A/N: I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday season. Thank you to all the followers, new and established, and to all the reviewers. :) I couldn't keep doing this without y'all. :) If you have read my original story "To Seek the Pale Enchanted Gold" you will probably recognize some of what Thorin says in this chapter. I just reused it; no sense in reinventing the wheel. :) Some of what he says is a quote from Richard Armitage and some is from a poem by Pablo Neruda. There will probably be about 3-4 more chapters in this story unless something just pops up and insists on being written. As always, Brunuhville was my background music. Check him out.

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Tibblets: Thank you so much! Your words really put a smile on my face. :)

Guest: Lol, I know. :)

Sophia Kaiba: I'm glad you liked it.

BlondiezHere: Yes, at last! They certainly took long enough.

Guest: Yes, they finally got that kiss. :)

angel897: Thanks!

Arianna le Fay: I am certainly trying to make a sequel work, I'm just not as familiar with LoTR and there's SOOOOO much between the three books. But I'm working on it. :)

Just4Me: So glad to have you back. :) Thanks and yes, it was a long time in coming wasn't it? :)

My Petal Heart: Thanks. :) I just couldn't pass up him saying 'I came for you.' Made my heart flutter as I wrote it lol. And I will certainly let folks know if I write something else. I want to ... just gotta make it work.

kaia: Yeah, she could have, but she was probably a bit too shocked to really do anything.

Coco: Thank you! And yes, he's finally there!

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The brilliance is all Tolkien and PJ's. I can only take credit for Rhae and the other OCs.

As the sun began to sink below the horizon the small clearing became awash in a golden pink hue. While the ground was painted golden, the rocks and trees along the edges cast dusky shadows. A slight breeze rustled leaves adding to the faint sound of waterfalls that was just discernible. Even the sounds of the retreating dwarves faded into the background.

Thorin and Rhae were oblivious to everything.

All they were aware of was each other and the exhilaration they felt at being reunited. There was no hesitancy or doubt on either side now - they'd both just spent three long months separated, forcing them to face, and admit, their true feelings. Now they were intent on showing the other just what they felt. There would be no more misunderstandings or erroneous, well intentioned sacrifices.

Thorin couldn't believe how good it felt to have her in his arms, to have her responding to his kiss. He had heard her song as they'd come up the path and its words had spoken to his soul. And then to see her standing there in a dress of midnight blue, facing the east as she sang such words of love and longing he had been almost overcome, causing his voice to shake when he finally called her name. Now she was with him, clasped closely in his arms and responding to his kisses just as fervently as he was giving them. He should never have waited this long.

"How? ... When?" Rhae managed to gasp. Her head was spinning and she couldn't hold on to him tight enough. Some part of her kept repeating that this had to be a dream and she would wake any moment alone in her chambers. The pressure of his lips on hers and his arms tight around her were very convincing, though.

"We left a little over a week after you. Dis finally made me see some sense." He placed a kiss on her forehead. "Rhae, I should've told you long before now how I felt. I wasn't sure of your own feelings, though, and I was afraid."

"Afraid? Of what?"

"Of rejection but most of all I was afraid I might try to cling to you, to hold you in Erebor when you wished to go, doing to you what I did with the gold five years ago. While I do - and always will - treasure you, I know you are not an object to be possessed. That was what I feared most of all."

"Oh, Thorin," she breathed. Elrond had told her all those months ago about the lingering concerns over the gold sickness but she had thought her discussion with Thorin that evening in the training arena had calmed his fears; she certainly had never seen anything that made her think he was struggling. Apparently that worry had not been so easily banished. That he would be afraid the gold sickness was returning because he wanted her to stay in the mountain was touching and she gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile.

"You would never treat any female as an object, as a mere table decoration. Your race values females too much to dishonor them so."

"I know you did not have a high opinion of me when you first arrived in Erebor and I will always apologize for what happened all those years ago. If I - "

"Thorin, hush. It is in the past and forgiven." Her soft words gave him courage to continue.

"I used to think love made one weak, vulnerable. I was wrong. It's enlivening. It's a life-force. It's everything. It lives in your blood and makes your blood boil. It makes you angry and it makes you sad. It takes away from you and gives to you. It feeds and energizes you. It's all of those things. It is something I never expected to feel - until I you were standing before me in my study that day you arrived in Erebor. I tried to deny what I began suspecting as the months went by but when Havir took you ... it was then that I knew I could no longer deny my feelings." He took her hands in his, the warmth from his touch spreading outward. Her head was spinning and it felt like her heart was going to beat its way out of her chest. She was lost in his blue eyes and only registered a sense of utter joy spreading within her. Perhaps the Valar had not abandoned her after all.

"Without the machinations of a wizard, a Dunedain chieftain, and an elf our paths may never have crossed but I'd like to think I would still have found you. Ever since I saw you throwing yourself between me and that arrow in the forest I've been fighting a losing battle with myself." He took a deep breath and squeezed her hands. "I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you straight forwardly, without complexities or pride; so I love you because I know no other way than this."

Rhae opened her mouth to say something, to answer him somehow, but found she couldn't speak. She didn't know there were tears on her cheeks until he gently wiped them away.

"You are my other half, Rhaella, my One. I am only complete with you. Please tell me I am not alone in these feelings, that there is hope you might accept me. Men lananubukhs menu." The slight tremor of vulnerability in his voice was her undoing and she threw caution to the wind, finally letting her heart triumph.

"I love you, Thorin," she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder. It took a heartbeat for her declaration to sink in and when it did he clasped her tightly to him, glad no one could witness the few tears of joy that escaped onto his cheeks. Tipping her head up he again claimed a kiss.

He managed to keep himself under control until she moaned softly and pressed herself tight against him. This touch of her body ignited what he'd been clinging to control. He deepened their kiss before allowing his lips to trail down to her jaw line and then the smooth column of her neck. He kept one hand in her hair while the other slid to her lower back, all in an effort to keep her close to him. She was trembling and he reveled in his affect on her. The desire to claim her then and there was almost overpowering and he forced himself to pull away slightly, placing his forehead against hers.

"You're really here," she whispered.

"Yes and I don't intend on leaving again without you."

"I wouldn't let you." She rested her head on his shoulder, just enjoying the safety she felt in his arms. It had been a very long time since she had felt such contentment. If she hadn't been so stubborn and unforgiving she might have found this four or five years earlier. What an utter fool she had been ... and for so long. Rhae was pulled from her thoughts then by another mind-numbing kiss and she couldn't contain the shiver that flowed through her when his lips again traveled down over her jaw and onto her neck, inching closer to her shoulder.

"Marry me."

She had almost whimpered when he took his lips from her skin. She couldn't breathe. All she knew was she was on fire and didn't want him to stop. However his urgent words, spoken in that low velvety voice, jerked her from the fog she was in. Those blue eyes were full of emotion when she looked at him in surprise.

"Marry me, Rhaella. Be my wife. I want you beside me as Queen Under the Mountain."

She stared at him in shock. Wife? Queen? Happiness flooded her body even while she tried to think rationally.

"But I'm just a human, a Ranger. Would your people even accept me?"

"I am King Under the Mountain and my private life is not dictated by the whims of others. I will have the woman I love at my side as my wife and queen." He thought of some of the things Dis and Balin had said to him over the past few months. "I do not think you have to worry much though, amrâlimê. The citizens of Erebor already like you. The majority will have no problem accepting you as their Queen." She pondered his words for several moments. To be Queen Under the Mountain? The idea frightened her a bit. She'd rarely even imagined marriage in her future. But the alternative if she denied the truth in her heart? If she said no? Returning to her duties guarding the Shire - alone. She had her answer with that thought. Their destinies were sealed.

"I will marry you, Thorin."

The smile he gave her washed away the last remnants of her nervousness. His smile completely transformed his face and her heart melted. He ran a hand through her hair before cupping her chin and pulling her to him for another kiss. This one was different from the ones before, achingly tender and loving. She sighed into it, thoroughly enjoying being wrapped in his arms.

When he could finally pull himself from her he lead them to sit on the rock Deo and Galen had occupied before they fled with the dwarves. There were still some things he needed to mention to her.

"Dis will insist on a grand wedding."

Rhae chuckled. "I wouldn't expect otherwise from her."

He nodded in agreement, a smile showing through his beard. "She's probably had my wedding planned out almost as long as she had her own decided upon." He paused. "If that bothers you we will do it however you wish. There are traditions and such for betrothals and weddings but if there is anything you do not like or want to do differently all you need do is say so."

"I know how important traditions are to dwarves and I do not mind following them. Marriage was never something I particularly thought about so there is nothing I can think of that I would wish for. All I care about is being wedded to you in the end."

"There will be a formal announcement when we return and there's usually a lengthy betrothal period full of feasts and banquets."

"I don't particularly like the sound of a 'lengthy' betrothal period," she replied, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

"I am in full agreement with you there. I never thought they were anything more than a way for the two families to parade themselves and their wealth before the other."

"Well, I do not have a family for you to impress or to attempt to impress you so perhaps we could forgo some of that?"

"Skipping most of that would be most agreeable to me," he replied with a dramatic sigh of relief.

"Thorin, whatever you and your sister wish for the betrothal period is fine with me, so long as its a very short span of time. The same goes for the actual ceremony. I have never been one for fancy events and I would be completely lost if I tried to plan one."

"For some reason that does not surprise me." He surprised her then by turning slightly and whistling a short cadence. A moment later there was the sound of flapping wings and a large raven landed on the ground in front of them. She knew without being told that this was one of the famed ravens of Erebor though she was surprised to see it here in Rivendell.

"Did he follow you all the way from the mountain?"

"Yes. I wanted to remain in contact with Fíli if we needed aid ... and I had hoped I'd be able to send him with a message to Dis ... " his voice trailed off a bit sheepishly and his intention was clear.

"I think she will need all the time she can get to plan our wedding so you best send him on," she replied cheekily. He laughed and then relayed the message that the raven was to take to Dis. The bird gave him a bow of its head before quickly taking to the air, soon disappearing into the dark.

"You have apologized for not speaking sooner but I also must apologize."

"Whatever for?" The surprise in his voice was genuine.

"For being a complete arse when I first arrived in Erebor. For being a complete stubborn arse for continuously denying what I was feeling and refusing to really listen when anyone tried to open my eyes." She reached up and fingered the bead at the end of one of his braids. "I should never have left the mountain."

"I cannot fault you for being stubborn, marlûna, especially when it is a trait I have in abundance myself. Dis was quite right when she said I couldn't find a better match any where in Middle-Earth."

She gave him a smile and then pulled the dagger he had given her from its spot at her waist. "I did not know what the runes said or what it was made of until just recently. Why didn't you have me open it right then at the gate?"

"I didn't want you to feel pressured to stay against your will." She opened her mouth to respond but he continued without letting her. "It is true, the words I inscribed on the blade. You are kurduyê, gayadê, ulkhudê, my heart, my joy, my light. What you said before you left Erebor, that there would be dark times ahead and I should find that which gives me hope and never let go? That is you, my heart. You give me hope and strength, you are my light in the darkness. I cannot imagine fighting the darkness trying to retake our world without you by my side."

"I will never leave it again," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him tightly and burying her face in his shoulder.

There was a crowd waiting when Thorin and Rhae finally made it down to Lord Elrond's study. She supposed it was better that way. They could just tell everyone the news at once and be done with it - the sooner the better since they would have to leave Rivendell within a day or to in order to make it over the mountains before the heavy snows fell. She just hoped Araden wouldn't make a scene.

"Nice of you two to join us," Dwalin commented as they entered the chamber.

"We've just been enjoying Lord Elrond's hospitality while we waited," Kíli replied with a cheeky grin and Rhae knew the other dwarves weren't quite as thrilled to be back among the elves as he was. Frerin, however, appeared quite surprised to be there at all and she had to remind herself that before he disappeared all he knew was their kind's hatred and distrust of the elves.

"Well, did you do it, Thorin?" Bofur asked as he lounged in a chair much too big for him. She felt all eyes swing to them and she tried not to blush.

He met her gaze and she nodded for him to continue. "I have asked and Rhae has done me the great honor of accepting." Thorin looked towards the dwarves. "I give you your next Queen Under the Mountain." The reactions were as she expected. Kíli was much more exuberant in his congratulations than the others but even Dwalin and Gloin were smiling. Lord Elrond did not appear surprised at their revelation at all but Rhae didn't really expect it; she was sure he had known or could see what was coming long before she wised up. Galen and Deo gave their congratulations but her attention was caught by Araden, who was still standing near one of the windows. Their eyes met and her heart ached at what she saw there. After only a moment he gave her a slight bow of the head and slipped out of the room.

"Let him go. He will come around eventually," Galen said quietly, placing a hand on her arm when she made to go after her friend.

"Do you think he will? I hate to think that I am going to lose his friendship over ... well, over our different feelings."

"It will take some time but I assure you he will be alright. As I told him, don't push anything. Give everything a chance to settle down."

"I hope you are right, Galen." Taking a deep breath she smiled at him. "You and Deo will come to Erebor for the wedding?"

"We wouldn't miss it," Deo said, coming to their side.

"Oh I know you never pass up an opportunity for food," she retorted with a laugh. They rejoined where Thorin was standing with the other dwarves and Lord Elrond approached them.

"Congratulations to you both."

"Le fael Hîr vuin." Thorin seemed content to let her speak to the elf lord.

"The two of you are stronger together and make a formidable team. You will need each other to face what is to come in the days ahead." He gave them a smile. "You are blessed by the Valar, Thorin Oakenshield and Rhaella of the Dunedain."

"Are we truly?"

"Do you not believe that Aulë created only one mate for you and that Rhaella is the one?"

"I do."

"Then believe that the other Valar bless you just as your Maker does." Rhae squeezed Thorin's hand reassuringly. "Have you decided when you will be joined?"

"In four months, giving us some time to prepare after we return to the mountain."

"Not eager or anything are you?" Bofur asked with a sparkle in his eye as he teased his king. Well aware that Thorin still wasn't keen on being teased in such a manner she placed a hand on his arm as soon as she felt him tense up beside her.

"I have no wish for a lengthy betrothal. We have waited long enough," she told them.

"You mean the two of you were stubborn for long enough," Gloin quipped with a guffaw.

"Aye," she replied with a grin. "We have wasted enough time."

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Packs were restocked, mounts rested and fed, and the small company was ready to depart for their trek back to Erebor by late afternoon the following day. It was imperative that they make good time to get over the Misty Mountains before the passes became completely impassable. As Rhae double checked Talagor's saddle she found it interesting that after avoiding crossing the mountains for the past thirty years or more she was now going to be traveling over them for the second time in just over a year, this time for good. She had expected to feel a little sad when thinking about leaving Rivendell permanently but she didn't; perhaps a little nostalgic but Rhae knew this was what she was supposed to do. Besides, she couldn't be separated from Thorin again. This was the path laid out before her and she could not deny it, though she had certainly tried for a ridiculous amount of time. There was a happiness deep inside that she hadn't felt since her childhood. However she knew there was one thing she needed to do before she left.

After searching for quite sometime with no luck, she headed up to where the Hidden Pass entered the valley. It had been a favorite spot of theirs when they were children; they felt like they had left Rivendell without actually stepping foot outside its boundaries. As she skirted around the small waterfall she heard the unmistakable sound of a whetstone being drawn across a blade. She found him just inside the entrance to the Pass, so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't register her presence immediately.

"I wasn't going to leave without saying good bye," she said softly, leaning against the wall. His head jerked up and he faltered for a moment with the whetstone.

"I wish you would," he muttered, returning his attention to his sword.

"Don't pout." She absently traced the toe of her boot in the dirt as she tried to piece together what she should say. "I know you are not ready to talk about ... well, about anything. I also know there's nothing I can say at the moment to make you feel better, in fact I'm pretty sure anything I utter will only hurt, but I couldn't walk out of here without at least trying. Araden, you are the only family I have and I hope that one day we will be able to regain that which we've now lost. Gi melin muindor."

Rhae paused, giving him the chance to speak but he remained silent. It didn't surprise her much. She didn't expect him to brush all this off in a day; hopefully with time, as Galen said, he would come around. With a sigh she turned and headed back down towards the stables; there was a journey to begin.

Men lananubukhs menu: I love you (Khuzdul)

amrâlimê: my love

marlûna: lady love

kurduyê: my heart

gayadê: my joy

ulkhudê: my light

le fael: Thank you

Hîr vuin: my lord

Gi melin: I love you (a less reverential form)

muindor: dear brother