(Y/n) did her best to smile, as the latest dwarf that she had been dancing with, escorted her back to her seat. The young male trying to not look intimidated, as Dwalin glared at him from behind the princess. She had been doing this for what felt like hours, dancing with any dwarf that came to ask for one; and despite the fact that she knew that it was pleasing her mother, (Y/n) hated it. It not that any of the dwarves had been awful, on the contrary, they had all been quite nice; but none of them were for her. And now the damn dress that her mother had made her wear, was digging into her hips, (Y/n) sure that she would find the flesh damaged, when she was able to take it off. That, and her feet hurt.

"Ahem........" A cough came, causing (Y/n) to look up. The princess doing her best to not roll her eyes, as she saw Dormir, again. The dwarf that had been sent by their cousin, Dáin, from the Iron hills, proving quite insistent. Dormir having danced with her the most that evening, seemingly much to Dis' pleasure.

"I was wondering if you would do me the honour of another dance........." He asked, as he held out his hand. (Y/n) feeling her mother push her forward; encouraging her to once more get to her aching feet and let the young dwarf lead her to the floor. Yet as pleasant as he was in demeanour and looks, the princess didn't think that she could do it again; didn't think that it was fair on him to pretend that she was interested in him, that he may have a chance to claim her. But she knew that dancing with Dormir, made her mother happy; (Y/n) doing her best to not let her shoulders and head drop as she got to her feet.

"Ya promised me tha next dance, princess........." A familiar voice came from behind her; (Y/n) turning around, a broad smile on her lips, as Dwalin came to her side.

The big dwarf had been quiet all evening, not saying anything really until this point. Dwalin looking a little uncomfortable as (Y/n) and her mother had made their way over to all those waiting at the top table; simply giving her a small smile and nodding as she finished hugging her brothers and uncle. (Y/n) not about to pretend that she didn't feel hurt; that she wasn't sad that the big dwarf that she had loved all her life, had not hugged her like he normally would. But they were in company; under the eyes of many that had come from the other realms. The princess thinking that perhaps he was doing it as he saw it more proper that he didn't hug her as he usually would; yet it had still felt like knife in her heart. Though here he was, just when she needed him, as always. (Y/n) taking his arm as he offered it.

"Yes, yes, I did. I am terribly sorry Master Dormir; but I promised that I would dance with Dwalin for this and the next couple of dances. So, if you will excuse us............" She said. Giving Dormir a nod, before pulling Dwalin to where the others were dancing. Dormir only able to watch as they moved passed him; Dis giving him an apologetic smile, before he made his way back to join his fellows.

"I will be having a word with that girl." Dis grumbled. Thorin shaking his head at his sister.

"You will do no such thing. As much as you might want to push her to that dwarf, (Y/n) is your daughter, and will do and have just what she wants, just like you........" Thorin said, as he looked over to his sister and took her hand. Aware that his sister wanted more for her daughter; that she wanted her to be safe and have the life that she should as a princess. But as noble as Dis' desire for her daughter, she could not come between those that Mahal had intended to be together. And as the older princess watched as Dwalin and her daughter began to dance, she knew that she could fight it no longer; that sooner or later, the older dwarf would tell her beautiful daughter, how he felt, and (Y/n) would be his. Dis just nodding, hoping that Dwalin would be able to make her child as happy as he had promised, and keep her as safe as he had done, all her life.

                                                          >>-----------------------------------<<

"Thank you.........." (Y/n) said, as the next song began, and she and Dwalin began to move.

"Fa what.........?"

"For saving me from Dormir. He's nice enough, but he's not..........well, he's not right for me. And I was only dancing with the others, because mother wanted me to. It feels like she secretly wants to send me away; but I'm not going to leave the people I love........." The princess continued, as she looked up into Dwalin's eyes, a hint of relief filling them; and a slight.....well, she would call it a smile, while others would see it more as a snarl, came to his lips.

"You didn't hug me.........." She continued, as the large warrior took her hands, and turned her around.

"I didn't think it proper.........."

"When have you ever been proper around me, Dwalin. When have you ever known me to care about what others thought.....? It hurt my feelings when you didn't embrace me, when you didn't ask me to dance before anyone else. You have barely said a word to me this evening, and the only reason that I agreed to this.....to all this. To wearing this damn dress, instead of being comfortable and dressing as I normally would; was because of you. Was because I hoped that you would finally see me as a woman, and not a child. That you would......" (Y/n) doing her best to not cry, as she stopped dancing and looked to the large dwarf that had been her protector, her favourite dwarf, for as long as she could remember.

"That you would take me into your arms and kiss me; tell me that you loved me, as much as I love you. But it would seem that I have been being a fool; that you were just being kind to me, and there is nothing more........." The tears now breaking though, despite herself. (Y/n) turning to quickly run away; to get away from all the eyes, all the conversations of the others. To disappear and get out of the awful gown that her mother had insisted on her wearing. Yet as she tried to move, she found a large hand take her wrist.

Dwalin would admit that he had been far more distant than he normally would be with her; his mind more on ways to tell his little darling that he loved her, than the evening. He only distracted when some other unworthy dwarf asked her to dance, so he could glare at them. But he had never meant for her to think that he didn't care. Never meant for her to be hurt. The notion that she might think that he did anything less than adore her, shaking him. Dwalin knowing then that he had to do something; that he had to show her how he truly felt. And whether they were in public or not; whether hundreds of eyes were on them, or not, he had to do something. He had to show not only his darling, but everyone else, that he wanted her to be his, and no one else's. Dwalin carefully pulling the princess back to him. His big thumbs brushing away the tears from her cheeks, before he leaned in and kissed her lips.