3I woke up in the morning and lifted my head off hers. She had fallen asleep on my shoulder and I must have dozed off in the night.
I glanced around and was relieved to see that no-one was awake except me. I wouldn't want uncle Thorin to catch me sleeping while on watch. He would wring my neck.
I looked down at the woman leaning against me. Her brown hair was glinting in the early sunlight. I felt her stir beside me. She lifted her head off my shoulder, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone." I smirked at her. She rolled her eyes and got up to stretch, being careful not to trip over Bofur. She jumped quickly and silently over the sleeping company, not waking a single one of them, and bounded into the bushes.
I watched after her, wanting badly to follow but needing to remain at my post. She returned within minutes, springing through the slumbering dwarves, yet again, waking not a single one, before sitting down next to me.
"That was absolutely incredible! How did you do it?"
"What?" She turned her brown eyes on me.
"How did you jump through like that? It was amazing!" She blushed at my words causing my own cheeks to redden slightly.
"I don't know. I just kind of knew where to step I guess."
"It was unbelievable. You have to show the others." She looked at the ground.
"It's time to get everyone up. I'll go wake uncle Thorin." I got up and tried to copy her movements, tripping over Bombur and kicking Bofur in the back.
"Sorry, sorry!" I said hurriedly and I heard her laughing behind me. I shook uncle Thorin awake and the day began. We had another lousy breakfast. I gave half of mine to Jarvis; the girl was tiny.
"We don't have any extra ponies, Jarvis." Uncle Thorin stated.
"It's alright. She can ride with me." I held out my hand to her, which she took and I hoisted her up onto the pony behind me. Her hands were around my waist and we were off.
We didn't talk much. She slept a little more on my shoulder. I hoped no-one noticed, more for her sake than for mine.
"Hey Kili, how's your girlfriend?" Fili called to me. I glared at him and he laughed. It was late afternoon before we stopped to set up camp. I asked uncle Thorin if I could teach Jarvis to fight while the rest set up the camp site. He agreed after a bit of persuasion.
Jarvis and I stood about 20 metres away from the clearing and I handed her a sword. It was short sword and not too heavy. It was perfect for her.
"Why is it so light?" She asked me.
"It's a good sword to learn with." She nodded.
"Just swing it around a bit. Get used to the feel of it." She swung it around. It may sound stupid but she actually looked graceful with a sword.
"Now we'll go a bit of one on one." I said to her after she'd had a bit of practice on some tree trunks and such.
"Go!" I called. I charged at her. She blocked my first blow over her head. She pressed her sword against mine and swung them both in a circle. At the last moment she twisted her blade and mine flew from my hand.
Before I could think, she knocked me to the ground and the sword was at my throat.
"You're good." I remarked. She moved the edge closer.
"Alright, alright, you're the best." I smirked at her and she got off. She was on her feet before you could blink.
"Want to try archery now?"
"Yes!" I set up a target and handed her my bow and arrows.
"You'll have to use these until I can make you some of your own." She nodded.
She lifted the bow in her left hand. She moved her right hand to the string. I stepped beside her and placed my left hand over hers.
"Not too tight." I said. I was very aware how close we were but I tried to ignore it.
"Pull and release. Don't let your elbow go up." I held her elbow at the right height and she released the string. The arrow flew straight and hit the target smack in the middle.
"See? You're a natural." I said.
"Maybe I just have a really good teacher." She said turning to me. I blushed and turned away.
"Our time's up. We have to go back and help now." She pouted. Oh god.
"Do we have to?"
"Unfortunately, yes, we do."
"Come on then." We picked up the arrows from the ground, and just for the briefest second our hands touched. She didn't look up but I could have sworn that she smiled.
We made our way back to camp. Bombur was cooking dinner, but Fili decided it would be a good idea to scare him. Bombur jumped throwing a stack of plates into the air.
Before anyone could move, Jarvis sailed through the air and caught the plates. I started clapping. I couldn't help it. It was an amazing performance. She blushed, handed the plates back to a stunned Bombur and walked back over to me.
Gandalf prodded uncle Thorin with his staff to make him close his mouth. Anyone who looked at him could see he was stunned. Silly uncle Thorin, not everyone's as clumsy as a dwarf.
I chatted to Jarvis until the sun went down. Then uncle Thorin spoke up, saying something that I hadn't expected.
"Jarvis, you're on watch." I looked at him stunned, about to protest when Jarvis laughed.
"Sure thing, Thorin. If I'm going to stay, I got to pull my weight, right?" Uncle Thorin grunted in reply.
She turned to me and took in the probably stunned look on my face. She laughed. Oh god.
"Don't look so shocked, Kili. I'll be fine. Do you think anything would even be able to catch me, let alone beat me?" She patted my head and laughed as I continued to stare at her, completely amazed.