Thank you everyone who has reviewed! Your comments always put a goofy smile on my face! XD ~Littlelots

Previously

Eve lay down on the grass, looking up at the fragments of sky she could see through the leafy canopy. Her view was blocked however, by the face of Kili, who grinned at her mischievously. She watched him with apprehension, as he sat next to her. After eyeing him for a few moments, she looked back up at the sky. Kili seized his chance, and began to tickle her mercilessly.

She screamed in protest, catching the others attention, who watched the pair laughing. Even Tiriel found it hard to hide her smile. The one person who wasn't amused, was Thorin. He watched them, his face hardening, as he saw the friendship he had been so against, grow into something he was even more afraid of.

Chapter 12. A Kingly Controversy

Eve lay on her back, breathing heavily. Kili had finally stopped tickling her, and was rolling around on the grass laughing his head off. Stupid hot dwarf, she thought. Bilbo stood up beside her, offering her a hand.

"Thanks." She said, gratefully pulling herself up. Several of the dwarves who had been watching the fun were still smirking, and Bofur was playing a merry tune on his flute. Eve glanced around the glade, there were little flowers carpeting the lush green grass, and the thick trunks of the bordering trees made it quite sheltered. She wasn't the only one who had noticed this, or the fact that it was starting to get dark. Thorin was observing their surroundings, and after a moment he spoke.

"We will camp here for tonight. Tomorrow we shall head to this friend of yours Gandalf." The wizard looked slightly awkward at that assessment, but didn't comment on it. Eve walked over to where Ori was sitting by the fire with his brothers, and sat down next to him with a smile.

"Hey Ori? Would you mind showing me some of your drawings?" she asked politely, her blue eyes watching him beseechingly. He peeked at her from behind his notebook, seeing her expression. His eyes softened and he nodded, giving her a little smile as he scanned his book looking for a suitable picture. She grinned, delighted by her victory, before catching the look on Kili's face. He looked bemused, no, annoyed? She tilted her head, looking at him with arched eyebrows. Why should he be bothered? She wondered. She felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned to see Ori displaying a picture of her. They were in Rivendell, in the hall the dwarves had been resting in. Kili was seated on her right and Fili on her left, with Bilbo listening intently to whatever she had been saying. She looked at the sketch of herself. Her face was caught in a smile, her cheeks appeared a little rosy, and her eyes were sparkling. The detail put on her dress was impeccable, but it was the expression on Kili's face that caught her attention. It was… adoration. Ori had captured it to perfection, and Eve found herself surprised she hadn't seen it. Also in the picture, Fili was watching his brother, a strange, nervous expression on his face. Eve looked up at Ori, tears forming in her eyes.

"It's beautiful!" she exclaimed, capturing the attention of most of the dwarves (for the second time that evening). "Your drawings are incredible!" she gave him a hug, causing the dwarf to blush, and Kili's expression to darken slightly. Ori smiled nervously at her, showing Eve some of the other pictures he had done, the tips of his ears still red.

Fili looked sideways at his brother; Kili was watching Eve and Ori talk with a brooding expression on his face. Fili sighed, Kili had always been the jealous type, but this was ridiculous. The blond-haired dwarf stood up, and marched over to where his brother sat. Kili watched him approach, his gaze hardening as he thought of events from earlier that day. Fili held out his hand, silently asking his brother to come with him. Kili glared at him, then his hand, then back at him. Fili sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly at the hostility from his younger sibling. It was rare that Kili ever treated him like this, and the fact that it was over a girl- Kili stood up, interrupting Fili's thoughts, and marched off into the wood behind him. Feeling apprehension seep through his bones, Fili followed.

Kili was standing, waiting for his brother by a large oak tree. He leaned against it, trying to push away the anger that he felt at his brother. He knew, deep down, that Fili hadn't meant it, but he wasn't going to admit it. Fili approached; an apologetic expression on his face.

"Kili, I didn't mean-"

"Don't bother Fili." He replied, clenching his fists. "I know you don't approve anyway. Why should you care?" Fili looked taken aback, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.

"Don't approve? Don't care? What are you talking about?" Kili glared at him, seething.

"You told me not to do anything rash, you told her not to return my feelings, tell me brother, what have you done to help me?" Fili's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to defend himself, but Kili continued. "Save it, it doesn't matter." Fili's jaw set, his brow darkening.

"You listen to me now brother. I never meant to do anything to make you unhappy." Kili snorted, but his brother carried on. "If you remember we know little to nothing about her, I wanted to make sure you didn't get hurt. Besides, I was warning you against Thorin's disapproval, I never said anything about my own." Kili scrutinised him suspiciously.

"I really am sorry Kee." Fili concluded, looking down at his sighed, looking at his older brother regretfully. He hadn't realised how it had affected his brother, who could barely meet his gaze without looking away in shame. And when he really thought about it, Fili had not done anything wrong. Quite the contrary.

"I'm sorry too Fee." He mumbled, before giving his brother a crushing hug. To be honest, Kili was relieved to be on good terms with Fili again, and was just opening his mouth to tell him this, when the sound of raised voices drifted towards them. They could hear their uncle shouting, and, curious as ever, the two heirs quietly (which is unusual for dwarves) made their way towards the source of the din.

Eve knelt down on the mossy earth, and carefully picked some of the daisies which littered the forest floor, making sure she kept the stems nice and long. When she had about twenty of the little flowers, she began making them into a chain, weaving the stalks together. She almost didn't notice Thorin walking over to her, a determined scowl set on his face. Eve glanced up when he was right in front of her, surprised at his expression.

"We need to talk." He said, in such a tone that one would not dare refuse. She blinked at him, startled.

"Ok…" she replied, getting to her feet. He led her away from the group, unknowingly walking towards where his nephews had been arguing. When they were out of earshot from most of the company, he turned to her, his anger barely under control.

"Are you determined to make my nephew fall in love with you?" he demanded, his cold blue eyes boring into her own. Eve stared at him in shock, her eyes wide and her mouth ajar. "Well?" he shouted, and Eve tried to stammer an answer but nothing came out. She backed away from him, all colour gone from her face, and found herself standing against a tree. He took a few steps towards her, stopping when he was only a few feet away.

"I'm not-you don't-I love Kili!" she replied, wrapping her arms across her chest to stop herself from shaking. Thorin continued to glare at her, as if she was a bit of dirt under his boot, worthless and unnecessary. Neither of them realised they had drawn the attention of the two younger heirs of Durin, who were hiding not far away, listening intently to every single word.

"Please, I'm telling the truth, I love your nephew! I would never do anything, ANYTHING to hurt him." Eve begged, her blue eyes filling with tears. Thorin watched her, his face hard.

"Dwarves only love once. I will not allow my nephew to be with a human. It would be the height of dishonour for a prince. Do you wish to subject him to that?" Eve looked away, tears pouring down her cheeks. "You are not allowed to speak with him, and you must stay away from him for the rest of the journey. When we reach this Beorn's house, you will stay there. If you dare go against me on this-" He broke off, turning round to see his two nephews approach. One look at their faces told him they had heard, and he growled angrily.

"Go back to the camp." He ordered, knowing they would refuse. Kili and Fili stood side by side, their eyes aflame as they looked at their uncle. Kili glanced at Eve, who had slid down the tree trunk and had her head resting on her knees. Her shoulders were shaking, and Kili knew she was crying. He made to go to her, but found himself blocked by Thorin.

"No." he said coldly, his voice as sharp as a knife. "She is not worthy of an heir of Durin, or to be a member of our company. That is final."

A/N Dun dun duhhh… Sorry it wasn't very well written! -.-

*hides from various items being thrown at her* Ok, I know I am… weeks overdue…. (Eek) and I am REALLY REALLY SORRY! I have had relatives staying over, and rehearsals for a theatre play every evening, (the play itself went really well may I add) and I am still doing work for my interview... Sorry! :(

I'm sorry it's only short; more of a filler than anything else, but the next chapter WILL be longer! And not late, I promise!

I had no idea what to write for this chapter. Honestly, I was staring at the blank screen for ages.

I will stop babbling now, and hopefully the next chapter won't be so late! ~Littlelots