Chapter 14
Everyone moves out to the battlements at the front of Erebor where they can see Lake Town. They can see Smaug in the distance and suddenly he is breathing fire. Kili wraps his arm around Primrose's waist to comfort her as she is still upset at what is happening. Soon the town is burning and the company can see Smaug diving again and again on the town and breathing fire. Primrose feels so helpless and hopes that some of the townsfolk survive. Suddenly Smaug falls from the sky and the company stare in disbelief.
"The Dragon, he's dead," Balin said.
"How can that be? Only a black arrow could have killed the dragon," Primrose asked.
"They must have had one there," Fili said.
The Town is still burning but there is nothing that the dwarves can do. Returning inside they bed down for the night. The next morning Thranduil and Bard arrive at the gates to Erebor and request that Thorin meet with them. He, Kili, Primrose and Fili make their way to the gates where Bard and Thranduil request their shares of the treasure. It transpires that Girion, Bard's Ancestor was Lord of Dale and Smaug had taken some of Dale's treasure and it was mixed in with the Dwarves treasure in the hoard in Erebor.
"I will give you nothing. Not one coin," Thorin declared.
Kili, Primrose and Fili looked aghast.
"Uncle please. They are entitled to what they are asking for. Please be reasonable," Primrose said.
"I will not. This is dwarf treasure and it will stay right here," Thorin said.
He turned and walked away leaving the others with Bard and Thranduil.
"I am sorry King Thranduil and Bard. I fear that Uncle is succumbing to the same madness that took Grandpapa and Great Grandpapa," Primrose said.
"It is not your fault and we respect the promises you have made. Unfortunately your Uncle has left us no choice but to declare war," Thranduil said.
"We will not fight," Kili and Fili said.
Primrose gasped at that. Surely their uncle would expect them to fight.
"How did you kill the dragon?" Primrose asked.
"There was one black arrow left after Girion tried to kill Smaug all those years ago. I used it and aimed for and hit Smaug in the place where Girion had knocked off one of his scales. It killed him and he fell on the town, killing The Master. Many people survived but there were also casualties," Bard said.
"And did your children survive?" Primrose asked.
"Yes for which I am eternally grateful," Bard said.
"We are aiding the men of Lake Town providing food and things like that for them," Thranduil said.
"We will try to talk some sense into Uncle," Kili promised.
They bid farewell to Thranduil and Bard and withdrew into the mountain. There they found Thorin pacing up and down muttering about moving the treasure deeper into the mountain.
"You! You know where the Arkenstone is don't you," Thorin said to Primrose.
"I may have seen it but if it is still where it was I wouldn't know," Primrose said.
"We will search for it and we will not rest until it is found," Thorin said.
"Uncle please. Be reasonable," Fili said.
"Fili don't argue. You will understand when you become King Under the Mountain. The Arkenstone belongs to us. It's a family heirloom you know that," Thorin said.
"What's happened to the Uncle you were at the start of this quest. You aren't the same as you were then," Kili said.
"Oh not you as well," Thorin said.
He sent them to gather the other dwarves and when they and the other dwarves were gathered Thorin looked at them.
"We must find the Arkenstone of my father, it is worth more than a river of gold in itself, and to me it is beyond price. That stone of all treasure I name unto myself and I will be avenged on anyone who finds it and withholds it," Thorin said.
Fili, Kili and Primrose looked dismayed but help in the search knowing Thorin would be suspicious if they didn't. While they pretend to search for the Arkenstone Primrose goes to where she remembers seeing the Arkenstone. It is still there and she picks it up and looks at it then slips it into her cuirass. Only Kili sees her doing this and he nods his approval knowing she is doing the right thing. Primrose has remembered Smaug telling her that the Arkenstone would drive Thorin mad. He was right and the only thing to do is to take the Arkenstone and give it to Bard and Thranduil so they can use it to trade for their share of the hoard.
"I'm going to give the Arkenstone to Thranduil and Bard so they can trade it for their share of the hoard. It's my 14th share of the treasure," Primrose says softly to Kili.
"Great idea and I will come with you. You can't go out there alone; it's not safe there might be orcs out there. You're not only female but pregnant with my heir. I won't let you endanger your life," Kili said.
"Thank you my love," Primrose said.
She and Kili continue to pretend to search for the Arkenstone and when they are near Fili, Kili whispers the plan to him. He approves as like Kili he is very worried about their uncle's state of mind.
"Be careful. If Uncle finds out I don't know what he might do," Fili said.
"I won't let him hurt Primrose," Kili said.
During the search for the Arkenstone a necklace with beautiful white gems is discovered and Primrose suspects it's one of the things that Thranduil wants.
That evening after the dwarves have gone to bed, Kili and Primrose go to the battlements and using a rope let themselves down to the ground. They do this quickly and silently, to avoid detection. Kili is wearing minimal amour and carrying only a bow and quiver that he had found in the armoury. He had felt a sword might clang if he knocked it against something and any noise would carry. It was a bit of a walk to where the elves and men were camped but soon they were entering the tent Bard and Thranduil were using to plan their strategy.
"What brings you two here?" Thranduil asked.
"We have something you can use to trade for your share in the treasure. Something we found before Uncle Thorin did," Primrose said.
"What is it?" Bard asked.
Primrose reached inside her cuirass and withdrew the Arkenstone.
"It's the heart of the mountain, a fine prize indeed. Thank you my friend," Thranduil said.
"Did you steal that from Thorin?" Bard asked in amazement.
"No of course not I took it as my 14th share of the treasure which I am entitled to," Primrose said
"We really do hope that this situation will not end in war," Primrose said.
"It won't if your uncle is reasonable," Thranduil said.
"When we were pretending to search for the Arkenstone we discovered a necklace with beautiful white gems," Kili spoke up.
"That is the necklace that I had the dwarves make for my late wife, Legolas' mother many years ago. And yes it is one of the things I wish to have," Thranduil said.
"Why is it that you never received it?" Primrose asked.
"There was a dispute about the payment for it. The dwarves claimed that I had not paid them so wouldn't give it to me. They were wrong. I had paid them. That is one of the reasons I chose not to help them when the dragon came," Thranduil said.
Kili nodded.
"Uncle was saying that you still will not get the necklace. We are really worried about his state of mind. Fili and I think he is suffering from the same malady that our grandpapa and great grandpapa suffered from," Kili said.
"I am sorry to hear that. However maybe he will change his mind if he wants to get this back," Thranduil said, gesturing to the Arkenstone.
"Yes hopefully he will," Kili said.
"I am glad you are more sensible than your Uncle. Kili son of Dis, Daughter of Thrain," Thranduil said.
"That which affects him will never affect me or my brother," Kili said.
"We had better be going back before we are missed," Primrose said.
"Goodnight and thank you again," Bard and Thranduil said.
Kili and Primrose nodded then slipped back out of the tent and headed back to Erebor. Climbing back up the rope they returned to their quarters and went to bed.
"I hope Uncle doesn't get too cross when he finds out where the Arkenstone is," Primrose said. She took her cuirass off carefully removing an acorn which she was keeping there. As she held it in her hand Thorin suddenly appeared.
"What is that you're holding? Show me," he demanded.
Slowly Primrose opened her hand to reveal the acorn.
"I got this from Beorn's garden. I plan to plant it back at Bag End when Kili and I go back there to see my Uncle and let him know we are married and he has a great niece or nephew on the way," Primrose said.
"I see," Thorin said.
"You thought she had the Arkenstone didn't you," Kili said.
"And if I did?" Thorin asked.
"Don't you think if Prim had found it she would have told you and given it to you straight away? Really uncle you're becoming very paranoid," Kili said.
"You're right. Sorry Primrose. Goodnight," Thorin said.
He left and Kili looked at Primrose.
"That was too close," he said softly.
"He's going to find out eventually probably tomorrow. I suspect Bard and Thranduil will be back here to offer the Arkenstone in trade for what they want," Primrose said.
"I promise I won't let Uncle harm you," Kili said.
Primrose finished getting ready for bed as did Kili and they went to sleep.
The next morning Thorin had everyone searching for the Arkenstone again, determined that it would be found. The search was interrupted by Bard and Thranduil arriving and asking to speak to Thorin. Everyone went up on the battlements where Bard and Thranduil told Thorin they had something to trade for their share. Kili and Primrose pretended to be amazed when Thranduil revealed the Arkenstone. Thorin looked furious and turning glared at the rest of the company.
"One of you has betrayed me. Who was it," he thundered.
Everyone looked at him looking innocent.
"You… you did find it when talking to the dragon. Didn't you? DIDN'T YOU," Thorin said, coming over to Primrose looking furious.
"I'm sorry Uncle but I had no choice," Primrose said.
"You… You miserable hobbit… you undersized burglar! How DARE you steal from me," Thorin thundered in a rage, grabbing Primrose and shaking her like a rabbit.
"I did not steal. You said I may choose what I like as my share of the treasure. Well I chose that as part of my share and disposed of it as I saw fit," Primrose said.
"Then that is your share. Get out of my sight or I will throw you off these battlements myself," Thorin snarled.
"You most certainly will not," Kili said.
He glared at Thorin who glared back at him.
"Did you know what your miserable wife did?" Thorin suddenly asked.
"Don't call her miserable and yes I did. I could not, would not let you lead us into war against the men and elves," Kili said.
"HOW DARE YOU. You are no longer any nephew of mine. Both of you can get out and don't come back," Thorin shouted.
"If Kili leaves I will be leaving too. I also knew what they were going to do and I agree with them," Fili said.
"I don't believe what I am hearing. Have you forgotten everything I taught you?" Thorin said.
"Of course I haven't. But Kili and I both believe that you are not yourself," Fili said.
"I am perfectly fine. But this just shows me that NEITHER of you are fit to be my heirs," Thorin snarled.
"I am your heir by birth and you can't change that. You are not yourself. Give them what they want and they will return the Arkenstone to you," Fili said.
"Nothing I will give. Not one coin of it," Thorin said.
At that Fili and Kili knew that their Uncle was beyond help. He had succumbed to the same madness that had claimed their grandfather and great grandfather.
"Mahal help us all," Kili said softly.
"You are greedy Uncle and your greed will be the end of us. None of us want war," Fili said.
"If there is war then so be it. I will die fighting if I must. For now the treasure must be moved lower down.
"Uncle, Stop it! We are only trying to help you," Primrose said.
Thorin snapped completely at that and grabbing Primrose with both hands pushed her towards the battlements and lifted her up. Primrose looked at Thorin.
"You would really throw me off here and risk killing your great niece or nephew. I can't believe you would do that. The Thorin I met back at Bag End would never do that. He was honourable and the Thorin I see before me has no honour," Primrose said.
"Do not speak to me of honour when it is you who STOLE the Arkenstone and gave it to those who want to take some of MY treasure," Thorin thundered.
"They have every right to some of it. Bard's people lost some of their treasure in Dale when the Dragon came and some of that gold below is rightfully theirs. You have no claim to it. And that necklace was made for Thranduil to give to his late wife. It is his as he has paid for it," Primrose said.
"He did NOT pay for it," Thorin growled.
"Both Bard and Thranduil have rightful claims to a share of the treasure that lies below us. If you won't honour that then Kili and I will," Primrose said.
She was not afraid of Thorin and had no intention of forgetting her promise to Thranduil.
"So you are against me. I knew you were a poor match for Kili. He was a fool to marry you. You have led him astray as I feared you would. If your child dies then so be it.
He prepared to throw her from the battlements, completely lost in his madness