Thorin watched the hobbit as her eyes grew wide and tears started to fall freely. As soon as her tears left her eyes, Billa lowered her head and curtseyed before the king. With a last glance at Tauriel and Kili, who were dragged out by the guards, Billa walked back to her rooms. The king straightened his back and sat down on the throne again, dismissing his court. Curse that hobbit, why could she not for once keep her mouth shut.

Thorin had never wanted to punish Tauriel and Kili that severely. But Billas interference had challenged him openly and undermined his authority. His people were at the edge of war and he could not appear to be weak and open to the suggestions of a mere hobbit lass. The kings heart had ached as he had seen the hobbits expression. First one of shock, then one of utter sadness. He had ordered her to leave, for she had been disrespectful and incendiary once too much. He felt as if he had ripped out his own heart.

'We cannot leave! What about Fili and the rest of the kings family?' Frodo was shocked as his mother told him to pack. 'Don´t they matter anymore?'

'The king ordered me to leave, Frodo.' Billa told him, her voice dripping of sadness. 'He practically banished me together with Tauriel and Kili.'

'He only banished them, although Ereborian law punishes traitors by death.' Frodo muttered. 'Fili told me so. King Thorin saved their lives.'

Billa froze for a moment. Her son was right, Thorin had saved Tauriel and Kili from an even worse fate. Suddenly Billa realised that she had judged him too quickly. Worse, she had challenged him in court, for everyone to hear. Billa sighed deeply and scolded herself. Why had she spoken so rashly? King Thorin had no other choice but acting like he did. It was too late now. He had ordered her to leave and Billa would not go against his will again.

As Billa arrived at Erebors gates, she ran into Balin, who was not ready to let her go.

'You give up faster than I thought, mistress Baggins.' the old dwarf stated and cocked a scolding eyebrow at her. 'You always acted wisely and courageous and now when the king needs you, you leave.'

'King Thorin ordered me to leave, he sent me away.' Billa stated calmly and tried to ignore tha uproar in her heart.

'Since when do you follow the kings orders?' Balin challenged her and Billa hesitated. Balin was right. All of a sudden she remembered Balin first words.'

'Wait, what do you mean with: the king "needs me now"'? Billa asked.

'Prince Frerin has been killed by my brother Dwalin, we know that now. Dwalin has gathered an army of dwarves, some of Erebor, some of the Iron Hills. Their goal is to return to the way of life of the dwarves under King Thror, they despise Thorin reaching out for the West. Dwalin needs the arkenstone to support his goal. He will attack Erebor. Thorin has sent his army out to protect the borders, they will not make it back soon enough.' Balin informed Billa and heard her gasp.

When had all of that happened? Billa realised that she had been blind to the things happening around her. Erebor was practically defenseless with its army gone and with no support from its allies. Erebor had no allies, thanks to the intrigues of...apparently Dwalin and the dwarves loyal to him.

'What does lord Dain say about this?' Billa asked carefully. 'His own dwarves follow Dwalin and he stays behind?'

'Dain will do nothing. He will not attack Thorin himself, for he is his cousin. But he will also not call his dwarves back who follow Dwalin.' Balin sighed. 'The rise or fall of Erebor has never been of importance to him.'

'So it is only Dwalin marching against Erebor?' Billa thought aloud. The situation was worse enough. Because of an apparent threat of both Dale and the Iron Hills, Thorin had sent his army away to protect their borders and had to neglect the mountain itself. But Dale and the Iron Hills had no intention of attacking, yet.

'Bring me to the king.' Billas asked Balin. Frodo followed them with a relieved sigh. This was the mother he knew.

Thorin made last preparations to bring his family to safety. He had talked with a messenger from Mirkwood in the morning and the elf had assured him that Mirkwood would not support Dale, nor the Iron Hills. But king Thranduil would not lead his elves to battle for the dwarven kingdom of Erebor. Thorin stood on his own. He cursed the elves under his breath and was about to leave the throne room as the dwraves around him bowed deeply and only one person stood in the throne room, standing straight to face him. It was Billa, she had come back, ignoring his orders. As usual. A smile appeared on Thorins face. The hobbit gave him the strength he needed.

'Mistress Baggins, I was under the impression that you were leaving.' Thorin smirked as he looked at Balin. 'But I see that my oldest advisor brought you back instead of wishing you a safe journey.'

Balin tried to look innocent, but he failed miserably. Thorin had sent him to the gate to make sure that the hobbit left, but Balin knew that the king needed her. And she needed him, even if she was ignoring her heart.

'I was.' Billa answered quietly. 'But the wild is no place for a hobbit, especially in such times. If you allow it I seek refugee underneath your mountain and under your protection.'

Thorin looked at the hobbit he had learned to cherish in the last months. Cherish and love, he knew that now. But he also knew that she would never be his. They were too different. Besides the hobbit would never share him with his wives and concubines. But he would keep her safe, if that was the last thing he did.

'Follow me, mistress Baggins.' he asked her. 'I ordered my people to stay in their homes until the matter is dealt with. My family and I will try to reach Mirkwood. We need to leave Erebor. Every one of my children is a potential heir to the throne. Dwalin will kill them all when he gets his hands on them.'

Billa had not thought of this. The possibility that Thorins family would be slaughtered made her heart ache and she swore to herself that she would do everything in her power to prevent such a massaker. She followed the king silently and suddenly Thorin stopped in his tracks and turned towards her.

'When a hobbit who has much to say, says nothing, the silence can be deafening.' he smiled warmly at her.

'I do not know what to say.' Billa admitted.

'I have rendered our hobbit speechless.' Thorin looked amused. 'I shall remember this moment.'

Billa was about to say something, but her sons sniggering made her turn to him. Frodo seemed happy that they would stay, even if it meant a great amount of danger. He seemed to feel at home in Erebor. As they reached the royal wing, Thorins children gathered around their father and the king was swallowed in a wave of dwarflings. Billa and Frodo joined Dis and the others and prepared to leave. No soldiers accompanied them and the kings personal guard was the only protection Thorin could rely on. The kings guard were brothers, Dori, Nori and Ori. They were loyal to their king and stood by his side whenever he needed them. Billa knew that Dori was the oldest and that he tried to look out for his brothers, as well as his king. It was no easy job, for the kings guard was to protect the king with their own lives. The king had chosen his guard wisely. Dori was the responsible and most reliable of his guards. Nori was a sly fellow and he had his ways to get to information. Ori was the intelligent one, he spoke many languages and supported the king as a interpreter. They would follow Thorin wherever he went, on every journey. As would Billa.

King Thorin stood on the look out of Erebor, staring back at the mountain and then looked ahead to Mirkwood. It was a long journey to the realm of the elven king and a dangerous one at that. They had to pass Dale, but Thorin had chosen a route which made them pass the city of men as far away as possible. The king under the mountain took his entire family with, as well as the arkenstone and Billas ring. He could not part from either of the treasures. As the royal caravan had passed Dale, the king slowed down and walked beside the hobbit, who seemed to be lost in thoughts.

'What are you thinking about, my hobbit?' he asked quietly.

Billa looked at him in surprise. He had called her his hobbit , not mistress Baggins. A part of Billa was delighted, whereas the other part tried to stay sober. He could impossibly have meant it the wy she wished for.

'I was thinking about Tauriel and Kili.' Billa told the king and saw him nod. 'I was wondering where they were and how they are.'

'Wherever the are, they have each other.' Thorins stated simply. 'Tauriel and Kili touched us all and hopefully we will learn from our mistakes.'

Billa knew that Thorin included himself and also her in his statement and remained silent.

'Why did you come back?' the king asked and looked at the hobbit.

Billa needed a while to think about her answer. I came back because of you. Because I love you. I need to be at your side, wether it is in life or death. Even though I know that I can´t do so forever.

Billa chose her words carefully. She had to accept that her feelings for the dwarf king were more than respect and affection, even more than friendship. But telling him would only complicate it more.

'I came back because I could not imagine Erebor without you.' Billas answered honestly and her eyes got lost in the deep blue that were the kings eyes.

'Hail Thorin! Son of Thrain, son of Thror!' an old man clad in grey surprised the royal company as they were a day ahead of Mirkwood. It was Gandalf the Grey, an old friend of both Thorin and Billa. The hobbit was happy to see the wizard and his cart, but the dwarf king frowned.

'What are you doing here, Tharkun?' he asked. Thrakun was the dwarven name of the wizard.

'I am here to help.' Gandalf stated merrily and joined the company. 'I have been delayed by the eldest of my order, by Saruman, but now I am finally here.'

'It is too late now.' Thorin remarked and walked alongside the wizard for a moment. 'The Iron Hills and my general Dwalin lust after my throne. Our only chance is to seek refugee with the king of Mirkwood.'

'Are you sure that king Thranduil will help you?' Gandalf inquired. 'His loyalty lays with Dale and the kingdom of men.'

'He will not turn his back on my family, they are innocent.' Thorin tried to assure the wizard, although similar doubts had crossed his mind before. But Mirkwood was his familys only chance for survival. King Thranduil had to help them, or he would be their doom.