Balin was trying to come to a deal with Bard and Sepha was talking to the elves.

"Do you really have to go?" she asked.

Legolas nodded, "Tauriel is right. we need to find out where these orcs are and where they're going. We'll meet up with you in Laketown if we find nothing."

Sepha sighed and Tauriel reached over, hugging the girl close. "Take care Seph. And please take care of those wounds. We don't want them getting infected."

The girl nodded. She reached over and hugged Legolas who smiled and hugged her back. Little did they know was that a certain black haired dwarf was watching them and felt a tinge of jealousy when Legolas hugged her. Thorin had always wanted to know what it felt like to hold the girl close.... the most was that their hands had brushed or he had pulled her to her feet.... how he wanted to hold her close and never let her go.... to touch her hair again....to kiss her....

"I'll wager there are ways to enter that town unseen," Balin said, snapping THorin out of his stupor.

"Aye," Bard replied. "and for that. You will need a smuggler."

"For which we will pay double," Balin replied.

Bard sighed and while he and Balin came to an agreement on price, Dwalin, Balin, Fili and Kili all stepped over to Sepha.

"We'll take good care of her," Balin promised.

He wrapped an arm around the girl and Sepha slightly cringed but none of the dwarves noticed. Tauriel opened her mouth to warn Balin of Sepha's injury but a warning look from Tauriel told her to remain silent. This was one thing that Sepha wanted to keep secret from the dwarves for this wasn't a time for them to worry.

TIME SKIP..... ON THE BARGE

Sepha was sitting up against the side of the barge, her knees drawn to her chest for warmth. Sepha usually never had a problem with heat because of her wolf side but she blamed her fresh wounds for that.

The dwarves were all standing around Balin who was counting up the money. Sepha of course didn't fail to notice that THorin, who stood on the edge of the group, would occasionally look in her direction. There was no anger in his eyes.... only a look that made him look like he was ready to cry. Soon, Sepha could barely stand it anymore for she was on the verge of getting up and throwing her arms around the dwarf prince. Of course, she knew that would be inappropriate so she pulled herself to her feet.

She ducked her head so no one saw her wince at the pain. Crossing her arms over her chest for comfort, she walked past the dwarves towards the back of the barge. Of course, she had to pass right by THorin and naturally, his eyes never left her. Sepha felt her cheeks flame bright red as she walked past, pretending to watch her feet.

Finally, she stopped right near Bard and smiled at him. Surprisingly, he returned it.

"WHat's your name lass?" the man asked.

"Persephone but you can call me Sepha," the girl replied. "What about you?"

"Bard, at your service," the man said.

Sepha smiled, "I wanted to thank you for doing this."

"Oh it's no big deal," Bard replied. "Though I was surprised when the elves turned up."

"How do you know Legolas and Tauriel?" the girl inquired.

Bard shrugged, "I know them through Thranduil. I've met them a few times but not that often."

Sepha nodded, "Well thank you again."

The bargeman nodded and as Sepha was about to say something else, she felt a hand on her elbow. She turned and almost squeaked when she realized it was Thorin who leant down to her ear.

"Can I talk to you a moment?" he asked.

Sepha nodded hastily and allowed THorin to lead her away from Bard. of course, the barge wasn't large so they didn't have a whole ton of privacy to talk but Thorin kept his voice down.

"Why are you speaking with him?" he inquired.

"I just wanted to be civil," Sepha replied. "Nothing bad came from trying."

"I don't feel comfortable with him around," Thorin replied in a low voice. "Especially with him around you."

When Sepha didn't reply, Thorin turned his burning eyes from the bargeman and looked at the girl. her face had gone flushed, her eyes staring downward and her cheeks going a bright shade of pink.

He was about to ask her what was wrong when he suddenly realized what he was doing. She had gotten angry with him for interfering with her life and placing a claim on her and putting her off limits to other men. TO her, it probably sounded like he was doing that to Bard.... keeping Sepha away from him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I shouldn't have said that.... I'll back off... if you want to talk to him.... you can...."

Before he even finished talking, Sepha had reached out and grabbed his forearm, turning him back to look at her for he had begun to turn towards the company. THorin's eyes widened at the contact for that was the first time she had ever done that. The girl's face flustered more but she bit her lip.

"No it's.... it's okay.... I actually.... don't mind...."

THorin's eyes widened and he felt a tinge of hope rush to his heart, "You don't?"

The girl shook her head, refusing to look directly into Thorin's eyes, "I've gotten used to it and.... I know you had your reasons for doing it.... reasons I do not know but I trust you and your decisions and I know that whatever reason you placed a claim on me.... then it was good enough reason for me."

The girl quickly bit her lip again and THorin felt his head swim. How he wanted to kiss her... and with her biting down on her smooth red bottom lip made him feel dizzy.

Thorin opened his mouth to tell her his reasons but something stopped him. He had just redeemed himself from the mistake he made by placing the claim without her knowledge. He wasn't going to ruin this moment by saying something that might not be to her liking. He had no idea how she felt towards him and all he could think of was how horrible it felt to not tell her how terribly he loved her.

Sepha managed to lift her eyes to look at him, only to see his blue eyes sparkling at her. Smiling shyly, the girl looked down and Thorin couldn't hold back the grin that spread across his features.

Just then, Bard announced that they were nearing guards.

"Into the barrels," Bard whispered.

At once the dwarves began to obey, hopping into the nearest barrel. Sepha headed to the nearest barrel and poked her head over the side only to realize that Fili and Kili were in there, Fili half upside down with his foot in Kili's mouth.

"Sorry," she whispered, heading to another barrel.

She was beginning to loose options when a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into a barrel. As Sepha managed to get herself right side up, she looked up to be met by a pair of piercing blue eyes. She knew that her face flamed red for her and Thorin's noses were almost touching at their close proximity. Sepha had her legs hugged close to her chest, her feet on either side of Thorin's thighs and she was sitting on his legs that were crossed in front of him.

Thorin didn't realize that he still had his hands on her forearms till the girl looked down and they landed on the strong, calloused hands that were holding her slender arms gently but firmly. THorin looked down as well and would have retracted his hands if he didn't feel Sepha's soft, slender hands grip his forearms back.

Thorin was sure his heart stopped right then and there but then something caught his attention, removing his hands from her arms, he gripped her hands, "Your hands are freezing," he whispered.

Sepha shrugged and was going to pull her hands back, not wanting to worry Thorin but the dwarf had other ideas. Holding her hands in his large ones, she felt the heat from his hands encase her fingers. He gently cupped her hands within his and bringing them up to his mouth, he blew on them to warm them. The whole time, his eyes never left hers and Sepha realized that for the first time he met his steady gaze and she found that she couldn't seem to break from it.

Thorin continued to blow on her hands till they were so warm that they were turning pink. Suddenly, there was a clanking above them and Thorin reacted before Sepha could even find out what was happening.

Thorin reached a hand around and gripping the back of Sepha's head gently, he pulled her head down so that her forehead was resting against his shoulder and her eyes looking down at his chest. Sepha's face burned red and Thorin yelled at himself in his head for being too hasty but he knew what was coming. Bending his head down, he pressed his own forehead to Sepha's shoulder as fish poured down on top of them.

When it stopped, THorin and Sepha saw that the position their heads were in had prevented any fish from getting in their face.... but it covered everything else. Thorin found that his hand was still on Sepha's neck and he gently stroked her smooth skin with his calloused thumb. He felt the girl shiver by his touch and he smiled at her reaction.

Sepha felt her cheeks heat up at the feeling of Thorin's warm hand on her neck. Their ears were pressed against each other and she could hear his heart drumming in her head. THorin could hear her heart in his ears and he heard it speed up whenever his finger brushed her skin. Deciding to test the waters, Thorin slowly turned his head just enough so that his nose was resting against the other side of her neck. Sepha's breathing hitched as Thorin rubbed his nose against her soft skin, his beard brushing her shoulder and the bare skin of her collar bone.

Sepha let out a breath, finding it almost impossible to breathe. Thorin smiled and pressed his nose close against her neck, breathing in her scent. Even over the stench of fish, he could still smell her sweet scent of vanilla and cedar.

Suddenly they heard a bang and the sound of a dwarf grunting. Suddenly, their barrel shook and they were knocked on the side, the fish spewing out. They both slipped out head first and Sepha groaned at the stench of the fish and the sting that it sent into her wounds stung.

Thorin pulled her to her feet and Sepha looked up into his eyes a moment before Kili and Fili both grabbed her hands and pulled her after Bard who was leading them to his house.

Sepha was soaking wet as Dwalin pulled her out of the water into the bathroom of Bard's house. She was so cold that she didn't even care that she had just crawled out of a toilet.

"We need to warm you up," Bard's eldest daughter said, quickly wrapping a blanket around the shivering girl. "You're turning blue."

"Seph?" FIli's gentle voice whispered, his warm arms wrapping around her, "What happened?"

Sepha shook her head, "I guess I'm just not used to the cold."

What she didn't want to tell them was that her back was stinging from the fish in her cuts and the cold was making her weak and uncommonly cold. Her whole body was working to heal her wounds so she had less body heat to keep herself warm.

"You should get cleaned up and warmed," The girl said. "Come, you can wash in the wash room."

She gently led the girl into a bathroom set off from the other bathroom. This one didn't have a toilet but it had a large basin for washing and there was a pot of hot water.

"You can wash in here," the girl said, "I'll bring you a fresh change of clothes. but for now you can use these."

She held out a pair of pants to Sepha, a pair of leather boots, warm socks, a white shirt and a wrap for her bosom.

"Thank you..." Sepha said.

"Sigrid," the girl answered her, "And you're welcome. What is your name by the way?"

"Persephone," Sepha replied. "but everyone calls me Sepha."

Sigrid's face lit up, "That's so pretty! I'll let you be."

With that, the girl headed off, leaving Sepha alone in the wash room. Sepha tested the hot water and poured a good amount in the large basin, cooling it off slightly with cold water so it wasn't scalding. She then submerged herself into the water as much as she could. She grabbed the bar of soap and cloth and washed herself thoroughly. Soon she felt ten times better and even managed to clean her hair and get the tangles out.

Climbing out, she wrapped a towel around herself while she wrung out her hair. it hung straight and damp down her back, reaching past her waist. She pulled on the breeches and boots, then wrapped her bosom with the wrap Sigrid gave her. She held off putting on the shirt, wanting her back to air out a while.

She was just preparing to pull on the shirt when she heard a board creak behind her and spinning around, she found Thorin standing in the doorway of the wash room. She quickly hugged the shirt to her chest, glad that the bindings covered everything of her front except part of her stomach but it left most of her back bare.

"THorin.... you scared me," she gasped, preparing to pull the shirt on.

"Wait," Thorin said softly, stepping forward.

His hand reached out and he pushed her hand down so she wouldn't put on her shirt. His calloused fingers reached out and gently turned her around so her back was facing him. She felt his warm fingers brush against her back.... tracing her scars.... touching the soft flesh that was just healing from her most recent encounter with a whip.

"When did you get these?" he whispered.

"Thranduil," Sepha replied, knowing that there was no avoiding tell him now. "Right before Legolas got me out."

"Why didn't you tell me?" THorin whispered, his voice gentle but laced with concern.

"I didn't want to be a burden," Sepha whispered back.

When Thorin didn't reply, she thought he was upset.... but then she felt his hands reach up and gently stroke her long hair.... then his fingers traced her neck.... her bare shoulder.... her arms.... Sepha felt all the air escape her when both his arms found their way to her bare waist and gently stroked the skin there.

She felt his body heat as he took a step closer so that his dry shirt was touching her bare back.... then she felt his nose brush against her bare shoulder.... then his beard.... then he pressed his lips to her shoulder.... letting his lower lip graze her soft skin. He then reached up with one hand and brushed her hair to the side, exposing the side of her neck and he pressed a gentle kiss on the soft skin of her neck, just below her pretty pointed ear.

Sepha's breathing hitched and she gasped as Thorin's arms snaked all the way around her and his hands lay against her stomach, hugging her close so that she could feel his hard chest against her shoulder blades.

"Thorin..." she gasped, her voice barely audible.

Thorin placed another kiss on her neck, hugging her closer, "Hmm?"

"I...."

Thorin gently gripped her hands and turned her around so that she was facing him, "I love you Sepha...."

Sepha felt her whole world freeze. Her heart stopped beating at least for ten whole seconds. her breath froze and her eyes widened.

"wha...."

"That was why I did what I did," Thorin whispered, reaching up to brush a strand of hair out of her face. "When we were at Beorn's.... and you were healing.... it was then that I knew that you are my One. You complete me.... you make me whole. I didn't know how else to tell you and I was hoping Balin would help you understand but then Thranduil...."

Sepha's green eyes were staring at Thorin, stunned and not quite knowing what to do. Thorin smiled softly at her and ran his calloused thumb across her cheek, "You don't have to say anything in return.... you don't have to do or say anything. I just want you to know that I love you more than anything."

Sepha was hoping dearly that her mouth wasn't hanging open but Thorin just smiled, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead before leaving her alone in the wash room to finish on her own.

Thorin.... loved her. And she had been too dumbstruck to say it back!

When Sepha emerged from the bathroom, she looked fully refreshed. Her rich brown hair was dry and billowing around her shoulders and her hips in long brown waves. Her face was clean and everyone could see the color returning to her cheeks. She was wearing only boots, a pair of black pants and a white shirt that was tucked into the pants but she looked much more comfortable. As she came into the room, Tilda, the younger daughter skipped over to her and held out a brown cotton sweater.

Smiling, Sepha took it and thanked the girl, pulling it on over her shirt and shivering at the warmth it gave off. She then saw FIli and Kili sipping mugs of hot tea at the table so she walked over and sat down across from them.

"How are you feeling Seph?" Fili inquired.

"Better thanks," The girl replied.

"What about your back?" Kili inquired.

Sepha's head snapped up and she looked over at THorin who sat near the window, staring outside as if in a daze.

"Yeah he told us," FIli replied. "But he made us promise to keep it between the three of us, Dwalin, Balin and Oin. That way we can help you if anything happens."

Sepha smiled, "Thanks boys."

Kili smiled and reaching over, he hugged the girl, "We're just glad your back. I think uncle is the happiest."

Sepha's green eyes flitted back over to Thorin again and this time she realized he was looking at her. She quickly ducked her head when her face lit up with a blush but the two brothers noticed. When she looked back at them, they were both smirking knowingly.

"So are you going to tell him?" Kili inquired.

Sepha's eyebrows shot up, "Tell him what?"

"That you love him back," The dwarf pointed out.

Sepha felt her heart stop, "how did you know about that?"

The young dwarf smirked, "I happened to make really good friends with your friend Tauriel while we were prisoners. Then while Balin and Dwalin were gushing over you at the edge of the lake, she told me about your little talk in the woods."

Sepha ducked her head again and blushed, hearing a soft chuckle from the two brothers.

"I promise, we didn't tell anyone," FIli whispered. "Actually now, we have a leg up on Dwalin and Balin."

"A leg up on what?" the girl inquired.

Fili grinned, "After the developments recently, Kili and I think it will be before we leave lake town that you and uncle become a 'thing'. Dwalin and Balin still think it's sometime after but before we reclaim Erabor."

Sepha sighed and rolled her eyes, "And exactly what is a 'thing'?"

"Oh you know.... smiling at each other," Kili replied. "Maybe holding hands.... kissing....fondling..."

"Okay I think I've heard enough," Sepha sighed, earning smirks from the two boys. They looked absolutely ridiculous with those grins on their faces.

"Dont break his heart too much," Fili whispered.

Sepha rolled her eyes and ruffled their hair playfully, earning a yelp from Kili who was very picky about his hair. Stepping away from them, she grabbed the comb Tilda had leant her and began to brush her hair. She managed to get the tangles out but her hands were still cold so she could barely do anything to her hair. Thorin seemed to notice because she felt his eyes watching her.

Finally giving up, she undid the mess she had attempted and turning around, she set the comb down and approached Thorin. He was leaning against the wall, watching her when she approached. She could barely look at him but when she did, she blushed bright red.

"Can you help me?" she asked in a whisper.