Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit.

Exciting news. By the time the next chapter comes out I will have complete the long anticipated Middle Earth Marathon to celebrate the release of BotFA dvd.

Read, review and enjoy.

Three days.

It was only three days since the death of Smaug and yet it had felt as if three life times had passed. Thorin had not stopped looking for the Arkenstone, in fact he rarely came away from the treasure horde and had food brought to him. That very day Marie had not seen him at all.

The others were beginning to see it, the change in him, though none would dare say anything out loud about it. It was like an unspoken agreement between them all, that if they say nothing of it then it wasn't true. They just carried on with their assigned duties of night watch, scavenging and cleaning up the rooms of Erebor. Their quarters had scrubbed up well and Marie was able to treat herself with the simple luxury of a bath. She soaked herself until she was red and pruned all over.

But even so, it had not brought her the comfort she wanted.

While she had stewed in the marble tub watching the steam rise she internally debate with the many facets of her conscious.

Thorin wanted the Arkenstone more than anything, and she had it, wrapped up out of sight. All she had to do was to give it to him, she wanted to and yet at the same time she didn't. The debate had not yet reached a verdict even when she dried herself off, redressed in her traveling clothes and sat at the guard table with Ori, Dori and Balin sitting with her.

The Akenstone weighed heavily in her pocket.

"…. dress Miss Marie?"

"Mmm? Whatwhohuh?"

Now that was embarrassing. Marie cleared her throat and pulled her elbows off the table.

Dori watched her reaction with a perplexed look. "You're not wearing the dress Miss Marie?" He repeated. "I don't know if it was your colour or not but .."

"Oh, that. No it is nice but might be a little big on me Dori." All those skirts, the heavy brocade of the sleeves, how would she move in such a thing? Hobbits were not meant to wear such finery. She picked the fur on her cuff, "And besides, I am comfortable in what I have now. Thank you for the thought."

While the dwarves went back to their chatter, Marie faded back into her thoughts with a small frown. In time she slipped away from the table unnoticed, something she had become very good at without really trying anymore.

Marie found a quiet spot to sit. It still amazed her that she could easily see through the passages and tunnels of the mountain without there being that many torches around. Whatever sunlight that crept in lit up almost every corner. Almost

Assured she would not be found, Marie pulled out the Arkenstone. She peeled back the fabric, exposing the brilliant jewel. Again Marie felt the hypnotic enticement tingling on her skin. Something about it was alluring to the eye and it would be easy to fall victim to its charm. What if Marie gave it to him and he shut everything out? Shut her out? Or would he forever grateful to her for finding it? Promise her anything she desire? A part of her wanted that, more than anything.

She had almost given it to Thorin, well she tried.

Five times.

Each time she had it ready in her closed fist as she walked towards him. But the instant he would he turn at her calling and stare her down her resolved dwindled and her hand would hide within her sleeve, concealing the Arkenstone. When Thorin questioned her, she would meekly respond with a 'Hello' or 'How are you?' or eve just a meek half smile. This softened him for a moment and Marie could see a glimpse of the dwarf she had grown to care for.

It hurt her not to give him what he sought. She sighed and wrapped up the jewel again.

"Hullo!?"

Marie's head snapped up as the soft echo drifted up from somewhere in the mountain. Had it been one of the dwarves in search for their burglar she would have been happy to be silent and let them pass to allow her some solace, but there was a distinctive lilt to the voice that made it impossible to be anyone other than ...

"Bofur?"

The hobbit stood and shoved the Arkenstone back into her pocket as she rushed out into the open.

"Hullo!? Bombur?! Anyone!?"

"Anyone?!"

That was Fili.

'Oh sweet heavens. They're alive.' Marie did her best follow the sounds of their voices.

She spotted four figures passing the stairs she had turned into and heading away from her,
"Wait!" She called out and picked up her pace. She was careful since there was no stopping should she trip. Thankfully the four stopped and reversed course.

"Lass?" Bofur was last in line but first to reach her, catching her as she descended the last few steps. "Oh lass thank the stars you're alive." His arms wrapped around her middle and lifted her clean off her feet.

"Oof! Yes Bofur." He placed her back on solid ground and she was swamped with questions. "Please, one at a time."

Kili nudged past Bofur and Oin, "Where are the others? Is Uncle …?"

Whatever the rest of the question was, Marie didn't hear it as her insides clenched suddenly.

"About that." She muttered. "You may want to rethink …."

"What? What's wrong lass?" Bofur looked ready for the worse.

"It's nothing serious. Well it could be I just don't quiet … no what I mean is .." Marie stopped then started over. "I think we need to leave this place." They're questioning looks were not surprising.

"Leave Erebor?" "Oin twisted his ear trumpet to hear correctly, "After all we've …"

"It's changing him." Marie blurted out. "Thorin I mean. He's been down in that chamber for three days now and I don't think he's eaten or slept. "

Kili and Oin face's grew tight and Bofur's eyebrows came together in a concerned fashion. Fili was slowly turning his gaze down off the side of the pathway, to were to gold light could be seen. He was suddenly off down the stairs before anyone could tell him otherwise.

"Fili wait. Oh for goodness sake" Marie rushed after with Oin, Kili and Bofur following after. "Please Fili you don't …"

'You don't need to see him like this.'

But the young dwarf wasn't listening. For once he was the brother who acted before thinking.

She caught up with the youth as he abruptly stopped before the treasure when it came in sight. He looked stunned by it all, his pale blue eyes wide, not with awe, but with disbelief. Something he and Kili shared when the group reached them.

They had been raised on tales of this great horde, hearing every varied account of its size and contents and yet neither Kili or Fili had been prepared for this. Even Bofur and Oin had to stop and take a moment to just stare.

Fili wet his lips and took a deep breath, "I imagined it …"

"Smaller?" Bofur offered, "Grander? Organized? Melted down to paint the walls? You know I always wondered if a dragon would do so."

"Less ominous." Fili answered. So Marie wasn't the only one thinking along the same line.

Out of the shadows a figure moved slowly across the coins. Thorin. Now dressed as the part of a king. His robe resembled his old leather travel coat he'd lost in Mirkwood, but it was darker and longer, trailing about him and picking up coins as he moved. The think black fur almost overwhelmed Thorin as it blended into his own hair. Perhaps he moved slowly because the chain mail tunic that reached his feet underneath it all, or he just was distracted by … other things.

"Uncle!" Kili cried out. But the dwarf did not hear him. His lips were moving, muttering words Marie could just barely hear.

"Gold. Gold beyond measure. Beyond sorrow and grief."

Kili call out to him again but this time Thorin appeared to have listened. He raised his head and Marie visibly shrunk as the boys, Bofur and Oin finally saw what she had tried to explain.

Shadows covered the proud dwarf's face, predominantly under his eyes, giving him a haunted presence. Even just looking up at them he wasn't truly seeing them, not at first.

"Behold. The great treasure horde of Thror." He said with pride. Quicker than lightening his arm flew up and he had tossed something into the air. It reflected the torch light as it came towards them. Fili caught it at the last moment, a huge ruby bigger than his hand.

Thorin clapped a hand over his heart as he stared up at Kili and Fili, "Welcome, my sister's sons," He opened his arms wide, a smile on his lips that could be mistaken as crazed. "Welcome to the kingdom of Erebor."

A cold welcome judging by the other dwarves' expressions. They couldn't match the Thorin they knew to this one.

"We are honored Uncle." Fili said, keeping an even tone.

"Find peace in these halls my kin," This was addressed to all of them, save Marie, "All you see before you … is ours." The king turned his back to them.

"Come." Marie tugged on Bofur's sleeve.

Well that had been a somewhat awkward moment. She should have caught Fili by the ear and dragged them to the others first and explained in more detail the situation.

'And where was this plan five minutes ago.' Marie wanted to run her hand over her face and groan loudly, highly unladylike yes but in what circumstance would anything she was doing or had done been any semblance of ladylike.

Fili hooked a hand around Marie's elbow and leaned in close as the walked. "What is this Marie? This is not like Thorin."

"Aye lass. I thought it was ghost at first." Bofur whispered in her other ear.

"It's … ah it is complicated." She admitted. "I'll take you to the others. Balin may have more answers than I."

Fili and Bofur must have heard the reluctance in her voice and did not press for anything else. Now she felt terrible for not saying anything and just blocked out their words as their talked amongst themselves about Thorin.

Hopefully a reunion with the others would help ease the tension.

xxxxx

And it did.

Marie directed them through the doorway to their quarters and immediately warmth and joyful cries filled the air as brothers and old friends were reunited. Bombur and Bifur refused to let Bofur go, Oin bumped heads with Gloin and Balin and the younger dwarves laughed and practically bounce with joy. Marie watched from the door way with a big smile on her face. Ever gruff Dwalin was grinning from ear to ear speaking with his old friend Oin.

"You aren't going to just stand there alone love?"

"Mm?"

Fili waved her over to join the group. Marie pulled at the sleeves of her coat awkwardly but made her way over to his open arms. Fili proceeded to crush her with his arms. Marie was now used to the power of dwarf hugs and just wrapped her arms around his neck. He raised her up so that her toes just brushed the floor. What he did next surprised the hobbit. Fili put her down and clasped his hands around her upper arms, staring intently into her eyes. "What are …" Marie was met with a sound thump as Fili brought their foreheads together.

"Ow."

"Sorry." He pulled back. "I forget you're not us tough as a dwarrowdam."

"I'm plenty tough thank you." Marie said as a small red spot formed on her forehead. Fili chuckled and he and Bofur repeated the gesture with eachother.

Marie felt a small tap on her should and turned. It just Kili, smiling softly. "You look much better than when we parted." It was true, Marie was only now seeing that he walked without discomfort and that the darkness under his eyes had faded. But how? He had seemed to be getting worse when they had left for the mountain, and now he looked better than ever.

"Hehe, well that is quite a story." He shrugged.

"Indeed," Fili clapped his hand on his shoulder, "Never in my lifetime would I think I would owe so much to an elf." He said.

"An elf?"

"Aye." Fili grinned as she looked to Kili. Marie was sure he would hug her too but like his brother he placed his hands on her shoulders, close to the curve of her neck. He was more careful and pressed their heads together gently. Marie was quite honored to receive such an endearing gesture.

When the moved apart Kili quickly turned his but Marie caught sight of his flushed cheeks behind his long locks.

"Come here lass." Bofur, who had freed himself from Bombur's embrace and wrapped an arm around her shoulders rubbing her shoulder fondly, "When that flying snake came down upon is I thought for sure something had happen. Thank Durin I was wrong."

"I'll say." She mumbled. He smelt like salt and fish but it didn't matter. The unease in her chest lessened and for now she felt safe with her completed company.

Well, almost completed.

Marie wished Thorin was … himself, and here with them. She glanced around each one of the dwarves. Ori, to Dwalin, to Bombur. So many smiles that she had not seen for a long while. But something caught her eye from the doorway behind the group but when Marie focused there was nothing there. A shadow perhaps?

Whatever it was it was gone.