Flames

2.6

An hour later, they were on a boat with a man. The man said his name was Bard and that he'd bring them to his town, the only thing standing between them and the mountain. Azalea sat near the back of the boat, not wanting to worry anyone. She felt slightly better, which was a good sign. If she'd been poisoned, she'd feel steadily worse. She felt someone sit next to her.

"Yes?" she asked, staring out at the vast lake.

"Thorin sent me over to make sure you were okay," Bilbo's voice said next to her.

"I will be," she replied, offering a thin smile.

"I kept telling him to come talk to you himself. He's not fooling anyone anymore," Bilbo continued. "He really likes you."

"I've heard."

She caught herself watching him. He briefly turned his anxious gaze to her, and they both instantly looked away.

"I heard you spoke to Thranduil," Bilbo said. 

"I did," Azalea nodded. 

"What did he say to you?"

Azalea glanced at Thorin again. He doesn't love you. You're not a real part of the company. She turned back to Bilbo.

"Just...warnings," she said, which wasn't a lie. Bilbo nodded, getting up and heading to the front of the boat. She stared out across the lake again. The glassy waters remained calm, motionless. She wondered how restless the waters beneath her were. She was briefly reminded of how she felt. Her heart rolled with turmoil and indecision, but she presented herself as stoic as the lake.

At least, she hoped.

Someone else sat next to her. She took a guess at who it could be.

"Is there something you want to say, Thorin?" she asked, turning to see the shocked dwarf.

"You knew it was me?"

"No one else really talks to me, except for Bilbo," Azalea said.

"That's not true. I saw Kili speaking to you earlier," he said. 

"I don't mind, to be honest," she admitted.

There was a brief, comfortable silence.

"I heard bits and pieces of what Thranduil said to you," Thorin admitted. 

"Oh, no," Azalea muttered, burying her face in her hands. "What did you hear?"

"I heard him say that you weren't really a part of this company," he said. "Which is a complete lie. You are as much a part of this quest as I am."

Azalea smiled meekly.

"Thank you," she said. "That means a lot."

"You're welcome."

Another pause.

"I also heard him say you love me," Thorin added. "I heard you deny it."

"I'm trying to," Azalea said before the words could be stopped.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Okay...The last thing I heard him say was that I did not love you."

"Oh, dear," Azalea muttered, not looking at him. She didn't want to know what he was going to say next.

"Which, of course, is another lie."

Azalea looked back at him.

"What?" she breathed.

"That's a lie. I've felt...something since I met you, and now that it's been said aloud, yes. I love you."

Azalea waited for him to laugh and say he was joking. He didn't.

"Wait, you mean it?" she asked, not daring to believe it.

"Of course I do."

Azalea stared at her hands.

"When I denied that I loved you in front of Thranduil, I didn't mean it," she admitted. "I think...no, I'm certain, I love you."

She looked back at him. He stared at her, debating what to do next. Then, the decision clicked in his eyes. He leaned forward. Azalea didn't know what to do, so she froze.

Then, he kissed her.

Azalea remained frozen, still unsure of how to respond. Then, she did the only thing she could think of.

She kissed him back.