Disclaimer: I own nothing that belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien's works and world. Only the characters not really there.

"It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end… because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing… this shadow. Even darkness must pass."

~Samwise Gamgee, Lord of the Rings

CHAPTER EIGHT

T.A. 2769

Nildar did not miss the look his mother gave their father as they ate supper. It was a look that was beginning to become all too familiar in their home. He glanced at his brothers, noting that they too had seen the look. Nurgon had a frown on his lips. His little sister was silent, worry clouding her young eyes as silence descended on the family.

"I think it is best," Meldamar finally uttered. Her voice was carefully guarded as their father glared at his food. His knuckles were white around his utensils.

"We have only been residing in Thror's halls for near three years," Nolen murmured, anger tinting his voice.

"You forget that Nuil has been here for four," Meldamar reminded him, voice rising slightly. "You have done what you sought out to do, now let us return to our home."

"Why now?"

"We cannot leave our sons!"

"They are grown men!" Nolen argued. "They do not need to be watched over."

Meldamar slammed her hand down flat on the tables surface, rage filling her usually calm features. "I'll not have it! The longer we stay, the more the darkness will linger in your heart!" Then suddenly as if realizing that her children were there, she froze. What had been a light conversation about visiting home, had turned into something that Nuil had told Nilwe about those many years past.

Nurnedhe glanced between his parents. After Nilwe had told them of what Nuil had overheard, they had all been watchful of it. Watchful of what their mother feared had begun to plague her family.

Nuil pushed her plate away from her, not hungry anymore. The sound of her plate scraping against the table drew her parents attention to her. Meldamar's face turned to one of worry and shame.

"Oh, Nuil . . ."

Nuil looked close to tears, her eyes fixed on her parents. She stood slowly, chair scraping against the stone floor.

"Nuil-" Nolen began. Nuil shook her head.

"Stop." Nuil heaved a sigh, looking angry and upset. "We can't fight like this . . ." She stopped, voice heavy with tears that she refused to let fall. Nuil was frustrated that she was so bothered by her parents words, and yet she feared their truth all the same.

Without another word she turned and fled from the room. Nuil ignored the cries of her brothers to stop and flung open the door of their home, sprinting away from their dwelling. She rushed past the dwarves that were still in the halls, ignoring the bright and beautiful stone work that she usually would stop and admire.

She did not stop until she was standing at the parapets on one of the upper levels, gazing out over the city of Dale, breathing hard. Tears spilled freely over her cheeks as she fought to hold back sobs. Her shoulders shook, making her whole body shudder. She was fearful. Full of fear at her mothers words, because they were true. Because she had seen the gleam in her fathers eyes when he saw gold, or other precious jewels. How his eyes had darkened at the mentioned of leaving Erebor.

But it was not just her father. Despite her brothers vigilance, their constant wariness, they too had the same look in their eyes when they saw gold. It was not as strong as their father, but it was there. And if the thirteen year old was honest, she too felt the draw of the gold.

Her mother was right.

With a shudder a sob escaped her lips. She did not want to leave Erebor. She had friends who were dear to her here- the thud of heavy footsteps reached her ears and Nuil shrank into the shadows. She did not want a guard to find her, or any of her family. Not yet.

She watched as the silhouette of the dwarf stood in the spot she had once occupied not a moment before. Holding her breath, she waited. The dwarf turned and the light of a near torch revealed his identity.

Thorin.

Nuil swallowed, watching his eyes roam about the parapet.

"I know you are there," he murmured, eyes returning to Dale. Nuil stayed stubbornly where she was, quickly whipping her eyes of the moisture that lingered there. She most certainly did not want Thorin to find her. She still did not like the eldest son of Thrain very much. She most certainly didn't want him to see her crying. It was unbecoming and she knew her father hated it.

"It did not go unnoticed that the only daughter of Nolen fled from her home tonight," he went on. "Your brothers bid me to help find you."

Nuil frowned. Why would he help? She could understand if it was Frerin, but Thorin hardly involved himself with her family. She had seen him with Nurgon a few times, but that was all. He was always wit Frerin, Dwalin and this father and grandfather.

"Nuilweyil."

Holding firm to her decision, Nuil stayed firmly rooted to the spot. She wasn't going to come out if he insisted on using her given name. Her nails dug into the flesh of her palms. Thorin gave a sigh of annoyance, and reached into the shadows, pulling her roughly into the torchlight. Nuil struggled, resisting as he held her firmly.

He glared down at her, jaw clenched shut. But his eyes softened as he saw her red rimmed eyes. Thorin loosened his hold on her. Nuil refused to meet his eyes, as he stared down at her.

"You are looked for khim ze," he murmured kindly.

"I do not wish to be found," she replied quietly. "I want to stay." Her words held a double meaning, that the dwarf prince did not immediately catch. He merely nodded, as Nuil shifted silently to look out into the night.

They were silent for a time, only their breaths stirring the air as the wind took it away. The torches crackled, and finally Thorin sighed. Nuil glanced at him, her tears dry and no longer threatening to fall. She was done crying for the time being. But she stared at him, noting his uncertain look. As if unsure of how to approach her.

"It grows late."

"So I should return home . . ." she finished, shoulders slumping. Thorin crossed his arms, his brow furrowing slightly as he stared down at her. Nuil felt small now, staring up at him.

"Why did you run?"

"A . . . family matter," she replied, instantly uncomfortable. "Nothing more."

Thorin scoffed, turning his gaze back out over to the city of men. "That may be, but it still does not explain why you ran from your family. Such actions cause talk."

"I know." Nuil understood. Though she was the daughter of a high ranking guard of the king, her actions still had consequences. There was still a level of propriety. Thorin looked at her, seeing how she suddenly seemed older in that moment. So very aware of her actions. So unlike his sister, who was still wrapped in her dresses and fun.

"They were fighting again," she suddenly murmured, surprising the prince. Nuil shut her eyes, fighting the fear that was building in her chest again. "Fighting about gold."

"Gold?" Thorin echoed. Worrying crept into his brow. His mind wandered to the day before, when he had happened upon his grandfather. He had been in the royal treasury, wandering through the isles of gleaming wealth with that look of lust on his face. The king seeming to be overwhelmed by it all. But also hopelessly lost in his love for it. Thorin knew instantly what it was. Knew the darkness that grew in his grand sires mind.

"It is called goldlust, is it not?" Nuil asked. Her small voice drawing the dwarf prince from his musings. She was looking up at him expectantly. She was hardly shorter than he, but somehow still managed to have to lift her head to look at him.

"Aye," he replied. Nuil looked away from him, frowning into the night.

"Then we are cursed," she said darkly.

Thorin said nothing, silently placing his hand on her upper back. He turned her away from the parapet, leading her back into the mountain to her home.

oOo

He returned Nuil to her very grateful parents, nodding to the eldest brother of their home before leaving. Since his conversation with the daughter of Nolen, her words had plagued him. She was very astute, in her observations, and far more mature than he had originally given her credit for. He admired her headstrong stubbornness, pleased that she had not given up when Frerin beat her in their matches. It seemed that this girl would keep earning his respect.

He saw her again, weeks later, when he was walking through the markets on the lower level with his father. At first his eyes had merely passed over her, settling on his laughing sister as they spoke with a vendor. They were admiring jewelry, as young girls usually did. Dis picked up a gold necklace, a ruby the size of his fist hanging from it. She held it up to Nuil's neck, laughing as the vendor said something, making the girl blush.

But Thorin saw Nuil pushed the jewelry away. As if afraid to look at it. He frowned, remembering her words from their encounter several weeks prior.

"It is called goldlust, is it not?"

Thorin looked at his feet. Perhaps she had meant alluded to more things than he had thought, when they had spoken. Thorin raised his gaze up, resting it once more on the two. Nuil turned then, looking out across the vendors, her eyes landing on him. His brow furrowed further, as a new emotion flickered across her face.

Fear.

WOW! You guys are amazing! I wasn't expecting so many reviews, so I was pleasantly surprised this morning. You all made my day, because I was not feeling it today. I was smiling. Thank you.

Next chapter: SMAUG (hold your children close, and keep a bucket of water near!) I don't think it would actually help though. A little of Thorin and little Nuil interaction here. It's so hard to write those two, when she's so young. But I did it!

To my amazing reviewers:

IceheartsChill: Yup :) well, actually T.T

FaeSong: thank you so much, I always worry that I'm boring my readers to death, so thanks!

The Penned Tekrid: I know right? I didn't realize it at first when I was writing this, but yeah. I've always thought interracial families are interesting. (GASP) I didn't realize that I didn't write Balin in here yet! (me screaming in background) but she knows him. Don't worry.

As always, Read and Review!

~filimeala