Fili was tired - so awfully, dog tired that he could scarcely think about anything else.

Many times during the journey, he had had to excuse himself from the Company and find a quiet place to rest his eyes. During these times, he cleared his mind and simply listened to the sounds of the world around him: birds chirping, leaves rustling, water in the creek bubbling. It calmed him, soothed away the clench in his jaw, and kept him from going mad. Or getting mad. Though he knew that he had the unwavering support of his kin, he felt as if he couldn't speak of this tiredness to anyone else. They wouldn't understand. You, of all people? They'd ask after clasping his shoulder and giving it a shake. He had made a promise to himself to be strong like the warriors and kings of his mother's tales. They never tired. So why should he?

But sometimes it felt as if the facade was breaking, like webbing of cracks traversing suddenly through his bones. He had worked so hard to maintain his reputation as the solid, dependable, infallible Fili that no one knew what his weaknesses looked like - that is to say, if anyone really knew him at all. He was an excellent swordsman, an impeccable tavern buddy, and a faultlessly pure gentleman. If he displayed even the smallest speck of the frustration that he really felt, they would begin to worry about him. And it would not do to have his people worry about their coming prince.

These were the standards to which he held himself, as per the obligations of his fated bloodline.

But it wasn't just his body that had grown tired. It had been his mind. He knew that he was powerful - he felt it in the strain and shift of his muscles in everything that he did, and this brought him pride. His body was a solid and powerful vessel that he had complete control over. But his mind, well…his mind had become a lawless and strange thing obsessed with the dangerous temptations of what if?

Forty years as a waiting prince had finally taken its toll on him. He pondered this as he marched through the gold-carpeted halls of Erebor, his eyes forward and shoulders straight. The Company had been stooped over like many elderly men, their bruised fingers still scrambling and sifting for the damned Arkenstone. Now, they looked up and watched him storm past with some trepidation. They had never seen him with such a flare in his eye before, and they immediately realized that something was up.

Forty years spent living in limbo, constantly lauded with praise for his patience. But what choice did he have but to be patient? Constantly on the verge of 'becoming' had been his curse. The word 'patience' had become a thinly veiled reminder for him to hold his tongue, still his hand, and maintain his bearing. One day, they said, you will become king.

But he was tired of waiting, tired of spending his days being courteous and gentle and strong. Days spent out on the training ground throwing axes and practicing with his sword only ever served to distract him from the fact that all he wanted to do was mount a pony, whip it into a frenzy, and gallop away into a new life with brandy coursing through his veins. He wanted to be careless and free of responsibility, and unapologetically non-complacent, like Kili.

Oh, Kili.

The Dwarve in question was standing some ways away, tossing a silver gauntlet up and down in the air. He caught it swiftly and then made eye contact with his brother from across the room. As always, Fili was torn between seeing Kili as his naively emphatic younger brother, and a powerful Dwarven gentleman to be reckoned with. He looked away, feeling a terrible sense of foreboding in his gut. Kili would most likely hate him for what he was about to do, as would Nadi.

"Fili!" Someone called.

He clenched his teeth and ignored them, instead choosing to tuck his chin into his neck and continue forward. Of course, Kili had been distracting himself with childish games while the others continued their hunt for the Arkenstone. It was in Kili's nature to be reckless and brash and stubborn. Over the past few days, Kili had damn near refused to search for the Arkenstone, so disillusioned had he become with his uncle and the entire prevailing obsession with gold. But nobody had said a word to him - aside from a few grumbles cast his way. Nobody ever had a word to say against Kili's hard-headedness. He wasn't like Fili. Everyone just expected him to be reckless, brash, stubborn Kili.

Fili loved him dearly but sometimes he couldn't help but harbor a jealous grudge.

"Fili!" Nadi's voice this time. "Where are you going?"

His teeth were clenched so hard that his jaw began to twitch. He didn't want to think of her, for doing so would only unleash an inexhaustible well of pain within him. The thought of her having a child by his brother was unbearable. He told himself that he wasn't jealous -no, not at all. He was only disappointed in her decision to have a child by a Dwarve as irresponsible as Kili. Fili had always admired her for her wisdom and clear-headedness but now her irresponsibleness made him feel as if his admiration had been misplaced, and in turn, he was stupid for ever admiring her at all.

Or, perhaps, he was unendingly bitter over the fact that she had chosen not to marry him because he would 'treat her too well.' It felt like a thinly veiled insult and a blow harder than she had dealt him with her belt.

He was approaching the bridge leading to the kings' throne. He could see Thorin hunched over on the magnificent stone chair, observing something at his feet. Having noticed the glare in Fili's eye, the rest of the Company had abandoned their efforts for the Arkenstone and followed him. He wished that they hadn't. The matter that he had to discuss with Thorin was quite delicate, after all.

Perhaps realizing what he was about to do, Nadi jogged up to him and placed herself in front of him.

"Fili, my friend," she said, placing her hands on either side of his face. "Look at me."

He pushed her away roughly, but she was quick to scramble around and place herself in front of him again. She was trying desperately to catch his eye, but he looked away. He couldn't bear to see the dawning horror on her face, for already she knew that he was on the verge of betraying her trust.

"Don't," she whispered, putting her hands on his chest. She was fighting back tears, he could hear it in her voice. "Fili, don't. Do not do it. I am warning you-"

"Brother," Kili called from behind him. "What is happening? What are you doing?"

They were all gathered on the edge of the bridge and watching him nervously. Thorin looked up from his boots where a small albino snake lay coiled around his ankles. The sight of it made Fili feel quite ill, as he had always harbored a deep-seated fear of serpents. He stopped and took a deep breath in.

"Thorin," he said, as bravely as he could. "I have something to tell you."

"No, no, no," Nadi was muttering. Her hands were clasped between them, as if in supplication. "Fili, no. Please. Think of what you are doing-"

"What is it?" Thorin asked. The sound of his voice was like the crack of a whip echoing throughout the chamber.

"He's lying," Though Nadi was looking straight at Fili, she had been addressing Thorin. She stood between the two Dwarves with clasped, quivering fists. Do not look at her, Fili thought to himself as the water began to brim along Nadi's lashes, my loyalty is to Thorin and Thorin alone.

"I-"

"He's lying!" Nadi said again. "Thorin, whatever comes out of Fili's mouth is not true. The journey has been hard on him. He knows not of what he speaks. He is delirious-"

"Silence, girl," Thorin called. "Fili! What have you to say to me? Hurry it up!"

"Nadi-" Fili started and then fell silent. He cleared his voice and then tried again. "Nadi-"

"Fili, no," he heard Kili whisper from behind him. The disappointment in his only brother's voice felt like a sudden twist and wrench in Fili's heart. It was obvious that Kili had already figured out that his brother was planning on betraying the woman that they both loved so dearly. Fili glanced back and saw the rest of the Company looking between them with confusion. Nadi fell to her knees with her hands held out towards him. He stumbled back with a sneer as she shuffled forward and grasped his pants in an unyielding clutch.

"Nadi…what?" Thorin asked. He stood up slowly, his body uncurling inch by inch, and began to walk the bridge towards them. The sound of his footsteps echoed eerily along the halls and then fell silent in the abyss spanning beneath them. Nadi was bent over upon Fili's boots, muttering and sniffling to herself as Thorin approached.

Several days ago, Fili had seen blood in the water and crows flying backward in the sky. This was a portent that he knew preceded the death of a warrior. It was the final and terrible needle in his conscience. If he were to die, then he would die having upheld his morals. And, moralistically, he had a duty to his uncle - the king under the mountain - and no one else.

"Nadi has it," he finally said.

Thorin stopped in his tracks, a few feet behind Nadi. "Nadi has…what?" He asked slowly.

"The Arkenstone."

There was a ripple of gasps and cries of indignation behind him. Nadi stood up slowly. Though her face was wet with tears, her expression had hardened. Hatred, loathing, and disgust were etched along every inch of her beautiful face. Never, ever would he forget the daggers of her eyes as she glared into his face. He couldn't help it. He twisted his lip and looked away as Thorin approached her from behind.

"Is this true?" Thorin asked, his voice deceptively paternal.

"Your nephew is a dirty, filthy, ugly liar," she hissed through clenched, chattering teeth. Her fists were balled. Fili forced himself to look back down at her and realized, then, that she fully intended to kill him.

"Nadi, my darling girl," Thorin said patiently. He put his hand on her shoulder. There was a small smile hanging around his lips, though Fili did not understand why. "Do you…have…the Arkenstone?"

"I do not-"

"Liar!"

Nadi gave a frightened squeal as Thorin hooked his hand in her collar and began to drag her backward. The Company leaped forward as one to try and stop him but he was moving too fast, dragging her towards the side of the bridge. Fili gasped and covered his mouth in fright as Thorin swung her over the edge as easily as he would a sack of potatoes. The others rushed past him as he stood there frozen in shock, watching his uncle dangle Nadi off of the bridge. Thorin looked over his shoulder and bid them be still, for any move on their part would force him to drop her. Fili had walked the bridge many times before. He knew, then, that if Thorin relinquished his hold then Nadi would fall to her death.

"Are you mad!?" Kili screamed. His face had turned an ugly shade of red as he thrashed violently against Dwalin and Bifur. "Let her go!"

"That is my intention," Thorin growled. "Unless she produces the stone." He loosened his hold slightly, and Nadi gave a cry that echoed through the mountain as she slipped a few inches. Kili gave a helpless roar before being forced to the ground by Dwalin with his arms pinned behind his back. Bilbo hurriedly knelt before him and attempted to shush him.

"Do not agitate him," Bilbo said to Kili. "If you do, he'll drop her." The poor Hobbit's body was trembling terribly as he pressed his hands against Kili's face. Kili squirmed violently in response, his flashing eyes never leaving Thorin.

All that Fili could do was watch in horror as the terrifying events unfolded before him - events that he had caused. Once so strong and sure of himself, he felt utterly weakened and useless as he watched Nadi's life quite literally teeter on the edge. Warm wetness spread across the front of his trousers as Thorin looked back down upon Nadi with a snarl on his lips.

"Where is it?" Thorin grunted as the Company looked on in fear. Balin had fallen to his knees and was trying to appeal to Thorin in a calm, soothing voice. But the King would have none of it. "WHERE IS THE ARKENSTONE?!"

The sudden thunderous sound of his voice caused Bilbo to fall to the ground in fright. He was calling Thorin's name over and over again, the weepy sound of it bouncing incessantly in Fili's mind. Fili knew that he had to do something, that he alone could reason away the murderous madness crowding Thorin's mind. But his lips remained firmly clamped as he gazed on in horror. All that he could see was Nadi's blanched hand above Thorin's vice-like grip.

"I do not have it," Nadi cried from below him and Fili could have cursed her for her obstinance.

"Give it to him!" Fili finally said. Why was she being mulish now, of all times, when her very life - and the life of her child - was in danger? Fili's voice cracked as he pleaded, "Just give him the stone! Do it, Nadi, just do it! You told me you had it!"

"Thorin," Gloin cried. "If you drop the girl, then you'll drop the stone as well-"

"I will climb down and pry it from her broken, battered hands if I must," Thorin said. Every single syllable in his words carried an ugly vehemence. His hands were shaking as he held Nadi aloft. "Tell me, now! Where is it, you damned incorrigible wench?"

"Thorin-!"

"Nadi-!"

"Mahal, save us all-"

"Fili, do something!"

"One last time, Nadi," Thorin said. "Or, as I am King under the Mountain, I will see you fall. One-"

"NADI! DO IT! GIVE HIM THE STONE!"

"Two-"

"What are you waiting for! Just do it, Nadi! Do it!"

"Fili, you bastard!" Kili was crying. "Stop him! Stop him, now!"

"Three-!"

"Here!"

Thorin let go. Nadi grabbed hold of his wrist at the last moment and flung something over the edge. Thorin gave a magnificent heave and swung her around. At the same time, Dwalin relinquished his hold on Kili and the young Dwarve went barreling across the bridge. He and Nadi collided and tumbled backward across the bridge. They lay there crying and shaking as Thorin retrieved a small, white stone from between his boots. They all watched with bated breath as he stood up and held the stone to the moonlight slanting into the chamber. Thorin's eyes seemed to glow as he regarded the stone with a slack jaw.

Then, to everyone's surprise, he flung it back at Nadi, hard enough to break it between her legs.

"That is not the one," he said simply.

"What?" Fili said stupidly. Kili had his head buried against Nadi's shoulder and was muttering a string of broken, repetitive Khuzdul. Nadi pushed herself away from him and rose to face her king.

"But I thought-" she started, but Thorin silenced her with a disgusted sneer.

"You thought wrong," he said. He turned away from her and made his way over to Fili. His eyes were alight with rage as he approached, and Fili instinctively backed away. The weight of his own uselessness hung heavy around his shoulders and it was with some difficulty that he met the eyes of his king.

The blow came so swiftly that Fili didn't realize that he had been hit until his head had snapped the other way. His cheek smarted with a spreading heat as he wriggled his jaw back into place.

"That is for wasting my time," Thorin said in a low voice. Then, he crooked his knee back and swung it straight into Fili's gut. Fili sputtered in surprise as he was bent over by the force of the blow. From the corner of his watering eye, he saw Nadi press her twisted face into Kili's shoulder. "And that is for making me threaten Nadi's life," Thorin continued unfettered. Choose your next mistake wisely, my sister's son, for I guarantee that it will be your last."

The edges of Thorin's fur cape flushed around his boots as he turned away. All were silent as they watched him return to his throne. There, he settled with his chin upon his hand as he watched the albino snake lift its head curiously. Then, without warning, he lifted his boot and crushed its skull. Nadi gave a gut-wrenching scream that tore through the Mountain. And, for the first time in his life, Fili turned like a wounded dog with its tail between its legs and ran away from his King.