AN: The sequel to Erebor. Love doing these stories and getting into the Line of Durins minds. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of the Hobbit. Everything from the movie belongs to Peter Jackson.
The next morning, Fili finds himself on Thorin's right and Kili next to him. He looks out over the plain at the army of men and Elves armed for war. Fili is thankful they are also ready for battle. He watches as Thranduil and Bard ride up to the bridge the Dwarves had broken the day before. Fili feels movement next to him and he looks over to see Thorin draw a bow and shoot an arrow at the ground in front of Thranduil and Bard. They immediately stop in their tracks, surprised at the action.
"I will put the next one between your eyes," Thorin threatens and Fili looks over at Thranduil and Bard. He hears Thorin draw his bow once again, knowing that sound well due to always being around Kili. Fili and Kili cheer along with the rest of the company at the threat.
Suddenly, Fili notices the first few rows of Elves pull out their own bows and draw them, aiming the arrows at the Dwarves on the platform. The Dwarves instantly stop their cheering and duck behind the stones. Fili grabs Kili's arm and yanks him down with him. Fili looks over and sees Thorin is still standing with the bow drawn and aimed at Bard and Thranduil.
Kili had cheered at his uncle's threat and had heard Fili cheer as well. If the men and Elves didn't want a war then they shouldn't have armed an army before talking to them. Suddenly, Kili sees the Elves draw their bows and aim the arrows at them. Kili immediately stops cheering but before he can react, Fili is grabbing his arm and yanking him down. Kili scowls; he could've ducked for cover himself. Kili looks over at his uncle and sees him still standing and bow drawn. Thranduil's voice has them standing back up and peering down at he and Bard.
"We've come to tell you: payment of your debt has been offered… and accepted," Thranduil says to Thorin with a smug look on his face. Fili and Kili furrow their eyebrows in confusion; they hadn't given Bard or Thranduil anything.
"What payment? I gave you nothing! You have nothing!" Thorin shouts in confusion and anger, his brow furrowing.
"We have this," Bard replies as he reaches into his coat and pulls out the Arkenstone and holds it above his head. Fili widens his eyes in shock, having not expected to see this. How did they get it? What are they playing at? Although, inwardly, Fili was glad they had it because he knows his uncle would only get worse if he possessed the Arkenstone. Fili feels, rather than sees, Kili tense up beside him.
"They have the Arkenstone? Thieves! How came you by the heirloom of our house? That stone belongs to the king!" Kili shouts out. They wanted to bargain yet they stole Thorin's heirloom, even if he was better off without it.
"And the king may have it… in our good will," Bard replies before putting the Arkenstone back into his coat. Fili narrows his eyes at the man. They said they wanted to talk and now they're blackmailing them. "But first he must honor his word."
"They are taking us for fools. This is a ruse; a filthy lie," Thorin mutters to himself but the Dwarves nearby hear him. Fili glances at his uncle and then over at Bard. He didn't believe this was a lie but he hadn't a clue as to how they came upon the stone. Fili looks back over at Thorin when his uncle shouts out to Bard. "The Arkenstone is in this mountain! It is a trick!"
"It… It's no trick," Bilbo suddenly says from behind them. Fili turns to look over at the Hobbit. Bilbo, what did you do? Fili thinks to himself. He can feel the anger radiating off Thorin in waves as Bilbo continues. "The stone is real. I gave it to them."
Fili's eyes widen in shock definitely not seeing this turn of events. Fili looks over at Thorin and sees the rage in his eyes and begins to worry for Bilbo's safety. Fili wasn't sure what Thorin would do but he knew it wouldn't be good.
"You…" Thorin says menacingly, a murderous gaze aimed at Bilbo. Kili's eyes are also wide in shock. He couldn't understand why Bilbo had done it. Kili looks over at his furious uncle and his worry for the Hobbit spikes.
"I took it as my fourteenth share," Bilbo says as his optimism fails and he begins to worry for himself as well.
"You would steal from me?" Thorin asks coldly as he takes a step forward. Fili sees this and steps closer to his uncle.
"Steal from you? No. No. I may be a burglar, but I like to think I'm an honest one. I'm willing to let it stand against my claim," Bilbo says as he finds his courage once again and meets Thorin's gaze.
"Against your claim?! Your claim! You have no claim over me you miserable rat!" Thorin shouts as his voice becomes steely. He throws his bow down and menacingly walks towards Bilbo. Fili's eyes widen and he takes a step towards Thorin but a hand on his arm stops him.
Kili had seen how his uncle was becoming more and more angry and erratic. So when Fili made a step towards Thorin he had grabbed his older brother's arm. Thorin was gone and Kili couldn't bear to see Fili get hurt for getting in the middle of Thorin and Bilbo. Bilbo rushes and speaks up and Kili looks over to see Thorin stop his threatening advance.
"I was going to give it to you. Many times I wanted to, but…" Bilbo begins and Thorin stops advancing.
"But what, thief?" Thorin snaps out with narrowed eyes and jaw tense.
"You are changed, Thorin! The Dwarf I met in Bag End would never have doubted the loyalty of his kin!" Bilbo shouts in anger with a scowl on his face. Fili and Kili's eyes widen and they look to Thorin. He doubted our loyalty? They think, enveloped by shock and sadness.
"Do not speak to me… of loyalty!" Thorin grinds out loudly as his voice lowers threateningly. Thorin looks at the other Dwarves and shouts at them. "Throw him from the rampart!"
Fili and Kili's eyes widen in surprise. The rest of the Dwarves furrow their eyebrows and take a step away from Bilbo. Fili looks to his uncle and sees the look of surprise pass over his face. Fili knew Thorin was suffering from the Gold Sickness but did Thorin really think they would harm Bilbo; their friend and someone who had saved them time and time again. Thorin's face suddenly turns angry and Fili's stomach drops.
"Do you hear me?!" Thorin shouts angrily. Before Fili knows what's happening, Thorin has grabbed his arm and is yanking him towards Bilbo. Fili pulls away from his uncle. Fili feels his brother grab him from behind and pull him away from Thorin as well. Fili yanks his arm and shakes it out of Thorin's grasp. Thorin glares at him before speaking.
"I will do it myself!" Thorin shouts with anger dripping from his tone and he turns around. He lunges towards Bilbo and grabs him. "Curse you!"
"No!" Fili shouts as his eyes go wide. Fili might not be sure what to do with Thorin but he does know he can't let him kill their Hobbit. As Thorin struggles with Bilbo, the company jumps forward to grab Thorin. Fili leaps for Bilbo, seeing the others go for Thorin. Thorin succeeds in grabbing Bilbo and instantly begins shoving him over the rampart. The rest of the company grabs Thorin and tries to pull him away. Fili grabs Bilbo, seeing Kili has done the same. Fili quickly begins yanking Bilbo away from their uncle. He knew Thorin would be angry with him for going against his orders but Thorin was wrong. And Fili knew once his uncle was well, he'd hat himself for harming the burglar.
"Cursed be the wizard that forced you on this company," Thorin shouts as he struggles against those pulling him back and his nephews pulling Bilbo away from him. Fili just wishes he would get his uncle back soon.
AN: Please review and send some feedback. TThanks for reading!
