The Arkenstone

The discovery

Still XY's perspective

She awoke from a nightmare in the middle of the night,like all the other nights before. Since Thorin had changed,she had hardly slept. She yawned and slowly sat up. Her lover was lying next to her,snoring quietly and holding her hand. She smiled sadly and stood up. Her dreams were getting worse every night,and every time they were about Thorin suffering. The thing that hurt her the most. He had not even noticed,how much less she slept or,even worse,how he had changed. Ellie went to the window,opened it,and took a few deep breaths. Then she closed it again and walked back to the bed when she tripped over something on the floor. She couldn't see what it was at first,for it was utterly dark in the room,but as she knelt down she recognized Thorin's coat with .... something strange and unfamiliar in its pocket. It was a stone.

They found it during their work in the mines. It was the heart of the mountain and of such divine beauty,that King Thror named it the King's Jewel. From now on it was the symbol of the dwarvish right to rule. Yet there is not only a sickness on the gold,but also on this particular stone. If Thorin gets it,the Arkenstone,it will drive him mad.

This flashing memory came back all of sudden. Of course...why had she not thought of it earlier ? She cursed herself. She could have done something ! She could have saved her love !

Without thinking about the consequences,she took the Arkenstone and hid it very well. Then she went back to sleep,although she did not find any that night.