*Thorin's POV*

We had to crawl up through the toilet of Bard's house. Dwalin was the unhappiest of us all, threatening Bard's son, Bain, if he ever said a word about it he'd kill him. As we had gotten up into the house one of Bard's daughters hands me a blanket. 

I nod "Thank you." she is a small child maybe only 8 years old. 

"Will you bring me luck?" she asks.  I smile at her and stoop to her level "No girl, I'm afraid not. But, you want to know a secret?" 

She nods and grins from ear to ear "All the luck in the world is held within you, all you have to do is find it in here." I point to her heart. 

She smiles "My mum use to tell me that." She wraps her arms around my neck and it catches me by surprise. I hold my arms out unsure of what to do. Slowly I hug her carefully for a moment until she lets go. She smiles at me and I nod "Run along now." 

Turning she disappears into her room where her older sister awaited. I smirk and lean against the window and turn to see Molly watching me with a smile. 

"Didn't know you were good with kids." 

I smirk slightly "I didn't know you were watching." 

She looks down smiling and I think about Fili and Kili "Back in the Blue Mountains my sister Dis always made me watch after the children twice in the week. I had to accommodate their needs as well as their likes and dislikes. Tell them stories and play with wooden swords. Suppose its good practice for when I have children of my own." 

As Molly walks over I can see a strange look in her eye, almost like sadness. "Do you have someone? Someone waiting for you in the Blue Mountains?" 

I sigh and shake my head "No. There is no one. Perhaps it is only a dream to have children. I don't think the married life would suit me anyway." 

"Don't be so sure" Molly says playfully nudging me "You're not all bad."

I nudge her a little "What about you? Is your betrothed waiting for you in...your world?"

She laughs a little with a sad tone "No, I've never- I mean, no. No there's no one." 

I don't say anything and only study her from the side. She has this smirk on her face, but her eyes look sad and I realize something. They look just like my own. 

Before I could ask why she was wondering about me I look out the window freezing in my place. Her hand rests on my shoulder "Thorin, you okay?" 

I see the giant cross-bow weapon with four arms "A Dwarvish Wind-Lance." I mumble. 

She stares at it with me and Balin approaches "The last time we saw such a weapon, the city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came." 

My mind flashes to the city of Dale. The fire struck the buildings killing dozens of men and their women screaming from wounds or lost children. Balin continues as the visions of the city burning flashed in my mind "The day that Smaug destroyed Dale. Girion, the Lord of the city, rallied his bowman to fire upon the beast. But a dragon's hide is tough, tougher than the strongest armor. Only a black arrow, fired from a wind-lance, could have pierced the dragon's hide, and few of those arrows were ever made. His store was running low when Girion made his last stand." 

I blink away seeing the man in armor fire the arrows and missing "Had the aim of Men been true that day, much would have been different."

*Molly's POV*

I had walked away as the Dwarves and Bain argued about the tale of the city of Dale. All of this seemed insane to me and while we only had three more days to rest before heading up to the Lonely Mountain. I'm going to need every bit of it. 

"Do you think you'll be alright?" I ask Kili who rests on a small cushioned couch by the window.

He nods from where he lays "Yeah, for sure. Just a little herbal tea and I'll be good as new." 

I give him an odd glance seeing his face isn't so convincing. I scoff  "You are a bad liar Kili." he looks over at me and pulls my hair a little "And you're a bad worrier." 

I cock my head to the side and then purse my lips into a curled smile "I guess I got that from my grandma." 

He playfully pinches my cheek lightly "I'm alright." 

I nod taking his word "Okay." 

Before I get up he tugs at my shirt sleeve "So, you said you like your grandmother? How is she like you?"

I smirk shaking my head "She was better."

Fili's eyes fall and he turns serious "You know what else I bet?" I raise a brow waiting for his answer "I bet she was pretty too. Just like you."

I smile feeling happier than sad. Nodding I tug a strand of Fili's hair back and go to my spot on the floor. Looking over everyone is asleep but my eyes freeze when I see Thorin. His shirt is removed and his hair cascaded down his back as he grabs soap and a dry towel to clean himself up. I swallow staring and then feel a bump. I gasp and looked at Kili who is grinning from ear to ear. 

I grab his arm harshly "You tell a soul and I'll cut your leg off myself...!"

He chuckles and nods "Sure don't worry Molly...I WON"T MENTION YOUR CRUSH ON THORIN TO ANYONE!" he exclaims boldly. I gasp and look to see Thorin no longer in the room. I begin slapping Kili's shoulder as he laughs all the while. 

---

Late that night I step down the stairs to finally take my bath. One I desperately needed for a while. My nerves are racked Were there still spies watching the house? What if the Orcs sneak into town late in the night and kill me? 

I gulp nervously and tried calming myself. I always worked myself up over nothing, usually. As I make it to the bottom of the stairs I freeze. I see Thorin take a bucket of water and dump it over his head cascading his long hair down his back. He stands completely nude outside at the bathhouse. 

Is he not done yet?! 

I cover my mouth and hide under the staircase afraid he would know I'm here. Shakily I stand there as quiet as I can be. I hear the splashing of the water and soon silence. After hearing Thorin's footsteps approach they then disappear. Sighing a breath of relief my shoulders relax. Peeking out from my hiding spot I see the bathhouse empty and no sign of Thorin. Relieved I collect myself and glance around one more time just to make sure. Emerging out I walk to the bath and get some water splashing it on my face. 

I see there is no door to close "Are you kidding me...?" I mumble pulling on the very thin curtain with different tears and holes. There is no way in Middle-Earth I'm going to strip naked outside in the freezing cold with some creeper to come up and peek in with ease

"Looks like a birdbath."  I lower the sleeve to my shirt just past my shoulder and wash the dirt off before pulling it back up. I know rationally my top is going to be soaked so I lower it to my waist keeping the bottom half on. I continue my birdbath frigid in the cold air around me, but a voice distracts me from it all.

"Too cold?" 

 "Thorin!" I exclaim feeling my hands grow clammy whipping my head around and bringing my arm up over my chest. What the hell is he doing in the shower room with me?! I hear him pull the shower curtain closed again. He takes a step toward me but I still refuse to turn around.

"Why are you bathing with your clothes on?" he asks huskily.

Barely I squeak out a response "I'm no sight to see in the shower. A-and there's no door and the curtain-I...what are you doing in here?" 

I tense up as I feel his warm flesh against me. I'm feeling his naked body against me. He presses in my back and I try not to react feeling his growing erection pressing on my backside. I muffle the whimper clenching my legs together as I feel a small bundle of heat form between them. 

"T-thorin, wha-" I stutter trying to get out a protest.

 "Shhh...." he hushes me wrapping his arms around me from behind. I feel his hand slide down and hold onto mine stopping the shaking. His fingers intertwined with mine and he gently caresses the top of my hand. I'm scared, no, terrified of what is happening. Not fear of Thorin harming me but fear of the unknown and of myself. I can't think straight or even force myself to move, turn around, or anything. Slowly Thorin reaches up pulling my shirt down from my shoulder that I made a feeble attempt to pull up. My heart rams inside my chest as it slides farther and farther until I hold his hand stopping him from uncovering the other half of my torso. 

"I can't let-I can't let anyone see me....not like this." I breathe. He doesn't move or force me to remove my clothes. He only stands there in silence which I think stresses me out even more. How could I let him see me naked? How could I see him naked? I consider Thorin my friend and having him think of me as something more would be a dream, but only a dream. Someone like him could never love someone like me. He couldn't even learn to love me or my body. Nobody could. He would be disgusted at how I look even if at first, he thought otherwise. That's why I'm so confused as to why he's doing this now. Shaking my head I gently push his hand away "I'm not beautiful like the women you know." 

Slowly Thorin brushes my hair to one side exposing my pale flesh to him. Feeling Thorin's long hair and beard tickle my skin as he plants a soft kiss on my shoulder sends a shiver throughout my body. I close my eyes as his kisses trail down my shoulder to my collar bone, and then to my neck. I feel his breath tickle my ear as he whispers softly to me "You are the only woman I desire to ever know."

 I gasp and my body trembles under his touches. His rough hands and fingertips glide down my arm tugging at the fabric I let loose of as it falls off me. Those words cling to me tighter than my own skin. My body begs and craves for him as his hands glide across my back, arms, neck, and then under my clothes. Thorin is feeling every part of me. Forcing myself I turn to wrap my arms around his neck and our lips crash moving in sync. My body trembles as he holds me tightly to him and my now bare and exposed chest is pressed to his. I want him, no, need him. I don't care about anything else. I just want him to know me and I know him. As my hands wander his warm-toned flesh I glide my hands down his sides to his waist. Lightly biting my lip he growls pleased by my actions. His own hands wander to the top of my pants. I know he's going to take me now. Right before he does.... I wake up.

Jolting I sit straight up in the dimly lit room. Quickly I feel over myself making sure I'm still clothed and not writhing naked in the middle of the floor touching myself whilst moaning Thorin's name. Thankfully my clothes remain in tack and on my person. Looking around in the darkness all the dwarves sleep on. I  see it's still dark outside. My face is flushed and my entire body is still shaking. I run a hand through my hair frustrated and wanting more.

 Why am I having these dreams?  

I look to see Kili still asleep next to me. He seems paler but sleeps on. Asleep and not far from me is Thorin. I'm partially disappointed that neither of us is laying outside naked under the stars wrapped in each other's embrace, but also relieved. Even as explicit as these dreams of Thorin and I have gotten I have never given myself to anyone. I haven't truthfully even been in a serious relationship. In fact, not really any relationship at all. 

I close my eyes and shake my head some more and throw myself on the floor in aggravation. I look across the room where the future King of Erebor sleeps. His black eyelashes cast a shadow on his cheeks and black hair flowed down. I shake my head and stare at the ceiling and rub the top of my chest in some way trying to rub the feeling of him away. While he sleeps I watch him and think to myself no matter what I could say or do, he could never love me.

---

I stand on the rooftop of Bard's house above all the houses in Laketown. I gulp seeing how high we are "Um, remind me why we're up here." I ask turning. 

Fili smiles "Tomorrow we're all going to be facing a fire-breathing dragon. And I've seen you fight." 

I smile a little and he gives me a doubtful smile back "You suck."

 I frown and cross my arms "Okay, I wasn't raised to kill Orcs and trolls. Forgive me for the inconvenience."

 Fili laughs "What were you raised for?" 

I kick a little patch of snow and spoke sheepishly "To love Jesus and listen to my momma. OKAY! Fine! Now show me how to not die." 

Fili laughs again "Well, we don't need to work on your archery. You are actually quite decent with it."

 I nod trying to hide my smirk "So you're going to teach me sword fighting, right?" 

Fili then gives me a nervous and guilty smile "Weeellll...."

I step closer "What?" 

He shrugs "Kili suggested that you needed a more proper teacher." 

Biting my lip I think for a moment at who it might be "Who?" 

He holds his arms out grimacing "Thorin." 

My eyes widen and my heart nearly drops to my stomach "What?! No. No,no,no,no. Fili no! I can't be taught by-by Thorin he....he..." 

He smiles and leans closer using baby talk "Does he make little ole Mowy nervious?" 

I glare at him "W-what? No! No of course n-" he cuts me off. 

"Yeah, I know what's going on. Kili told me about your little sneak fest with him in his skivvies'." 

I growl and shake my head "When I get ahold of that lying, betraying, no good son of a-" Fili pretends to be angry "Hey! That's my mother your talkin' about!" 

I pout crossing my arms "Dwarf. I was going to say, Dwarf." 

He turns and lifts his hand up "Thorin!" he says "Good morning, ready to show the human how to use her letter opener?" he laughs. 

Thorin and I both glared at him and his laugh turns to a nervous chuckle and he coughs lightly. "Well, uh, I'll leave you to it."

 I watch as he walks away and Thorin holds two swords. Without hesitation Thorin removes his shirt exposing his abs and strong, built, muscular arms. I blush red and dart my eyes away trying to not think back to my dream last night. I hear a laugh and I look at Fili who chuckles and mouths 'Enjoy the show.' he draws an air heart while laughing. Sneering I pick up a cube of ice and chunk it at him just as Thorin speaks "Ready for train-" he stops and stares at me as he saw a glimpse of me throwing ice. Fili had ducked and peeked back over the ladder. 

"What are you doing?" Thorin asks. 

I glare at Fili "Oh, just trying to hit a rat."  

He looks at the ladder and then to me "We have more things to worry about than useless rats." I smile at his tone as he was meant for Fili to hear it. He then tosses me a sword and I catch it shakily. As I nearly drop it Thorin smiles "Ready for your training?" 

I suck in a big breath of cool air as it fills my lungs. Summer has passed and Autumn is here and so is our timing to face the dragon. 

 "As I'll ever be."