Hi all...I know its been awhile...I am sorry...life got in the way. Thanks for sticking with me, I do appreciate it!

There are no warnings for this chapter :)

Sorry, no beta for this one, so excuse any mistakes :)

Also, I have written another Thorin/Tauriel story called All in His Mind...check it out :)

Thank you all so much for reading!

Present Time

The dwarves, Hobbit, and two elves stared up at the massive mountain before them. "How do we get in?" Kili asked.

"Well if we knew that lad, we wouldn't be standing here looking like a group of lost buffoons," Balin said not unkindly.

"I wish Bard had come with us," Oropher said. "I miss speaking with him. This would be an excellent time to reminisce." The fair haired elf smiled cheerfully at Legolas who rolled his eyes.

"We are about to face dragon fire," Legolas said. "There would be no time for reminiscing."

Orophor waved his hand dismissively. "The dwarves have a bugler," he said still grinning. "Smaug will not even realize we are here."

Legolas frowned. "He needs to be awakened…we must destroy him if we can," he said solemnly.

Both elves turned with elegantly arched brows when they heard Bilbo shouting excitedly. "Look," Bilbo called out. "It's there…the stairs…look!" He ran towards Thorin and pointed.

"You have a most keen eye, Master Baggins," Thorin remarked before running towards the massive stairs made of rock. The other dwarves followed close behind. Thorin began the ascent upwards with his two nephews behind him. Legolas and Oropher passed the dwarves within moments, quickly climbing the stone stairs with little effort.

Both elves waited at the top and greeted each dwarf and Bilbo with a smirk as they finally made their way to the top. The sun was already close to setting. Thorin looked over the stone wall in front of him before jerking his head towards Bifur, "Find the door," he commanded in dwarvish.

Bifur went quickly to the wall and began to search for the key hole, listening closely as he tapped his spoon. His search became frantic when the light from the sun began to dissipate quickly. "Find it now," Thorin snapped at Dwalin and Bombur, who took their axes to the stone wall.

"I can't hear with all that blasted noise," Bifur snapped in Dwarvish at his companions who ignored him.

Both Dwalin and Bombur began to attack the rock more violently as Thorin spurned them on shouting behind them. Bofur's axe broke into while the tip of Dwalin's smashed into pieces.

The sun set seconds after this leaving a distraught and confused Thorin in its wake. Legolas glanced at Oropher with an arched brow while the latter gave an elegant shrug and looked at Thorin, waiting to see what they were expected to do next.

"I don't understand," Thorin began softly holding out the piece of torn parchment. "This is what it says…by the last light of Durin's day." He looked at Balin and stepped towards him. "What have we done wrong?"

Balin shook his head and took the younger dwarf's arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "What could be done was done and now there is nothing left for it," he said firmly. "Let us be gone from this place."

"I don't understand," Legolas said. "What was supposed to happen? I thought there was a key?"

"There is a key," Thorin said with bitter disappointment. "And this parchment…it was written in ancient dwarvish and read to me by your kin, Lord Elrond of Rivendale. It states that the last light of Durin's day will shine upon the key hole." He held the key up for Legolas to see before letting it slowly drop from his hand. He turned in disgust, throwing the parchment down and making his way to the edge of the stairs to climb back down. The other dwarves slowly followed.

"You can't give up," Bilbo shouted. "Wait please…"

"Yes why leave before the last light of Durin's day," Oropher said looking at the retreating dwarves with an odd expression.

Thorin stopped and stood ramrod still. He slowly turned and narrowed his eyes at Oropher. "I no longer care for the wit of your companion Princeling," Thorin spat. "Keep him silent by your side."

Oropher smiled at Thorin with a large toothy grin, not at all offended by his tone, while Legolas scowled at Thorin from beside him.

"It is most distressing that you do not enjoy my wit and humor, but I am earnest," he said pointing to the sky above them. "Truly, I do not jest. The last light of Durin's day is now upon us…the silvery white light of the moon."

Thorin's eyes snapped open wide in understanding. He rushed back towards the edge where he had been standing only moments before to frantically search for the key. He had just spotted it and leaned down to grasp it when Oropher snatched it up and handed it to him with a grin and a bow.

Thorin's eyes narrowed at Oropher as he took the key from his hand. He hurried over to the stone wall and watched as the light of the moon rose higher and higher until it settled upon the hidden key hole. Thorin looked back once at Balin as the older dwarf smiled warmly at him. He turned the key slowly and heard the lock click. Pulling the key out, he placed it back around his neck before pressing his hands against the stone. He shoved against it firmly as it had been sealed for so long it did not want to move, but it gave way under Thorin's strength.

The hidden door to Erebor was finally opened. Thorin paused as his emotion overtook him. He could feel his heart beating wildly in his chest and the tightness in his throat almost forced a cry of joy from him. He swallowed hard and determined that he would keep a quiet dignity, in spite of his overwhelming joy.

Thorin took his first step slowly as if to relish the feel of coming into his grandfather's home after so long. He took another step and another. "I remember these halls…" he said softly. "Balin," he called when he heard the dwarf enter. "Do you remember?"

"Aye…" Balin said with a trembling voice. "I remember."

Thorin turned and embraced his longtime friend. "No tears, Balin," he whispered. "This is a joyous day."

The soft murmurs of wonder and happiness were heard behind them as the other dwarves entered the mountain. Legolas and Oropher followed behind them and Bilbo entered last. The two elves looked around them and Legolas had to grudgingly admit to himself that the carvings on the stone were beautiful. The dwarves truly were wonderful craftsmen. Oropher on the other hand had no difficulty at all in telling the dwarves how much he appreciated their talents and abilities.

"These walls are lovely my friends," Oropher said tracing his finger along a design cut into the stone. "Truly inspiring work," he added with appreciation.

The dwarves turned and looked at him with arched brows, but said nothing. Bilbo pushed his way through to admire the stone walls when a particular carving caught his attention. "What is that?" he asked Balin.

"That laddie is why you are here," Balin said. "It is the arkenstone."

As Bilbo moved quietly along the corridor which lead to the treasure chamber, he began to ponder what had brought him to this place. Here he was, thousands of miles away from his beloved shire, an inconsequential hobbit no larger than a small child, travelling in the company of thirteen formidable dwarves, a wizard… well, with a wizard until recently, and now two elves. He could not imagine a more comical group if he had tried and yet here he was, about to brave dragon fire and possible death for an insignificant little stone that Thorin felt would give him the right to rule.

"Never mind that you're next in line for the bloody throne by your birthright," Bilbo fumed out loud. "Your grandfather was King," he continued as he made his way to a small stairway. "Your father would have been if he hadn't of gone of his rocker, which by rights, left you as King…not to mention that you are already a bloody King!" Bilbo stopped and frowned. "So why exactly am I doing this?"

He took a few steadying breaths to try and calm his nerves. "You gave your word, Bilbo," he said. "And a Baggins does not go back on his word…no matter what."

Nodding to himself about his resolve, he moved carefully down the stone steps and followed the bright golden light that was ahead of him. He stepped out onto a stone canopy and gasped at the sight below him. He could not believe the vastness of the treasure, millions and millions of gold pieces and more jewels and other precious stones that could ever be counted. How was he to find a large white jewel in all of this?

Sighing deeply and trying to reign in his irritation at not being prepared for the sheer size of this treasure, he set to work. Moving deftly and silently along the gold, he began his seemingly never ending task. White stone, silver stone, clear stone…he found them all, but none that seemed to be the coveted arkenstone. He was told that he would know it when he saw it, but he did not believe that he would ever see it.

This was not a task for one lone hobbit. He needed help, dragon or not. As if suddenly remembering that there could possibly be a fire breathing dragon close at hand, he hunkered down against the gold and peered around the massive chamber. Narrowing his eyes, he tried to force them to notice even the smallest thing that could prove to be perilous. He listened intently for any sound of movement and was glad that he only heard his own shallow breathing.

He blinked his eyes and shook his head, trying to clear the fog he was beginning to feel from staring so hard into the darkened corners. Satisfied that nothing was about to jump out and have him for dinner, he began to turn his head back around when a glint of something caught his eyes in the very back corner of the chamber.

Of course it would also be the darkest and most foreboding looking place within the chamber. He stilled and stared hard at the corner to see if he had only imagined the glint. When he did not see anything, he told himself that it was probably just the light reflecting from the candles and gold that were causing his eyes to play tricks on him. He sighed, smiling at his foolishness and began to turn his head again when the very same glint from the very same corner caught his attention again.

Hanging his head in defeat, he slowly stood and began to make his way over to the corner as quietly as possible. Every few steps he would glance behind him to make sure that he was not being followed by a crafty dragon. He chuckled softly at his foolishness. A beast as large as a dragon could not move quietly across the gold without him hearing it…unless of course it was high up in the raptors waiting to swoop down and swallow him whole. Bilbo slowly looked up to prove to himself that he was not about to be eaten alive.

When he satisfied himself, he continued on to the corner, climbing from the mountain of gold coin onto the cold, hard, stone walkway. He waited to see if he would see the glint again and when he did, he moved quickly, so that he would not forget where it came from within the shadows. He stopped and took one of the few, small candles that barely lit the pathway. As he got closer to where he felt certain that he saw the glint, he stopped when he made out a shadow lying still on the floor. It was not a large shadow, but it was by no means just a piece of coin or a jewel. He moved closer still, holding the candle out in front of him until the tiny light fell upon what was lying on the floor.

Bilbo's hand went to his mouth to keep from crying out over the shock he felt. He stood several minutes dumbfounded before moving closer. He paused only a moment to consider going for help, but felt since he was the smallest of his companions and made very little noise, it would be safer for everyone involved if he were to go at this alone instead of risking waking Smaug.

After a few more steps, he was standing over her looking down. His eyes quickly surveyed her body and saw the slow rise and fall of her chest. She was merely asleep, not dead as he had first feared. As he studied her, something seemed rather odd about the sight before him. It was obvious that she was being held captive because there was a chain around her ankle, but the cuff was placed over a cotton cloth that was wrapped around her ankle as well, to protect her skin from bruising.

There were blankets and several pillows laying haphazardly around her as if offered to her for comfort, but she had obviously refused the offer, tossing them away from her into the corner. He could detect the barest hint of something spoiled and stepped around the sleeping elf to move along the stone wall. His foot accidentally kicked a goblet and sent it crashing into the wall. He gasped and spun around, his eyes surveying anxiously the sea of gold and jewels before him. Nothing stirred, Smaug still slept. His eyes found the elf again and saw she had not stirred either.

Bilbo looked around him and beheld several goblets of water and wine along with food that had just recently begun to spoil. It was green food…leafy greens as well as fruits that had once been luscious and ripe. So her captor had offered her food and drink and she had refused that as well.

Suddenly realization dawned on him and his eyes widened in shock. He had been so careful not to wake Smaug and so stunned to see an elf asleep in Erebor, he did not make the connection immediately. His head snapped back in the she elf's direction. "This cannot be Tauriel…" he whispered. "By all that is holy…she is still alive…after all these years…trapped in this dank and dark place with that fiend."

Bilbo's heart was filled with pity and remorse for the young she elf. He was once again at her side and knelt down by her, gently stroking the hair from her face. He started to wake her, but stopped the decent of his hand. What would her mental state be like? Was she still sane? What terrible traumas had she suffered at this dragons hands? How could she have survived this long with only a reptile to keep her company? How had she not succumbed to grief? Smaug obviously had attempted to take some form of care of her…was she his trophy? His pet? He shook his head, unwilling to allow his thoughts to go to a much darker place trying to imagine what she had endured at the hands of Smaug all these years and yet she looked untouched. Slowly he pulled his hand back, but not before gently stroking her brow once more. It would be too risky to wake her as she might cry out in terror and he could not vouch for her being in her right mind. He made a decision to go for help.

As quietly and as quickly as he entered the vast treasure chamber he left it. He followed the path down the stone corridor, quickening his pace when he heard voices. Once he stepped into the open chamber, the dwarves and two elves turned to look at him, but Bilbo's eyes sought out Legolas. Approaching him quickly, he stopped in front of him and stared up at him. How would he even be able to prepare the elf for this news that would be both joyous and devastating?

"Legolas…" Bilbo began, but faltered. His brow creased in emotion and he found he could not find the words.

"What is it Bilbo?" Thorin asked before Legolas could speak. He anxiously as he stepped towards the Hobbit and elf Prince. "Did you see Smaug? Is he still here after all these years?"

Bilbo glanced at Thorin and felt the emotion begin to tighten his throat. He was standing in the presence of the two beings who loved Tauriel the most and both believed her to be long dead. How would they bear the shock?

"Thorin…" Bilbo began slowly, "Legolas…I found something within the treasure chamber…I don't know quite how to tell you…"

"Well what is it?" Thorin snapped feeling the anxiety begin to overtake him.

"Tauriel…" Bilbo said quietly. "She is alive…Smaug has had her all of this time. She's down there with him…very much alive."

Legolas stared at Bilbo open mouthed. The words Bilbo spoke repeated in his head, yet he could not make sense of them. Everything seemed to slow down and his vision began to blur. Oropher, sensing his distress, placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Legolas, are you unwell?" he asked with concern in his voice.

Legolas's heart was breaking. Partly from the joy of finding out his beloved friend was alive, but also from the horror of realizing that she had been left in the hands of Smaug for so very long. "She's alive…"he began slowly. "Oropher…she's alive. We left her alone, for so many years with this devil…"

Thorin turned away from the grieving elf and put his hand on the stone wall to steady himself. He felt as if all the air had been dispelled from his lungs. He struggled to regain his composure as he began to tremble slightly. He looked at Balin with anguish in his eyes. "All this time…she has been alive and trapped with that beast all of this time…" He shook his head. He didn't want to believe it. The joy of having her alive did not outweigh the horror that he felt at having her suffer for so long. "It cannot be…" he whispered. "You are mistaken Bilbo," he said. "She cannot have been with this fiend for so many years…she would've succumbed to her grief and be at peace."

"Thorin, she is alive," Bilbo repeated. "I do not know what state her mind is in, I did not wake her. I thought it best to come for help. If she cries out and wakens Smaug…"

Legolas nodded as he fought through the haze of his tormented emotions. "I will accompany you Bilbo," he said. "I can keep her quiet should she scream."

"There is a chain around her ankle and…"

"He keeps her chained like a dog," Thorin hissed interrupting Bilbo.

Balin placed a placating hand on Thorin and spoke to Bilbo. "Did you see Smaug?" Balin asked.

Bilbo shook his head. "No, it was only by chance that I happened to see her. He keeps her in a darkened corner in the back of the chamber," he said.

"Perhaps Smaug has left…or died," Balin stated hopefully. "And she was left on her own devises. Perhaps she has not had to suffer the beast for long."

"No," Bilbo said. "He has taken great pains to…comfort her…" He paused as those words tasted bitter in his mouth. Smaug had tried to comfort her when he was the reason for her torment. "I don't understand it. He holds her prisoner, but attempts to take such care. I do not think he has even touched her except perhaps to bathe her..." he paused to gage the reactions of Legolas and Thorin. The elf flinched as if he had been struck whereas Thorin's hand clenched down so tightly on the stone that his hand rested upon, it gave way and fell to the ground.

Bilbo swallowed hard, but continued on. "She looked like a sleeping doll…her hair was perfectly fanned around her…there were no bruises…her clothes were in tatters, but very little dirt was upon them." He looked up at Legolas. "Why would he do this? Why would he keep her thus?"

Legolas shook his head, momentarily unable to speak. Bilbo took this moment to continue on with her appearance, to prepare the young Prince for what he would see.

"She is malnourished," Bilbo said. "Very frail…I could make out the lining of her ribs and collar bone through her clothing…it appears she refuses the food and drink he gives her. I think she hoped to just fade away, but for some reason, she still lingers there…in the dark…" his voice broke away with emotion.

"I must go to her," Legolas said. "Take me to her." Bilbo nodded and turned, beckoning Legolas to follow him.

"Wait," Gloin interrupted. "What about Smaug? There was a chance he would not waken with a hobbit, but what of an elf?"

"Elves move more softly than hobbits my friend," Oropher said.

"But you have to carry the lass out," Gloin said. "This is too risky. We should've have waited upon the wizard."

"I will not leave her down there for another moment with that worm," Thorin spat.

"It is too late to wait for Mithrandir," Oropher said. "We will go and retrieve Tauriel and bring her back here."

"And if you wake Smaug?" Gloin asked.

"We won't master dwarf," Oropher assured him. "Stop your fretting."

Gloin gave him a dubious look, but said nothing else.

Legolas and Oropher followed Bilbo down the hall and disappeared around the corner. "I must go with them," Thorin said, starting to follow them.

Dwalin grabbed his arm and stopped him. "No Thorin," he said. "She will need to comfort of her own kin first."

"Let me go," Thorin snapped, shoving Dwalin's hand away. He turned to go after the elves and Bilbo but found his way blocked by his two nephews. "Get out of my way," he said threateningly.

"No Uncle," Fili said. "You are too involved in this, you cannot separate yourself from your heart and though you may be willing to risk your life in attempt to save her…are you willing to risk hers?"

Thorin blinked and stared blankly at his nephews. Fili took hold of his arm. "What if Smaug does awaken and he'd rather her die than be taken from him? How could you stop his fire and wrath? Or what if Smaug destroyed you and her kin…do you think she would survive the grief of that after all that she had suffered? Let the elves retrieve her."

Thorin nodded slowly, seeing the sense in his words in spite of every cell within his body telling him to go to her. "Alright Fili," he said with a defeated sigh. "I will wait."

Thanks for reading! reviews welcome! Don't forget to check out my new Thorin/Tauriel story called All in his Mind. Thanks again!