The axe swung and crashed into the training dummy. It was wrenched back, only to slam straight back into it, and the frame creaked ominously. The axe wielder gritted her teeth and spun the small axe in her hand. The length of the axe was the same as from the tips of her fingers to her elbow and it was one bladed, rather than the double that most Dwarves preferred. Another axe hung on her back, but that one was ignored for the moment as she vented her anger on that stupid training dummy and her breathing was harsh in the night. A frustrated, angry, strangled scream pulled free from her throat and she hit the dummy with all of her might.

The head sailed through the air and landed on the ground, rolling a few paces to settle near a collection of weapons. Fury filled hazel eyes stared at it for a long moment and Ovila couldn't restrain a bitter, angry sob. No one believed that Farar had begun the argument, not with her reputation, and it was infuriating and hurtful. She was many things, but a liar was not one of them and to be accused of being one filled her with rage and sadness all at once. With a final scream, she threw the axe at the remains of the training dummy and watched the weapon sink deeply into the straw padding of the dummy. The sickening crunch of the blade hitting the frame at the back was strangely satisfying and she panted for breath.

"It's you?!" a stunned voice shouted and Ovila swung round sharply. She drew her second axe and her eyes narrowed on the gaping Kili. "You're the phantom?" he demanded incredulously and she snorted, turning away from him. "When did all of this even start? Who taught you?" he spluttered and she met his gaze straight on.

"Are you going to tell everyone?" Ovila asked sharply and Kili squirmed uncomfortably, lowering his eyes to the ground. "I won't ask you to lie," she added and he seemed surprised at that. "I'm not a liar," she snapped, feeling insulted, and he held up his hands.

"I know, I know, you always admit you're the one that hit me first, though you always seem rather proud of that," Kili muttered the last bit and rubbed his jaw. "I'm sorry you got blamed for what Farar did," he added and her eyebrows flew up in surprise. "I don't like seeing you in trouble, you know," he defended and she snorted again.

"Really? You're always wearing that stupid smirk when I'm getting shouted at and you're being coddled," Ovila retorted in a harsh voice and Kili shrugged, scuffing his toe on the ground. "If you were in trouble, for once in your blessed life, I'd enjoy it too."

"I get into trouble, just not when you're around," Kili countered and he grinned a little. She rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly, biting down a smile. "I do," he promised, holding his hands up, and she had to smile a bit. "I think Mother can shout louder than Miss Thondi," he stated and she shook her head.

"The voice you've heard Mama use is her voice for company and it's nothing compared to her yelling when we're at home with no company," Ovila countered and ran a hand through her messy hair. She still had the bird pin caught in the thick, blonde locks and she almost got her fingers tangled in her hair. "Are you going to tell anyone about…this?" she gestured to the training ground and Kili frowned slightly.

"You'll have to stop if I tell," he said quietly and she just watched him carefully. "Go, before Mister Dwalin gets here and sees you too," he sighed and she stared at him.

"Really?" Ovila asked, stunned, and Kili met her shocked eyes.

"To apologise for the whole Ovila the Vile thing," he promised and she smiled brightly.

"Thank you, Kili," she said sincerely and yanked her axe from the training dummy. "This doesn't make us friends," she added quickly and he laughed.

"Us? Friends? That'd be the day," he shot back and she ran down the street quickly.

The axes were still clutched in Ovila's hands as she disappeared in the dark and Kili stared after her. He wasn't actually that surprised that she was the phantom of the training ground, because she certainly had the arm to swing axes around and he should know. He rubbed his jaw again as the memories of her little fist smacking into it rolled through his brain and he sighed. It wasn't necessarily his fault that she was so much fun to wind up and it wasn't his fault that it was extremely funny to watch her round cheeks turn red and her hazel eyes spark.

Something shiny caught Kili's attention on the ground and he frowned slightly. He took a few steps forward and stooped to pick it up. Rested in the slightly grubby palm of his hand was a silver bird hairpin that looked extremely familiar and it took him a moment to place it. It'd been nestled in Ovila's blonde hair at Fili's party just a few hours ago and she'd obviously forgotten to remove it when she'd come to the training grounds. It was a little muddy now, but the dirt was easily brushed away and he turned the silver pin over in his fingers. It was obviously expensive, probably given as a gift, and, if Ovila didn't miss it, Thondi certainly would. He should give it back as soon as he could, just drop it by their house.

"Kili," Dwalin's voice was loud in the night and Kili hastily curled his fingers over the pin in his hand. "Who did that?" Dwalin asked, jerking his chin at the ruined training dummy.

"I don't know, it was like that when I got here."

The phantom of the training ground became a story to scare children as no one managed to find out just who the phantom was. Dwalin sometimes put rookies on watch duty for annoying him and everyone secretly longed to find out who it was. The rumours of who it was slowly died away as the months turned into years and the dummies and targets always seemed to be more damaged than they should. Dwalin even started to like the phantom when roughly made targets and dummies were anonymously put into the training ground to replace the ruined ones. They were strong and the shape was clear enough, though the work was sloppy and the maker obviously wasn't experienced. The thought was enough, though, and the new equipment lasted as long as the old had.

No one seemed to notice the nicks and cuts that Ovila's hands gained and people put it down to her work in her father's butcher shop. She was happier, was even polite to Kili, who was polite in return, and she was thirty-two now. Her brothers were still helping her train, while her parents were delightfully oblivious and Thondi had just accepted that Ovila was happy. She still had her outbursts of temper, especially when someone insulted her family's honour or integrity, but she was learning to control it. People still called her a firecracker and her temper and her enmity with Kili was still spoken about behind hands when gossip was running low.

"Good morning, Miss Dis," Ovila greeted as Dis entered the butcher's and Dis smiled in return. "We've got your order in the back, just give me one moment," Ovila smiled and finished tying a the string around the joint of beef.

"You take your time, Ovila," Dis said kindly and Ovila quickly wiped her bloody hands off on a rag. "Are your parents and brothers not here?"

"Father and the twins are out hunting for more stock and Mother's sorting out the deliveries in the back, if you want to talk to her," Ovila answered and Dis nodded. "Mother! Miss Dis is here!" Ovila called and went through the doorway to the back. She reappeared a few moments later with Thondi on her heels and she handed over Dis' order of a carefully wrapped leg of lamb. "Mother, I'm heading home now," Ovila stated and Thondi nodded with a quick pat to Ovila's shoulder.

Ovila curtseyed briefly to Dis, then gathered her cloak and took her leave. Plain brown skirts swept around her legs as she pulled her cloak around her shoulders and fastened it firmly at the base of her throat. Her long, thick braid was swung over her shoulder to bump down the length of her spine and she ignored the crowds bustling around her. She'd long ago stopped feeling small in the bustling crowds and had learnt to shoulder her way through a particularly thick crush of people. Some stepped aside to allow her through, mostly those ten years or so younger than her that had heard tell of her temper and some had even witnessed it. She greeted those she knew with a smile, nod, or wave, though Old Greta did give the young Dwarf girl a dark look. As Ovila's temper was well known, so was Old Greta's tendency to remember every slight and every insult sent her way.

The sun was warm against Ovila's skin and she paused on her way past the training ground. There were male Dwarves swinging swords, sparring, shooting arrows from bows and crossbows, throwing axes and daggers. A pang of envy resonated through her, though not as strongly as it used to before her brothers began to train her and she became the phantom. She rolled her eyes at one boy's weak attempt to fling an axe and it landed about two feet short of the target and she itched to get in there and show them how it was done. The boy scowled deeply at his failure, at the mocking laughter from the others, and Dwalin soon had the laughter silencing with a strong bellow. Everyone turned at Dwalin's shout and he looked frustrated, a deep frown on his face. It brought his incredibly bushy brows down sharply down to almost hide his eyes, an expression rather familiar to Ovila, and she had to smile a little.

"You're all bloody useless!" Dwalin shouted, pointing his finger at the group of Dwarf boys that couldn't have been more than fifteen. Ovila had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself laughing out loud and tucked a loose lock of hair back behind her ear when it brushed over her cheek. "You'll be lucky if the phantom doesn't show up to show you how it's done!"

"The phantom doesn't exist," one of the boys denied, but he shifted uncertainly and Dwalin raised his bushy eyebrows to what should've been his hairline, but Dwalin was losing hair on top nowadays.

"Doesn't he? Then explain that to the ruined targets that you boys definitely aren't hitting," Dwalin retorted and Ovila giggled softly.

"So, is the phantom going to show them how it's done?" Kili's teasing voice suddenly asked lowly and Ovila jumped. She turned her head sharply to see him stood beside her with a wicked grin on stupid face and she rolled her eyes at him. "I think Dwalin's half in love with the phantom; always talking about him," Kili continued with a cheeky grin and Ovila sighed.

"The phantom isn't here, Kili, and, if he was, what would we know of it?" Ovila replied airily and Kili grinned at her. "I have to go and arrange a few things at home," she stated and walked away with a quick wave over her shoulder. "Goodbye, Kili."

"Didn't they used to fight all the time?" one of the boys asked and sounded almost disappointed.

"Maybe they grew up, maybe they fell in love and are having an affair, I don't care, just pick up the bloody axe and get to work!" Dwalin bellowed.

Ovila laughed lightly at that, because her and Kili in love and having an affair was just ridiculous. She shook her head at the incredulity of it all and turned the final corner to her home. Her neighbour's sons were playing in the street and she ruffled their hair fondly. They whined at that, barely reaching her hip, and she just let herself into her house to get to her latest project. She'd have another two hours alone to finish putting the finishing touches on the target that Chalrim and Calim had carved. All she had to do was paint the actual target onto the wood and slice away any protruding pieces of wood on the handles and outside of the target. It wouldn't take too long and she went out to her father's old work shed with a slight smile on her lips and a song on her tongue.

Bit of a slow chapter, I know, but it's all part of the build up and it's important to the plot.

Thanks again to all of those who reviewed and put this story on alert and their favourites.