A/N: Can anyone tell me which song it is that Kali is always singing?

"Are you not going to clean off?"

Bilbo shook his head, politely declining, "No, I was not."

"You really should clean off, though, wouldn't you say, Bilbo?"

Again, he shook his head, "My answer has not changed, Kali, I am not going to go bathe with the others. Perhaps later."

She leaned in, one hand in the dirt across his lap, so Kali was even closer than need be, "Are you sure? You're all males, you've got the same... equipment. It wouldn't be weird or anything."

Bilbo shuddered, "Kali are you feeling alright? You're acting a little strange."

Kali pulled away from him and laid back next to him, staring at his back (as he was sitting upright) It's a nice back, floated through Kali's fuzzy mind, "I feel perfectly fine, Bilbo."

"Miss Silverarm."

Kali sat up quickly, "Yes Thorin?"

Thorin raised an eyebrow from where he was sitting against the base of a tree across the small clearing. To him her tone had a hint of enticement in it and it unnerved him inside, "What had I told you at the start of this journey?" when she didn't answer Thorin grumbled, "You're near the fire. That was one of our agreements."

"Yes yes," Kali was smirking charmingly at him as she stood and sauntered out to the shadows just beyond the light, "Better?"

Thorin couldn't help his snorted laugh, followed by a small smile as he crossed his arms. Got her mother's wits about her, that one does, "Yes, Miss Silverarm. Thank you."

"Why aren't you with the Company, Thorin?" Kali blurted, "Surely you need a washing as well?"

What on earth has gotten into that girl, Bilbo wondered, "Kali, I honestly do not believe that as any of your concern."

"On this, I think I must agree with Master Baggins," Thorin told her whilst giving her a once-over, "Perhaps it is time you slept."

"Perhaps it is time you slept, Thorin," Kali snapped lazily, falling back in the grass, "I am not tired one bit, so I shall take the nightwatch."

"Kali, when has been the last time you had a good night's rest?" Bilbo asked suddenly. 

"Perhaps a week ago," Kali counted out on her fingers, "The last I've rested was an hour or so in Rivendell."

Thorin's brow furrowed, "What of in the Misty Mountains. You'd rested there, had you not?"

"Ah, yes," Kali nodded, "About an hour or so there as well, but that is it."

"Miss Silverarm, get some rest," Thorin told her straight out, "That is an order and I wish it fulfilled."

"I do not take orders from someone who does not want me here," her words held more anger than the two men thought possible for someone in her state.

"Kali, please?" Bilbo reasoned in a soft tone, scooting towards her, "Rest."

"I am on nightwatch..." she yawned and rolled over, talking to a tree some feet away from her, "I would have less of an issue with the shadows would there be a pony out here to snuggle with..."

That was the last she spoke. Soon, her breathing evened out and all was quiet until Bilbo spoke, "You underestimate her, Thorin."

"I have great reason to," Thorin's voice was solemn, "I think it best if you rest, too, Master Baggins."

"Would it be intrusive of me to ask why you resent her being on this quest?" Bilbo asked timidly.

"It would be highly intrusive, yes," Thorin closed his eyes and sighed contently, "However I suppose I could tell you anyway. Only," his eyes opened once more, the iciness of the colour intensified, "If you swear by Durin's name to tell not a single soul. Especially the dwarrowdam." Bilbo nodded and Thorin's gaze softened, staring into the fire, "Long ago there was a woman, a beautiful woman who wandered the great halls of my forefathers. I was smitten with her, however I could not court her for several reasons. She was far older than I, and has a daughter so naturally she must have been happily betrothed to someone better suited for her," Thorin blinked and fixed his gaze on Bilbo, "The had been of lower status than my family and father said I could not court her even if I'd had the chance. However, some months later I was engaged to her daughter."

Bilbo's mouth fell into a perfect O shape, "That's absolutely absurd! Did you follow through the with engagement?"

Thorin smiled a bit, "Absolutely not. She hadn't wanted to go through with it either and so we simply called it off, much to father's dismay. He'd wanted us to try again, but neither of us would have it. Even her mother was sad to see us part from each other..."

"But it was forced love," Bilbo's voice was filled with sadness, "Love is too raw and spontaneous to thrust upon someone in the spur of a moment."

Thorin nodded, "There you have it. Goodnight Master Baggins."

He'd already rolled over and fell asleep by the time Bilbo could sputter out, "Wh--what has that got to do with Kali?!"

"What has what got to do with Kali?" Kili's deep voice was at Bilbo's side and when he looked over, Kili was completely soaked. His tunic laces slightly undone, and Kili had his stockings and boots off as well, "Bilbo?"

The hobbit shook his head, "Thorin was telling me something, that is all."

"Why would uncle known anything that has to do with Kali?" Kili raised an eyebrow, "Where is the girl, anyway?"

"In the shadows behind you, Kili," Bilbo looked back, "And I've the idea Thorin doesn't know anything of Kali, that is why he is so bothered by her. A complete stranger suddenly being everywhere he goes. It would unnerve me as well."

Kili smiled, "Uncle gets unnerved at a lot of things, Mr Baggins. Simply sleep and let him deal with his own issues."

"Where are you going?" Bilbo asked when Kili stood up, "You only just got back."

"I am going to go keep Miss Silverarm company," Kili told him, "The temperatures are dropping and nights are getting cold, as winter will soon be upon us. If uncle won't let her near the fire, I will be her warmth. Fili always said I throw heat off like a forge, anyway." as he walked away, Kili added under his breath, "It is time I use that heat to melt some silver."

*

Kali hummed in satisfaction as she stretched out in the grass. Be woken by the chirping of early birds was one of her favourite ways to wake, and she always awoke with a huge grin on her face.

That grin was soon gone, however, when she realized that there was a warmth next to (and half on) her. Her gaze looked at the hand draped across her stomach, long fingers absentmindedly curling into her coat. Trailing up the dark sleeved arm Kali found that it belonged to Kili. His hair was in his face, moving with the gently breeze from the breath coming from his slightly open mouth. 

He looks so peaceful compared to last night, Kali's face went blank, all emotions wiped clean as she remembered the previous night. Kili had been tense when speaking with Fili about what the two had been talking about before Kili showed at the lake. And then, being as tired as I was, I began somewhat flirting with Bilbo and Thorin... Horrified, Kali gently slid Kili's arm from her torso and stood. She straightened out her clothes, strapped on her various weapons and set off a little into the woods. It cannot be any earlier than four...

It was after a moment or two of walking that she'd heard a distant noise, a scream almost but it'd come from an animal, "Oh no..." quickly and quietly, Kali scurried to the top branches of the nearest tree, searching far and wide through the thickening fog for the source of the noise.

In the distance was a pack of Warg-Scouts that had just downed a large deer. Warg-Scouts! Kali remembered the last time they'd been attacked, "That means an orc pack is not far behind!"

This time Kali edged herself down the tree safely (breaking her leg and screaming out in pain would do no good for anyone) and ran back to the camp, waking Kili and Fili first so they could be the ones to awaken everyone else. 

"Why do we have to wake them up?" the two groaned (but all the same obliged to Kali's wishes) as they shook awake Bombur, "You very well could," Fili added with a yawn.

"And," Kili pointed at her as he moved over towards Bilbo, "It isn't as if they danger is in the immediate area, Kali. You said they hadn't even been headed our way."

"I believe you're overreacting," Fili nodded.

"So tell us again," Kili was now prodding Ori in the side with his toe, "Why you couldn't have been bothered to wake them up?"

"Better Thorin has your heads on a silver platter than mine," Kali had just finished re-strapping her boots as she said this. Quick as a wink she'd disappeared into the trees.

Fili's call after her was interrupted by Thorin, "Fili! Why are we awake so early in the morn?" as anxious as he is to get on the road, Thorin gets cranky if he does not get a full night's rest.

"Kali had spotted a troop of Warg-Scouts a few leagues out," Kili stated.

Thorin tensed a little, "How far?"

"No less than four leagues," Fili explained, "And she told us that they hadn't been headed directly this way."

"Burglar," Thorin wheeled around to face Bilbo, who was half concealed by Dori, "Go find the dwarrowdam."

That wasn't needed, however, as she'd burst through the bushes from where she disappeared earlier, "I stand corrected. We need to run, right now."

"What is it, Mistress Dwarf?" Gandalf gave her a once-over with his gaze, bushy grey brows furrowing.

"The Wargs," Kali panted out, as if she'd been running, "They've caught our scent and will soon be upon us if we do not run!"