The King and Dragon Lord

Ch. 12

The hawks dropped us at the gates of Erebor. Once we were all inside, I pulled Bilbo over. "Where is the Arkenstone."

Bilbo pulled it from his jacket. I reached my hand out for him to give it to me and he did. "What are you going to do with it?"

"Keep it from Thorin."

"How are you going to do that?"

"Hide it somewhere in my chambers." I walked off to my room and looked for a place to keep it. I heard the door open and stood with the Arkenstone behind my back. I sighed when I saw it was Balin. "I thought you were Thorin."

Balin noticed I was hiding something. I showed him the Arkenstone and he walked forward. "How did you get that?"

"Bilbo got it when came to get us." I went back to looking for a place to hide it.

"There's no point lass."

I looked up at Balin. "What do you mean?"

Balin took a deep breath. "I think we should give it to Thorin."

"What?!"

"Nex. The last time we held it from him it made him do bad things." Balin took a step forward. "We have to get rid of it regardless."

"Why not get rid of it without him knowing we have it?"

"Because he's already expected us to have it." I looked at the Arkenstone. I knew Balin was right but I didn't want him to be.

"So when do we have to take it North."

"Whenever you feel ready to. While we still have time before anything extreme happens, Sauron is still going to send Orcs after you."

"Everything is way too peaceful Balin." I looked at him.

"I know lass. Unfortunately, it just means something is waiting to happen." Balin went to exit my room and turned back to me. "Bombur is almost done with dinner." I nodded at Balin and he walked out, shutting the door behind him.

The Arkenstone stayed in my hand and my eyes were closed. Just do as Balin said and hopefully, everything will be fine. I took a breather and sat the stone on my bed and changed into my night clothes which were a tunic and some cloth pants. Before I walked out of my room I put the Arkenstone in my pocket.

The whole time we all sat at the table I barely ate. Everyone else was talking and laughing and messing with each other. I sat in between Bilbo and Balin on one side of the table. Fili, Kili, Dwalin, and Ori were on the other side. Thorin sat at one it and Nori the other. Everyone else sat in the other chairs.

Balin nudged me softly and we looked at each other. "Balin," I whispered. I knew what he wanted me to do but I didn't want to. He continued to look at me. I looked down at my pocket and pulled the Arkenstone out a bit. I hesitated to lay it on the table but I quickly stood up and put it down. Everyone looked at me. I stood there awkwardly and then I cleared my throat. "Well. We have it."

I watched as Thorin stood up. The look in his eyes scared me. He smiled. "Let's rejoice!" He yelled. Everyone started cheering except for Bilbo, Balin, and Dwalin.

Thorin wanted to rejoice for the wrong reason. "Now hold a second," I said loud enough for everyone to hear me. They all stopped and I looked at Thorin. "You do realize we didn't get this to keep it right?"

Thorin's face went cold. "I will not lose this stone again. It is the King's jewel and I have the right to keep it!"

Everyone looked at me with sadness in their eyes. None of us could believe this was happening. To them again at least. "Since when did anyone have a right to keep it? Oh, wait. That's right. Your grandfather Thror. Someone found the heart of the mountain and NAMED it the King's jewel. If anything this jewel is meant to stay in and with the mountain, not you."

"You will not take this from me." Thorin walked over to me and was looking at me threateningly. Everyone else was standing by this point and was looking at Thorin. When I went grab the Arkenstone, Thorin grabbed my shoulder and threw me to the ground. Kili and Fili ran over to me and helped me up. "I will not let you take this." Thorin grabbed the Arkenstone and everyone watched as he walked out.

"Nex I'm sorry," Balin said as he walked over to me.

"Don't worry about it. It was expected." My arm was a bit sore but nothing major happened.

Everyone helped clean up and in doing so they sang a song to lighten the mood and it was one Bilbo recognized.

Blunt the knives and bend the forks!

Smash the bottles and burn the corks!

Chip the glasses and crack the plates!

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!...

I laughed at Bilbo's reaction to it and everyone had fun. Once the area was cleaned we all went back to our chambers and slept for the night.