(Thorin)

It had not been long since Master Baggins return did, we hear the rumbling growls of the beast. Elena had looked at me with such fear and trembling. I knew I couldn't allow that thing to harm her or anyone else. We have not come this far just to be eaten by a bear.

"Put me down!" Elena shouts as I run carrying her over my shoulder "Thorin Oakenshield you can't carry me all the way there now put me down!" she shouts again.

"Does it look like we're in a position for me to stop now?!" I shout back at her as I run along with the rest of the Company.

She grumbles in embarrassment and frustration "And what kind of tough position do you think I'm in now?!"

I can't help but smirk a little knowing her perfectly cute toosh is mere inches from my face. It burns her with embarrassment cause she's just as aware of it as I am. Not that I'm one to complain but she doesn't need to know that.

The roar of the bear just a few yards behind us snaps me out of my own head as I kick it into high gear running.

"Oh my gosh...!" Elena breathes lifting her head from my back watching the bear charge after us.

"He's gaining on us!" she shouts to which Dwalin retorts "Really?! We hadn't noticed!!!"

"Stop it!" I snap "Neither of you are he-..." I gasp as a root catches my foot and I tumble onto the ground taking Elena with me. We begin to roll down a steep hill ahead of the others until we land at the bottom.

Groaning we lay side by side on our backs. Elena begins slowly sitting up "Was it before or after we heard the bear did you decide to carry me over your shoulder like I was five?"

Taking her extended hand, I growl "It seemed like a good idea at the time!"

"STOP FIGHTING!" Bombur squeals racing past us faster than anyone has ever sprinted.

Elena and I watch him racing ahead straight towards the house just past the small creek.

We glance at one another for a moment until the others begin passing by us and we hear the beast from at the top of the hill. Taking off we both run catching up to the others and finding ourselves under the shed of the house.

Bombur collides with the door falling flat on his back from the force. The others pull at the door, but it refuses to open.

"No! What are we going to do?!" Nori shouts.

Ori glances back "It's coming!"

I look back as Elena backs into me seeing the charging bear only feet from us.

I turn back to the door and my eyes scan before seeing the latch. Reaching up above the others I flip it up and we all pile in. Pulling Elena inside we all tumble in and begin closing the doors as the bear's large face pushes against our forces. The Company screams fighting against it forcing the door closed until it is latched. From outside we hear the bear huffing in defeat before wandering back off.

(Elena)

"What is that?" Ori asks with wide frightened eyes.

"That is our host." Gandalf says with a smirk "His name is Beorn and he's a skin-changer. Sometimes he's a bear and sometimes he's a big strong man. The bear can be unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with."

I laugh wiping the sweat from my brow "Hobbits, Wizards, Orcs, Skin changers...next, you're going to tell me Unicorns are real."

Gandalf looks at me peculiarly and my eyes widen "Wait, are unicorns real here?"

Smirking Gandalf ignores my now burning question as he looks to the others "However, I will say he is not overly fond of Dwarves."

Gloin looks from Gandalf to the rest of the Company with an obvious "Shit" face. Can't say I blame him.

"He's leaving." Ori says crouched by the door.

"Come away from there!" Dori fusses "It's not natural! None of it. It's obvious he's under some dark spell."

Thorin leans in close to me whispering in my ear "I'm still stuck on the question about unicorns."

I can't help but to giggle glancing over at him but with the deep husk of his voice in my ear and being nearly nosed to nose with me I can't help but turn a deep shade of red. As my cheeks burn all I can do is giggle still feeling the gaze of the Dwarf and the amusement he's obviously getting.

Gandalf scowls at the grey-haired Dwarf who still has a grip on Ori "Don't be a fool. He's under no enchantment but his own."

Leaving the still wary Dwarf Gandalf heads to the back of the house removing his hat "Get some rest. We will be safe here for the night...I hope."

While the Dwarves seemed not to hear the last bit Thorin and I were completely aware giving one another nervous glances.

"That's comforting." He mutters crossing his arms stepping away from me "I don't suppose I'll be getting much sleep when night falls."

My heart sinks a little and I stop him "What if I took the first watch?"

He turns back to me raising a brow "You?"

"Yeah..." I reply with a small smile "I tagged along on this endeavor. The least I can do is pull a little weight in helping. I might not be able to fight off Orcs, but I can look out for them."

Thorin hesitates for a moment only staring me down but a small smirk forms on his mouth "Hmph, well, Lady Elena, you have first watch."

A sense of responsibility and a little bit of confidence fills me as I smile back to the Dwarf King as he walks past me giving my shoulder a gentle lingering squeeze. By the touch of his hand to me, I feel a surge. It's like electricity almost flows through my body. A feeling that my soul and his own touched for one brief moment before departing. My heart races as I watch him leave me standing at the front door blushing, smiling, and grinning all the while. 

Wait....no.

"I'm falling in love with Thorin."