The two of them stared at each other. Thorin walked over and came to stand just at the foot of Bella's bed. His expression was serious. "Bella, right now would be a good time to start telling me the truth. And I mean about everything." Thorin demanded.

"I don't want to talk about it." Bella growled.

"Don't give me that Bella. I don't know how many times I have assured you, you can trust me with anything. Since the beginning of this journey you have been evading the truth every time with me and I'm done. Either you tell me the truth about everything now or neither of us will be leaving this room until otherwise."

Bella looked down and then back at Thorin to see he hadn't even blinked an eye. His expression was becoming unreadable. "Why do you care? It's not like you have been willing share anything about yourself either, Thorin. Except for your hatred of elves. Which wasn't a secret to begin with. You made that pretty clear." Bella retorted.

Thorin let out a sigh and sat at the edge of her bed. "Bella, you have never asked me to reveal anything to you. If you wanted to know something, all you had to do was ask. Ask me anything." He offered.

"Do you have any other siblings, besides a sister?" Bella asked, starting with something easy.

"I have...had a younger brother. Like you. His name was Frerin." Thorin stammered. Even after 142 years he still missed his brother, but he had grown to learn how to hide his pain he felt for how much he lost.

"I'm sorry. What happened to him?"

"He was slain in the battle of Moria. Along with my Grandfather."

"Thorin I'm sorry. I had no idea." Bella apologized, placing a hand on his.

"Its okay. You didn't know, it was a long time ago. You remind me of him actually." He admitted.

" How's that."

"Like you, always trying to prove himself, stubborn as ever. Often got himself into trouble that I had to get him out of." Thorin stated, causing Bella to laugh a little and even Thorin managed to smile. " Your turn. Tell me what happened here. Why were the guards trying to take you to the Master?"

"W-when I was last here...about 10 years ago...my brother and I had just gotten in an argument, the usual when I would return out of nowhere. I decided to stay with the one friend I did have here. She had just recently lost her husband...he drowned in the lake and she had two young children. A boy and a girl. My friend was very ill at the time and her children hadn't eaten in a few days and other families barely had any food to spare as it was. I took matters into my hands and broke into the Masters home. He has been hoarding money for himself for years, he was sitting by watching his people starve and was doing nothing. I only took enough to get some food and medicine for the family. I would have succeeded if it wasn't for that swine Alfrid. He caught me climbing out of the window and threatened to cut the rope on me if I didn't give it back. " Thorin listened to this tense story, she was trying to help a starving family and she was going to punished for it? " I gave him back the bag of coins and he told me to leave this town if I wanted to keep my freedom. Of course I should have known Alfrid had me followed. I told my friend Rena what happened, that I had to leave or else. She understood. I left to my brother's, he wasn't home at the time. Ingrid and my niece and nephew were out in the markets I suspected. I grabbed some food from their house and was on my way back to give to them what I had, when I saw the guards already at their home. Alfrid had made it so they were the thief's and not me. Rena didn't survive in her cell...she died and I have no idea what happened to her children. I left and never came back until now." Bella finished, sniffling as the tears came down her face.

The dwarf king had moved closer to her on the bed as she told her story. He reached his right thumb to the young woman's face and cleared the tears coming down the side of her cheek. Bella could feel her skin heating up at his touch and looked him in the eye. " Bella, this wasn't your fault. You were trying to do a good thing. You can't keep blaming yourself for this." Thorin told her.

"How is it not my fault? They were punished for something I did! And I-I ran away like I always do!" Bella cried and Thorin pulled her into him, wrapping an arm around her in comfort. Bella had to admit she felt a sense of security in Thorin's arms. The leader finally pulled away when he heard the sniffling had stopped.

"You told me when we were in Rivendell, that your family left you behind. That wasn't true was it?" Thorin challenged.

"Yes, I was left behind. Not by my brother, by my mother. For years I believed my drunken father that my mother died after giving birth. Turns out was never true. My mother left me days after she had me. She was alive until I was 8 and never came to look for me. I learned she was killed by orcs. My father eventually married 10 years later to Bard's mother. She never liked me, which was why I left the first time. I was my father's mistake."

"Bella you are not a mistake." Thorin pressed. "Your brother is lucky to have an older sister like you."

Bella chuckled a little. "Its me that's lucky to have a brother like him." Bella stated. " After everything I had done and when I would unexpectedly leave, he was still there for me."

Thorin smiled at her and turned his gaze to the small window in the room and saw that it was already nightfall. This would be their only chance to go break into the armory and steal more useful weapons that would defend them, better then the ones the bowman offered them. "What's wrong?" Bella asked catching the change in Thorin's somewhat soft look to a more determined hard look.

"I have to go. The weapons your brother presented to us, are of no use to us. We need iron forged weapons. We have no choice. Were breaking into the armory tonight. Durin's Day is only a few days away." Thorin explained.

"I'll go with you all." Bella pressed.

"No," Thorin said sternly. "Bella I know you're feeling better, but you still need rest. And if the guards see you, you'll be surely taken captive. Stay here. Bella I promise, we won't forget you. I won't forget you. You can leave this place behind you with us."

"You want me to keep running?" She questioned.

"At least you'll be free. Bella just promise you'll wait here for us to come back." Thorin begged her. Bella grumbled under her breath and Thorin caught all of it and she sat back on the bed.

"Fine."

The king nodded, unlocking the door, and held onto the handle of the door. He looked at the ground and then glanced behind him. Bella had gotten up and walked over to the window, staring off into the darkness. Thorin looked at the door. What was he waiting for? He'd been wanting to do this one thing for awhile now. He didn't care that she was only half-dwarf. In the end she was still more dwarf, then man's blood. Her past didn't change the way he felt for her. Yes, she was quite young for him, but he didn't care anymore. He couldn't continue to fight the desire within him.

The dwarf pulled away from the door and walked right up to the young woman, cupping her face in his hands, catching the half-breed completely off guard. Thorin pulled her face gently towards him, his lips, claiming hers. The kings lips were warm on hers, tender but firm and Bella squirmed closer to him, returning his affection. The young woman had grown feeling's for the leader for sometime now, ever since she started teasing him with her nickname but to have him do this was unexpected. She never thought Thorin even considered her, not in the slightest. Thorin was the first to pull away, time was wasting and he pressed his forehead against hers. " Bella, I promise as soon as we have the weapons, I will come back for you and we can leave this place." He said lowly. She nodded and he left her room, closing the door behind him. Bella sat down on the edge of her bed. Her fingers went to touch her lips, she could still feel the dwarf's lips on hers and his sent lingered around her. She only hoped the dwarves would be successful and return soon, so she could continue on with them.

The leader came back down the hall and was met with numerous expressions. It never occurred to Thorin that his absences would become noticed by his men. He thought he had done a good job slipping away to speak with Bella, unnoticed.

"Where did you run off too?" Dwalin asked.

"I didn't run off. I was just asking Bella if she knew any secret entrances into the armory." Thorin quickly replied, ignoring the smirks coming from Balin and Dwalin.

"That one question took you this long to get an answer uncle?" Kili and Fili challenged, bursting out laughing at the end.

"Enough! We must leave. We've wasted enough time." Thorin barked.

"You can't leave! My father said not too!" Bain pressed.

"Out of the way, lad." Dwalin hissed, pushing the young boy out of his way. The dwarves had no problem pushing pass Bain and the quietly made their way out of the house. Bella laid on her bed, staring at her ceiling. How was she supposed to get rest now? Her friends were out there, sneaking through the town square. Thorin just kissed her, and now she felt all fluttery inside and confused. Why would Thorin want her? Or even want to touch her? He had no idea that she had been tortured before the goblins got their chance at her. And these scars she would have as long as she breathed. Their was a reason why she always wore long sleeves. Bella only closed her eyes for a second when she heard the front door open and she got up and came out of her room to see her brother.

"Da! I tried to stop them!" Bain pressed.

"How long have they been gone!?" Bard asked his son.

"What are you going to do Bard?" Bella questioned.

"Bella, how could you keep this from me. You knew who these dwarves were all along and their purpose. Do you realize what this means? "

" It wasn't my place to reveal who they were Bard. All they want is their home back." Bella protested.

"Bella! If those dwarves enter that mountain. They will awaken that beast and bring death upon us all!" Bard growled at her.

"We don't know if that dragon is even still inhabiting that mountain. It's been nearly 60 years Bard."

"Bella what is wrong with you!? You know very well the history of our ancestor and what happened that day. Are you prepared for history to repeat itself?" The bowman challenged.

"History will not repeat itself Bard. You don't know these dwarves like I do!"

"Do you? They clearly don't trust you. Otherwise, they wouldn't have left you behind."

"They didn't leave me behind. They were just protecting me." Bella snapped, shoving passed her brother and opened the front door to the cold air outside.

"Where are you going?"

"To go help my friends." Bella said as she walked down the stairs.

"Bella. Bella come back!" Bard yelled.

The young woman ignored her brother and started making her way through the market. She had to duck under stairs, she even had to hide on the side of buildings when she saw some of the guards out making their rounds. Once it seemed safe again to keep going. Bella eventually made it to the armory, but it seemed quiet. She saw none of the dwarves. Surely they would have at least a few of them standing guard, just in case someone were to show up and see what they were up to. Bella narrowed her eyes and kept walking down the dock, through the market. It was then she saw lit torches and a massive gathering of the townsfolk in front of the Masters home.

Bella pushed her way through the crowd. Hearing Thorin's voice, telling everyone present that they were the Dwarves of Erebor and that they were here to reclaim there home. Bella saw the Master. He was a rather unattractive man. "I remember this town and the great days of old. Fleets of boats lay at harbor, filled with silks and fine gems. This was no forsaken town on a lake! This was the center of all trade in the north!" As he spoke, the people around Bella nodded in agreement. "I would see those days return," he continued. "I would relight the great forges of the Dwarves... and send wealth and riches flowing once more from the halls of Erebor!" The crowd cheered, and Thorin turned to the Master to see his reaction as he glanced around at the people of the town.

"Death!" The crowd went silent and the company turned to see Bard emerging from the crowd behind them. "That is what you will bring upon us! Dragon fire and ruin. If you waken that beast, it will destroy us all." The young woman watched as her brother came through the crowd all the way up to Thorin.

"You can listen to this naysayer, but I promise you this: if we succeed, all will share in the wealth of the mountain. You will have enough gold to rebuild Esgaroth ten times over!" Thorin shouted, and the people cheered loudly once more. Bella couldn't help but feel a smile creep onto her face, hearing the people cheer around her. Seeing the hope they all had, hearing Thorin's words.

"Why should we take you at your word, eh?" Alfrid challenged, interrupting the cheering. "We know nothing about you. Who here can vouch for your character?"

The crowd was silent as the snow continued to fall on them. Bella couldn't vouch for him. For one she couldn't risk the guards or the Master spotting her and second of all, no way would Alfrid or the Master take anything seriously coming from a woman. "Me. I will vouch for him." Bilbo spoke up and seeing that all eyes were now on him. " Now I have traveled far with these Dwarves through great danger and if Thorin Oakenshield gives his word...then he will keep it." he said.

All of you! Listen to me! You must listen!" Bard shouted. "Have you all forgotten what happened to Dale? Have you forgotten those who died in the firestorm? And for what purpose? The blind ambition of a mountain king, so riven by greed, he could not see beyond his own desire!"

Bella was feeling furious at her brother right now. How could he do this? Thorin turned to face the bowman, a look of rage forming on his face.

"Now, now! We must not, any of us, be too quick to lay blame." The Master stated as he waved a finger about pointedly. "Let us not forget that it was Girion, Lord of Dale, your ancestor, who failed to kill the beast!" Thorin looked at Bard with a mixture of anger and surprise and then he caught sight of the young woman standing in the crowd. They had been traveling with a descendant of Dale this entire time?

"It's true, sire. We all know the story: arrow after arrow, he shot, each one missing its mark!" Alfrid spat. Bard turned his annoyance from Alfrid and walked closer to Thorin looked down at him so only he could hear what he said.

"You have no right, no right to enter that mountain." Bard seethed, shaking his head at him.

"I have the only right." Thorin hissed back, before turning to face the Master. "I speak to the Master of the Men of the lake. Will you see the prophecy fulfilled? Will you share in the great wealth of our people? What say you?"

The Master looked around, appeared to be in thought as he glanced at his people before giving an answer. "I say unto you...welcome! Welcome and thrice, welcome King under the Mountain!" The crowd was cheering louder then ever around them. Bard looked down displeased by this and finally left. The company had been offered to come into the Master's home for a grand feast and they all had wondered inside. Bella had been so caught up in the moment that she hadn't realized the crowd was beginning to disappear around her.

"Hey!" A guard shouted. Bella looked to her side and tried to run in the other direction when she was met with three more guards and she tried to get away going another way.

"Got you Bella!" Braga yelled, grabbing her by her clothing.

"Let me go!" Bella shouted. Thorin just stood there, wondering why she was even out here. He begged her to stay in.

"Ah Bella...thought you could run all these years without serving your sentence for the crime you committed? " The Master said. Bella just glared at the ugly fat man. "Through her in the dungeons!"

"You should have left, while you still could Bella." Braga sneered at her and chuckled as she struggled with him and he began dragging her by one arm and another guard had a hold of the other. Bella glanced behind her to see Thorin still standing there but he was too far out of sight for to see the look on his face. All she knew was that, this was not good and wondered how she was going to get out of this and the guards threw her harshly into the cell and shut the door.