Title: Braveheart

Pairing: Thorin/Bella

Summary: There was another to add to the company from in the Shire, one no one expected, Isabella daughter of Elrohir Son of Elrond and Belvola. Will they accept Bella as the warrior they know of or will she hide the fact that she is both Elf and Dwarf.

BTW I should mention Italics are the elves speaking in their native tongue Sindarin. Bold Italics is when they are speaking in Khuzdul. All words translated at the bottom. {{Between these is green speech}} aka hobbit talk. Between and Italic '–' is Iglishmêk

Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot! No matter how much I wish it to be so.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The second the door opened Bella staggered and dropped to a knee, Dori grasped his sister frantically as she wheezed, a slight shout leaving his lips unknowingly as he did so and drawing the rest of the Company's attention.

"Bella? What's wrong?" Bilbo asked frantically as he and Ori made their way to her side.

"The mountain!" Bifur exclaimed as he grasped Bofur tight, his usually cheery face pinched in pain and pale an exact replica of Bella's. Though Bofur's was not much better.

"The mountain… she screams." Bofur gasped out, his eyes wide as he pushed his hand to the stone. "She's in so much pain."

Ragged gasps were all Bella could manage as her ears rung and her skin itched with the pain the mountain was in. Oh, she could sense it the moment they had left Laketown and stepped foot on the rocky shore. The closer they got to the great fallen city of Dale the louder it grew but it was muffled until they opened the door.

"She begs for relief. Her heart's broken…" Bella managed to get out through gritted teeth while clenching into the rock. "Sickness still lies within her belly."

Thorin grasped his one tightly and stared at those around him. Questions flew across his mind at a rapid pace, how was it that the three only non-Ereborian Dwarrow could sense the sickness of his home and not those who were born here? There must have been warnings, unless… unless the gold sickness in his grandfather made him ignore all pleas…

"I am okay Kurdel, Dori has me, go." Bella whispered after a moment and pushed her One towards the door.

Though he went, it was with reluctance, yet even that soon melted away as he felt the swell of emotion in his throat the moment he faced the open door once more. Home, he was home, a place he had not been since the dragon attacked.

"I know these walls…these halls, this stone." He choked out, taking a step into the very halls he walked long ago, hand resting gently on the carved wall. "You remember it, Balin. Chambers filled with golden light."

"I remember." Balin choked out with tears in his eyes as he followed his king.

The remaining company but Bella and Dori moved into the hallway, their eyes taking in everything they could, but it was Gloin who saw the carving above the door. The Arkenstone above the throne.

"Herein lies the seventh kingdom of Durin's Folk. May the heart of the mountain unite all dwarves in defence of this home." Gloin read.

Bilbo studied it with curiosity, it was unlike anything he had ever seen before and of course, it made him curious.

"The throne of the king," Balin explained, turning his eyes away from Thorin to the burglar.

"And that, whats that above it?" He asked.

A heavy lump formed in Balin's throat. "The Arkenstone."

Confusion swept through Bilbo; he had heard that before. "And what's that?"

Thorin's voice picks up from the darkness. "That, Master Burglar, is why you are here."

"What!?" Bella hissed furiously and in disbelief as she shoved her way toward Bilbo. "That accursed stone is what he is here to steal from a dragon?"

"Lass, we need…" Balin started before snapping his mouth shut as Bella's dark eyes flickered to him.

"That stone is not worth its weight in anything and it is because of that stone that this mountain is dying." Bella snarled. Oh, she knew how ever since Thrór found that stone the curse of Gold Sickness began, thanks to that he had hoarded enough gold and gems to bring the wrath of a dragon upon his kingdom which resulted in the deaths of many. "I will not let him go to his death Thorin, not over a useless mathom."

Rage swept over Thorin as he moved towards his One. "It isn't a useless trinket like any other gem! It is the symbol of my right to rule!"

"Your lineage is the proof of your right to rule Thorin! No other king before Thrór had an Arkenstone to prove themselves worthy!" Bella snarled back, moving to grasp her One only to stop as Bilbo stepped in her way, his eyes wide and beseeching.

"Bella please, I can do this. I gave my word that I would help them and if this is what they need, then let me." He uttered softly, taking her hands in his.

A deep sigh escaped her lips as she scanned his face for any speck of uncertainty, only to come up with nothing. "Very well."

Dark eyes flickered up over Bilbo's golden curls to stare into the very depths of her One before she glanced at Balin. "Take him. Be safe." With that she turned on her foot and marched back out into the fresh air, unable to see her brother, her friends' only son march to his doom. Though a sense of unease spread in the pit of her stomach as she recalled the vacant look in her One's eyes.

"Come laddie," Balin whispered, pulling Bilbo away from the stunned company and down the familiar hallways of his youth.

They weren't far from the treasure which was a blessing, whoever designed Erebor and the secret door knew what they were doing but he suspects that Thrór had the door made in the midst of his sickness. He eyed the markings at each corner, taking in the directions he needed to go, and came to a stop at one of the ones that lead to the treasury.

"You want me to find a jewel?" Bilbo asked after a moment of silence once they stopped.

Balin cast his gaze towards the hobbit and nodded. "A large white jewel, yes."

"That's it?" A frown pulled at Bilbo's brows. "Only, I imagine there's quite a few down there."

Humming, Balin nodded. "There is only one Arkenstone. You'll know it when you see it."

"Alright."

Balin begins to walk back down the tunnel, but then pauses his eyes downcast in shame but he turned to face the burglar, nevertheless. He knew that Bella's words rang true, the house of Durin needed nothing but their lineage to prove their worth of Rulership but… "In truth, lad, I do not know what you will find down there. You needn't go if you don't want to, there's no dishonour in turning back."

"No, Balin, I promised I would do this, and I think I must try," Bilbo stated firmly, looking the Dwarf in the eye.

Balin looks at Bilbo, then begins to chuckle appreciatively. "It never ceases to amaze me."

Confusion swept across his face. "What's that?"

"The courage of Hobbits. Go now with as much luck as you can muster." They both nod at each other, and Bilbo proceeds down the tunnel while Balin turns back, pausing once again to turn and face the hobbit.

"Oh, and Bilbo..." He called waiting for Bilbo to look at him. "If there is, in fact, a live dragon down there, don't waken it. That would be the least of our worries once Bella finds out." The white-haired dwarf managed to get out before disappearing down the hall towards the others, leaving Bilbo to stand in silence.

BxT

Paced restlessly as Balin and Bilbo left her hearing, it just made her even more anxious as she eyed the others in the hall still. Something was wrong, she knew it deep down in the pit of her stomach. Yet, she was enraged, enraged beyond belief and if she didn't wish to be ready for whatever may happen once Bilbo returns, then she may have let that rage consume her.

That fucking wizard… that fucking contract. She should have read it once they reached Bree, and should have asked the company what they really needed a Hobbit for. A frustrated snarl escaped her lips as all the Should Have's crossed her mind but it was too late for that now.

"Namad?" Ori called softly from the entrance of the door, halting her in her tracks.

"Yes, Ori?" She asked after a moment to work her tongue around words.

Taking a hesitant step forward Ori placed his hand upon his sister's tense shoulder. "Are you alright? I know Bilbo going down there is not ideal."

A sharp bark of laughter escaped her throat, one that was bitter and had Ori taking a step back. "No, I am not alright Ori. I am very, very far from alright. I should not even be here; Bilbo should not be here. Yet it was the Lady Dis who requested I deliver Fíli and Kíli's blades to them and Gandalf's fault for forcing you all upon Bilbo…"

She swallowed the rage once more and sighed as the hurt flashed across Ori's face. "I apologise, Ori, I am just angry at everything. Worried for Bilbo, worried for us all… Worried for many other things."

Ori glanced over his shoulder as Bella's eyes flickered to the king once more and turned back to his sister. "It's okay to be scared, Dori tells me that all the time."

"Aye, yet still…"

The words were cut off as a deep rumble of the mountain was felt by all, followed by a loud cascading din and the familiar rumble of a dragon.

"BILBO!" Bella snarled in fright, pushing her way through the company to look for her brother, stopping when Dori and Dwalin's arms wrapped around her. She thrashed in their grip and snarled profanities as them as the sound managed to grow in volume. "LET ME GO!"

"Namad calm, you need to calm… we will get him, but you need to calm." Dori's voice was in her ear, stilling her. "We will get him."

BxT

"No— no, no." Bilbo stammered out fearful as his heart heavily and rapidly thumped in his chest. He stared fearfully up at the dragon before him, he knew that his parents along with his ancestors would be furious. Not only that, he knew that if Bella even remotely found out about the fact that he was conversing with a Dragon she would send him onto Yavanna's green gardens herself.

"No, indeed." Smaug hummed before he began to move once again. "You seem familiar with my name, but I don't remember smelling your kind before. Who are you, and where do you come from, may I ask?"

Smaug snakes his head closer to the little being and breathed, he could smell the gold, the power one the likes he hadn't sensed since he was a hatchling. How curious that this small insignificant creature carried such a scent. Bilbo shook his head and jerked his eyes down as he saw a white glow to the right of him; of course… of course… there nestled in the gold like a robin's egg was the Arkenstone.

Balin was right I'll know it when I see it…

Bilbo stammered soundlessly before managing to get any form of words out. "I- I come from under the hill."

"Underhill?" The furnace with wings hummed bored. Bilbo nods and sneaks another peek at the Arkenstone calculating. It is not far away from him. Maybe he could get closer to it but the how was what was the hardest to figure out. How could he get it without the Dragon noticing?

"And under hills and over hills my path has led. And– and, through the air. I am he who walks unseen." He continued to stammer out while taking little steps towards the glowing stone. His body wanted it, craved the jewel beyond words but he shook that darkness free. He did NOT want that blasted mathom.

Because that's all this stone and gold and sparkly things were; mathoms.

"Impressive. What else do you claim to be?" Smaug snakes his head forward until his teeth are inches from Bilbo's face. As Smaug exhales, Bilbo grimaces at the smell of death and decay. He continued to stammer out self-proclaimed titles from the incidents getting here all the while getting closer to the stone… It was the next question that caught him off guard.

"…And what about your little dwarf friends? Where are they hiding?" Smaug asked angry, leaning close to the creature and following it around the column while still breathing it in.

"Dw—Dwarves? No, no, no dwarves here. You've got that all wrong." Bilbo tried to lie, but really, he knew it was of no use.

"Oh, I don't think so, barrel-rider. They sent you in here to do their dirty work while they skulk about outside." He hissed as he moved through his gold, eyes scanning every dark crevice for the vermin.

"Truly, you are mistaken, O Smaug, Chiefest and Greatest of calamities." Bilbo spat out in terror, hoping that false praise would help distract Smaug.

"You have nice manners...for a thief and a liar! I know the smell and taste of dwarf. No one is better. It is the gold! They are drawn to treasure like flies to dead flesh." Smaug snarled in fury, knocking the Arkenstone away from where it had been in his fury, and Bilbo gasps. The Arkenstone bounces down the mountain, and Bilbo runs after it.

"Did you think I did not know this day would come when a pack of canting dwarves would come crawling back to the mountain?!" Smaug roared as he knocked over several pillars as he chased after the thief and the shining gem.

BxT

"Let me go, I am going down there whether you all like it or not." Bella snarled as she used her entire strength to shake off her brother and friend.

"Give him more time," Thorin replied, never taking his eyes off from the tunnel.

"For what!?" Bela snarled, "for him to be killed?"

Thorin tore his eyes away from the golden glow to look at the others, taking in their fearful expressions. "You're afraid."

"Yes, I'm afraid. I fear for YOU." Balin managed to get out around the lump in his throat while Bella was once again thrashing in the Company's arms. "A sickness lies upon that treasure hoard, a sickness that drove your grandfather mad."

"I am not my grandfather."

"You're not yourself." Balin pointed out as Thorin turned away once more. "The Thorin I know would not hesitate to go in there-"

A snarl left the lips of their King. "I will not risk this quest for the life of one burglar."

Bella finally had it and charged only to stop as Nori slammed his fist against Thorin's cheek, stilling all. Nori stared at his hand in disbelief at what he had done but it would stop him.

"His name is Bilbo and Balin is correct, the Thorin we know and follow would not hesitate to go down there and get him… he would not needlessly ignore his One's agony at trying to get to her brother." Nori spat out, gesturing to his sister who was thrashing once more in Ori and Dori's hold. Dwalin and Fíli both hand their arms wrapped around her as well.

Thorin raised his hand and touched his aching cheek, shaking the haze that seemed to settle over him and fully take in what was happening. His one was indeed fighting her brothers to be free of their hold. His heart hammered and he nodded, taking off down the familiar route with haste, he had to find Bilbo or his One would never forgive him.

He remembered running, his hand picking up a stray fallen sword in his haste before coming to a stop on one of the balconies in the treasury. His eyes widened as the golden hue of the treasure reached his view, washing away the clarity that he had gained.

Beautiful beyond measure…

And it was all his…

"Thorin!"

Turning from the gold Thorin took in the hurried burglar. "You're alive!"

"Not for much longer!" Bilbo gasped out as he and Thorin continued for the exit.

"Did you find the Arkenstone?"

"The dragon's coming!" Bilbo gasped out hurriedly, stopping as Thorin stood in his way.

"The Arkenstone!"

Fear crept up Bilbo's spine as Smaug's words echoed back in his mind. I am almost tempted to let you take it, if only to see Oakenshield suffer, watch it destroy him, watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad. Something unsettling flickered in Thorin's eyes and Bilbo resolutely decided to wait till he spoke with Bella before even mentioning the blasted rock to Thorin.

Thorin stepped forward. "Did you find it?"

They stare at each other for several seconds, panting heavily.

"No. We have to get out."

Fear heightened as Bilbo tried once again to enter the tunnel, but Thorin swings his sword across it, blocking the entrance, the blade coming up to press against his throat.

Something was undeniably wrong. Bilbo thought as he stumbled back, the sword still touching him. Bilbo and Thorin face each other, with the tip of Thorin's sword against Bilbo's chest until it was swiped away as Bella whirled around the corner and smacked it away. The rest of the company slid out behind her.

"What do you think yo-" Bella's words died in her throat as her eyes swept over the gold to see Smaug rushing towards them snarling.

"Run! RUN!"

Author Note: Holy shit has it been 2 years already... well look at that, an update all cause i re-read it and wanted to know what happens next XD