I honestly thought I had given up on this story, and will you look at that? another chapter. during the buisiet time of my year even. why self? why?

Anyway, if you don't enjoy it then my time will have been for nothing, which I guess would be okay because I'd never know if you didn't like it. I would know if you did like it though because you'd leave a review. maybe? hopefully? please?

Whatever I'll just let you read.

The broth danced like gems along the surface, swirling around the venison stew. The spoon dipped through its golden ambrosia, lifting a large chunk of meat from the warm concoction, steam rising from it is dancing wisps. Nali let out a sigh and dropped it back into the soup bowl with a plop, spraying splattering of soup out of the bowl. As soon as she was let out, she would never get injured again. If Nali ever had to spend so long cooped up in one room again, she would loose her mind completely. She flopped back against her pillow with a groan.

Master Oin was now officially her least favorite person in the whole world. Still, it's not like she could complain much. Well… she could, and she did, loudly, every chance she got. But she couldn't really mean it too well. This life here in Erebor, while stifling, was like a dream compared too much of what she had known before. And the tales she had been told of her ancestors' struggles. What they would have given to be in her place right now. It was more than they even had the right to offer probably.

Nali stirred the soup around, her appetite lost at this point. Jue slept peacefully by her feet, sprawled out in total relaxation. The little monkey was starting to get a bit chubby, especially around the middle, now that it didn't have to work for it's daily bread like the two of them had done for ages.

A knocking sounded at door to her room. She quickly stuffed in a mouthful of deer and mumbled something that was intended to be "Come in". The door opened and in walked the exact last person she wanted to ever see.

Kili looked around the room in slight confusion before turning to Nali. The dwarrowdam was currently inhaling soup so fast her face was hidden by the bowl. "Where did all the gifts go?" He had noticed the surprising lack of packages that usually filled the room.

It took a little while for Nali to chew and swallow the mouthful of meat, but once she had she shrugged casually. "Gave em away."

He looked at her with surprise.

"Aría explained the uh…" she shoved in another mouthful. "Intentions behind them."

"So you gave them away?" Kili asked, though he was not at all bothered by this development.

"They were all useless anyway. What did they expect to do with all those baubles and dresses?"

Kili looked over Nali's usual drab and simple appearance. How she managed to stay at Erebor for two weeks now and not get reprimanded for wearing trousers, he'd never understand. "You could, I don't know, wear them?" He chuckled, coming to sit on the edge of the bed and pet Jue'sfurry exposed stomach.

"Nah. Completely impractical." Nali was scrapping the bowl thoroughly, almost as if looking for an excuse to keep the bowl in front of her face. "Besides, keeping any of those would not give off the impression I want from what Aría said."

Kili frowned. "Being?"

Nali coughed a little on the remaining food she was swallowing. "Being, II'mnot interested in blokes."

"…Oh." Kili frowned. "Oh."

"Wait, no that came out wrong." Nali frowned as well. "I just mean II'mnot interested it getting married to anyone, II'mnot interested in women or anything like that."

"I never said you were."

"Alright."

"Alright."

Silence filled the room. The two were actually looking at each other for once, now that Nali had put the bowl down. And in the silence, the awkwardness thickened. Until, at last, Nali looked away, pretending to admire the wall or something. "So did you want something or did you just come to waste my time."

"I was hoping for an explanation of what that was a few days ago." Kili looked down at Jue who was now jabbering in his sleep.

"Few days ago? What happened then?" Nali groaned inwardly. As if feigning ignorance would avoid the topic. She knew exactly what he was talking about.

"When you flipped out and nearly knocked me over the edge of the walkway."

"That? Oh right, sorry bout that I was just… upset about the fortuneteller is all." She laughed hollowly. "Was a disgrace to the craft and all that."

"Oh really?" Kili smirked. "Because I seemed to get the oddest sense that you were acting rather flustered around me." Nali turned crimson, but Kili ccouldn'ttell if it was out of anger or embarrassment. He chose to press the issue further. "But I ccouldn'tfathom why that would be unless…"

She gave him a look that clearly read ë'oní' you dare say ití'

"…unless you were perhaps interested in a certain bloke." She turned even redder. "A certain bloke of rather handsome complexion and excellent archery."

"W-well!" Nali sputtered. "If you see one let me know, because I certainly hhaven't" Kili raised an eyebrow, smirking. She scowled at him and got up quickly, not even bothering to mind her still bandaged arm, and made to grab Jue and leave. But before she could move away from scooping up the golden monkey Kili grabbed her uninjured arm, keeping her there.

"IIt'salright to admit it you know." He jested with his innocently straight face. "Its hard for dwarrowdams of any age to resist such charm."

Nali turned redder than a tomato before slugging him in the jaw with her bad arm and quickly stomping out of the room, door slamming behind her.

A few moments later it opened again. Aría walked in, looking over her shoulder in confusion. "NNali'sin quite the state, any idea what-" she turned to see Kili rubbing his jaw tenderly, moving it around to make sure it was still in place. "What did you do?" Aría sighed.

"Took a joke too far." Kili said, looking at his hand to make sure there was no blood. "As usual."

"Well at least she put you in your place." Aría chuckled.

"Aye," Kili sighed. "Though I have a feeling I got a lot more coming to me before sshe'llget over it." He looked up at Aría. "IIt'snot bruising is it?"

"Not yet." She peered at the skin behind the stubble. "What prank were you pulling anyway?"

"Nothing much." Kili frowned looking down again to rub his jaw more. "Just joking about how flustered she was a few days ago."

Aría gawked at him. "Kili! I ccan'tbelieve you. A mmaiden'sheart is a fragile thing! Not something to be teased about."

"Maiden?" Kili laughed. "We are talking about Nali, aaren'twe?"

"You can be absolutely horrible sometimes. You know that?" Aría huffed and turned to leave again. "Anyway, His Majesty is looking for you. Something about mining reports I think. So once your done fawning over your bruising face, I suggest you go to him."

"It is bruising?" Kili ask, horrified. Aría left without replying, sighing at the task it would be to find Nali and get her back in bed again. It was no wonder she was still recovering.

Nora shivered as she watched the tiny snow crystals float to the frozen ground around her. Tiny flecks of white that dotted the gray land that surrounded her.

Hollard called her name again from the path ahead, snapping her out of her daze. "Coming!" she replied, picking up the pace to catch up with the rest of the small group that accompanied her. The hunting had been poor the past week, and those working in the bbutcher'sshops had to look to Dale for fresh game. Nora would often have declined HHollard'soffer to go with them, but Ciri had been most irritable lately and the change in scenery was nice. Though she felt as a bit of a bother to the others, having to keep an eye on her and everything. They, of course, insisted it was no trouble at all. But the raven-haired dwarrowdam doubted that greatly.

But it ccouldn'tbe bothered with once they reached the City of Dale. In the two years since it had been reclaimed, the men of Laketown had done remarkable things in restoring the ruined trading town to its former glory. It was not quite the thriving center of trade as it had been in the olden days, but it was far closer than anyone had anticipated in such short a time.

Nora looked in wonder at all the stalls and storefronts, all covered in a variety of wares and produce. Though most of the street stalls and vendors were closing up shop as the snow began to lay thicker. Human children were running about the streets laughing and scraping whatever they could find into snowballs to launch at their friends.

"Have to hurry up if wwe'reto make it back to the mountain in time." One of the gruffer dwarves huffed from the back of the small dwarven cluster.

"Then lets not dilly dally. TThere'sa hunters guild just up this way." Another barked, starting off up the path. Nora made to follow with the others before noticing Hollard heading down a side passage inconspicuously. After a moments hesitation, Nora followed.

The bbutcher'sapprentice did not seem all to surprised when he saw Nora walking next to him, a look of confusion on her face. "Why are we going this way?"

Hollard chuckled. "Well if we all get our meat from the same place, how am I supposed to get the leg up on them?"

"Fair enough."

"I know a hunter who uses only the finest arrows. Used to be a Ranger of the North, or so he claims. But hhe'snot too open about his business. Hunts in Mirkwood now which brings a bit of… unwanted attention at times."

"Mirkwood? I thought the elves forbid any but their race from hunting there without permission." NNora'ssense of unease grew.

"Exactly." Hollard nodded, making his way towards a small little storefront sticking out of the side of the alley. Before they quite had a chance to look in the shop windows, Hollard took of his hood and cloak and threw it over Nora, making sure it covered her well enough that all you could see for the most part was her beard. "Better keep close. There are all sorts here." Nora swallowed and shifted closer as they entered the small establishment.

Nora pulled a face as the putrid sent hit her nostrils. Foul beer and the effects of consuming it were evident, and left puke stains over the uneven wooden floor. Unlike dwarven taverns or bars, everyone spoke in little more than a low whisper, probably to avoid upsetting any of the patrons currently sporting a nasty hangover. But also because it seemed everyone here was listening to everyone else. It was almost certain that everyone in the building was aware of her and HHollard'sentrance to the place. Not that she knew how many people where there in the first place. With the hood pulled so low over her face, all she could see was the floor and glimpses of Hollard walking a little in front of her.

She hoped there stay in this place would not be a long one.

The stopped by one of the back tables, which Hollard leaned against as he talked in low murmurs to the man sitting across from him. Even standing right next to them, Nora could barely make out what they were saying. If she could just see their mouths moving, she might be able to make it out. Nora tilted her head up ever so slightly to see this ë'ormer rangerí'of the north. Not that there was much to see, this man also wore a hood to shadow his face.

At length, the two seemed to have struck a bargain, which they shook upon. Hollard passed a small leather pouch across the table. The man passed back a slip of parchment, which quickly disappeared into HHollard'shand.

"LLet'sgo." He mumbled to Nora and turned to leave. But before they were halfway across the room, one of the patrons stood and clapped Hollard on the shoulder.

"Well iisn'tthis a surprise." A stocky figure in a gray cloak rumbled, leading the two dwarves out off the building where they could talk without being overheard.

Once out of the building, the figure lowered her hood, Coppery hair and sideburns tumbling out into the snow brushed air.

"Alyssa IronHeart?" Nora spoke in surprise. What was a Dwarrowdam doing is this backwater establishment.

"DDidn'texpect to find you here Norarduwynn Firehide." Alyssa raised an eyebrow. "What trouble are you dragging her into Hollard?"

"II'mnot dragging her into anything." The butcher scoffed while Nora looked between the two of them in mild confusion.

"You know each other?"

"Aye, when I first came visiting from the IronHills I was like a fish out of water. Hollard was the first to actually get any semblance of a conversation out of me for a good while back then."

"Really?" Hollard mused. "I always thought you were a talkative lass."

"TThat'sa laugh. Barely said two words until running into you back then. What are you two doing out here? Snows settling, iit'llbe hard to get back if we wait any longer."

"Then we should go…" Nora looked to her escort for agreement.

"Aye. II'veno more business here."

"Then llet'snot dilly dally and be off."

It proved they had started off too late, for the sky quickly grew dark and the snow turned thick in the blustering wind. Hollard kept one arm around NNora'sshoulder in a feeble attempt to shield her from the cutting gusts.

They were nearing the gates of Erebor after a few hours. Or at least they thought so. It was hard to see anything in the blizzard. Walking was difficult. Each step grew more labored as the snow piled higher. It was if the heavens had opened upon them and the winds of hell were wrapping around them to drag them down to a frozen death.

Alyssa looked behind her to make sure Hollard and Nora were still behind her. Her stomach dropped when she saw they wweren't The dwarrowdam looked around, trying to peer into the oncoming snow and behind once more. They were nowhere around.

She fought the panic down before it began and started forward again. There was no point going back for them if they might not even be there. She had no idea when she had lost them. They had a more likely chance of finding their way back with two of them. She continued her march forwards, looking up every now and then to find their face, a silhouette of her lost companions. Her eyes were greeted with snow, wind, and pain.

Through her deliria, she thought she saw a dwarrowdam standing in the distance in a summer dress, a bouquet of lilies in her hands. The figure did not move, but hair and dress whipped around in the blizzard. The woman stood unaffected. Then another gust blew, causing Alyssa to stagger sideways, falling into the snow. She scrambled to get back to her feet, looking around desperately for the lily woman. There was no sight of anyone but her own frozen nose at the edge of her vision. Eventually, that too faded.

Next chapter will hopefully be about Teella, Faina, Jade, Hayden, and maybe Alphonse if I can sneak her in there too. Or maybe I'll just try to resolve what happened in this chapter? who knows.

Actually, how about this. You guys tell me what you want in the next chapter and I'll see what I can do! Sound good? Good. I'll be waiting for your input :3