Kira, after seeing that Thorin was not in the celebration room, ran about the hallways, looking for a sign of her godfather only to find none. She began to wonder if perhaps she was too late, and that Zaithor had already located him, and she began to anger—Kili tried to calm her down, to not much avail. Eventually, Fili located them as well, and when his brother explained the situation, Fili alerted them that he had seen Thorin walking outside towards the palace exits. Zaithor had been following.
Hearing this, Kira sprinted to the entryway, the brothers right beside her. When they arrived, Thorin was indeed standing there. Seeing him, Kira steadied herself and held herself with dignity as she walked toward him—she would not look angry or afraid, not to her godfather.
"Uncle," said Kira as she approached. She waved the brothers backward to signal that they should not come forward just yet. "I've been looking for you."
"Incidentally, as it would seem, Kira," replied Thorin slowly, "you are not the only one."
Kira inhaled deeply, and with a steely calm, asked she, "What do you mean?"
"I mean that Zaithor has also been looking for me. He has spoken his piece, and I have listened. And I have decided. Knowing you and the nature of Fili and Kili—who I also know are right behind us—I figure you know what he wished for?"
Kira was silent for a moment, and then, slowly she nodded. "Yes… he wishes for my hand in marriage. But why, Uncle? I do not understand."
Thorin sighed deeply. "I have an awful feeling that he wishes for your hand to have a closer chance at the throne, once I pass. I am worried he will wish to dispose of Kili and Fili when that day should come and declare the beginning of his rule. That is only a guess… though it is the best one I have. It is clear to me that he does not love you."
"To you and the rest of us here," muttered Kira, laughing sourly. At that moment, Kili and Fili moved forward, standing next to her. She glanced at them and said, "I have seen my fair share of what love looks like. I have felt it, and still do for you, Uncle, though in a different manner. I can clearly see Zaithor is as incapable of love through marriage as I."
"I highly doubt that," responded Thorin. "Your past is not forgotten to me, and I can see it is present here and there to this day. I believe your heart will one day be thawed from underneath the ice you have placed around it…" He paused for a moment, and then—"At any rate, Kira, you and Kili and Fili, in one year or so, shall be preparing."
The trio started. "Preparing for what, Thorin?" asked Fili.
"We are going to reclaim Erebor."
Kira, Kili, and Fili all stared at him and blinked. And then they exploded.
"Uncle! How could you!" cried Kira, her rage blowing up to the surface. She clenched her fists and tried to restrain the tears of fury as she screamed, "You sold me off to Zaithor?! I TRUSTED YOU AND YOU HAVE BETRAYED ME!"
"THORIN! SO HELP ME, I WILL HELP HER RUN AWAY!"
"IN DURIN'S NAME, I WILL NOT LET HER SUFFER MORE THAN SHE ALREADY HAS, IF I HAVE TO MARRY HER MYSELF, I WILL—"
Kira whirled around to face Kili, startled. "What?" gasped she, staring at him.
He smirked and said quietly in response, "I know, like you would wish to, right? But in case there is no other option, should you wish…" He shrugged. "I would just want to help."
She blinked once, twice. Then Kira opened her mouth to respond—
"I AM NOT SELLING HER OFF TO ZAITHOR," said Thorin loudly, yet without shouting.
This caused confusion on Fili's, Kili's, and Kira's behalves.
"But you said we were to reclaim Erebor!" gasped Fili, eyes wide. "And Zaithor promised you arms and money should you agree to exchange those things for Kira's hand!"
Thorin smiled grimly. "That is true, he did offer me those things. But I will not sell my Kira off to some common, obstinate ass. She is worth much more to me than that."
Kira swallowed, not quite sure how to take this.
He placed a hand on her shoulder and then continued; "Due to what would've been convincing words were we not talking about you, Kira, I have realized that there have been no rumors about the dragon, no threats, nothing to signal he is still alive. And I believe that we may be able to get the Mountain back on our own. But I refused Zaithor's help—and though he may come back with more arms and money to offer than before, I will continue to refuse his help. Kira, you know I care for you as I would my own blood daughter. Do you truly believe I would exchange you for petty materials such as those?"
She blinked once, tears of gratitude threatening to show in her eyes. "I… I was worried," she replied lamely, her throat tight.
But Thorin saw straight through those words. She had not been merely worried. She had been afraid. Yet for her sake, he did not say this aloud. Instead, he said, "You do not need to be. And now, in a year or so, after I have spoken to the seven Dwarf families, we shall head off to the Mountain ourselves, along with all those who are willing to come."
Fili, Kili, and Kira were all thrilled. They had grown up hearing tales of that Mountain, knowing that it was the dream of all Dwarves to see its glory restored. And now they would be there once it was…
"There is, however, one problem," added Thorin, interrupting Kira from her thoughts. Seeing he had regained their attention, continued he, "Zaithor continued upping the ante for your hand, Kira. He wants the throne badly, no matter how long he must wait for it. In order to ensure he does not come on this quest, or after you any longer, you must convince him somehow that he will never marry you. It may not be easy."
"Oh, I think it will be," said Kira, smirking as an idea formed in her mind. "I believe I know exactly what will convince him. For instance, if I'm engaged…"
"Engaged?!" they all choked. "But—"
Kira laughed at their faces and finished, "It will not be a real engagement. I just need to pretend like it is… And my supposed counterpart will also need to be convincing." She turned purposefully towards the brothers and raised an eyebrow.
Fili and Kili glanced at each other.
"You're the better actor," said Fili quickly, pushing Kili forward.
"What?! No, I can't—" he began to say, but Kira cut him off.
"Please, Kili," said Kira, allowing the icy walls to come down for a spare moment. She removed the cold gleam from her eyes and gazed at him with only pleading. "I need your help."
He stopped and looked at her for a moment, and Kira held this gaze. Again, she was afraid, afraid that Zaithor would always pursue her for the rest of her life in an attempt to seize power, afraid that if he did marry her then he would murder Fili and Kili, afraid. She showed this, and Kili saw it.
Finally, he nodded. "Of course. Of course I'll help, Kira. But we'll need a story if we're to be convincing."
Kira, hearing this response, breathed in relief. "Thank Durin," gasped she before laughing shakily and placing a hand on his arm. "All right… I wear this ring around my neck," said Kira, pulling out the black chain she kept it on and holding it up to the faint moonlight. She could not see the colors, but had long since memorized all the details of the obsidian stone with its golden band… "This may be the token we need."
Kili nodded. "Right. For the next fifteen minutes, you are convinced that I gave that to you two hours ago."
"But you did," said Kira, smiling a little.
"Wh—right you are, of course I did," said Kili, beginning to grin seeing that Kira knew exactly what to do. With that, he and Kira glanced at Thorin and Fili… "Well, I guess we'll be back before long," said he.
Fili stepped forward then. "Wait, you'll need a witness. Remember those are necessary for marriage by law. I'll come with you."
They all shared one last look, and then Kira asked, "And if this ring isn't enough…?"
"Then we'll roll with it," said Kili. "Now come on, Kira, let's get this done. If there's one thing I don't want to see, it's you doomed for an exceptionally bad marriage. Besides, I want to see the look on Zaithor's face when we feed him this story…"
And they walked back into the castle, quietly murmuring to one another about all the details of the proposal that had, for the next fifteen minutes, indeed happened two hours ago.