My first fanfiction. Please let me know what you think. :) Truthful criticism is ENCOURAGED! Okay. Read . . . now . . .

Thorin watched as Kili's casket was buried deep within the Lonely Mountain. His nephew's death hadn't come as a surprise; both he and Fili had been fatally wounded in the Battle of Five Armies. Fili had recovered but Kili's wounds became infected. Thorin had been called to his bedside when Kili developed a high fever and the healers began to fear the worst. Thorin and Fili had been there when he died. The proud king did not shed a single tear and Fili broke down entirely. Since Kili's death, Thorin wished he had taken Kili's place and was the one buried deep in the Mountain.

Thorin hadn't been present when the Battle happened. Bilbo had taken the Arkenstone and was returning to the Shire at the time of the Battle. Thorin, who was filled with greed then, hunted Bilbo and wouldn't rest until his precious stone was recovered. Bilbo hadn't gotten far when Thorin yanked him by the coat and slammed him against a tree. When Bilbo whimpered and begged Thorin not to take the Arkenstone, Thorin raised Orcrist to Bilbo's throat.

'I will kill you, Halfling,' Thorin had growled. 'Give me the Arkenstone and I will spare your life.'

At first, Bilbo did not acknowledge Thorin, but when Orcrist was painfully pressed against his throat, Bilbo reached into his pocket and handed the Arkenstone to Thorin. He grabbed it, dropped Bilbo, and returned to the Lonely Mountain to find Fili and Kili nearly dead.

Now, Kili was dead and Fili was recovering. Thorin was crowned King under the Mountain shortly after the Battle, but happiness and satisfaction had not reached the king. He remained angry and stiff for many months to follow. Fili had frequently visited his uncle in the weeks after his brother's death. He saw his uncle slowly withdraw himself from everyone and everything. One day, Fili entered Thorin's chambers and found him lying face up on his large bed, dressed in full king attire, lost in thought.

Fili crept in and sat on the edge of the bed. Thorin opened his eyes and looked at Fili. After a while, Fili spoke.

"Uncle, I know you blame yourself for Kili's death. I blame myself as well, but you are our king. You can't just push everyone who is willing to aide you in running the kingdom aside."

Fili glanced at Thorin, who was content looking at the ceiling.

"Uncle, I have seen you shy away from your duties and I don't know if it is because of Kili's death or the fact that the Arkenstone is still missing," Fili said, watching his uncle open his eyes.

"The Arkenstone is destroyed," Thorin said roughly.

Fili gaped at him.

Thorin sat up on the bed and gave Fili a small smile. "I destroyed it when you and Kili were dying." Thorin sighed and ran his hands over his face.

Fili stared at his uncle in disbelief. After a while he found his voice, "You destroyed it?!" He glared at Thorin whose eyes were dark with emotion. "Why?"

His uncle shrugged up didn't say anything. Fili continued his conversation.

"You threatened to kill Bilbo if he didn't give you the Arkenstone. Then when you get it, you destroy it?" Fili gave him an incredulous look. "You chased our burglar out of Erebor, destroyed the Arkenstone of Thror, and now you sulk here blaming fate for everything that ever went wrong here."

"No rock is worth my nephew's lives," Thorin said plainly.

"Oh, sure." Fili glared at his uncle. "But it's worth Bilbo's life?" Fili asked. When his uncle didn't answer, he added, "You didn't even give Bilbo his share of the treasure."

"He does not deserve it," Thorin said gruffly. "He stole the Arkenstone, and I-"

"YOU DESTROYED IT!" Fili raised his voice as he cut his uncle off. "It DOESN'T matter now."

"He is the reason I am still alive. He is the reason I did not die in the Battle of Five Armies," Thorin said.

"Maybe that's a good thing," Fili replied.

Thorin stood and towered over Fili with a menacing glare on his face. "He is the reason your brother is dead." Thorin's voice cracked and his eyes were cold.

Fili sighed and turned for the door. "If you're not going to travel to the Shire to give Bilbo his share, then I will," Fili said turning around and missing his uncle's fuming expression.

"You will do no such thing," Thorin ordered, striding over to Fili who was leaning against the door waiting for his uncle's argument.

"Really? Then how will Bilbo get his share of the treasure?" Fili questioned.

He stared at Thorin and watched him give in.

"Fine," Thorin said gruffly. "I will take him his share of the treasure to please my annoying nephew."

Fili smiled. "Wow, I didn't have to beg you Uncle."

Thorin gave him a scathing look, opened the chamber door, and shoved him playfully out the room. Before he closed the door, a young messenger from inside the mountain called Thorin. He groaned inwardly but stepped into the hallway. He watched as the messenger bowed before him and fiddled with the hem of his shirt when he spoke.

"Your majesty," the messenger began, "hunters discovered a young boy, sick and weak, in the forest today. they have guessed he has been there since the Battle of Five Armies." The messenger paused because he was out of breath from running upstairs all the way from downstairs. "He is barely alive. Oin wishes to speak to you about the boy."

Thorin sighed and closed his chamber door. He followed the young messenger to the infirmary. When they entered the room, Oin approached the king with bloodied hands.

"How is the young boy?" Thorin asked tiredly.

"Uh, Thorin," Oin stuttered. "He's dying, my king. It's really serious." Oin paused, watching Thorin who looked slightly uninterested and as if he really did not want to be here. "He has several cuts on his body and a deep gash on the side of his head."

Thorin nodded, Processing Oin's words. He remembered Fili's words and tried to interact with the people who were helping this young boy.

"May I see him?" Thorin inquired.

Oin hesitated but relented. Turning, he led the King under the Mountain to the young boy on the infirmary bed.

When Thorin approached him, he winced. The poor creature looked so broken and Thorin thought he would have died long ago. Then Thorin's breath caught in his throat as he looked at the creature's face. The Lord of Erebor couldn't and did not want to believe that he was looking at the broken body of Bilbo Baggins.