Hey guys! I'm a little later than I wanted to be this time, my heads been a mess, but I'm here! I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Xx

Chapter 16

Soon enough, the last day of our stay arrives. After breakfast, I stay sitting at the table with Ori, as I help him with his new book, his old one having been left in Goblin Town. I'm really impressed with the scribe, especially with his drawings. I pause at one of his drawings, it's of Thorin, Aiden and I. Aiden is cuddled up to me and Thorin is sitting next to me, with his arms around us, my head on his shoulder. Aiden and I are both asleep and Thorin is giving us both a soft look as he watches us sleep.

"When did you do this?" I ask him.

He blushes slightly as he sees the drawing. "That was the night Aiden had the nightmare. You can keep it if you like."

I thank him before excusing myself. Walking from the table, I sit in the hay stack Aiden and I claimed when we first arrived and just look over the picture. I remember Thorin sitting beside me, giving Aiden some comfort as he slept. I didn't even realise I had fallen asleep on him. As well as thinking about the conversation I had with Balin a few days ago, my thoughts instantly go to my feelings for him. I never thought I would ever feel so strongly about another man before. Yes, I have dated one or two guys since David, but they never lasted long, maybe one date, but that's it. There's been nothing more than that. But with Thorin. . .we haven't even had a date, but yet I feel as though I know a lot about him already. He may be rough around the edges and seems as though he doesn't care about anything. But, I know, deep down, there's a softer side to him that anyone rarely sees. The softer side he only shows for those he truly cares about. I have seen it more and more this past couple of weeks. The moment I saw him rough housing with Fili and Kili. . .that sparked something inside me that no one else has been able to strike.

I am brought out of my thoughts as I hear Aiden's squealing. Smiling, I put the picture in my pack before I get up and walk outside. Following the sound, I stand by a wall and watch as Aiden, Fili, Kili, Bofur, Bifur, Nori and to my surprise, Thorin and Dwalin, are running around and chasing each other. I have no idea how they managed to rope two of the toughest dwarves in our group into their games, but I'm glad they did. I smile fondly as I watch them running around.

My heart suddenly catches in my throat as I see Thorin chase Aiden, grab him and hold him above his head as he turns around, causing the little boy to squeal and laugh. I immediately feel my heart clench and tears appear in my eyes as I watch this. This is something I have wanted to see, dreamed of seeing. Aiden, running around with a fatherly figure. But, to see it with Thorin. . .it makes my feelings for Thorin grow. The longing I've been having for the three of us to be a family. . .

"Mummy! Mummy, come play with us!" Aiden calls out, drawing me from my thoughts.

I look up to see him in Thorin's arms, looking over. My heart skips as Thorin's gaze meets my own. The emotion I see in those orbs. . .I forget to breathe for a moment.

"Yes, mummy, come join us!" Kili calls out, a teasing grin on his face.

I walk over and wrap an arm around Kili's neck in a headlock, rubbing my knuckles on his head.

"Hey! Gerroff!"

I grin as I hear the others laughing. I lean down to his ear.

"Call me mummy again, and see what happens."

"Alright! Alright! I won't!"

I let him go and he straightens up, fixing his clothing and hair up and he glares at me. However, from the twinkling in his eyes, I can tell he's not truly mad. I reach out and tap him before running off.

"Tag! You're it!"

"Oi! That's not fair!"

"Alls fair in tag Kee! You should know that!" Fili points out as we're running from him.

"Is that right?" he then tears off after Fili.

Our game continues on and soon enough its Thorin who is doing the chasing. After growling when Kili manages to dodge away from him at the last minute, I squeal and run as he catches my gaze and begins to chase after me. I'm smiling away as I run from him, turning back, I give a little squeak as I see him right behind me, a predatory grin on his face. Not watching where I'm going, I end up tripping over my own feet and fall forward. I feel Thorin grab my hand as if to pull me upright, to stop me from falling, but it doesn't work as he the momentum pulls him down with me. I let out a grunt as I feel Thorin fall onto me. Everyone else starts laughing.

"I'm sorry, are you alright?" Thorin asks, pushing himself up onto his arms to take his weight off me.

I nod as I turn over. "Yes, I'm fine. Don't wor-" I stop speaking as I realise how close we are.

He is hovering over me, our noses almost touching. I've suddenly lost all ability to speak, my heart beating wildly in my chest, almost as if it's about to burst right out. My eyes meet his and I realise I have met my downfall. His eyes swirl with so much emotion, it's like looking down into a tornado. I glance down ever so slightly at his lips, which are parted a little, and cannot help but think what it would be like to kiss him. I swear I can see his own eyes being drawn down to my own lips.

Hearing a throat being cleared, I am finally pulled from my daydream. Thorin is the same as he quickly stands before reaching a hand out to help me up. I take it, ignoring the shock I feel at touching him and step away, quickly pulling my hand back.

"Are you okay, mummy?" Aiden asks as he runs over.

"Y-Yes. I'm fine, sweetie." I reply, trying to calm my raging heart.

"Your face is red."

I inwardly groan. Typical for a little boy to be so innocent to point out something like that.

"Can we get back to the game, or do you two want to roll about in the grass some more?" Kili asks teasingly.

I can feel myself blushing more, though a feeling of satisfaction runs through me as I hear a thud and Kili's grunt of pain. I excuse myself before walking off, not catching anyone's eyesight and walk through the nearby woods towards a river I had taken Aiden to paddle a few days ago.

Kneeling beside the water, I cup my hands in and splash myself with the water to cool down my flushing face, trying to calm myself down. I thought I had feelings for Thorin before today, but those thoughts paled in comparison to how I'm feeling now. I feel as though. . .I love him. It's only been a few months since we had first met, can it be possible to love someone in such a short amount of time? I guess a few months is better than getting engaged to someone on the same day we met. I do have to grin as I hear Kristoff from Frozen.

"You got engaged to someone you just met that day!?"

I sigh as I sit down before flopping back in the grass, staring up at the sky peeking through the tress. This is going to make things a lot harder for me. I could always just say screw it and stay here, I know I could be happier here. Aiden would definitely be happier. But. . .we don't belong here. This is not our world. And anyway, Galadriel said I'd find my way home at the end of this quest. So we couldn't even stay if we wanted to. . .could we? I groan out loud as I dig the heel of my palms into my eyes, as if I'm trying to reach into my head to straighten out my thoughts.

"What are you doing to me Thorin?" I ask myself. "Why must you make this harder?"

"Sophia?"

I sit up with a gasp, spinning around to see Thorin standing not far away, hands held up in peace.

"My apologies. I did not mean to startle you."

I shake my head, trying to calm my racing heart. "No. No, it's fine. Sorry, I was miles away."

He nods as he lowers his hands and walks closer. "May I join you?"

"Of course."

He walks over and sits besides me, the both of us just watching the flow of the river in silence. I can feel the nerves running through me at him being so close, also hoping he didn't hear me talking to myself.

"I apologise if my nephew embarrassed you. I have already reprimanded him for it."

I shake my head. "No, it's fine. I-I wasn't embarrassed."

He looks to me, not believing a word I just said. "Are you sure?"

I nod with a smile. "I'm sure. Don't worry."

He nods as he turns his gaze to the river once again. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch him as he's shuffling around somewhat, mumbling to himself in Khuzdul. I can tell he is distressed about something.

"Are you alright?" I ask him.

He turns to me. "What?"

"You seem on edge about something. Is everything alright?"

I just watch as he keeps his gaze on me, conflicting emotions going through his features. He eventually sighs before turning so he's facing me fully.

"I am not one to talk about matters such as this, but I need to say this now before I lose my nerve and never say what is on my mind. I know we have only known each other for a few months and I am unsure when exactly it all started, but lately I have begun to fall in love with you. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to get you out of my mind, and truth be told, I don't want to. I love everything about you; your kind heart, your smile, your laugh, just to name a few. Before we met, I have always felt as if something was missing in my life. Even though I had my sister and the boys, I did not feel complete.

But, when we first met, I suddenly felt whole. My heart somehow knew you were the something missing. . .the something I needed. I did not want to listen to it at first, especially when you said about finding your way back home. I did not want to listen to my heart and risk being hurt by you leaving. Now though, I cannot not listen to it, I am and I'm selfishly wanting to keep you here, for you and Aiden to stay here, with me."

I just look at him as he talks, taking in not only what he is saying, but how he is saying it. I am surprised by the emotion in his voice, the vulnerability of letting his guard down and pouring his heart out yo me. He loves me. . .Thorin actually loves me. . .I can feel my heart jumping, dancing and screaming, crying out for me to accept him already. I just smile as I look to the ground, trying to keep my emotions in check, so I do not cry in front of him.

"Oh, Thorin. . .you have no idea how relieved I am to hear that."

"You are?" I hear him ask, his voice full of surprise and hope.

I nod as I look up to him, the smile still on my face. "I love you too, Thorin. I have done from the moment we first met. Since then, that love has only grown stronger. I admit, I was heartbroken when I first thought I would be staying in Rivendell, watching you all leave without us, but I was so happy when you allowed Aiden and I to come with you. I really do love you, and I do want to stay, but I am afraid."

He looks to me in concern and worry. "Afraid of what?"

"My last real relationship, the one I had with Aiden's father, I thought that was my true love. I thought he loved me like I did him, but he hurt me. Since then, I have been afraid to commit to another person, afraid that. . ."

I can see the realisation in his face. "Afraid you would be hurt again."

I nod before he reaches out and gently takes my face in his hands, his thumbs gently stroking my cheeks.

"You have nothing to fear with me, Sophia. We have said before that we dwarves respect women and children, no matter the race. You will not come to harm with me. If you would allow me to, I would take care of the both of you, I would take Aiden on as my own and teach him all he needs to know. I will love you for the rest of our lives. Let me prove this to you. Once this is all over and we have the mountain back, allow me to court you, prove my love to you and just how much you mean to me."

I smile as I just watch him, feeling the sincerity and love in his words, knowing I can trust him.

"I will. Only because I know I can trust you."

He looks hopeful. "Then. . .you will stay?"

I only have a slight hesitation before I answer, knowing I will be leaving everything I have ever known behind. But, to start over again in a world away from David, in a world where I know I will be loved and can start over, it is a sacrifice I am very willing to make.

"I will. Aiden and I will stay with you, Thorin."

He smiles wide, even wider than at the river just a couple weeks ago, making me swoon all over again. "I am so relieved to hear you say that. I promise, I will not let you regret choosing to stay."

I just smile. "I know you won't."

He's smiling softly at me as he gently strokes my left cheek with his fingers, before sliding his hand up and through my hair, causing me to take a sharp intake of breath, knowing how sacred it is for dwarves to touch another's hair. From what Balin told me, only family and Ones can touch another's hair. Seeing him glance to my hair in curiosity, I frown at him in confusion.

"In our culture, we place a braid in the hair of the women we court, so that others will know they are unavailable. I was hoping, you would allow me to do the same to you."

I nod, the smile never leaving my face. "Of course. I would like that."

His smile widens as he reaches a hand out and weaves a braid on the left side of my head, taking out one of his beads and clipping it to the end of my braid.

"There. Perfect." Thorin says as he gently runs his thumb over the bead.

I smile down at the braid. "It's beautiful. Do I have to do the same to you?"

He shakes his head. "You do not."

"But, could I? If I wanted to?"

He smiles softly at me. "You can if you want to."

"I do. I just, don't have any beads or anything to clip in."

He gives a soft chuckle. "No matter. If you still want to when we have Erebor, I will teach you how to make one."

I smile at him. "I would like that very much."

"Then it would be my pleasure to teach you."

Thorin gently lays a hand on the side of my neck, as he strokes my cheek with his thumb again.

"Would it be too forward of me to kiss you?"

I shake my head, still smiling. "Not at all."

He grins as he places his other hand on the other side of my neck as he gently pulls my face towards him while he leans in and our lips meet in the middle. I let out a sigh as our lips move with each other. They're so soft, warm and loving and the passion I feel coming from him. . .it's almost overwhelming. They say that you should see fireworks when kissing, and I can certainly see them. My heart beating like the hooves of wild horses.

We slowly pull away after a few moments, letting our foreheads rest against each other as we catch our breaths. I can't help the giggle that slips out, causing him to open his eyes and look at me.

"What?"

I smile up at him, blushing slightly. "Nothing. It's just. . .I used to wonder what it would be like to kiss you with your beard."

He smiles softly back. "And?"

I reach up and run my hand over his short beard. "Very nice. So nice I want to do it again."

He chuckles as one of his hands goes to my waist, making me gasp as he pulls me into him. "Then, who am I to stop you?"

I grin as I press my lips to his once more, my arms going around his neck where my fingers play with the hair on the back.

It's safe to say, that night, I slept with a big smile on my face.

Eeee! Sophia and Thorin are finally together! It took me a while to get this chapter perfect, so I hope you all enjoyed it. Please stay tuned for the next chapter and I will see you all soon. Please keep your lovely reviews coming xx