Sorry for the delay i'm still having beta issues. I can't seem to find one that's still being a beta, if you would like to beta this story for me hit me up.. my apologies for any spelling and grammar.

Chapter 4

Liana sat out on the balcony gazing down at the town below. The hour was late and the stars were hanging low in the sky. There was a cool breeze coming off the frozen mountain top and a low fog gathering on the ground sweeping through the town.

She took a deep breath, letting the coolness of the night air fill her lungs. Winter was coming and she could tell by the snow covering the tops of the mountains that it was going to be a long hard winter, which didn't bother her. The cold rarely bothered her. There was a low rumble off in the distance followed by a flash of light. A storm was moving in, the last storm before the cold of winter took hold. She shook her head letting her ears flop back and forth after she ran a hand over the top of her head.

She didn't want to be here. She didn't like being out in the open like this, exposed. She was angry at her father for dragging her half way across Middle Earth to see this Arkenstone. He could have come without her, without exposing the clan like this. But it was his choice as a ruler to make and she was sure he had some underlying, unseen reason for it that she hadn't realized yet. He farther rarely did things out of character and trekking to the other side of Middle Earth, exposing the clan, was very out of character.

She grunted to herself, shaking the thoughts out of her head. She wasn't one to dwell on things she couldn't change. She was here now and she was rather enjoying her little games with Thorin so she might as well deal with it.

Moving over to the bed she crawled on top of the cover her head facing the open window. It didn't take long for sleep to find her. She was exhausted from the long trek to the Lonely Mountain and then the excursion into the woods earlier.

Liana was already up when Thorin came to her door the next morning. After knocking and receiving no answer he let himself in. At first glance he thought maybe he had missed her and that she had already left for breakfast without him. As he turned to leave, however, he caught sight of the tip of her tail as it swayed back and forth out on the corner of the balcony. She was sitting up against the wall and the edge of the balcony with one leg hanging off the side. "Good morning Thorin, I trust you slept well." She said with a grin as he walked out and joined her.

Thorins face was solemn and unchanging "I believe I am supposed to ask you that."

Liana got up and walked over to where Thorin was standing in the doorway. He couldn't help but notice there was something about the way she walked, it was more like a sway, her hips going in one direction her tail in another.

Putting her hand on his chest she said, "hey…big boy…, I'm up here."

Thorin suddenly flushed a warmer shade of white. 'The closest thing to flushing as he could get,' Liana assumed.

"I am sorry. It's just your tail; seeing it on something with two legs is quite captivating." His face was returning to its normal shade.

Liana smiled and held out her arm. "Shall we then?" She twitched her tail playfully as he reached out and took her arm. Her hand finding its way to the top of his shirt where the tops of several purple bruises were peeking out. She couldn't help but admire her handy work.

"You are very assertive for a woman" Thorin's voice filled with confusion due to her behavior.

"I am what I am needed to be to survive in this world." Her answer was plain as she looked up at him. Her voice told him he should question it no further.

It didn't take long for Thorin to escort Liana to the dining hall. The closer they got the louder the sounds were. Noises of plates crashing and burping filled the air as they rounded the corner and coming face to face with the main doors. Her ears twisted from side to side as she tried to compensate for the loud sounds and different directions they were coming from.

As they entered the hall she was completely caught off guard by the lack of manners that were being displayed.

There were three long tables each filled with dwarves, some singing and some dancing on the tables. There were plates flying through the air followed closely by food.

Two dwarves walked up and bowed to Liana. One was blond headed with long blond braids through his hair and mustache. The other had black hair with a short well-trimmed beard.

"Fili and Kili, at your service," they said in unison as they bowed to her.

"Liana these are my nephews." Thorin stated as the two righted themselves. Liana smiled warmly as she dipped her head to the side in return. "I am Liana, of the woodland Fae."

Both Fili and Kili were younger looking than Thorin and shorter, although Thorin was tall for a dwarf.

"So Liana how long will you be staying here in the Erebor with us?" Fili questioned as he wedged himself between Liana and Thorin and proceeded to walk her down the long rows of tables to one that was less stuffed with dwarves. The table he led her to was occupied by a few dwarves but mostly Fae. Kin from her travels were gathered there eating, including her father.

"As long as my father wishes it," she said in response as she greeted her father with a forced smile. She was still upset with him for dragging her here.

"So what's for breakfast?" She asked as she took a seat next to her father on his right hand side. Fili and Kili took the seat on her other side and Thorin sat himself across from her.

Lord Edoras looked down at his plate full of red meat. He chuckled to himself. "It would appear that it is some sort of meat."

Liana giggled. The one thing Fae had in common with dwarves was that they both enjoyed a hearty helping of red meat. Smelling the bowl that was set down in front of her "Mmmh, smells like white oxen."

Thorin looked up from his plate. "You know your meat."

"That I do. It is always helpful to know both your prey and your meal."

Lord Edoras garbed Lianas free hand in his. "I missed you last night my daughter." His face told her he was annoyed with her actions of skipping the party but his voice said he expected it.

"I am sorry father. I got caught up talking with Thoirn all night and lost track of the time." She wasn't totally lying. But she knew her dad well enough to know if he knew she took off hunting instead of attending the party he would be far more upset with her.

Lord Edoras turned his gaze to Thorin. "I trust my daughter was no trouble last night?" Lord Edoras had one eye brow cocked as he waited to hear Thorin's confirmation of his daughter's actions.

Thorin swallowed hard. Before him was the great Lord Edoras, Lord of the Fae. In his Fae form he was extremely intimidating even to a dwarf with his massive form, razor sharp canine teeth, impeccable hearing, and battle ready claws. Lord Edoras and the Fae he commanded could very easily wipe out all of Erebor if he chose to.

But on the other hand he had been assigned to escort Liana and she was his charge while she was staying in the mountain. And even thought he had been a complete pain in the ass she had proven to be entertaining and good company.

Thorin brought his gaze up to meet that of Lord Edoras. "It is as your daughter said. We got caught up talking on one of the outer walls and lost track of time." Thorin's eyes momentarily drifted to Liana's. "My apologies that I failed to escort her to the festivities."

Lord Edoras' eyes shifted back to his daughter's. "I see, well no harm done I suppose." He knew both of them were lying, but he saw the possibility of a friendship between the two and saw no reason to chastise them for skipping out on a dull party to have some fun.

There was a long silence between them while they all ate their breakfast. Kili was the first to break it. "Liana, would you care for a tour of our city today?" he asked with a bright smile on his face.

Liana smiled warmly at him. "I would love one, thank you."