Fili held Naerwyn tightly, though taking care not to apply any of her healing injuries. As her face sank to his shoulder, he almost forgot that she was taller than him. He rubbed her back with one hand as he felt her thin body shudder with a sob. "If you need to cry," he whispered, "You may cry. But I am here now. I don't care what the others think of us." He turned his face and buried it into her soft platinum hair. She was so warm. The night air around the two of them, by contrast, was crisp and chilly. The thought of leaving with the dawn, leaving Naerwyn behind in Rivendell... It brought a pall down upon him. His own eyes stung and he blinked to keep them from misting up. He would not weep. He would reserve weeping for times of destruction and death... Or great misery. Perhaps if he survived Smaug and returned to find the elf with another man. Then he would weep. But not now; now he needed hope and the strength to persevere. "Y-You know," he said jokingly, though his voice shook with apprehension, "I could...Ask you questions...Like we planned."

Naerwyn's body trembled with the force of fighting off the urge to sob openly. She stayed still against him when he gave her permission to cry, but she found herself forcing her tears to stop. There were times for tears, but she should have been happy in that moment. He was there, his arms tightly around her, and he promised to stay until dawn, like he had said before.

When he mentioned asking her questions, a small smile burst onto her lips and she turned her face into his neck. She reached up and slid her fingers into his hair, combing through it gently. She whispered softly to him, "Anything. You may ask me anything."

Rather than crying, Naerwyn gained her composure and combed her fingers through his hair. Her answer comforted him, and he found his lips spreading into a grin despite himself. He enjoyed Naerwyn's closeness for a time more, but soon pulled away gently and took her hand. "This way," he said, and led her through the moonlit garden to a bench. An arbor of night-blooming, white flowers arched above them. Instead of sitting, he put his legs up and leaned against the side of the arbor. He guided the woman into a reclined position...So that her head rested on his chest and he could hold his arms around her to keep the two of them warm. He stroked his fingers through her hair, pausing briefly to admire how the pale color of her strands gleamed under the moon.

"Tell me about your home," he said softly. "Tell me about your family. I want to know who you are and where you come from."

Naerwyn could have stayed like that for an eternity, wrapped in his arms. She was disappointed when he pulled away, but didn't protest. She simply followed behind him, drying her eyes with her sleeve as she went. She admired the beauty of the garden as he brought her to a stone bench, but it could have been a troll's cave, for all she cared. As long as she was with him, nothing else mattered.

She smiled when he pulled her against him. She nuzzled her face into the fur of his vest and made herself comfortable. When he asked about her home and her family, she smiled. One of her hands found his and she threaded her fingers through his.

"I was born in the woods of Lothlorien quite some time ago. Lorien is well guarded and very isolated from the rest of the world. It is a sanctuary for the Elves who live there. My family and I dwell in the chief city of Lothlorien, Caras Galadhon. It is a beautiful place. A truly beautiful place." She paused to admire how strong his hands were. It was amazing that they were so strong, yet so delicate. "From my studies, I've come to understand that dwarves build their homes in deep tunnels under the ground, yes? That is not so in Lorien. Our homes are built far up into the trees with beautifully crafted bridges between them. We do very little existing upon the forest floor. Our soldiers and Marchwardens make their camps on the ground, usually. They train upon the solid ground away from the civilians, to avoid accidents." Naerwyn gave a small sigh and squirmed against Fili, "I am so far from home."

It bewildered Fili to hear of cities constructed high up in trees. Was there no danger of falling? How strange, these differences between the peoples of Middle Earth. The dwarves preferred underground caverns and the insides of hills and mountains. Hobbits lived in small hills. Men preferred the surface of the earth. And the elves? Well the elves seemed happiest in places tied to life. Rivendell, built on waterfalls in a valley overlooking a river. Lothlorien, cities in the trees connected by bridges. Who knew what he and his companions would find in Greenwood?

"A city among the trees," he repeated with a laugh, allowing the elf woman to lace her fingers between his. He lifted her hand, grazing his lips gently over the back. "It sounds both wondrous and beautiful to me. I have never seen Lothlorien. I wonder if I ever shall..." He dismissed this depressing thought, and continued speaking. "It is true that we dwarves prefer to make our homes underground in beautifully-crafted tunnels. However, ever since my people were displaced from Erebor, we have wandered...My uncle led our people to settle temporarily in the Blue Mountains with other kin. But it is not the same. I cannot say I have a home. Not like Lorien is home to you."

His blue eyes flickered down to the woman, and he pressed his lips together in quiet contemplation. "I am curious... Why did you leave Lorien in the first place? Why were you camped so far away, where the orcs could attack you?"

Naerwyn listened quietly while he spoke of his own home. ..Or, well, lack there of. She frowned, remembering the stories of the Erebor's destruction. She felt genuinely bad for Fili. He had no real place to call his home. She felt a little guilty for talking about how gorgeous her home was when he didn't have one. She longed to extend her home to him, but a lack of courage stopped the words before they left her.

She smiled when he kissed the back of her hand and gave his a gentle squeeze. She looked up at him and frowned, "I mean not to offend you in anyway, but perhaps you will never see Lorien except from afar. The Marchwarden is....not very friendly, to put it delicately. He is very strict about who enters Lothlorien. I had to sit still for a long while whilst he lectured me about why leaving was foolish in the first place and not to pick up any stragglers on way back. He would not allow them passage to the city." Her blue eyes rolled sarcastically, a rare sight to see. Elves were usually very serious.

When he asked why she was away from Lorien, she gave him a smile, "My sister lives within Greenwood with her husband. She was married to him many many years ago and he whisked her away to live there with him. She gave birth to a very healthy baby boy not a full month ago. When the news reached my ears, but days after he entered the world, I assembled a group to escort me to Greenwood." She frowned deeply, "I should send her a message. She needs to know what happened." She gave a short gasp, "And the Marchwarden! He will be expecting me in just a few days! What will he think when I have not arrived and no message was sent ahead of me? Another lecture is coming. ...A long one. ........A very long one."

Fili felt a twinge in his chest when Naerwyn informed him he would likely be unable to visit Lothlorien...Even if he wanted to. But, then... "How am I supposed to see you again?" he asked, furrowing his brow. "Should I...Survive my quest...If I were to seek you out, I would not be granted entrance to Lorien? What if I desired to pass a message onto you?" It was a troubling thought. He had no inclination of what he ought to do, now. His hope slowly began to falter, but he willed his face not to display the immense disappointment weighing on him.

Fili did, however, smile at the mention of Naerwyn's sister in Greenwood. The elves of Greenword were not his favorite, on account of their negligence towards Erebor's plight in the past. But he placed the blame solely on Thranduil, for the most part. It comforted him to know that somewhere among the denizens of Greenwood dwelt an elf resembling his Naerwyn. One with a family. So Naerwyn had a nephew of her own already, did she? He almost asked how old she was herself, but thought that might be a rude question to pose to a lady. "Someone whisked your sister away, but not you? I can scarcely believe it," he teased.

Fili further laughed at Naerwyn's description of the uptight Marchwarden, his attitude towards outsiders, and the lecture he would assuredly assault her with once she returned to Lothlorien. "He sounds a little like Uncle," he mused. "Your own personal, strict...Tormentor. However do you survive? Hopefully you have very little interaction with him on a day-to-day basis. You should send a couple of messages as soon as possible, though. I agree with that."

Suddenly there was a loud clap of thunder overhead and Fili twitched upright, startled. He wondered how he'd missed the moonlight disappearing. The garden was far darker now than it was when they'd begun their conversation, and without much warning, it began to rain. "Rain, of all things?! Is this truly happening right now?!" The dwarf stood up and led Naerwyn briskly back towards the palace. He did not move too fast, lest she slip in the mud and fall. Although the pair of them were sure to be drenched before they could seek shelter inside, Fili beamed brightly. If the rain kept up...The weather would surely be horrendous on the mountains come daylight! Terrible weather would mean...He dared to hope...No easy passage! Their party might be forced to linger in Rivendell another day, and prolong his time with Naerwyn!

Once they made it back into the palace, Fili removed his fur vest and started shaking it out. It was all wet, and so was the elf woman's dress. He secretly admired the manner in which the soaked garment clung to her curves, but willed himself to look away for politeness' sake. "Come, maybe there is a fire we can sit by and continue our conversation," he said. He sincerely hoped that none of the elves would find them in this indecent state...And if they did, hopefully no one would ask.

~~~

Sure enough, dawn carried with it no sunlight--only dreary clouds heavy with rain and lightning. The clouds were so thick, in fact, that the Misty Mountains could not be seen from any of the windows in Rivendell. The wind howled against the walls of Lord Elrond's palace. Ammie also awoke to the clash of thunder outside and a sharp pang of pain in her head. "Ahh!" she cried, curling up into a little ball as she cradled her head in her hands. It hardly looked like the next morning, on account of the darkness outside, and she shivered from the cold despite the blankets.

Memories of the night before came flooding back. She'd been escorted to dinner by Thorin. She'd had too much wine, embarrassed herself dancing and singing on the table, and then he'd brought her back to his private room before leaving. She squinted at the window, trying to remember what she'd said to him... And then it hit her. She'd hugged him, actually. Told him he was nice. As if that weren't enough, she'd openly expressed, directly to Thorin, that she had a crush on him.

Ammie shrieked at the memory, slapping her hands over her eyes with horror. She felt terrible, and not just mentally. Her skin was warm to the touch, her head throbbed with pain, and her stomach felt very queasy. So much so that she... Oh, my... The female lurched over the side of bed just in time to vomit into the bed pan.

Naerwyn frowned deeply when Fili became slightly upset at not being able to enter Lorien. She wanted to tell him the truth, 'It's because you're a dwarf', but she couldn't bring herself to utter such terrible words. She looked up at him and picked her head up from his chest. Turning herself slightly, she gave him a small, reassuring smile, "Send a message ahead of you. I will send word to the Marchwarden that I am expecting an important message, but I do not know when it will arrive. When it comes, I will go to the borders and wait for you." She gave him a teasing smile, "Just promise you won't be late this time."

Naerwyn smiled, albeit a little sadly when he commented on someone whisking away her sister and not herself. She laid her head back down on his chest and gave a sigh, "My father attempted to choose someone for Alauriel, but in his hesitation, Rilien drifted into her life. By then, it was too late to create a match for her. She had found one by herself. Ada told me before I left for Greenwood that he thinks he has found my perfect match. I hardly agree because I have a dreadful feeling about who it is."

She gave a small laugh and looked up at him, "Yes, Haldir is a lot like your Uncle. Very strict and very temperamental. Fortunately, I do not see him day to day, but my father is his Commander. So I see him more often than I should like."

When the thunder clapped loudly in the sky, Naerwyn jerked violently, quite startled by the noise. She allowed Fili to pull her through the garden and back into the palace. She was utterly soaked and not very happy about it. She wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm, then smiled and followed Fili on his search for a fireplace.



When morning arrived, things did not look good for the Company. The weather in Rivendell was terrible. Thunder, lightning, heavy rain. Thorin could only imagine what the weather on the mountains was like. Thorin readied himself to leave, anyway and he urged the men to do the same. They could face a little rain. It was nothing they hadn't faced before. While the men were getting up, grumbling as they went, and getting ready, a loud thunder clap sounded outside. Thorin looked around the room and spotted Bilbo, the only one asleep on a day bed. And then it hit him! Ammie! He had to make sure she was up and ready to go.

Thorin hurried out of the room and down the hall to his private room. He went inside, closing the door quickly behind him. He made it into the room in time to see her vomit. He winced and stifled a sigh. He went to the bed and sat down next to her. Placing a hand upon her back as gently as he could, he spoke quietly, "Ammie, are you alright?"

Fili made a face when Naerwyn mentioned that her father had a potential "match" in mind for her. Perhaps Uncle Thorin had been right in saying she would be married by the time he could return to her. He didn't know what arranged marriages were like for elves, but he knew that at least among other races the bride usually did not have a choice unless she had another man speaking for her. "Well, I'd best hurry back to Lorien after my quest, then," he laughed, though his insides flared with typical dwarven jealousy. "Can't have your father marrying you off to someone else."

They located a fire, as planned, and curled up beside it to dry off. There Fili continued to chat with Naerwyn until they both fell asleep. Dawn approached quickly.

~~~

Ammie had scarcely sat up, wiping her mouth off against her sleeve, when she felt a hand on her back. She twitched with surprise, but calmed down quickly. A familiar deep voice asked her if she was all right. The hobbit grimaced. Did he, of all people, really have to see her this way? Ill first thing in the morning after an irresponsible night of drinking and stupidly confessing her crush? She felt ashamed. She didn't want to know what Thorin thought of her right now.

"I'll be all right," Ammie said sadly. "I-Is it time to go?" The female dragged herself, albeit it sluggishly, out of the bed. She searched the room for her things and tried to ignore the pounding in her head. Thorin must not have brought her pack out from the other room.

As if on cue, her Uncle Bilbo came inside with her clothing neatly folded in his arms. He looked similarly disheveled, having been the second-to-last person to wake up. "Ammie," he said, daring to steal a glance at the dwarf king, and pushed the items into her hands. "Here you are, my dear. Heavens, you look dreadful."

"I'm sorry," Ammie said with a small sniffle. She appeared to be on the verge of tears.

"Shh, it's fine," he said, patting her on the shoulder comfortingly. "Do you need any help getting dressed?"

"I'll manage," she replied faintly. "I might need assistance with the buttons later, though." Her body swayed a little even as she stood with the items clasped to her chest.

Bilbo flashed Thorin a meaningful glare before departing to breakfast.

Thorin frowned deeply when she told him that she would be alright. As much as it pained him to stay in Rivendell, he knew she was in no condition to travel. He couldn't,-he wouldn't!, make her travel.

He tried to stop her from getting up, but she managed to get away from him, slow as she was in her current state. He looked to the door when Bilbo came in with her clothes. Thorin was quiet while they talked, but once Bilbo left, with a glare, he might add, Thorin stepped up to Ammie and gently took the clothes from her. He placed them on the chair near the bed and took her hand. He placed his other hand on the small of his back and as gently as he could, guided her back toward the bed, "We are not leaving yet. You need rest. I would never dream of making you travel in such a state."

He sighed lightly and offered her the tiniest of smiles, "Please, take as much time as you need to recover."

Shortly after dawn, a crash of thunder awoke Naerwyn from her cozy slumber. At first, she merely rolled over and attempted to force herself back to sleep, but there was one problem. She wasn't where she fell asleep. Naerwyn had been by the fire with Fili when she drifted off to sleep, but now she found herself back in the infirmary.

She barely had time to wonder, however. Several healers floated into the room and began working very quickly on her injured leg. She didn't argue, protest, or struggle. She let them work in peace and only spoke when directly spoken to.

Afterwards, she was offered the chance to dine with Elrond and his guests that morning and readily accepted the invitation. She was dressed and ready to go in a flash. Her hair was brushed and braided and she was given a cloak to protect herself from the rain when she left for the palace.

With eager footsteps, she headed off, very excited about seeing Fili that morning before he left.

Kili was not happy about having to leave in the rain and took an extra long time getting himself ready that morning. When he rose, he hadn't thought to look for Fili, but when it was time to put his boots on, he stopped. He looked around the room, wondering if his brother even returned the night before.

Ammie made a strange noise as the dwarven king took her hand and gently led her back in the direction of the bed. He told her that they were not going to leave and that he could not possibly force her to travel in this state. What was Thorin doing, she wondered? Why was he treating her so kindly? Didn't he remember what she said last night, wasn't he embarrassed by her behavior? Unwittingly, Ammie's eyes teared up and she took his hand with both of hers. She looked him straight in the eyes and said, "No. This is my fault. I should have been more careful. I don't want to delay your journey. I told you I wanted to be more helpful from now on."

Ammie blushed suddenly and lowered her eyes. In reminding him of that statement, she'd admitted to having memories of the night before. Memories of confessing her admiration for him. She cursed her big mouth, and tried to lead the conversation down a different path. Golly, hangovers really enhanced her feelings of self-loathing. "Or, you could just...Leave me in Rivendell. I haven't been much use as a burglar anyway..."

~~~

The other dwarves, not proxy to Ammie's situation, continued to dress and pack up as if they expected to leave regardless of the foul weather. Fili swept into the room cheerfully, dressed and in good spirits long before the others. His presence awarded him many glares and hushed grumblings, but he ignored them. Despite having gotten very little sleep, he felt refreshed and happy. Even if they did not remain in Rivendell another day, he'd spent a great deal of time with Naerwyn and decided to approach his sad romantic circumstances lightheartedly.

"Good morning, brother!" he greeted, flashing his perfect teeth. He rolled up his sleeping gear and put it away, then started to return the rest of his belongings to their respective bags. "Did you sleep well? I hear there is a huge breakfast spread waiting for us in the dining hall. Lord Elrond is most hospitable."

Thorin was surprised by her reaction and in turn, took her hands into his. He gave her a genuine smile and brought a hand up to her face. He gently stroked her cheek and shook his head, "Do not feel guilty, Ammie. It was not your intention to lose yourself in the wine. It happens. I have done it before, myself." When she mentioned not wanting to be the reason for delay, he shook his head again, "There is terrible weather here and on the mountain. We could not leave if we wanted to. We will remain until the weather clears. Just rest, my dear. You have nothing to apologize for."

Thorin frowned deeply and lifted her chin. He looked down at her and sighed, "I am not leaving you in Rivendell. You will continue on with us. You are not a burden, Ammie Took. I refuse to let you believe that."

Kili, still groggy with sleep and very irritable, hated that Fili was in such high spirits. He pulled his boots on and finished packing his things. He barely heard what Fili said about breakfast and grumbled. He gave his brother a sour look, "What has you so happy this morning?"

Naerwyn met with Elrond shortly after arriving at the palace. They discussed over a cup of tea how her healing sessions had been going and then the two discussed what she would do from then on. Remembering that she needed to alert her family to the trouble, Naerwyn wrote a few short letters to her father, her sister, and the Marchwarden and had Elrond's fastest couriers take them to their destinations.

Ammie's breath caught in her throat and her face burned. That happened a lot around Thorin, she found. Most men made her shy in general, but he... This didn't make any sense. He must have had some affection for her, she thought, to say such kind words to reassure her and not to mention the strange words the night before. He never rejected her or spoke badly to her. Not anymore. Perhaps he wanted to spare her young heart. That was all it was; all it had to be. Yet, as he held her hands and stroked his fingers across her cheek, she could almost pretend he did it for another reason. At the very least, he did not want to abandon her in Rivendell.

"You're t-too kind," Ammie managed, although she sounded very relieved regardless. "If th-that's okay, I guess I will lay d-down again..." She was reluctant to step away from him and remove her hands, but she did feel rather ill and the bed seemed more and more inviting as she contemplated it. Ammie tried to move forward past Thorin so she could climb back in the bed, but as usual tripped over her feet. She squeaked, and ended up flinging her arms around his neck to catch herself. She collided lightly with his chest and blushed furiously. "S-Sorry! I'm so sorry!"

~~~

Fili laughed. Kili was always grumpy in the morning, no matter how much sleep he'd gotten or what had happened the night before. He would try to be less irritating, but he was in such a good mood. "Naerwyn!" he exclaimed, as if he needed any other explanation. "I spend time with her, and it's all thanks to you, brother!" He grinned, glancing out the window and sighing somewhat dreamily.

What, what was he doing?! Not very manly of him! He shook his head to snap out of it, and cleared his throat to deepen his voice once more. "Anyway, I'm very hungry so I think I will head to breakfast. Meet you there?" Fili waved at his brother and departed from the room with a spring in his step.

Thorin smiled again and gave her a slight nod, "Yes, please rest. Take as much time as you need."

He was surprised when she fell, but wrapped his arms around her middle to keep her from hitting the floor. Her arms had gone around his neck and her chest pressed tightly against his. His stomach tightened painfully in his gut and his mouth ran dry. His thoughts jumbled together and he had trouble sorting himself out. He had barely heard her apology over the pounding of blood in his ears. What had come over him? It was like a terrible fever. It started in his gut and consumed his entire body with a terrible ache. But this wasn't an entirely unpleasant feeling. It was...strangely comforting. His eyes swept over her face and settled on her lips. Glancing up to her hazel eyes, he made a snap decision. One he hoped he would not regret.

Leaning in slowly, Thorin snaked a hand up her back to the nape of her neck. Cradling the base of her skull and threading his fingers through her hair, Thorin bent his head and claimed her lips in a gentle kiss. His eyes fell closed and a strange tingling took over his body. The entire world could have burned down around them and he wouldn't have even noticed.

After sending the messages, Naerwyn, escorted by Lord Elrond entered the dining hall for breakfast. She was seated to the right of him and waited politely for the others to join. Fili was the first dwarf to enter, much to Naerwyn's delight. Not caring about the others that filed in behind him, she rose from her place at the table and greeted him with a warm smile. She bowed her head to him slightly, "'Quel amrun, Fili."

First Thorin's arms had snapped around Ammie's middle to further prevent her from falling. Of course that had already been a lot of physical contact, but it had been bearable given the circumstances. Next, his face hovered mere inches away and his piercing blue eyes met her innocent hazel orbs. She'd trembled nervously, but survived. Finally, his warm hand crept up along the curve of her back and came to rest on her neck. She gasped. All coherent thoughts fled from Ammie's mind as Thorin Oakenshield tentatively leaned in, slipped his hand into her hair, and closed the distance between their lips.

Truthfully, Ammie's heart almost stopped. She'd not expected Thorin to kiss her. Not even slightly. Furthermore, she'd never been kissed by anyone. Her body erupted in flames and her knees gave out a little. She clutched the fabric of his tunic snugly between her fingers to keep from going completely limp in his arms. Thorin's lips moved against hers gently and somehow she managed not to die. The astonishment was gradually replaced by an ardent longing for closeness. She felt lightheaded, her pain forgotten for the time being. The hobbit pressed herself tighter against Thorin's broad chest, her eyes flowing shut.

~~~

Fili had to do a double-take while passing Thorin's room. Maybe his sleep-deprived mind was playing tricks on him, but-- He backed up and clasped his hands over his mouth to keep from crying out in surprise. Sure enough, he'd caught his "honorable" uncle in a lip-lock with Ammie. His stomach twisted into taut knots, and he knew instantly that he was witnessing something that he shouldn't have. 'Hypocrite', he thought. What would the others think of this coupling, had they seen it? Their king, involved with a youthful hobbit girl when all these years he'd never taken a wife among their own people? Dwarves generally had an amicable attitude towards hobbits, but he sincerely doubted they'd want one for a queen. Still, he would not betray his uncle's actions to the rest of the company. No, he would bide his time, filing this vision away in his mind for the next argument.

The blond prince continued on to the dining hall. An amazing breakfast covered the length of the table, as described, but the sight of the food did not excite Fili nearly as much as Naerwyn's unexpected presence. He beamed, excitement radiating off of him like sunlight. He moved immediately to the elf woman's side and, indifferent to his other dwarf spectators, kissed Naerwyn warmly on the cheek. "You're here!" he cried happily. "I didn't think I would see you. This is wonderful." Fili's eyes drifted from Naerwyn's lovely face to Lord Elrond's, and he grasped the elf's hand to give it an enthusiastic shake. "You invited her, didn't you? You have my thanks, Lord Elrond. What an excellent surprise." Fili took a seat beside Naerwyn, still grinning. His spirits could not have been any higher that morning.

Thorin was thrilled when he body melded with his and her weight met his arms a little heavier. It was precisely the reaction he was hoping for. The arm around her waist held her more tightly to prevent her from slipping any further toward the ground. He gently caressed the back of her neck and moved his lips against hers. His kiss deepened, but only slightly. He didn't want to go too far too soon. Through his nose, he took in a wispy breath and dared breathe a gentle 'mmm' of appreciation against her lips.

He felt lighter suddenly. As if a terrible weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He didn't feel like he had a stone in his gut anymore. He knew his troubles were far from over and those feelings would most likely return, but for now, he felt lighter. Happier. At peace.

Naerwyn beamed, her skin positively glowing when Fili kissed her cheek. Her cheeks turned slightly pink and she dared to glance up to his dwarven companions. She caught sight of Kili, whom despite his tired state, gave her a small smile. A dwarf just behind him with a very interesting hat, too gave her a smile and a nod. They were the only ones. Some looked indifferent and a few gave her down right nasty glares. Choosing to ignore those ones, she turned and seated herself next to Fili.

Naerwyn had chosen to wear a dress of deep green. It was simple, draping over her chest and flowing to the floor in soft waves of fabric. Around her delicate waist was a silver belt, cinching in the dress sharply. She smoothed it over self consciously. She hoped Fili would like it.

Elrond gave Fili and warm smile and shook his hand readily. He nodded, "Yes, I did invite her. I thought she would lighten our mood on such a dreary morning." A playfulness danced in Elrond's eyes and he leaned closer to Fili before he could break away. He said lowly, mostly to tease, "A braver man would have kissed her." He said nothing more and resumed his spot at the head of the table.

Ammie tried to kiss back...At least a little bit. Especially when Thorin's lips moved against hers more vigorously. She had no idea what she was doing, but she tried to mimic his actions and respond with some pressure of her own. His hair fell across her face, strands of it tickling her cheeks. His beard felt a bit prickly, but not unpleasant. His arm tightened around her waist and she clung to his neck almost desperately... But the moment Thorin moaned softly against her lips, a jolt of arousal struck her and made her self-conscious of her actions.

The hobbit female broke away from the kiss gently with a reluctant sigh, nuzzling her nose against his as she did. A rosy flush colored her cheeks and she felt so lightheaded she could have fainted. "I should...Rest..." she murmured shyly, averting her eyes. She didn't want to leave Thorin's arms, but surely the other dwarves would note his absence and come looking for him. She was wrought with conflicting emotions, and wasn't sure she wanted their companions to catch them in this compromising position.

~~~

Fili coughed suddenly at Elrond's comment, and then laughed. His eyes sparkled with amusement, and it finally occurred to them that their host had a remarkable sense of humor. He hadn't had much interaction with the elf king as of yet, but he found he liked him already. "I like the way you think," he replied. "Have you met Naerwyn before, I wonder? I recall something you said last night that indicated you might be at least acquainted."

As for Naerwyn's dress, the garment had not been lost on Fili's eyes. He adored green, and even in the presence of Elrond's other guests he allowed his eyes to rake down Naerwyn's figure appreciatively. "You look beautiful," he murmured to her, grinning, and gathered her hand into his lap the moment she seated herself. He helped himself to some of the food with his free hand, and noted the absence of their gray wizard.

"Where's Gandalf?" he asked Elrond out of curosity. "Late? Speaking of." Fili grinned deviously. "It's clearly Uncle's turn to be late this morning."

Thorin barely noticed that Ammie's lips were hesitant and less practiced than his own. That didn't matter to him. He wasn't looking for a previously skilled partner. It was still a feeling of pure bliss, to feel her moving against him. Another soft moan escaped him. He could hardly stand it.

To say he was disappointed when she broke away from him would have been a foolish understatement. She nuzzled his nose causing his cheeks to flush some. His entire body felt unnaturally hot and he tingled with the force of not doing terrible things to her innocence. He tried, gently, to bring her back in for another kiss, but she spoke suddenly. She needed rest. This was very true. She needed rest and he felt terribly guilty for keeping her from her bed. He nodded only slightly and dragged his eyes open to look at her. She avoided his gaze. He wasn't surprised.

As gently as he could, Thorin bent slightly and picked Ammie up. Carrying her as a man would his bride, he took her the few steps to the bed and laid her gingerly upon the plush mattress. He gave her a soft smile and straightened up, "I will be back soon to check on you. Is there anything I can bring you?"

Naerwyn served herself while Fili made small talk with Lord Elrond. What would have surprised the dwarves that morning, was that they was fish on the table. It was the only form of meat on the table at all. Other than the small spattering of fish, the table was mostly dressed in fruits and more vegetables. There were stacks of what appeared to be pancakes, but they were much much thinner and lighter. They had little flavor, save for the tangy taste of butter, but the few elves at the table, Naerwyn included, would lay them on the smaller plate they were given, drizzle it with a heavy cream, and fill it with fruit. They would fold them up with the aid of a fork and knife and turn them over on themselves. It was then the fluffy little pancakes were drizzled with fruit syrup. They did this without much thought. As if they ate like this everyday and the ritual of dressing up the golden brown cakes was as second nature as walking.

When Naerwyn finished with it, Fili swept up her now free hand. She looked to him with a smile and felt her cheeks grow warm when he called her beautiful, "Thank you." Her heart quickened beneath her breast and she found herself smiling like a fool while she used her free hand to work at her fish delicately with her fork.

Lord Elrond glanced up at Fili as he prepared his breakfast. He gave a slight nod, "I know Naerwyn's father very well. I have met Naerwyn but a few times, but I have never forgotten her face. She bears a striking resemblance to her mother, but anyone who knows her father would know her by looking in her eyes. They are the same regal blue as his own." Elrond glanced again to Fili when he questioned Gandalf's whereabouts. He looked quite serious all of a sudden, "He is, last I knew, speaking with a very important guest of mine." He gave Naerwyn a knowing look, "A guest that has requested to speak to you when you have finished here."

Ammie shyly pushed some strands of Thorin's hair back from his face, but she could barely look at him. She would have loved Thorin to kiss her again. In fact, she would have loved to kiss him all day...But she was certain that kissing for any length of time led to other activities with a man. She wasn't ready for such things. However, the twinge of arousal during their kiss had signaled to her that, despite her best intentions, she probably would be unable to fend Thorin off if he were to try.

She was acutely aware of his hands on her body and the heat of his body, and his body against hers. Usually the mere prospect of removing her clothes in front of a man made her want to scream and run in the other direction, but in this case... No. Ammie needed to push these topics out of her thoughts! She needed to push them far to the back of her mind so she wouldn't consider them while making physical contact!

Ammie squeaked as the dwarf suddenly lifted her bridal-style into his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her down on the blankets and she drew them up to her wildly blushing face. "O-Oh, uhmm... Maybe send my uncle with something to drink," she murmured softly. "I'm sure your comrades are waiting for you..." He was just about to leave when Ammie caught Thorin's sleeve timidly in her hands and looked up at him from beneath her eyelashes. "Thank you...Thorin." She released him and buried her face into a pillow before she could ask anything about what had just transpired. It felt terribly surreal and she thought she might suddenly wake up from a dream.

~~~

Fili piled his plate high with all manner of things. He wasn't too fussy of an eater, so he took some fish and dumped various vegetables on top of it. Then he mirrored Naerwyn in the manner she dressed the thin, pancake like objects...Fruit with cream...And then set to eating it all. The other dwarves would have been pleased to see the fish, even if no other meat was present on the table. Fili chewed and nodded politely as Elrond discussed how he knew Naerwyn's father, and how physically she resembled both her mother and her father.

He wondered what sort of man her father was. She'd mentioned to him that he was Commander for the Marchwarden. Were he to go to Lothlorien seeking her hand, how would her own father react to their relationship? Probably as badly as Uncle Thorin, he supposed. There was much animosity between dwarves and elves nowadays. Prejudices were rampant everywhere.

"I see," Fili said after swallowing his food. "That's very interesting. She has only told me a little bit about her father. I can only imagine what sort of person he is." He glanced at Naerwyn and flashed her a serene smile. "Judging by her own behavior, I would say her entire family must be lovely and honorable." His brow knitted at the mention of Gandalf speaking to another "guest", one that would wish to speak to Naerwyn after breakfast. "With your permission, Lord Elrond, which guest would that be?" Fili asked.

Thorin nodded and ran his fingers very gently through her hair. He smiled softly, "I will send your Uncle in with some tea. My comrades will be fine without me, do not worry. I will return in a short while with something light for you to eat."

Thorin went to leave, but stopped when he felt her hands on his sleeve. He looked down at her and offered her a smile when she thanked him, "You are more than welcome, Ammie." When she buried her face in the pillow, he turned to take his leave. He closed the door gently and went down to the dining hall.

He came in quietly and stepped up to the table behind Bilbo. He leaned down and said quietly, "Your niece asks if you would bring her some tea. And perhaps a pitcher of water should go with you as well." He said nothing more and took the offered place on Elrond's left side. Thorin sat across from Naerwyn and took the time to give her a nice, long, penetrating glare. He spoke briefly to Elrond while he fixed himself a plate, then looked across the table at Fili, "Nephew. ..Where were you last night?"

Naerwyn ate quietly while the two men conversed. She glanced to Fili when he mentioned her family and gave him a small smile. She frowned some, though, when Elrond mentioned that his guest wanted to speak to her. Without him saying much, she figured she knew who it was. She swallowed hard and set her fork down, taking a moment to calm her nerves and take a sip of juice.

When Thorin entered the room, Naerwyn stiffened noticeably. She cast her eyes downward and didn't move. She could feel his eyes on her and fought the urge to excuse herself from the table and run.

Elrond smiled, dressing up his own little pancake while Fili commented on Naerwyn's family. "Naerwyn's father is very strict with his troops and from what I hear, can be strict with his children as well," he glanced to Naerwyn, "But I am sure that it comes only to ensure their safety and happiness, respectively."

Elrond nodded to Thorin when he came in. He waved off his apology for being late and the two struck up a quiet conversation. He noticed Thorin's piercing glare, but chose, for the sake of peace, not to call attention to it.

Bilbo was sipping on a cup of tea of his own when Thorin entered the dining hall to break fast with the rest of the dwarves. He stopped behind Bilbo and leaned in close, murmuring for him to take tea and water to Ammie. Bilbo arched a brow, watching the dwarf move away to sit down, and rose from his seat to comply. He wasn't sure what to make of the request. Maybe Thorin would have been this concerned for any suffering member of the group, but... Bilbo's instincts told him otherwise. He would have to have a chat with Ammie about this.

Fili pursed his lips and nodded slowly at Elrond's reply. He had guessed her father's character well, then. He was a man who would require impressing if Fili intended to take his daughter for a bride.

Fili noticed how Naerwyn's eyes dropped as Thorin entered. In fact, her entire posture changed. He understood how she felt. The man was exceedingly intimidating, even to him... But he knew Thorin's weakness, now, and it granted him courage. Fili squeezed Naerwyn's hand comfortingly. He met his uncle's eyes with confidence and defiance, as he had the night before. "I was with Naerwyn in the garden," he stated without his voice faltering. "We spoke at length, as I assumed we would be leaving on the morrow. What time did you intend to set out today?"

The other dwarves murmured in agreement and looked to their leader for an answer. Even with the bad weather, they expected to have already left. They had remained in Rivendell later than they supposed they would. Did it have something to do with Ammie's absence from the table? Was she not in good health after last evening's drunken antics?

Just then, Gandalf swept into the chamber, replacing his pointed hat upon his head. He appeared troubled, somehow, as if he'd had a less than pleasant conversation with Elrond's mysterious guest. He eyed Thorin and the others still seated at the table with a touch of confusion. Perhaps he, too, had anticipated an early departure from the group. "You're still here, Thorin Oakenshield?"

~~~

Bilbo placed a cup of tea and saucer on the nightstand beside Ammie. The clack of the saucer startled her from her shallow dozing, and she bolted upright. The sudden movement sent pain jolting through her head. "Ahh!" she cried.

"Shh, it's only me," Bilbo said, propping a pillow up against the headboard. He put his hands on Ammie's shoulders and pushed her gently back. Next he handed her the tea and saucer. "I'll bring you some water in a moment, too, after you finish your tea."

He pulled the chair up to Ammie's bedside and sat, wringing his hands together nervously. She took a sip from her cup and sighed. The warm liquid felt incredibly nice going down, particularly in this drafty room.

"Ammie, there's something I want to...Talk to you about," Bilbo said cautiously, "If you feel well enough to speak."

"What is it, Uncle Bilbo?" she asked innocently, hazel eyes wide with curiosity.

Thorin started on his plate while listening to his nephew about being in the garden all night. Thorin raised an eyebrow and looked up from his food to Fili, "In the garden? You sat in the rain all night?" He eyed the she-elf across the table, but she never looked up. She had had been in the middle of consuming her breakfast, but she ceased and was now sitting very still. Guilty, perhaps? He did not know.

He glanced down the table at his companions as thunder sounded from outside. He looked up as Gandalf joined them and gave him a nod. He spoke to them all at once when saying, "The weather in the mountains is far too dangerous to attempt to go through. We will just have to....stay put..until the weather has cleared."

Elrond braced himself for the awkward tension that was bound to come when the two Dwarves spoke. He truly was not in the mood for such things and cleared his throat lightly. Looking to Naerwyn, he gave her a slight nod, "Perhaps it is time you went to see her," he said. He looked up when Gandalf entered the room and nodded again. Perfect timing.

Naerwyn stayed silent when Thorin questioned where Fili was the night before. Fearing for the worst, she braced herself for yelling, screaming, and perhaps even a few fists flying. The tension between them was unreal and she feared they were both ready to kill each other. She was relieved, though, when Elrond told her that it was time to go see his mystery guest. Frowning, she nodded and gently pushed her plate up, laying her napkin down on the table next to it.

Giving Fili's hand a gentle squeeze, she pulled away and excused herself from the table.

Fili's chest puffed triumphantly at his Uncle's words. That meant he had another day with Naerwyn! A most pleasing turn of events...Thank Durin. "Not when it started raining," he admitted. "We retreated inside when that happened, but still continued our conversation. She told me about her homeland, Lothlorien, and of her family." He ignored the tension between Thorin and himself, keeping his voice conversational, low, and even.

Even if his uncle wanted to respond angrily with fists or harsh reprimands, Fili would prove to be the levelheaded one and come out on top of their disagreement. Especially in the presence of both Gandalf and Elrond. Fili did not wish to make a fool of himself, but his uncle was welcome to do so if he pleased. Fili's blue eyes dropped to his plate and he set to finish his food. He was far too interested in the mysterious guest Naerwyn had gone to visit with, and if given the opportunity he would slip out of the room to eavesdrop on them polite or not.

~~~

Bilbo carefully mulled over his next words. He only had so much power over his niece; they were very close in age and he wasn't much older by far. If he scolded her over her potential involvement with the leader of their company, she would not take well to it and stubbornly disagree with him in rather the same manner as Fili had regarding Naerwyn... This was, of course, assuming she felt as strongly about Thorin as Fili did about Naerwyn.

"It's about Mr. Oakenshield," he sighed, shaking his head. "I've noticed how he lingers in your presence, and I want to know honestly... Is there something going on that I should know about?"

Ammie's face answered Bilbo's question before she could. She flushed crimson with a squeak and covered her mouth abruptly with her hands. What could she tell Bilbo? She didn't want him to know that Thorin kissed her! Particularly since she herself didn't know how to react to it, either.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Bilbo," she sputtered, her eyes tearing up. "I do have a crush on him... He's just so... I'm embarrassed to say it... Interesting, compared to the men I am used to in the Shire."

Bilbo's eyes widened. He hadn't expected his niece to divulge so much information on the matter. Clearly the subject had been weighing on her mind as well and she needed someone to vent to.

"I didn't think anything would come of it, honestly," she said hurriedly, "But he tries so hard to speak with me, and he is always very kind. Earlier, he... He conveyed, in a manner, that he shared similar sentiments towards me. I don't know why, though, Uncle Bilbo. I'm not very exciting, as far as women are concerned. He is a king, and a dwarf, and I am no one of mention."

Bilbo didn't know how to respond to her. His mouth flapped uselessly, rather like a fish's attempting breath above water.

"I don't know how I feel," she concluded. "I don't know how to talk to him about it, or where things will lead. Oh, what should I do, Uncle Bilbo?" Ammie's brow wrinkled with worry.

Bilbo closed his mouth, still rather at a loss for words. He could only reach out and pat her arm comfortingly. "Well, I don't know. I know Mr. Oakenshield about as well as you do," he said. "I don't want to be cynical, but you know how I am. I wouldn't expect too much out of it. Regardless of how he feels, he does have a responsibility to his people and will do what he believes is best for them in the end."

Naerwyn was escorted by Lindir through the palace. Her stomach twisted nervously and her hands trembled. She had a feeling who was waiting for her. She had never spoken to the Lady of Light before and she had no idea what to say to her. What did she want with Naerwyn Half-Elven? She was a mixed blood nobody, in her own eyes.

Lindir brought her to the study and left promptly. Naerwyn moved to the balcony over looking the city below. Galadriel stood there waiting for her. Naerwyn bowed to the Lady and did not rise until she was instructed to. She found it difficult to make eye contact with her and their conversation got a bit of a shaky start.

Thorin nodded lightly to Fili and grimaced a little. He wanted to say something, but what was there to say? He'd already said enough the night before and he was already fearful that his nephew hated him. Deciding not to speak anymore on the subject, Thorin finished what little he had served himself to begin with. He didn't say anything at all until Elrond asked after Ammie.

He silently cursed himself for not preparing something for her sooner. Thorin explained to Elrond that Ammie was not feeling well. He made no mention of why, merely because they both knew and he would save her further embarrassment. Thorin then inquired if he could take something from the table to Ammie's bedside, hoping she was well enough to eat.

Elrond nodded a bit sadly upon hearing how ill his wine had made the poor girl. When Thorin asked about taking her something, he gestured to the table itself, "My goodness, you need not ask! Please, Thorin, anything you would think that would aid her, please. You are welcome to it."

Thorin nodded in thanks and prepared Ammie a thin pancake with fruit and cream. He stuffed the poor thing to near bursting and flipped it, like he had seen Elrond do. These stupid Elves and their stupid way of eating breakfast. Slap it on a plate and eat it, damnit. Don't make it a production all the way to your mouth. He fought the terrible urge to roll his eyes and topped the pancake as prettily as he could with a dollop of whipped cream. It looked like crap. He new it looked like crap. ....She was going to hate it. ......Why did he care?! It was food! She was going to eat it and like it and not give a damn how it looked!

Thorin was offered the use of a tray and given clean silverware to take to Ammie. Not knowing if she had gotten her water, he had a pitcher filled and brought with him a spare glass.

After excusing himself from the table, he went through the palace to the sleeping quarters and to his room. He entered slowly and offered Ammie a small smile, "Are you feeling any better?" When he noticed Bilbo, he almost groaned. Why was he still there? Thorin hoped he would take his leave and soon.

After Thorin left the room, Fili saw his opportunity to leave and find Naerwyn with the visitor. He waited a few minutes as to not seem suspicious, ate some more of the breakfast, and then excused himself saying he needed the loo. He shot Kili a mischievous look and departed. He hadn't the foggiest idea where to begin looking for Naerwyn and the guest, however. Was there a particular reception or sitting room in which Elrond socialized with guests beyond the chambers he'd received the dwarves? He supposed the structure was large enough for that.

It took some searching around the maze-like corridors and halls for Fili to accidentally happen upon a staircase leading to a higher portion of the palace. The staircase let out in a room with windows facing a circular open balcony with archways and walls surrounding it. A stone table and chairs stood in the middle of the balcony, and he saw two figures out there in the midst of conversation. One looked a great deal like Naerwyn, with platinum hair, and the other woman was much taller and had long golden tresses. Who was she? Naerwyn's mother? Fili could not quite make out her face, so he crept closer to doorway of the room, which appeared to enter into the open area. He had enough distance between him in the pair to go unnoticed if he so chose. Which he did. Eavesdropping on a private conversation was impolite, after all. Not like he cared all that much, obviously.

~~~

Ammie was about to reply to Bilbo's opinion on the matter when the very dwarf they'd been discussing entered the room with a tray and asked how she was doing. He probably did not intend to fix Bilbo with such an intense glare, but it happened anyway. It was just Thorin's default facial expression, she was coming to find. Still, Bilbo appeared flustered and immediately shot up from his seat.

"Oh, Mr. Oakenshield," he blubbered. "I was just leaving. Please let me know if Ammie needs anything else?" Bilbo met Ammie's worried eyes briefly and then hurried away to give the two of them some space. He had no idea if Ammie would try to discuss her situation with the king, but he wanted to give her room to do so if she needed.

"I am feeling a little better," Ammie said, blushing faintly. Her hazel eyes fell upon the tray Thorin carried, which contained silverware, a pitcher of water and glass, and some sort of food. From the look of it, they were thin pancakes stuffed with fruit and dressed with cream. They were sloppily arranged on the plate, which almost caused her to snort with laughter, but she succeeded in keeping it down by biting down firmly on her lip. "I-Is that for m-me?" she barely managed, a smile creeping onto her face despite her best efforts. "Thank you! It looks..G-Great."