Imagine being one of the dwarves who survived all the way from the fall of Erebor through to its reclamation. Like, life is good in a prosperous kingdom- oh nevermind a dragon took it all and killed a sizable chunk of the population. But the royal family is still alive and they’re gonna lead you to safety! Under their lead you set up a new home in Dunland.
Wait, hang on, the king is going to Khazad-dûm despite everyone telling him it’s a bad idea AND he’s only taking one other person. Maybe it’s a scouting mission? No, never mind. He went inside and got killed so now Prince Thrain II becomes King.
The new king is rightfully outraged and calls a war, which most people are on board with. You enlist to fight because that was your king and you’ll follow this one too. It turns out to obliterate your population again, even spelling the end for the younger prince. But you’re people make a new home in Ered Luin!
Now the king is losing his mind and goes off on an expedition to get Erebor back that he never returned from so his weird behemoth of a son who smashed his way through the orc army using brute force and everyone’s pretty sure he’s autistic takes over the throne. He’s actually pretty good at it, even if he does act a little immature.
Oh, all of a sudden HE wants to take back Erebor. And he gets twelve idiots to go with him, including his nephews. Wouldn’t that eliminate their branch of the royal family? Nevermind, surely HE can survive it. He’s even got a wizard on his side!
A year or so later of nothing, you finally get news that Erebor is reclaimed! It’s thanks to a hobbit? Everyone makes their way to their kingdom, their home, and the first thing they see is their big, stoic, kind of brash king who up until now seemed to hate physical touch sitting on his throne with this hobbit on his lap and he is SMITTEN.
Good for him, though. It’s kind of odd he’d go for someone so hairless, besides the abundance on his feet. He always was different. Plus, this hobbit saved your kingdom and seems like a nice enough guy. They actually balance each other out nicely!