A/N: And we continue on! They will be back out into the wild after this chapter. Hope you're enjoying reading as much as I am writing. The flower Bofur and Bifur describe to Rhae is the Gladiolus (had to look into flowers and their meanings for that one!). I have used a Gandalf/Elrond scene from the extended version in this chapter.
Just4Me: I have pictured her as quite lonely until she joined the dwarves. I thought it would be interesting to see how someone that was hurt in a similar way could work on Thorin.
As always, I'm just the poor rider-of-coat tails. Nothing but Rhae is mine!
Bow and quiver on her shoulder she headed towards the training grounds. Rhae was looking forward to the practice and to see how her shoulder was healing. Being the first to the archery range she decided to use the time to see if her shoulder would even hold up; the pain she'd felt during the troll fight was still fresh in her memory. After letting the first arrow fly towards the target she figured she would be okay; it was stiff but manageable.
"Eager this morning, aren't we?" She chuckled without even turning around, keeping her eye on the target.
"You forget, Kíli, I had my arm almost yanked out a few days ago crossing a river. I thought it would be best to see if I could even hold my bow," she teased as she let another arrow go. There was no response and she turned to see the younger prince standing with his brother, both with slightly sheepish looks on their faces.
"I'm sorry, Rhae. I hadn't thought of that. If you're still hurting and can't -"
"It's fine, Kíli, really. I was teasing you. I'm more than ready to give you an archery lesson." Fíli snorted at his brother's expression and settled himself on the top rail of a fence to watch. Knowing his brother's skill and having watched Rhae on their journey he felt they were fairly evenly matched. After the first few shots Rhae felt her shoulder had healed remarkably well. Not too much later she became aware that the rest of the company had joined Fíli and were watching. She didn't need to see Thorin to know he was behind her; she could feel his blistering gaze on her back. When both of their quivers were empty, Rhae and Kíli decided to call it a tie as there was no noticeable advantage on either side.
"Great job, lass," Bofur told her, clapping her hard enough on the back that she almost tipped over into the dirt.
"Thank you. A bow has always been my weapon of choice. I could shoot long before I could use a sword."
"Well, you handle a blade just as well as you do a bow. You beat Fíli and you fought Thorin to a draw. I'd say that's skill," Nori pointed out. Turning to where two pairs of striking blue eyes were observing the proceedings she blushed slightly.
"That was luck, I am sure."
The dwarves felt they'd use the time they had to do some sparring of their own. Rhae hurried back to her room to exchange bow for blades. On her way back to the group she came across Bilbo wandering the paths, hands clasped behind his back, a look of wonder and contentment on his face. She watched him in silence for a few moments; it was clear he was enjoying the serenity of his surroundings.
"Bilbo?"
"Oh, Rhae, I didn't hear you. How are you this morning? You were quite, uh, upset last night."
"I'm alright. Thank you for your concern. The light of day brings much clarity." She fell in step with him, trying to keep her stride shorter. "Have you been out here long?"
"Since sun up, I think. I know we won't be staying much longer and I just ... well, I just want to soak it all in. I doubt I'll get the chance to see it again."
"You never know what the future holds."
"It's the future that worries me."
"No sense in worrying about what may or may not be. You are a brave hobbit, Bilbo, and I think you will be just fine."
"I wish I had such confidence in me." He seemed to notice the sword at her hip. "I thought you were joining Kíli in a shooting contest?"
"Oh, I already did. We called it a tie. The dwarves decided to use their spare time sparring and I'm headed back to join them. Would you like to come with me?"
"No. I think I'll just wander around a bit longer. I enjoy the peace and quiet. It reminds me a bit of home."
Rhae smiled at the little fellow and resisted the urge to reach over and ruffle his hair. "Then we will see you this evening for dinner."
When she finally returned to the dwarves they were in varying states of exhaustion. Most had removed their heavier outer layers as the heat of the day had done its work. Poor Bombur looked like he was about to pass out. Rhae picked up a bucket and ladle and after filling it at the small tap she went from dwarf to dwarf offering them water. Bofur was the last she got to and he tried to pull her into a hug which she easily sidestepped. He laughed as he handed the ladle back to her.
"Sweaty dwarf not to your liking?" he asked.
"Depends on the dwarf. I don't think she'd mind Thorin too much," Nori teased, appearing beside Bofur. She felt her face turn red and smacked Nori on the arm. They both laughed as she plopped the bucket down and climbed onto the fence to watch the last two dwarves in the sparring ring. Of course it would be Thorin. Feeling Bofur and Nori's eyes on her she blushed even redder. She had never really watched the dwarf king with a sword and was intrigued as he moved around Fíli. He was remarkably quick and seemed almost graceful in his moves, something surprising in a dwarf. She knew from experience the power of his swings though now he was double wielding Orcrist and his old sword. His feet moved rapidly and the two blades flashed in the sunlight as he spun them. It really was quite amazing to watch him; his reputation as being an extremely skilled swordsman was obviously not an exaggeration. Avoiding one of Fíli's swings brought him much closer to where she was sitting and for the first time she actually looked at him, not just his fighting skills, and she felt her face heat back up. He was in nothing but his boots, trousers, and a thin undershirt which was now drenched in sweat, not leaving much to the imagination. Rhae found she couldn't take her eyes from him. There had always been the suggestion of strength and muscle underneath all the layers he usually wore but the thin shirt allowed her to see broad shoulders, strong arms, and muscular torso. Something coiled tight inside and her breath hitched. She had never really been attracted to any of the Rangers she'd always been around, had never really felt anything more than a mild, passing interest in any of them, but she could not deny the attraction she was now feeling for the dark haired dwarf king.
"Told you it just depended on the sweaty dwarf!" Nori snickered, elbowing Bofur. Rhae pulled her eyes from the sight before her and glared at the two, which only made them laugh harder. Thankfully, for Rhae, Thorin finally knocked Fíli to the ground and she was able to divert her attention elsewhere. Hopping down she picked the bucket back up and waited for the two combatants.
Fíli got to her first and took the offered ladle with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Rhae. I feel like my mouth is full of dust after that!"
"I'm not surprised. You ended up face down in it," she responded drily though a grin crossed her face. Once the blonde dwarf had his fill of water she turned to Thorin, offering him the water while trying to ignore what was right before her. She muttered curses to herself at the ridiculous shyness that was flooding her. As he handed the ladle back their hands touched and she jerked at the shock she felt, her eyes flying up to his.
He was slightly amused at how skittish Rhae suddenly seemed. It was certainly out of character for the normally confident and sure Ranger. He had been very aware of her presence during his sparring session and had noticed the way she had watched him. Thinking about how she'd been so focused on him and seeing the barely concealed look of desire in her eyes now caused a shot of warmth to spread throughout his body. Thorin wanted to step closer to her, wanted to reach out and touch her again, wanted to talk about what had happened the night before, but the rest of the company standing around kept him where he was.
"How about another match between Thorin and Rhae?" Bofur called out and the Ranger turned and glared at him. It would be Bofur to suggest such a thing.
"I'm going to pass this time. We've already fought to a draw once." Rhae needed to get away, needed to calm herself so she could think clearly. "I'd suggest the lot of you wash up before dinner tonight if you want me to join you."
"You wound us, lass!" Nori laughed. "You didn't have a problem when we were in the wild."
"Aye, but I was just as smelly then." She flashed them all a bright smile and hurried back to her room. The quiet didn't help sooth her frazzled nerves and she paced restlessly across the floor. Eventually she gave up and left the room. She needed to talk with someone and there was only one in Rivendell she felt could help.
"Gilraen."
"Rhaella! What a surprise. I thought I heard you were here." Rhae returned the hug and then sat where the pretty blonde indicated, observing the older woman carefully. The sadness was still there, it would never leave her, but she was trying to put on a brave face. She'd been doing it for so long.
"How are you? How is Estel?"
"I am as well as can be expected and Estel is well. He is thriving under Lord Elrond's tutelage. He is growing into a fine young man."
"That warms my heart to hear."
"Shall I send for him? He would enjoy your visit."
"No, no. Let him remain at his studies. I am actually here to see you."
"Then I am all ears. Is it true you are here in the company of dwarves?"
"Yes, Gandalf recruited me to help them through the wild."
Gilraen gave her a shrewd look. "Things are never that simple when Mithrandir is involved."
"You are probably right." Rhae felt she still needed to keep the dwarves' true intent secret despite knowing her friend wouldn't whisper a word of it to another.
"Is it the dwarves that are troubling you? I've never really been around any but I've heard very interesting tales."
"Not all of them, just one. And they're not as bad as folk make them out to be." Gilraen then sat and listened as Rhae tried, feeling rather embarrassed, to explain the situation with Thorin. She wasn't one to get emotional or talk about her feelings but Rhae hoped the older woman would be able to reassure her that she wasn't heading down a path she didn't want to follow.
"Dear, Rhaella, don't feel troubled. I know it is hard to accept change but what you're feeling isn't wrong. Love is never wrong."
"Love?!" Rhae jerked in her seat and Gilraen chuckled.
"Yes. What did you expect me to say? You love this dwarf king despite your obvious attempts to deny it. I won't try to help you in your denial."
"But I can't!"
"Why ever not? Is he cruel? Unworthy?"
"I can't answer the worthiness question - he is a King, I am just a Ranger, and hardly suitable. But - what he did to us, my father died, and -"
"Haven't you said you have long forgiven him for that action?" Rhae nodded. "I know how full of anger you were when your father died and how long you clung to it but I also saw how you grew to release that anger and forgive. Don't try to resurrect that negativity just because you are afraid to open yourself to another."
"How could I - love -" she stumbled over the word, "the person who killed my father?"
"Thorin Oakenshield did not kill your father, Rhaella. What would Rhaethan say if he were here now and heard you say such things?" Rhae knew exactly as he'd told her only hours before in her dream. Her father held no animosity towards Thorin so why was she trying to cling to it herself? "I'm almost tempted to meet this dwarf myself just to see the one who has thrown you into such a state! Do not be afraid to open your heart and let someone in. I know it can be hard to leave a part of yourself vulnerable like that. You don't have to travel these paths alone. You've been on your own for so long that you've accepted that your life will never hold anything else. I can not tell you how to feel, Rhae, but I will say this. Don't let love pass you by. When you find it, grab it, nurture it, protect it because it can be taken from you so easily." She knew Gilraen was thinking about Arathorn. That loss had been a heavy blow and the other woman had never truly recovered. Rhae decided it was time to leave and gave her friend a hug.
"We will be leaving soon and I don't know when I will be able to return. We have a long road ahead of us."
"Keep yourself safe, Rhae. I know you can't tell me your true purpose but please be mindful of the dangers. There are dark things stirring in the world."
"You have felt it?"
"Only a little but yes. Is it what I fear it to be?"
"Possibly. I am not certain of anything at this point. I have felt the darkness hovering on the horizon, like it is waiting for something. All I know is I will keep fighting until it is Estel's time."
Gilraen sighed as she thought about the future of her son but hugged Rhae again.
"May the Valar always be at your side," she whispered.
Rhae enjoyed the revelry of the company that evening even though she knew what the dwarves had used to start and feed the campfire. She had again brought food from the kitchens and when they had all returned from wherever they'd been they found her with Bombur finishing their meal.
"You can cook, too, Rhae?" Kíli asked in amazement.
She planted her hands on her hips and gave him a glare. "Someone had to feed my family after my mother died. It is not something I willingly partake in but yes, I can fix a meal that won't kill anyone." Her eyes glittered dangerously and a small smile crossed her lips. "Though if I were you, Kíli, I'd double check your food tonight." There were several loud laughs from the other dwarves and they gladly tucked in the food she had helped prepare. As she watched them she was reminded of something Gilraen had said to her. Yes, she'd been on her own for so long that she had long ago accepted that there would never be anything else in her life. She would spend her years wandering the wilds, a silent watcher protecting the people of Middle Earth until Estel could take his place as king and then she would...she would what? She had never really thought about anything beyond that point as she had never thought to survive that long. Now however she had companions that were like family and she cared about them. It would be hard to leave them when this was all over. Perhaps she was scared. Scared of losing those close to her again. Her eyes wandered to where Thorin sat, deep in conversation with Balin. And her feelings where he was concerned? Did she have feelings for him? An annoying little voice somewhere inside sneered at her, telling her to quit being such a coward and just admit that she did. She shook herself a bit. That would have to work itself out in its own time.
Someone sat down next to her and she looked over at Bifur in surprise. He held something in his hands and held it out to her with a small smile. It was a small wooden flower, all of the petals and leaves carved out with precision. Rhae smiled at him in gratitude.
"That is the sword lily," Bofur explained, standing behind his cousin. "It means strength of character, faithfulness, and honor. He carved it out of that little piece of wood you gave him a while back, wanted to make something so you'd know how we all saw you."
Rhae felt a bit choked up at his words. Besides her father no one had ever given her anything that meant so much. "Thank you, Bifur. It is truly beautiful. I will treasure it always." The dwarf patted her on the shoulder before pulling her into a brief hug. How in the world would she ever be able to leave them?
Thorin had been watching Rhae's conversation and was slightly curious about what the older dwarf had given her. Feeling a bit self conscious, he went and sat in the space Bifur had left. Besides the fact that he just wanted to be near her, there was something he wanted to ask her.
"I would like for you to come with us to meet with Elrond this evening."
She looked at him in surprise. "Why?"
"I do not know if I will show him the map or not." He held up a hand to forestall her thoughts on that topic. "However, I will feel better with you there no matter what I decide. You know the elf lord and would tell me if he was playing me false." Rhae hadn't expected this but thought it might be a good idea. Perhaps if she was there she'd be able to help Gandalf convince him to show Elrond the map.
"As you wish," she complied with a nod of her head.
He looked down at her hands. "May I?" She gave him the small wooden object and he smiled when he realized what it was. "A sword lily, a very good choice for you." He turned it over in his hands, examining the carvings. "It still amazes me how much detail he can get out of a piece of wood."
"You are a master blacksmith, are you not? Can't you do the same with your craft?"
"Nothing quite that fine. Working with metal and a forge is quite different from woodwork," he said, placing the flower gently back in her hand. "Dwarves work all their lives to master their crafts which is why our goods have always been in such demand. Bifur is exceptional at what he does."
"I'm sure your work is just as well made." He had no answer for that though she could see in his eyes that he was pleased.
"We should probably go. I want to get this meeting over with." He stood and offered her a hand up, holding on for a moment longer than necessary. Motioning for Balin and Bilbo to come, he let Rhae lead them down the darkened halls. He felt himself tensing up as they neared their destination; he truly didn't know what he should do.
It wasn't long before Rhae again wanted to smack the stubborn dwarf upside the head. The hope that her presence would help him to see reason had been for naught. She struggled to keep her frustration in check as Gandalf tried to convince him.
"Our business is no concern of elves," Thorin growled.
"For goodness sake, Thorin, show him the map!"
"It is the legacy of my people; it is mine to protect as are its secrets."
"Save me from the stubbornness of dwarves," Gandalf huffed in exasperation. "Your pride will be your downfall. You stand here in the presence of one of the few in Middle Earth who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond." The tall elf stood quietly, his face calm as he listened to the wizard and dwarf argue, only once flicking a glance at where Rhae stood off to the side.
"Thorin, you will never fulfill your goal for your people if you do not show Lord Elrond the map," she finally spoke up, trying to keep her words as ambiguous as possible. All eyes were on him and he eyed the elf in front of him cautiously. He finally handed over the map brushing Balin aside when he tried to stop him. Elrond took the map and studied it in silence for several moments.
"Erebor. What is your interest in this map?"
"It is mainly academic," Gandalf said quickly, silencing whatever Thorin was about to say. "As you know this sort of artifact sometimes contains hidden text. You still read ancient Dwarvish, do you not?" Elrond gave the wizard a look before walking away, still looking at the map. As he stepped into a stream of moonlight he paused.
"Cirth Ithil," he breathed quietly.
"Moon runes," Gandalf said with a nod of his head. "Of course. An easy thing to miss."
"Well in this case that is true; moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon of the same shape and season as the day on which they were written."
"Can you read them?" Thorin's low voice was edged with tension and hope.
Elrond motioned for them to follow and they soon found themselves on the edge of a cliff, waterfalls cascading from above surrounding them. Elrond lead them to a large crystal that appeared to be stuck in the rock at the edge of the cliff. He laid the map gently on its flat surface.
"These runes were written on a Midsummer's Eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly two hundred years ago. Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield; the same moon shines upon us tonight." Almost like magic, as soon as the words left Lord Elrond's mouth the clouds above them parted and a shaft of moonlight fell on where the map was spread on the crystalline table. As they watched, runes began to appear at the bottom of the parchment. Elrond began to read:
"Stand by the gray stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole." There was a moment of breathless silence that was broken by Bilbo.
"Durin's Day?"
"It is the start of the dwarves' new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together," Gandalf explained. Rhae was watching Thorin as he processed this information. She saw the furrow between his brows.
"This is ill news. Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us."
"We still have time," Balin spoke up, stepping in front of his king to look him in the face.
"Time for what?" Bilbo wanted to know.
"To find the entrance." Balin's face became more animated than Rhae had ever seen it and there was tightly laced excitement in his voice. "We have to be standing at exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened." The two dwarves shared a silence glance.
"So this is your purpose, to enter the mountain?"
"What of it?" Thorin couldn't keep the sneer from his voice.
"There are some who would not deem it wise," Elrond told him, handing the map back but giving Gandalf a knowing look.
"What do you mean?" The wizard tried to sound nonchalant in his question but Rhae easily detected the suspicion behind his words.
"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle Earth." Gandalf followed Lord Elrond as he walked away, Balin and Bilbo slowly making their way from the cliff as well. Rhae stayed as Thorin still hadn't moved from where he stood, his mind obviously far away. Content to remain until he was ready to speak or leave, she leaned against the rock wall and waited. After several moments he finally turned and spotted her.
"You are still here?"
"Yes. You would never find your way back alone," she teased. If he wanted to talk he would, she wasn't going to press him. They walked in comfortable silence for a while. Rhae thought over what Lord Elrond had read off the map. Summer was fading fast; autumn would be upon them soon. They still had quite a ways to go to reach the Lonely Mountain but if they pushed hard enough she was sure they would make it.
"Autumn is not far off," Thorin finally said, seeming to echo her own thoughts. "We still have such a distance to cover."
"I would wish for more time but as we don't have it we will have to press on at a quicker pace."
"You feel we can still reach the mountain in time?" he looked at her with hope in his eyes.
"We don't have a choice, do we?"
"The journey has been relatively quiet and easy thus far. It makes me nervous. The others do not truly have any idea of what could be ahead of us."
"You are a good leader, Thorin, and you will see them through whatever may come."
They paused when they heard voices below them. Looking over the railing they soon spotted Gandalf and Lord Elrond deep in conversation. Their words drifted up to the two in the shadows.
"Of course I was going to tell you. I was waiting for this very chance. And really, I think you can trust that I know what I am doing." Gandalf's words sounded a bit too forced.
"Do you? That dragon has slept for sixty years. What would happen if your plan should fail? If you wake that beast -"
"But if we succeed! What if the dwarves take back the mountain? Then our defenses in the east will be strengthened." Rhae bit her lip as she heard her father's words echoing back to her; he had been right about the wizard's plan.
"It's a dangerous move, Gandalf."
"It is also dangerous to do nothing. Oh come! The throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright! What is it you fear?"
"Have you forgotten? A strain of madness runs deep in that family. His grandfather lost his mind. His father succumbed to the same sickness. Can you swear Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall?" Rhae felt the dwarf beside her tense at the elf's words and she knew they had cut deep. The rest of the conversation faded as Gandalf and Elrond moved away and she eyed the dwarf next to her. There was a pained, haunted look on his face.
"Thorin?" She touched his arm lightly.
"My greatest fear on this quest has never been failing. It has always been the fear of becoming like my grandfather once I stand within Erebor."
"You are not Thror."
"No, I'm not but he was a strong king, a good dwarf, and he still fell. The gold still took control of his mind. I watched as the grandfather I loved and idolized disappeared and was replaced by a greedy, paranoid king. I fear that I will not be strong enough."
"You will not be alone in this, Thorin. You have your kin, your company by your side. They will all be there to help fight this should it try to take you."
"And you? Will you be with them? Will you help me fight the dragon sickness?"
"I won't leave you. If it should come that you require my help all you need do is ask and I will be by your side. I will not let that darkness have you. I promise you that."
"You have not seen what that sickness does to those it has in its grip. It turns them into something different entirely. I saw my grandfather say and do things that I could never have imagined him doing."
"It does not matter. I will not leave you to fight it alone."
Thorin took her hands in his and stepped a bit closer. Her words, her confidence in him had warmed his heart. It was a comfort and relief to know that she would not abandon him should the worst happen. He had seen what his grandfather had done in his sickness and he cringed at the thought of acting the same towards those closest to him.
"I am sorry I ever doubted you in the beginning," he said softly. "All I asked from those that joined my company were loyalty, honor, and a willing heart and you have shown those since the first moment." She opened her mouth to tell him that an apology was not necessary but froze when he pressed his lips to hers. He pulled her against him and she didn't even try to stop him. How could she when, to be honest with herself, she'd wanted him to kiss her again all day? Was she destined for this dwarf king? She couldn't answer that but knew, at that moment, it just felt right. Thorin marveled that she had offered no resistance and had seemingly melted into him each time she'd been in his arms.
They heard someone clear their throat and turned to see Gandalf come around the corner. Rhae caught the wizard's eye and blushed a bit, wondering how much he had seen or heard. Though there was a bit of a knowing gleam in his eye he said nothing about it.
"Rhaella, my dear, might I have a moment of your time?" She felt Thorin's hand tighten on her arm slightly.
"I'll be along shortly," she told him reassuringly. He frowned a bit, glancing between the Ranger and the wizard, but turned and disappeared in the direction of their quarters. Once they were alone Rhae gave Gandalf a thoughtful look.
"You know what Lord Elrond meant as well as I earlier. The White Council has been summoned."
"This was something I was not expecting."
She looked at him a bit surprised. "Saruman will not approve of our quest. He will certainly try to stop us."
"You are right as always, my dear." Gandalf decided not to comment on the fact that she had just referred to it as "our" quest. This was unexpected but welcome progress. In fact there was quite a lot of progress in several different areas that pleased him.
"Has the Council arrived?"
"No. They will be here tomorrow evening."
"That will give us time to prepare," she said, her mind already working on the details. "We can leave tomorrow at dusk."
"Not we but you. You will have to get the dwarves out."
"You're not coming?" she exclaimed.
"I must meet with the White Council. Besides hopefully distracting them so you can slip away, I need to discuss this darkness we've felt. Radagast gave me news that has quite worried me." He was silent for a bit. "I will meet you in the mountains but you must leave tomorrow night."
"Does this have to do with what Radagast gave you before the orcs arrived?"
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I forget that you miss nothing, Rhaella my dear."
"I don't want to know what it is. I'm probably better off not knowing but I can hazard a guess as to what this is all pointing towards. Has he returned?"
"I don't think so. I don't think he has the strength yet but I believe he is trying. That is why I must meet with the Council. We must be prepared for whatever may come."
"I would prefer to have you with us, Gandalf, but I will do as you ask."
"Good girl." He patted her on the shoulder and left her standing on the now empty pathway. She stood in the silence for a few moments to gather her thoughts, trying to focus only on the quest for Erebor and not the growing darkness. Gandalf was worried and that made her uneasy. She hurried back to their quarters. If they were to leave the next evening they would need every moment to prepare. Thorin had found his way back and was sitting with the Fundin brothers and Fíli when she entered the room. Rhae motioned for him to walk with her and she lead him out onto the balcony.
"We have to leave tomorrow night, Thorin," she told him in a low voice. He was immediately wary and glanced around as if expecting to see guards marching in.
"Why?"
"The White Council has been summoned. While I doubt Lord Elrond or Lady Galadriel would try to stop us, Saruman most certainly will."
"Why don't we just leave now?"
"We'd be discovered missing too soon and I do not trust Saruman. We need to be ready to leave as soon as they arrive. Gandalf will keep them busy while we slip out."
"The wizard isn't coming?"
"Not yet. He said he will meet us in the mountains but he must consult with the council. I feel more is going on here than just this quest and it makes me uneasy. The more Gandalf knows the better I will feel." Thorin knew better than to question her and he was eager to get away from the elves anyway. They had wasted enough time.
"Then we will leave at night fall tomorrow. We will need provisions -"
"Leave that to me," she interrupted with a devious gleam in her eye. He had to smile; wild and untamed indeed! "Just make sure everyone is ready to go when I give the sign but make sure they don't give us away during the day."
"Leave that part to me." He paused, taking a good look at her in the soft glow from the wall lanterns. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather stay here?" He knew what she would say and he didn't want to be away from her, but he had to ask; she would be safe in Rivendell.
"How could you ask that? I am a part of the company and I have pledged to help you reclaim Erebor. Do you think I would abandon you now?" She stood before him with a frown on her face, arms crossed on her chest, and he wanted to kiss her again. The presence of his nephew and the Fundin brothers in the room behind them kept him from acting on the desire. It couldn't stop him from reaching a hand up and caressing her cheek. He felt her relax slightly.
"I had to ask. I know you can take care of yourself but I will worry about your safety. You have done much for the company and I am glad you are here."
"I gave my word to assist with this quest but I also promised you that I would help you fight that sickness that overcame your father and grandfather." She took his hands in hers and met his gaze. "I will not leave you, Thorin." The desire to pull her to him and crush his lips to hers was overwhelming but he somehow contented himself with raising her hand to his lips and placing a lingering kiss there. He saw the small smile she gave him and he couldn't resist turning her hand over and placing a kiss on the inside of her wrist. She drew a sharp breath at the sensation of his lips on her skin. For a split second she cursed the proximity of others.
"We need to let the others know of our plans," he said, reluctantly releasing her. All she could do was nod and follow him back into the room.
Revised/Edited April 2016