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Thorin Oakenshield- Dragon Sickness Pt. 2

A/N- I have a paper due soon so I did what any sensable fangirl would do and wrote fanfiction instead. Anyways here's the long awaited part two to my Thorin Oakenshield short story. Origionally there were only supposed to be three parts but I reaize now that this 1000+ words and I'm not even as far as I thought I would be. Eh, what can you do.    

Bilbo Baggins knew he only had a limited window to pull this off. If he stayed any longer he knew Thorin would find it. He patted his pocket, searching for the cloth that held Erebor's most precious jewel even though he knew it was there. Bilbo hauled the long coil of rope he had the rest of the way to the edge of the wall, securing it to a pilar. He paused, doubting. This was dangerous, very dangerous, he told himself. But was it really more dangerous than anything else he had done on this journey? Well...actually--

Footsteps; so light Bilbo nearly didn't catch them at all. He froze. Could it be one of the dwarves? If they found him sneaking off into the night surely they'd know he had the stone. But, no, these were to light to be dwarvish. That could only mean--

"And where do you think you're off to?" Busted. The hobbit sighed and turned to face the shadow cast by one of the pillars. He could barely make out the figure that the voice belonged to: the slender curves of a woman, the same woman who he had hoped could bring Thorin out of his greed and back into reality.

"I...er..." Bilbo sighed. "Thorin is beyond reason, we all know it. I can't just sit here while allies become enimies because of their own stubborness."

"You're going to Dale?" The lady  concluded. "And what makes you think that anyone down there will be more understanding than anyone up here? What makes you think they'll listen to you better than Thorin will?"

"I...well I have a bargaining chip I think they may be interested in." Bilbo placed a hand over the lump in his jacket pocket, drawing the womans eyes there as well. She didn't ask. "I am going to Dale, and if you don't mind, I don't have a lot of time." He fixed her with a determined stare. She studied him for a moment before taking a few steps foward.

"Good." She nodded. "I'm coming with." Bilbo balked at her. She picked up the rope and threw it over the wall, giving it a tug to be sure it was tied tight.

"I'm sorry, what? Why?" He questioned. "I also though you and Thorin had a...well...a bit of a thing."

"I, too, tire of the stubborness of dwarves. I had planned to leave tonight as well." She almost seemed sad, looking away from Bilbo and down to the rope in her hands. "As for Thorin," She raised a hand to her cheek, rubbing the skin there and steeling herself, "he is no longer the dwarf I knew."

"I'm sorry." Bilbo caught her gaze, knowing how much Thorin meant to her. "I'm sure he'll come 'round when all this is over." He tried a reassuring smile, but she only looked away again, her features sad once more.

"Let's not dwell on these thoughts, we have a war to stop." The woman swung her legs over the side of the wall and began her decent down the side of the tall, rock barrier. Bilbo followed after her, finding footholds in the stacked rocks. He wondered what he would do when he faced the leaders of the armies meaning to attack the mountain. The woman thought about Thorin, about how she ended up in this predicament in the first place, and most of all if she would even return to the mountain after they made it to Dale.

...

The two stealthily made their way throught the town, staying in the shadows. The woman thought she heard farmilliar voices-they were arguing-and pulled Bilbo towards it. They came upon a lavish tent of elven make, and, to their surprise, Gandalf! He was the voice she recognized a moment ago. He and Bard seemed to be in a serious discussion, one that Bilbo and his companion could make out as they got closer.

"Is gold so important to you? Would you buy it with the blood of dwarves?" Gandalf asked, obviously irritated. The woman wondered if they would have any luck at swaying these leaders with whatever Bilbo's bargaining chip was. They seemed not to have listened to Gandalf, why would they listen any better to a halfling and a woman?

"It will not come to that." The bowman retorted. "This is a fight they cannot win." He tried to reassure Gandalf. Bilbo, more so out of breath than his seasoned companion, answered.

"That won't stop them." He and the lady beside him gazed up a the two tall people before them. "You think that the dwarves will surrender, they won't. They will fight to the death to defend their own."

"Bilbo Baggins!" Gandalf exclaimed, surprised to see the hobbit and his companion before him. Bilbo gave a smile and the maiden beside him gave a small bow.

...

The Archenstone. That was Bilbo's bargaining peice he so desperately wished to show the Elf king and the dragon slayer. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw it, and she wondered at how he came by it. All this time they had been scouring the mountain, digging through hills of gold on all fours, and Bilbo had it. She didn't know if she could ever forgive him for how badly her back ached. The ever somber faces of Thranduil and Bard morphed into ones of awe.

"Thorin values this stone above all else, in exchange for its return I believe he will give you what you're owed." Bilbo reassured everyone in the tent. "There will be no need for war." With a glance at one another, each of the leaders agreed to Bilbo's plan. The maiden wasn't so sure. Thorin was so deep in his dragon sickness she feared this would only anger him further. Bilbo, Gandalf and the woman made their way out of the tent, and walked with one another through Dale.

"Are you sure this will work?" She asked. Bilbo looked up at her, seeing her doubtful and worried face. "Thorin, he's...unstable. Are you sure you can reason with him?" She looked to Gandalf, wondering if he thought the same thing.

"I believe in Thorin, I believe he isn't so far gone that he won't listen to me or you." The halfling explained. "And if you truly love him, you'll trust he'll make the right descision too." She did love him, but she couldn't fight her unease. 

"If you don't mind, I should like to speak with Bilbo alone." Gandalf requested of the lady. "I'm sure you can find someone who will guide you to a place where you can sleep." She nodded and left them to talk. Looking around for someone who didn't look to busy was difficult as everybody seemed to be pulling there own weight. Well, everyone except for a greasy, foul looking man. She strode up to him as he rudely pushed someone out of his way. 

"What is it?" He asked sharply when she finally got his attention. She narrowed her eyes, finding everything about him to be wretched. 

"I need a place to stay for the night." She informed him, matching his disdainful glare with one of her own. 

"Well then I guess you should go find one." The dark haired man pointed out matter-of-factly. The woman gaped at him as he turned away from her. "I 'aint no servant to you." 

"Excuse me--" She was cut off by Bard, who was passing by. 

"Alfred, find this kind woman a bed." Bard looked her over, recognizing her from a moment ago. "And give her food." 

"Thank you Master Bard." The maiden smiled. He nodded in return and went about his bussiness. Alfred looked none too happy about having to help her out, but he did as Bard said. He eyed the lady in contempt. 

"Well come on then." Alfred grumbled, earning a smug smile from the woman he was guiding.