Chapter 15

A/N: I would really like to know what you guys think. I'll love to recieve PMs or reviews, letting me know if you guys like it or not. :) I have plans that I will speak of in the next chapter in my A/N.

Mariah sat in a barrel with Kili. How romantic, right? Only, not so romantic. They had fish dumped on them. Real dead fish. The smell was horrendous. Even some dwarves complained. Mariah couldn't help but think of what Alexis was thinking right now. She was probably barfing, which made Mariah giggle at the thought.

"What are you giggling about?" Kili whispered.

They were huddled close together, giving each other room to breathe but still able to be close.

"This situation. A moment ago, we were making out. Now, we have a pile of dead fish on us." Mariah replied in the same tone.

"Well, I'm just glad you're not easily sick." Kili chuckled out.

At that moment, they heard someone gagging and then coughing.

"Quiet! We're approaching the toll gate." Bard ordered them, kicking one of the barrels.

"Halt! Goods inspection. Papers please!" Mariah heard some man call out. "Oh, it's you, Bard!"

"Morning, Percy." Bard greeted.

"Anything to declare?"

"Nothing, but I am cold and tired. I'm ready for home." Bard replied to Percy.

"You and me both." Said the man.

Mariah heard papers being exchanged and then Percy and some guy spoke.

"There we are, all in order."

"Not so fast." The man said. "Consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland realm. Only they're not empty. Are they Bard? If I recall correctly, you're a licensed as a bargeman. Not a fisherman."

"That's none of your business." Bard spoke out in a rough tone.

By the sound of his voice, Mariah couldn't help but feel like they were going to get caught.

"Wrong. It's the Master's business, which makes it my business."

"Oh, come on! Alfrid, have a heart. People need to eat."

Mariah noted to herself that Alfrid is the name of the man who is being a complete asshole.

"These are illegal fish." Alfrid hissed out. Mariah heard the splashing of water, making her think that he was dumping fish into the water. "Empty the barrels over the side."

"You heard him." Came an unfamiliar voice.

"Folk in this town are struggling. Times are hard. Food is scarce." Bard pleaded.

"That is not my problem."

"And when people hear the Master is dumping fish back in the lake? When the riots start? Will it be your problem then?"

There was a moment that went by before Alfrid ordered whomever was dumping the barrels. "Stop!" Mariah heard Alfrid mumbling to Bard. He said something about a champion and protector of common folk. Was he an important person? "Raise the gates!"

Kili let out a breath he was holding in. The hot breath hit the coldness of Mariah's cheek, giving her a shiver running down her back.

"Are you cold, Love?" Kili whispered just above silence.

Mariah nodded. "But not as much as I would be if you weren't here. You're keeping me warm."

"When we get to land, I promise to keep you very warm. I don't want you to catch cold."

"Kili, no. It's my turn to take care of you. Once we make it to safety, I'm looking at your leg."

"Damn my leg." He cursed out quietly. "I'm fine."

"You're not winning this argument."

Once the company was smuggled into Lake Town, they made it to Bard's house. They went up through the toilet. Mariah and Alexis, being humans, were the only ones who didn't have to. All they had to do was hide their faces and be unnoticed.

"Come here." Mariah giggled out when she saw a wet and cold Kili.

"Here you go, Ma'am." Said the younger daughter, handing Mariah a blanket to give to Kili.

"Thank you, Darling." Mariah said with a smile, taking the blanket and wrapping it around Kili.

"You need this." Kili said as his teeth slightly chattered.

"Kili, you're wet and cold. I'm dry and much warmer than you are." She said with a slight glare. "Now, let me have your leg."

Kili let out a huff and propped his leg up for her to look at it. She gently moved the clothing around and saw the wound. Looking up, she lightly tapped Ori's shoulder.

"Ori, can you get Oin? Kili's leg looks infected and I want it treated right away." Mariah said.

Ori smiled at her and nodded, walking away to retrieve Oin.

"You'll be a mighty princess." Kili said in a warm tone.

Maraih turned her head to look at him. "I'm just looking out for my stupid prince." She teased.

Kili gave her a joking eye roll. "I know I'm stupid. I had to do it for the company and you. All I thought was that I need you to be safe. Opening the gates will give you safety. I didn't care if I was injured or died trying to do it. When I'm in that state of mind where I must protect you, it's all I can think about."

"You do know that without you in my life…"

"Shh…" Kili said, putting a finger on her lips. "Don't say it."

"You must know how I feel."

"I do. I feel the exact same." Kili grabbed her free hand and held it to his cheek. "I'm your humble servant and protector. I cannot let you get hurt. Not after what happened with the orcs."

Mariah thumped her chest lightly, making Kili laugh with a questioning look. "I'm strong."

"And stubborn."

"And stupid." Alexis added as she sat down next to Mariah. She leaned over and saw Kili's leg. "Ew…I vote you should cut it off and make a wooden leg. You can be a dwarf pirate."

Mariah rolled her eyes. "It's just a wound. It's not going to fall off."

"But think about it. You can make him taller."

"He would only have one long leg." Mariah said.

"Then cut the other one off." Alexis replied with a chopping motion with her hands.

"Can you shut up? I don't want to think about chopping anything off." Mariah said and then smirked. "Besides your tongue."

Kili, Fili, and Bofur let out a laugh.

"But I like her smart mouth. Gives me a challenge." Fili said with a wink.

"Shut it, Dwarf. You're no challenge."

Oin came over and had a look at Kili's leg. He wash it and did what he could to help with the pain. It looked all right, better than what it was looking.

"I'll check up on it tomorrow, Laddie." Oin said and gave Kili a pat on the shoulder before leaving.

"Ma'am." One of the daughters said. "I spoke with my father. He agrees that you and her," She said pointing to Alexis. "Should sleep in a bed. You'll be sleeping in my bed while she sleeps in my sister's bed. We'll sleep in bed with our father."

"Thank you, but I can't sleep without him by my side. He's injured and I need him with me." Mariah said with a grateful look.

Bard overheard the conversation and let out a huff. "Fine." He said when he came over. "Just don't…you know."

Mariah felt blood rush to her cheeks. "No, Sir! We won't…" She looked down at the ground.

"I thank you for your hospitality." Kili thanked as he rubbed Mariah's back, soothing her embarrassment. "You will not go without a reward."

Bard looked at Kili, giving him a slight nod. "Sigrid. Tilda." Bard spoke. "Show Mariah and…"

"Alexis." Mariah's sister said.

"Alexis to the beds." He eyed their clothes. "And get them a change of clothes."

Alexis and Mariah had different clothes on. Alexis was already down stairs with the dwarves and Bard. Mariah was upstairs with the daughters and Kili. Kili was on the bed, resting his eyes. Mariah was braiding their hair while they spoke stories.

"Tell us a funny story." Said Tilda.

"You must have some funny ones since you're in a group full of men." Sigrid added with a small laugh.

"Well, there was this time…" She let out a sigh, feeling like it was ages ago. "It was the first time I ever bathed while on this journey. Kili was on watch, making sure no dwarves or anything else was going to spy on me.

"No peeking!" Mariah called out.

"No promises!" Kili called back with a cheeky grin.

"I'll beat your face in... I don't care if you're a prince or not."

"Are you sure you are a human? You seem more dwarf."

Maraih slowly took off the clothes she was wearing. The river water flowed down stream, making a beautiful sound.

"Is that a short joke?" Maraih asked as she shimmied out of her underwear and bra.

Hell since she was going to bathe, why not get fully naked? She trusted that he wouldn't look.

"Be careful, Mariah." Kili said as he leaned against a tree, watching out for peepers and enemies.

The thought of anyone looking at Mariah's naked body made his blood boil. They aren't sweethearts, yet…but still she is his.

Mariah sat against a big rock, soaking in a deeper part of the river. It wasn't a fast current and it went up to the very tops of her nipples. It was cold water, but it was all she had. Slowly her body got used to it.

Suddenly, there was rustling of the bushes to her left. It was the opposite side of Kili, to her right. She jumped up from her spot, letting out a gasp and eep noise. The water splashed as she made it to shore.

Mariah turned when she heard more rustling of bushes and Kili popped up, looking worried and innocent as can be.

"Are you-…"

Mariah stood there in shock for a second before quickly hiding her body with her arms. Her breasts were pushed against one arm while her hand hid her crotch.

"Kili!" She yelled out.

Kili finally hid his eyes, but still faced her. "I heard you…I just…I'm uh!"

"I know! Just…shoo!" Mariah whined out as she still held her body.

"What's going on?" Mariah heard Fili ask as he made his way through the bushes. His eyebrows shot up and gave a slight whistle. "Well, hey." Fili said as he nudged his brother, not looking at Mariah anymore. "I didn't know you two were that close."

"Fili!" Mariah and Kili both cursed out.

Fili let out a roar of a laugh, turning around and walking away. "Don't have too much fun, kids."

Kili had his back to her and his face went hot. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

Mariah tiptoed to her clothes and quickly put her underwear and bra on. "You're fine. I heard a noise, but I think it was just a squirrel."

"You think?" Kili asked, forgetting about her being naked. He was more concerned about the sound.

"Kili…" Mariah frowned and put her hands on her hips.

Kili looked right at her bra. He wasn't really paying attention, just curious about the odd clothing. "What's that?"

"It's a bra. Women from my time wear these for our breasts. Know what, it's fine." She threw her hands up in defeat. "You've seen all that I got and this might as well ignored the embarrassment and not care."

Kili bit his bottom lip, trying to hide his amusement. "If it helps, I like what you have."

"Well, that's good. Because I can't change what I have if you didn't." She said and put on the rest of her clothes.

"Come here." He said and took her hair in his hands. "You need to squeeze the water out better. I don't want you to get sick and cold." Kili said as he squeezed the water out.

"I am sorry; I was too busy on trying to hide my naked body."

"Does this mean you're going to beat me?" He asked.

"Are you smirking?" Mariah asked, knowing the answer.

"No." He lied.

"Are you lying to me?"

"Yes."

Mariah let out a laugh and turned to face him. "You're a horrible liar."

"You're not mad?" Kili asked and placed his hands on her hips.

"Not as much as I should be, but whatever."

The girls were laughing as she told the story. She heard a huff from behind her. Turning around, she saw Kili's eyes were open and he was staring at her.

"It's not my fault I wanted to protect you." He pouted.

"I never said it was." Mariah said and moved to sit on the bed he laid on. "You're a good person, Kili. Thank you."

He leaned up as he placed a hand on the back of her head, bringing her down and kissing her lips. "You need to rest." He said and looked to the daughters. "Thank you for the bed. I wish I could show how much this means to me."

"No problem! Have a nice night." Tilda said as she walked out of the room.

Sigrid stood up and fiddled with her fingers. "Please be safe with whatever you two are doing. I don't want to hear either of you getting hurt of dying."

Mariah smiled at the young woman. "Don't worry. We'll be fine."

"Oh!" She said before making it out of the room. "Don't forget to invite me to the wedding."

Kili nodded and looked at Mariah. "Wedding?"

"I may have told them that we are getting married." Mariah said as she laid down next to Kili.

"And we are." He promised and kissed her deeply.

His tongue swept across her bottom lip, asking her to open up to him. She did and at that moment, Mariah had lost all common sense.

They were all tongues, breaths, and quiet moans. Fingers were tangled in hair while others cupped a butt or back.

"Mariah…" He breathed out against her lips. "We must wait until marriage, Darling."

Mariah let out a sigh and placed her forehead on his nose. "We also promised to not have sex on the bed."

Kili kissed between her furrowed eyebrows. "That doesn't mean we need to stop kissing."

"You know as much as I do that if we continue…"

"Honestly, if it happens then it happens." Kili spoke right before kissing her again.

A/N: Hmm…so what do you people think? Did they do the dirty or just have a make out session? :3 Let me know what you think!