As if we didn't already have enough trouble, there was a giant bear patrolling the woods, looking for us. Bilbo claimed that it was the only thing that kept the Wargs from getting closer to us.

Thorin was healed for the most part, and as was I, but we both knew the other wasn't completely without pain or soreness, despite the solid fronts we kept up. We were both defending each other. It was natural already to protect him because he was always my friend, protector, family, and king. But it was more than that now. There was love now, and that made our bond all the more tighter, if possible.

We were camped in a small clearing against the side of a pile of boulders that felt more like the side of a mountain than just a patch in the woods. There was no fire and we had a meal of  stale bread and whatever berries we could find, none of it satisfying.

Bombur asked if my dragon could bring back a scorched dead, but I told him that it was too dangerous. The orcs were sooner to notice Finian than us. He was huge, after all.

We were hiding on the third night of our restless trek through the woods and it was nearly an hour until dawn at this point.

"There is a house nearby. A friend. Who may let us stay." Gandalf said ominously.

I looked at him. "'May'? Gandalf, are you sure about this?"

He merely nods. "The orcs won't follow us inside."

"How are you so sure?" Thorin asks.

"Oh, he will welcome us inside. He hates orcs much more than he hates dwarves. I hope." He adds in.

All of a sudden, there was a loud howl not too far away, and we all stiffened, then took off once again, running as fast as we could.

We broke through the forest as a deafening roar sounded and I dared turn to look behind us and fear gripped my heart as that massive bear broke through the tree line.

"Shit!" I yelled and ran faster. The house was in sight now, and I watched as Bombur ran ahead of us all and crashed right into the door, harmlessly bouncing off of it. We all reached him and snagged the latch and pushed the giant doors open and we all piled inside.

The bear rammed its head into the door, trying to get inside, but we managed to get the door closed and latched just in time.

The bear stayed behind the door for a few more minutes, pacing and snarling, then lumbered off.

"What the hell was that?" Fili demanded.

Gandalf smirked, as if he had made the biggest joke in all of Middle Earth. "Our host."

We reluctantly settled in what looked to be the living room as it was filled with couches and plush rugs, blankets, and pillows.

I sat down on a couch cushion and pulled off my cloak, laying it out on the floor next to me. Fili and Kili sat down on either side of me and soon enough, the whole Company was in the living room.

I needed to tell them. Before we got to Mirkwood. Before we got any closer to the Mountain. I needed to tell them the truth about what happened. Especially before Dwalin changed his mind on some whim.

"Guys...I need to say something. You all deserve to know." I said at last.

They looked to me and I clenched my fists around my cloak, which I pulled into my lap.

"What is it, lass?" Bofur asks.

"It's...about Smaug." I said finally.

Silence.

I released a slow breath, then began. "When the dragon attacked, Fili and Kili tried to get me to go with them. But Dwalin was missing. So I ran to find him. And when I did, that's when I came face to face with the dragon. He seemed interested in me and I got this feeling he was waiting for me to speak. Even as fires burned and there were countless dead already. I told him to stop. I begged him to. He seemed amused and merely told me he hadn't been able to have a conversation in the dragon tongue in ages and called me a Dracari.

"I told him to stop killing. To stop destroying everything. We couldn't have another massacre so soon after the war with Azog. No more death, I told him. No more death and he could have the mountain's wealth. He seemed to be pleased with this, so I led him to the treasure. I gave it to him. And I'm the reason he's still there."

I couldn't meet anyone's eyes. I stared at my hands which began to shake and blur from the tears in my eyes that sprang up. Boots appeared in front of me and I stiffened all over as Thorin kneeled in front of me.

I looked up at my King, kneeling there, and saw there were tears in his blue eyes. He didn't speak, and just kneeled there. I squirmed uncomfortably.

"Well? Say something. Yell. Scream. Kick. Do something. I gave away your kingdom, Thorin. You should hate me. You shouldn't be silent right now. You of all people." A tear slid down my cheek and I stiffened as his hand raised, but it was only to brush away the tear, his touch painfully tender and gentle.

"Why would I ever be upset with the woman who saved my people?" He whispered. "I care not for the treasure. I never have. We're dwarves. We'll dig up more."

I covered my mouth with one hand and the tears came pouring down my face faster, and then I was being crushed on either side of me in a hug by Fili and Kili. I held onto Fili's arm and buried my face in his shoulder.

"You saved us." He whispered. "And now we have the chance to live another day and take back what was stolen from us. You can't help who you are. And who you are saved us all."

"And if anyone can't see that, they're a damned fool." Bofur said. "Ye saved us all, lass."

"That day could've gone a lot differently." Balin says. "But your actions are why each of us are standing here today."

I looked up from Fili's shoulder and met Thorin's gaze. He was still kneeling there, waiting for me. I pulled away gently from Fili and Kili and edged closer to Thorin, and he opened his arms and pulled me close to him. I hugged him back just as tightly and he said,

"Come with me, Freya. Stand." His hands moved to grip my forearms as he helped me to my feet. I let Thorin lead me by the hand out of the living room and through the house. We arrived outside and there was a small pen with chickens, goats, and a large garden. We sat down on a bench, watching the sun set.

He was quiet for a long time, and a part of me was nervous. Why did he bring me out here? Was he secretly angry with me?

Then, he spoke. "Freya."

"Yes, Thorin?"

He looked at me, then said with such clear honesty in his eyes, "I love you."

I bit my lip to keep myself from crying, and said, "I love you, too, Thorin."

"You kept the truth to yourself for fear I would be angry with you. That I would hate you. It's what Dwalin was threatening to expose to us all." He says and I look at my hands, my heart pounding hard in my chest.

His hands covered mine, warm and calloused and much larger. "Freya. Look at me." He whispers. I do, and am greeted with a smiling face. The smile he never lets anyone see. I lifted my hands to his cheeks.

"I wish you'd smile more like this." I whispered.

"I smile for you, Freya." He whispered, his arms moving around my waist. "You make me happy. All these years we've travelled together as friends, and not once did I doubt you. And I never will. Freya, my life is yours."

I looked into his eyes and felt my own fill with tears again. "Why me?" I whispered.

"Because..." he whispered and kissed my forehead. My hands dropped to hold onto his jacket. "You are kind, selfless, and brave. You are strong. You care. You are a warrior. You are a victor. And I want no one else by my side."

I froze and looked at him in shock. "Thorin...? What are you saying?"

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small leather pouch, and placed it in my hand. "Open it." He says simply.

I looked at him suspiciously, but did. I tipped the bag and a bead fell out and into my palm. But it wasn't a usual bead- no, I knew what this was.

Dwarves had a custom, and it was to braid into the hair of their loved one a bead that symbolized something special. Something that meant simply, "you are mine". It was a promise. It was a dedication. A symbol to all who saw, that I was taken. I belonged. I was loved.

It was a proposal, and served to replace what a human would call an engagement ring.

I covered my mouth to muffle a sob and I looked at him. He slid closer to me, waiting for my response. If I accepted, I would give it to him. If I did not accept it, I would throw it. It was tradition. He was waiting for me to put the bead in his hand, or throw it in the garden.

And in this moment, Thorin Oakenshield, heir of Durin, proud warrior and king, looked terrified as he stared at the bead in my hand.

It was the size of my thumb, and made of a blue rock, carved with the symbol of the royalty of Durin. Arrows surrounded the symbol, and the rock itself had veins of black and silver running through it.

I looked at Thorin, and I closed my fist around the bead, then took his hand by the wrist, and placed it in his hand, closing his fingers around it. I lifted his hand and pressed a kiss to his knuckles.

"I would accept a bead from no one else, amralime." I whispered. He seemed to relax all at once and he leaned in closer and kissed me, his free hand on the back of my head, fingers tangled in my hair.

I pulled away first, a smile stretching across my face. "Alright." I moved to turn my back to him, letting my hair fall behind me so he could braid it. He pulled back some strands of hair near my temples and began to braid them back to the center of my head, forming a crown braid. He slid the bead into my hair to connect the two, then braided the two together after the bead, to keep it in my hair, tying it off at the bottom.

"It's all done." He said, voice quiet. I turned to face him again, reaching a hand up to the back of my head to touch the bead and I smiled at him.

I noticed the style he chose held my hair back from covering my pointed ears. I felt a faint blush touch my cheeks and he gently lifted a hand to my face and I leaned into his hand.

"You are beautiful." He says and kisses my forehead, then my temple, my cheek, and then stops at my lips.

But I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him myself.