'Bilbo, please come with me.' Thorin asked his burglar and stepped back into the dark of the mountain. They were walking towards the royal wing and Bilbo began to worry.

'Why are we here, Thorin?' he asked and watched the king frown.

'I have to look after my daughter and I...I want her to meet more than one friendly face which is not family.' Thorin told Bilbo. 'You know what happened to her and you have seen it happen with your own eyes.'

Thorin grinded his teeth before he said the following. 'You mean alot to her, Bilbo Baggins, do not think I did not notice.'

Bilbo swallowed heavily and eyed the king cautiously. He knew that the king was very protective of his youngest daughter.

'Belladonna is a fine dwarf.' Bilbo stated and grinned as the king snorted in agreement. 'She is...marvellous. Intelligent, beautiful and fierce. Now that I know Brann, I see the resemblance. She is all her mother.'

The hobbit paled as the king began to chuckle and waved his hands in the air. 'Oh no! Not that I think that she has nothing from you...its just...oh dear...'

Thorins face lost all merriness as they reached his old chambers. Belladonna did not scream and hammer at the door anymore and Thorin hoped that she had gained some of her senses again. His hopes were crushed as something flew by his head as he opened the door and shattered against the wall behind them.

'Oh dear!' Bilbo gasped as the object only missed him because he was so small and flew over his head.

'Donna!' Bilbo gasped as he saw the princess hurl a book at them.

Thorin caught it before it could hit either of them. He glared at his daughter and tried to ignore the wrenching in his guts. Watching his daughter was horrifying. As he caught her glare his heart froze. His daughter was looking at him with hatred and disgust in her eyes. Even Thror had not been this far over the top during his sickness.

'Durin...' Thorin whispered and walked towards his daughter. He reached out for her, but Belladonna recoiled.

'Do not touch me!' she growled and Thorin could hear Brann gasp in his head.

'My gem...' Thorin tried, but Belladonna did not give him to chance to talk to her.

'I am not your gem!' she yelled. This person had nothing in common with the Belladonna they all knew. 'There is only one gem here and that is the arkenstone. You still haven't found it, haven´t you?'

Fuming with rage Belladonna turned to Bilbo. 'My father hired you to find the arkenstone! And I do not see it yet! What kind of burglar are you?'

'I am no burglar.' Bilbo whispered.

'No, you are not.' Belladonna snarled and turned back to her father. 'And you are no king! A king would not rest until his reign is secured. A king would not succumb to other people's will. A king would never betray his family like you did.'

Thorins expression hardened. 'What do you mean by it? I never betrayed our family.'

'Oh really?' Belladonna sneered. 'You failed to protect your grandfather and your baby brother and they died. You failed to stay loyal to my mother. You failed to bring the entire company to this mountain and you failed to find the one thing which would escure your rule. You failed us all! You will get us all killed one way or the other!'

Bilbos eyes grew wide as he heard the brutal words out of Belladonnas mouth. Thorin had frozen in his steps and his swordhand twitched. Brann was also too stunned to say a thing. It was Thorin who spoke first.

'You know not of what you are talking.' Thorin could only whisper. He knew that Belladonna seeked to humiliate him in her madness, but her words hurt nevertheless.

'No?' Belladonna laughed harshly. 'If uncle Frerin would not have claimed my mother first, you would have never pursued a marriage with her. You must have seen her worth and yet you did nothing to make her yours. You rather slept with some dwarven wench than with her. And in the end you must have been happy that Frerin was not there anymore to stand in your way.'

Thorin needed all his will of strength to not run out of this room. His daughter threw all his doubts back at him. She confronted him with every memory which filled Thorin with guilt and grief.

'And now you failed the rest of your family. Fili and Kili are probably burned to ashes and I am trapped in here for nothing! Are you afraid that I might take the stone and rule in your place?' Belladonna continued to yell at her father and missed that one of the books on the shelf above her head started moving and fell down. It landed on top of her head and made her rant stop. Thorin knew instantly that this could only be Brann and sighed in relief. But Belladonna ignored her mother.

'Donna, you do not mean the things you say.' Thorins voice was hoarse and shivered. He knew that Belladonna only threw these words at him because of the gold's influence.

'I mean every word of it...Ow!' Belladonnas frown was cut short by another book and then the whole shelf.

This has to stop! Brann hissed and Thorin could almost feel her fury.

Bilbo had gotten silent at Thorins side and looked at Belladonna with sad eyes. Thorin had brough him because he was Belladonnas friend and the king had hoped that the hobbit could awaken the good side of his daughter, even through the mist of the goldsickness. But Bilbo felt like a failure. He had failed his king as well as his friend.

But before either of them could continue, Balin entered through the door witht a quiet knock.

'Thorin, Bard is outside and wants to talk to you...and there is another thing we need to discuss.' the old dwarf looked worried and cocked an eyebrow at Belladonna who was standing in a pile of books.

'I will be right there.' Thorin nodded and sighed. This had no use. He had to keep Belladonna locked in in this room. 'You will stay here until you regain your sanity.'

Thorin needed all his will of strength to turn away from his little daughter, but he managed. Bilbo was frozen to the spot.

'Master burglar?' Thorin looked at the hobbit who was still staring at the princess.

'If you do not mind I will stay here.' Bilbo muttered quietly and did not look away from Belladonna, who only glared back daggers at him.

'It is your duty to seek for the lost arkenstone, burglar.' Belladonna growled. 'Do not waist your time with me.'

'Well then it is a good thing that I have already found it.' Bilbo stated as a matter of factly and reached into his pocket. In one swift motion he took out the arkenstone and threw it towards Thorin. The surprised dwarf managed to catch it clumsily and gapped back at the hobbit, who shoved the king out of the room. The last thing Thorin saw before the door closed before his nose was Belladonnas surprised and wide eyes.

Thorin stared at the closed door and back to the stone in his hand. He gapped like a fish out of water. 'Did this just happen?'

He had actually asked Brann, for he had forgotten that Balin was also standing there.

'It seems that the burglar is a helpful part of our company after all.' Balin smirked and chuckled at the kings aghast expression. 'Thorin?'

Thorin slowly turned around and faced his advisor with a questioning look.

'Bard?' Balin told him and had to grin at the king's unfocused mind.

'Right!' Thorin looked back once again and started to walk to the gate.

'Did I just leave my little daughter with the burglar?' Thorin asked Brann and heard her chuckle lightly.

You did the right thing, my bear. Brann told him and tried to hide the sadness in her voice, but of course her husband heard.

'Our little gem is strong. She will be victorious over the curse of our line.' Thorin assured her and also himself.

I cannot believe that she said those things to you. I am so angry...

'Do not be angry, she cannot help herself.' Thorin had to concentrate on speaking mentally, he did not want to scare Balin, who was walking behind him.

Has Thror ever been this way?

'No...' Thorin sighed. 'But we never locked him into a room and kept him from the arkenstone and the gold.'

I see. So we made it worse...but what can we do?

Thorin could see the gate and the men standing there. Bard was already waiting, as well as his son.

'Master bowman.' Thorin did not like the man from laketown, but this was not the time for such bad feelings. 'Is your family safe?'

'Yes.' Bard grumbled. 'But not thanks to you.'

Thorin frowned, but he could feel Branns touch on his arm, calming him. His wife was still strong and by his side, he would not give up as long as she was with him.

'Your people are offered shelter, food and water.' Thorin reminded him.

'You have no food. All we have is what we rescued from our burning homes.' Bard snarled. 'We need help. Your people as much as mine.'

'Yours?' Thorin cocked his eyebrows at the man. 'Last I heard, the mayor of Laketown was your leader.'

'The master of Laketown is dead. The dragonfire enlightened the enormous amount of alcohol in the master's house. Burned down in the blink of an eye.' Bard informed Thorin, but none of the two were truly sorry for the loss. The master of laketown had been greedy and powerdriven.

Thorin nodded in understanding and looked at Balin. The old advisor shook his head.

'I hate to admit it, but the man is right. We have no food and the mountain is open to everyone and everything...we need protection. Thirteen dwarves and the few men will not suffice.' Balin muttered.

But Thorin did not listen. He had thought about his daughter the whole time and now he seemed to have the solution for at least his own personal problem.

'Master Bard. You and your people should seek shelter in the ruins of Dale if you do not want to seek shelter in my mountain. A few buildings might shield you from the cold and rain. We will bring you water and supplies. And I will ask you for one more thing.' Thorin turned to the mountain. 'Take this with you.'

Balin gasped as he saw Thorin hand over the arkenstone. 'Thorin, no!'

Bard looked down at the stone in the kings hand in surprise. 'What is this?'

'This, master Bard, is the heirlom of my line. The arkenstone. It is the one thing that ensures my rule over this mountain and all the dwarven houses. And it is a curse.' Thorin muttered. 'Take it and bring it to safety. I do not trust it around me or my family.'

'If this stone is dangerous, it might affect me or my people. I will not take it.' Bard sneered. 'You have brought enough bad upon us.'

'I will take it.' a small voice sounded behind Thorin. As the dwarves and men turned, they saw Bilbo standing in the gate. 'I will take it. And I will bring it to Dale.'

'Bilbo. What about my daughter?' Thorin asked the hobbit.

'Donna is asleep. I sang to her. The song about the Misty Mountains.' Bilbo told the king. 'I will take the arkenstone to Dale and stay there. I will keep it safe and far away from Donna.'

'I will not have this cursed thing with us!' Bard tried to protest, but Thorin grabbed his collar and pulled him close. The man jerked as he was confronted with the steel blue eyes of the dwarf king.

'This cursed thing is all I have to strengthen my rule. It is a curse to my line and my line alone. You are in no danger. And you will take the hobbit with you. No harm shall befall him while he is in your care. Have I made myself clear, bowman?'

Bard only nodded and swallowed. As Thorin released him he stepped backwards from the angry king and looked at Bilbo.

'Master hobbit, if you would follow me, then.' Bard grumbled and turned around, not looking back at the dwarves again.

But Thorin grabbed Bilbos arm before the hobbit could leave with the stone. 'We will meet again soon, master hobbit. When Erebor is restored, you will have your rightful place at my daughters side. Under my rule. As my trusted advisor together with Balin. And as my son.'

Bilbo was too baffled to answer. He only nodded and smiled at the king. But it felt like a goodbye.

#

You. Are so sweet. Brann whispered into her husbands ear.

'Sweet?!' Thorin frowned. 'I am not sweet.'

You called Bilbo your son...in law? Brann chuckled.

'A momentary lapse. I'll adopt him. Then he will be Belladonnas brother and cannot marry her.' Thorin jumped as he felt a slap against the back of his head. But Branns laughter warmed his heart and for the first time since the opening of the secret door the king smiled again.

'Uncle!' Filis voice made Thorin focus on the world of the living again. 'Uncle, we need food. I know that we eat fewer than hobbits, but even for us there is not enough left. Where is Bilbo?'

'He went with the men of Laketown.' Thorin told him. He had to inform the company about the stone and the decision of the burglar. 'We meet in the treasury. No, in the kitchen.'

Thorin would not step into the halls of gold anytime soon. He watched in silence as the company gathered in the kitchen. Bombur strolled to the pot and looked into it with a longing expression.

'The stew will last about two days. Not more.' he grumbled. 'And only if we eat only one bowl each.'

'We need new supplies. And the men of Laketown, too. And Tauriel.' Kili frowned. 'She stayed with them.'

'Whats with the elf princling?' Gloin wanted to know.

'He left for Mirkwood.' Fili informed the company.

'Then Thranduil knows. He knows that the dragon is dead and that we have reclaimed Erebor.' Balin sighed. 'Our situation gets worse.'

'What about uncle Dain?' Fili asked.

Dain? How could we forget Dain? Brann sighed.

'Dain turned his back on us once.' Dwalin growled.

'But now that we reclaimed the mountain...' Thorin hated to admit it, but Dains rejection had hurt him. His cousin had always been loyal and this time he had needed him desperatly. But Dain had not supported his quest.

'We need troops to secure the mountain and we need food.' Balin stated determined. 'The Iron Hills are only a day away.'

'We need to react fast, uncle.' Fili urged and Thorin nodded in agreement.

'Fili...ask Bard for a pony. Make for the Iron Hills. We need dwarvish reinforcement.' Thorin told his nephew and watched as Kilis eyes went wide. 'Kili?'

'I will accompany him. And we will bring some water to the men of Laketown. Two pair of arms can carry more.' Kili tried to keep a straight face, but Thorin guessed his purpose.

'You want to see your elf.' Thorin grinded his teeth.

Let him go. He is right about the water. Thorin could practically hear Branns amusement. And the elf saved your nephews. She will make as good an inlaw as Bilbo...

The company jumped as Thorins fist hit the table. But Thorin only glared at Kili.

'You will accompany your brother. As for the elf...no canoodling.' Thorin managed to surpress his own grin as the company burst into laughter.

#

Fili and Kili left the mountain immediately for the Iron Hills. They moved fast and they would reach the Iron Hills the latest on midday of the next day.

The rest of the company secured the gate. They had to make one of the pillars collaps to shut half of the gate with the rocks. Now, there was only a small entrance left.

Thorin was about to bring water and some stew to the room where he had locked Belladonna. He had brought her some last evening, but she had already been asleep. At least she had not thrown accusations at her father, for Thorin did not know how much more hatred he could take from his sweet little daughter. But as he opened the door to her rooms, he froze.

Belladonna was gone.

Horrified, Thorin let go of the tray with food and rushed back to the gate.

Where is she? Good Durin, Thorin, where is she? Brann panicked. She tried to feel her daughters presence, but she could not. She is not in this mountain.

'Dwalin!' Thorin roared. 'Dwalin! Did Belladonna pass the gate?'

'Belladonna?' Dwalin looked at his king in shock. 'No, of course not!'

'Did anyone see her?' Thorin called out, but the company had not seen her.

'Maybe she is in the treasury?' Ori asked. 'She seems drawn to the gold.'

Dori nodded, but Nori shook his head. 'I just came from the treasury. There is nobody there.'

Thorin was about to lose his mind over the disappearing of his daughter as a cold voice sounded over to the mountain.

'Hail Thorin, king under the mountain!' the voice snarled and Thorin knew instantly whose voice it was. There was only one who said his name in such a disgusted manner.

'That damn tree shagger. He is here.' Thorin grumbled and walked to the look out over the gate.

Outside of Erebor, a group of elves had gathered and their army was slowly closing in.

'An elven army!' Dwalin exclaimed. 'What is their purpose?'

'We ask you to kindly deliver what is rightfully ours.' Thranduil sneered from below.

'And what might that be?' Thorin growled back. 'You will not lay hands on the dwarven treasure as long as I draw breath!'

'I thought as much.' Thranduil smiled wickedly and waved his hands at an elf standing behind him.

Thorins breath caught in his throat as he saw what had happened. The elves had Belladonna.