I do not own any of the characters or The Hobbit (just the AU storyline and my OC). These are the work of the esteemed and brilliant John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, and without his genius, this and many other fanfics would not be in existence.

I apologize profusely. I struggle with depression, anxiety, IBS, chronic pain, and ADHD (which I can't treat because my IBS goes berserk if I ingest a stimulant, which is how ADHD is treated), and there are many times where I'm either too tired to write or (most of the time) my brain has been unable to focus enough to do so. As a published author (Amazing Grace by Amanda Longpre' available on Amazon and kindle-go check it out!), when the creative juices do actually cooperate, I try to work on my next novels (3 in the works right now) and THEN update fan fic. But it hasn't happened for a while because my brain hasn't cooperated with either one : (

Anyway, I hope this chapter makes up for it! Happy reading, and check out my novel Amazing Grace on Amazon! If you can't find it right off, search "Amazing Grace Amanda Longpre' " and you should find it right away ; ) And yes, my last name has the accent (it's French-hubby's family are of French Canadian descent) and it's not a typo ; ) It's pronounced "long-pray" if anyone is curious : )

As always, please review, favorite and follow- it really encourages me : D And if you have read Amazing Grace, please review that one too on Amazon! It helps independently published authors immensely!

Happy reading! : )

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Cirashala groaned as someone shook her shoulder. She and Kili had the graveyard watch, or so she called it, last night and she had finally just fallen back asleep.

His actions from the night before kept running through her mind. She knew he had simply been trying to help her sharpen her sword properly, and for that she was immensely grateful. Who knows what sort of damage could have been done had she kept sharpening it the way she was? The last thing she wanted to do was jeopardize her own safety and that of her friends.

But as she had turned toward him to ask if she had been doing it correctly, something strange happened. Her face had been very, very close to his, and she had found it surprisingly difficult to look away. In that moment, an emotion she thought she would never feel again passed through her. It was almost indiscernible, as if it were simply a whisper upon the winds of a hurricane, but it was there.

Her heartbeat had quickened, and her breath had hitched. In a split second, the moment was gone. Kili had scooted backward as though his very life depended on it, and she hadn't been sure in the dim firelight, but she thought she had seen the faintest sign of blushing in his ears. She hadn't had much time to ponder on it at that moment, however, for her ring glinted off the light from the fire and reminded her of the husband she had loved so. Grief welled up within her, drowning out all other emotions as she stared at the beloved symbol of their love.

But after their watch had ended and she lay down on her bedroll, the memory of that brief moment between her and Kili kept assaulting her mind. She tossed and turned, trying desperately to sort things out. Kili was without a doubt her best friend by this point. All of the dwarves were her friends, and so was Bilbo.

But in that time apart from the company, she and Kili had formed a special bond. Only once before had she allowed anyone in so close, and he now lay in a grave in her world forever sleeping with their two daughters in his arms. Her husband had been one of the few people in her life she had felt completely safe with, both emotionally and physically. In his arms, there was no fear of condemnation or ridicule or harm, and it was one of the things about her husband she had treasured most.

As she unwillingly rose to greet yet another day in the miserable, dark forest, she could not help the feeling deep within her that something strange was happening to her. She had only ever felt the freedom to be vulnerable and emotional and real to one other person in her entire life. Only one person had made her feel so safe and secure in his arms.

Until now.

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The day promised to be a hot one, and the air was stifling by the time the company headed out. Flies began to buzz around them, and it wasn't long before every member of the company and the young woman were irritated at their intrusion.

Fili cursed under his breath as yet another fly met its demise on his sweaty forehead. He had never liked flies, finding them an incredible nuisance, and being inundated with them was most definitely not appreciated.

The elder dwarf kept glancing toward his brother. The trail had widened just enough for them to walk side by side, and he couldn't help but notice that Kili was unusually quiet today. Where the others were grumbling about the flies, the younger prince simply swatted them away without a single word. As they rounded a bend in the stone path, he gently and discreetly bumped the younger's shoulder.

"Are you all right, nadadith?" he whispered in Khuzdul, mindful of the ears around them. Kili glanced at him, before nodding.

"Aye," he replied just as quietly. He glanced at the young woman up ahead. "I-it's just…" Fili frowned as his eyes followed his brother's glance.

"Just what?" he asked, feeling like he already knew the answer. Thankfully, his brother's pining wasn't yet visible to other members of the company, Bofur notwithstanding. The elder prince was immensely grateful that the miner had kept a tight lid on Kili's feelings for her as he promised he would. The last thing Kili needed was the shame that came with loving a woman he could not have.

"Last night," Kili replied quietly, still looking at the young woman, "She told me about her family." Fili hadn't expected this answer, nor did he know why it troubled his brother so.

"Her family?" he asked, surprised. The young woman hadn't been very forthcoming about her family in the entire time she had been with their company. Kili nodded.

"Aye," he replied, his expression concerned. "It was strange though. She didn't seem to mind as much speaking about her mother and grandmother and sisters, though from what she told me her sisters were not kind to her at all. But when I asked about her father…" The elder did not miss the flash of worry in the younger's eyes.

"Kee?" Fili asked, concern filling his own features. Kili looked at him.

"When I asked her if anyone in her father's family had dwarf blood," he continued, his expression growing more puzzled, "She looked very frightened and tense. And when I reached toward her arm, she flinched, as though I was going to hurt her." The dark-haired dwarf's eyes moved back to the young woman.

"It was strange," he finished. "It was as though she wasn't even here for a moment, and then she was. And then she asked me to stop speaking about her family, though she still spoke of her sisters." Fili frowned, before his gaze moved to the young woman as well.

"You said she was frightened?" he asked. The younger nodded.

"Very," he replied. "But only for a second, and then she calmed down a little. Once we stopped speaking of her father, she seemed to stop being so frightened." Fili thought back to when he could not move his arms when training with Dwalin, and how images of Kili's fall and the cliff and wargs and fire seemed to paralyze them. He couldn't move his arms not because they were unable to, but because his fear was unable to make them move. Cerulean eyes looked at the young woman as the puzzle slowly pieced itself together.

"He hurt her," Fili said quietly. Kili's eyes widened as he looked at the young woman, before his gaze met his brother's.

"He-he hurt her?" the younger asked, horror filling his eyes. Fili nodded, his expression grim.

"I think so," he replied, his jaw tightening. Hurting a woman was a shameful and horrific act amongst dwarves, and carried steep penalties, up to and including death, if the harm were severe enough or foul enough. He glanced at his brother, whose jaw was tight as well.

"That is why she became frightened when I mentioned her father," Kili whispered, his tone filled with anger. "She was frightened of him." Fili nodded, anger filling his own heart.

"If I ever lay eyes on him—" Kili began, his eyes flashing. Fili glanced down and quickly grabbed his arm. The younger stopped abruptly and looked at him.

"Not so loud, nadadith," the elder hissed. Bombur and Bifur passed by them, looking rather confused, and the younger unclenched his fists and nodded. They continued walking, and Fili looked pointedly at Kili.

"Nadad," he whispered only loud enough for Kili to hear, "I know you are angry. I am angry as well, more than you can imagine. But you must be quiet about this, else you will violate her confidence in you. And…" The elder glanced at the rest of the company.

"You do not want to reveal your feelings to everyone," he warned. Kili nodded, all too aware of the consequences of doing so. The last thing he wanted to do was bring her and his family shame in his impulsiveness.

"Her father is not here," Fili stated firmly. "And rest assured, if he ever dared to show his face near her again, I will make sure that Thorin has him imprisoned and tried and executed. He will never hurt her again, you have my word on that." The elder looked at the young woman as he gently squeezed his brother's arm.

"She is one of us," he said firmly. "And nadad, she is like a sister to me. I will protect her with my life. But now is not the time." Kili nodded, knowing Fili was right. Her father was nowhere near them, and she would never be hurt again if he and Fili had anything to say about it. The thought of her father harming her to the point where she was terrified of him even if he was many leagues away was enough to make his blood boil.

Fili glanced at his younger brother fondly, before his gaze moved to the young woman. Cira was indeed like a sister to him, though she would never be one officially due to her widowed status, and he had meant every word. If her father ever came to Erebor, he would be met with the vicious bite of many dwarven blades. The trial would be a mere formality.

For no dwarf would ever tolerate anyone who would hurt a woman or a child. Ever.

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I apologize for the shorter chapter, but it's supposed to get very hot (at least for here) this week and I not only have a doctor's appointment to get to but I need to finish the end of our chicken run so my precious birds don't roast in their coop this week (before it gets too hot today, though it's going to get way hotter tomorrow and only increase after that). Anyway, I hope to update again at some point today or tomorrow as the creative juices are finally flowing (YAY!) so keep a lookout!

As always, please review, favorite, and follow! You guys are the best to be so patient with me! And go check out my novel- and if you read it, please review it on amazon too! Happy reading! AL/tweetzone86