And when he looks at me, I fall in love again, and again. Because his gaze is all I ever wanted.

fidgeting, Thorin! It only stings because it is working." Arethusa had ground the leaves and yellow flowers of witch hazel with kingsfoil, the combination would not only cleanse the wounds but also reduce the inflammation and soothe the ache. The dwarf sat on the stump of a fallen tree trying to stop the urge to cross his arms over his chest and shrug away from the fairy.

He huffed, "And I had the nerve to think that you were trying to finish me off." The fairy looked down at him, ridicule in her eyes, but she resumed her task. The paste was fragrant and surely the smell made up for the hideous brown color it had turned. Arethusa pressed the mixture lightly onto one of the punctures near his ribs but she did not miss the near silent hiss of pain.

She turned and dug around in her sash, pulling out a small bundle of purple flowers, taking a few out she handed them to Thorin and quickly went back to tending his wounds. "Oh hush, chew on those if you are to keep complaining about my ways." Thorin Oakenshield did not take orders from anyone, except Arethusa, it appeared he took orders from her quite well and without question. He groaned and stuck the violets she had handed to him in his mouth.

The fairy had to conceal her urge to laugh when he near gagged and quickly spat out the flowers. "Now you must be poisoning me." Thorin looked over his shoulder as she rubbed more of the paste onto his back. Her hair concealed part of her face but he could make out her amused expression.

"It's a sweet violet, it helps ease the pain." She came back to stand in front of him and with a wet piece of cloth she wiped away the dried blood that was still on his nose and cheek.

"Then the person who named them has never tried one before." She smiled and went to retrieve her cloak from where it had been hung to dry, taking out her knife she cut the fabric into long strips and used them as bandages. It had been a gift from Lady Galadriel but now served her purposes better as bandages, it pained her to see such a beautifully crafted piece of clothing be rendered to scraps but for Thorin, she did not hesitate. Arethusa wrapped the fabric around his torso and over his shoulder, tying a small knot below his arm to keep it from slipping.

Thorin stood, but not without a grunt of pain that twisted his face into a grimace. Arethusa had laid her hand upon his chest, for the moment, his hand curled around hers. Her fingers were slim and delicate in comparison to his own. Yet he found a paradox, the same hands that could kill goblins, notch arrows, and cut down wild things could also heal. Her gaze moved from his face to where their hands touched. "Arethusa, ghivashel, I-," She was going to ask what the word meant, it was the second time he had called her that but when Thorin tipped her chin back up she was lost when her eyes met his.

"Thorin, it's time we move on." Dwalin's voice was gruff and as soon as Arethusa realized they were not alone she stepped back, putting several feet between herself and Thorin. She followed behind Dwalin but glanced over her shoulder for only a second to see Thorin pulling his tunic back overhead. The remainder of the company was gathered around, it sounded as if they were planning something and when Dwalin cleared his throat the dwarves stood at attention and turned. Ori stood with his hands behind his back, a faint shade a pink had risen to his cheeks.

Fili shoved Ori, urging him to step forward. Arethusa stepped closer to him and he shoved his hands forward, opening them up to reveal a silver brooch in the shape of a star, only now it was broken in half, along the crack the white gems were missing. "I saw it when we were being chased." The fairy covered her mouth with her hand to prevent everyone from seeing the trembling of her lips but she could not hide the quivering of her hands and the tears that gathered in her eyes.

"I cannot thank you enough for this, Ori." She clutched the broken pieces to her chest. The company surrounded her and when they all hugged her she wanted to cry harder. It was the closest she had ever gotten to having a family again and they had found the only thing she had left of her mother. With that the company made their way, one step closer to Erebor. Arethusa had walked beside Bilbo for a long stretch but finally, she caught up with Balin. "Balin, may I ask you something?"

The old dwarf nodded, "Of course, Lady Arethusa." She nearly cringed at the title he used, she was no Lady, even if the elven lords paid homage to her true title by calling her such.

"Thorin called me something today," she paused trying to come up with a feasible way to pronounce the word, "giv –ghiva, forgive me I cannot pronounce it correctly." The fairy lowered her head in dismay.

"Ghivashel?" The white-haired dwarf supplemented. She nodded. "I assume you wish to know what it means, yes?" Arethusa nodded again but she was met with Balin's short chuckle. "Then I must advise you to ask him, it will sound much sweeter than if I say it." She cursed the stubbornness and secrecy of dwarves but strode ahead until she was walking at Thorin's side.

"Your brooch, it will be fixed once the mountain is ours." With pride gleaming in his eyes he turned to Arethusa and managed a small smile. Having heard of the skills of dwarvish forging she would not shy away from having such a sentimental piece repaired. The fairy lowered her head in gratitude.

The silence between them was broken by the bickering of the company, it caused Arethusa to smile and cemented the fact that this band of misfits could be her family. She looked at Thorin from the corner of her eyes but kept her gaze ahead. "What you called me earlier, what does it mean?" She looked at him curiously.

"In time you will know." Thorin's voice was level but the beginnings of a smile shone through his serious expression.

Arethusa sighed, "Then I hope it is not an insult." If it was, two could play at that game, she could spew Sindarin insults all day and he would never know what they meant.

"It is not, that I swear on my life." The fairy nodded, accepting his poor excuse for an answer for the time being. She ran phrases through her mind of what it could mean, the thought of the words being a lover's endearment caused her face to go red but somehow she knew that it did not carry such meaning.

The hill they had walked down was rather steep and though he tried to conceal it she saw Thorin's small flinches and winces of pain. When the ground leveled out she placed her hand on his chest as they continued to walk. "How do they feel?"

The dwarf gave a grunt of indignation, "You needn't worry over me." His voice was tight and clipped, the fairy's face twisted into a scowl.

Arethusa pulled her hand away and stood back, the dwarf did not want to admit to it but he missed her touch. "You're right, I don't have to worry over you, Thorin Oakenshield, but if I don't then you would not take care of these wounds." He knew she spoke the truth, if not for her then they would have never stopped by the Anduin, his wounds would have been left to fester.

"You're forgetting that I have lived before you knew me." He gritted out, more annoyed at himself than her.

Arethusa shook her head, "No, I do not forget that. I have lived much longer than you and I know the stubbornness of men no matter their race." She challenged with a raised brow, only Thorin had nothing say in response, Dori and Glóin had heard the fuss and chuckled much to Thorin's chagrin. "There is an abandoned elven outpost not far from here. It would be a good place to rest." She uttered after several moments of tense silence.

"Then we will follow your lead." Arethusa nodded and took only a step lead in front of Thorin, the open plain turned into a dense forest with trees that grew so tall it looked as if they would truly touch the sky. A path was visible in some places but in others mounds of leaves and fallen branches covered the worn trail. Rushing water could be heard from a small creak and at the crossing she knew they were close. The largest tree in the forest had a winding staircase starting at the base of the trunk, it lead into the canopy of leaves.

The handrails had begun to rot but the planked steps were intact. The first level was an open platform, the second was the same as the first, and the third took the shape of a small house. Arethusa was reminded of her times in Lothlórien, the fairest elven forest in Middle Earth. Bofur and Bombur had already laid out on the second level deck, most of them had opted to remain further covered by the foliage of autumn leaves. Arethusa took the stairs to the small house, intent on looking over the forest. She had already ascended the stairs when Thorin looked up. Kili walked to his uncle's side, as did Fili. They both glanced up at the fairy and to their uncle, who still gazed upwards, not even noticing the presence of his nephews, "You should go to her."

His attention snapped to Kili at the suggestion but Fili avidly agreed and with a huff Thorin ascended the stairs. The dwarf came to a halt at Arethusa's side as she overlooked the land. In the far distance, she could see the Lonely Mountain but Mirkwood still laid between them and Erebor. "The stars shine brighter than normal, it seems that fate is smiling upon you, Thorin Oakenshield." There was a faint smile upon her lips when he looked to the side. Thorin hated the way she caused him to feel, the way her smile causes his heart to skip a beat or the way her voice could enchant him. He placed his hands upon the railing and almost jumped when Arethusa laid one of her hands atop his. "I should check your bandages."

Nothing remained in the small watch-house but a stool and chair that was missing a leg. Arethusa gestured towards the stool and without having to be told twice he stripped away his coat and tunic until the only thing on his chest was the bandages. His eyes followed her every move, he became so focused on watching her hands that he did not even see or feel that she was prodding at one of the deeper punctures. "They are healing nicely, but still, time is the best cure all." Thorin huffed, Arethusa rummaged through her bag, finding the half empty vial of snow-flower juice. She placed one drop at each of the deeper wounds and quickly rewrapped his chest, a frown crossed her face at the realization that her snow-flower juice would soon be gone and as it was produced in Númenórë there would be no way to reproduce such a potent healing potion.

"You are beautiful," Thorin couldn't be sure whether he had spoken the words aloud or if they were only spoken within his mind, when Arethusa's head snapped up to look at him he knew he had spoken his thoughts. She wasn't sure how to respond to the statement but her heart fluttered. Mindlessly, the fairy reached out and touched his cheek, half checking to see if he was feverish. When she affirmed he was not, her fingertips combed through his beard.

Thorin stood and Arethusa stepped back, her eyes searched his face to find something, anything that would tell her what to say, how to react. The dwarf reached out, his thick and calloused fingers brushed over her cheek and down the single braid in her hair. Arethusa stilled his hand and brought it near her chest, she no longer held his fiery blue gaze. Thorin tipped her chin up and would not let the moment fall away again. He kissed her, his lips were soft as butterfly wings, his hands gentler than the kiss of the morning sun on her cheeks. Arethusa sighed, her hands braced on his chest, beneath dark hair and thick skin she could feel his heart pounding.

She was the first to pull away, her eyes downcast, breathing heavy, and cheeks flushed with color. "I would ask that you look upon me, Arethusa." As she looked back up, Thorin had placed his hand beneath her chin. Gone was any ice within his eyes, they did not appear to hold a winter storm but she saw the crystal seas of Númenórë, warm and gentle. Arethusa lifted her hand to rest against his cheek, there was a timidness he had never seen in her actions, and while she looked up with violet eyes Thorin had never felt calmer.

The fairy wished to kiss him again but instead of falling to her heart's desire she only rested her head against his chest, her free hand reaching out for his. "We should rest, the elven enchantment still lies over this outpost. If danger approaches we will know." She walked back to the stairs that would allow her to join the company.

Thorin reached out, his fingers brushing over her arm, she made the mistake turning to look back at him. "Have you nothing to say?" His voice was low, it cracked twice whether from emotion or thirst she could not pinpoint, under the consternation there was hidden anger.

"Thorin," the words she so desperately needed to form had seemingly vanished from her tongue and mind, her heart ached at the very sight of him. Arethusa placed her hands on either side of his face and a familiar and pleasant warmth surrounded him, it increased tenfold when her lips brushed against his, unsure and timid. He barely responded, his hands remained by his side. This time, it was she who was kissing him so sweetly. Her lips tasted of honey. When the fairy pulled away she smiled despite the glistening tears within her violet eyes, her lips brushed against his forehead and when her touch was completely gone the warmth never left. She had placed him under her protection, her heart had been intertwined with his.