"Thorin," Mei heard Nori pleading. "If only we could get some rest-"

"No," Thorin spat. "No one rests until the stone is found."

With a sigh, Mei rubbed the tiredness from her eyes. She hadn't slept ever since the night before Smaug's attack on Laketown, and she doubted that the other dwarves had slept since well before then.

She wanted to rest. She really did. But she also didn't want to the Arkenstone to be found. As Balin's diary had told her, the stone was dangerous, and she had a gut feeling that it should stay hidden.

"Thorin," Balin called across the hall. "We're all so tired. If we could rest for a few hours, we could resume the search with greater strength and vigor tomorrow morning." Mei peered at the old dwarf closely, searching for any sign that it truly was him who had written the diary entries. I just can't believe it, she thought. If it wasn't in the original Hobbit books, how can it be true?

Thorin growled. "Fine," he snarled. "Everyone, find a vacant bedchamber and get some sleep. We continue searching in five hours."

The dwarves heaved a great sigh of relief, all of them rushing from the hall, eager to claim the least dirty bedchambers for themselves. Mei hung back, waiting for Balin just outside the hall. When the old dwarf strode past her, she whispered, "Balin! Can I talk to you?"

The dwarf turned to look at her, his face displaying pure confusion. "Alright," he replied, following her into one of the alleyways that lined Erebor's stone hallway network.

"When I was looking for the stone," Mei began. "I found a door, hidden in the wall of the Great Hall."

Something changed in Balin's face. "My old office," he said flatly, averting her eyes.

"Yes," Mei said, her heart racing. So it was Balin, she thought. "I found your diary," she added. "I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't have read it," she remarked sheepishly, biting her lip. "But I did, and I read what you wrote about the Arkenstone."

Balin looked back up at her, his eyes shining. "You didn't tell anyone else, did you?"

"No," Mei said slowly. "But, Balin… you really did steal it?"

"Well of course I did," Balin exclaimed. "I couldn't just sit around and watch the King get consumed by it's evil." He frowned. "And now I have to protect Thorin from the same fate."

They stood in silence for a moment, both of them understanding what was at stake.

"Now wait a minute," Balin said, his brows furrowed. "Can't you tell the future? Didn't you already know this would happen?"

"I knew that the Arkenstone would drive Thorin mad," Mei replied. "But I never knew that you would be the one to hide it! I thought Bilbo would be the one to find it and conceal it from Thorin. You've changed the course of the story, Balin. And for once…" she paused. "I don't know what to do."

Balin laughed. "Well, well, well," he smiled. "Look at me. Changing the course of the story. How interesting…"

"Balin…" Mei begged. "I need your help. What do I do?"

"Don't tell anyone about this," Balin told her, looking into her eyes. "It's best if we simply deprive Thorin of the stone until he gives up and decides not to search for it anymore."

"I don't think he ever will give up, Balin," Mei said softly.

Balin's lips tightened into a thin line. "Get some sleep, Mei," he whispered, turning away and walking down the hallway.


"Kili?"

The dark-haired dwarf jumped, obviously startled, and then turned to look at her. He smiled when he saw her standing in the doorway.

Mei bit her lip. What she was about to ask him was odd-and she was afraid she might come off as… well… strange.

"What is it?" Kili asked, his brows furrowing when he saw her discomfort. "Is something wrong?"

"No," Mei began. "Well, yes. I mean-" she gulped. "It's just…"

"Yes?"

"There's nowhere else to sleep. I mean, all the dwarves have taken over the other rooms, and I don't fancy sleeping in the corridors," she began, fidgeting with the fabric of her dress. "And I was wondering if I could…" she trailed off, noticing a flash of understanding in Kili's eyes. "If I could, you know… stay here for the night." When silence fell over the two of them, she quickly added, "I'll be completely out of your way. And if you don't feel comfortable with it-"

"No, no, it's fine," Kili laughed, holding up a hand. At her look of astonishment, he added, "Seriously. It's fine."

"Are you sure?" Mei asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because I could find somewhere else-"

"No, Mei, it's fine," Kili said with a grin.

"Oh, thank God," Mei laughed. "I was hoping you'd say that. The hallways really are infested with an assortment of disgusting rodents," she gagged, much to Kili's amusement.

"It was getting pretty lonely in here anyways," Kili said. "Well, it was just me and these skeletons, at least," he remarked, gesturing to the bones of the long-dead dwarves around him. There was a bitterness in his voice, a fierce anger.

"I'm sorry," Mei said, unsure of what else to say. Although she had always sympathized with the dwarves when she read The Hobbit, she knew she would never truly be able to feel their pain, their anger, their hatred as they did.

"You don't have to be," Kili said hoarsely, coughing to clear his throat.

Another silence fell over the room, dense and unmoving.

"Sorry, I'm keeping you awake," Mei said after a moment, hurriedly moving to settle on the half-decayed bench that lay by the fireplace. Kili, she could see, had recently rekindled the old firewood, and there was now a warm fire going in the hearth. "You probably want to rest."

"You're sleeping there?" Kili asked skeptically, nodding towards the bench.

"Yes?" Mei replied, her voice taking on a questioning, doubtful tone.

"I could have sworn I saw some mold growing on the bottom of that bench," Kili said coolly.

"Oh my god!" Mei shrieked, flinching away from the bench. "That's disgusting!"

"What did you expect from a fifty-year-old bench?" Kili laughed.

Mei laughed along with him. "I don't know," she admitted, peering at the bench with a new air of disdain.

"You could share the bed with me, if you'd like," Kili offered.

Mei opened her mouth and then closed it again, no sound escaping it.

"Or you could sleep on the moldy bench," he said again, raising his eyebrow.

"I'll take the bed," she said quickly, jumping onto the dilapidated mattress. She winced when she took in the distressed, poor condition of the bed, what with its moth-eaten sheets, and its decayed pillows.

"Is this really much better than the bench?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.

"Yes," Kili smirked. "Because I'm here." With that, he hopped onto the bed next to her.

Rolling her eyes, Mei reluctantly lowered herself onto the mattress, trying not to think about what types of animals or microscopic bacteria might have lived (or still were living) in these sheets. "No offense, Kili," she whispered. "But Erebor truly is disgusting right now."

"None taken," he whispered back."


Aw, poor Mei is a bit of a germaphobe and is definitely not happy about the current state of Erebor's cleanliness. I'd definitely be just as grossed out if I were her. And I wonder if Kili really did see any mold on that bench or if he was just being sneaky... ;) If you catch my drift.

Any follows, faves or reviews are so greatly appreciated! :)