~Dwalin~

"A hammer is better! You can't deny that!" Dwalin growled out.

"I will deny it!" Balamaethor growled, glaring down at the tattooed dwarf. "Why would you use that hammer of yours? It's heavy and weighs you down when you lug it about! Now, a sword! Light and easy, strikes your enemy down and it doesn't weight you down, that's the way to go!"

"Nonsense!" Dwalin argued.

"At least we're not comparing it to a bow!" Beriohtarion mumbled.

"Can't we just all come to an understanding that we all have our weapons of choice and that all weapons are satisfactory?" Thenidiel smiled nervously, trying to calm the three arguing warriors.

"No." Balamaethor and Dwalin yelled, starting up another argument while Beriohtarion added his opinion every so often.

"Nana!" Balamaethor called out, pointing toward Dwalin. "You'll settle this argument, which is better? Sword or Hammer?"

"Do not drag me into your argument..." Bellethiel mumbled, pinching the bridge of her nose.

The day started off so peacefully in Lake-Town, with Bellethiel sitting across from Thorin reading a random book when her nephews and Dwalin began talking about wars they had fought, that soon escalated into an argument on which weapon is better.

"She agrees with us!" Balamaethor claimed.

"She had no opinion to add!" Dwalin glared. "She said she didn't want to be apart of this argument."

"To end this tiresome debate, I will say hammer..." Bellethiel mumbled.

Dwalin smiled proudly at the twins as the two boys groaned in frustration.

"You don't believe that Nana!" Beriohtarion called out, pointing accusingly at his mother.

"You asked for my opinion and I am giving it..." Bellethiel sighed, now flipping through the pages of her book, rereading the same sentence several times over due to the distraction coming from her children and Dwalin.

"Let's ask Thorin then." Balamaethor stated, glancing to the king.

"Hammer." Thorin answered quickly.

"But you use a sword!" Balamaethor emphasized, pulling at his hair. "This is unfair..."

"Three to two." Dwalin smiled smugly.

"Thenidiel! Dear sister...please!" Balamaethor pleaded.

"I don't want to have a say..." Thenidiel mumbled, shuffling nervously. "I dabble in healing."

"How about we go outside and settle this then?" Beriohtarion suggested, causing Balamaethor and Dwalin to instantly jump to their feet.

"Agreed." They both said, already headed toward the door with Beriohtarion dragging Thenidiel behind him.

The door slammed shut leaving Bellethiel and Thorin alone in the house, both simultaneously letting out a sigh.

"I do not understand my nephews sometimes..." Bellethiel mumbled, getting up to return the book back to the bookcase. "I better make sure they do not hurt themselves..."

~Balin~

Bellethiel repeated flawlessly after reading the words written on a paper Balin had handed her.

"Excellent Belle." Balin praised. "You are a quick learner lass, and your pronunciation is superb!"

"What did I just say?" Bellethiel questioned.

"" Balin answered.

"Is it really okay that I am learning your language?" Bellethiel questioned. "I know how sacred it is, not to mention how secretive your race is...and I do not wish to upset any of your kin because you are sharing your secrets to a stranger."

"There is no need to worry." Balin smiled, shaking his head. "With what you have done for us, I don't think anyone would take offense."

"That is good, your culture and traditions are so fascinating..." Bellethiel commented. "some of your traditions are a bit different from ours."

"What is elven courtship like?" Balin questioned.

"Out of all things to be interested in, you ask about courtship?" Bellethiel asked curiously. "Is there a reason for that?"

"Curiosity." Balin smiled.

"Well, of course we are able to choose freely who we marry. Once we choose, the betrothal is announced between the two houses and they would exchange rings. The betrothal will last a year, though it is rarely broken, but the betrothal is revocable by returning the rings. Once the year is up a time is set for the bond. During the marriage it is celebrated by a feast between the two houses, in which the two would return their rings and receive others worn from their index finger. Words are exchanged by the woman and the man, along with consummation to seal the marriage." Bellethiel thought, placing a finger on her chin.

"Was that what you did with your younger sister?" Balin asked.

"The joining was proclaimed and it was celebrated between our family. It was not needed since Anameleth was of age, but they had come to my brother and myself and asked for my blessing. It was only my brother and myself present while my sisters husband had his mother, father, and his grandparents." Bellethiel remembered fondly. "There was another celebration soon after when we had found out she was pregnant with twins."

"What about your brother?" Balin said.

"Their marriage was completed a little before the dragon took the mountain." Bellethiel said, letting out a sigh. "What about the courting ritual of dwarves?"

"Well, it is not so different from elvish courtships, of course they do proclaim to everyone that they are courting, to show that they are 'off the market' as some would say. Blessings from the family members, exchanging of gifts, rings could be one but instead of rings it is braiding a courting bead into their hair. Along with the position of where the braid is will show that they are courting because of course you know that braiding each others hair in dwarven culture is very...intimate. Once the marriage date comes around a large feast is held to celebrate the union. Though because dwarf woman are so scarce other lads are competing with each other for the lovely maidens attention." Balin stated. "It's a small summary of the courtship between dwarves."

"I guess our cultures are not so different." Bellethiel smiled. "Must be hard to compete for the attention of a maiden if more then one dwarf wishes to court her."

Balin nodded before placing his hand upon the paper in between them on the table.

"Let's go back to more phrases shall we?" Balin smiled, bringing the paper toward him, scribbling once more before sliding it toward Bellethiel.

"" Bellethiel read off with slight difficulty.

Balin nodded before Bellethiel looked to Balin suspiciously.

"What does that mean?" Bellethiel questioned.

"" Balin smiled, causing Bellethiel to flush.

"I think lessons are done for the day." Bellethiel mumbled as Balin laughed.

~Oin~

On this particular day the company, minus Fili and Kili, were lounging lazily around the house. Oin had decided that Bellethiel needed to learn some basic healers technique after what had happened back at the Carrock. And though Bellethiel tried to tell Oin it was pointless, considering she did not have the knack for it...Oin still pushed on and insisted that she try. So, she politely listened as Oin started listing basic herbs that could come in handy for the future.

"Help!" Kili called out, barging into the house. "Fili's been injured!"

"What happened lad?" Oin questioned, quickly getting to his feet.

"I accidentally...grazed him with my arrow." Kili mumbled, shifting uncomfortably as he bought his brother toward Oin.

Oin then began to inspect the wound on Fili's shoulder.

"It's just a scratch." Oin stated, looking to Bellethiel who stood in the kitchen area. "Come here lass, give it a try."

"I do not think so Oin..." Bellethiel called out. "As I have said, I am a warrior...there is a reason I am not a healer..."

"Just come and give it a try." Oin said, urging her to come over.

"Should I be worried?" Fili mumbled.

"Very..." Bellethiel mumbled as she came beside Fili, Oin handing her a clean white cloth.

By Oin's instruction, Bellethiel began cleaning Fili's wound, applying some herbs, and slowly (but carefully) began binding the cloth around Fili's shoulder.

"Very good Belle." Oin praised, as Bellethiel stepped away so Oin could give another look over.

"Oin, I can bind wounds, but everything else dealing with herbs, poison and sickness...I would fail." Bellethiel sighed.

"Wow, Nana did that?" Beriohtarion exclaimed, coming close to our little group.

"I'm surprised you are alive dear prince!" Balamaethor smiled cheekily. "Nana couldn't even wrap our wounds when we were little, our uncle had to deal with those types of things."

Bellethiel grabbed her two nephews in a headlock, her eye twitching in irritation as her nephews struggled to get out.

"We're just joking Nana!" Beriohtarion called.

"Please let go!" Balamaethor pleaded.

"How about we study some more lass?" Oin suggested.

"I think I will just stick to what I know best Oin." Bellethiel smiled, about to walk away with her nephews.

"Nonsense." Oin said, taking a hold of her elbow and dragging her to the table. "Come on lass, we will start with herbs you can use to deal with poison."

~Gloin~

"Give that back!" Gloin yelled out.

It was another day of training for the company, and the only ones that weren't practicing were Gloin, Beriohtarion, Balamaethor, and Thenidiel.

"Give back what our red headed dwarf?" Balamaethor smiled, tossing something to his brother.

"The pouch!" Gloin growled out, headed toward Beriohtarion who tossed it back to his brother. "I will call your mother here if I have to!"

"We're just having a bit of some fun Gloin." Beriohtarion smiled.

"Besides, Nana is busy training with her beloved King." Balamaethor smirked, pointing toward the two sparring leaders. "I never understood the fascination of gold."

Balamaethor tossed the pouch up and down, keeping it out of reach from Gloin before tossing the bag to Beriohtarion, laughing.

"Guys, just give Gloin back his pouch of coins." Thenidiel said, nervously looking between her cousins and Gloin.

"Yes, listen to your sister..."

The two boys halted in their laughter, tensing at the voice behind them. The two turned to see a very angry and irritated Bellethiel, glaring straight at the two.

"Hello Nana." Thenidiel greeted, smiling as she stepped far away from her two cousins.

"Belle! Thank goodness you're here!" Gloin breathed out heavily, leaning over to catch his breathe. "Your nephews are worse then the Durin Princes."

"Nana!" Balamaethor called, recovering quickly. "Finished sparing with King Thorin already?"

"We took a break." Bellethiel mumbled, glancing between the two, holding her hand out. "Hand it over."

Beriohtarion tossed it to Bellethiel who caught it with one hand.

"I am sorry about that Gloin." Bellethiel smiled, handing the pouch back to Gloin who took a deep breath. "I do hope they did not take anything else."

"I should've just called for you first, thank you lass." Gloin said, whipping the sweat from his brow. "I've had just about enough practice for the day..."

"Thenidiel, keep Gloin company." Bellethiel smiled to Gloin. "Sit back and relax."

Thenidiel nodded before taking a seat by Gloin as Bellethiel turned her gaze to her nephews, her eyes now ice cold.

"Now, Nana...remember that you love us." Balamaethor said, quickly going to hide behind his older brother as they both took a step back.

"Of course I love you." Bellethiel smiled eerily. "And because I do, I suggest you guys do our normal morning exercise."

"Morning exercise meaning..." Beriohtarion questioned nervously.

"Have a nice run until Gloin tells you to stop." Bellethiel said causing the two to groan. "Maybe that would teach you two that when we are supposed to be practicing...we should be practicing, yes?"

"Yes Nana..." The two replied in unison before taking off.

"I shall leave them in your capable hands." Bellethiel smiled when she turned to Gloin. "Do not think you have to go easy on them."

Gloin let out a hearty laugh as he watched the two run about.

"I will take good care of them, don't you worry." Gloin promised. "Go back to your spar with Thorin."

Bellethiel nodded before leaving her niece and Gloin to relax under the shade of a tree.

~Bofur~

"What is so fascinating about what you smoke in that pipe?" Bellethiel questioned to Bofur.

Bellethiel had decided to go out for a walk and Thorin had said that someone had to accompany her around. Bofur had quickly volunteered and that is where they were now, walking around while Bofur had pulled out his wooden pipe.

"Old Toby?" Bofur questioned, looking at his pipe. "It's nicotiana, and it smells really good. Plus it's very relaxing. Have you tried?"

"I have heard about it and smelled the sweet scent, but I never tried it." Bellethiel replied.

"Would you like a go?" Bofur questioned, whipping the mouth piece on his sleeve before lifting it toward Bellethiel.

"I do not think I should." Bellethiel replied, looking strangely at the pipe.

"Come one, just one puff Belle." Bofur smiled.

Bellethiel hesitated before reaching over and taking the pipe from Bofur's hand. She began inspecting it over, the fragrance of Old Toby drifting to her nose. Bellethiel then copied what she had seen some of the company do when smoking from their pipe.

"Oh, before I forget don't-"

Bofur was interrupted by Bellethiel suddenly having a coughing fit, smoke escaping with every cough. Bofur winced before nervously chuckling to himself.

"don't breath too much in..." Bofur smiled before Bellethiel tossed the pipe back to Bofur still trying to recover from her coughing.

Bofur shuffled as he tried to catch his pipe without dropping it.

"Are you okay Belle?" Bofur asked in concern as he tried to pat the elfs back.

"I *cough* do not think *cough* I will try that again." Bellethiel said through her fit with strain. "I am sorry...I do not like the taste..."

"Don't worry," Bofur laughed. "it's not for everyone."

~Bombur~

"Who's ready for dinner!" Thenidiel called from the kitchen area, alerting the whole company who began to make their way to the table, pushing and shoving their way there.

"Thank you for making the food tonight." Bellethiel smiled as she went to stand beside her niece, watching the company digging into the plates of food that was set on the main table.

"You were in charge of preparing our meals every day, I figured you needed your rest Nana." Thenidiel smiled.

"You're terrible at healing, but you can cook a fantastic meal." Balamaethor spoke through a mouth full of food. "It's very hard to believe."

"Hey!" Thenidiel called out. "Manners Balamethor!"

Bellethiel let out a laugh as she patted Thenidiel before heading to take a seat beside Bombur.

"I am starving..." Bellethiel smiled, placing food upon her plate and slowly began to eat.

Something (a bread roll) was thrown at Belletheil and she turned in that direction to see who had thrown it...only to not catch the culprit.

The elf glared slightly before turning back to her plate...that now was empty of the food she had put on.

'I do not recall eating everything on my plate...' Bellethiel thought, reaching for more food and placed it on her plate.

Another roll was thrown at her, hitting her head from the opposite side. And just like before she looked and did not catch the culprit followed by her plate coming up empty.

Bellethiel grumbled quietly to herself as she looked around warily, listening carefully as she reached to put food back on her plate.

Bellethiel pretended to keep her attention back to her plate, but she had seen movement in the corner of her eyes and reached up to catch the roll in her hand while looking to see that it had been thrown by Kili.

"So I found one of the people who threw the rolls..." Bellethiel smiled as she reached to her plate and caught the hand that was reaching for her food. "And I caught my food thief."

Bellethiel looked to see Bombur smiling up at the elf as she let his hand go and decided to just hand her plate over to Bombur.

"There." Bellethiel stated. "I do not know why you would want to take my food, but that should be enough."

"It was the lads idea." Bombur said motioning to Fili and Kili. "But thank you Belle."

I glanced to Fili and Kili who glared at Bombur before quickly averting their eyes to their plate when they saw that Bellethiel had glanced in their direction.

~Bifur~

Bellethiel had felt something was wrong with Bifur, for he had come barging through the door of their house grunting loudly before plopping down close to the window sill that looked to the mountain. The elf was worried about the dwarf when he started mumbling in his language.

"Bifur." Bellethiel called, gaining the dwarfs attention. "Is everything okay?"

Bifur started mumbling in Khuzdul, the elf catching only small sayings before he got a bit feisty and began grunting and using wild hand gestures. Until he finally settled and crossed his arms across his chest, letting out a angry huff.

"I am sorry I do not understand what you are saying Bifur..." Bellethiel smiled apologetically, causing Bifur to let out a defeated huff. "but I am going to assume that you are upset about something?"

Bifur perked up and nodded rapidly, again using hand gestures, moving slowly so Bellethiel could see.

"Did someone say something to upset you?" Bellethiel questioned.

Bifur motioned to Bellethiel and himself, and then pointing to Lake-Town before pointing at the axe embedded in his forehead.

"Someone from Lake-Town commented on the axe in your forehead?" Bellethiel questioned.

Bifur nodded furiously before turning his back to her, slouching down deeper into the cushions by the sill.