The elf's feet carried her mindlessly, pacing in circles she did not know she made. Her mind was aflame, their poor burglar was in there all alone. Poor Bilbo was left to face the dragon. She prayed he did not wake it. Her gaze shifted now, to her king. He stood as still as a statue, his eyes eerily set on the open door of Erebor. The man who stood before her now worried her beyond words. It seemed to be Thorin Oakenshield, but his eyes betrayed him. She had watched as they had grown clouded once the door was opened. It was a gradual change, yes, and one that was broken when he would look upon her, and it worried her to no end.

Without warning, a thunderous rumble shook the mountain's very core, setting the dwarves off balance if only for a moment. So Bilbo had found Smaug...

"An earthquake?" Fili wondered, hoping that it would truly be only this.

"That, my lad, was a dragon." Balin corrected, setting all the dwarves' teeth on edge.

"What about Bilbo?" Lothrena asked as they regained their balance.

"Give him more time." Thorin answered simply, brushing off her concern.

"Time to do what? To be killed?" Balin snapped with a new found courage.

"You're afraid." Thorin growled.

"Yes, I'm afraid. I fear for you. A sickness lies upon that treasure. A sickness that drove your grandfather mad." Balin's courage grew with each word. He would not let Thorin fall to this. Not the same way Thror did.

"I am not my grandfather."

"You're not yourself." Balin countered. Here, Lothrena would have to agree. Something was changing within him. "The Thorin I know wouldn't hesitate to-"

"I will not risk this quest for the life of one burglar." Fire welled up in her heart now. No, this was not the Thorin she knew.

"Bilbo." Lothrena snapped. "His name is Bilbo." It seemed an eternity that the lovers stared each other down, each set upon making the other see their concern. "Thorin, could I have a moment?" Lothrena asked suddenly. His blue eyes focused on her intensely and he nodded shortly.

"Of course." Taking the dwarf by the hand, she led him away from the company who chewed at their nails and lips in fear for their burglar as well.

"Thorin, you are unwell." She stated, not bothering to soften her words. She had a feeling he would not hear them if she did. "In the time that we have been here I have watched you change, and not for the better I fear." His brow furrowed as she spoke and he opened his mouth to object. With a single wave of her hand, she silenced him. "Do not deny it. I know you feel it too. You wouldn't dare throw Bilbo's life in willingly, so what has grasped you now that would even have you entertaining the thought?"

"I..." His stormy orbs flittered about as he searched for the answer. "I don't know." He stated finally, his teeth grinding as he spoke.

"Thorin, I...I have something to tell you." Her heart hammered heavily as she watched his brows knit together in concern. Her fingers twitched subconsciously, very aware of those piercing eyes watching their every move as they came to rest over her barely swollen stomach. "Amrâlimê...I'm-" Below them the mountain rumbled as a glowing light raged from the depths, peaking out from the door where Bilbo had disappeared. A earsplitting roar knocked at least three dwarves from their perches now, the men grumbling as they struggled for balance.

Looking to her now, Thorin reached for his sword. "Come." And with this, he spun on his heels and ran head first into the mountain.

"Thorin!" Lothrena called, galloping in behind him, her bow drawn in a moment. He knew that sword was useless against the dragon so what was he doing? Her feet carried her quickly, yet she was ever to far from her king. When he suddenly stopped short, his eyes washing with the storm once more as he caught sight of the gold, she could've knocked him upside the head. He sighed heavily as he gazed upon it, a new breath filling his lungs. One he hadn't felt since the day the dragon forced them out.

"Bilbo!" Lothrena called, breaking Thorin from his golden trance. "You're alive!" She cried, throwing her arms about him.

"Not for much longer-" Utter confusion eveloped them as each spoke over the other, the three moving toward the exit.

"Did you find the Arkenstone?"

"-He's coming."

"The Arkenstone?" Thorin demanded, a darkness lacing his words. The elf and the hobbit both stared at him in great disbelief. "Did you find it?"

"We have to get out." The hobbit pleaded, taking a step toward the door. When Thorin's sword clattered against the stone archway, the two jumped. The only thing between them and freedom was the blade held tight in the dwarf's hand. "Thorin..." Bilbo pleaded as Thorin's sword turned towards him, hostile.

"Thorin!" The elf cried as his sword came up below the hobbit's chin and backed him, and her, away from the door. Away from safety. This was not him. This was not her Thorin As the hobbit's eyes darted about, Lothrena found her own following. There before them slunk Smaug, the most fearsome creature she had ever laid eyes on. Drawing her bow slowly, she knocked an arrow and aimed for the beast.

It shocked her when he chuckled lowly in his throat, the sensation causing golden embers of flame to ignite behind his scales. "What good do you think that will be, elf?" He snapped in a most menacing voice. One that shook her right down to her very core. In a moment, the company charged in with a battle cry and their weapons at the ready.

Too bad they wouldn't do one bit of good.

"You will die!" The dragon roared as he slithered forward, his great belly knocking mounds of gold from their resting place. The tinkling of gold echoed inside Lothrena's skull and she was sure the sound would haunt her for the rest of her days. The company retreated deeper into the mountain, Thorin at the back of the group. When he leapt into their temporary sanctuary that Lothrena assumed was the kitchen, he tossed off his cloak that was engulfed in flame. Popping to his feet, he came to stand before her.

A loud smack rung against the stone walls as Lothrena's hand made hard contact against Thorin's cheek. Aside from this, there was silence, as the lovers stared each other down. Without a word, she turned from him and walked further into the mountain.

Thorin soon took the lead, which Lothrena gave willingly. Even in her anger she knew it was wise to let him lead. He grew up here. He knew these walls, and he knew every secret they held. It would be foolish to let her pride keep her from following him.

"Wait." He suddenly cautioned, silently poking his head beyond the door they now stood before.

"Did we give him the slip?" Dori asked hopefully, his sword shaking in his hands.

"No," Dwalin answered when the king did not. "He's counting on that."

"Where to now?" Bilbo asked.

"The Western guardroom. There may be a way out."

"It's too high. There's no chance that way."

"It's our only chance. We have to try." The dwarves crept forward at Thorin's command, their footsteps silent as the grave.

The sudden tinkling clatter of a single coin falling from above made everyone hold their breath. Eyes cast upward, to catch the belly of the beast dropping treasure as they stood by, undetected. Urging the company forward, Thorin pressed on, his feet carrying him as fast as he could go until the reached their goal. A room that now lay closed off from the sunlight, scattered with the bodies of their fallen kin.

"That's it then. There's no way out." Dwalin sighed.

"The last of our kin. They must've come here beyond hope." Balin's voice filled with the tears of his fallen family when he turned to the king. "We could try to reach the mines. Might last a few days."

"No." Thorin growled, looking to his betrothed. "I will not die like this. We will not die like this. Cowering. Clawing for breath. We make for the forges."

"He'll see us. Sure as death." Dwalin even seemed beyond hope now, a sight Lothrena thought she would never see.

"Not if we split up."

"Thorin..." The elf sighed, "we'll never make it." His hand came about hers now, weaving fingers together as he brought it up to his cheek. Brushing her hand against his cheek, he laid a soft kiss to her palm. The palm that had so recently struck him.

"Some of us might. Lead him to the forges. We kill the dragon." Making eye contact with every man present, Thorin made his peace with all of his men, dwarf and hobbit alike. Finally, he came to Lothrena and tightened his grip of her hand. He would not lose her. "If this is to end in fire, then we all burn together."

woo battle up next!

I was up until almost 4am last night writing all the drafts to finish out Desolation of Smaug. Gettin it done, my loves!
One chapter left before BOFA!