Allie

~~~

After a lovely dinner with the king we all parted ways and went to bed. I went alone.

~~~

My room is big and the bed huge. All for me to lay on by myself.

Alone.

Slipping in quietly I settle in the middle and close my eyes, nothing. I can't sleep. I'm used to someone being by my side or across the hall. This time it's only Oin and Gloin across the hall. Emily, Alex, Grace, and Bilbo are all sleeping across the castle. Leaving me behind.

I'm very happy they all have soulmates and life figured out after this adventure. But also a little sad I don't. The cursed runes in my back mean nothing, for my soulmate will instantly give me up when they see the name on my stomach.

Signing deeply I look around the dark, drafty, and empty room. I've no one to cuddle.

I lay in silence for hours before groaning and forcing myself to stand up. I'm gonna go find someone to cuddle if it's the last thing I do.

~~~

The castle is cold and dim as I quietly tiptoe through it. Wandering about I examine my options. The couples and older cranky dwarves off limits leaving...no one.

"Hello Allie may I ask what you are doing up?" a collected cool voice asks. I jump and whirl around to see Thranduil standing in the hall.

"Oh yes you see I'm searching for a cuddle candidate," I explain sheepishly.

"Hmm can't say I can help with that. I'm not much for cuddling and Natalie isn't either. But I believe the older scholar, Balin, is in the library making your leader alone in his room. A small kidnapping would be in order to get him back to your room though," Thranduil says coyly and my mood brightens.

"Great idea thanks!" I exclaim and immediately start walking.

"One thing before you go." I pause and turn around.

"Yes?" I ask.

"I find all legends quite interesting do you?" I nod hesitantly. "But one in particular the constantly fluctuating Angel of Middle Earth one really catches my eye." I gulp deeply. Oh no he suspects.

"Well it is quite fascinating I agree." I keep a straight face although panic is welling up.

"It's also true isn't it. I mean all the other legends are. So why not this one?"

"Because it's fairy tales. Angel? You can't be serious. They don't exist," I chuckle nerves building up.

"Demon children don't exist," Thranduil deadpans. "Anyway you fit the description perfectly. A mysterious diamond shaped mark on your neck, ability to take pain, wings, an enchanting voice, and sudden strength of grace in times of need. The dots connect." I screw my eyes shut and shake my head rapidly.

"No no no." Tears spring at my eyes. I don't want this.

"But oh it's true isn't it. You just don't want your friends to know you killed yourself, you don't want them to know you're supposed to a savior. Do you?"

"I don't, they can't!" I snap before turning on my heel and dashing down the hall to Thorins room. I get there in ten seconds flat, throw open the door, and slam it behind me.

"Uh Allie?" Thorin chokes out. He is reclined on a single bed in night clothes his hair tied back in a ponytail. Another single bed lies across the room for Balin.

"Get up we're going to my room to cuddle," I order and stride across the room to the desk. I scribble a note to Balin then grab Thorins arm and haul him up.

Dear Balin

I kidnapped your king. I want someone to cuddle. Don't tell Grace.

With all the love Allie.

"Wait what?!" Thorin sputters but allows me to drag him out of the room. "Allie why?"

"Because I need to cuddle someone and I'd rather not walk in on any of my friends with their soulmates right now. Who knows what they're doing!" I answer loudly.

"Cuddle?" Thorin inquires a pale look on his face.

"Yes now get on my bed and cuddle me dwarf," I growl indignantly when we break into my room.

"Well okay," he sighs and shrugs. I shove him down on the bed and flop down next to him. He awkwardly wraps an arm around my shoulders and I roll my eyes.

"For real asshole," I say and snuggle into his chest. He wraps both arms around me and puts his forehead on mine. We just stare for a moment before I smile. He smells like pine and he's warm. It feels like home and serenity in his arms. I end up falling into a peaceful sleep.

~~~

Waking up the next morning I yawn and open my eyes to find the dwarf king still holding me. It feels so nice I don't want to move. But he too awakens and unlatches himself instantly.

"Thanks for doing that," I whisper.

"Oh it's my pleasure," he responds before abruptly slapping a hand over his mouth.

"So you're truthful in the morning huh? I'll have to remember that," I say to myself and lean in ever so slightly. His lips are so inviting. He backs away instantly.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing," I say quickly and back away a blush on my face.

"Wait," then he leans forward and I lean back.

"What?" I queak an anxious edge to my voice

"Sorry," he apologizes.

"Wait." I grab his braids and pull him forward. Our lips meet for a moment before a loud knock comes at my door and we rip away

"Allie have you seen Thorin?" Kili asks from the other side of the door.

"NO," I shout and Thorin swears under his breath

"Can I come in?" Alex asks.

"NO I'M IN THE NUDE!" I screech and run up throwing my body against the door.

"Oh Mahal okay bye," Kili gasps and I hear footsteps echoing away. I sigh deeply in relief.

"Um you should probably go. You know big banquet tonight got to get ready. Sorry," I ramble and push him out the door. Suddenly he leans in an pecks my lips before rushing off. My jaw drops and I let out a strangled squeal. That did not just happen.

~~~

Emily joined me in my room to get ready an hour later. Fili and Kili scampered off with Legolas to go spider hunting before the ball.

~~~

"Emily I have a question," I state as she entwines blue flowers into my hair. I sit in a velvet chair in front of a vanity. Her minstrations are calming and I need to tell someone.

"Yes?"

"So Thorin did something that felt great and I want it to mean something but what if it means nothing?!?" I exclaim.

"What did you do?" Emily asks in a monotone voice.

"We kissed twice but it wasn't intense is was...chaste," I admit and Emily's eyes widen to the size of saucers.

"WHAT?" she yells.

"Yeah I know."

"Oh my Yavanna Allie!!"

"I know I know I don't know what happened," I groan and bang my head on the vanity. I'm going crazy.

"Okay stop Allie. Just stay calm and worry about it...later! Yeah later. Or now. Maybe just think if you want it to be something make it something if not don't," Emily guides, a sort of stammer in her voice. She seems almost worried for me.

"Yeah yeah that's smart," I breath and nod. "Besides I've got a gorgeous dress to wear." I pull it out of my closet and show her. It's a floor length short sleeved blue sparkly dress with good and silver accents.

"Mine too look." Emily picks up the dress she placed on the bend when she came in and shows it to me. It's a clear colored dress with golden leaves covering it.

"We are gonna rock this ball," I cheer, beaming. Thorin is definitely going to desire me after tonight.

~~~

Alex

~~~

"Natalie you are wearing a dress tonight," I order. Natalie is refusing to put on the dress I picked out for her. She doesn't like wearing dresses.

"NO," she snaps defiantly.

"Yes Natalie!" I yell.

"As long as I can wear pants underneath I will," Natalie compromises crossing her arms.

"Deal."

Then we both reluctantly get changed. I'm not much for dresses either but my dress is pretty. It's a strapless green dress with a green veil like fabric flowing down. Natalie pulled on a long white dress with a silver and gold complimenting chest piece and a red shawl. That was the end of that. We didn't bother doing each others hair or something stupid like that.

~~~

Sam

~~~

After Bilbo left to go dress with the dwarves Grace came to my room to get ready.

"Look at the dress I picked out!" I squeal and pull it out of wardrobe. Graces eyes bug ever so slightly and she gapes at the dress. The top is basically gold plated jewelry in ornate riskie designes. It shows some skin but it isn't too bad. I love it. It screams fierce.

"Wo-oe that is definitely you," Grace gawks, jaw dropped.

"Thanks what about your dress?" I ask looking in Graces arm. She's carefully cradling a dark purple and gold dress.

"Oh this. Here take a look" she holds it out and I pick it up. The top to the waist is dark purple with gold swirls and designs while past the waist is a gold skirt with a small train. It's an extremely pretty dress.

"It's so amazing. You'll look great!" I gush.

Together we get changed. She braids my long hair to the side and I twist her hair into curls. Grace then puts on a gold circlet and fluffs her hair in the mirror.

"We look hot," Grace comments smirking.

"Now let's go to a ball!" I cheer and arm in arm we walk out the door.

Soft harp music is playing when we enter the ballroom and elves are dancing across the floor. Legolas instantly strides up and grabs onto Grace's hands.

"My love you look breathtaking," Legolas breathes and runs a hand through a curl of her hair.

"You look just as well too Legolas,"

she returns, smiling widely. It occurs to me then this is the first time I've seen her openly show affection such as this to anyone. Legolas is wearing silver robes and has his hair braided in the normal elvish manner

"Sam!" I quickly whip round to see Bilbo jogging up. He's wearing a black tailcoat with white pants. "Shall we dance my lady?"

"Yes we shall!" I agree and take his arm letting him lead me to the dance floor.

The height is awkward so we just hold hands and sway. Minutes later Allie and Emily enter striding in confidence and sexy looks on their faces. Their dresses match their personalites much like Grace's and mine. Allie instantly zeroes in on Thorin like a predator and stalks up. She's a women on a mission. Emily however skips up to Fili, plants a kiss on his lips, and swirls him into a dance. It's sweet and graceful. Lacy and Tauriel enter hand in hand making doe eyes at each other. Tauriel is wearing a long pink dress with a floral design and a belt and of gold leaves. Lacy is wearing a white ball gown with light blue accents. Tauriel leads Lacy around and introduces her to a few people before sweeping her on the dance floor for a waltz.

"This is nice I like to see our friends enjoying themselves. Especially when the rode ahead of us is more than difficult," I muse to Bilbo.

"Yes it is. I'm more concerned about after. What will we do after this adventure?" Bilbo inquires a hint of worry in his voice.

"I'm not sure. I know I wouldn't like to return to Rivendall. I'd go to the Shire with you but our friends will be here. Emily is going to marry Fili and become a princess, Alex and Kili can't separate even if they wanted too, and I can't see Grace willingly leaving this place again after this. Legolas most likely wants to marry her making her a princess. They already treat her as such I mean look at the circlet."

"I quite agree with you. But let's just see how things turn out hmm?" I grin and nod.

~~~

Allie

~~~

Natalie and Alex shuffle in late and head straight for the buffet table. Thranduil has all the best foods and wines. I even grabbed myself a glass of his fine wine. Natalie and Alex are wearing dresses contrary to what Kili and Legolas suspected.

"So Mister Oakenshield I believe you stole a kiss from me," I flirt, tilting my head up look him in the eye.

"As I remember you did your own theft on me," Thorin counters.

"I suppose we're even then unless I take another," I offer trying to be alluring. "Then you'd have to again even the playing field." Thorin stares and me and then his eyes go down to my midriff. His coy grin falls and replaced with a frown.

In that moment I know what's coming next.

"Look Miss Allie what happened earlier was a mistake. You are like a naive child for thinking any else of it," Thorin says bluntly. His face is stone but a bead of sweat runs down his forehead and he's standing very still to avoid fidgeting. He's lying I can tell.

Even still my heart shatters and I glare. Before I even know what I'm doing my hand hits his face and I dump my glass of wine on his shirt. Tears spring at my eyes but if refuse to let them fall. How could I have believed that I could trust another man again? I'm stupid and naive just like he said.

"How dare you! You're lying and I know it Thorin Oakenshield. Now I don't know what you're trying to pull but know it will not work. You have broken my trust and my heart. You're just like him. Or is that why you don't want me? Because I'm scarred, broken, or used? You disgust me. I'm not naive I've been through more than you know more than you'd cared to notice. I hope you're happy with what you've done. I hope you silly lies and plan worked out," I hiss before turning on my heel and storming off. I'm more confused than anything. Was he just leading me on to break my heart? Is that what I am? A sick game for men?

"Allie what just happened? Tell me," Grace demands stepping in front of me. Legolas stands beside her holding an unopened bottle of wine.

"It doesn't matter. Not anymore," I growl and rip the bottle from Legolas's grip, opening it expertly.

"Allie don't drink," Grace protests and tries to wrench the bottle from my grip.

"DON'T!" I yell. "Stop ordering me around. I'm sick of being the naive little girl you need to look out for! I'm an adult and I can drink." I take a huge gulp from the bottle and shove past her as well.

~~~

Natalie

~~~

Things are beginning to fall apart and fast. I see Allie chugging wine and trying not to cry. Grace is fuming and I believe Legolas is the only thing holding her back from ripping Thorins throat out. Legolas is only stopping her because I need to talk to Thorin, diplomatically of course.

"Sir Oakenshield I hope you've enjoyed your stay here," I start the conversation easily. He's barely paying attention. His mind is on the little hobbit in the corner angrily drinking wine.

"It's been fine," he replies.

"And I hope you've gotten the supplies you need from us," I continue.

"Yes."

"Then I'd hoped you could help me with something."

"What?" he snaps. Out of the corner of my eye I can see Thrnaduil approaching.

"Starlight gems do you remember?!Thranduil ordered them long ago and we never got them. I'm hoping that when you retake the mountain we could have them," I propose. Thranduil is right behind me now. "They were for his wife who's sadly passed now. She started to go during the few days Thrnaduil was in Erebor. I'd like to put them on her memorial."

"This was your plan all a long wasn't it?! You're only helping us for our gems! You are false liars and I care not if his wife is dead! She as probably just as slimy and tricky as you!" Thorin shouts darkly. I gulp deeply. Oh no.

"How dare you!?! How dare you speak of her in such a manner! She was friends with your father and grandfather! You are despicable!" Thranduil screams, turns with a swoop of his robe, and strides out head held high. I know he's going to throw himself at Eleni's grave and wail for her loss.

"You have scorned the ball of Thranduil," I snarl and run after him. Legolas quickly follows behind me.

~~~

Alex

~~~

"This is a fucking mess. Your uncle pissed off Thranduil, Allie is getting angry drunk, and Grace looks like she's gonna kill someone," I whine. Kili and I were dancing away perfectly happy without all this drama.

The guards stand by looking confused. They've no one to give orders to them.

"Do we imprison them?" one guard asks.

"They've insulted the late queen and scorned the ball so I assume we do," another answers.

"Yeah guys we are getting arrested follow Grace and I," I sigh deeply.

"What!?!?" Balin exclaims in shock at how he managed to let the diplomatic situation slip through his fingers.

"Just go with it we'll be out by tomorrow," Grace assures, shrugging. We are used to going down there. We have personal cells now.

"Go prisoners!" the guards scream and herd us together. Allie angrily throws an empty wine bottle to the ground and tackles one guard who tries to handcuff her. She cruelly cuts off his hair before Grace pulls her off and holds her around her middle. She hisses and kicks against her. The rest of us go willingly go down to the dungeon.

Allie screeches obscenities in languages I've never heard before as we get paired up amd shoved into cells. Tauriel would be stopping this if her and Lacy hadn't snuck off to mess around. I drag Kili to my cell and pull him in. Grace shuts herself in her cell without Allie.

Allie is currently standing wings out eyes glowing and katana drawn on the steps. The guards have surrounded her. She's pissed and her being drunk doesn't help.

"Allie just go into a cell," Thorin grumbles.

"You think you can give me orders?! No man can ever give me orders!" Allie says darkly turning to face Thorin. A guard then hits her in the back of the head while she's turned with the butt of his blade. She crumples to the ground and they shove her in a hanging bird cage. It is there because Thranduil used to have a pet phoenix.

"Well that ball went horribly wrong," Ori groans.

"No shit," I scoff.