Firstly! I just want to say that this chapter, this story, is dedicated to my lovely boyfriend since our four year anniversary is this Saturday. He's been encouraging me with my writing and pushing me to write a novel...supporting me through my ups and downs. So, this is for you my other half, thank you for all the awesome support and Happy Four Year Anniversary!

Author's Note: Hello Everyone! Thank you everyone who's been taking their time and giving my story a chance! Though I think I may be losing some of your interest in my story (which I hope it's not true), but that will not cause me to stop writing! =) I think that this chapter was a little rushed...what do you think? Anyway! Forgive my grammar errors that I may have missed and I hope that you still enjoy this chapter and it's easy to read.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own The Hobbit! All rights belong to J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson, anything you notice from the books and movies belong to those two wonderful men who bought Middle-Earth to life. Anyway, forgive any grammar mistakes I missed! Enjoy this chapter!

I also had some help from using theonering fanscript site, since that's what I've been using most of the time when I wrote the chapters for The Unexpected Journey and Desolation of Smaug. Without it I don't think I would have been able to write clearly what anyone from the company was saying.

"So what do we do? Wait? Just let him go in there by himself?" Balamaethor argued.

"We have no choice..." I mumbled, pacing back and forth in front of the entrance of the door.

"And what if there's a dragon sleeping away in there? Bilbo could be in danger!" Balamaethor argued back.

"I understand your worry, I am worried for Bilbo as well, through this journey I consider him a good friend. I do not wish for him to fall victim to dragon fire." I glared, standing still for a second to glance at my nephew before going back to pacing.

It was a good while after we were allowed into the mountain, a while after we had found out Bilbo went inside willingly to search for the Arkenstone. The company had went to just sitting around on the clearing, all of them going about their own business, but I could tell how nervous and anxious they were.

"Nana..." Thenidiel called, coming to stop me from walking the other way. "be at peace...I know you're worried, but you pacing is only making everyone more nervous."

I sighed, before halting in my place and looked around. The rest of the company stood still, and I saw how high their nerves were and for the good of the company I took a deep breathe and relaxed.

I smiled to Thenidiel and patted her shoulder before a noise from the tunnels caught my attention and I saw Balin emerge.

"Where is Bilbo?" I questioned urgently.

"He's headed toward the treasure room." Balin answered. "He's going to search for the Arkenstone..."

Balin chuckled a bit causing me to furrow my brows in confusion.

"It never ceases to amaze me." Balin sighed.

"What is that?" I questioned.

"The courage of hobbits." Balin smiled, breathing out nervously.

"Bilbo is not just any hobbit..." I smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "he is truly brave..."

Balin nodded before walking away to talk with his brother.

To calm my nerves, I decided to walk toward Thorin who stood close to the edge of the clearing, a bit away from the company.

"Thorin?" I questioned as I came to stand beside him.

When he didn't answer I leaned over and took a glance at him from the side and saw a dark cloud over his eyes. His eyes were glazed over...an intense gaze on as if he was lost in thought and it was something I've only seen once before.

"Thorin!" I called out a bit more forcefully, finally snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Bellethiel..." Thorin's voice gruffed out. "What's wrong..."

"I was worried about you, I came here to see if you were alright." I stated, smiling down at the dwarf king.

"I'm alright..." Thorin mumbled, his hands laced in front of him.

Silence settled between us as I let out a sigh.

"Thorin...there is something I wish to discuss with you." I mumbled as Thorin turned to look at me.

I motioned with my head to the path we had come from to put some distance between the company and us, away from listening ears.

Thorin followed me close behind before I stopped and took a seat on the ground, I offered him a spot beside me, but he just remained standing.

"Thorin...I worry about you." I stated plainly. "I did not notice back at Lake-Town, but once we started getting closer to the mountain...I have been seeing signs Thorin and I am worried for you."

Thorin glanced down to me, waiting patiently to hear what I had to say and I sighed sadly.

"There is a sickness on the gold in that mountain Thorin, the same sickness that drove your grandfather mad. I hope that the gold in that mountain will not affect you Thorin...but it is something that I fear. I do not wish to see you fall as your grandfather had..." I looked up at him sadly.

Thorin sighed, before taking a seat beside me.

"I will not become my grandfather...I promise..." Thorin mumbled.

"Can you really promise that Thorin..." I questioned.

Thorin looked unsure for a second which caused me to become more nervous.

"I will never be my grandfather Bellethiel..." Thorin stated. "I promise..."

Hearing him say it, made me more at ease, but something still nagged at me at the back of my mind. I was still worried about what would happen once we reclaim the mountain.

I turned back to the mountain where the sun had set and I let out a nervous sigh.

'I'm not sure if Thorin could help it if he were to succumb to the sickness...but I promise Thorin that I will be there to make sure you pull out of it.' I thought, looking sadly toward the mountain.

"Bellethiel...I want to talk to you about something." Thorin stated suddenly after a fair amount of silence passing between us.

I looked beside me to Thorin curiously as he fidgeted slightly in his spot.

"Close your eyes." Thorin ordered.

I looked at him in confusion before doing as he ordered and closed my eyes. I felt large strands of my hair on the left side of my face being pulled over my ear. The hair being tugged on very slightly every so often, and I could feel my hair part in three different strands before twisting and turning.

I smiled because I knew the significance of what he was doing. To other races, it was nothing special when a friend or relative braided our way, to touch our hair. To us it was just a means of decoration or defining ones self, but to a dwarf...it was a very intimate moment that I was happy to experience.

I felt something clip to the end of my hair, and the thick strand falling to my chest as something heavy weighed it down. I opened my eyes and looked down to see my hair braided intricately with a silver bead clasped on the very end.

I touched it lovingly before glancing to Thorin and saw that the left braid of his was empty.

"It's just to show you're mine..." Thorin mumbled oh so quietly, but I heard. He scratched the back of his head and I saw a slight blush adorn his cheeks and I smiled, my heart swelling at the gesture. "I thought...it was time, since we're...close to the mountain and so very close to reclaiming our home..."

'Our home...' I thought, feeling lighter then ever. "Thorin...you still have the bead that belonged to my brother correct?"

Thorin nodded.

"May I have it?" I questioned.

Thorin reached into his coat, bringing out the silver bead that had belonged to my brother. I took it from his hand, my hand lingering just a bit over his.

"May I?" I motioned to his hair, asking permission. Thorin nodded before I reached out and took the braid that was still tightly bounded together. "This will return the meaning."

Even though it was an ear piece, I clipped the bead that belonged to my brother at the end of his braid where his bead once was.

"It looks nice..." I commented as we shared a smile.

I leaned forward and placed an innocent kiss to his lips, Thorin responded back, and it was a small kiss but I could feel all the emotion shinning through.

Thorin was the first to pull away and he placed his forehead against mine.

"When I started this journey...I would have never thought Thorin Oakenshield would fall for a lowly Mirkwood Elf." I mumbled, opening my eyes to stare at Thorin. "Or even accept an elf into your company. I am happy that you did accept me..."

Thorin chuckled, his voice more gruff then usually and pulled away, standing up and holding a hand out for me to take.

I took his hand and he pulled me to my feet, I looked down at him and he nodded his head before turning away to walk back to the company. A few minutes later I followed his lead, fiddling with the bead on the side of my head...I was probably smiling like a damn fool, unable to contain my happiness...but I didn't care.

I returned to the company, and the first that I saw as Balin and Dwalin looking my way. Balin was smiling knowingly as he saw the bead in my hair and nodded approvingly, Dwalin smirked before going back to talking with his brother.

I went to stand with my family, the three sitting besides the secret door to the mountain. Beriohtarion saw me first and smiled, the same knowing look as Balin before nudging his brother in the ribs. Balamaethor was about to argue before Beriohtarion nodded his head toward me. Balamaethor glanced toward me before looking at the bead strapped to the braid of my hair.

"If my dwarvish culture is correct..." Balamaethor smirked. "then the king braided your hair and branded you as his, a means of courting perhaps?"

"That's wonderful Nana!" Thenidiel smiled from between her cousins.

"Do we still call you Nana? Or should we start addressing you as our Queen." Balamaethor smiled cheekily, nudging his brother.

"Or My Lady." Beriohtarion chuckled as Thenidiel slapped her hands over both of their mouths after seeing my irritation.

"Keep that up and I will start having you call me Bellethiel, or Captain." I grumbled, not impressed by their teasing.

"Sorry Nana," Beriohtarion smiled apologetically.

"we were just playing around." Balamaethor smiled as well. "In all honesty Nana, we're really happy for you."

"Truly." Thenidiel smiled. "Once everything is finished, we will have a celebration, a tiny one with just the four of us."

I smiled, until I saw something peculiar start making its way toward us. A floating golden cup with many jewels adorning the sides of the cup. Suddenly, it was thrown and hit Balamaethor on the head.

"Ow!" Balamaethor called out, bringing the attention of the company to us as Bilbo suddenly appeared before anyone could see him reappear.

"There is so much in there!" Bilbo calls out in frustration.

"Have you found the Arkenstone?" Thorin questioned suddenly, coming to stand in front of Bilbo.

"No," Bilbo grumbled. "but I bought this."

Bilbo motioned to the heavy cup that Balamaethor was holding.

"Bought it and threw it at my head..." Balamaethor grumbled.

"Did you see the dragon?" Kili questioned.

"No, no dragon...not yet at least." Bilbo mumbled. "Though the place reeks...the air is foul..."

"You need to find the Arkenstone." Thorin ordered.

"You want me to go back in alone?" Bilbo questioned flabbergasted.

"Yes." Thorin stated, motioning for him to head back into the mountain.

Bilbo began to grumble to himself and was a bit hesitant to venture back in.

"I will go with you Bilbo..." I pipped in.

"No." Thorin called.

"I have to Thorin." I looked down sadly. "If there truly is a dragon in there...then Bilbo will have no chance."

"I will not have you be put in danger!" Thorin argued.

"But I will not be in danger..." I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I will be fine Thorin."

"No," Bilbo called back with more courage then before. "Belle I'll be fine."

"Bilbo..." I mumbled, glancing to the hobbit.

"No, Belle." Bilbo smiled up to me. "I'm going back in there and search for the Arkenstone, and I will be okay."

I sighed before he quickly disappeared back into the mountain.

"Thorin..." I sighed, turning to glance at him.

"It's not your job to be a burglar Bellethiel..." Thorin mumbled.

"You would not put me in danger, but Bilbo is fine..." I asked.

Thorin sighed before moving back to where he stood.

I grunted, a bit in irritation, before going back to stare at the dark tunnel.

"Don't be upset at Thorin, lass." Balin said coming to stand beside me. "As you know, dwarves are very protective of what's theirs. Since the bead shows us that you're now...his, to us it shows you're not on the market for courting. He will be very protective of you Belle, that's how we are with our woman, he cares deeply for you and worries for your safety."

"This bead though Balin does not mean he is courting me..." I mumbled a bit embarrassingly. "it just means that I am his..."

Balin smiled, nodding his head.

Suddenly, the floor beneath us started to shake, from deep inside I heard a low growl and something crashing to the ground. The company stood up in worry, glancing around in fear.

"Was that an earthquake?" Nori questioned.

"That, my lad...was a dragon." Balin stated, turning to look at us.

I looked back toward the tunnel, now fearing for Bilbo's life.

Minutes passed in tense silence, many questioning what we should be doing, before I saw an orange glow from inside the mountain.

"What about Bilbo?" I heard Ori question.

"Give him more time." Thorin stated.

"Trying to do what?" Balin questioned looking to Thorin. "To be killed."

"Thorin, he is in there with a dragon, he could be killed!" I growled out looking at Thorin in shock.

Thorin turned to the both of us, that same glint showing in his eyes.

"You're afraid...you both are." Thorin accused.

"Yes, I'm afraid." Balin stated, walking up and pointed to Thorin. "I'm fear for YOU. A sickness lies upon that treasure hoard, a sickness that drove your grandfather mad."

"I am not my grandfather." Thorin stated, turning back around to face the mountain ridges across from us.

"You're not yourself." Balin said. "The Thorin I know would not hesitate to go in there-"

"I will not risk this quest for the life of one burglar." Thorin said sternly.

I watched as Balin looked to Thorin disgustingly, glaring a bit.

"Bilbo." Balin replied. "His name is Bilbo."

"We are going in..." I commented glancing to my kin. "Stay out here."

"No, we're coming with you." Beriohtarion argued, getting up to his feet.

I looked to the three before nodding my head, turning to head into the mountain.

"You four will stay here." I heard Thorin command.

I glanced behind me to see Thorin's back was still turned.

"Bilbo is in danger," I called to him. "if you want to stay here...then so be it. But I will not stand by as someone from the company gets killed risking his life to find the Arkenstone."

We raced into the mountain, the tunnel opening to the wide halls of the kingdom.

"Which way?" Balamaethor questioned.

I was about to answer, when I heard a deep voice to my right.

"Follow me, stick close." I ordered as I ran in that direction.

The hallway lead to another flight of stairs, one going up and the other heading down and in front of us was mountains and mountains of gold...gold as far as the eyes could see.

"Wow..." I heard Thenidiel whispered in awe, looking around in amazement.

"Where could Bilbo be?" Balamaethor questioned looking around.

From behind, I heard pitter patter's in the distance. I turned and motioned for the other three to follow me as we headed down the flight of stairs behind us.

We found a long corridor and started following where it led, the pitter patter getting louder the closer we got. Suddenly, further down the long corridor, something collided into me and fell to the ground letting out a loud 'oof'.

I looked to the ground and saw Bilbo, looking up at me in pure fear and breathing heavily.

"Bilbo!" The four of us cried out as he quickly jumped to his feet and placed a finger to his lips.

"He's coming, we must hurry and leave." Bilbo frantically said, his words jumbling together as he rambled.

"This way." I said, helping Bilbo to his feet and pushing him back to the way we came.

From up ahead I heard a loud roar, a roar I only heard once before...the angry roar of a dragon.

"We must hurry!" Beriohtarion called from up front as we finally came to the stairs we had just came down from.

Up head I saw Thorin standing at the top, he looked to be admiring the treasure horde before him. When we finally made our presence known, with Bilbo now racing up the stairs, getting past us, Thorin turned around and his eyes went straight to Bilbo.

"You're alive!" Thorin called out walking forward to block his path.

"Not for much longer!" Bilbo called out.

"Did you find the Arkenstone?" Thorin questioned.

"The dragon's coming!" Bilbo said, breathing heavily from running up the flight of stairs.

"The Arkenstone!" Thorin called out more forcefully.

Myself and my kin were standing on the stairs watching the exchange between the two as I stared at Thorin suspiciously.

"Thorin...we have no time for this we must leave." I called out, taking a step forward.

"Did you find it." Thorin questioned, ignoring what I had said.

They stared at each other, Bilbo panting slightly before motioning toward the way we had come from.

"No." Bilbo said. "We have to get out."

I watched as Bilbo tried to enter the tunnel, but Thorin had swung out his sword across the entrance, blocking the way.

"Thorin!" I called out in a panic, watching him turn the blade, using it to push Bilbo back.

"Thorin." Bilbo said as he backed away and Thorin pointed the tip of his sword straight to Bilbo. "Thorin!"