And I am still alive! Shocking I know. Had a harder time writing this chapter just couldn't get down what I wanted exactly... Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter 4

Helena had to tell her robin that his calls weren't always the best sounds to wake up to, especially upon waking up only feeling like she had slept a few minutes. Sometime during her nap a blanket had been put over her and Fili had moved away. Blindly reaching out her hand, Helena felt around to her left until her hand hit an arm and moved away right afte. Frustrated, she slapped the stone beneath her arm earning laughs from dwarves she couldn't see and a fingers interlaced with hers.

"Wakey, wakey."

"Bite me."

Snorts and laughter was heard again as a hand brushed the side of her head and Helena cracked her eyes open. She could see Gavin was still sitting on the table as before she fell asleep and opened her eyes further to see Fili sitting next to her looking thoroughly amused. Helena lifted her head a little to see who was in the old dining hall, looking around she counted the dwarves and found all of them to be there. Except Thorin. Throwing off the blanket and freeing her hand from Fili's, she sat up and rubbed her face with both hands.

"How long was I asleep?"

"It is supper now M'lady."

Removing her hands that were briefly covering her eyes, Helena saw Dori standing near her holding two plates of food. Glancing around she saw Bombur handing out other plates to the rest of the company. Taking the plate from Dori, she readjusted herself to a more comfortable position next to Fili. He placed his left arm around her waist, his hand resting on her hip, and took the other plate from the older dwarf while thanking him. It was a simple fare of bread, dried meats and fruit from their time in Laketown, not the most visually appealing serving but nonetheless it was food. It was surprisingly quiet on the chatter while they ate, no singing or talking, no throwing of food, nothing that was usual at a dwarvish meal. Helena leaned into Fili to grab his attention.

"Why is everyone so solemn?"

A weary sigh fell from her One. "Thorin. He hasn't left the great hall, walking around looking for the Arkenstone."

Helena frowned, her eyes going once again to her brother. His grim expression was of no reassurance, making her think that Thorin had already been beyond help when they had spoken in Laketown about separating with the dwarves. Yes, the exiled leader had always focused on the mountain and the Arkenstone within its halls, but he never ignored his company or his family. Her gaze shifted down and sought out the golden flower on her brother that the rest of the company should have as well. A bright petal made an appearance when he leaned forward and Gavin's over shirt shifted. Nibbling on the edge of her bread thoughtfully, she once again wondered at the flowers and what use they were supposed to have since the Valar wouldn't tell her.

Everyone continued to eat in a mostly quiet atmosphere, most in contemplation. Balin stood from his spot and with a look to his brother, he left the hall without his plate. Soon the rest of the company was finish and set about cleaning the room further or going about their own tinkering. Looking down at her clothes, Helena frowned and glanced around for her bag. Seeing her expression, Fili reached over and grabbed one of their bags from the foot of the bedroll and set it on her lap. The relief and want to change was very evident on her face, making Fili chuckle and Helena blush lightly. He stood, holding out a hand to help her to her feet and guided her through the others to the door that led to the bathroom that was pointed out to her earlier. Bringing the same hand to his lip, Fili kissed her knuckles and grinned at her smile. He let her fingers slip from his hand and Helena turned, opening the door and slipping inside.

Once the door shut behind her, Helena leaned against the door and breathed out before pushing off the wood and took a step forward where she stopped, looking around slightly bewildered. True to Gavin's word, pipes made appearances on one side of the wall where some basins were lined up like sinks…but that was in that room apparently. On the other side of the basins was another door that Helena was a little wary in thought about opening. Knowing what she did about medieval privys, Helena decided to just leave that door shut. The first part of the room wasn't that dirty surprisingly. More than likely one or few of the dwarves cleaned it up since there had probably been years of dust and cobwebs covering the room. Walking over to one of the basins, she dropped her bag next to the stand and looked at the pipes curiously. The metal tubes were bent at a right degree angle over the container and went into the stone wall; making Helena assume they were close to the furnaces.

Tapping the pipe experimentally, she wondered on how to turn it on and if there was still water running through them. Spying a lever to the left, Helena tentatively pulled down on the handle and immediately jumped a little when water gushed out and splashed out of the bowl. She quickly pushed the handle back up and the water stopped slowly. Touching the liquid, light laughter escaped her at the coolness of the water that innocently sat in front of her.

"Ingenious."

Helena undressed part way and used the top shirt to help wash and dry her face, arms, and other areas. What she wouldn't give for another actual bath, but for now this would have to work. Deciding that the clothes she had been wearing needed a good washing, Helena undressed the rest of the way and took out the spare undergarments and dress from Beorn's home. After redressing, she started washing her clothing the best she could. Partway through, something slammed against the door causing her to jump again and jerk towards the door. A frown marring her face, Helena walked cautiously over to the entrance and was about to place her hand on the handle when Thorin's voice leaked through the cracks around the door.

"Return to the Great Hall. Now."

Helena's frowned deepened and opened to the door only to be blocked by Fili's back. Standing on her toes, she peered over his shoulder.

"Thorin, surely this can wait until tomorrow. It grows late." Balin was at the Dwarf Kings elbow, a worried look on his face as he caught sight of Helena.

"No. The Arkenstone needs to be found. It has to be found." Ice blue eyes swept over the company and Helena saw them land on her brother. "All of the company to the hall immediately, except for the Man. You are to leave this kingdom immediately."

Gavin merely rose an eyebrow at the dwarf who was demanding actions from him. "Simply because this is humorous to me, why should I?"

"Erebor is a dwarf Kingdom and I am its King! What I say is Law!"

"Too bad I was never part of the company for you to command."

"Either leave now or meet the end of my sword."

The cold voice echoed in the small hall and no one dared to move nor speak. Gavin straightened and walked towards Thorin.

"I would welcome you to advance." Gavin sneered down at him, hand resting on the sword hanging at his side. "At this point I do believe your nephew would make a better King than yourself for he hasn't been taken in by this cursed treasure."

Thorin drew a sword from under the mantle he wore and readied it in his grasp. Having enough of the two, Helena slipped past Fili and beyond his hand to stand between the two staring each other down while the others watched.

"This is nonsense. There is no reason for you to banish him when all he has done is help us."

The cold gaze was turned to her now. "Know your place and stay out of this."

Eyebrows rose at the sentence and it wasn't only hers. "Excuse me?"

"If you are indeed a dwarf now as you say, then you are to act appropriately and listen to your King."

Resisting the urge to punch the dwarf that was to soon be her In-Law, Helena narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't recall ever pledging my allegiances to you. Only signing a contract to help gain your mountain back."

"If you are not with me then you are against." Something sparked in his eyes which narrowed a second after. "That's it isn't it? You two were sent here to get the Arkenstone, to keep me from my birthright!" He grabbed her forearm and pulled her close, "Admit it!"

As soon as his hand landed on her, everyone in the company took a step forward with Fili next to him with his hand squeezing his uncle's wrist that held Helena captive and Gavin had his sword against Thorin's neck. Nobody move after that for a minute, only the sound of breathing filled the air.

"Release her."

Thorin shifted his eyes to the cold metal resting on his skin and followed it up to the man holding it to him while the rest of them watched his movements. Slowly his fingers let up and Fili let go as well, pulling Helena a few steps back and examining her skin that was beginning to bruise. "You two are banished from Erebor. Leave now."

Protests rang from all the dwarves while Gavin withdrew his sword and watched, contemplating. "Thorin, no. You cannot do that."

"Do not dare to tell me what I can or cannot do Balin." Thorin spun on the spot, his cloak whirling with him. "To the Hall, now!"

"Uncle…"

"Silence Fili! You need to learn to take orders from your King." As he went to pass Dwalin, Thorin stopped and looked at the warrior. "Make sure they leave." With those last words Thorin left the room and silence descended once more.

"I do believe your King is a bit deranged."

"Shut up Gavin." Helena threw him a glare and moved her gaze to Fili. "I'm not leaving."

"I daresay not." Balin came over with Oin who held his hands out in permission to look at her arm. While the medic examined her skin, Balin continued. "There is nowhere to go, not to mention you are family." The elder dwarf looked over his shoulder to his brother.

Dwalin stepped forward. "Thorin said ta make sure they left, he ne'er said where. I would suggest ta be as scarce as could be, on the upper levels."

"Collect your belongings. Quickly. I will have to show you where you can stay." Balin patted Oin on the back and he lowered her arm gently.

"There doesn't seem to be any damage beyond bruising." With a nod to Helena and then Fili, he followed the other dwarves out the door minus Balin and Dwalin.

"Go on Fili, I will show you later where they will be sleeping."

Fili looked doubtful and looked down at his One. Seeing the uneasiness in his eyes, she pressed a hand to his cheek. "Don't worry about me, Gavin will be with me." They held each other's eyes for a moment before Fili lowered his head and led her into a deep kiss that she leaned into.

Balin and Dwalin looked away but it hadn't taken more than some seconds for Gavin to take notice. "Alright, enough of that. Let's get going."

Helena and Fili pulled apart and look up at him along with Balin and Dwalin. Gavin had gathered a set of blankets and two sets of bags along with their weapons to take, even her belongings that were in the bathroom. "You are always interrupting."

"It's my job."

Balin looked to Fili, "Go on lad."

With one last look to Helena, Fili left the room as well. Once his footsteps were no longer heard, Dwalin turn to them. "Alright, let's get this over with."

Carefully they half walked, half creeped through the dusty halls of Erebor to a room only two levels above where they were with a clear view of the gold ladened hall below. Dwalin pushed open the doors to find a less dusty room beyond. Kind of surprising to them considering the kingdom had been deserted for over a hundred and fifty years.

"I know it isn't the best nor the cleanest, but it is the nearest with full facilities." Balin looked at them apologetic.

Helena waved his concerns away, examining the large quarters. "I am more than appreciative. Especially since you didn't kick us out into the cold." She turned to the two dwarves and smiled. "Thank you. I think you should return to Thorin now; he is bound to notice the two of you missing."

The two nodded and looked at each other before bowing to her. Straightening themselves up, they nodded to Gavin and left the room. Her brother turned to her and raised a brow. Helena shrugged her shoulders.

"They've never done that before."

Gavin shook his head and headed to a trunk to set their belongings down.


Balin and Dwalin descended into the Hall of gold and Thorin turned from his spot on a balcony in a half level up. He watched them cross over the coins for a moment before calling out to them. "Are they gone?"

"Everything is taken care of Thorin."

Those were the only words spoken as they began their own search through the hills of gold with the others, preparing themselves for a long night.

It did continue through the night, much to the chagrin of the two hiding above the others unable to do anything other than watch. More than once one of them was tempted to beam Thorin over the head as he shouted orders from his spot that he hadn't left. The sun had risen but only Helena and Gavin had got any sleep, something for which she felt incredibly guilty.

"I need to do something."

"Such as? There isn't much we can do at this point."

Helena frowned at her brother with her eyes on Fili. "They haven't eaten, that I've seen, since last night."

"And you want to cook for them?" Their conversation was whispered as they stayed in the shadows. "It would kind of defeat the purpose of hiding."

Her frown only deepened as her forehead pressed into the stone railing as she continued to watch the dwarves below. Their voices ringing around the mountain again as they continued to comb through the piles of treasure, searching for the Arkenstone.

Thorin leaned on his hands and called out over them, "Any sign of it?!"

Dwalin was the first to answer. "Nothin' yet."

"Nothing here." Nori shouted from his area.

"Keep searching!"

Oin's voice carried over to them, "That jewel could be anywhere!"

"The Arkenstone is in these halls - find it!"

Dwalin caught the eyes of his brother and looked away. "You heard him - Keep lookin'!"

"All of you - No one rests until it is found!"

Helena and Gavin watched the dwarf king turn away and a movement on the staircase to the side of Thorin caught Gavin's eye. Bilbo, hearing all this, was looking awkward as he watched everything. Another moment passed before the hobbit turned and walked away towards the broken entrance of the kingdom. Without bothering Helena, Gavin stood and swiftly left their spot to follow where Bilbo was going only one floor above.


Bilbo walked out onto the ramparts of the front gates, near the hole Smaug made in the wall. He paced back and forth for a while looking and feeling frustrated and confused. Then, after looking around to check that no one was watching, he sat down. He thought back to his encounter with Smaug, when he was standing near the Arkenstone and Smaug was speaking to him.

"I am almost tempted to let you take it, if only to see Oakenshield suffer, watch it destroy him, watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad."

Samgu growls and extended his neck as though to eat him, but Bilbo put on his ring and disappeared from sight. The dragon reared back in anger and unseen by Smaug, Bilbao ran to the Arkenstone. Tucking it into his tunic, he kept running as Smaug angrily began breathing fire.

The flashback ended in his mind, making Bilbo shake his head and checked once more that no one was watching, he reached into his tunic and pulled out the Arkenstone. He stared the stone as it glowed with patterns of light from within. Unbeknownst to him that he was indeed being watched, but not by any dwarves that he was expecting to show. Gavin was leaning partway out of a rampart window a level above him, watching his every move. When the glowing stone made an appearance, the assumption Gavin made was the right one. Bilbo was hiding the Kings Jewel. The better question was, what was the hobbit going to do with the treasure?


So let me know what you all thought... hope everyone has a lovely day.