Chapter 14: Seed.

It had been a week since I'd spoken to Oin, he had only told Balin and Dwalin about what I'd said to him, the brothers were as horrified as Oin had been, as far as I knew, the others had no idea.

I ended up in the ruins of Dori's tea shop, listening to him sighing and talking about the memories he got from that place. I was tired with his ramblings, wanting to get out of the place and stay somewhere quiet and undisturbed, I smiled at him and then put down the charred sign I was holding.

"Dori? Would you mind if I went and took a nap? I've got an awful headache building." I lied, he nodded and hustled me out of the shop, suggesting things that might help with the headache. I walked towards the rooms Fee and I had claimed as our own for the time being, catching sight of Nori, rummaging through some piles of coins, lifting a large emerald to his eye before pocketing it. "Nori? Have you seen my husband?" I asked, he jumped a foot in the air.

"Bloody hell woman! Don't sneak up on me!" He exclaimed, hand on his chest as I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, giving him a raised eyebrow.

"Sneaking up on a thief at work? Me?" I replied sarcastically, he snickered and then nodded.

"He's down in the forges with Gloin." Nori commented, pointing me in the right direction, I thanked him and started in the direction of the forges. On the way, I stopped and looked out over the horde of gold Bilbo, Bifur and Kili were still slaving over.

"No one rests until it is found! I must have the Arkenstone if we want the others to support us." Thorin commanded, I stepped back into the shadows where his sharp eyes couldn't see me as he looked up. "Not even the women should be resting Miss Reynolds, or are you that weak you would forsake the people that kept you safe!?" He called, knowing I could hear him, I didn't hear what Kili shouted at his Uncle, I was dead to that Dwarf... Thorin I mean. I ran through a collection of corridors, coming to a stop when the heat of the forges told me where to go. I breathed heavily as Fee came into view, nothing covering his torso as he hammered away at something.

"Fee!" I panted, he looked up and frowned, dropping the hammer in his hand and coming over, saying something to Gloin, who ignored us pointedly.

"What's wrong? Were you running?" He asks incredulously, I gave him a nasty look as he grinned and wrapped both arms around me, his heat adding to the sweltering forges, I fought him off.

"Sorry, but it's boiling in here and your furnace of a body isn't helping much." I apologized, he nodded understandingly and pulled back a bit more.

"What's wrong?" He repeated, I swallowed hard and panted before nodding.

"Right, yeah the problem." I said to myself, he nodded. "Uh, Thorin is losing his shit up there, he's shouting at everyone and I'm afraid that he's hurt Kee." Fili's face changed into a thunderous expression as he stormed passed me, Gloin hot on his heels. I followed until we entered the treasury, Fili throwing himself down the stairs case in a fit of rage.

"You've finally turned up then have you? Been hiding away with your woman?" Thorin spat, Kili was sat in a pile of gold, Bifur cleaning a cut on his face, a bruise had formed around the cut.

"Been beating your nephew much?" I hissed, shoving by and crouching in front of the injured brother.

"For defending the harlot I see in front of me yes, I did what I saw necessary." Thorin said loftily, infuriating Fili to no end.

"That is my wife not a harlot you foul mouthed snake." Fili snapped, Thorin whipping around and glaring at his other nephew.

"I had no qualms about hitting Him, do not think I have any about doing the same to you." Thorin warned a finger pointing at Fili.

"How dare you lay a finger on my brother!" Fili roared, I flinched as his rage took over, restless and pacing back and forth. "That is your flesh and blood! There is no explanation you can give that would excuse this!"

"It was what was right."

"What was right?! What gives you the right to decide that Thorin? A crown?" I interrupted, he snarled.

"I am the King!"

"A man who must proclaim that he is King should not be on a throne."

Thanks Tywin.

The pain came last, the force of the impact first, I sprawled in the coins, face first and furious.

He hurt me... And more importantly... He hurt You.

I watched as Dwalin hauled the would be King off into another section of the Mountain, I refused to let anyone touch the now bleeding slash on my cheek, I wanted it to look as bad as possible for when Thorin came to his senses.

"I cannot believe him, first Kili and then you!" Fili seethed, pacing again, like a restless lion in a too small cage at a carnival.

"To be fair, I provoked him." I argued he shook his head.

"I don't care!" He growled, glaring at Balin as he came to collect the pair of us.

"Thorin wishes for you to repent, to sweat fealty to him or be banished from the Mountain." Balin muttered, clearly disapproving of the punishment. "He truly has lost sight of what matters most."

"He'll come to." I whispered, Balin nodding knowingly. "I've not been wrong yet." I added in thought, following Fili slowly like I was marching to my death.

"Will you bend the knee?" Thorin asked, Fili nodded and got down on one knee. I looked at him and then frowned. "You hesitate? Do you not understand the choice before you? Kneel or die."

"Well in that case... You'll have to kill me then." His eyes widened slightly. "Because I will not bow to a King who wears a crown studded with the people he's hurt and turned against him. It is not in my blood." I answered, Fili closed his eyes and sighed.

"Very well then." Thorin said, rising from his throne and drawing his new sword. I watched as Oin fought his way through Dwalin and stood in front of me.

"Wait! Rule number three of the execution code in Dwarven culture!" He said quickly, Thorin frowned. "No woman may be harmed should they be with child!"

"No woman here is with child." Thorin spat, I blinked slowly and sighed.

"I am."