Ok , please remember that this is AU. I changed alot in the plot, but I hope that you like it anyway.

The dwarves of Erebor made their way around the lake as fast as they could, for the orcs would run them down if they paused longer than necessary. Kili, who had been hit by a morgul arrow, was slow and hobbled, but Fili supported him as much as he could and they were able to keep up.

'Laketown is on the other side of the lake.' Kaya pointed into the mist covering the surface of the lake. 'The Northern Realm is a day at foot. Will Kili make it?'

'He will have to.' Thorin frowned and looked back at his nephew. At first, Kaya thought that he was annoyed about Kili delaying the company, but as she looked at him again she could see concern and worry in his eyes.

'We have good healers, they will look at the wound when we get there.' Kaya assured Thorin and hurried up the next hill. She was only wearing the undertunic the elves wore below their armor, black pants and knee high boots. Since her clothes were still wet they clung to her body at all the right places and Thorin had to concentrate on the path. He tried to dismiss his attraction to her by asking her a question which was lingering on his mind since their imprisonment.

'Why did you ask the elves to help us?' Thorin asked Kaya, who only looked at him in surprise.

'I could not help you by myself.' Kaya shrugged her shoulders. 'You needed help against the spiders and the orcs. And to be completely honest, the elves at the gate were actually there to recapture you and your company. I only got Legolas and Tauriel to help me.'

'You are friends with the elven princeling?' Thorin grumbled and looked at the princess, who nodded.

'Yes.' Kaya looked back at Thorin in a challenging way. 'Is that a problem for you?'

'Yes.' Thorin grinned under his beard. Sometimes he was grateful that the beard did hide some expressions.

'Why?' Kaya continued to walk ahead, but she was really curious. She did not know what to expect, but she did not expect Thorins following action. The dwarf king grabbed her hand and pulled her to the side, away from the rest of the company.

'Dwarves are very posessive. They protect what is theirs and they do not share.' Thorin looked at Kaya and his expression softened. 'And you are mine, princess.'

Kaya shivered. On one hand she felt attracted by his posessivness, but on the other hand she would not accept beeing patronised by Thorin.

'I am nobody´s. I belong to nobody and I will not let you or anyone else rule over me as if I was nothing.' she snarled and tried to free herself from Thorins grasp.

'And, princess...' Thorin smirked as he pulled her close. 'I am yours. Wether you want it or not.'

'What...' now Kaya was speechless. 'You do not even know me.'

'You do not know me either.' Thorin smiled, for the first time since they met. 'But nevertheless you offered to support our quest and you fought at our side. You affronted your longtime ally, king Thranduil, in my favor. And...I do not understand why. All I understand is that I was not able to forget you, as hard as I tried. I could not forget the way you were looking at me, nor the way you spoke to me when we first met. You are my equal, Kaya.'

Kaya lowered her gaze and bit her lower lip. She knew that he had to feel like she did. From the moment she had seen the dwarves pass through the gates of Rivendell she had not been able to forget him either. The princess did not understand it. Never before had she fallen in love with a man. That a dwarf would capture her heart that easily scared her. But apparently, she was not alone in her lovefoolishness.

They arrived in the Northern Realm at nightfall. The guards at the gates immediately recognised their princess and let them pass. Kaya asked for the healer immediately before she turned to the great hall. With a sigh she looked at Thorin.

'I will introduce you to our queen. I would suggest that we take Master Balin and Master Bilbo with us, the rest of the company will be taken care off. The healers are already on their way.' Kaya told the king of the dwarves. Thorin could see a hard look in her eyes and frowned. It appeared as if the princess was not happy to see her own mother. But he nodded and asked Balin and Bilbo to accompany them to the throne room.

The palace was a large building made of grey stone, while the other houses in the city were mostly made of wood. As they entered a cold breeze made them shudder and they immediately noticed that the atmosphere in the throne room was as icy as the temperature. The queen sat on her throne, to her right sat little girl. Both looked upon their guests with arrogant interest. Kaya walked to the throne and bowed her head.

'My queen mother, may I introduce you to Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, king under the mountain? And these are Master Balin and Master Bilbo from the Shire.' Kaya introduced her guests. 'We...King Thorin is on a quest to reclaim his kingdom from the dragon who took the Lonely Mountain over a century ago. As a future neighbouring kingdom I offered him our help.'

The queen looked down at her daughter and cocked an eyebrow. Then she looked at Thorin and her expression changed. A smile lightened up her face and made her appear nice and gentle. Only when she looked at her daughter, her expression grew hard again.

'King Thorin? Stories about the dwarves and the fall of Erebor are told to all of our children. We were longing for the day when the rightful king would reclaim his throne under the mountain again.' while the queen spoke, the little princess at her side frowned and looked at the dwarves in mild disgust. But Thorin ignored her. 'Although my daughter made an offer which was not hers to make, I can assure you that I will not turn my back on a former ally and hopefully a future ally.'

Thorin could feel Kaya go stiff beside him.

'Thorin Oakenshield, at your service.' he bowed his head politely. 'The diplomatical bonds between our kingdoms have been strong during the rule of my grandfather, Thror, and I will do my best to ensure that this bond will be reestablished when Erebor is reclaimed.'

'Erebor is guarded by the dragon Smaug.' the little princess spoke. 'You were not able to protect your home a hundred and fifty years ago, what makes you think that you can reclaim it now? Where is your army?'

'Moya.' the queen scolded her. 'It is polite to introduce yourself first.'

The little princess stood up and bowed. 'Moya, daughter of Neeya, at your service, master dwarf.'

'He is a king, Moya, you should adress him as he deserves it.' Kaya said coldly, but her little sister only looked back at her arrogantly.

'A king without a mountain.' Moya sneered and only sat back down at the glare of her mother.

'My daughter has a valid point, king Thorin.' the queen continued. 'How do you plan to reclaim your homeland? And what kind of support do you await from us?'

Thorin glared at Kayas sister before he answered. He disliked the little girl, who showed clear signs of elven arrogance. her pointed ears and silky hair also showed her heritage. 'We are in need of weapons and supplies. Our company is small and we will not need much. But after we reclaimed the mountain we...I would be grateful for some military support to defend the city.'

'I see.' queen Neeya eyed Thorin intensely. 'Weapons and supplies you may have, but as for the military support... You have to understand, this kingdom is small and my soldiers are few. I need more than your word of a future alliance before I send my troops to your aid.'

'I am sure that we will find an agreement which suits both sides, your majesty.' Balin stepped forward.

'I think so as well.' queen Neeya smiled brightly, which made a cold shover run down Kayas spine. 'Kaya, Moya, would you please leave us, this is a matter between the king, his advisors and me.'

The princesses both only left reluctantly, which made queen Neeya shake her head.

'The gods punished me with two stubborn daughters.' she remarked and made Thorin smirk. Kaya was not only stubborn, but she had an own will which not even her nother could break. 'Now, king Oakenshield, what do you have to offer for my support?'

It was late at night when Thorin, Balin and Bilbo returned. Kaya had kept herself busy by staying at Filis and Kilis side. The healer had plaed as he had seen the wound, for her could not heal a wound caused by a morgul weapon. Only the elves could heal such an injury. Elves. Kaya cursed. She had left her warhorse in Mirkwood and she would need a fast horse to reach the Woodland Realm in time. Thranduil had closed the gates because of the dark threat growing at his borders. She would never reach any elven help in time. But she had to try.

Clad in the leather armor of a mere messenger, Kaya rushed to the stables to find a horse. She found a particular nasty one, but he was also the fastest horse they had left. With a sigh, Kaya mounted the beast and had to fight it for many long moments before it bowed to her will.

'Nobody is more stubborn than me, my friend.' Kaya murmured to the horse. 'Only dwarves.'

She was about to ride to the gates as a dwarf with white hair appeared in front of her horse, causing it to panic. Kaya struggled with the scared horse for a while, but she managed to calm it down.

'Master Balin! What on earth...?' Kaya could not be mad at the old dwarf. He was the father figure she never had and his fatherly behaviour calmed her.

'You cannot ride now, lass.' Balin held up his hands to stop her.

'Kili needs the help of the elves, there is nothing our healers can do for him. I have to go. Now!' Kaya wanted to ride around Balin, but he stepped into her way. His reluctance made Kaya curious, but she could not waste any more time. 'Please, master Balin, I have to ask the elves for help. Only I can ask prince Legolas for help.'

Balin sighed. He knew that she was right. The elven prince would help a friend. 'Come back safe, lass.' he murmured and smiled at Kayas determined nod. 'Thorin will have my beard if he learns that I let you go.'

'Thorin should know by now, that I obey to nobody´s commands.' Kaya smirked. 'Next time, he can try to stop me himself.'

With these words, Kaya rode past the gates and into the nearby woods. She took the secret path which connected the Northern Realm to Mirkwood. She had not even reached the borders of Mirkwood, as a red haired elf jumped onto the road in front of her and pointed her arrow at the princess.

'Tauriel, dego!' Legolas appeared out of the shadows, he was riding Kayas warhorse.

'Legolas!' Kaya exclaimed in relief. 'What are you doing here? Why aren´t you in the Woodland Realm?'

'We followed the orcs until they crossed our borders.' Legolas exclaimed and looked at the captain of the guard with a frown. 'We will not let them leave unpunished.'

'They are on their way to Laketown.' Tauriel informed Kaya. 'They think that the dwarves fled there.'

'Well, they are wrong.' Kaya sighed and turned to Legolas. 'I ask you this because you are my friend and I need your help. The dwarves are in the Northern Realm. One of them, Kili, was wounded by a morgul arrow. None of our healers can help him.'

Kaya could see Tauriel flinch in the corner of her eye and knew that she already had the help of at least one of the two elves.

'What makes you think we can? Why should we help them?' Legolas asked and his look turned hard.

'I know you, Legolas!' Kaya rode to his side. 'You have a good heart and you would leave nobody to die and suffer in pain. Your father has abandonned his former allies as the dragon came. I know that you would not do the same!'

Legolas clenched his teeth and said nothing, but Kaya found an unexpected ally in Tauriel.

'We have already let evil become stronger than us!' she exclaimed. 'We have the chance to fight it. Now.'

Both women looked at the prince of Mirkwood and Legolas sighed. He had no choice and he knew it. Tauriel would go with Kaya if he refused. He nodded and helped Tauriel onto his horse before they rode for the Northern Realm.

'Do you have kingsfoil?' Tauriel asked Kaya and used the term men usually knew.

'I know athelas.' Kaya growled and frowned at the she-elf. 'Our healers use it to lower fever. I already asked them to bring it.'

After a hard and fast ride the two elves and the princess arrived at the gates and rushed towards the healing house. Kaya ordered two servants to take care of the horses and ran into the healing house behind Legolas and Tauriel. She noticed that Legolas was carrying Thorins sword and hoped that the king of the dwarves would focus on the health of his nephew instead of on the elves.

Thorin kneeled at the side of his nephew and Kaya could see the same sadness in his eyes she had seen in Rivendell, as Elrond had spoken about his family´s madness. Kili was pale as the sheets and his brother Fili was struck with grief. Both jumped as they saw the elves enter the room and Kaya hurried forward to prevent any sort of fighting or yelling. She held up her hands and pushed Thorin back to make room for Tauriel.

'Tauriel and Legolas are here to help!' she told the dwarves. 'Please, let them.'

Thorin looked as if he was about to object, but a look at his nephew´s state made him close his mouth in defeat. Kaya gave Tauriel a bowl of athelas mashed in water and Tauriel kneeled down at Kilis side. The dwarven healer Oin was in the room and watched the she-elf with big eyes. Fili on the other hand looked nothing but distrustingly at the elves. Tauriel took the athelas and pressed in onto Kilis wound, making him scream of pain. Fili was about to rush to his brother, but Legolas held him back with an iron grip. Tauriel leaned into the wound and started to speak old elvish enchantments. It was as if the room started to glow as Kilis screams and moans grew quiet and he started to breathe more easy. The king´s nephew was not pale as death anymore as Tauriel finished her treatment, but he still had a high fever.

'You must rest now.' Tauriel told him and pushed the sweaty streaks of hair out of his face with a gentle move of her hand. Legolas watched the scene and Kaya could see him clench his jaw. Tauriel was like a little sister to him and he hated the fact that she obviously felt attracted to the dwarf.

'He will be fine now.' Kaya turned to Thorin and smiled at his expression of relief.

'Alright. Maybe you will listen to what Balin and I have to say to you now.' Thorin cocked an eyebrow at the princess and gently grabbed her arm to make her follow him out. Thorin looked back at his nephew one last time before he closed the door behind them.

'What could possibly be so important that it could not wait?' Kaya demanded to know and turned towards Thorin. 'And where is Balin?'

'I thought that I should tell you what your mother asked of me in return for her help.' Thorin looked at the princess and frowned. 'Balin is already working on the contract with Ori.'

'A contract?' Kaya shook her head. 'She should not have asked for anything in return. This was not necessary, Thorin.'

'Yes, it was.' Thorin paused as he took a deep breath to continue. 'And you should know that the price for her help and support was your hand.'

'My hand?' Kaya looked at Thorin and froze. 'She...she offered my hand in marriage?'

Thorin nodded and saw Kaya take a deep breath. He stepped back in expectation of her outburst. But it did not come.

'To Fili?' she asked and Thorin felt a sting in his heart. But Kayas voice was not trembling of hope, it was trembling of defeat.

'No.' Thorin moved towards her. 'To me.'