Ya'aburnee

Epilogue

It was the end of November before long, and as more supplies came from the Iron Hills to support the regrowth of the kingdom, keeping records became harder and harder, so Olivia pitched in to help Balin and Ori keep the supplies and the people organized.

There had been some teasing at first from Fili and Kili about the new braid in her hair, but Balin had shut it down quickly, telling the pair that they needed to show respect to their future queen. Olivia did not mind that much, teasing Kili back about his braid that Tauriel had given him.

She was so busy now, but did not mind, for she was content. She had a home again, and was working on things she found important. She was surrounded by friends, and she was in love.

At the moment, she was working with Balin to find a good system to dispense food for both the Dwarven residents and the men of Dale who were overwintering in the mountain until spring, when they could begin to rebuild. The winter was far too harsh to start building, so for now, they worked on the plans for the city. Olivia had been helping Bard too, assisting in city planning, helping the reluctant leader create a political system for the town, to avoid any future rulers like the Master coming into power. She'd started helping the healers of Laketown as well to learn more from what Gandalf had taught her, and some of what she had learned in pre-med years ago.

"I think that sounds like a sound plan," Balin nodded to the parchment that they both were leaning over.

"After two weeks, we should check back in with everyone, see if it is working, or if we'll have to send out more hunting and foraging groups. And the numbers of residents are growing, so we will have to account for that as well." She bit her thumb, looking down at the math for a moment, double checking it.

Balin caught sight of the king entering first. "Thorin!" 

Olivia glanced at Balin, then registered his words, turning to the dwarf with a wide smile. "Thorin!" She didn't quite yet register the person standing beside him, turning back to the paper. "We think we have solved the food issue, we just need your approval,"

"Olivia," He spoke softly, but she kept going.

"And with all the necessities out of the way, we've thought repairing the forges next would be the best idea, so we can begin producing things again in a more widescale way. The library, too, should be preserved, and..."

"Olivia," Thorin's voice was slightly firmer now, Olivia turning to him. "Rest, for a moment. There is someone I would like you to meet."

It was now that she noticed the dwarrowdam standing beside Thorin, an amused smile on her face "I can see what Kili meant." The dwarf woman told Thorin. Olivia made the connection quite quickly after that, quickly regaining her composure. She looked so similar to Thorin, and now that she had mentioned Kili, there was only one person she could be.

"You must be Dis." Olivia bowed her heat respectfully, uttering a traditional Khuzdul greeting that she had labored over for hours with Thorin, insisting she perfect her pronunciation.

Dis was clearly impressed, raising an eyebrow before returning the traditional response to the greeting. "Your accent is nearly perfect."

Thorin chuckled, rolling his eyes in mock annoyance as he walked over to Olivia to wrap an arm around her waist. "She made me practice with her for hours, she was so afraid to get it wrong." Olivia smiled bashfully as she leaned into his side. She had never been one for PDA, but he loved showing her off, and she was warming up to it. "Come," Thorin said. "Let us walk. You need a break, amrâlimê, you have been working since dawn."

"I have heard a lot about you, in a very short time," Dis said as they walked. "Imagine my surprise when I arrive to find my brother with a courting braid and my sons speaking of an 'Irak'Amad.'"

Olivia smiled, laughing with the dwarrowdam. She had gotten used to Fili and Kili referring to her as their aunt in Khuzdul, though she had mostly assumed they did it purely to tease her.

"They have been relentless," Thorin told her. "They will not leave poor Olivia alone."

"Oh, it's not that bad," Olivia said with a smile. "They are perfectly well behaved, most of the time."

Thorin laughed. "You are far to lenient, Kurdel."

"At any rate, I am here now, to keep them under control," Dis told them. "Now tell me," she directed at Olivia, "How on earth did you fall in love with this buffoon?" 

***

Months passed, and soon, it was spring. Olivia felt fully at home within the mountain now, fully accepted by her new family. The re-building of Dale had begun, and most of the rubble had been cleared from the mountain, although it would be a few years until Erebor had been fully repaired. There was a wedding, on the horizon, at midsummer. Invitations had been sent out, and Bilbo had invited them all to come to the Shire, so a more private wedding would take place there before the formal wedding that was to take place the following autumn.

The flowers were blooming, and vegetation was slowly but surely creeping back towards the mountain, and birds could be heard singing in the trees. 

She found her eyes opening on a warm, May sky, clouds drifting lazily through a deep blue. Wind rustled the grass around her. She sat up with a lazy smile, gazing the edge of a lake down the hill, watching the ripples distort the reflection of the clouds. 

She stood, her calf-length skirt billowing in the wind. It was a dark blue, with buttons down the front and pockets, the top an off-white color, buttoned up as well. It was nothing regal, or fancy, but she felt beautiful in in nonetheless. Her hair fell loose over her shoulders as she wandered, barefoot to the water, looking down at the mirror of the lake. The reflection of herself reminded her of her mother, and despite the dull ache, she smiled, lifting her skirts to wade into the water.

The pain was still there, but it lessened. Grief never really goes away, but it lightens, like a scar. At first angry and red, it heals over, fading to pink, then silver, but it never really leaves. She looked at the jigsaw of scars on her palms, silver lines reminding her of her family. She looked up, letting the breeze blow her hair back

"I left you for two minutes and you are already in the lake." The warm deep voice made her smile.

She lazily turned her head to smile at Thorin, who stood on the shore. "You know how I love the water."

"Aye," He smiled at her, holding a hand out to beckon her back to the shore. She picked her way carefully back over, leaning forwards to give him a peck on the lips as she grabbed his hands, letting him lead her the rest of the way from the water, and onto the grass.

"I had a dream like this, once," She told him with a gentle smile as they sat back down on the blanket, hands still clasped.

"Oh?" He brushed her hair gently back behind her ear, imploring her to speak with his eyes, full attention on her.

"In Mirkwood, the spiders? They had poisoned us, and I fell asleep. And I had a dream, like this." He took her hands and kissed them softly, listening intently. He was so much softer now. Still himself, but happier, less tense. "I think it was that moment, when I realized I had fallen in love with you." She rubbed his knuckles with her thumb, a soft smile on her lips. 

He leaned forwards to steal the smile, wrapping an arm around her waist, making her smile grow. "I knew from the moment I met you," He murmured against her lips when they parted.

She rested her forehead against his, closing her eyes. "You're just trying to one-up me."

He chuckled at the accusation. "Not so. I have never been more enchanted by a spitfire wizards pupil." He leaned in and gave her another soft kiss and she hummed contentedly.

"Because you have never met one besides me," She replied, running her hands through his hair as she kissed him again.

"Even if I did, my eyes, and my heart, would only find you," he promised, looking her in the eyes.

She smiled, cupping his face with her hand, gazing upon him adoringly. "I was only ever made for you, amrâlimê."

"And I for you."