The Ring is certainly smart. It has taken a perfect host, one that will easily worm it's way into the emotionally compromised king of Erebor. Thorin will be played like a fiddle and no one will realize until it's far too late.

Thorin will pull Bilbo into a hug, sitting on the throne that is now his and rests his head on the hobbit's shoulder. Just let him have this moment.

"Thank you." He'll murmur.

Words he will be saying to Bilbo more often, once the Battle of the Five Armies is through. One he survives, if with his own wounds, laid up in bed, but he does. His nephews are not as lucky, they both on death's bed, no one thinks they will make it. Thorin cannot see them in his current state, too weak to get out of bed. He's miserable and in pain, he feels like he's brought this upon his nephews, that if they die it is by his hand.

It's so very hard to feel strong when it feels like everything is crumbling around you again.