Natalie wasn't able to fall asleep that night, lying awake and staring into the fire. "You won't get much rest if you don't close your eyes." Balin walked over from where he was standing guard with Bilbo and sat beside the fire. Natalie looked up at him, then rested her head back on her arm and stared into the fire. "He means well, you know, when he plans to leave you behind."

"Will he really?" Natalie asked, sitting up.

"Really what?" Balin asked.

"Leave me behind..."

Balin sighed. "It's hard to say lassie... but right now he thinks he's going to. But I've known Thorin long enough to know that doesn't mean anything."

"I just want to help..." She looks into the fire. "And I don't know what I'd do... I can't go back to my old life... And I'd just find another way to get myself killed if I was left behind." She sighed softly, murmuring to herself, though Balin heard it, "I always seem to get myself into trouble I can't get out of alone..."

Natalie had been through the ringer a handful of times. She was restless, that was what her mother always said. Never able to settle for the simple, normal things. Despite having normal, caring friends and a decent drive to learn, Nat had been chaotic and even when behaving she always got herself into trouble. Never with grades or authority or anything, just with people. People she trusted too much, or places she shouldn't have gone. If you think about it, a lot of young girls are like this. Too brave and adventurous for their own good, before modern society screws them over and makes them realize they have to be guarded their whole life to keep themselves safe.

She was lucky to be able to list her mishaps off on one hand. Abusive boyfriend, sexual assault leading to teen pregnancy (which she all could group into one), manipulative boss when she first started working at 16, and being mugged while out on a walk at night. 

"Lassie?" Natalie jumped. She had zoned out.

"Sorry, what was that?" She replied with an apologetic smile.

"Do you plan on getting any sleep tonight?" Balin said with a parental smile.

Natalie sighed with a small smile. "If it'll make you happy, I'll try."

"Please do," Balin asked. "I'd hate to see you worry yourself to death."

Natalie lay back down, curling deeper into the borrowed blanket, making a mental note to return it in the morning, closing her eyes and trying to fall asleep.

***

The next morning she awoke with the rest of the camp, feeling much better. She stood, not overexerting herself, but helping with little things around the camp, after Oin begrudgingly gave her the go ahead. 

She helped as best she could, still stiff and sore, and when she had done all she could, she folded the blanket Thorin had given her, walking over to him and extending it out to him. "Thank you," She said with a soft, yet hesitant smile. Thorin turned to her, raising an eyebrow and not yet moving to take the blanket. When he didn't respond or move to take the blanket, she continued to speak awkwardly. "It was quite warm... and uh... I'm sure it helped me heal a bit faster."

"You slept better with it to keep you warm?" Thorin asked, a hint of softness to the usual edge of his voice.

"I er... I guess, yeah." Natalie held it out a bit further, just wanting him to take it so she could flee to the less awkward company of Fili and Kili.

"Keep it," Thorin said, pushing the blanket back closer to her body. "I have furs and a blanket of my own to keep me warm. It was an extra blanket I happened to have."

"But it's an expensive blanket. The material alone must have cost..." Natalie started, pushing the blanket out again, but was cut off.

Thorin's voice held a hint of amusement and kindness, a small smile twitching at the corner of his mouth as he spoke. "Keep it. When the mountain is reclaimed there will be plenty of blankets for me to choose from." He pushed the blanket back towards her.

Natalie opened her mouth, trying to find words of protest but finding none, shutting her mouth after several seconds. "Thank you..."

"It is nothing, wôno  rak zeitmen." Thorin said. "You have less than I. What kind of king would I be if I did not help those who have not?"

Natalie let out a grateful laugh and smile. "I am not of your kin but thank you for aiding me nonetheless."

He let out a laugh, causing the company to look at him in wonder and confusion. He said quietly so only Natalie could hear, "You have attached yourself firmly to my company, I believe if it were not for your height and lack of a beard, even I would begin to forget you were not one of our own."

A bright smile spread across Natalie's face as Thorin walked away, commanding the dwarves to get ready to move out. He was a damned enigma wrapped in a puzzle wrapped in a mystery, but she seemed to be on his good side for now. Perhaps a full nights sleep had done it for him. She didn't know. She wasn't sure if this meant she could travel with the company to Erebor, but it certainly was looking more likely.