Since that morning, neither Dis nor Eiranna had spoken much. Dis kept glancing at Eiranna, curiosity from her many unanswered questions clear upon her face, but Eiranna did not have information to offer. She was uncertain of her standing, of where she belonged, now that she had become tangled up with Thorin. She knew his words were genuine. He had left so swiftly that morning, she knew not what he wanted and expected of her. Eiranna had not seen him the remainder of her day. After Dis had cleaned and re-bandaged her arm, they had returned to King Thrain's home. The King nor Thorin were seen. Dis knew not where either was. The afternoon passed with relative ease. Dis and Eiranna busied themselves cleaning and organizing the household, and as it grew later, began preparing for supper.

Eiranna was setting places at the table when King Thrain entered. She had found the mounting strain upon his face alarming. He had been different since he had returned from Moria; quiet, distant. Eiranna knew he rightly grieved for his father and his youngest son, Frerin, but still she worried for him. King Thrain offered his daughter a private greeting, before turning to Eiranna. "I am pleased to see you have come home in relatively one piece. I think it wise to refrain from wandering off after dark?" He raised his eyebrows as he spoke. "Yes, Sire," she responded softly. He removed the heavy furs he wore and sat at the head of the table. From his mouth escaped a weary sigh. "What of Thorin, Father?" Dis inquired. "He will be along shortly," King Thrain answered. "It is unnecessary to wait."

They had each taken their portions to fill their plates and were now sitting, when Eiranna heard Thorin enter from behind. Nerves that had lain dormant all afternoon sprung free within her stomach. "Thorin! That was exceptionally well timed! We were only just about to eat," said Dis, who, from her position across from Eiranna, had a clear view of Thorin.

"Please accept my apologies for having kept you waiting." His voice was close. Eiranna felt his hand upon her back, and she turned her head upwards to meet his gaze. He smiled, slowly moving his hand down to the small of her back, before kissing her softly. Eiranna glanced at Dis, whose mouth had formed into a bright smile. King Thrain appeared impassive to his son's show of affection. As Thorin took the seat beside Eiranna, she took hold of his plate and stood. His eyes narrowed slightly in confusion, but returned to normal as she began filling his plate. Eiranna paused before each food item, eyes lifted to Thorin's, and he offered her small nods for those he wished for. When she had finished, she placed the full plate before Thorin, and returned to her seat beside him. As they begun eating, Eiranna felt Thorin's hand slip into the hand she left resting on her lap. Their meal was pleasant enough. The air was filled mostly with the voices of Thorin and his father, discussing various political matters. Thorin's hand did not leave Eiranna's until their meal had concluded, and she stood to begin cleaning up.

Eiranna was alone in the kitchen, cleaning up from dinner, when she heard Thorin approach. "You have your belongings collected?" he asked. "My belongings?" she asked, turning to face him. "I am confused."

"You are coming with me," he stated. "I had only assumed you might prefer to bring your possessions along." His eyes shone teasingly.

"You wish for me to live with you?!" Eiranna asked, slightly stunned. "Aye, I do," Thorin answered, an expression of surprise upon his face.

"It will not anger your father?" she inquired.

Thorin shook his head. "I have spoken to my father. He has no objections."

Eiranna nodded. "I will finish here and then fetch my belonging, if that's agreeable?"

"More than agreeable, my Lady. I will leave you to your tasks," Thorin said, smiling, before he turned and left her, once more, alone in the kitchen.

Eiranna stood, alone, in Thorin's bedchambers. Her belongings lay scattered about the room; books piled in the corner, clothes strewn on the bed and chairs. As she stood pondering where to house her possessions, she felt Thorin's arms wrap around her middle. He pulled her close, and Eiranna rested her weight upon him, her head only just clearing the top of his shoulder. His head dropped into the nook of her neck. He lightly kneaded and kissed the skin there with his mouth. She shivered, as her breathing sped at a near frantic pace.

"Is your arm still offering you pain?" Thorin murmured into her ear. "Yes," she said softly, answering honestly. He pulled his head from her neck, the tone of his voice changed to serious. "Has the bandage been changed recently?" Eiranna shook her head. "Not since Dis did it this morning." "It requires changing then," he stated. Thorin detangled himself from Eiranna and came around to face her. He led her, by the hand, to one of the chairs that sat by the fire, and positioned her there. He turned to gather what he would need and returned. He knelt before her and removed the bandage from her arm. "It is healing nicely," he said, smiling up at her. She watched as he effortlessly worked on her injury. Despite the occasional swell of pain, Eiranna suppressed the urge to cry out. It did not take him long before he had cleaned and re-bandaged her arm.

Thorin stood and walked to the table which sat beside the bed. As he knelt, once more, beside her, she could see he held something within his hand. "I wish to take you as my wife." Upon hearing his words, Eiranna's mouth dropped open and a chill passed through her body. Thorin lifted her hand in his, and, upon her finger, he slipped a ring. Eiranna studied the object now resting on her finger. It consisted of the brightest silver she had seen, and within the setting sat the most vibrant emerald she had laid her eyes upon. The pure beauty of it took her breathe away. She was speechless. Unconsciously, Eiranna clapped her free hand over her mouth. "I had this made many years ago. It was made specifically for your wear. It matches your eyes," Thorin explained. His eyes softened as he spoke.

Eiranna silently studied what resided upon her finger. She shot from her seated position to Thorin and wrapped her arms around his chest and nestled her head onto his shoulder. "I love you. For many years, I've loved you. I, of course, accept," she whispered into his ear. She did not see, but could feel his smile. He pulled her from him and kissed her hard. His tongue entered her mouth, probing hers teasingly. She matched his movements with her own tongue. Eiranna knew not how much time had passed when she pulled from him, breathless and gasping.

"This must not have been easy to come by," Eiranna breathed, after she had calmed herself some. She could not shake how stunned she felt. "It has been with me since we fled Erebor," he said. Her head shot up in surprise. She looked upon Thorin, wide eyed. "You have had it so long?!" He nodded. "I know not what to say," she stammered, still utterly stunned. "I am still attempting to wrap my thoughts around the events of the past two days. I have thought on this moment for so long, yet I feel it has come so quickly."

"It does not feel so for me. I have been tangled within your grasp since I first laid eyes upon you. It has, at long last, finally come to pass that you have agreed to be mine," he said. Thorin pressed his mouth upon hers. It was a kiss of pure passion, which deepened as it continued. Quite suddenly, she heard a growl rumble from deep with Thorin's throat. Eiranna let out a small yelp of surprise as Thorin lifted her from the ground. He had her over his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her backside.

"My clothes?!" she cried, as Thorin threw her upon the bed atop them. "Forget the clothes," Thorin growled. "But they will wrinkle and may tear," she explained in mock seriousness. "I will have more made for you. Stop talking," he ordered, as he shoved the skirt of her dress up around her waist and pulled her undergarments down. Eiranna watched as he freed himself from his trousers. He grasped her by the waist and pulled her down to him. This coupling differed from the previous night. Any ounce of gentleness was now gone; it was full of frenzy and urgency. Thorin slammed into her, and she gasped aloud and, for a moment, lost her breath. She could feel him as she could not the previous evening. He filled her completely, and she felt as if she might come apart. It made her toes curl. As he continued, she felt she could not get her bearings, and she cried out with each of Thorin's thrusts. Eiranna held fiercely to him; arms clung around his back to his shoulders, and legs wrapped around his lower back. It continued to where Eiranna thought she could take no more. It was then that she felt Thorin's release within her.

He lay atop her, still inside her. His breathing was fast and frantic, but she could hear it slow and begin to return to normal as they lay together. Eiranna, herself, struggled to calm herself. Her heart beat at an unadulterated pace and she felt sticky with sweat. Thorin still wore his shirt, but his trousers had gathered just below his knees. In their passion, he had not bothered to remove them completely. Eiranna could not prevent the smile that spread across her face. "What a sight we must be," she murmured. There was an expression of confusion upon Thorin's face at her words. "Explain," he inquired. "You had not bothered to remove your trousers, and my undergarments are still pooled around my ankles," Eiranna explained. A soft chuckle escaped Thorin's mouth, as he spoke. "Yes, aren't we just."