As payment for my rather evil cliffhanger in the last chapter here is a really long chapter for you.

***Farren POV***

Thorin pushed my chair to the landing at the top of the stairs just past the antechamber. I stared out over the vast treasure hoard and felt immense hatred for it fill me. Though I knew it was pointless to have such hatred for a collection of inanimate objects, I could not help but hate the hoard for the pain and grief it had caused. I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to banish the useless feeling, as Thorin set the brake on my chair. Finally, I looked up at him as he came around, hoping my expression was one of encouragement and hope and not hatred and fear.

"I'll just leave you right here," Thorin said as he came around to face me, "I'll be right back up,"

His tone was so firm and confident that I almost missed the fear lurking in the back of his eyes as he took my left hand and placed a kiss on my knuckles. I nodded and gave his hand a tight squeeze in encouragement. Thorin then took a deep breath and turned toward the stairs. I watched nervously as he descended, his eyes on the stairs in front of him and let out a shaky breath, praying to whatever Valar that was listening to give him strength in this trial.

Suddenly, as Thorin reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw him give his head a vigorous shake, as if a small insect had flown by his ear. I moved forward in my chair, about to ask if he was alright, when Thorin flinched violently, as if he had been suddenly attacked, and then froze as his gaze fell upon the treasure hoard.

"Thorin," I called out, sitting on the edge of my seat as I nervously waited for him to answer.

However, as I waited, it soon became clear that Thorin was not going to answer, if he had heard me at all, as he continued to gaze out at the vast hoard.

"No...NO!" I thought fearfully, my heart in my throat, "This can't be happening again!"

I looked back toward the door at the other end of the antechamber, wondering if I should go for help. But, when I looked back toward Thorin, I knew I could not leave him alone in here again.

"I have to help him," I thought, realizing that this was the reason I had insisted on coming, "I am DONE running from this!"

With that thought, I carefully pushed myself out of the wheeled chair and hobbled toward the top stair, my still healing feet and back throbbing in protest. Though I had healed much in the last three weeks it was evident that I still had much more healing to do. As whatever filth that had coated the orc weapons, not to mention the diseased forest floor, was slowing my body's healing, though the elemental healing arts were speeding my recovery up as much as possible.

"Thorin," I called again, clinging to the wall at the top of the stairs.

The only answer I got was a slight flinch, but he still did not turn from the hoard. Taking a deep breath, I slowly began to make my way down the stairs one at a time, clinging to the wall with my left hand. I called out to Thorin two more times as I descended, yelling his name louder each time in hopes of breaking him out of whatever trance held him. Fear causing my heart to race like it was trying to beat its way out of my chest as I got even less reaction from him than before. As I made it to the halfway point, the panic rising within me making me try to hurry, I suddenly felt the coins on the stairs slip under my foot and, with a garbled yelp, slid the rest of the way down the stairs on my back.

I laid there for a moment, groaning in pain and trying to catch my breath, before pushing myself upright.

"Oin and Beka are gonna kill me," I thought, gritting my teeth at the pain.

"THORIN!" I shouted desperately, slowly pulling myself back to my feet before staggering the last few steps and grabbing his shoulder.

What happened next had me calling myself an utter fool.

Years ago I had seen Lord Glorfindel accidently knock Elladan halfway across a room when the younger elf had tried to bring the resurrected Elf Lord out of a similar trance. Lord Elrond had explained that Lord Glorfindel would sometimes get trapped in his battle memories and could accidently lash out if startled in such a state. When Thorin swung around, the look in his eyes reminded me of that incident so strongly that I knew what I had done was very foolish.

***Company POV***

Bofur, Fili and Kili had not gotten far from the Dining Hall when they were joined by Bumbur and the brothers Ri. "What are you all doing here?" Kili asked in surprise, worried that the rumour of Thorin's relapse had already gotten out.

"We're still part of the company, right?" Nori replied, "Besides Ori has roped Dori and me into helping clean up the old library. I swear if I have to look at one more old piece of parchment written by some boring old dwarf from centuries ago I will be the one going mad!"

"Hey!" Ori responded indignantly, the younger dwarf showing a newfound confidence since the battle, "Have some respect!"

"Not to mention, my arm is still healing," Ori growled at his older brother, "So I need your help."

"Oh, I will give you an injury…" Nori snarled causing Bofur to step between them.

"Lads, I sent my brother to get you so we could help Thorin," Bofur huffed, pushing the brothers apart, "Not fight each other."

"Right," Dori said, stepping up and grabbing Nori by his collar while sending a reprimanding look toward Ori, "Let's get going then."

The two fighting brothers nodded as they continued to glare at each other, pulling away from the ones holding them and straightened their coats. As they turned to go the sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention and from around the corner appeared Bifur with Gloin close on his heels.

"What's this about Thorin going back into the treasury?" the red haired dwarf asked, worry for his kin showing in his eyes as he remembered all the questions that Thorin had been asking about the treasury this last week.

"Bumbur, Bifur, Bilbo and I were on our way to supper when we saw Thorin shutting the antechamber behind him," Bofur explained quickly, looking around and noticing that someone was missing, "Where's Oin?"

"Still in the Healing Halls," Gloin explained with a grimace," We figured it best to not go in there lest… the lass find out as well."

Fili and Kili exchanged remorseful looks, confused as to why Thorin would suddenly throw away all the progress he had made with Farren these past two weeks.

"This is going to break Farren's heart." Fili stated sadly.

"Not if we get there and shake some sense into Thorin first," a deep voice said from behind them.

The company turned to find Dwalin and Balin standing with Bilbo.

"Good," Bofur nodded with a sigh, "We're all here. Let's go save our King."

With this said, the company hurried through the halls at a fast pace and doing their best to not draw unneeded attention. Though the sight of the now legendary company of Thorin Oakenshield hurrying through Erebor, attending to one task or another and talking amongst themselves, was not an uncommon sight. So, save for several respectful bows of their heads and a few flirtatious smiles, the people paid them little mind.

***Thorin POV***

Thorin stood staring at Farren for a moment as his vision cleared and he realized what had happened. Farren stood with his wrist held in her left hand, his fingers mere inches from her face, leaning back slightly. If it had not been for her own battle training, she would not have instinctively leaned back and caught his hand before it hit her in the face. Guilt and shame began to flood through him as Thorin pulled his hand from Farren's grasp.

"I almost hurt her… AGAIN!" he thought as he turned away from her in shame, "How can I expect her to trust me when I can't even trust myself?

"No, don't you do that," Farren said firmly, "Look at me."

However, Thorin could not bring himself to look at her and see the condemnation that was sure to be in her eyes.

"LOOK AT ME!" Farren ordered with a strength in her tone that he had not heard in weeks as she cupped his face with her free hand and brought his eyes to her's.

"Don't dare you let this beat you, Thorin Oakenshield!" she growled, "You are stronger than this!"

Thorin stared at her in wonder, as the condemnation he had expected to see was nowhere to be found. In its place was fierce determination instead.

"How… How can you still believe this of me," Thorin asked almost unable to believe his eyes, "After everything you have seen…"

"Everything I have put you through," he finished in a softer, shame filled, tone.

***Farren POV***

Thorin's intense gaze bored into mine wanting, desperately needing, answers to these questions. Answers that only I could give. My heart began to race even more as I realized the answer to his questions, but did I dare to speak it aloud?

"Because… " I began, before pausing to take a deep breath to steady my nerves.

"Because I love you," I replied softly as tears welled in my eyes, "And the dwarf I love is far too strong to allow this to control him!"

Thorin stared at me with wide eyes for a moment and I waited on bated breath for his response.

Finally, he leaned down and rested his forehead on mine, as a look of overwhelming joy came to his face.

"After everything," he whispered, a smile on his face, "How could you still…"

"The events before the battle did damage my trust however, you have done so much these past few weeks that I can say that my trust in you has been restored," I replied, still cupping his bearded cheek in my palm, " And I have always loved you. You are my Other Half."

"My One," I said with a smile as I used the dwarf term.

***Thorin POV***

Thorin closed his eyes with a sigh, his heart soaring at Farren's declaration. When he opened his eyes, Thorin stared deep into Farrens beautiful gold eyes and felt any last traces of the spell that the treasure had cast over him slip away. He knew then that he had found all the gold he would even want right there in his one's eyes. Thorin then place his arms around her waist and pulled her into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder, feeling complete for the first time in weeks.

***Company POV***

The company approached the door of the antechamber, all worrying about what they would find inside. Would Thorin have a reasonable excuse for being in there or would they be faced with the mad king he had been before the battle.

"Why would he go in there alone," Dwalin grumbled irritably, "He knows that Lord of the Stiffbeard clan… what's his name?"

He gestured to Balin who just rolled his eyes, obviously had reminded him of this before.

"Korwyn son of Konan," Balin filled in with a tired voice.

"Yeah… him," Dwalin continued sarcastically, making it obvious that he had purposely omitted the Lord's name, "He is looking for anything that will negate Thorin's claim to the throne."

"And proof of madness could do just that," Gloin said, "That is why Thror's sickness was kept quiet as long as possible."

"Well, we are not going to find anything out by just standing here," Kili said impatiently.

"Right," Fili replied before turning to the company, "Kili and I will go in first, if help is needed one of us will come out in a hurry."

"I'm going in with you lads," Dwalin stated in a tone that allowed no arguments, "Just in case."

The rest of the company nodded and took up what they hoped were unnoticable posts to passersby and sat to wait for word.

***D,F, & K POV***

Dwalin, Fili and Kili entered the antechamber and, as quietly as they could, made their way toward the landing overlooking the treasury. As soon as they closed the door behind them, they saw something that filled them with dread. An empty wheeled chair sat on the landing, it's occupant nowhere in sight.

"What's Farren doing in here?" Kili asked urgently, his worry echoed in his brother's face as he stared at the chair, "Why would Thorin bring her here?"

"We need to find out," was the only answer that Fili could give before leading them quickly across the room.

However, when they reached the landing, the sight that met their eyes was not what they anticipated. For down below, just a couple of steps away from the bottom of the stairs was Thorin and Farren with their foreheads pressed together and Farren cradling the left side of Thorin's face in her hand. As the two continued to talk softly the blue flames from Farren's hand crept up the side of Thorin's face as the white flames from her hair migrated over as well. The two colored flames appeared to encircle Thorin's head, peaking in and out of his dark hair, forming a crown of flames on his brow.

Fili and Dwalin looked on in stunned silence only to be stirred to action by Kili's intake of breath. Before the younger dwarf could say a word and ruin the moment, Fili and Dwalin clapped their hands securely over his mouth and dragged him from the room.

"What was that for?!" Kili hissed as they reached the door and they released him.

"Trust me, lad," Dwalin replied as he opened the door, "They don't need to be disturbed at this moment."

With this said the three dwarves exited as quietly as they had entered.

As they closed the door, the company surrounded them, wanting to know what was going on.

"Trust us," Fili soothed, "Everything is fine."

"What?" Bilbo asked obviously confused, "How do you know?"

"Farren is in there too," Kili replied with a smile.

"The lass!" Gloin exclaimed before covering his eyes with his hand, "Oin is gonna kill her."

"He will have to go through Thorin first," Dwalin sniggered.

"Come on," Fili gestured to the rest of the company before sitting down in an alcove, "We might as well get comfortable while we wait."

***Thorin POV***

Thorin held Farren in his arms, feeling as if Durin himself had come back and handed him every blessing he had ever prayed for. However, he knew they did not have much time left, as he had heard someone enter the antechamber above and then leave just as quickly. He knew it was inevitable that someone else, most likely someone far more intrusive than the previous person, would come snooping about soon. Thorin tightened his arms around Farren, wanting to hold her for a moment longer, then pulled back when she gave a slightly pained moan.

"Farren?" he questioned, noticing in that moment that she was also trembling.

"I'm fine," she replied, tightening her one arm about his neck and Thorin smiled.

As much as he would have loved to continue holding her until the mountain fell down around their ears, he had to find that ring and she, even if she were unwilling to admit it, needed to rest. So with this in mind, Thorin picked Farren up and, cradling her in his arms, carried her over to the stairs. He then sat her on a stair that placed them eye to eye, leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"I'll be right back," he said with certainty. Farren cradled his cheek one more time before nodding.

"I'll be right here," she replied with a soft smile.

Finally, Thorin turned back toward the treasure and marveled at the change. The gems sparkled no less brilliantly, the gold and precious metals shone no less brightly but Thorin no longer felt the lustful madness for it in his heart anymore. For he had found his true treasure in the hearts and lives of his friends, family and his One. He was still a Dwarf and the treasure was still beautiful to him, but it no longer held control over him.

Thorin breathed a sigh of relief and headed across the treasury and climbed over a mountain of treasure before reaching the opposite wall. There on the wall as the Durin crest, depicting the mountain with the Arkenstone shining above, sitting in a raised frame about three feet tall and five feet wide carved from the wall itself. Thorin stood in front of the frame and took a deep breath as he focused on remembering how to open it.

First he ran his hand along the top, feeling several indentions and pushed the first one, as he thought through the process.

"One."

Next he ran his hand down the right side, finding identical indentions and pressed the next one in the series.

"Nine."

Then came the left side with the same indentions.

"Seven."

Then the crest in the middle popped out and Thorin turned it clockwise.

"Three."

Finally, he had to use some force to push the crest back in, and, with a loud crack, the door swung open and Thorin waited a moment to make sure he had not triggered one of his grandfather's traps.

After a few moments, when nothing happened, Thorin breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the door the rest of the way open. Inside the hidden compartment, on carven stone shelves, sat several treasures. But on a shelf, halfway down, sat the one Thorin was looking for. It was a small wooden box, carved to look like a chest, set with gold and gems, and heavy enough that Thorin had to hold it with two hands. Upon opening it, Thorin could not help but smile in triumph. For sitting there with three other rings and a necklace was his grandfather's mithril signet ring. Closing the box, Thorin turned and headed back toward Farren, deciding to leave the door to the compartment open and to make time after the coronation to show Gloin how to open the others. But for now he had what he had come for.

***Farren POV***

I sat and watched as Thorin made his way over a large mountain of treasure and disappeared from my sight. I could not help but smile as joy flooded through me over the change I had seen in Thorin. For I when I looked at him I could see the dwarf I have fallen in love with and that the madness was completely gone. If my body would have let me get up and dance in joy, I would have. I would have to settle for just my smile to express my joy.

In less time than I had figured, I heard Thorin coming back over the hoard. I watched as he topped the mountain of treasure and carefully picked his way down the other side. In his hands was a small chest set with gold and gems.

"You found it?" I asked hopefully.

"Yes," he said, triumph apparent in his voice.

He then set the small chest in my lap and picked me up in his arms. I held onto the chest, making sure to not lose it's precious contents.

"Come on," Thorin said and I turned to look at him and smiled at the look in his eyes, "We best get you back before Oin and Beka come looking. I want to live to see my coronation."

I could not help the laugh that bubbled out as he carried me back up the stairs.

***Company POV***

The company sat and waited for what seemed like hours, but in reality could not have been more than thirty minutes, each either smoking their pipe or fiddling with something.

"If we wait any longer," Dwalin grumbled, "I am going in there to see what's taking him so long."

"Brother, give him some time," Balin soothed, "They need some privacy."

"How long does it take to apologize?" Dwalin continued to grumble.

"To a Dam?" Gloin replied, a pained look on his face, "You'd be surprised."

"Really?" Fili asked looking interested as he continued to sharpen one of his many hidden blades.

"You have stories," Kili joined, looking over and putting down the arrow he had been fletching, "Do you, cousin?"

"Well…" Gloin began looking embarrassed, but was saved just at that moment when the door to the antechamber opened.

Thorin and Farren stepped out a moment later, looking surprised to see the entire company waiting there.

"Uncle," Fili asked cautiously, "Everything alright?"

"Everything is just fine, Fili," Thorin replied, exchanging a small, secretive smile with Farren.

"You found it then?" Balin asked, please to see the change between Thorin and Farren.

"Yes," Thorin replied and Balin sighed in relief, "I found it."

Though the look that Thorin was giving Farren made the company wonder if they were talking about the same thing.

"Good," Bumbur announced, placing his hands on his stomach, "Can we go eat now?"

The rest of the company burst out laughing at this unintentional joke, as Bumbur never joked about food.

"Yes," Thorin replied still chuckling, "Dinner sounds great!"

"To the Dining Halls!" Fili and Kili shouted and led the way with the rest of the company following

Kudos to the first person to guess the importance of 1973.