darthstitch:

The truth is, I believe that Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, gave his throne up to his cousin Dain, who proved himself worthy of the Raven Crown.  

(Dain had protested, but his cousin would hear none of it.  To this, Thorin’s only reply was: I have brought our kin home but I will not repeat my grandsire’s mistakes.)

The truth is that I believe Fili and Kili followed their uncle, but not before a tearful reunion with their Mam, who certainly needed to know that her sons still lived.  Often, Fili and Kili would make the journey between the Shire and Erebor, bringing with them gifts for their family and kin. 

And if perhaps, a red-haired Elf wandered the Shire in Kili’s company, most Shire-folk paid it no mind since Bilbo Baggins was known to have outlandish visitors.  And perhaps there were those who saw the starlight in the red-haired Elf’s eyes and smiled to themselves at her joy, shared by her Dwarven companion. 

The truth is, Durin’s sons chose deliberately to fade from the story, aided and abetted by the clever storytelling of their Burglar and little Frodo. 

The truth is, Fili and Kili would have gone with Frodo on his quest, but the Council had decided that Frodo needed stealth and secrecy more and the fewer companions, the better it would be.  So Gimli alone represented his kin and he carried Fili’s knives with him.

The truth is, when the Orcs came for Rivendell, Durin’s sons fought alongside the Elves in that battle and helped them win the day and so it was that Arwen, Aragorn’s future Queen, would be safely brought to Gondor. 

The truth is that Thorin Oakenshield actually died from the wounds he sustained in the battle for Rivendell, but not before pressing kisses to his beloved Burglar, whispering love and thanks for a life that was long and well-lived and filled with peace and joy. 

The truth is that when Gimli confessed to his cousins the love that grew between him and the son of Thranduil, Fili and Kili found cause for laughter again and Tauriel would join Legolas when he established his Elf colony in the woods of Ithilien.  And Gimli would have his kin with him in the Glittering Caves.

The truth is that when Bilbo set foot in Elvenhome, the Hobbit would soon be brought by Olorin to the gates of Aule’s Halls, so that he would be reunited with his Dwarf-king again. 

These are true things.  This is what happened. 

The king is dead.

Long live the king.  And his Consort.