Chapter 36 – Cold Stones, Warm Stones

Ember dragged her feet as she entered the hall that they had set up as their temporary living quarters. She barely looked up when she found herself crush in two pairs of arms.

"Go'd day, mate!" Quinn said on her left as she smiled at her.

"Missed us?" Amelia said on her right. Ember let out a cry of joy as she sunk into her friends embrace.

"Thank Mahal, you two are alive! I was so worried!" Amelia stepped back for a moment.

"Mahal? Since when do you speak Dwarf?" Quinn stepped away as well, taking on a posture of a university lecturer.

"I believe it's called Khuzdul." She said in a haughty voice. Ember giggled as Amelia laughed outright. She knew what they were doing. It was a fall back of theirs. If one of them was bothered by something, the other two would distract them as best they could. They had seen Thorin… They knew.

"So, do you want to hear about how we saved people from certain death…? And how we ensured the death of The Master of Gout… I mean Lake-town?" Amelia asked. Quinn bowed down low.

"Or perhaps you would like to catch up on my adventures through The Forest of… Yeah, not gonna say the name of that particular arachnid, but you get what I mean." Again, the girls laughed at themselves, but their pleasant mirth was broken by one voice.

"Come." They spun to the door, where Thorin stood, arms braced on the door, eyes wild, flecked with gold if you looked closely. His hair, no longer well kept, hung in dirty strands. The only part of his ensemble that looked remotely clean was the golden crown and armor that he wore. Amelia subconsciously stepped in front of Ember, keeping her from the Mad King's sight. Ember noticed, and was grateful for her friend's thoughtfulness.

"Come, the Arkenstone must be found. Gather the rest. Search the treasure hoard." Quinn stepped forward, glaring at the Dwarf.

"Excuse me, I don't know who you think you are, but we…"

"Quinn." She turned at the whisper. Ember's eyes were suddenly devoid of any joy that might have shone in them, as she gazed at Thorin. "Leave it." Thorin did not even notice their exchange, and surged into the room calling for the rest of the Company. Amelia wrapped an arm around Ember's shoulder.

"It'll be ok." She whispered to her friend. Ember nodded and left her embrace, heading for the treasure hoard. Amelia and Quinn watched their friend, before turning to each other.

Maybe this was worse than they thought.

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"Any sign of it?" Thorin called from his perch on one of the treasury balconies. All the Dwarves of the Company were in the gold, searching through the ridiculous piles.

"Nothing yet." Dwalin called from his spot.

"Nothing here." Ori called from his spot. Quinn and Amelia were close to their respective males, pretending to search through the pile, but rather paying attention to their friend in the balcony above them. To everyone's surprise, Thorin had almost thrown a hissy fit when Ember had begun to dig through the gold piles. In the end he had pulled her by the arm up to the balcony where they now stood overlooking the progress the Company made.

"Keep searching!" Thorin barked out. Ember nearly jumped when he did. She found herself growing incredibly nervous around Thorin. He had yet to notice her braid less hair. Every minute she spent close to him increased the chances of him finding out. She prompted to stay in the shadows, away from any light.

"That jewel could be anywhere." Gloin called out, sounding as if he had given up already.

"The Arkenstone is in these halls. Find it!" Thorin ordered.

"You heard him. Keep looking!" Dwalin called out, ever loyal to his king.

"All of you. No one rests until it is found." Ember turned away and spotted Bilbo on a platform not far off. He was staring at Thorin, and turned around, meeting her eyes for a split second before he left the hall. She glanced at Thorin, whose attention was still on the gold, and she snuck away.

She found him on the ramparts, with the Arkenstone in hand. She stayed there for a few moments before he noticed her. He jumped up when he did and started to stutter. Ember smiled at him.

"It's alright. I knew you had it." Bilbo relaxed, before glancing at her nervously.

"You won't tell Thorin, will you?" He asked her. Ember shook her head.

"No, but only if you promise me that you'll keep it hidden. Don't give it to Thorin, alright?" Bilbo looked at her oddly, but nodded and put it in his pocket. Ember gazed out at Dale. "The Men of Lake-town will be arriving soon…" Bilbo followed her eyes. "They'll be at the doors soon."

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Tauriel looked down at the rune stone in her hand. The small weight brought 'n tiny amount of comfort to her heart. She had a small smile on her face as she remembered her Dwarf's words.

"Keep it. As a promise."

A promise. Tauriel lost her smile as she thought back.

Tauriel maneuvered through the roots of the trees, always staying alert. A scream made her spin. Quinn stood shuddering lightly. Her elf eyes picked up the small arachnid scuttling away.

"Spiders…I HATE Spiders." Tauriel's lips quirked as Quinn stepped towards her. She turned around but stopped when Quinn spoke.

"Why are you doing this?" Tauriel turned back, surprised when she saw a look of concern on Quinn face. "I'd imagine you'd get in big trouble with Lord Deer Horns back there." Tauriel's lips quirked again.

"I've lived my entire life in these woods. And not once, have I felt as free as I had with Kili." Suddenly surprised at herself for admitting that so freely, she turned away.

"Well, if you do end up being banished or something like that… One of my friends is courting the King of Erebor so… if you're in need of a home, The Lonely Mountain will be open to you." Tauriel turned back to a smiling Quinn, and nodded.

She caught sight of Legolas walking past her. She quickly put the stone in her pocket and rushed after him.

"You saw something out there." She stated as she walked beside him.

"The Orc I pursued out of Lake-town, I know who he is." Legolas responded. "Bolg, spawn of Azog the Defiler. A Warg pack was waiting for him on the outskirts of Esgaroth. They fled into the North. These Orcs were different from the others. They bore a mark I have not seen in a long time. The mark of Gundabad." Tauriel paused and turned to face him.

"Gundabad?" She asked in disbelief.

"An Orc stronghold in the far North of the Misty Mountains." Legolas confirmed. That fortress had not been used since…

"Hîr nín, Legolas." (My Lord, Legolas.) They both turned to the person that had called out. It was Feren, an Elf of the Mirkwood Halls. He rode up to them on a horse. "Celin 'winiath o adar lín. Cân i hi danwenidh na le." (I bring word from your father. You are to return to him immediately.) Legolas nods towards her.

"Tolo, Tauriel." (Come Tauriel.) He starts to walk towards Feren, but stops when Feren speaks again.

"Hîr nín... Edlennen Tauriel." (My Lord… Tauriel is banished.) Tauriel's heart stops at the words. Legolas pauses as well, gazing at Feren, processing the information.

"Edlennen?" (Banished?) Legolas asks. Then he shocks then both by saying.

"You may tell my father, if there is no place for Tauriel, there is no place for me." Tauriel walks forward, bowing her head slightly and whispers.

"Legolas, it is your King's command." Legolas turns slightly to her, ignoring Feren completely.

"Naw aran nín…" (Yes he is my king…) Then he turns completely, but still not meeting her eye. "Mal ú-gân innas nín." (But he does not command my heart.) He quickly walks past her, heading for his steed. "I ride North. Will you come with me?" After some deliberation, she follows him.

"To where?" she asks as she quickly matches his pace.

"To Gundabad." he answers abruptly.

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Back in Erebor Ember stood with Balin, Dwalin and Bilbo in the dimly lit thrown room. Thorin stood in front of what was left of the thrown, looking at it feverishly.

"It is in these halls. I know it." Ember turned as Dwalin made his appeal to the King.

"We have searched and searched." Thorin does not even turn when he speaks. Ember feels herself growing increasingly nervous as the conversation continuous.

"Not well enough." Thorin responds clearly no truly listening to Dwalin.

"Thorin, we all would see the stone returned." Dwalin says as he tries to calm his king, clearly seeing the early signs of a rage.

"And yet it is still not found!" Thorin sounds as though he speaks through barred teeth.

"Do you doubt the loyalty of anyone here?" Balin asks Thorin. Ember can see that he is hesitant to speak. She jumps as Thorin suddenly turns, slowly making his way towards the old advisor before him.

"The Arkenstone… is the birthright of our people." Thorin responds softly, almost barely a whisper.

"It is the King's jewel." Ember looks down at the ground, wincing when he barks afterwards.

"Am I not the king?" Ember subconsciously steps away from Thorin where she stands on the right side of the throne. Absolute silence follows his call. They watch him closely as he turns back to the throne.

"Know this: If anyone should find it… and withhold it from me… I will be avenged." With that, he turned away, deeming them dismissed. Ember stayed where she was, staring at the floor. She jumped up when a quiet voice spoke behind her.

"Why do you avoid me?" Thorin whispers. Ember doesn't dare turn to him.

"I have not." She whispers back. She hears his footsteps as he nears her and she stiffens. A hand brushes hers and she fights not to pull it away. "I've…just been busy."

"Doing what?" He asks, and Ember does not like the tone he uses.

"Exploring." She answers swiftly. Thorin remains silent for a few moments.

"Be sure to have someone with you when you venture around the mountain. I would not want my Queen to be lost." With that, he leaves. Ember releases a shuddering sigh and all but flees the room, fighting tears.

He hadn't said her name once since the dragon died...

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In what was left of the scribes' hall, Balin stood among the dusty bookshelves, fighting back the tears. Bilbo walks in on Balin accidentally and walks towards him concerned.

"Dragon sickness." He mutters. "I've seen it before." He said, turning to Bilbo. "That look. The terrible need." He says, before taking a breath. "It is a fierce and jealous love Bilbo." He stops with a sigh. "It sent his grandfather mad." Bilbo takes a step towards the old Dwarf, lowering his voice.

"Balin, if Thorin…had the Arkenstone…" Balin looks at him strangely, causing him to stutter a bit. "Or if-if it was found…would it help?" Balin looks at him sternly.

"That stone crowns all. It is the summit of this great wealth…bestowing power…upon he who bears it." Bilbo grows increasingly worried as Balin continues. "Would it stay his madness?" he asks the feared question, then shakes his head. "No, laddie. I fear it would make him worse. Perhaps it is best…it remains lost."

Just to find out, do you guys want to hear about Gandalf in the next chapter, or continue with the Company? Let me know in your reviews, cause I can't decide.