I have no excuse for this pathetic chunk of a 'chapter'. But the truth is, I recently have become obsessed with the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and BBC's Sherlock... But aside from that.

Oh, and I found the scene in Star War I, where you can see our dearest Richard Armitage in...

Anyways, the next one will be out soon, now that I've got past this chapter (I was literally forcing myself to write this one) I have a plan, be prepared for the Durin brothers in the next one!

Thank you to the following:

Vault108: safe... for now ;)

Lady Legend-Maker: Um, I'm not going to say anything...

UKReader:... I was back, for a bit...

Guest(s): thank you, and I might let them live... XD

C.G (Guest): You'll see

Chapter 12: Runûk

Thorin and Ahvain fell asleep a little while later in each other's arms. This was of course after the 'silly half-elf' received her water and had passed her thanks to Dis. Said she-dwarf smiled and told her something along the lines of 'anything for family', but Ahvain, comfortable in Thorin's warm hold, was half asleep after drinking the tonic Óin brought, and heard nothing. Thorin had actually heard his sister's words and smiled brightly to her before drifting off himself.

Dis was thrilled to see her brother smiling again. He hadn't done so since Fili had been born, and then again when Kili was born years later. Any other time the smiles were faked and never reached his eyes.

The she-dwarf set down the mug she had gotten for the elf and looked out the window, an area of stone that had been carved out and fitted with glass. From here Dis could see the markets thriving with trade between neighbors. Since things in the Blue Mountains had settled down, a sense of normality had taken hold.

Dis' lip twitched, Thorin had taken an interest in an elf, an elf, and that was not normal. What would the others think about Thorin's woman? She had accepted the elf on the basis that the woman was able to bring a grin to her brother's commonly grim features. But she couldn't account for the others.

She wondered when, or even if, Thorin would announce his courtship. It was the week of the new year and celebrations were in full swing. If he announced it at one of the feasts in the upcoming days it could be taken the wrong way (having an elf at the festivities of a dwarven holiday...).

Dis released a heavy sigh, the new year would start any day and her brother would be expected to make an appearance. Perhaps the elf would not be well in time for the parties. Óin would need to come check on her and confirm that the woman was indeed well enough to attend any type of gathering.

A commotion out in the streets caught Dis' eye. People started to crowd around something or someone. From the kitchen window she could not see exactly what was occurring, but the throng of dwarves grew in number. The she-dwarf put the mug in the wash bin and wiped her hands on her skirts before heading towards the door.

By the time she had made it to the heavy oak door, an acquaintance of hers had broken from the still growing crowd of dwarrow.

"Lady Dis good morning, have you heard the news?"

Dis shook her head, "I have not, what is happening?"

"It has been announced! Tonight is to be the last day of the year."

"It is?" Her thoughts went to her two boys who were still out hunting for tonight's (now important) feast.

"Indeed, I was just on my way to inform Lord Thorin, I heard he returned early yesterday."

"Yes he did. I can pass the information onto him for you."

"Thank you My Lady and good day."

"Good day to you as well."

Dis turned her back on the celebration in the square and reentered the hall of her brother. She would have to pass the news onto him soon, he was the King after all, he would be required to make a speech about something important (maybe the elf woman he'd fallen in love with and was now laying beside as she fought a sickness), and then formally announce the beginning of the new year.

Perhaps she had been over thinking things with Thorin and this elf? She should be happy that Thorin had found a woman to love, but, a nagging thought continued to rack her brain. What if he was under an elfish spell? What if she was only pretending to love him to sneak into the dwarven community? What if she was here to assassinate Thorin and her sons? What if….. NO!

Dis may have just met the elf, but she couldn't see the small woman doing anything of the sort. Well, out of the few words they had spoken to each other, none of them had shown any malice. And the fright she'd shown when she first awoke, if she was planning on destroying the dwarven settlement then she wouldn't have looked so scared. Then there was that deep red blush that came across her cheeks when she made a jest at her brother's sex life. It was cute, she seemed so innocent, and some one like that couldn't be the source of a catastrophe.

Dis watched the crowds gather in the streets from the kitchen window, much like she had earlier.

The question was, could Dis risk it? Could she risk this elf breaking her brother's heart? Could she risk the corruption this elf could cause?

So, yeah,

the next one will be out sooner or later... but not as late as this one... but yeah...

love you Sidney... don't kill me...

...