Hi I'm typing up this chapter in the hope that your reviews will wish me luck for the exams I've got over the next two days...PLEASE WISH ME LUCK I'm scared DX Anyway I know you've all been demanding this chapter so here it is...yay!

Chapter 36 – The Monster Within

They were surprised at how few dwarves were surrounding the treasury when they arrived. Balin and Dwalin had done well at keeping the whole situation quiet from the gossip of the mountain. The whole company were standing by the large doors to the piles of gold and jewels, all of them looked worried and anxious. Dis, Daisy; who was holding the twins tightly, and Balin walked over as the three of them arrived.

"We're so glad you're here...he's shut himself in the treasury and we cannot get him out..."

Fili and Kili hugged their mother, and it was the only time when Anne had seen her tough defences shrivel. Balin's face was solemn and Daisy looked grim.

"He won't speak to anyone, and he keeps on talking to himself..."

"Is he letting anyone in?"

The blonde girl shook her head, one of the twins wriggled and waved his arms for Kili. The dwarf looked warily at his wife, she smiled a little and he took Nyli into his arms. They all walked up to the large doors. Anne leaned her ear against it, trying to hear for Thorin. A crash came from inside the room and the company all flinched.

"Someone needs to go in there, we need to get him out!"

Everyone nodded as Dis spoke. Fili had an arm round his mother, supporting her. Anne looked round and sighed.

"I'll go in."

"Anne no. You remember what he was like to you the last time...!"

Anne looked sternly at Bofur and Fili.

"Which is why I should go in! He needs to see that we all care about him...I believe that somewhere inside him, our Thorin is still there...please let me speak to him!"

Fili walked up to her and hugged her tightly, careful not to crush her pregnant stomach. The baby inside kicked a little and he let out a weak chuckle. He kissed her hair and murmured.

"I just don't want him saying anything that'll hurt you..."

"Don't worry I'll be fine..."

She let him go and smiled gently. Daisy walked up to her, Tyli on her hip.

"Don't even try to say anything, I'm bringing my boys in and we're going with you."

Kili and a few others tried to protest, but she gave them a look. Dis chuckled.

"Stubborn girls...just be careful. We have no idea what he will be like..."

Another crash and a loud bellow came from inside the treasury. Kili passed his other son to Daisy. The girl smiled and pecked his lips, she then whispered in his ear and he smiled warmly at her. Anne nudged her friend's shoulder and they opened the door to the treasury and walked inside.

"Thorin?...Thorin can you hear me?"

The treasury was stacked high with various types of gems and jewels. Gold and silver littered the floor and the girls had to be careful not to fall on anything. Ny and Ty squirmed in their mother's arms and Daisy shushed them quietly, her voice echoing in a whisper through the gloomy room. The girls had no heart for gold or shiny goods, they liked the simple things in life, but respected that it was in a dwarf's nature to hold a desire for treasure. Anne looked to her friend.

"I'll go left you go right?"

Daisy nodded and Ty let out a gurgle as they vanished behind a mountain of coins and trinkets. Anne's bump kicked again and she rested a hand on it gently.

"Shh baby we'll be ok...now let's find uncle."

She walked alone and quietly called for Thorin. The crashes had stopped and it was silent, apart from the few tinkling sounds of gold moving, as she made her way through the maze of riches. Suddenly Anne stopped. Behind a large pile of magnificent armour, she heard quiet, child-like, sobbing. She rushed forward and looked round. There on the floor was Thorin. He was curled up on his side and his shoulders shook as choked, heart wrenching sounds, came from him. Anne, stooped down, careful not to pressure her belly, and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Thorin?"

The king's head shot up, a hungry gleam in his tear-stained eye, and pushed back.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!"

He froze as coins rolled down large piles of gold and his mouth hung agape. Anne watched him.

"Thorin, please we've come to take you home...you need to come away from this..."

She reached out to touch him again, but the dwarf, once proud and majestic, now reduced to a quivering wreck, pushed her away again and scrambled away.

"Don't touch me please, I don't want to hurt you!"

Anne looked at him softly, she leant on her knees and edged forward slowly.

"Thorin, you're not going to hurt me...or anyone. You care about everyone."

Thorin sobbed harshly and pulled at his greying locks.

"No! No I don't!..."

"Yes...you -"

"Don't you see?! I'm a monster...I crave this..."

He gestured to the mountains of gold piled high into the heavens.

"I need it! I don't want to hurt you, but yet I see you touching what is rightfully mine and I want to-"

His arms stretched to grab her throat and suddenly he recoiled. As if he were facing an internal battle with an unknown force. The dwarf began to claw at his face. Anne touched his arm and he froze.

"Thorin please don't do that!"

"I'm a monster! Why?! I am just like my grandfather!...PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY!"

He suddenly stood, a fine silver sword in hand and held it to his neck. Anne raised her hands calmly.

"Put the sword down...remember who you are Thorin...c'mon where is the Thorin I know and love?"

Thorin choked on a sob and pressed the blade a little closer to his skin. Anne faintly heard Daisy's footsteps coming nearer and nearer.

"Where is the Thorin who raised two nephews alongside his sister? The Thorin who took two random girls into his kingdom and allowed them to live alongside him? The Thorin who no matter what, did what was best for his people! The one who led a quest to reclaim his homeland, the one who sneered at the dragon Under the Mountain...the one who now leads our mighty people?...the one who knows of pain and suffering...but also of happiness and love!...Where is that Thorin?"

Anne felt tears roll down her own face as Thorin looked at her. The sword fell to the ground with a loud clatter and the king sunk to his knees and sobbed. Anne went to him and allowed him to cry into her shoulder.

"I so sorry, I have failed...I have failed...just like my forefathers...I am weak..."

She smoothed his hair and spoke quietly to him. Daisy came round the corner and gawked at the sword on the floor.

"No Thorin, you haven't failed anyone...you're just sick...it's this blasted gold...you will be alright again Thorin...I promise you..."

He sobbed harshly and then looked up when he heard giggles and something against his legs. Daisy had popped her sons on the floor and they'd crawled over to their Granduncle. Thorin looked up at Daisy and she smiled warmly at him. The he moved his gaze back onto Tyli and Nyli. Ty had started to gum his jacket and Nyli was rolling on his back and burbling at Thorin. The king choked on another sob and scooped the babes up into his arms, nuzzling his nose in their tufts of dark hair.

They got him out of the treasury and quickly into a bed. The king was still asleep four hours later whilst they discussed what to do. Anne looked around and Daisy had her head on Kili's arm. Most of the council members had joined in the discussion. They were Irzd, a younger, but balding dwarf, his brother Urzd, Kres, an older member, Gruom, who only spoke Khuzd Dhul and a few others.

"We have to move it...all of it..."

"The gold?"

"Of course the gold! What did you think I was talking about?"

A few of the council frowned at the blonde, beardless girl. Anne huffed and looked at them.

"We should move it to the lower vaults and lock it away from view..."

Balin nodded and noted how a few of the council members growled lowly to one another. He looked to Anne.

"Meanwhile someone needs to keep Thorin away whilst we do this."

Fili nodded and Kili brushed hair from Daisy's face.

"I could take him to visit Thranduil..."

Protests roused at this suggestion and Anne glared.

"Oh come on! He needs to be away from the mountain, somewhere he can focus on something else! Don't you think a few weeks with his least favourite person ought to distract him?!"

Daisy nodded and Fili frowned.

"Anne you're due soon though..."

"Fili I'll be fine, Mirkwood isn't too far away from the mountain."

"Don't we get a say in what happens to OUR king?!"

Daisy leaned forward on the table and glared at the balding dwarf.

"Well unless YOU, Irzd, can come up with a better plan, I'm with Anne! Also seeing as none of you can resist the treasure either I think one of the company should be in charge of the movement of the treasure!"

She sat back in her seat and folded her arms. Balin looked at the council smugly and turned to her, Kili and Fili.

"Well the princes will be able to handle the whole affair, along with your assistance Daisy if you're willing?"

Kili smiled a little and Fili shrugged. Daisy nodded.

"I'd be happy to, but remember I've got three boys to manage at home!"

Kili smirked and Fili chuckled at the comment. Anne held back her laughter as she watched the councils reaction. They weren't highly amused. Balin looked around.

"So we're decided then?"

A few acceptances were mumbled and the white haired dwarf smiled chipperly.

"Wonderful!"

Irzd watched as Anne and Fili left arm-in-arm and Kili and Daisy left with his arm round her waist. He grabbed his brother's arm and held him back. The dwarf's green gaze was cold and harsh.

"I think that those girls have poisoned our halls long enough, don't you brother?!"

Urzd grinned.

"Aye, brother, I do."

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