Natalie began to look forward to night watches with Thorin. He was highly intelligent, and was surprisingly good at conversation, despite his grumpy and commanding demeanor during the day. The two would talk until others woke to replace them, even continuing to talk quietly for a couple minutes before falling asleep.

Thorin didn't speak to her as much while all the others were awake, though Nat suspected it was because he was fighting so hard to keep everyone in line. "Kili! For the love of Mahal, this is the third time I've had to tell you to pack up your bed roll. And Bofur, pack the dishes, I told you to do it last night!"

"He sounds like my mother every morning before school," Natalie joked to Bilbo as they worked to get everything packed onto the ponies.

"You still go to school?" Bilbo questioned.

"Of course, that's such a silly question. Where I'm from there's mandatory education from the ages of 5 through 16, then many complete the free education program that extends through the age of 18. Then most people either go on to trade school to learn how to be a carpenter or something like that, or go to universities for anywhere from 2 to 11 years, depending on what you want your career to be." Natalie replied.

"So what do you want your career to be, and how long will it take you to get there?" Bilbo asked.

"She wants to be an artist," Thorin said, though realized he interrupted Natalie and gave her an apologetic look, continuing on to help get the group on the road.

Natalie continued where Thorin had left off. "It will take me four years from where I am now. I just finished my free education, and I'll have to pay for further classes in painting, sculpture, metalwork, architecture, and theater."

"Wait, how does Thorin know?" Bilbo asked, still stuck on how easily Thorin responded.

"We talk when we share night watches," Nat shrugged, loading the last pack onto the ponies. 

"I didn't know Thorin talked to anyone besides Balin, Dwalin, Fili and Kili, except to spout orders." Bilbo said.

"He doesn't," Fili said, walking over with his brother to put their packs on their ponies.

"Who do you think he's been talking to?" Kili asked.

"Me," Natalie said, "And unless I've been imagining it, I don't think, I know."

"He knew she wanted to be an artist without even having to think about it," Bilbo said.

"An artist, eh?" Fili asked with a grin.

"He listened to you?" Kili asked.

"Oh quiet, stop making a fuss you three. I'm sure it's perfectly normal. Come along, let's get going, everyone else is ready, you're over here throwing a fit and delaying us," Natalie chastised.

"You think maybe they're just swapping personalities?" Kili whispered loudly to his brother so Nat would hear as he clambered up on his pony.

"Hey!" Natalie challenged as she swung across her pony's back. "I'm not nearly as cross." She earned an affirmation and a laugh from her friends.

***

When they had stopped for a break, Natalie had trained with the boys, as was ritual. Now that Nat was better, some of the dwarves would watch and cheer them on. She had managed to disarm and 'kill' Kili, and was now facing off Fili, ducking beneath his blade and stepping to bring her own against his throat with a triumphant grin.

"They are both tired, there is no way you should be able to defeat them that easily," Came Thorin's voice.

"Do you think you could do any better?" Natalie challenged, raising an eyebrow, smirking lightly. The company fell silent, worried for Thorin's reaction. No one dared talk to the King that way. He was silent for a moment, taking a step forward, but Natalie didn't step back in fear as the other dwarves did.

"I accept your challenge," Thorin said with a slight smile, walking down to where the young woman stood. 

The fight was short, and Thorin won, of course, but the human woman held her own for a good long while against the Dwarven warrior. As he finally knocked the blade from her hand and held his own to her throat, a rare smile crept onto his face. "You have improved greatly in your skill. I have trained many warriors, and if I did not know I would not believe you had first picked up a blade not three weeks ago." He picked up the borrowed dagger and handed it to her. "You are worthy to wield a weapon of Dwarvish make."