Thorin found himself in one of the balconies of his Maker's Halls yet again. Contrary to what his siblings might say, he was not brooding. He was simply in deep thoughts and appreciating the Garden of his Maker's Wife that was visible from the balcony. He had thought to see at least a glimpse of Bilbo there one day. But his One had gone and sailed away to the Undying Lands to heal. Not that Thorin begrudged him for that. Bilbo deserved to have peace after all that he had to go through. He only wished he hadn't been the stubbornly horrible Dwarrow who added to the pains of his One. If only he had been more accepting of Bilbo, if only he had inquired more about his little magic ring like he should have. But he had been so engrossed in his Quest, he hadn't even bothered to enquire. He had been very familiar with the lore of the Rings of Power. How could he not be, when his Grandfather had been bearer of one himself? He hadn't known then what effect it had on his Grandfather or fathers before him but he knew now, knew how a little trinket such as it was responsible for slowly but steadily making their minds easier to fall. Generations of the sons of Durin and others such as him, wearing a slow poison on their person. But Bilbo, had been completely unaware of the thralls of magic.
Thorin, in his darkest moments, wondered whether it was maybe a good thing that he had been so unaware of the existence of the Ring. He had fallen to the madness of Dragon's curse after all. Who's to say he wouldn't have turned into an even more horrible person after knowing what Bilbo's little magic ring really was? He was terrified to know the answer. He hoped beyond hope that he would be able to be a better dwarrow than he had been and would have helped Bilbo get rid of the damn thing. Having come to terms with his weakness had allowed him to see things clearly. He knew that it was not one thing that led to him losing his mind in Erebor. The Foul intentions of the Dragon's taint should have been obvious in hindsight.
Later, when the One Ring's war had been on the horizon, Thorin had wondered how was it that none of his ancestors, despite knowing the lore, or himself for that matter, ever thought of the necessity of getting rid of the Rings of Power that the bloody Dark Lord had given them and drove men to a state of undead slaves? It had turned them greedy and obsessed yet never once did any of the dwarrows willingly part with it other than his Grandfather; who had given it to his Son should the former perish. They had been very wrong to not think of destroying the Rings as it turned out. For not only did those trinkets bring the Dragons to them but also drove them at the very edge of their sanities.
That wasn't all though. Ohh no. The major reason why Thorin and his Grandfather had gone mad, was the Jewel that they so cherished. Oh the irony of it all when Thorin had finally seen the truth for what it was, the suffering of the line of Durin was due to the very stone that they had seen as a sign to rule. Not that it was the Stone's fault. It wasn't even a stone for Mahal's sake. How anybody had missed out on what had been so plain to see in hindsight was lost to him. Khazad-dum had shown them that nothing good came from going too deep after a certain length. They should have known better after Durin's Bane had surfaced. Yet, when the next consequence of their greed surfaced, they showed it off like some trinket, rather than recognising it for what it was. They took such pride in knowing Stone-Speech but failed, failed to hear their mountain scream. It was no wonder the Dragon had come. For when he did, Erebor had already become the Lonely Mountain with a horde of wealth. Had been such ever since they had pulled out the Heart of the Mountain. And wasn't that the Irony of it all. His ancestors even named it for what it was but didn't realize the consequences. They had deserved what they got for their blunders, but it was not a fault of those that didn't know any better. His generation hadn't even known that the Mountain felt different from what it did before, for they were born to it after and hadn't known better. Hells, Thranduil had known something was off and they didn't. He wished he hadn't left the world when he did, not for longevity but for a chance to have done better. He had conquered the mountain but he hadn't been able to provide home for his people as was his duty. Dain had allowed the people back but that was the keyword. Allowed. Dain, for all the hardships he suffered, hadn't lost his home to a Dragon. He hadn't been forced to spend over a century searching for a home. And so, his people suffered more. The Arkenstone being set back in Stone with him made things better, nut nobody made an apology to the mountain or to their Maker. Due to which, Erebor stood, but never prospered. If they had, they would have been able to offer a much stronger resistance to the Dark Lord's forces. He bit back a curse when his Maker suddenly materialised next to him and bent on his knee. It was impossible to not do so. Lord Mahal's very essence demanded respect. More so from him, for his Maker was embodiment of everything Thorin had failed to become.
"Will you stop brooding so Thorin? I am starting to think you don't find my Halls accommodating enough."
"What? No, no my Lord. I just.."
"Yes, yes. I know. You simply like to wait here to catch a glimpse of your One."
"I.. Yes, Stone Father. I wish to apologise. I have wronged him grievously."
"I understand. Which is why, you must listen very carefully to what I have to say. Father has decreed that the song must be rewritten. Third Age was to be the Age of Purge. The Alliance of the Free Folk must be strong. It is essential for ridding Arda off the Dark taints. Bilbo Baggins will be the only one to remember the Old Song but, you will have some other things that will aid you to do better. I need the rational thought process that you have learned, to stay with you. The first thing you must learn is to let the past be and create a better future. You will be shown glimpses of the terror of what your unchanged actions may cause through visions or in Ulmo's realm as some others. Do you have any questions or requests?"
For a brief moment, Thorin found himself feeling speechless. This, this was beyond anything he could've ever imagined. The most he had ever hoped for, was a chance to beg for Bilbo's forgiveness. But a chance to actually earn it? To do better by his people? He could not believe his Maker was so generous as to allow Thorin the chance to correct his wrongdoings. Unbelievable or not, the opportunity was here and he would not back down. He built his courage and looked his Maker in the eye, trying to convey his inner turmoil.
"I wish to be more welcoming towards Bilbo when the time comes and I wish to remember the real meaning of the Heart of the Mountain. I will not have my Home suffer so and allow the ridicule of all that you have taught us to be carried on. I wish to be a better ruler to my people. They need not suffer for my faults."
"Agreed. Stay true to your heart and heed to the warnings of what I show you now. For that is only what you shall remember. Blessed be my child, do me proud as you have always done."
Aule left his child to his thoughts and appeared next to Yavanna in their Father's court. Both of them gave their options and were delighted when after hours of debate, their proposal was accepted by all. He couldn't wait to see how the new Song would materialise. With consent from Mandos, he sent his blessing to the soul of the Chosen and went back to watch over his children and the tune of the new song.