The next chapter is the battle so I thought I'd add a Cassili filled chapter to cheer you all up before we all cry :'(

Anyway! I really hope you like this chapter! Please comment, vote and follow! Thank you! :)

Now enjoy!

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*Kili's POV*

It was already late when I walked through the dark corridors of the mountain. Fili and I had only just left the council room after the meeting finally ended. Together with Bard and Thranduil, the dwarves had made a plan to fight the oncoming orcs and goblins. We would separate into three hosts. The elves would man the Southern spur of the mountain while the Lakemen and half of Dain's men would be on the Eastern spur. The Company would man the very front of the mountain together with the remaining dwarves of Dain's army. We hoped to trap the orcs between us like this, attacking them from all sides. Though we did not know if our enemy was in sufficient numbers to overrun the Mountain itself. If they were, our plan would be perilous, and the orcs might be able to attack us from behind and above. But there was no time to make any other plan, for our enemy was approaching fast and would reach the mountain by tomorrow.

I had come out of council with a heavy heart, talking quietly to Fili about what would await us the next day already. None of us felt ready for war, even though we were both able warriors and had been trained for battle our whole lives. But this was not the same as a fight on the training field back home in the Blue Mountains, this was war. Death and peril were the faithful companions of war, a fact that burned in my mind as I walked along the stone corridors on my own.

The halls of Erebor were now filled with dwarfs of the Iron Hills, the low murmurs of their deep voices echoing off the walls and filling the halls with life as they prepared to walk out into battle with us the next day. Most of the company were gathered in the main hall with them, enjoying talking to kinsmen after all this time of only having the same people around. Fili had joined Dwalin, Nori and Ori who had formed a little group of their own and I had lingered with them for a moment but not for long. In truth, there was only one person that I truly wanted to talk to at this time, and this happened to be the only one I could not spot anywhere in the hall.

Cassy had left the council room a few minutes before myself and Fili as Dain had asked her to gather his archers and tell them of the war plan. But she must've finished by now and yet I still couldn't see her.

And so I was now wandering the corridors alone, looking for Cassy without having a single clue where she might be. I just walked down random corridors, hoping that she had not gone too far from the others. This was the last night before war, and I wanted to spend the remaining hours with my beloved, knowing very well that it might as well be the last time... but I did not dwell on that thought.

I wasn't sure how long I had been walking when I finally found her. More by luck than anything else, I turned my head to look into an empty room as I walked by it, stopping abruptly as I saw the silhouette of a figure within it. I quietly entered the room, frowning slightly as I saw that Cassy was sitting next to a wooden chest, her legs folded beneath her. The archer didn't seem to notice me as I walked up behind her, though I was sure that she heard my footsteps. As I looked over her shoulder, I saw that she was holding a small wooden object in her hands, her fingers carefully tracing over its details. Upon second glance, I realized it was a small figurine; a wooden toy owl that had surely once belonged to a dwarven child that had lived in these quarters.

I slowly crouched down next to her, looking at her from the side as her gaze was fixed on the toy in her hand. I didn't know what she was thinking about, but her eyes were distant, as if her thoughts had carried her far away.

"Cassy?" I murmured quietly after a few more moments. She blinked shortly as she was ripped out of her thoughts before she looked up at me with a small smile. I gave her a small smile in return, glancing down at the wooden owl in her hands. "What are you doing here?" I asked her.

"Just thinking." She replied in a low voice, turning the toy in her hands as she spoke. She hesitated a moment before she sighed quietly. "There were too many people down in the hall... I really wanted to talk to my friends from the Iron Hills who I haven't seen in a while but I just felt overwhelmed. I just needed to be somewhere quiet, so I came up here."

I nodded in understanding as I sat down beside her, shoulder to shoulder, and I watched as her fingers trailed lightly over the wooden owl's wings. Cassy stayed silent for a while and I waited patiently, knowing that there was more to her being here than simply the need to escape the mass of dwarves down in the hall. And my thoughts were confirmed when she eventually spoke again, her voice nothing more than a whisper in the quiet room.

"I'm afraid, Kili." She breathed almost as if in shame, her gaze set on the owl in her hands as I took in a deep breath. I reached out for her then, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her into my lap before she could protest. I looked up into her face as she avoided my gaze, her eyes still trained on the little toy in her hands. I smiled and gently took it from her, causing her to glance up at me. I could see her eyes shimmering with a thin veil of unshed tears and I wrapped one arm tighter around her as my other hand reached up to gently hold her chin, forcing her to hold eye contact as I spoke.

"I am, too." I admitted lowly, letting my thumb trail softly over her jaw. I let my gaze wander over her face, taking in her beautiful features in the dimness of the room. "We are going to war tomorrow, Cassy, there is no shame in being afraid of that. We would be stupid not to be."

Cassy took in a shaking breath, her fingers digging slightly into my shoulders and I felt my heart clench at the sight of her distress.

"It's not that I'm scared of war... I've fought in plenty of them when I lived in the Iron Hills. But this time if feels different. For the first time in a long time I'm scared about fighting in a war." She said.

"I have to admit, I am not as afraid of the battle as I am of losing you. And if I didn't know how stubborn you are, I would ask you to stay within the walls of the mountain tomorrow, safe from all harm." I muttered and saw Cassy open her mouth to reply but I just shook my head with a rueful smile. "But I know that you would not listen and besides we will need every fighter we have, especially a great warrior like you."

"I would not listen because I would rather die by your side than live a life without you." She murmured quietly, and I shortly closed my eyes as I nodded. I could understand that, for I felt the same way about her. And even though I would have liked nothing more than to know her safe, I knew that I could not stop Cassy from joining the battle tomorrow. So I would not try.

"None of us will die." I sighed quietly, trying to convince myself as much as her. "We will get through this as we have gotten through everything else before."

"But if -" Cassy started, but I cut her off as I let my hand drop from her face to lay it on her waist, pulling her further towards me.

"No." I interrupted sternly, the hand behind her back gripping the wooden owl tighter as I held it. I refused to think that I had no future with her. After everything we had been through, I would not let our life together be taken away, not even by a war. The small owl in my hand suddenly felt heavy as my thoughts carried me to a future where she was mine, truly and officially, where we had overcome all difficulties that life was throwing at us. A future where I would be whittling a small toy like the one I was holding for a child that was ours, and I realized that this was what I wanted. I wanted Cassy; I wanted to give her a home, and have a family with her.

Taking a deep breath, I looked up at her as she still sat on my thighs, gazing down at me questioningly. She did not speak of death or war anymore, apparently sensing that it was not doing either of us any good. I swallowed tightly as I looked into her bright purple eyes, and I carefully put the wooden owl on the floor beside me before I placed both of my hands on her cheeks, letting my thumbs trail lightly over her cheekbones.

"When all this is over," I started lowly, leaning in so my nose brushed lightly against hers. My stomach did a nervous flutter, causing me to stumble on my words. "Could you... I mean - ... would -"

I broke off, lightly shaking my head to focus my thoughts on what I was trying to ask my One.

"What?" Cassy coaxed softly when I did not continue for a moment, and I sighed deeply, trying to calm my nerves before I slowly started to speak again. I could feel her warm skin beneath my fingertips, and as I looked into her eyes again, I tried to concentrate solely on that. On her being by my side, as I wanted it to be for the rest of my life.

"Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

Cassy's eyes widened slightly in surprise. I looked at her expectantly, feeling my stomach do nervous twists as I waited for her to speak. Slowly, she lifted her hands from my shoulders, bringing them up to cup my face gently, her fingers trailing lightly over my stubbly cheeks. I leaned into her touch with a quiet sigh, holding her gaze when she finally answered.

"You're an idiot." She grinned cheekily, surprising me with her reply but I allowed her to continue. "Why are you so nervous about hearing my answer? You shouldn't even have to ask. I love you, Kili! You are the only person that I could ever imagine spending the rest of my life with. I am yours, Kili, now and for always." She said with a loving smile and I felt my heart flutter at her words. "I will never love another as I love you and I will stand by you as long as I live, no matter what. And I would love nothing more than to be your wife."

I felt a happy smile pulling at my lips as I quickly pulled her flush against me and kissed her fiercely, chuckling into our kiss upon hearing the little surprised squeak that left her mouth.

*Cassy's POV*

I sighed in content as I sank against Kili, revelling in the feeling of his strong arms around me as we kissed. For a moment, I allowed myself to push the worries and fears of tomorrow into a dark corner of my mind, instead enjoying the time that was still left until the next morning arose.

A soft groan left me as Kili's hands travelled from my face down to my waist, one arm wrapping around me and pressing me even further into his body. I could feel his muscled chest against my soft one through both our clothes, and my hands found their way into his hair as the brunet dwarf let his tongue travel over my lower lip before I granted him entrance. A warm shiver ran down my spine as Kili deepened our kiss, and I couldn't quite tell whether the low moan that echoed through the room had come from me or from him.

I held on to Kili's shoulders as he let himself tilt backwards, bringing me with him as he lay on his back. It was just a moment later that I felt the room spin as Kili turned us around, never breaking the kiss as he now came to lie on top of me. One of his hands was still on my waist, squeezing gently as the other was placed next to my head, supporting his body as to not burden me with his whole weight. I felt him press against me as he pulled away from my mouth, instead trailing numerous small kisses over my cheek and down my neck. I closed my eyes as I felt his fingers pull on the fabric of my tunic, revealing my shoulder to him. Kili pressed another kiss to my neck before his mouth moved to my collarbone and I opened my eyes as he kissed me there, long and intensely, no doubt leaving a mark that would last until tomorrow.

It was then that Kili lifted his head, his eyes shortly set on the mark he'd left on me before he gazed down at me with dark eyes. I brought my hands up, softly brushing them over his cheeks as I smiled up at him.

"I love you." He breathed throatily, his gaze travelling over my face as if he was trying to memorize every feature it had to offer. "You have no idea..."

"I think I do." I smiled gently, pulling him down to plant a soft kiss on his lips. "I love you, too, Kili."

The brunet dwarf sighed against my lips, placing another lingering kiss on them before he rolled off of me, pulling me with him. I snuggled against Kili's side as his arms wrapped around me, his grip a mix between possessive and protective. I placed my head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat and letting it soothe me. I did not know what horrors tomorrow would bring, I did not know how all this would end, but I knew that whatever may happen, I would face it together with Kili. And that was all that mattered.

"Oh I nearly forgot!" Kili exclaimed as he sat us up and gently pulled the chain that held his father's ring from where it was tucked under my shirt. "I obviously don't have an engagement ring to give you at the moment so my father's ring will have to do for the moment." He chuckled as he carefully removed the chain from my neck and took the ring off of the chain.

"May I?" He asked with a large smile as he gestured to my left hand.

I nodded and allowed him to lift my left hand and slide the ring onto my ring finger. I couldn't stop the ecstatic grin that spread onto my face... Kili and I are engaged.

"I love you so much." I said as I gently kissed him.

"I love you more than anything." He told me as he pulled me so that we were laid down again. "And I'm so happy that you're agreeing to marry me." He sighed happily.

"I'm happy you asked. I wouldn't dream of living my life with anyone but you." I said as I snuggled closer to him, feeling Kili's grip on me tighten protectively.

"You know, I think mother will have a heart attack once she joins us and finds out that her youngest son has gotten betrothed." Kili eventually spoke, his voice low and calm in the dim room. I chuckled quietly, turning slightly so I could look at him. As my front was leaning against his side, half on him, I placed my arms on his chest and laid my head on them, gazing up at the dwarf that smiled warmly at me.

"Tell me about her." I murmured as one of his hands gently brushed a few strands of hair behind my ear. Kili grinned lightly.

"She's lovely." He said. "A bit headstrong, but who isn't in this family, really?"

I grinned at that, tilting my head in agreement. "I'll fit in perfectly, then."

"Yes you will." Kili chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest beneath me, making me smile. "You'll like her. She worries for me as much as you do. She thinks I'm reckless."

"I agree." I replied, grinning as Kili feigned an indignant look at me. "But I'm reckless too." I added as he wrapped his arms a bit tighter around me, smiling as I leaned into him.

"I guess she has never forgotten that time when I jumped down the butcher's roof back home and broke my arm. My reputation was sealed that day." Kili said and I raised her eyebrows at him questioningly.

"Why did you do that?" I asked in confusion, though I already had a suspicion as a cheeky smile came to play on the dwarf's lips. He glanced down at me, his eyes dancing with mirth.

"Fili bet I wouldn't dare to do it." He answered with a small shrug and I rolled my eyes in feigned exasperation, not able to keep the small smile from playing on my lips. Kili chuckled quietly. "It cost me about two months of healing but him his wooden training sword."

I shook my head with a smile before I placed it back on his chest, listening to him as he continued to tell me stories of his home, of his mother, of him and Fili and their antics when they had been children. The night passed as we talked, exchanging stories and kisses as we both tried to ignore the imminent threat of death as morning drew closer.

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THEY'RE ENGAGED!!!!!!!! O_O haha! I'm so happy! Please comment, vote and follow! Thank you! The next chapter is the battle! :'(

*takes death breath and mentally prepares myself for the battle which I have finished writing* I'll post the battle tomorrow!