October 4/Afhumryanj 31 (last day of the Dwarven year)
Before heading out on their search rounds, Piper investigates the remains of one of the unfortunate soldiers against the wall. All that remains is his skeleton and armor. His helmet is crushed from impact - most likely with the stone wall. The rest of his armor is perfect. He must have been a sight to see with his army of companions. She murmurs a blessing of rest in Khuzdul as she reaches out to touch his helmet to pass the blessing to his soul.
"Do na defile the dead, harlot!" a familiar voice gives an ominous growl.
Piper finishes the touch of the blessing and whips around in relief, but the stinging words sink in and she responds in his native tongue, "I was giving him the blessing of rest, so he can go on to the halls of Mahal. Have you taken the time to do that for this fallen warrior?"
"Out, ye petty dwarf tart! I told ye that ye would na be welcomed here! Yet ye defile my home with yer presence and ye have the nerve to speak casually to ME in my people's secret tongue!"
"My family is the last in my time to speak this language, likely the last remnants of your race," Piper's anger builds as she goes on, "And I'm not a tart. I would have at least liked the pleasure of screwing your nephew before being called that! But you can't be bothered to believe us or even your own nephews!" She's right in Thorin's face now and pokes his shoulder repeatedly, "I speak casually to you because I demand to know why you sent the dragon after us! It knew where we were and zeroed in to attack us! You're the only one to hate us enough to do that. SO WHY!? King or not who in the hell do you think you are to do that?"
"Are ye challenging me scrwany wench?" Thorin's look hardens enough to make a diamond jealous.
Fili grabs her arm as she answers, "If you're the one who sent Smaug, then yes, I am."
Fili pulls her to look him in the eyes, then shouts and shakes her to make sure she gets the point, "Piper! Stop it now! He is my king! If ye want to be with me ever again, ye will na do this! Do ye understand?" His voice mellows quickly into compassion as he watches her face as it dawns on her that he put a line in the sand that she can't cross, "Believe me, he did na send Smaug after ye. Last we knew Smaug left and did na come back yet after Bilbo riddled with him. We had no idea Smaug would come after ye. I swear it by my beard and by our whole line of Durin."
She covers her mouth with her hand as it sinks in that Fili is really there in front of her and that she was wrong. After a pause she regains her words, "Gods, Fili, it's good to see you alive." She embraces him around the neck so tightly it practically cuts off his air. "When Smaug went crazy trying to burn down the mountain, I about died having to watch!" Clinging to him, tears of relief flow freely and she buries her head in his shoulder.
"Are ye all ok? Ye said the dragon attacked," Fili asks uneasy as he strokes her hair to try to calm her. She nods.
Kili also has his hands full trying to console Chloe in her sobs of happiness at seeing him alive and well too.
Mako speaks to Thorin, "Sire, I know you do not want us here and we'll leave soon. But we brought you a gift, of sorts... One that bears good news. May I direct your attention to the gate?"
Thorin skeptically investigates the head of the beast and reaches out a hand to see if it's really true that Smaug is dead. He turns to Mako with wide eyes, "H...How is this possible? I was here in this hall when he invaded Erebor, our army was tossed aside as he came into the mountain."
"As Piper said, he attacked us. We barely had time to prepare our Jaegers. He was vicious. He singed the Black Corona and would have taken her out if our crews weren't used to working as a team against similar beasts. The girls gave the final blow that took off it's head. It was their idea to bring it to you, to let you and your company know it's safe now."
Silence is all that Thorin can offer for now as his eyes go from Mako to the girls to the head of his ancient enemy.
Balin sends the rest of the group down the halls to make camp out of the cold wind, while he stays with his cousin and king.
With a bit of apprehension, Balin runs his fingers over his beard as he shares his thoughts, "Lad, I do na think ye can keep young Fili and Kili away from those lasses. They may na be of our culture. Partly of our people perhaps, but na our culture. Nonetheless, they've done ye a great favor in killing Smaug and giving ye back Erebor."
"Erebor is truly ours again?" Thorin asks rhetorically as he rips a scale off the dragon head as a reminder of this day.
Balin gives a small smile in affirmation, "Aye. Ye're King Under the Mountain, now."
Lifting the scale in salute to Balin, Thorin says, "Let the Jaeger crews know they may stay, on the condition that Piper can keep her temper in check. I'll see if there's still spirits in the cellar still. Hopefully that far room was left untouched."
...
That night and into the morning,with much drinking and many songs, the whole group celebrates the death of Smaug, the dwarven new year - Durin's Day, and the first full day of Thorin's rule under the mountain. All toast Thorin's rule and long life. He finally seems to be relaxing.
As Thorin leaves to sleep off his drunken state in private, Piper catches him in the hall and calls his name, "Thorin."
He steadies himself against the wall and waits for her to speak.
"I...I'm sorry for accusing you of sending Smaug after us. Seeing how Fili and Kili both look up to you, I should have known. It won't happen again," Piper says honestly.
He nods and she turns to go back to the group. "Ye do expect an apology of me?" he questions.
It stops her in her tracks and she turns back, "No. I don't think I should. You're king, and you let us stay. That's more than I could have hoped for."
He gives a single disbelieving chuckle as he continues back down the hall.