An Unexpected Journey

Chapter Sixty-Two: Tension Rises

"Why don't we go outside and get some fresh air?" Thalia said trying to convince Thorin to leave the treasure chamber and get away from all this gold; she couldn't help but feel tired of watching him count the gold. 

It scared her how much Thorin had changed from the dwarf that she had fallen in love with, she couldn't believe that this was happening and that they were falling apart like this. 

Every morning Thalia seemed to wake up with all sorts of gems fixed and braided into her hair, she knew that this wasn't Thorin and she didn't know what to do to snap him out of it. 

It didn't help that Paloma and Cornelia seemed to be avoiding her, Thalia didn't know what her two cousins were up-to but she doubted that it would be long before they came to her. 

Thalia knew very little about what was expected of them only that they were meant to help stop the great evil of this world; she had no idea how they were even meant to do that. 

"I can't leave," Thorin replied not looking to Thalia, he continued to walk through the gold trying to find the one thing that he desired more than anything. 

There had been no sign of the Arkenstone since they had arrived and Thorin had every able person searching for it; the only one that he didn't allow out of his sight was Thalia. 

Sleep had evaded him for days and he had watched Thalia sleep soundlessly, he would watch her until the need to find the stone became too great and he began his search again. 

"Thorin... this has to stop," Thalia pleaded walking over to him, she didn't like what he had become and she wished that she knew how to save him from this madness. 

Slowly walking over to Thorin, she didn't know what was going on in his mind but she knew that this couldn't be allowed to continue or else everything would fall apart.

Thorin didn't look to Thalia, his eyes continued to sweep the gold trying to find the one thing that he wanted; he was sure that it lay here and he was starting to think that someone might have taken it. 

Slowly reaching out Thalia went to take his hand hoping that maybe it would help, she wanted nothing more than to help him and she knew it was only a matter of time before the people of Laketown arrived. 

Thalia didn't know when they would arrive but she did know that they would be wanting the share that Thorin had promised them in Laketown; they had nothing now and she doubted that this Thorin would care about that. 

However, Thorin quickly caught her hand before she could touch him, his eyes glared at her and Thalia swallowed knowing that she didn't trust the dwarf before her right now. 

"Leave me," Thorin grumbled staring at Thalia for a moment, something tugging on his mind but he didn't stop as he stared into Thalia's blue eyes; he could see emotion flickering in them and it made something in him ache deep inside. 

Slowly stepping back from Thorin, Thalia stared at him for a moment before shaking her head and walked away from him; she didn't look back knowing that something had to be done to snap him out of this. 

Thalia didn't like the person that Thorin was becoming and she felt lost, Balin had told her what had happened to Thorin's grandfather and she couldn't bear to watch the same happen to him. 

This wasn't the dwarf that she had found herself falling for, Thalia was going to find some way to snap him out of this and she knew that she could do this. 

Thorin watched her walk away, he wanted to follow after her but if he did then no one would be able to keep an eye on his gold for him.

***

Reaching a quiet corridor away from prying eyes, Thalia took a deep breath and slowly allowed her walls to drop; she clapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from making too much noise. 

The last thing that Thalia wanted was for anyone to see how much this was upsetting her, she was trying to be strong but this was slowly wearing her down and it hurt to see Thorin treat his friends the way he was. 

He had them searching day and night for the Arkenstone and Thalia knew they were all struggling with the sudden change in their leader. 

Taking a few moments to herself, Thalia tried to calm herself down wondering what she could do to make this right; she wanted to fix this but didn't know how to. 

Wiping her nose of the sleeve of her back blouse, Thalia took a deep breath before she prepared to leave; she paused spotting a dim light coming from around one of the corners. 

Slowly walking towards it curiously, Thalia couldn't help but wonder what it was; it was un-natural and she knew that no flame could create a light like that. 

"Bilbo..." Thalia whispered surprised to see the hobbit around this area, she had thought that he would be with the others and she hoped he hadn't heard her crying. 

Jumping in surprise, Bilbo whipped around to see Thalia standing before him and he couldn't help but stare; he didn't have the chance to hide his little secret before Thalia saw it. 

"You have the Arkenstone..." Thalia said shocked, she had hoped the thing would stay lost forever but now that Bilbo had it; she worried what would happen when he told Thorin. 

The two stared at one another knowing that this could go one of two ways, neither seemed like a good idea and they both knew that something had to be done about this. 

"I found it," Bilbo murmured eyeing Thalia wondering for a moment if she would tell him to give the Arkenstone to Thorin; he'd had it for days now and he knew that he should have come forward sooner.

He had seen how Thorin had been acting without it and he knew that the company were being stretched thin trying to find the stone; he had talked with Balin who had called it a curse. 

"Get rid of it," Thalia said making Bilbo stare at her surprised that they were on the same page, he hadn't been expecting it but he was sort of glad; he didn't know what to do with it but keep hold of it. 

Thalia stared at the one thing that seemed to be driving Thorin, she hated it and she knew that if it ever would up in Thorin's hands then it would only make things worse. 

"Drop it into the darkest depths of the mountain so it can never be found," Thalia told him, there was something about the stone that set her on edge and it wasn't just what it was doing to Thorin. 

Shaking her head, Thalia took a deep breath before she stepped back from Bilbo; the best place for the Arkenstone was out of sight and far away from Thorin as possible. 

Bilbo nodded his head, he watched Thalia realising that she had been crying; she had been so strong recently and he wasn't surprised that it wasn't lasting. 

Opening his mouth to say something, Bilbo was interrupted by someone running towards them; he hid the Arkenstone away just in time to see Ori approaching them with a worried look on his face. 

"The people of Laketown have arrived in Dale," Ori announced making Thalia and Bilbo stare at him, they both knew that they had been expecting this but it wouldn't end well. 

Thorin was less likely to keep his promise that he had made right now, he was going to cause a war and it would be one that they couldn't win. 

Turning on her heel and walked away, Thalia could only hope that she could talk sense into Thorin before he did something stupid.