The building shook, and I groaned. Why couldn't I just die and be over with it?

"Da, it's coming from the mountain." Bain said, looking frightened.

"You should leave us." Fili said as he went towards Bard. "Talk your children, get out of here."

"And go where?" Bard asked. "There is nowhere to go."

"Are we going to die, Da?" Tilda asked.

"No darling." Bard said.

"The dragon, it's going to kill us." Tilda said, ready to cry.

Bard stared at his children, then shook his head. "Not if I kill it first." He said as he yanked something off of the ceiling.

Have you ever been so sick that you've gotten a bit delusional? That's what happens when your temperature is so high that it is literally cooking your brain. Your brain is turning to mush and all you can do about it is lose your mind.

I could feel my body slowly starting to wither away, and I had known I should've been trying to say goodbye, or fighting harder. But all I could do was try to think of song lyrics. I kept my eyes closed as I tried to concentrate.

"In the dangling conversation,
And the superficial sighs,
The borders of our lives."

My mind went blank as to what came next.

"Why can't I remember anything more?" I asked myself out loud.

"Malia, what's wrong?" Kili asked, and I opened my eyes as I felt him gently stroke my cheek.

"I can't remember fully any of my favorite songs." I said as I closed my eyes again. "It's as though all the songs are jumbled together."

I paused for a moment, and then began mumbling whatever lyrics came into my head.

"Until your breathing stops,
Until your breathing stops, stops,
Forever, forever."

"They say you're getting better,
But you don't feel any better."

The ceiling creaked and I let out a loud shiver as I suddenly felt drenched in coldness. I was sure I was sweating, but I was also so cold my teeth were near chattering.

"Your house that sits behind me Is covered in ivy green,
The windows that we watch from,
Are old and chipping at the beam."

It takes me away,
Takes me away,
Takes me away…"

Kili's hand left my cheek and went to my forehead. He inhaled sharply as his hand continuing feeling my forehead, then his hand disappeared.

"She's burning up." Kili said, and I forced my eyes open to see who he was talking to.

Oin sat down next to Kili beside the bed, looking at me with sad eyes.

"I'm sorry Malia. I don't know how to bring your fever down without Kingsfoil." Oin said.

I stared from Kili to Oin, watching as they both looked at each other sadly.

There was no two ways about it, I was dying.

"I should've paid more attention to those damn movies." I whispered, looking away from them and up at the ceiling. "I should've…"

I should've told Kili how thankful I was that he had cared for me. But I didn't, and by the time I realized I should've, the pain had caused me to pass out.

Whenever I opened my eyes I saw someone else standing near me. One second it was Kili, the next it was Fili, after that it was an Orc which was a bit horrifying, and I had one burst of energy that ended with me on the floor.

Next then it was Legolas, which was shocking. Not nearly as terrifying as the Orc, but still alarming.

After him it was Crystal. Then lastly, it was Oin, who was touching my forehead, a worried look on his face.

"We are losing her!" Oin said from beside me.

"Malia, Amralime, I'm here." Kili said as he ran up to up and knelt down on the other side of me, cradling my head in his arms, brushing my hair. "Please, you must do something." I watched as Kili looked over at someone farther away.

It was safe to say I had no clue what was going on, and I didn't have the energy to ask and find out.

"Yeah, here's the thing, Legolas." Crystal said somewhere in the background. "She's my best friend. It's not going to make sense to you so I'm not going to explain it, but I'm not leaving. Bye or whatever. See you later, Alligator."

There was a slight silence, and I heard someone leave.

"Where's the freaking kingsfoil?" Crystal demanded and I heard her run out the door. By the time she ran back inside, which was only moments later, she held a plant in her hands.

"Get her up onto the table, now Kili." Crystal said as she looked around.

Kili gently put my head back down before getting up and lifting me up in his arms. I could only assume Oin and Fili had flipped the table back over. Don't ask me how the table got flipped over to begin with, because as usual; I had no clue.

Kili gently rested me down on the table, and I watched as he looked at Crystal, his eyes begging her to help.

"Girls." Crystal said as she looked at Sig and Tilda. "I need a pot." She said as she looked at Sig. Sig nodded, and walked towards the pans. "Tilda, start tearing this up into the pot."

"Hold her down," Crystal demanded and she looked at the Dwarves. "Bet yet…" Crystal paused, and walked around the table towards Kili.

"Hold her head, keep talking to her, okay?" Crystal whispered in his ear.

Kili nodded, and Crystal looked up as Tilda brought over a pot full of torn up kingsfoil.

"Crystal-" I started, trying to explain how I doubted she could save me, when she cut me off.

I mean, she wasn't even an actual Elf. I mean, technically she was, but. I mean really, how could she do it? How much knowledge could she have gotten while she was here?

"Listen to your damn boyfriend and let me save your ass, okay?" Crystal asked.

We stared at each other for a moment before she pointed for me to look at Kili instead.

Kili came closer to me, blocking my view as his hand went back to my face and he stroked my cheek.

"Malia, look at me." Kili said and he pulled my face to look at him when I tried to look at Crystal instead. "I'm here. Tell me more about your home." He begged.

I shook my head, closing my eyes. All I had wanted to do in that very moment was die, if it meant no longer being in pain. My whole body felt as though it was on fire, but at the same time, I was freezing cold.

"Malia, you are too stubborn to die. I know it. I've seen you run into trolls, the pale orc, and face an entirely new world. And you've been kind and so gentle." Kili said, his thumb brushing my cheek.

I opened my eyes and looked at him, and I felt my stomach drop as I looked at the expression on his face. He was about to cry. I hated seeing him so sad.

Crystal took the arrow out and my whole body jerked and I screamed, my whole body writhing in even more pain. Tears fell out of my eyes as my whole body was flooded with a painful tingling sensation.

"I said distract her!" Crystal yelled. "Fili, Oin, Bofur, hold her arms and legs." Crystal commanded, and I felt arms pin my legs down as my body involuntarily kept jerking.

"Jesus christ, Kili keep talking to her!"

Kili shot Crystal a worried look before looking back at me. I could tell he was at a loss for words. We stared into each other's eyes for what felt like years, both of us speechless. So many words that had been left unsaid hung in the air around us.

"Do you want to really know what Amralime means, Malia?" Kili asked, and I could see his eyes were shining.

Hell almighty, Kili was really going to cry. I had someone managed to reduce happy-go-lucky Kili into tears.

I slowly nodded, grinding my teeth as the pain came back in waves. My heartbeat was out of control, it felt like it was going to jump out of my chest at any minute.

"It means 'My Love', Malia." Kili's eyes searched mine. "You are my love. You will be the only one I have ever, and will ever call Amralime." Kili said.

I shook my head in disbelief as I searched his eyes to see if he was telling the truth.

"I'm serious, Malia." Kili said. He seemed nervous, but at the same time desperate.

Desperate for me to not die, I suppose.

I could feel myself start tearing up. I closed my eyes, trying to fight the pain. When I opened my eyes, black spots covered my vision. I blinked furiously, trying so hard to see Kili.

"Kili…" I couldn't hear myself speak.

Slowly my vision had started growing back, the black dots disappearing. I looked at Kili, and I could tell he was speaking again. But I couldn't hear him, all I could hear was the ringing in my ears.

"I can't hear you…the world, it's fading." I choked out, terrified.

It was if the lights were dimming before my eyes, but I knew they couldn't have been.

"You're so far away." I stumbled over my words, my voice dying. I looked away from Kili to the ceiling, but all I could see was darkness around us.

It was as if the world had crumbled away, leaving only Kili and I together in darkness.

Kili grabbed my cheek harder, and my eyes were brought back to his. His mouth was moving again, but still I heard no words.

But I wanted to hear his words. I needed to hear his words. I loved his voice. I loved his smile, I…

Slowly, the realization dawned on me. I had never felt this way about anyone before. I had thought I was going to see it clearly, when I fell in love. Actually, I had assumed I wasn't going to fall in love at all.

But maybe, love was someone you could laugh with. Maybe love was teamwork against giant spiders. Maybe love was all the good of being with someone, but also sacrifice. The sacrifice of not going on a boat with your uncle to Erebor.

Yes, that was what love was. I was in love with Kili.

Slowly, the ringing in my ears died down, and I was finally able to hear Kili's voice again.

"Malia, listen to me." Kili pleaded.

I felt myself about to cry. I wasn't even sure why I was going to cry. From pain, most likely. I closed my eyes as I felt a tear fall.

"Can you imagine us, years from today, sharing a park bench quietly?" Kili sang.

My eyes shot open when I heard him sing. How had he remembered? We had hardly been friends when I sang that song.

"Time it was, and what a time it was, it was a time of innocence, a time of confidences."

"Don't give up, Malia." Kili said. "Don't leave me." Kili paused before he whispered, "Return to me."

I closed my eyes. I was in so much pain I was crying, I could feel my body demanding to give in. But I kept fighting for my life. It wasn't fun, but I had to. I was in love with him, and I had to at least live long enough to tell him I felt the same way. He had remembered Simon and Garfunkel for me. When I had accepted that Rune-stone from him, I had been making a promise, and I don't break my promises.

"Malia?" Kili asked, and I opened my eyes again.

I smiled at him. "I…love you too…you dumbass."

An ice cold sensation spread from my leg, drenching my muscles in a cool sensation. I was still cold, but slowly it became more bearable. It was almost as if the weight of the world had been lifted off of my chest.

The only way I could describe it was magic. I was on the brink of death, but within ten minutes, I was better. Definitely not 100%, but I was at least nearing 50%.

"Malia?" Kili asked again.

"I think I'm going to be okay." I said as I let out a relieved sigh.

Kili let out a relieved sigh too, staring into my eyes. "You're going to be okay."

I wasn't sure if he was saying it for my benefit or his own, but either way; it felt nice to hear him say it.

Crystal coughed, and then finally spoke up in english. "Isn't that what you said was on that rune-stone?" Crystal asked, and Kili moved slightly so I could see Crystal better.

Crystal was still by my leg, a brow raised.

"It is, isn't it?" She looked disgusted. "You're damn lucky you're my best friend and I love you, because that," She pointed from Kili to myself. "Is too romantic for me. Too grossly romantic, too story book." She sighed and looked away. "Too much of what I want."

"Crystal." I said, and she looked at me and smiled before she frowned again.

"Holy shit." She said, her eyes growing big. "I fucking forgot." She ran to the door. "I have to kill Buldge."

She left the house, not closing the door behind her. We all looked at the door a moment.

"I reckon that means you're going to be just fine, Lady Malia." Fili said, patting my shoulder.

"Why did you go back to calling me Lady?" I asked him.

"It would seem you have captured the heart of my brother, Lady Malia." Fili smiled at me. "And I have a feeling you know nothing about what happens next, so I'll let Kili fill you in." Fili said as he winked and Kili.

"Oin, Bofur." Fili commanded, motioning for the other Dwarves to go to the other room with him.

"What does he mean by that?" I asked Kili and I turned to look at him.

Kili sighed, looking a little nervous. "Dwarves are very monogamous."

"Ah." I smiled at the ceiling. "A one and done type, huh?"

I was exhausted. Who would've guessed nearly dying could be so tiring.

Kili chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief at me. "What is that to mean, Malia?"

"Like." I paused, yawning. "You choose one person, and you're done."

"Are you a 'one and done type' then, Malia?" Kili asked me.

"I want to say, yes, if the one is you." I frowned at the ceiling. God, Crystal was right. It all was extremely sickeningly romantic. "But I also want to puke at the idea of me saying that." I closed my eyes. "Although that could be the you know, sickness talking."

"Malia, look at me." Kili said, pulling my face to look at his as I opened my eyes.

"I need you to know, that I mean it with all my heart. I want you to be mine."

"I've been yours for a while now." I snorted, smiling at him before yawning again.

He stared at me for a moment in silence.

"Do you understand what I'm asking you, Malia?" Kili asked.

"Well, you haven't asked me anything yet." I said.

Kili raised a brow at me.

"But yes, I think I do understand what you are asking. And the answer is yes." I quickly added.

Kili stared at me for a moment, his eyes searching mine.

"You would take me as your husband?" Kili sputtered, as if he couldn't believe it.

I mean really, had I given him any reason to doubt it?

"Yes, obviously." I said, shrugging, and then nodding my head. "I mean, I honestly, truly would."

Kili's smile grew into a toothy grin, and he closed the space between us and pressed his lips against mine. And I knew I had meant it.

Kili was the only person I had ever been able to enjoy the idea of living for a long time with.

And that's the end of DoS! A few tidbits that are pretty important I felt like I should add;

They live in a society in Middle-Earth where you don't date. I'm using the information based on the Dwarrow scholar. As time goes on it'll all make much more sense, but for now, just understand that Malia understands (somewhat limitedly) that being engaged is their next step, and he means enough to her that she's okay with that.

A few FAQ's from the reviews:

Malia's mum is somewhere, but Malia has no clue right now. She jumped into middle earth and then met 13 Dwarves, she's been a bit preoccupied. But from the few conversations on the topic she's had with Bilbo, she's not in the shire.

Dwarvish Translations to some of the things that have been said:

Me asnân tada Mahal duhû kansu tah. : Dwalin says this to her when he denies that she isn't just small like Bilbo. The literal translation is You are proof that Mahal has a sense of humour. He's saying it because she is half-dwarf, yet she's almost a foot shorter than them.

Durin zabukuna : Kili says this when Malia reminds him that she has no clue how she got to Middle-Earth, let alone how Crystal did. The literal translation is As Durin will awake. It's an expression for saying something is true. Kinda like someone saying 'The sky is blue.'

Burushruka igbulul e.: Kili says this when he sees how hurt Malia is. The literal translation is It pains me greatly.

Isrên nimgumul ik-kuk.: Kili says this when Malia cringes when he tries to take off the binding. The literal translation is Dancing round the vein. He's basically saying to himself that he just needs to do it fast, because otherwise he's just prolonging the inevitable.

'atsu amuh gargzaharugnar haga khulum.: Fili says this when he's being a snarky ass. The literal translation is You are going to make a tavern owner very rich. The phrase itself it Fili joking to his brother, pretty much telling Kili that he's going to have to marry Malia, 'cause otherwise that sort of nonsense will have to stop.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!