*Thorin's POV*

The Golden floor beneath my feet shimmers in its radiant hue. All I can think of is how magnificent it will be to have every inch of Erebor redone in the pure golden solidity. Being smothered just as Smaug was in this good still won't be enough. It will never be enough.
Wait.
No, it won't be enough. None of it could pay the price of satisfaction. I stop in the center of the Golden floor and my mind is filled with voices of the people I know, Dwalin,Balin,Bard,Bilbo,and Gandalf. I stand still hearing Dwalins first then followed by my own,Balin's,Bards,Bilbo's,and Gandalfs.

Dwalin-"You sit here...with a crown upon your head...you are lesser now than you have ever been..."

Thorin- "...but a treasure such as this cannot be counted in lives lost..."

Balin- "...a sickness lies upon that treasure..."

Bard- "...the blind ambition of a mountain-king..."

Thorin- "...AM I NOT THE KING....this gold...is ours...and ours alone."

Balin-"...treasure..."

Thorin- "...I will not part with a single coin..."

Bard- "...he could not see beyond his own desire..."

Thorin- "...as if I was some lowly dwarf lord....Oakenshield..."

Balin-"...a sickness that drove your grandfather mad..."

Thorin- "...Oakenshield..."

Dwalin- .. this is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror..."

Thorin- "...I am not my grandfather...my grandfather."

Gandalf-"...you are the heir to the throne of Durin..."

Dwalin-"...they are dying out there."

Gandalf- "...take back...take Erebor..."

Dwalin-"...Dain is surrounded... surrounded...is surrounded...Dain is surrounded..."

Gandalf- "...take back your homeland..."

Bilbo- "...you are changed, Thorin..."

Thorin- "...I am not my grandfather..."

As I hear these whispers I stare at the golden floor. It is as if I can see Smaug snaking his way beneath me. I hear his hisses ad deep voice.
"Not one piece of it..." the voice hisses. As the voices get louder it then goes silent and I hear another voice.

"Thorin."

I recognize her voice. I would know it from anywhere.

"I wanted to help you....give it to you and you would be lost to us!.... The Arkenstone...I saw your face....in your eyes......Thorin.....I care about you!..... Lost to us...I believe in you....Thorin, wake up......I saw your face.....cold....the look I saw in your eyes....cruel.....I wanted to help you.....Thorin, wake up!... I believe in you....WAKE UP!"

I jump and look around hearing nothing but the silence. The floor beneath me sinks as if it's swallowing me up. All the voices on atop the other begin shouting and I hear it all. I scream as I sink into the gold unable to get out or move.
"This gold will be your death..." I hear Gandalf's voice say.
"Thorin wake up!" I hear Molly's voice shout again.
"AGH!" I scream gasping and clawing away. Just before I'm engulfed in the gold I feel myself stumble.
I see the floor is normal again and it seems as if I have been fully awakened. I turn around to see Erebor. The walls and halls I ran through as a child. I then hear one more voice. My own....

"I am not my grandfather..."

I clasp my chest trying to steady my breath, and I feel it. Reaching inside my shirt I pull out the sparkling necklace and look at it before gripping it again and closing my eyes. She gave this to me for luck. This is her symbol of friendship and I have worn it with shame until now. I am undeserving of such a token and such a friendship.

"Thorin?"

I open my eyes and look up to see Molly standing there. She cautiously walks over to me as I tremble looking back at her. When she reaches me I grab both her hands in mine holding them tightly.

I shake my head and whisper "I'm...I sorry! I don't...I...."
I try to form the words but all I can feel is shame and regret.

*Molly's POV*

I see Thorin standing there. His face seems distressed but I see him. I see Thorin. Not King under the mountain. "Thorin." I say.
He looks up seeing me and I quickly come to his side. When I reach him he grasps both my hands in his. He shakes his head "I'm....I sorry! I don't...I...." he fumbles over his words and I see the guilt in his eyes. He releases my hands and turns away from me in distress and confusion. I shake my head and hold his shoulder turning him back to me. When he faces me I reach my hand up stroking the side of his face and caress his beard.
I look into his eyes as he stares at me as I speak "It wasn't your fault. You didn't know what you were saying or doing. You can make it right. I believe you can. I know you can."

He grits his teeth looking down and grips my shoulders harshly as if trying to find the will to fight. As he looks down in anger and frustration I slowly lean towards him. I reach my hands upholding his face and plant a soft kiss on the right corner of his mouth. I linger for a second knowing that if this was the last push to get the real Thorin back I didn't want to waste it. Seeing his eyes closed and his head falls down I pull away and kiss his hands one time.

---

I sit on the stairs leading to the platform next to Kili. Fili sits in front of me and I fix some of his messy and fallen down braids. Bofur sits behind me braiding my own hair as "a proper lady warrior should wear it."
I try protesting against him knowing I'm far from a warrior but once he started I couldn't stop him.
Sitting here even now I think of Thorin but my mind is drawn to Bilbo and Gandalf. I pray for their safety and hope Bilbo's reputation as a good hider still rings true. My mind falls back to Thorin as he had pulled away from me. Hope in his redemption now seemed more hopeful than not to me. The others didn't see the look in his eyes. They were familiar. The same as when I had first seen them in the shire.
As we all sit around in silence only hearing the screams of pain and clashing of swords. "Fall back! Fall back!" we hear Dain shout. With my hands in my lap, I hear someone approaching us. Looking up I see from the glowing light down the hall Thorin approaching. He is no longer dressed in his royal robes and armor but in a simple leather outfit. A smile plays on my lips as we all stand as he approaches. 

Kili rises and begins shouting stomping towards his uncle "I will not hide behind a wall of stone, while others fight our battles  for us!"
I look from Kili to Thorin who keeps getting closer.

"It is not in my blood, Thorin." The young Prince hisses sounding as if he is nearly in tears.

Stopping facing one another I see a smile form on Thorin's face "No, it is not. We are sons of Durin. And Durin's folk do not flee from a fight."

Thorin lays his hand on Kili's shoulder, smiling. Kili smiles back at him through his tears. I laugh slightly in happiness and Thorin shakes Kili lightly. He turns to the Dwarves speaking earnestly "I have no right to ask this of any of you; but will you follow me one last time?" The rest of the company look at him and then at me. I smile and nod. The dwarves rise and raise their weapons, ready to follow their leader and friend again. Proudly I smile at all of them again as they all clasp one another shoulder and do a group hug. As the company begins speaking amongst themselves to prepare I lean against the wall. My eyes wander and I see Thorin. His eyes lock with mine and he quickly strides over. 

I stand up straighter "Thorin I-" he cuts me off embracing me with a hug and pressing his mouth against my neck. I close my eyes and put my face on his shoulder and hug him back. Both of us slowly and barely rock back and forth as we hug. 

"Thank you." he mumbles into my neck. I feel overjoyed and laugh shaking my head "You don't have to thank me."

My heart races and my skin tingles as if I can feel Thorin's lips kiss my neck ever so slightly. When we pull apart it is hard for me to look Thorin in the eye. I give him a small smile and dart my eyes away. He holds my chin turning me towards him "What's troubles you?" he asks.
"If-If something happens..." I start.
He cuts me off "No, you don't have to worry about me."
I stare up at him "I didn't get to say anything."
He smiles "There's nothing to say."
He looks down and reaches grabbing the necklace he gave me hanging from around my neck.
He holds it as it hangs from my neck and he smiles "You still have this? Even after everything that I've...." his voice trails off and I wrap my hands around his.
I nod "Of course I still have it. I don't think I'll ever take it off."
Thorin smiles and I smile back warmly with a twinkle in my eye seeing the necklace I gave him barely visible on his chest above his low-cut tunic.

Before anything else can be said Dori calls out "Thorin, how are we to get over the wall quick enough? There's no way through!"

Gloin looks above them pointing "We can swing the golden bell down and smash the stone. It's the quickest way."

I look over at Thorin who nods to Gloin "It's sure to work."
Thorin quickly pulls me aside away from the others.

"What is it?" I ask. 

He grips my shoulder "I would not ask this of you if I knew the strength of the army we are facing."

I shake my head "No, I'm not going to leave you. I'm not going to let you all go out there and die just because someone wasn't watching your back."
Thorin nods "I know you want to go, but believe me if you are safe then my mind can be at ease and focused. Promise me you will stay here. Promise me."
I sigh and look down but nod "Ok....ok. I promise."
Thorin rubs my cheek with a slight smile and I return a small one back "I will see you when it's over."
I nod "I'll be waiting."
He smiles and rubs my cheek searching my eyes like he has something else on his mind. He opens his mouth to speak but no words come out.
I furrow my brows in anticipation "What is it?"
Still nothing. He just stares at me.
"Thorin, what's wrong? If there's something you need to tell me just-"
Thorin's lips cut me off as he presses his mouth to mine in a hard but exhilarating kiss. My eyes stare widely at the King in disbelief and euphoria. Thorin's arm cradles the small of my back crushing me to his body as he continues kissing me. His other hand slides up my neck and into my hair pulling me closer to him. Slowly out of natural reaction my arms loop around his neck, my eyes flutter closed, and I melt into his kiss.
Any thought in my mind is silent and my body erupts in a mix of colors kissing him. The feel of his warm lips against mine sends shivers throughout my entire being and his hands caress me. Almost desperately I hold onto him with my fingers clinging to his raven hair. Our lips move and mesh together in sync as if they were made for each other. For one more glorious moment, we keep our perfect kiss until we have to pull apart for air.

With our lips a breath away my arms hang loosely around his neck. His ocean hues stare back down at me with a small smirk on his lips. 

Almost groggily I mumble "Well said."
Smirking Thorin looks back at me. His eyes seemed so in awe of me for a moment. Pressing another lingering kiss to my forehead he hums contently. Taking a step back Thorin releases me but takes up my hand in his. He plants a lingering kiss on the top of my hand as well muttering "I will see you again, my lady." before turning and joining the others. Frozen I stand there wide-eyed and my face a bright red. I can hardly comprehend what just happened but I wish for him to do it again. Hearing someone clear their throat I look to some of the Dwarves, Fili and Kili include, who stands there smirking.
"Alright lass, keep the fort down." Bofur says shaking my shoulders and smirking at my awe-struck reaction. I blink out of my shocked state and nod.
"And no eating all the food while we're gone."
I laugh "Okay Bombur."
"No touching my rum, do you hear?" Dwalin asks pointing.
I giggle then hold my hands out "What rum?"
He nods "Exactly."
I bid small little goodbyes to every dwarf for now until it's over. 

"See ya love." Fili says.

"Don't miss us too much." Kili says. 

Both of them then are on either side of me and kiss my cheek at the same time.
"Now THAT'S a kiss." Kili remarks which only earns an eye roll from Thorin who stands at the front of the company.
I giggle and look at them holding my hand on my forehead "I don't know how I'm going to survive without you." Both brothers chuckle and flash me both their great smiles as they join the other dwarves near the stone wall. Looking at them all my eyes tear up with pride and joy in all them. Silently I pray for their safety as I head up to the overlook.

Running up the steps I see the battlefield and how the dwarves are being pushed back. I look down at the company and then to Thorin. Our eyes lock and the look on his face strikes me. I don't know if it was the unexpected kiss or wishful thinking, but when I imagined someone looking at me like I was the love of their life, Thorin's expression is what I visioned.

"Be safe." I mouth to him.

He smirks looking back at me mouthing "I promise."
Bomber comes up the steps and next to me. He smiles in his usual jolly way "Alright lass, stand back and watch this!"
Walking over to a large brass horn, the oversized Dwarf takes the biggest breath and blows into the horn. In its deep bass Bomber plays the tune to the Misty mountains song and all eyes on the battlefield turn to Erebor.
At Thorin's command, the bell comes down breaking the stone wall with a loud crack. Crashing the wall goes down and settles making a walkway. The company lets out a battle cry and charges the field being led by the three sons of Durin: Kili, Fili, and Thorin. I watch proudly but also nervously as they storm the Orcs cutting them down. I watch each and everyone making it alright, but my eyes wander overseeing a group of Orcs breaking into the city of Dale with their own monstrous mutated giants. I know I'm supposed to stay here and I could easily get killed but the thought of the little kids in the middle of the city changed my mind entirely. I look at Dale and down to Thorin sadly knowing that I am going to have to break my promise.