I've been on holiday with no internet connection so there's been no updates :( However I was able to take my laptop so I've done some writing. To make up for the delay have this chapter and an M-Rated instalment too ;)

Thorin led them back to the large hall the following morning, his mood as black as the shadows that lined the walls. He bid everyone to look for the Arkenstone, knowing that it was somewhere in the room. Both Aire and Bilbo searched with guilty consciences, all too well aware that it was in Bilbo's bag on his back. "Why don't you set it down somewhere and claim you've found it?" Aire suggested. "Thorin would be too grateful to think anything suspicious of it."

Bilbo shook his head. "Something is telling me to keep hold of it, even if it causes me danger."

Aire sighed. "You're a fool, Bilbo Baggins, but I won't abandon you. If Thorin reacts badly then I'll stand by you."

They were far enough from the others that Bilbo felt safe enough to stop searching and not worry about Thorin's wrath if they were caught. "What do you think will happen when all of this has blown over?"

"What do you mean?"

"When Thorin and the men of Lake Town have made peace, which they will, and we are allowed to leave, what will you do? You've said that you'll stay, but can you?"

Aire sighed, sitting down next to the hobbit. "I want to stay, yes, but I don't know if I can. I'm used to wide, open spaces and fresh air. I feel more at home when I'm outside. Here I feel cramped and constricted, like I can't breathe properly. Not even my father's blood can make me truly comfortable here. Yet despite my discomfort I cannot bring myself to even consider leaving Thorin. I want to be with him but I don't think I could live here, not even for him. If I leave then I lose him, but if I stay then I lose my comfort. Is it selfish of me to be torn between the two?"

"Not at all." Bilbo reassured her. "They'd let me stay if I asked, I know that, but I've done more than enough. I know that I wouldn't gain anything by staying here. You would gain though. You would have a husband and a position that commoners like us can only dream of. You could have a strong set of friends willing to help you through everything. Sure you'd get Fili and Kili for nephews, but you'd get their mother as a sister which is something to apparently desire. You could even have your own children."

Aire laughed aloud. "Children are a scary prospect Bilbo, something I don't think I want to deal with. I'm not fit to be a mother."

"Why do you say that?"

Aire shrugged. "I just wouldn't be able to cope with them. I'd be a disgrace and I'd fail them."

"You don't know that."

"No, I don't, but I'm reluctant to find out. If it wasn't for the fact that Fili is heir to the throne then perhaps I would be far less willing to stay with Thorin, knowing I will never give him a child of his own."

"Things will turn out how they're meant to. If you do have a child then it will have ten strong uncles, a head-strong father, a scary aunt and two slightly insane cousins to raise it."

"That doesn't fill me with hope." Aire laughed. "Come now, we should find the others or risk Thorin finding us slacking off."

The pair got to their feet, making their way back through the large piles of gold and silver to the others. Nori and Gloin were setting up their beds for an overnight stay. "We're staying here for a few days." The star-haired dwarf explained. "No use in freezing half to death in the entrance hall."

Bilbo and Aire nodded, grateful for the escape. Although the hall had housed Smaug for quite some time, it was warmer than their previous camp. Nevertheless Aire still sought out Thorin's bedroll, setting hers beside it. "Have some cram." Bombur tossed a small package over to her, making a face. "Nasty stuff."

'Cram' had been their main food supply over the last few days. It had almost no flavour but it was very filling. No one was really sure what was in it. "Couldn't you steal us some food, burglar?" Dwalin grumbled.

"And how would I go about doing that?" Bilbo huffed, nibbling on his cram. "There's no way to get out of this mountain without alerting the men and elves, even with my ring."

"At least we still have food." Bofur pointed out. "We'll be eating gold before long."

"Isn't that what you used to do?" Aire asked with a grin. "I though all dwarves ate their treasures."

"Cheeky." Thorin laughed, dropping down next to her.

"Just lightening the mood." Aire smiled at him, discreetly tucking her hand into the crook of his arm.

Thorin placed his own hand over hers before turning to the rest of the group who had politely looked away. "There's no great need for watch to be kept tonight, but if anyone wishes to then they may." The dwarves all shook their heads, diving for their bed rolls.

"Generous of you." Aire said as she untucked her hand from Thorin's arm.

"Neither the men of Lake Town nor the elves can get into the mountain and there's no dragon to worry about." Thorin shrugged. "Why waste energy keeping watch for an enemy which isn't here?" he too settled himself down for the night, pulling Aire close as the company slowly fell asleep.

Aire woke a little after dawn. The others were still sleeping softly but she couldn't return to her peaceful slumber. She lay still for a while, wrapping in Thorin's embrace and watching the light from a few torches dancing over the gold and precious stones. After a while she grew uncomfortable and carefully untangled herself from Thorin's grip. His brow furrowed at the loss of her warmth and he rolled over onto his back with a soft sigh.

Quietly getting to her feet Aire began to head away from the group between the large piles of gold and gems. She walked for some time, until she'd left the others far behind her and had reached the far end of the hall. She was far enough away from the others that she couldn't hear Bombur's snores, but it meant that they wouldn't be able to hear her if she needed any help from them. "What could possibly attack me here?" she wondered aloud, picking up a nearby armband and turning it over in her hands. It was solid gold and shaped for the arm of a human long since dead.

"I might attack you, but I certainly wouldn't hurt you."

Aire set the arm band down as Thorin wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her neck gently. "I thought you were still asleep." She apologised. "I'm sorry if I woke you."

"Not at all. Over a century living in strange places has taught me to wake when something's not right. I saw you headed this way and decided that I should follow. Would you like me to leave you?"

Aire shook her head, turning in his arms. "I'll be glad of the company. It's not like we're blessed with peace very often."

"Once the humans and the elves have gone then we can send for the first caravan of dwarves from the Blue Mountains. Once they arrive restoration of the mountain will commence and you'll find that there are plenty of quiet areas for us to be together."

"You'll be king." Aire pointed out. "You'll be needed."

"Needed but not missed." He smiled, tilting her head back for a kiss. "The Gods know I don't get enough time with you. The others are still sleeping but you're welcome to return if you wish."

"I'm sure we won't be missed for some time." Aire smiled, leaning up to join their lips again.

An hour or so later Thorin carried Airelotwen back to the others. They were both tired and it would be some time before the company rose to start another day. She was already asleep by the time he lay her down in the bed roll. Thorin lay down beside her but did not go to sleep right away. Over the last hour Airelotwen had spoken several elvish phrases, a reminder that she was what his people hated the most. Although her father had been a well-respected dwarf, she was still part elf and that may not go down too well with his people back in the Blue Mountains, or even with his cousin in the Iron Hills.

He was in no doubt that he would have the tongues of anyone who said a foul word against her, but Thorin still felt uneasy as he drifted into sleep.