The Boy Who Lived and the Hobbit. (A Harry Potter/Hobbit Crossover.)

Chapter 23: Sickness of the Mind.

The Company of Thorin Oakenshield continued their search for the Arkenstone to no avail. Even with the help of the Wizards and Witches, they still could not find it. Thorin gazed on the throne, where the Arkenstone used to be, before Thror tried to get it out of the City before Smaug moved in. Only to loose it in the escape. 

"It is here in these halls. I know it." Thorin said as he stared at the throne. And the only ones to hear it were Harry, Balin, Dwalin, and Bilbo. 

"We have searched and searched..." Dwalin informed.

"Not well enough!" Thorin snapped. 

"This Arkenstone is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Everyone's on fumes." Harry informed. 

"Thorin. We all would see the stone returned." Dwalin tried to reason.

"And yet, it is still not FOUND!" Thorin yelled. Making everyone stand back. And Harry could see now how Thorin was becoming very obsessed with finding the Arkenstone. 

"Do you doubt the loyalty of anyone here?" Balin asked. Thorin didn't answer that. But he walked slowly towards Balin and Dwalin. "The Arkenstone is the birthright of our people." 

"It is the King's Jewel." Thorin corrected. "AM I NOT THE KING?!" He yelled as everyone around him looked uneasy. "Know this- if anyone should find it and withhold it from me, I will be avenged." He warned as he walked away. 

Harry started to walk back towards his friends who were in the workshop. 

"Well, what did crazy obsession King Dwarf want now?" Ginny asked. 

"The same thing to know that if the Arkenstone was found." Harry answered. "I told him that we still haven't found it. And all that's doing is making  Thorin even more paranoid." 

"I don't like it. He's acting like Harry did last year when talking about Voldemort and all the things that Umbridge was doing at Hogwarts." Ginny said.

"That's two completely different things." Harry shot back. "It's like he's... he really wants that Arkenstone." 

"Isn't that the truth?" Luna asked. "Just the other day, he yelled at Neville and I for being in La La Land and not looking for the Arkenstone. I don't even know where that is." 

"It's an expression, Luna." Hermione commented. "It means lost in your own world. And to be honest, you do end up stuck there-" 

"Sh." Neville whispered. He noticed Balin coming. "Here comes Balin." 

"You don't have to be so secret, Laddie. I know what's on your mind." Balin sighed as he walked up. 

"Balin. There's something wrong with Thorin." Hermione said. "Very wrong." 

"Yeah. You would think that us taking back the Lonely Mountain would call for celebration. And a feast." Ron added. And Hermione glared at Ron over the feast comment. 

"We never glare at you when you say comments about Spew, Hermione." Ron shot back. 

"What about Spew?" Bilbo asked as he walked in.

"It's nothing, Bilbo." Harry assured.

"Well actually-" Hermione started to say.

"He doesn't need to know." Ron shot down.

"It's Dragon Sickness." Balin suddenly said. "Not whatever this Spew thing is. The thing with Thorin. I've seen it before." He explained. "That look, the terrible need. It is fierce and jealous love. It sent his Grandfather mad." 

"But Thorin said he's not his Grandfather." Luna pointed out.

"Aye, Luna. But this gold. The Mountain. It has a way of changing you. I guarantee that even if Smaug had not attacked. It would've consumed Thrain and eventually Thorin too." Balin informed sadly.