A/N: Thank you again to all that have followed my story. :) Here is another chapter for your enjoyment. A little action and some fun as our company continues to head east. Please let me know if I mess something up when it comes to the particular's of Tolkien's fabulous world.

As always, the good stuff that you recognize belongs to Tolkien and PJ and everything else is the rambling from my brain.

Some days passed slowly, some more quickly but they were all fairly uneventful as they continued eastward. The late summer days were warm and the nights were comfortable. Stryker enjoyed being out in nature and had never felt entirely at ease when in towns. She had always been comfortable fending for herself and only occasionally spending time in some of the various Ranger camps scattered around Middle Earth. Now that she had traveling companions she was having to relearn how to interact with others on a day in and day out basis. Thankfully most of the company were easier around her as the days went by. She suspected her understanding with Thorin played a big part of that. Not that the dwarves that thought she didn't belong with them were suddenly seeking out her company but the suspicious glances and distrustful glares were gone. Dwalin still seemed to keep a close eye on her but it was for reasons she had no way of knowing. The longer she was with them the more comfortable she became. She had never disliked dwarves - Thorin Oakenshield the exception - but being around them for this long she discovered she actually liked them and enjoyed their company. They were such an honorable race with a very rich and interesting culture. Even their insistence on protecting her had ceased to annoy like it had in the beginning. She now understood that they didn't do it because they felt their females were unable to protect themselves but rather because they saw them as so precious they couldn't bare to see them at risk. She enjoyed their jokes, their songs, their stories. Unlike some of the other races in Middle Earth they were real, they enjoyed every moment of life and never took any of it for granted. The stories they told around the campfire each evening were fascinating to her; she truly enjoyed hearing about their lives. She had taken on a kind of mothering role towards them as a whole and, when they weren't aware of it, did what she could to keep them comfortable. It was so new to her, having others to look out for and be concerned about but she found that she liked it. She had thought her many years of being alone in the wild would keep her from wanting companions.

Out of the whole group she was closest with the Durin princes. They had been accepting of her from the first moment and their friendship had grown from there. The three of them were usually together, whether it was meal time or they were on their mounts, joking and laughing. She enjoyed hearing about their upbringing and training in Ered Luin. It was so different from what she had experienced. They had a sense of belonging, a home, family, all things she did not have and most likely would not have. That knowledge made her more sure than ever that she had been right to join this quest and help the dwarves reclaim their true home. Stryker found herself keeping an eye on them, Kíli more than any other because of his propensity for getting into mischief, and looked on them almost as brothers. It helped fill a hole in her that she hadn't even been aware was there. She had never thought much about what her life would have been like if Rhae had not died but she could now see what it could have been like. However something unexpected began to make itself a bit obvious to her as the weeks passed. She started to suspect that Fíli might be beginning to harbor stronger feelings for her than was appropriate and she began to make doubly sure that she didn't do anything that might lead him to believe she reciprocated those feelings. He was always there to help her down off her horse, volunteered to sit on watch with her, asked to spar with her almost every evening. It was hard, as they were friends and he and his brother were almost always at her side, but Stryker knew her place. She was a Ranger, he was the heir to a kingdom and it was just luck that their paths had crossed at all. He was her friend, almost a brother, and it would stay that way.

Despite all that had changed, Stryker still hadn't decided how exactly she felt about the leader of their company. Yes, it seemed that he had accepted her presence but she always felt his eyes upon her and she couldn't make out what she saw when she happened to meet those ice blue orbs. She had harbored such a dislike of the exiled dwarf king that it felt odd to think that those long held feelings might be melting away. Then there were those unexpected little flutters she felt in her center when she did meet his eyes; she couldn't explain it. Having always been so sure of herself and always having such control over her emotions, this uncertainty didn't sit well. Because it made her a bit uncomfortable she chose to remain as far from him as possible.

Sitting next to Balin one evening she found herself studying Thorin where he sat on the far side of the fire. He still seemed every inch the king she had thought him all those years ago. Even sitting around a campfire in heavy traveling clothes and fur lined coat he was majestic and - yes, she could at least admit it to herself - he was quite handsome. He was tall for a dwarf, on eye level with her, but it was clear, even through his clothes, that his stout body was all muscle. Then there were those striking blue eyes which seemed like they could reach right down into your soul if they locked onto you. The rugged features of his face weren't hidden behind a heavy beard and mustache like most of the other dwarves and for the first time this detail stood out to her. It seemed odd for someone of his standing as she knew the importance of beards to dwarf males.

"Master Balin, why doesn't Thorin have a beard like the rest of you?" she asked in a low voice. The white haired dwarf looked at her in surprise for a moment before responding.

"Beards are very important to dwarves, lassie, and not something that is discussed."

"Oh. I am sorry. I didn't mean to pry where I shouldn't."

"It is alright. Don't apologize for an innocent question. Thorin had a beard once but after Smaug came he cut it off. There was so much death among our people, so much suffering, that he did it as a show of remembrance for all that we had lost. He has vowed that he will keep it short until the dwarves of Erebor have reclaimed their home. Our people see it as a huge sacrifice and respect and revere him all the more for it. I am sure, though, when the time comes he will have a magnificent beard like his grandfather."

She thought about that for a few moments. "How long has he led your people?"

"Since he was a lad really, younger even than Kíli. After his grandfather was killed at Azanulbizar and his father went missing he did whatever he had to do so we would survive. It took many years to make a home in the Blue Mountains but he did it through sheer determination not to fail. By that time he also had to help raise his sister-sons as their father died when Kíli was just a baby. Thorin did without much of the time. He worked in the villages and towns of men for many, many years so there would be money to feed not only his family but his people."

"He worked in the villages?"

"Aye. Thorin is a master blacksmith. He can make anything and his work was highly coveted by men. Most of the weapons we're carrying on this journey were made by his hands."

"And he helped you create a good life in the Blue Mountains?" She recalled the words she'd overheard that night in Bag End.

"A very good and comfortable life. It isn't Erebor, nothing can replace Erebor, but we have done very well there." She nodded slightly. Balin's words gave her more food for thought. The picture he painted of an honorable king who would sacrifice and do whatever was needed to provide for his people did not match with the image of the arrogant and cruel Thorin she'd carried in her mind all these years. It was all so confusing. Deciding she wouldn't figure out her feelings that evening she stretched out on her bedroll and stared up at the stars. Before she dropped off to sleep she noticed a slight haze around the moon and groaned to herself. They'd had fair weather so far but it looked like that would be changing soon.

Thorin had watched as she conversed with Balin and once she had lain down he'd motioned to his friend.

"What's on your mind, laddie?" The elderly dwarf had a good idea what as on his king's mind; he might be old but he wasn't blind and he'd noticed the way Thorin was always watching the Ranger.

"What did our Ranger want?" he tried to ask nonchalantly but not really succeeding.

"She was curious about your beard."

Thorin frowned a bit. That wasn't what he'd expected. "What did you tell her?"

"The truth. She wanted to know a bit more about our life in the Blue Mountains."

"I feel she doesn't like me very much and it seems like she felt that way even before joining us."

"There does seem to be some kind of wall she's put up. I've seen the difference in her interactions with you compared with your nephews but I have no answer for it. Perhaps eventually she'll feel comfortable enough to tell you why. She has thawed towards you lately."

"She is certainly friendly enough with those two," the king said with a touch of frustration in his voice. "At least she doesn't look at me in disgust anymore." Balin had to chuckle to himself as he watched Thorin brood. He had never seen him so concerned about a female's feelings towards him. Perhaps the Ranger's presence among them would do more good than he had originally thought.

Thorin's grumpiness lasted into the next morning. He was a bit resentful of how open the Ranger seemed to be with Fíli and Kíli. He had apologized for his words and had hoped she would no longer try to avoid him but, as he'd said to Balin the night before, while she didn't look at him like he disgusted her she still seemed to make an effort to keep away from him. He watched as his oldest nephew joked and laughed with her, even helping her onto her horse as they left camp, and his eyes narrowed a bit as a new suspicion began to form in his mind, one that he did not like at all. As they traveled along Thorin was quite aware of the laughter he could hear at the back of the line and he ground his teeth in irritation.

Not long after camp was made that evening he realized that he didn't see Stryker anywhere. No one knew where she was but Bofur said she was probably hunting for their dinner as she did practically every night. The dwarf watched his king with a twinkle in his eye; he wasn't blind either. When she finally appeared out of the woods and handed Bombur the carcasses of several animals his patience was gone.

"Ranger, I'd like a word with you," he snapped and stomped off towards the edge of the trees leaving her no choice but to follow.

"Where were you?" He turned on her as soon as they were out of earshot of the company. The puzzled look on her face was quickly replaced by anger at his tone.

"Finding something for us to eat, as I do almost every evening."

"You should not leave the safety of the camp without letting anyone know where you are going. The further we head east the more dangerous it is."

"Yes I am very well aware of that," she replied in annoyance. "What was so different about this evening? You've never questioned me about it in the past."

"Do not leave camp again without letting someone know where you are going. I want to know where you are at all times. I will not have a member of my company harmed because of careless behavior."

"Careless behavior?" she almost shouted at him. She couldn't understand where any of this was coming from. Yes, he would feel the well-being of everyone in the company was his concern but snapping at her and treating her as if she were a child made her dislike of him surge back to the surface. "I wouldn't call hunting for dinner careless."

"Not telling anyone where you would be is!"

"Fine, your highness," she said with a mock bow, sarcasm dripping from her words. "I shall make sure my every movement is to your liking."

"I am not finished yet," he told her as she turned to leave. "What exactly is going on between you and my nephew?"

"Excuse me?" Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

"You heard what I said. I've seen the two of you together. In fact, you are always together."

"Fíli and Kíli were the first in this company to accept me and they are my friends. They are like brothers to me and I treat them and care for them as if we were related by blood." Stryker stared at him resentfully. How dare he question her friendships?

"That's not what I see. I am not blind. I can see how my oldest nephew watches you and acts around you." Several weeks of frustration were finally pouring forth in his words but certainly that wasn't jealousy he heard in his voice.

"If you want to know his feelings then I suggest you talk to him. I can only answer for my own. I look on them as nothing more than good friends and brothers."

"Good. See that it stays that way. You are a Ranger and he will be King Under the Mountain one day."

"Of course, your majesty," she seethed and quickly turned her back on him, heading back to camp. Thorin stood there and watched her go, his shoulders sagging a bit as he realized that he had probably just ruined the beginning they'd made. Why had he spoken to her like that? Why had he let his anger show? Why was he angry? She did go off and get fresh meat for them many nights, tonight being no different. There was no reason to get so angry about it. A nagging little voice kept telling him he was frustrated because she was always with his nephews and he was having a hard time ignoring it. He ran his hands over his face in frustration; he should've known adding a female to their group would cause problems.

The murderous look in her eyes when Stryker returned to the fire warned the other members of the company to stay away. She shoveled in her stew, not really tasting it, and after handing her bowl back to Bombur she grabbed the axe that had been used to chop up firewood. Everyone watched with wide eyes as she stalked to the edge of the clearing and began hacking away at a tree, bits of wood flying around her. Thorin finally joined them and he could feel their question filled eyes boring into him.

"We had an argument," he finally told them with a sigh. Gandalf couldn't help but chuckle; it was becoming quite amusing to watch the dwarf king deal with the Ranger.

"We can see that, laddie. By the way she's attacking that tree its probably a good thing you stayed in the woods a while longer," Balin said with a slightly amused grin. Thorin glanced to where Stryker was and winced slightly; she was furious. The edge of the blade caught the light from the fire, flashing in the gloom as she worked out her frustration. He sighed to himself.

Bilbo had watched all this with wondering eyes and finally moved next to the wizard to try and find some answers to his many questions.

"What was that all about?"

"Oh my dear Bilbo, I do believe those two very stubborn creatures are trying to deny the attraction they feel for each other." Bilbo choked on the smoke he had just inhaled from his pipe.

"Attraction? Thorin and Stryker? He's always seems so impatient with her and she glares at him as if she'd like to see him go up in flames!"

"Have you never seen a stubborn person try to deny something that they really don't want to be true?" Bilbo thought for a moment but then had to shake his head. Yes, there were some very stubborn hobbits but he'd never seen anything like what kept occurring between the dwarf king and the Ranger. "Don't worry. They will figure it out eventually though I doubt this will be the last battle between them. They are both quite strong willed individuals."

"I will agree with you on that," Bilbo said, taking another draw on his pipe.

When Stryker had spent her energy and felt she had her anger under control she looked at the damage she'd caused to the poor tree. There was plenty of kindling for fires now. Spotting a slightly fatter piece on the ground she picked it up and carried it back to the fire, handing it to Bifur.

"I've seen you whittling away on various pieces of wood. I thought this one might be a nice size to work with," she said softly. Bifur looked at her with a smile and signed something which she knew meant thank you. For the first time Rhae wished she had paid more attention when Elrond had been teaching her Khuzdul. He had insisted she needed to learn the languages of the various races of Middle Earth so that she would never be at a disadvantage. At the time she had felt there would be no need to learn the language and considering her animosity towards Thorin at the time she did as little as possible to help her studies along. It would certainly come in handy now. She nodded at the strange dwarf and then rolled her bedroll out beside Bofur. The temptation to spite Thorin and put her bedroll near his nephews had been there but reason won out for once. Stryker had had all she could stand of the arrogant dwarf king for one day.

Throughout the next day she managed to stay calm even though Thorin's words would surface and she'd feel the anger return. He kept his nephews by his side as they rode and so she had a merry time with Bofur and Bombur. The shy cook had grown used to her and now talked freely with her and she enjoyed hearing about his family back in the Blue Mountains. She was absolutely flabbergasted when she discovered the hefty dwarf had twelve children! They managed to keep her from brooding too much on what had happened the night before. However her anger boiled over again that evening. Fíli came to engage her in one of their sparring sessions but before they could begin Thorin's voice interrupted them.

"I'll spar with our Ranger this evening, Fíli." His nephew could do nothing but walk back to sit next to his brother, a frown that matched his uncle's on his face. Thorin approached Stryker, his blade in hand.

"Why did you do that?" she huffed, hands on her hips.

"You spar with him frequently. Let's see how you fare against someone who has actually seen battle." He kept his voice calm ignoring the resentment he saw in her eyes. Despite his claim she knew why he had done it - to keep his nephew away from her. Even though she had the same suspicions about Fíli she was a grown woman and could deal with it herself without the meddling and condensation of one arrogant dwarf. She had no choice. Refusing would make her look weak and it might actually feel good to fight him. Besides, the company had gathered to watch and she couldn't deny them the show.

"Very well," she growled and took several steps away, taking her ready stance. Thorin smirked at this tiny victory and on his mark they began.

There was no warm up period like Stryker usually had with Fíli. Thorin came at her full speed bringing his sword down hard. She parried his blow, her hands stinging a bit from the strength of the hit. She recovered quickly and came at him with a blow of her own. They were the same height and he was a lot quicker than she had expected. He was also stronger than his nephew. She felt her anger drain away as she had to really concentrate so as to keep up with him. Stryker found she was once again enjoying herself and Thorin was thoroughly fascinated by how her body moved to evade his swings. There was almost a teasing look on her face as she bent and dodged around him and he felt his blood heat with more than just the rush of adrenaline. Back and forth they went, swords flashing, neither able to get an advantage on the other. Money had been bet on who would come out victorious, the group being fairly evenly split. Eventually Stryker felt her energy beginning to fade as she could not match his stamina. Her foot slipped a bit as she swung at him and she realized her error as he used her split second lack of concentration to trip her up. Refusing to lose their match she grabbed hold of his arm as she fell, taking him to the ground with her. She regretted that decision as soon as she hit the dirt and his whole weight crushed onto her. Looking up she met his eyes and felt a jolt at the spark of attraction that flashed between them. Momentarily horrified at the thought she wriggled underneath him, trying to get free, but he held her down. He had felt that same spark pass between them and was in no hurry to release her, keeping her eyes locked with his. Her struggles soon stopped and she finally lay still, struggling for breath, though she wasn't sure if it was because of his weight on her or the fact that he was looking at her like that.

"Do you yield?" he whispered, his breath warm on her face.

"I'd call it a draw, Master Oakenshield, as I brought you down as well." He was silent a moment, then smiled at her and - curses! - she felt her heart hitch a bit at the sight.

"A tie then," was his reply as he carefully got to his feet and leaned down to help her up. There was another spark of electricity as she placed her hand in his and she yanked away as soon as she was upright. Unable to think of anything to say Stryker bowed her head to him slightly before picking up her sword and rejoining the other dwarves around the fire. Try as she might she could not erase the sight of those piercing blue eyes from her mind or the sensation of having him on top of her. For a moment she had felt quite safe. Once again all her emotions were thrown into confusion, which she didn't like it one bit, and she took out her whetstone and began cleaning her sword, hoping the repetitive motion would calm her frazzled nerves.

Thorin returned more slowly, his body still tingling from where she had been pressed against him. He had hoped a sparring match would help her - and, to be honest, himself - work out some of their anger and frustration but everything had changed once he had finally been toe to toe with her. Just remembering how she had moved throughout the fight and then to have had that body trapped beneath his own caused his blood to heat again. Dwalin looked at his friend with a skeptical but slightly amused look on his face as he sat next to him.

"The lass has some fight and spirit in her," he finally remarked, eyeing Thorin.

"Aye, that she does."

"I hope you know what you're doing."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Thorin stated though unconvincingly even to his own ears.

Dwalin shook his head slightly, "Oh I think you do." He then let the matter drop knowing his friend wouldn't say anything until he was ready.

Fíli had watched the entire fight between Stryker and Thorin, his lips pressed into a tight line, as he fought the realization that was unfolding before his eyes. There was a look on her face, besides the obvious determination, that he had never seen when sparring with her himself. When they had fallen to the ground and he saw the expression on her face as his uncle refused to let her go the truth was no longer undeniable. Stryker had always been kind towards him and there had always seemed to be some kind of dislike for his uncle but it was clear how she really felt. He'd also never known his uncle to show any interest in any female but it was clear things were different with their Ranger. He clinched his hands together in frustration; he had lost his chance with Stryker before he had even gotten the opportunity to try.

Edited/revised/updated January 2016