Princess Éiwyn of Annúminas has the luxury of being able to choose whom she will marry. When Thorin Oakenshield asks for her hand, she spurns him unfairly. After her father dies a year later, Éiwyn is cast off by the new king into Thorin's hands. She comes to respect and admire him, but can she learn to love him?

Alistair tries to come to terms with his Chantry upbringing, his heritage, and his future, while simultaneously falling in love and licking lampposts. It's harder than it sounds. And also more difficult.