LOTR & The Hobbit Oneshots

A Fighting Chance (DwalinxReader) Part 1

Dwalin was anything but a coward. He would never run in the face of danger, never back down from a fight, accept any challenge thrown his way, and he was as fearless as they came; given his many scars, perhaps it was to a fault.

So, why was it that he'd turn into a blubbering nancy whenever it came to you?

He couldn't understand it. And the more he thought about this conundrum, the more annoyed he got about it. "This is ridiculous!" he would say. "She's just a lass, for Durin's sake..."

But then you would smile at him or look at him with those Y/E/C eyes of yours and he didn't know what to do except stare and bark out something unintentionally brusque while his heart tightened and his brain scrambled for better words to say. Then he'd stomp off with curious aches in his chest that would last for hours on end.

Several times in the past Dwalin had went to Oin at first for these chest pains of his and even the esteemed apothecary was at a loss to their source. Oin's last resort was sending Dwalin your way, the company's additional healer, for a second opinion. You were equally stumped but after a thorough examination, you had offered him a remedy that seemed to do the trick and so he continued returning to you henceforth whenever they came about.

Dwalin figured he'd just eaten something that didn't agree with him or perhaps he was experiencing the first issues of his old age catching up with him, but then he began noticing a pleasant hum in his soul whenever he thought about you that jump started the pains.

It was a foreign, yet oddly pleasant feeling; similar to how he felt during the thrill of battle. And it was so benign that he didn't notice what it truly meant. He'd catch himself watching your sleeping form curled near the fire wondering if you had enough to eat that day, how you were fairing, or if you were also tending to your own health and well-being apart from caring for the others.

And then one night during his watch, it finally clicked for the battle hardened warrior. He loved you. The realization hit him like a hammer to the head hard enough to make him see stars and from then on it was like seeing you for the first time.

In fact, Dwalin had become enamored quite suddenly and unexpectedly, he just never realized it until that moment when he finally pieced it together. He was quick to deny his feelings since he's never felt this way for someone before but he was just as quick to succumb to them. As a seasoned fighter in many areas except with matters of the heart, he knew that there was no fighting this off. This was it -- you were it. His One. And you had him completely wrapped around your finger while you had no clue about his feelings and worse still, he hadn't the foggiest on how to approach you about it.

Before long, he had began making up false ailments as poor excuses just to bask in your company in hopes that he would have the courage to talk to you about this whole thing and get you accustomed to him. Sadly, he never was able to find the words. And he knew you were uncomfortable around him, which hurt more than he thought it could.

"Fix this," he grumbled, an outstretched arm sporting a gash from sparring earlier that he could have just as well patched himself.

"Of course," you replied cordially.

"My leg muscle is sore."

A prompt massaging did the trick for that.

"My ear is clogged."

You had a solution.

"I can't sleep."

You gave him some tea.

"Can't get this bloody splinter out."

You laughed, "Have a seat."

For every silly ailment he brought forth, you would "fix" him every time. You were just doing your duty, he knew, but he relished in your tender touches as your skilled hands worked quickly and efficiently at the task presented, sending him on his way when you were done.