An imagine from my own imagination. This time it isn't dirty. I promise....

Why did you always have to hang around Fili and Kili? Laughing at their jokes. Sharring their cloaks with you to keep you warm at night.  All of it seemed to come so easily to the lads.

Whenever Dwalin talked to you it felt like he was scaring you. He couldn't help it. He did want the same bond with you as you had with the lads. If he was honest with himself he would admit that he wanted more then friendship. But he didn't want to push his luck.

And that's how it happened that you always found him staring at you from a distance.

"You know, one might think that you have found your One" Thorin said, leaning against the same tree as Dwalin.

His friend didn't look up.

Right now the lads were showing you how to use a bow and arrow. It made him angry.

Thorin followed Dwalin's eyes across camp. "You could just tell her how you feel" he offered.

Dwalin looked at him like he had grown another head. "And scare (y/n) even more? Nay, I will just have to live with the fact that she doesn't feel the same way."

What Dwalin didn't notice was that, every now and then, you would look at him. A smile on your lips and the sparkle in your eyes when you did so was enough for the company to know what was going on.

And with a dwarf as 'subtle' as Dwalin they soon knew the feeling was mutual between the two.

"What makes you think that brother?" Balin asked, joining in the conversation.

Dwalin pointed at you. "Look at her. She is so beautiful with the voice of a nightingale. I bet every man in her village turned their head to look at her. What would she want with me?" He sighed deep.

Thorin and Balin exchanged knowing looks.

"Why wouldn't she want you?" Thorin countered.

Dwalin really wasn't in the mood for this. It was one thing to know he could never have you but another thing to explain it to others. He pushed himself off the tree and walked away.

Balin and Thorin didn't give up that easily.

"What kind of a man do you think (y/n) wants?" Balin asked. His tone was too happily for Dwalin's liking.

He sighed, sitting down on his bedroll. He was surprised to see both had followed him. "Well, probably a lad with manners, for starters" he said.

Thorin nodded. "There is room for improvement there..."

Dwalin shot him an angry glare.

"Aye, we could work on your table manners. And after that we definitely have to work on your conversation skills" Balin summed up.

"Now, hold on a moment" Dwalin said but was interupted by Thorin.

"I think we have our work cut out for us. We should also work on his appearance" he added.

"ENOUGH!" Dwalin yelled. Everyone in camp looked up to see what the problem was. You almost dropped the bow when you heard his voice.

One glare from Thorin was enough to send everyone back to their own business. He turned around, trying to hide his smile.

Dwalin furrowed his brows. He honestly didn't know where he had to start. If that was something that was important to you then he would do everything in his power to become that man. "So, where do we start?"

Balin smiled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a bit of a surprise to you when Thorin came to pick you up from camp. He walked in front of you as you made your way through the forest. He seemed to know where he was going.

But if there was one thing you had learned during this quest was that Thorin could get lost rather easily.

"Where are we going?" you asked. The sun had set an hour ago so it was getting rather dark outside. You had trouble looking into the distance. Though you could see some lights in front of you...

"It is a surprise" Thorin said. He didn't turn his head to check if you were still following him. He just trusted that you would.

Fili and Kili had behaved strangely too. One moment they were teaching you how to shoot an arrow and then they tried to get you into a dress.

In the forest! Why would you wear a dress if you were on the road?

But they insisted so you had no other choice. That is what they told you anyway.

The lights started to shine brighter, making it clear that you were coming closer. Where were you going?

Thorin pushed some bushes out of the way so you could get out of the tree line without ripping your dress.

Your mouth dropped open.

Many small candles were standing everywhere, creating a beautiful sight in the middle of the woods. Four small logs had been cut so that they now looked like chairs. In the middle stood the base of a large tree.

Plates and mugs were waiting for the guests to sit down.

The smell of a delicious stew also made itself known as you walked forwards.

"This is amazing" you said in awe. Someone had really put a lot of effort into this.

"I am glad you feel that way lass."

You turned around. In front of you stood Dwalin. He was wearing regal clothing, probably borrowed from Thorin. His hair was neatly combed and most of his weapons were gone.

It was...

not the Dwalin you loved. Although he did look amazing.

"What happened to you?" you asked before you could help yourself. It almost made you giggle to see Dwalin was so different.

Before he could answer, Balin stepped forward and pointed towards the seats. "Dinner is almost ready. We can sit down" he said.

You nodded. As you tried to sit down you were surprised to feel Dwalin's arm supporting you. He smiled at you when you looked up. What was wrong with him? Normally helped you sit down as well but in a different way.

He quickly sat down on the other side of the 'table'. Balin send him a frown when he almost knocked over some of the mugs. You managed to surpress a giggle.

If someone noticed that Dwalin was blushing after this almost disaster, none dared to point it out.

Bifur and Bilbo soon came to fill your mugs with mead, wine for you, and a delicious stew.

Dwalin grabbed his spoon, ready to dive in.

Balin coughed.

His brother tried to fake a smile. He put his spoon down. "Lass, Bifur made a squirrel stew. I hope you will like it" he said. He sounded more sincere now.

"Thank you Dwalin. I am sure it will taste great" you said.

Dwalin nodded. He started to slowly eat his soup.

You frowned when you noticed. Most of the time he just grabbed the bowl and put it on his lips to eat/drink his stew. It was strange to see him trying to eat with a spoon.

It became even more clear to you that something was off when you saw him placing his napkin on his lap. He did this after he saw Thorin doing the same.

There was definitely something off.

"So, lass, what have you been up to today?" Dwalin asked. This earned an eye roll from Balin and a sigh from Thorin. Dwalin put his spoon down again, looking down at his napkin.

"I have been doing great today. Fili and Kili tried to teach me how to use a bow" you said, trying to make him feel more comfortable.

A small smile began to play at his lips again. That was a start. "Aye, I noticed. How did it go for you?"

You washed down the stew with a little wine. "I accidentally shot Bombur in his behind at one point" you said. You were sure that he would burst out in laughter.

And he showed some signs of wanting to do just that. But he didn't. He held back. Instead he just smiles at you. "I hope he is doing alright" was the only other response you got.

Now it just began to feel awkward. Dwalin wasn't being himself. You didn't know why.

Balin and Thorin seemed to be watching his every move and correcting him.

Dwalin picked up his mead to drink his worries away. This wasn't going the way they planned. It appeared that you were feeling uncomfortable. That was not what he intended to happen.

When he put down his mug, purely out of habit, a giant burp escaped his lips.

Thorin and Balin stopped eating and looked at him in shock. Dwalin was just ready to utter an apology when you started laughing.

Not a silent laugh.

Nope.

Not a giggle.

Not at all.

Your laughter, Dwalin was sure, filled the whole forest. Thorin and Balin got up and left. Their planned had worked after all.

Dwalin relaxed as soon as they left. He laughed along with you.

As you tried to calm down, you let your hand rest on the table.

He saw his chance and carefully put his bigger hand on top of yours.

You looked up, into each other's eyes. No words were needed that night.

When you came back to camp, you were holding hands. And a new courting braid had everyone cheering for you in joy.