Chapter 26

Thorin had turned onto his side so that he could face me. "It can't be so terrible. I'm here...and alive, thanks to you."

I gave him a fake glare and then rolled on to my back so that I could focus on telling him what I had seen. "When I had been in Rivendell, Lord Elrond had suggested that I stay there for a while. I wasn't sure why, but something had me agreeing to it. I was there for five days, and on the fifth night he sent me a dream."

"Go on," he encouraged gently.

"During the battle when you went up to Ravenhill, after you sent Fili and Kili over there, Bilbo came to warn you what had been set up. When you went to have Dwalin call them back, Azog came out of the fortress and killed Fili in front of all of you. You ran across the river in rage while Kili was killed trying to protect Tauriel. I had thought at one point that you were going to win your fight with Azog because you managed to put him in the river, under the ice but he got out..." I took a breath before I continued. "When he got out, he sent you to your back, and then went to stab you, but you managed to get your sword up. I don't know what prompted you to do so, but after a slight struggle, you took the sword away and let him stab you. You still managed to kill him, but it cost your life. Bilbo found you collapsed close to the side of the river, and I got there moments before you died."

When I finished, I looked over at him to see that he had been listening intently. I couldn't read the expression on his face, so I sighed quietly.

"It's what I dreamed of, the night after the battle," I added quietly. "It was patchy when I first saw it, but I knew all three of you died in the dream. I didn't know by who, but it didn't matter. I wasn't going to let it happen."

"I guess it is a good thing you told me what was going to happen," Thorin murmured. "You saved all of us. I am glad you did."

"So am I," I smiled looking at him.

We laid there for a bit in silence, before he pushed himself up to his feet, and then pulled me up as well. "As much as I like staying here, I have things to over see."

"Yes, I know," I sighed with a smile. "I'm even surprised that you are enjoying laying down sharing stories. I always thought of you as to much of...royalty to relax."

Thorin smiled as we walked out of the room. "I still have my sense of humor you know," he countered. "The first night that we made camp, Bilbo heard Orcs for the first time, and I admit I was so close to falling asleep that when the Halfling repeated the word Orc I jumped like someone had thrown cold water on me. Or the time with the trolls, I don't even want to remember that."

"Stories for dinner," I laughed.

"Oh we'll have plenty of them," Thorin replied.

Smiling as we walked down from the room, and Thorin led me through the vast halls of Erebor, and I couldn't believe how much it had changed in just two days. The dwarves have been here a week almost and the change was just impressive. He led me to where the throne was, and I was amazed to see that the claw marks were now gone and it was fully fixed. The Arkenstone was put back in its place above the throne where Thorin was surely to sit when he was crowned king.

"Hidden hmm?" I asked glancing at him.

"I wanted it back where it belongs," Thorin replied, looking at the stone before turning to me. "It's for the people. I could care less on where it goes, but Balin thinks that my choice was a good one."

"You don't feel like running away and hoarding all the gold do you?" I asked, giving him a plain look.

"Not at all, Lady Arina," Thorin replied, bringing my hand up and kissing it. "I would rather wish my head be removed from my shoulders if that happened again. I will be King, and I will not let it take me again."

"Mmm," I smiled, and glanced at the jewel one more time, before listening to the sound of rock being broken and dwarves shouting to one another as they worked. "So, when will the coronation happen for you?"

"When those from the Blue Mountains arrive, along with the rest of my kin," he replied, as we walked toward the main hall which was down several flights of stairs.

"That is going to be joyous," I hummed to myself.

"It should be," Thorin replied with heavy amusement. "Because it will happen after we are wed."

I almost tripped down a few stairs at the mention of being wedded, and I grabbed on to some railing that was still there. Gripping it for a second so that I was sure I wouldn't fall, I turned to look at Thorin since he had stopped to wait for me to catch myself.

"Is that terrifying to you?" he asked, coming closer.

"Well, no," I managed to get out as he stood close, his chest just brushing my own. "I mean, just a little I guess."

"Being married to me is terrifying?" Thorin arched his brow.

"No," I caught myself hastily. "Not that...the...I think I need air..."

He laughed, and led me from the mountain and out in to the sunshine. I lifted my face toward the sun, and took several deep breaths. Thorin waited for me to calm myself down quietly, the smile never leaving his face.

"Are you done?" I asked, when I finally turned to him.

"For now," he replied, moving hair away from his face. "Come, let's walk. I have much to talk to you about."

"Oh no," I replied, my voice breathless.

"Come," he ushered, offering his arm again.

I took it, and we walked the path slowly away from the mountain. He was quiet for a few minutes, letting me prepare myself for what ever he was going to say.

"I want you by my side," he said slowly. "You know that. I want you to rule with me, but it's not just that. I want you with me, till the end of all days take us, Arina. Will you give me that?"

I laced my fingers as we kept walking and I shivered a little as a cold breeze passed through the valley. "Of course," I murmured.

"It's almost painful," Thorin chuckled. "How happy I am to hear you say that. I didn't realize that even after thirty years, my feelings for you were still the same."

"Mine never went away," I murmured. "The day that you kissed me...when you tried to make me stay...that did it for me. I was never going to love anyone else."

Thorin looked down at me as his hands fell to my waist. Leaning forward, he pressed our foreheads together before he reached in and stole a kiss. Running my hand through his short beard, I tilted back so that I could see him.

"I love you," he said softly.

"I love you," I replied, my cheeks turning red.

I couldn't help the smile as I leaned my head against his shoulder as we stopped and watched a group of dwarves coming up from Dale driving a carriage. They had various supplies from Thranduil that they had gone off to get apparently. I moved to the side with Thorin when they got close.

"My King," one of them nodded, with a smile on his face. "My Lady."

Thorin nodded his head in reply to them, and I turned to watch Dale for a moment and then my gaze shifted toward the lookout that we had stood on. Lifting my gaze again, I watched a raven fly past us, and I met the eye of the bird. He soared past us, and headed over the lake and back to the forest, not showing any sign that something was wrong. I sighed quietly, and watched Thorin turn to the mountain again to gaze at it.

He ended up leaving me half way through the day to go take care of a few things, so I found myself wandering the halls again. I ended up at a door that I had not seen for 90 years, and I hesitantly pushed it open. The room was covered in dust, but it looked just like the day I had left it. Across the hall, three other rooms laid behind closed doors. Stepping inside I looked at the chamber I had once called my own, and I smiled a little. A few books had been left, now covered in dust and probably falling apart. The bed was made, and everything was as it should be. I didn't linger long, and instead went to another room and sadness filled my heart, almost crippling me.

Pushing the door open to Prince Frerin's old room, I took in everything that was his. The rooms were all left untouched, since the dragon wasn't able to get to the royal halls. Walking inside, I looked at his bed that was messed up. I couldn't remember the last time Frerin had ever made his bed. On the stand beside it, two books laid covered in dust. A desk and a chair were off to the corner of the room and his wardrobe was left untouched. Looking at the shelf on the other side of the room, I saw several of his things still left behind. Some rings, a few beads, and a necklace.

Frerin had never liked wearing braids in his hair, or anything for that matter. His father had given up asking him to put anything in it. I smiled fondly at a few memories of the prince and sighed sadly. I missed him so much. No one could match his laugh, or how carefree he had been. Just like his brother, he had been a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Reaching out, I touched a few of his things and for a moment I was able to picture his smiling face.

"I miss him too."

Jumping, I turned my head toward the door and saw Dwalin leaning against the door. I gave him a smile, and took my hand away from the ring I had touched. "It seems like a lifetime ago," I said sadly. "I miss his laugh."

"Aye," the warrior agreed sadly. "He shouldn't have fallen that day..."

"No one ever told me how it happened," I murmured, looking to him.

Dwalin's eyes faded slightly with memory. "He had been by Thorin's side for most of the battle," he recalled. "But something had separated them. I cannot remember what. All I remember seeing was Azog. He had stabbed him right in the back and threw him. I ran to his side, and he died in my arms...said he was sorry. He tried..."

I blinked a little and looked back to the shelf for a moment. "I'm glad that Orc filth is dead," I growled. "He took so many from us..."

"He did," Dwalin sighed. "But, the important part is we go on living. Now come. Thorin sent me to find you. I'm glad I found you and he did not. I don't think he is ready to face these rooms yet."

"I will get them cleaned out myself," I answered, as I joined him.

He shut the door quietly, and I noticed he also stole one last look before the room was out of sight. Dwalin sighed and offered his arm to me, so I took it and let him escort me back to Thorin.

"You know, he was so furious that we were marching to war," he rumbled. "Thorin wanted so badly to send him back to the Blue Mountains. Something in the pit of his stomach told him to, but he ignored it."

"That's why Thorin blamed himself?" I asked in surprise.

"Yes. He thought it was his fault Frerin died..." Dwalin nodded quietly.

"It's not," I sighed softly, as we came into the mess hall.

"Aye," Dwalin agreed. "Sometimes he needs to hear that."

My eyes found Thorin walking into the hall to our right, flanked by two guards. He had purpose in his stride, and I knew he had been busy since I had last seen him. There was so much to do, that I was sure he was going to be like this for a while. Dwalin led me over to him when Thorin finally stopped, and the King smiled.

"Took Dwalin a while to find you," he rumbled. "I sent him off some time ago."

"She was wandering," Dwalin sighed crossly. "As usual."

"Way to make me feel like a child, gentlemen," I grunted, making them both smile.

"Come, dinner is ready," Thorin chuckled motioning to us both.

We had dinner together with the others before Thorin was up and moving again to continue his business. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of my head before he was walking off with Balin to go continue his work. I watched them for a moment and then turned back to the company.

"Ori?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied, turning to me instantly.

"Would you mind helping me clean a few rooms?" I asked.

Dwalin looked at me with an arch of his brow, but I saw a fondness underneath that hard gaze. Ori nodded his head instantly and got to his feet after he finished eating, and Dwalin joined him.

"How about the rest of us go tackle those rooms," Dwalin offered.

Bofur leaned over so he could see us. "What rooms are we cleaning?" he asked.

"Royal chambers," I said softly. "Ones that I don't think Thorin wants to face just yet."

"Ah," Bofur nodded his head, understanding.

I led the company back up the stairs after we were able to gather things that we needed. Ori and Dori got hot water and I gathered as many rags as I could find. We stood outside the doors for a moment as I figured out who could do what.

"Dori, Ori, and Nori you can be in charge of this room," I said gently. "This belongs to Dis. Nori, I urge you not to steal anything."

Nori laughed loudly and patted me on the shoulder at the tease. "I will try to resist my lady," he grinned as he walked off with his brothers.

I smiled at him and then glanced at Dwalin and Bofur who stood behind me. The rest of the company was busy with other things, but this worked out just fine. I pushed open Frerin's door again and walked in. We got to work cleaning the room in silence and I gathered the rings and other things on the shelf into a make shift bag that I tied to my belt. Bofur ripped off the old blankets and Dwalin helped me dust off everything. It didn't take us long before the room looked brand new. Dwarves could clean when they wanted to.

Bofur walked back in with fresh blankets and a few new candles to replace old ones. I smiled gratefully as I opened the wardrobe and looked at the clothes that were still left in it. Tilting my head, I fought about what to do with them.

"Let's put them in your old room," Dwalin offered.

"I'm so used to you being a lieutenant," I teased looking at him.

He chuckled and rallied Bofur to get the clothes into my old room. I rushed across the hall and opened the door and began to clean out my wardrobe which was empty. Once it was ready, I moved aside as the dwarves began to move the clothes over. It was sad to see clothes that I remembered Frerin wearing being hung up again in a different place. I would let Thorin figure out what he wanted to do with them. I left them to their task and went to a different room and pushed it open. Ori and Dori had gone into Frerin's room to clean the bathroom.

"So much to fix," I said softly.

Thorin's room was simple, with a bed, a couch, two tables and his wardrobe. I got to work cleaning it, and after a bit, the others had joined me. We managed to clean that room in less than thirty minutes. I opened his wardrobe to see that thankfully it wasn't full of clothes. I took down his old royal coat and shook the dust from it. It was amazing to see how much times had changed. He was so young when he had worn this. Dwalin snorted a light chuckle and I grinned at him.

"Have you managed to go see your old room?" I asked as I threw a new blanket over the bed that was freshly cleaned.

"Aye. Chambers right below these. The whole company will take up that hall beside Fili and Kili," Dwalin nodded leaning against the wall. "Those were cleaned out early this morning."

"Good," I smiled.

Nori walked in with some new pillows and threw them on the bed once I got rid of the old ones. He smiled a little. "Over the last several days we've found much has been in great shape. The elves have also supplied us with what we need."

"That's helpful," I sighed, backing up and looking at the room.

When we finished, it was well into the night and all of us were tired. We had also cleaned out Thrain's room which had been almost as large as Thror's room. We had gone through to make sure everything was perfect, and that we hadn't missed anything. I was guessing that Fili would take Thorin's old room, and we'd have Kili take Frerin's. Dis of course would have her old chambers if she wanted them. Her father's room was also open now as well. We had tried to make it as neutral as possible, taking most of the clothes out and hanging them in my old room.

There had been two large wardrobes in Thrain's room so they had moved one into my old room. Once we were sure that everything was okay, we headed back to the mess hall. Bofur had all of us laughing when we walked into the hall to grab something to drink and eat again.

"I'm starving!" Dwalin grunted. "I don't think I've cleaned like that since we had to clean Bilbo's house!"

"Aye, and that was worse off then those rooms!" Bofur laughed.

"I can only imagine what it is like when you lot get together for a party," I chuckled. "Especially in a hobbit house."

Bofur grinned and suddenly took me by the hand and twisted me in a circle as we walked. "My Lady it was a grand time! You should have been there!" he laughed.

I laughed with him and continued walking with them after he had me facing the right way. Dwalin rolled his eyes a little and we grabbed something to eat. Sitting at a table with them, I listened as Bofur told stories from when they lived in the Blue Mountains, and it made me smile. I missed that mountain. Half way through one story, Fili and Kili joined us with a cup of ale.

"I'm surprised to find you both up," I chuckled.

"It's been a busy night, that's for sure," Kili grinned. "We deserve these."

Fili smiled at his brother and then bumped his shoulder against mine, drawing my attention. I turned to look at him and he nodded ahead of us. Turning my gaze, I watched Thorin and Balin walk back in. I could tell they were both tired, and it had me rising to my feet and grabbing two cups of ale for them both. Walking over to them, I smiled and gave them each a cup.

"Oh thanks lass," Balin smiled. "It's been a long day."

"Indeed," Thorin agreed.

"Well drink up and go to bed then," I smiled.

Thorin walked with me back to the table and gave me a quizzical look. "What have you been doing? I dare say you could use a bath," he smiled.

"I will throw you in the river, Thorin Oakenshield if you keep that up," I said flatly glancing at him sourly. "I will show you in a bit when we retire to our chambers."

Thorin smiled at me, unable to help himself and I walked back over to the table with him. Dwalin gave his friend a nod as Thorin patted his shoulder, and the king glanced over the table.

"I haven't had the chance to speak with all of you yet," he rumbled, looking at the company after Oin and Gloin finally joined us with Bifur. "I cannot begin to express my gratitude. You joined me on this quest when no one else would. I will forever be grateful for it, and I will not forget it."

Every single dwarf gave him a smile and a dip of their heads at his words. It was uncommon for him to say such thanks, and they were holding that to heart. I smiled at my feet for a moment and then found myself yawning.

"Better take the lass to bed, Thorin," Dwalin grunted. "She looks ready to fall over. I'm sure you are fairing the same. There isn't much else we can do tonight."

Thorin glanced down at me fondly, and wrapped an arm around my waist. "Come then woman, you said you wanted to show me something," he grumbled in a tease.

"Ah yes," I smiled, and then glanced over at the company to thank them. "Come on Fili and Kili. You as well."

Both princes grinned at me and I led the way back up the stairs and to the rooms that had just been cleaned. I took them first to Thorin's old room and pushed the door open to show them.

"My old room," Thorin smiled slowly as he walked in. "You cleaned it."

"Not just me," I smiled and yanked Fili inside.

The elder prince grunted in surprise and stumbled a little as he came into the room. He glanced around it, taking in that he was in part of his uncle's past. Thorin brought both boys up on tales of Erebor, so for them to be here was special.

"This, will be yours," I said gently.

"Really?" Fili asked in surprise.

"Yes," I nodded firmly when Thorin smiled.

Turning on my heel, I walked out again and went to another door, dragging Kili along with me. He laughed and skipped a little to keep up with me. I opened the door right next to Fili's and led Kili inside. Behind me, Thorin and Fili both followed closely. I took a breath to explain this room to them.

"This..." I trailed off suddenly when my words failed me.

"This was your Uncle Frerin's room," Thorin finished for me, as he walked in and looked over it. "But much cleaner."

I looked at him gratefully, and let him come over to wrap an arm around me. He looked over the room for a moment and I saw his eyes shine in memory for a moment. Kili smiled at us both and then touched the wardrobe quietly.

"Hopefully you'll keep it cleaner than your uncle did," I smiled at him. "The room in front of Thorin's belonged to Dis, and then in front of that was Thrain's old room."

"They're amazing," Fili smiled. "It's such a joy to be able to finally see and touch things we heard of in stories..."

I smiled at them both. "I'm sure we have a long day tomorrow, get some sleep."

Turning around, I led Thorin out of the room and took him to what had once been mine. He laced our fingers as I tugged him along and I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The dwarf king froze at the door when he saw what we had done. I turned back to look at him, and his expression had my own softening.

"I obviously couldn't throw it away," I said gently. "They are yours to go through. So we decided on making this room a memorial room. Everything belongs to your father, Frerin and we even managed to find a few things of Thror's."

"Arina...this..." Thorin paused and he walked inside.

He went up to the shelf that held his brother's rings and he picked one up quietly. I sat quietly on the bed and watched in silence as he went through Frerin's things. He lingered on several pieces, looking them over before slowly moving on to what else was in the room.

"It's not your fault you know," I said quietly.

Thorin turned around instantly to face me. "What do you mean?" he asked.

I was unable to read his expression, and I sighed. "What happened to him," I said getting to my feet. "It wasn't your fault."

He looked at me for a moment, and I caught a brief glimpse of the terrible sadness that still lingered in him. I gave him a gentle look and walked up to him, reaching out and touching his cheek. For a moment, I felt like I was seeing him the way I did when he returned from Moria. The agony surfaced in a brutal wave and Thorin moved to the bed and sat down.

"You knew it was going to be hard returning here," I said softly. "Not just with all that needed to be fixed...but the memories as well."

"I was hoping that by now I was ready to face it," Thorin rumbled. "But I find that I'm not."

"You don't always have to be so prepared," I replied easily. "Sometimes there are things you just cannot prepare for. This is one of those things."

"I should have sent him back, Arina," he muttered. "I was so tempted...something told me that he had to go..."

"And do you think Frerin would listen?" I asked making him look at me. "Last I remember, your brother didn't listen to anyone."

"I suppose you are right," he rumbled.

"I miss him too," I murmured gently. "All the time. He is someone we will never, ever be able to replace. We won't ever forget him either."

Looking at me, Thorin's expression eased softly and he gave me a soft chuckle. "Thank you," he sighed and motioned to the room. "For doing all of this."

"Well, I couldn't sit around and be useless," I smiled. "Come...let us go to bed. I'm tired, and dirty."

I ended up using the river to do my washing, even though it was freezing. I didn't feel like waiting for hot water to bathe. Thorin had decided against joining me, so I made it quick. He bathed inside the mountain. The cold water brought me back to the present, and it helped me settle for the night.

This was kind of an emotional chapter to write. Writing about Frerin was hard, only because I got so into his character. Enjoy! :D