Thorin's Gold Sickness had gotten worse. He'd stopped taking breaks. He'd stopped eating. Drinking was only occasional. He only focused on the arkenstone, and it was beginning to show physically.
Even so, nobody could believe it when Bilbo Baggins announced, voice trembling, he had watched as Thorin had picked up a gold coin, and licked it. Then he'd licked it again.
"Is there something the matter?" Thorin rasped out when he caught Bilbo staring.
"N-no." Said Bilbo, hurrying away, fighting back tears.
At the news, Balin buried his head in his hands.
"Liar." Said Dwalin, though his voice lacked conviction.
Fili and Kili, like the rest of the company, could only look at Bilbo in shock, unsure what to say or do.
And that is how it was.