Sorry for the delay! Work has kept me busy this week but here comes the new chapter for you! :)

Akilah Swiftblade: I guess that cool water really was necessary to cool our two hotheads xD Let's hope it helped :D

Teshka: Thank you for your reviews! I see you're catching up with the story and I'm glad you like it :D Kilarya needed it's biggest shipper back xD

kaia: Yeah, I just love giving Gloin the last word. He does it so well :D And no, it was of course not the only thing he got from that but it was - apparently - the one thing he decided to comment on :D

thebeezekneeze: I don't know if I should feel bad for keeping you up so late on a school night or to feel honored. I think I'm going for the second option :D Thanks so much!

Nimtheriel: Yeah, Thorin is going to a rather dark place at the moment, though who knows how it will all turn out in the end? Will there be King Thorin after all? King Fili? King Dain? No king at all? Who knows? (I do, of course xD) And you're right, Kili will definitely not forget this - or forgive it - so easily. You can't just go insulting his girl and expect to get away with it xD

Thanks to DGfleetfox, Borys68, Teshka, 88XeqtionerAngel88, ZabuzasGirl, Jocasta Silver, biddle29, KilisAMAROKprincess, jesskalynn4, Dalonega Noquisi, blaahblaahblaah, Hiding in the Shadow and FleurSuoh for your reviews! I enjoyed reading them!

Thanks to those who followed and favorited!

Now, here we gooo. Wheew.

For a while, heavy silence hung over the company as the dwarves either stared at the spot where Kili and Tarya had disappeared or at Thorin. The dwarf-king scowled at the numerous looks he was getting before he turned abruptly and marched towards the stairs that led up to the platform above the front gate. Without a word, he left the company behind and left the room.

For a while, he just stood brooding by the bannister, staring out into the dark lands that lay before the mountain. He should have known to keep a closer eye on Kili and that Amarok. His nephew was young and easily swayed; he'd always been rather reckless. Thorin had seen the way they had gotten closer, remembered even thinking about it when he had left them both behind in Laketown. Tarya had refused to come with them if Kili didn't. In hindsight, it seemed clear that there had already been more than friendship between them then. And he had been too occupied to see it, to take care of it.

"That was rather harsh," a voice suddenly said from behind him and Thorin didn't have to turn around to know whom it was. He said nothing as Dwalin came to stand beside him, bracing his arms on the bannister lazily as they looked out over the lands together. Night had fallen over the mountain and its surroundings by now and the moon was casting a pale light over the two dwarfs.

"I did what was necessary," Thorin just growled in reply without looking at his friend. Dwalin shot the dwarf-king a short sideways look, raising one bushy eyebrow at him.

"I politely disagree."

"Politely?" Thorin asked, his eyebrows rising of their own volition, though he still didn't look at the bald warrior. He knew exactly the look that Dwalin was giving him.

"For now," the bald warrior replied and Thorin just nodded slightly. He knew that Dwalin had developed a rather strong bond with Tarya over the last months, even though it still seemed strange that he of all people loved her like someone might love a niece or even a daughter. Dwalin had never been one to be overly affectionate. But then, he didn't have to be with Tarya. She didn't need to be pampered by anyone, and she didn't mind the silence that sometimes surrounded the bald dwarf for days.

"He cannot forsake his responsibilities just to please himself with a passing fancy," Thorin eventually said, his voice calm and deep now and Dwalin just looked at him silently as he spoke. "He does not realize what it means to be a prince of Durin, or else he would never have let it go so far."

"I don't think the lad had a great choice in the matter," Dwalin answered, now staring out over the lands before Erebor again as Thorin shot him a questioning sideways look. "It is not just a passing fancy, Thorin. It has been there ever since they first met. Only friendship at first. And then there was a small spark ever since she transformed in Rivendell."

"Since Rivendell?"

Dwalin just shrugged slightly. "You didn't see. In fact, I don't think even they knew. But the spark kept growing as the journey went on until eventually, Kili realized what he had on his hands after we left Beorn's." The bald warrior shot a short look at his friend who just stared ahead silently, though apparently having no intention to interrupt now and so he continued.

"He tried to fight it at first. I don't know exactly what his thoughts behind that were, but I know he tried to fight it. Because I was the one who told him that it was no use." At that, Thorin glanced over at him, his eyes narrowed slightly. Dwalin just raised his eyebrows to give the dwarf-king a pointed look. "He has found his One, Thorin. In the most unexpected way, I'll admit, but he has. Bonds like that are sacred and cannot be broken; you of all people should know that. Just remember how Dìs and Vìli used to be. You didn't approve of that union at first, either."

"That was different," Thorin grumbled in reply as he slightly pushed himself away from the bannister to face Dwalin, though he couldn't help but think about his friend's words. "Vìli was a miner. He was not of noble descent but he was a dwarf, after all."

"That is not the point," Dwalin said, shaking his head. "The point is that as much as you were opposed to their marriage, Dìs and Vìli were made for each other. They were each other's One and nothing, not even you, could stand between that."

"You want to say that I should just let my nephew be with a creature that is neither really human nor animal because he claims she is his One?"

"Tarya is not just some strange creature," Dwalin grumbled, audibly angry at that statement. "She's an Amarok, Thorin. She belongs to a strong and honourable race. And it doesn't matter whether she is human or wolf; she stays an Amarok. You should be proud that Kili has found someone as special as her."

"She is special because she's rare. That might make her precious but it doesn't make her a matching fit for a prince."

"She's special because she's Tarya," Dwalin replied and Thorin sighed quietly. "And she fits Kili like no one else could. She might not be princess material; I'll give you that. She has a young heart, untamed and bold. But so does Kili. And even though she will probably never truly be tamed, she can learn. She's smart and honest, and she has been loyal to us ever since we first came across her."

Dwalin looked at Thorin intently, frowning slightly at the dwarf-king. "Tarya is Kili's other half, Thorin, get that into your bloody bonehead and accept the fact that your nephew has found his One in an Amarok. You'll sleep calmer at night."

Thorin shot his friend a doubting look, though he couldn't help but consider Dwalin's words. The bald warrior rarely spoke so insistently to him, and the rest of his company had seemed rather taken aback by his earlier outburst as well. Thorin distinctly remembered Fili's expression after his brother and Tarya had stormed out. Fili just wanted his brother to be happy, Thorin knew as much. They had always been there for each other and stood by each other's side no matter what. He had experienced that very clearly when they had left Laketown without the two. It shouldn't surprise him that Fili was supportive of his brother's relationship as well.

Thorin couldn't help but wonder why his nephew's bond with the Amarok bothered him so much. Sure, he had his reasons, but in the end, Dwalin was right. If Kili had found his One, he should not stand in between them, no matter what he thought of their union. It would be no use. Dwarves only truly loved once in their lives and depriving Kili of his love would only result in never-ending dolour for his nephew.

Thinking about it, Thorin couldn't quite understand why he had reacted as harshly as he had. Kili deserved to be happy and he deserved to be with his One if he had found her, even if it was in a legendary creature. The dwarf-king couldn't deny that he had seen the spark between Kili and Tarya growing throughout the journey, though he had never paid much heed to it, not thinking that it would grow into something like this.

He couldn't really blame Kili for loving Tarya, Thorin knew. She was a good and honest person, with a loyal heart and a keen mind. The dwarf-king sighed deeply, shortly letting his gaze wander over the rocky land before the front gate before he brought it back to Dwalin who stood beside him, arms crossed over his chest and one eyebrow slightly raised. The bald warrior was waiting patiently for him to make up his mind.

"Our people might not understand their union," the king muttered and Dwalin huffed quietly.

"They can learn," he just said and Thorin hesitated a moment before he sighed quietly and turned his head to look back out over the lands. He had to think about this. There would be enough time later to take care of everything.

Tarya felt Kili's hand wrapped tightly around her own as he pulled her along, away from the others and down into the throne hall. Tarya doubted Kili was paying attention to where they were going at all. She could tell that he was still angry, his face set in a grim mask and his shoulders stiff as he walked. He was practically fuming. Tarya herself was not so much angry as hurt. She should have known Thorin would not approve of her. He never really had, so it should not be a surprise that he didn't want his nephew courting an abnormity of nature like her. He was right; Tarya thought with a quiet sigh, she was barely even human. And even though she had learned how to walk on two legs, how to braid and how to behave human, she still wasn't, really.

Kili came to a halt rather abruptly next to a pile of old instruments that looked more precious than any Tarya had ever seen. The Amarok didn't really react when he stopped, feeling his hand let go of hers as he threw them in the air in an exasperated gesture.

"I cannot believe him!" he growled, not looking at her as he started to pace in front of her angrily. "How dare he say these things? What's come over him to talk like that?"

Tarya watched the brunet dwarf for a moment as he paced like a wild animal trapped in a small cage, anger flaring from his muscular form.

"Kili…" she muttered without much success of getting his attention. If Tarya was honest, she felt like crying at the moment, hurt and rendered insecure by Thorin's words, but she shook her head, trying to suppress the feeling. "Kili, calm down."

"I won't calm down!" he almost barked as he continued pacing and Tarya watched him as his brows drew together in a grim expression. "What has got into him? I don't understand how he can be so unreasonable!"

"He was only unreasonable in terms of Bard," Tarya muttered without much conviction. "The other things he said were true, albeit spoken harshly and in anger."

It was only then that Kili turned to look at her, his expression changing immediately when he saw the look on her face. Tarya cast her eyes to the ground as he stepped up to her and only when she felt his warm hands cup her face gently did she look up, finding his soft brown eyes in the dimness of the hall.

"He's wrong with what he said, Tarya," Kili said quietly as if he knew how Thorin's words had affected her, though anger still swung slightly in his voice as shadows danced on his face. Tarya just looked up at him silently, shortly pressing her lips together before she shook her head.

"No, he's right. I'm… I'm not a fitting match for you," she muttered, the words hurting her even more from her own mouth than they had from Thorin's. "How could I possibly be, Kili? You're a prince, and I'm… well… I'm a curiosity of nature."

The dwarf before her shook his head in disapproval, stroking his thumbs over her cheekbones as he returned her gaze determinedly.

"Do not speak of yourself like that, Tarya. You're a daughter of the Amarok, proud and fierce. You're the only match for me," he said softly. "I don't care what my uncle says. We belong to each other, and you know it, Tarya. You said it yourself. Your soul is bound to mine and mine is to yours. I told you that nothing could come between a love like ours, and I stand by that. Don't let Thorin's words convince you otherwise."

"I don't. I love you, Kili," Tarya replied quietly, looking into his dark brown eyes uncertainly. "But I don't want your reputation or your… your status to be maculated because of me. I'm not a dwarf, Kili, I –"

Kili cut her off as his hands gripped her face a bit firmer. His eyes were dark when he next spoke. "Do not say something like that. You could never maculate anything, Tarya; you are the one that gives me strength. You are the one that gives me courage and lights my way when I'm feeling lost. It doesn't matter that you're not a dwarf; you don't have to be one. I love you for who you are, not for what you are."

Tarya felt her heart warm up with his words and she sighed deeply. Kili carefully pulled her closer then, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her softly. Tarya couldn't help but lean against him, enjoying the warmth and the gentle comfort he provided. Her fingers lightly dug into the sides of his tunic as Kili placed a small kiss on the top of her head before he leant his own head against hers. They stood like this for a while, saying nothing as the room around them was filled with silence.

"I never imagined anything like this," Tarya eventually spoke quietly, deciding to change the topic as she turned her head so her cheek was leaning against Kili's chest and she could look over the countless piles of treasure that lay scattered in the throne hall. Tarya couldn't imagine how one could have hoarded so much gold and not even consider giving a small part of it to others that deserved it as well.

Kili hummed questioningly next to her upon her words, the sound vibrating through his chest beneath her ear. Tarya elaborated quietly, leaning further into his touch when he wrapped his arms a bit tighter around her. "When you spoke of the treasures that lay in Erebor along the journey. I never imagined it to be anything like this."

"Neither did I, to be honest," Kili admitted, glancing over the gold and gems himself. He hesitated shortly before he let go of her and Tarya watched as Kili stepped over to the pile with the old instruments. Carefully he picked up a golden harp from the pile, turning it in his hands slowly before he looked back at her. A soft smile ghosted over his face as he motioned her to join him as he sat down on the floor right next to the pile of treasure. Tarya hesitantly sat down next to him, folding her legs underneath her as he started to pull lightly on the harp's strings. Tarya's eyes widened slightly as Kili started to play a slow and yet cheerful tune.

"I didn't know you could do this," she muttered in slight awe, watching as his fingers danced over the strings. Kili shot her a sideways smile as she leaned her head against his shoulder, fascinatedly watching him play.

"I have many talents you are yet to discover, azyungâl," he murmured with a small smirk. "Beside braiding."

"Well, with a bit of time I am sure I will master that particular talent of yours as well." Tarya stated with a small grin. "Any others you would like to teach me, minn máni?"

Kili shot her a roguish grin as he leaned closer to her, his nose brushing against hers as his fingers kept playing the soft tune on the harp. Tarya's breath hitched slightly in her throat as she felt his warm breath tickle her lips.

"Many," he murmured throatily against her, his eyes looking at her with a strange twinkle within them. Tarya couldn't reply as he leaned in the last millimetres to catch her lips with his, and the tune of the harp shortly paused as one of his hands came up to cup the back of her neck. Tarya felt her stomach fluttering with warm excitement as Kili used teeth and tongue to make his love for her known. Tarya sighed longingly when he eventually pulled back, finding herself breathless from the dwarf's kiss.

"Oh, so many," Kili grinned as he settled in more comfortably and pulled her into his side. Tarya smiled silently to herself, if ever a little bashful at what his words implied, as his fingers returned to the strings of the harp.

Tarya didn't know how long they sat there as Kili played one tune after the other. She watched him silently, a small smile playing on her face as he pulled pleasant sounds from the strings with deft fingers.

"And here I was, thinking you forgot everything mother's ever taught you within a heartbeat," a voice suddenly spoke from beside them and Tarya turned her head, seeing Fili and Bilbo standing a few feet away, taking in the scene they provided.

"Which proves once more that you are mistaken most of the times, brother." Kili countered with a small grin as the two of them came closer, sitting down beside them.

Bilbo shot the Amarok a concerned look as he sat down to her side to which she responded with a calming smile.

"Are you all right?" Fili asked, looking at her softly. He watched as Tarya shortly glanced over to Kili who just shot her a gentle smile. The Amarok nodded as she looked back at the blond dwarf. Fili slightly drew his mouth askew, taking in her still rather reserved expression. "I'm sorry for what Thorin said to you."

"It doesn't matter now," the Amarok shrugged, though her voice betrayed the disappointment she still felt. Fili shook his head as he looked between her and his little brother.

"It does. His words were foul and uncalled-for," the blond said, exchanging a small glance with his brother whose face had gotten grim once again. Fili understood him only too well. "And untrue."

"You know that the rest of us don't agree with what he said, right?" Bilbo asked then and Tarya smiled at the hobbit's concerned tone. She nodded slightly, though her eyes still held some hurt. Thorin's words had left a bitter aftertaste to say the least and they could all see it.

"Yes, I know, Bilbo. And I appreciate that." Tarya said quietly, her smile fading somewhat. "But it doesn't change how Thorin seems to think of me. I'm not a dwarf, not a noblewoman, I will never be a fitting match for one of his regal nephews in his opinion."

"Oh, who cares about that?" Bilbo huffed quietly, shaking his head so his brown curls flew slightly around his face. "I don't think you should take Thorin's words too seriously, Tarya. He's not exactly been in a bright mood lately."

Kili looked at the hobbit, shortly considering Bilbo's words before he nodded thoughtfully. "He does seem changed somehow," the brunet said, shortly glancing at his brother who just nodded thoughtfully. "I mean, uncle never was a very cheery dwarf but…"

"He would never normally act like this towards us. Any of us." Fili continued as his little brother trailed off. "Sure, uncle can be quite grumpy, shall we say, but he usually acts with reason. Just now he seemed… out of his mind. First he refuses to give Bard what he rightfully deserves even though there is more than enough treasure in this mountain to last the whole kingdom three lifetimes and then his fight with you."

Fili looked at his friends in confusion, unable to find an answer for his uncle's strange behaviour. He would have thought Thorin would be happy for Kili. After all it was something extremely rare and treasurable for a dwarf to find his One. Fili knew he was more than happy for the two of them to have found each other, though their union was unusual.

"He has been acting rather strange ever since we've entered the mountain," Bilbo said lowly, his gaze set on a few gold coins that lay splattered around them. "He spends all his time and energy between the piles of treasure to find the Arkenstone. Nothing else seems to be of more importance to him than that."

"What is the Arkenstone?" Tarya asked quietly, frowning slightly in confusion. Kili looked at her from where he was still sitting next to her, the golden harp lying forgotten in his lap.

"It's the jewel of the king," the brunet quickly explained. "The most beautiful and most precious jewel to ever have been carved from the heart of the mountain. Resting over the throne of the king it unites all seven dwarven kingdoms. It's a fabled gem and was lost during Smaug's attack."

"Oh," Tarya muttered in understanding, though her brows were still slightly furrowed in thought. Kili watched her for a moment, though he couldn't tell what was going on in her head and it didn't seem like she was going to utter her thoughts anytime soon.

"Maybe we should go back," Fili said after they had been sitting silently together for a while, sending his friends a tired look. He could see that at least Kili and Tarya were just as tired as he was, having walked the whole day before they had reunited with the rest of the company. It seemed like the day had lasted forever and it was already late now. Kili hesitated a moment, exchanging a small look with the Amarok that was leaning slightly against his side. Tarya just nodded before she slowly got to her feet. The other three followed her example as she turned around, slightly rubbing her forehead.

"Well, you go ahead," she said, sounding rather worn out. "I don't know which way we came from."

"I do," Bilbo muttered, sending her a small smile as he stepped up next to her and started leading them back in the direction where the others were. Kili and Fili followed close behind them. It didn't take the hobbit very long to lead them back to the company and as they entered the small hall they used as temporary sleeping quarters, the quiet chatter that had filled the room died down rather quickly.

Kili shortly glanced over the group, not spotting Thorin anywhere among them. He supressed a sigh before he gently put one hand on the small of Tarya's back, slowly leading her over to a wall where they had positioned their bedrolls and packs earlier. Bofur was sitting there as well together with his brother and cousin and the three dwarfs shot them kind smiles as they settled down next to them. Bifur grunted a small greeting beneath his bushy beard, shooting the Amarok a short nod. Tarya just smiled at the big dwarf before sat down.

"Where's Thorin?" Kili asked the hatted dwarf quietly as he let himself sink back against the wall, his brother to his one side and Tarya to his other. Bilbo seated himself beside the Amarok, wiggling around a bit to get in a comfortable position on the cold stone.

"He went out on the platform above the gate after you left," Bofur answered just as quietly, sending a small glance to the stairs that led up there. "Hasn't come back yet."

Kili just nodded slightly, his thoughts shortly occupied with processing the information so that he didn't notice that Tarya had stood up until he saw her approaching the stairs from the corner of his eyes. His head swivelled around just as she took the first step upwards.

"Where are you going?" Kili asked loud enough for her to turn around and look at him over her shoulder while the rest of the company observed the scene quietly.

"To talk to Thorin," Tarya answered as if it was a completely logical thing to do. Kili frowned slightly at her, making to get to his feet but the Amarok waved him off with a calming smile.

"I'll be fine," she just said before she turned around and quickly climbed the stairs, vanishing from the young dwarf's sight. Kili could only sit and stare blankly at the set of stairs for a moment, an uneasy feeling overtaking his heart, until Bofur spoke quietly from beside him.

"You can say much about our lass," he muttered, a small chuckle swinging in his voice. "But she has guts."