AN: Here's the last chapter in this story! The next one in the series will be called Battle of Five Armies. It's already written so updates shall be quick! Enjoy!

It was later on in the evening and the company was sitting and relaxing after their long work day earlier. Thorin walks passed them and Fili and Kili look up from their positions next to each other. They had stayed silent the rest of the evening but their thoughts were anything but.

"Come on!" Thorin calls to the company. Fili and Kili share a look but stand up and quickly follow after their uncle. They follow Thorin up a set of stairs they had created and over to a platform that was built atop the gate. They look over the edge to the plain in front of the gate and over to Dale. Fili's heart plummets when he sees Dale's walls are filled with Elves ready for war. Fili shifts his attention to the path leading up to the gate. Bard rides up it on a horse and stops in front of the gate.

"Hail Thorin, son of Thrain! We are glad to find you alive beyond hope," Bard calls up tot he Dwarven king. Kili watches the man below him. He, as Fili hadn't, didn't miss the army of Elves along the walls of Dale. He didn't think this was going anywhere peaceful, and judging by Fili's look, neither did his brother.

"Why do you come to the gates of the King Under the Mountain armed for war?" Thorin asks with a cold look aimed at Bard.

"Why does the King Under the Mountain fence himself in? Like a robber in his hole," Bard counters and Fili feels his hackles rise up. What was Bard trying to say? It was one thing for he and Kili to talk of their uncle but Bard knew nothing of him.

"Perhaps it is because I am expecting to be robbed," Thorin replies sternly with his eyes never leaving Bard's. As much as he hasn't agreed with Thorin's actions, Fili feels a sense of pride at Thorin standing up for their race.

"My Lord… We have not come to rob you, but to seek fair settlement. Will you not speak with me?" Bard assures as he relaxes his posture, hoping to seem less threatening. Fili and Kili look over at their uncle to see what he will say.

Fili and Kili watch as Thorin nods his head and moves over to the stairs and down them. Fili walks over to the top of the stairs and stops. He feels Kili walk over and stop next to him. Fili's gaze follows Thorin as he approaches the blockade and looks through a hole built into it.

"I'm listening," Thorin says as he looks through the hole. The company is silent as they listen to the conversation.

"On behalf of the people of Lake-Town, I ask that you honor your pledge. A share of the treasure so that they might rebuild their lives," Bard begins to say. Thorin's body tenses and Fili grimaces.

"I will not treaty with any man while an armed host lies before my door," Thorin replies angrily with his jaw tense and a cold glare in his eyes. Fili glances over towards Dale at the army of Elves. His uncle had a point. If Bard meant to treaty with them then why did they have an army of Elves prepared for battle in Dale. Did they even mean to talk with Thorin? Fili looks back over at his uncle.

Kili feels Fili tense next to him and his own body tenses in answer. His uncle was right; if they only meant to talk why was there an army of armed Elves in Dale. Kili looks over at Fili and sees him looking towards Dale. Fili seemed to think the same way. Kili looks back over at his uncle as Bard begins to speak again.

"That armed host will attack this mountain if we do not come to terms," Bard warns gruffly. Fili and Kili tense further and they shoot murderous gazes to where Bard is.

"Your threats do not sway me," Thorin counters coldly with determination and pride.

"What of your conscience? Does it not tell you our cause is just?! My people offered you help. And in return you brought upon them only ruin and death!" Bard's angry voice shouts through the hole.

"When did the men of Lake-Town come to our aid, but for the promise of rich reward?!" Thorin shouts angrily in return. Fili grimaces; both Thorin and Bard had valid arguments. He knew this was where the trouble would truly originate from.

"A bargain was struck!" Bard shouts through the hole.

"A bargain? What choice did we have but to barter our birthright for blankets and food? To ransom our future in exchange for our freedom? You call that a fair trade? Tell me, Bard the Dragonslayer, why should I honor such terms?" Thorin spits out coldly, a glare piecing through Bard.

"Because you gave us your word. Does that mean nothing?" Bard asks with his voice settling down.

Fili watches as Thorin turns away from the hole and move a couple feet to the side. Thorin leans against the blockade and he looks tired and weary. Fili sees, for a moment, the uncle he had always known and he feels some hope return. However, as quick as he sees it return, the old Thorin disappears. Thorin looks over at them and Fili sees the Gold Sickness take hold once again. But Fili had seen the old Thorin already and his hope holds firm.

Fili wasn't the only one who had seen the moment the old Thorin returned. Kili had seen it and the hope had returned for him as well. It quickly grew to frustration, though, as Kili saw the Gold Sickness take control again. Kili glances at Fili and realizes that Fili had noticed the moment as well.

"Be gone, ere arrow fly!" Thorin shouts as he glares at Bard before moving back up to the platform where his nephews are. Fili and Kili look over the platform and watch as Bard mounts his horse and quickly rides back towards Dale.

"What are you doing?! You cannot go to war!" Bilbo shouts at Thorin. Fili and Kili look over at the Hobbit and Fili inwardly groans and Bilbo's boldness.

"This does not concern you," Thorin coldly says to Bilbo. Fili tenses, not knowing how this is going to play out.

"Excuse me?! But just in case you haven't noticed, there is an army of Elves out there. And not to mention several hundred angry fishermen. We… We are in fact outnumbered," Bilbo argues as he tries to get Thorin to see reason. Fili looks to his uncle, waiting for his reaction. When it comes, it's not what Fili expected.

"Not for much longer," Thorin replies as he turns to look at Bilbo with a smile. Fili and Kili furrow their eyebrows as they try to figure out what Thorin is hinting at.

"What does that mean?" Bilbo asks with a furrowed brow himself.

"It means Master Baggins, you should never underestimate Dwarves," Thorin says as his smile widens. Fili and Kili grin and share a look; their uncle had a plan. Thorin turns to face the company and Fili and Kili turn their attention back to their uncle.

"We have reclaimed Erebor… Now we defend it!" Thorin shouts with determination. Thorin descends the steps and Fili and Kili share another look. Thorin's plan had better come through or they were all in trouble. Fili looks after Thorin. It wasn't just his own life at stake here; Kili's was as well and that's who Fili truly is worried about if things take a turn for the worse.

AN: Please review and send some feedback! Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed, and favorited!