Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my original character. Everything else is property of New Line Cinema, Peter Jackson, etc. The song that Gwyn sings is "The Song of the Lonely Mountain" written by Neil Finn for the closing credits of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, so I don't own that either.
Author's Note: This chapter kind of got away from me. :) I had a lovely little plan laid out for this chapter, and some of the events weren't going to happen until later in the story, but Gwyn, Fili, and Kili spoke up and wanted to move things forward a bit faster. So here we go.
Once the door was barred behind them, the Company began to observe their surroundings. Everything in the house was absolutely massive, including the homeowner. Gwyn looked at the man, although she was more tempted to call him a giant, and was amazed, although the fact that Gandalf was at ease around their host did much to reassure the girl.
Fili finally set Gwyn down gently, and when she tried to take a step over to a chair so that she could examine her ankle her leg buckled from the pain and only Fili's hand steadying her kept her from falling to the ground. Fili and Kili helped Gwyn to a seat, before helping her slip the boot from her injured left foot. Oin and Dori, noticing the situation, bustled over to examine the injury.
"It's badly sprained, but it should heal soon with rest. Is there anything in your satchel of healing supplies to treat injuries like this?" Oin said.
"I'm not sure. Kili, could you find the satchel that Lord Elrond gave me?"
After the dwarf had rummaged through her pack for a few moments he retrieved the satchel in question. Looking through it, he withdrew some bandages that looked as though they had been soaked in some kind of mixture.
"Do you think these will work? They're not labeled like everything else," Kili said.
"Bring them here lad, and we'll see," Oin examined the bandages carefully. "These have been infused with a mixture of arnica, elderberry leaves, and evening primrose. I'd say they should help." Oin proceeded to wrap Gwyn's left ankle in the bandages and she began to feel relief from the pain almost immediately.
While Gwyn was being tended to, Thorin, Bilbo, and Gandalf were busy explaining the circumstances behind their unexpected visit to their host. At the mention of orcs and goblins, Beorn's face grew thunderous, for he already considered the rag-tag Company to be friends.
"You may stay here as long as you need to, especially seeing how the little kitten over there is hurt," Beorn said, gesturing to Gwyn.
"On behalf of myself and my companions, I thank you for your hospitality, Master Beorn, although I would remind you that even kittens have claws," Gwyn called out to the skin-changer from her seat on the other side of the main room. The large man began to laugh, and conceded that her claws probably were quite sharp. The atmosphere in the house began to relax, and Fili and Kili helped Gwyn find a place to rest her ankle, Kili even going so far as to fetch a cushion for her to prop her injured foot on. Setting her pack down next to her, the dwarves left her to help the others settle in and scrounge up bedrolls to replace those that had been lost in Goblin Town.
Digging through her pack, Gwyn located the Elven comb that had somehow made it into her supplies before the Company left Rivendell. She suspected either Nori or Lord Elrond were behind the sudden addition to her belongings. As she watched the dwarves bustle about and Gandalf sit with Beorn smoking his pipe, Gwyn began to work at untangling her hair, which now reached her hips. She was fighting with a particularly large knot when she felt large hands take the comb from her and begin working it through her hair. Looking back she saw that it was Fili sitting behind her, while Kili was laying out her bedroll between the ones he had found for himself and his brother.
"You know, if you were to braid your hair it wouldn't get so snarled. I think Ori's knitting looked better after I tried my hand at it!" Kili said with a small grin.
"Oh, I'm sure that's true, but knowing my hair, it would still be a mess even if I found some way to braid it out of the way," Gwyn said.
"Well, perhaps you would just need some help then, finding the right braid to keep your hair under control," Fili said softly.
"And I suppose you two know just the way I should braid my hair, do you?" Gwyn countered, with a raised eyebrow.
"We might," but before Kili could finish the statement, he and his brother, who had finished ridding Gwyn's hair of tangles by this point, were called away by their uncle. Kili's vacated seat was quickly filled by Bofur and Nori pulled up a chair next to him. The both wore similarly mischievous looks, and Gwyn groaned internally at the teasing they were sure to offer up. They did not disappoint.
"So, lassie, we couldn't help but notice how attentive Fili and Kili have been to you. Why, Fili even brushed your hair! Do I smell the sweet blossoms of love surrounding you three?" Bofur teased.
"We heard your conversation just now. Are you intending to let the brothers braid your hair? You know what that means to dwarves, don't you? It's a very important thing, the braiding of hair!" Dori chimed in, as he moved to join his brother, Bofur, and Gwyn. The group had then been joined by Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bombur, and Ori, and all of the dwarves looked eager to hear her answer. If she had been able to see them, she would have noticed Thorin, Fili, Kili, Dwalin, Balin, and Gandalf listening carefully to her response.
Heaving a sigh, Gwyn said without any real anger, "Apparently the stubbornness of dwarves is rivaled only by their curiosity. Why is my personal life any of your business?"
"We care about you, lass, and we want you to be happy," Bofur said. He had apparently named himself the spokesman for the group surrounding her.
"Let it be noted that I do, in fact, know the significance of braids to dwarves. Fili and Kili explained them to me in Rivendell," Gwyn paused, noticing a look similar to excitement pass between the assembled dwarves. "And secondly, I appreciate your caring, but this is a conversation to be had in private, between myself, Fili and Kili, when the time comes. Should anything change, you lot will be among the first to know," she finished quietly. The dwarves, somewhat disappointed in her answer, or lack thereof, began to straggle away, only Ori staying to keep the girl company, although they were soon joined by Bilbo. Thorin and Balin were relieved that the lass had handled a potentially difficult situation with a large degree of diplomacy.
As Gwyn sat and talked with Ori and Bilbo, she noticed that Fili and Kili kept throwing expectant looks at her. Each time she caught them though, they quickly turned back to their uncle, which made Gwyn somewhat suspicious of what they could have been discussing. If her ankle hadn't been injured, she would have already approached the dwarves and insinuated herself into their conversation. As it was, her mind could only jump to conclusions.
When dinner was announced, Gwyn made to hobble over to the table, but she was suddenly airborne as Beorn carried her like a child and set her down between Fili and Kili. She flushed with embarrassment at being treated like a child, and her red face made everyone at the table begin to laugh. She huffed and muttered that she would have been able to walk to the table just fine. Her muttering only served to increase the laughter around her, until she resolutely turned to the food on the table and began eating, ignoring everyone else at the table.
"Oh, it looks as though I've offended the little kitten. I am sorry Kitten, I should have asked permission before carrying you to join us," Beorn said, failing completely at looking apologetic. The others continued to snicker at Gwyn's new moniker, and at the glare she sent around the table Fili and Kili each draped an arm around her to soothe her. The brothers' plan worked, to her chagrin, which just set the others off laughing again.
"If you're all quite finished enjoying yourselves at my expense, there is food on this table quickly growing cold, and I thought dwarves and hobbits were renowned for their appetites," Gwyn retorted. Realizing that she was right, the Company rapidly tucked into the dinner their host had provided.
After dinner, the Company and Beorn had gathered around the hearth, telling stories and singing songs. Gwyn's ankle was feeling much better, the Elvish bandages having done a remarkable job at quelling the pain and swelling from the sprain. She sat on a bench, with her injured foot once more propped up on a pillow. Fili sat behind her, his arms wrapped snuggly around her midsection, and Kili sat on the floor in front of the bench. Gwyn was full, warm, and comfortable, and she began carding her fingers through Kili's dark hair, occasionally stopping to untangle the snarls that caught her fingers. The dwarf's eyes closed in pleasure at the sensations, and Fili rested his chin on Gwyn's shoulder, his beard tickling her skin.
Gwyn was drowsing from the comfortable companionship around the fire, until she heard Beorn speak.
"So, Little Kitten, do you have a song to sing? You are the only member of this bunch to have not said anything since supper."
Gwyn started at the suddenness of the request, before replying.
"There is a song that seems appropriate for this moment in our quest, although I would ask the permission of my companions before singing it, as it is derived from a song they sang at the start of our journey, before we had even left The Shire." She glanced around at the dwarves, focusing on Thorin. He nodded his assent, so Gwyn straightened her back from where she was leaning against Fili. Taking a deep breath, she began:
Far over the Misty Mountains rise
Leave us standing upon the heights
What was before, we see once more
Our kingdom a distant light
Gwyn's voice rose in the stillness, the others entranced to silence by the clear sound.
Fiery mountain beneath the moon
The words unspoken, we'll be there soon
For home a song that echoes on
And all who find us will know the tune
She gained strength, having started quietly, now her voice carried power and weight behind it.
Some folk we never forget
Some kind we never forgive
Haven't seen the back of us yet
We'll fight as long as we live
All eyes on the hidden door
To the Lonely Mountain borne
We'll ride in the gathering storm
Until we get our long-forgotten gold
We lay under the Misty Mountains cold
In slumbers deep and dreams of gold
We must awake, our lives to make
And in the darkness a torch we hold
From long ago when lanterns burned
Till this day our hearts have yearned
Her fate unknown the Arkenstone
What was stolen must be returned
We must awake and make the day
To find a song for heart and soul
Some folk we never forget
Some kind we never forgive
Haven't seen the end of it yet
We'll fight as long as we live
All eyes on the hidden door
To the Lonely Mountain borne
We'll ride in the gathering storm
Until we get our long-forgotten gold
Far away from Misty Mountains cold
The last notes of the song faded away into silence. As Gwyn came to herself, having been focused on the song, she looked around nervously at the faces of the men surrounding her, unsure of what kind of response her interpretation of the dwarves' song would have generated. To her surprise, the dwarves looked at her in unguarded amazement and respect at the amount of feeling she had infused into the song. Smiling gently, she sat back down, having risen to her feet at some point during her performance. Fili once more wrapped his arms around her, and Kili leaned against her and she resumed running her fingers through his hair.
From her place near the fire Gwyn looked up and saw Thorin looking at her with something akin to admiration. She smiled shyly at him and snuggled back into Fili's warmth, drowsing. Soon the Company began drifting to their bedrolls, and Gwyn was vaguely aware of being lifted in someone's arms before being set gently on her blankets. She felt the arms around her slip away, and instead of warm bodies bracketing her as usual, there was nothing. The chill woke her up a bit, and she sat up, looking around for Fili and Kili. Her eyes soon fell on them speaking quietly with Thorin.
"Uncle, we would like your permission before we go any further with Gwyn. She means a great deal to both of us, and we have reason to believe Gwyn returns our affections. May we court her?" Fili asked. Gwyn could feel herself flushing at the hope in Fili's voice. Thorin was silent for several long moments, and she could tell Kili was doing his utmost to rein in his impatience. Gwyn herself was listening closely, waiting tensely, until Thorin spoke.
"My dear sister-sons. Are you sure that Gwyn would welcome your courtship?" The brothers vigorously nodded their assent, and Thorin searched their faces carefully for any doubts. Seeing none, he continued, "While she is a stranger here, Gwyn has proven herself many times over in battle, and she has acted selflessly to help on this journey. She has honor, bravery, strength, wit, and kindness. She is a good woman, and I give you my blessing." Gwyn released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and smiled broadly, settling back down in her blankets.
There was a rustling on either side of her as the brothers laid down beside her.
"So, how much of that did you hear?" Fili whispered.
Gwyn tried (and failed) to feign sleepy ignorance. Kili snickered quietly when Gwyn gave up the act.
"How did you know I heard anything?"
"We saw you sit up, looking for us. Now, how much of that did you hear?" Fili insisted.
"I heard you ask for your uncle's permission to court me. I didn't realize Thorin thought so highly of me. I'm flattered," Gwyn whispered.
"Why wouldn't Uncle think highly of you? You've saved all of our lives many times now!" Kili whispered. Gwyn sat up so she could see the brothers' faces in the light of the dying embers of the fire. In the dim light she could see expectant looks on both of their faces.
"Well?" Kili prompted impatiently.
"Well what?" Gwyn responded.
"What are your thoughts on our conversation with our uncle?" Fili asked quietly.
Gwyn smirked. "I think I would be better able to answer that question if I were asked properly." The brothers shifted so that they faced her more directly, mindful of her sprained ankle, and each one took her hand.
"Miss Gwyndolyn, daughter of Evangeline and Marcus, we have found ourselves in the position of caring for you, quite deeply," Fili began.
Kili took up where his brother left off, "We are enraptured by your beauty," at this Gwyn blushed, "warmed by your kindness, your wit makes us laugh in the darkest of times, your bravery in the face of danger awes us," Gwyn smiled at the brothers, before they both continued, "would you consent to being courted, by both of us?"
"I find myself caring for both of you very deeply as well. That is what I was thinking about on the Carrock that night. I was trying to sort out my feelings for you," here Gwyn paused, gathering her thoughts. "That being said, I would have never dreamed, even in my wildest fantasies, that I would be courted by two dwarves, and brothers at that," the brothers' faces fell, expecting rejection at this point, "I am astounded at your warmth, your humor brings a smile to my face when I would rather frown, your fierceness in battle makes me feel safe, and your gentleness makes me feel treasured. I accept your suit." As she finished her speech, Gwyn leaned forward and kissed each gob struck brother at the corner of their open mouths as they tried to formulate a response. When the reality of the situation dawned on them, each brother placed a chaste kiss upon her cheek.
"What are we going to do about braids though? I don't think Gwyn has any of the customary adornments," Kili suddenly said.
"Ah, about that. There is a small pouch that I've hidden in my pack that I think will interest you both," though they couldn't see it, Fili and Kili could hear the smirk in Gwyn's voice.
"Shall I fetch your pack now?" Fili asked.
"We should wait until morning, if only to better see my surprise." Kili huffed impatiently, and Gwyn took his hand. "If you are worried I will change my mind, I have never been surer of anything in my life." Catching his eye, Gwyn smiled brightly, and Kili could not help himself. Looking briefly to Fili, Kili leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to Gwyn's lips. The pair held the kiss for a few moments before breaking away, eyes shining in the dark. Turning her slightly to face him, Fili repeated the motion. Smiling Gwyn broke away before she laid back down on her bedroll, and Fili and Kili followed suit, each of them wrapping an arm around the girl between them, holding her close.
That is how Gwyn woke up the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten. She noticed that all of the men were still asleep, so she quietly rose and, grabbing her pack, limped to where Beorn had said the bathing room was. Her ankle was significantly improved since the day before, though it still pained her somewhat, especially when she put weight on it. Unwrapping the bandages, Gwyn saw that there was hardly any swelling now. Stripping off her dirty clothes, Gwyn sank into the warm water that had miraculously already been prepared. One of Beorn's dog servants probably did it, Gwyn thought, as she dunked her head to wet her hair. Gwyn thought of her dwarves, for Fili and Kili were hers now, just as she was theirs. She smiled as she thought of the looks that would cross their faces when she showed them the pouch with the dwarven courtship beads in it. She also thought of the teasing they would likely get from the others in the Company, but she found she was not worried about it, in fact, she was rather looking forward to it. Teasing from the others meant acceptance, and she would be worried if they didn't tease her and and her dwarves.
Gwyn took her time bathing, luxuriating in being clean, much as she had in Rivendell. So immersed was she in her thoughts and the sensations of bathing, that she didn't hear the commotion out in the main room of Beorn's home.
"Where is she?"
"She's gone!"
"And her pack is gone too!"
Shouts rang out across the hall as the dwarves woke up.
Thorin's voice rang out above the din, "Split up and search for her! Fili, Kili, you check the house, the rest of us will search outside!" The dwarves all nodded as they moved to begin their search.
Gwyn had dunked her head under the water once more to wash the last of the soap from her hair when the door to the bathing room flew open. Fili and Kili breathed a sigh of relief that their girl was safe and had not been taken in the night, nor had she run off. The relief passed though, as they took note of her creamy skin contrasting with her dark hair spread like ink through the water. They quickly snapped out of the daze the sight of the naked skin had set them in and hurried off as Gwyn raised her head from the water. She turned at the sound of the door slamming shut, but there was no one there so she shrugged and climbed out of the bath. After running a rough towel over her damp skin she dressed quickly in a clean shirt, tunic, and leggings, having removed her chainmail, corset and bracers the night before, and now used the towel to wring the water from her hair.
Emerging from the bathing room with her things, Gwyn took note of the men milling around preparing breakfast. Fili and Kili flushed uncharacteristically when she smiled at them. Looking between the brothers and the other dwarves, who looked as though they were struggling not to laugh, Gwyn quickly put two and two together.
"Decided to try and sneak a peek did you? Wasn't the look you got at the Trollshaws enough?" Gwyn asked with a smirk and a wink. As the brothers spluttered their responses, she limped over to them and gave them each a kiss on the cheek, causing the dwarves to pause in astonishment. In the calm before the inevitable storm of teasing, Gwyn hobbled over to her bedroll, where she was joined by Oin, who examined her ankle and rewrapped it in the elvish bandages.
"What was that lassie? That was uncommonly familiar of you, especially since you don't have any braids yet," Bofur teased. Bifur muttered something in Khuzdul, and his cousin turned to look at him. "Right you are, Cousin, there is something afoot here in this skin-changer's house, that's changing all of us!" Gwyn started laughing at how utterly wrong he was, but she wasn't about to set him and the rest of the Company straight, not yet at least. When it became clear that Gwyn had been taking lessons in how to be infuriatingly mysterious from their own wizard the dwarves dispersed, off to resupply.
"Last night you mentioned you had a surprise for us hidden away in your pack. May we see it now that it's morning?" Fili asked, having apparently recovered himself after seeing her bathing. Kili still seemed a bit stunned. Rooting around in her pack, Gwyn retrieved her comb and the pouch Lord Elrond had given to her. In the relative privacy they were afforded courtesy of everyone else being busy, she handed the items to Fili to examine. Looking into the pouch, and then quickly showing the contents to Kili, the brothers helped Gwyn stand up before they went off in search of complete privacy, without the chance that one of their companions would interrupt them. Thorin watched the three leave the common room with a surprisingly gentle smile, before turning back to his task.
Finding a secluded room, the two brothers helped Gwyn to take a seat on a cushioned stool they found. Standing behind her, Fili began combing her hair, much as he had the previous day. While Fili was occupied, Kili dumped out the pouch to find two silver beads that were etched with a similar design to all of Gwyn's other belongings. He set those aside, for her to braid into his hair and his brother's hair later. Right now their focus was on displaying their beads in Gwyn's hair. Reaching into a secret pocket of his tunic, close to his heart, Kili withdrew a small clasp and a bead, both etched in curling spirals. Fili reached into his tunic also, and he retrieved a small clasp and a bead, these ones etched with strong geometric shapes. These were the brothers' personal symbols, much as the knots were Gwyn's.
Finished combing through Gwyn's still damp hair, each brother stood on either side of her. Picking a lock of hair from each temple, the brothers first slipped the beads round the top, positioning them to lie flat against Gwyn's scalp. Then, separating the locks of hair into sections, they began to weave the hair into small, intricate plaits. After several minutes, each brother clipped the ends of the braids with their personal clasps.
Moving behind her once more, Fili began to braid the rest of her hair, first beginning a braid down the center of scalp, then bringing her courtship braids to meet at the back of her head he clasped them together with one of Gwyn's clasps, and then weaving other sections in. The finished braid was tight and neat, and Gwyn had no doubt that it would keep her hair from tangling on the rest of the journey. Picking up the largest clasp that had been in the pouch with Gwyn's beads, Fili sealed the end of her braid. The brothers' clasps were visible through the larger braid, and the sight made the brothers swell with pride that the beautiful woman in front of them was theirs.
"You're going to have to teach me the proper way to add the braids to your hair, I've never been much good at it," Gwyn said, having enjoyed the sensation of fingers running through her hair.
"Certainly, although we will not ask you to stand behind us. Kili, sit on the floor between Gwyn's knees," his brother moved to obey, and Fili knelt beside her, guiding her through the motions of plaiting the courtship braid into Kili's hair. When she was finished with Kili, the brothers switched places, and Kili guided her through plaiting Fili's hair, which was more difficult because of his braids that identified him as Thorin's heir.
Courtship official, the three shared a few quiet, private moments, before reemerging from the room. With a final kiss to her lips from each brother, the trio returned to the common room. There were a few members of the Company milling about in the common room, although most were scattered throughout the house. Beorn, Balin, Thorin, Dwalin, and Gandalf were the first to notice the reappearance of the two princes and the girl. Dwalin and Balin startled somewhat at the sight of the braids now adorning the hair of all three, but they did not say anything when they saw the smiles on their faces. Gandalf smiled around his pipe, nodding his approval at the development. Thorin, moving more slowly than usual due to his injuries, which were healing nicely thanks to Gwyn's elvish medicine according to Oin, walked over to the three.
"I see you were right, lads. I am happy for all three of you," with that Thorin returned to looking at maps of Mirkwood, working with Beorn, Gandalf, Balin, and Dwalin to try and chart a course through the forest. Soon, the other dwarves began trickling in to the house for lunch. Gwyn smirked at the looks on their faces, and she quickly began laughing at the others, joined by Fili and Kili.
As the Company sat at the table for lunch, Bifur said something in Khuzdul, with a fairly dark look leveled at Fili and Kili. Gwyn was surprised at the look, because it seemed like the dwarf with the ax in his head was always trying to find a smile for her. Bofur nodded in agreement with his cousin, as did Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori, Ori, and Bombur. Thorin, Dwalin, and Balin all looked amused at whatever Bifur had said. For their part, Fili and Kili looked nervous, and all of this just served to confuse Gwyn.
"Excuse me, but could someone tell me what you lot were agreeing to and why Fili and Kili look as though they've seen a ghost?" Gwyn demanded. Gandalf chuckled into his food, failing utterly at maintaining any semblance of propriety at this point.
"Bifur said that they did wrong by you, because they didn't ask permission to court you. Right now, it's very improper for you to be wearing their braids," Dori explained.
"But they did ask permission. They asked Thorin last night for permission to court me," Thorin leveled a look at her, and she shrugged. Her boys however, still had not relaxed at her sides.
"That's all well and good, but a proper courtship cannot begin until the suitors have the permission of the head of their family, and the permission of the closest male relative to the one they would court," Bofur stated.
"In case no one has noticed, I don't exactly have a family that is easily accessible right now, possibly ever. By your logic, this will never be a proper courtship," Gwyn argued.
"That's where you're wrong lassie, you do have a family here. We're your family, and as such, Fili and Kili should have asked our permission before ever broaching the topic of courtship with you," Bofur said. Gwyn was touched at Bofur's proclamation that the dwarves considered her family. "Are you lads planning on rectifying your mistake anytime soon?"
Fili and Kili turned somewhat helpless gazes to Thorin, seeking guidance.
"This is your mistake, you must undo it if you plan to continue your courtship of Gwyn," Thorin said.
Gwyn slipped her hands under the table and took the hands of her boys, giving them a reassuring squeeze. She felt them relax minutely on either side of her, and she pointedly ignored the stern looks Bofur and Dori leveled at her for her actions. Pushing away from the table, Fili and Kili stood up, and they bowed deeply to the other members of the Company.
"We beg your forgiveness for our oversight. We now humbly request your permission and your blessings to court Gwyndolyn, daughter of Evangeline and Marcus," the two princes said, together. The other members of the Company deliberated amongst themselves for several moments, leaving Fili and Kili to squirm with the tension.
"We accept your apologies, and we grant you permission to court our Gwyn, on the condition that if you harm her in any way you'll have us to answer to," Bofur said, finally cracking a smile. Fili, Kili, and Gwyn flashed answering smiles around the table, although Fili's and Kili's smiles had more than a note of relief to them. The rest of lunch was a cheerful affair, promising more joviality at dinner.
After lunch Gwyn was thoroughly tired of sitting around while her companions puttered. She asked Beorn for a large tub to be filled with water out in his bee pasture, and he agreed readily enough, although he did make a remark about kittens hating water. Gwyn also asked him to string her hithlain between two trees to serve as a clothes line and for a large bar of soap. Once the tub was prepared she gathered up her dirty clothes to wash them. Gwyn whistled shrilly, effectively getting the attention of all the dwarves and Bilbo.
"Alright everyone, I'm about to wash clothes. If you have anything to change into, do so now, and I'll wash everyone's clothes." There was a mad scramble, even very "dignified" dwarves like Balin, Dwalin, and Thorin rushing into the house, and much shouting and cursing as they fell over their packs, tripped over boots, and generally chaos reigned while the men were all changing. Soon, each dwarf trooped past carrying their soiled clothes, which they dropped into a pile near Gwyn. Beginning with her own clothes, Gwyn rolled up the sleeves of her shirt to her elbows, and began to scrub. She enlisted Gandalf's help hanging the clothes to dry, since Beorn had inconveniently placed the hithlain too high for Gwyn to reach. It took the better part of the afternoon to work through the pile of clothes, all of which smelled terribly of goblin, and all of which were completely encrusted in grime. Several times, Gwyn had had to ask Beorn to replace the water in the tub, but eventually all the clothes were clean and hanging to dry. When she went back inside all of the dwarves thanked her profusely and Bilbo had muttered his thanks from where he was wrapped in a blanket covering his body. The poor hobbit only had one set of clothes, and those were in as desperate need of a wash as the dwarves' had been. Knowing this, Gwyn had washed Bilbo's clothes early in the afternoon, and so they were dry by the time she had finished.
Gwyn then decided to mend Bilbo's waistcoat for him while he redressed in his clean clothes, managing to track down some mismatched buttons and borrowing a needle and thread from Dori. She sat in her spot near the hearth sewing the buttons on and talking with Bilbo, who had joined.
"Why did everyone kick up such a fuss when they saw your hair? You've finally decided to start pulling it away from your face, but that shouldn't warrant such a reaction. And the conversation at lunch was quite odd," Bilbo mused.
"Fili and Kili asked to court me last night, and so these braids mark me as theirs, just as the braids in their hair mark them as mine. This was the first step to go through a dwarven courtship, and the others were surprised, I think, that we decided to take this task on while we are on a dangerous journey. I'm not completely sure about that though, you would have to ask the others. There! All finished!" Gwyn said, handing the repaired waistcoat to the hobbit.
"Thank you so much!" and Bilbo began to admire the sturdiness of her stitches. As he walked away, Gwyn felt a pair of arms slip around her waist and someone press a kiss to the top of her head. Leaning back, she saw that it was Kili.
"You've been awfully domestic today. You wouldn't be trying to prove anything would you?" he teased.
"Perhaps subconsciously. It mostly stemmed from a feeling of uselessness though. I figured if I hadn't washed everyone's clothes, they wouldn't have been washed until well after we reclaimed Erebor," she teased back. Kili laughed and agreed, stating that it was very nice to be wearing clean clothes again.