Thorin sat at the huge table in his tent, looking down at the map of Moria. The orcs had retreated deep into the tunnels and the mines of mithril were lost to the dwarves. There was no chance in reclaiming Moria and this fact lasted heavily on his mind. They had failed. Again. First they had lost their home to a dragon and now they lost one their most important mine to the orcs and goblins. Defeat lasted hard on the proud dwarves and Thorin wished that his father would be with him. There was still no sign of Thrain anywhere near the battlefield. The prince of Erebor looked up as Balin entered the tent. The old dwarf looked as exhausted as Thorin felt.

'Balin.' Thorin greeted his grandfathers advisor.

'Thorin.' Balin let out a tired smile. 'How long will we stay here? In camp?'

'Till the wounded can be moved. There are still many wounded who would not survive the journey home.' Thorin thought about his discussion with Oin. The dwarven healer had told him that if they returned to the Blue Mountains now over half of the wounded would die on the road.

Balin nodded. 'We need new medical supplies then, herbs and water. Thanks to the people of lord Dan we have enough food and ale, but the healers need more bandages and especially herbs. We have run out of kingsfoil days ago. Lady Gwen offered to get new supplies from their village and she said that her daughter would collect the herbs they need in the nearby forest.'

'Its too dangerous to leave the camp.' Thorin insisted.

'Dwalin and I will accompany Brann, for protection. Lady Gwen will be accompanied by Frerin and Bifur. It seems your brother wants to talk to his future mother in law.' Balin smiled faintly.

'It is not decided yet.' Thorin frowned again. 'Brann has not accepted Frerins proposal.'

'She is still young and the last days have been overwhelming for all of us. I am sure that she only needs a little bit of time to think about her future.' Balin had always been understanding.

Thorin gazed outside into the sunlight and grabbed his sword and a spear. 'I will also accompany you. While you and Brann search for herbs Dwalin and I will go on the hunt for venison.'

'Thorin, you are the leader of our people now. You should stay behind.' Balin told him quietly.

'I will not hide in my tent and will not let all of you work for all our sakes.' Thorin grumbled. 'I will come with you.'

'As you wish.' Balin sighed and followed the prince out.

Brann and Dwalin were already waiting by the medical tent and Balin had to smirk at Branns uncomfortable expression as she peaked at Dwalin once in a while. Balin knew that the young woman was scared of the martial dwarves and greeted her with a warm smile.

'Are you ready, lassie?' he asked her and saw her nod. 'Brother, you and prince Thorin will accompany us and hunt some animals while we are out there. Fresh meat would be great.'

Dwalins grumpy expression lightened up at the chance of going hunting and he grabbed his spear that energetically that Brann took a step back.

'Brann, dear, why don´t we go on?' Balin smiled at the young woman and they walked into the forest. Soon Branns attention was diverted to the herbs and plants on the forest floor and she did not pay any more attention towards the heavily armed dwarves. As she turned around again Dwalin and Thorin were gone. Brann took a deep breath and concentrated on the herbs she needed. The forest was huge and dark and it took her longer than expected. Suddenly Balin rushed towards her and pulled her back to the cover of an old oak tree. Brann then realised that something was going on. Usually a forest was full of life and noise, but there was nothing to be heard. No animals and no wind disturbed the quiet.

'Whats wrong?' Brann whispered but Balin silenced her by putting his finger to his lips. He suddenly wished that Thorin and Dwalin had not gone hunting and had stayed with them. He was a skilled warrior but he could not defend Brann alone against - and in that moment an orc pack walked past them. Brann pushed back against the tree and tried to make herself as small as possible and Balin did not dare to breathe. But they had no luck. As the orcs had nearly past them their leader started sniffing in the air. He turned around and spotted the dwarf and the woman crouching under the oak tree. With a mallicious grin he creeped towards them and Balin shoved Brann behind him for protection. There were seven orcs, they did not stand a chance, but Balin tried to keep Brann safe.

'Run!' he yelled at her and charged at the orcs.

Brann looked at him in shock. There was nowhere she could run and she would not let him sacrifice himself for her. She only had her small knife to cut herbs, but she would make it as hard as possible for the orcs to kill her. Before any of the filthy orcs could reach her Thorin and Dwalin leaped out of the forest and supported Balin, who had already cut down two orcs. The three dwarf warriors killed the orcs without receiving any injuries themselves. Balin took a deep breath as it was over.

'I am getting too old for this.' he grinned at his brother and the prince. Then his face darkened. 'Where is the healer lass?!'

Brann was gone and the dwarves spread out to look for her. As Thorin reached the back of the tree something jumped down from it and landed behind him. He spun around and heard a female voice cry out. As he looked down he saw that Brann was sprawled on the floor beneath him. She seemed to have landed on her behind as she had jumped down the tree and he had almost swung at her with his blade.

'Durin! Woman, are you insane? I could have hurt you!' he growled at her.

Brann looked at him with big brown eyes and crawled away from him, towards the tree, as she tried to stand up. Sighing, Thorin walked to her and helped her up. Her feet got tangled in her dress and she stumbled. Thorin felt Branns hands on his shoulder and chest as she tried to stand up straight.

'Is Balin alright?' was Branns first question. 'He tried to save me from the orcs, but there were so many.'

'Balin is fine, the orcs are dead.' Thorin reassured her and then realised that he was still holding her. Their faces were just a few inches apart and Thorin could not help but notice that Brann smelled like honey and sweet herbs. Brann looked back at him with wide eyes. The way he looked at her made her shiver and she felt a mixture of fear and...Brann suddenly realised that she did not know that feeling that made her stomach twist and run shivers down her spine. She felt her cheeks blush and slowly stepped away from Thorin who was clearing his throat.

'Thank you, prince Thorin.' she said quietly and bowed her head.

'You´re welcome lass!' Dwalin boomed from behind her and made her jump. 'Here, you lost your potato peeler.' he grinned and handed her the small knife before he turned around again and the group made for the camp.

Thorin had to chuckle as he saw Branns dark expression. She seemed to hate Dwalin acting towards her as if she was a small child. As Thorin looked over to Balin he saw the same amusement on his face.

'There you are! We were worried about you!' Frerin rushed towards the small group as they entered the camp. 'Our scouts detected an orc pack sneaking into the forest, but we lost them half way in!'

The young prince took a long look at Brann to reassure himself that she was alright and as he saw the huge deer that Dwalin was carrying his eyes shone.

'Thats right, we are going to have something decent to eat this evening!' Dwalin roared and patted Frerin on the shoulder. 'Your brother hunted down a boar, we left it behind after we were attacked by the orcs. I will go back and get it with a few more dwarves. Maybe the lass will cook us something nice when we come back?'

'You wish, dwarf.' Brann growled and the other dwarves had to smirk at her tone. The normally quiet and nice young woman was so irritated by Dwalin that she bared her teeth. Thorin frowned at her accentuation of the word dwarf. It almost sounded dismissive in his ears. Dwalin left them to pick up the rest of the meat and Frerin followed Balin to the middle of the camp. As Brann walked to the medical tent Thorin followed her.

'Is everything alright?' he asked, but his voice did not sound worried. Brann looked at him and frowned. She was in a bad mood due to Dwalins needling and wanted to go back to work in the tent that had become her safety base inside of the camp.

'I am fine, your highness, thank you. Excuse me.' Brann knew that she was impolite, but she needed some peace and quiet from the dwarves. And she needed to talk to her mother.

Brann found her mother at Lindins bed. Thorins and Frerins brother in law looked way better and her mother was exchanging the bandages around his throat and neck.

'Brann. Give me a hand, dear. Have you found the herbs we need?' she asked her daughter who nodded. 'Please make me a new salve out of kingsfoil then. And a tea for master Lindins sore throat.'

Doing as she was told Brann walked to the back of the tent. But this time she could not concentrate. Her thougths lingered with Thorin and the effect he had on her. She could not understand what made her feel that way. Thorin was distant towards her and they had barely been in contact, but the few times they had met and talked had burned deeply into Branns mind. Frerin on the other hand was the one who should touch her like his brother did. Frerin was the one who loved her and who wanted to marry her. She liked Frerin very much, but he was a dear friend to her, not more. Was her mother right? Would love set in lateron? Brann felt more torn than ever.

'Are you finished, my dear?' her mother called out from the middle of the tent.

'Coming.' Brann shook her head to clear her thoughts. As she appeared at Lindins bed again she could see her mother eye her suspiciously.

'Is everything alright?' she asked as she tended to Lindins wounds.

'I am fine, I am just tired.' Brann lied to her mother. All she wanted to do now was sleep. But as her mother was done with bandaging Lindins wound Brann sat down beside him and held the cup of tea to his lips so he could drink.

'Thank you, lass.' Lindins voice was not more than a whisper, but Branns expression lightened up as she heard the dwarf speak.

'You´re welcome, master Lindin! I am so happy that you are able to speak again!' Brann exclaimed and made Lindin smile.

'Thanks to your care and your mothers. No words can express my gratitude.' Lindin croaked.

Brann smiled warmly at him and jumped as she heard Frerins voice right behind her.

'Lindin, brother!' the young prince smiled at Brann before he took a seat beside Lindins bed. 'How are you?'

'Hungry.' Lindin had realised this as Frerin had opened the tent and a breeze of freshly cooked meat had entered the tent.

'I am sorry, master Lindin, but I am afraid that meat is too hard to swallow for you in your present condition.' Brann told him quietly. 'Although...please excuse me for a minute.'

Brann had an idea and rushed out of the tent.

'If she comes back with meat I will kiss her.' Lindin grinned at Frerin. 'She is such a lovely lass. But who am I telling this? Does she know that you love her?'

Frerin looked at his brother in law in surprise. 'Is it that obvious?' at Lindins nod he continued. 'She is special and I hope that she will come with us to the Blue Mountains.'

'Why should she?' Lindin did not understand.

'I asked her to be my wife.' Frerin sighed. 'But she has not decided, yet.'

'You asked her to marry you? Thats great!' Lindin was happy for his brother in law. 'Don´t worry, you are such a nice and handsome dwarf, why should she say no?'

Brann made her way through the camp until she had found the dwarf she had been looking for. Master Bombur was busy cooking, roasting and preparing the huge piles of meat that hung over the fire or boiled inside of a huge kettle. The delicious smells coming from the fires made Branns stomach protest loudly and she realised how hungry she was.

'Good evening, lass.' Bombur smiled at the young woman. 'Dinner will be ready in a few moments.'

'May I ask you a favor? Could you cook a bowl of stew until the meat gets really soft? One of the wounded needs to eat and he can´t swallow hard food yet.' Brann asked him timidly.

Bombur nodded at her and waved over the food. 'Of course I can! But it will take a while, lass. Sit down and take a bite yourself!'

As Brann sat down at the fire Bombur turned around to his brother Bofur. 'Who is that skinny thing?'

Borfur only grinned at him. 'Thats the young healer our prince Frerin wants to marry.'

Bomburs eyes got wide. 'Her? Really?' he eyed Brann with a testing look. 'What does he see in her? Way too skinny for my taste. And a little shy.'

Bofur wanted to reply something as he saw Frerin approach the fire. With a smile he sat down beside his brother and watched the young prince sit down at Branns side.

'Didn´t master Bombur give you anythign to eat?' Frerin asked Brann and grinned at the fat cook.

'Are dwarf women fat?' Brann popped out the question resting on her mind and caught Frerin by surprise.

'Fat? No! Why are you asking?' Frerin had to laugh.

'Because your cook and his brother say that I am skinny.' Brann looked back and grinned at the caught expressions of Bombur and Bofur. 'I am slim, but am I that skinny? Is that a bad thing in the dwarven culture?'

Frerin smiled at her lovingly. Her worry over her appearance made her even more attractive in his eyes. 'Well, dwarf women are sturdy and strong. Their physique is not much different than ours, just more curvy.' Frerin grinned.

Brann had to laugh quietly as Frerin underlined the curves with his hands subconsciously. Bombur came by and gave Brann and Frerin plates with a haunch of animal glazed in honey. As Brann took a bite her eyes widened.

'Oh my goodness! This is so good!' she exclaimed and took another bigger bite. Frerin watched her eat and smirked. As she was finished Brann looked extremly happy and satisfied. Before Frerin could stop himself he reached for her face and swept a little rest of honeygravy from her cheek. Brann did not recoil, but she stared at him with her big brown eyes he loved looking into. Then she lowered her gaze and smiled timidly. Frerin took a deep breath. That was a good sign. If she would not like him she would have slapped him silly.

'Prince Frerin...' she started, but Frerin took her hands.

'Just call me Frerin, please.' he asked her and Brann nodded.

'Frerin.' she swallowed and he could tell that she was nervous. 'Do you really want ot marry me? Me being such a skinny thing and all...' she smiled at him shyly.

Frerin looked at her in awe. He leaned forward and took her face into his big hand, cupping her cheek. There were no words to describe how much he wanted to marry her, so he leaned over and softly kissed her on the lips. It was only a short and light kiss and it was over before Brann could even react on it. Brann was so surprised that she had stopped breathing.

'You are perfect.' Frerin told her and enjoyed that her cheeks reddened at his words. 'Marry me.'

And to his great surprise, Brann nodded.

Thorin watched his brother and Brann sitting at the fire. As his brother leaned over to kiss the woman Thorin saw Brann stifen, but she did not fight the kiss. As she opened her eyes again Thorin could see the affection that she felt for Frerin shining in her eyes. Thorins gaze wandered over Branns face, her lips which were slightly parted in surprise and felt heavy hearted. Thorin could not forget how close they had been in the forest earlier. The prince turned around and walked back to his tent. She would be his brothers wife one day and he would do his best to ignore the shivers she sent through his body when he looked at her. Thorin told himself that the adrenalin rushs of the past days and the hopeless situation made his body long for a woman and that his feelings towards Brann were only a matter of hormones and lust. But he could not help but admire the young woman. She had worked tirelessly and had been a great support for Oin. Despite her youth she had proven him and many other dwarves wrong and had shown great skills as a healer. Lindin was going to live because of her. Thorin lay down on his bed in his tent and his mind drifted back to Brann. In his head he saw his brother kiss the soft lips and touch the beautiful face which he wanted to kiss and touch himself. Branns face was the last thing he thought of before drifting into a deep slumber.