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.

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Thorin looked at the slumbering dwarves, before his well-trained eyes scanned the woods surrounding them. The dwarf king and Dwalin had the last watch of the night, and the latter had been told to scout ahead and report back to him.

They had neither seen nor heard any sign of orcs since they entered the forest one week ago. The dwarf king knew that it hadn't been mere luck that had kept the foul vermin at bay, and he was once again thankful that Beorn had helped them. He had been certain that the orc pack would follow them into the dark woods after the skinchanger and his ponies returned home, but now he was beginning to wonder if they had been just a little lucky after all.

His gaze landed on the sleeping young woman. Her skills with the bow and blade would never equal Fili and Kili's simply because they would always have decades of training on her. But for being a beginner, she was progressing remarkably well. He knew that she did have some previous understanding of the weapons, but she took instruction well and Thorin could see that she was very, very determined.

Almost as determined as a dwarf.

He thought back to her surprising revelation. He was just as surprised as the rest of the company that she had some hair on her face, though he hid is startle well. The dwarf king knew she was a human, but he could not stop that slight lingering suspicion that somehow, somewhere in her family line there must have been a dwarf. She was simply too short, and while no one could even consider the light hair dusting her jaw and upper lip to be a respectable beard, its very presence suggested that maybe, just maybe, she did have some dwarf blood and just didn't know it.

She's certainly stubborn enough to be one, he thought to himself wryly as he leaned up against the dark oak trunk. But if she does, it's very, very little.

Thorin's gaze then moved toward his slumbering nephews, and the dwarf king could not help but smile as his mind went back to their training. They had both complained quite a lot about his and Dwalin's methods at the time, but they had proven highly effective, and the two young dwarves were now among the most highly trained and skilled warriors in the company.

He had watched as Fili and Kili had employed his own training techniques with the young woman, though admittedly both were far gentler and forgiving than he had been. However, Cirashala was responding to it just the same, and Thorin was very pleased with her progress.

His eyes scanned the woods again, concern growing in his mind. Dwalin had been gone longer than he thought he would. Stepping away from the tree he had been leaning against, the dwarf king's hand slowly moved toward the hilt of Orcrist even as he knelt down next to the sleeping Balin.

Suddenly, Thorin heard the distinct thumping sound of his longtime friend's boots. His hand left Orcrist as the burly dwarf came into view.

"Where have you been?" Thorin whispered angrily in Khuzdul as he stood before his friend.

"Scouting the path ahead," Dwalin replied matter-of-factly in Westron, clearly unfazed. "It starts to narrow up ahead, and then it goes down into a ravine." Thorin frowned.

"A ravine?" he asked, and the latter nodded.

"Aye," Dwalin continued, also frowning. "There is a staircase of sorts going down, and then the path turns and continues on. I took so long because I tried to follow the ravine through to the end and back, but I suspect it will take days to cross it. The left side is steep, and the right is a sheer drop down into the bottom of the ravine." Thorin sighed, before looking back at the company.

"How wide is the path through the ravine?" he asked.

"Two dwarves can walk beside each other," the latter answered, "though it would probably be better if we walked in one line as close to the left side as possible so that no one…falls." The burly dwarf looked Thorin in the eye, and neither of them had to be reminded of what happened in the Goblin Tunnels. The mere thought of Kili falling again sent an icy shard straight through Thorin's breast, and he nodded in agreement.

"Aye," he stated firmly. "Once we reach the ravine, we will walk in a single line until we are out of it." His tone left no argument, and Dwalin nodded.

"Wake up the others," Thorin instructed as he glanced once more at the woods around them. "It is light enough." The burly dwarf moved to do as bidden.

XXX

Bilbo groaned as Dwalin shook his shoulder.

"Enough," he grumbled, looking up at him. "I'm awake already. You needn't shake my arm off!" The burly dwarf rolled his eyes, before moving on to the next person, and the disgruntled hobbit sat up with a wince.

"Blast these roots," he cursed as he held his aching lower back. A foul odor met his nostrils, and he glanced down at what had to be the most disgusting mushrooms he'd ever seen. No self-respecting hobbit would even dare to try them, no matter how much they loved mushrooms.

And now I stink of them, he thought to himself with chagrin. The hobbit never thought he'd see the day when he thought a forest ugly and repulsive, but as he looked around at the black gnarled trunks and mushroom-riddled bark, he could not help but wrinkle his nose in disgust.

Bilbo glanced around, before his eyes landed on the young woman. She looked as sore as he felt, and he rose to his feet and plodded over to her bedroll.

"Cira?" he asked, looking down at her. She glanced up from the ground where she was rolling her bedroll up. "I, uh…do-do you need someone to go with you to…you know?" She nodded.

"Yes," the young woman replied, standing up with a wince. "Just as long as you stay on the other side of the tree." Bilbo nodded.

"Of course," he replied, before extending his hand to the side in a gentlemanly fashion. "After you."

The pair made they way a few paces back from the campsite, and the young woman slipped behind a tree. Bilbo could not help but notice that she didn't have her pack with her this time, and breathed a sigh of relief. The hobbit could not help but feel sorry for her, under the circumstances. Traveling was difficult under the best of conditions, and she was the only woman in their group.

He hadn't married, and was beginning to doubt he ever would, but he at least knew enough about women to know that traveling with such…inconveniences would no doubt be incredibly trying. And on top of it all, Kili had pointed it out to their entire group! He clearly hadn't meant to embarrass her, and the hobbit guessed that he didn't really have much knowledge of such things, judging by his confused look when she had to ask Beorn for extra rags.

But at least she's done with it for now, Bilbo thought to himself with relief. She shouldn't have to endure…that again until we've reached Laketown, and then it will be much easier for her.

"Your turn." Bilbo nodded and made his way around the tree as she stood guard. He winced again as pain shot through his back, and the hobbit gritted his teeth and shook his head.

I may not be a respectable hobbit anymore, but I'll sure be glad when we get out of this horrid forest!

XXX

"She told you that?!" Kili looked at his astonished brother and nodded.

"Aye," he whispered back as they walked. "She said it was perfectly normal to…bleed down there." The young prince could have told his brother that the sky was purple and he wouldn't have gotten a more dumbfounded look.

"But why would she even tell you about…that?" Fili asked, the pair careful to keep their voices low. They were in the back of the line but still very much aware of those ahead of them. "Thorin didn't even tell us, and he's kin!" Kili shrugged.

"I am not sure," he replied, still baffled by the conversation in question.

Truth be told, he had no idea. The poor dwarf had been so embarrassed by the whole thing, he almost wished the earth would have opened him up and swallowed him whole. But she seemed very matter-of-fact about it, much to his confusion.

"She didn't seem embarrassed about it at all," Kili continued, earning an even more astonished look from his elder brother. "I mean, perhaps she was some, but she still told me." Fili shook his head, his eyes wide.

"I can't believe she told you," he said. "She must really trust you."

"Why do you say that?" Kili asked, looking at his brother in confusion. Fili looked at her, before looking back at him.

"Do you see her telling anyone else about that?" he asked bluntly. Kili frowned, before shaking his head.

"I suppose not," he admitted, frowning. "But why does she trust me so much?" Fili's gaze returned to the young woman ahead of them.

"Because she feels safe with you," he said quietly. Kili's eyes widened in surprise.

"None of us would ever hurt her," he replied, and Fili nodded.

"I know that," he replied, "And I think in her mind she knows that too. But…I think she feels safest with you." Kili sighed, and Fili put his hand on his shoulder.

"I imagine trust does not come easily for her," he said quietly as he looked at her back. "Her father hurt her, Kili. The one person she was supposed to trust more than anyone else betrayed that trust." His gaze returned to Kili.

"Nadad, you are an honorable dwarf," he stated firmly, "and she knows that." Kili shook his head.

"How am I an honorable dwarf?" he whispered, eyes filling with pain. "I love a woman I cannot have. She belongs to another." Fili looked him dead in the eye.

"You are an honorable dwarf," he said firmly, though still mindful of the dwarves ahead of them. "It is not your fault that you love her, nadadith. And to be honest, I don't blame you—not after what she has said and done for you.

"But a dishonorable dwarf would have acted upon it already," Fili pointed out. "You haven't, and you won't—because you are an honorable dwarf." Kili swallowed thickly.

"I don't want to shame her," he said sadly. "Nor do I want to shame Mother and Thorin, and you." Fili gently squeezed his shoulder.

"You will never shame me, Nadadith," he replied firmly. The elder glanced up ahead, noticing that the company had begun to follow each other in a single line.

"We must be at the ravine," he said in Westron, before looking at Kili. "You walk ahead of me, brother." Kili nodded and went to move ahead, before a nudge from his brother stopped him.

"And Kili?" Fili said, smirking slightly though it didn't reach his eyes, "No falling this time." The brothers looked knowingly at each other, and the younger nodded.

No words needed to be said.

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A response to guest reviewer Kaia- Yup she did. Cira's attitude is really matter-of-fact when it comes to that topic, and it would have not been awkward for her at ALL if Kili had been a child. But giving it to a grown male was a bit awkward for her- just not NEARLY as awkward for poor Kili! I figure it wasn't really a topic that was discussed until a parent absolutely had to do so (aka their daughter thought she was gonna die, or son, etc when it actually happened and then they had to explain the details) in dwarf culture and ME in general (more of a taboo type thing), whereas Cira thinks it's just a fact of life no big deal and not embarrassed about it (to kids anyway- simply answer that question like you would "Why is the sky blue?". I do that with my girls- if they ask a question, I simply answer it. No mystery, no embarrassment- and no reason for them to try and seek answers elsewhere in what may end up being an unhealthy way to do so). Quintessentially, remove the taboo and mystery and they will be satisfied with your answer ; ) And get the correct information from a trusted source. But yes- there's no way in all of ME that Cira would have done so in front of the whole group lol! But hey- at least now he knows and won't mention the bloody rags again ; )

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