DON'T YOU LOVE THAT FEELING WHEN SHIT GETS REAL? :D Silly you, don't you know you're not supposed to drop earth-shattering revelations about the future on limited mortals? You're breakin' all the rules of future knowledge, man!

Disclaimer: Tolkien owns Tolkien, you own you!

You gaze out over Lake Town from Bard's balcony, mind heavy with the knowledge of things to come. It gets tricky from here - you knew that coming in - but with all the friendships you've developed and feelings that have grown, you find it hard to discern what course of action will end up being best for everyone involved.

The door opens and shuts behind you. Thorin's deep voice says, "You should come inside. It's cold out here."

It is, but the temperature doesn't bother you. "I like the quiet," you respond.

He joins you by the railing. "You are troubled."

"How could you tell?"

"Is it something I should know?"

"I'm not sure you'd believe me."

Thorin actually smiles. "You've been right every time before, and you don't think I would believe you?"

"It's just that things will be difficult soon - between Smaug and the gold and the fight - and...well, I'm wondering if it might be best for me to stay in Esgaroth when you leave for Erebor."

"Stay in Esgaroth?" Thorin stares at you. "But you swore we would all make it to Erebor! Why would you stay?"

"I'll come along eventually, but there are matters here that need to be attended to...but I don't like the thought of letting you enter the Mountain alone..."

"What happens here that is more important?"

"Smaug happens. He's going to destroy Lake Town."

Thorin glowers in the direction of the Mountain. "Not if we destroy him first."

"Thorin - "

"Come with us to Erebor. We will find a way to kill Smaug. Then when the Mountain is free, you may have your pick of the treasure."

"Treasure?" You blink, confused. "I was never part of that deal, remember?"

Thorin smiles slightly. "And do you not think you have earned some reward?"

You shrug. "Keeping you alive will be reward enough."

"Then what do you want, if not gold?"

You stare up at the starry sky. There was one faint hope you'd nurtured when thinking about the future, but you never put much stock in it until now. "The one thing I do want," you say quietly, "is to be allowed to stay in Erebor with you."

Thorin's eyebrows shoot up. "With me?"

You blush but continue to cover yourself. "I want to explore every tunnel and cave. I want to learn Khuzdul and how to use an axe. I know most people won't take kindly to an elf living in Dwarf lands, but you asked what I want, and that is my answer."

"Your purity of heart never ceases to amaze me," Thorin murmurs after a moment. "That is all you would ask? To live with me in Erebor?"

"That's all I want."

"Then you shall have it, and Mahal help whoever says a cross word about it."

Overcome with emotion, you launch yourself at Thorin. He stiffens in your arms, but as you hug him he slowly relaxes. You expect him to be the first to pull away. He isn't. He allows you to hold him to your heart's content, which is several minutes. You wonder how long it's been since he's been held like this, and if it's doing as much for him as it is for you.

"I want you to know that everything I have done and will do is in your best interest," you mumble.

"That much is clear, if you've braved weather and darkness and spiders and goblins just to keep me alive," he replies, amused.

"Just remember that...never forget..."

Thorin peers up at you. "There is still something on your mind, isn't there?"

"Yes, but it's nothing you can help with."

"I could try."

You laugh, and you're horrified when it comes out watery. This detail does not escape Thorin's notice. He immediately frowns and tried to get a better view of your face through the dark. "Tell me what it is," he orders.

"You trust my foresight?"

"At this point, I would be a fool not to."

"Gold sickness," you whisper brokenly. Thorin's expression darkens. "I know you don't want to hear about it, but that's what's on my mind."

"I am not my grandfather," he says ironly.

"I know. You're stronger than him. You will be yourself again. But I'll miss you until then. I've been racking my brains to think of a way around it - everything with Erebor is war and politics and a pain in the ass - but it just has to play out like that whether I like it or not."

"This is the second time you've mentioned fighting. Who is our enemy? Is it Azog?"

"Azog, and Bolg, and Thranduil, and the Men of Lake Town."

"So many!" he exclaims. "How does it come to that?"

You shake your head. "That is not a burden you need to bear presently."

Thorin pulls you back as you move to go inside. "I will bear it," he says firmly. "You've borne it all this time - "

"And it's hasn't been a walk in the park!"

"Regardless. Tell me what happens once we get to Erebor. If you cannot prevent it, perhaps I can."

Gazing at the Dwarf before you, the future king forged of bravery and strength and kindness, brings tears to your eyes. No amount of rewatchings or fanfiction or gif sets or headcanons or fanart or dreams could have ever prepared you for being in his company, and more, his confidence. None of it could have prepared you for the tumult of emotions you'd experienced from a fantasy world made real, from fictional characters brought to life. Now Thorin is living and breathing and real in front of you, asking you to help him prevent what would have been his downfall, and you can hardly speak past the all-consuming love you feel for him.

"Now, none of that." Thorin scrubs a rough thumb across your cheek, and you realize the tears have spilled over. "Tell me what happens."

You sigh heavily and let it all out. "The gold consumes you. You are not yourself at all. You become cruel and obsessed and untrusting. You refuse to honor your word of gold to the Men of Lake Town. Thranduil's after the gems of Lasgalen, and obviously you refuse that as well. Dain answers your call to war, and all of them almost fight it out, but then Azog and his army arrives. You do come to your senses and join them, but then on Ravenhill - on Ravenhill, you and Fili and Kili - "

"Say no more," Thorin pleads hoarsely.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you - "

"You are sure of this? Beyond a doubt, you are sure?"

"Beyond a doubt."

"And yet you would follow me through cowardice and dishonor? Knowing this, you followed me still - you would have saved me still - "

"Always."

Thorin is pale in the face of what he will become. "It must not come to pass," he near-whispers. "This terrible fate must be changed."

"But how? I've come at it a hundred different ways, said a thousand different things, but I can't see how I can change anything."

"Alone, perhaps you cannot. That is why you must help me to never become the man you described."

You stare up at him. "Help you...?"

"Keep me in my senses, at least through the battle - by any means necessary."

"But you won't listen!" you exclaim. "You're already stubborn, but when the gold sickness consumes your mind - "

"You must make me listen. Tell me this story again, shout at me, threaten me, draw your sword - whatever it takes to see that I remain myself. Promise me you will do this!"

"I - I promise," you stammer, taken aback by his sudden intensity.

"Good. Now it is your honor on the line as well as mine." Thorin stares darkly at the ground for a moment, then turns to go inside. "Remember, Aniel: whatever it takes."

The door swings shut behind him, leaving you with a cold feeling completely independent of the chill night air.

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