A few days passed with Thorin and Kaleria caught up in their bubble of bliss, acting like dwarves much younger than themselves. Dis was the first to comment on their behavior, though she meant it in good fun. She was as happy as they were, knowing it was her planning that helped Thorin and Kaleria finally admit their feelings to one another. Fili and Kili were excited to have Kaleria back at the dinner table, and they loved making small jokes about their relationship at Thorin's expense. He would grumble at his nephews, but his eyes would always find Kaleria's and he would give her a smile.

Hedina was ecstatic to hear the good news from Kaleria, and Valdrus was more or less happy for them, though he didn't jump up and down like his wife. Kaleria knew he was happy for her, and she knew Hedina had already started planning her wedding, though she wasn't engaged to Thorin yet. She didn't know if he would ask, or what she would say if he did. But, she knew that she loved him, and that was enough for now.

Standing at her vanity, tidying up the space, Kaleria hummed a happy tune from her childhood, something she hadn't done in years. She thought of her mother humming to her as her father smoked his pipe, and the memory made her smile.

A knock sounded at her door.

"Come in," said Kaleria, continuing to hum.

She heard the door open, but the person entering didn't speak. Instead, two large arms wrapped themselves around her and pulled her backward into a large chest. She let out a squeak of surprise as a pair of lips kissed her neck.

"That was a lovely tune you were humming," said Thorin close to her ear.

Kaleria rested her arms over his. "It was a tune my mother used to sing to me. I haven't heard it in years."

"What made you think of it?"

"I'm not sure. I guess being so happy brought it to my mind." She leaned back into his chest, enjoying the warmth he gave off.

Thorin squeezed her tighter. "You make me very happy as well."

Kaleria turned in his arms until she could see his face, then she stood on her toes to press a kiss to his lips. They both started to smile and broke the kiss to see the happiness on each other's faces.

"I came to ask you something," said Thorin.

"Yes, my king?" Kaleria teased.

"Would you want to go for a walk? I have to check some areas of the mountain, and I thought it might be nice if you would accompany me." Thorin explained.

He tried to smile as if it would be okay if Kaleria said no, but she could see the worry behind his eyes.

"I would love to." Kaleria smiled to reassure him.

Thorin pulled her closer and nuzzled the space below her ear, making Kaleria giggle. He leaned back and started to walk to the door, grabbing her hand and pulling her along with him. She barely had a chance to pull her door closed as they went through.

Kaleria tried to keep up with his large strides. "Where are we going?"

"I need to check in with the guards by the front gate about something."

She hurried her footsteps until she was directly beside him. Thorin smiled at her, and they continued down the hallway toward the entrance. They turned down another hallway before entering a staircase that Kaleria recognized.

"Did you bring me this way only to make me fall again?" She questioned as they went down the stairs single file.

Thorin chuckled. "You didn't fall last time. I caught you."

She rolled her eyes. "Forgive me for my poor memory."

Thorin neared the bottom of the stairs, but stopped short of the final few. He turned to Kaleria, who had stopped behind him.

"Close your eyes," said Thorin.

"What?"

"Close your eyes."

"Are you going to make me fall again?"

He smiled. "Trust me. If you do fall, I will catch you."

Kaleria studied his expression, realizing he wasn't going to move until she agreed to close her eyes. She took his hand, then squeezed her eyes shut.

"Okay," Thorin took a step down, "just take each step slowly."

Kaleria tapped her foot until she felt the edge of the step, then stepped down. She repeated this step after step, waiting for Thorin to explain.

"Okay, stop." Thorin said, finally.

"Is there a reason for this?"

"Open your eyes," he instructed.

Kaleria did as she was told and took in her surroundings. They were on the landing at the bottom of the stairs, but Kaleria hadn't tripped once. She looked back at the stairs to see they had been repaired by removing the crooked pieces of stone and replacing them with flatter pieces.

"You had them fixed?" She asked, looking back at Thorin.

"After you nearly fell, I asked some men to repair them in case you ever wanted to use the stairs to get down to the stables. I didn't want you to fall if I wasn't here to catch you." Thorin smiled at her and squeezed her hand.

Kaleria smiled, then turned and climbed one stair until their faces were almost even. She released his hand then launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

When she hit his chest, Thorin's arms came around her, securing her to his body. He started spinning, making them both laugh like children. He came to a stop near the edge of the landing, and in view of the people gathered by the gate.

"It appears we have an audience," said Thorin, still holding her to his body.

"You do draw attention to yourself," teased Kaleria, before glancing at the people sneaking glances at them.

She looked over the small crowd of mostly men, until something caught her eye. She froze as she recognized someone in the group standing taller than those around him.

Brerrick stood next to bags of traveling gear, staring at Kaleria and Thorin.

Thorin sensed something was wrong with Kaleria and followed her gaze until he saw what she was looking at. A low growl vibrated through his chest.

Kaleria turned back to Thorin. "Calm down."

"This is calm," grumbled Thorin. "If I wasn't calm, my sword would already be through his chest."

"I'm going over there to speak to him."

Thorin snapped his attention back to hers. "What!?"

Kaleria rubbed her hands up his arms. "I have a few things to say to him."

She stepped out of Thorin's arms and tried to walk away, but his hand caught hers and stopped her. His anger had been replaced by fear as his blue eyes begged her to stay at his side.

"I'll be right back. Trust me." Kaleria did her best to convince him with her eyes.

He released her hand and clasped his hands behind his back. Kaleria turned and walked toward Brerrick, who stood at the edge of the group. He saw her coming and met her a few steps from the others.

"Hello, Brerrick," said Kaleria.

Brerrick gestured to Thorin standing behind her. "I should've known it was him."

She nodded. "I'm sorry I gave you the wrong impression. I never meant to hurt you."

"I'm sorry I forced myself on you. I thought I could make you love me, but I see now I was in a race I couldn't win." Brerrick admitted.

Kaleria looked past him at the group by the gate. "Are you leaving Erebor?"

"Yes," replied Brerrick. "A few of us were getting homesick, and we thought we could take the skills we learned here and apply them in the Blue Mountains."

"I wish you well on your journey. I hope you find what you need in the Blue Mountains." Kaleria gave him a small smile.

"Thank you." Brerrick replied. "I hope you find what you need here in Erebor."

Kaleria glanced at Thorin. "I think I already did."

"He's a lucky man." Brerrick looked at Thorin, who glared back at him. "Will you tell him I'm sorry, and I appreciate everything he did for the people from the Blue Mountains?"

"I will."

Brerrick bowed his head. "Goodbye, Kaleria."

"Goodbye, Brerrick."

He turned and rejoined the group, who had started placing their gear on their ponies. Kaleria returned to Thorin's side and watched the people load their gear. She reached for Thorin's hand, and pulled him away from the group and toward an empty hallway. He followed her without speaking.

"Thank you," said Kaleria. "I know you're mad at me for talking to him, but I'm glad I did."

Thorin sighed and stopped walking. "I'm not mad at you, Kaleria."

"Then what is it?" She stood in front of him, studying his eyes.

"I'm mad at myself for being so affected by him." Thorin shook his head. "I know you love me, and I know I love you, yet seeing you with him made me jealous all over again."

Kaleria placed her hand on his cheek. "I'm right here, Thorin. I'm not going anywhere. He's leaving, and I'm staying here with you."

Thorin met her eyes, then placed his hand over hers and turned his head to kiss her palm. "You're too good for me."

Kaleria pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "That's exactly what Dis said."

Thorin snorted as he rolled his eyes. He grabbed Kaleria around the waist and carried her down the hallway, reveling in the sound of her laughter. Anyone who knew Thorin before he met Kaleria would say he wasn't the playful type, but anyone who saw him with Kaleria could see the weight of the mountain lifted from his shoulders whenever she was near. She brought out a side in him that even his family didn't know he had. Thorin liked who he became when Kaleria was with him, and he intended on being that version of himself for the rest of his life.