I stopped at my room and tore off the gown I had been wearing, throwing it atop the nearest chair. I rushed around, simultaneously braiding my hair and finding my tunic, corset, undergarments, and hooded cloak. I pulled it all on as quickly as possible while cursing whomever it was who decided that females must wear such infernal things such as corsets. At that moment, Gwenithil appeared in my doorway, a sad smile on her face.

"You would leave without saying goodbye?" she asked softly, striding over and tightening and tying my corset, then helping me with my tunic, being as gentle as possible without jarring my wounds. She braided strands of my hair together quickly with expert fingers, tying in green and gold beads and small clasps to hold the pieces back.

"I must go, Gwenithil," I told her gently, pinning my cloak at my neck and leading her out the door. "I must complete the task I took on at the mountain. You know this."

She nodded, but said nothing as we hurried along. We reached the bridge leading out of Rivendell, and we embraced as old friends, sorrow weighing on our hearts. Somehow I knew I would not see her or Aicanar again. "Take care of Aicanar," I murmured. "Tell him goodbye for me?"

She smiled, glancing at the ring on her finger. "I will." She bent down and kissed my forehead, blessing me. "Be safe, Celebhiril," she whispered. I nodded, tears stinging my eyes, and began to run.

By the time I caught up to the dwarves, it was midmorning. The dwarves were hiking along the path away from Rivendell, staying as close to the stone face as possible to avoid being seen. As I approached, I could hear several of the dwarves whispering to each other, questioning my absence. Thorin called out orders as loudly as he dared, glancing towards the city every now and again as if expecting arrows to come flying out at any second. "Be on your guard: we're about to step over the edge of the Wild. Balin, you know these paths; lead on."

Bilbo turned around and looked back at Rivendell longingly, and he smiled in delight upon catching sight of me. "Miss Aeyera! I was afraid you weren't going to catch up in time!"

I laughed and hugged him gently. "I would never leave you alone," I grinned, eyes sparkling even as my heart ached at the thought of how I had left one of my oldest friends without saying goodbye. Even now I wanted to rush back, and stay with my people, and be happy, but I had made a promise. I could not desert them now. I laughed, doing my best to seem high-spirited. "Especially not without saying goodbye."

Thorin glanced back at me, expression unreadable. "Master Baggins, Lady Elf, I suggest that you both keep up!"

Fili and Kili fell back to speak to me as Bilbo rushed on ahead. Both brothers wore identical grins, and their eyes sparkled with mischief. Fili handed me my pack; Kili, my weapons.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Princess," Fili said, clapping my back and pulling me into a short embrace. "It's been quite lonely without your presence." Leaning towards me, he whispered, "And Kili hasn't been quite the same without you here."

My cheeks burned, and I laughed uneasily, glancing at the younger prince. His face was as red as mine felt, and he turned his face away, hiding behind his hair.

"It has been quite dull without you both, melloneamin," I said, placing my hands on their shoulders. "I hope not to become separated from you in such a manner again."

"Do you know the land around here?" Kili asked, effectively changing the subject. "Balin thinks he remembers how to reach the mountains, but—"

"Aye. I travelled these lands for more years than I care to recall." I smiled, remembering the time spent with the rangers. "I could walk them blind if need be." A particular instance involving a human sorcerer surfaced, and I winced. "I have, actually."

The brothers looked at me with newfound interest. "Blind?"

Thus I recounted the story of a certain mortal necromancer, one who specialized in light and darkness. He had attacked the Dúnedain and I when we drew too close to his home. I had been in front, and had been hit with the first blast of magic. My sight had been stolen from me, and I had remained blind until the rangers had made it to Imladris, where Gandalf had been at the time. Lord Elrond had been elsewhere, but I owed the Grey Wizard my sight.

As I spoke, the morning wore on, and soon we were on the edge of a great wood, and the sun was directly overhead. We halted to eat, and the princes and I sat apart from the others, talking softly so as to avoid attention.

"See, you've always got to keep at least three knives hidden on your person at all times," Fili told me, chewing a hunk of bread. He swallowed and took a swig of water, then passed the water skin to Kili. "Otherwise you could be disarmed easily and have no way to defend yourself."

"I already have long knives, a sword, and a bow," I told him. "Why would I need extra steel to weigh me down?"

He winced as if recalling a painfully embarrassing memory but did not answer, and Kili began laughing uproariously, slapping his knee. His mouth was full, so he couldn't speak, and he only stopped laughing when he began to choke on the bread he had been trying to chew. I patted his back as he attempted to regain his composure, trying to cough up whatever piece of bread had gotten lodged in his throat. Finally a small piece of mushy bread shot out of his mouth and landed on the toe of Fili's boot. The elder brother made a face and flicked it off as Kili guzzled down water, panting.

"So Fili," I began cheerily. "It would be a pity to waste such a lovely introduction; why don't you go ahead and share whatever story your brother finds so amusing?"

The look Fili gave his brother could have fried an egg. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Well…" He cleared his throat. "Here's the thing, it was so long ago, and my memory isn't what it used to be, and—"

"He was disarmed by a girl!" Kili blurted, still choking back little coughs.

"It was not a fair fight!" Fili yelled back, face red with embarrassment and anger. Several members of the company chuckled, and Fili glared at the ground darkly.

"So you do remember, then?" I supplied helpfully.

He sighed. "It was nearly forty years ago," he began. "Kee and I were in the marketplace—" Kili opened his mouth to interrupt, and Fili shot him down. "If I'm to tell this story, brother, I tell it my way!" Kili shut his mouth, making a face at me as soon as his brother turned away. I stifled a giggle as Fili continued, clearing his throat. "Anyways, I was a much younger dwarf."

"Keeping in mind that we're barely of age now," Kili whispered. I covered my mouth, doing my best to keep a stoic expression.

"At the time, I was under the… misinformed impression that female dwarves were less…ahem, sturdy, than male dwarves." He winced again, and I nodded, realizing where this story was heading. "So Kili and I were in the market, and I saw the daughter of one of Mother's friends walking around in her sparring clothes. Well, having never trained with a female, I thought that then would be an opportune time, so I walked up to her and challenged her to a duel." He shuddered, and I laughed openly, throwing back my head. Balin and Dwalin came over and sat near us, listening and chuckling now and again. "Well, her mother didn't like that very much, and she told me off for even suggesting that her sweet little daughter would fight someone like me."

I frowned and raised one eyebrow. "Someone like you?" I repeated.

Fili grinned. "Aye. Granted, I don't think she knew I was the crown prince. I was so covered with dirt from training that she probably thought I was some ruffian. She probably would have handed her daughter a sword and made her fight had she known who I was."

Balin chuckled. "I don't doubt that, lad."

"So I went away, all rejected, when Kili starts tugging on my sleeve. I turn around to see what he wants, and I see Kída running up to me. She… didn't look happy."

"And Kída is the Dwarrowdam you challenged?" I clarified.

He nodded, a somewhat wistful expression on his face. "Aye. So she runs over, gold hair all over the place, and tells me that she accepts. So we head over to the training area at the palace, and each pick out our normal weapons. I didn't see what she picked up, see. I choose smaller twin swords, and I glimpse her grabbing a sword as well. So anyway, we start fighting. Kili's watching from the stands, and I'm expecting the fight will last maybe a minute or so. Well the fight goes on for at least ten before I finally disarm her. Kili starts cheering, and I turn around to look at him, when suddenly I feel this cold blade at my neck. I turn around, and I see Kída holding a knife to my throat, grinning like she just became queen of Erebor. Kili stops laughing and gets real quiet; I think he was afraid she was going to gut me. I'll admit I was afraid of that too, for a moment. I immediately go and disarm her, but this just makes her mad. And it doesn't do me any good; because she had Mahal knows how many daggers hidden away in her clothes. Eventually she disarms me, and about that time Dwalin comes in."

He shook his head as the burly warrior roared with laughter, slapping his knee. "Aye, I come in and see wee Kili in the stands gaping like a fish at his big brother, who's standing in the middle of the ring, covered with dirt and just staring daggers at the lass who's holding a knife to his chest."

"She didn't get in trouble, did she?" I couldn't help but ask.

Fili grinned. "Of course not. Dwalin asked what was going on, and by the time the two of us had finished arguing about the details, he was laughing so hard at me that the entire mountain seemed to shake. Kída got angry that I had tried to blame her and quite literally dumped a barrel of water on my head. That would've been punishment enough, but about then her mother and mine come in, having heard Dwalin's laughing. They see Kída and I rolling around in the mud, yelling at each other, and Dwalin doubled over not doing anything but laughing!"

"Aye, I recall that your mother gave you a fine scolding then," Balin chuckled. "But at least some good came out of all that."

"Aye," Kili sang, picking a flower and shoving it in his brother's hair. "Kída and my brother are betrothed now!" Fili, blushing red to the roots of his hair, took a swipe at his brother, who danced out of reach. He leapt up and chased him around, while the younger sang an absurd song about his brother and Kída sitting in a tree and… kissing? I blushed as well, laughing.

Kili finally tripped over a tree root and went down, managing to throw up his arms to fend off his brother, who immediately tackled him. Howling with glee, I leapt up and tried to pull Fili off, but they both turned on me, matching grins on both their faces. I squealed and bolted, but they both tackled me, bringing me down. We rolled around, pinning one another and shrieking with delight. The brothers discovered that I was ticklish and took advantage of that, much to the amusement of the company, most of whom had come to accept me as one of their own.

The rest of the company continued laughing at our antics until Thorin strode up, glaring at us all. "Silence, all of you!" he bellowed. Fili, Kili, and I froze. The rest of the company fell silent. Several birds nearby took flight, startled by his roar of anger. "The mountains and foothills are crawling with orcs! We leave now. Your three—" he pointed at his nephews and I. "Have midnight watch the next two nights."

As soon as he turned around, the three of us scowled at his back, standing and brushing the dust off of one another. We packed up our things quickly and headed on, following Balin and Thorin further into the foothills of the Misty Mountains.

"How are your ribs, Princess?" Fili asked. He and his brother stood to my right and left, asking questions every now and again.

I gingerly touched the spot where my chest was wrapped up, testing out the area around it. It ached a bit, as was the norm, but otherwise was fine, and I told them so. Both nodded, relieved. "What's Kída like?" I asked, looking up to stare at the gorgeous blue sky. Wispy clouds floated across it, and birds would dart this way and that, chirping their songs to one another. Of course they were happy: they didn't have midnight watch.

A longing, dreamy expression rested on his face, and his blue eyes seemed to mist over as a happy smile grey on his face. I laughed softly, my heart aching. How I longed to be loved like Kída so obviously was. "She… is a remarkable lass," he said softly. "She's a warrior, as she proved when we were young. She has the biggest heart…" he sighed, heartsick. "Sometimes I wonder what I ever did to deserve her. She has long gold hair and a beautiful beard—"

I tilted my head, puzzled. "She has a beard?"

Kili smiled. "Aye, Princess. All dwarves have beards, but Dwarrowdams have sparser beards than we do."

I nodded in understanding, and Fili continued. "And she has the largest blue eyes…" he continued on in this vein for a surprisingly long time, and eventually started an argument with Gloin over whose love had a more magnificent beard.

Kili sighed, watching his brother fondly. "They'll keep this up till we set up camp," he informed me, grinning. "But they'll break it off in time for supper."

My stomach twisted into knots for some reason I could not name, and I glanced at the dark haired prince from under my eyelashes. "So, Fili is betrothed…" I began casually, weaving together several flowers I had plucked from beside our path. A pattern quickly emerged, and I stayed silent for several seconds, braiding the stems together in an intricate design. "Are you as well?"

His smile fell, and I could sense the wall that went up around him. His features hardened, eyes darkening. I stepped away, startled by the change in his demeanor. I bit my lip, unsure as to what had just happened. "Kili?"

Without answered, he sped up, moving to walk with Ori several paces away. I stared after him, confused and hurt by his change in demeanor towards me, but did not move to go after him. I stayed in the back of the group for the rest of the day, only pausing to shoot a couple rabbits that neared the path.

Bombur was very pleased with the meat for that night's meal, seeing as how we had none but salted meat left from our stay in Imladris. Kili avoided me, staying near to Fili and Gloin who, true to Kili's word, had ceased their bickering as supper drew near. We placed most of our bedrolls against a large outcropping of rock so as to have our backs protected whilst we slept. I perched in a small hollow several yards in the air while the others ate, not feeling up for eating at the moment.

By the time everyone had finished eating and had packed up the bowls again, night had fallen. I remained where I was, thoroughly enjoying Thorin's irritated growls as he searched the clearing for me. Bilbo glanced up at me and grinned, then looked back down at his pipe again. I leaned against the stone, one leg tucked under me while the other bent down, allowing a resting place for my forearm. My bow rested across my knees, and I leaned my head back, enjoying the cool wind that cooled my face. My hood was drawn, effectively concealing my whereabouts from the company. The stars were beginning to shine, and the crescent moon turned the clouds silver. Owls began to call softly to one another, and the thrilling howl of a lone wolf floated on the wind.

By now, most of the company was nervous, searching the shadows for me. I made to get up but stopped when Thorin's bark of a voice reached my ears.

"When was the last time anyone saw her?" he roared, forgetting his rule to be silent whilst traveling near the mountains. The company looked around, worried about what would happen once Thorin found me.

Bombur spoke up, glancing nervously at his brother as he did so. "I last saw her a bit before supper, she gave me a couple rabbits she had shot for the stew."

I was quite certain that had Thorin's glare been leveled at me, I would have been burned to ashes. "Where. Did. She. Go. Next?" He ground out, enunciating each word.

"I-I don't know," poor Bombur stuttered.

Bofur stood and moved to shield his brother from Thorin's gaze. "No one's seen her, Thorin," he said clearly, keeping eye contact with the furious king.

Thorin muttered something incoherently and turned, storming away and growling under his breath. "Where're you going?" Fili called, removing his pipe from his lips. Kili glanced up at his Uncle, then back at the ground, brow furrowing.

Thorin stopped and turned to face his nephew. "I'm going to find that infernal elfling and teach her a lesson," he spat. He was shaking with anger, and I narrowed my eyes at him, sheathing my bow. Rage began to burn in my heart.

"Uncle—"

"No!" he yelled. The whole company jumped, and Bilbo dropped his pipe. "You've all gone soft! She's an elf, don't you remember? She and her people left us to die! She claimed to want to help us and then vanishes as soon as she's assigned a tough watch. Well once I find her, we'll see how well a fighter she really is."

I'd had enough. Thorin stood almost directly in front of the rock, and so I stood, braced myself, and jumped. I fell for only a couple seconds before my heels hit the dirt, and I rolled, leaping to my feet. I stood an arm's length away, breathing heavily. "Stop looking," I growled, eyes smoldering like the fury in my heart. "Here I am."

He blinked, momentarily surprised, then his eyes hardened. "You did not answer when I asked," he growled.

I stood my ground, anger coursing through my veins. "Am I a dog, to answer to your beck and call?" I retorted. I drew my sword with a flourish, tossing my cloak away. "If you wish to test my skill, go ahead. I am not defenseless this time."

He stared at me for a long time, and then dropped his gaze. He turned away, heading towards Dwalin at the edge of the fire. "Do not forget your watch."

I stood where he left me as he and Dwalin drew away to speak quietly. I was shocked at his change in demeanor. After a few moments, the company began to move about again, preparing for bed. Bilbo timidly made his way towards me, picking his way around the members of the company. Kili met my gaze for a quick moment before turning away and lying down. I sighed.

"You can put away your sword," Bilbo told me softly, gesturing towards the weapon still held in my white-knuckled fist. I released my grip and let it fall, wincing at the clang of the hilt and pommel hitting the ground. Fili glanced between his brother and I questioningly, and I shrugged helplessly. Bilbo reached down and lifted up part of the sword, which was as long as he was tall. He tugged on my sleeve. "Miss Aeyera?"

I blinked and returned to myself. "Oh, Bilbo. Thank you." I smiled kindly at him and returned my sword to its sheath.

"Are you alright?" he asked, scrunching his nose quickly. "You've seemed… agitated lately."

I sighed. "I'm sorry Bilbo. I've just been distracted lately."

"Because of Kili?" Bilbo questioned. I blinked, taken aback by his scrutiny. The hobbit backtracked quickly. "I don't mean to suggest that you… carry a torch for him," he spoke quickly. "But I noticed that you seemed distant today, and—"

My face flushed and my eyes grew huge. I covered the hobbit's mouth and pulled him over to sit beside the fire, far away from the others. "Bilbo, my dear hobbit, do not speak that way," I cautioned him. "Kili and I are friends only, nothing more." I glanced around nervously and was relieved to see that no one seemed to have heard our conversation. "We are friends, Bilbo," I whispered, not understanding the way my heart ached. I smiled softly at him, nudging him towards his bedroll. "Go to sleep, Master Baggins," I told him gently. "Enjoy your rest."

He smiled, chuckling softly, before rising and departing to rest. I remained by the fire, staring into the embers and losing myself in my dreams and thoughts. It seemed only a few minutes later that a hand was shaking my shoulder. I started and looked up into the eyes of the dwarf king, who was watching me with a curious expression. I stood immediately, feeling threatened.

"Your watch is starting," he said softly. Fili and Kili already were seated on the ground across from me, yawning and bleary eyed. "Fetch Ori and Nori when your watch ends."

He turned and strode away into the shadows, and I stared after him until he was gone before turning back to the brothers. I scooted over until I sat beside Fili, resting my bow across my knees as I stared off into the woods. Kili leaned against his brother, eyes drooping shut. After only a few minutes, his breathing evened out, and his face became peaceful. Fili went to move him, but I reached over and place my hand on his arm.
"Let him sleep," I said softly. "I don't sleep anyway, let him rest."

Fili nodded and shifted back to face the fire, holding out his hands to warm them. I pulled my cloak more tightly around my shoulders. "Fili?" I asked softly.

He glanced over at me. "Hm?"

I bit my lip, twisting my brother's ring around my finger. "May I ask you something?"

He nodded. "Of course, Princess."

I took a deep breath. "I asked Kili earlier—after you told me about Kída—if, since you were betrothed, if he…" The conversation became much more stressed, and I shifted, rubbing the leather grip on my bow. "If he was as well." Fili's features hardened. "I just assumed since you are so close in age, and since you both are princes, and since he is obviously an attractive dwarf, that—"

Fili cut me off, turning and staring at me with wide blue eyes. The firelight reflected off them, turning them gold, and in that moment he resembled a lion, regal and strong. It was easy to see that he was born to be a king. "What did you say?" he asked incredulously.

I opened and shut my mouth several times before the ability to form words reached me again. "I-I just…" I swallowed, feeling my cheeks heat up. "You heard me," I answered finally, my voice soft and shy. "I told you the truth."

He ran his hand through his hair. "I heard you," he said quietly, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I just can't believe it."

I was so confused. My mind whirled. Had I done something wrong? "What?" I questioned, urging him to give me an answer.

"My brother…" Fili sighed and looked over at him to make sure he was still asleep. He was. "He…" he fixed me suddenly with such a terrible glare that I nearly leapt away. Indeed I nearly struck him with my bow. "If you repeat this, Princess," he growled, emphasizing my false title. "Or if you ever tell my brother we had this conversation, you will regret it." I nodded, mouth dry. He gave me one last look and then began speaking again, his voice growing soft. "Because of his beard, he is not considered attractive to many dwarrowdams." I frowned, utterly confused. Because of his beard? "So it is… more than possible that he took your question as an insult."

I stared at him, baffled. "I-I don't understand," I stammered. "I wasn't—I would never—"

He held up a hand to stop my rambling, and I grew quiet. "Your intentions at the time mean nothing."

"My intentions mean everything!"

"Princess, will you let me speak?" He bit out, voice low so as to avoid waking his brother. I nodded tersely. "I doubt you meant to harm him, but he obviously took your question the wrong way. Elves are clean shaven, yes?"

I tilted my head, confused by the question. "I suppose? We do not grow facial hair the way the other races do," I explained. "Hobbits follow in this fashion as well."

He nodded, expression pained. "When we were much younger," he sighed, closing his eyes. "Kili was bullied by the other dwarflings. They called him an elf, mocking him constantly because of his beard. Or lack of, thereof."

"What?" I stood up, driven by anger, and paced back and forth before the fire, suddenly wide-awake. "How could they—"

"Can you not think of a way that your own race looks down upon others of their own kind?" he asked harshly.

I fixed him with a sharp glare, tightening my grip on my bow. "I'm sure I could think of something," I growled. I shifted back on my ankle, and it popped loudly, causing both of us to jump.

He looked momentarily guilty, recalling my banishment. "I am sorry, Princess. I was not thinking."

"Hm—? Gm—huh," Kili awoke and yawned, lifting his head. His bleary brown eyes looked around, settling on me. I froze, staring at him, and after a moment the innocent, content look he bore vanished, replaced by an angry, guarded one. My shoulders slumped as he turned away, and Fili glanced between us once more before searching the treeline for danger.

-o-

The rest of our watch passed in the same vein; Kili ignoring me, and Fili making forced conversation between us. It was a relief when the time came for our watch to end. We awoke two of the Ri brothers and left to sleep, the brothers to their rolls, and me to my hollow in the stone. It was ironic, I mused now, that the elf preferred the stone while the dwarves preferred the trees.

It was a bit after midday now, and I walked with Fili, who was teaching me of the importance of having knives on hand at all times. We had mutually decided to leave the previous night's conversation for a later date; today our speech was light and our smiles came easily. We had entered the mountains and were making our way up one of the unnamed peaks. Trees grew plentifully still, though game was not as fruitful. Fili was a pleasure to be around; he seemed to radiate light wherever he went. He gave several other examples besides his duel with Kída, and ended by giving two of his throwing knives to me. He pulled them out of a couple of the numerous pockets of his coat, and laughed loudly when I tried to refuse, earning a sharp look from his uncle, which he ignored.

"I have more knives hidden in here than you know, Princess. Two won't make a dent. Besides," he added with a wink. "Once we find another troll hoard I'm sure you can find your own. Until then, keep them."

I chuckled and accepted them, placing one in my boot and the other in my belt. "Thank you," I told him, grinning. "Can you teach me to throw?"

He turned to me in surprise. "You can't throw?" he asked incredulously.

I blushed and looked down at my feet. "Well… no, I didn't. I guess I never really had the chance to learn."

He grinned, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "Don't worry, then, Princess," he told me happily. "I'll have you throwing knives in no time."

"Just make sure you don't get stabbed in the back," Kili muttered. I jumped. I hadn't realized he was behind me until he spoke, and his words stung, weighing heavily on my heart.

I fell silent, and Fili left my side to speak with his brother. He never came back, and I spoke with Balin about Erebor, which he remembered well, having lived there long before I was even born. He told me stories of its magnificent halls, and of the royal family. He told me of Thorin and Frerin and Dís, and how close they were as dwarflings and young dwarves. My heart broke as he recounted the tale of the Battle of Azanulbizar, where Thorin lost his brother, father, and grandfather.

"Where were you during the battle, lass?" the kind old dwarf asked.

I looked up into his wise eyes and found that I could speak. "I was being healed by the Dúnedain, the rangers of the north. They found me when I was broken, and I travelled with them for a century until a decade ago, when our paths led away from one another. Now I travel with you."

"What were you being healed from?"

"We will rest here for the night!"

I looked up in surprise, thankful for the interruption. The sun was low in the west, and its golden light warmed my skin. The dwarves began circling up, dropping their packs to the ground as Gloin knelt down, already preparing a fire. Dinner was stew, made from squirrels Kili had picked off the path that day. I ate nothing but lembas, and no one asked me to share. I know they would not eat of it even if I asked. I know they hated hardtack in general, they would not think highly of the elvish waybread.

The sun had not yet set, but twilight was settling over the world when Fili came up to me and hauled me to my feet. "Time for practice," he announced, dragging me several yards away. My knives remained where I had left them, and I pulled the one in my boot out and into my hand as he began setting up large pinecones for targets, placing them in a line atop a boulder that stood as high as my shoulders.

"Alright," he began, pulling me back so that I stood ten paces from the rock. "First, take aim. No!" I jumped, and he took the knife from my hand. "This is the first lesson, and there are company members only a few steps away. No knives until you have your form right."

I flushed and followed his lead, stepping forward and shifting my weight from my non-dominant to dominant foot and swinging my arm around my head in a slow arc, flicking my wrist as I did so. Fili was a patient teacher, I had to give him that. He must have adjusted my form two dozen times before he was pleased with it. When he was satisfied, he handed me a fist-sized rock and told me to hit the center pinecone. I took a deep breath, aimed, and let it go. It flew over the boulder, hitting the bush behind it.

I frowned as Fili coughed. "Alright then," he said. "Another."

I tried again and was met with as much success as the first time. This rock didn't make it past the boulder. I felt like stamping my feet in frustration, and I tossed the newest rock from one hand to the other, very irritated.

"Here, watch me," Fili suggested, taking the rock from my hand.

I moved out of the way and watched, wide eyed, as he turned and threw the rock with deadly accuracy, taking out the pinecone and its brethren. He moved so quickly that even my eyes barely caught his movements, and he smiled at my befuddled expression as I glared at the boulder. He handed me another.

"One more time." He pointed to a large one sitting next to the large gap his own rock had created. "Knock it down."

Without thinking about my movements, I twisted and hurled the stone as hard as I could, watching as it flew straight for the pinecone—and shattered as it hit the boulder. I let out a frustrated shout and kicked the nearest tree, ignoring Fili's amused smile as I began ranting in my natural language.

"Nonsensical rock! Why couldn't it have struck the pinecone? I would be able to sleep in peace tonight, but NO! Now I'll be up all night working on my aim!"

After nearly a minute, Fili's calm voice broke through my rant and brought me back to the common tongue. "Try again," he said firmly. "One more time." This time he handed me the knife. I stared down at it, then back at him. "I'm sure," he assured me. "You won't miss."

I turned to face the target. My anger had been let out, but sadness remained. I recalled the look of anger Kili had given me; the way he had shut himself out from me. Unbidden, a tear formed and fell from my eye, dripping down my cheek. I held the handle of the knife loosely in my hand and allowed the rest of the world to fall away. I imagined the blade of the knife sinking into the pinecone an instant before it shattered, and in that moment I reared back and threw.

The knife sailed end over end and hit the pinecone head on, scattering the needles in all directions. I stood frozen for a moment, staring blankly at the spot where the pinecone had stood. Something bloomed with warmth in my stomach, and I broke into a wide smile, laughing even as my eyes filled with tears. Fili clapped me on the shoulder, grinning, before fetching the knife.

We walked back together, discussing posture and aim, and he stopped me at the edge of the clearing, handing me the knife hilt-first. "I know you are hurting, Princess," he said, his voice low. My smile faded slightly. "But he is too. Just… try and speak to him. That's all."

I nodded, and he gave me a thin-lipped smile before heading into the clearing to join the rest of the company. I took a deep breath and followed. Bilbo looked up and smiled widely at me. He sat at Ori's elbow, watching him write and draw in his journal. I smiled back at him but crossed to speak to Kili instead. Bilbo gave me a knowing wink and went back to studying the pictures. I moved until I stood beside the young prince who sat beside the fire, staring absently into it. I knelt down until I sat directly beside him, my arm nearly brushing his.

"Kili?" I asked hesitantly, my voice soft and coaxing. I remember using a similar tone with the Dúnedain, when I stumbled upon a pair of abandoned fawns, frightened and alone. I coaxed them out of their hole and was able to heal the one who was injured, but it had taken a lot of persuasion. I felt the same way with Kili; he had the same pained, distrustful look in his eyes the fawns' had held. He eyed me warily but said nothing. "Can… May I speak with you?" I managed. My heart beat rapidly in my ears. Once, when travelling near the southern border of Gondor, I had happened upon a small bird with wings that beat so quickly they were but a blur, and which made a strange humming noise when it flew. I had christened it a hummingbird, and what had astounded me most was how quickly its heart beat. One had landed on my outstretched finger, and its chest had shivered with the constant impact of its tiny heart against it. My heart beat at the same speed, perhaps faster. My stomach twisted with apprehension.

He turned to face me, his face openly distrusting, nothing like the kind dwarf I had grown so close to the last few weeks. The look in his eyes was so fierce that I fought the urge to scamper away like a frightened rabbit. "What could you possibly have to say?" he bit out, dark eyes narrowed.

I blinked, stung, but continued, fighting valiantly to keep my voice steady. "I feel as though you misunderstood my intentions the other day," I admitted, crossing my arms over my knees. He watched me silently. "I merely thought…" I cleared my throat and tried a different tact. "When I came of age, my father immediately went searching for someone to marry me off to. He never had the chance, thank the Valar," I muttered. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kili turn and gaze at me questioningly, and I saw some of the harsh wall around him crumble. "But sometimes I wonder if it would have been better to have been married off." I rolled my shoulder, and Kili winced as it popped loudly. "Even to someone I did not love." I sighed and rubbed my eyes with my palms.

"Perhaps," Kili said hesitantly, "But you would not be here if you had."

I smiled weakly at him. "I suppose not." I sat back and crossed my legs under me. Beyond the fire I could see Bilbo's curious eyes peering over at me. "Although I doubt anyone would have wanted to marry me."

He frowned. "Why is that?"

"Kili, how old do I appear to be, in Dwarvish years?" I questioned.

He blinked, taken aback by the question, and searched my features, thinking. His lips moved as his eyes shifted back and forth across my face, and I was relieved to see no heat in his gaze. Finally he spoke, frowning slightly. "I would say… perhaps in your thirties? Maybe forty?"

I sighed. "The equivalent of a human teenager."

"Yes."

I sighed bitterly. "Elves reach maturity around fifty or one hundred, and we remain looking that age forever. This never happened for me. I aged differently, and though I might know why, I do not know why it affected me so."

"What is it?"

"My mother was half-elven," I replied softly. "Her mother was mortal."

"I have heard…" he hesitated. "I've heard that those who are half mortal can choose. Choose to live a mortal life or an immortal one. Is it true?"

"For some," I replied softly, wrapping my arms around my knees and pulling them up to my chest. "It depends on whom you love." I cleared my throat and turned back to the prince, blinking back tears. "But because I always looked different, no one loved me. No one wanted to love me the way I wanted to be loved. Which brings me back to my original statement." I grasped his hand, and he held mine as well, staring into my eyes. "Kili, I would never purposefully hurt you. I don't know why what I said hurt you, but I am sorry. Will you forgive me?"

He nodded. "Aye. I am sorry as well. I should have known you would not harm me."

Fili suddenly appeared above us, pushing us apart, and plopped down in between the two of us. "So glad to see that you made up. We should get some rest; midnight watch is coming quickly." Kili and I groaned and fell back, then moved to lie against a log, muttering about Thorin under our breath. The night air grew colder as we went higher up the mountain, and I regarded my apparel bitterly, wishing for the warm, thick cloth the dwarves always wore. I wrapped myself in my cloak and lay down near Kili, but barely had I settled, shivering, that Fili walked over, took hold of the blanket beneath me, and picked it and me up. I let out an indignant sputter as he deposited me on the ground directly beside his brother, settling on the other side of me.

"You're cold," he explained simply. I nodded, grateful, and we spread my own blanket out on the ground to lie upon, using theirs to cover the three of us. We settled close together, with Fili's arm under my head and Kili's hand resting in my hair. I rested with my back to Kili, facing his brother, my body warming quickly with the combined heat from their bodies. I had not noticed, but Dwarves seemed to have a greater body temperature that the other races. Elves in particular, I noticed wryly. I thought back to what I had told Kili about my mother and suddenly wondered if that was why I could sleep. Elves did not need sleep, of course, but men… I decided to try it, sure that nightmares would not reach me here. I relaxed and closed my eyes, wondering if I could choose a mortal life.

Balin woke us up at midnight, smiling fondly as he shook us awake. I blinked away sleep from my eyes, shocked that I had slept. As I sat up, however, a sharp pain jerked on my hair, and I gave a small yelp as my head was yanked over to the side. Kili let out a similar cry of pain, and it took me a moment to realize—to my utter mortification—that the braids, beads, and clasps in my hair had become tangled with Kili's. As he jerked his head again, I yelped as I was pulled over practically into his lap. I blushed and squirmed away as best as I could as Balin chuckled. Fili continued snoring, oblivious. I growled and kicked at him, jarring him out of his sleep. He sat up and looked around, bleary eyed for a moment, until he caught sight of his brother and I tied together. He burst out laughing, falling back onto his back.

"Fili, help your brother," Balin chided paternally. "I will keep watch until you are finished."

Fili composed himself and made Kili and I sit back to back, a feat I was amazed we accomplished so quickly. Fili knelt on his knees beside us, picking braids apart with skilled fingers. Every now and again, a braid or strand of hair would fall into my eyes, and I could hear the prince muttering irritably. "Why couldn't you have different colour hair?" he asked, sighing. "Your hair is practically the same."

"Sorry," we both muttered, wincing as he jerked on another knot. After what seemed like forever, we were separated. I rubbed my pricking scalp and watched as Balin headed off to sleep. Fili and Kili sat down on either side of me, and I braided my hair into a long, single braid, incorporating the smaller ones into one large one. We sat still that night, watching and listening. Nothing happened except that it began snowing lightly, and we woke Dwalin and Oin in the wee hours of the night before adding wood to the fire and going back to sleep. This time, though, I slept on top of my braid, still marveling that I was able to sleep at all.