"Ahem........." The attention-grabbing cough breaking the moment between the Lady of Mirkwood, and the King under the Mountain. Óin doing his best not to chuckle at the pair as an embarrassed blush came to both their faces and even crept up to the top of the elleth's ears. (Y/n) quickly smoothing down the hair that Thorin had had his fingers gripping gently to, only a moment before.

"Master........Master Óin........You.....you have the supplies I left for you.......?" The lady managed to ask, through her attempts to regain her breath. (Y/n) not daring to look at the king who had taken a seat back in his chair; but giving the grey-haired dwarf with the ear trumpet a slight smile as he produced the bag that she had left him some time before.

"Aye, lassie. May this stubborn dwarf listen ta you, better than he did me......." Óin said, as he made his way over to her and handed her the bag. And given what he had just seen, he had little doubt that she might be the only one that the king would listen to.

"Well, I'll leave ya both to it........." He added, giving a short respectful bow, before leaving the room. His smile spreading across his lips as the door closed behind him, sure that he was going to have to tell the rest of the Company, what he had just seen.

                                                         >>-----------------------------------<<

The room was silent, Thorin not daring to look at the princess and the princess not daring to look at him, even though the two of them wanted nothing more than to speak of what had just transpired between them. (Y/n) finally shaking the shock from her system and opening the bag, her nervous fingers finding a small pot of balm, before moving back to where Thorin sat. The elleth falling to her knees in front of him, before slowly raising her head to look at him.

"I.......I will apply some of this to your foot, and then........."

"(Y/n)..........." Thorin interrupted, as he reached for her hand.

"Please Thorin.......I don't know.......I don't know why you did that, why you would kiss me.......I know you have no love for elves, least of all those of Mirkwood; and given that I am Thranduil's sister, I can only imagine that that dislike runs even deeper. But.....but I want you to know that I am glad that you did it. I have not been able to think of anything but you since I left the Mountain; and part of me, though I was worried about you, was glad that you would not let Óin take care of you. That I would need to come back. I love my brother and his kingdom, but it is his kingdom not mine, and in truth.....in truth it no longer felt like home, because you were not there. Elves are not used to outward displays of affection, even with those we care for the most; but that does not mean that we do not feel these things, it does not mean that we do not love. In fact, we feel these things so deeply that if we lose the one we love, we can pine away until we ourselves die and become little more than shadows in the Halls of Mandos; and I knew if I did not return then that was what would happen to me. For you see, as soon as I entered the Halls to bring you back, and I saw you, I knew that you were my one. That my heart belonged to you, and no one else. But the choice is yours, Thorin Oakenshield. I cannot and will not make you love me; but.......I love you, I cannot deny it. Yet if you feel nothing. If that kiss was........." Once more those lips were on hers. His hands back in her hair. (Y/n) moaning as the moment grew more intimate and Thorin pulled her to him.

"I believed that it was only me that felt that way; that was why I pushed you away. I could not stand the pain of having you so close and knowing that you would never love me in return. Yet as soon as you were gone, I knew that it was wrong; that I needed you back. Perhaps that is why I would not let Óin treat me; I knew that eventually Balin, Dwalin or one of the others would worry about me enough to send for you, and that you would come back to me. It is not my guilt, my shame or remorse for my actions that will make me a better man, a better dwarf.....a better king, it is you, (Y/n). I love you, and despite the difference between us; despite those between our peoples, I will never stop loving you........" Thorin confessed, before drawing her to him, into yet another kiss.

                                                          >>-------------------------------------<<

"Uncle Thorin was doing what..........?" Kili asked in disbelief, as he and the others listened to what Óin had to say. Many of them not surprised by the tale, but obviously Kili and an equally wide-eyed Fili had been blind to the emotions that the others could feel surrounding the pair whenever they were together.

"About time if ya ask me. Should never have let tha lass go, even if she is an elf.......tha place needs a woman's touch......" The grey-haired dwarf continued, not having heard Kili's question. Balin, Dwalin and Glóin having to agree with him.

"Aye......she'll make a fine queen. Thorin did always need someone ta look after him; Mahal knows that he never looks after himself. And I am gettin too old ta keep doing it.........." Balin replied with a chuckle, as he leaned back in his favourite chair.

"Ya mean ya knew that uncle Thorin was........?"

"Aye laddie. Obvious even ta a blind man; though apparently not ta you two dunderheads......" Dwalin told the older prince. Even the gruff warrior having taken a liking to the elleth during her stay in the Mountain; and if she made their king happy, then who was he to fight against the will of Mahal.

"Well, now that's settle, and though this may be a little presumptuous, I think that we might have a wedding ta plan for..........." The pale-haired dwarf continued. His smile getting broader, as he puffed on his pipe.