I'm back yet again! :D

Man, I've just been hit hard with inspiration for this story and its ideas that I'm just working hard to get them written! And this story I feel has been moving right along very well and I hope the rest of you think so, too :) Thanks so much to everyone who's been reading and reviewing! You all are wonderful people!

Now get ready...in this chapter, you will get what I know a lot of you have been asking for...so I hope this will answer any questions many of you have!

Enjoy! xD

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Aelin stared at Thorin in disbelief. "I beg your pardon?" she questioned. "What do you mean I lied to them?"

"You know exactly what I mean," Thorin replied sternly. "You told them that same pathetic excuse you tried to use on me of how you were going to take something from me and then return it. No thief does that."

"What would you know about being a thief? You've never stolen a thing in your life," Aelin said back.

"It matters not," said Thorin. "I have never heard of a thief stealing something only to return it. That was all a lie you fabricated and now you're trying to convince my sister-sons of it."

She glared at him. "It is not a lie! It is the truth!" she spat.

"Why should I believe you?" Thorin asked. "The friends you were with that night are not here to validate your claim."

"No, they are not...but there is still someone here who can."

Thorin was not expecting that response. "Who?" he inquired.

Aelin grinned smugly at him. "Ask Nori."

Thorin's eyebrows rose up questioningly. "Nori?" he repeated.

She simply nodded with confidence. "Aye, he was there. He can vouch for me," she replied.

"How do I know that he'll tell me the supposed truth? How do I know he won't tell me what you say because you told him to?"

"Just ask him. He will tell you everything. He will tell you details from that night that I could not possibly know and that will prove he was there. Then hopefully, that will convince you."

Thorin continued to stare at her suspiciously.

Then she snapped defiantly, "That is if your thick, stubborn head has any room in it for convincing."

Suddenly, Thorin slammed his fist on the wood at the foot of the bed and yelled, "Enough of this!" Aelin flinched, startled. He was through with her defiant behavior and irksome attitude. She may have saved his life, but he still was going to have to set her straight. He had started to think he was wrong about her, but it was looking like he wasn't completely wrong.

Then he said in a whisper, his voice shaking while trying to control his emotions, "I did not undertake this quest...so that a stubborn, defiant, impetuous woman could undermine my every word...at every turn!" His eyes met hers and they maintained a stone-hard gaze for a moment, knowing that only one of was going to be victorious in this argument for certain.

He continued, "You are a constant thorn in my side, woman. You defy me, you deliberately disobey me; you swore your service to me and yet you do not give it when I have need of it! Why did you even bother if you are never going to obey me?"

"Why are you complaining?" Aelin asked back. "If I hadn't sworn my service and joined this quest, your nephews could be dead about now!"

"Do not try to use them against me!" Thorin replied, seething.

"They deserve to know what you've done!"

"What they deserve is the truth, which you have not given them!"

"And which you have never told them in the first place! And you are wrong; I did tell them the truth!"

"Really? Is that why you just happened to leave out the fact that you tried to run when I realized my ring was gone and that you had taken it?"

Aelin's throat tightened and she froze.

Thorin noticed her reaction and was beginning to feel like he had the upper hand in their argument. "Running is the ultimate sign of guilt...," he said to her, "and, if you were supposedly going to return what was mine, then you wouldn't have run from me."

"I didn't know what to do. I panicked," said Aelin defensively.

"Spare me your nonsense," Thorin spat. "You were guilty of a crime and running was admitting it."

"Attempted theft is not as serious a crime as actual theft, as you make it out to be."

"It matters not. You tried to steal from your King and were caught..."

"I told you: you are not and never will be my King!"

"...and as a result, you tried to lie your way out of being arrested. Since it didn't work before, now you try to twist the story to make yourself appear innocent in the eyes of my nephews."

Aelin could feel her blood boiling within her. This Dwarf was relentless and would never believe her. "I am telling you: talk to Nori!" she told him again. "He will verify my story, I swear!"

Thorin scoffed in disdain. "You know, I was beginning to think I was wrong about you," he sneered. "But it would seem I was mistaken."

Aelin's jaw clenched angrily and she gave him a hard, icy glare. "You know nothing about me," she whispered coldly.

"I know enough," he replied. Then he began to slowly walk around to the side of the bed, keeping a firm gaze on Aelin as he did. "I know that you care for no one but yourself. You steal and lie to make your way; you give no thought to the feelings or circumstances of others. Then, when you're caught in the act, you lie to get out of any punishment and to convince others that you were some helpless victim! And aside from that, you have no respect for authority!" His eyes narrowed. "You may be a rogue Dwarf woman who does things her own way, but when you pledge your service to someone, that does not mean you defy or disobey their every command, which is what you have done since the start! Your foolishness will earn you serious consequences someday either from me or something more dangerous! Your reckless behavior could endanger the lives of the other members of this company! You could get any one of them killed! Is that what you want?"

Thorin was practically bellowing at Aelin by now and, to her astonishment, she had nothing to say in return. He was saying all these things about her but she could find nothing to say to defend herself. Then him mentioning that her actions would endanger the others didn't sit well with her. All she could imagine was Nori, Dori or Ori getting hurt or worse. Or Fili and Kili, whom she was starting to develop a friendship with. She didn't want to think about anything happening to any of them. Her eyes were starting to water up a little at those thoughts. Her insides were twisting and turning with anxiety and fear and pressure from Thorin's words. She couldn't look at him and give him the satisfaction that his words were affecting her.

But then he shouted again, even louder, "Is that what you want?!"

"No!" Aelin shouted back with a cracked voice, her emotions starting to break through. Then her voice quieted down as she said, "No...no...I do not want that."

Thorin took notice of her emotional response and could see that perhaps he was starting to get through to her. At last, he could get this troublesome woman to have some common sense.

"Then I suggest you learn to listen to me and not fight me about everything," he told her.

Aelin lifted her head so she could look at him. "How about this?" she replied, her voice firm yet still slightly trembling. "I will start listening to you when you start listening to me."

Thorin lips pursed together in frustration. That wasn't quite what he wanted to hear. Was she still going to try and fight him on this?

"I swear to you," she continued, almost sounding desperate, "if you just speak to Nori, then you will understand and then will you finally hear what I have been saying." She paused for a moment to see if Thorin would react, but he did not. Then she hung her head and said sadly, "I am not the kind of person you think I am..."

There was silence for a moment until Thorin replied, "Neither am I."

Aelin looked up and met Thorin's gaze. He was looking at her not with anger or malice, but with uncertainty as if he wasn't sure what to think; whether or not he should believe her. But yet there was something in his look that almost seemed to hint that he would consider her suggestion. He was confusing her to no end. What exactly was he thinking?

Without a word, Thorin turned around and walked to the door. He paused for a moment before opening the door and walking out, leaving Aelin alone in her room.

Once he was gone, she let out a breath as if she hadn't been breathing for the last minute. The last few moments with Thorin were quite different than what they had been earlier in the day. He had been strangely civil to her before, but now…well, he was back to normal, she would say. She knew it would be too much to think that his earlier behavior would last…yet she had a slight inkling of hope that perhaps it would. Admittedly, it was refreshing to see the civil side of him. But now he was back to his usual self: obstinate, proud and ever prone to an argument with her.

She hated that he was trying so hard to prove her story was false. Although, he had indeed been right about her leaving out that she had tried to run. But she didn't know what to do and didn't think she had any choice. Even so, that fact didn't change anything about what he had done.

All she could think was that she hoped Thorin would speak to Nori. Her story was the truth and, if Thorin wouldn't believe it coming from her, then Nori was her only hope.

After he had left Aelin's room, Thorin wandered aimlessly through the corridors of Rivendell for however he long, he knew not; only until he realized the evening was passing. Whether it was to find the others in the company or to explore or clear his head and think, he couldn't determine. He couldn't keep his thoughts together, which he realized was happening quite frequently whenever he was with Aelin. He really believed that she was lying about her story to both him and his nephews. Honestly, what thief ever returned anything they stole? She only said all that to try and get out of trouble that night and now she was still saying it to make herself appear innocent; the victim in the whole situation. And claiming that he had struck her? That perhaps was the most heinous accusation of them all! She was so set on her story; why would she not relent?

She kept telling him to speak with Nori…was she just saying that to try and make him think that she was telling the truth and that she supposedly had a witness just to fool him…or was it actually true? He kept going back and forth in his mind, trying to decide if he really would go to Nori.

"If she really was lying…would she have been so adamant about Nori verifying her story?" Thorin thought to himself.

Seeing that he couldn't shake the thought, he went off to find Nori.

After a few minutes of searching, Thorin found the others all gathered in a foyer around a fire smoking their pipes and conversing like normal. In one corner of the area, he saw Nori sitting with Dori, Bofur, Bilbo, Dwalin and Balin and he made his way over to them.

He heard Nori say as he approached, "So he says to the bartender, 'You fool, that's not a pot! That's my hat!'" Then the others around him burst out into hysterical laughter.

"You cheeky blighter!" cried Dori, slapping him goodheartedly on the arm.

As the laughter began to lighten up, Thorin spoke up to get Nori's attentin. "Nori…a word," he said, motioning with his head for him to come with him.

"What word would you like?" asked Nori with a grin, which made the others snicker.

Thorin, however, wasn't particularly amused and the look that he shot Nori at his remark told him exactly that. Nori, noticing that Thorin was serious, got up from where he was sitting and followed him over down an adjoining corridor where they could have some privacy.

"All right, Thorin, what can I help you with?" Nori asked, rubbing his hands together.

Thorin looked around to make sure no one was close by and then he turned back to Nori and said to him, "I just spoke with Aelin."

"By 'spoke with her', you mean 'fought with her'," Nori clarified.

Thorin just ignored that, even though he knew it was true. He then continued, "She was in her room with Fili and Kili and I overheard her telling them the story of our first encounter a hundred and forty-two years ago. Now, I firmly believe that parts of her story are lies, but she is insistent on me speaking to you about that night. She claims that you were there and could verify her story."

"Aye, that is true. I can."

"Now, how am I supposed to believe that you were really there and you are not just telling me what she wants me to hear?"

"I could tell you everything that happened from the beginning to the end of the night."

"But again: how do I know that you are not telling me the story that Aelin told you to make it seem like you were really there?"

"You are really set on not believing her, aren't you?"

"If you can give me any evidence that proves you were really there, then perhaps I shall be more open to the idea…but I promise nothing."

Nori closed his eyes and shook his head. It amazed him just how stubborn Thorin was. He was almost as stubborn as Aelin at times. It was no wonder that the two of them were butting heads all the time. Thorin was convinced that Nori would even lie for Aelin in order to convince him of her story, which he didn't believe. Nori figured he was going to have to dig through the old memory banks to find something good enough to convince Thorin that he was really there that night.

"Well, I know you had a few mugs of ale that night," Nori told him. "Four, to be exact."

Thorin shook his head. "Aelin could have told you that."

"How could she when she was doing other things with her own companions?" Nori asked him. When Thorin still looked unconvinced, Nori knew he had to come up with something else. What else could he say that Thorin wouldn't believe that Aelin had told him?

"She tried to take a ring of yours; a silver one with a rune on it," he said.

Thorin's eyebrows rose up. "Aelin could have told you that, as well." Then he folded his arms across his chest. "My patience is wearing thin, Nori. If you cannot find any solid proof, then I will not be convinced."

This was starting to get a little harder. Surely there had to be something that Nori knew that Aelin couldn't possibly know that would be able to convince Thorin of the truth of her story. He obviously knew he couldn't tell Thorin anything that was said between him and Aelin because that would prove nothing.

"Come on, Nori, you've got to have something in your brain that you could use," Nori told himself. "Aelin is depending on you to convince Thorin. Think of something! Think!"

Then the perfect example of proof came to him.

Nori looked Thorin straight in the eye and said to him, "You told Dwalin that you blame yourself for the deaths of your family members who were slain in the battle of Moria."

He knew that statement worked because Thorin froze, his eyes widened and his lips parted in surprise. Nori couldn't help but let up a tiny, satisfied smirk.

"How do you…?" Thorin asked, but he was too taken aback to finish the question.

"I was indeed in the pub that night, Thorin," Nori told him. "I was sitting in a dark corner and was observing the young group of thieves Aelin was a part of. Then you walked in with Dwalin and I began to observe the two of you, as well. When I heard Aelin being told to swipe something off of you, I moved closer to your table so I would be close by to watch when it happened. I overheard what you told Dwalin. I could tell you were very distressed. I heard you say you were going to tell him something you hadn't told anyone: that you blamed yourself for the deaths of your grandfather…and your brother, Frerin."

Thorin let out a shaky breath in reply and looked away as the memories of both Moria and the night in the bar came back to him. Nori was right; he did say all of that to Dwalin that night…and there was no way that Aelin could have known that because it was well before she came by and took his ring and he had said all of it in a low voice where he thought no one could hear. Except for Nori, apparently. He was shocked to find that Nori knew that when no one else but Dwalin knew of how he felt regarding his family's deaths. Nori knew something that Aelin didn't.

Which meant…

"She was telling the truth…," he whispered, more to himself than to Nori, as the realization hit him hard.

"I know that Aelin is many things…," said Nori, now seeing that Thorin was convinced, "…but she is not a liar. What she told you about taking your ring and then returning it was indeed true. She only wanted to show her friends that she could do it, but didn't want to get in any trouble. I heard the whole conversation between her and the other young Dwarves she was with."

Thorin didn't respond. He was too overwhelmed, not only just with shock, but also with a great sense of guilt; greater than any he had ever felt before. All this time, he had believed Aelin was a liar and had said so to her face multiple times, even when she denied the accusation. It was no wonder that she detested him so much. He really was cruel and obstinate like she thought he was. All these years, he had believed all these bad things about her and now he realized…that maybe he was wrong about her, after all. She had been but a young Dwarf pressured into doing something wrong, but was made to believe it would make her fit in with other young Dwarves. But she did turn out to be the innocent victim of the whole thing…she had meant Thorin no harm and yet he treated her like she was a criminal and that harsh treatment hadn't ceased one hundred and forty-two years later.

When had he become this cruel person? How would he ever make up for his behavior?

Upon asking himself these questions, there were some details about Aelin's story that Thorin began to reflect on…and some that he couldn't seem to remember, but wondered if they were in fact true as well. Was that also why he wouldn't believe her story: because he couldn't remember the entire night either?

He looked to Nori and asked, "If Aelin's tale is true…does that mean that—"

"No, no," Nori interrupted, holding his hands up. "I've already done my part and proved Aelin right. If you still have any questions regarding that night, you can ask her, now that you know she wasn't lying to you."

At first, Thorin was going to protest, but then when he thought about it, he saw that Nori was right. He had to talk to Aelin about it. He owed her that much and more.

He gave Nori a nod in agreement. "Then I will go to her. I am sure there is much I have to say to her now," he said.

"I think you owe her an explanation for your behavior that night," Nori told him. "I know there was more to it than just being a little affected by the ale you had."

Thorin nodded to him again and then turned on his heel and walked away, going to make his way back to Aelin's room.

Nori smiled to himself and whispered out loud, "Finally…!"

Back in her bedroom, Aelin was standing outside on the balcony of her room that overlooked the valley, gazing up at the bright moon, now that nighttime had fallen. She wasn't going to sleep and didn't want to stay in her bed forever and so, most likely against Lord Elrond's wishes, she had gotten out of bed and carefully hobbled her way over to the balcony. Her back was leaning against the doorframe so as to not put too much pressure on her injured leg nor her injured shoulder. She felt she just had to get up and move around; she didn't want to feel like some bedridden invalid who couldn't do anything. It made her feel weak and helpless…which she hated. She wanted to feel strong and, above all, she wanted the others to see her that way, too. Staying in bed like a cripple wasn't going to help that at all.

Knock! Knock!

Aelin was surprised to hear a knock at her door when it was starting to get late. She wondered who it could be.

"Who is it?" she cried.

"It's Thorin. May I come in...please?"

Her ears perked up at hearing the word "please" being spoken by Thorin's voice. That was very unlike him, especially when he was speaking to her. After he had been in her room earlier, she had expected him to start yelling again or demanding to be let in. This was yet another sudden, unexpected change in behavior. What was going on with him? This made her curious.

"Yes, you may come in," she replied.

Thorin quietly opened the door and entered the room. His eyebrows furrowed when he saw her by the balcony. "What are you doing?" he asked. "Aren't you supposed to not be walking?"

She let out a noise that was a mix of a scoff and a chuckle. "If I stayed in that bed any longer, it was going to drive me mad," she replied. "Besides, you of all people should know, I'm not the most obedient person."

Thorin snickered quietly to himself.

Aelin however heard his response and was once again taken aback at his behavior. "What are you doing here?" she asked him flatly.

He averted his gaze and expression showed nothing but shame and regret. "I spoke with Nori," he admitted in a low voice.

She couldn't help but feel a tad bit of excitement at such a simple statement. He had talked to Nori, which meant he now knew her story was true...which meant that, hopefully, their endless feuding would finally be coming to an end.

"So now you understand," she stated, trying to sound indifferent.

He nodded in return. "However, now that I know your story is true, there are other questions I have regarding it...because you see...there are some things from that night that I realize I can't remember."

Aelin looked at him curiously. How could he not remember things from that night? Surely he had to be making that up. But then again...why would he lie to her now? She gave him a bow of her head, signaling for him to ask his questions.

"You said I struck you...," he simply said.

"Aye...," she replied, wondering where he was going with this.

He then pointed to her face. "That scar...above your eye..."

Aelin's hand instinctively rose up and touched the scar on her face. She watched Thorin as his eyes and expression suddenly changed; he looked sad and full of regret.

Then his voice dropped to a whisper and he asked fearfully, "Was that by my hand?"

She could see the fear in his eyes as he asked the question, as if he was afraid of the answer he would get. Or more like he already knew the answer and was afraid that she would confirm it. She had never seen such fear from him before and, once again, she found herself surprised by it.

For a moment, she almost considered not even telling him; she was almost afraid herself to see what the answer would do to him, but the look in his eyes, while filled with dread for what he would hear, was pleading with her to answer him. He needed to know and she could see it. She couldn't start lying to him, not now.

In answer, she said nothing...and timidly nodded her head.

The look on Thorin's gaze turned from fear to utter shame at her silent answer. His breathing became uneven and he was unable to look at her for a short time. The knowledge of what he had done was overwhelming.

When he could finally look at Aelin again, Thorin slowly approached her and his hand gradually lifted up. He wasn't looking away from the right side of her face, which told her what he was thinking and what he was wanting to do as his hand came up higher. She didn't feel threatened or uncomfortable, strangely, so she didn't move as he came to stand right in front of her and brought his hand up to her scar, touching it lightly with his fingertips. His look of guilt and regret was still in his eyes.

"Oh, gods...what have I done...?" Thorin whispered shamefully.

From watching him, she could see he was genuinely horrified by this knowledge. He really didn't know he had done that to her.

"It is no wonder you loathe me...," he added.

Aelin couldn't stand what she was seeing and, before she even realized she did it, she reached up and clasped his hand with her own, which startled Thorin. Something inside her wanted to comfort him and rid him of his shame...but how could she? He now knew that she was permanently scarred because of him; how could she possibly erase such horrible guilt when he saw the evidence of it every day?

"You really do not remember?" she asked him.

Regretfully, he shook his head. "In truth...no," he replied. "I look back and realize that I do not remember much from after you decided to run. All of that is...hazy to me. I think it could be from the amount of ale I had that night."

He looked down sadly. "There are things you need to know and understand about my behavior from that night," he told her. "I am in no way trying to justify any of my actions...but I was already in a bad state of mind that night which affected my judgment and made me behave in ways I normally never would." Then he looked up and met her gaze again. "I wish to explain myself to you...if you will let me."

Aelin, by now, was convinced that he truly did not remember what he had done and that he felt remorseful over what had happened. In telling her that he could explain his actions, she felt she owed him that. So she nodded again and said, "I will let you."

Thorin then said, "But first, I think we should get you off your leg and back into bed."

Aelin grumbled a little, but then reluctantly agreed. She was in no mood to argue. She let Thorin help her back over to the bed and then she carefully pushed herself up back against the headboard. Thorin sat himself on the edge of the bed next to her.

"I'm listening," she told him.

"Do you remember the battle of Moria?" he first asked her.

"Yes, that was the battle that Balin spoke of a few days ago," she answered.

Thorin nodded. "That battle had taken place almost a week prior to that night we met. In that battle, I lost my grandfather...and Frerin, my younger brother."

Aelin was shocked and her eyes grew wide. That was something she never expected to hear. "You...you had a brother?" she asked in surprise. When he nodded in affirmation, she said, "I...I never knew. When Balin spoke of that battle, he did not mention your brother."

"That is because I took his death harder than my grandfather's and Balin knows not to speak so much of it. He was a young boy who shouldn't have been there; he should have lived...," Thorin answered with a low voice. He hung his head sadly as the memories of the battle came back to his mind. "What Nori told me that convinced me he was there that night in the pub was something I told Dwalin regarding my family's deaths; something I had never told anyone...that I feel I am to blame for the loss of Thror and Frerin."

"What? How do you think it was your fault?"

"I was near Thror when he was slain. I should have seen it and done something to help him. And my brother...I promised him before the battle that I would protect him and we would stay together. But then...somehow...we were separated...and I failed him."

Thorin's voice had started to crack as he spoke of Frerin and Aelin felt a stab of sympathy for him. It was heart-wrenching to see and hear just how much he suffered and still suffered from that battle.

He went on once he began to calm himself down, "I was distraught with grief from my brother's loss, perhaps even more than my grandfather's, because I never expected to lose him so soon. I carried that sorrow and that burden of guilt heavily for a long time and sometimes even now I still do. I was still very overcome by my grief that night when we first encountered each other. My judgment was impaired and I had been behaving irrationally towards others even days before then. I felt I had no right to be alive when Frerin was not."

Thorin was starting to get a little emotional again, with his voice straining and his breathing getting shaky. Impulsively, Aelin laid a hand gently on his arm. He did not look at her right away, but her touch was oddly calming. He took a small moment to take a couple deep breaths and control his emotions before he continued on.

"I was not myself that night in the pub. My emotions were already rampant because of my despair and that combined with the amount of ale only made things worse. My reaction to you stealing my ring was far more harsh than it would have been had I been in my right mind at the time."

"Why would you make such a fuss over such a simple ring?" Aelin asked. "You are a King; surely, you must have many more rings at your disposal that the loss of just one shouldn't be too worrisome."

"Aye, that may be true...," Thorin replied as he then proceeded to remove that same silver ring from his hand and held it in front of her, "...but this is not just a simple ring."

Curious, Aelin looked at the ring. It looked almost exactly the same as it had a hundred and forty-two years ago. The only difference was it was slightly scratched, probably from being worn so frequently, and there was another rune added over the original one. Looking at it closely, the original rune was the rune for the letters "TH" and it looked like the other one, juxtaposed to it, was the rune for the letter "O".

"Thorin Oakenshield," Aelin deduced in her head. Then she looked back at Thorin, waiting for his explanation as to why it wasn't just a simple ring.

He then told her, "It is special to me because Frerin forged this for me himself. He engraved the rune for the first two letters of my name and then, after Moria, I made the addition for my newly-given surname myself." He turned it over between his fingertips and looked at it with a distant look in his eye. "It is all that I have left of him."

Then it seemed like Aelin was all of a sudden hit by a brick wall of realization. Everything now suddenly made sense to her as to why Thorin had reacted the way he did.

"That was why you were so protective of it," she stated.

Thorin nodded. "I realize that I had perhaps overreacted when you tried to steal it, given the circumstances of my emotions, but even so...this is the only physical object I possess that keeps me connected to him. When I thought I had lost it, I panicked and was upset. But then when I realized you had tried to take it, the only thought I had in my mind was to get it back by any means...and I took it all too far."

Aelin now felt incredibly guilty for having tried to steal his ring, even though she had planned on returning it anyway. Had she known its value to him, she would not have tried to take it. Now she felt as though she had been the cruel one in their encounter, attempting to steal something from a King that was precious and special to him.

"It would seem that even Kings can be sentimental," she thought to herself.

She hung her head in shame. "I am sorry for your loss," she said. "And...I now, at least, understand why you behaved the way you did"

"Unfortunately, being a Dwarf that holds grudges easily, all the horrible feelings and thoughts I had towards you then seemed to stay with me, even when I was sober and no longer in mourning. I do want you to know," he then said to her, "that I would never...never willingly and knowingly strike a woman. That night all those years ago, my judgment was so clouded, I could not even remember everything that happened. I know that does not justify what I did at all, but know that, if I was in my right mind, I would never have done such a thing."

His hand started towards her face again, but then he hesitated and withdrew, being unable to bring himself to touch her scar again. His face and his voice turned sad again. "Now, because of me, you have been physically scarred for life and you have had to live with the false knowledge of how cruel a person I am." Once again, he looked away in regret. "I do not blame you for hating me so much...because now I hate myself for it."

By now, Aelin was speechless. This Thorin in front of her was nothing like the Thorin she thought she knew. He truly seemed sorry for all that he had done and he was letting his emotions show. He had just said that he hated himself for hurting her...something she never in a thousand years would have ever imagined he would admit to her. She could find no words to say in reply; she was too overwhelmed with surprise as well as her own guilt at her own actions.

"However," Thorin then spoke, "I must ask you...if you hate me...then why did you save my life before?"

Aelin was taken aback at such a question. "How horrible do you really think I am?" she asked him, astonished. When he looked unsure of how to reply, she stated, "There is a fine line between hating someone and wishing death upon them. I hated you...but I never hated you enough to want you dead."

Thorin's head tilted curiously. "You said 'hated'; the past form of the word. Does that mean...?"

Aelin knew what he was trying to ask and the corner of her mouth twitched upward. Did that mean she no longer hated him?

Now that all of the truth was finally out, she was amazed to discover that all of those years of her and Thorin hating each other...were really all for nothing. The both of them had made mistakes and were too stubborn to acknowledge them, so instead they placed their anger and frustration on the other. When all along, there really was no need for any of it. So what could she hate him for now when she knew it was all a mistake and that he truly felt sorry for all he had done?

In answer to his unspoken question, she said, "Now that we both have heard each other's full stories from that night all those years ago, it would seem that the foundation for our entire feud has been a massive misunderstanding. You were in mourning still from that tragic battle and I was unaware."

"And because of my state of mind, I was not thinking clearly and did not give you a chance to explain yourself to me," Thorin also said in return. "I was such a fool."

"We were both fools," said Aelin. "We both were in the wrong and neither of us was more than the other for both our actions since then have been equally grievous."

Thorin gazed at her with hesitation written on his face. He was about to say something that he felt he had no right whatsoever to say, but he felt that he still should try.

"I know I should not even dare to ask this of you...," he spoke with much nervousness, "...but I am so sorry for what I have done...and could you ever forgive me...for my terrible transgressions against you?"

And there it was: the one statement and question that Aelin had believed she would never hear from Thorin. He had sincerely apologized and asked her for forgiveness. There was nothing else she could feel in that moment but sweet relief. After everything he had told her and seeing the true remorse for his actions, she knew what to say.

For the first time, Aelin smiled at Thorin, which gave him an inkling of hope.

"I never thought I would say this...," she said to him, "...but yes, I do forgive you."

Then, in that moment, Thorin smiled at Aelin for the first time, having been surprised by her quickness to forgive him, really when he believed she wouldn't.

But then, without even thinking, he asked, "Why?"

Aelin half expected him to question her decision and nodded in comprehension. "I know you think I shouldn't," she explained, "but I can see that you are truly sorry for everything and you already have the grave burdens you bear from the battle of Moria. I will not give you anymore. Which brings me to something else."

Wondering what she was now going to say, Thorin looked at her intently and was silent, waiting for her to go on.

She gave him a comforting smile and said softly, "You are not to blame for the deaths of your grandfather and your brother. In battle, things happen that are sometimes beyond our control. Whatever happened that kept you from Thror or separated you from Frerin was not your fault. Their losses have already been hard enough for you...you should not have to bear the guilt for their deaths, as well, when it is not necessary. You already carry a heavy burden; the burden of reclaiming your homeland...do not carry the weight of the dead, too."

That was the first kind thing Aelin had ever said to Thorin and, to him, it seemed very surreal. But her words touched him, nonetheless, and he gave her in return a small smile of gratitude.

Then she went on to say, "I know I have been nothing but a nuisance for you since the beginning of this journey and all I have done is contradict you, undermine you and wear your patience thin. From the start, all I wanted was to get revenge on you for what you did...but now that I know the whole truth, I no longer want that...and I too am sorry for my behavior towards you. Every bit of it was uncalled for."

It was now Thorin's turn to feel astounded, for Aelin had just apologized to him now. All this time, he had believed her to be arrogant beyond belief and that she would think apologies were beneath her. Now he was pretty much convinced that he had been wrong about her all along. But he could see that she too was regretful and sorry for her actions beyond a doubt and she had forgiven him, even when he now felt his actions were worse than hers had been, so he knew immediately what the right decision would be. It was also the kingly thing to do; something he wish he could've remembered that night a hundred and forty-two years past.

"You are forgiven," he said to her.

The two of them just stared at each other for a few moments, almost unable to comprehend everything that had happened since Thorin had come to the room. It had started off with him yelling at her and accusing her of lying to his nephews and then here they were suddenly, no longer angry with each other and having forgiven each other for all that had transpired between them all those years. It was almost too good to be true; it was unbelievable.

The silence was then broken when Aelin asked, "Do you think we can just…start anew? I mean, after all these years, everything we thought we knew about each other has been wrong and now, I feel as though we hardly know each other at all."

"I concur," said Thorin. "And let us not fight any longer. We are accomplishing nothing with our constant bickering and we still have a very long journey ahead, once our time here in Rivendell is through. But as for our time here…I think we could use that to our advantage and take this time to really get to know one another better and start over. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Aye," she replied. "I think we can begin right now." She then held out a hand towards him, gave him a courteous grin and said, "Aelin, at your service."

Thorin observed her hand being extended towards him for a few seconds and then reached out himself and took it with his own hand. When their hands touched, they both felt a small surge of heat; a spark flow through their skin. It seemed that every time they touched like this, that happened. It was strange yet they did not dwell on it for long.

Then Thorin did something very unexpected: he lifted up Aelin's hand and pressed a firm yet gentle kiss to the back of it, which made her softly gasp. When his lips pulled back, he lifted his head and met her gaze with a thoughtful and welcome stare.

"Thorin Oakenshield, at yours."

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I'm with Nori on that one...Finally! xD

As fun as it has been for me to write Thorin and Aelin fighting...I've kinda been dying to get to the good stuff xD that doesn't mean their fights are completely over; they'll just be a little less frequent!

So now the truth is out! :D what do you guys think? Any questions, comments or concerns? Let me know via review or PM! I've been loving all your guys' comments, they just make my day!

Stay tuned, lovelies! :D