I wasn't actually planning on writing this but you know how quarantine be.
I've actually been trying to write some original work recently so this fanfic has been on the back burner. But I am determined to finish this, it just might take a little while.
I also can't believe that this fanfic is officially a year old. Though I don't really class it that way because I only wrote one chapter and then didn't start writing it again until June. But still, we've come quite far.

I was surprised by the amount of humans that chose to stay. Most of them were men but there were a fair few women that stayed behind too. They had all been told of what awaited them. The armies that were marching towards us; getting closer each day. Yet they were still willing to stand and fight. Even after a dragon and wrought devastation upon them. In their eyes they were protecting their home. They could have left it to the elves and the dwarves but they didn't want that. From what I could gather, quite a few felt like they had a responsibility. It was their home so they should be defending it.

That's why I was not in any way surprised to find out that Bard had not left for the woodland realm. He stood, stalwart, with the people who chose to remain. Stepping into the role of leader quite easily. His people looked up to him. Not only was he there for them before any of this happened, he was also the one to deal the killing blow. In their eyes he was like some fantasy hero.

Then again he was a fantasy hero in my eyes too.

I had decided to seek him out once Kili and I had made up. We walked hand in hand, weaving through the tents, in the direction Kili believed Bard to be. There may have been a bit of backtracking as Kili got turned around. The new camp was harder to navigate than the other one had been. Instead of neat rows of tents, they had been set up-almost haphazardly-wherever they could fit. It made it a little difficult to navigate but we eventually found our way.

I had almost gotten used to the way the elves acted around me. The bowing and curtseying. The titles. The strange, unearned respect. So when it happened I would bow my head back at them or smile. I was not prepared when the humans started acting similar.

News must have got around that I was the one that distracted Smaug. As I was walking I could see their wide eyed stares. A strange look of reverence. Occasionally someone would bow and offer me their hand. Confessing their eternal gratitude. Commending my bravery. It felt weird to receive such praise. I hadn't exactly felt brave as I stared into the dragon's eyes. All I felt in the moment was terror.

I would just take their hand and smile awkwardly back at them. Kili was pretty good at shuffling them away without appearing rude. He could tell when I was getting overwhelmed.

Bard was standing talking to my Ada when we found him. He was leaning a little more heavily on one side and his skin was still rather pale. But other than that he seemed perfectly healthy. Nothing appeared to be broken and he had no gaping wounds I could see. The healers must have done a pretty good job on him.

I drew up short when I saw Ada though. A part of me was still nervous about Ada's earlier reaction. Was he still mad at me? Or had the whole 'healing an unhealable wound' sort of mellowed him out a bit? Only one way to find out.

His eyes clocked us as soon as we entered his line of sight. The look on his face was unreadable as he paused his conversation with Bard and made his way over to us.

"I would like to speak with you," he said to me.

Then he levelled a look at Kili. It wasn't a glare but it was clearly indicating that he was not to be a part of this conversation. Kili, thankfully, understood what the look meant. After giving my hand a quick squeeze he shuffled off in Bard's direction.

Ada had a quick look around, seeing the multitude of people darting about. Then he put a hand onto my shoulder and guided me into a nearby tent. It was unoccupied and full of scavenged furniture. They didn't quite match but they were at least undamaged. Ada then closed the door flap, giving us some semblance of privacy.

My hands wrung together nervously before I finally looked up at Ada. He wasn't quite as unreadable now that he was shrouded from others. His eyes roamed over my face. It was as if he was truly seeing me for the first time.

"Life is truly complex with you around, tithien vin," he said after a moment.

My chest warmed at his use of my nickname and I felt myself smile. It was a good sign.

"I'm not angry at you Liriel." he paused "Well at least I'm not anymore. In actuality I was incredibly mad at you. But after I've had some time to think and reflect I realise that my anger was misplaced."

"I am not angry that you helped people. The fact that I have a daughter that cares so deeply about her people that she would risk her life for them makes me incredibly proud. Even if I didn't have a hand in it, you have grown to be a kind and brave elleth. Just like your naneth."

Ada took a deep breath "It was fear that drove me. Fear that I had lost you once more. All this time I have still been seeing you as my little girl. One that still needs her Ada's protection. But you are not a child anymore." Ada touched his face "I think it took you healing me to realise that. You are powerful and capable in ways that I had not let myself see. I owe you an apology"

For a second I felt like I couldn't keep up. It was one revelation after another. When I finally internalised everything Ada was saying I looked up to him and said. "You don't need to apologise Ada"

"Though I feel I must. I have been treating you like a child when you deserved more respect than that"

I surprised him with a hug, burying my face in his chest. Thankfully, he wasn't wearing his armour. His robe was soft against my cheek. He only hesitated a second before I felt his arms wrap around me.

"Thank you, Ada"

He left not long after. There was a whole army to run after all he couldn't exactly stay in one place for very long. However, I felt lighter. Now I knew that I hadn't disappointed Ada. In fact he was proud of me. It felt like a weight lifted from my shoulders.

Bard gave me a relieved smile when I approached him. He placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Liriel I'm so glad you are well. After what happened I had feared the worst" said Bard.

"I'm glad you're okay too Bard" I said. I quickly gave him a once over to look for any sign of injury. "You don't look like you've fallen from a height at least"

Bard laughed "No, I've been under near constant surveillance by your healers. They wouldn't even let me move originally."

I smiled at that but then my face grew more serious. "Your family. Are they okay?" I asked tentatively.

Bard took a deep, steadying breath. "Yes, thankfully, they all made it out unscathed. I sent them with the others heading for the woodland realm. Bain wasn't pleased to be leaving but I told him that he had to look after his sisters. He seemed to feel better about it after that"

I nodded, happy that his family was safe. They would be treated well in the Elven Halls. Probably be fed better than they had ever been in Laketown.

"I don't know who was among the dead…" I paused, taking a breath. Not knowing how to say the rest. "I was just thinking about all the children that I looked after… Did any of them...We're any of them.."

Bard caught what I intended to say and answered for me. "As far as I know, no children were among the dead. But.."

My heart froze in anticipation of his words.

"I remember you got quite close with Maggie's children" My heart was in my throat. Oh god know please don't tell me they were hurt. "Well...Maggie didn't make it. She lost her life getting her children to safety"

I felt a burn at the back of my throat and the tell tale sign of tears in my eyes. "But she was all they had" I covered my mouth with my hand.

Kili wrapped a comforting arm around me. I leaned into his support.

Maggie had been young. She had been scared but she had been willing to do anything for her children. The thought of her gone was awful. Who did Hilde, Dilly and little Sven have now?

"They were left in the hands of a good family I promise you. They'll be okay" Bard reassured me.

As okay as any recently orphaned children could be, I guess.

oOo

The Elves were preparing for a battle all around us. They were laying out traps and securing good vantage points. In the story they had been surprised by the orcs attacking. It meant that they were unprepared and many died because of it. This time they knew what to look out for. They set up fire traps with some of the leftover oil. I was very apprehensive about using it after what happened. But Ada assured me that the elves knew what they were doing.

I was very relieved to find out that the company had all made it out alive. A raven had been sent shortly after Smaug's demise to confirm that they were all safe. I had been so happy and ready to hug them all. However, I was shocked to discover that they were all still in the mountain. With everything that happened with Smaug, they hadn't had a chance to check up on the dwarves. Too busy evacuating the vulnerable and healing the injured.

An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. What if they were trapped in there? Smaug could have caused a cave in and they couldn't get out. They might have sent a Raven saying that they were all alive but that didn't mean that none of them were hurt. I was also terrified of Thorin being around all that gold. The longer he was around it the more it would dig its claws in. I know I had warned him about it but there was no way of knowing if that would be enough.

Kili and I knew we had to get to that mountain as soon as possible. Ada seemed worried when I told him. For a second it looked like he was going to tell me no but then he schooled his expression and said that we could. We had to take an Elven escort with us but we could go. It was progress I guess.

I climbed onto a horse behind Kili. He was very uncertain about riding a full sized horse but he was hiding it well. We were sharing a horse as many of the horses were being used to escort the humans to Mirkwood. There were two guards escorting us to the mountain. Though what Ada believed would happen between here and there is anyone's guess.

Kili urged the horse into a trot and we began our journey.

oOo

Fili

Fili vowed to never go near a dragon ever again in his life. He was struggling to even stand close to the campfire keeping the company warm. Its flickering flames sent sharp memories into the forefront of his mind. The memories of the flames at his back. How close he had been to being snuffed out.

How had his people coped after Erebor was lost? None of the company had been greatly injured and yet here he was refusing the warmth from his own fire because it hurt to look at. Is that what his own people had done?

When Smaug had crashed his way out of the mountain, he had thought that everything was going to plan. They had all rushed up to the closest balcony-careful to still keep hidden of course. Smaug had fallen for the trap instantly. He had been following the pyres, getting closer and closer to his demise. Fili hadn't been able to see Bard through the darkness but he knew where he was. Smaug had almost gotten close enough, when everything went wrong.

It was Bofur that first saw the fire in the woods. The woods that he knew everyone had been evacuated to. When he pointed it out Fili felt like the world had slid out from under him. He couldn't even fathom how it could have started. Smaug's flames had been nowhere near it. Yet the flames began to spread nonetheless.

Fili had prayed that Smaug wouldn't notice it. Would ignore it for just long enough. But it wasn't to be. The beast had superior senses in every way. Fili, along with nearly everyone else, cried out when Smaug turned towards the elves and humans.

He felt so lost-so helpless-just standing there and watching the destruction. The smell of smoke in the air and the sound of crackling flames was almost too much to handle. Everything in him was rebelling. He couldn't just stand there and watch. Yet, he couldn't do anything.

When he thought that all was lost a bright light lit up the sky. It drew the eye of everyone. Like a star had been brought down to Middle Earth. He had to close his eyes against the onslaught. Smaug himself wasn't able to ignore it either. Fili drew in a shuddery breath when he saw the dragon abandon its attack.

Fili knew that light, though. Had seen it often enough and had even been on the other end of it. His brief relief was quickly crushed and replaced with a panic. This time stronger than it had been before.

Leah. It only could have been her. Last time he had seen her she had been stuck in Mirkwood. Yet there she was, acting as a new beacon. She had hinted that she would make it out but he hadn't truly believed it until that moment.

She had made it out but Fili was terrified that it would all be for nothing. Smaug could shutter out her life in an instant. And if she died then...Oh Mahal no. Kili would perish along with her. He couldn't prevent the sob that bubbled up.

He wanted to screw up his eyes, bury his head in his hands and block it all out. Like a scared child. Yet he refused to.

Watching Smaug be impaled had been like a shock to the system. Like he had emerged from a lake. But it was quickly squashed when he saw the dragon crash into the platform with Leah on it.

He hadn't been able to cope. The others could barely console him. There was so much uncertainty. Kili and Leah could both be dead and he could do nothing. The thought that he had just watched them die was like falling head first into a never ending pit. The same pit he had fell down the first time he saw the light leave his brother's eyes. For that minute that Kili was lost he felt like he was drowning. The pain in his chest was so intense he felt like it would never stop hurting.

But his brother had come back and pulled him out of that pit before it was too late. It was a miracle. One that tended not to happen twice.

The arrival of a raven was the thing to shake him out of his reverie. It had felt like a lifetime when in actual fact it had only been two hours. The raven told them all that Kili and Leah were alive. Leah was hurt but they were all still alive.

It almost hurt with how relieved he was.

The dwarves decided that they should stay within the mountain while the elves dealt with the destruction. It would take quite a few people to unearth the front gate enough to let them out. They could probably climb down the ramparts but it would be quite dangerous. The company decided that it would be too reckless when they were perfectly safe in the mountain.

Bilbo, however, seemed adamant that they get out of the mountain. The hobbit was dead set on them all leaving as soon as possible. At first he couldn't see why. He even felt himself get angry as Bilbo continued. But after a few days, Fili had started to see why.

His Uncle was acting strange. He made them spend countless hours within the piles of gold. Searching for the Arkenstone. Fili saw his uncle getting angrier and angrier. He couldn't understand why. They'd won, Smaug was gone. The only reason they really needed the stone in the first place was to join the dwarves together under one banner. A symbol of unity that would encourage them all to fight the dragon.

They should have been concentrating on more important matters. There was a war coming. They needed Thorin to send for Dain's army. Yet, so far Thorin had refused to do so. He couldn't understand it.

When he heard Gloin call down about people approaching the mountain, he raced up to the ramparts. Everyone else followed suit. Including Thorin, who now sported an armour made of gold and a crown.

The sun bared down onto the ground below. Fili squinted against it until he could see the three horses approaching the gates. When he saw his brother climbing off the back of one he nearly vaulted over the low walls to get to him. If it wasn't for his Uncle's arm that shot out he would have probably gone over the edge.

"Kili!" he shouted. Then he saw Leah climbing down from beside his brother "Leah! I'm so glad you're alright."

Kili began to walk forward. Looking as if he wanted to sprint up towards them. "Oh Fili you have no idea…"

"Stop right there!" Thorin's voice bellowed out.

Kili and Leah shuddered to a stop.

Fili nearly jumped at the sound. He turned to his uncle with wide eyed confusion. "Uncle what do you mean? Kili should be here with us."

"Can you not see?" Thorin asked, his eyes wild. "Thranduil promised that they would remain in Mirkwood. Yet we see them here before us. It was all a trick. It was all lies"

Fili took a step back. Unable to comprehend what was coming out of Thorin's mouth.

"Thorin please we just wanted to see if you were okay" Leah pleaded. She sounded distressed but she didn't seem to look surprised.

"Thorin what are ye talking about? I'm no' normally one to stick up fer elves but they helped us." said Dwalin.

Thorin turned towards Dwalin. "They lied about keeping Kili safe. Which means that they've lied about more. They have probably already poisoned him against me. They are using all of this as a ruse. They want to steal from us."

Exclamations of disbelief were pouring from everywhere. The dwarves couldn't understand where Thorin's thoughts were coming from.

The Elves with below, sensing a threat, had now drawn out their bows. It only exacerbated the situation. "Look. Look how they send their soldiers after us. If Kili were truly here of his own will, he would be alone. No. The elves want the mountain from us"

"Uncle, please" came Kili's voice from below them.

Thorin's face flickered with pain before settling on anger. "No! You are not welcome here while an elven garrison lies outside our doors."

"But what about the war Thorin?" Leah's determined voice piped up. "It's coming whether you believe it or not. You need to send for Dain or you'll only lose the mountain again."

Thorin shook his head. "It's all lies. There is no orc army. We have not seen any sign of them for near two months now. You only want me to send for the dwarves so your father can finally end us all"

"Thorin this is madness" said Balin.

The others in the company were saying things along the same line.

"Am I not your King!" Thorin shouted. Effectively silencing everyone.

"Of course ye are Thorin"

"Then you will listen to me." Thorin's voice was fierce and low. "We must protect what is ours"

"I faced a dragon for you, Thorin" Leah screamed. Tears had now filled her eyes and her face was a picture of rage. "And you had to go and get Fucking gold sickness. I even warned you. Did you not even try to stop it?"

For a second Thorin looked vulnerable. Like her words had cut through to him. There was a brief fear in his eyes. But all too soon it was replaced by a crazy eyed stare and anger. "I will not stand here and have you speak to me like that"

Thorin leaned forward over the ramparts. The elves angled their bows towards him.

"No one enters this mountain and no one leaves it" Then Thorin turned around and walked back into the mountain.

He left many a dazed dwarf in his wake. None of them knew how to handle what had just happened. None of them could understand it.

"You've got to fight it Thorin! You have to" Leah shouted once more. "You need to send for Dain and you need to fight this sickness. You're better than this"

But Thorin was already gone.

oOo

Fili hadn't been able to understand what had happened. How could Thorin ever turn Kili away? How could he ever speak to Leah like that? Fili knew that his Uncle had cared about Leah. He had treated her like she was one of them. Because she was one of them.

When Leah mentioned gold sickness it all started to make more sense. A curse had gripped his uncle. One that had already succeeded in killing his great grandfather. He wouldn't be able to think straight while it had its claws in him. If they weren't able to get through to Thorin he feared that he would be too far gone.

After Kili and Leah left, Thorin wandered into the Throne room. Fili watched him from a distance. He was leaning heavily on the throne. His head in his hand. Fili couldn't hear what he was saying but it sounded like he was arguing with himself. It broke his heart to see him like that.

He wanted to curse the curse. But then again, adding further curses would probably do more harm than good. He wanted so desperately to help Thorin. But there was nothing he could really do. The company had attempted to reason with Thorin but they couldn't get through to him. He began to look upon them with suspicion too. Fili felt out of his depth and not in control.

He could control his own actions though. Growing up, he had always been taught to respect authority figures. Had learned that he had to listen to his King. Thorin may have sometimes sounded unreasonable but in the scheme of things Fili had known they were for his own good. But should he still listen to him when he was no longer being reasonable? When his mind wasn't right?

Fili decided he was going to act now and face the consequences later. Decision made, Fili made his way up to one of the abandoned balconies. He made sure that he wasn't followed. While he still trusted his fellow dwarves, he wasn't certain that they wouldn't go back to Thorin. The older ones especially would struggle defying Thorin's orders. It had been drilled into them for so long that they didn't know what to do.

The air was brisk and there was a hint of frost gathering on the wall. Night had almost fallen. With the last of the light, Fili could just about make out the camp far below. Where his brother now resided. He couldn't believe he was separated from him once more. When all this was over he was going to end up locking his younger brother in a room for his own safety. How many near death experiences had that dwarf had in such a short space of time?

Fili's hand reached into one of the trick pockets sewn into his tunic. From within, he pulled out the reason he had made this midnight journey. He'd found some parchment during his time inside Erebor. Most of the paper he found had rotted away but there were some that hadn't been left to the elements.

He'd grabbed the best looking page he could. There hadn't been any ink though. All of that was certainly dried up by now. Instead Fili had put his sneaking skills to the test. He'd waited until Ori was busy before going through his bag and retrieving some ink. Ori had collected three extra bottles during their time in Mirkwood so he wouldn't miss one.

Nori would have been proud of him. Then again maybe not. It was his brother Fili was stealing from after all.

Fili wouldn't consider his writing very neat but he hoped that it was legible enough. It had to be.

He whistled a short tune. It didn't take long for a raven to descend onto the wall in front of him. It tilted its head to the side and chirped at him. What can Roäc do for you Dwarf?

The ravens of Erebor were fiercely intelligent. So much so that they could speak and under Westron. They had been allies of the dwarves for centuries.

Fili held out his hand with the folded parchment in. "This needs to get to Lord Dain as soon as possible. If it doesn't then we could all die"

Hunin took the parchment offered to him. Understood. Roäc can do this for you.

Then without further preamble the bird took flight into the night.

"Thank you," Fili said, hoping the bird had heard him.

Fili felt like a weight was lifted from his chest. He knew he had done the right thing. If everything went as it should, he could have saved a lot of people.

"You did the right thing Fili" a voice came from behind him.

Fili nearly jumped out of his skin. He spun so quickly he almost fell over. Standing in the doorway was Bilbo. His eyes were inquisitive yet understanding.

"Bilbo!" Fili exclaimed "How long have you been there?"

He had been certain that he wasn't followed. How had the hobbit snuck up on him so effectively?

Bilbo's nose scrunched up and he looked a bit guilty "I've been here the whole time" When Fili looked like he was about to bolt Bilbo raised his hands in a placating gesture "Don't worry I'm on your side. You did the right thing Fili. If you didn't do something then I was going to"

"Thank you, Bilbo" Fili felt the tension leave his shoulders.

"Leah warned me that this would happen" Bilbo sighed.

"She did?"

"She told me that there was a sickness here. That it would try to break into Thorin's head and feed him lies...And that's exactly what happened" Bilbo's voice was strained and it sounded like he was close to tears. "It's telling him that the elves are trying to trick us. That his own nephew has turned against him. If he doesn't break out of this soon he'll start turning on all of us"

Fili wanted to lash out and tell Bilbo that it wasn't true. But deep down he knew it to be fact.

"Leah said that the Arkenstone would only make it worse for him," Bilbo continued.

"It's a good thing that we haven't found it yet then" There was a huge lump in Fili's throat and he felt like he couldn't swallow. What would happen when they did?

Bilbo seemed to hesitate. Scratching his head and wrinkling his nose. "There's a reason for that"

"Bilbo. Do you have it?" Fili's words were barely above a whisper.

Bilbo reached into his robe and pulled out a truly magnificent jewel. It sent fractals and rainbows of light across the ground. It seemed to glow with its own radiance. How Bilbo had managed to keep something like that under wraps was nothing short of a miracle.

Fili hated to admit but he too felt some kind of draw to the jewel. Some longing to hold it. With more effort than he liked he lifted his eyes back to Bilbo.

"You need to get this away from here. As far away as possible. I can't let Thorin be hurt any more than he has"

"I know. That's why I'm here" Then Bilbo indicated to a rope tied around his middle. A rope that Fili had only just noticed.

He unspooled the rope from around his body and began to tie it around a stone pillar.

"You're coming back though, aren't you?" asked Fili.

Bilbo threw the rope over the edge and watched as it unwound before coming to a stop at the bottom.

"Of course" Bilbo smiled "You can't get rid of me that easily. Even if he is like this I'm not just going to leave him. I'm going to do everything I can to make him better. He'll be back to the Thorin we know and lo.." Bilbo coughed "He'll be back, I promise."

Then he climbed over the ledge and began his descent.

oOo

Leah

I couldn't believe it. After everything that had happened I hadn't been able to help Thorin with his gold sickness. It felt like fate was playing against me. Mocking me. Telling me that some things were inevitable.

I felt my mind spiralling. If I couldn't stop this did that mean that I couldn't prevent their deaths. What if after all this it had been for nothing. I couldn't cope if I had to watch any of them die.

The journey back to camp was a hard one. Angry, frustrated tears were falling from my eyes before I could stop them. The way Thorin had looked down at us. Like we were strangers. Like we were traitors. It was so hard to see. I loved the guy and here he was accusing me and my family of trying to kill all the dwarves.

I tried to stop crying, for Kili's sake, but it was so hard. Kili had it so much worse than me. Thorin was his family and he had rejected him. He tried not to show how much it affected him but I could see the tears built up in his eyes. His hands held onto the reins so tightly I feared he'd tear right through them.

To make matters worse, Ada was there when he returned. He saw the tears in my eyes and nearly marched on the mountain himself. The idea that Thorin had hurt me in any way-even if only emotionally-was too much for him to handle. It took a lot for us to convince him to calm down. We tried to explain that it wasn't truly Thorin's fault but I could still see the anger in his eyes.

Kili and I ended up back in his tent. All around us was the sound of the army returning from Mirkwood. From the snippets I could hear the journey had gone smoothly. All the humans were getting settled into the Elven Halls. The elves had also brought more supplies back with them.

Once we were finally alone I was immediately crushed into a hug. Kili sucked in a sharp breath and I could tell that he was trying not to cry.

"I'm sorry Kili" I said, while running a hand down his back. "And I'm sorry I got so angry at him. I know it's not his fault but I couldn't stop how mad it made me."

"I don't blame you Leah. I wanted to scream at him myself" He said into my shoulder.

"What are we going to do now?" I tried to keep the panic from my voice but I was struggling. "We can't fight the orcs without the dwarves. It'll be a bloodbath"

Kili leaned out of the hug, shaking his head. "I don't know, Leah. We've got to find a way to break through to Thorin."

We spent the rest of the day within the confines of the tent. I didn't want to brave the chaos outside. I doubted that I would cope. My nerves were like live wires. Constantly on edge. So much uncertainty was making me a mess. By the time the sun was going down I was exhausted. Partly from stressing myself out and partly because I was still healing.

I was tired but I knew that sleep would not find me. Kili had tried to cheer me up but it only made me feel worse. He shouldn't have been the one making me feel better. I should have been the one helping him. Good Lord, I was being a bad girlfriend.

I was sitting next to Kili on his cot. My legs were bouncing like crazy and I was struggling to keep still. At Kili's suggestion I was also humming songs. He told me it would help to keep my mind off things. I wasn't sure if it was really but it helped to fill the silence.

I was following the pack, all swallowed in their coats

With scarves of red tied 'round their throats

To keep their little heads from falling in the snow

And I turned 'round and there you go

And Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow red

As strawberries in the summertime

"The song sounds happy but it's actually quite morbid isn't it" Kili mused, he rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb.

"I guess so yeah"

"Do you not have anything a bit more happy?" Kili said with a small smile.

"I'm all out of happy at the moment. My brain is only supplying me with slightly morbid songs. You'll have to check in later."

"I see" Kili laughed "Well what song is up next then?"

"Have you heard the song Doomed by Moses Sumney? That's a sure fire way to bring down the mood."

Kili was about to reply when the door of the tent flipped open. Which was strange because I was certain it was tied closed. Then as quickly as it opened it closed once more.

"Oh thank Yavanna I found you" came a disembodied voice.

Then from where there had only been empty space a hobbit now stood. The sudden appearance of Bilbo was disconcerting to say the least. It was like my brain was screaming 'wrong' at me. It was so strange. Kili nearly jumped off the bed when Bilbo popped in front of us.

"Bilbo!"I exclaimed, climbing to my feet.

I immediately wrapped my arms around him. Giving him a hug whether he wanted it or not. Just seeing him, I felt better. It was a good sign that he was here surely.

Bilbo hugged me back for a moment before not so subtly prising my arms away. "It's good to see you too but I'm kind of on a tight schedule here."

I muttered an apology and let him continue. "Fili has sent for Dain."

"Oh thank god"

"Thank Mahal"

"Thorin refused to because he thinks that something bad will happen if he does. The other dwarves don't really agree with him but I don't think they really know how to defy him. It's not really in their nature. Most of them think that he will come around eventually but I knew that we didn't have time for that. If Fili hadn't done it then I would have." Said Bilbo.

"I knew Fili wouldn't have been able to stand by and do nothing. Not after Thorin had rejected me. He would have known right away that something was wrong with Uncle." said Kili.

Knowing that Dain's armies would come was such a huge relief. It felt like I could breathe again.

"And the Arkenstone?" I whispered.

Then Bilbo reached into his breast pocket and revealed the aforementioned artifact. I nearly gasped when I saw it. It was truly beautiful.

"I kept it from him like you said. But I don't think it's a good idea for me to keep it around. He's bound to find it at some point. I was hoping that you could keep it safe for me" Bilbo's eyes were pleading as he offered the stone to me.

At first I was reluctant to take it but I knew I had to. The surface was strangely warm when I held it. Like it was emitting its own heat. It wasn't particularly comforting.

"You did the right thing Bilbo"

"Have I?" Bilbo laughed self consciously "Why do I feel like I've betrayed him then?"

"You haven't betrayed anyone Bilbo" I urged "You're doing this for his own good. To protect him. If that's not noble I don't know what is."

Bilbo had to leave pretty soon after that. He couldn't be gone too long from the mountain or people would note his absence. He gave us both a hug goodbye before donning the ring and disappearing into the night.

I was left holding a very shiny rock and not really knowing what to do with it.

"It would probably be a good paper weight," Kili mused.

I debated about what to do about Thorin's gold sickness but decided that it was still going to affect him. Mental health problems don't just disappear just because someone warns you about them after all. It's also a curse so it's probably magic or some shit. I also wrote most of this in one shot so its probably not great. But it's better than nothing. White Winter Hymnal-Fleet Foxes