Author's Note: For those of you confused by the when everything is taking place in the story I will try to clarify. The timeline for Thorin's life is extremely spread out and vague. I didn't want to be trying to fill every single day of their lives with a story, so I try to make it clear when things were happening. Thorin is obviously 24 in the first chapter he's mentioned in. He's 44-45 when he and Lina kiss for the first time and when they have that fight in the arena. He's 45-46 when the two make up. He's 52-53 when Thrain announces the assault on the east gates of Moria. The ages aren't actually as old as they seem, Thorin at 53 is still considered a minor by dwarven standards. Fili and Kili who were in their 70s and 80s during the quest to defeat Smaug were still considered minors, and Gimli at 64 was considered too young to accompany his father on the quest. Thorin ends up being nearly 200 years old when he finally dies in the Battle of the Five Armies. So in order to avoid becoming too dull and repetitive, I've picked key moments in their lives to represent. Thus they end up rather spread out. To make things clearer in the future, I will posting the years the events take place during at the start of the chapter. Hope that helps everyone.

Date: TA 2799, on the eve of the Battle of Azanulbizar.

The camp was silent. It was the quiet before the storm. Only tents still stood. Most of the temporary shelters had been moved closer to where the battle lines were to be drawn. Lina's forge had been packed away the moment the last of the blades had been sharpened and the last pieces of armor repaired. Movement around the tents was minimal.

From where she was sitting, Lina could see a handful of sentries appearing now and again between the tents. The hill where her forge had once stood was now empty and Lina had no reason to be there, but she couldn't go back to the tent. Her hands were shaking, her entire body quivering. She didn't want Ira or Kira to see her like this, to see her losing her calm on the night before battle. They would mistakenly think she was afraid. Instead she sat under the full moon's light, trembling.

No, Lina was not afraid. In some ways Lina was looking forward to the battle. It would likely be the one chance in her life to silence the doubters. She would prove her worth to everyone or she would die in the attempt. Not fear, but anxiety. She was anxious to begin what would probably be the worst day of her fifty years of life, to begin so that it could end. Not knowing who would or would not make it back to the camp was tearing at her. She wasn't sure how to react. Was she supposed to say good-bye to everyone as if she or they were never going to return? How was she to laugh and joke with someone who might very well not be there when everything was said and done?

"I thought I was the brooding one between us," Thorin commented, coming up the hill beside her.

Lina gave a small breathy laugh. She tried to hide her trembling, tried to still her body. He noticed any way.

"The old ones say it's normal," he muttered, sitting next to her and taking one trembling hand in his.

"I'm not afraid of dying," she whispered, looking over at him.

"I know. You're afraid of who won't come back at end of it all." He shifted so that he could reach both of her hands and rubbed them gently between his own. Lina nodded miserably.

"I don't know who won't be coming back. I am no seer," Thorin murmured, "But I do know that I will be with you always. I will never leave you, no matter what happens to me."

Lina's throat closed around the words she was trying to speak. The fear of losing Thorin was overpowering her. She could barely breathe.

Thorin saw the anguish in her eyes as she looked at him. In response he pulled her close, cradling her against his broad chest. Her trembling fingers found and clutched the edges of his coat. She could hear the beat of Thorin's heart, could feel the warmth radiating from him, could smell him. Every little thing she tried to lock into her mind. Thorin seemed to be doing the same. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in deeply.

"I love you," he breathed against her ear. Lina's head shot up at his words, narrowly missing his nose.

"You what?" Her heart was pounding now.

"I love you," Thorin repeated quietly, seriously. He locked his gaze with hers.

Lina reached one hand up to stroke the side of his face. He loved her? In the nine years they'd carried on their quiet romance neither had dared say those words. Lina had certainly thought about saying them a number of times, but each time she'd thought better of it. After all, how did she know this was really love? Was this what love felt like? Being torn apart inside at the thought of losing them? How could such a horrible feeling be used to describe something so beautiful?

Thorin simply watched her eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching as he saw way her eyes were rapidly shifting as they always did when her mind was racing. She was trying to process what he had said.

The thoughts slowed and ceased to run in circles. She loved him. That realization came crashing down on her like an anvil. Once Lina had thought it impossible for her to love anyone. She'd had no friends as a child, no one to show her love beyond her mother. Most of the time she'd been indifferent to comings and goings of those around her. She'd cared for her people, but she'd never had anyone get close enough for her to love. Now someone was close enough to love, and he loved her.

For an instant, Lina felt time freeze around them. Then she seized his face between her hands and kissed him hard. Thorin's eyes widened in surprise briefly, but he took her action as a good sign. He did not resist as the weight of her against his chest pushed him back onto the ground until she lay on top of him.

Slowly, Lina pulled her mouth back, opening her eyes to gaze upon Thorin. He smiled up at her and reached up to tuck one of her temple braids back behind her ear.

"I love you too," she breathed.

"Good," he murmured, pulling her back down for another kiss. One hand gripped the back of her head, the other around her waist. Lina's fingers tangled in Thorin's dark hair as she returned the kiss. She gasped as his lips began to travel from her lips down her neck. The hair on the back of her neck rose at the sensations and her body trembled.

The prince teased her with his lips and teeth, drawing small moans from her. Lina felt the fire growing deep within her. Her breathing became rapid and shallow as he continued. At every gasp and moan she could feel him smile against her neck. She felt as if she was floating. Her body was so light and tingled under his attentions. Then his lips wandered their way back up her neck and along her jaw until they reached hers.

This kiss was softer and more soothing, drawing Lina back to earth. Her body trembled as his fingertips caressed the spot his lips had only just left. That small smirk played with his mouth as he watched her. Lina felt almost embarrassed and ducked her head slightly. Thorin caught her chin before she could hide her face. He brought her face back up to his.

"Don't be embarrassed," he told her. "I was attracted to your strength, but I love this soft side of you too. If I am to love you, I want to love all of you, not just one side of you."

With those words, Thorin placed one more kiss on her lips. The kiss was tender and chaste, but it imparted emphasis to his words and had as great an impact upon Lina as any kiss he'd ever given her before.

"I love you, Lina."

"I love you, Thorin."

His hand closed over hers and remained there until the sun peaked over the horizon, the dreaded day dawning.