I apologize for the delay in posting. Life happens, you know? As always, I only own my OC. Enjoy!


A week and a half passes fine. The weather was cold but bearable. Our supplies were lasting as we had hoped. No trouble had befallen us. We were nearly to the next town when the storm came.

"Into the trees! It should help give shelter from the wind and ice!" King Thror yells to his people and leads them into the trees. The snow was more like chunks of ice and it hurt to be hit by it. Thror gave more orders for tarps to be tied between trees, to make a roof for the women and children to huddle under. The trees provided some cover but not fully.

When the tarps were up, the women and children got close. I made sure I was one of the last to be under the tarp, letting others go before me because they were his people. I was just a tag along because I had feelings for his son.

"Alvina, are you okay? You are not hurt?" Thorin comes to where I sit, but in the elements.

"I am fine, thank you. How are you? I am sure I can make room for you." I says to him and begin to move closer to the center group. It isn't enough for him to be fully covered.

"It is fine. Do not make yourself uncomfortable. I can take this." He tells me.

"I had a feeling winter would come early this year." I remark more to myself but Thorin hears.

"Alvina, do not blame yourself. I can see it in your eyes. You spoke of this to me and yet we chose to move on anyway. We knew it was a risk. And we are fine. The town is but a couple more days trek. The weather will calm and we will move with haste." Thorin reassures me, voice filled with compassion. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

"Thank you, Thorin. Perhaps… if you would not mind it, you could take my spot and I could sit in your lap." I suggest with my cheeks red as a rose. Thorin takes no time to do as I suggested. He pulls me out of my spot just long enough for himself to plop down on the ground and put me in his lap.

"That was very kind of you." He says as he pushes my hair away from my ear and neck. His breath tickles my skin. It sends a chill up my body, but not from the cold. Thorin is quick to take my hands and keep them warm in his own, rubbing small circles on them with his thumbs like he had done in the past. We spend our time talking quietly amongst ourselves, stealing moments together that we would remember well into the future.

"The wind is dying down and the ice has stopped falling. Take it down and let us keep moving!" Thror commands when the weather improves. The tarp is taken down quickly and everyone is on the move soon enough. Thorin stays beside me for the rest of the day, our hands clasped together, for warmth of course.

When Thror tells the group we won't stop until sunset, some of the group is upset but we all understand. We lost time from the storm and must eat while on the move to make up the time.

"Here." Thorin says and hands me some bread from his pack.

"Thank you. Are you sure?" I ask to make sure and he nods before taking a bite of his piece. We eat in silence before going back into conversation about what we have planned for the next town. A warm bath sounded and bed sounded like heaven at the moment. Thorin agreed but with a wicked smirk on his face. I knew he was thinking of me in the bath and smack him lightly. He just laughs and pulls my hand that he had in his hand up to his lips for a chaste kiss. I suppose I can forgive the nasty thoughts that fill his head this time. It doesn't stop the blush that comes to my face again though.

When we finally stop to rest, he is setting up his bedroll beside me. When we are both in and warm, we face each other. No words are said. Nothing has to be. We just look into each other's eyes. His hands find mine and we fall asleep that way.

The morning comes quick and is accompanied by a light snowfall. We are all quick to pack up our things and begin to move. If we move with haste we can be at the town by sundown. If not, we will be there tomorrow for sure.

"Are you doing okay?" Thorin pulls me from my thoughts with his question. I smile at him and nod. If I am being honest my feet feel awful and my body hurts. I am not used to walking such distances with the added weight of a pack. But neither are most on this journey. So why would I complain when they don't?

"Where do you think you will find work when we arrive?" I ask, changing the subject.

"Perhaps a blacksmith again. It is familiar and pays well. You?" He asks, directing the question back to me.

"If I can, maybe something where I can cook. I loved cooking when at home." I tell him with a big smile.

"And what did you enjoy making most?"

"Dessert. I made the best tart." I brag a bit.

"I look forward to trying that when we reach the Blue Mountains." Thorin says and I laugh.

"Presuming I will want to cook for you, hmm?" I tease and he laughs while wrapping an arm around me and pulling me close.

"I can think of other things you could do for me." He says and brings his face close to mine. I don't even realize we have stopped walking are and are going to be left behind if we keep this up.

"Thorin…" It comes out more breathy than I wanted. It must be clear that he affects me because he smirks before letting me go.

"Come on. We are going to lose the group if we stand here any longer." He says and grabs my hand and pulls me along. My mind is in a light fog. Do I really need to teach him a lesson? I think he may have learned it. Right? Oh, I need to decide on how far I am going to take this courting game.

We will be into the town tomorrow. For now, we unpack our rolls, heat up supper, dine and then go to bed early. That way we can wake up early and be there sooner. Everyone is excited to get out of the elements. But nothing ever goes as planned.

In the morning, I am awoken to being violently shaken and to the sounds of screams.

"Alvina, run into the trees!" Thorin yells as he pulls me to my feet. He gives me a push and in my morning haze, see dwarves pulling weapons and defending the women and children as the run towards the trees too.

"Run!" Thorin yells one more time before going to meet these people that would attack us.

I turn around and run into the trees and go in the same direction as everyone else. I find a large tree and hide behind it. I peak around to where I came from but only hear the clashing of weapons and yells as people are slain.

"Please be safe." I pray for Thorin, tears welling in my eyes but I refuse to let them fall. He will be fine. They all will. They survived a dragon. No way this band of common thieves kills them. The thieves were surely outnumbered anyway… right?

All too soon it is over. Silence. And then people start to come through the trees. Dwarves!

"It is safe! The thieves are dead. You may come back!" I hear Thrain call out. The mass of dwarves in the trees begin to move toward the familiar voice and area.

When I emerge, there is blood and bodies on the path.

"Alvina, here. Start walking." Thorin says as he hands me my things. It is all packed and ready to be shouldered. I listen, without argument, and begin to walk passed the bodies.

A little later, we reach the town. It is even nicer looking after having experienced the attempted robbery.

The inn is where we go first. Everyone buys a room, sharing must happen again.

"Would you join my family?" Thorin asks as I go to find a room to set my things down in. I am so ready to collapse that I just nod and follow him to the room his family has claimed.

He leads me in and shows me to a bed. I drop my pack and fall onto the bed.

"Mmmmmmm." I hum in appreciation for the softness. While it is a thin bed, it is softer than the ground we were sleeping on.

"Alvina, a bath is being drawn for you. The restroom is through there." Thorin says and points to the door that leads to the relief.

"Thank you Thorin. For everything." I say as I sit up on the bed and face him. He walks over to me and wraps his arms around me. We embrace and take in this moment. Just us for the moment.

"Always." He whispers into my ear and it sets me ablaze in a way I did not expect. Perhaps it was the realization that death could get us even on the way to the mountains. Perhaps it was the adrenaline in my system. Maybe it was something else. Whatever it was, I didn't deny the feeling and moved my mouth to his. The kiss was full of emotion and I nearly saw stars behind my eyelids.

When we pulled away from each other, our eyes met and the emotion in his shook me to my core.

"I'm done being courted." It slips out before I can stop myself.

"What?" Thorin asks. I take a moment to think. Am I really okay with this?

"I am done being courted." I say, louder and with more force.

"You do not wish to have me anymore." He says and releases me. He takes a step back. I am quick on my feet and grab his head to bring his eyes to mine.

"Thorin, I want to be engaged to you. I want to touch you without thinking about the message it sends. I want to lie next to you every night. I want you." I tell him. It takes a moment to process. And then a smile lights up his dirty face. He picks me up and I give a little squeal of shock.

When he sets me down, his hands go to my cheeks and he pulls me in for another kiss.

"Alvina, will you marry me?" He asks, practically a whisper. It is a tender moment, our noses and foreheads touching, sharing the air between us.

"I will." I whisper in response. His mouth attacks mine and before I can do anything, we are on the bed. He is atop me and his hands are on my waist and face.

"I love you." He tells me when we break for air. I want to say it but it doesn't come out. Why can't I say it. I know I love him. Say it!

I am silent. His face drops for just a moment before he gains his composure. He gives me one last kiss before climbing off me. He helps me to my feet and leads me to the room where my bath is waiting for me.

I soak in the tub and wonder on why I couldn't say it. And then my mind drifts to his family. Thank the gods they were not in the room when that little display happened. They were more focused on food and drink than lying down or getting clean.