Muffled voices and distant shuffling was the only thing Thorin could register as consciousness came back to him. The Dwarf prince could feel a constant throbbing radiate throughout his head making it difficult to concentrate on what was going on around him. It sent repeated pulsations through his entire body. He shifted his weight testing to see how much he could move his arms. Letting out a small groan that caught the attention of the other individuals near him.

"I think he is coming too" One of the voices declared.

Thorin slowly opened his eyes. Waiting for them to adjust to the light that assaulted his head before looked around at his surroundings.

"Take it easy and slow there. Don't push yourself to quickly"

The Dwarf immediately recognized the voice belonging to Balin.

The Prince shifted his gaze to the white haired Dwarf who was crouched beside him. Next to him on his left was Oin. The second Dwarf was focused on Thorin wrist which concluded he was checking his pulse.

"What happened?" The Dwarf leader finally crocked out.

Balin and Oin looked at each other both with sad expressions on their faces. Before looking back at Thorin. " I think it may be best to wait until you have recovered more and your body is back to it's full strength" Oin replied

The prince could tell something was not right. The tone of Oin's voice was a big giveaway. Thorin was not going to lay back and wait until later before he had his question answered. With that the leader began to unsteadily sit up. Earning a few protects from the two members of his Company.

" I will not wait until later to find out what happened. I demand an answer now" At that moment Thorin spotted two other bodies laying across from him. His heart sank and breathing quicken. " Answer my question"

Balin and Oin turned to look at what their leader was staring at. Balin then spoke up

"No need to worry Thorin. Fili and Kili are unharmed. Just unconscious just like you were when we found you"

"They will probably awaken soon" Oin finished.

"Found us? What do you mean by that" the prince squeeze his eyes shut, trying to remember the previous events "There was a fire, mass panic on the street and the Halfling"

Thorin abruptly stopped. He eyes darting around the room. Desperation building when he couldn't find what he was looking for. " Where is the Halfling...WHERE IS BILBO!"

Both Dwarfs looked down in sorrow before Balin spoke again answered. " I'm sorry Thorin but Bilbo couldn't be saved"

The Dwarf prince turned back to look at Balin. Wide eyed his mouth was opened in complete shock on what he just heard.

"Bilbo perished in the fire."

1 hour earlier

The remaining Dwarfs who stayed not expecting an unknown stranger to come busting through the door. Shouting for help and saying that a few members of their company were in trouble.

Without hesitation they all got to their feet. Demanding the man to explain what was going on as they ran after him. When they arrived at the location all the Dwarfs saw was a blacked remains of a shack with parts of it still on fire. The residents by this point had gotten the blaze under control and were now just dousing the last few pockets of flames.

" You are part of Oakenshields group"

The company all turned to face an older man who suddenly appeared behind them.

"Yes we are and we heard that a few members of our group are in trouble" Dwarlin responded.

At this point the tension and nervousness in the group was rising. Having seen the burnt out house and the fact four of their Company apparently needed help. It wasn't looking good.

" Yes if you would so kindly follow me I will take you to them" the man motioned for the Dwarfs to follow and headed into a nearby building.

Bofur ran up so he was now beside the stranger " Excuse me but can you please explain what is going on. Where are the other members of our group?"

The man looked down at hat wearing Dwarf as he then began to ascend up the stairs. " From what we can tell they are fine, just unconscious. They were found close to the building when it was completely on fire. Looks as if they tried to enter and either the smoke or heat got to them"

"Hang on why would they try and run into a burning building?" Dwalin asked. Completely puzzle why his leader would be foolish enough to not only allow himself. But his nephews and their Halfling to run into an inferno.

" Was probably because they overheard about an infant being trapped inside. Very brave and noble of them all to risk their lives. But as luck would go. It was discovered the boy wasn't inside the build at the time of the blaze. Unfortunately it meant members of your group did put their lives in jeopardy for no reason."

By now they had reached the top of the stair with all the Dwarfs pouring into the landing. The older man still leading the way, opened one of the doors. Ushering all of the company to step inside the room. There they saw their leader and the Dwarf sibling laying unresponsive on the floor. A pillow had been placed under all their heads. With dark woollen blankets brought up to their chins.

Oin was the first to step forward going to Thorin first to inspect his vitals. Then moving onto the brothers.

None of the rest of the Company moved or spoke for a few seconds. Each knowing there was a major problem with the seen in front of them. Someone was missing.

" Where is Bilbo?" Balin was the first to speak.

The old man turned to the white haired Dwarf. " Bilbo? There was a fourth one with this group. We only found these three together. There was no fourth Dwarf with them"

" He isn't a Dwarf, he is a Hobbit. Big pointy ears, curly light brown hair, big feet. He was with Thorin and the lads this morning when they left. Bofur explained

The older man looked down at them puzzled " I am being completely honest with you there was only three members of your group found. No Hobbit"

Suddenly a shout could be heard from down the stairs. Attracting all the attention of all the occupants in the room. "WE FOUND A BODY!"

Present time

"And that's how we found him" tears began to well up in Balin's eyes. Myself, Oin, Gloin and Dwalin all went to were the body had been discovered. While the others stayed behind to monitor your and the lads" the white haired Dwarf sobbed out and wiped the few tears that by now escaped.

" We got there and there was literally nothing left of him Thorin. Just ash, some bits of flesh and some remains of his clothing" Oin finished. He was also trying to fight back his tears and the increasing large lump he had in this throat. " We could only much identify the jacket he was wearing"

Thorin could feel the world around him become distorted with every word being spoke to him. The ground beneath his shifting. The noises becoming increasingly muffled as his heartbeat thumped in his ears. He couldn't register anything they were saying anymore. Not after hearing the Halfling had perished. Not the Company's Burglar, not their Bilbo. The prince opened his mouth to speak but his voice only came out as a whisper.

"This can't be happening."