A longer chapter this time for my loyal and sweet readers :) A little bit of humor in this one as well, I hope that it is not too much out of place.

I also corrected the ,xx' back to 'xx'.

Thorin did not know how long they simply stared at each other. His hand slowly moved up to cup Basil's face and he winced mentally as Basil closed her eyes and leaned into his palm, for he could not understand her trust in him. Thorin let his callous fingers move over her cheek, his thumb gracing her lips. As the callous tip of his thumb moved over her lower lip, Basil opened her eyes and what she saw took her breath away. Thorin's deep blue eyes burned into hers, he looked right into her soul. Basil looked back into his eyes and could see the old Thorin – the one she had gotten to know and love during their quest. The one who had arrogantly stepped into her home and had called her a barmaid. The one who had constantly made her feel unwelcome in the company, but had watched over her nevertheless. The one who had admitted his wrongs and had given her all he could give – friendship, trust, love and a home. Basil had found a home in the company, a home worth more to her than Bag End, though she realised it just now.

All of a sudden, Basil could feel Thorin stiffen and focused on his eyes. She noticed a golden gleam in the irises and she could even see a shadow crossing over them, a shadow of a dragon. She understood that the madness took over again and acted without thinking. Lunging forward she smashed her lips onto Thorin's in a searing kiss and kept her eyes on his. While she pressed her lips against his dry ones, she could see the golden shadow fade in Thorin's wide eyes. Thorin's hand on her cheek snatched away in surprise, but Basil cupped his face instead. Closing her eyes, she softened the kiss and brushed Thorin's lips with the tip of her tongue every now and then. It took a while until Thorin reacted and Basil was close to lose all hope as he started to reluctantly kiss back. But her joy lasted only for a moment. As soon as Thorin began to kiss back he let out a strangled noise and jumped back, crashing the chair in the process. Basil let go of him as if she had burned herself and gasped as she saw his expression, one of horror and...something else Basil could not decipher.

'Thorin.' Basil reached out for her husband, but Thorin recoiled.

'No...you cannot...' Thorin whispered something in Khuzdul before he turned on his heels and fled his rooms. Basil knew where he was going and her heart broke a little bit more. Basil would rather die than set one foot into the cursed treasury again, but she had to bind Thorin to their chambers, at least at night.

#

'Thorin!' Balin gasped as the king rushed by him with a haunted expression, close to panic. The old advisor followed his king, frowning as he realised that they were walking to Erebor's gates and not to the treasury. 'Your Majesty, where are you going?'

But Thorin did not answer, nor stop, until he had reached the lookout above the gates. It was the same place where he had seen Basil last before their lives had fallen apart. Here, he had destroyed whatever bond they had for good – or so he had thought. Basil's kiss had awaken emotions in Thorin, which he thought long gone. Longing, affection and even love warmed his heart, but Thorin could feel the goldsickness cloud his mind even stronger than before as well. The stronger his feelings for Basil grew, the stronger the sickness clawed his mind. If he was not sure about his madness already, he would fear to go insane from his emotions alone.

Thorin walked to the part of the lookout where he had tried to throw Basil down to the treacherous men and elves. His callous palm moved over the cold stone and Balin, who was standing behind his king, sighed in understanding. But he also knew that he needed to bring Thorin back to his rooms before the call of the gold lured the king to the treasury.

'The queen is waiting for you in your quarters, my king.' Balin told Thorin, hoping to pull him out of this obsessed state of mind.

'The queen.' Thorin's voice was monotone and hoarse. 'I should not go back. I am not good for her. I am a threat to her. Why did the accursed wizard bring her here? He sealed her fate.'

'No.' Balin did not know from where he took the courage, but enough was enough. 'You will seal her fate – as well as yours. The lass is a courageous one and she fights the battle for you. Do not let her down – again!'

With these words, Balin left the lookout; on one hand out of fear that the king might decide to toss him down the gate, on the other hand he left out of respect. He would not watch his king while he fought the madness within- and maybe lose.

#

Nori grumbled into his beard as he stood in the shadows, watching his king while he gazed up to the stars. It was bitterly cold and Nori was sure that he had already lost one or two toes to frost bite. Balin had woken him up and had practically shoved him out of his cozy warm bed to keep an eye on the king. Nori had barely managed to throw over a coat and a pair of boots. The king's advisor had told Nori to inform him as soon as Thorin would head towards the treasury, so far, so good, but Thorin had not moved for what Nori felt like ages. And Thorin was even wearing less than Nori and he was showing no sign of the cold. Nori cursed again and nearly missed that Thorin had turned around to walk back into the mountain. Wincing because his feet were numb of cold, Nori followed his king into the dark of the mountain, which was only illuminated by small torches at that time of night. Thorin headed towards the treasury and Nori was on his way to alert Balin, but then Thorin stopped. Nori frowned as he saw his king's bearing grow unsure and reluctant. Thorin's steps faltered and he stopped only a few feet in front of the stairs which led down to the treasury. Thorin stood there for a while, not moving at all and Nori wished that he could see his face. Then, all of a sudden, Thorin shook his head and walked back to the corridor leading to the royal chambers. Nori was about to follow as Thorin changed his direction yet again and walked back to the stairs, but again he paused before he could walk down.

'Are ye kiddin me?' Nori was close to burst as Thorin began to pace too and fro between the corridor and the stairs, clearly unsure where to go, but then, Nori bit his lip. It was a good thing that Thorin seemed to be less drawn to the gold, he should be grateful. This madness had torn the company apart and had destroyed his friend, the former Thorin Oakenshield. Nori remembered the times when Thorin had seen all dwarves of the company as brother in arms and not as subjects. He had taken care of Ori and had supported him and Dori more than once during their loves in the Blue Mountains, that was one of the reasons the brothers Ri followed him on this quest. But now, things were different.

Nori sighed sadly as Thorin slowly, but determinately, walked down the stairs towards the treasury and decided to wake Balin.

#

Basil woke up from a loud sneeze in the morning. She nearly fell of the bed and needed some moments to wake up. At first, she had not been able to sleep last night, due to the fact that Thorin had run from her and their kiss, but close to sunrise, Basil had fallen into an exhausted sleep. As she jerked awake, she noticed that the bed shifted towards the other side and opened her eyes.

'Thorin?' Basil could not believe it. Her husband was back, snuggling deep into the sheets and sniffing. Sniffing? And sneezing? 'Thorin?'

Basil stood up and walked to the other side of the bed to face Thorin. The king was looking terrible, he had dark rings bellow his eyes and he was sweating. As Basil reached out for him and touched his forehead, she could feel that he was burning of fever.

'Sweet Yavanna!' Basil muttered. Thorin was in their bed, his eyes closed and the sheets pulled up to his chin. He obviously was sick and Basil rushed to the doors to inform the guards to get Oin. She would have gotten him herself, but she was still not allowed to leave the royal chambers, much to her annoyance. But who would stop her? Thorin was in no condition to stop her. Basil looked down at her husband in worry. He had caught a bad cold, which was rare for a dwarf. But given that he had barely slept and eaten for months, it was only a matter of time until his body would surrender. Softly, Basil moved her hand over Thorin's sweaty forehead and into the black, messy waves of hair. Thorin let out a strangled noise, that sounded so much like a purr that Basil had to smile. She almost did not hear Oin coming, but as she turned around, she saw Oin, Balin and Ori standing in the door.

'Master Oin, the king is sick...' Basil bit her lip as soon as the words had left her mouth. Of course he was sick – just not mad – at least at the moment. 'I mean...he caught a cold and he has a high fever.'

'Nori as well!' Ori whispered to Basil as Oin stared to examine the king. 'He has not left his bed all morning, cursing about some insufferable royal moron – I think he means Thorin!'

For the first time in months, Basil had to chuckle. She could imagine why Nori was sick, apparently, he had followed his king around the mountain the last night. With a glance at Balin, Basil searched for confirmation. As Balin shrugged his shoulders apologetically, Basil knew that she was right.

'It appears that it is only a cold, even though I am quite concerned, lassie.' Oin was finished with the examination. 'His lack of sleep and meals has taken a toll on him, his fever is high and he is not waking up.'

'Is there anything you can do?' Basil paled. She had not expect that it was that severe.

'The king needs to stay warm. He needs to drink alot of fluids, chicken broth, tea, water...do not bother giving him food, he will not be able to keep it in.' Oin sighed. 'It was only a matter of time until it had to happen, I should have forced him to eat and sleep.'

'There was no way you would have gotten his majesty to sleep or eat, we all tried.' Balin murmured and glanced at Basil. 'He is in your reaponsibility now. We will bring you all that you need.'

Basil nodded and watched the three dwarves – friends – leave the room. Thorin appeared to be sleeping and Basil quietly roamed around the chambers, taking every fur she could find and draping it over her husband's shivering body. She lit the fire and made some tea, for she had quite a large stock. It was one of the things Thorin had brought her from Dale a few days ago, a tea pot, cups, mint, ginger, honey, camomille and dried fruit. Basil smiled as she remembered how Thorin had barged into their chambers that day, his arms filled with fresh food and other things for her. She had not realised it then, but even in his sickness he had tried to make her feel comfortable – in her prison. Basil shook her head; he had probably not thought anything by it – or had he? Basil was more than confused and tried to concentrate on the tea. She mixed some mint, ginger and honey into the hot water and let it stirr for a long moment. As she walked to the bed with the cup, she realised that there was no way that she could make Thorin drink it. Thorin was laying on his side and he was sleeping or unconscious, Basil did not know. She would have to bring him into a sitting position to make him drink the tea. With a sigh, Basil put down the cup and moved onto the bed, pushing Thorin onto his back and straddling him. She removed the blankets and the furs and tried to pull him up by his arms.

The king did not move one tiny bit. Basil pulled as hard as she could, but she could not lift him. Standing up on her feet and taking only one of Thorin's arms, Basil took a deep breath and pulled again, this time lifting his shoulder only inches from the bed before she had to let go. Panting, Basil cursed and rested her hands on her hips as she heard a deep chuckle coming from the door.

Dwalin was standing there, highly amused and grinning for the first time since Basil knew him. He was carrying Oin's medicine and some water, as well as a pot of chicken broth.

'This is not funny.' Basil growled, but Dwalin only huffed with laughter.

'It is from where I am standing.' he remarked and walked to the desk to put everything down. As he walked up to the bed, Basil cocked her eyebrows at him. 'Here ya go.'

Dwalin only needed one arm to hurl Thorin into a sitting position and Basil quickly pushed some pillows behing his back to stabilise him.

'Thank you.' she muttered and made Dwalin smirk.

'You're welcome, my queen.' Dwalin cocked an eyebrow at her. 'Look at that. So it is true, married couples become more alike.'

He grinned as Basil looked at him with a deep frown, reminding him of Thorin again.

Basil sat down beside Thorin and tried to purr some of the tea down his throat. After a few sips, Thorin started coughing and Basil waited patiently to continue. Dwalin stayed with her until the cup was empty and then pushed the pot with soup into her hands. Basil sighed and tried to give some of the soup to Thorin, but was stopped by Dwalin.

'No, lass.' The captain of the guard gave her another spoon. 'This is for you.'