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Dwalin was growing frustrated, how could one hobbit girl be so distracting? All it took was your giggle at one of Bilbo's jokes, and Dwalin's insides were doing flips. He would most likely drop the thing he was holding or stutter with his words. Y/N had joined their company after she had refused to be left home alone, wanting to be there for her brother, Bilbo. The two were close, and he was the only one she was perfectly comfortable with. Now, when the mountain had been reclaimed and they had been staying there for a month now, she was starting to get comfortable with the dwarves as well, but she was still extremely reserved. She still stumbled over her words while talking with everyone else that wasn't Bilbo, and she only talked when it was absolutely necessary.
How on earth could Dwalin get her to talk with her when even the sight of him made her squeak and come up with an excuse to leave the situation? Dwalin had tried everything to get you to be more comfortable with him, but still, you started to fiddle with your fingers when he stepped close and your words came out in a burst of stutter when you couldn't come up with an excuse quick enough. Dwalin was slowly growing desperate, Bilbo had announced a few days ago that the two of you were leaving when autumn would come, and summer was ending. The first leaves were starting to turn shades of yellow, orange, and red; time was running out. Dwalin could not let you walk out of his life, he wasn't sure if his heart would be able to take it.
So, he did what he had to do. Bilbo nearly jumped out of his skin when Dwalin slammed the door of his room open with such force that a few of his books fell from their shelves.
"I need your help."
"M-My help?" Bilbo had no idea how could he help the gruff warrior. Unless...
"Is this about Y/N?" Dwalin froze. Could he have known? Dwalin's silence gave Bilbo the answer he had been searching for.
"So it is." Dwalin could only stare, still not grasping how Bilbo had figured it out.
"Half of the company has trotted up in here, asking for my permission to court my sister." Dwalin's heart froze. All of those dwarves were a much better match for you than the tattooed warrior, so he turned to leave.
"However-" Bilbo raised his voice and Dwalin turned back around to face him.
"You are the only one I am willing to give permission to."
"Why?" Dwalin was dumbstruck, and it was evident in his voice. If Bofur or Kili or hell, anyone else of the company had come asking for your hand, why on earth did Bilbo give him permission?
"Because you are the only one she is interested in." Dwalin was sure his heart stopped at that exact moment. You didn't fear him? You were interested in him?
- -
After what seemed like hours of endless encouragement from Bilbo Dwalin was standing in front of your room's door, with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a book in the other. Bilbo had insisted that they were the best gifts for you and essential parts in hobbit courting, so Dwalin had gone to get them both immediately after leaving Bilbo's room. There was a ball being held this evening and Bilbo trusted Dwalin enough to tell him that you had thought of skipping it, but he was sure that if Dwalin would ask you to come, you would.
Dwalin knocked on your harebell blue door, a round one as you and Bilbo had requested ones so you could have a part of Shire in your homes, even if you lived in Erebor. Thorin granted your wishes immediately, ordering the best carpenters and builders for the job.
The door opened slowly, and you stood there in a dress that matched the shade of your door perfectly. You had a few forget me not's in your braid as well, and you tilted your head up to look the taller dwarf in the eyes.
"D-Dwalin? What a-are you doing h-here?"
"I came to give you these." He slowly handed you the book as well as the flowers, and you just stared at them for a moment before you blushed a deep red. You accepted them with shaking hands and placed the flowers on the table next to you as you ran your hand across the leathery back of it.
"T-Thank you. What's the o-occasion?" It was about plants, one you had wished for quite some time to have.
"I was just wondering if you would join me for the feast this evening?" You froze. You had dreamed of this moment. Truly, you had had this dream a few nights before and you had cried when you had woken up and realized it was just a dream. But now that it was actually happening to you, you were frozen.
Dwalin could swear he felt his heart shatter when you didn't answer him, and he turned away, trying to keep his emotions under control even if he felt a burning urge to punch something.
"I am sorry that I bothered you." He managed to get out in a strangled voice and he turned to leave. At least there would be ale at the feast Thorin was hosting. Lots of ale. He, however, couldn't take more than one step away from your door when he felt a hand grasp his.
"Wait." Your voice was quiet but he still turned around and saw you standing there. You had recovered from the question, and now you were nervously fiddling with the hem of your dress.
"I-I would l-love to go with you." After saying it you blushed deed red yet again and Dwalin felt like melting and a smile spread on his face. You were too damn charming.
"I'll fetch you when the sun is setting." Still smiling, he kissed your hand, and you gave him a small smile and closed the door as he retreated from it.
- -
You were a nervous mess, the sun had set a moment ago, and the feast had started at the last light, so you were nervous. You would be late and you didn't like that. People would stare when you walked into the hall and the mere thought was making you fidget as you sat on a chair next to the window. You nearly jumped out of your seat when a knock sounded on the door, and you hurried to open it. It was Dwalin, and he was holding almost a comically large bouquet of flowers in his arms. He was dressed in a red jacket, traditional dwarven finery, and it fit his frame perfectly.
"You look beautiful, lass." You blushed and muttered a thank you while you took the flowers he offered and walked to the table where you set them for a while while you fetched a vase. You placed the flowers in, apart from a few yellow ones. You snapped the stems gently and tucked them into your hair to compliment your yellow dress. Dwalin smiled at you and offered you his arm.
"Shall we." You grabbed it and pulled the door to your house closed.
"We shall."
You were nervous to arrive at the hall, but they disappeared the minute you and Dwalin walked through those doors. For a moment it felt like everyone was watching you, but as you squeezed Dwalin's arm the nervousness slowly slid away. You picked a glass of wine from a passing waiter. The glass was big compared to you, so you sipped it slowly while Dwalin was on his third tankard of ale. He downed the last drops in it when Bilbo appeared in your company.
"So you managed to gather the courage to ask her." Bilbo smiled at Dwalin, who you could swear blushed lightly.
"That I did."
"Well, have fun you two. But not too much." You felt your face grow hot and you slapped his arm as he passed you, disappearing into the crowd. You sipped your glass empty, and Dwalin extended a hand to you.
"Care to dance?" You smiled at him and grabbed his hand, allowing him to lead you into the dance floor.
Dwalin was an excellent dancer, something you hadn't expected. He held you close to him, not that you minded, and he led you around the dance floor with perfectly coordinated steps. After five songs, you finally had to sit down, the hall was getting hot and the constant dancing made you thirsty, so you grabbed a glass from a waiter again, just water this time. Dwalin sat next to you, and together, you watched the others dancing and drinking together. You and he talked about anything and everything, sometimes laughing at something that was happening in the hall. For the first time in a long while, you felt completely at ease.
- -
After a full night of dancing, laughing, and drinking, Dwalin had offered to escort you to your room and you hadn't objected. The wine had been stronger than you had thought and you didn't quite trust your feet to guide you in the right direction. You held tightly onto his arm as he led you through the dozens of stone hallways of Erebor. You reached your door too quickly and too slowly at the same time, and he let go of your arm as you opened it, but turned to face him.
"I had fun tonight, thank you." Smiling, he shook his head.
"I should be the one thanking you." You returned his smile and let go of your door to stand on your toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. You were so thankful for the wine, as you normally would have never had the courage to do it normally.
The two of you stood in silence for a moment before Dwalin decided to open his mouth, and he hoped he wasn't being too forward. This evening had been perfect and he didn't wish to ruin it.
"Would you like to go on a walk tomorrow? When the sun is at its highest?" Dwalin asked, and you giggled.
"Absolutely. See you then." You nodded to him, and he kissed your hand one last time as a goodbye before you disappeared inside your house. You leaned against the inside of your door and sighed happily. You had been worried for nothing, this night had been perfect. You opened your hair and plucked the flowers out of it, and you placed them on the table. You would set them to dry tomorrow. Now, you just wanted out of this dress and into bed. You were absolutely spent.