Lindsey sat silently on the balcony of her room while her gaze drifted down into the garden below. The night air was warm and a fresh breeze caressed her face. Her mind wandered to Fili and a smile showed up on her lips. Though they've never talked about their almost-kiss, she could feel the tension between them.

Prince Fili.

She chuckled as she suddenly saw a movement down in the garden. She cast another glance downwards and spotted Thorin who walked back towards the main building. He was holding a wooden sword and she frowned. Several moments later, Kate walked the exact same path and Lindsey concluded they both had been down at the waterfall and she smiled as she saw that Kate was holding a wooden sword as well.

A knock at the door pulled the young girl out of her thoughts and she went to open it. Her heart leaped as she saw him in front of her.

"Would you accompany me?" Fili asked with a smile and offered his arm to her.

"Uhm—where you do plan to go?"

"It's a surprise—"he replied with a mysterious grin before he chuckled. She smiled, linked to his arm and they walked silently through the hallway and up a stairway until they finally reached the top of a rocky outcropping high above the city of Rivendell.

"Wow—that—that's breathtaking," Lindsey whispered while she still clung to his arm.

"I discovered this place and thought it might be wonderful to spend some time up here—just you and me. First I thought about the meadow at the waterfall, but it was already occupied," he chuckled.

"So, you've seen them?" she asked curiously and they lowered down on a blanket which Fili had brought as well.

"Aye, I suppose Thorin is helping your sister to become a sword-fighter."

"Kate and sword fighting—that sounds so new to me. And they didn't kill each other which is also a surprise."

They broke out into laughter when suddenly he took her hand in his. She stopped chuckling and looked into his eyes.

"Lindsey—I'm so glad to be with you here tonight," he said with his sweetest smile which caused her heart to nearly burst out of her chest.

'Please, kiss me,' she thought and held his gaze. His green eyes bored into her blue ones while he leaned his face closer towards hers.
Softly, ever so softly, his lips brushed hers before she leaned in to capture them in a tender kiss. His hand found its way to the back of her neck to intensify the kiss.

Once they pulled away to catch breath again, she leaned her forehead against his and smiled.

"Fili—is this the right choice?"

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean—oh to hell, I don't know what I mean," she said and pulled him into another, more passionate, kiss. She sank down onto her back while he leaned over her. They clung tight to each other while placing soft kisses on their lips.

After a while they both cuddled up together and fell asleep high above Rivendell.

"Good morning, lass."

Kate smiled at Balin who seemed to be the only one already awake. He was sitting at the table on the big balcony and filled his plate with plenty of bread and cheese.

"Good morning, Balin. You're up early," she replied and lowered down across from him and prepared her breakfast as well.

"Oh, I like the silence sometimes," he said with a smile and she chuckled.

"Amen to that," she said and began to eat some cheese and grapes.

They sat silent for a while when suddenly, "So, did you enjoy your first sword lesson last night?"

Kate looked up in surprise. "You know about it?"

"Well—Thorin told me about that night in the gazebo. Or—let's say he told me what he remembered of it," Balin chuckled and Kate blushed a bit and he added, "He said you blame yourself for not being able to protect your sister and therefore he asked me what I think about it. That he trains you. I said it's a good idea. Why? Was it not?"

"It was good—"

The dwarf chuckled. "Good, because he told me he enjoyed it as well—"

She kept silent as she was aware that Dwalin, Ori, Nori, Dori and Bifur entered the balcony as well.
Soon the whole Company was gathered around the tables. All except Lindsey and Fili.

Kate leaned closer to Kili across from her and whispered, "Where's your brother?"

"Oh, he might still be at that special spot he discovered yesterday—with Lindsey," he winked and took a bite from his bread.

"What special spot do you mean?" she asked curiously.

He shrugged. "I promised not to tell anyone—"

"Come on—"

"Nope, but I'm certain they are safe and sound."

Kate sighed and her gaze drifted to Thorin. She caught him watching her but his eyes lowered back down to his breakfast once he was aware that she noticed it.

Lindsey and Fili woke up quite early to watch the sun rising and coloring the valley and the city in a wonderful warm and golden light.

"How was your sleep?" Fili whispered while his lips placed soft kisses on the back of her neck. Goosebumps immediately covered her body and a dreamy smile showed up on her face.

"It was fantastic," she smiled even more as she turned around to capture his lips in a long kiss.

As they pulled apart, they slowly got up and climbed down into the city again. Much to their surprise, none of the others was around anymore and so they lowered down at the table and enjoyed their private breakfast.

"I suppose I should go and visit Kate later," Lindsey said while she watched a bird that was hopping on the table trying to get some breadcrumbs. She fed the little bird and Fili watched her with an amazed smile on his lips.

"Hey, hey, hey! There you are! The love birdies!" Kili's voice boomed up as he entered the balcony again.
He slumped down onto the chair next to Lindsey and grinned from one ear to the other while his gaze drifted from the girl to his brother and back.

"So—had a pleasant night?" he finally asked. Fili and Lindsey both kept silent and exchanged a look.

"Alright—no answer is also an answer. I know you both had—"

"We had nothing," Fili silenced him and Lindsey chuckled quietly.

"Not?" Kili asked surprised.

"No, Kili—not everyone would take advantage of an injured girl," Lindsey teased him and Fili laughed loudly. Kili just sticked his tongue out and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Do you know where Kate is?" Lindsey finally asked once she had finished her breakfast.

"In her room, I guess,"Kili replied still a little grumpy.

"Fine, I'll go and spend some time with her. See you later, lads!" She waved a kiss to Fili and ruffled Kili's hair before she left the balcony. Kili watched her leaving before he spun around on his chair.

"And now you'll tell me everything!"

Kate turned sideways, held the sword in front of her and whirled around.

"Whoa!" Lindsey called as Kate nearly hit her with the tip of the wooden sword.

"Lindsey! Sorry, did I hurt you?" Kate dropped the sword and checked her sister.

"No, am fine, but what are you doing here?" the young one asked quite amused while Kate picked up her sword again.

"I need to practice. Thorin will test me later."

"Test you?" Lindsey asked with a cheeky grin on her face. Kate nudged her sister's arm. "Ouh, what was that for?"

"For being so ambiguous," Kate huffed and placed the sword on the table nearby. She turned around to look at her sister again.

"So, how was your night?"

Lindsey smiled and let herself fall down on the bed with a dreamy sigh. Kate lowered down next to her. "So?"

"We've been on a small cliff above the valley. It was amazing—"

"The sight—or Fili?" Kate chuckled and could see that her sister blushed a bit.

"Both. We—we kissed—"

"Really? So, is he a good kisser?"

"Kate!"

The girls broke out into laughter and Kate pulled Lindsey closer. "I'm glad to see you happy again, Linny."

"You'll be happy again as well—"

"You think so?"

Lindsey looked up at Kate. "Maybe you just need some—training," she winked and laughed as Kate started to tickle her.