Sorry it is late but I finally finished finals and I'm well into my second bottle of wine and decided to write. Please see my profile for some important information and a surprise for everyone that love this story. I wouldn't be anywhere without you guys. xoxoxo

It was a long climb down the rocky side of the sliver of mountain, Cheyenne's hands had not had time to heal and were still very painful. It took so long to get down in part because Thorin wasn't fully healed and also because Cheyenne was in pain and deathly terrified of heights. It took the entire day to finally make it to the bottom that was surrounded by trees. Cheyenne had never been so happy to be on solid earth, she nearly kissed the ground. "We are losing light, we need to make camp, Balin make sure we are alone" Thorin said in his naturally gruff voice. Balin was the companies look out and always made sure that they were free of any unwanted company. The company finally decided to camp in a small clearing a couple hundred yards from the peak they climbed down. The bushes and trees around it were too thick for anyone to get through and too high to go over. There was one entrance to the east which was just big enough for them to get through, it was the perfect hiding spot to sleep for the night. On the north side of the clearing there was a creek on the other side of the trees.

Cheyenne slumped down against a tree trunk and nearly passed out right there. Her adrenaline had been on over drive the past couple days but the lack of sleep and food had finally taken its toll. Her vision was blurred and it basically hurt to even breathe let alone think. "Are you okay?" Kili asked standing in front of her and looking incredibly concerned, well she assumed he looked concerned since she could not manage to keep her eyes open.

"Sleepy" Cheyenne mumbled almost so slurred and low that no one could hear her.

"When was the last time you slept?" his voice seemed to be growing in concern.

"Rivendell" she murmured again, her eyes beginning to water as she yawned.

"That was almost a week ago!" Kili actually yelled which drew the attention of a couple members of the company.

Fili walked up and eyed her suspiciously "when was the last time you had anything to eat or drink?"

Cheyenne scrunched her face in an unhappy way and grumbled "I don't know a few days, I'm too tried to think."

Every moment she lay there the left over adrenaline left her body more and more until she really had none left. It hurt to breath, it hurt to think or move, her body was finally feeling the effects of the beating she had given it not to mention lack of food, water and sleep. She had her eyes closed when she felt someone sit down beside her and tap her on the shoulder. "Open up" it was Fili's voice but not in its usual gruff undertone it was all gentle this time. Cheyenne didn't reply and all of sudden something was shoved into her mouth followed by liquid. She literally almost gagged as a natural reflex but then she realized it was a piece of bread with some water. She managed to open her eyes just enough to see Fili staring at her in anticipation for her to eat. "I added some water to make it easier for you to swallow it, you don't even have to chew it."

Which was good because Cheyenne was so tired she couldn't even really chew it if she wanted too. After a few more pieces of bread and water, Fili draped a blanket over her "get some rest, I'm right here if you need me."

Before Fili knew it he could hear Cheyenne snoring, not big dwarven snores but more like little purring noises that a cat would make. "She is cute when she is asleep" Kili had walked up without Fili even noticing.

Fili shushed his brother, "she really needs sleep, keep it down or you will wake her up."

"I don't think a dragon could wake her up at this point"

"You're probably right" Fili said glancing over at Cheyenne as if to make sure this very comment wouldn't wake her up.

Kili stared at him for a moment before speaking "you know you are going to have to tell her right."

"Tell her what?" Fili was actually looking genially confused by his brother's comment.

"You're going to have to tell her that you're in love with her" Kili had that cheeky smirk on his face that he often wore.

Fili quickly looked over at her to make sure that she was not awake before continuing "keep it down she might hear you."

"So you admit it then?"

"No, I just don't want you give her something else to worry about"

"I know you love her"

"How do you know?" Fili was starting to sound frustrated.

"I know because you look at her just dad used to look at mom" Kili sounded positively exhausted.

Fili dropped his voice "you remember that, you were really young when dad died"

Kili crossed his arms and just stared down at his brother "of course I remember a lot about dad especially that, the way he looked at mom was like he would fight an army of orcs just to see her smile. He looked at her like the sun and the stars revolved around her. That is how you look at Cheyenne, which is how I know you are in love with her, you need to tell her."

Fili was bright red at this point "why should I tell her?"

"Because she loves you too, I see it when she looks at you, you instantly brighten her mood"

"Trust me I don't think she sees me the same way I see her, she thinks that I'm just her best friend."

Kili scoffed so loudly that he sounded like her was coughing up a hairball, "just tell her."

Fili gave a defeated look "I will tell her when we take back Erebor."

"Fine" Kili sounded annoyed but accomplished "I am really going to enjoy her being my sister-in-law."

"I wouldn't plan that far ahead brother"

Cheyenne woke up the next morning laying on a soft patch of grass that was warm against her cheek. She groaned rubbing her eyes with the back of her right hand and giving a small yawn. The air was filled with the smell of cooking meat which made Cheyenne's stomach lurch, she was inhumanly hungry. "Look whose awake" it was Kili's voice and Cheyenne tried to adjust her eyes to the light in order to see him properly.

"What is that heavenly smell" Cheyenne practically growled.

"Rabbit, Dwalin caught a bunch of them and Bofur roasted them up, as soon as you get up you can have some."

Before he even finished his sentence Cheyenne was standing up and brushing grass off her face and clothes, "I'm starving point me to those rabbits."

Cheyenne had eaten a whole rabbit and drank an entire pitcher of water before she had even caught sight of Fili, suddenly he was standing beside his brother. Cheyenne turned to them "what time is it? It can't be morning the sun isn't in the right spot."

"It's after midday" Fili replied with a sympathetic grin "you needed you rest, everyone did so uncle decided today we would stay in one spot and regroup."

"I'm glad I need some time to recuperate" Cheyenne smiled widely at the two brothers.

"Oh I almost forgot there is a creek just behind the trees, everyone is taking turns washing up themselves and their clothes. We don't really have many back up clothes thanks to those Goblins" Kili sounded extra bitter.

"Good I need a bath"

"It was supposed to be me then Kili to go next but you can go before me if you want" Fili was giving her a small smile.

Cheyenne's smile got even bigger "thank you" her face suddenly fell "I don't have any back up clothes."

Suddenly Fili tossed his spare coat he was holding at her "it's clean and it should cover you fine till your clothes dry."

"Thank you" Cheyenne said blushing, internally doubting that it would fully cover her but it couldn't hurt to try she had no other options.

"You sure you don't want us to join you?" Kili said obviously joking, giving his cheeky grin.

Cheyenne grabbed the coat from Fili it was surprisingly heavier than she had expected "I do not think so Master Dwarf" she smiled and gave a wink before walking to the creek. She look around twice just to make sure there was no wandering eyed dwarves around. She quickly undressed and rushed over to the water stopping just before she reached it. The wind was chilly and it caused goosebumps to creep up her body, she dipped part of her foot into the water and quickly retracted it. It was really cold but she knew that she really need to wash off, so she held her breath and basically threw her body into the cold water. The water hit her like a bucket of ice and she quickly inhaled and shivered, after a moment however she began to adjust to the water. She found a rock that looked good for sitting and sat herself down and started to wash off.

Her skin was raw under all the dirt and sweat, every time she rubbed her flesh she cringed in pain. She realized that this was the first time really since she had gotten to Middle Earth that she was able to relax and think. Even in Rivendell she was rereading The Hobbit or worrying about what was going to happen next, now all she wanted to do was relax. Her body had adjusted fully to the water now and she was finished bathing so she just closed her eyes and tried to relax her mind. This was easier said than done because her mind was so filled with everything that could go wrong and the worst possible scenarios. Maybe I will just sing a song to calm me down she thought to herself her eyes still closed.

"Oh, misty eye of the mountain below

Keep careful watch of my brothers' souls

And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke

Keep watching over Durin's sons

If this is to end in fire

Then we should all burn together

Watch the flames climb high into the night

Calling out father oh

Stand by and we will

Watch the flames burn auburn on

The mountain side (High)

And if we should die tonight

Then we should all die together

Raise a glass of wine for the last time"

"Is that what you're worrying about?" a voice behind her said.

Cheyenne wheeled around instinctively grabbing Fili's coat to cover herself, when she realized who it was she sighed "Fili! What are you doing here?"

"I just came to check on you and make sure you were still okay, I don't know if we are really all that safe here" he said timidly.

"How much of that did you here?" she was standing up now and very grateful that his jacket covered her body enough, not completely but enough.

"All of it, you starting singing right before I was just about to come out of the tree lining" he crossed his arms "you have a pretty voice you know but that song isn't all that happy."

Cheyenne sighed "it's not supposed to be, that's for checking on me but I'm fine you can leave now."

Fili frowned and stepped closer "are you sure you're alright? Something seems off with you"

Cheyenne tried not to make eye contact she was never good at lying when looking people in the eyes and she defiantly could not do it with Fili, she could barely look him in the eye regardless. Instead she looked down at the fur lining his coat and playing with it "I'm fine just a little weirded out that I was naked and you walked in on me, I'm surprised Kili isn't with you."

Fili was actually slightly pink at this comment but replied "he didn't want to come believe it or not he sees you more like the sister he always wanted."

Cheyenne chuckled "I do act like his big sister sometimes"

Fili stepped closer again "how old are you anyway?'

"Twenty"

"Twenty, more like you're his little sister he is seventy seven, I never realized how much younger than me you are I'm-"

"Eighty two"

"How did you know that?" Fili's voice was sounding very curious so Cheyenne shuffled her feet and diverted the question.

"Kili told me, but you know that isn't a fair comparison" she finally looked up at him and realized that he had gotten closer than she had realized. "In human years you would be nineteen and Kili would be eighteen so technically if we converted ages I am older than the both of you."

Fili looked a mixture of intrigued and confused as it seemed like he really did not want to do the math to see if she was correct or no, "are you worried?"

Cheyenne had forgotten what they previously had been talking about so she looked confused and answered "what do you mean?"

"That song you were singing" Fili was right in front of her now and placed a hand on her arm "that and the fact you always seem so jumpy and have the most worried look on you face no matter what is going on."

"Really?" Cheyenne asked actually surprised by this, she had no idea that she was that obviously worried.

"Even when you are laughing and smiling you secretly seem like you're ready for something bad to happen" Cheyenne looked right in his eyes and she could see genuine worry in them. "You also roll around in your sleep and mumble not to mention the fact you even look like you're going to cry when you're asleep. Cheyenne you can be honest with me if you are worried, I promise we will keep you safe with our lives" his hand was still on her arm.

"That's what I'm worried about…" Cheyenne mumbled lowering her eyes from his and taking a deep breath. She could smell his scent it that of cinnamon and tobacco which she actually really liked, this only seemed to make her feel worse. Her eyes were beginning to sting from tears that were starting to form, she felt that all she was doing lately was trying not to cry.

"You're worried we will keep you safe?" his voice was confused but with a hint of tenderness.

"If it means your lives then of course I am" she still couldn't look at him and her voice was beginning to get shaky. "You don't get it do you? If you any of you died to save my life I would never be able to forgive myself. I am not as important as you, all of you especially you, Kili and Thorin. All of you have a destiny, an important part to play in this world, I'm not even really part of this world it would make no difference to its destiny if I died. It's not like I want to die but I would rather it be me than any of you, you need to take back that mountain everyone one of you even if I'm not there."

Fili squeezed her arm more than he meant to and it actually hurt a bit, when he spoke his voice was very stern almost hurt. "You are the one that doesn't get it" Cheyenne looked up at him in shock "we care about you a lot, we love you, you're our family and if we didn't do everything we could to save our family then we might as well be dead."

"You guys see me as family?" her eyes were welling with tears at his point and she didn't know whether or not she could keep them in.

"You're just as much as a dwarf as any of us are" that's when she did something that he wasn't expecting. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged his as tightly as she could and began to sob.