As it is almost time for supper, everyone is entering the dinner hall, and then they see the former consort also entering, looking for a place near to the king, who is looking at her, but also at Emma.

**"O dear, would that be her?"** Shana says.

**"I do believe it is."** Jalila says, looking at Emma to see her reaction.

**"If that is her, then I do not believe that the king has ever suffered from goldsickness."** Mina states.

**"How so?"** Emma asks.

**"Well, look at her, she is disgusting! If he has layn with that, then it was undoubtedly syfilis that has made him go mad, and not goldsickness!"**

Emma and her handmaidens can not help from bursting out in laughter as Mina explains with a smirk, and the whole hall looks at them while they hear it. As they notice the attention they are attrackting, they try to restrain themselves, but it is to little effect; everyone can still hear their melodious giggles.

They make an even greater effort as they see Thorin approaching them, and Emma bites her lip in order to be quiet. "Emma, how lovely to see you here. I trust you are feeling better?"

"I am, thank you, your highness."

"Would you like to accompany me for dinner?"

"If that is your wish, your highness." She replies and follows him to take her seat next to him, Mina standing behind her and Shana and Jalila remaining at the table.

When supper has ended, Thorin gets up and turns to Emma, whom has not said anything to him the whole time she was sitting next to him. "Princess Emma, you have enlightened Erebor with your presence during your stay, and we are privileged to have you here. We would therefore be honored if you would accept this present as a small token of our gratitude." He says formally.

Although it is not stated as such, it is clear that Thorin offers her the first courting gift. "I am gratefull for your thoughtfullness, your highness, and the honor would be all mine to wear and treasure your gift."

Emma is screaming 'No, No NO!' on the inside, but she is perfectly capable to reply to him as is expected of her. As she has given him her acceptance of his courting proposal, he puts a ring on her finger. She bows her head to him, and he sits down again, all present clapping and cheering.

Once everyone has calmed down again, she looks at the ring. It is made of mythril and shaped as branches around her finger, all the way from her knuckle to the first joint. In the branches, small pearls and diamonds are placed. If she is honest, the ring takes her breath away. It is exactly to her taste, but she does let anyone see her appreciation for the gift, instead holding her expressionless face.

Half an hour later, she announces that she is going to retire to her rooms.

"May I escort you there, princess?" Thorin asks.

"If it pleases you to do so, your highness."

He gets up and leads the way, her handmaidens following closeby.

"Does my gift please you, Emma?" Thorin asks while they walk to her rooms

"If it pleases you, it pleases me, your highness."

"And if it came from another man, would it please you then?" Thorin asks.

"Then I would ask my father or my brothers if it pleases me, your highness."

They arrive at the doors to her rooms. "May I come in so we can speak privately?"

"You may, your highness." Emma replies, and she sends her handmaidens, except for Mina, to her bedroom.

They sit on one of the sofas in the antechamber. "May I speak frankly with you, Emma?"

"Whatever you like, your highness." She says stoical.

"There was a time that you did not call me 'your highness' and I did not call you 'princess', but just Emma."

"There was, your highness."

"Would there be a possibility to go back to that time?"

"One never knows what the future brings, but going back in time is quite impossible, your highness." She says, still not looking at him.

He has to do his utmost best to keep his frustrations hidden. He wants her to look at him, and he wants to see the expression on her face, give him some clue as to what she is actually feeling. But he manages, and continues:

"I know I have wounded your pride, and you can not imagine how I regret that, knowing I can not change it. But is there something I could do to change your feelings towards me? Now that we have started courting, I mean."

"I do not know what you are refering to, your highness." She says coldly, her face hardening.

"Right. Well, I merely wish to to make my sincere wish for us to grow closer clear."

"Thank you for that, your highness."

"Shall we meet with Balin tomorrow to settle the details of our courtship?"

"Whatever you like. Please let my half-brother know when and where he will be expected, your highness."

"I shall." Thorin says, disappointment, brought on by her enduring cold attitude, clearly audible in his voice.

A silence falls between them, but after a few moment, Thorin clears his throat.

"You told me that your One has gone, but that he isn't dead nor missing. I have to admit that I am very curious as to what has happened to him."

"Why, your highness?"

"Because if we are to marry, I would like to know where the man is to whom my wife's heart belongs."

"You need not worry about that. As I said, he is gone, your highness."

"But where is he then?"

"I have no idea whatsoever, your highness."

"So he is missing?"

"No, I already said he is not. He is just gone, your highness."

Thorin looks at her with a soft expression. "Please, tell me what happened." He says gently.

"Fine, as you can't seem te be able to let the subject rest. He was my One, but he changed and so did my feelings for him, your highness."

"You can never change your feelings for your One, no matter what." Thorin says with a little disbelief in his voice.

Emma shrugs her shoulders. "I can and I have. Shall we let the matter rest now, your highness?"

"If you wish, Emma. Will you tell me what the fight between you and your brother this afternoon was about."

"My half-brother, your highness."

"Right, your half-brother."

"He was unhappy about the way things transpired this morning, your highness."

"Certainly one does not get into a fight like that just over some discontent."

"I might have offended him, but only after he offended me, your highness."

"And are you alright now?"

"I am, your highness." Emma says, but Thorin sees her eyes harden.

He cups her jaw and looks at her. "I will never let anything like that happen to you anymore." He says softly.

She pulls her head away from his gentle grip. "I don't need you nor anyone else to protect me. I can take care of myself, your highness."

He puts his hand on her back, but quickly takes it away as Shana loudly clears her throat. "I know you can, you have proven yourself to be a skilled opponent in battle, but I don't speak of physically taking care; I speak of taking care emotionally."

"I believe I am very tired. I shall go to bed now. Goodnight, your highness." She says, and she gets up and walks to her room, quickly followed by Shana.

Thorin sits in her antechamber a little bit longer, thinking of what she has said, but also of what she hasn't said, which may be even more interesting.