As the massive gates of Erebor groaned open to admit the two riders, the hulking shadows of the great dwarf statues overlooking their entrance sternly, even the guards noticed the ancient, curved blade strapped to the girl's back, and the new dagger gleaming at their Prince's side.

As they rode past, the girl –– Arien –– met their gaze with steady pine green eyes, as if she too marked the differences in faces and weapons.

She was, in fact, hardly concentrating on them at all. Her attention was focused almost wholly on reliving the moment when, having reached the borders of the Greenwood, they arrived at the place where they'd first met. And Arien had asked if they could make camp there, even though they still had a few hours of daylight in which to travel. Thorin had agreed, and they'd dismounted and set everything up, and then Arien...

Arien had held out the Taurhelim dagger and insisted he take it. He'd protested, but... Arien had kissed away those objections. And then Thorin had undone the buckle on Anglachel and her sword had clattered to the ground as he pulled her into the lake. And there they'd remained, kissing, until Shadow had snorted and stomped his hoof, as if telling them to hurry up and get him dinner. They'd gotten out, laughing and soaked, but even though they had been in there for some time, their clothes had remained on. Enough had happened in the past weeks to turn Arien's life upside down, and she just... wasn't ready for anything more. So Thorin had respected her wishes and stayed away.

Even though the journey back here had been the best two weeks of her life.

"What?"

Arien snapped out of her thoughts as she realised she'd been staring at him.

"Nothing, Prince," she said over the creak and groan of Erebor's gates shutting. "Just thinking."

He raised his brows.

What about? he seemed to say.

Arien shrugged. Nothing of importance.

He gave her a mock offended look. "So mysterious."

She snorted and said

"I was thinking about you. And... us."

Thorin pulled his pony to a halt.

So that's why you didn't want to talk about it. He smirked. Too embarrassed, Princess?

She just shook her head at him and dismounted, almost mirroring Thorin's movements as he did the same. Two guards hurried forward to take their ponies' reins. Thorin moved towards her and put his hands on her waist, tracing her hips, her ribs. Then he slid his hands lower. She swallowed. Hard. Thorin brushed a kiss to her lips, so swift and casual that most of the guards didn't notice.

"You don't have to tell me everything," he said onto her mouth. "I never want you to feel obligated to. You will need your space, I will need mine. I was just being pushy."

"An apology from Prince Thorin?" Arien said, her lips twitching up. "Do I dream?"

"You're starting to sound like Dis," Thorin grumbled, even as he kissed her again.

It was nothing more than a brush of his lips on hers, and yet it set embers dancing in her stomach, because she wanted more, wanted...

Thorin was moving away from her, that relentless focus now pinned on the black haired dwarf woman coming toward them, Farin in tow. And the baby Dis held in her arms.

Arien drew in a breath, taking a step towards them. She'd never seen such a radiant smile on the Princess's face.

Thorin was moving toward his sister and her husband, something like wonder on his face. Wonder and joy and surprise and delight.

"Dis," he whispered, his voice choked.

"It was the most painful thing I've ever done," she told him with a flashing grin in Arien's direction. "In my life."

Thorin huffed a laugh, but...

Arien moved to his side, her fingers brushing his. A casual gesture, one that Dis would hopefully only think of as an accident. His eyes –– they were filled with tears. Arien herself couldn't believe it.

Thorin stepped closer as the baby reached out a small, chubby hand and gripped his finger. He smiled down at it. His nephew, Arien realised.

"What is his name?" Thorin asked.

"Fili," Dis said quietly. "He's two weeks old, and already more trouble than he's worth."

Thorin's smile only widened at that. Fili made a tiny sound that was somewhere between a coo and a sigh and tightened his hold on his uncle's finger.

Arien stepped forward to say hello to the baby too, and Thorin's free arm slid around her waist. He looked at her, that expression of joy and delight still on his face. And she wondered then, as he looked at her as if she were the only person in the world... if she might one day be an aunt. If she might one day be his queen.