A/N: Disclaimer: Everything you recognize does not belong to me!
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The soft tapping echoed loudly in the throne room. Hermione was nervous. Where was Bilbo and Draco? Thorin was calling a meeting in the throne room and the two really ought to have been back by now. Trumpets sounded off in the distance, alerting Thorin to the arrival of Bard.
"Hail, Thorin!" Bard greeted. "Are you still of the same mind?"
Draco slipped quietly into place next to Hermione. She glanced quickly at him, and noticed that he was a little nervous as well. Well…they had betrayed Thorin. But it was for the greater good. Hermione snorted in amusement. She sounded like Dumbledore.
"My mind does not change." Thorin sneered. "Your host of men and elves have not yet left, so I will not bargain with you."
"Is there then nothing for which you would yield any of your gold?" Bard questioned. Hermione's heart sped up.
"Nothing that you or your friends have to offer." Thorin confirmed.
"What of the Arkenstone of Thrain?"
Hermione held her breath as they opened the casket they carried and the bright white light of the Arkenstone danced across the dumbstruck faces of the Company.
Thorin seemed to have lost all ability of speech as he stared in disbelief at the jewel that Bard now held. The entire hall was shocked into silence.
"That stone was my father's and is mine," he snarled with barely concealed fury. "Why should I purchase my own?"
Before anyone could say a word, for most of the dwarves were still staring dumbly at the glittering jewel, Thorin asked again. "How did you come by this heirloom of my house?"
"We did not steal it." Bard insisted.
"How did you come by it?" Thorin thundered.
"I-I gave it to them!" Bilbo squeaked and Hermione's heart picked up its pace a hundredfold.
"You! You!" Thorin shouted. He made to grab Bilbo but Draco quickly stepped in between them.
"I helped him. It was my idea, and mine alone." He said smoothly.
Thorin's face reddened. "You miserable hobbit! You cursed wizard! Who else had a hand in this treachery?!" His maddened eyes darted around the room before they landed on Hermione's pale face.
Hermione shakily opened her mouth to confess but Draco silenced her with a glare. "No one!" he insisted.
"Where is Gandalf?" Thorin fumed. "Curse that wizard for choosing you to accompany us on this quest! Curse him for allowing his wizard pupils on this journey! May his beard wither! As for you two I will throw you to the rocks!"
Thorin grabbed Bilbo by the collar of his shirt and made to toss him onto the jagged rocks below.
"Stay! Your wish is granted!" A booming voice said from the entrance of the hall. Hermione let out her breath in a whoosh. It was Gandalf. "Do not harm my student or my burglar. You may want to hear what they say first."
"You are all in the same league!" Accused Thorin. "Never again will I have dealings with any wizard or his friends. What have you to say, you descendants of rats?"
"We only took the one fourteenth share that was promised us in the contract. I chose my share, and dispensed it how I pleased, take it like that and let it go." Bilbo said.
"I will let you two go. May we never meet again." Thorin replied. "I am betrayed. I will give you one-fourteenth share of the gold for the Arkenstone. But the share will be these traitors'. You will leave and divide it was you like. Take them if you wish them to live for no friendship of mine goes with them."
Bilbo scurried down to Gandalf, while Draco walked down proudly with his head raised. Hermione could not help but admire him. He turned around when he got to the bottom and winked up at her.
Hermione glanced nervously towards Thorin but he had already stormed off. She smiled worriedly down at Draco who tilted his head in farewell and strolled off with an extra spring in his step. Hermione bet Hufflepuff's Cup that he was whistling as well.
Shaking her head in disbelief she turned and walked back into the halls. Before she got very far, she was intercepted by a gruff looking Dwalin with a nervous Kili standing behind. "Thorin wishes to speak with you, lassie."
Dwalin grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to the chamber where Thorin would often converse with Balin and the other advisors.
"Sit." Thorin commanded her, and Hermione nervously sat down in the chair he pointed to. "Are you in the same conspiracy as that wizard and hobbit?"
Hermione swallowed hard. "…No." She lied.
"You had no knowledge of their plans to betray the Company?"
"…No."
"Very well. If it comes to my knowledge that you did, your fate will be a sad one indeed." Thorin threatened.
Hermione gulped. "Yes."
"Leave now."
Liar. Liar. Liar. Hermione chanted in her head as she walked briskly out of the interrogation room. She was a liar. And a coward. And selfish. And once again, leaving her friends while saving her own skin. Liar. Bloody hell, even a Slytherin had more integrity than she did. She let out a little scream of anguish and ran her fingers through her bushy hair. Hermione began to run in the direction of her room as frustrated tears prickled her eyes. Liar.
She was running so fast she didn't see where she was going before she ran straight into something hard and she bounced off, landing on her bum. "Oof!"
"Hermione!" It was Kili. No, did he know of her lies?
"Go away." She blubbered.
"Hermione, stop!" he commanded. She stopped. "What's up?"
Her lips twitched a little at his use of one of Earth's slurs. "The sky." She deadpanned.
Kili snorted. "That was the worst joke ever."
Hermione's lips twitched again, as he stood there with a silly expression on his face, staring down at her. She couldn't help it. A little burst of laughter escaped and Kili smiled.
"What is wrong?" He asked again.
"It's just Thorin sent them away." She whispered. Another lie. "How could he send them away? They were my friends!"
Kili sighed. "They were my friends as well. They still are. And I can see why they decided to betray uncle. But the way they went about it was wrong."
"It will save Thorin in the end. An army of orcs and goblins led by Azog the Defiler march on Erebor this very instant. We need the help of the men and elves." She insisted.
Kili's eyes narrowed a bit at her. "Thorin has sent for Dain Ironfoot, who will arrive any time now. They dwarves of the Iron Hills will help us."
"But they aren't enough!" Hermione burst out before covering her mouth quickly with her hand. "I-I mean…"
"I will not press you for answers." Kili held his hand up. "I do not wish to know the ways of a freaky witch."
Hermione giggled with relief. "Freaky, eh? What about you dwarves? Even I'm taller than you!"
Kili puffed out his chest. "What we lack in height, we make up in strength!"
Hermione grinned evilly and tickled him. He gasped and toppled right over. She laughed loudly and bent over double, clutching the stitch in her chest.
"That wasn't fair!" Kili protested and reached out his fingers to tickle her back.
"No!" she shrieked and tried to pry his fingers away from her sides.
"Kili! What in Durin's name are you doing?" Thorin thundered from the stairs.
"Nothing!" Kili immediately stood up and held out a hand to help Hermione up.
"What have I said about not interacting with the witch? Hasn't her friend already proven himself untrustworthy and nothing more than a traitor? What's to say she isn't the same? I have half a mind to toss the harlot out so she can be with her friends." He spat.
Hermione wanted to recoil in hurt, but she forced her chin up and looked Thorin square in the eye. "Look, Thorin, I know we don't see eye to eye and I know you've had bad experiences with men and wizards. But what right does that give you to condemn me because of what I am? You, of all dwarves, should know what it is like to walk somewhere and know that people judge you and persecute you, not because of what you've done, but what you are."
"Throughout this entire quest, have I done anything that tells you that I cannot be trusted? Have I not aided your quest to the best of my ability already?" Hermione continued after taking a breath to steady herself. "I know Draco 'betrayed' you, but because you cannot see beyond your own desire you did not hear out his reasons for doing so! Even after everything we've been through, we still are trying to reclaim your mountain, redeem your people, and save you."
Thorin's face reddened, whether in anger or shame, Hermione couldn't tell. "And don't bloody call me a harlot." She finished.
"Very well." Thorin responded coolly. "Because you are of value to my nephews and the rest of the company, I will tolerate your presence amongst the halls of my grandfather. Do not take it for granted, and do not forget my previous words."
Hermione narrowed her eyes. Oh, she fully remembered his threats of throwing her out.
"Thorin!" Fili called out. "Uncle! Dain Ironfoot and the dwarves of the Iron Hills have arrived!"
Thorin gave one last distrusting glare before turning and rushing to greet his cousin.
The dwarves of the Iron Hills wore magnificent armor, crafted by the best dwarven smiths available. Their helmets gleamed in the sunlight as they marched towards Erebor with great speed. At the front was a dwarf that was clearly the leader. His beard was adorned with braids and beads, his ornate armor heavily decorated, and upon his feet were the trademark iron boots.
Hermione rushed to the balcony and observed as the dwarven army was confronted by Bard. They seemed to argue for a minute over something before Dain nodded and signaled for his army of five hundred dwarves to stop. Bard then stepped aside and allowed Dain to stride up to Erebor alone.
The giant doors scraped open for Dain, and Thorin enthusiastically greeted him before the two disappeared into a more private room along with Balin, Dwalin, and Gloin.
Kili went to his brother's side, and it looked like they were trying to appeal to Thorin to be let into the meeting, but Thorin only barked at them and they left dejectedly. Hermione ran down to meet them.
"There will be a battle soon," Kili told her.
"Way to state the obvious," Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Perhaps it would be…safer if you stayed away from battle." Fili finished.
Hermione stared blankly at them for a minute before protesting loudly. "No! Kili! You agreed with me."
"But-" He began.
"I can care perfectly well for myself, and you know that!" Hermione retorted hotly. "Nothing you say can sway my decision. Besides, I have a sword!"
She patted the heavy sword that rested on her hip.
"You don't know how to use it." Kili pointed out.
"I can't be that hard, can it?" Hermione wondered. "Just you know, block, parry, stab, and don't get stabbed yourself?"
"Not as simple as it sounds." Fili shook his head.
"Fine then, you can teach me." Hermione suggested.
"That is a good idea, brother," Fili said to Kili. "Right, I'll leave that up to you two then!"
Hermione watched in disbelief as he let go of the issue so quickly and just walked away.
"No time to lose then, eh?" Kili winked at her and unsheathed his sword.
Hermione copied him and using two hands, she pulled her own sword out of its scabbard.
"Hold it up like this," Kili raised his sword in front of him.
Hermione lifted the sword up. Kili continued to teach her the basic moves of both offense and defense, and soon, Hermione's arms began to shake in exhaustion. She tried not to show it though, but every time Kili would allow her a break, she quickly lowered her sword and flexed her aching arms. Her robes were soaked through with sweat as she eagerly gulped the water Kili offered her.
"You're tired," he observed.
"Obviously, Sherlock," Hermione sighed in exasperation.
"Who is Sherlock?" Kili questioned. Hermione only gave a tired laugh and closed her eyes. Before she knew it, she was asleep.
"Hermione, it's time to get up." Someone was gently shaking her shoulder. She rolled over and grunted in surprise as her arms completely failed her.
"Ow," she muttered. After a few seconds of orienting herself, she noticed Kili standing before her, half in all his battle armor already. "Oh."
"Battle time?" she asked.
"Battle time." He confirmed. "You know, if you're too tired from last night's training section, you could always stay behind."
"Kili, you sneaky Slytherin!" Hermione berated. "You purposely made me tired so I would back out."
"I did no such thing, are you thinking of backing out though?" He asked hopefully.
"Absolutely not." Hermione shook her head. "Besides, my arms are only a little sore."
"Hmm…" Kili pursed his lips. "Will you help me with my armor?"
"Sure," She nodded. She waved her wand and all the pieces of armor flew into place.
"Aw, I thought you would actually get off you're lazy bum and help me!" Kili whined. "Then it could have been a romantic moment and I would have swept you off your feet!"
Hermione snorted in the most unladylike fashion. "Oh, please, Kili. That would be way too cliché for me. Now get out as I change. And no, I don't need your help."
"As you wish, my lady." Kili bowed and winked before backing out of her room.
This was it. Hermione thought. Oh, Merlin. Okay, relax. Relax. Everything will be alright. Just keep a clear head and protect the three royal dwarves. Relax. But she couldn't. Her mind was constantly on the edge of flight mode and personal survival. She had to get over it. She had to.
Hermione shakily put on her armor that was given to her. A large breastplate and a helmet. She strapped the sword to her belt, made sure her wand was intact, and walked out nervously.
After swallowing down a bite of food that Kili made her eat, she found herself along with thirteen fully armored dwarves standing ready at the entrance of Erebor. The men and elves were positioning themselves as well. A dark line was approaching on the horizon and Hermione's throat clenched as she noticed the Pale Orc sitting on his white warg.
"Kili." She whispered hoarsely.
"Yeah?" He answered.
"I love you." She murmured, not caring just how cliché she was being.
"As I you." He replied.
Azog lifted his giant mace and yelled in orcish. The orcs shrieked loudly before thundering towards the three waiting armies.
"Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!" Thorin cried. "Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!"
The dwarves cheered and with loud yells they charged headlong onto the field to meet the orcs.
Hermione swallowed and gripped her wand tighter. With Kili beside her, her fears behind, and the enemy ahead; she charged. And so, the Battle of Five Armies began.
A/N: Click that little button at the bottom that says "Review" and let me know what you think!