Chapter Four

Mariah knocked on Bilbo's bedroom door. Everyone else went to bed so maybe now is a good time to talk to Bilbo. How could she convince him to go?

Her thoughts were stopped by the door opening. Bilbo poked his head out and raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, hello. Do you need something?" He asked.

"I'd like to talk to you about the adventure." Mariah said with a smile.

"Yeah, I've been thinking about that. Part of me wanted to go but I like being at home. I like being in my cozy chair, sitting by the fireplace and smoking my pipe." He admitted with a sigh.

"I know what it's like wanting to just stay home. Trust me." Mariah shifted her weight to her left side. "The reasons I want to go is to help them get back their home and also to try to go back to mine. I have grown fond of these dwarves, I wish to help them."

"You mean you've grown fond of Kili." Bilbo corrected with a small smile, making Mariah blush.

"Well, I mean, he's cool and all…" Mariah scratched her head and then fidgeted with her fingers.

"Get some sleep, you'll need it. Here…" He said and then went back behind the door to his bedroom. He came out a few seconds later with a blanket, pillow, and a small coin purse. "You'll need these for the trip. There isn't much in there but it's better than nothing." He frowned and held up a finger before going back into his room.

Mariah heard a bunch of small grunts and movements from Bilbo's room. Soon enough Bilbo came back with a dress and a robe.

"This was my mother's. You look to be around her size, maybe a bit smaller. You'll need these so you can have a change of clothes. The robe will help keep you warm." Bilbo said as he handed her the clothing.

"You don't have to, really!" Mariah said with a shake of her head.

"No, I feel like I do. I feel so bad for you. You lost everything you had and I want to help you in any way I can. Please take this stuff."

Mariah sighed and kept shaking her head. "You being there will help me."

"…Mariah…" He sighed out. "Just take the stuff and I'll think about coming. Okay?"

"I'll pay you back, I swear!" Mariah said with a grateful smile.

"Don't worry about it." Bilbo said with a small smile. "Goodnight, Mariah." He slowly closed his bedroom door.

Mariah walked back to the living room and seen Kili on the floor, sleeping under his blanket and having another blanket for a pillow. His face looked so peaceful and young. She heard a lot of snoring coming from everyone else, but Kili had a small snore. It was cute. She smiled to herself and made her way to the spare bedroom that Bilbo had said eariler to her that she could use.

The next day, Mariah had gotten dressed in the clothes Bilbo gave him. The dress went down to, almost, the ground. It's a green dress with golden string around the waist area and under the breast. It fit her fine. It was a little loose around the tummy area but the string helped with that. Her robe is a light grey that reached the ground. She put the hood down and had the robe drape over her shoulders. She still wore her shoes but they weren't really seen because of the dress. Mariah had put her hair in a French braid so it wouldn't be hanging around her face.

She looked in the mirror and rolled her eyes. Why couldn't she have brought makeup? Oh right, the beach. She hadn't planned on going on a journey.

Mariah grabbed all of her things and put them in a bag. She put more water in her water bottle, which had a purifier in it. Her phone was off; she planned on using her phone for music when she was bored. She had brought her earphones, thank god. Too bad she didn't have a phone charger, maybe like a solar powered one would have been nice to have, since there isn't electricity. She put her phone in a little pouch that was around her waist.

It was early, way too early to her liking. She looked around at all the dwarves and seen no hobbit. Although she didn't really try too hard, or at all, to convince Bilbo to come, it would have been nice to have him see us off.

"You look very pretty, my Lady." A familiar voice from beside her said.

Mariah smiled and went over to Kili. "Thanks. Bilbo gave me this." She said and twirled around to show off the outfit.

"Well, it goes well with you." He said and then got down on one knee, taking her hand and kissing it. Her heart was fluttering. She had never been kissed before, not even like this. He looked up at her and smiled. "I'm very happy to see you come with us." He stood up and pointed to the horse that carried all the bags. "You can ride that pony if you want."

Mariah shook her head. "I um…don't know how to ride a pony." She admitted, not looking at him.

He thought for a moment before responding. "Then you can ride with Fili or me!" He said happily.

"I can walk! I don't want to burden anyone…" She trailed off but then Fili picked her up while Kili got onto his horse.

In one swift motion, Mariah was on top of Kili's horse with him behind her. He put his arm around her waist and smiled when she turned her head to look at him.

"You need to stop worrying about everything. You're not a burden and you're not going to walk." Kili said.

"No maiden should ever walk such a long journey." Said Fili as he got onto his horse.

"Especially one as beautiful as you." Kili said with an even bigger grin, his teeth now showing.

"He has such a perfect smile." Mariah thought. "Still, you two didn't need to gang up on me and force me to get on a horse with you." Mariah teased with a small pout.

"What you didn't want to ride with me?" Kili asked with a playful shocked expression.

"I…I didn't say that!"

"So, you do then!"

Mariah turned away from him and hid her face. "I…I didn't say that either!"

Kili chuckled and ran a hand over her side.

"I guess the hobbit isn't coming after all. Such a shame…" Nori spoke out.

"Maybe we should wait…he could be getting ready." Ori said.

"We have no time to wait. If he wants to come he will have to catch up. Now, let's go." Thorin said as he got on his horse.

Some time went by and a voice was shouting from behind them. They all stopped and turned to find their hobbit running towards them, with the contract fluttering in the wind. He stopped and gave the contract to Balin.

Balin read it and smiled. "Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Mr. Baggins."

"Give Mr. Baggins a pony." Thorin ordered as he started to ride again.

"Oh no, that's fine! I-" he was interrupted by two people picking him up and placing him on the pack horse.

The look on his face as we rode was so funny. He looked so scared of the pony, she couldn't help but giggle.

"That's a beautiful sound…" muttered Kili.

Mariah turned and faced him. "Huh?"

"You're giggle, it's a beautiful sound."

"Oh, thank…you…" She thanked with a pink tint to her cheeks.

"You're welcome, my lady." He said with a warm smile.

"My lady? What don't like my name?" She teased and stuck a bit of her tongue out at him.

He chuckled and stuck his out as well after replying. "Would you rather I call you your name?"

"If you want…" she shrugged and leaned her back onto his chest.

They rode in quietness until Kili spoke up. "You said you don't know how to ride a pony, how do you and your people, from your time, get around?"

"We drive vehicles or ride bikes or bicycles. They are…hmm how should I explain. I guess I can show you pictures with my phone. I have taken pictures of my car." She said and took out her phone, turning it on.

Mariah unlocked her phone and went to her gallery. She scrolled through her photos and found the pictures she was looking for.

"That's my car. It's not much but it runs well." She said as she showed him the picture.

"Vehicle…car…?" He asked as he tried to get used to the words.

"They run on electricity, gas, and a lot of other things I know nothing of." She explained.

"What is electricity?" Fili asked.

"Um…I guess you can think of it as lightning but as an energy source. It helps light up rooms with light bulbs, turn on televisions, and all kinds of stuff. Now a day's people don't use candles to light up rooms. Although, sometimes there are thunderstorms or storms in general and knock out the power. People come and fix it but within that time frame people use flashlights or candles." She explained and giggled when she seen their confused faces. "Sorry, there's a lot to explain. Maybe sometime, if I can…I can bring you to my world?"

"That'd be fun." Kili said and rubbed her waist absentmindedly.

"What about music? Do people still listen to music?" Bofur asked as he included himself into the conversation.

"Yes. Although music has changed to vulgar and inappropriate, there are some songs that are sweet and lovely. I can show you if you want? I have music on my phone."

"Sure." The three said.

Mariah scrolled through her music and frowned. "I don't know what to show you…"

Bofur spoke up. "Pick your favorite one."

"I have a lot of favorites. I guess right now I am into 'Broken Vow'…" She trailed off and frowned. "But it's a sad love song.

Kili poked at the screen, with his huge finger, and chose the song and it began playing. The lyrics started off and Mariah quietly sang along with it.

"Tell me his name

I want to know

The way he looks

And where you go

I need to see his face

I need to understand

Why you and I came to an end

Tell me again

I want to hear

Who broke my faith in all these years

Who lays with you at night

While I'm here all alone

Remembering when I was your own

I let you go

I let you fly

Why do I keep on asking why

I let you go

Now that I found

A way to keep somehow

More than a broken vow."

She felt Kili tighten his hold around her as he heard the words. She could tell he didn't like it. As the song played, Mariah looked up at him and whispered to him.

"I can change it…"

"No, it's fine. Please continue it…" Kili whispered back.

"I close my eyes

And dream of you

And then I realize

There's more to love than only bitterness and lies

I close my eyes

I'd give away my soul

To hold you once again

And never let this promise end…"

Mariah felt Kili put his lips against the back of her head. She felt his warm breath in her hair and it made her smile.

"Seriously, all this man was doing is breathing and I get all girly about it?" She thought.

The song ended and she paused her music so it didn't play the next song.

"Such a sad song…" Bofur said.

"Why do you listen to such sad songs?" Kili asked.

Mariah turned a bit to look up at him. She shrugged and then looked through her music again.

"What's...go back up…what's that song?" Kili asked and clicked on it.

Mariah smiled and let it play. The song he chose is called "Lose My breath" by Destiny Child. When it started playing she looked at Kili and laughed when he frowned.

"People listen to music like this?" He asked.

"It's a nice song. I mean not romantic but nice...it has a nice beat to it."

"True…" He said, making her smile.

"If you want, you can show me some music you guys know…it's up to you." She looked up to meet his gaze.

Kili made eye contact with her. It felt like the world had slowed down and it was just them two. Mariah couldn't look away. She never had a man give her any attention at all, well besides that one time. Mariah broke the spell he had on her by looking away. There's no way Kili is interested in her. He's a friend, that's all.

"I thought I told you to stop worrying…" He whispered in her ear. "If I have done something wrong, please tell me. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

She whispered back and she turned her head, not making eye contact. "It's not what you think…"

"Enlighten me then." Kili whispered.

"I'd rather…not. I don't wish to relive my past memories right now. It would spoil the mood even more."

Kili frowned but nodded. "I'm sorry; I just want to know more about you."

"Why?" She whispered confused. "I'm nothing special…plus there is nothing to know about me."

"That's where you're wrong. You are and there is…"

She looked up into his eyes, but the spell he had on her wasn't affecting her completely.

"What do you see in me?" She asked.

He shrugged. "Just, something…"

"Enlighten me then." She said with a small grin, making Kili smile his goofy grin.

"Maybe later." He said.

An hour or so had gone by. Her phone was shut off. Mariah was leaning against Kili, feeling his torso move against her as he breathed. It's very terrifying how important this man was to her in such a short amount of time.

"How would he react knowing I'm not….pure?" She thought to herself. "I wonder if he would understand…that it wasn't my choice. Would he want me still? Does he even want me? I just met him…"

To break the silence she spoke up, talking to Kili and whoever wanted in on the conversation.

"So, Gandalf said I am now in the past. He said yes to wizard, witches, knights and royalty…" She trailed off and turned her head. "So, there are kings, queens, princes, and princesses?"

Kili nodded to her and smiled. "Yes, there are."

"I've never met royalty before. Think I could?" She asked with a big smile.

She had no idea that Thorin, Fili and Kili are royalty.

The company, all but Thorin, laughed or chuckled.

"Possibly…" Kili said with a wink.

Fili was chuckling to himself.

"Well…when I was a child, I always dreamt to be a princess or a mermaid. All the stories I have heard and the shows I've watched…I don't know. It's a stupid dream I had."

"Do you still want to be?" Fili asked.

"Oh right! Because a prince would totally go for a woman like me! Ha!" Mariah shook her head. "I mean, yeah I do in a way…I guess it's every girls dream to find Prince Charming."

"Well, who knows? A prince might fancy you and want to get to know you more." Bofur said. His tone of voice was as if he was hinting at something.

"How about…I promise to have you meet royalty?" Kili said.

"What would you want in return?" She asked.

"For you to tell me more about you…" Kili trailed off and ran a hand over her waist.

The touching caused her to blush. It wasn't a sexual touch, no. It was more like a soothing and caring touch.

"Okay, deal." She said with a big grin.

"We'll make camp here!" Shouted Thorin as he got off his pony.

The rest of the company all got off their ponies but Mariah wasn't really skilled at it. Kili had to catch her from falling to the ground when she had gotten off. It was so embarrassing.

While they all were setting up camp Mariah and Bilbo heard a wild shrieking. Mariah turned to Kili and Fili, who were sitting by the campfire, with a worried expression on her face.

"What was that?" Mariah asked.

Kili showed no happiness in his tone or face. "Orcs."

"Orcs?" Bilbo asked with wide eyes.

Mariah went over to Kili and sat by him closely, feeling safer by sitting near him. He put an arm around her as he and Kili spoke.

"Throat cutters. There'd be dozens of them out there. The low lands are crawling with them." Fili said in a serious tone.

"They strike, in the wee small hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams. Just lots of blood." Kili added.

Mariah stopped breathing as she thought about what the two said and then heard them laugh.

"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?" Thorin said as he went up to the two boys.

"We didn't mean anything by it…" Kili said with no trace of humor on him and Fili's face.

"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." Thorin walked off to be by himself.

Mariah sat there quietly. She scooted away from Kili and sat more closely to Bilbo. She didn't bother looking over at Kili or Fili. If she did, she might have smacked the two in the face. Why would they tease her and Bilbo like that?

"Don't mind him. Thorin has more cause than most to hate Orcs." Balin said to defend Thorin.

Balin told us a story about the battle between the dwarves and the Orcs. He talked about after the dragon took the Lonely Mountain; King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria. It made Mariah feel so sad and wished she could just hug Thorin and tell him everything is going to be alright. Of course, she wouldn't dare hug him. He probably wouldn't even allow it either.

"And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow, there is one I could call king." Balin said.

"…King?" Mariah thought to herself and seen everyone stand up and look to Thorin. "King?! Thorin is…" She looked over at Kili and Fili. "That means-…Fili…Kili…" She looked back at Thorin. "They are princes!"

Thorin turns and stares at the company.

"And the Pale Orc? What happened to him?" Bilbo asked.

"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." Thorin said with a menacing tone.

She helped set up camp and had to cook the food. She helped serve the food as well. Everyone complimented on how good her food was and that made her smile. Even Thorin, when he took his first bite, had a satisfying look.

Mariah sat by herself, eating here and there. She felt two people come over and sit by her.

"What's wrong?" Fili asked.

"You've been quiet. Are you angry with us?" Kili asked. "We didn't mean to worry you that much…"

"…Princes…you two are princes." She mumbled and turned to face Kili. "Why didn't you tell me? I feel like a fool…I said stupid things too…" She sighed and looked back at the ground.

"I never told you because I wanted you to know me for me, and not act differently because of my title." Kili admitted.

"People treat us differently when they know. Sometimes it's good, other times it can be annoying." Fili added.

"I guess, I can see that. Even though you two are Princes…I'm still going to smack you when you say stupid things." Mariah joked and ate a bit. "Oh and to answer your question…yes I am mad at you."

Kili bit back a smile and put his arm around her shoulder. "You know we didn't mean anything by it."

"I know, but that still doesn't change the fact I almost peed myself when you two were talking about Orcs." She joked.

The three laughed and Kili scrunched his nose. "Sorry, I didn't know you had such a week bladder. Next time, I'll keep that in mind." He teased.

"Oh please, next time I'll just shut you two up." Mariah joked back. "I guess, you made your promise, Kili. I got to meet royalty. I'll answer any question you have for me."

Kili smiled and started to ask her easy questions. Asking her about her friends and what they are like.

That night she went to sleep between Fili and Kili. Her back was to Fili, so she faced Kili. Mariah played with her necklace, which seemed to glow a bit more each time she looked at it. Mariah felt a cold breeze go by and she started to shiver.

Kili moved over towards her and shared his blanket with her. He was much warmer, and out of instinct to keep warm, Mariah scooted closer to him and laid on his arm, near his chest. She felt his heartbeat on her cheek as she started to drift away.

"Goodnight…Mariah." Kili whispered and kissed the top of her head.

"G….night…Kili…" Mariah mumbled out.

The next day she woke up in Kili's arms. He was talking quietly to his brother Fili. Mariah kept her eyes closed, not wanting to disturb their chat.

"You care for her." She heard Fili.

"That obvious?" Kili asked, his tone making it sound like he was grinning. "I don't know why, Fili. There…is something that draws me to her. It's driving me insane. I don't know why but if I am not next to her or if I can't see her…I feel as if she isn't real. That she's a figment of my imagination. I worry I won't be able to protect her one of these days and I refuse to let that happen. I hate how she thinks so low of herself…when she's all I ever think about." There was a long pause before he spoke again. "Do you think she feels the same?"

"Yes…I do, Kili…" She thought.

"There's no doubt in my mind that she does. But Brother, you need to speak to her about this though. One of the big reasons of why she's going with us is to find a way back to her world." Fili said. "I have grown fond of her as well, but not in that way. She's more of a sister to me. I told you before, Brother; I will help keep her safe."

"Thanks, Fili." He paused for a moment. "Do you think she would leave?" He asked his older brother with a sad tone. "I mean, if she finds a way back to her time."

"If she feels the same as you do to her…she'd stay with you until the day of her death." Fili said with a sigh.

"I guess, you speak the truth…but I believe if she did leave, she would come back for me. Maybe she'd say bye to her loved ones at home…if she left." She felt Kili press his lips to the top of her head.

"I would come back to you…" Mariah thought.

"For all we know…she'll be gone when her time here is done. It's what Gandalf had said. She may not even be able to control when she leaves or not." She heard Fili stand up. "Just try to not get hurt, Kili. I'd hate to see you fall for someone who would leave you without having second thoughts about it."

Kili said nothing in return. Instead she felt him tighten his hold around her, as if she was going to fly away. Maybe this was his way of knowing that she is real and that she is here lying with him.

Mariah didn't know what to think about all of this. What did it matter anyways? It was all a dream. She honestly still believed that is was, just a very realistic one. But a real prince wouldn't look her direction at all.

Later that night they set up camp again after a long day of riding a horse. Mariah cooked again, with the help of Bombur.

Gandalf had left the group, earlier in the day, out of frustration with Thorin. He claimed he had enough of dwarves for one day and wanted to seek the company of the only one around there who had any sense. He was talking about himself.

She saw that Fili and Kili were gone but remembered that they are watching the horses. So, she grabbed two bowls full of food and went to go find them. Bilbo came along with. He claimed he didn't like the idea of her walking alone in the darkness.

They found the two brothers and she went to hand a bowl to Kili but he didn't take it. Mariah frowned and looked around the forest, in the direction where they were looking.

"What's the matter?" Bilbo asked.

"We were supposed to be looking after the ponies…" Kili said.

"And…?" Mariah asked.

"Only we've encountered a slight problem." Fili added.

"We had sixteen…" The younger one said.

"Now there's fourteen." Fili finished.

"Great…" Mariah thought to herself.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed my chapter. I've been thinking about Kili and his interest with female elves. Should I have him be a small flirt towards them and make Mariah jealous? Or should I just keep that out?