Thorin sat at Morshas bed for days now, waiting for her to wake up. Life in Erebor was going back to normal and the war of the ring was over. Who would have known that the ring Bilbo had found in the goblin caves sixty years ago would cause such danger. At least, in the hands of the gentle halflings the ring had not been a threat for the free folk of Middle Earth. Again a halfling had held the fate of many in his small hands. A halfling related to his burglar, Bilbo. Thorin remembered their first encounter. He had thought the halfling to be no more than a burden and had behaved horribly. Then after Bilbo had rpoven his worth Thorin had banished him together with Morsha, but after the Battle of the Five Armies Bilbo had forgiven him. Unlike Morsha. It had taken her decades to forgive him and it had nearly cost her own life. In her wrath she had destroyed many lives, amongst others the life of Orin, Oins son. Suddenly, Thorin realised that Morsha was not waking up because she did not want to. She had no fever and she was breathing constantly. But Thorin was not ready to give her up.

'Please my love...come back to me. Come back.' Thorin whispered to her every once in a while and caressed her cheek with his callous hands. Thorin had neglected all his kingly duties to sit at his loves side. He did not care about his kingship anymore. Guilt and shame were still torturing his mind. His weakness had caused all of this. The dwarves of Erebor cherished him as a great king, but Thorin thought differently. Durins curse had destroyed so many lives and he had let it happen. Thorin suddenly felt old and tired. A decision had to be made. Since he had no male children, Fili would follow him onto the throne of Erebor. Senka could not, for she was born out of wedlock and only half dwarvish. Although she had adjusted well to her life in Erebor and the dwarves had accepted her as Thorins daughter she could never be his heir. That night Thorin made a decision.

'Fili, come in.' Thorins deep voice greeted his nephew as he knocked on the door to his uncle private chambers. As he entered he saw his uncle sit at the edge of his bed, at Morshas side. Thorin had asked Oin to relocate her into his private chambers to maybe help the healing process. But the dark elf had still not woken up.

'Uncle.' Fili looked down into Morshas face. She looked peaceful and minus the grey streak she had not changed since the quest.

'I have not been paying attention to my duties much, Fili.' Thorin spoke quietly. 'I have grown old...'

'No uncle, you are never old.' Fili interrupted him. 'You are our king. Balin and I have kept Erebors affairs running the past days, we can see to it longer if you need time.'

'No.' Thorin said determined. 'It is time for me to give up the throne. It is time that a young and worthy king will sit on the throne of Erebor.'

Fili looked at him in shock. 'You are a worthy king, uncle! You are our king!'

Thorin smiled at his nephews outburst. 'No, Fili. You are the king now. I have already spoken to the coucil, they have accepted my resignment.' He quickly moved the armchair below Fili before his nephew could hit the ground.

Three days later Filis coronation took place and a new era began in Erebor. The moment the crown was placed on Filis head Morsha opened her eyes.

'Where will you go now?' king Fili asked his uncle and his wife Morsha. Thorin and Morsha had married in a simple little ceremony three weeks after Filis coronation. Only Thorins family and the dwarves of his company had been there and of course their daughter, Senka. Now the family made preparations to leave Erebor. Thorin had asked Morsha to stay with him, but the dark elf had refused. There was no life for her in the Lonely Mountain, not after she had brought so much misery over the dwarves. Thorin himself was also tortured by his own feelings of guilt. He had hurt Morsha and then Ariel. Of course Ariels actions had been her own decisions, as well as Morshas, but he had destroyed the two women who had come close to him, to his heart. Morshas decision to leave Erebor had helped him with his decision.

'You are punishing yourselves too harshly.' Fili told Thorin and Morsha. 'Stay here, you are safe in Erebor.'

'There is no life in peace for us here.' Thorin sighed, but smiled at his nephew. 'We have to leave.'

Morsha had visited Oin in the infirmary before they left. There was one thing she needed to sort out.

'Master Oin?' Morsha asked the old dwarf as she entered.

'Please, come in.' Oin turned around to face the woman who killed his son. He had fought for her life after the battle against the Easterlings and he had treated her for the last weeks. He guessed why she was visiting him, but he let her speak.

'Master Oin. As you know Thorin and I will leave and start a new life, together and alone. But before I can leave I have to ask you -...' Morsha took a deep breath. 'I have to ask your forgiveness. I have caused you great pain and what I have done to your son can never be repayed. I just need you to know that I feel so sorry for your loss through my hands. Even if you should forgive me, I could never forgive myself.'

As Morsha stood up Oin took her hand and squeezed it. There was no need for words.

Thorin, Morsha and Senka left the Lonely Mountain a few hours later, heading for the Southwest. Thorin lead them over mountains, hilltops and lakes before Morsha asked him where he was leading them. He was too determined, as if he already knew where to go. Thorin only smiled lovingly and did not lose a word about their destination. After weeks of travelling they finally made it to their new home.

Morsha suddenly felt all negativity leave her body and only felt relief and happiness as she saw the green and flush meadows of the Shire laying before her. Then she felt something she had not felt for ages. She looked at Thorin and saw the same feelings reflect in his eyes. They were home.

5 years after the war of the ring in the Shire.

Samwise Gamgee returned to his family after having brought Frodo and Bilbo to the Grey Havens. He had known that Bilbo would accompany the elves to Valinor, but Frodo had also gone with them. Sam felt his loss for only a short while. His wifes arms made him focus on the here and now. His family, his home and his life. With one last glance he looked up to Bilbos and Frodos old hobbit hole, Bag End. Now, the dwarven blacksmith of the Shire and his wife and daughter were living there. Sam smiled as he saw the daughter run towards the woods with an arrow in her hand. Her parents appeared in the door and smiled as they looked after the energetic woman. With a gentle kiss the dwarf left his wife for the smithy. The beautiful smiths wife took a long look over the green beauty of the Shire before she entered the hobbit hole and after a few moments Sam could already smell the delicious dinner she was making for her family. They were such a wonderful family and Sam was happy that they were living in the Shire. The blacksmiths daughter kept them safe along with some Dunedain rangers, which she had joined a few months ago. The weapons out of the dwarven smithy served the Dunedain well and many were sold beyond the borders of the Shire. The blacksmiths wife was a mistery to the hobbits of the Shire. Some thought that they had seen here before, at Bilbos doorstep, over sixty years ago. Nosy hobbit ladies even went that far and rumored that she kept a box at the foot of her bed, a box full of old weapons and an armour. Some said that she was one of the Dunedain herself, others said she was an elf from the race of the dark elves who had vanished from the face of Middle Earth after the war of the ring. She always wore her hair open, so her ears were covered. That mystery around the blacksmiths family made them interesting and the hobbits needed something to talk about in their peaceful little world. The blacksmiths family did not mind. Samwise smiled as he thought about them. The dwarf and his wife loved each other dearly, that much was to be seen. They were happy.

I just can´t help it, I need my happy endings! lol

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