There... finished it! And now I am off to bed at 5 in the morning... I'll fix any mistakes tomorrow as I just briefly proof-read this. I swear... there's a little bit of fluff in here and more Gilni/Dis interactions! I'm so glad you all like him!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Thank you to everyone again!

Chapter 10: Reunions and Royal Apologies

Her plan could work. Her father agreed that it was manageable and would give the dwarves a constant supply of food. Everything was working out well, except for one thing.

"You will not travel with us to the dwarven settlement. Instead, you and your hunters will stay in the middle segment and begin to gather food there. Akan and your sisters shall travel with me and four other sleds to the settlement where your siblings will stay to offer protection and any aid that is required. Lila will head the team that is to meet with you every three days in order to carry the food back to the settlement while Leena will stay and help with healing and caring for those too sick and weak from lack of food. Akan will, of course, lead the hunting and scouting group as evil things will most likely attempt to take advantage of the dwarves weakness, if they haven't already."

"Father, I can…"

"Ariya, this is the only thing I ask of you… please understand my reasoning."

Slowly, she nodded. Her father, after bringing food with him and declaring his intent to the dwarves, would return home, where he would organize the hunters and remain watchful over those too young, old, or weak to help with the caravan.

Because that's essentially what it was. Hunters, in packs, in the North would provide fresh game and then take it in the dog sleds down to the Misty Mountain pass by the Ettenmoors. There, Ariya and her teams would run it and any other game they had caught straight across the plains of Arnor until they met up with Lila in the hills near the old ruins of Fornost, who would then complete the journey to the Blue Mountains.

Therefore, it was near Fornost where Ariya's team stopped and watched the rest continue onwards. The sleds were being manned by younglings of the Clan, those who had already found their Wolf but were not yet old or strong enough to run for the miles required. They still had wanted to help though and so they were bundled in furs and placed in charge of keeping the speeding sleds balanced.

Ariya prayed that they weren't too late as the 8 sleds, laden with frozen meat and sacks of grain, disappeared into the distance.

"My King, something is coming!" a young dwarf (Roni, Thorin's mind helpfully supplied) ran into his large study.

"What is it lad?" Balin's voice came from the corner, clearly worried.

The lad just shook his head, unable to say. Thorin grabbed his sword as he shouted out orders. "Balin, alert the guard! Dwalin, come with me!" Without checking to see if Dwalin was actually behind him, Thorin took off for the ramparts. It had been a month since his people's food was sabotaged and he was keenly feeling the effects of his hunger but, he refused to allow that to prevent him from protecting his kin. Thorin mentally prepared himself for anything, ready to handle whatever was coming towards his land.

That is, he was ready for everything except for the one thing it actually was.

Thorin stood on the ramparts, flanked by Dwalin and Balin, as eight sleds, pulled by seven wolves each, rounded the bend in the forest. He could see that the sleds appeared to be heavy, as they left deep tracks in the snow but the wolves pulled them as if they were weightless. Finally, without any sound from the sled drivers, the wolves lined up next to each other and stopped, little clouds filling the air from their panting breaths.

"Peace, Thorin Oakenshield. We come bearing food and friendship from the North." A clear voice called out, drifting over the wall and the now silent dwarves. All eyes were on Thorin as he regarded the group below him.

"You will forgive me if I seem slow to accept your peace and friendship, for we have known little of either in the past few years." Thorin answered slowly.

A small figure just nodded before it spoke again. "Perhaps you have known little from the other races, but mine has always stood beside you oh King. In fact, my brother has helped patrol your land these past few years, ensuring that little harm came to your people and it was he who told us of your plight. However, I can understand your hesitation. I ask that you allow my sled entrance so that I may prove that we mean no harm and show you the food we have brought here."

Once more every eye was on him as Thorin nodded and ordered "Open the Gate" before hurriedly walking down the stairs to meet the stranger and its supposed cargo. Recognition was growing in his mind however, and he thought that he might have an idea who exactly had come to their aid.

If his suspicions were true, Thorin didn't know how he would ever make it up to her or if he even could.

Once the sled was inside, Thorin had the dwarves close the Gate once more. Thorin approached the boy, for upon closer inspection he realized that it was just a child wrapped in many layers of fur, and waited for him to prove that he was what he stated.

Smiling, the boy bowed slightly before moving to the front of his sled and unhitching the foremost wolf. Thorin heard a bow being drawn back and saw Gilni out of his peripheral, arrow at the ready and waiting in case the wolf attacked the King or anyone else. Before he could raise his arm and gesture that Gilni was to stand down, the wolf stood on its hindlegs and became the familiar figure of Soran, King of the Northern Tundra.

Then, as if the Northern King wasn't enough of a shock for the dwarves, they watched as the remaining wolves Changed, their muscular forms bending to remove the covering on the sled and revealing-

"That's… quite a lot of meat." Gilni muttered while lowering his bow, having determined that the newcomers meant them no harm.

"Why?" was the only question Thorin could voice, his face showing the confusion he was clearly feeling. "Why are you helping us?"

Soran's face was grim. "Because my daughter asked me too." Then, the King turned as if this was explanation enough (which, Thorin thought, it was) and gestured to the closed Gates. "The seven sleds out there have as much food as this, so I suggest letting them in." Thorin nodded to the dwarves controlling the Gate, silently instructing them to open it.

When the rest of the sleds had joined them, Thorin watched as the wolves all Changed and proceeded to unpack the sleds. Three of them however, one scowling male and two females that looked identical to each other, walked up to Soran and eyed Thorin. The male had only derision and ill-disguised disgust on his face while the two girls only looked on in mild curiosity.

"So is this the dwarf Father?" the male asked, looking Thorin up and down.

"Yes my son. Thorin, son of Thrain, meet my firstborn, Akan, and my youngest daughters Lila and Leena. They will all be staying here with you: Akan for your protection while Leena will aid your healers, and Lila will run the supply line for this stretch of the journey."

"I… thank you. For this kindness. It is much appreciated, King of the North."

"Save your breath dwarf; if it wasn't for my sister, we wouldn't even be here." The firstborn (Akan) spat out. His sisters just gripped his arms on either side and smiled at Thorin.

"What our brother means to say…"

"Is that we are more than happy to help."

"This is the first time our sister has seemed alive in years after all."

"Quite right dear sister, quite right indeed. Nasty business, a broken heart."

"Not as nasty as having the one you love threaten your life, of course."

"Why, it's even nastier sister, don't be absurd! For that's what leads, or led to in this case, the heart break!"

"My apologies sister. He does look quite contrite though…"

"Probably because he's been starving for the past month. Enough chit chat though, let's make sure the food gets to the children"

"Ariya would murder us if they continued to starve on our watch."

"Good Day Master Dwarf." Both girls said the last sentence at the same time, bowing slightly before returning to help unpack the sleds. Only their brother saw their wolfish grins as they innocently shoved the dwarf King's words back into his face. Ariya may not appreciate Thorin knowing the devastation his words had caused her, but the twins had decided that guilt would be their greatest weapon in making Thorin pay. And so guilt him they would, until they deemed him sufficiently chastised.

"Threatened her life?! Thorin Oakenshield, what did you do to Ariya?!" Now Dis's voice was heard over the crowd.

"Your King made it quite clear that if he ever saw my sister again, he would personally end her life." Akan deadpanned, eyes finding the dwarf woman who had spoken in such anger.

"BROTHER! How dare you say such a thing! I am going to wring your neck!"

So that is Dis. Ariya's stories haven't quite done her justice I think Akan thought as he watched the female dwarf stalk towards the shame-faced dwarf.

She might actually kill him…

However, just as Akan was sure the Dwarf King was about to meet his end at the hands of his enraged sister, a blond dwarf male leapt in front of her and calmly started speaking to her, his hands gently rubbing her shoulders. Akan realized that it was the same dwarf that he and his sister had saved a couple years back and found himself leaning in slightly to hear what was being murmured to the furious princess.

"…not the best solution my dear. Think about it- Thorin is King. If you murder him, then you will become Queen and I shall have to become King. Or Prince Consort, which ever allows me to do the naughty things you like so much…" Dis had snorted at that in amusement and exasperation but the dwarf continued on. "It's whatever you would want to call me my little Hammer but, the problem would remain. Namely, I would have to help lead the people and no one, I mean no one, wants or is ready for that. So think of the people my Goddess of the Bedroom (here Dis smacked his arm hard but Gilni just smirked and kept talking, knowing that his plan was working) and let your brother survive this day."

Dis clenched her jaw before taking a deep breath and allowed her shoulders to relax under her husband's soothing fingers. "Fine, I'll do it for the people because Mahal knows you'll probably drive them crazy as the King. But I refuse to speak to my brother until he APOLOGIZES TO HER FOR HIS IDIOCY! And you must phrase it like that Thorin, because you are the biggest IDIOT I have ever met… besides my husband."

Gilni just smiled at his wife, knowing that she loved him even if he drove her crazy (which he did just because he loved seeing that exasperated look on her face). Dis again just snorted in amusement at her dwarf before marching away to show the Northern People where they could take the food. Smirking as he turned to face Thorin, Gilni gave his shoulder a comradely slap. "Welcome to the Idiots club! Meetings are on Wednesdays at The Dirty Miner after our wives have thrown us out of the house."

Thorin just raised his eyebrow at his brother-in-law, clearly not in the mood for his ridiculousness right now, if ever. "I don't quite understand how my sister puts up with your antics."

"Me either my King. But I'm damn lucky she does, or I'd just be a poor, pathetic dwarf stuck to follow her all day in the shadows. It's quite a creepy way to live honestly, so I'm glad I can just stalk her now all normal-like." Gilni answered with a grin to Soran and his now-grinning son.

"Gilni, son of Tilli and husband of Dis, at your service. I thank you all kindly from the bottom of my extremely large and fine-looking heart. If you are at all hungry, I'm sure my still slightly-fuming wife can whip up some food for you, or I can go find you a place to catch some sleep, as I'm sure you're exhausted from travelling so far. If that is, of course, alright with you my King?"

Thorin just nodded as he watched in slight amusement now at the way his brother-in-law, who had never appeared to take anything seriously (except for the courting of Dis), diplomatically erased the current tension, offered food and lodging to the skin-changers, and somehow calmed his enraged wife down (something Thorin thought to be an impossible feat), all with just a smile and a ridiculous sense of humor.

As Gilni lead Soran and the youngsters who had ridden on the sled off to go find and set up lodgings for the skin-changers remaining in the settlement, Thorin saw that Akan had remained behind and was once more glaring him.

Sighing, as Thorin knew the prince had every right to hate him, he turned and began to walk back to his study. He startled slightly when Akan fell in step beside him and cast a weary glance over at the dark-haired lad.

"Going to kill me now for your sister's sake?"

The lad just gave him a feral grin, which looked more like the beginnings of a snarl. "If my sister wanted you dead, she wouldn't have fought so hard with father to convince him to provide you with aid. Nor would she, Rabbit and I have spent the last three decades of our lives patrolling your borders twice a year."

Thorin had stopped in the hallway of the main building, his eyes closed in pain as Akan's words rolled over him. He once more felt the crushing sense of regret and guilt and couldn't help his whisper of "I didn't mean my words to her…" Straightening up, Thorin looked Akan in the eyes as he continued: "But I know that means little for they still did a large amount of damage to her, as described by your two sisters. There is nothing I can do to make up for my mistakes or to repay her for a loyalty that I have never deserved."

Thorin and Akan stood the same height and so it was not difficult for the wolf-changer to see the unshed tears in the dwarf's eyes or the deep set grief he held for how he had treated Ariya. It was with that discovery that Akan felt his anger start to leave him, bit by bit.

"Perhaps it does mean little Thorin King… but little is still something. My sister will be busy this winter, as she has taken charge of the stretch of land that runs between the Misty Mountains and the ruins of Fornost. However, come spring… I'm sure it would be impossible to keep her away, even if she still believed that you would kill her. Therefore, you have three or four months to come up with a decent apology."

"She's spent the last 30 years believing that I would murder her… how do I even begin an apology for that?"

Akan just gave him a calculating look, as if deciding to tell him something important or not. "She only believed that for the first year. The rest she spent, essentially, pining away for you and your dwarves, or concerned that something dreadful would happen if she wasn't there that exact second, or in mourning for your brother. My sister can be slightly dramatic when given the chance, and takes entirely too much blame upon her shoulders whether it was her fault or not. However, after her first year back home was spent without so much as a word leaving her mouth, I got sick of the silence and dragged the story out of her. When she told me what you had said, I saw it for what it was- words spoken out of grief and anger. I told her as such, and offered her my help in watching after your people. When I told my father, and my sisters apparently as they must have been hiding somewhere close and listening in, pair of troublemakers that they are, what had happened, he had been of the same mind as I. However, we decided to keep her hidden from you, in case our words were more of a comfort for her instead of the truth."

Thorin just stared at the prince in shock, unable to say anything.

"My behavior to you earlier was born out of my anger at not being able to make my sister whole again and because I am her big brother; protecting her is my job in life. I've accepted this since the day she woke up a hibernating badger at the tender age of two, just to see what it would do."

Thorin chuckled, imagining a tiny Ariya poking a sleeping badger with a long stick, a look of complete concentration on her face. "She would do that." he muttered to himself. The skin-changer heard him and chuckled as well. "My sister was a terror to keep up with. Still is, in all honesty."

Thorin just nodded, his laughter subsiding. "Thank you Akan, son of Soran. You will make a good king one day." Akan just shrugged. "Perhaps. Hopefully that day doesn't come for quite some time. But now, I wish to return to the business at hand. All the years sneaking around have given me a good sense of the area here but, I felt it prudent to consult you as it is still your land. I thought that we could set a patrol following along the River Lune…" and then the two men were quickly walking down the hallway once more as they discussed the best possible ways to ensure the dwarves' safety.

"I hope they haven't killed him." Ariya was sitting by the fire that she and her team had made, their sled half full from the deer and five rabbits that Rabbit had killed today. They were taking shelter in a small cave, large enough for the eight of them plus the sixteen more that would join them after they dropped on the food off at the dwarves' settlement. Ariya was happy that there would still be enough room for the three sleds, and a nice little fire even with the extra bodies. Rabbit had hung a fur curtain over the entrance to keep the snow and wind out and the heat in… as well as to hide the campfire light from any prying eyes.

"I doubt they've killed them Ariya, stop being so melodramatic. Akan probably just ripped his arms off or something. Don't worry so… little bit of maiming never hurt anyone." Rabbit said, snorting in her attempt to not laugh at her own joke.

"Aye Princess, you should only be upset that you aren't the one maiming him." Soja, one of the Clan's hunters, joined in on the conversation.

"You should wrestle him to the ground and give him what-for when you see him next!" another hunter, Nolan, called out in an attempt to be helpful. He was still young and so Ariya forgave him, as he didn't know how he had made this conversation oh-so-very-much worse.

Rabbit started laugh uproariously at that imagine before managing to gasp out "The only wrestling she wants to do is the kind that involves a bed."

"A bed milady? But wouldn't it be more prudent to do it in a place where you have the advantage? Like the forest perhaps? That way, you can sneak up on him and take him by surprise- he must be quite large after all." A timid voice was the next one to offer advice and Ariya knew that it belonged to Dana, the young female that was their sled-rider.

Ariya was worried for a moment that Rabbit would choke on the mouthful of meat she had bitten off just as the youngling gave her well-meaning advice. But alas… er… thankfully, her friend managed to swallow her food before once more bursting into laughter and rolling on the ground.

"Why is the thought of our lady wrestling with that dwarf so funny?" came the confused voice of the girl again before another, deeper voice quietly explained the double-meaning.

"Oh. Oh! And then I said he'd be quite large… and… oh, please don't tell my mother."

Ariya just chuckled at the poor child before reassuring her that no one here would tell her mother, as it wasn't decent conversation for anyone to have, before pointedly looking at her still madly-giggling friend.

"Thank you milady… and I would just like to say… that I still think it would be best to wrestle in the forest… it's always so pretty there."

The girl's cheekiness sent everyone, including Ariya, back into peals of laughter.

Winter passed slowly, with Ariya's clan settling into a routine that allowed them to quickly get food to the dwarves without forcing themselves into exhaustion. It still wasn't as much as everyone would have liked them to have, but it was enough to combat starvation and prevent any more deaths.

Thorin spent his days among his people, helping to repair any damage that the icy weather caused. He was often found in the steel forge, helping create either tools or items needed for mending. Some days he would trek out with Akan, who would remain in his wolf form, and help with the patrol and hunting.

Nights were spent in his sitting room in front of the fire, speaking with Dwalin and Balin about the settlement or anything else that needed to be done. Dis would sometimes meet with them, but most of the time she would come in to say good night and then leave. Gilni had somehow convinced her that the silent treatment was not the best thing to give her brother right now, especially when the people needed to see the Durin siblings united and strong. Dis had realized the truth in his statement and so was begrudgingly speaking to her brother again.

Thorin had received a response from Dain a few days after Soran had returned North with his remaining hunters. Dain spoke of his sorrow over the situation and explained that he wished he could do more than offer words of comfort, but that the snow was too deep for him to send wagons as the ponies would be unable to pull them. He closed the letter with a promise that he would send come spring and that he hoped they found him in time.

Needless to say, Thorin did not deem it fit to respond; Dain's supplies would arrive or not and he was now confident that his people would survive the winter.

It was almost the first day of spring; Ariya and two of her teams were lying behind a rocky outcropping at the base of the Misty Mountain range, waiting for the teams from the North to meet up with them.

They weren't expected to meet up until midday, so it was with a concerned head-tilt that Ariya realized she was hearing the sound of a sled approaching them, and a fast moving one at that. Standing up, Ariya looked to her wolves and sled-handlers, signaling that something was coming. The two teams moved out cautiously from behind the outcropping and paused, eyes wide as they took in the sight of two dog-led sleds careening down the mountainside.

Their kin almost missed them, so caught up in their wild dash as they rushed by. When they finally did slow, Ariya and her teams had had to chase them for a slight distance. Finally stopping, Dana sprang off the sled and quickly unharnessed Ariya, knowing that the princess would want to demand what in Aulë's name was going on. The minute Ariya Changed however, a deep voice exclaimed out in surprise "Well shave my beard and call me an elf! They're a pack of skin-changers!" Three dwarves were seated in the sleds- well, two and a half. The dwarf that had spoken had his hair divided into three peaks, with braids running through them. The second dwarf was clutching a tiny dwarfling that was covered in such a large amount of woolens that Ariya almost mistook him for a lamb.

Raising an eyebrow, Ariya ignored the dwarf, choosing instead to focus on the driver of the sled. The dwarf could be dealt with later… this, however, was important. "What in Durin's name is going on?" Ariya sometimes took to using dwarvish swears, having spent at least 6 years of her life surrounded by them.

And then a howl broke across the group.

"Wargs! At least two dozen of them are not far behind us and gaining!"

Slightly frightened, Ariya looked at her people. The ones that had traveled from the North were panting but appeared to still be capable of running. However, they couldn't keep running dragging behind a sled full of meat and dwarves- Ariya was all for helping dwarves but why were they here?- so Ariya had the teams quickly change sleds. If they ran fast enough, they would have enough time to grab Ariya's third team and make for Ered Luin. The drivers of each sled handled switching the teams while Ariya gently pulled Dana aside.

"We will be the last sled. Which means-"

"It means I'll be the closest to the Wargs." Dana finished, swallowing hard.

"You don't have to be. I can have Rabbit lead the team and I will take your place. It'll be alright."

Dana just shook her head. "I cannot run as fast as the team nor for as long. But I can keep the sled balanced and moving freely."

Ariya just smiled and touched the girl's shoulder gently. "Then hook me up Sled-Handler." And then she continued her instructions louder, so the rest could hear.

"We make for the dwarven settlement but first, we have to get Lodan's team. Run as hard as you can my friends, it's a two day journey to where he is, and then another day or so to Ered Luin. " Ariya then Changed and ran to the front of the line before Dana quickly redid the black wolf's harness and jumped on the sled.

The Warg howls got closer as the four teams sped away, carrying the three strange dwarves with them.

Ariya lost track of how long they had run for, only that they couldn't stop. Lodan had somehow known that something was wrong, either from the wind bringing the scent of Warg with it or the sounds of their howls. No matter how he knew, all that mattered was that Lodan was already leading the sled towards the four teams and they didn't waste any time in making the final dash to Ered Luin.

For all their efforts though, the Warg pack was gaining and Ariya prayed that her people would be fast enough. They have been strong; she knew this. But even they had their breaking point and it was quickly being reached.

They passed over the still frozen Lune in early afternoon on the third day, the river quiet beneath their paws. They were close now, Ariya knew that from her many trips here. The minute she stepped on the other side of the bank however, she was overwhelmed with the familiar smells of her brother and sisters, for they had marked the dwarves territory as if it was their own. Ariya knew that all they needed was for one of her Clan on patrol to see them and race back to alert the dwarves.

We'll reach the settlement by sundown.

A patrol did see Ariya, their kinsmen and the Wargs that still hunted them. It was two of Akan's youngest and fastest hunters- a pair of steel gray brothers- that raced into Ered Luin and started shouting at the top of their lungs.

"WARGS! WARGS AFTER OUR KIN! WARGS CHASING OUR SLEDS!"

Thorin had been in the forge when he heard the words "Wargs" and "sleds". The King dropped everything he was doing and raced towards the front gate, his sword drawn and oak shield on his arm. He met Akan on his way there, the skin-changer in his Common form as he skidded to a halt in front of the shouting boys. The rest of Akan's team, as well as Lila, Leena and their sled members raced into the courtyard, eyes wild at the thought of their clan members in danger. Dwalin, Balin and Gilni arrived not seconds later, racing up to Thorin's side.

"My Prince! Wargs are in the forest! They're chasing five of our sleds and our kin look like they're about to drop over dead!"

Suddenly, a dwarf sentry on the wall shouted out. "Look, coming 'round the bend! My lords, open the gates quickly!"

Thorin roared the order to open the gate and caught sight of the speeding sleds but, most importantly, he saw the black wolf in front of the last sled, racing for all she was worth.

And it was in that moment that Thorin also saw her trip and fall, taking her kin behind her down with her as the first warg came into view.

Ariya could see the large gate of Ered Luin and the stone walls that protected it. What she did not see, however, was the tree root that tripped her tired paws. Ariya fell and fell hard, the wolves behind her tripping over her body and doing some sort of tumble before being stopped short by the leather harness and lines connected to the sled.

The sled!

The sled had tipped over and somehow swung out, missing the pile of wolves by a few fingers-worth. Dana, it would seem, had thrown herself over the second she saw Ariya go down, spilling out the meat and two dwarves that were sitting in the sled in order to prevent it from colliding with her tangled-up kin.

Ariya tried to stand, to do something but it seemed that exhaustion had completely claimed her. Not even the close snarls and howls of the wargs could drag her body up, nor were they awakening her pack. Suddenly, all the black wolf could see was a large beast bearing down on her, its mouth snarling and sharp teeth glistening.

I will not die like some limp sack of potatoes! Ariya declared in her head and started a deep growl in her chest that ended in an answering snarl of defiance at the warg. Just as the beast was about the reach her, a deafening war cry was heard.

Thorin.

Sword raised, its blade blackened with the warg's blood after having cleaved its head from its body, Thorin let out another battle cry as he rushed at the still charging warg pack. Ariya could see her siblings racing after him, with Dwalin and Balin right behind leading a small force of soldiers. A blond dwarf, one that looked slightly familiar, had taken up a stance right by the fallen sled and was firing arrow after arrow at the wargs, wounding and killing many.

Finally, Ariya heard the cries of battle die around her. She was resting as well as she could, awkwardly on her side with her back left leg wrapped up in a leather strap and held at a strange angle to her body. Her head was resting on the ground as she fought to keep her eyes open, to make sure that her people were alright.

In front of her now stood a dwarf that she couldn't make out as her eyes were half-closed and only showing things in shadows. But then the dwarf spoke, his hands stroking her fur as he cut her out of the painful leather harness.

"It's alright Ariya, you're safe. I need you to Change for me though my Brave One, so I can carry you easier and then you can go to sleep."

Ariya did what the deep voice told her to do, as it would just be wonderful to be able to sleep finally. Once she was back in her Common form, she felt herself being lifted and cradled to a strong chest, her head resting against the dwarf's neck.

No, I'm resting on my dwarf… for that voice is one I could never forget.

"Thorin…" she mumbled weakly before sleep claimed her.

When Ariya awoke, it was to the soft feel of fur blankets and cotton sheets. Her throat was so dry it hurt, her lips chapped and all she wanted in that moment was a cool sip of water.

"Wa…"

"Oh thank Mahal's Hammer! You're awake!"a familiar voice said.

Dis.

"Here's some water my friend. Slowly now..."

Ariya just wanted more and more of the sweet water but heeded Dis's words, knowing that too much might make her sick or overwhelm her stomach. She had only taken a few mouthfuls before she felt her stomach start to protest.

"Hush now, lay back in the pillows while I go grab Oin and beat Thorin back with a broom; he's been sitting by your side this past week you know." Dis said before leaving, as if Ariya should have been aware of the people near her person while she was unconscious.

Wait… a week? What of the others? What about the dwarfling and…

Ariya was pulled out of her frantic thoughts by a shout of "Thorin Oakenshield, I forbid you from opening that… damn you Dwarf!" as the door to her room slammed open. There, staring so intensely at her that Ariya felt naked- oh wait, that was because she was naked, damnit Dis!- was Thorin.

She expected him to shout at her, accuse her of something, or even (in the slightly crazy part of her brain) immediately behead her.

What she didn't expect was for him to stumble into the room, pull her up out of bed and into his chest (regardless of her weak protests of "I'm naked you great oaf!") before sobbing his apologies to her. Suddenly, the fact that she was naked didn't seem that important in the wake of "Forgive me please, I'm such an idiot" being cried over and over into her hair. Thorin Oakenshield never cried and he apologizes even less.

With this little revelation in her head, Ariya found that there was little else she wanted to do than run her fingers through his hair and softly tell him that it was alright, that she had forgiven him long ago and that she had missed him over and over again… so she did.

That was how Oin, Akan, Lila, Leena, Dis and Gilni found them: Thorin cradling Ariya's naked body to his chest while Ariya ran her fingers through strands of his hair, whispering soothing tones into his ear. Eventually Thorin looked up into her green eyes and found a cheeky grin on her face waiting for him. "Feel better?"

Thorin just gave her a single nod, which caused her grin to widen further. "Good because if you don't mind, my breasts are being pinched something awful right now and I wouldn't be opposed to being set down so I can sort them out. But then you can pick me back up again, I promise."

Thorin's eyes widened as he realized that he had lifted her clear from the sheets and blankets covering her and that he had forgotten Dis saying that she was going to be washing Ariya's clothing (what little she wore) today.

Ariya found the blush covering the dwarf king's cheeks to be quite fetching until his arms twitched and he dropped her back onto the bed, looking like he had been burnt or had accidentally defiled something.

Hmph, I wish. Prudish bastard… he bloody dropped me!

Dis just let out a long suffering sigh from the doorway, as Akan and the twins rushed in to cover Ariya up and preserve what was left of her modesty. Oin bustled in after them, checking Ariya's scratched up palms and soles of her feet, encouraged her to drink some more water, and ordered that a nice broth be brought to her for dinner before leaving.

Thorin was still standing in the same spot, staring straight at the wall in front of him as if it was the most interesting thing in the world while Ariya just stared at him as if he had gone soft in the head (he had dropped her after all). Her siblings just looked amused at the whole thing.

Dis just looked around the whole room before coming to a decision.

Well, they're all here now. I suppose it's as good a time as any to tell them…

Clearing her throat, Dis got every pair of eyes in the room to look at her, even if it did take Thorin a bit longer and an elbow in the side from Akan to look, before she made her announcement.

"I'm so happy that you're back Ariya… not only because I have my best friend again but, because now, more than ever, I need your help." Dis paused to take a deep breath before-

"I'm pregnant."

Well? Was it enough fluff? Was it enough apology? Probably not... he'll keep grovelling of course... but that's for the next chapter and a day when I'm not so tired lol. I also realize that Ariya kind of... Wasn't really mad at him. I blame it on her exhaustion and surprise at finding Thorin sobbing, which I think was the result from extreme guilt and the fear that she would die and he'd never get to apologize... Mix it all up in an emotionally constipated dwarf and this is what you get!