A/N:

Hey guys, it's me again!

Yes, I've decided that this story has not yet come to an end, so I'm going to make it longer! Yaay!

It takes place about a year after when this story began.

I might change some things, because I'm not sure if it's going to work out like I've got the idea in my head, and it could also take a little longer before I can update, because I'm kinda busy with school and all, and I've also got a really nasty cold, which doesn't help either.

Anyway, enjoy! (and please let me know what you think of it, I always love reading reviews!)

Warnings: None, I guess.

Three days before Durin's day, before noon

Thorin

With a small smile on my face, I looked down at the hallways of Erebor.

Unlike I had thought it would ever be again, they were filled with Dwarves – men, women and children. I had never thought there would be so many of us left. The news of Smaug's death had spread like wild-fire, and Dwarves had come from all directions of the wind to see what was left of their home. They, of course, were welcomed with opened arms.

Even though I had been a king for a year, it still felt strange. I was starting to notice that I was not like my grandfather at all. He had just sat on his throne all the time, giving orders to everyone, and watching his people work.

I, on the other hand, had a rough time even sitting still for a moment.

Most of the time, I was helping the other Dwarves and doing tasks, until someone – most often Óin – told me to sit down and rest. I had had to ask him a couple of times, very friendly of course, to please keep his mouth shut. The others thought I was weak, because I had fainted once, somewhere in the month after my foot had been pierced – just once! They would probably pass out a couple of times, too, if they had lost that much blood.

I sighed and let my fingers drum lightly on the arm of my throne. I hated doing nothing. If I allowed myself to freely speak my mind, I missed the times of adventure.

Then a happier thought popped up inside my head, and I grinned. Durin's day was coming near, and so was the meeting we had planned last year. I had not forgotten about it, nor had any member of the Company; we were really looking forward to it.

It was just when I was thinking about that when a messenger ran up the stairs, towards me. It was one of the younger Dwarves, and the poor boy was totally out of breath. He put his hands on his knees and tried to catch his breath.

"What is it?" I asked him. "Did the guards see something?"

The Dwarves took turn in guarding the gate, just in case the Orcs came back, or something else nasty.

The kid nodded.

"Four hooded people," he gasped out, "three of them are short, one of them is tall. Might be dangerous."

But I knew they were not. Thanking the messenger, I rose from the throne and started to hurry towards the gate. The boy followed me, a little sheepishly, and tried to keep up with me.

As soon as I reached the gate and saw the figures that were approaching us, I started to run, into the pouring rain. It had been raining extraordinarily hard for the past couple of days, and I was soaking wet in a couple of seconds, but I could not care less. One of the guards yelled something about catching a cold. I did not listen.

One of the shorter figures – Dwarves, definitely Dwarves – threw off its hood and revealed itself to be my sister. She broke into a run, and threw her arms around me as soon as she reached me.

Two pairs of footsteps followed, making small, splashing sounds in the puddles of water on the hard ground, and before I even realised what was happening, I was embraced by three people; Dís, Fíli and Kíli. Tauriel, the fourth person, approached more slowly and more graceful, and she respectfully kept her distance.

For a good long while, we just stood there, and the only sound around us was the soft ticking of the rain on the ground. Then we pulled back to face one another.

"I have missed you," I said, smiling broadly. I was so happy to see my family again, I thought my heart was going to explode. "How are you? What have you done in the time that you were gone? I hope you did not get in trouble again, did you?"

I noticed that I was bouncing up and down. Not very majestic.

"Come in, tell me everything!"

Dís grinned at seeing her older brother so excited – I wondered if she had ever seen me acting like that. Probably not. I was always the serious one when we still lived together.

I smiled again – a smile too big for my face – and started to lead the small group into the Mountain. There was not really a drawing room, so we just went to the place where my throne was standing and sat down on the stairsteps.

Then my sister and my nephews started to talk. Dís told us that she had been staying in the Iron Hills after her sons had left, and that they had arrived somewhere in the end of the winter. Dáin had almost sent Tauriel away, but fortunately, Kíli had convinced him to let her stay. It had taken them until midnight, so Fíli told, to tell their mother everything they had gone through. She had scolded at them quite a few times for all the trouble they had gotten into, but mostly she was just happy to see that her sons were alive and well.

When they had stopped speaking, I cast a suspicious look on my family.

"There is something you are not telling me," I said slowly, a smile forming on my lips as I saw the very innocent looks on their faces. "I can sense it."

At that, Kíli gave in, and he smirked broadly. He glanced at Tauriel, and, a little hesitantly, they stood up, holding hands. I guess I had already guessed it by then.

"We, eh..." Kíli began. I could tell that he was incredibly nervous. "Tauriel and I, eh..."

"We are engaged," the redheaded Elf finished.

They locked eyes, and an unspoken something passed between the two of them.

"We, eh... It would be very nice if you could give us your blessing."

I raised my eyebrows.

"Why?" I asked, maybe a little too boldly. Kíli flinched. "I am the father of neither of you. If you ask me, you can marry whoever you want. I do not think I have something to decide about it."

I did not think the couple knew how to react.

"So..." my nephew asked, "...you do not mind if I marry an Elf?"

Ah.

So that is what troubles him.

I shook my head.

"My hatred for Elves has faded long ago," I replied. "Especially for Tauriel. I cannot hate someone who saved my life, Elf or not." I could feel my expression soften. "Congratulations."