The Company of Wolves

Chapter 9: Time for Dinner

As the group started the walk down the cliff path, single file, the sun was breaching into the valley and reflecting rainbows from the droplets of the waterfalls. Rhea had never seen such a place so beautiful, the air itself felt lighter to her, like she could take one breath and never need one again for eternity. As she stayed just behind Bifur in the line, she got so distracted by the beauty she almost rammed into him when he stopped to look too.

Abruptly halting, Rhea skidded a little backwards and almost fell onto her bum. If it wasn't for two arms coming from behind her to somewhat catch her and lift her back up properly. Rhea turned around to thank the dwarf but swallowed it once she realized it was Kili. His brown eyes brighter with the sun shining into them, with a bit of brown hair falling into his eyes too. A small smile quirked in the corner of his mouth charmingly and Rhea wondered what kind of dessert would look good with light chocolate frosting all over it....

"Lost your footing?" He spoke, totally snapping Rhea out of the clouds of thought.

She widened her eyes, forgetting to hide that she was spacing out. "You what now?-I mean yes. Wait no I didn't." She shook her head. "I also meant yes, yes I did. Sorry. Thank you?"

She had no idea what she just said.

Kili laughed though, "You sure about that? You seemed like you were debating on whether to thank me or not." He motioned for her to continue down the path so they don't hold up the others and she obliged, not feeling like looking at him.

"Apologies, I got lost in thought and sometimes I ramble when I get caught off guard." She replied, somewhat honestly. She really was caught off guard though.

"What were you thinking about?"

Rhea almost tripped over her own feet this time. "I uh, the beauty...of this place. Yeah." She closed her mouth and blew nervous air into her cheeks puffing them up.

"It really is a looker isn't it? Uncle is not going to be happy about this at all." Kili told her, somewhat to himself though.

"Because of his hatred of elven kind?" She guessed.

"Exactly. But we do need to rest and some of us are starving for food." Kili's eyes tried to catch hers from behind a little, a sly smirk on his face.

Rhea tried hiding her face in her red hair, "I could go for a few pieces of food."

"Not dwarf I hope?" Kili joked.

HA HA HA.

"No of course not. I'd really have to be starving to eat chewy dwarf." Rhea tried to lighten the mood a little too. Hoping he bought that and her expression wasn't obvious to that which she actually was starving that bad.

Kili took some steps so he was walking down next to her, "What? Are you saying we taste bad?"

Rhea looked over and up at him and was a little relieved he was playful still. "I've never tasted one before you dummy, I wouldn't know. Although I heard they tasted chewy."

Kili nodded in fake understanding, "So where did you hear this from I wonder? Trolls?"

Rhea decided to mess with him a little, "No." She leaned over to him like it was a secret. "From Dakota."

She nodded and nudged at him, while Kili widened his eyes and turned around to look at Dakota. Who hilariously was actually listening in from pretty far away, and met eyes with Kili, giving him a wink.

Kili turned back to look at Rhea who couldn't help but burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "Oh my goodness, Kili I'm actually joking. No way has she ever!"