Authors note: So here's Chapter two! It's actually long and I'm pretty excited about this story. Quick shout out to XxXSmiles101Xx, thank you so much for your feedback and ideas! Actually, the next one might be one of them! :D
Also, Cayden may seem a little naive but it's how I meant her to grow at this point in the book if that makes any sense. Ok, well that's all I've got soooo remember to Rate, Review and Enjoy.
After a few hours sleep in Laketown, the company began to relax. Most of them would eat and then sleep again with the exception of Cayden, Adelaide, and Bilbo. When Dwalin would wake up in the morning he would see the three of them lounge in the family area laughing and smiling. He had no clue what they would talk about but he only knew they were safe.
One morning, he walked down to see only Adelaide and Bilbo chatting. He walked over to them and their conversation stopped. "Where is Cayden?"
Adelaide looked at Bilbo with a smirk. She turned back to Dwalin and smiled. "Cayden and Kili, were talking upstairs last time I checked."
Dwalin scrunched his brow and looked up the stairs. "Thank you." He turned and walked up two fights of stairs to where Kilis room was. It was scandalous if they were both in his room with the door closed. Especially since Kili never asked Dwalin to even court Cayden! He swore in that moment if Kili, son of Dis, had Cayden in his room, he was going to kill him.
When he reached the top of the stairs, he notice Fili and Ori were peaking around the corner. He stood there with his arms crossed and his eyebrow raised when they turned to look at him.
Fili pointed at whispered. "They just came out of the room and they are speaking now."
Dwalin's face started to turn red, thinking that the worst was true, but Fili noticed this. "Dwalin the door was open and nothing happened. I was here the whole time with Ori. I don't think Kili would-" Fili stopped at a quick tapping from Ori. The three turned back so they could see just around the wall. Dwalin stood over the crouched boys and looked at the scene.
Cayden was wearing a dress, which Dwalin found interesting, and Kili was standing in front of her with his hands on her waist and his eyes staring at her lips. Cayden was staring at him, one hand was on his shoulder and the other playing with the lace on his white shirt. Her head was tilted slightly to the side but then she faced him forward and swept some hair out of his face. His eyes turned back to hers confused. Cayden smiled at Kili. "You over think things too much Kili." She said as if it were a silly fact.
He smiled then, and placed his hand on her cheek. "You are very right," he then moved forward and kissed her softly on the lips. Dwalin could tell Cayden was smiling in the kiss and returned it. Their eyes were closed and Kili inched closer to deepen the kiss. Dwalin noticed the corners of his mouth turn slightly downwards at the sight. Suddenly, Ori stood up and began clapping which made the couple stop and turn their head towards him As if the were deer caught by hunters. Then Fili strutted out and smirked with his arms crossed. " It 'twas only a matter of time for you two. I knew it the whole time. I can not wait to tell mother this story."
With that Dwalin walked quietly down the stairs until he reached the kitchen and made himself look like he wasn't just eavesdropping. Within seconds Fili had bolted down the stairs and out the door with Kili on his tail. Cayden and Ori had walked down the stairs with Ori questioning Cayden. "It was very sweet was it not? Is it love? I need to recount this."
Cayden blushed more when she seen Dwalin in the kitchen. "Ori can we talk about this later?" She said quickly and very low.
Ori then noticed Dwalin standing there and nodded. He quietly walked away leaving the two alone. With Cayden's face a beet red, she shuffled into the kitchen to get some water. Dwalin followed and cleared his throat. "I, for one, didn't think the lad had it in him."
Cayden looked back at Dwalin with wide eyes. "Well, yes, um..." She started to wring her hands. "So I guess you've heard."
"No. No one told me. I seen it for myself." He said crossing his arms. "I expect him to ask for my permission to court you now."
Cayden looked at him with wide eyes. "Doesn't Thorin have to approve of me first?"
Dwalin sighed. "I believe Thorin has already approved of you. Nothing really escapes him."
Cayden nodded. "What will happen after Kili asks you?"
Dwalin cleared his throat. "Kili will..." He sighed. It seem like he was explaining courting to a child. This was turning into a racy conversation for Dwalin. "Kili will..." He took a deep breath. "Kili will give you a braid lass. It will be done in private too. This shows other that you are spoken for."
Cayden nodded. "Oh. It doesn't sound so bad. I mean, it just a braid. You gave me a braid."
"It's not just a braid lass! You remember what I told you that different braids mean different things. I gave you a braid that indicates you are a part Clancy family. Balin, Addy, and I were all there for that. But this! This is your courting braid lass! It's a very intimate thing to our people!" He rubbed his face. "The braid usually is intended for those who, some day want to be married. It's the thought and feeling into the braid that makes it special. It has a vey deep meaning. And your intended is the only one who can give it to you. It can only be between you two."
Cayden looked at Dwalin then back at the floor. She felt like this was Dwalin's version of the birds and the bees. She stayed silent for a moment. "What happens if it doesn't work out? I mean, what if Kili or I change our minds?" She said sadly.
Dwalin thought before speaking. "Dwarves rarely find someone who they want to court. When they do find they have those affections for someone, they tend to keep them until the end of their days."
Cayden became quiet for a few moments. The look on her face showed she was thinking. She opened her mouth to say something then closed it.
"Cayden, if you don't want to court Kili, all you have to do is say so." Dwalin said walking towards her. It actually would relieve him if she said no so he didn't have to have a deep conversation with Kili.
She shook her head. "Actually, I was thinking that I have no worries being attached to Kili like this." She said as if it were ordinary, which made Dwalin mentally groan. "I like him a lot and he is very kind. I think I would be unhappy with myself if I didn't say yes to him."
Dwalin stared at her and nodded. "Then until Kili approaches me asking to involve himself in a courtship with you, you can not be alone with him. You have to be supervised or in a group. The only time you can really be alone is when you receive your braid. You know... Deep meaning and all that."
She laughed awkwardly and silence came over them. She nodded then spoke again. " I'm actually impressed with how calm I am about this. I mean, in my world, people find love and fall out of it so quickly. My mom being one of them. That's how Addy and I are related. Her mother died and my parents separated then, her father met my mother. I never thought I would find love or anything like it." She paused and looked to Dwalin. "Do dwarves even have divorce? Or I mean, separate from each other romantically."
Dwalin shook his head. "That is why we court. Some courtings last for 40 years. That's why we usually choose someone who we think we can spend the rest of our lives with."
After a few moments of silence they heard Thorin screaming about how the heirs to his throne should be squabbling over such non sense. Cayden smiled. "What do you think Dwalin?"
He paused and thought on this for a moment. He noticed how much Cayden actually meant to him and how some boy could take her away. He then imagined something that surprised him. He imagined Cayden with a child, and how happy she could be someday. He imagined her hand on her belly while wearing a nice dress. Her hair would be down and Kili would be with her stare at her with only affection and gratitude in his eyes. He also thought about how she would smile at him if she were to court this boy. Her eyes would light up and Dwalin felt that he would be at peace. He really thought Kili could take care of Cayden and keep her safe from the dangers of the world. That above all elsehi gave him peace. He then spoke. "Cayden, if you want this, I will give my consent."
She looked at Dwalin then, not as the companion on the adventure, but as a father figure. She noticed how soft Dwalin was around her. As if she a glass doll. How he treated her different and spoke to her different. She stood and gave Dwalin a hug, which he returned. "I am truly thankful I am a part of your family Dwalin."
They separated and he nodded. That's when the Durin boys bursted into the home with Thorin right behind them. Kili looked at Cayden and smiled then looked to Dwalin, who gave him a glare, and his face dropped. " Good afternoon Master Dwalin, you were just the Dwarf I was looking for. May we talk for a moment?" Kili said quickly breaking eye contact with him. Fili smirked at Kili being intimated by Dwalin. Which Kili should have been. Dwalin could crush Kili in seconds. He was then pushed to move forward by Thorin who stayed in the same place beside Kili.
Dwalin walked up to Kili and cocked his head to the side. "Let us go out then, Kili." He pushed past him and walked out the door. Kili looked at Cayden with wide eyes then turned and followed.
Cayden laughed lightly then looked at Thorin. Thorin nodded his head to her and continued forward. She could have sworn she him smirk. Or not.
She turned and looked outside the window. Hoping Dwalin didn't do serious damage to Kili. That would be a horrible way to start their courtship.