Chapter 14

Warning: There is some naughty parts at the end of this.

The crew were all sailing on the boat. Mariah had Kili leaning on her, rubbing his arm opposite to her for comfort. The air was thick with fog. The boat they were on was moving at a slow pace, lightly tapping the ice as it went by them.

"What were you and that elf talking about?" Kili asked out of the blue.

"Who? Legolas?" Mariah asked and Kili nodded. "Mostly about you and that elf maid. We also talked about my necklace."

Kili sat up, wincing at the pain, but ignored it. "What about me?"

Mariah blushed a bit, feeling embarrassed about how she felt in the cells. "I was jealous. He told me not to be, that you and her were only speaking about stuff."

Kili moved a bit and showed her a rock with a symbol on it. "We talked about this." He said with certainty in his eyes. "I may have also mentioned to have you switch cells, so I could be with you instead of being alone. She said it's not possible." There was a moment that went by before he spoke. "She asked me what you were. I told her that you are a human. She wondered why you were so short and I responded with a witty comment."

"What did you say?" Mariah asked with a small smile on her lips.

Kili toyed with the rock as he spoke. "I told her it's because you were made for me. That if you were tall like a normal human, I wouldn't be able to reach you. So fate had made you into a short human so I could have a better chance of kissing you and looking into your beautiful eyes."

Mariah let out a giggle and nuzzled into the crook of his neck. "I'm short, because my parents aren't that tall of humans either." She said and then sighed out. "I guess I'll take your answer too."

Kili moved so his arm was around her back, bringing her closer. "Good, because I like my answer too."

"Get a room." Mariah heard Alexis say in disgust.

"We would if there was one." Mariah said back. "Just don't look and plug your ears."

"Or you could just not do that."

"Or you could just shut up."

"Girls. Girls…" Gloin sighed out, holding a hand up to the two of them. "Calm down."

"I think it's sweet." Ori finally spoke out.

"Thanks, Ori." Mariah said with a warm smile.

She felt Kili's mouth pressed on her head, kissing her with some force. The small human loved it when he did things like that. It is as if he was marking his scent on her or showing affection. The kind she needed from him. It's weird how one moment she didn't need this and another, it was like she needed him to breathe.

"What is this by the way?" Mariah asked as she slowly took the rock out of his hand, examining it.

"A promise." Kili said and took her hand that held the rock, so they both held if. "My mother gave this ruin to me. It symbolizes a promise for me to come back home safe."

Mariah sat there and felt her heart shatter at the thought of his mother letting her babies go. "I'll make sure that promise is kept." She said and thought about her mission ahead. Her choice was to use the power of her necklace, saving the dwarves but losing her chance on ever going back home. The other choice was to go back home, forgetting everything that had happened. However, if she did chose to save them, then she could possibly die from the energy burst from her necklace.

"Are you going to protect me from the enemy?" Kili asked.

Mariah could hear the smirk in his tone. She turned her head to look at him. There was no humor on her face or tone. "To the best of my abilities, yes."

Kili's smirk turned into a loving smile. He took his hand away from hers and ran a hand through her greasy and dirty hair. He never minded it. In fact, he preferred it like this. It showed that she worked hard and didn't care much about her appearance. He knew that she knew he loved her and that was one of the things he was in awe of.

"Come on now, Lads. Turn out your pockets." Balin said as he made his way to the rest of the company.

"How do we know he won't betray us?" Dwalin whispered.

"We don't." Thorin answered back in the same tone.

Mariah watched Balin count the coins that were handed to him after she gave Kili back his ruin. Her hand found Kili's side and gripped at his clothing.

"There's um…just a wee problem." Balin said to them. "We're ten coins short."

Mariah sighed. Bard is going to betray them if he didn't get his money. Getting an idea, Mariah stood up from the floor of the boat.

"Here, let me handle this." She said as she held out her hand for the money.

Balin was hesitant at first, but gave her the coins anyway. They all watched her walk to Bard. He was much taller than her, standing at a good six-foot tall.

"Mr.…uh…Bard?" Mariah spoke in a quiet voice.

He turned and looked at her. His lips turned in a kind smile. "Just call me Bard."

Mariah gave him a slight nod. "We have a problem." She started to gnaw at her lip, trying to look as innocent as she could be. "We are ten coins short, but…but I can do house work. I promise I can cook well and clean well. I'll even help wi-…"

Bard let out a laugh and ruffled her hair. "You remind me of my eldest daughter. When she wants something, she always has that same face." He held out his hand and Maraih slowly gave him the money. "Don't worry about it. I'll let you guys be ten short, because what I have in store for you lot…well you'll need to have a lot of patience and acceptance."

Mariah let out a joyful squeak when she heard that her plan worked. "Thank you so much!" She said and went back to the company. "He says it's okay. I told him I would do housework, but I don't think he accepted that offer. However, he did say that we're good to go."

The dwarves all smiled and patted her on the shoulder. Fili went up to her and picked her up, giving her a big brother bear hug.

"Can't. Breathe. Fili." Mariah gasped out, making Fili laugh.

Kili stood up from his spot on the floor. He wobbled over to her and put an arm around her. "You're the best." He said and held her close, kissing her forehead.

"Quick all of you. Into the barrels and do not say a word." Bard ordered them.

"There's only enough for fourteen." Dwalin said as he looked around.

"Some of us will have to double up." Thorin said and pointed to Mariah. "You and Kili, get into a barrel." He then pointed to Alexis and Bilbo. "You two get into one."

"Don't order me around, Dwarf." Alexis bit out, but did what he said anyways.

There was enough space for Kili and Maraih to fit. It was a tight fit and uncomfortable, but they could breathe and enjoy the closeness of one another.

"I'm glad he said for me to get in with you." Mariah whispered to Kili.

"It's because you're mine. He knew I wouldn't let you in one with anyone else. Well, maybe your sister. Even then, I would have a slight fit about it." Kili replied as he scooted a bit so Maraih could fit her feet around him better.

They sat face to face, fronts touching each other. Her arms were around his shoulders and she made sure to not apply pressure to his injured leg.

"You're very beautiful." Kili spoke as he nuzzled her cheek with his nose.

Maraih let out a quiet giggle. "Shut it, Prince." She teased.

Kili rolled his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. "You know, when we marry…you'll be royalty as well."

"I'll be a princess?" Mariah asked and leaned her head back so she could see if he was lying or not.

"Yes." He answered and tugged her as close as he could.

She felt the hardness of his body. The warmth radiating off of his body started to be too much. His eyes dimmed and he looked down at her lips.

"I can't wait any longer." He said right before he pressed his lips against hers.

Mariah responded back, kissing him with just as much passion as he was giving her. Her fingers tangled in his hair. She felt something harden between her legs, against her crotch.

Knowing what it was, she pressed against him. He let out a soft and quiet moan in response. Kili pressed against her even more, grinding against her with what room he had.

"Kili…" She breathed out quietly.

"I know, Love." He whispered back and trailed his hands down her back. "I want it too."

"We can't. Not right now." She said and ran a hand over his cheek. "Believe me, I want to. Right now, it would be a bad moment."

Kili let out a soft laugh before agreeing to her words. "Yes, it would be quite unpleasant for them to hear and…or see us."

Mariah kissed his lips briefly before smiling at him. "You're trouble."

"But you love it."

"I do…"

A/N: Hello! I'm back! :D I hope that this chapter made up for my absence. Tell me what you think. I would really like to know how you all feel about my story and where it's going. If you would like something to happen, please let me know. Who knows? I might put it in my story. ;) I like to make my readers happy. Also, I have been thinking about rewriting my story. Not completely, just fixing it up and maybe adding a few things here and there. I have noticed that I have changed as a writer. So when I look back at my early chapters, I kind of get second hand embarrassment.