Welcome to the epilogue. I apologize for anything that was not properly wrapped up and left uncompleted. But that is the way with life and love. Endings come so suddenly.

Thank you all those who supported me through this. It was the first fanfiction I began posting and all the wonderful responses really boosted my confidence in writing. It was a beautiful experience thank you all who were a part of it!

I do hope you enjoy this final chapter of On the Doorstep.

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The burial of Thorin Oakenshield came soon after the war.

He was buried deep under the mountain, with his ancestors.

Bilbo left the same day. He had no desire for song or drink that day.

Fili was crowned King of Erebor.

The dwarves made the journey from Ered Luin to the lonely mountain.

Erebor was rebuilt, and Dale, in all their former glory.

The woodland elves all departed back to their home in the forest.

This had all been done in three months.

I've finally started walkin' about again too.

Even though Oin is always givin' me a hard time for pushin' myself too hard. I'm not though! I swear. I know when to call it quits. And when someone you love is in love with someone else, for instance, you've got to accept that.

Alright, alright, so maybe I don't know when to call it quits. But sometimes it pays off! Got me a husband at any rate.

His name is Kili' son of Dis, brother of Fili King Under the Mountain.

You may have heard of him.

"Laurëel! If you don't hurry up, I'm leaving without you!"

"I'm comin', I'm comin'!" I sighed, hurryin' down the stairs while tying up my mass of braids into a ponytail. One braid was left out as an exception. A very special braid with a clasp on the end bearing the sign of Durin.

"And be quiet, will you?" I huffed, glarin' at my new husband. "Oin'll kill me if he finds out I've been goin' huntin'."

"I'm sure he has a reason." Kili thought for a moment. "Maybe it's best you stay at home anyway."

I gave him a betrayed look. "I thought you were on my side!"

"I am!" He nodded, wide eyed. "But what if a bear sneaks up on you and eats you!"

I punched his shoulder. "I can still hear you know. You make sure to remind me everyday. Every hour. All the time."

"I can't help but be worried for your safety!" he laughed. "I know if I was a bear, I'd definitely want to gobble you up." He winked suggestively.

I rolled my eyes and stuck my foot out, trippin' him as he walked past.

"WILL you stop doing that?"

"Doing what?" I laughed. "You're the one who keeps fallin' when you close your eyes."

"That's not how it works!"

"Whatever you say."

"It's not!"

The bickering continued as we hurried out of the mountain.

It hadn't all been sunshine and roses since I almost died, though. So don't go off gettin' the idea that it was.

After I finally woke up from the battle, Kili and I had a long long discussion about how we actually felt for each other.

I told Kili I loved him, and always would. But I didn't want to waste my life on someone who didn't return my feelings whole-heartedly. If he didn't love me, I would accept that in leave. But I needed an absolute answer. One, final decision.

And this was his reply.

"I'll never say that I didn't love Tauriel. Because I did. She made me feel more alive than ever." He paused a moment, thinking about his words. "But I'd never forgive myself if I lost you. Tauriel was the girl of my dreams. Strong, beautiful, a capable fighter-"

"Tall." I added sulkily.

"…Tall." He repeated hesitantly. "But she is an elf, and I am a dwarf. We're not the same. I would never be happy out of the mountain, and she would never be happy in it."

"I don't want to be the one you love just because you couldn't have her."

"I know! I know…" Kili rubbed his face in his hands, trying to find the words. "The truth is… I fell in love with you both. And I just have to decide which of you I want to fall for completely."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"I'm not trying to make you feel any way. I'm just telling you what I feel. What my heart says."

"And what does your heart say?"

Brown eyes looked up at me.

"Up on Ravenhill, when I saw you lying, motionless in the snow. All I could think was 'Don't leave me. Don't leave me.' I knew, then, for one pure, shining moment, that I couldn't live without you. I love you Laurëel. And I hope you'll give me the chance to prove it."

Against my better judgment, I agreed.

And he did prove it. Not by trinkets, or huge acts of love. I learned from the little things he did. Catchin' him starin' at me when no one was lookin', his eyes full of warmth.

Two months later, we got married.

It wasn't hard to pick which uncle I wanted to walk me down the aisle. Dear Bombur was more than delighted.

Besides, I don't think Lord Thranduil would want to make the trip anyway.

Thankfully, I haven't seen him since the Battle of the Five Armies, as they're callin' it. Apparently the eagles arrived in the nick of time. Beorn and Radagast with them. And Gandalf showed up again too. Just in time to save Bilbo from Thorin's wraith. To think that our burglar was actually banished from Erebor.

The things I missed cause of that stupid ear.

But it's not so bad now. I have the occasional dizzy spell. And my hearin' may be a little off. But I've been practicin' hard at fightin' without relyin' on sound. It's comin' along pretty well now.

Life in general has been gettin' on rather fine.

I've finally found a family to call my own here in Erebor.

And hopefully, it'll be gettin' a little bigger soon.

Kili's face will be priceless.

The End

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