I wasn't sure how much time had passed when my eyes fluttered open. It was dark in the room except for the torch that was lit by the door. I could hear something going on outside the room, but it was farther away. Blinking a little, I looked in front of my when I heard breathing. Fili was leaning back against his chair his eyes closed. His arms were crossed against his chest, but he was close enough that I managed to reach out to touch his fingers without moving. His eyes opened instantly and he turned to me, relief flooding his face. Pushing off from his chair, he came to his knees beside the bed and took my hand.

"You're okay," he breathed.

I cleared my throat a little to speak. "How long was I out?" I asked, my voice a little hoarse.

"It's well in to the night, so almost two days," he replied.

"A whole two days," I whispered in shock.

Fili moved some of the blanket off my shoulder and sighed softly. "Yes. But it worked. Your wound is healed. Tauriel said she woke you a few times to take care of things and to check on you, do you not remember?" he replied.

"I don't remember anything." I shook my head.

"That's not surprising."

I sighed quietly, and was grateful when he handed me something to drink. Water never tasted so good to me, but laying down was about as good. I was still shaking, so Fili covered me all the way up, and pressed a kiss to the side of my head.

"I'm going to get Uncle," he said softly, and left me alone. "I'll take my time for you."

Letting out a shuddering breath, I managed to get out of the bed to take care of a few things before I had to lie down again. My whole body ached from the healing it had done. I wasn't wearing my shirt either, but another one. It was dark blue, and a little big on me. As I lay down I put my nose to it, and caught Thorin's scent on it. Lying against the pillow again, I heard footsteps running down the hall. Thorin appeared in the doorway moments later, making me lift my eyes to see him. I cringed when he came to me with tears in his eyes. He dropped down to his knees beside the bed and reached for my hand. It was such an ungraceful movement for such a proud dwarf, but I grabbed onto his hand when it found mine.

"Don't you do that again," he said, his voice wavering.

I blinked a few tears away when he leaned down to kiss me, and I squeezed his fingers again. Pulling back he looked at me, and then moved to see with his own eyes that the wound was healed. His shoulders relaxed dramatically, and his head bowed forward. I couldn't see his face, since the edge of the bed was blocking my view as well as his hair.

"Thorin," I murmured.

"I'm going to strangle you," he whispered harshly.

Taking my hand from his, I touched his chin and lifted his head slightly so that I could see his face. A few tears had escaped his eyes, and it had me pursing my lips into a hard line.

"Okay," I said softly.

It was rare for him to shed any tears, and I could only remember two other times he had ever cried in front of me. Thorin rose to his feet, and kicked off his boots in an easy movement before he got on the bed. He laid on his side above the blanket as I faced him.

"Don't do that again," Thorin whispered, laying his hand on my cheek.

"I won't," I replied, my voice thick.

We laid there together and his fingers ran through my hair for a while, before he laced our fingers again. I stayed quiet, and didn't move when he fell asleep there. Balin walked in after a while and I looked at him from where I laid. Thorin's back was to the door, since I had pushed myself against the wall.

"When he wakes," Balin whispered. "Tell him everything is fine, lass. It's good to see you awake."

"I will," I replied in a hushed tone.

I was surprised when the dwarf king did not wake up to us talking, which meant he had been up for most of the time that I had been sleeping. I watched over him for while, taking in how peaceful he looked when he slept. Once I was satisfied, I fell asleep again after I had moved silently toward him to press my forehead against his chest.

When I woke in the morning, it was to the sound of two voices so I didn't move. Keeping my eyes closed I felt that I wasn't in the same position as I was when I had fallen asleep. Thorin was up, and I felt his body beneath my own, so I assumed that I was lying a bit across his lap. I don't know how he ever managed to move me, without waking me up.

"Everything is being taken care of," I heard Dwalin say. "Dain has had his people in shifts, and they've been working since yesterday morning on getting the gate fixed. They are also going to fix the throne. Much of the gold is going to go in to the forges so that we can fix other things that need it."

"Thank you, Dwalin," Thorin said quietly.

"How is she?" Dwalin asked.

"She didn't move after she fell asleep last night, but her breathing has been fine," Thorin sighed. "She...breaks through everything I have built around me, Dwalin. It's almost terrifying. I felt it once, and it has come back twice as strong."

"Well, I'd say that's how you know that you found your Queen," he replied. "You did not react any different when Fili came to tell you she was awake. You finished what you were doing, and walked off. The amount of control that takes, I think you did just fine. Everyone knows how you feel about her, Thorin. It's been clear for a long time. You shouldn't be terrified of a feeling like this."

I felt fingers run through my hair, but I did well not to move and kept my breathing even. I didn't even think I could open my eyes if I wanted to, I was still so tired.

"I didn't realize how much she was going to mean..." Thorin admitted quietly. "After seeing her again for the first time in thirty years...I had been so angry with the way she left."

"Then if I may remind you," Dwalin suggested. "Make sure she knows that you love her. All of the time. Arina is one of those who needs love to flourish. I noticed it when you found her when we were still in Erebor. She came to life under your care and your fathers. And again in the Blue Mountains when she visited, I saw it. She is a fighter when she has to be, but I'm sure she'd be happy with just being loved and loving in return."

"I agree," Thorin said softly, his fingers running through my hair still. "Thank you, Dwalin. For always standing beside me."

"I will always stand beside my King," Dwalin replied matter of fact. "We all will."

Sighing quietly, I adjusted my legs and pressed my face more into the pillow on Thorin's lap. "You two are making it extremely difficult to sleep," I complained grumpily.

Dwalin laughed softly. "Oh, apologies My Lady," he teased. "We are all relieved to see you are healing well."

I opened my eyes, and adjusted to the lighting of the room and looked at him. "So am I," I replied slowly, pushing myself up so I could sit. "I still feel like I got hit with Dain's hammer though."

"Nothing some food and something to drink cannot cure," Dwalin smiled as he rose to his feet. "I'll go have something prepared for you both."

When we were left in private, I drew my knees up and rested my head against my knees as I tried to wake up. Thorin touched my back gently, so I turned my head so I could see him as he rose off the bed.

"I brought some clothes for you to change into. I'm going to get changed as well. I'll be back soon," he rumbled, leaning down to kiss my head.

"Ok," I replied softly, closing my eyes as he kissed my head.

When he left, he shut the door behind him. Sighing, I pushed myself out of bed and headed to the other room connecting to this one. I managed to wash up, even if the water was cold. It at least woke me up and I took care of everything before I walked back to where the clothes had been placed. He had found a thick blue dress sweater that would go down to my knees, and black leggings to go with that. The sweater was made of fine material, soft and warm. I arched my brow in surprise and was sure that Thorin had not picked these out, minus the color; because I had everything I needed that fit quite well. I ran a hand through my wet hair after I got dressed and had washed my other clothes that were left. My shirt had been ruined, but at least I saved my pants. Pulling on my boots, I sat at the edge of the bed for a moment as my vision swam and inhaled a large breath. There was a knock at the door that caused me to jump a little.

"You in there lass?" Balin asked through the door.

"Oh, yes I am," I replied. "Come in."

The older dwarf pushed the door open and walked in. "Tauriel sent a few things for you, and I figured you'd appreciate them," he said setting down a bag. "Along with the clothes you are wearing. She said that Thranduil will provide you with anything you shall need."

I looked at it and then slowly opened the bag to see brushes, and hair wraps and a few other things. I felt my eyebrows rise in surprise from the gift. "Wow," I said slowly. "That was awful kind of her."

"Here," Balin smiled taking a brush and a hair wrap. "Let's get that hair out of your face."

"You are being fatherly," I teased, as he stood next to me and brushed my hair to the side.

"So," he replied. "We were all worried sick about you. We have never seen you so wounded before."

"Yea, me either," I admitted as he set to work on braiding my long brown hair.

"How are you feeling otherwise?" he asked as he worked.

"I'm hungry, and my body feels heavy. I haven't had to do that amount of healing in a long time," I sighed, handing him my gold beads when he reached out. "And my throat hurts."

"Aye, I bet it does. You did a fair amount of screaming, nearly broke Thorin and Kili both," Balin replied softly.

I looked at the ground when he said that and crossed my feet. "I feel awful, please don't remind me," I said quietly.

"We're all going to get hurt," Balin said as he finished off the braid. "Even you, no matter how much we think you won't. There, all done."

"Thank you," I smiled and looked up to see Thorin in the doorway watching us quietly.

I couldn't read his expression while he watched us as Balin tied the last knot and backed up so I could stand. Sighing at the stiffness in my legs, I put the pack that Tauriel had given me on the table that stood in the corner of the room.

"Ah, Thorin," Balin smiled as he turned around. "We'll see you in the hall then."

"Thank you, Balin," Thorin nodded to him as he watched the other dwarf leave.

He turned back to me then, and walked over when I finally stood up straight. He still wore a black coat that had been similar to the one he wore into battle and a sword rested on his belt under it. He had a fresh pair of pants on with a new tassel and shirt under that, instead of the armor I was so used to seeing. Thorin gave me a look, checking me over to make sure that I was in one piece. He glanced at the beads that were worked into my hair and his fingers found my cheek gently.

"I like you in blue," he mused softly.

"I noticed," I smiled.

"Are you okay?" he asked, looking at me seriously.

"I'm going to be fine," I waved him off a little, and pushed him toward the door. "Please stop worrying; I've caused you enough grief in these last two days."

Chuckling, Thorin turned and offered his arm so I took it. I pressed the side of my head against his arm quietly in a brief moment of affection before we walked out into the hall. Many of the dwarves were off working, and I could hear various sounds that were ringing through the mountain. I had to hand it to them; they were excellent at building and fixing things.

"Ah! She's ok! Arina!"

I looked up as Dori, Nori, and Ori ran over suddenly and I stopped as they bowed a few times in front of Thorin and I.

"We are so happy that you are well," Dori smiled.

"Thank you," I returned their smiles with one of my own. "I'll be back to my old self in no time."

"Good! We don't like it when you aren't at Thorin's side," Ori said shyly. "He gets grumpy."

Thorin gave the young dwarf a cross look that had my hand tightening around his arm gently. "I'll remember that," I teased.

Shooing them off, Thorin sighed and led me to a table that Dwalin had set up for us to sit at and there was a large table that had food on it. Dwalin walked over when Thorin helped me sit down and nodded to us both. I smiled a little at Dwalin, not used to this side of him.

"Bombur promptly cleaned out the kitchen while you were healing," he said with a slight smile. "He enjoys cooking; he's good at it. He also wasn't sure what you wanted, so he cooked...well everything."

I couldn't help laughing as Thorin put a plate together and set it in front of me. I wasn't used to him taking care of me like this and it almost made me uncomfortable.

"Tell Bombur I said thank you as well," I smiled as Dwalin nodded and walked off. "I'm not used to be taken care of."

Thorin set his own plate down and poured some water in to the cups on the table. "That is something you have to get used to. Especially if you decide that getting wounded will become a regular thing. What kind of King would I be if I didn't take care of the one who holds my heart?"

Looking up at him, I couldn't help but lean against his hand when it touched my face gently. "I don't think I have a come back for that," I murmured.

It made him smile, "Good. I will do what I have to until I am sure that you are back to your full strength. I'd like to keep you with me today. No transforming, no working. You will assist me in council and figuring out how long this will take to fix before I can send word to my people."

I picked a piece of fruit and ate it quietly, not objecting his plan. He looked at me after a moment and arched one of his eyebrows.

"No complaints?" he asked, surprised.

"I'm too tired to," I laughed, cutting off a piece of fish he had given me.

"That, my dear woman is good news then," Thorin teased softly.

I gave him an annoyed look which only made him chuckle as he took a bite of his food. For once, instead of me making fun and annoying him, it was turned the other way around. He wasn't going to let me live it down. I sighed in defeat on that, and finished my plate of food.

"So what exactly are you over seeing today?" I asked.

"Dain sent dwarves deep inside the city to see if Smaug ruined any of the foundation in his rampage when he first took the city," he replied looking up at me.

I shifted in my seat for a moment as I thought about that. I had been inside this mountain for almost five seasons. He had not really explored more than the gold that lay in the cavern below.

"The rest of the mountain should be just fine," I said quietly. "He never ventured out of his gold pile. Not unless he absolutely had to, which was very rare."

Thorin looked at me, "How do you know?"

This made me extremely uneasy, because I didn't know how he was going to react knowing that I had come in here and made friends with the dragon. Sometimes it wasn't exactly friendship, but a slight understanding of what each other was. It had amused him to keep me alive back then, and I was quite fond of the serpent for his humor and intelligence. I didn't like him for the sheer fact he had killed so many of the dwarves I had loved. I sighed quietly at that and glanced at the King in front of me.

"I managed to get in here...quite often," I said quietly. "What I'm about to tell you is probably going to make you furious. More so that what I just put you through..."

"Go on," Thorin replied lowly.

Thank you to all the follows and favorites I got over the last week or so! What do you think?!