First off, I need to explain some things. This is perhaps my version of BoTFA, or maybe my twist on it. To be honest, there was a lot I disliked about the movie and to heal my heart I have decided to write this.
In this story, Tauriel does not exist. Bilbo never found the Arkenstone, Kili's leg was treated by Oin, Laketown wasn't fully burned to the ground and right now there is no war. Remember, this is my twist on things so it will be completely unlike what happened. :) The story focuses mainly on the Durin's but I plan to have plenty of Bilbo and the other dwarves, too!
~Jackie
"Find that Arkenstone."
The command was not an easy one to fulfill.
Halls filled with gold and jewels, chests of gold and gemstones of every color. At first, both nephews of Thorin Oakenshield had been awestruck by the very sight, but it soon became apparent that this treasure hoard was not all that it seemed...the treasure was worthless to the king, it meant nothing without this fabled Arkenstone. A stone that gave him the utmost power, power which he desired and longed for so badly.
"Where is it?! I will have this entire room EMPTIED before we stop our search."
Kili glanced up as he overheard his uncle's angry tirade, likely taking it out on Balin or Bilbo; one of the company who had tried time and time again to calm him down. Thorin had been so cold lately, so heartless and intimidating...the change in him was obvious, and the youngest Durin knew that his brother noticed as well.
The blonde dwarf was a few feet away, glancing up through an overstuffed chest he was sorting through. "How do we even know what this Arkenstone looks like?" Fili was exasperated, wishing that they might find this stone already in order to keep their uncle happy. "I've seen hundreds, if not thousands of gemstones."
"Balin said that we will know it when we see it," Kili merely shrugged, pouring out a vase that had been filled to the brim with gold. The contents were enough to last a lifetime; much more money than they had ever seen during their life in the Blue Mountains. The thought of their home made his heart ache, and he instinctively reached into the pocket of his coat, rubbing his thumb over the engraved markings of the stone that Dis had given him. "Fili...why has he been like this? He's changed so much...Thorin isn't the same anymore."
Fili tossed aside the emptied chest, looking to his little brother now, seeing the sadness conveyed in his deep brown eyes. "He's been under a great deal of stress, Kili...Thorin will improve once we've found the stone," he clasped a hand to his shoulder, offering a smile, though there was nothing behind it. "Come on, I'm starving...we've been at this for half a day now. Lets get something to eat."
Both dwarves had made their way to the 'living area', a smaller pantry-like room in which supplies were kept and where the company would sleep at night. After a good four days, food was running out, and Fili found himself wondering how long it would be before they needed to go out to hunt or return to Laketown in order to replenish their supply.
Every room felt cold and grim, dreary and depressing. For so long Thorin had told his nephews stories of Erebor, their great kingdom, their treasure that had been taken from them...but now that he was here, Kili wondered if the stories had been better than the actual thing.
Fili handed a plate of food to the younger, taking a seat next to him on the floor. "Well, you're quiet," he stated, having noticed a change in his mood ever since they'd returned to their kingdom. "Is your leg bothering you?" Oin had remedied his injury the best to his ability, but he could tell that the wound still caused his brother pain.
"I'm alright." Kili accepted the plate, weary after four days of nonstop searching. They'd barely a moment to themselves without Thorin barking a new order, demanding that a different area of the mountain be scoped out. "I'm quiet because there's not much to say," he answered lowly, eating some of the bread he'd been presented with.
Fili wasn't sure how to respond. In truth, he felt unsettled by Thorin's swift change of mood, though he was unsure how to address it. By being second in line, he felt it his duty to confront Thorin, though he was unsure how much headway he would be able to make. "Would you like me to speak with him?"
Kili glanced over to his brother, a little surprised. Fili often seemed to read his thoughts, he always seemed to know what upset him. "No...best not." The idea of Thorin and Fili getting into a disagreement was too much to bear right now; they seldom were at odds, but right now their uncle was unpredictable. "I've noticed Bilbo speak to him several times, he's had no luck. Uncle only gets angrier, he hates to be challenged."
As if on cue, Bilbo rounded the corner then, his posture tense and his fists clenched at his sides. "Out of all the most stubborn, impossible dwarves-" the hobbit ranted to himself, snatching an apple from one of the bags of food strewn about. "I have had ENOUGH of dwarves for this lifetime and the next!"
Fili exchanged glances with his brother, awkwardly clearing his throat. Their burglar hadn't noticed them in their corner. "Bilbo?"
Bilbo's eyes widened in surprise, his gaze settling on the two younger Durin's. "Fili...Kili...I didn't see you there," he looked a bit embarrassed, taking a seat to an overturned barrel. "I assume there's been no luck with finding the stone?"
"None at all." Kili answered, tossing away a piece of the bread that had gotten moldy. Bilbo was clearly upset, and it wasn't difficult to figure out the reason behind it. "Thorin again?"
Bilbo merely nodded, polishing the apple off with the sleeve of his blue coat. "Yes. I've tried to talk some sense into him; he won't eat, won't sleep, he only paces around, obsessing...giving orders...I've come to wonder if this Arkenstone even exists."
"It exists." Fili sounded sure, as if he had seen it himself. "There's plenty of treasure...it could be buried deep, locked away in a chest..."
"Or it isn't here. How are we to know that Smaug hasn't taken it when he fled?" Kili frowned, unable to forget the sight of the dragon flying over Laketown. The beast had taken a portion of the town with it before Bard had killed the foul monster. "What if we never find it?"
Bilbo's gaze seemed far away, turning the apple over in his hands a few times as he considered Kili's words. "Sometimes...I wonder if that would be for the best."
