A/N: This is the GRAND FINALE! This is the longest chapter I have written for this story, and I'm very proud of this story as a whole. Thank you to everyone that has followed from the beginning, and everyone that found it along the way. I hope you've enjoyed my take on events after The Hobbit. Thank you so much! Love, em1lyoo7 3

"I swear these boys rip holes in their shirts on purpose," complained Dis as she finished the stitch on her final shirt.

Kaleria smiled from her side of the table. "They train hard and they play harder. Maybe it's time to buy a new set of shirts since we've repaired them so many times?"

"They are a little worn out," added Hedina.

Dis huffed a loud breath. "I guess I should consider it. Maybe one of our shops has a different material that doesn't tear as easily."

"That would be something to look into." Kaleria placed her final shirt on the stack, and watched Hedina, who had more shirts to finish, but only because she had started with a larger pile than both Dis and Kaleria.

Since Thorin and Kaleria, and Dis, had reconciled over the misunderstanding, life in the mountain had been a dream come true. Kaleria had a family for the first time in a long time, and she loved every minute she spent with them. The boys had asked her to train them more, and when she wasn't with Fili and Kili, she spent her free time with Thorin. They sat together in his study while he filled out paperwork, and though they didn't always speak, she enjoyed sharing the silence with him. She knew she was deeply and truly in love with him.

Dis began scanning the documents she had put to the side. Dis and Kaleria had returned to their routine of solving the problems of the mountain. Dis appreciated Kaleria's input, and Kaleria liked that she was making a difference. As they were discussing one issue, Cardeena entered the room and bowed to the ladies.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have a message for Lady Kaleria," she reported.

Kaleria stood and approached her. "What is it, Cardeena?"

She held up a folded bit of paper. "King Thorin requested I deliver this to you."

Kaleria took the note and read:

Meet me in the Hall of Kings.

Yours,

Thorin

Kaleria looked up to see expectant gazes staring at her. "He wants me to meet him in the Hall of Kings."

"He probably wants your opinion on the decorations. He found out you were my best decorator, and now he's going to steal you from me." Dis rolled her eyes.

"Should I take my sketchbook and draw how it should be?" teased Kaleria.

"No, no." Dis took her by the shoulders and steered her toward the door. "Hurry down and see what he wants and then return here, so we can finish our business."

With a not so gentle shove, Dis forced Kaleria into the hallway, then pointed in the direction of the Hall of Kings. Kaleria shook her head at her friend's insistence, but walked quickly to join Thorin.

Dis, Hedina, and Cardeena watched her from the door.

"Do you think she knows what she's walking into?" Hedina questioned.

Dis smiled. "No, but I know she's going to love it."

The walk to the Hall of Kings took Kaleria into the heart of the mountain. She knew where it was, but she had never seen it before. It was a tour Thorin hadn't been able to take her on yet. She looked forward to the many tours he would take her on, knowing now she would be free to hold his hand as they walked.

The thought of walking around the mountain holding Thorin's hand brought a smile to her lips. As rough and burly as he looked, Kaleria had been pleasantly surprised to find Thorin was more thoughtful and caring than anyone she had ever met. He would slip notes under her door to remind her that he loved her. He would steal glances at her at dinner with his blue eyes sparkling and the corner of his mouth raised in a smile. Then, he would escort her to her room and when they stood outside her door talking, he would hold her hand and rub his thumb along her fingers. Small gestures that Kaleria had never thought about, suddenly meant a great deal to her.

Kaleria focused her attention back on her destination, and she saw the door to the Hall of Kings at the end of the corridor. The hardware of the door was made from gold, rather than iron, and the wood had been lacquered to the point of making the color a deeper brown than other doors in Erebor. She pushed the door open and stepped into the large space.

The room was half the size of the ballroom, but just as decorated, if not more. Each pillar was lined in runes painted with gold. The floor, made from pieces of dark marble, shiny like the grass on a dewy morning. At the opposite end of the room stood a platform with the throne of the king. Kaleria could see Thorin standing in front of his throne with his arms behind his back.

She walked toward the platform and spoke loudly. "All hail the king under the mountain! Long may he reign." At the bottom of the platform she dropped into a curtsey.

Thorin turned and smiled at her silliness. "Rise, young maiden, and tell me what brings you here."

Kaleria giggled and hopped up the stairs to join him on the platform. "You summoned me, remember?" She went to his side and embraced him, hugging his body tightly. Thorin put one arm around her shoulders, then leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"I hope you weren't busy," said Thorin, looking at the throne in front of them.

Kaleria shook her head against his chest. "Dis and I were finished, but only because we gave Hedina twice as many shirts to repair."

"That wasn't very nice of you."

"I am not good at sewing, and Hedina is. I think it's only fair." Kaleria pulled away slightly to see his face.

Thorin smirked at her explanation. "Very well."

Kaleria noticed he didn't look at her as he spoke. She followed his gaze to the throne and wondered what was so interesting about a decorative chair. She released her hold on him and went to the chair to investigate. She studied the patterns carved into the stone, the padded seat that looked worn down, and the placement of the chair on the platform. She had walked two circles around it before Thorin questioned her.

"What are you doing?" He asked, amused.

"I assume you brought me here to ask my opinion on the decorations, so I was scanning the area."

"And what is your opinion?"

"Well, for starters the room is too dim. You need more light in here."

Thorin nodded. "I can arrange for more torches to be hung. What do you think of the tapestries?"

Kaleria finally noticed the large tapestries that hung behind the pillars, containing a portrait of every king of Erebor. She noticed Thorin's close to the throne. "They need to be cleaned, and yours is impressive, but you're wearing that frown I hate."

He snorted. "I smile more because of you."

"As for your throne," she returned her attention to the chair, putting her back to Thorin, "it needs new padding for the seat and I don't like the placement. It seems off."

"It was recently moved."

"It needs to be moved back." Kaleria studied the floor. "It's not centered with the platform. What's the point of one chair, if it isn't going to be centered on the platform?"

"We can't move it back. I am adding another chair."

"A new one?" Kaleria faced Thorin, but when she looked at him her eyes went wide.

He remained in the same spot, but in his hands he held a little box.

He cleared his throat. "I had given up on marriage ages ago because it was never a part of my plan. I never imagined I would meet someone like you. You're strong, kind, forgiving, patient, and loving. You chastise me when I am wrong, and you challenge me to be a better man.

"I know that without you I would still be suffering from dragon sickness. I know that without you my family wouldn't be as happy. And, I know that without you my heart would cease to beat in my chest." Thorin stepped closer until he could see into her eyes. "Kaleria, Lady of the Blue Mountains, lover of books, and keeper of my heart, will you marry me?"

Thorin opened the box in his hands to reveal a sapphire surrounded by diamonds, mimicking the color of his eyes. Her eyes had started to water as soon as she had seen the little box in his hand, but now the tears fell freely from her eyes. She studied every aspect of his face and saw the longing.

"Yes, Thorin." She giggled as she said it. "Yes, of course, I will marry you."

Thorin let out the breath he had been holding, then took the ring from the box and placed it on her finger. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a long kiss.

One month later and the mountain was alive with excitement for the wedding of the king under the mountain and his bride to be. The ballroom had been cleaned and decorated with large bouquets of flowers and white drapes were hung across the ceiling. Dis had overseen most of the decorating, since it was an interior matter, and it was for Kaleria. She tried to spare no expense, but Kaleria convinced her that less was more, much to Thorin's approval.

The feast to celebrate their union prepared to be larger than their most recent celebration. Whole hogs were roasted along with chickens for every table, and the vegetables were cooked and thrown into large bowls to allow the people to spoon their desired amount onto their plates. Everyone was excited to witness the wedding of their king, and everything was coming together just in time for the big day.

The dress for Kaleria took weeks to make even with a team of seamstresses to work on each part. The dress was made from a cream colored fabric and lined in gold at every available spot. The neckline squared off across her chest and was trimmed in gold silk. The sleeves puffed at the shoulders, then followed the outline of her arm all the way down to her hands. The bodice hugged her figure and the full skirt started at her waist and stopped at the floor. She had only seen it once before and it hadn't been finished yet. She hoped they had enough time to finish all the detailed work.

The night before the wedding, Kaleria walked through the ballroom to admire all the work that had gone into making the day as special as it could be for her. She wanted to thank every dwarf personally, though she knew it was unlikely she could. She reached the door to the balcony, and opened it to allow herself a chance at fresh air. As she stepped out, she noticed a familiar figure standing by the edge, staring at the sunset over the lake below.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, playfully.

Thorin looked at her over his shoulder and smiled. He gestured for her to join him, and Kaleria stepped quickly to his side, leaning her head on his shoulder as they watched the sun go down.

"I was thinking I haven't watched the sunset lately because I've been avoiding this spot," he said.

Kaleria pulled her head from his shoulder and looked at him. "I'm sorry-"

He shook his head and chuckled. "You don't have to apologize anymore."

"Good," Kaleria took his hand, "because I'm marrying you, remember?"

Thorin kissed her temple. "Yes, I do."

They watched the sunset for a long moment, but Kaleria had a thought that began to bounce around in her head. She didn't know how it had popped into her head, but she couldn't think about anything else.

"What's wrong?" Thorin asked, suddenly looking at her with concern.

"It's nothing." She tried to shrug it off, but her eyes were watering against her will.

Thorin faced her and used his free hand to cup her cheek. "I can tell something isn't right, so tell me. Is it about the wedding?"

The tears Kaleria had been holding back started to fall, and her throat tightened. "Yes, and no."

"Are you having second thoughts? Because we can postpone the wedding until you're ready." Thorin pretended like he would be okay if they postponed, but she could tell he wasn't.

"No, no, no." Kaleria placed her hand over his hand on her cheek. "I want to marry you tomorrow. I love you, Thorin."

"Then tell me what is bothering you," he pleaded.

Kaleria met his eyes. "I always imagined my father would give me away on my wedding day, but he isn't here. And, I know your parents aren't here either, and I shouldn't be the only one upset because it's our special day, but I really miss him."

Her voice finally broke and she let out a sob. Thorin quickly drew her into his embrace, hoping to shield her from any more pain, but knowing he couldn't do much to help her. He rubbed her back as she cried into his chest. Once she had calmed a little he began to speak.

"It's not fair to either of us that our parents are not here to watch us wed, but I know they are watching from beyond this world, and they see the happiness we share, and they are giving their blessing." Thorin squeezed her shoulders, then looked down at her.

Kaleria wiped her eyes. "I hope you're right."

"Of course I am," Thorin assured. "Your father loved me, and I'm sure your mother would've loved me, too."

Kaleria giggled at his accurate comment. "And your parents would've loved me for tolerating you."

"Tolerate?" Thorin cocked his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "Is that what you're doing?"

Kaleria nodded, smiling at him.

"Very well." Thorin grabbed Kaleria and picked her up, pinning her to his chest. "Then I'm sorry to tell you this, but you're going to be tolerating me for a very long time. Because I'm never letting you go."

Kaleria studied his gaze, feeling his love radiating from him. "Good, because you're not getting rid of me, Thorin Oakenshield."

He hummed in amusement before kissing her softly like the first snow falling on the Lonely Mountain.

Standing before the large mirror in her wedding dress, Kaleria almost didn't recognize herself. Her hair had been brushed and braided into an intricate bun, and the dress made her feel like a completely different person. She didn't know which part to stare at more because each section of the dress was so beautiful.

Dis stood behind her, adjusting the chunky gold necklace supporting an eye sized ruby. "Are you nervous?"

"Why would I be nervous? I'm only walking out in front of half the mountain in a dress I may not be able to walk in." Kaleria took a few shallow breaths.

Dis met her eyes in the mirror. "Do you love my brother?"

"Yes! You know I do."

"Then it shouldn't matter that you're walking in front of half the mountain. All that matters is my brother will be waiting for you at the end of the aisle, and he loves you more than all the gold in Erebor." Dis gave her a side hug.

Kaleria leaned her head against Dis'. "Thank you, Dis. I'm lucky to be gaining a sister like you."

Both women started to tear up, and Dis pulled away to dry her eyes. "You can't be making us both cry. Now, go wait by the door until they summon you. I'm going to take my seat."

Kaleria watched her soon-to-be-sister leave the room. As she turned back to the mirror to check her reflection once more, Kaleria couldn't help but smile at the idea of the new family members she was about to gain. Dis would be the best sister, and Kaleria had always wanted to be an aunt, though she had doubted she would ever get a chance. Fili and Kili would be the perfect nephews, and she told herself she would take their side more often to even the odds between them, Dis, and Thorin.

Thorin.

She couldn't think of his name without smiling. She was more than ready to be his wife.

The door opened and Cardeena entered the room. "It's time."

She nearly squealed as she helped Kaleria into the hallway. They paused outside the large door to the Hall of Kings where the ceremony would take place, and Kaleria took a deep breath. Cardeena adjusted her dress until it flowed just right, then knocked on the door to signal the guards inside.

The doors creaked open to reveal a long white rug that had been made especially for the ceremony. Kaleria followed the rug to the opposite end of the room until her eyes landed on her king. Thorin stood in a black tunic, black pants, and black boots with a dark blue cloak lined with gray fur. His gold and silver crown sat atop his head. His eyes focused on her, and though she wasn't close enough to know, she thought she saw a tear trace his cheek and disappear into his beard.

Kaleria began her steady walk down the aisle, focused only on Thorin at the other end. She knew others were in the room, but as she walked, the only face she could see was his. Soon she reached the bottom of the platform, and Thorin descended the stairs to meet her.

He took her hand to lead her up the stairs, and whispered. "You look beautiful, my love."

"And you look very handsome. Though I fear your crown is attracting attention."

"You are mistaken. For they are all looking at you."

Kaleria squeezed his hand, wishing she could kiss him at that moment.

As they reached the top of the platform, the priest began the ceremony. He spoke about the importance of trust and loyalty, and how these were the foundation for love as rocks were the foundation for the mountain. Kaleria tried to pay attention, but all she could think about was kissing Thorin.

She refocused when Thorin turned to her and took both of her hands, and the priest started to address Thorin directly.

"Do you take this woman to be your queen, and vow to love her for as long as you live?"

"I do." Thorin stared deeply into her brown eyes.

The priest turned to her. "And do you take this man as your king, and vow to love him for as long as you live?"

She smiled. "I do."

"I pronounce thee man and wife." The priest gave Thorin a look, and the king under the mountain wasted no time.

His hands released hers and he took hold of her waist and pulled her in. He kissed her gently, wishing there weren't so many people watching them. The crowd erupted into applause, and Kaleria began to giggle at their excitement.

Thorin pulled away to look at her. "Are you happy, my queen?"

"Yes, my king." She pressed another kiss to his lips.

They turned back to the priest, who held Kaleria's crown between his hands. Like Thorin's crown, it was gold and silver, formed into a circle to fit her head, but it consisted of woven bands that ended in a point at the center of her forehead. Thorin released her and Kaleria knelt in front of the priest with her head bowed. He recited a phrase in khuzdul to finish the coronation process, then placed the crown upon her head.

Once it was in place, Kaleria stood and faced the crowd.

"All hail the queen of Erebor," said the priest.

"All hail the queen of Erebor!"