Hey everyone! I hope you are all having a lovely day/night. Here is the next chapter. The seventh chapter should be coming pretty quickly as well, so look for it! I love hearing from you in the comments, so please don't forget to comment and let me know how you're liking the story!

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Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.

Bella listened to the clang of armor down the hallway. The company were currently outfitting themselves with sturdy metal breast plates, bracers, tunics of chainmail and various other protective gear. Bard, the bargeman they'd met at the river, who'd assisted them in Lake Town had come the following morning after they'd completed rebuilding the wall. He spoke in pleading words with Thorin, reminding him of the promise to his people. He'd spoke most diplomatically, adding to the fact that he was the descendant of Girion, Lord of Dale. An army of Mirkwood elves stood guard amongst the ruin of Dale, to which Bard explained that he would pacify King Thranduil if they were to come to terms. Thorin remained steadfast in his position and even through his gracious speech on behalf of his people, denied him payment. Bard left in a fury, riding hard back to Dale. War was coming and it was all the stubborn dwarf King's fault.

After that Thorin barked orders of the company to arm themselves from the sources left in the armory. He'd stormed off into the depths of Erebor after that leaving the company in a tense silence. Balin had refused to look at anyone, hiding his mouth behind his hand. Dwalin looked close to devastated from the way Thorin was acting. She'd especially taken notice of the way Kili and Fili looked down ashamed. It was not their fault their Uncle could not see reason and yet the young dwarves took responsibility for their adopted father's actions and the fact that they could not talk reason into him did little to change that.

Bella's heart hurt to see these usually merry dwarves like this. She missed the laughter, the songs, the jokes, the bets, the joy. Bofur hadn't broke out into any songs nor did Fili and Kili pull any pranks or steal Ori's journal just to make him yell and chase them around. She couldn't remember the last time Gloin had told them another tale about his son Gimli or Balin's tales of Erebor before its fall. Nori was uncharacteristically well behaved or perhaps he simply did not possess the desire to upset Dori, annoy Dwalin or join in any mischief.

The usually joyous, rowdy company of misfit dwarves were eerily quiet as they shuffled towards a set of stairs that lead down a dark hallway. Bofur clapped Bombur on the shoulder, ushering his brother along with his cousin toward the stairs. Dori joined Oin and Gloin, the three walking in silence. Dwalin stepped forward, gripping Ori's shoulder. The young dwarf jumped slightly, looking up at the solemn warrior. Dwalin didn't say anything, instead nodded to Nori then moved off towards Balin. Nori wrapped an arm around his brother's shoulder, gently pulling him along. Dwalin stood beside his brother, who took a steadying breath, then turned back towards them. He grabbed Dwalin's arm and the two began their exit; one stone faced, full or tension, the other dejected and broken.

Sighing to herself, Bella pushed off from the wall she'd been leaning against. She knew there was no reason for her to even be in the armory, given she was no warrior. Unfortunately her damn Took side had screamed at her long enough to convince the Baggins' side to hush and give Thorin a piece of her mind. Who knows if he'd even bother with her right now. She stepped around the corner, watching while the dwarves grabbed at armor, strapping it around their bodies. They were almost unrecognizable, their faces hidden by helmets, bodies bulked up even more with heavy iron and steel.

Thorin suddenly stepped into her view, blocking the others behind him. He was covered in golden armor from his feet all the way up to his neck. On top of his head lay the crown of the King. He looked utterly regal. Her attention was drawn to something shinning in his hands. It glowed a soft silvery hue, glimmering in the flicker of the torches lighting the hallway.

"Miss Baggins, come," Thorin's voice made her jump, "please." Careful not to make him angry or sense her deep secret, she walked briskly over to him. Thorin watched her move towards her, stepping forward to meet her. Silent he held up the glimmering thing in his hands that turned out to be a shirt of metal, similar to chain-mail, but this was definitely not as heavy. This looked almost delicate and precious to her eyes.

"Silver steel. Mithril, as my people call it. No blade can pierce through it," he whispered, looking through the shirt he held at eye level. "Put it on. It will protect you."

Thorin held the shirt out towards her, expectantly. Flushing a little, Bella hurriedly discarded the overcoat the people of Lake Town had given her before they left, letting it fall to the ground behind her. Thorin lifted the shirt higher while Bella stepped forward, lifting her hands to slide into the shirt. It felt cool against her exposed skin, not heavy but weighty enough to know it was there. The material settled against her frame, obviously much too big for a mere hobbit. She let her fingers run up the material, following the design near the neckline; intricate and covered of skillfully made details. It was breathtaking if she was being completely honest with herself.

"Thorin, this is….I cannot wear this. I am no warrior, nor do I plan to find myself in the hands of anyone who would choose to run me through with their blade." She looked up to see his eyes flash momentarily before sliding back into the fog.

"It is a gift, my beloved. I will not have you unprotected whilst I cannot be there to protect you," he said sternly, "I hope you will accept this gift."

Bella noticed the lowering of his head and quietness of his voice as he asked her to accept the shirt meant something more than a simple protective precaution. It was then she'd noticed the silence in the room. Looking over to her right she found every dwarf staring at her with varying expressions. Balin looked hopeful, Dwalin solemn, Fili and Kili shared expressions of awe as well as Ori. Bofur grinned, Bombur and Gloin both were smiling softly and Nori smirked. Oin and Dori had unreadable expressions marring their faces.

She turned back to Thorin, who still waited patiently. "Thorin? This….is not just a….simple gift. Is it?" She asked cautiously.

Thorin lifted his head, chin jutting out a bit, "No, it is not."

"Please, explain," she asked softly, very aware of the many eyes watching her every move.

"Mithril is sacred to my people. It is precious, almost as precious as the Arkenstone itself," his eyes darkened at the mention of the shimmering stone, but he pressed on, "I give this Mithril shirt to you to demonstrate my power to protect and care for you. It symbolizes my home, heart, and honesty. Since I do not have the honor of meeting your parents and presenting them a Bride Price, I present this gift to you as a sign of intent to marry."

Bella nearly fainted. Yes she'd let him put the braid in her hair and she'd assumed they'd established this whole proposal of marriage. She was certain she'd said yes to him then but it appeared that was not enough for him. This time he'd made a much grander gesture and in front of the whole company, no less. She blushed a vibrant scarlet, having realized all this. The shirt she wore felt different to her now. The weight of it now symbolized Thorin's protective hold around her waist and chest and down her arms. It made her heart swell with love. Willing away the heat in her cheeks, she cleared her throat softly.

"Thank you, Thorin. And yes, of course, I accept this gift." She hadn't even focused her eyes on his face before the company broke into cheers. That made her blush again, but instead of hiding her face this time, she gave them a shy smile. Fili and Kili were grinning like idiots, fists slamming together. Ori had begun scribbling in the journal he'd brought with him, no doubt taking in every detail of the event he'd just witnessed. Balin smiled warmly at her, reminding her distinctly of her own father. Even Dwalin turned a happy smile towards them. It was reassuring that the rest of the dwarves did not object to their King's choice in wife.

She looked back up at Thorin. He watched her for a moment then took her hand in his, leading her away from the others. Bella walked beside him, confusion and suspicion flooding her mind. They stopped several feet away from the others, who'd taken the hint and gone back to dressing or assessing their weapon choices. Thorin stood with his back to his men, shielding Bella from view. "I believe I have discovered where the Arkenstone has gone," his started in hushed tones, "One of them has taken it. One of them is false."

They were back to that bloody stone. For Mahal's sake, couldn't he focus his attention on anything else? "Thorin-," she started, but he cut her off.

"I know one of them has it. I suspect Nori, that thief… or perhaps it was Fili, he would seek to over throw me," his face darkened even more.

Bella felt panic rip through her when he used the word thief. Fortunately he hadn't figured it out. But he was now doubting his own people, his own family.

"Thorin, why not simply given them what they are owed? Stop this nonsense from happening," she pleaded.

He began to back away from her in slow clanking steps. "I would not give them a single coin. I will not see our people's legacy go to waste in the hands of that elf bastard and that gutless man. I swear on my own legacy I will not part any piece of the treasure. Not one single coin."

Bella was motionless, Thorin standing across the hallway from her now. They watched each other in silence. She was vaguely aware of the approaching sound of boots, then the movement of the company as they walked passed the two. Thorin remained in place, staring at her, silently. Bella moved back until she was pressed firmly against the wall. The last of the dwarves passed, leaving the two remaining. Thorin moved forward, stopping momentarily. He reached out a hand, running it slowly down her arm from her shoulder, feeling the mithril with his thick calloused fingers. She didn't move, holding in a breath. Was he going to say something? Yell at her? Kiss her, maybe?

Finally, Thorin tore his gaze away, stalking off after the others. Bella gasped out, closing her eyes. Honestly, she couldn't take much more of this unpredictable Thorin. First he's declaring his love for the world to hear, then growling about conspiracies against the throne. He was giving her a rattling that made her head hurt and exhausted her patience.

It was then she'd made a decision. She had to stop this war from coming and convince Thorin of his madness. If she was to find any happiness and become the only thing he gave his affections to and desired above all else, she was going to have force his sanity to return. She loved him with all her heart and wanted that love to last forever. She had to bring these three peoples together as allies. There was only one way she could think of to force peace upon them all. Surely, if Thorin cared as much for this ruddy rock as he lets on, he'd definitely be willing to pay their dues to get it back.

She felt regret, even before moving from her spot. She was going to betray him for the sake of their future. Everyone's future. This war could be the end of many and the beginning of a feud that would not be able to fix. If she was successful, then there would begin a kindling of the long lost alliance between the races that would benefit everyone in the end. Still she felt the very real fear that this plan would go horribly wrong. She wanted nothing more than to see Thorin smile again, to hear him laugh, hold him close as he cried and kiss him with all the love she possessed. If her plan went accordingly, she just might be able to get that Thorin back in her grasp. With that encouraging thought she scurried off to find a sturdy rope.

Scaling down walls was not fun at all. It was at least thirty or forty feet up from the top of the gate to the ground below. She'd managed to get to the rocks resting in the moat, only slipping twice. Picking up her skirts, she ran towards Dale, hoping beyond hope that the elf King and Bow man would agree to her master plan.

Dale was littered with elf soldiers. They lined the streets and guard towers. There were archers watching with sharp eyes for any danger along the vast land below. Tents were set up around Dale with soldiers marching in and out of them. The people of Lake Town huddled around fires and sharpened weapons.

Bella ducked under the arm of a man who was carrying a bundle of spears. She looked around, relieved when she noticed a much taller tent near the ledge overlooking the Lonely Mountain. Outside the tent were Gandalf and Bard, they seemed to be arguing.

"It will not come to that. If Thorin is truly the King you claim him to be then he will come to reason. He would not risk the lives of his people for war over a small payment. Surely, "Bard said. He didn't sound very convince of his own words though.

"Your doubt is correct, Master Bard. He will risk the lives of his people, even his family for his Kingdom," Bella said stepping towards them.

"Bella Baggins!" Gandalf exclaimed happily. She smiled warmly up at him for a moment.

"If you think for one moment that Thorin will back down, you are mistaken. He will fight to the death to protect his home and his birth right." Gandalf looked over at Bard, who seemed even wearier. "I might have a solution though."

That got both their attention and soon she found herself ushered into the large tent. It had a tall wooden table, obviously elven made, in the center with a bottle of wine on it and some glasses. In a chair made of elk horns, at the back of the tent, sat King Thranduil. He looked annoyed to say the least. As they entered, he raised a dark eyebrow, eyes fixated on Gandalf, waiting for an explanation.

"Miss Bella Baggins, my Lord. She has come to us with the promise of a solution to end this war.

Thranduil's cold stare settled on Bella now. He watched her carefully, taking in her tiny frame and dirty clothing. He moved forward, leaning on one arm, back straight as a stick. Bella tried her best now to shiver under his icy glare. "If I am not mistaken, this is the halfing that set my prisoners free by stealing the key from under the nose of my best guards," his mouth closing in a firm straight line.

Bella looked over at him, trying her best to appear more confident than she felt, "I…yes..." It was pointless apologizing for their escape, especially when she felt no reason to. Instead she continued when neither the King nor the other two spoke. "I-um..I came to give you…this." Careful not to drop it, she slid the cloth covered Arkenstone onto the table, lifting the materials and stepping back. Thranduil was on his feet instantly, moving towards the glowing rock. He stared with wide eyes down at it, obviously basking in its glory. Bard moved to inspect it as well.

"The King's jewel," Thranduil said in awe.

"And worth a King's ransom," replied Bard. He turned addressing Bella, "How is this yours to give? I do not know you nor does King Thranduil and yet you would give us your loyalty? Why?"

Bella huffed in annoyance, " I am not doing this as a sign of loyalty to either of you. I know Thorin values this stone over all the treasure in the land. I believe that it can be used for a peaceful negotiation. I love Thorin very deeply and I have come to care for the rest of the company as I would my own family. I will not stand by and watch them slaughtered if I have the ability to save them." She'd spoken so fiercely that none of the men in the room said anything. "If you accept my proposed plan then there is no need for this war."

Thranduil seemed to be contemplating. Bard, doing the same. He looked to the Wizard who offered no words of advice and so turned his gaze upon the elf King beside him. Thranduil's cold blue eyes found the Bow Mans and they wordlessly agreed.

"We will accept your proposal and return to the mountain face tomorrow at dawn to renegotiate with the dwarf, "Thranduil said. He nodded to Bella then turned to go sit in his grand chair once more.

Bella sighed in relief. So far the plan was going brilliantly. Gandalf nodded to Thranduil and Bard and moved towards Bella. His large hand rested against her back and he led her out of the tent.

Once they were back out into the streets of Dale and far enough away from the King's tent, Gandalf spoke, "My little hobbit, that was quite the plan. Thorin will not be happy of your betrayal though. I believe it would be best if you were to stay here in Dale. When he finds out the truth, he might act rashly."

Bella shook her head, "No. I knew what I was doing before I even left the mountain. I know the risks I'm taking Gandalf. I will not hide from him. That would surely make it much worse. I am not afraid of him. If he truly loves me as he claims he does, then he will at least try to understand why I did it."

"Bella, you should fear him. You should never underestimate the fury of dwarves. It can be unstoppable if they are angered enough. Thorin has held a grudge for over 100 years, or did you forget. You believe he will not show his anger to you?"

"Gandalf, I love him. Regardless of his decision come tomorrow morning, that will not change," Gandalf still looked skeptical, "He gave me a shirt of Mithril earlier this evening," she told him, pulling open her coat to show him.

Gandalf looked stunned for a moment, "Well, you may be right then. Mithril is not easily given. Especially to someone who is not in fact a dwarf. It is precious to all dwarves of every land."

Bella pulled her coat shut, looking up at him. "Gandalf, I must return. I cannot stay her this night. If Thorin realizes I am gone he will think I have abandoned him."

Gandalf looked like he wanted to argue, but sighed in defeat. He nodded giving her a small smile. Bella smiled back, bowing, then sprinted off. She had to return as soon as she could.

The next morning the dwarves were all gathered at the front gate, decked out in their armor and swinging their weapons high above their heads. Bella could just barely see over the stone, there were elves everywhere. They had marched up to the mountain front as soon as the sun broke over its peak. Thranduil and Bard rode side by side up onto the platform at the end of the destroyed bridge. Thorin pulled back his bow, shooting an arrow at the foot of the giant elk Thranduil rode. He pulled the animal to a halt, staring up at the dwarf King.

"One step closer and it'll be your head, elfling," Thorin snarled. The company cheered in delight of his insult. The archers not far behind their King, armed their bows, aiming at the dwarves. They suddenly all ducked, Bofur grabbing Bella's arm and yanking her down beside him. Thorin remained standing, arrow knocked ready to fire. The others slowly began to stand again when Thranduil raised a hand and the archers placed their arrows back in their quivers.

Bard spoke up then, "We are here to tell you that payment of your debt has been paid and accepted."

Thorin glared down at him, "What payment?" he snarled back, "I've given you nothing. Not a single coin!"

Bard smirked slightly, reaching into his coat and producing the Arkenstone, bright as day. Bella felt her heartbeat start to quicken in her chest, a heavy dread settling in her stomach.

"Thieves!" Fili suddenly shouted, "how dare you steal from our King! That is our peoples' legacy. You have no right to take it as your own!"

The others began joining it, shouting down curses and threats at the seemingly sneaky thieves.

"It is a trick!" Thorin shouted, "A lie! That stone is a fake. The Arkenstone remains buried within these halls!"

Bella swallowed hard at what she was about to do. Stepped quietly out from behind Bofur, she spoke loud and clear so that everyone, even those down below could her hear words. "It is real. I…gave it to them."

A dozen eyes shot to here, but it was a particularly dark blue that held her body frozen fear as the silence pressed on.

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