"Lass, are you alright? You look a bit green..." Dwalin asked as he caught up to the King and his bride to be. They had been walking for what felt like years at this point, so to be honest, she wasn't really alright. Far from it in fact. Her stomach was waging a war on itself as she struggled to keep the bile down, lest Thorin begin to worry for her.

But he already did worry for her. He was not daft, he had noticed the sickness that had taken her since they had entered that accursed forest. As king, he knew they must press on. As a lover, he wanted nothing more than to set up camp where they were until Lothrena was well again. But there was no time. Durin's day was upon them, and fading fast. They needed to find that blasted door!

"Thorin!" Balin suddenly called, catching the king's attention. Thorin looked forward now, his eyes falling upon a sight he had not seen for far too long.

"What is this place?" Bilbo asked as Thorin bounded forward to stare upon the ruins of a once great city.

"It was once the city of Dale." Fili and Kili whistled in admiration at Lothrena's side as they looked upon the city they'd heard about for years. "Now it is a ruin. The desolation of Smaug." Balin answered, his hands hovering just behind the elf as she approached, just in case her legs should fail again.

"The sun will soon reach mid-day. Let us find the hidden door before it sets."

"Wait...is this the overlook? Gandalf said to meet him here on no account-"

"Do you see him?" Thorin asked hurridly. The poor halfling opened his mouth to answer, but was silenced by Thorin's mighty baritone. "We have no time to wait upon the wizard. We're on our own. Come!" Lothrena swore she could hear Bilbo's heart drop into his stomach, as did hers, at Thorin's command. She had desperately wanted to see her friend once more. She needed his guidance now, more than ever.

"Come, Bilbo...I'm sure Gandalf will catch up."

"Anything?" Thorin called up to Dwalin as his half of the company searched above. Lothrena laid near Thorin's feet, having collapsed not moments after they reached the base of the mountain. Her stomach lurched violently as the dwarves scattered about frantically. Unable to stand it any longer, she retched, the feast from the night before vacating her body instantly. Grateful for the momentary relief she shuffled to her feet quickly, set on helping search while she was able to. Once they found the door, it would be up to Bilbo, and she could rest.

"If the map is true, the hidden door lies directly above us." Thorin announced, coming up beside the elf. Together, they searched frantically not letting a single stone slip their gaze. Finally, Bilbo called the words everyone was waiting to hear.

"Over here!" In a moment the company was at his side, all eyes staring at the beauty of the door. The door to their home. The door to Erebor.

"You have keen eyes, master Baggins." Thorin sighed, scooping the elf into his arms. She squeaked in shock, but was not altogether against this. She was certain she had spent all of her energy. They made their way up the stone steps now, Thorin still carrying his lover tightly in his arms. He had been overcome with a new drive and he was going to get there, all the odds be damned.

When he laid eyes upon the hidden door, he nearly wept. He was home. After so many years of planning, hoping...they were here. Though he had never imagined that when he returned to the mountain, he would be bringing a queen with him as well. His eyes found hers and in that moment, if there were any doubts lingering in his mind that she was for him, they were wiped away. The same adoration and relief burned in her eyes as she stared upon the door as well. Honey eyes looked up into blue as she smiled the sweetest smile he had ever seen.

"Well, my king? Open the door!" She cheered. With a mighty chuckle, he set her upon her feet as he pulled the key from around his neck and turned to the company.

"May all those that doubted us rue this day!" Everyone cheered mightily as they made their way to the wall.

"Right!" Dwalin huffed happily. "We have a key, which means somewhere...there is a key hole!" Along with Nori, the bald dwarf searched passionately, his mighty hands sliding upon every inch of stone.

"The last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole." As they searched, the company began to whisper worriedly. Why hadn't they found it yet? "Hurry, we're losing the light..." Thorin cautioned as he flicked the key between his fingers with anxiety.

"It's not here!" Dwalin called. "I can't find it!" Lothrena's eyes widened with fear as she looked back to her king.

"Break it down! C'mon!" Ax and sword hammered at the wall, to no avail. Tensions rose in the air as every dwarf began to entertain the idea that maybe this had all been for not.

"It's no use!" Balin snapped, antsy as them all. "The door is sealed! It cannot be opened by force! There's a powerful magic at word." And as they all held their breath, the sun faded silently into dusk.

"No...the last light of Durin's Day...will shine upon the keyhole. That's what is says." Lothrena's heart shattered as she heard the tears in Thorin's voice as he stepped forward to the white haired dwarf. "What did we miss? What did we miss? Balin?"

The old dwarf simply pursed his lips and shook his head sorrowfully. "We've lost the light. There's no more to be done. We had but one chance. Come away lads. It's over." Thorin's heart hammered loudly in his ears. Was it with rage? Desperation? Agony? He was so close. There they stood, on the door steps of Erebor...with no way to get in.

"Wait!" Bilbo called as the dwarves made their way to their feet and began the trek down the mountain once more. "Where are you going?" The hobbit snapped. "You can't give up now!" Lothrena looked to her betrothed, a silent plea in her eyes. He could not give up. Every other dwarf, yes. But not Thorin Oakenshield. Not her king.

But with a single tear sliding down his cheeks, the king turned from her and let the key slip from his fingers. "Thorin." She pleaded. "You can't give up." But he dare not listen. Blue eyes met hers for one brief moment before her king handed the map to their burglar and left. "My love!"

Only she and the hobbit remained now. Exchanging no more than a glance, the two immediately began to pour over the map and search the wall. What had they missed? Where was that blasted key hole?!

"Stand by the grey stone." Bilbo read.

"Aye."

"When the thrush knocks." A nod from the elf. "The setting sun, and the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole. The last light..." The hobbit continued to mutter to himself, his worn feet taking to pacing as the elf simply laid her head against the door as tears began to make their way slowly over her dirt covered cheeks.

As the moon rose above, a sudden knocking echoed against the stone. "Bilbo, please, it didn't work when Dwalin tried, why would it work when you do?" She reprimanded weakly, almost hurt that Bilbo had so much hope.

"Lothrena, that's not me." In a moment the elf had sprung from the wall, her eyes landing on a bird knocking against the stone. But not just any bird. A thrush.

The two stood back now, their eyes wide as the silver light of the moon washed over the door and revealed to them a tiny hole. "The last...the last...the last light!" They shouted together.

"It's the moon!" Bilbo called out to the dwarves.

"The last light of autumn! The key hole!" Lothrena called too, embracing the small hobbit as they giggled gleefully. "The key, Bilbo find the key!"

The sudden sound of scraping metal had the two spinning around on their heels, the sight of Thorin holing the key with a worn smile teasing at his lips enough to make her cry all over again. The dwarf stepped forward, eyes set upon the wall. At the last moment, his hand reached out for hers and the couple shared a small kiss before Thorin turned the key.

With a mighty shove, the door swung open.

"Erebor..." The king murmured, Balin coming up behind him, close to tears. "I know these walls." He whispered. "These halls, this stone. Do you remember it Balin? Chambers filled with golden light?"

"I remember." The old dwarf sobbed. On his heels, Fili and Kili wept their joy as well. Every dwarf entered their home, only Bilbo and Lothrena remaining behind.

"Here in lies the seventh kingdom of Durin's folk." Gloin read of a stone tablet upon the wall. "May the heart of the mountain unite all dwarves in defense of this home."

"The throne of the king." Balin explained to the two. "And above it...the Arkenstone."

"What's that?" The elf asked quietly, her eyes pouring over the carving before her.

"That," Thorin began, his eyes finding the hobbit now, "master burglar, is why you are here."

I am not ready for what the rest of this fic is going to do to my heart.
Poor Bilbo, poor company, poor loves.
Smaug is a scary MoFo...