Author Note: Because this story is supposed to slip in between established events, I am forwarding the Dwarf story line to after the death of Smaug. The Company of Dwarves has been made aware of the convergence of Thranduil and Bard and their troops outside the Gates or Erebor, and Thorin is in the throes of gold sickness. - I envisioned that there were numerous important conversations, potentially the last conversations, between many of the Dwarves. I wanted to pick a few that exemplified where things stood in their relationships, heading into the Battle of Five Armies.

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Kili tried on braces from the collection in the Great Armory of Erebor. He had to take the largest pieces because of his height, but he was so lean for a Dwarf, he fairly rattled around inside them. He threw them down "Dwalin can choose from these. They are too big for me."

Fili came over and picked a few up. "We can make this set work with just a bit of adjustment. As for the rest, I think Dwalin would like it if you brought those over to him to choose from."

Kili grimaced, "That will not happen. You take it to him."

Kili sat down on what must have been an officer's podium. "I am not like other Dwarves. Fili. Everyone knows, but no one will admit it. Rhavaniel said Mahal built her and Ilúvatar built me, so we were a mixed match. She had strange logic, always looking at things differently. She came up with a pretty little stories, though."

"If she had you thinking you were not a Dwarf, that is hardly a good thing." Fili pointed out.

"Why is that her fault? I was different before I met her. Remember all the strange looks, and the fights in the schoolyard? And who could forget the time the authorities from Bywater came by and accused Uncle Thorin of having stolen a manchild?"

"That was the fault of one drunken idiot!" Fili protested. "And no one has said such things in years!"

Fili spoke to his brother as kindly but firmly as he could, "Kili, you are upsetting yourself over nothing. You are not a foundling, like you Elf friend, or a stolen child. And you are not mixed blood. Let me stop you before you dare to go there with these questions. I remember when you were born. Our father loved you. He would not put you down for half a year, and I was so jealous of you. I admit, you were a funny looking baby, but it could not have been any worse than when Azog's parents got a first look at him."

They could not help themselves but burst out laughing.

Fili comforted Kili, "You know who you are. You are a Dwarf, and my brother, completely."

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Fili approached Thorin. "Uncle, I wish to discuss strategy with you."

Thorin looked up from his maps, "Good. I need a fresh set of eyes on this."

"Actually," Fili said, "I came to discuss a peace strategy."

Thorin leaned back and nodded for Fili to proceed.

"We agree that the people of Lake-Town helped us to reclaim Erebor, and paid a terrible price for it. It was Bard who took the killing shot to Smaug. Much as we wanted that honor for ourselves, it is his."

"Your point." Thorin urged.

"My point is that they are owed, and we have discussed among ourselves taking a collection to pay them in gold. Kili and I each pledged one quarter of our share, and Bilbo nearly all of his. That alone would be enough, but more of us are willing to share."

Thorin scowled, "You think I do not understand what honor demands, or have no place in my heart for charity? But Bard has come to us armed, and partnered with Elves. To pay them now would be a sign of weakness. They will only use that wealth to hire mercenaries and buy siege arms and return in greater number for the rest. No! When we help them, and we will, it will be from a position of strength, not weakness."

"With respect," Fili replied, "it is not your decision how anyone in the Company disposes of their wealth."

"As King, I can and do forbid any of you from aiding our enemies. By bringing troops to the Gates of Erebor, they have shown themselves to be enemies. As for you and Kili specifically, I am within my rights as your Uncle to hold your shares in trust until you are one hundred years old. Check your contract."

Thorin lectured Fili, "You are jeopardizing all of Erebor with your rash thinking made from emotion. You need to use your head, Fili. I expect better from you. I need better from you. Besides, that does us no help with respect to the Elves. Would you take up a collection for them as well?"

Fili shook his head, "No, I would not. Thranduil is outrageous in his demands. He has done nothing but insult and hinder us. But I have thought of a way to make even the Elves leave peacefully."

Thorin leaned back and crossed his arms, "I doubt I am going to like this but I am curious. Tell me, how would you make the Elves leave."

Fili looked around the room, at the pieces of ornate jewelry that had been recovered from the jumbled heap and carefully laid out so far, "My fourteenth share of the treasure - may it include that emerald torque?"

Thorin looked, "Easily, if that is how you want part of it met."

"We give Thranduil nothing because he deserves nothing. But if a bride-price is offered for an orphan, then by tradition and by law, her King may collect it."

It took a moment for Thorin to believe what he was hearing. "That is the most horrific proposal I have ever heard! How could you contemplate such a disgrace to our family? Kili put you up to this!"

"Kili has no idea what I am doing!" Fili protested, "I am asking it because I have been thinking about nothing except how not to get my little brother killed, when this idea came to me. Do not tell me that there have never been political marriages in our family. I think it is a sign, that the Elf girl has no family. There will be no objection. Thranduil leaves with jewels, no one appears weak, and we gain an alliance."

"A pathetic alliance." Thorin sneered.

"Our alliance with Elves was always weak." Fili conceded, "This time we know it."

Thorin shook his head, "Have you even thought about what your mother would say?"

Fili had, "They do not have to marry immediately, nor will they, being far too young. They can be betrothed for fifty years and no one will question it. Our mother has time to meet and know this girl that saved her son's life. If our Mother does not like her, or even if Kili and the girl change their own minds, we will deal with it honorably later."

"We would be ridiculed and shunned by our own kind." Thorin stated simply

"No." Fili assured him, in his reasonable tone, so much like his own father, "We are the reclaimers of Erebor. We will always have respect. I can be married before them, to someone you approve of. I will ensure that the line of Durin remains pure. Kili's match will not matter."

"It will matter to me. I would not let any Longbeard marry an Elf, certainly not my own father's grandson. You call that travesty a political marriage? Such marriages are between equals. Kili is a Prince, from an unbroken line to Durin, and now wealthy. That girl is a low-born, penniless thief, without so much as a family name. It would be a joke for Thranduil to accept even a handful of gold coin for her. You want to give him..." Thorin paused for a quick estimate of the torque "...Five hundred emeralds? I will not be laughed at. Pay to be disgraced? Never."

"It is not a disgrace." Fili insisted, "Man and Elf have married successfully."

"You speak of marriages between royal houses and between children of Ilúvatar. We are children of Mahal, and the girl is not worthy of Kili."

"Think of how they met," Fili pleaded, "and tell me you do not see the hand of some divine influence in it? Let them be together. Only good will come of it, I swear."

Thorin was ice cold, "I would see Kili dead on the battlefield before I would allow that."

Fili rushed to Thorin and put his hands on him "Take that back! That is a curse! No King nor Uncle will put a curse on my brother!"

"I will not!"

Bilbo heard the whole exchange, and did not want to hear more. If Fili could not convince Thorin, then Bilbo had no other choice.