Billianna sat quietly by the fire, the stone floor was smooth and cold and it made her legs tingle. She tucked the drape around her, under her legs and smoothed the embroidery in thought. This fine drape had once belong to dwarf lady… a dwarf who had died on the day Smaug attacked Erebor. Thorin had picked it up from a heap of belongings left in a corridor and given it to her without a thought when she complained of cold, now she wished she could put it back. It felt rude somehow, like stealing… but as the official burglar, as the company loved to remind her, that shouldn't bother her.

The dwarves had left her behind in this guardroom to continue their search of the many halls of Erebor. There were so many rooms and caverns, Billianna didn't know how Dwarves kept them all straight in their heads. Even Smaug during his 200 year reign had left many of them untouched. The company had been searching them every night for the past week, looking for lost treasures… especially Thorin, he was looking for one in particular…

Billianna would have gone with them as she had the other times, but the news to Thorin from Roac chief of the Ravens had chilled her desire for treasure hunting. The men of Laketown were gathering together on the shores of the lake. Leaving the restoration of their town from the wreckage that Smaug had inflicted and were gathering weapons. Elves had also been spotted relaying messages between them and the woods. A battle was being prepared. She suspected what they wanted and knowing Thorin, that wasn't likely to go over well with him.

She tucked her knees up under her chin and fiddled with the hair on her feet. The Lakemen needed help and Thorin as the new king of the Mountain should help them, she had seen the rooms full of gold and stones. Piles and piles, why would anyone need so much? She gazed into the fire hoping it would burn away her fears. They only reminded her of old Smaug and his golden eyes. Eyes that peered into the dark corners of her soul and leered at what they found there. A scared little hobbit who was really more of a Baggins than a Took than she let on. Billianna clutched the folds of her skirt and squeezed her eyes shut. "You're dead you old snake, with a black arrow in your black heart. You were wrong about me and wrong about Thorin."

She could almost hear him chuckling "Oakenshield will fall child, and we both know what will tip your mighty king into the throes of his grandfather's madness don't we… it's sitting right in your pocket dear, waiting to consume, corrupt… shame that such a pretty gem should cause so much suffering don't you think?"

Billianna slipped her hand into her pocket. The Arkenstone was warm to her touch as if it was alive, maybe that was part of why they called it the heart of the mountain… she'd found it within Smaug's main treasure hoard, within five minutes of stepping inside. Of course he kept it close to him, this stone was the most treasured possession of the line of Durin, and it must have filled him with such glee to sleep with the bane of Durin under his scales.

The Arkenstone, it could either ruin their chances of peace or it could guarantee them… She squeezed the wearisome stone in her fist and rested her forehead upon her knees. "Why." She thought angrily. "Why am I the one who has to decide this, this is a job for a Gandalf or someone like Lord Elrond. Not a little hobbit lass like me." She wished her magical ring could get her out of this fix like it had so many other times… but there was no way to sneak away this time… she had to choose.

"Billianna… are you in here?" She about jumped out of her skin at the sound of his voice. She quickly withdrew her hand from her pocket and turned towards his voice.

"Thorin, yes I'm here, just sitting by the fire and thinking." She tried to add a pleasant chuckle but it came out more like a mild squeak.

"Hmph." he gazed down at her and offered a hand. "We're going to have some dinner, are you coming?"

"Um, sure." She smiled. As he helped her up and the drape slipped from her shoulders. He carefully picked it up and put it around her again. "…Thanks."

He only nodded. They walked out together into the corridor and Billianna glanced towards him. "Thorin?"

"Yes?"

"I was just thinking…" she was going to mention the drape but she knew he'd only shrug and say it belonged to her now, so what did it matter. So she just sighed and looked down at her weather stained skirt and coat with its sadly missed acorn buttons.

He smiled mischievously "What is it Miss Baggins, your usually more talkative than this?"

Billianna smirked "Alright, but don't tease. I was mourning my lack of recent bathing and clean clothes if you must know. I know these things are probably not first on a dwarves list of necessities but after a while a hobbit lass needs to feel like normal creature once and a while."

Thorin laughed. The sound almost made her trip in surprise, and she laughed as well. They had reached the dining hall and before they entered he turned towards her and winked. "Miss Baggins I will see you get your bath and your clothes, on my honor as King under the Mountain."

"I hardly think that's necessary." She laughed.

He shrugged and walked into the dining hall, Billianna watched him go. This was the Thorin she knew, the Thorin that hid under the scowl and gruff demeanor. She didn't want that to change. She wouldn't let that change.