His Amorem

A Little Break Down

They ran all day, across grass and through streams, over rocky plains and between woodland. Keerla kept to the back with Kili, Dwalin and Thorin, her ears picking up both the noise of the hunting party, and of the bear-beast chasing them. There was another howl and she let out a slight whine.

"Gandalf, this bear moves too fast!" she yelled, the company letting out panicked cries as she continued with, "It's gaining!"

"It's not far, there!" Gandalf pointed across a meadow-like plain, to where a house stood in a surrounding of hedges. "To the house! Run!"

Keerla almost burst out laughing when Bombur took off past the entire company and reached the door first, though she slowed down in case she needed to buy some time.

"Don't you dare!" Kili yelled, glancing over his shoulder.

"Just shut up and run!" she yelled back, giving a panicked glance over her shoulder. The creature burst from the trees and she gave a whimper of "Oh Mahal."

It was bigger than any normal bear with rugged black fur and vicious looking teeth and claws. And worst of all, she recognised the it. Up ahead the others seemed to be struggling to get inside the house, but Thorin shoved past them and unhooked the latch allowing everyone to spill inside. Keerla dived in just in time, the beast's claw catching her cloak as the dwarfs slammed the door shut on its face.

"Are you alright?" Kili asked, helping her to her feet.

"I am never-" she heaved in a deep breath, "-coming near this place again during the night."

"What is that?" Ori asked, looking back at Gandalf, the others looked as well, waiting on him to answer.

"That is our host."

Everyone stared at him in bewilderment, except for Keerla who mewled, making everyone turn to her instead.

"Are you about to cry?" Nori asked, looking panicked.

"No i'm not about to cry!" she snapped sounding hysterical, before turning on Gandalf, "Are you insane?! When you said neither, i didn't think you meant Beorn!" She grabbed at her hair, "Oh we're going to die, we're going to die, we're going to die."

The elf fell into a crouch, rocking herself which sent the dwarfs into frenzy as they'd never seen Keerla that panicked before. Kili reached out for her but jerked back immediately when she jumped to her feet.

"Okay," she took deep breaths, brushing her hands over herself, "Okay i'm over it, I am over it. In the house of a skin-changer, he hates dwarves and i'm surrounded by them, probably going to die, but i'm over it." She took another deep breath, then shoved past everyone, "I need a bloody drink."

Kili stood in the doorway of the large kitchen, watching her search through a multitude of cupboards while the others spoke and Gandalf suggested some rest. Fili had asked the wizard why Keerla was so panicked, but even he couldn't answer that.

Keerla gave a happy squeak when she found a bottle of honey mead in the back of a cupboard and ripped the cork out, downing as much as she could before needing air.

"Okay," Kili ripped it from her hand, though he kept himself quiet as the others had started drifting to sleep, "I think you should explain what is going on." Shaking, Keerla reached for the bottle, but Kili held it further out of reach, "Talk to me, love."

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, sliding down the wall so she was sitting, and he took a seat next to her after putting the bottle back, "I don't know what's wrong with me, my emotions are all over the place. I'm not usually this panicked when i come to visit."

"You know this Beorn?"

"Somewhat," she murmured, leaning on his shoulder, "He came into Mirkwood seeking help, he was injured after . . . an incident, but Thranduil refused him aid. I brought Beorn here, when it was just a simple meadow and healed his wounds. I brought him food and whatever he needed over the years, but then i came to Erebor and i haven't been back since."

"Then why were you scared?" Kili asked, running his fingers through her hair.

"Because i left, he was alone and i just left even when i promised i would always be around to help him. And he hates dwarfs, so i'm scared of what he'll do to you, and then of course with everything going on between us i'm feeling everything a hundred times stronger than i should. It's – it's crazy."

Sighing, Kili pressed a kiss to his forehead, "I had been thinking about that." She glanced up at him confused, "About how we are, about what we are, and i was thinking – you know if you want to – because i do, i really do and i want nothing more – but i don't want to if you don't so i didn't want to say in case-"

She pressed her lips against this, shutting him up and once she was sure he was calm, she pulled away.

"Try again," she smiled, "Slowly."

"Marry me." Her smile fell, causing Kili to panic, "I'm sorry, i mean if you don't want to, i just-"

"Kili!" she hissed, shutting him up, then gave a laugh, "I was surprised is all, i really didn't expect that . . . and it's not the way one hopes for a proposal you know."

"I know, i'm sorry," he murmured, "But i was thinking about it the last few nights. Balin knows the old ceremony, and he performed many marriages back in the Blue mountains, so i thought maybe we could combine both and do it now?"

"Now?" she asked, "You want to do it now? I thought you wanted to be back in Erebor, i thought you would want your mother, i thought-"

"I don't want anything but you, Keerla," he grasped her chin, "I only want you, i don't care that it's only been a year, i don't care that no one knows, i don't care that we'd be doing it in secret, i don't care if it's in a cave or in a field. All i know, is that i want you with me for the rest of my life."

She sniffled as her eyes turned glassy, giving him a smile and leaned into his lips, "Now that's a proposal, and i most definitely accept."

"Good, I'll go wake Balin."

"Wait," she pulled him back, "Tonight? Are you serious?"

"I don't want to wait," he grinned, and slipped away only to scurry back with a terrified look on his face, "Your friend just walked in, maybe I'll wait after all."

"No," she stood, "Give me a minute and I'll be back, i have an idea."

She slipped into the hallway, following the familiar path to the room at the end. The door was ajar, and she could see the hairy man sitting on his bed, facing her. She waited for him to send her away, but instead he gestured for her to come forward.

"You have grown," he stated.

"Your hair has greyed." There was a moment of silence before, "I'm sorry i left, and i'm sorry I've brought dwarfs to your home. I didn't know it was yours until Gandalf said."

"While i may despise dwarfs, they seem to be your friends, and i won't harm them without reason. But maybe you could explain why you left, and why you are here?"

Keerla briefly explained to the skin-changer of Azog, and the quest for Erebor. She then explained leaving for Erebor, the Desolation of Smaug, and its aftermath.

"I have another favour to ask of you." Beorn gestured for her to continue. "I found my Sodales, one of the dwarfs out there. We were – we want to do the binding, i was wondering if we were safe enough to do it behind the house. I know what it means to complete it, so i was hoping you would keep everyone away from the area at the pond until morning."

"Finding your destined one is a wonderful gift of fate, little one, i will do as you ask."

"Thank you Beorn," she smiled, slipping out of the room.

Kili stood as he saw her coming, "What is it?"

"Get Balin and come outside, i asked Beorn to keep the others busy till we're done."

Kili nodded, grinning so large Keerla thoughthis face would break.

-

oh my god sappy sappy sappy, i dont think ive written anything so sappy in my life