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Benna felt a gentle hand shake her awake. "What is it?" She asked, taking Fili's out stretched hand, pulling herself up from the ground.

"The ravens.. they've come back."

She followed him to where the rest of the company stood along the ledge, watching as three large black birds landed on the rock. The birds studied them for a moment, before one hopped forward turning to Thorin.

"O Thorin son of Thrain, and company." He spoke in a high croaking voice.

Benna took a step back in surprise as she looked at the bird dumbfounded, unable to form a coherent thought as it spoke again.

"I am Roac son of Carc. We are few, but we still remember the kings of old. I bring you word of the dragon."

"What news?" Thorin asked anxiously.

"The dragon Smaug is dead!". There was a moment's pause before the company erupted in cheers.

"How did he die?" Benna asked, finally recovering from the shock.

The bird turned to look at her, cocking its head to the side "Bard descendant of Girion. He killed the beast with the last of the black arrows."

"The mountain is ours then?" Kili spoke up looking to Thorin.

He nodded "The mountain is ours."

...

Benna wandered through the hall, looking over the remnants of the dwarven stronghold. She paused running her hand along one of the carvings on the wall, tracing the pattern with her fingers, before pressing further into the dark hallway. As she reached the exit Benna's eye widened, the small lantern in her hand illuminating part of the large room in front if her. Long towering columns lined the sides, each covered in intricate runes and carvings set in silver. As she shifted the lantern she could see thin seams of gold running through the walls, glittering in the dime light. She took a few steps forward, reaching out to touch one of the seams. A hand closed around the collar of her jacket pulling her back. Benna looked up as Dawlin released his grip on her coat.

"It is not safe to be wandering around alone." He raised his lantern higher illuminating where Benna had stood moments before, shedding light on a crumbling hole in the floor.

"I guess I got a little distracted." She admitted, taking another step away from the hole "Its just I've never seen anything like this place."

"It is a sight to behold," Dwalin agreed "Just wait until it is restored. This was once the largest dwarf kingdom in middle earth."

"Largest is right," She looked around at the cavernous room. "I think you will have to draw me a map or hire me a guide if I am to find my way around living here. I would fear I would take a wrong turn one day going home and never be found."

Dwalin chuckled. "I could do you one better than a guide," He looked down at her "You could live with Balin and I until you get your bearings."

Benna's eye brows shot up in surprise "You want me to stay with you?"

"Aye- that is if you want to."

"I would like that very much I think." She smiled "Though are you sure you won't get tired of me?"

He sighed "Lass if I haven't tired of you yet I don't think I ever will."

...

Benna frowned as she toed through a pile of coins with her boot. Thorin had had them looking for the Arkenstone nearly non stop for the past few days. She had begun to notice a change in him. He had become more agitated and distant, his thoughts seemed to be slowly becoming consumed with finding the stone. She frowned thinking of what the dragon had told Bilbo.

"If only to see Oakenshield suffer. Watch it destroy him, watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad."

"We'll stop for the night lads." Balin called.

Benna quickly left the chamber. She hated the heavy sensation she felt when she was in there, it made the mark on her arm prickle uncomfortably. She sat down on a large piece of rubble scratching at the mark absentmindedly, trying to make the sensation go away. She looked up as Fili sat down next to her, handing her a piece of bread. The two sat in silence for a moment before Benna spoke up.

"What's wrong with Thorin?" She asked quietly.

Fili stiffened beside her. "I...I do not know." He said tiredly "I fear he is falling to the sickness that took my great grandfather."

"Sickness?" Benna frowned

Fili sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair "My mother told me once... My great grandfather when he was king under the mountain, he became sick... But not physically you see, it was his mind. She said he became obsessed with the wealth of Erebor... He began hoarding it, hiding it and him self away from others. Eventually it drove him mad."

She leaned her head on his shoulder "Thorin is a good man, He can fight it."

The silence was broken as Kili ran over to them "The people from lake town are at the gate!". Benna jumped to her feet following him up to the edge of the wall. Below she could see Bard riding forward. Her face dropped as she saw a small army of elves behind him.

"Hail Thorin, son of Thrain. We are glad to find you alive beyond hope." He called.

Thorin frowned "Why do you come to our gates armed for war?"

Bard looked up at him "Why does the King under the Mountain fence himself in like a robber in his hole?"

Thorin narrowed his eyes "Perhaps it is because I'm expecting to be robbed."

Bard sighed "My Lord, we have not come to rob you, but to seek fair settlement. On behalf of the people of Lake-town, I ask that you honor your pledge. A share of the treasure, so that they might rebuild their lives."

Thorin's eyes narrowed "I will not treat with any man, while an armed host lies before my door. Your threats do not sway me."

"What of your conscience? A bargain was struck!" Bard shot back "My people offered you help and in return you brought upon them only ruin and death!"

Benna held her breath as she saw Thorin's posture go ridged. "A bargain? What choice did we have but to barter our birthright for blankets and food. To ransom our future in exchange for our freedom."

"You gave us your word!" Bard shouted angrily.

Thorin turned away from him "Begone! Ere our arrows fly!" He said, stalking away from the wall.

"What the hell was that?" Benna frowned as he passed her. "You gave your word to those people Thorin. Some of them died because of us!"

He regarded her with a dark look. "And when the mountain is rebuilt then they will prosper from the benefits of the mountains trade as Dale did before. But I will not part with a single coin for those thieves!" He shouted before turning and descending the steps.

Benna's mark prickled again slightly as he disappeared from sight.

...

Benna could not sleep. The look in Thorin's eyes as he had turned from the people of lake town flashed in her mind when she closed her eyes. Quietly she made her way up to the wall again, leaning against the ledge as she gazed out at the soft glow of the encampment in the distance. She turned hearing soft footsteps on the stairs.

"Oh! Benna…I... I did not expect to see you up here." Bilbo sputtered as he caught sight of her.

"Are you alright Bilbo?" She asked, watching as the hobbit fidgeted nervously "You can tell me, whatever it is...". Bilbo sighed, looking around them warily for a moment before stepping closer. Slowly he reached into his pocket. Her eyes widened as he pulled the Arkenstone from it. "Bilbo...wha.."

"Please just let me explain," He said, quickly putting the stone back in his pocket "I was going to give it to Thorin really, but he's not himself anymore. You heard what Smaug said, this stone is poisoning his mind!"

"I know giving it to Thorin would only make things worse," Benna sighed "But are you going to do with it then?"

Bilbo squared his shoulders "I'm going to stop this war before it can begin... I'm taking it to Bard."

She nodded, taking the rope from his hand, securing it to the railing "I'll help you."

Bilbo was caught off guard by the offer "But what about Dwalin…. Fili…?"

"I'm doing this for them, for all of them. That stone is our best bet to save them."

Bilbo nodded "Very well but we must hurry, we haven't much time."

Together they slid down the rope, silently making their way towards the camp.

...

They could hear raised voices as they neared the tent in the center of the camp. "Do you agree with this? Is gold so important to you that you would buy it with blood?" Benna recognized Gandalf's angry voice.

"It will not come to that. This is a fight they cannot win." Bard replied calmly.

Benna marched into the tent, Bilbo on her heels. "That won't stop them. Those dwarves don't know a losing fight when they see one."

Gandalf stood from his chair "Bilbo, Benna!"

Thranduil regarded them with a scrutinizing look "If I'm not mistaken, this is the Halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons, and the woman who assaulted my guard."

"Yes, Sorry about that..." Bilbo said awkwardly.

"Well I'm not," Benna folded her arms over her chest "That's what you get for kidnapping me!"

Bard turned to the elf "You kidnapped her?"

Thranduil scoffed "I did no such thing."

"Right," Benna rolled her eyes "Because dragging someone away from their companions and holding them in a locked room against their will is definitely not kidnapping."

"We do not have time for this!" Bilbo said urgently, throwing up his hands. Slowly he pulled the Arkenstone from his pocket, placing it on the table in front of them.

"The King's jewel." Thranduil breathed.

"And worth a king's ransom." Bard added turning to Bilbo "How is this yours to give?"

Bilbo looked at him "I took it as my fourteenth share of the treasure."

Bard frowned "Why would you do this? You owe us no loyalty."

Bilbo shook his head "I'm not doing it for you. I know that the dwarves can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult. And suspicious and secretive with the worst manners you can possibly imagine, but they are also brave and kind and loyal to a fault. I've grown very fond of them, and I would save them if I can."

Benna tapped her finger on the table next to the stone, looking up at Bard "Thorin values this stone more than any treasure in that mountain, you can use it to negotiate what you need to rebuild. There will be no need for this war. We can all walk away from this."

Bard nodded picking the jewel from the table "I will do what I can to see friends need not go into war."

...

Bilbo and Benna looked over as Gandalf followed them out of the tent "Rest up tonight, you must leave tomorrow."

She frowned "What?"

"You must get as far away from here as possible." The wizard said urgently.

Bilbo seemed shocked by the wizards order "We are not leaving."

"Oh?" Gandalf raised his eyebrows.

Bilbo shook his head "You picked me as the fourteenth man. I'm not about to leave the company now."

Benna put her hand on Bilbo's shoulder "Bilbo is right we are apart of the company, you cant ask us to just abandon them."

Gandalf frowned at them "There is no company, not any more. I don't like to think what Thorin will do when he finds out what the two of you have done."

Bilbo shook his head "I'm not afraid of Thorin."

"Neither am I." Benna agreed.

The wizard regarded them with a dark look "Well, you should be. Do not underestimate the evil of gold. Gold over which a serpent had long brooded."

Benna swallowed thickly "Thorin needs help, I can't turn my back on him now. That's why I'm here isn't, it to make sure he succeeds?"

Gandalf's frown deepened "Thorin is on a dangerous path, I do not think anyone can help him besides himself now."

She shook her head as she looked towards the mountain "I have to try."

...

Benna yawned deeply as she tossed another pile of jewels aside. She had only gotten an hour of sleep in between her return to the mountain and when Thorin had woken them up to renew the search for the stone. She could tell the company was tired as well, Ori had fallen asleep where he sat on a large pile of coins. Benna jumped as Thorin came storming into the room.

"Why are you sleeping?" He seethed.

Ori jerked awake. "S..Sorry Thorin." He stuttered.

Thorin narrowed his eyes at him. "Do you think this task so menial?!" He yelled "Do you not care for the future of this mountain!". Ori shrank back as Thorin took a step towards him.

"Enough!" Benna stepped in between Ori and Thorin, pulling the scribe behind her. "Can't you see everyone is tired? We have put up with this for far too long. Thorin please, you need to snap out of this before it is too late!" She pleaded.

"Benna...'' Balin called warily from behind her.

She ignored him as she stared at Thorin. The dwarf king glowered back at her, his eyes dark and blazing with anger.

"Do not test me." He growled taking a step towards her, his hand on his sword.

She looked down at Thorin's hand then up at him. "Or what?" She asked taking a step towards him in turn closing the gap between them, her eyes fixed on his "You'll Kill me?"

Thorin said nothing but tightened the grip on his sword.

"Do it." Benna challenged "Kill me, strike me down where I stand. Prove to me that you are no better than the dragon. That you have let this madness consume you!". She threw up her hands when he did not respond "You know what I will make it easy for you. I know where the Arkenstone is and I have no intention of telling you anytime soon!"

It suddenly felt as though all the air had been sucked out of the room. Thorin stared at her unmoving. Benna had been so fixed on his sword hand that she hadn't expected the blow from the other. She fell back against the floor, a small stream of blood beginning to trickle down from her nose. Her eyes widened as he leapt at her. She felt a hand tighten around her throat as she was lifted from the floor.

"How dare you betray me!" Thorin bellowed.

The world went hazy for a moment before the hand disappeared, as Thorin was pulled away from her by Dori and Dwalin.

Benna coughed desperately, her hand clutching her neck. "You are not yourself Thorin." She rasped "I did not betray you, I am trying to save you!"

Fili wrapped his arm under hers lifting her to her feet, as he guided her from the room followed closely by Balin. When they reached the main gate Fili sat her down.

He crouched down in front of her, cupping her face in his hands, his eyes searching hers "Why would you do something so rash?"

Benna shook her head "I had to try, War is on our door step and Thorin is blind to it. That gold is clouding his mind." They all turned as loud footsteps sounded in the hall. Fili and Balin stepped in front of Benna, hands on their weapons.

"Just me." Dwalin said solemnly as he rounded the corner.

He looked at Benna, a mixture of emotions crossing his face "We need to get you out of here". Benna opened her mouth to protest but he stopped her. "Thorin is out for blood lass, yours specifically. I know you were trying to help him, but Thorin will not see it that way. It was a brave move to make, but for now we need to make sure you are safe." He looked at her carefully "You need to leave at least for a bit. Go and stay with the bargeman, I will come for you when it is safe,". She nodded quietly. Dwalin gently put a hand on her shoulder, pressing his forehead to hers "It will be alright." He turned to Balin "Make sure she gets to the Bargeman safely. I will make sure Thorin doesn't come around for a bit.". Balin nodded as Dwalin turned from them, disappearing back around the bend.

"I will go with you." Fili said helping Benna to her feet.

She shook her head "You have to stay here. Thorin will need you more than ever."

He sighed deeply, brushing his thumb over her cheek "Later?"

"Later." She agreed with a sad smile, kissing him gently.