There was a great fan fair on their arrival to the docks. Beth weaved through the crowds trying to find Bilbo. When she did she clapped a hand on his shoulder and whispered, "Bilbo, there's something I have to tell you."

"I think there's something you have to tell all of us," teased the cheeky voice of Fili from behind them. She turned to glare at him but saw Kili being supported by his brother. His skin still sported a pale pallor and the dark circles under his eyes hadn't gotten any better.

"Should you really be coming?" she asked Kili.

"I'm fine. Now explain!"

Her eyes drifted back to Bilbo who was still waiting. "Well, I wanted to tell my family first," she remarked sassily.

Fili and Kili both grinned, but it was Fili who responded with, "It looks like we're about to be family too. So go on!"

Bilbo sputtered. "What?!"

Beth sighed and rubbed a temple; the temple, she noted, that Thorin kissed this morning. Ugh, she was turning into a love sick puppy! "I sorta kinda agreed to Thorin's proposal of marriage last night. And then I think we eloped, but I'm not sure about dwarven culture in regards to that."

Bilbo was a blushing sputtering mess and the Durin brothers were laughing at both their expenses. By the time they got to the boats and were loading up, Bilbo made an astute observation.

"You do know we're one short? Where's Bofur?"

"If he's not here, we leave him behind," Thorin responded.

"We'll have to, if we're to find the door before nightfall," added Balin. "We can risk no more delays."

Speaking of delays…

Thorin stopped Kili from boarding stating, "Not you. We must travel at speed. You will slow us down."

Beth frowned and cut in, "That was a rude way of putting it," she chided, but then turned to Kili, "but that being said, he's right. You're not well enough. Rest. Get better and then join us."

Oin nodded. "Excellent decision My Queen. I'll stay with the lad. My duties lie with the wounded."

Beth furrowed her brow. How did everyone know? Sudden clarity washed over her as she reached for the braid Thorin put in earlier that day. She shot Thorin a reproachful look just as Fili climbed back out of the boat.

Thorin reached out to try to stop him, "Fili don't be a fool; you belong with the company."

Beth reached out to remove Thorin's hand from Fili's arm. "No," she said, looking at Fili with understanding, "he belongs with his brother."

And like that, they were floating down the river, towards the mountain that loomed over them and quite possibly their deaths.

The day was spent making haste upwards and upwards. Beth shivered at the sight of the ruins of Dale. They didn't even know where they were really going. And that proved to be truer than they cared to admit as they began simply searching for the door.

"Up here!" called Bilbo eventually.

Everyone turned to see the great statue of the dwarven king and were pleased to see some of the carvings looked a bit like stairs. Beth threw her arm around Bilbo in excitement.

"You have keen eyes Mr. Baggins," complimented Thorin.

Beth grinned. "See? I knew you were cut out for adventure!"

Bilbo scoffed lightly but grinned as a response came to him. "Just as I know you'll be cut out for monarchy," he said slyly.

Beth sputtered indignantly and turned red in seconds. "I—I well, you see…I don't really know about all this Queen business really. And I mean, Bilbo, I love you so much and I don't want to send you home by yourself and—"

Bilbo cut his babbling sister off by raising a hand. "And you've finally found where you belong. I think your story is amazing Beth, and I know you'll make the most amazing Queen Middle Earth has ever seen. And I won't lie—I'll miss you. Daresay, I might get thin without all your wonderful cooking but…I'm happy when I see you happy. And I see that Thorin makes you happy."

Before Beth could admit to herself that those were in fact tears forming in the corners of her eyes the two turned to the sound of Thorin clearing his throat. Humbly, and almost pleadingly Thorin asked Bilbo, "Would that be a blessing, Mr. Baggins?"

Bilbo couldn't help the grin. "I suppose it is," he sighed. "But I expect a seat of honour at the wedding!"

"Dwarf doors are invisible? What sort of idiot thought that one up?!" Beth cried in frustration.

Upon making it up the stairs (which were just small cliff ledges, according to Bilbo and Beth) there was some great confusion with the hobbits when they found they could not see a door. And then, upon Dwalin's explanation of dwarf doors, Beth huffed and went to sit off to the side. Just when they thought the quest was almost over (sort of) there had to be dwarf doors involved. And to make matters worse, the sun was setting…fast.

The band of frenzied dwarves were harping on the cliff wall (where the door supposedly was) until, as though intentional, the sun set over the rock wall. Despite not agreeing with invisible doors, Beth found herself also at a loss when the last sunlight slipped away.

"The last light of Durin's Day…will shine upon the keyhole," Thorin muttered to himself before spinning around to face the company. "That's what it says. What did we miss? Balin…"

Balin shook his head remorsefully. "We've lost the light; there's no more to be done. We had but one chance. Come away lads, it's over."

And just like that they all started shuffling away. Beth felt indignant rage bubble up in her chest but before she could say it, Bilbo spoke her mind. "Wait a minute, what? Where are they going?"

Thorin took one last look at the key in his hand, the key that Beth assumed was his only lifeline up until now, uncurled his fingers and let it drop to the ground. He then pushed the map into Bilbo's hands and stalked off himself, leaving two put out hobbits in his wake.

Again, Beth thought she would burst from her anger. Never in all the world had she thought Thorin would just give up so easily. Bilbo watched his sister's face as the (unfortunately) familiar look of rage spread across it. Her brow furrowed and her lips pinched into a tight line. She seemed to snarl as she told him, "Wait here. I'll be back," and then proceeded to stomp off in the direction the dwarves left.

Beth caught up with them just as they were proceeding to hop onto the death-stairs. "What do you think you're doing?" she barked.

Thorin looked over his shoulder to her and wondered if he should be weary of her anger. "Leaving. Beth, there's nothing for us here."

"Well then just leave. Just give up. Personally, I'm going to stay until Durin's Day is over, when the moon is high in the sky and…" she trailed off. Of course! Moon light!

Perfectly timed as always, Bilbo shouted at that moment, "Come back! Come back! It's the light of the moon! The last moon of Autumn!"

Thorin's face lit up and he unexpectedly dashed off towards the sound of Bilbo's voice. Beth and the rest of the dwarves took a second to look at each other before spinning around themselves and following him. They arrived just as Thorin stomped his boot on the almost-lost key and Beth had to shake her head at what was obviously Bilbo's clumsiness.

He took they key and slowly, reverently put it in the keyhole. The door pushed in with a hiss of air and it took the company a couple seconds of awe before they dared enter. Beth found her way beside Thorin as he touched the corridor wall. "I know these walls. These halls. This stone."

Beth gently placed a hand on his arm so he would look to her. When he did, she smiled at the gladness on his features. "Welcome home, Thorin."

"Don't be silly; of course I'm going."

This conversation is taking too long, Beth thought. When she came on this quest she went knowing full well that at some point there was going to be a dragon involved, and that she was going to be a pawn in that part. In fact, along the way she had made peace with the idea and even became a little excited about seeing a dragon at all. A dragon! Who the hell else could say they've seen a dragon?

"I will not let you go and get yourself killed," growled Thorin.

"Oh. OH. So you'll let my brother go and get himself killed, but you won't let me. Let me tell you something mister, I signed that contract same as him and I plan on upholding my end of the deal. Just because somewhere along the way we fell in love doesn't mean you get to tell me what to do now. I joined this quest despite you, and I'll risk my life despite you."

Okay, she thought, that was probably a little mean. Rectify the situation.

Sighing in defeat (knowing her conscious was right this time) she reached up to place her hands on his shoulders. When he made eye contact with her she continued. "Look, Thorin, I love you. There's no two ways about that. But you can't shelter me forever, no matter how much you want to. I'm going to go in with my brother, and we're going to find you that jewel you care so much about. And we're not going to die."

"How can you say that with such certainty?" He questioned.

"Call it a gut feeling. I trust mine, and I want you to trust them too. I want you to trust me as more than your councillor, Thorin," she said in ways of explanation.

Turning on her heel to join Bilbo and Balin who were waiting (a little impatiently) by the entrance she was stopped by Thorin stepping right in front of her. All thoughts of protest died as he claimed her lips in a passionate kiss that was so short she didn't even have time to react.

"I trust you," he whispered as he embraced her one last time.

She beamed at him and ignoring the butterflies in her stomach, set forth. Bilbo and Balin started off ahead a few steps and she quickly fell in line. The corridor was long and dark and Beth had to wonder if they were actually ever going to reach this place.

"You want us to find a jewel?" Bilbo asked.

"A large white jewel, yes," answered Balin almost cheerily.

"That's it?" Asked Beth. "I imagine there's quite a few down there."

"There's only one Arkenstone," answered Balin. "You'll know it when you see it."

The siblings exchanged a concerned look. How an earth were they going to know? Balin stooped walking and turned to address them.

"In truth, I do not know what you will find down there," he admitted. "You needn't go if you don't want to. There's no dishonour in turning back." He shot a look at Beth. "I'm sure Thorin would even be relieved."

"No Balin," Bilbo answered. "We promised we would do this. And at least we ought to try." Beth nodded in agreement, taking Bilbo's hand in hers as an act of solidarity.

Balin smiled. "It never ceases to amaze me."

Bilbo scrunched up his face. "What?"

"The courage of hobbits. Now go, with as much luck as you can muster."

Beth smiled and jumped to squeeze the old dwarf in a hug before setting off with Bilbo down the long corridor.

They were stopped by Balin saying, "Oh, and you two…if you do see a dragon, try not to waken it."

They nodded stiffly and continued on. At the end of the passage the pair could see light coming from the doorway they were about to enter.

The sight took their breath away. Vast piles of gold and treasure were piled as far as the eye could see and further. The siblings looked at each other with doubt and Beth shrugged.

"We'll know it when we see it, right?" she said as a ways to assure herself as much as her brother.

He nodded, and then did the most stupid thing she'd ever seen him do. Looking around, he called out, "Hello?"

Beth shot him an 'are you crazy?' look that he ignored before stating, "Good, good, he's not home. Not home."

Beth pinched the bridge of her nose. "You go left I go right?" she offered. Bilbo nodded and the two set off in their opposite directions scouring for the jewel.

Beth rolled her eyes every time she could hear Bilbo from so far away. Still though, she supposed this place had a mighty echo to it anyway. It didn't stop her from being quiet as a church mouse though. Along the way she found a lot of white gems that didn't quite fit the descriptions, treasure both raw and cultured, weapons, dining sets, and no Arkenstone to be seen.

The very loud sound of a pile of treasure slipping reached her and Beth suppressed the urge to add a groan to her eye roll. And then the sound got louder. And then it became very clear to Beth that something was indeed very wrong. The final recognition was the voice of Smaug himself.

"Well thief…"

Beth snuck over to a pile of treasure she could duck behind but for now had a view of what poor Bilbo had gotten himself into. Well, it would have been a good view had she been able to spot him amongst the treasure at all. She flattened herself when Smaug turned his had in her direction and sniffed the air.

"Two thieves. I can smell you both. I hear your breath. I feel your air. Where are you? Where are you two?" The hobbits waited in their respective hiding places with baited breath. Beth felt anxiety wash over her as Smaug started following Bilbo. She slipped from her own hiding place to behind a pillar that was somewhat closer to their exit and Bilbo. "Come now, don't be shy," the dragon taunted again. "Step into the light."

"There is something about both of you," Smaug announced suddenly, moving his head away from Bilbo's hiding spot (presumably). "One of you carries something gold…but far more precious. The other is a treasure more precious than gold. Where are you, little treasure?"

Beth could hear the dragon closing in on her, but just as quickly he stopped and said, "There you are, thief in the shadows."

Her eyes widened comically and she peaked out from behind her hiding spot. Bilbo was backed against a pillar, face to face with a dragon. Holy shit. Beth took the opportunity to sneak further along, at least closer to the stairs so she would have easy access out.

Beth watched Bilbo as he tried to talk his way out of trouble with the dragon and was tickled to find it almost working. The dragon seemed to forget all about her as Bilbo rambled and slid down the piles of treasure. She almost gasped when she spotted the Arkenstone and Bilbo ran after it, not hiding that he was running. She hoped that Smaug hadn't seen it as well.

"Did you think I did not know this day would come?" he roared. "That a pack of canting dwarves would come crawling back to the mountain!"

Bilbo slipped and skated on the treasure piles and Beth finally made it to the stairs. He was still trying to chase after the glowing gem as the dragon taunted him. He claimed to know that the dwarves were involved, going so far as to produce the Oakenshield name. And then Bilbo was standing right beside the damned thing.

"I am almost tempted to let you take it, if only to see Oakenshield suffer. Watch it destroy him, watch it corrupt his heart and drive him mad," Smaug claimed casually. "But I think not, I think our little game ends here. So tell me, thief. How do you choose to die?"

Beth started and gasped as Bilbo disappeared right in front of them. Smaug reared his head back and roared, unleashing a great stream of fire. Beth ducked behind another pillar but felt an invisible hand tug on hers and she let out an almighty scream and ran for the exit. Just as she was about the first flight of stirs up she heard Bilbo call out, "Wait! Beth, it's just me!"

Her eyes slid over to the dragon still raging across the room and back to Bilbo. Pointing an accusing finger at him she stated, "You're going to tell me what happened as soon as we're out of danger. Now come on, we have to get out of here!"

They ran into Thorin just as they reached the exit of the treasury. Beth was going to fling her arms around him until he stated, "You're alive."

She put her hands on her hips and shot back, "Not for much longer if you don't move."

"Did you find the Arkenstone?" he asked.

Beth's jaw dropped. "The dragon's coming!" Bilbo said, oddly calm for this predicament.

"The Arkenstone," Thorin interrupted. "Did you find it?"

"No," said Bilbo, now more panicked. "We have to get out."

And then as Bilbo took a step towards the exit, Thorin pulled his sword and pointed it at him. Beth had had enough. She took two menacing steps towards him and knocked his sword arm to the side, making room so she could shove him back. He didn't move much of course, due to size and strength differences but it still seemed to wake him up.

"What is wrong with you?" she cried. "Is this what the dragon meant?"

But before any kind of answer could be offered Smaug bellowed behind them, "You will burn!" Which sent the three running down the corridor faster than any of them thought they could move. The rest of the company was waiting with baited breath just outside of the entrance and jumped to help Thorin pat down the flames that had caught on his coat in their escape.

Beth was livid. As soon as the flames were put out (not that that would have stopped her) she put all her strength into shoving Thorin against the cliff face. "What the fuck was that?!" She shouted.

The dwarves (and Bilbo for that matter) looked scandalized hearing such language from her. And although this wasn't the first time she had been physically violent with their leader, this was the first time they didn't know exactly what had provoked the girl's temper.

Thorin shrugged her off. "I don't know what you're talking about."

And suddenly in her mind, Beth was back in her old world, fighting with her husband. She adopted the defensive but aggressive stance of one hand on her hip, back straight as an arrow, and shoulders pulled back. "Oh, oh you don't know, do you?" She asked sarcastically. Despite knowing what Beth was angry about Bilbo cringed at what was happening. He knew first-hand how Beth could be when she was angry, and she was pissed. "Could it be that you almost got us fucking killed, asshole?" She shoved him again. "For a stupid piece of SHINY ROCK! Do you really not care about our lives? Do you not care about my life? I hope you and your Arkenstone are very happy together, Thorin. I'm not going to stick around only to be second to a pile of shiny stuff. You're sick."

And on that note, she spun around and started marching to the statue-stairs, planning on heading back to Lake Town. Maybe she would just go back to the Shire. This mission wasn't what she thought it was. Thorin didn't want to reclaim his home—he wanted to reclaim his treasure. And she was stupid for ever thinking that she could get her happily ever after in there.

It was Dwalin who spoke first.

"Well we all know I'm not one for emotional outbursts from women-folk," he preceded. "But I think Beth may have been right this time." He turned to Thorin. "And I think Balin has a point. I have never in all my years seen you so changed, Thorin. And I worry for you, my friend."

Thorin glared at Dwalin, then Balin. "You both know we need the Arkenstone to lead the dwarves against this foul beast."

"Aye, but at what cost?" asked Balin.

Thorin was silent for a moment. "At our own cost."