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"Thorin!"

There were voices murmuring around him, he could hear them whispering and muttering. Something hard was poking into his back uncomfortably, and his limbs ached terribly, as though he'd rolled down a hill peppered with sharp rocks.

Someone was crying, their sniffling audible above the murmurs. Something wet dripped onto his face.

Thorin Oakenshield opened his eyes.

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"Y/N..."

You sobbed even harder when Thorin opened his eyes, and fell onto his chest, cuddling into his shoulder. His hand stroked soothingly down your back, and you pulled back to look at him. The dwarf you loved. Battered and bruised, but not broken.

"I thought you were..." you hiccup, and sitting up, he shushes you, pulling you into a proper hug. You inhale the smell of him deeply, revelling in the fact that he is safe. And in your arms.

"Why did you jump in front of that orc?" He says worriedly, brow furrowed. "You could have been killed!"

"I couldn't let you die, Thorin," you say, shaking your head to emphasise you words. "Not when we've only just recconected. I-I"

You're overcome with a fresh wave or tears, and Thorin holds you in his arms as you cry.

"I'm angry that you put your life in danger for me, but right now, I'm just glad you're ok," He says into your hair. Pulling you back to look at you, he gazes into your eyes.

"I think I heard you singing, while I was unconscious," He murmurs, stroking your cheek. "The song you used to sing to me. Was it just a dream?"

~~~FLASH-BACK~~~

Sitting on the picnic blanket on the grass fields outside of Erebor, the remnants of your lunch strewn around you. The sky is a clear blue, like sapphire, and Thorin has his head in your lap, staring up at the cloudless sky.

Your fingers stroke through his hair absently as you observe the beauty of the landscape around you. The blurry outline of Laketown in the distance. The bright sun beating down upon you. Sneaking a peek down, you notice Thorin is looking intently up at you.

"What?" You shift self-consciously, tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear.

"Nothing," he smiles contentedly. "Will you sing something for me?"

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You feel your face heat up, and look down shyly. "You weren't supposed to hear that," you mutter wryly, drying your tears, and he chuckles.

He leans forward suddenly and kisses your forehead. "Well I'm not sorry I did". His words are thick with the promise of later conversation.

He looks around at the Company surrounding you both where you sat, grinning down.

"The hobbit," Thorin asks suddenly. "Where is he?"

"Bilbo is fine," Gandalf reassures him, smiling slightly. Thorin moves to get up, and Dwalin and Kili step forward to help as he staggers to his feet. You also get up, wiping your nose on your sleeve, and watch as Thorin turns his attention to Bilbo, who is standing slightly away from the group.

"You!" Thorin's tone warns of anger, and you step forward.

"Thorin.." you warn, but he pays no heed. Thorin Oakenshield, the authoritative leader who answered to no one, is back.

"What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed!" Thorin barks at Bilbo, and the poor hobbit looks rather alarmed.

"Did I not say that you would be a burden, that you would not survive in the wild? And you had no place amongst us?" Thorin advances toward the hobbit and you look to Gandalf, who is observing with a worried look.

Poor Bilbo looks utterly aghast, wounded by the dwarf prince's sharp insults. You fight the impulse to give the poor chap a hug, and resolve to comfort him later, as well as have a chat to Thorin about his treatment of the Halfling.

But Thorin's next words warm your heart.

"I have never been so wrong in all my life!" He embraces the hobbit, and everyone cheers happily.

"Well with the exception of the lovely lass standing over there," Thorin jokes, gesturing to you, and you blush as everyone looks at you.

"Thorin Oakenshield, did you just crack a joke?" You gasp in mock horror, and everyone laughs, including Thorin. Your heart swells at the sight of his smile. It had been far too long since you had seen it break genuinely upon his handsome face. He was coming back to you, piece by piece.

"I'm sorry I doubted you," he apologises to Bilbo, pulling back from the hug.

"No no I would've doubted me too," Bilbo replies lightheartedly, relief plain in his features. "I'm not a hero or a warrior."

"I'm not even a burglar, " he points out with a laugh, and everyone smiles warmly.

The departure of the eagles soon distracts everyone, but then Thorin turns and looks straight ahead into the distance. His mouth falls open, and he walks forward, to the very edge of the rock outcropping, everyone following behind. You find yourself beside him in the throng.

A look of pure joy graces his face.

"Is that..what I think it is?" Bilbo questions, gazing in awe at the fuzzy outline in the distance.

"Erebor," Gandalf declares. "The Lonely Mountain, the last of the great dwarf kingdoms of Middle Earth."

A hand takes yours, squeezing it slightly, and looking down, and then up, you see that it's Thorin's, his palm warming yours. "Our home," he murmurs, smiling reassuringly at you, and a feeling of contentment settles in your heart.

There was hope. For you. For Thorin. For this quest. For your love.

A sweet twittering bird's call reaches your ears. "A raven!" Oin calls excitedly, clutching his ear trumpet.

"The birds are returning to the mountain! "

"That, my dear Oin," Gandalf replied. "Is a thrush".

A tiny giggle escapes your lips, and Thorin squeezes your hand again, a smile playing upon his lips.

"Well we'll take it as a sign. A good omen."

He then shifts slightly, manouvering into your arms, and you rest your head on his shoulder.

"You're right. I do believe the worst is behind us," Bilbo declares.

And The Company of Thorin Oakenshield all looked out at the promise of tomorrow, as the sun rose quietly behind you.

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