~Chapter Ten~

A Token of Our Friendship

It was all but entirely clear to Bilbo now that Thorin's mind was no longer his own. The gentle, caressing Thorin that had approached him hours ago was lost and all that remained now was a shell of the dwarf he knew. However, Bilbo was no longer sad about this fact, but rather becoming increasingly angry. How could Thorin allow himself to be consumed by this accursed gold? How could he cast a suspicious eye upon his kin? But what really upset Bilbo was how right Smaug was about Thorin, and how Thorin could allow that. But a part of Bilbo's mind was lost in what could have been. What would have happened had they kissed? Perhaps it would have been enough to fix this entire mess? To fix him? Bilbo watched with surprise and disdain as Thorin ordered his company to seal off the entrance to the mountain.

Upon interrupting their moment, Dwalin had informed Thorin that the inhabitants of Laketown were now inhabiting the ruins of Dale, no doubt slowly but surely making their way to the mountain. Infuriated, Thorin had demanded the immediate blockade of the mountain. This did not go over very well with the rest of the company, but there was little they could do. However, that didn't stop a select few from trying.

"I want this fortress made safe by sunup. This mountain was hard won. I will not see it taken again." Thorin boomed as he passed by to check the progress of the stone door. Bilbo was helping Kili tow a large wheelbarrow towards the half shaped gate, when Kili suddenly dropped his half of the load.

"The people of Laketown have nothing." he protested. "They came to us in need, they have lost everything!" Thorin turned, angrily taken aback.

"Do not tell me what they have lost. I know well enough their hardship." he replied, turning to face the now lit up city of Dale. "Those who have lived through dragon fire should rejoice! They have much to be grateful for." He continued, sounding as though he was trying to convince himself. He glared over the city. Bilbo glanced at Kili, who looked as though he had lost something, or perhaps someone, and had just truly realized it.

"More stone." Thorin demanded, as he turned back towards the company. "Bring more stone to the gate!" he yelled. Bilbo watched as Kili seemed to grow just as enraged as Thorin was, but nevertheless continued work on building the gate. Bilbo felt his arms grow limp and his body refused to move. His heart sank within him, like a stone in a river. He could think of nothing and only feel regret and dismay. Bilbo saw as Kili made his way up the steps, boulder in hand, attempting to help his brother place more stones into place. As he placed his rock and turned to retrieve more, Bilbo saw Thorin grab Kili's arm forcefully and begin to whisper fast and fiercely. He could not hear them and could only grasp at what words he thought he saw their mouths form. All he could catch was Thorin mouth, Have you lost your senses?! and he saw the astounded expression on Fili's face. Bilbo felt his mouth drop as he witnessed Kili rip his arm from Thorin's grasp, turn his back to him, and head out of sight. Thorin did not watch him leave, but rather stared at the ground for several seconds, seeming completely in awe. Fili shook his head and took to the direction in which his brother went. Finally, an emotion other than hurt filled Bilbo. What on Earth could Kili have told him? he wondered, but scarcely had time to maintain that thought before Thorin began barking orders again.

oOo

Bilbo tossed and turned, sleep always just only out of his reach. It wasn't the horrendously loud snoring of the dwarves or the echo that lay throughout the mountain, but rather the constant sound of Thorin's pacing in the hallway and the absence of Kili in the bed chambers. Balin had suggested that the dwarves and Bilbo all bunk together, to keep a bit safer, but Kili was nowhere to be seen, and Thorin refused to sleep. Nearing dawn, Bilbo finally fell into a light sleep. He saw nothing in his dreams, only heard. And what he heard were screams, battle cries, and the sounds of sword on flesh.

The following morning and afternoon were no better to Bilbo or Thorin. Kili had reappeared sometime a little before noon, and not much later than that, the dwarves noticed someone was riding their way towards Erebor from Dale. Bilbo climbed up to the rampart and squinted at the figure.

"Is-is that Bard?" he asked. Thorin's expression grew fierce and angry. Bilbo then looked past Bard to see an entire army of elves standing at the entrance of Dale; their looks were fierce and poised, fixated on Erebor. After a while, Bard finally reached the gated entrance of the mountain.

"Hail, Thorin! Son of Thrain. We are glad to find you alive beyond hope." he said, halting his horse. Thorin seemed to not hear him.

"Why do you come to the gates of the King Under the Mountain armed for war?" he asked, surprisingly calmly.

"Why does the King Under the Mountain fence himself in? Like a robber in his hole?" Bard retorted. Thorin sneered.

"Perhaps it is because I am expecting to be robbed." Thorin jeered.

"My lord, we have not come to rob you, but to seek fair settlement." he paused. "Will you not speak with me?" Thorin quickly glanced over the horizon and gave Bard a slight nod, motioning that he would meet him below to speak. Bilbo saw Bard dismount and walk over to the stone gate, where Thorin wait for him. Bilbo decided it would be best to not eavesdrop on their conversation, as he figured he already knew that Thorin would not bow to the lakeman's demands. Bilbo thoughts were startled when a raven took flight, soaring directly over his head and off into the distance. Bilbo scoffed it off and sat down, his back against the stone of the gate, waiting for Thorin and Bard to finish their talk.

It didn't take very long until Bard signified that the conversation was over by angrily smacking the stone gate. Bilbo stood up and look over the ledge to see Bard riding off back towards Dale, with Thranduil waiting for him at its entrance. Thorin climbed back up the steps and looked aimlessly out at the army that was waiting to overtake him. Bilbo had had enough Thorin's bad judgement. He clearly wasn't level headed enough to understand how easily he could lose this mountain again.

"What are you doing?!" Bilbo blurted out. "You...cannot go to war." he said, his thoughts now turning to everything and everyone he stood to lose if this war was started. Thorin did not turn to face him.

"This does not concern you." he muttered.

"Excuse me, but just in case you haven't noticed there is an army of elves out there!" Bilbo said annoyed, shaking his hand towards Dale. The dwarves all turned to look at Bilbo, mostly in surprise from his tone of voice. "Not to mention several angry fishermen." Finally, Thorin turned to face Bilbo; however the look on his face was comical, as if Bilbo's anger and frustration was indeed ridiculous.

"We are, in fact, outnumbered." Bilbo finished. Thorin smirked.

"Not for much longer." he said in a cocky tone. Bilbo opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it when he realized how confused this comment made him.

"What does that mean?"

"It means, Master Baggins…." Thorin began, now walking closer towards where Bilbo stood. "You should never underestimate dwarves." Bilbo could feel his heart beat a little faster and tossed a glance towards the rest of the company to see if they if they looked suspicious of Thorin's behavior. The only out of line look was Kili's, whose expression was filled with anger and directed towards Thorin. Bilbo turned, as Thorin began to walk past him, and felt his expression melt into pure confusion. Could Thorin actually have a sound plan? Bilbo's faith in the fact that he might was very much wavering.

"We have reclaimed Erebor….now we defend it." Thorin said, his expression darkening as he slinked away, leaving the rest of his company to fear and wonder. Bilbo shot a look at Balin, who turned away from him quickly, but Bilbo could tell that worry brimmed from him. That was it. He had made up his mind.

oOo

"Gundabad…" Tauriel muttered, slightly out of breath. She and Legolas had perched themselves on a narrow hill overlooking the orc stronghold. Tauriel thought it odd that she felt so out of sorts, but soon her breathing became normal. "What lies beyond?" she asked Legolas. He glared at its gates.

"An old enemy." he said, turning to her. He seemed to not have noticed Tauriel lacking stamina. "The ancient kingdom of Angmar. This fortress was once its stronghold. It is where they kept their great armories; forged their weapons of war." he explained. Tauriel looked back at the fortress.

"A light! I saw movement." she whispered quickly. Legolas turned to look.

"We wait for the cover of night." he said. "It is a fell place Tauriel. In another age, our people waged war on those lands." he explained. Tauriel turned to glare at the dark and dismal place. How could such a thing exist and no one have done anything about it in recent years? How could Thranduil just leave this place to spawn and grow in its malice? Suddenly, she noticed Legolas look at the ground, his expression glazed. She turned to him, her eyes wondering at the explanation. He turned to her, his eyes curious of her future reaction.

"My mother died there." he said gently. Tauriel felt her heart drop. "My father does not speak of it…."Legolas drifted, his eyes glazed again. "There is no grave...no memory...nothing." he said solemnly. Tauriel let her eyes drift from him to the ground. Could it have been this event that forced Thranduil to leave the rest of the world to its own devices? How awful it must have been for him, for Legolas. Suddenly, her thought turned towards Kili, but she banished them quickly. She could not think to lose him. She absentminded placed a hand upon her stomach and dragged her hand gently across it. Legolas turned to see this and gave Tauriel a now suspicious look.

"What were you doing with that dwarf in the forest, Tauriel?" he asked, slightly accusingly. Tauriel continued to look at the floor for a moment, but then turned to him, her hand still upon her stomach.

"Do not call him that." she said, bitterly. Legolas looked slightly taken aback.

"Call him dwarf? That is what he is, Tauriel." he retorted.

"How can you say it with such disdain? How can you just throw people into a group like you do and look so badly upon them? So hatefully?" she insisted.

"Hatefully?" he repeated. She turned from him.

"Do not bother denying it, it is clear in your voice." she muttered. Legolas knit his eyebrows and let his back fall against a boulder.

"At first, when it occurred to me, I banished the thought as inane and ridiculous, but you have feelings for him. Am I wrong?" he asked rather knowingly.

"Am I not allowed?" Tauriel asked defensively. Legolas's expression became unreadable.

"What were you doing with him?" he asked again, pointedly. Tauriel's hand dropped from her stomach. She inhaled gently.

"I laid with him." she said, and Legolas's face hardened.

"You did what?" his voice came out cold. She turned from him.

"I laid with him, Legolas, and I am not ashamed or regretful of my decision." she paused and sighed. She looked out toward the horizon. "I am in love with him. And I have nothing but worry within my heart about what fate lies before him...before us." Tauriel suddenly felt Legolas grab her left hand. She turned as she saw him inspect the ring that was upon her finger. As he looked at it his eyes widened, but subtle smirk pulled at his lips.

"Is this his?" he asked accusingly. Tauriel took her hand back.

"It is mine." she said. She paused. "And I am his." Legolas turned his head away slowly and stared into the ground as though he were trying to dig a hole into it with solely his mind. Throughout the rest of their time staking out Gundabad, neither said a word to each other, although many times they would have liked to. Tauriel sat there, crowded by her thoughts. She was not filled with shame or regret, but she felt guilty nonetheless. She dearly hoped that she hadn't just lost a friend.

oOo

Bilbo walked through the dark halls of Erebor as one condemned. He had been fighting and struggling with himself all day. At times he had seemed to make up his mind, but at other times, when he played it out, he began to shrink away from his decision. However, he knew deep down it would have to be done; if he wanted to save him. While tangled in his thoughts, Bilbo heard the clattering of metal on metal and turned the corner to see what it was making such noise. He was surprised to see all the company fitting themselves with armor and weapons. Before he could voice his shock, he noticed Thorin standing in the doorway to the armory, holding something in his hands.

"Master Baggins." Thorin's voice boomed through the echoing halls. "Come here." he commanded. Bilbo hesitated, his confusion keeping his legs slow as he eventually made his way over to Thorin. Thorin did not move at first, but simply watch Bilbo as he sidled over. As he grew closer, Thorin then moved to meet him. His armor clattered against the stone ground, making Bilbo feel very uneasy. As Bilbo approached he made out what Thorin was holding, although he wasn't altogether sure of what it was.

"You're going to need this." Thorin said, holding up a sort of chainmail shirt. Bilbo stared at him. "Put it on." he ordered. Bilbo glanced at the shirt, grinned nervously, and began removing his jacket, feeling rather sheepish.

"This vest is made of silver steel…" Thorin explained as Bilbo now removed his vest. Thorin held the shirt between them. "Mithril, it was called by my forebears." For a fleeting moment, Bilbo and Thorin looked upon each other through the Mithril shirt. Thorin held it higher over Bilbo's head, allowing for him to slip it on.

"No blade can pierce it." he explained. He let the rest of the chainmail fall over Bilbo and turned to inspect it on him. Bilbo adjusted himself and looked at Thorin, who simply stared at him. He looked toward the armory and noticed the entire company was also staring at him. Bilbo gave a nervous chuckle.

"I look absurd! I'm not a warrior, I'm a hobbit." he insisted. Thorin's gaze upon him grew soft.

"It is gift...a token of our friendship." he said gently. Bilbo tried to look into his eyes, but his piercing blue gaze was too much for him and all he could do was nodded. Thorin threw a hateful look towards his on looking company.

"True friends are hard to come by." he said forcefully and without warning grabbed Bilbo by the sleeve of his newly bestowed Mithril, dragging him into the shadows.

"I have been blind, now I begin to see." he said, dragging the hobbit. Finally, he released Bilbo, who gave him an amazed look. "I am betrayed!" Thorin exclaimed. Bilbo suddenly felt his heart drop into his stomach.

"Betrayed." he repeated. Thorin's glare intensified.

"The Arkenstone." he hissed. Bilbo gulped. Oh no, was all he could think. Thorin began to move closer to him and Bilbo could feel his breathing become fast and panicked.

"One of them has taken it." Thorin whispered to him. Bilbo's eyes couldn't have been any wider and the relief he felt was almost shameful. "One of them is false." Thorin accused, although his tone sounded heavy to Bilbo, almost thick and poisoned.

"Thorin...the quest is fulfilled. You've won the mountain…" he now found himself capable to look directly into Thorin's gaze. "...is that not enough?"

"Betrayed by my own kin." Thorin continued, not at all hearing what Bilbo was saying.

"No, no, no…" Bilbo said quickly. "You made a promise to the people of Laketown. Is-is this treasure truly worth more than your honor?" Thorin's looked was glazed. "Our honor, Thorin, I was also there, I gave my word." Thorin seemed to break slightly from his possession and grinned gently at Bilbo.

"For that I am grateful...it was nobly done," he said softly, but his tone then turned instantly fierce. "...but the treasure in this mountain does not belong to the people of Laketown. This gold…." Thorin stopped and looked at the floor, his head twisting as though he were in some sort of pain. "...is ours…" his words began to come in whispered increments. "...and ours alone…." he began to move away from Bilbo, his movements forced and sloppy. "On my life….I will not part with a single coin…"his words came like sticky, murky, thick poison. "Not one….piece of it!" Marching dwarves now filled the void that lay between Thorin and Bilbo, although their gazes were not broken. Bilbo felt Thorin's stare but knew that he did not see him, and as Bilbo glared back, he put aside all his reservations about going through with his plan. He knew now it was of little consequence what happened to him, as long as a king, his king, could be saved.

You're about to part with something much more valuable than any single gold piece, Bilbo thought as he turned his back to Thorin, or rather what was left of him.