they flicker to his uncle's stiff and tense back that is face towards us. I have this terrible feeling that he's not actually asleep and might be listening in on our conversation. I give a ghost of a shrug as I try to move in closer towards Kili. I give out a little hum as I inwardly sigh as I wiggle my toes in my shoes. "You do belong with us."

My heart almost gives out and I crane my head to look at him, eyes the size of saucers as a sharp breath is taken in through my chapped and cry lips. Kili drops his gaze to mine and we hold it, as a tremble leaves me. His words echo in me, bouncing off of the walls of my mind. My legs are pressed to my chest, feet tucked under Kili's legs and my hands curled beneath my chin. It is only for his arms wrapped around me and the tight ball I'm curled into that I don't fall apart into wet sobs.

"I do?" The words are a whisper, light and wispy as my breath hitches in my throat. I belong, he said, I belong here with them, with him. I think I can feel his thumb tracing circles on my upper arm but through the layers of damp clothes, it's hard to tell. The hunger doesn't hurt, neither does my hand or my face. How did he acquire this power to make all my pain disappear.

"Of course, Libby," he replied, dropping his voice to match mine. "You've been here with us every step of the way, despite not knowing any of us."

"Oh, I just..." The main reason I came along was because I was forced to and I was promised a way home. "I wanted to help you. You guys deserve a home." Even if mine is far away. My eyebrows knit together, reaching a trembling hand out to rest against his chest, eyes able to make out the patterns on the fabric; they're intricate swirls, looping in and out of each other, like lost lovers who want nothing more than to melt into together so that they are never parted. "Do... do you miss your home?"

The words are barely there but I know he heard them because for a moment, his body goes rigid before he melts again. I briefly glance up to see a sad smile on his face.

"Yes." A gentle breath, filled with so many emotions that they're spilling everywhere. "Very much.I miss everything about it. How when Fili and I would sneak to the roof just to see the sun rise. How we could see the stars so clearly. And I... I miss my mother. " The last sentence comes out shy, as if he's embarrassed for admitting such a thing. A small smile appears on my face as I continue to fight my need to close my eyes and fall asleep. My finger begins tracing the patterns on his tunic.

"It sounds very beautiful," I sigh.

"It is," is his reply, dreamy and sad.

"I would like to see it one day," I continue, my vision getting blurrier and my movements getting sluggish and slow. I hear a hitch in his breathing.

"I would very much like to show it to you, Libby. If... if you wouldn't mind."

"Yes. I would like that very much." I reply truthfully, fighting a yawn as my eyelids begin to droop. I pat his chest affectionately as I close my eyes. "Whatever floats your boat."

"What?" I hear Kili's confused voice through the darkening of my eyes. I let out a yawn as I snuggle closer to him, all of the biting cold gone from my body. But there's no need in telling Kili that, right? What he doesn't know won't hurt him.

"J's shhhhh 'nd go t' slee'," I mutter, my mouth full of sleep as I begin to drift off. I hear a slight chuckle from him as his chest rumbles. I feel something brush across my forehead as Kili shifts his weight, leaning his back up against the wall of the cave.

"Go to sleep; I'll watch over you," Kili whispers through the dark.

"Don' tell me wha' t' d', you loser," I murmur one last time before I fall into the abyss of sleep.

" - No you don't, you don't understand! None of you do!"

What the fuck is going on?

"You're Dwarves; you're used t - to this life."

Oh, for fucks sake, don't tell me people are arguing again.

"To living on the road; not settling in one place."

Jesus Christ, is someone having a bitch fit in the middle of the night?

I budge my body as I try to sit up and yell "Shut the fuck up!" to whoever is talking in not so hushed tones. I wake to the site of a jaw - a very chiselled fine looking jaw. Okay, Miss Hormonal, calm down there; don't get all excited over a jaw now. I lift my very heavy eyes to the site of Kili's sleeping face. His very cute and adorable face.

I resist the urge to coo and drool all over him as I begin to use my sense of touch to realise our position; over the night my body relaxed from it's tight curled up ball, my legs being tangled with his as I sit between his legs with my back resting against his chest. His arms wind around me, knotting together with my own at the base of my abdomen.

I shift my head so that it lolls onto Kili's shoulder with my cheek pressed firmly down on it. Through the darkness of the cave, I can see Bofur and Bilbo standing near each other in the midst of what appears to be an argument.

"Not belonging anywhere."

I let out a yawn, my eyes tearing up at the action. What are they bitching about now? I move my head back onto the other side, my forehead pressed firmly against his neck. "Kili," I groan, my voice thick with sleep, "people be talking while I be sleep." I get no reply except for his nose twitching and his head slumping so that his cheek is pressed against the top of my own head.

It's all deadly silent for a while with no noise except for the snores of the other Dwarves. I let out a sigh of relief as I let my eyes close on their own accord. Thank the Lo -

"I - I am sorry," I hear Bilbo say, his voice twinged with regret. Another silence blankets the cave as I try to block out their voices, desperate to catch a bit of sleep. The storm is still raging outside, with claps of thunder sounding every few minutes.

"No, you're right," Bofur agrees, sounding very forlorn about doing so. Oh, great, well done Bilbo; God, there's more drama in this company than Keeping Up With The Kardashians. We might as well call it Keeping Up With The Company Of Thorin. "We don't belong any where."

If I wasn't so Goddamn comfortable and warm I would have gotten to my feet and I would have yelled at them to shut the fuck up, I swear I would've.

The silence is deafening as the last remainder of whatever sleep I could catch flies away, along with all my dreams that I could have had. With a grunt I free one of my hands from Kili's and knuckle my eyes, yawning while I do so. I feel Kili's arms tighten around me with his breath hot on my scalp. I smile slightly at his action and lean back further into his chest.

I wonder if the other Dwarves thought that this was like a bad thing to do; I mean, they did freak out over the very sight of my knees. Like, did they believe in all that no touchy - touchy before tying the knot? Why am I even thinking about this? I know it's in my nature to over think things and cause myself new problems that don't even exist but, surely, if Kili wasn't so against us, well, snuggling then I guess it isn't a bad think? I mean, I could have died from pneumonia.

"I wish you all the luck in the world. I really do."

Huh? What?

Oh! Yeah, Bofur and Bilbo are having an argument. Totally forgot.

A new sound omits close by. I furrow my eyebrows as my eyes grave across the cave. From just beside Kili's right leg, I see the sand from the cave floor start to fall away, as though there was hole underneath. I release myself from Kili's hold to lean across him, reaching out to brush away the pale colour sand.

"What the - ?" I utter as I see a very large crack start to appear soundlessly up along the cave all silently. What the fuck?

"What's that?" Bofur's voice echoes from where he stands. I watch as the crack disappears behind Dwalin's head, knots forming in my stomach as my heart leaps into my throat.

"Kili!" I hiss as I shake his shoulder, jolting him awake from his slumber. His head snaps up, eyes bright with alarm. In an instant, his arms are back around me, more tight than before as I'm pulled back to his chest with a yelp leaving me. Kili's eyes are narrowed as they look around for any sign of danger as his arms tighten around me - nearly crushing my chest.

"Kili, look!" I wheeze through his tight grip as I point my finger towards the disappearing sand. Though he doesn't relax his hold on me, he does look at where my finger is directed, his eyebrows knitting together.

"What is that?" he gasps slightly in a low tone. That's when the creaking from beneath starts.

From peripheral vision I see Thorin bolt up, his icy blue eyes following a crack that is running alongside the length of his body. Our eyes meet briefly - his confused and alarmed and mine scared and bright. "Wake up," he orders in his normal voice. No one stirs at his command. "Wake up!" With his voice louder and more stressed than before, a few of the Dwarves - Dwalin, Gloin, Bifur and Nori - instantly jolt awake while the others simply sit up, their eyes still closed.

The ground beneath Kili and I starts to shake and rumble, making us fall onto the ground. I take a hold of his chest by wrapping my arms around him while his own arms wrap around me as underneath us the ground gives away.

And so does my bladder.

Fucking.

Great.

Hey guys! Sorry for the delay of updating! So yeah, short chapter, I know, but, hey, better than nothing, right?

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