"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart and I'll stay there forever."

- Winnie the Pooh

Big thanks to luvgirl101 and Camilla Langdon for following this story! I'm so sorry it took me so long to update, I've been on holiday so didn't find much time to write and it might be the ame for the next five weeks so sorry about that! I hope you're all having a great summer though wherever you may be! Oh and if you see any spelling mistakes please let me know because I often write these on my phone and you all know how annoying auto correct can be...

lovingthisbook - I don't know if a dwarf would be able to ride a horse but because Inca's family has some human blood in (I can't remember if that's actually been mentioned, so sorry if it hasn't) I reckon they would be able to.

Strangers with Memories

They grinned as they walked into the stadium, unable to help themselves from gazing at its magnificence despite being enclosed by stone along with the rest of the Kingdom. Inca and Noly had left early that morning to train for the up and coming games that were soon to be a rekindled tradition.

Looking around the sand arena and the jade stands they were right to come early as there were only two other dwarves within the oval.

"Hey! Inca! Noly!" Kili shouted from the middle of the arena, stood next to his brother who was currently slashing up a straw dummy.

"Fancy seeing you here!" Inca called back, their singular friendship already stronger after the catch up they'd had and so she felt comfortable around him.

His brother however? That was a different story.

It's not that she wasn't happy to see him, for whenever she did he sent a swarm of butterflies to bounce around her stomach, it was just that she felt rather awkward around him after everything that had happened between them. She had already made some spontaneous mistakes with him regarding the kiss, and despite thoroughly enjoying it she had to remember to keep her cool.

Fili was in exactly the same boat as her. The world seemed to move in slow motion as she ran towards them. His eyes scanned her body and ended up on the matching ruby around her neck to avoid possible and rather embarrassing bodily functions attached to arousal. His hand subconsciously moved to clutch his own pendent as he used all his will power to shove the thoughts of her lips out of his brain and stay calm. Although it was rather hard for him to stay calm when she gave his brother a short hug as a greeting and a prickle of jealousy shot down his spine at the friendly intimacy.

"Well you two certainly haven't changed." Noly observed him to bringing them in for short hugs, except Fili was not missed out this time. "I can't believe you two are royalty."

"Well to be honest all I do is eat the cake in meetings." Kili joked. Being the second in line he was not seen as important and didn't carry nearly as much responsibilities as his uncle or brother did, gaining him more free time and less of a stern grip on his personal life.

"Well you only get cake to the meetings you attend. So, luckily for Talia, you're not getting fat." The comment gained Fili a shard elbow to the ribs but he only chuckled and gave a smug smirk.

"Talia? You never mentioned you had a missus Kili!" Inca exclaimed, excited about the prospects of teasing material and because she was genuinely happy for her friend.

"She's not my missus."

"That's what you want us to believe." Noly chimed in, only giving the brunette further reason to blush. "Anyway, we're here to train for the games."

"We would be, except we aren't actually allowed to take part." Fili grumbled, clearly sore about being left out.

"That's a shame. I was looking forward to beating you in front of everyone." Inca sounded just as sincere as mocking but it didn't matter to Fili who found himself captured and strung up in her, shortly followed with a mental slap.

"Oh really?" Kili taunted back and twirled his sword. "Let's see if you're all bark and no bite."

"Oh I'll only bite of you want me too. But I'll leave that to this 'Talia'." Inca winked seductively and pulled her own blade out. The pair walked into the sparring box and took up their stance, eyeing each other up at the same time.

"Oh, just a disclaimer: it's still quite early so I might not be at my best today." Inca jested smiling sweetly at her opponent.

"Excuses excuses."

"I try."

"Come on Inca! Kick his ass!"

"No don't kick his ass, I don't think Talia would appreciate it all that much."

"Fee! You're meant to be on my side!"

"Oh stop your whining." Inca said and trust her sword quickly towards him only giving him the slight chance to react.

After playing several rounds more people entered the arena to train and it was coming up to midday. The sparring pair at that current moment was the two twins and it was neck and neck.

The clashing of steel had quietened within the smaller ring and had turned to more of a grind as they caught each other's swords and faced each other. Blade to blade, eye to eye. Suddenly Inca raised an eyebrow and smirked at her brother, sending him into enough confusion to let her foot kick his out from underneath him and send him sprawling to the ground.

"Hey that's cheating!" He whined from the floor as she placed her blade to his throat as a sign of dominance.

"You fight dirty." Fili commented after he returned from his laughter at the sudden turn in events.

"I prefer to use the term 'outsmarted'. Besides it's more fun." She retorted with a smile that gave his heart wings and another mental slap.

"Mahal I am starving!" Kili exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air and then to clutch his rumbling belly.

"Yeah, who knew kicking ass could burn so many calories." Inca teased and he stuck his tongue out at her.

"Maybe we should get some food then."

"I second that."

"Third."

"Fourth."

They picked up their discarded weapons and began to make their way out of the stadium, walking past the many other dwarves brandishing weapons and fighting. They laughed easily at short comments and jokes that passed between the four of them and Inca often found herself catching Fili's eye and blushing slightly when he smirked at her.

"Hey, can I talk to you?" He said quietly in her ear and they stopped walking letting the other carry on nearly without noticing.

"Why have you stopped?"

"We'll catch up. The Brandy Boot right?"

"Yep."

"We'll see you in a bit."

"See you."

Kili and Noly both continued until they had completely left the stadium and were a way in front of the other two.

"They're totally gonna kiss, right?"

"Totally."

"So what was it you wanted to talk about?" Inca asked hesitantly.

It was no lie that now the other two had left she felt rather awkward being with just Fili. She wasn't even sure why she asked the question as she already had a pretty good idea about what the topic of conversation would be after the build up of silent sexual tension between them.

"I think you know." He replied rather quietly struggling to hold firm eye contact.

"I think I do."

It was strange how suddenly shy they had become after a morning of easy confidence and friendship. Neither of them normally had an issue talking to strangers and socializing so it was strange for them to both find the anticipation of their relationship cause them such anxiety. Maybe it was the intimate subject and the privacy of the moment that made them blush like children, maybe it was because of the memories that they both wished to relive, or maybe it was a bit of both.

"Inca, what happened at the dance a couple of days ago... I can't get it off of my mind.. I just -" his voice failed him. There was so much he wanted to say, the speeches he had mental prepared and practiced when he couldn't sleep at night, the fact that what he wanted to say could not possibly be put into words only actions, but he did not know if those actions were the right thing to do.

"I feel the same way Fili. I want to say I'm sorry, for lashing out at you like I did."

"No it's me that should be sorry. I overreacted. I was just so overwhelmed with emotions that you were here and you were alive."

Silence fell willingly. Words were not needed as they said everything they needed to say with their eyes. Their matching crystal eyes that seemingly travelled over the others features as they unknowingly moved closer together. Fili's hand gently reached out to brush through the auburn fire falling down Inca's shoulder and he found himself captivated by the way it moved through his fingers like soft water. Inca's hand also went to the others hair. She tentatively ran her hand along one of the butterscotch braids and twirled the bead between her fingers, studying the carved patterns within the silver.

"Are we doing the right thing?" Inca said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper as she still gently fiddled with the silver bead.

"What do you mean?" Fili bought his own eyes to look into hers, pulling them both away from each other's hair and realizing how close they were to each other and neither of them deciding to step back.

"Well, don't you think this is all a bit strange. I feel like I'm rushing into something because I don't really know you. I haven't known you for fifty six years and although it feels like there hasn't been any time since then, we're only strangers really. Strangers with memories." She spoke so softly that any hint of rejection disappeared from her words.

"As long as we wear these," Fili held the ruby pendent in his hand and she mirrored the action completely understanding without need of further explanation. "We will never be strangers."

They shared a smile and Fili's hand moved from his neck to Inca's cheek. His calloused hand being so careful and gentle against her skin as he lightly cupped her face, not restricting her movement or keeping her there. She found her own hands winding their way up to his neck and back, lazily drawing circles with her finger as their eyes melted into each other.

"May I kiss you?" Fili whispered and a small smile spread across her face.

"Ugh not again!" She joked and quickly raised on her toes to meet his lips, their eyes flickering shut.

They stayed still. Time froze for them and they formed a colourful bubble around themselves as they remained together simply enjoying the buzz. Soon they began to move and the kiss became passionate but still slow and meaningful. But their kiss fell short as a grin fell upon Inca causing her to pull away from his lips but stay within inches in case worse came to worse and she had to kiss him again.

"And I thought you said we needed to talk." She giggled and they pushed further together so their chests were practically conjoined.

"We did talk, but kissing is more fun." He smirked back and she closed her eyes letting her head find the crook of his neck.

"Come on they'll be waiting for us." She said and willed herself to step away from his oh so cosy chest but couldn't find the strength.

"No, they can wait a while longer."

"Fili you know we're still in the stadium right?" Instead of pulling away she snuggles closer and his arms wrapped around her tighter. "So we should probably go."

"No, I'm hugging you here and I can't walk and hug you so I'm afraid we're gonna have to say here for now." He smiled but his eyes were closed along with hers.

"Are you always going to say no to my suggestions?"

"No."

"You literally just proved my point." She giggled slightly under her breath along with him at the irony.

"No, it depends what the suggestion is, because I will most definitely be saying yes to some of your suggestions." He said rather suggestively and she pulled her head out of his chest to face him with her own smirk.

"Oh, well, would you like another kiss?"

"I most certainly would." He replied huskily and Inca leaned in so their noses were millimeters apart.

"Well tough tits because we don't have time."

And with that she wriggled out of his grasp with a grin and began walking off leaving him shaking his head and chuckling.

"You didn't even use the word yes!" She called over her shoulder. "Come on I'm hungry!"

Whoop Whoop! So I may have accidentally not been able to restrain from them having another kiss. Oops. Sorry if Kili's love interest was mentioned with a different name in previous chapters but she's going to be called Talia if that's alright with yeah sorry again it took so long to update and this is so short as well as not much happening in it but I guess I kind of wanted to build their relationship up but maybe I'm moving it along too fast. Let me know what you think because I'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions!

Thanks again for reading this!

*muah*