DIVIDE
The golden gilded army of elves marched in unison to the Lonely Mountain that was sealed up tighter than a tomb. They all came short of the entrance and parted ways for Thranduil and Bard to come through, but before they could even step on the concrete entrance, an arrow flew from the mountain's balcony and landed at their feet.
"I will put the next one between your eyes!" Thorin shouted down over the rambunctious cheers of his company behind him.
Thranduil narrowed his eyes, and as if his army could feel the tension, they all reach for an arrow at the same time and took aim at the Dwarves. The company responded quickly to that and hid behind the pile of stone. All except Thorin who stood his ground, either by braveness or foolishness, but once the obnoxious cheers of the Dwarves were silenced, Thranduil made a signal for his army to stand down and retract their weapons.
"We've come to tell you...that payment of your debt has been offered and accepted," Thranduil announced
"What payment? I gave you nothing. You have nothing!" Thorin growled down.
Thranduil's face made no change, except when he looked over to Bard expectingly. Bard then reached into his coat and pulled out the glimmering Arkenstone.
"We have this," he said while raising his hand and showing it for all of them to see.
Thorin's face broke instantly and turned both horrified and shocked.
"They have the Arkenstone," Kili gasped. "Thieves! How come you by the heirloom of our house? That stone belongs to the king!"
"And the king may have it...with our goodwill." Bard tossed the stone once in the air before tucking it back away in his coat. "But he first must honor his word."
The shock on Thorin's face faded after Bard spoke. His voice then suddenly dropped and the darkness and greet quickly returned to his eyes. "They are taking us for fools. This is a ruse. A filthy lie. The Arkenstone is in this mountain! It is a trick!"
"It's no trick," called out a small, frail voice.
Thorin froze and turned around slowly to see Bilbo standing meekly and nervously before him. But not only Thorin, but all the Dwarves looked taken aback by Bilbo's confession.
"The stone is real. I gave it to them," Bilbo spoke up again.
"You?" Thorin said in a single breath.
"I took it as my 14th share."
"You would steal from me?"
Bilbo turned up an eyebrow. "Steal from you? No. No, I may be a burglar, but I like to think I'm an honest one. I'll let it stand against my claim."
Slowly, Thorin's gaze went from shock to rage as he began to growl his words out. Against your claim? Your claim. You have no claim over me, you miserable rat!" he howled out, making Bilbo and his company flinch at the volume of his voice.
Bilbo felt ice all the way down his spine, and it took all the remaining courage he had to stand his ground against his maddening friend. "I was going to give it to you. Many times I wanted to, but…"
"But what. Thief," Thorin spat.
"You changed, Thorin." Bilbo began, gradually raising his voice. "The Dwarf I met...in Bag End would never have gone back on his word. Would never have doubted the loyalty of his kin!"
"Don't speak to me...of loyalty," he hissed. "Throw him from the rampart!" he shouted to everyone, but not a single dwarf moved to follow his orders. They just stood there. Mouth agape and shocked that he would even ask. "Did you not hear me?" he shouted again, but like last time, no one moved or look like they were going to make any plans for it. "I will do it myself!"
Thorin reached his arm out like he was going to grab Bilbo, but he was suddenly intercepted and wrapped up tightly in someone's thin white arms. The rage reduced in his eyes and shock came back the insant he saw a fury of red hair, along with a rough voice whispering in his ear.
"Stop, Thorin. Please just stop," Jeanne spoke.
Thorin stayed completely frozen as warmth enveloped his body. His heart came up in his ears as he listened to her voice. Something he hadn't heard in hours. Days even. He truly did believe that he would never hear the voice again.
He rested his hands gently on Jeanne's shoulders before suddenly jerking her back to get a good and hard look at her face. She wasn't at all how he remembered it to be. Her flawless and pale skin was gone, replaced with these horrendous burns that were covered up by layer upon layer of bandages. Even the lively look in her eyes had been replaced with clear exhaustion.
"Miss Jeanne, is that really you?" Balin asked in a whisper.
Jeanne nodded her head and turned to the rest of the stunned and dumbfounded Dwarves. "It is."
"We thought you were killed," Kili chimed in.
"I understand the confusion…seeing the state Laketown is in right now. Smaug is dead for a reason though." Jeanne said with complete certainty.
"And that reason was you, wasn't it," Thorin said while laying his hand on the side of her face. "You were the one…who slew the dragon."
"Aye…it was." Jeanne grabbed his hand and held it tightly. She could even feel him shaking sightly. "But never mind that. Thorin…how about we talk for a bit. Just the two of us."
Bilbo's eyes went wide, and he immediately gave her a worried look. Jeanne settled his concern though by patting his shoulder on the way by and heading down into the mountain with Thorin. Bilbo didn't think Thorin would do anything to cause Jeanne harm, but the way he's been acting up till now was worrisome.
Thorin waited until they were out of earshot to begin speaking. "Why didn't you come find us if you were alive? Did you want all of us to think you were dead? To have me believe you…" Thorin could feel his anger boiling up, but it froze the instant he saw Jeanne's blue eyes just staring at him with warm emotions.
"I wanted to Thorin." Jeanne began with a gentle voice. "I wanted to be able to see you again…but after what you've done to the people of Laketown…I was afraid of what you had become."
Thorin cocked a brow. "What I had become?"
"Injured and sick people, Thorin. You promised them shelter. A chance to rebuild their lives that they had lost because of us."
"What makes you think they're entitled to my family's wealth."
Jeanne's mouth instantly dropped open, and a look of horror flooded her eyes. "Don't you even hear yourself! Thorin, look around you. There is an army right outside your doors. This all could've been avoided if you didn't…go back on your word." She took a sharp breath and began to feel her body shivering. "It's hard to even think…you're even the same person anymore," she said with heartbreak etched into her voice.
Thorin could feel his heart quivering at the sound of her broken voice. The look in her eyes was so disorienting that he almost forgot to speak for a moment, but even the words that came from his mouth showed no mercy. Not even to her. "If you're going to stand against me… then you shouldn't be on this side of the mountain."
Jeanne bit down on her lips and swallowed her heartbreak back down her throat. "I can't join you down this path you've chosen, Thorin. I just can't. I won't."
