The next morning we are all standing on the barricade, everyone but Bilbo. Where is he?

I look at Andy angrily "Why are you here? You're 16!" I snap

Andy smiles "Actually I'm 17 now"

I glower at him "Excuse me, young man?"

Andy sighs "Come on Gwen, even in our country people can join the army at 16"

I sigh impatiently "Yes but they're not sent to the front lines! They train for a long time before they see battle"

Andy smirks "I think I've seen my fair share of fights"

I shake my head "Nothing like this"

Andy glares "Neither have you!"

"Andrew Robert Black! I'm 25 years old and have been on the police force since I was 18! Don't you even try and tell me what I have and have not seen!" I shout angrily, I'm getting really pissed off with people ignoring me!

Andy looks away defiantly "Would you?"

"Would I what?" I snap

"Leave if Thorin told you to?" Andy asks

I open my mouth then close it "That's different" I finally say

"How?" He asks

"Thorin is not my uncle or guardian. He is not responsible for me. I am your Aunt, I am your guardian and I am responsible for you. As it stands you are my only living descendant" I tell him, feeling a little calmer

Andy smiles and shakes his head "Mum's still out there somewhere, so is Gran, Pop, Uncle Dean, Aunt Esmerelda, my little sister Elsa and cousin Ava. We just don't know where or when but they still exist"

I look at the boy then laugh a little. I wrap my arm around his shoulder and pull him into my chest for a hug "When did you start growing up?"

Andy pulls away from me and smiles up to me "When you needed me too"

I smile at him with pride "You wanna be a man? I'll treat you like a man. Buckle up kiddo, you're in for a bumpy ride"

Andy laughs "Oh and your 26 now by the way"

I smack him across the head sharply "Shut up you little shit!"

The army of men an Elves march up to us and I see Thranduil on an elk… a big ass elk and Bard on horseback. Thorin puts an arrow in his bow and lets it go. It hits the ground at Thranduil's elk's feet.

I gasp in shock and disbelief before glaring at Thorin "That was rude!" I snap then take a deep breath. Patience, patience.

Thranduil smirks up at me "Did you kick that door down yourself?" He asks, referring to the door in Mirkwood I imagine.

I smile sheepishly "Yeah, sorry about that. I would pay for it but if it was that easy we wouldn't be here" I pause remembering why I was in that room to begin with "Actually I wouldn't pay for it, you were holding me against my will."

Thranduil laughs and Thorin readies another arrow "The next one will be between your eyes" He snaps.

Thranduil smile turns into a death stare and suddenly, in some fascinating, well-practiced unison, the elves ready their own bows. Fili grabs the back of my shirt and forces me to duck. I panic when Thorin doesn't and I jump back onto my feet and force Thorin's arms down. I'm blocking Thorin's body with my own and Thranduil's lifts his hand and the elves put their arrows away.

Thranduil speaks "We have come to tell you. Payment of your debt has been offered and accepted" He smirks.

"What payment?" Thorin shouts "I gave you nothing! You have nothing!"

Thranduil gives Thorin a 'oh yeah?' look then turns to Bard. Bard reaches into his pocket and pulls out a large shiny stone that is quite captivating "We have this" Bard says and holds it up

My eyes widen, well that'll be the arkenstone then. My suspicions are confirmed when the Dwarves make noises of absolute horror and disgust.

"They have the arkenstone!" Kili says then yells "Thieves! How came you by the heirloom of our house! That stone belongs to the King"

I look at Thorin and he looks livid yet he is fighting with himself.

Bard smirks "The King may have it with our good will" He puts the stone back in his pocket "But first, he must honour his word"

I shrug "Sound fair, Thorin. That shiny stone that you've been searching for, for days for the gold you promised. Do the trade Thorin"

Thorin shakes his head slowly then turns his head to me slightly "They are taking us for fools. This is a ruse" I give him a look of utter disbelief but he continues "A filthy lie! The arkenstone is in this mountain! It is a trick"

I swear I raised my hand to slap him when a small voice stutters "It's no trick" I spin to see Bilbo, oh honey, no. "The stone is real. I gave it to them"

Thorin turns looking with a look of scary calmness "You" He says in mild disbelief.

Bilbo looks down a little scared "I took it has my 14th share"

"You would steal from me" Thorin's voice is steady but I can hear the bubbling rage.

"Steal from you?" Bilbo asks "No, no, I'm may be a burglar but I like to think I am an honest one. I'm willing to let it stand against my claim"

I have no idea what that means but it pisses Thorin off even more "Against your claim? Your claim. You have no claim over me!" Thorin voices rises and he throws down his bow "You miserable rat!"

Thorin advances on Bilbo but I press my hand to his chest "No, Thorin" I whisper in his ear. He stops although his fists are clenched and I can visibly see him shaking.

"I was going to give it to you" Bilbo says "Many times I wanted to but…"

"but what?" Thorin snaps. I increase the pressure of my hand

"You have changed Thorin!" Bilbo argues "The Dwarf I met at Bag End would never have gone back on his word! Would never have doubted the loyalty of his kin! Or laid an unwanted hand on Guinevere!"

Oh he shouldn't have said that "Do not speak to me of loyalty!" He tries to move to Bilbo but I move in front of him and place both hands in his chest. "Throw him from the rampart!"

I look up at Thorin in disbelief, everyone does. Thorin looks around at us all in frustration. He steps away from me and grabs onto Fili "Did you not hear what I said!" I grab his arm and pull him away from his oldest nephew.

He shakes me off "I will do it myself!" He launches himself and Bilbo and forces him to the edge of the barricade.

"Thorin, No!" I scream and lean over his arms and try to peel them off Bilbo.

All of us do. Thorin pushes me a little too hard and I fall back onto the edge of the rampart. The stone I had loosened earlier breaks off under my weight and almost in slow motion I fall backwards. I catch Thorin's eyes which widen and he lets go of Bilbo and dives for me. It's too late our fingers merely brush and I fall off the rampart.