Thank you so much for the amazing reviews! I am blown away with each chapter at how awesome my readers are! This is a short one, but our lovers are finally starting to figure things out :) Let me know what you think!

"I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed!" – Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice.

The weeks following Elin's departure were quiet, and Signi was thankful to be free from Stonehelm's presence. She was not sure how much longer she could contain her temper when he tried to speak with her. Somehow Thorin's reaction to the dwarf was perfectly justified in Signi's eyes, if not too mild.

For days, Bara lamented the loss of her daughter, insisting that there was no reason why they could not stay in the Iron Hills. If only Stonehelm's father would give him a posting closer to home! But all of her tears were forgotten a few weeks later when she heard from Lord Dain's house keeper that they were preparing for a royal visit. The crown prince was travelling to the Iron Hills to meet with merchants who wished to sell their goods in Dale and Erebor.

Signi and Lifa had joined their mother at the market that day, for there was little that could take their minds off of the prince and the king. Bara could hardly contain her excitement when the housekeeper delivered the news, but she did make an effort to appear nonchalant. "Is that so," she huffed. "Well I don't know why that should matter to us! The crown prince is unlikely to bother making a visit. But if he did wish to call, he may do as he likes. He was always to so attentive to dear Lifa when she traveled to Erebor. Oh, but we said we wouldn't speak of it! Are you sure he is coming?"

Lifa's reaction to the news was slight, but it did not go unnoticed by her sister. For months, Signi had seen the way Lifa's breath stopped and her cheeks drained of color at the very mention of Prince Fili. But she never allowed her sadness to show in her expression, and she was careful not to mention him if she could avoid it.

"I know you doubt me," she whispered to Signi as they followed their mother out of the market. "But I assure you, the news of his visiting does not affect me in the slightest."

Signi did not believe a word she said. How could it not affect her? She had clearly mourned his absence. And for so long she had believed that he was betrothed to another. Of course that had been another of Stonehelm's lies, but the damage was done and Lifa couldn't allow herself to believe that he remained unattached.

Word spread rapidly through the Iron Hills, and soon all those living in the seat of the fortress were gossiping from dawn to dusk about the Prince's visit. Many knew that Lifa and her sisters had been guests at Erebor, and thanks to Bara's non-stop gossiping, they knew that she had also been a favorite of Prince Fili's.

As the day of his arrival drew closer, Lifa confided in Signi that she wished that he wouldn't come at all. She was convinced that she could look upon him and would still be able to meet him with little more than indifference. It wasn't his arrival that threatened to weaken her, but hearing his name with hers day after day was wearing down the little resolve she clung to.

For two days after his arrival, the keep was a flurry of constant activity. It seemed like everyone had had the opportunity to meet with the prince, from Lord Dain to the poorest miner. Everyone but the family of Mikel Wordsmith. Signi was beginning to wonder if he would ever call on them, and though she was careful not to reveal her concerns to Lifa, she wondered if Thorin had succeeded in cooling Fili's heart toward her. However, on the third day, Signi was proven wrong and Lifa would learn just how much strength she had.

There was little warning of his arrival. A note traveled ahead of him, but he must have left Dain's halls just minutes after sending it. As their mother insisted, the ladies all sat in their parlor, each toiling with their preferred labors. Lifa sat opposite the door, her head bowed over her embroidery. Signi, seated by the fire, remained hidden behind her book, but her eyes were watching Lifa closely. Only she noticed the color creeping up her sister's neck as the maid announced the arrival of two dwarves.

Prince Fili swept into the room, a large dimpled grin on his face as he greeted Lady Bara and her daughters. He looked well and his enthusiasm was evident. Signi found her own smile warming to him as he greeted her as though not day had passed since their last visit. He did not travel alone, and Signi was surprised when King Thorin entered the room, his form filling the doorway like a shadow. Signi felt her heart skip a beat when he appeared. Thorin did not share his nephew's enthusiasm as he entered the room, but he did greet them all in courteous manner and accepted a seat. Signi had the distinct impression that he had no desire to make this visit.

Fili was immediately swept away by Bara, who paid little mind to the king, and plopped into the chair next to Lifa's. The prince was delighted by this scheme and did not even try to hide his pleasure. Furthermore, as Bara battered him with continual questions like a summer hailstorm, Fili did seem to be overwhelmed. Signi noted, with a smile hidden by the pages of her book, that each and every one of his answers to her questions all seemed to be directed at Lifa. And although she was determined to keep her expression polite and impassive, the excited gleam in Lifa's eye gave her away. There never was such a besotted pair.

Thorin was seated closest to Signi, but he was not truly part of the group or conversation. He sat silently, and though he did not speak, he seemed to be watching Lifa closely as Signi watched him. She wondered if he could now see it, the clear and obvious affection that her sister so desperately tried to hide. How could he not see it?

"It is so great to finally meet you!" Bara said eagerly as she prepared tea for Fili. She made no offer to Thorin. "I was sorry to learned that we arrived too late to meet the crown prince of Erebor. But so much has happened since you left! Lady Katlin's steward, Vifil was married. And my youngest, Elin, was recently married to Thorin Stonehelm. Though it wasn't done properly, like a young lord's wedding should be…Oh, but I am sure you have heard that he has taken a posting up north."

If Fili was bothered by the turn of this conversation, he did not let it show. But Signi saw Thorin's temper begin to flare, and she could not allow her mother to continue talking about the shameful events. Especially knowing what she knew about Thorin's involvement.

"I understand you are here on business," Signi interrupted, hoping to change the subject completely.

"Yes, I am meeting with merchants to make arrangements for more trade to Erebor, as well as shipments directly to Thakalgund," Fili said. "I believe a meeting with your uncle is on the agenda."

"Well I know little of business, but when you have had all of your meetings, you must dine with here and have Mikel look over your contracts," Bara interjected, desperately trying to bring the attention back to her eldest daughter.

Their conversation continued in this manner for a half hour more, with nothing of importance being discussed. But in that time, Signi found that Fili spent far too much time admiring Lifa, and Lifa could not meet his gaze for more than a moment before the sheer intensity of it nearly broke her. Thorin remained thoughtful as he watched the pair, but he contributed nothing to the conversation. Signi stammered pleasantries when they were sent her way, but otherwise could not calm the storm in her mind.

Not for the first time, she wished they had never met. If they had not gone to Erebor to see Lord Gloin and his family, they would not have dined with the king and his nephews. If they had not dined with them, Lifa would not have fallen for Fili, and would not have suffered his loss when he left. If they had not dined with them, Signi would not have found herself wishing she could return to that watchtower with the king and they could do it all over again. Thorin obviously did not share that wish. He made no attempt to appeal to her though he sat not five feet from her. Signi was not sure if she could continue to breathe in his presence knowing that those feelings he once had for her were forever lost.

When at last the conversation came to an end, pair left as politely as they arrived. And despite Bara's numerous invitations for dinner, there were no confirmed plans to meet again.

Lifa was quiet that evening as the girls readied for bed. "I am glad for their visit because I now know my own strength," she said to Signi. "I can say with certainty that I can meet again with him as only an acquaintance. I am in no danger."

Despite her own grim revelations, Signi grinned at her sister, for she knew that Lifa was just as bad at lying to others as she was at lying to herself. "Oh I think you are in very great danger of making him fall madly in love with you."

Thorin was up long before dawn. Although this had long been the norm for him, it was troubled thoughts on his nephew and the red-haired dwarrowdam that robbed him of his sleep. Staring into the fire, Thorin recalled the one conversation he had had with Fili about his prospective engagement.

Fili had spoken to him once, many months ago, about his intentions to marry Lifa. Although Thorin had seen the obvious attraction between the pair, he chose to believe that it was a passing fancy. Yes, he chose to believe that. With Brasi breathing down his neck, and the dwarf kingdoms struggling to recognize his reign, it was easier to ignore minor inconveniences. Fili's marriage could forge a solid alliance, and Thorin had no time entertain a dwarrowdam of his own. Many times in those early months, he wished that the daughters of Mikel Wordsmith had never made an appearance in Erebor.

But Brasi was dead and the dwarf kingdoms were united again. Fili had remained faithful to his promise to wait until their troubles were resolved before speaking with Lifa's father. Still, Thorin clung to the ridiculous hope that he had been right all along about the depths of Lifa's feelings for Fili. He wanted to protect his nephew from rejection, or worse, an imprudent marriage. When the day would come that Fili took the crown, he could not be distracted by the whims of a poorly matched wife.

Thorin traveled with Fili for this very reason, for he knew that the prince would not be able to resist making an offer if he saw Lifa. He would be present for their reunion and see for himself if his previous thoughts on the matter were delusions or not.

From the moment he entered Mikel's house and saw Lifa there with her family, he knew that he had been a fool. The affection in Lifa was easily as strong as Fili's, though her modesty hid it well. The difference was that Thorin now understood such affection in a way that he could not have months before when Fili first spoke to him on the matter. He could not recognize true love.

Signi sat close to him when they visited her home, yet he could not bring himself to speak more than a greeting to her. His traitorous tongue longed to tell her everything. He wanted to tell her about finally catching Brasi at his crimes and ridding Arda of the vermin forever, of taking the Arkenstone and keeping his sanity, and of finding Stonehelm and demanding that he marry Elin, perhaps righting a few of the many wrongs against him. But he could not do it. He knew that she would not be impressed by a dwarf who felt the need to proclaim his accomplishments to the world. She had made her opinion of him quite clear. He was arrogant and a coward; all things he had known for decades. But how he could make her see that he was trying to fight these flaws, he did not know.

But there was one more wrong he could make right.

The morning light was streaming through the narrow window when Fili finally joined Thorin. The prince was in a pleasant mood, and he greeted Thorin with uncharacteristic alertness for the early hour.

Thorin sighed as he turned his solemn expression on the prince. "Sit down," he said, gesturing to the chair beside him. "I have something I wish to tell you." Fili's brow wrinkled in curiosity, but he sat and waited for his uncle to deliver the news. "I should have told you everything long ago, but I had the foolish idea that I could shield it from you. While you were gone, a spy was in our midst. I knew who it was, but I could not simply arrest him without evidence. He forced my hand and I had to take drastic measures to ensure that Brasi was caught spying on me and our mission. These measures included writing false messages about your purpose in traveling to Ered Luin. It was all lies, and it was not meant to be shared. But Brasi had a loose tongue, and some of that false information was spread to others within the mountain. Including some who should not have even heard such rumors."

Fili's gaze narrowed, and Thorin knew that he was beginning to understand exactly where this conversation was going. "What misinformation was spread?"

Thorin steeled himself for Fili's reaction. Though the prince rarely lost his temper, the king suspected this would be one of the few times that he did. "Among the false information that was written, news of your engagement to Princess Vara was included. It was necessary to get Brasi to drop the contract he pushed with Miri and to provoke him further. But I have since learned that Dain had shared this with Signi, and when under duress, Stonehelm mentioned that he had told Lifa about the engagement himself."

Fili's eyes widened as he realized the gravity of Thorin's words. "I must go explain this to her!" Jumping up from his seat, he made for the door as though he planned to storm into Lord Mikel's home with a pack of wargs on his heels.

"Fili," Thorin said, his voice low. "I believe that this lie has been corrected. But in case it hasn't, I wanted you to know. It would be very disappointing if you asked for her hand and she refused because she didn't know all of the facts."

Fili's hand was on the door, ready to leave at once. But he caught the meaning in the Thorin's words. Turning slowly to face his uncle, his expression grew hopeful. "Then you approve? I may finally ask her?"

Thorin stood and joined his nephew at the door. Placing a heavy hand on his shoulder, Thorin graced Fili with a rare smile. "Aye, it is time Erebor's crown prince had a wife."

Breakfast had just been served when Fili arrived. Bara nearly fell out of her chair when he was announced by the housekeeper. She hissed for the maid to take the food out of sight, and grabbed Baila to drag her out of the room.

"Oh, your majesty!" she cried when she nearly ran him over in the doorway. "We were just on our way out! Lifa will have to attend to you I am afraid." From the doorway, she beckoned for Signi to follow, but she refused to budge from her seat. The glare that Bara shot her was easily more deadly than any expression of the king's, but Signi remained seated. Lifa would have been more amused by this scene if she wasn't so distracted by the prince waiting anxiously for them to leave.

Lifa would be amazed by her fortitude in that moment for years to come. The full force of one of Prince Fili's smiles, especially first thing in the morning, had long been her greatest weakness of all time. He could have asked her to bring him the elf king's head, and as long as that request was made with her hands in his and that entreating grin on his face, she would gladly comply. But he was not there to make such a request, and Lifa could not imagine any reason that he should come barging in without first sending notice.

Fili did not wait to be invited. His eyes flickered to Signi, but were not long removed from the person he sought. Sitting in the chair closest to Lifa, he grasped both of her hands in his. Lifa could not tell for sure, but it felt like she might be melting. The wriggling that began in her stomach the moment his name was uttered that morning had dissolved, leaving her middle hollow as she felt his warm thumbs skating over the backs of her hands. She swallowed thickly against her heart that had decided to start beating in her throat rather than her chest where it belonged.

"Signi, if we could have just a moment please," Fili said, not daring to draw his gaze from Lifa's.

Lifa did not look her way as Signi left the room, but she suspected that her sister had walked away with one of her self-satisfied smirks. Lifa had insisted that she was in no danger, but as usual, Signi was correct in her assessment. Lifa was very much in danger.

Fili gripped her hands tightly when he finally spoke, and his expression was serious. "I have learned just this morning that there has been some rumors of my engagement to Princess Vara."

Lifa felt her heart stop. Was he coming to announce his impending marriage? To let her down gently? Signi had said it could not be true, but weren't all lies grounded in truth? Looking down at her knees, Lifa nodded at his statement. "Yes, I have heard those rumors," she said softly.

His fingers slipped beneath her chin, and he gently raised her face back to his. "Lifa, I swear to you, none of it was true. My uncle had to spread false rumors to expose a criminal, Lord Brasi. He was caught and executed for his crimes. I did not know that this was done until just this morning. If I had known sooner, Mahal, I do not know what I would have done. I would have ran all the way across Arda if UI could prevent you from doubting my love for you. There is no way that I would have allowed you to think this was true if I could have prevented it."

Her breath was shaky as she held back the sob that wanted to escape. "I did not want to believe it," she said, "But the king has always had other plans for you."

She did not know a tear had slipped out until he wiped it away.

"I made a promise to you," he said, his smile gentle as he drew her closer. "I promised that Thorin wouldn't sell me to any of those other lords and their daughters. I promised that I would marry you when the time is right."

Lifa could not help the flicker of hope that lingered in her mind. Just maybe… "And when is the time right?"

Fili's smile grew as he lowered to kneel before her, drawing her hands clutched in his to his chest. "Now. If you will have me," he answered simply. "I love you, Lifa, and ask that you accept me as your husband."

If Lifa were a petty dwarrowdam, this simple proposal would not do. But she was not petty, and in her eyes, a more perfect proposal could not exist. The sob that she was holding in finally escaped, as she flung her arms around his neck, lowering from her seat so that she was kneeling with him. She kissed him until they were both breathless.

"Can I take that as a yes?" he asked finally, pulling back to look upon her.

"Yes," she whispered through tears. Happy tears. "A thousand times, yes."

Fili met soon after with Lord Mikel in his study. Though the conversation was not long, for Mikel had no objections to Fili's proposal, Lifa was anxious as she waited with Signi outside of his door. They could not understand the words being said, but the laughter between the dwarves sounded like a father pleased to entertain his future son-in-law.

"It's too much," she said with the first true smile she had had in months. "I wish that everyone could be this happy."

Signi could hardly speak. This was such a joyous occasion! No dwarrowdam was more deserving of this felicity, and no dwarf was so deserving of her sister. Her congratulations were weak compared to how she pleased she felt about this turn of events, but Lifa did not notice. She was far too delighted to see that her sister was rendered speechless.

The words that Signi lacked were soon replaced when Bara returned home an hour later and found the crown prince standing in the parlor with his arms wrapped around Lifa's waist. No one in the family objected to the match. And Fili appeared to have no objection to Lifa's family. He stayed through the whole day and past supper, eagerly catching up on lost time, sharing thrilling tales of outsmarting Lord Brasi's schemes and battling Gundabad orcs. Only when Signi was sure that Bara was going to prepare the guest room for Fili did he finally announce that he must return to his uncle. The family was sad to see him go, but he promised to return the next day and every day after until he had to return to Erebor.

Mikel hugged Lifa after the prince left, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You must be very happy, my dear," he said. "I congratulate you on a match well made."

"You think so, Papa?"

"Oh, yes," he chuckled. "You will do very well together. Your tempers are so well suited that you will be loved by all of Erebor. Your allies will take advantage of your agreeable, generous natures, and you will always exceed your income."

"Exceed their income!" Bara exclaimed, smacking Mikel lightly on the arm. "He is going to be the king of Erebor! Exceed their income indeed."

Lifa's happiness continued for several days, and Fili's delighted smiles each day revealed that the feeling was mutual. Elin and Stonehelm's whirlwind romance was a thing of the past, and in Bara's eyes, Lifa was certainly her favorite child. Through all of the attention that she was subjected to, Lifa remained convinced that she had received much more than she deserved in Prince Fili. Not for a moment did she allow the knowledge that she was to someday be queen overtake her sheer joy at marrying the dwarf she loved.

"Mahal has truly blessed me," she said one night and she sighed over another one of Fili's letters. While he was away, Fili made time to write Lifa a letter each night telling her about his travels and how much he loved her. He couldn't send them, but he saved them for her and shared them after their engagement. "Oh, Signi! I wish that I could see you this happy, that we could find the right dwarf for you."

"You are mistaken in thinking that such a dwarf exists," Signi scoffed. "Until I have your goodness and humility, I could never be as happy as you. Even if you gave me forty such dwarves! No, I shouldn't hope to be more than an old maid. Perhaps if Vifil has a brother…"

Lifa giggled at her sister's jest and returned to her letters. She did not see Signi's dejected expression as she picked up her book. The words blurred as unshed tears filled Signi's eyes. Such a dwarf did very much exist, but he would not be making any more offers of marriage in this lifetime.