Chapter Text
It's been two weeks since you joined the company on their quest to reclaim their home—Erebor. Two weeks since you knew just how thin your patience can be. Especially when concerning a certain Durin prince. Kili made it his mission to annoy you. At first you thought it was just coincidence how on every move you made, he does exactly the same. Then you found how intentional his actions are after a week of his bullying. Yes, bullying. That little dwarven prince is a bully.
It was already dark. The sky filled with stars. You stood up to get ready, bringing your bedroll beside the wall of the cave you decided to sleep the night over, you were about to unfold the bedroll when another bedroll flew over your spot. A familiar chuckle followed and you looked at him and seethed. Kili.
"That's my spot," you said, teeth gritting as he fixed his bedroll. He looked at you with a frown. A small grin etched on his face.
"Dunno what you're talking about," he said before shrugging and then laying down. You stood in front of his frame before looking around for another spot. You saw one in the middle of Bombur and Gloin. Both the loudest snorers. You sighed and then stomped your way towards them. You lay down your bedroll and then give a quick glare on Kili's back before laying down, their loud snores echoing in the middle of the night. You sighed and then put your arm over your ears to tone down the noise. You swore to make Kili pay back.
When morning came, you felt like you hadn't slept a minute. Bombur and Gloin were alternating in their snores that when it somehow died down, the sun was already rising.
You packed immediately after eating breakfast, everyone moved to continue the journey. Thorin was already leading the company. You were far behind when you felt Fili nudged you.
"What?"
"Already mad? How's your sleep?" he said with a laugh. You glared at him.
"Funny you ask. It's your brother's fault I didn't get a wink of sleep,"
"What did he do this time?"
"He stole my spot and made me sleep between Bombur and Gloin!"
"Ah, that's why," Fili looked behind you smiling. You frowned and looked behind, too. Kili was acting innocent. Too innocent. Brows frowned as if in deep focus. You rolled your eyes and then walked faster. Not five minutes after you walked out of Kili's grasp, you felt something moving in your hair. At first you thought it was just the wind blowing your hair away, then it felt nothing like the wind. You put your hands in your hair out of curiosity and then you felt something hard. And moving.
Your shrieks followed. Jumping up and down you put your hands in your head to remove whatever it is that moves there. Everyone stopped and looked at you, shocked. They soon helped you when they realized you were stressed about something. You saw Ori remove a beetle in your hair. He looked at it with wonder before throwing it on his back. You shook your head, hands feeling every strand to make sure that nothing's left. You sighed and then sat on a nearby rock. The laughs followed soon. You rolled your eyes before putting your hair in a ponytail using a piece of cloth that you shred.
"Did you see her jump? You would have thought there was a snake in her hair!" Bofur said and everyone laughed louder.
A familiar laugh was the loudest among them. Full of glee. You glared at Kili, who's laughing so hard he's holding Bilbo's shoulder for support. The latter looked awkward as he looked at Kili but a grin was also plastered on his face.
"Come on, move on. If there's Orcs in our tail they probably caught up now because of the girl's screams," Thorin said as he walked in front again. You sighed before standing up. Walking fast to be nearer to Thorin to make sure none would follow the prank that Kili pulled. You walked the whole day before Thorin decided to camp between two large rock formations. Bombur made his way to cook dinner.
You sat down and put your back on the large rock. Oin had just made a fire and everyone had settled down. Thorin walked out to watch the surroundings with Dwalin and Balin.
"That was quite a fright you gave us earlier," Fili said beside you. You heard Kili on his side gave a snort.
"You should congratulate your brother. He's outdone himself," you said coolly. Kill looked at you, a finger pointing at his chest.
"Me? I don't know anything about beetles. I personally don't like how they look. Wouldn't touch them with my bare hands," he's babbling. Fili shook his head. You rolled your eyes at Kili. He grinned.
"We're safe here. There's a stream nearby if you want to wash up. Tomorrow we move towards the East.." Thorin came back and gave orders to Kili and Fili to be the watch tonight.
You sighed, thankful. Now, he wouldn't be able to steal your spot because he wouldn't be sleeping.
You ate your dinner happily knowing that you would sleep well tonight. And sleep well you did. You woke up content. You stretched your arms over your head and sighed.
Kili's eyes found yours. He's standing next to his brother, grinning again. You paid him no mind and then packed your bedroll. Everyone was already awake. You move your way towards them when Bofur suddenly blows the water he's drinking upon seeing you. You frowned.
Bofur coughed and then pointed at you. Everyone looked at you then they all laughed. You saw Thorin on the far corner grinning. You gaped at them.
"What is it?" you asked, hands moving to touch your face and head. Is there something in your face? Are there beetles again in your hair?
"Orc!" Ori exclaimed looking frightened. You looked behind your back in alarm but everyone just laughed. You frowned. Dori was now whispering in Ori's ear and then you saw them laugh while looking at you.
You moved towards the nearest to you to draw their sword to use as a mirror. You looked at your reflection. Jaw dropping. You looked like an Orc. Your face was black. All black. You moved your hand to touch the dirt. You smelled the dryness in your hands. Coal.
Someone painted your face with charcoal! Shrieking, you ran towards the forest. Still clutching the sword as their laughs echoed behind you. You saw the stream Thorin mentioned last night. You knelt down and immediately washed your face with the water.
The cold made you shiver but you didn't stop until you recognized your face in the sword again.
Sighing, you decided to bathe yourself in the stream, too. You have no choice when half your shirt is already wet. When you came back, hair wet and face recognizable again, few of the dwarves grinned at you. The biggest grin of course was Kili's. You glared at him. And he winked. Winked.
That bastard. I'll get him.
"Eat up, lass. We'll move soon," Dwalin gave you a bowl of soup. You sat beside Thorin and ate. You felt him looking at you.
"Good to see you back," he grinned. You rolled your eyes.
"Even you can't stop me when I get my hands on Kili. I swear."
"Oh, I believe that's exactly what he wants," he laughed quietly.
You frowned at him but continued eating.
After you finished your meal, all of you moved to continue the journey. You made sure to tie your hair into a ponytail again to make sure that a certain princeling won't get you.
After walking a few hours, Kili made his way beside you. You looked at him accusingly.
"What now?"
"What? I haven't done anything."
"You know everyone knows it was you doing things to me, right?" you asked. He looked at you, a shadow of his grin showing on his face.
"What things?" he whispered. You squinted your eyes at him then he grinned. "Uh, no?"
"Oh, Kili. One day I'll get you and you'll regret it," you smiled at him coyly. He tilted his head to the side and looked at you.
"Now, now. You have no proof that it was me doing...things to you. So I'm innocent until proven guilty. Thank you very much," he faked a bow. Your eyes nearly moved into your brain when you rolled your eyes at him.
"Just wait."
You walked faster to catch up with the other dwarves. They still grin when they see you and you paid no mind to it. Now, you're thinking of ways on how to prove it was Kili. It would be your greatest pleasure if you caught him in the act.
Rain came hard. You shivered in the cold. Everyone was wet and Thorin decided to wait until the rain stopped in a nearby cave. Oin immediately made a fire and you all huddled closely to the heat. The rain outside was now a storm. You heard Dwalin and Thorin planning about your next move. That is if the storm stops. You doubt it.
You shifted and felt Kili moved beside you. You looked at him. He arched an eyebrow over you.
"Not doing anything," he said.
"We'll see that."
You noticed a leaf tangled in his dark waves. You stretched your hand to remove it when he looked at you swiftly. Eyes looking at your eyes then your hands. He looked nervous.
"W-What is it?"
"There's a leaf in your hair," you picked up the leaf and then showed it to his face. His face reddened and then he looked in front. You mirrored him and saw Dwalin looking at both of you sternly.
Huh. That was curious. The princeling was suddenly shy. Then you remembered that dwarves are very particular with their hair. You shrugged.