Author's Note: Once again, I am so sorry for the wait. But at least it hasn't been another month? This chapter took a little longer because of an odd combination of impressive writer's block and me trying to justify my writer's block by waiting to finish this when the third movie came out on Amazon so as to have a reference.

I would love to hear what you all think of this chapter. I struggled a bit with Smaug as I started out worrying that I had written him as a bit of over-dramatic drama queen and then I rewatched DOS and realized that's exactly what he is. And I'd like to hear what you all think of Laura's handling of the entire situation, I tried to write it as realistically as possible with her reactions but I'm still a little anxious.

I would also like to thank you all for the favorites, follows, and reviews. You're all just so awesome.

Enjoy!

Chapter Revised: April 2017

Disclaimer: I own nothing except Laura.

It was no less terrifying going into Erebor a second time.

One would think that now that I knew what was in there, that since I had seen Smaug for myself, I would be able to keep myself even a little bit calm.

That wasn't what happened. Not by a long shot. In fact, I felt even worse than before. My heart was beating furiously against my ribcage, my hands were slick with sweat, and my breathing was short and shallow. I railed against my instincts to flee back to the others, or even straight back to Bag End. Even with Balin's kind words I felt no braver, nor did I feel any more confident.

My only saving grace was that I had a plan. Not a great one mind you, not even a good one, but it was passable and really the only option I had. I needed to get through the treasury, find the Arkenstone, and get out unscathed. Really, I was just hoping to get out with all my limbs intact.

That was what my mind was chanting as I slipped back into the treasury and out onto the floating walkways. Keep my limbs intact. Keep my limbs intact.

I scanned the great room carefully, trying to find any sign of Smaug, any sign that it knew that I had come back but I saw nothing. The treasure seemed undisturbed and Smaug was nowhere in sight. It was possible that it was still looking for me somewhere deep in the mountain. A smaller more paranoid part of my brain suggested that it was merely waiting for the opportune moment to appear and get rid of me once and for all. Quite frankly, both of those seemed equally plausible.

But, I figured as I reached what I judged was the center most walkway of the treasury, either way if Smaug didn't disturb me I would do everything in my power not to disturb it. With a sigh I bent down and carefully placing the cup on the walkway before retreating to the nearest staircase.

A few moments later I carefully stepped out onto the gold, pleased that I was able to keep my balance over the shifting pieces of treasure. I climbed the piles slowly, wary of every sound I made, of every gold piece that would tumble down the slopes as I made my way across the treasure. Once I was satisfied that I was a safe distance from where I left the cup, I turned and was pleased to see that it was clearly visible and gleaming, despite the low light, high above the rest of the treasure.

A part of me hoped that Smaug would see it as the apology I meant it as. But the more realistic side of me accepted that it was merely a distraction if nothing else, which was the plan. The cup I had taken could act as a diversion, should Smaug show up, allowing me an opening to escape without another encounter with Smaug's temper.

That was what I told myself would happen, as I shifted slowly through the treasure, scanning the slopes eagerly for some sign of the Arkenstone, because any other outcome would certainly mean my death.

I spent quite a bit of time searching through the treasury, climbing and sliding down the hills of treasure, waiting as the gold would shift in my wake in hopes of catching a glimpse of the Arkenstone somewhere. But there was nothing, not near the staircases, not on the top or bottoms of hills, not anywhere. After sliding down one last slope near one of the pillars that supported the main platforms of the floating walkways I watched as the gold settled around me, looking over it all closely. I sighed in frustration, as the Arkenstone yet again failed to appear. I shook my head and pushed to my feet, deciding to risk being out in the open if it meant I could get a better view of all this treasure.

I clambered down the slopes carefully and made my way across the treasury towards the staircase that I knew would bring me the closest to the secret door which, naturally, was halfway across the treasury. I glared up at the ceiling, resentful and angry that it was taking so damn long to find a stupid jewel. I then took maybe five more steps when I stumbled, my right foot catching itself in several long ropes of fine gold chain. I could feel my left foot lose its balance and braced myself for the fall. And fall I did. I hit the slope shoulder first and then my whole body did a somersault right after it. I could hear the treasure giving way around me as the largest avalanche yet was triggered. The treasure and I fell together, knocking into one another and not stopping until the very bottom of the hill.

I didn't bother to move, not until the treasure had come to a stop around me, which ended with me being mostly-buried under almost a foot of gold. I brought my arms up, scowling, and levered myself up and back onto my feet. I had called it. Gold avalanches were just as likely to kill me as Smaug was.

I rolled my shoulder painfully relieved to find that, at least, it wasn't dislocated but probably bruised. Once I was satisfied with my self-diagnosis, I shook myself forcefully, dislodging the gold that had been caught in the folds in my clothes. I reached into my pockets, carefully picking out the gold coins that had made their way into them thanks to my fall, allowing my fingers to brush against my ring just once to assure myself that it was still there.

Once satisfied, I straightened my back and glanced balefully around me at the treasure. God, I hated this place. I was so caught up in my irritation that I didn't notice it at first, the glow that was coming from only a few feet to my left.

But then my eyes caught on it, a light that shouldn't have been in such a dark and cavernous room. I frowned at it, tiptoeing closer, unsure, something half-forgotten niggling at the back of my mind.

I crouched next to the mostly-submerged light and reached out a hand to brush away the gold coins that covered it and stared in surprise.

It was a jewel. A large white jewel. But it was more than that. It was almost hazy, the whiteness speckled with what looked like a rainbow of different colors that seemed to shift inside the jewel itself. It was like nothing I had ever seen and even with my limited knowledge I knew what it was.

The Arkenstone.

'It glows with the magic of the mountain,' Balin had said. Well, it definitely glowed. And there was definitely nothing natural about it.

Holy shit. I found it.

I reached out slowly, wrapping my fingers around it gingerly. It was too large for me to grasp, I realized after only a few seconds, and so I brought up my other hand and slowly dislodged it from the treasure, holding it close with no little curiosity. This was what we had traveled across half of Middle Earth for. This was what Thorin coveted so badly, even after all this time.

It was pretty, I'd give it that. But it was a rock all the same. Too large and too bulky. You couldn't even make a necklace out of it. Give me a ruby or a sapphire any day of the week.

I stood up slowly and slid the Arkenstone in my coat pocket, the same inner pocket that held my ring. Satisfied that the Arkenstone was safely secured, I began the arduous journey of crossing a sea of treasure. This time though, I felt almost lighter, reveling in the fact that I had found the Arkenstone. I could get the hell out and not look back. I was done.

Or so I stupidly thought. I had just ducked underneath one of the many raised platforms when I heard a familiar sound.

At first I thought it was just the treasure underneath my feet, the soft clinking of gold ringing out in the cavernous room. But then, I realized from my spot, that it was too intermittent, too far away, and too quiet to be from me. I frowned and retreated deeper underneath the pillared platform, peaking around the pillars to try and find the source of the noise.

It was only when I rounded the last pillar did I realize why the sound was so familiar. It was Smaug.

Smaug who was in the middle of the treasury, looking very much like the predator it was, its muscles tight and controlled, its body close to the ground. But that was not what alarmed me. No, what alarmed me was that Smaug's attention was wholly on the walkway before it: the walkway on which I had left the cup.

Could I seriously not catch a break? Not even once?

I watched it as it bent its head down closer to the walkway. Even from my distance I could hear it sniffing at the cup.

Damn. How was a dragon so stealthy? Had Smaug been there the whole time, just watching me? Or had it crept back into the treasury without me noticing?

Neither scenario was particularly pleasant. I took a deep breath and considered the situation. Smaug was far enough away that if I was careful, I could probably escape the treasury without it noticing. If I used the pillared platforms as cover, since Smaug was certainly too big to fit its head underneath one, I could likely make it to the exit.

That was as good a plan as any, I decided, and I had just worked up enough courage to move when Smaug spoke.

"So, you have returned, little thief," Smaug said genially, its voice carrying to every corner of the room. I couldn't tell if it was genuinely impressed or if it was an act. I was leaning towards the latter.

I backed away carefully, using the pillars as cover before carefully sliding down the nearest hill of gold, wincing as it clinked and hissed around me. From behind me, I could hear Smaug move across the treasure as a gust of air shot over the surface of the gold. My eyes widened. It was unfurling its wings.

Throwing all caution to the wind I bolted, sliding down the treasure and stumbling over the slopes to the next platform which was several dozen feet away. I could hear Smaug moving behind me, the gold scattering as it shifted closer. God, this was not going well at all.

I had just darted beneath the nearest platform when I heard Smaug hit the ground near me, hard enough to shake the entire room. I pressed myself against the pillar with wide eyes. It was flying. Smaug could fly in the damn room.

I needed to have a serious talk with the dwarves about their architecture. Giant cavernous rooms were all well and good but the fact that they gave a giant fire-breathing probably man-eating dragon enough room to fly was a serious problem.

"Do you think," Smaug said conversationally, so close that I could feel its words reverberating in my chest, "It so easy to soothe me?"

Oh my God. And now it wanted to talk.

I narrowed my eyes in thought. If I kept it distracted enough I could find an opening to get the hell out. And tell Thorin where to shove his Arkenstone. That was priority number one. Well, after surviving this.

Finally, after a long stretch of silence permeated only by Smaug's odd combination of purring and growling, I took the plunge.

"Of course not, Master Dragon." I called out shakily, "I would never think you so easy to deter."

Smaug's rumbling grew louder. "Indeed."

I skirted around the pillar, just enough to tilt my head and take a look out at the treasury to see how close Smaug really was. To my horror I found a great golden eye staring back at me.

I swallowed so loudly that I was sure even Smaug had heard it. This was going so badly.

"I didn't come to steal from you," I continued desperately, "I only wanted to see you for myself, truly. I have never seen a dragon and the only stories of dragons they tell are of Smaug."

"'They?'" Smaug repeated slowly, its voice curling around the word as it raised its head up and out of sight. I watched as it circled my hiding place slowly.

"Travelers," I elaborated quickly, "Merchants. You are known far and wide."

This wasn't a lie. Gandalf had told me a little about dragons through our journey, mostly that they were big and evil, and he was a wanderer. Many of the company had been merchants at some point in their lives in order to support their families, selling dwarven wares and smithing services across Middle Earth.

"I see," Smaug said smoothly. "And your dwarf friends, certainly, had plenty of stories to tell."

Oh, shit.

Oh God. Oh God.

How did he find out?

"Dwarves?" I repeated, doing my best to sound confused. "Dwa-rves. No, I'm afraid I have not come across dwarves in quite some time. No, I'm merely doing some investigating of my own, you understand. To see for myself if the legends were true."

"Is that so?" Smaug asked, its voice laced with absent interest. I watched, nervously, as its head dipped back down to watch me. "Your heart speaks a different story."

Oh my God this was awful. I was messing up so bad.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, Master Dragon." I replied nervously.

"I think you do," Smaug replied, eye wide and unblinking. "Little thief. I can hear your heart, fluttering like the wings of a bird. Do you think I am so ignorant as to not know what that means?"

"I would never call you ignorant." I denied vehemently, hoping to appease it. "You are vastly clever, I am sure. And your knowledge must be unparalleled."

"Indeed," Smaug hissed out, sounding almost satisfied. "Such lovely words you weave, for a thief and a liar but I suppose that is your nature."

I watched with horror as Smaug lifted its head out of sight. There was a terrible pregnant pause, in which there was nothing, and then there was an almighty boom above me, that had such intensity that it shook the entire treasury. I realized a split-second later that Smaug had thrown itself against the pillars above me. I could hear the stone cracking under its weight.

I threw my arms up over my head, in a futile attempt to protect myself as Smaug bellowed, "I know the smell and taste of dwarf. No one better!"

There was another ground-shaking tremor as Smaug threw itself against the pillars once more, the snapping of stone growing louder.

I had to get out. Evacuate, my brain screamed. Evacuate now!

And so I did exactly that. I didn't even stop to think if it was a good idea, all I could think about was living through this. I sprinted across the treasure below me, praying that my feet wouldn't get caught by something and trip. I could hear Smaug moving behind me and as I slid between the pillars of a new platform, I chanced a look behind me.

"It is the gold!" Smaug snarled, sliding across the treasure after me. It hit the pillars I was hiding between as it came to a stop and for a brief and terrifying moment I thought they were going to give way. They didn't, thankfully, even as Smaug wrapped its claws around them and pressed against them with its full weight. "They are drawn to treasure like flies to dead flesh."

I bolted as soon as I was sure Smaug was settled, figuring it would take it a moment or two to shove off of the pillars and chase after me. I tumbled down another hill of gold, desperate to find another set of pillars to hide among. I had almost reached the nearest set when a great wing and claw smacked down against the treasure, blocking my route. I skidded to a halt, ready to turn back, when the second claw came down to my right.

I was trapped. Oh, God.

"I can smell them on you," Smaug roared above me, its chest already glowing with its flames. "I can smell them on what is mine. They put their filthy hands on what belong to me!"

Smaug lowered its head, eye glowing as it met mine. "But you, you are not a dwarf."

I swallowed nervously, maintaining eye contact despite every instinct I possessed. I slowly brought my hand up to rest over my heart, ready to grab my ring as soon as I saw an opening.

"You are familiar with my name," Smaug said, anger gone, or more likely just underneath the surface, and replaced with the detached curiosity I had come to associate with it. "But I don't remember smelling your kind before."

"Oh?" I squeaked out, sliding my hand underneath my jacket.

"You smell of earth," Smaug told me slowly, "And yet there is something beneath it, something that stinks of men. It will be a pleasing divergence to indulge upon your flesh."

Uh-oh.

"But I shall wait, I think." Smaug said decisively. "I believe your dwarves will make a fitting meal. Or should I roast those sniveling lake-men first? I can smell them on you, I recognize their stink anywhere." I could feel my stomach drop to my feet. "But make no mistake I shall save you for last, little thief."

Oh, no. Oh, no. The dwarves. Lake-town.

Smaug had already turned away when I found the courage to shout after it, "No!"

Smaug looked back, eyes gleaming, as I declared, "Don't you dare!"

At once its attention turned back to me. Smaug loomed closer. "And who are you to command me?"

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. It had a point I had no sway over Smaug, not really. But I set my jaw and glared defiantly at it despite that. I could, at the very least, distract it by pushing its buttons.

I watched as Smaug took the bait, circling me slowly, its claws gouging into the stone pillars as it passed. "The King under the Mountain is dead!" Samug bellowed at me, "I took his throne. I ate his people like a wolf among sheep. I kill whom I wish when I wish, if I desire I will kill them all. They are only alive because I allow it!"

"You think that makes you king?" I demanded, anger rising and fear forgotten. Smaug spoke of Erebor as if it were nothing. As if Lake-town was nothing. As if the people who lived there, who died here, were nothing. "All that makes you is a murderer!"

"I am King Under the Mountain." Smaug snarled. It turned to me just as I slid down another slope of gold. "This mountain is mine! This treasure belongs to me, no other! I will not part with a single coin."

I sprinted as fast as I could toward the nearest staircase, no bothering to duck for cover. All I needed was to get to safety. Somewhere I could heckle Smaug from a safe distance to keep me out of reach and its mind off of the dwarves.

"My armor is iron," Smaug declared from behind me. I bent down low, scooping up what felt like a huge serving platter and holding it close to my chest. "No blade can pierce me. My teeth are swords, my claws, spears. My wings are a hurricane."

I bolted up the nearest staircase, Smaug's claw crashing down on the stairs so close that I could feel the force of it at my back. Once I reached the top of the staircase, I turned to look behind me and found Smaug staring back, anger gone and replaced by what I would almost call self-satisfaction.

I moved the platter in front of me; it was so large that it felt like a shield, though I knew it wouldn't stop Smaug in the slightest.

"I am almost tempted to let you take it," Smaug said thoughtfully. I frowned up at it, confused. "If only to see that filthy dwarf prince suffer."

Oh God.

"So that you," Smaug continued with malevolent pleasure. "Can watch it destroy him. Watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad."

"No," I breathed out. That couldn't be true. Thorin was steadfast and strong, like stone. But. But he had been acting odd lately. Uncaring and driven, like that night in Laketown. Unyielding and impatient at the overlook of Dale. Pushing and reckless with my life when he insisted I return to the treasury.

"But I think our little game ends here," Smaug said, sounding almost regretful. "Tell me, how do you choose to die?"

I stared at it, watching as the heat gather in Smaug's chest, bright orange and glowing like coals. Then, in profound display of stupidity, I shot back, "You'll have to catch me first."

And with that parting shot, I slipped on my ring and vanished, dropping the golden platter, darting to one side, and following the walkway the surrounded the room to the nearest doorway. I could hear Smaug roaring behind me, the walls trembling as I darted down the long corridor pulling off my ring and dispelling the grey shadowy vision that came with it. All I had to do was lose it like last time, reach the dwarves, and find a way to warn Lake-town.

At the end of the corridor was a wide hall lined with geometrically carved pillars and at least a dozen other corridors' entrances on each side. I paused, unsure of which was to go when suddenly a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned and saw with horror as Smaug rounded the corner at the end of the cavernous hall. We stared at each other for a split second before Smaug's chest began to glow and it opened its mouth. I darted forward into the nearest corridor across the hall just as a stream of flames consumed the entire hall behind me. I could feel and hear Smaug moving down the open hall as I turned a corner and not a second later did I hear flames erupt from behind me. I pressed myself into a doorway blocked by rumble, keeping my back as tight to the stone as possible. I closed my eyes as the flames shot passed me and it was so hot, like an oven but a thousand times worse, I could feel the stones around me heat up and grow molten.

I remember thinking this was it, I was gone, but then suddenly the flames stopped. I cracked open my eyes and saw my jacket smoldering and the hallway filled with visible heat waves.

Wasting no time I shot down the corridor and up the set of stairs that were waiting at its end. I winced and hissed to myself as my feet throbbed in pain against the stone floor. Even hobbit feet couldn't withstand a dragon's fire.

Soon I found myself darting down and along several more passages, none of which, thankfully, led into another wide room. But then my luck ran out as I climbed a second staircase which led me to an open hall. At one end I could see an open cavern with floating walkways. At the other I could see several arched doorways lining the entire wall, showing me what looked like a large room with many statues carved into its wall illuminated by the weak light of the moon, each of them flanked by large pillars giving them the illusion of an art gallery.

I cocked my head in thought. That seemed promising. Smaug wouldn't be able to fit through the arched doorways despite their impressive height. If I could get through them unseen then I might have a chance. I broke into a sprint, ignoring the splitting ache in my side and the screaming pain from the bottoms of my feet. I chanced one last look behind me, and saw a glowing light that signaled Smaug was fast approaching, its chest like a beacon in the dark halls of the mountain.

I gave one last burst of speed skidding to a halt once I had crossed into the new hall. I turned, unable to stop myself, taking in the huge intricate banners above me and watched through the doorway as Smaug opened its mouth and let out a huge billow of fire. I threw myself against the wall between two of the doorways as the fire jetted past me. They lasted for only thirty seconds at most, before vanishing. Taking a chance, I began to run to the center of the room when suddenly the wall behind me broke apart, crumbling under the dragon's strength, Smaug roaring.

Well, there went that plan. I made it may be twenty steps before something dark and heavy fell over me, obscuring my vision and knocking me over. A second later an almighty clanging rang out in the hall, barely audible over Smaug's snarling.

I shuffled awkwardly on my stomach, paralyzed with the fear that it was Smaug's wing that was engulfing me and then paused. Whatever it was it was too soft, too musty-smelling to be Smaug. And then it hit me. It was the banner. I was underneath the banner. As far as hiding spots went it wasn't terrible. But it wasn't all that great either as Smaug surely knew where I was.

The fabric was too heavy for me to even push to my knees and I realized I was trapped. Above me I could hear Smaug growling.

"You think you can deceive me, thief?" Smaug demanded angrily above me as I did my best to army crawl out from under the banner. "Do you think I do not know who sent you? You have come from Lake-town."

I narrowed my eyes and paused in my attempt to free myself. We had established this already, what was it getting at?

Then Smaug revealed its meaning. "This is some sordid scheme hatched between those filthy dwarves and those miserable lake-men with their long-bows and black arrows." I frowned up at it. What did it mean 'black arrows?' "Investigating, indeed."

"No!" I shouted, hoping I wasn't too muffled underneath the banner, now trying desperately to get free. "No, you're mistaken!"

"Perhaps," Smaug hissed out just as I was able to emerge from the banner with a gasping breath. "It is time I paid them a visit. I do believe it is long overdue."

Oh God. No, no, please, no.

"Stop!" I called, pushing myself to my feet with a wheeze watching with horror as Smaug turned towards where the moonlight was streaming through pigeon-hole windows overlooking what looked like a huge gate situated in the level below. "No, this isn't their fault! Wait!"

Smaug whipped its neck around to look at me fully, its eyes shining with what I would almost call triumph.

"Please," I told it desperately, hoping Bilbo, wherever he was, would forgive me for what I was about to do. I couldn't let this happen. I couldn't allow myself to fail, to fail Ulmo and the other Valar who believed in me. I couldn't unleash such an evil. "Take me instead!"

My stomach dropped as I watched something slot into place behind Smaug's eyes. It purred quietly, eyeing me with undisguised satisfaction. "Hm, you care for them do you?"

I took in a shuddering breath, horror mounting, "I-"

"Good," Smaug said, looking for all the world like the cat that got the cream. "Then you can watch them die. And then, when I am finished with them, I will slaughter your dwarves." I could feel my heart stuttering in my chest. "And then I will come for you."

"No," I whispered, feeling more helpless than I ever had in my entire life.

But Smaug didn't listen. Instead unfurled its wings and with one last almighty roar took off at what looked almost like a canter, easily knocking over pillars, gliding over the staircases that led to the lower level, then burst through the great gate causing rubble to rain down and took off into the sky.

Oh my God. Oh my God. What had I done?

I stood frozen for a very long time. Shock, I remember thinking, I was in shock. I felt cold, so cold, as dread washed over me. My heart couldn't seem to maintain a regular heartbeat and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't control my breathing.

I had doomed them. I had set a damn dragon on Lake-town. On the people who had believed in us, in the dwarves, who cheered us on as we left them behind two mornings ago. Had it really been only two days?

Bard. Sigrid. Tilda. Bain. The dragon was coming for them. It would destroy their home. It would kill them.

God, what had I done?

I didn't notice that I had started walking, not until I reached the rubble of what I realized was the main gate of Erebor. Great chunks of stone were strewn about on what looked like an old road, unused for probably centuries. I shook myself, trying to get rid of the last wisps of shock, and began to climb. I was slow moving. My limbs were shaking from exhaustion and my feet still throbbed in pain but I had to get there, I had to get to Lake-town. I had to help. I had to do something. Anything. Anything to get rid of this clawing guilt; this overwhelming feeling of failure.

I had just scrambled over the last bit of rubble when I heard it. My name. Bilbo's name. Someone was calling for me. I frowned, tearing my eyes away from where I had seen Smaug disappear over the craggily hills between Erebor and Lake-town.

I turned just in time to see many- thirteen I had no doubt if I bothered to count- figures emerge in the great gaping hole that was once Erebor's gate.

I watched numbly as they all came closer, moving over the rubble with a swiftness that at any other time I would envy. I couldn't see which ones were which until they were very close, recognizing Fili and Kili at the front of the group with Dwalin and Nori close behind.

They came to a stop in front of me, as if they hit a wall. We stared at each other for a long moment and I wondered, vaguely, what on earth I must look like, what my expression must have been, to make them stop so suddenly. Finally it was Fili who took the first step towards me, one arm extended.

"Bilbo," Fili finally said, eyes very wide. I could see behind him that Kili was wearing a mirrored expression. "Bilbo, are you alright?"

And it was like a dam had broken. I took a shuddering gasp and before I even realized what was happening, tears began to roll down my cheeks, hot and wet.

"I," I started to say, unable to get any words out. "I." I took a deep breath of air and swallowed. Finally I whispered. "I've done something terrible."

Fili's face went very soft but the worry in his eyes seemed to grow. He took another step forward, ready to grab my shoulder but I took a hasty step back in a desperate attempt to stay out of reach. Fili dropped his hand but his expression did not change. "We felt it, Smaug breaking out of the mountain. And then we saw him, flying west. We thought you were dead, Bilbo."

"Lake-town," I gasped out, tears streaming. "It's gone to Lake-town. It thought- it thought that they."

God what was wrong with me?

I took a few deep breaths and turned to Balin who had come to stand next to his brother. His eyes were very sad as they met mine. "Is there," I began to ask, not even bothering to hope but needing to know anyway. Needing to ask. "Is there anything we can do?"

Balin's eyes, if possible, grew even sadder before shaking his head. "No, lad, I'm afraid there isn't."

I choked back a sob, a fresh wave of tears washing over me. This time I didn't pull away as Fili's hand settled on my shoulder, large and very warm.

I could hear the dwarves talking around me with Dwalin suggesting that we make for the guard tower that was just ahead, positioned on the slopes of the mountain, facing Dale. It was agreed among them all that this would be the best place to keep watch for Smaug's return, once it was finished decimating Lake-town.

I wanted to argue. I wanted to scream that we needed to help Lake-town. To find survivors, to do whatever we could for them but even I realized it was foolishness. It would take at least a day's travel to reach Lake-town and by then Smaug would be more than finished with the settlement and already on its way back to the mountain. So, I said nothing, watching as the dwarves began to move as one towards what I assumed was the access point of the watchtower. And then, between one blink and the next, Thorin was before me.

"Burglar," Thorin said quietly and with a bewildering tinge of urgency. "Burglar did you find it?"

Even through my haze I could see the dwarves pause around me, all eyes on us. And all of them were frowning, some with blatant disproval like Balin, and others with disbelief like Fili, Kili, Bofur, and Ori, while Nori and Dwalin and Gloin all stared with shuttered uncertainty.

I was more interested in Thorin, though. Hot anger was slicing through my grief as my brain tried to understand what he was talking about. Surely he wasn't going to bring up the Arkenstone, not at a time like this?

"Find it?" I repeated slowly, trying not to let my voice shake. "Find what?"

"The Arkenstone," Thorin bit out sharply, looking frustrated. "Did you find the Arkenstone, Burglar?"

I frowned at him, my tears coming to a swift halt, still gathering at my lashes but no longer falling. And for a long moment I didn't reply, instead studying him with growing concern. Thorin was pale and sweating. His eyes were very bright and so cold, like chips of ice. Who was this dwarf standing in front of me? This wasn't the Thorin I knew. What was going on?

Then, unbidden, Smaug's words came back to me. 'Watch it destroy him. Watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad.'

Was Smaug telling the truth? Could the Arkenstone, a freaking rock, really change Thorin so much? Yes, I relented quickly, yes it could. Rings could apparently be evil and nightmare-inducing, why couldn't there be a rock that drove people crazy? Not even people, because the others seemed more or less fine, if not rightly concerned over Thorin's sudden personality change. It was only hurting Thorin.

So, in that moment, I made a decision. I wouldn't let Thorin have the Arkenstone. I had already been affected by my ring, with an overwhelming possibility that its influence would follow me the rest of my life. I wouldn't let the Arkenstone do the same to Thorin.

So I lied.

"No," I replied finally, locking eyes with Thorin. "No, I'm afraid I didn't."

Assuming that was the end of our discussion, I moved to step around Thorin and follow the others but was stopped by a strong, almost bruising grip on my shoulder.

I hissed out in pain, because it was the same shoulder I had landed on during the gold-avalanche, snapping my eyes back up to Thorin's face but he seemed to either not notice or not care about the strength of his grip. His eyes were hard, searching my face closely. For a terrible wild moment I actually thought Thorin was going to hurt me. But then I was saved.

"Thorin," Balin called, his voice impressively calm even if his eyes were wide with alarm.

And then Thorin's hand dropped and he turned away, eyes squeezed shut in what I would almost call pain. I watched him carefully as he began to walk away, noticing how his shoulders curved inward, just for a moment, before his back straightened as he joined Dwalin at the front of the group.

I let out a sigh of relief which was followed quickly by Fili and Kili pressing in close, one on each side. They were both stiff and very still for a long minute before Kili carefully wrapped a hand around my elbow just as Fili laid a gently hand over where Thorin had grabbed me. And then I heard it, like the ringing of an alarm clock breaking through a dream: the tolling of a bell.

There was only one place that it could be coming from. Lake-town. I could feel the tears coming back full force and I didn't bother to brush them away.

"Come on, Bilbo," Kili muttered quietly but even I could hear the distress in his voice.

The three of us moved slowly as I hobbled across the terrain, the rest of the group quickly overtaking us before we were left straggling behind. The bell continued to ring out, an almost mournful sound over the desolation. Fili and Kili didn't abandon me, nor did they try to speed up or slow down but instead kept my pace, even if it meant taking only one step for every two I did and even if it meant putting up with my crying.

We had just reached an almost indistinguishable staircase maybe twenty minutes later when I finally broke down.

"There's no need for you two to stay with me," I told them gently, easing myself to rest against the nearest cliff-edge of the mountain as the others began to climb the steep steps. I was desperate enough to take my weight off my feet that I was totally okay with being left behind. It was a small consolation that my tears had finally stopped. "You should be with your Uncle."

"But you're hurt, Bilbo," Kili replied swiftly, frowning.

"I'm fine," I told them, my grief and guilt giving way to the urge to protect my pride as Fili joined his brother in frowning at me. "Really! I'm just a bit slow."

And then, as if summoned, Dori appeared next to me. "Come now, Mister Bilbo."

I turned to Dori, eyebrows raised in question. Dori huffed at me. "Anyone can see you're hobbling terribly, one could easily mistake you as a three-hundred and fifty year old dwarf. Let me carry you."

I could feel my eyebrows crawl even higher towards my hairline as Fili and Kili nudged me gently in Dori's direction.

"Really, Dori," I protested immediately. "I'm not as bad as all that!" The three dwarves shot me identical unimpressed looks. I scowled at them. "I'm not!"

"Allow me to help you share the load," Dori said with much more kindness than I expected. Bossiness? Yes. Outright kindness? No.

"You've been through more than enough tonight, I think." Dori pressed on. "Don't you?" He then ruined it by adding, "At the rate you're moving, you likely won't reach the top until next Durin's Day."

I couldn't even bother to be offended as huge wave of exhaustion hit me. That didn't mean I wasn't annoyed. "Fine."

Dori rolled his eyes at me which was, quite frankly, unnecessary in my opinion.

I had just clambered into position on Dori's back, with quite a bit of help from Fili and Kili, when the bell went silent, and then a moment later a great roar rang out across the land, earth-shaking and angry. Oh, God, Smaug. The dwarves and I all froze where we were and then, between one blink and the next, we were all scrambling up the staircase, desperate to reach the top, to see what had become of Lake-town.

It took very little time at all, now that I was no longer limping behind. Dori was gracious enough to settle me back on my feet almost immediately, as the dwarves began to move towards what looked an overlook. I moved to join them, slowly, following behind Fili and Kili and confirmed that it was an overlook, one that allowed for a full view of the ruins of Dale. And beyond that I could see the lake, huge and black in the night.

And then there was Lake-town, a smoldering orange glow against the inky blackness of the night. From our position we could see the town clearly and I was sure it wasn't my imagination that we could hear the screams of the people of Lake-town from even where we were.

I turned away quickly, hating myself for being so cowardly but I couldn't stand to see what I had caused.

"Those poor souls," Balin murmured quietly, expression solemn, as many of the others turned away, heads bowed.

We were all silent for a long minute before Bofur asked, "Where's the dragon?"

"What?" Gloin demanded as his brother moved his earhorn into position.

"The dragon," Bofur repeated turning from where he was leaning over the wall of the overlook to look back at us. "I can't see it."

Dwalin, Nori, Ori, Fili, Kili and Gloin joined Bofur at the wall, all of them frowning at the lake.

"I cannot see it either," Fili said slowly. "Surely it would not leave Lake-town half burned?"

"Perhaps it is dead," Ori suggested painfully hopeful.

"I do not believe luck would be so kind to us," Dwalin replied warily.

Gloin harrumphed next to him, "Then where is it?"

No one could answer him.

It was an unspoken decision that we would stay in the guard tower for the night, to keep an eye for Smaug should it reappear, and to watch for any survivors of Lake-town. Balin took charge, assigning pairs to watch instead of one of us as had been the norm on our journey. Balin insisted that the rest of us to get some sleep to which no one argued. I was about to join the others as they moved into the watchtower to settle in when I was hauled away by Oin.

"Let me take a look, laddie," Oin instructed, tone allowing for no argument. He gave me a gentle push and I settled on one of the stone benches pressed up against the mountainside. "You walk like a lame horse."

I rolled my eyes. First it was a three-hundred and fifty year old dwarf and now a lame horse? Once again the dwarves proved to do wonders for my self-esteem.

But I relented, raising my feet one at a time, allowing Oin to gingerly take hold of my ankle and examine each of them to his satisfaction.

"You certainly did a number on yourself," was Oin's final assessment, already digging through his pack and pulling out a number of jars and a roll of linen.

"I'm just glad I'm not dead," I admitted, watching him through half-lidded eyes.

Oin snorted, opening one of the jars and releasing a foul smell, "Aye."

Oin, for all his outward roughness, was once again an excellent medic. He was careful to clean my feet and then applied his nasty-smelling ointment meticulously. Then, once he was finished, Oin wrapped my feet with linen and once he had tied the last knot to keep them in place, he finally spoke.

"Keep off them as best you can," Oin told me gravely. "They will heal, right as rain soon enough, but you must give them time."

I nodded. "Of course, Master Oin."

"You will see me twice a day, morning and night, so that I might apply the ointment and replace the wrappings," Oin continued as if I hadn't spoken; his attention on repacking his supplies. It was incredibly possible that he simply didn't hear me. "Do not forget or I will hunt you down myself."

"Absolutely," I agreed immediately.

Oin grunted, looking satisfied. "Get some sleep now. Dawn will soon me upon us."

I nodded again and Oin moved away, disappearing into the watchtower. I took a deep breath and pushed to my feet, ready to follow Oin and catch some sleep, if only a few scarce hours. But then a figure emerged from the darkness from the direction of the staircase.

I squinted and to my surprise saw Dwalin. He did not stop, nor did he even spare me a glance, his expression thunderous and, if I wasn't mistaken, worried.

I turned my head back towards the staircase and shrugged, figuring I could indulge in a moment of curiosity before collapsing. I moved slowly towards the stair's landing, stopping at the short staircase that connected the staircase's landing to the main level of the guard tower and took in the single figure staring out at the gate of Erebor.

It was Thorin, still as a statue. Had he been staring at it the entire time? Did he truly care so little for Lake-town? For the people there?

If this was what Thorin had become after only a small amount of exposure to the treasure horde, after only longing for the Arkenstone, I wasn't excited to see what he would be like when we returned to Erebor in the morning.

But I had a feeling, whether I liked it or not, for better or for worse, I would find out.

And, as it would turn out, for better or for worse was more accurate than I could have ever imagined.

Valar help us.