Thank you again! Sorry you had to wait a bit longer!

Got some great ideas about how to make the relationship go at a steady pace, thanks to : SmellofRoses and RaccoonMetal for your thoughts

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'..I, Thorin Oakenshield, love you.'

It felt as if her entire body had shut down, as if the words that had just been uttered from his mouth were just her imagination. Then she felt a warm fuzzy feeling creeping up and she couldn't help but let a smile show. Thorin did return her feelings. She was about to tell him that she cared for him so very much, but then her reality dawned on her.

She was a fool to think he'd love her once he knew the truth. No one had ever loved her, and the more she thought about it Bilbo probably only cared for her out of pity. Daisy felt her face fall and was vaguely aware of Thorin's concerned voice trying to reach her. Small tears made their way down her cheeks and she was angry with herself for crying in front of him. Angry at how she had come to this.

'Daisy? Daisy what's wrong?' Thorin asked, worry clearly expressed on his face and in his voice. Daisy shook her head and brought her knees to her chest.

'I-I c-can't,; Daisy's body shook as sobs racked through her.

'You do not return my feelings?' Thorin asked, trying to hide the hurt in his voice. Daisy's head shot up when he'd said those words.

'What?' She cried. 'No of course I return them,' she was panicking; Thorin thought she didn't love him.

She needn't have worried as Thorin quickly wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. Daisy leant into him knowing he might not hold her like this again once he found out.

'Tell me, what is wrong?' Thorin whispered into her ear. His heart was pounding; his feelings had been returned. Now that he had Daisy in his arms he didn't want to let go. But the sight of her crying worried him-what was wrong?

'You'll hate me,' The sound of her voice was muffled by his coat, but Thorin heard it clearly. He lifted Daisy's chin up so she was looking him in the eye.

'No matter what it is, no matter what you've done or what you will do, I will always love you. You must know that.' Thorin told her, looking deep into her eyes.

Daisy didn't know how to respond. No one had ever cherished her, told her they loved her as much as Thorin had just done. He wiped away her tears with his thumb and spoke softly again: 'What troubles you so?'

Daisy knew that she had to tell Thorin everything; he deserved that much.

'Y-you know when we first met?' Daisy began.

'How could I forget? You were quite a mystery. You still are. I must apologise for my rudeness then, I was clearly not thinking straight.' Thorin apologised into her hair. Daisy became more nervous.

'You had to explain your story to me because I didn't listen to your singing. In return I told you vaguely what had happened to me.' Daisy said shakily.

'Yes, I couldn't quite believe it but I knew there must be something more to it.' Thorin whispered.

'All of what I said was true. My father did abuse me, and then my mother joined in. I couldn't cope, I had no friends, no family I could turn to once grandma died.' Thorin's grip on her tightened.

'I swear if I could kill those bastards then I would.' He said aggressively.

'Don't talk like that,' Daisy said fearfully. Thorin mentally kicked himself. Of course she would be scared of violence.

'I wouldn't do anything to hurt you Daisy.'

'I know.' She closed her eyes. 'The scar on my cheek, that happened the night I d-died. I,' She took a deep breath. 'Have several marks from where I've been hit.' Thorin growled.

'Who would do that to their own child? Those marks I saw on your back this morning, were they..?' He trailed off, not wanting to here the answer. He felt Daisy nod. 'Will they ever fade?'

'I do not know. But that isn't all. I remember vaguely telling you something about cutting myself.' Thorin froze a little. Now that she mentioned it, he did remember such words being spoken the night they met.

'You did.' Thorin said quietly, not wanting to rush her.

'I always had so much emotion running through me, so many questions and so little answers. I needed something to help me control everything and I don't know how I ended up doing it, but I began to cut myself with knives I stole from various kitchens. It was just a way to stop my anger, and I got used the pain. But then it became more serious than that. I thought it was my fault that my parents hated me so I began to punish myself. I'd cut deeper and more frequently. I-I' Daisy shook as more sobs threatened to escape from her lips, but she calmed down a bit as Thorin placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.

'Do you wish to continue?' Thorin asked gently and Daisy nodded.

'I lost the will to eat. There was never anything in the house and once again I suppose I was punishing myself. T-then Grandma died and I was completely alone. Then Mum hit me and I lost it. I gave up. The night I died I took out a small knife; I suppose you could call it a dagger, and took a bath with my dress my grandma had made me on. I-I took that knife and I sliced one wrist open and then the other, lay back in the bath and lost consciousness. When I woke I was in a field and Fili and Kili found me.' Daisy paused and Thorin didn't dare speak.

They sat in silence for a few moments until Daisy broke it again.

'That night when I woke up screaming in the camp and you came, I dreamt that my parents had found my body. My Dad, he said he' Daisy let out a cry and Thorin closed his eyes, close to tears himself. He couldn't believe that this had happened to her and he'd been a fool and was rude and arrogant to her when they'd first met. When she'd been the most vulnerable; when she needed the most help.

'It's okay, I'm here.' Was all he managed to offer and he knew it wouldn't help much.

'He, he said he didn't care. He said he was glad I was dead. Though he was angry because they would be questioned over my death and possibly blamed. I know I dreamt this but I know it's what happened. I could feel their emotions, it was like I was a ghost watching them. When you came last night and I was on my balcony, I'd just woken up from another dream. This time they were with a man, and were pretending to cry about me being dead. The man was comforting them, saying it wasn't their fault I died. Then they were talking about how they would flee, and they were annoyed about having to act sad for my funeral. I c-can't believe I let myself come to this, you must think I'm a m-monster. You must hate me-,'

'You are not the monster, nor was any of what happened to you your fault. I cannot say how truly sorry I am for not helping you sooner, and I can only hope that you will forgive me for being so arrogant. I can't tell you how much I love you, and I swear now that I will always protect you, until my dying breath.' Thorin said firmly and he meant every word.

'Y-you will not love me when you see what I've done. I'm ruined myself.' Daisy explained.

'You could never ruin yourself, do not think that. You are perfect to me.' Thorin told her. Daisy pulled away from him.

'You do not understand,' She cried. 'I'm scarred all over. Look,' Daisy rolled up her sleeves with shaking hands and revealed some of the scars. 'They will never go away. Everyday you'll be stuck with this reminder of how I'm twisted,'

'You are not twisted! Those cruel people who call themselves your parents are the ones who are twisted! I would not want you any other way, I've said it before and I'll say it again: You are perfect to me. If it is possible, now that I know your past I love you even more.' Thorin took her back into his arms where he felt Daisy let out a sob of relief.

'You really don't hate me?' She whispered.

'Never. I can only thank whoever brought you here.'

Nothing was spoken between the pair for a while as each was lost to their own thoughts. Daisy about what would happen next; she'd never been in love let alone a relationship before and she assumed that Thorin had.

Thorin was thinking about how he could make Daisy see that she was worth more than all the gold in Erebor to him. She was indeed very fragile and he knew he'd need to be slow.

'Daisy,' He said slowly after a long while. 'I wish to court you, if that is alright.' Daisy sat up straight. She had no idea what court meant, but assumed that it was like dating. She hoped.

'Y-yes,' She stammered. Thorin let out a low chuckle.

'There is no need to be nervous anymore. I'll have you know I'm very relieved you feel for me, I have been a nervous wreck these past days. Ask any of my men.'

'What would courting imply?' Daisy asked, trying not to sound too nervous.

'Well that would depend on whether or not you would like Dwarven courting traditions. Or would you prefer your own race?' Daisy was pretty sure that dating back home would not be suitable here. Going to the cinema was not an option.

'Dwarven is fine. So tell me, what are Dwarven traditions?' She asked curiously.

'Well the first…..stage you could call it, involves living apart for some time and exchanging poems and gifts. Though I highly doubt that living apart would do us any good, especially as we are on a quest. The second stage usually involves spending a lot of time together and getting to know one another's personality. Of course there are other ways, such as braiding of the hair to symbolise love.' Thorin explained. Daisy's breathing increased. She couldn't quite believe that she was about to court Thorin, and it was possibly more daunting than setting out on their journey.

'Y-yes, they seem fine,' Daisy replied and Thorin smiled at her. 'Will the others mind?'

'What do you mean?' Thorin asked her, puzzled.

'It's just that I'm not a dwarf. And you don't seem to like the elves so I don't know if courting a human girl is acceptable to them.' Thorin took her hand.

'Even if it was considered scandalous, I would still do it. Though I could never love an elf. Not that I would, because I have you, but if I didn't I could never.' Thorin stumbled over his words. 'Not only because they betrayed us, but because they are annoying immortal-'

'I'm sorry? They're immortal?' Daisy asked her eyes wide.

'Yes.' Thorin replied, and then his mouth curved into a smile. 'Did you not know?'

'I don't think I want to know how old they are. When Ednam said he was old, I thought he meant like a hundred or something. Like you lot.'

'I should imagine master Ednam is older than I.' Thorin said gruffly, annoyed how they'd come to talk about the elf. ''But should they obtain injuries that could kill them then they are able to die. But, if they live a life like this then there is no doubt that several of them are thousands of years old. Anyway, my men will accept you.'

Daisy couldn't get her head around the elven lifespan. Sensing Thorin wanted to drift away from elves she decided not to talk anymore about them.

'I'm sorry; I've never loved someone before. It's all a bit new to me.' She admitted quietly. Thorin looked at her.

'I would never judge you. If you do not want something then I will not do it.'

'How public are dwarves in their relationships?' Daisy wondered. She wasn't at all accustomed to being more that hugged in private, so she prayed she didn't have do much to show their relationship to others.

'Do not worry about that. As I am king, no one would dare to question my relationship. We do not need to prove ourselves to anyone. Though you must tell me if you are not happy. Will you promise me that?'

'I promise.' Daisy told him before she leant back into his arms. She was a little frightened at the prospect of becoming a partner to Thorin. Surely they would do what people would do when they love each other and Daisy knew she was nowhere near ready for that. The thought of kissing was a little worrying to her. Thorin seemed to sense her discomfort for he tried to reassure her:

'I will not judge you, I promise. Whatever you want, remember that.' Daisy nodded against his shoulder.

They lapsed back into a comfortable silence. The only sounds were that of the waterfall and the distant singing.

'What will we do when we leave Rivendell?' Daisy asked suddenly. Thorin shifted.

'What do you mean?'

'Obviously if it is anything like it's been so far then it will be dangerous. I cannot defend myself and you cannot protect me without putting your safety at risk, what if one of us gets hurt? What will we do if something happens?' Daisy voiced her fears.

'Nothing will happen to you, or to me. I swear. We will still be together, if that's what you mean. Nothing will come between us, unless you are unhappy.' Thorin explained to her, stroking her arm soothingly.

'Thank you, for understanding everything.' Daisy whispered. Thorin simply held her tighter.

'If you do not mind, I think we should be heading back for lunch.' Thorin said as he made to get up.

'No, it is fine.' Thorin helped Daisy to her feet. 'Will we tell them?' Thorin took her hand in his and Daisy jumped a little at the contact..

'Only if you want to.' He replied.

'I don't think there is any point in telling them otherwise.' Daisy smiled, and Thorin beamed back giving her a kiss on her good cheek before guiding her back to the bridge.

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I hope I made this believable! I mean, Daisy is obviously going to be a bit more nervous than most about entering a relationship. But she will obviously be curious and such.

I think I'll get them to kiss or something in the next chapter, I just didn't want it to move really quickly in this one.

And hopefully we'll get out if Rivendell within a couple chapters, I want to get to the Misty Mountains soon and see how their relationship goes on the road!