Chapter Thirty-Five

I could only stand and watch as Thorin ordered the company around and what I was seeing, I could barely believe. Thorin had instructed (well, more like ordered) for the Dwarves to block up the front entrance that Smaug had broken through on his rampage to Lake-Town for reasons that I could not understand. Bilbo and I had barely said a word since they'd started, actually. Too shocked by the recent turn of events to actually do anything, and not strong enough to help (not that we'd know what to actually do anyway). They were using a combination of strange levers and brute strength to move the stones. If the situation wasn't so grave, the sight of Fili lifting the blocks with nothing but a shirt on would have been quite pleasant. Not that I was staring. Oh no…

"I want this fortress made safe by sunup." Growled Thorin. "This mountain was hard won; I will not see it taken again."

"The people of Lake-Town have nothing." Said Kili, peering around from a large boulder he was standing behind with a frown on his face. "They came to us in need. They have lost everything."

"Do not tell me what they have lost. I know well enough their hardship. Those who have lived through dragonfire should rejoice. They have much to be grateful for." My mouth gaped open at his words. I knew that Thorin was becoming a little...well, mad, but now he was being downright cold. "More stone! Bring more stone to the gate!"

Sighing with Bilbo, I made up my mind. The Dwarves may not be saying anything to Thorin, but that didn't mean that I wasn't going to. Someone needed to talk some sense into him.

"Thorin, Kili is right." I said, walking towards the Dwarf. "We need to help them, not lock them out."

I had to restrain myself from not taking a step back as Thorin glared at me. Not once had he ever looked at me that way and I had to admit, it hurt a little. "And what would you know of this, Miss Osbourne?" he growled, taking heavy steps towards me.

"Well, they…er…they helped us." I stuttered. "Gave us shelter, food, weapons! Without them, we could not have made it to the mountain and because of us, their entire town is now a pile of ashes! And you are standing there acting like…they are just some big hindrance. This is not like you, Thorin. You have changed."

Actually taking a step back as Thorin continued to advance, I winced as he spoke. "I have not changed." He said, lowly. "Do not speak of matters of which you know nothing of. I would not expect you to understand."

"I do understand. More than you think. You are losing your mind over a stupid jewel that means nothing, despite what you think, and you are ignoring the cries for help from hundreds of people who have lost everything!"

"You will not speak to me like that!" Thorin cried, now standing mere inches in front of me with wide eyes. "I am a King! You are nothing but a mere human; you are not our kin! You have no more right to be in this mountain than those people out there!" Taking a step back in shock at his words, I could vaguely hear the others stop what they were doing and listen to what we were saying.

"Do not speak to her that way!" shouted Fili, pushing past Dwalin so he was standing in front of his uncle. "She is my One! She is one of us! You have no right to speak to her like that!"

"Do not be a fool, Fili. She is human, she knows nothing of Dwarven culture. She is not fit to court a son of Durin, let alone be Queen."

I felt my eyes tear up at his words. Of course Thorin was right; these were the insecurities I'd been having the past few nights, and for Thorin of all people to bring them up obviously meant that I had been right in what I was thinking. How could I ever be Queen? Let alone Queen of a race I didn't know much about? I mean, I'd travelled with these Dwarves for little under a year, and I still didn't know everything about them. But Thorin could have been wrong. I could learn, surely?

"Don't you dare…"

"It's okay, Fili." I said, cutting him off.

"Amaya, that is not okay."

"No, really. It is." I nodded, giving him a soft but pointed look. "It's nothing I didn't already know. But…I still stand by what I'm saying. Of all people, you should understand what they are going through. You are not acting like a leader should. Any man that has to say 'I am a King' is not a true king at all." Never would I think I would ever quote Tywin Lannister, but there you go. But I could tell that my words did not go down well if the throbbing vein on Thorin's forehead was anything to go by. "I am sorry Thorin, but this needs saying and if no one else is going to say it, then I will have to. You basically saved me when I first found myself in this world, you've helped me and introduced me to everyone here and have quickly become family, and I cannot just stand by and watch you drive yourself mad with this fool's errand."

Narrowing my eyes defensively as Thorin stepped around Fili (who was now glaring openly at his uncle), I breathed in deeply as I vaguely saw his hand twitch towards the sword on his belt. "Miss Osbourne." He said, so lowly I had to strain to hear him. "If I hear you say anything like that to me again, I swear to Mahal, I do not care who you are, I will not hesitate to…"

"To what, your majesty?" I interrupted. "To kill me?"

I breathed deeply for a couple of seconds as Thorin just continued to glare at me before he turned swiftly around. "More stone!" he yelled, causing all of the Dwarves who had been frowning at our argument to quickly get back to work.

"Amaya, he was not right in what he said." Said Fili, taking a hold of my hand. "You are everything to me. You have every right to be here."

"I know." I smiled, sadly. "It's just…Thorin saying that… but I'm okay, really I am. Go, Kili's waving you over." Squeezing his hand, I smiled softly as he walked towards his brother, concern in his eyes as he glanced back at me.

"You shouldn't have said any of that. I agree with every word you've said, but I don't think it was wise to say it right now." said Bilbo, who had come to stand beside me.

"Someone had to. I just…wasn't expecting some of what he said." I replied, shaking my head. "Not that he was wrong."

"Don't be stupid." Snapped Bilbo, making me face him in alarm. Bilbo never snapped. "None of the rest of us thinks that. You shouldn't either. Fili loves you more than anything, anyone can see that and I'm certain that no one can think of anyone else who is more fit for him than you are."

"Thank you, Bilbo." I sniffed.

-8-

I couldn't believe how quickly it took the Dwarves to block the entrance. It was barely a couple of hours later when Thorin was calling everyone over to the gate. I had been busy thinking in an empty room I'd found. Despite what I'd said to Fili, Thorin's words had hurt. The words 'Nothing but a human.' and 'Not our kin' kept running through my mind. Thorin was right, of course. I didn't really have much right in being here. I'd just tagged along on the journey, after all. Meeting Fili and coming to love him was just an extremely good consequence of joining them. I didn't really serve much purpose, and now all I seemed to be doing was causing a rift between Fili and his Uncle. Nothing good was happening in this mountain.

Sighing to myself, I heaved myself up and walked over to where the rest of the company was. They were climbing up a set of stairs that they had created out of the stones, outfits complete with weapons. I wasn't sure what the weapons were going to be for (what could possibly be up there to fight?), but I knew that whatever Thorin was calling us over for wasn't going to be good.

Making my way to the top of the stones, my mouth fell open as I saw the scene in front of me. The walls of Dale were filled with Elves all dressed in armor and weapons and the man that I recognised as Bard had ridden to the front of the gate.

"Who are you that come armed for war to the gates of Thorin son of Thrain, King under the Mountain?" boomed Thorin, his face set in a stern scowl. I furrowed my eyebrows. Thorin knew who Bard was, surely? We'd met him a couple of weeks earlier…

"Hail Thorin!" replied the bowman. "Why do you fence yourself like a robber in his hold? We are not yet foes, and we rejoice that you are alive beyond our hope. We came expecting to find none living here; yet now that we are met there is matter for a parley and a council."

"Who are you, and of what would you parley?"

"I am Bard." He said, keeping his patience. "And by my hand was the dragon slain and your treasure delivered. Is that not a matter that concerns you? Moreover I am by right descent the heir of Girion of Dale, and in your hoard is mingled much of the wealth of his halls and towns, which of old Smaug stole. Is not that a matter of which we may speak? Further in his last battle Smaug destroyed the dwellings of the men of Esgaroth, and I am yet the servant of the Master. I would speak for him and ask whether you have no thought for the sorrow and misery of his people. They aided you in your distress, and in recompense you have thus far brought ruin only, though doubtless undesigned." I sighed. What Bard was saying was completely fair and true, even if it was phrased in a way that was obviously trying to keep Thorin's anger from flaring. But I doubted whether any of what Bard had said had made any impact on Thorin. The hold that the gold had over Thorin was strong, and it was doubtful that he would part with any of it.

"You put your worst cause last and in the chief place." Replied Thorin. "To the treasure of my people no man has a claim, because Smaug stole it from us also robbed him of life or home. The treasure was not his that his evil deeds should be amended with a share of it. The price of the goods and the assistance that we received of the Lake-men we will fairly pay- in due time. But nothing will we give, not even a loaf's worth, under threat of force. While an armed host lies before our doors, we look on you as foes and thieves. It is in my mind to ask what share of their inheritance you would have paid to our kindred, had you found the hoard unguarded and us slain." I cast a wary look at the other members of the company. Some of them (which included Ori, Bofur, Fili, Kili and Bilbo) seemed visibly worried at Thorin's words, and while the others didn't seem affected, I could tell they weren't exactly happy about them. Or I hoped so, at least.

"A just question." Said Bard, holding his hands out. "But you are not dead, and we are not robbers. Moreover the wealthy may have pity beyond right on the needy that befriended them when they were in want. And still my other claims remain unanswered."

"I will not parley, as I have said, with armed men at my gate." Growled Thorin, causing me to sigh in exasperation. I may have seen it coming, but the tiny bubble of hope that I still had had just been popped. "Nor at all with the people of the Elvenking, whom I remember with small kindness. In this debate they have no place. Begone now ere our arrows fly! And if you would speak with me again, first dismiss the Elvish host to the woods where it belongs, and then return, laying down your arms before you approach the threshold."

"The Elvenking is my friend, and he has succoured the people of the Lake in their need, though they had no claim but friendship on him. We will give you time to repent your words. Gather your wisdom ere we return!" I watched with dismay as Bard got back on his horse and rode back towards Dale with narrowed eyes. What had Thorin done? Was he completely out of his mind?

"Thorin!" I yelled, racing after him down the steps.

"What would you say to me now, Miss Osbourne?" replied Thorin, not turning around.

"I understand you not giving any of the treasure to the Elves, they've done nothing to help us, but Bard deserves some of that treasure. They all do. And I highly doubt that the army out there is for decoration."

"Their threats do not sway me."

"Okay, they may not. But what about your promise? You promised them a share of the treasure, and that was before Lake-Town was destroyed! They need it now more than ever! You should stand by your promise!"

"Promise?" he spat. "What choice did I have but to barter our birthright for blankets and food? To ransom our future in exchange for our freedom? Do you call that a fair promise?"

"But…but you cannot go to war!" exclaimed Bilbo, running up to stand next to me.

"This does not concern you, Master Baggins."

"It concerns all of us!" I shouted. "There is an entire army of Elves out there. And several hundred humans. I don't know if you've noticed, but we are a bit outnumbered."

"Not for much longer." Thorin smirked.

"What are you saying?"

"I am saying, Miss Osbourne, that you should never underestimate Dwarves."

"Oh, I had learnt that a long time ago, trust me! But you cannot go to war, it shouldn't even be an option! Why can't you just give him their share of the gold? Do the right thing!"

"No! I will not give a single coin to those fishermen outside my gate! But if you agree with them so much, then go ahead. Be my guest and join them. But be aware, if you leave this kingdom, do not come back!" snarled Thorin, turning his back and marching out of the chamber without a second glance.

Muttering under my breath, I was fully prepared to march out the opposite way before a hand clamped around my arm.

"Lass." Said Dwalin, giving me a surprisingly soft look. "Don't go and do anything rash now."

I chuckled humourlessly. "Don't worry, Dwalin. I won't. I just need some time to think, okay? I need to calm down."

"Amaya?" asked Fili.

"Seriously, I won't do anything, Fee. I'll catch up with you in a while, okay? I swear. I'll see you later." Taking a deep breath to calm myself down, I turned and walked down a random corridor, fully aware of Bilbo running to catch up with me.

"Amaya!" he exclaimed, quietly. Turning to face him, I gave him an expectant look. "I…I have a plan." My eyes widened. Bilbo had a plan? This was good news! "And I'm going to need your help."

-8-

A/N: so now the trouble has really started! Bilbo has a plan? I wonder what that could be?

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