Tolkien One-Shots Book 2!

Lost Chances (Dwalin x reader)

You watched Dwalin from across the camp. It was something you'd found yourself doing more and more as your journey continued. You couldn't seem to help it really. After all, you'd been watching his back for years now. Even more so when you realized that you were in love with him. But the journey you were on was important. There was simply no time for the distraction that was love. At least that's what you thought.

"He notices, you know," Bilbo's voice said, making you jump a little. You turned to him with a questioning look. "Dwalin," he continued, "He doesn't miss a thing and he has noticed you staring." You sighed. "And what, pray tell Mr. Baggins, am I expected to do with that information?" Bilbo smiled and shrugged. "Maybe you should tell him how you feel. I am certain he feels the same way."

An undignified snort escaped you as you laughed at his ridiculous ideas. "Very funny, Mr. Baggins." He didn't look pleased at your response, causing you to sigh again. "Look...Bilbo, I love Dwalin. I have for years now, but this journey we're on is dangerous. We have to be alert, ready for anything, at all times. I cannot afford to let my feelings get in the way."

"You can't afford not to. Yes, the journey is perilous. All the more reason to tell him. This quest may not have a happy ending for any of us. Do you really want to risk losing your life or have Dwalin risk his without him knowing how you feel about him? Would you lose your chance at happiness?" With that, Bilbo left you to your thoughts. You hated to admit it, but he was right. You could very well die on the journey and Dwalin would never know how much he meant to you. But could you really be courageous enough to tell him?

You spent the better part of three days thinking on what Bilbo had said. You were distracted and were certain everyone could tell. Especially after the goblin tunnels. You had gotten hurt because you were so focused on making certain Dwalin got out safely. Now, he was scolding you rather harshly. Fortunately he'd had the good graces to do it out of the presence of the others.

"What were ya thinkin'?!" he chided sternly. He wasn't yelling which made you feel even worse. "I was protecting you, the way I always do, Dwalin." He shook his head, his eye boring into your soul. "I never asked ya ta! I can't fight properly if I'm worried about ya. What would possess ya ta do such a thing?" His voice grew softer the longer he looked at your face.

"I-I couldn't watch you get hurt. Every time you do, it kills me. I love you too much." Dwalin's movements froze and it quickly dawned on you what you'd said. Your eyes met his again as you waited for him to respond. "I-He was right? He told me I should tell ya. That ya felt the same." You laughed a little. "Bilbo? Apparently the hobbit is something of an expert when it comes to matters of the heart. He told me the same thing and he was right. I could lose you, Dwalin. I can't take that risk without telling you how much I love you. And I do love you. Very much."

Dwalin dropped the cloth he was using to clean your wound in the dirt. You understood his surprise. It was one thing to think that someone loved you; it was another thing entirely to hear it out loud. "Ya mean that? Ya love me? I'd have thought Thorin or even one of the princes would be more yer type." You rolled your eyes.

"I'll just go to one of them then, shall I?" You moved to brush passed him, but Dwalin stopped you with a gentle hand on your arm. You suddenly found yourself being pulled close to his chest. There was a fire in his gaze as he glanced down at your lips and then back to your eyes. "No. Please," he said, his voice not matching the expression in his eyes. "I wouldn't, Dwalin. I don't love them. I love you."

"I love ya too, Y/N," he admitted softly. You smiled at him before leaning in a little at a time. You stopped just before his lips, giving him opportunity to decline you if he chose to. To say you were ecstatic when he closed the gap between you would have been an understatement. It was like nothing you'd felt before. It wasn't even the kiss itself that would be etched in your memory forever. It would be the feeling of Dwalin's hands on your cheek and lower back, the sound of your breaths mixing together, and the scent that was uniquely Dwalin. That was what you would remember when people asked you over the years what your first kiss with Dwalin was like. It was all consuming and yet not enough at the same time. This was kiss was something you would never forget.