The night watch has just sounded the 2am alls well for the town, as Thorin's group marches up to the prison carrying a wriggling, blood smeared sack. The constable admits them and Thorin dumps open the sack, spilling out a gagged and hog tied, very beat up Boln. Thorin's boot pushes into Boln's shoulder and neck painfully, pinning him down.

"The others are dead. This one had to come to justice," Thorin reports and Dwalin drops the crests from their houses onto the desk, while Boln is dragged off to a cell.

"Thank you. He'll be dealt with severely. Won't likely leave here again," the constable admits and reaches out to shake Thorin's hand.

Returning the gesture Thorin lets the constable know there's a bit of trust building between the humans and dwarves now, "If I did na think there would be justice, I'd have simply killed him and dumped him at yer gate. Now that I've seen that our peoples can get along, I brought him to ye."

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a sack of coins tossed across the room and hears a mumbled, "Told you the dwarves would find him first..." Dwalin notices the bet too and roughly pats Thorin on the shoulder as they head back to their homes to rest.

...

Balin is the only one awake at Thorin's house, since he and Dori were tasked with helping and guarding the household. "Welcome back, laddie. How'd the hunt go?"

"Successful. How are Mia and Griff?" Thorin responds in his short but not unfriendly manner and sits on the bench to clean his weapon.

"Resting. Master Griff has 4 broken ribs and will na be able to help with the bakery for an extended time. Our people are looking for a place to rebuild the bakery. Mia wouldn't leave Griff's side and tried to wait up for ye."

"I would have liked to tell her that's she's safe, before I fall into bed," Thorin admits too tired to keep his thoughts to himself.

"Laddie, we need to talk...about Mia," Balin sighs and Thorin shoots him a stern look, so he continues, "If ye haven't noticed, she's in love with ye. Do na play with her by encouraging her affections. In her head she knows she can na be the one for ye - she even told me so. But I'm not sure it will be so easy to tell her heart and ye just swooped in and saved the day for her..."

Thorin puts down his now clean axe, and puts his elbow on his knee, and rests his head on his palm, "Nothing is simple is it?" Balin doesn't answer but walks over and puts a hand on Thorin's shoulder and Thorin murmurs, "Balin...I'm fond of her too..."

Mia silently steps into the room in her robe. Thorin sees her bare feet come into view and feels her hand caress the back of his head. "I know" she whispers sniffling, "I realized it when you held me today..."

Balin shakes his head and moves to another room to let them talk.

Thorin pats the bench beside him and he takes her hand as she sits, "I do na want ye to just disappear from my life."

She leans on his arm, wipes the tears from her eyes, and tries to lighten the mood, "You can't get rid of me that easily..."

Her teasing wins her a small smile from him as he squeezes her hand and says, "Good."

"More seriously though, I was awake thinking through what I CAN be to you. Your people need you to be strong. Someday you'll lead them back to your home. I can be here by your side as your supporter, confidant or a champion for lack of a better word, while you learn to believe in yourself the way I believe in you. Every king needs someone there to give them a good cussing out sometimes too. Your people are so noble and reverent, they won't do it. "

"And that's something ye'd enjoy?" Thorin looks at her with an eyebrow raised.

She softly punches his arm with her free hand, "The last part? Not really. After our last meeting in the prison, I couldn't believe I cussed out a king and slapped you ta boot."

"I needed to hear it, but I'd rather do with out being slapped again..."

She lets out a snort of laughter, "Understood...I thought Balin was going to break my wrist."

Mirth is in his eyes when he replies, "I was surprised he did na. If ye could have seen the shock on his face when he missed yer hand..." Shaking the memory from his head and focusing again, "So ye truly want this?"

"If you'll let me, your majesty..."

He stands, still holding her hand and motions for her to kneel, "To be best accepted among my people, you'll need a dwarven name. Mia Green Stoutheart, rise and be trusted counselor to Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain son of Thror, King of the Dwarves in the Blue Mountains," he pulls her up by the hand he still holds. "I'm grateful for your choice. My people are setting up yer new bakery across the street from my smithy, they'd like you to focus on the foods that remind us of home. Ye became dear to me so quickly, I did na know how I'd handle it."

She beams at the news, pulls her hand from his and tucks a stray lock of hair behind his ear before heading back to her room, "I'm grateful to still be allowed to be by your side. Now...your counselor's first recommendation is to get some rest while there is still time to do so. Today will be a busy day. Good night, my king..."

"Kings don't always heed counsel..." Thorin quips because he doesn't want to be told what to do right now.

She doesn't turn around but giggles, "I know..."