They heard Bilbo before they saw him. Looking carefully, Fili spotted the hobbit jumping up and down and waving his arms from the ramparts above the destroyed front gate. The four ran the rest of the way crossing over the stone bridge, amazed and frightened by the damage around them. Bilbo was soon there to great them and Amayla was beyond joyful as she lifted him up in a deep embrace. Soon the other members of the company joined them, with hugs and head-butts all around. Amayla hesitated a brief second before embracing Dwalin. Her tears were already fully flowing so any additional tears at knowing her one was alive were completely masked.

"Where's uncle?" Kili asked.

Amayla looked around also noticing that Thorin was not there. "Is he . . . alive?" Amayla could barely get the words out.

The company quieted, exchanging frowns. "Aye, he lives," Balin murmured.

Bilbo spoke up, "But he's not himself. He spends all his time down there. He barely eats, doesn't sleep. I've tried talking to him, but he won't listen. I think its this place. I think a sickness lies on it."

"A sickness?" Distraught, Fili looked at Kili, "Take us to him – now!"

Balin led the way as Fili, Kili, Amayla, Bilbo and Dwalin followed. They saw him from a stairwell, garbed in heavy robes with a crown on his head. He was walking in piles of gold, muttering unintelligently. The amount of gold was beyond Amayla's imagination; piles upon piles of gold coins with the odd colorful gem strewn about. She couldn't understand how Thorin could possibly walk through the ever-shifting treasure.

When he finally spotted them, it seemed to take a moment before recognition spread to his face. He threw his arms out stating, "Behold the great treasure hoard of Thror!" He then bent down to grab a large ruby and threw it at Fili. "Welcome, my sisters-sons, to the Kingdom of Erebor!"

The group went down to Thorin who deeply embraced his nephews. He gave Amayla a quick embrace before turning to Dwalin. "Now there are more to help search for it. Where are the others? Why have they stopped looking?"

"Thorin, they all went to greet them. Gloin is with his brother."

"Ah yes, Oin has returned too. Good, good." Thorin muttered. "But the search needs to resume, we MUST find the Arkenstone! Get everybody back looking!" He turned his back on the others and started wading his way back through the coins.

"Uncle, do you not want to hear about what happened in Lake Town?" Fili asked in disbelief.

"It can wait until after we find the Arkenstone."

Dwalin stared at Thorin's back as he left. Amayla had never seen Dwalin look so pained before, and it nearly broke her heart. Balin guided them all out, "You'll be wanting something to eat before you join in the search. Bombur found some old stores and has managed to keep us fed." His forlorn face in opposition to his chipper voice.

Amayla exchanged looks with Bilbo, who squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. Amayla looked at him, eyes pleading for an explanation. Bilbo took her hand and pulled her down to him, whispering, "We need to talk." Unbeknownst to the two of them, Dwalin had overseen the entire exchange.

The company ate together and Amayla, Fili, Kili and Oin filled them all in on what had happened in Lake Town. Many had tears in their eyes as they heard about the carnage. Dwalin then got everybody up and headed them down to the treasure to look for the Arkenstone. They searched for several hours until they were all too exhausted to move any more gold.

Balin led the newcomers to rooms that they had been using. They were part of the royal wing and had been left undamaged by Smaug. Balin pointed out Thorin's rooms which had once been belonged to Thror, although Thorin had remained behind with the treasure. Fili and Kili were given Frerin's old rooms next door to where Bilbo was in Thorin's old rooms. Amayla was given rooms that had belonged to a female noble. The rest of the company was in nearby rooms.

"Where would my father have lived?" she asked Balin.

"He had rooms next to the armory. I'm not certain if they were damaged or not, I'll take you tomorrow," the old dwarf said smiling.

.

Although her room was incredibly dusty, it was the most luxurious place she had ever been in. There were beautiful tapestries on the walls, and all the furniture was upholstered in velvet. But when Amayla walked into the bedroom she got very sad. The bed was beautiful, hung with drapery, all faded to a soft pinkish mauve. What upset Amayla was the dress laying across the foot of the bed, and the hair brush and comb laying next to small bottles of what Amayla assumed had been perfume. Several pairs of shoes and slippers were strewn about and a book was sitting open on the bedside table. All Amayla could think about was the dwarrowdam whose room this had been. Who was she? Did she get out? Had she survived Smaug's attack? Did she live in Ered Luin? Or maybe the Iron Mountains? Maybe I've met her. Would she mind Amayla sleeping in her bed? Was she still alive? It was too much for Amayla to ponder and gave her a headache. She couldn't do it. She couldn't sleep alone in somebody else's room. She picked up her few things and left for Bilbo's room.

When Bilbo opened the door to her, she was surprised to see Fili and Kili looking around the room.

"Amayla! Did you want to see what Thorin was like when he was younger too?" asked Fili.

"No. I just didn't like being in those rooms by myself. I wanted some company."

"Awwwee, were you lonely?" teased Kili.

"Actually yes," Amayla answered honestly, "I've never had so much space to myself before. I can't sleep when its so quiet. It doesn't feel right. I guess I've gotten too used to your snoring!"

"I do NOT snore." Kili huffed.

"Riiiiiight! Keep telling yourself that Kee!" Fili scoffed back at his brother.

"Anyway, Bilbo, would you mind if I slept here tonight? The couch would be fine." Amayla asked.

"Of course you can Amayla. And I insist that you take the bed. I'll take the couch." The hobbit replied.

"Well if Amayla is staying, can we stay too?" asked Kili.

"Why? Are YOU lonely Kili?" Amayla shot at the dark-haired prince.

"Well, in here, we know whose room this was and that he's still alive. It's not so weird. In Uncle Frerin's room, his stuff is all laying around, just as he left it. It's almost like he's going to walk in at any minute and yell at us for touching his things, even though we know that will never happen."

"Besides," added Fili, "somebody has to chaperone you two."

"I really don't think we need chaperones, but Kili's snoring might be helpful in putting me to sleep."

"I DON'T SNORE!"

"YES YOU DO!" the three yelled back at Kili.

Kili made a face at them but still had to ask, "So its okay that we can sleep here too?"

"Yes Kili," soothed Bilbo, "Go get some pillows and blankets and bring them over."

"Great! It'll be just like when we slept at Bag End!"

"Don't remind me!" groaned Bilbo.

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The next morning they were woken up by Dwalin pounding on the door.

When Bilbo opened the door, the bald dwarf barged in asking, "Is Amayla here? She's not in her room. Have you seen her?"

Amayla came walking out of the bedroom, braiding her hair. "I'm right here. I decided to stay here last night."

Dwalin looked at Amayla and then Bilbo, frowning. His face turned red and his hands were clenched into tight fists. Before he could say anything, Fili and Kili came out of the kitchen carrying mugs of tea. "Mister Dwalin!" cried Kili. "Good morning! Can I get you some tea? Sorry, we don't seem to have any real food. Guess we'll have to go to the kitchens for that."

"You two spent the night here too?" he spat out.

"Aye. Slept pretty well, even with Kili snoring!" teased Fili.

Dwalin unclenched his fists and stammered, "Well, uh, yeah well, Thorin wants every one down looking for the Arkenstone as soon as possible. Hurry up." With that, he turned and marched out the room, slamming the door behind him.

"See, I told you it was a good idea that we chaperoned," smirked Fili. Amayla just made a face back at him.

.

The company spend several hours sorting through the treasure. Amayla and several of the others took to wrapping a cloth around their face to help keep out the stench of the hoard. Finally, Amayla was disgusted and had to get away. She asked Balin to take her to her father's quarters and Bilbo asked to tag along.

The three went down pathways and through tunnels, climbing over or around fallen and burned out timbers. Several times they passed piles of what they assumed to be dried piles of dragon dung. Sadly, they also passed several corpses along the way.

"We need to deal with those," Amayla said sadly. "They deserve a proper burial."

"Aye lassie, I agree. But until Thorin finds the Arkenstone, he will not allow us to do anything but search. And here we are. This is the armory. The doors are destroyed, but the rest seems to be okay. Your father's quarters should be right next door."

The door to her father's rooms were smashed and scorched. Climbing over the rubble, Amayla could see that the room had obviously caught on fire. Tears filled her eyes as she saw the charred remains of furniture, and items she couldn't identify.

"I'm sorry Amayla," Bilbo whispered.

"I was hoping to find SOMETHING," she whispered back.

"Lassie, over the fireplace, look!" Balin nearly shouted.

Amayla looked up to see what had to be a sword. The leather scabbard was black, but the sword inside could be unharmed. She sent hopeful glances to both Balin and Bilbo and gingeringly lifted the sword down. As she pulled out the weapon, the scabbard essentially fell apart, but what was left in her hand was a magnificent long sword. "Ardru's sword! He told me so much about this! It was his favorite weapon." She gently wiped away some of the soot that was on it and then stepped back and tried a few moves with it. "Its so light!" she exclaimed.

"May I?" asked Balin.

Amayla handed him the weapon and he looked it over closely. "Its light because its made from mithril," he smiled giving it back.

"Mithril? He never told me that. I've never held a mithril sword before. Never thought I would. It's amazing!" Amayla's smile lit up the room.

"Check over the grip and the pommel carefully Lassie. If I'm not mistaken, there is a hidden chamber that holds a small mithril whetstone, as only mithril can sharpen mithril," Balin pointed out.

Amayla and Bilbo both started looking carefully at the sword, but could find nothing.

"I think we should return now. Thorin will probably be anxious that we're gone." Balin suggested.

"Anxious is hardly the word for Thorin these days," Amayla muttered sadly.

"Balin," Bilbo started, "The Arkenstone. If it is found, do you think that Thorin will . . . be satisfied . . . and return to the way he was . . . you know . . . before Erebor?"

"I don't know laddie. I've seen this before, this gold sickness, this terrible need . . . His grandfather had it. I . . . WE all were hoping that Thorin would not succumb. But . . . the Arkenstone. It secures his right to the throne."

"But Thorin is King. No one would deny that. I thought he only wanted the Arkenstone to convince the other clans to join in the fight against Smaug. With the dragon dead. He doesn't need their help." Amayla countered.

"Aye Lassie, he is the king of Erebor. There is none to dispute that. But the Arkenstone gives him the right to rule over all the clans as the one true king of all dwarves."

"Is that really so important to him?" Amayla asked sadly.

"I don't know lassie."

"And if the Arkenstone is found?" asked Bilbo.

"I think it might make things worse, but not finding it is driving him mad also." Balin sighed heavily.

"So is it better that he finds it or not?" Bilbo asked getting more frustrated.

Balin only shrugged his shoulders in response.

.

They rejoined the others in searching for the Arkenstone, but Amayla could see that Bilbo was merely going through the motions, which had her curious. They both turned as Thorin bellowed out what sounded like a strangled laugh. Having never heard such a strange sound out of their leader before, they both quickly headed over to see what he had found. Expecting to see the Arkenstone, Amayla was surprised to see Thorin holding up a necklace dripping with dazzling diamonds. "The while gems of Lasgalen. I know an elf who would pay a pretty price for these!" he growled.

"Thorin no!" Amayla yelled without thinking. All eyes turned to see why Amayla had raised her voice so sharply against the king. Thorin squinted at Amayla out of the corner of his eyes.

"You can't make Thranduil pay for the gems again. You know what happened when Thror tried that. It destroyed the alliance. PLEASE just give them to him. You know it's the right thing to do." Amayla pleaded. She looked around at the rest of the company hoping to get some support, but no one joined her in talking to Thorin.

"GIVE them to Thranduil? I'll GIVE them to him the same way he GAVE us aid when Smaug attacked!" Thorin snarled at Amayla.

"Maybe Thrandruil tried to give aid and . . . " Amayla tried reasoning with Thorin.

"And what? My grandfather refused it? Do you honestly think that KING Thror would have turned down aid to his people?"

"Well he was suffering from gold sickness! So maybe . . . Please Thorin, don't make that same mistake!" Amayla was desperate.

"LEAVE ME! Return to looking for the Arkenstone! I WILL HAVE IT!" Thorin threw the necklace down on a table, turned on his heels, and marched out of the room.

Amayla squeezed her eyes tightly as the tears fell down her face. When she opened them, she saw Dwalin frowning at her. Every fiber of her being longed to have him hold her, comfort her; but, she knew he didn't feel the same and couldn't bear his rejection. Instead, she asked quietly, "Isn't there anything you can do to help him?"

He shook his head, "I'm trying Amayla."

Amayla nodded gently and turned away.

.

Hours later, after they had eaten dinner, Amayla found herself out on the ramparts gazing at the setting sun with several members of the company. She brought out Ardru's sword and asked Bifur if he could find the hidden chamber, "I've been looking and can't find ANYTHING," she complained. Others in the company watched as the toymaker looked over the weapon with his well-trained eye. It took him less than five minutes when he shouted out in Khuzdul, "Got it!"

Amayla was amazed as she saw a small chamber of the handle sticking out. Bifur reached into and withdrew a length of what she assumed to be mithril.

"How?" Amayla signed quickly.

Bifur put the piece back in and shoved it closed. With one hand, he pressed on a jewel on the pommel and with the otherhand, pulled on the cross-guard. Again, the chamber popped out. Amayla squeeled with joy and gave the dwarf a huge hug. Bifur just smiled and grunted.

With reverence, Amayla took out the whetstone and proceded to sharpen the sword, although she was surprised that after 150 years, it still had an edge.

.

As she was busy with her sword, Ori noticed the line of torches entering the ruins of dale, "What's that?"

"Refugees, from Dale! They made it!" Kili practically screamed, pounding his brother on the back.

"Thank Mahal, they're alive!" Amayla responded smiling ear to ear.

"Bard must have led them here!" Fili joined in the celebration.

"They're going to need help: food, blankets, clothes, medicine, probably anything and everything. We need to get supplies." Amayla encouraged everyone to look for anything to help the people of Laketown.

"I'll go tell Thorin," Dwalin stated.

A short while later, Amayla returned to the ramparts carrying armloads of blankets she had stripped from various beds. Thorin stood looking at Dale while others were down below piling up stoned in the front gate.

"What's going on?" she asked confused.

"And what do you think you're doing with those?" Thorin responded looking at the blankets.

"They're for people of Dale, to help them."

"We will give nothing to Dale – NOTHING!" Thorin shouted.

Kili dropped the rocks he was moving, "The people of Laketown have nothing, they have lost everything!"

"Do not tell me what they have lost. I know well enough their hardship," Thorin responded coldly. "Those who have lived through dragon fire should rejoice. They have much to be grateful for."

Amayla was struck to the core when she heard Thorin's words, all respect for Thorin gone. "IF YOU KNOW THEIR HARDSHIP, THEN YOU SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO HELP THEM! YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT ELVES NOT HELPING DWARVES, WELL YOU ARE WORSE AS YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER!"

"YOU DARE TO TALK TO ME LIKE THAT? I AM YOUR KING!"

"THEN START ACTING LIKE ONE!"

With that, Amayla threw the blankets on the ground and stomped away.

.

Amayla found her way back to the room she had been sharing with Bilbo, Kili, and Fili. She took her knives out and started throwing hem against a wooden door, enjoying the satisfying 'thunk' they made as they embedded into the wood.

"Amayla? It's me, Bilbo." The hobbit held his arms up trying not to startle the heavily armed dam. Amayla was shocked that she hadn't heard him enter the room. "You really are a talented burglar!"

Bilbo twitched his nose in embarrassment, "Light on my feet! Just like Gandalf said!"

"Gandalf," Amayla sighed, "I wish he was here. Maybe he could talk some sense into Thorin."

"Or just cure him of this gold sickness," Bilbo added wistfully.

The two stayed silent as Amayla continued throwing her knives.

After finishing a round with all knives in a tight circle, Amayla turned to Bilbo, "You have it, don't you?"

Bilbo looked up to Amayla and paused, before saying simply, "Yes."

"Good. Whatever happens, don't give it to him."

"You think it would make things worse?"

"I'm sure of it."

"What should we do?"

"I don't know . . . yet. But we'll figure something out."

.

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********** NOTES **********************

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I'm posting two chapters today because - honestly - this is my least favorite part of the story. I worked pretty hard to add non-canonical stuff in, but this is just a very depressing part of the story. I just want to get through it! Not nearly as much fun as writing the dress part. Although Kili snoring made me laugh.

Thanks for the reviews! Yes, I think Dwalin is finally figuring out that he needs to talk to Amayla, but she has no desire to talk to him. The problem is that Dwalin said he was more a "action speaks louder than words" dwarf, and Amayla took his actions as an order to stay away, and she is nothing, if not a good soldier!

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I also wanted Thranduil to be more likeable in this story. Well, maybe not super likable, but at least more understandable.