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

Chapter 24: A Thief in the Night.

The Clouds would indeed burst before anyone knew it at the Lonely Mountain. Both sides arming for war. The Elves had already brought their own armor and weapons and were prepared as could be. But as for the Men of Lake Town, they were fortunate to be in Dale where there was still stockpiles of old weapons and armor from the abandoned city and grabbing them, while the Dwarves in Erebor did the same and suiting up for battle.  And Bilbo and the Witches and Wizards could only watch. 

"I don't think they have armor your size." Bilbo noted to Harry. 

"That would be useful, but I think we'll be fine in just our clothes." Harry said trying to look at the positive side of things. 

"Speak for yourself, Harry." Ron scoffed. 

"Bilbo." Hermione suddenly said. "You know that this is turning to utter madness. Is there nothing you can say to Thorin to change his mind?" She asked. 

"I've been trying and trying. But he just won't listen." Bilbo answered. "There's only so much I can try to get him to come back. But Balin is right. It's this place. It's changed him. This place is cursed." 

"I bet that if Bill was here. He could break it." Ron said trying to eat a piece of food.

"Will you stop eating?!" Hermione snapped at him.

"I'm distressed, Hermione. And I eat when I'm upset." Ron shot back while the Dwarves looked at Ron and Hermione before returning.

"Master Baggins. Come here." Thorin suddenly requested.

And Bilbo walked away from Harry and his friends towards Thorin. He wondered if this was about the Arkenstone. He had hoped not. But as he approached, he could see that Thorin had a silver shirt made of Mithril shining. "You're going to need this." He informed. "Put it on."  

And Bilbo began removing his jacket to put on the Mithril shirt. 

"This vest is made of silver steel." Thorin explained as Bilbo slid the shirt onto himself. "Mithril it was called by my forebearers. No blade can pierce it.

Bilbo looked at himself in the shirt. "I look absurd. I'm not a warrior; I'm a Hobbit." He pointed out. 

"It is a gift." Thorin clarified. "A token of our friendship. True friends are hard to come by." And then he quickly pulled Bilbo away from prying eyes. "I have been blind. Now I begin to see. I am betrayed!" 

"Betrayed?" Bilbo asked trying to comprehend what Thorin was saying. 

"The Arkenstone." Thorin answered. He moved closer to Bilbo like a vulture to roadkill. And Bilbo began to look worried. "One of them has taken it." He whispered to Bilbo as he looked at the Dwarves. And Bilbo almost sighed in relief but didn't let Thorin see it. "One of them is false." He then looked at Harry and his friends. "Or maybe... we're all true and they are the false ones. Now I see. I've seen their spells in action. Their ability to summon and disperse at will. They must've taken the Arkenstone under my very nose. Of course! It all makes sense now!" 

But Bilbo couldn't believe his ears and he once again tried to reason with Thorin. "Thorin... the quest is fulfilled. You've won the mountain. Is that not enough?" He asked.

"Betrayed by either my own kin. Or one of those bastards." Thorin went on.

"No eh... You... You made a promise... to the people of Lake Town." Bilbo reminded. "Is-is this treasure truly more than your honor? Our honor, Thorin. I was also there, I gave my word." 

"For that I'm grateful." Thorin replied. "It was nobly done. But the treasure in this mountain does not belong to the people of Lake Town!" And it was almost as if his voice at least to Bilbo was sounding more Dragon Like almost like Smaug in a way. "This gold is ours and ours alone. By my life, I will not part with a single coin. Not... one... piece of it!" He declared right as the other Dwarves, dressed for battle strode by.  And all Bilbo could do was stare in shock at the madness going on.