A few months later.

'Promise me, Thorin!'

Thorin winced at his wife's desperate plea. He sat at her bed and held the tiny dwarfling in his arms. Their son, his heir. The dwarfling slept peacefully, but his mother was dying. The birth had been hard and Ina had lost too much blood to ever recover. There was nothing the healers of Erebor or Dale could do for the queen of Erebor.

Ina was pale and weak, but her mind was still going strong.

'Our child needs a mother. And you need her. No - please let me speak.' she gently stroked Thorins arm. 'We married because of politics. I love you, but you have always loved her. I never judged you for that. Nobody can fight matters of the heart.' Ina sighed. 'She is a strong and loving woman. And I would be happy to know that she will take my place.'

'She will never be able to take your place, my queen.' Thorin whispered. He still could not love Ina, but she was the mother of his child. Azra was his only love, but Ina was his queen. The knowledge that Ina would not make it past this day tortured Thorins heart.

'Promise me that you will get her back.' Ina whispered again and looked at Thorin.

'Whatever you wish for, my queen.' Thorin said sadly and layed the small dwarfling into Inas arms. The small family spend hours siting together quietly till death broke the family apart. A few hours past midnight Ina, queen of Erebor, died.

Four months after Inas death Thorin remembered her death wish and set out for Rhun. His and Inas child, little Ino, was in the care of Dis and Gimli. Thorin still grieved for Ina, even though he did not love her she had become very precious to him. Ina had been buried in a rich and luxurious tomb in Erebor, given all the honor she deserved as a queen. The dwarves of Erebor had grieved for her, but Thorins council had instantly started to look for a new queen for Thorin. Since the line of Durin was secured and the first queen of Erebor had been a dwarf, the council was now open to any female who suited political purposes. One of Thorins oldest advisors proposed to strengthen Erebors relationship to Rhun with a marriage between Thorin and Azra. Thorin had to smile as he heard this proposal, he heard Inas last words in his head pushing him to follow his heart. To his councils astonishment he gave in very quickly and prepared for a quest to the East. Later Thorin found out that the son of his oldest advisor was one of the miners who Azra had rescued many years ago. His daughter in law had given Azra the necklace with the dwarven pendant. He also offered to accompany Thorin to Rhun.

But Thorin decided to travel to Rhun alone which caused a major uproar within the council. Thorin did not want to arrive in Rhun as the king of Erebor in search of a new wife. He wanted to meet Azra as Thorin, the dwarf who loved her. With a pony and a few supplies he left Erebor for a quest to follow his heart.

Thorin needed two weeks to reach Rhun and another week to find Azras home. He had lost his way countless times and cursed the Eastern vegetation because it looked the same for miles and miles. Lord Andors house lay at the side of a small mountain above of a small city. It was a modest villa made out of stone. Thorin arrived at nightfall and in pouring down rain. The city guards as well as the guards at Andors house recognised the dwarf king and let him pass. Andor could not believe it as someone knocked at his door at that time of the day and during that weather.

'King Thorin!' Andor opened his mouth and closed it again, he was to surprised to see the dwarf king at his door.

'Lord Andor. Do you mind?' Thorin smirked. 'It is raining.'

'Of course! Please excuse my manners.' Andor stuttered and let Thorin in. 'You must be soaking wet.' He watched as a huge puddle of water formed underneath of Thorin. 'Deena! We have a visitor!'

'Who in his right mind travels in this weather and knocks on peoples doors in this time off...oh.' a blonde woman came down the stairs and frowned at Thorin. 'Azra is not here.' she said instantly.

'Deena!' Andor scolded his wife. 'Please, sit down by the fire, king Thorin.' he pointed to a wooden chair at the fireplace and took Thorins coat.

Deena remembered her duties as a host and made Thorin a hot tea. As she handed him the cup she watched him closely. So this was the dwarf her sister in law had lost her heart to. He was good looking indeed, but he had also broken Azras heart. Deenas relationship to Azra was never close, but Azras rate had touched Deena who had given up her old life because of her love to Andor.

'What is the purpose of your visit?' she asked Thorin.

'Deena!' Andor exclaimed desperately. His wife had always been that forward and he loved her for that, but he winced when she talked to the king of Erebor that way.

Thorin smiled at the woman's bluntness. Azras family seemed to like forward and strong women.

'I am here to ask Azra to come back to Erebor with me.' Thorin stated calmly.

Before Andor could react his wife continued to speak and caused him to feel a severe headache. 'Why do you want Azra to come back? You married another woman. You should go back to your wife, King Thorin.'

'My wife died in childbirth.' Thorin answered sadly. 'I am here to ask Azra to ceom back to Erebor as my queen.'

'I am sorry for your loss.' Andor winced as he saw his wife frown. He knew what was to come.

'And now you think you can replace her with Azra? You do not grieve long, do you?' Deena knew that she was incredibly impolite, but she was furious. This dwarf had broken Azras heart and now after the death of his wife he dared to switch back to her again. And this she told him.

'I respected my wife and I hold her memory in high honor, mylady.' Thorin could understand Deenas fury. He had only expected to have this conversation with Azra and not with her sister in law. 'But I married her because I thought that Azra would never come back. I had not heard from Azra in five years and was under the impression that she had decided to stay with her family.'

'You were her family.' Deena stated dryly. 'She has lost her family twice. Once after the war and then again after she negociated for peace. She has suffered enough.'

Andor placed a hand on his wife's arm. 'We should let her decide.' he said calmly. 'You will have to be patient, King Thorin. As my wife said, Azra is not here. She lives in her own house at the top of the mountain. You can visit her tomorrow.'

'She lives up there? All alone?' Thorin felt the worry in his heart. 'Why can't I go up there now?'

Deena frowned but bit her tongue and let her husband answer. 'There are wolves out there. They prey at night.'

'And you let her live up there without any protection?' Thorin was speechless.

That did it for Deena. 'She is capable to take care of herself. Nobody dares to disturb the mighty demon lady living at the top of the mountain. And you should be the last to accuse us of not caring about her safety!' she snarled.

'Deena, for the Gods sake!' Andor sighed.

Thorin held up his hand and smiled at Deena. 'You are as fierce and honest as a dwarf lady, lady Deena. It takes great courage and a honorable heart to speak that bluntly.' he took a deep breath before he continued. 'I will wait until tomorrow morning. But I have waisted too much time already. Azra is my life, my heart and my whole existense. And she needs to know that.'

The next morning Thorin walked up to the mountain top. He already feared to have lost his way, again, as he saw a small stone house surrounded by a beautiful garden. The entrance to the house was covered in thousands of pink petals from the surrounding flowers. As Thorin walked up the stairs he could not help but look at the modest beauty of this home. Suddenly he was reluctant to ask Azra to leave this place for him.

Thorin heard a sound as if someone had thrown a torch and saw a ball of fire fly in his direction. The last second he ducked into safety and fell into a huge pile of petals. While he still wondered what had struck him Azra emerged from the house, another fireball floating over the palm of her hand.

'Now I understand why nobody dares disturbing you up here.' Thorin croaked.

Azra was completely flabbergasted and stared at her visitor laying on the floor of her entrance covered in pink petals.

'Thorin?' she whispered. 'Thorin...what...why? What are you doing here?' she stammered.

Thorin managed to stand up and dusted himself off, pink petals gliding down his coat. He walked towards Azra, but she backed away.

'Can we talk?' Thorin asked carefuly.

'About what?' Azra looked at him with sad eyes. 'Why have you come here, Thorin?'

Thorin sighed. He had not planned to talk to her on the stairs of the entrance to her home. But he still had no idea how to start.

'Azra, I...' he took a deep breath and decided to plainly tell her. 'Ina is dead.'

Azra felt her knees go weak and she felt true grief for the dwarf queens death. 'How? Why?' she asked.

'She died as she gave birth to our son, Ino.' Thorin told her. He could see tears in Azras eyes and realised that Ina had not only been precious to him, but also to Azra.

'And now? Why are you here, Thorin?' Azra asked again.

'I am here to ask you to accompany me back to Erebor.' Thorin answered honestly. He told her about Inas death wish and that she had given him and Azra her blessing. But he paled as he watched Azra sit down on her stairs and cover her eyes with her hands. Thorin did not dare to touch her now.

'So your queen is dead and you are on a search for a new one? A replacement?' Azra stated with a heavy heart.

'I have come for you, Easterling. I know how this looks like. But I have never stopped loving you.' Thorin tried to explain.

Azras heart jumped at his words, but her doubts were stronger. 'Don't you grieve her at all?' she asked.

Thorin sat down beside her. 'Of course I do. She has been dear to me. She has given me my son, the heir to the throne of Erebor.'

'And now that your line is secured you are free to marry for love?' Azra asked. She was not naive, she knew how things worked in the politics of royal houses. It sounded extremely stone hearted but she understood why Thorin had reacted that way. But coming back to Erebor with Thorin seemed disrespectful towards Ina. Azra felt her love for Thorin warm her heart, but she was not ready to fill Inas place. Thorin saw the doubt in Azras eyes and his heart broke. He wanted to leave but Azra took his hand.

'Please stay.' she looked at him pleadingly. 'I can't just leave with you and take Inas place. I could never take her place as queen of Erebor.'

Thorin had to smile, for she had the same doubts and feelings he had about a possible marriage.

'You will not take her place. She is...was...Erebors dwarf queen and mother of my heir. You will return with me as my queen, a different queen. Queen of my heart.' Thorin told her and kissed the back of her hand. 'If you wish to do so.'