I do not own any of the characters or The Hobbit (just the AU storyline and my OC) Those are the work of the esteemed and brilliant John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, and without his genius, this and many other fan fics would not be in existence.

***A VERY IMPORTANT note for my loyal readers (PLEASE READ!)- Part 1 of TLBTM is nearly completed- it is simply too long of a story to keep as one part. There will be 110 chapters in this first part, and then I am going to post the first chapter of part 2 after Christmas/beginning of the year (depends on how long it takes to recover from five weeks of insanity). I will be sure to post an author's note at the END of part one (as a separate chapter) with a link to part 2 when it is posted- the title will be the same, other than the part designation. So PLEASE- if you've favorited or followed this story, be sure to do the same with part 2 to continue receiving updates! Thank you ALL for going on this journey with me- it's been wonderful, and so have you! I can't believe how big this story has gotten!***

Also a quick note- this chapter will have possible triggers in it (alcohol violence related) so please be forewarned!

Cirashala shut the door behind her quickly, too flustered and ashamed to face the young dwarf calling after her. Tears fell unheeded down her cheeks as she thought about what she'd done, the wet drops disappearing into the wrinkled bundle in her arms.

I-I insulted him. I insulted him in the worst possible way! I didn't mean to- I was trying to help him!

The young woman was puzzled at his accusations. She knew his beard was far shorter than the rest of the dwarves, though Fili's wasn't much longer, but she honestly didn't think he looked so much like a human as to fear being mistaken for one. He was far too short to be a human man, Cirashala quite used to having to tilt her head up to look a man in the eye until recently, and he was broader in the shoulders and more muscular than most men she'd seen. His ears were bigger too, and though his fingers weren't any longer than hers, they were quite a bit thicker. But then again, she'd always had very small hands even by human standards.

She never intended to insult him- far from it. Kili had become a very dear friend of hers over these last several weeks, and the last thing she ever wanted to do was hurt him. She'd claimed kinship to him because she thought it would persuade Meril to help him, not to insinuate that he was a human. She knew that dwarves had long memories of hurts, some grudges being so fierce as to cause them to hate another race for thousands of years.

Have I lost his friendship forever?

The sound of a throat being cleared echoed loudly through the room, and the young woman looked up to see Meril looking intently at her with her arms crossed in front of her chest. A wide eyed Freida glanced nervously between the two of them as she sat on her knees in a chair next to the elder, a mixing bowl sitting on the table in front of her completely forgotten. The look on the elder's face was one the young woman had seen countless times before, and Cirashala visibly began to tremble under the stern gaze as the grip on her clothing bundle tightened.

"Tell me," the old woman began, her piercing gaze fixed on the young woman. "Did you really think I would not guess that he is not your brother?" Cirashala swallowed nervously, shivering despite the warmth coming from the fireplace across the room.

She knows? How?

"How-how did you-?" she trailed off, and Meril sighed.

"I overheard some of your conversation," she replied, eyes roaming over the younger's face. "But I had already figured it out. You do not look anything alike. Freida and Gelin could have been twins if they were the same age, but not you two. Your hair, your eyes, your ears- nothing is the same, except for your height."

The blood drained from the younger's face. She hated having to lie, but she hadn't had much of a choice at the time. Kili was bleeding badly, and he wouldn't have survived had she not convinced Meril to take them in. He was her friend, and one of the few people who had managed to earn her trust. She did not want to lose him.

"I can explain," the young woman said quickly, causing Meril's eyebrow to raise. Cirashala took a deep breath, hoping the woodswoman would accept her explanation.

"He…isn't my brother," she whispered, swallowing heavily. The old woman nodded. "We were part of a group of merchants traveling together, and we got separated from them during a goblin attack just like I told you last night- I was not lying about what happened to us, I swear-only about his kinship to me."

"Why did you say he was your brother?" Freida asked, her wide blue eyes looking at the young woman. Meril glanced at the child, then back at Cirashala, clearly expecting an answer.

"Well?" she asked, and Cirashala glanced down at the bundle in her arms, before looking up at the old woman.

"When Gisli was hurt, I-I said he was my brother so you would help him," she whispered. "You were going to leave him behind to bleed to death, and I didn't know what else to do. I was hoping that if you thought he was my brother, you'd be willing to help him."

"I see," she said quietly, the guilt of nearly leaving the dwarf who saved Freida's life behind settling in her heart.

"I'm sorry," Cirashala continued, hanging her head. "I didn't want to lie, but I didn't want to lose him too." Meril's gaze glanced up at her, confusion in the old eyes.

"Too?" she asked, and the young woman nodded.

"I-I lost my husband and my…" Cirashala trailed off as her eyes landed on Freida, the blue orbs filling with tears as she struggled to get the words out. "My girls….there was an accident. I don't want to lose anyone else."

Meril looked at the distraught young woman, sympathy in her gaze.

"You care for him." It was a statement, not a question. Cirashala's eyes widened, and she shook her head.

"No, I-I mean yes," she stammered, cheeks heating up in embarrassment. "N-not in that way- he's my friend. I…lost my family only a f-few weeks…" The young woman's throat constricted, the words refusing their way out, and Meril's gaze softened with understanding.

The old woman was no stranger to grief. They had a hard life here in Wilderland- orcs would come, wargs would come, and the woodsmen would fight back, but it was not always without loss. Winters were harsh at times, sickness came and went, accidents like Gelin's would happen. Meril had lost her father and mother, her husband, her daughter and her husband, and her grandson. The only kin she had left was Freida, and that had been a very close call.

"It's all right, child," she said quietly. "We've all lost someone before."

Cirashala nodded, looking up at the elder.

"I am so sorry," she whispered. "Please- I did not mean to deceive you, but he-he needed help. He was going to die."

Meril sighed, and the young woman clutched her clothing to herself as she awaited judgment, shivering as the last sliver of sunlight faded from the window.

Just as the elder opened her mouth to reply, the front door of the cabin burst open, striking the log wall with a loud crash and sending the tin dishes clattering to the floor.

XXX

Meril jumped up in surprise as Breglin stormed into the house, the tall man pushing her aside as he passed. Several others followed, the last one rudely tossing a torch into her water barrel.

The slight weave in their gait, coupled with the unpleasant smell, immediately told Meril that they had visited Breglin's horrid still prior to barging into her home, and her eyes widened with fear. Quickly grabbing Freida, she shoved the child behind her in the corner of the kitchen, before glaring at the intruders.

"Get out of here, you filthy drunkards!" the old woman growled, planting her feet firm.

"We only wanted to see your little dwarf girl," Breglin smirked, turning toward Cirashala. The young woman's face paled at the piercing intensity in his gaze, and her eyes frantically darted toward the child, relieved to note that her grandmother stood in front of her.

"You were right," slurred one of the others, openly gawking at the young woman. "It is a dwarf girl."

"I-I'm not a dwarf," she said, her voice trembling as she began to inch backward, frightened eyes fixed on the large man in front of her.

"I think ye are," Breglin sneered, moving toward her right side and blocking any exit from the side door. "I think yer a purty dwarf girl."Cirashala's eyes widened considerably as she gasped, his intentions becoming clear.

"Leave the girl alone, Breglin!" Meril growled angrily behind them, eyes flickering toward her bow hung over the back door. The drunk men paid her no mind, gazes fixed on Cirashala. Seeing her opportunity, the old woman grasped the trembling Freida's arm and quietly began to inch towards it, keeping the frightened child securely behind her.

Cirashala's eyes remain fixed on the group of hostile men as she slowly backed toward the bedroom door she had come out of earlier, fear coursing through her. Old memories surfaced, memories she'd been determined to forget. Only, she had a feeling that this time, it would be a lot worse.

"What's the matter, wench?" Breglin asked, beady eyes roaming over her hungrily. "I just thought you'd like better company than filthy dwarves for a change."

"I'll keep her company," one of the men behind him added, winking at the young woman as he made a very suggestive gesture. Her eyes widened in terror.

"NO!" she cried, dropping the bundle in her hands as she quickly turned toward the door behind her. Just as she reached for the handle, a large hand wrapped around her forearm and yanked her around.

She brought her fist up toward Breglin's face as her bare foot made contact with the side of his boot, but the large man was not as drunk as his companions and reacted quickly, grasping her right arm as well and roughly throwing her to the ground as she cried out in pain.

"NO! KILI!" she screamed, struggling to free her arms from the tall man's grasp as he got on top of her, pinning her down. The young woman pushed against him as hard as she could, but to no avail. "KILI!"

"Well, well," Breglin said, eyes roaming over her face. "Looks like dwarf girls have beards after all!"

The large man grabbed her arms and shoved them over her head, grasping both wrists in his left hand as he drew a hunting knife with the other.

"I never cared much for girls with hair on their faces," he sneered, stroking her cheek with the blunt side of the steel blade. "Looks too dwarvish to me." Her blue eyes widened as far as they could go as he turned the blade around, the young woman paralyzed with fear.

"NO! KILI!" she screamed once more, tears falling down her cheeks as she realized just what Breglin intended to do to her. No, please no!

"Let's see how you'll look without this fluff," he jeered as he brought the sharpened edge to her upper jaw.

XXX

Kili heard soft voices going back and forth, but his foggy mind could not comprehend them.

After his tears were spent, the young dwarf had shakily risen to his feet and moved back toward the bed. His eyes landed on the pile of clothing, still lying on the bed where Cirashala had left it, and he was once more filled with regret at the misunderstanding. He needed to apologize, to let her know that she did not insult him, but he was not yet ready to face her.

Grasping the top button of the borrowed nightshirt, he began to tug, loosening them one by one. Glancing over his shoulder to make sure the door was still shut, he pulled the nightshirt over his head and quickly stepped into his long underwear. The motion was difficult for his injured shoulder, but he was bound and determined to be fully clothed as soon as possible.

She was a widow, plain and simple. Marriage vows extended even into death, for someone could only love another once. The young prince's shoulders sagged as he tugged on his trousers and tied the laces.

She cannot find out, he thought to himself, the knowledge once more bringing pain to his heart. She must never know I'm in love with her.

Reaching for his jerkin, the young dwarf wrapped it around himself, wincing once more at the tug on his shoulder. His trousers felt different somehow, and as he looked down, his eyes widened with a gasp.

Where is my runestone? And my coin?

Kili frantically patted the brown fabric to no avail. As he looked up to try and find his boots, hoping they would be in them, a loud crash echoed through the cabin, rattling the single window in the room. The startled dwarf whipped around with a gasp, hand instinctively going for his sword as several angry voices sounded. His eyes widened with fear.

Cira!

Grasping thin air, the young dwarf was reminded of the loss of his weapons in Goblin Town and afterwards the forest. Letting out an explosive curse, his eyes frantically coursed through the small room, praying that he would find something he could fight with.

Gaze landing on the bed, the young dwarf dropped to his knees and peered under the piece of furniture. It was a mere second before his keen eyes became accustomed to the darkness, and the brown orbs widened as they landed on a dusty bow and a quiver.

As the young dwarf reached for the weapons, a loud scream echoed through the door, causing the blood to drain from his face.

XXX

Cirashala waited for the feeling of cool steel scraping against flesh as she shut her tear filled eyes in fear, when a loud shout of pain sounded above her. The clatter of a knife falling on the floor beside her head entered her ears as Breglin's grasp on her wrists weakened, and the young woman's eyes flew open with a cry.

Cirashala looked up in surprise at the quivering end of an arrow hovering over her face, the shaft imbedded into the bottom of the large man's right hand as his face twisted in pain.

"Get off of her. Now."

Kili's voice was dark, darker than she'd ever heard it before, and the frightened young woman turned to see him aiming an arrow at Breglin's heart through the open bedroom door. The large man looked up at him, beads of sweat forming on his brow as his eyes widened in surprise and fear. Slowly he pushed off of her, his movements impaired by the arrow sticking out of his hand, and rose to his feet. Kili's arrow followed his movements, his dark gaze never leaving the woodsman.

The second the large man was off of her, the young dwarf slowly moved forward into the room, not stopping until he stood in front of her as he kept his arrow trained on the belligerent group.

"Do you really think you will be able to stop us, dwarf?" Breglin spat, his jaw clenched in pain as blood dripped from his hand onto the floor. Kili's gaze narrowed as he looked the large man in the eye, his arm unwavering. "There are five of us, and only one of you."

"Make that two," Meril sounded from across the room, her own bow trained at the group as well as she stood in front of the back door. Freida was nowhere in sight. "Get out of my house."

Breglin glowered at her as he clutched his injured hand to his torso, but the angry woodsman did not make a move.

"The Chieftain will hear of this," he spat, gaze moving back towards Kili. "You dwarf runts will be flogged for daring to injure—"

"The lady said get out," Kili cut him off, glaring at the tall man. Breglin returned the glare, before spitting at the young dwarf's bare feet. Kili did not flinch.

"Breglin, aren't we going to have fun with the girl?" one of the more drunk men slurred heavily, looking rather confused at the whole situation. "We can take 'im." Kili's dark gaze flew toward him, arrow trained at the man's heart.

"If any of you ever dare to come near her again," the dwarf began, his voice dead serious. "I will kill you."

XXX

Once the door closed behind the intruders, Kili's grip faltered. The bow and arrow in his hands clattered to the floor as the young prince fell to his knees, gasping as pain shot through his chest and bruised shoulder.

"Cira!" he cried, turning toward the trembling young woman, who had scooted back toward the wall behind her and curled up in a trembling ball, her arms over her face much like how he'd found her back in the troll cave over a month prior. Muffled sobs emitted from under her arms, and Kili's eyes widened in alarm. Half crawling, half stumbling toward her, the young dwarf dropped down beside the frightened form, laying his hand on her shoulder as his worried gaze roamed over her.

"Cira?" he asked gently, the deep worry in his eyes matching his tone. "Cira, it's me. Are you all—"

The young dwarf was cut off as she wrapped her arms around him tightly, burying her face in his neck with another sob. Kili's arms moved around her as well, one hand cradling the back of her head as he held her close, his own body trembling at what might have been.

"Shh," he whispered in her ear. "I'm here. It's all right. You're safe now. It's all right."

Meril watched the pair with wide eyes, dropping her bow and placing her arrow back in its quiver. Her mind recalled the strange name screamed by the young woman as Breglin attacked her, most certainly the dwarf's real name given her terror.

Kili…so his name is NOT Gisli.

The old woman immediately moved to bar the front door, something she rarely had need to do. Usually pulling the latch string in was sufficient enough, but she did not want to risk Breglin or the other four men coming back in, undoubtedly with the Chieftain and the rest of the town in tow. They would try the front door first, before attempting the side door. But either way, she knew they only had a few minutes before there was no chance for them to escape the town's judgment.

Turning toward the trembling pair, she cleared her throat loudly.

"Cira, Kili," she said, causing the pair to turn toward her with wide eyes, though they did not release their hold on each other. "You need to get out of here. Breglin will be back any minute, and he will have the entire village with him this time." Her gaze filled with regret.

"I am sorry, but you are no longer safe here."

Kili's concerned gaze turned toward the young woman, who still wore the borrowed nightgown.

"Cira, get dressed quickly," he commanded, releasing his hold on her and scooping up her clothing.

Cirashala rose shakily to her feet, and he shoved the clothes in her arms and gently pushed her into their room. Following her into the small space, he spotted his boots next to the wall and grabbed them, before heading toward the door. Pausing as he reached the room's threshold, the young prince turned toward her, a flush spreading across his cheeks as his eyes avoided hers.

"I-I don't want to leave you in here alone," he said quietly. "Don't worry- I won't turn around until you say I can."

Cirashala nodded, and the young prince turned away from her, tugging on his boots. Quickly she pulled her trousers up under her nightgown, just like she'd undressed Kili the day before. Shoving her arms under the hem of the white fabric, she shrugged the limbs into the sleeves of the woolen tunic, quickly donning one as she cast off the other in one motion.

The movement pulled badly at her wounds, which greatly pained her after her rough contact with the wooden floor, and the young woman whimpered despite herself. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Kili froze, tilting his ear in her direction even as he kept his eyes averted.

"Cira?" he asked hesitantly, worry in his tone. Swallowing heavily, she sighed.

"Y-you can turn around now," she whispered, reaching for her own boots.

"Are you hurt?" he asked as he turned, worried eyes moving from her head to her feet. She nodded slightly, her face drawn and pale. She noticed he now had his coat on, along with his empty weapons strap and his gloves and bracers.

"He threw me on my back is all," she said quietly, looking up at him with a forced smile."It stung a little, but it's fine, really."

The concern did not leave Kili's gaze, and she reached down into her boot and pulled out its contents, causing his eyes to widen in surprise.

"Here," she said, handing him his coin purse and runestone. "I-I pulled them out of your trousers when I was washing them so they wouldn't get lost." Or stolen.

"Thank you," he said quietly, before looking back up at her in confusion. "How did you wash the clothes with your broken hand?" The young woman sighed as she tried to tug on the boots, having difficulty with the injured limb.

Kili's eyes followed her struggle, knowing they didn't have time for it. He knelt down in front of her, easing her hands off the leather.

"Let me," he said quietly, pulling first one, then the other, on for her. Eyes wide, she looked at him in surprise, a bit shocked at the gesture. His eyes met hers, and she blinked in surprise at the unexpected emotion swirling within the brown orbs. The young prince's eyes widened and he immediately glanced downward, avoiding her gaze as his expression suddenly became more guarded.

What was that?

She opened her mouth to answer his question, when a shadow fell across them.

"Come," Meril replied, gesturing toward the side door with a cloth bag in her hand as she moved towards it. "Quickly!"

Kili rushed to his feet, quickly reaching down to grasp Cirashala's unbroken hand. Tugging her to her feet, the young prince pulled her toward the back door after Meril, his grip firm but not too tight. The trio hurried across the grass toward the tall outline of a barn sat tucked a little bit behind the old woman's house, the building barely visible in the dark night. A faint light shone under the great wooden door, providing the only light for their path.

Meril reached up and knocked twice on a smaller door off to the side of the big one, glancing worriedly over her shoulder. Cirashala and Kili followed her gaze, eyes widening as the light from torches began to gather at the other end of the small village.

A slight scrape of wood against wood sounded, and the door opened a crack, Freida's small outline becoming visible. Meril turned and ushered the pair inside, before barring the door behind her.

"Is the horse saddled, Freida?" she asked quickly, and the child nodded, big blue eyes wide with fear. The old woman noticed her guests glance at each other in confusion, and sighed.

"You won't be able to outrun them," she explained as Freida led the large black horse to them. Cirashala noticed it was the same horse that had brought her and Kili to the woodswoman's house the day before. Reaching up, she placed the canvas sack into the saddlebag.

"Take Deloth," the old woman commanded. "Freida shortened the stirrups for you. I also packed a blanket, more peppermint, a water skin, biscuits, and dried meat for you in there. It's not much, but hopefully it will get you far enough away from the village at least before you have to stop. It's the only way you'll escape." Cirashala's eyes widened.

"Ma'am, we cannot possibly—" she began, but Kili cut her off, placing his hand on her arm before stepping forward. Reaching into his pocket, he drew out the small bag of coins.

"Take this in payment for the horse and supplies, and for our keep," he said quietly, placing the whole bag into Meril's hand. His gaze met hers, gratefulness in the dark orbs. "And thank you for saving our lives." Her eyes widened, and she looked suspiciously at Cirashala.

"I thought you said you did not have any coin," she asked, and the young woman shook her head.

"I don't," she replied. "That coin is his, and not mine to give."

"I would not take your horse without payment," Kili added, nodding his head to the woodswoman. "I hope that is a fair price for the beast."

Meril's eyes narrowed, and she opened the strings, counting the coin inside. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she looked back up at the dwarf prince.

"That is more than a fair price," she replied, the stunned woman staring at the pair. She nodded to them, respect in her eyes.

"Gramma, they're almost to our house!" Freida cried, the child above them in the hayloft peering out a window. Meril nodded, before turning to the horse and uttering a command in her tongue.

"Dael!" The horse knelt down, and Meril gestured toward him.

"If you need Deloth to get down, just say dael," she instructed. "He will get up if you just kick his sides. Now get on him- hurry!" Kili nodded, turning toward the young woman.

"Get on in front of me so you don't fall off," he instructed. "I will take the reins from behind you."

"No need," she replied, mounting the beast and expertly taking the reins up in her hands as she slid her boots into the stirrups. "I've ridden horses since I was five years old."

Kili's eyes widened slightly in surprise, before silently mounting the horse behind her. Gently grasping her waist, he felt the young woman dig her heels into the horse's side as instructed. Deloth rose to his feet faster than the dwarf expected, his grip unconsciously tightening in response. Meril grasped the lead, looking up at the two of them.

"I don't know who you are, master Kili, but you have my thanks," she said quickly, eyes misting. "The last dwarves to come through here stole my grandfather's sheep, and when he was caught, they fought and the dwarf killed him.

"But you- you paid me fairly for something I was going to give you," she continued, her voice filled with awe. "And you saved my granddaughter's life as well. I-I ask that you would forgive me for nearly leaving you behind in the forest. I greatly misjudged you before."

Meril's eyes shone with respect as she looked at the pair, and Kili nodded in response.

"It is best you do not remember my real name," he said quietly. "Cira was right to hide it from you. I cannot tell you why, but I ask you to forget it only for your sake and the child's. To you, I am Gisli, not Kili." Meril nodded, leading the horse to the back of the barn. Opening the door, she looked at them as slight shouting was heard in the distance.

"Ride hard," she said, concern in her eyes as she untied the lead from the horse. "Ride hard, and do not look back."

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A response to guest reviewer Ri-chan- it has been a while lol! I'm glad life has slowed down for you- it's only gonna get busier with me! I'm glad you liked the ending- this was originally only supposed to be the first half of the second to last chapter, but it ended so well that I went with my gut and posted it! I am a romantic at heart too, but I also try to keep it realistic. It's great to hear that it made your day :D

A response to guest reviewer Kaia- Thanks! Good- not that your heart was hurting lol, but that you felt what he was feeling :D

Thanks to all who review, favorite, and follow- you guys have been SO awesome! :D :D :D