My head found a place to rest on his shoulder, after we stopped laughing. "Why did you join this journey?" he whispered and I told him Gandalf asked me to. "But why?"

"It doesn't matter now, does it?" I answered with this question, hoping that he stop asking me about it.

He just nodded and stood up. "Wait here, I will bring us a dinner," he said, grinning and making me blush lightly. Fortunately it was too dark for him to see my red face. I raised my eyebrows and shook my head as he left me.

I looked on him as he walked to the Bofur and asked about two bowls of soup. When older dwarf was pouring it, Fili turned his head into my direction and big smile appeared on his face, making me froze for a second.

Before he was back, his brother took his spot on the ground next to me. I saw that the blonde wasn't very happy about it, but he just smiled to the younger one and handed me a bowl and the second one to brunette. I frowned and glared at him, but he just coughed trying to tell me something, glimpsing at Kili. I blushed again as he winked and left us.

We didn't talk. There was a silence between us, but not the awkward as before. This time, both of us enjoyed sitting in quiet. We ate slowly, peering at the other members of company. I spotted blonde, sitting with his uncle, who glared at me. Though they were far from us, I could see the leader frowning. When he met my gaze, he turned his head to look at his older nephew.

My ears heard the voice of bowl, touching the rock, so my head turned to Kili. I put my vessel away and looked in my comrade's eyes. I tiled my head a little bit and smiled. He replied the same and after a while I lean above him and my lips brushed over his. Dwarf let me do it, even if he was in shock. My eyes closed for a while, as I moved away, but he didn't accept that. His palm found his way to the back of my head, pulling me closely and he kiss me passionately. I gasped, feeling his lips and kissing him back. I opened my mouth a little, letting his tongue connect with mine. I should stop it in that moment, but I couldn't. Part of me wanted this too badly.

Finally, I broke the kiss, and when our lips parted, his stubble brush my cheek and it felt good. I looked around. Luckily, no one noticed our kiss. "I'm sorry" I muttered, standing up and ran between the trees, before he could say something.

"Táraëil!" someone yelled, running after me. I stopped as I recognized Fili's voice. "Hi, slow down" he said when he caught me, though I didn't move. "What's wrong? Didn't you enjoy it?" dwarf asked and I felt anger inside me.

"Do you know about Thorin fight with your brother? He supposed not to even speak with me" I grunted and he nodded. "You knew?" I hissed, glaring at him. "I heard their conversation, I knew about his distrust about me..."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Don't worry, he didn't see it. I talked to him all the time. On the other hand, it was nice to look at you two. I didn't know that you like my brother that much. I thought it would be a simply kiss and you did even more!"

"It was your brother. I won, now give me my gold and leave me alone" I growled, shivering from anger and I felt my eyes become black. "Forget it, run." He didn't move so I fumed, "Tell Gandalf to come here and run!"

My whole body was trembling. I didn't even know I was that angry, but power flowing in my veins and my lips were pursed. My legs felt like water and it was hard to stand straight. I tried to calm myself down, but the more afford I was putting into that, the weaker I felt. In the last moment before my body fell on the ground, my friend caught and pulled me closer to his torso.

"It's okay now, shh" he carried me to the camp, whispering some elvish words and I passed out.

Fili's POV

Gandalf left the camp few minutes ago, when I approached him and told him she needed him, but now he came back, carrying her in his arms. She was trembling with closed eyes. "What did you do?" wizard roared, glaring at me, after he put her on his blanket.

"We had a fight" I muttered. "I said too many things, teasing her."

"Foolish behaviour, master dwarf"

Thorin looked at me surprised, "what are you two talking about?" I frowned, peering at lying girl. My brother ran to us, as soon as he heard about everything. His face was pale, when he stared at her and that was when I realized what I've done.

Dwarf can love one time in his life and he fancied her. I supposed to help him not to adore her, and all I did is encouraging him, even if he didn't know about it.

"Can someone bring me some water?" Gandalf asked and Ori nodded, running to place where we kept our supplies. I asked the wizard what's wrong with her. "She passed out. I think when she felt her powers, she tried not to hurt you and hurt herself instead." Táraëil was shivering all the time, even when Ori came back with water and Gandalf put a wet cloth on her forehead. "Could you?" he asked Bofur, so my friend kneeled behind her, holding her body.

"I can do that if you want" I heard Kili's voice, but when he moved, uncle stopped him.

Soon she calmed down, but Bofur didn't leave her. We all sighed seeing that everything is coming back to normal state.

"Who is she?" Thorin interjected the wizard. "Is she really your friend or maybe someone else?" Gandalf didn't answer, though he looked right in leader's eyes. "Tell me! She could hurt my nephew!"

"But she didn't. She hurt herself, because he was foolish" he responded calmly. "It doesn't matter who Táraëil is. You will find out soon."

Thorin looked at him and banged his fist in closest tree. Then he folded his arms across his chest. "Gandalf, we need to know."

"I forgot how stubborn you can be," man replied and he looked at the girl, who was leaning on Bofur. "She- She's my daughter" he said quietly and I saw proud in his eyes. "I raised her" he added even more quietly.

My friend in hat brushed ginger locks from her face. He kissed her in head and laid her on a blanket. She moaned quietly, but didn't wake up.

Turning away and I went to my own spot sitting on a cloth. My brother ran to me and asked "What did you fight about?"

I shook my head. "Nothing, really."

"She kissed me" he muttered, but I saw his eyes were sparkling. "Her lips are so soft..." he added, but I think he was talking to himself not to me. Then he looked at me. "Why did she run?"

"Maybe she realized she can't kiss you. You are Durin heir" I said, didn't believe I said that. I acted the same as Thorin and frankly, I didn't like it. "Don't think about it. Remember, dwarf can love once in his lifetime."

"For the Durin's sake, what are you talking about? We knew each other for a day and you giving me lecture about love, brother?"

I glared at him for a second and shook my head. "Forget it. I am going to sleep. Night, Kili."

He lay next to me, touching my back with his and we fell asleep.

Tára's POV

I woke up pretty early – everyone, but Bofur and Fili, were sleeping. I slowly stood up, stretching and yawning really loudly. Luckily for me, nobody woke up.

"Good morning, lassie" said hatter, smiling widely. I smiled back and went to him. "Did you sleep well? You had a nasty evening yesterday..." man said and I look surprised at him.

"Why? What-?" I tried to say, but then I realized what apparently happened. "Oh my... What did I do?"

He chuckled quietly, seeing my puzzled face. "We managed it. Don't worry. I mean, I was pretty scared about you," he responded. "We all had. Gandalf was quite mad, because you hurt yourself, trying to save Fili. Of course he was mad at him, not at you. Did you two have a fight yesterday?"

"Well... yes, we had, but it's alright now," I whispered, when events of a day before flashed in my head. "Thanks for everything" I said, after he informed me that he was the one who calmed me. Bofur was amazing dwarf and I felt I can really trust him and count on him.

I saw that he nodded to somebody, so I turned my head to see this person and next to me stood Fili. "I will leave you" he said as he went to his brothers and sat beside them, leaning on the tree.

I looked up and caught gaze of young dwarf. He smiled, through I wasn't hard to see that he was sad. "I am so sorry for yesterday," I heard his voice, as he sat in front of me. "I was just teasing you and didn't think you would get angry."

Laughing quietly, I shook my head. "Everything's good between us. I'm happy that you are alright... Just won't do it again, please. Next time it can ends badly" I explained. "Is he mad at me?"

"Kili?" he asked, looking at him. "No, he was wondering why did you run, but he isn't mad. Well... I told him you realized he's a prince so you can't be with him..." he added with hesitation in his voice and I nodded.

"That's good, because you're right. I can't and I couldn't even if he wouldn't be a prince... Why we even talk about it? We don't know each other, how we possibly could think about being together? Fili... you are teasing me again, aren't you? You sneaky dwarf!"

He giggled loudly and I looked ahead. The forest was really beautiful. The more I was looking at this view, the more I was in love with this place. Lots of animal came here and sit close to us to feel the heat of our campfire. The same stag as day before stood in front of us behind the tree and next to him there was probably hers baby.

Later, after rest woke up, we ate breakfast and started to move. I rode next to Bofur, who is a great talker. Our two talked for few long hours, because we have huge amount of topics about we could talk. And we have similar humour.

"I wish you met them before" he said suddenly and I looked at him surprised, because I didn't know about what he was talking. He pointed at Durin's brothers. "They are good kids"

"But they don't look like someone who was loved by their uncle" I hissed, without any thoughts.

Hatter roared with laughter and that convinced me Bofur was the only person I can talk about everything.

"It's just this journey. Believe me, they couldn't wish for someone better. Thorin and Dis," he smiled brightly, saying Oakenshield's sister name. Bofur's voice was full of esteem when he was thinking about them, "raised Fili and Kili together. The boys love their uncle more than anybody in this world."

I looked at dark-haired, who rode beside Thorin. They talked quietly, but I noticed small smile on older's face, when he was looking at nephew.

"Dwalin and Thorin trained them in combat. Just regret you didn't see their faces, when Kili announced he want bow instead of blade. It broke Thorin's heart." I laughed loudly and Bofur did the same.

"I assume he was devastated." I giggled with amusement and hatter nodded.

"You know, Thorin hates elves and he thinks bow is their weapon and dwarves shouldn't use it. But Kili is great archer, so his uncle left him be" Bofur added after few seconds of silent.

"Elves are good swordsmen too, so probably you all shouldn't use it" I said quietly, teasing my friend. He chuckled. "I assume you should use only axes, because elves don't use them" I added.

Bofur shook his head. "Thanks for the tips, Táraëil. Oh! I will tell you something, but don't you ever tell Thorin!" he rode closer to me and now he was whispering. "I was there, when elves refused to help us, but I am not mad at them," he looked at his king. "I understand elven king... They would die fighting with dragon." I sighed, because Bofur was right.

"Have anyone tried to tell Thorin about it?" I asked, but answer was obvious.

Hatter looked at me with smile. "You know, we tried. He is stubborn, even more than other dwarves."

"I can see that, but I hope he will understand I just want to help" whisper left my lips, but my friend heard everything.

"He will. Just give him time."

"It's dangerous quest. He needs to trust me or I need him to trust me. I don't know. But on the other hand, I wouldn't trust me too. Don't you remember yeste-"

"Tára, stop" Bofur interjected me. "It wasn't your fault." I wanted to say something, but he didn't let me. "I know what you are going to say about your powers and your control. I talked with Gandalf, he told me about it."

"What? He told you?" I was both surprised and embarrassed.

"Your secret is safe with me, because I trust you. He told me you need time and you won't hurt any of us."

I told him Gandalf is a believer. "But you can't be sure I won't hurt you. I can't fully trust myself, neither should you."

He didn't answer, so I stayed quiet for few minutes. Then I heard Bilbo's voice. He was muttering about his handkerchief again.

"You will have to manage without pocket handkerchiefs and a good many other things, Bilbo Baggins, before we reach our journey's end." Gandalf said calmly. "You are born to the rolling hills and the little rivers of the Shire. But home is now behind you. The world is ahead" he explained and I smiled lightly.

Mithrandir always knew what to say. And even in one hundred years I will hear his voice saying those words to Baggins. But home is now behind you. The world is ahead. Congratulation, mister Baggins, your journey started.

"There is no way back now, Bilbo" I whispered.

Two or three hours later we stopped to make camp for the night. Nigh us there were big rocks and brothers ran to them, putting their stuff besides wall of rock. They sat, leaning back on it and started talking quietly.

We jumped off our horses and Bofur led me near the boys, where we sat.

"Bombur, Bofur – prepare dinner!" Thorin commanded.

"It was nice to rest for a while" Bofur hissed quietly and I chuckled.

"I can help if you want" I offered, but he shook his head. "Very well then. Make it quickly, my dear dwarf" I teased him.

He rolled his eyes and went to his brother to help him making our meal. I closed my eyes to let them rest for a while, but someone interrupted me. "Táraëil, go and bring wood for campfire." I heard king's voice and heard Bofur loud laughter. Sighing, I commanded Bofur to shut his mouth.

"We need to talk" I heard Gandalf's voice nigh me.

I opened one eye. "Is this so important that it can't wait?" I asked. "Thorin will probably kill me if I won't do what he wants."

"I wish it could, but... It's about your family and your powers. Allow me to join you" he explained. "You need to know this and I supposed to tell you this in Bilbo's house, but there wasn't time for this."

"Alright. Come." I responded, standing up and leading him to the small wood.

My friend shook his head, but went after me. "I know this for a while now. I asked about your mother when we met few days ago to see what you know" he said in elvish, keeping his pipe in hand. "Cirdan lied to you."

"Nothing new, Gandalf." I said, but asked him to continue as I was gathering branches.

"You should know that all of it is a lie. Dohune was your brother's mother, but not yours, Táraëil. Your real mother, Reth, was slain by the orcs few months after you were born. Cirdan saved you."

I stopped and closed my eyes. "Gandalf, it can't be true." I spoke quietly. "Who was she?"

"She was maiar, like me. A wizard" he replied with a hesitation. "I didn't know this is possible for us to have children, although you are the living proof that we can. Reth's and Cridan's blood in your veins gave you powers I don't understand. They work differently in your body than mine."

We went back to our camp. "It's a joke, right? Dohune was my mother." I tried to convince myself that it was truth, but I knew that he didn't lie. I put wood inside the circle of stones.

"No, I'm sorry, sweetheart. You are half maiar" he whispered.

I sat in the same place as before and didn't move for a long time. After half an hour, Bofur came to me with a bowl of soup, but I couldn't move and say anything, so he sat next to me and put vessel on a rock beside me.

"Talk to me, Táraëil. What's wrong?" he asked when he ate all of his meal. "Táraëil? Tára?"

I shook my head. "Did you say something?" He nodded and repeated his question. "Everything is alright, don't worry, laddie."

"Fine, but promise me, that you will talk to me, when it'd be worse" he asked and I made this promise.

My hand reached the bowl and put it on my knees. I took the spoon and quickly ate all of the soup, thanking Bofur for bringing it to me.