Imagine from thereandbackagainimaginex; Imagine Gloin suggesting Thorin different ways of proposing to you.

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If someone noticed the strange 'ritual' then no one dared to mention it to the king.

For the past few weeks Thorin had developed a new routine for his usual morning and evening brooding rounds.

Normally he would be thinking about Erebor and pacing around somewhere in the back. All the dwarves knew he had a lot to worry about so no one bothered him.

Eventually, when he was done, he would join the company for food and ale. So there were no worries.

However. The king now walked towards Gloin every now and then. He would come up to him, stare at him from a few feet away and then turn away again. And leave.

This would happen a few times durin his brooding round.

Gloin was more then happy to help the king with whatever was bothering him if only he would ask. And that was exactly what Thorin was not going to do.

As the King's consort you had tried to talk about it with your suitor on numerous occasions. This is what happened;

1. 'Weather talk'

Thorin was once again pacing around but this time you wanted to know what he was up to. He had started acting strange two days ago. You wanted to know what was bothering him.

Maybe you could help him. Give him some advice.

He didn't notice you walking up to him. Thorin looked at the ground, his eyes so intense that you were surprised there had not yet appeared a crack in the earth.

"Are you alright?" you asked. It was no surprise that he didn't hear you. Whatever it was that bothered him must be something big.

You took a step closer to him. Outstretching your hand, you asked; "Love, is something bothering you?"

Your voice made it through as he finally looked up at you. A confused expression quickly made way for a loving smile. "Âmrâlime, you should sit by the fire. It is a cold night" he said, looking at clothes you wear.

As a human you didn't wear dwarven clothes and it bothered him greatly.

"I will if you join me. You have been pacing around for a few hours now." You smiled at him before you continued. "Is there something on your mind?"

Thorin's eyes widened ever so lightly before he pulled himself together. "N-no, why... We are having a clear tonight. Not too warm but not too mild either, don't you agree?"

Before you knew it he turned his attention to the sky.

"Thorin, don't change the subject on me" you said.

He pointed at the sky above him. "Look, you can see some of the constellations tonight. Do humans have those too? I can point them out to you?" Thorin spoke gently.

That idea did sound lovely. So you sat down beside him as he showed you everything he knew about the stars.

It wasn't like you couldn't bring the subject up again.

2. 'The dwarven king who cried orc'

Determined to find out what was bothering Thorin you tried it again three days later.

Thorin had been avoiding you since the night under the stars. He did still spend time with you but every time you subtly tried to stir the conversation towards his pacing, he got up because he had to look at something.

"Can we have a word?"

The king had seen you coming and dreaded the fact he didn't want to talk to his own consort. Why couldn't you just let it go and let him be? He wasn't even sure why he was so bothered with it...

Dwalin, whom he had been talking to, clapped him on the shoulder. "Good luck with him lass. Maybe you will have more success." With a wink to you he left you two alone.

The death glare that drilled into his back didn't bother him much.

"Why are you avoiding me?" you asked sharply.

Thorin was a little taken aback with your tone. "I needed some time to think" he said, his face stoic.

You sighed. "That has been clear to the whole company. You have been at it for a week. I am pretty sure you can actually see where you walked because there is barely any grass left on that spot." You crossed your arms waiting for an explanation.

The king was starting to feel the heat. Was it him or was he wearing too many clothes for this warm summer day?

"And don't give me another rant about the weather or the stars. What is bothering you?"

"I-", and idea popped into Thorin's head, "GET DOWN (Y/N)! AN ORC! ORC PACK!" Thorin suddenly shouted.

The whole company was on high alert within seconds. Bilbo, Ori and you were pushed into the middle for protection.

Everyone else was standing on the outside to take the first orc's down. The only problem was that there came no arrows flying through the sky. Nor were their the usual orc cries or the smell of wet dog.

It hit you when Ori whispered; "Where is Thorin?"

You rolled your eyes in annoyance. "THORIN OAKENSHIELD!" you bellowed, pushing your way through the front guard. "IF I FIND YOUR SORRY ASS YOU WILL REGRET THIS!" you stomped around trying to find your suitor.

There were a few more awkward 'conversations' like this. You would walk up to him and Thorin would behave odd.

Tonight was different.

For the first time Thorin walked all the way up to Gloin. He finally found the courage to talk to him.

Together they walked off to sit somewhere privately.

"Is that why you have been acting so strange?" Gloin asked amused.

Thorin nodded, ashamed of his actions.

Gloin grabbed his stomache as he laughed out loud. Some dwarves looked up to see what was going on. "Oh laddie, you shouldn't worry so much about it. The lass is crazy about ya. That is no secret."

"Sshhh!" Thorin tried to silence him. "I wanted this conversation so that I may surprise her. Not for her to find out before I have the chance to ask" he hissed.

It proofed rather hard to calm himself down but eventually he managed. Gloin was hiccuping a little after laughing for that long but that could be forgiven.

"Now, can you help me or no?" Thorin asked. His tone was serious, enough for the last giggles to escape Gloin completely.

The dwarf leaned back with his back against a tree. He stroked his beard in thought. "You can always express your love by giving her a handmade necklace. Although it would be rather hard since we are in a forest."

Thorin nodded. That had been his first idea too.

"Or you could give her something that goes well with her skill. But, again, we are in a forest and money isn't exactly within hands reach."

Thorin's mood turned sour. He knew his shortcomings. All he wanted was to know how to ask you the big question. "Gloin, I know what I can't do. What I want to know is what I can do."

The other male nodded in understanding. "Of course. Just let me think." It was silent for a few minutes. "Isn't there something humans do when they propose?"

Now that was something he could actually work with.

"If I remember correctly then I overheard the lass telling Bilbo someting about flowers" Gloin added.

Thorin snorted. "I hardly think that being a ritual to ask your One to marry you. Flowers wither. A poor resemblance of the love I feel for her." He shook his head dismissively. "Bilbo mentioned something about food. Eating seems to be a habit for a lot of festivities."

Gloin shook his head thoughtfully. "But food will only last for a little while too."

The king couldn't believe how hard it was to come up with something.

"You can make a coat for out of wolf's skin. Warg's skin would be even better" Gloin offered.

Another shake of the head. "(Y/N) cares a lot about animals. I don't think it would be a great start to the rest of our shared life if I killed something for her. Let alone that she would deem it disgusting. And thus would never wear it."

"But I would know it came from a loving heart."

Thorin and Gloin looked up in unison.

Gloin was the first to recover. He got up from where he was seated and bowed before you. "Have a good evening."

"Do you really want to propose?" you asked. A small light flickered in your eyes. One that made Thorin's knees weak.

A blush spread quickly over his cheeks. "I-I... Aye, I have found my One and I am not going to let you go. It is just that I wanted to surprise you." Thorin had gotten up to hold your hands.

You giggled. "Silly dwarf, I don't need anyhing fancy. All I need is for you to love me. Nothing else." You brough one hand to his heart. "There is nothing more that I want."

Still holding your hands Thorin got down on one knee. "(Y/N) the love of my life, the thief of my heart, the wonder that I get to hold every single night." He took a deep breath. "I didn't pratice what I was going to say" he admitted.

A reassuring squeeze in his hands told him to go on.

"There won't ever be a time where my love for you won't shine as bright as the sun that touches a diamond. The One that determines my happiness for years to come is you. I ask you with all the love in my heart, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

"Yes."