Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit.

Hey, I am so sorry for not updating this sooner. I got caught up with my musical and had an amazing acting opportunity open up for me in the last month so writing took a slump. I do hope to be more on top now that the crazy times are done.

Enjoy!

More stone was needed, more and more. There was no shortage of it thanks to Smaug's fumblings and every piece was carted to the main gate and the dwarves were. Thorin wanted the large hole closed off and soon.

By the time Marie had arrived at the gate there was already a steady line of work underway, leaving the hobbit to stand at the sides lost in the flurry of activity. When she could she would help push a cart and lifted some larger pieces but for the most part she was unclear for the need to build the barricade. What was going through Thorin's mind? Did he honestly think the Lake Men would storm the entrance any moment now? Granted they would easily overwhelm their small force Marie wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Night settled over the mountain and the braziers above the shattered gate seemed dimmer than usual. More were lit and set about the working dwarves but still there seemed to be darkness on them. At Balin's suggestion Marie retrieved a canteen and replenished it with water. She went to and from each dwarf with the canteen to offer up a sip which was welcomed by all, but when she approached Thorin waved away the offer. "I am in no need, let another take extra should they please." He told her. Disheartened she went to Kili next who was taking her turn with the cart.

"Bring more stone. I want this fortress made safe by sun up." Thorin barked. "This mountain was hard won. I will not see it taken again."

The handle of the cart made a muted clunk when Kili dropped it. Marie edged back a little. "The people of Lake Town have nothing. They came to us in need Uncle." He said, an unspoken plea in his words. "They have lost everything." Marie glanced over her shoulder to see how Thorin would respond.

"Do not tell me what they have lost." Thorin pointed to himself. "I know well enough their hardship."

"Then," The hobbit adjusted the canteen to rest on her hip and face him, "You of all people should be the most sympathetic to them."

Thorin shook his head and swept an arm around towards Dale. "You fail to see the blessing of it all. Those who have lived through Dragon Fire should rejoice. They have much to be grateful for." Fili was watching Thorin from under hooded eyelids while he worked, containing his concern it appeared if the lines around his eyes were anything to go on. Marie should know from the amount of times she herself had to restrain herself with certain relatives. Kili shared his brother's state of mind but did a far less better job at hiding it. Marie passed the canteen to him and brought his attention back to the present.

"Being alive is a blessing, I'll say that much." She said quietly to him, "But it can't fill empty bellies and drive off the cold." Kili looked like he wanted to say something in return but Marie just pushed the canteen into his hands. "Just wait. He may yet come round in time." Marie said, and hoped.

Kili nodded and took a long swig of the water as Thorin called for more stone.

How much more until he was satisfied?

xxx

It took time, in fact the whole night of chipping, lifting and hammering to finish what Thorin had ordered of them. Marie had missed the last few parts of the construction since she kept napping on the sides. Not that the dwarves minded since she kept getting away with it. She could hardly hold up her head let alone a rock.

Marie would never have thought that the wheel of a cart would provide such a comfy spot to sleep against, but not for long. She was woken by the urgent and loud whispers of someone on the other side of the cart. In her haziness Marie caught only a fraction of what was being said but it sounded like two voices.

"You can not deny it."

"I am not. But we must be cautious little brother, we do not know for sure why he is acting this way."

Marie shifted off her hip when she lost feeling in her leg. Through the spokes of the wheel she glimpsed two large pairs of boots, with one shifting about more than the other. Kili had a habit of doing that when trying to stand still.

"I remember the stories the elders whispered about Grandfather. Don't think me naïve Fili."

"I think you irrational more than anything. Thorin is both our king and our kin, we must try to have faith that …"The volume of Fili's voice lowered and Marie could not hear anymore. Whatever was said it made Kili walk away loudly. Marie waited until she saw Fili's feet shuffle out of sight after Kili, then she stood with a groan. Everything hurt.

If anything was to kill her on this adventure it would be sleep deprivation.

She rubbed her eyes but bumped her nose on something solid around her finger. After a moment she remembered she still had Thorin's iron ring and had slipped it onto her finger to keep safe. It was far too big on her and just managed not to slip off.

She looked over and saw that a fine wall filled up where the broken gate once stood. Shattered fragments of stairways had been altered for a means to get up and down the wall and two braziers were placed into the stone. The dwarves sat about the site making final touches or inspecting weapons. They did not seem tired, in fact they looked remarkable alert, on edge. Marie wondered what had them so ready. Somewhere along the great corridor behind her, she heard faint whispers coming from a dark alcove, and like an idle fool Marie slowly went towards it. She recognized the hash throaty sounds of Khuzdul, it rumbled like distant thunder.

Out of the black shadows a large object flew out and just barely missed the nosy hobbit. Marie yelped and threw her hands over her head as she ducked.

"CAW!"

Marie looked up through her curls and saw a large raven flapping its great wings above her. "What on earth?" She muttered to herself as a second figure emerged from the alcove. It was Thorin. She expected another dwarf to emerge but it only the dwarf king appeared.

"What is wrong?" He asked, as if all as normal with the world. He extended an arm and the raven landed on it gracefully.

"Wrong? I almost had an eye scratched out by a bird." Marie said and ruffled her hair out of her face, "I would ask the same of you. Were you just …talking to a raven just now?" She knew it was a silly question but it still had to be asked.

Thorin shook his head and looked away from her, "It doesn't concern you Marie."

The hobbit felt a flush of anger in her cheeks. Was her role so inconsequential now that she may not be privy to the goings on? As if in response Thorin muttered something to the raven, which shrieked and took flight. It flew towards the open sky beyond the barricade. Clearly Marie had missed something.

"What is happening Thorin please?" She sounded exasperated even to herself.

His lips curled back into a sneer as he said "Elves."

Elves? Really?

Before any further explanation could be given, Thorin stormed towards the barricade, his coat billowing out behind him. He called for the dwarves to follow him up the barricade, to which they all scrambled for a weapon before doing so. It was Marie's first climb up the thing and she couldn't help but be cautious doing so. But it was sturdy as the dwarves that built it.

Marie had expected to see the same scenic view for the ruins of Dale she had seen since they arrived, but she did not expect throws of elven soldiers stationed on its moss covered walls, long golden banners swaying in the wind. No wonder the dwarves were in such a state. 'Why were they here? Surely the Elven King isn't that desperate to get his prisoners back.'

"Rider approaching!" Dwalin called out. Marie tried to pull herself up to get a better view over the barricade and see for herself. There was rider heading towards the gate, stopping short of the gangway. Marie stretched until her toes cramped up.

She knew that rider.

"Hail Thorin, son of Thrain!" That was Bard. Of all people, it was Bard. Marie felt much joy to know for sure now that he survived. "We are glad to find you alive beyond hope."

"Why do you come before the gates of the King Under the Mountain armed for war?" Thorin called down to the bargemen with cool detachment.

"Why does the King Under the Mountain fence himself in? Like a robber in his hold?"

"Perhaps it is because I am expecting to be robbed."

Seemed like there was no love lost between the two men, but with luck one may be the bigger man. That's what Marie hoped for.

"My Lord, we do not come to rob you but to seek fair settlement. Will you not speak with me?" Bard beseeched the dwarves looking down on him. Marie looked over at Thorin who was silent in contemplation. He inclined his head and placed his hands against the ledge. "Well? I am listening."

It wasn't just Marie watching the next few moments with intrigue. All of the dwarves were quiet, still, waiting for anything. Bard dismounted the horse and walked the rest of the way over the bridge. "On behalf of the people of Lake Town, I ask that you honour your pledge. A share of the treasure so that they may rebuild their lives."

For Bard to be the one asking this must have meant that the people were in dire need since he made it clear where he stood the night that bargain was made. But unfortunately, mention the treasure was not the best thing to make Thorin agreeable. "I will not treat with any man about such thing while an armed host lies before my door." Marie could see his eyes dart towards Dale and the bowman.

"That armed host will attack this mountain if we do not come to terms."

"Your threats do not sway me."

Marie threw a hasty side look to her left where Balin stood and muttered under her breath to him, "It didn't sound like a threat to me."

Balin sighed, "Too often a warning and a threat may be one in the same." He whispered back. Marie looked back down at Bard and came to the conclusion that this would be a downhill struggle.

"Tell me then … my Lord. What of you conscious? Does it not tell you our cause just? My people offered you help and return you brought about the dragon's wrath and ruin."

"When did the men of Lake Town come to our aid but for the promise of rich reward?"

"A bargain was struck …"

"A bargain!" Thorin spat back. "What choice did we have but to barter our birthright for blankets and food? To ransom our future in exchange for our freedom? You call that a fair trade?! Tell me Bard the Dragonslayer, why should I honor such terms?!"

"Because you gave us your word. Does that mean nothing to you?"

That must have struck a chord with Thorin. He went silent and averted his eyes from Bard which Marie hoped was a positive sign. 'Please, please, please just consider it. Please.' She chanted in her head. But even with all her wishing, it did not alter the outcome.

"Begone! Ere our arrows fly!" Thorin bellowed down to the bargeman and stood back. Negotiations were over it seems and Marie wanted to hit her head on a boulder. The rest of the dwarves said nothing which did not help.

"This does not concern you." He wouldn't even look at her as he spoke.

"I beg to differ because it bloody well gives me cause to be concerned." Marie snapped back. "Unless my eyesight is failing me, which it isn't, it's fourteen against an entire army, not including the several hundred angry fishing folk."

The dwarves' response to her was a stoic glance, save Bofur, Balin and Kili, whose eyes shifted with concerned agreement. Thorin chuckled.

"What's so bloody amusing? Did you hear me Thorin? We are outnumbered?"

"For now." He turned, with a smile from ear to ear. An unnerving sight to Marie as he stepped forward towards her. "If there is one thing you should know by now Miss Baggins," He placed his hand on her shoulder. "You should never underestimate dwarves."He turned back and locked his gaze on Dale and on the figure of Bard on horseback riding further from sight. He kept his hand on Marie, his heavy rings digging into her shoulder as he tightened his grip. "We have reclaimed Erebor. Now we defend it."

Marie almost shuddered at the tone of his voice, more threatening than she had ever heard it. The weight slid off her shoulder signaling Thorin taking his leave. Marie looked to Balin for something, anything, but the old adviser looked on the verge of tears as he hid behind a raised hand.

'I am sorry Balin. I tried … but my words couldn't reach him.'