The cluster of white healing tents stood out against the backdrop of the colorful army tents. It served as a spot of peacefulness among the noisy, bustling surroundings where a stream of Dwarves, Men, and Elves were constantly moving around on errands. Inside, the healing tents were kept warm, clean and sparse, with the exception of one, which was packed with all sorts of gifts and trinkets from well-wishers. Ariana laid in that tent, sturdy enough to withhold any storm, on a cot draped in luxurious fur skins that kept her very comfortable for the past month since she had been brought there just five days ago. The sturdy tent was more for her safety since the Company liked to hold a get together every couple days to "cheer for Ariana's recovery." or so they said.

Thorin had long since become accustomed to the sight of that specific healing tent; he carefully side-stepped new piles of presents to take his place on a rickety wooden seat beside the cot. Ever so gently, he reached over to cradle Ariana's left hand in his own scarred ones like he had done every time he came in for a visit. She looked much better with less bandages on and the casts had been taken off.

"You would be glad to know that Erebor's recovery is going well." He spoke softly as he shifted in the hard seat. Despite spending so much time there, he had failed to bring a better padded chair over or at least, a cushion to make himself more comfortable. The wooden chair would creak horribly whenever the Dwarf moved in the slightest motion but he paid it no mind. "We have finished burying those who fell during the Battle and Smaug's attack. The monument built in their honor is half-completed." Thorin traced soothing circles with his thumb along the painfully familiar surface at the back of Ariana's hand.

"We had another meeting with the Elves and Men today. The Dwarves agreed to help lay out the stone foundations of the buildings in New Dale. In return for our services, the Men agreed to provide food for us from the farms they have set up. The Elves will be joining in to help with the food situation as well." Thorin grimaced at the thought of Elves but it was out of habit rather than genuine anger. Still, he would rather not think about Thranduil if he could help it to avoid unpleasant memories from being dredged up. It would take him decades to let go of his old hatred, but the Dwarf was taking it one step at a time.

Thorin shifted again, trying to find a position that would put less strain on his aching muscles. He had spent the last few days putting in new support pillars in Erebor and he was paying the price for it. Wooden chairs were really unforgiving to those who have been sitting for a long while or had bruises and he cursed himself for not bringing a cushion again.

"Rest assured, no one has killed each other yet. We are all too busy at the moment." At this, the Dwarven king smiled wryly. He suspected that Thranduil still carried murderous tendencies, but he was keeping that opinion away from his gentle Ariana. He grinned slightly at that, knowing full well how feisty Ariana could be.

The Dwarf allowed his eyes to roam over the peaceful expression on the girl's face, at her head wrapped in white gauze, and at the red hair that fanned across her pillow like a halo. Fili and Kili must have come by because it was combed neat and clean. It had grown longer in her sleep, now grown to about half way down her neck. Fili and Kili had cut it a week ago to even up the ends.

Ariana did not respond. She had remained deeply unconscious for the past month.

Thorin Oakenshield sighed and carried on his daily report, refusing to let the wave of sadness bleed into his voice.

"Balin is working closely with Bard on Dale's new layout. Out of all the Dwarves, he remembered the most about the original city, so we thought it was fitting to get him involved in the planning. Bard also asked me to give you this." The king reached into his pocket and pulled a delicate necklace with a metal bow and arrow as the pendant. He placed it gently into Ariana's palm and curled his own fingers around Ariana's. "Bard and the Lake-town Men did not have the opportunity to thank you properly for all that you have done for them. They hope that you will accept the necklace as one of their tokens of appreciation. I believe they have more plans in mind once you recover."

Thorin lowered his voice into a near whisper, suddenly feeling shy for what he was about the say next. "As do I, my dear Ariana. I have many plans for us. The first thing I would like to do is to apologize profusely for all the grievances I have caused you." His voice broke and he cleared his throat before continuing, "And if you would have me again, I would like to officially announce my intention to court you in public, so that everyone would know how important you are to me."

The king released Ariana's hand to lay his palm against her cheek. He caressed it slowly, all the while marveling at the color that returned to his Burglar's face. The bruises and cuts had faded away, leaving behind smooth, flawless skin except for the thin silvery line near Ariana's right brow. Óin's salves had really done wonders on reducing the effects of scarring.

Thorin continued his original train of thought using the same soft reverent tone from before, "Finally, I would like you to meet my sister Dís, who is more than delighted to tell you embarrassing stories of my wayward youth." Thorin chuckled. His sister would make his life a living hell but if it meant that Ariana was awake for it, then he would gladly endure it a thousand times over. He couldn't help but to add cheekily though, "She may certainly call me as bad as a tree-shagger for my earlier actions. I don't know where she learned such foul things, certainly not from me."

He smirked, remembering that fateful conversation at the balconies that felt like a lifetime ago, that meeting that had started it all, "In fact, a certain Burglar said that I don't play fair."

Thorin sat in comfortable silence for a while longer, amazed that being in Ariana's presence relaxed him to the point where he could no longer hear the constant buzzing of his thoughts in his mind. The king realized that he had already fallen into a comfortable routine where he would visit Ariana after a long day of work, unwind as he told her all about his day, and, on some occasions, shamefully whine about his problems, before departing with a kiss and a promise to visit again. It was all becoming horribly domestic, but Thorin found it all surprisingly enjoyable. He still had bad days when the crushing guilt in his heart was so strong, it took all of his will power not to grasp tightly at Ariana's hand and beg her to wake up, but his faith in the Burglar's recovery was holding up.

It would have to be enough.

Smiling fondly, Thorin took the necklace from her fingers and put it in a small jewelry box that was among her gifts before he leaned over to press chaste a kiss over Ariana's lips, "Unfortunately, it's time for me to go." He spoke softly over her ear, wishing that he could shed his kingly duties and stay as long as he wanted, "but I promise I will be back tomorrow."

The Dwarven king straightened up and made ready to leave, only to be pulled back when his surcoat snagged on something on the cot. Frowning slightly, he looked down to see if he could tug his coat free and instead, saw Ariana's hand clutching tightly at the fur. He blinked in confusion.

Wait. What?

He whipped his head up and found himself pinned by a set of sluggish hazel green eyes, opened to half-mast. Frozen on his spot, Thorin watched, mouth suddenly dry and completely in shock, as Ariana gazed blearily at him for a few seconds, before mumbling out tiredly, "Th'rin, I have ta tell y'u I'm so'ry."

A short bark of incredulous laughter left the Dwarf's mouth and all Thorin could think about was how it was so good to hear Ariana speak again. He had almost forgotten how breathtakingly beautiful Ariana's eyes looked, and he would die a happy Dwarf if he could spend the rest of eternity drowning in those eyes, so long as they continued to look at him. Please don't stop looking at me.

Thank you Mahal, thank you, thank you, thankyouthankyouthankyou.

Before he knew what was happening, he had already bent over and crushed Ariana in a fierce hug, his hands shaking, and he couldn't stop, wouldn't stop raining kisses all along the side of his beloved's face.

For the first time since the Battle, Thorin Oakenshield felt like he could finally breathe again.

0o0

I couldn't tell where I was. I felt like I was floating, no pain or feelings as I floated in blissful peace. I noticed everything was gray, neither black nor white and I almost wondered where I was.

My head felt like it was full of cotton.

My thoughts flitted like a butterfly from one thing to another.

Finally my thoughts landed on a certain dark, moody Dwarf that held my heart. A painful pinch in my chest had my thoughts stirring more firmly in that direction. My memory came back to me and I felt slightly sick, "Thorin? Is he alive? Is he alright? I have to apologize. He has to know why I took the Arkenstone."

I heard a deafening creak that sounded miles away and then some sort of mumbled speech. I couldn't hear what was being said, but I felt myself begin to float upward, and began to feel more solid. Finally I could tell what the voice was saying and felt a jolt, "Thorin?"

I heard the voice say, "Unfortunately it is time for me to go," I felt soft lips touch mine, "But I promise I will be back tomorrow." Beginning to panic I frantically struggled to wake up, "No wait! Thorin! I have to tell him!"

The strength it took to open my eyes was monumental, since it shouldn't have been so hard. But my body finally obeyed as I opened my eyes and saw a blurry figure stand beside me and turn to leave. Frantic, I ordered my body to move! Thankfully it did and my left hand reached out and grasped the fur coat just before it was out of reach. I blinked to try to get my eyes to adjust and when I could finally see I saw Thorin looking at me in stunned disbelief. I mumbled, my mouth feeling like it was full of fluff, "Th'rin, I have ta tell y'u I'm so'ry."

Relieved that I could finally say it, no matter how badly my speech was, I wasn't expecting his reaction. He gave a sort of choked barking laugh before wrapping those strong arms around me and raining kisses all over my face. My heart warmed and I smiled softly at him as he finally took a breath and rested his forehead against mine. Eyes locked on each other. He whispered in disbelieving joy, "Your awake. Thank Mahal your awake."

I wrapped my arms around him, though weakly and closed my eyes in bliss as I said softly, "I'm so glad your alright." Then I remembered why I had woken up. My eyes popped open, and I pulled away, "No, Thorin! I have to tell you I'm sorry! The Arkenstone, I.."

He shushed me with a kiss that left me weak at the knees and I felt my thoughts scattered to the four winds. I thought giddily, "Which is too bad since I just got them back."

Thorin pulled away and smiled at me, his eyes over bright, "I know, my love. You did it to save us, and I was too stubborn and mad with Gold-Fever to see it. Can you ever forgive me?"

I stared at him in wonder and said slowly, just to be sure, "Of course I forgive you. But, do you forgive me?" He sagged in relief, as if I had lifted the weight of the world from his shoulders, "I forgive you âzyungel." Reaching up in wonder I cupped his whiskered cheek in my hand and asked softly, "What does that mean?"

He closed his eyes and leaned into my touch as if he was a flower and my touch was sunlight after too much darkness, "It means love of loves." My heart beat quickened and I tugged on his beard for him to come closer. He did and opened his eyes as I whispered, "I love you too." just as our lips touched.

When we finally pulled back for air and felt like I was floating again, but in a different way. Thorin didn't sit back down in the most uncomfortable looking chair I had ever seen. Instead he helped me sit up and sat just behind me, letting me use him as a back rest. I was alarmingly weak and when I asked what had happened after I had lost consciousness, I got an alarming answer.

I stared at him over my shoulder in disbelief, "A month!?" He nodded grimly and I leaned back against him, my head thumping back against his shoulder, "But...but...a month?" Then I jolted up and asked frantically, "The others!?"

He soothed me gently, explaining that the others were fine and what all had happened while I was out. He had his arms wrapped around me and I was glad he did. Shaken by the news of the month while I was out, I almost couldn't believe it. But by judging the length of hair that had grown while I slept and my current state, I had to believe it. Shaking my head I clung to his strong arms as I said warily, "I'll have to thank Lord Elrond and Gandalf then. Or I may have slept longer." I didn't dare say, "I may never had woken up." Because from what I could gauge from Thorin's reaction, his arms tightening around me and him burying his head into my shoulder, my coma had scared him. Thorin, who could face down any enemy and stand tall was shaking in the wake of my almost death.

Turning my head I kissed his scruffy cheek, "It's alright Thorin. Nothing could take me from your side." He hummed and I decided that this was enough with the gloomy mood. I asked him teasingly, "When are you going to tell the others I'm awake?"

He tensed and looked up at me with sullen eyes and I laughed, "Thorin, as much as I would love to have you all to myself you can't just throw away your duties. And you can't keep this a secret. The others will be mad as hornets if you do."

I didn't want to tell him, but already my eyes were growing heavy again and my body wanted to go back to sleep. But he must have seen it anyway because he sighed heavily, "You need to rest."

With much reluctance from both of us he helped me lie back down. I muttered, "Don't know why I'm tired, been sleeping for a month." He smiled fondly and kissed my forehead, "You just woke up, getting some more sleep won't hurt."

I saw the alarm in his eyes that he was trying to hide and I tugged him by the hair down for a kiss. He kissed me like he had to prove to me that he was worth waking up for. When we separated I hugged him around the neck, "I'm not going to sleep for another month. I promise." He seemed to relax and I smiled at him as I reluctantly let him go, "Why don't you do what you have to and then send the others a message to meet here for dinner tonight? We can get our greetings in then, I can get a few more hours sleep and you can be off King duty by then."

He thought this over and nodded, "Alright fine, but you do realize what that entails right?" I laughed, eyes beginning to droop, "Oh yes, Dwarf party. Heavens help us." He chuckled and ran his hand down my cheek as I slept once more, but this time I just fell into a normal sleep.

0o0

Thorin watched Ariana sleep for a few minutes, a smile on her face this time and then shook himself. He braced himself to go back to his duties when all he wanted was to throw them aside and stay with his love. But Ariana was right, darn her. He couldn't do that, he was King. So instead he stiffened his spine and went to tell the others and order them not to go see Ariana early for they would certainly wake her up.

Of course the Company was thrilled that she was awake, mad that they couldn't see her until evening, and understood that she needed her rest. Even if she had been resting for a month. Instead they planned on acquiring as many of Ariana's favorite foods as they could, and setting up a grand get together of the Company to welcome Ariana back to the land of the living.