HEY!! Here's chapter 47!! Can you believe that we're already at chapter 47!!! Unbelievable haha!! Anyway, please enjoy this chapter, I really hope you like it! Your support has been incredible so far! Thank you! Please comment, vote and follow me! Thank you! :3

BTW please comment who's POV you want me to do for the next chapter! Thank you! ;)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Cassy's POV*

Almost six days had passed since the company had reunited and since I had my talk with Thorin. I had spent half the day exploring the mountain together with Kili and Fili. I was walking along the dark corridor whilst Fili and Kili walked behind me.

"I guess these were the old royal quarters." Fili said quietly, causing me to turn around to look at them from where I was walking in front of them. Smaug had destroyed the majority of the mountain, though some places were still more or less intact and with enough work put in they would be ready to flourish once more in all their glory of old.

"It's good to see that there are still a few places that were untouched by Smaug." Kili said as he looked at his brother. Fili just nodded in reply.

I carried on walking slowly as my eyes followed the slender lines of small gems that were adorning the walls on both sides. Light from the torches was dancing golden within them and reflecting back again in my purple eyes. I could feel Kili's gaze watching me as my fingers trailed lightly over the veins of gems.

"Its so beautiful." I murmured quietly, my gaze set on the small jewels in the wall.

"It is." Kili and Fili both agreed in unison. I turned to look at them and whilst the blond dwarf's eyes were focused on the slender lines of gems, Kili was still looking at me, a small smile on his lips that went unnoticed by Fili. I blushed lightly under his gaze and smiled when he silently walked over to me and entwined his fingers with mine as we followed Fili down the corridor.

It was a while later that we decided to go back to the others, turning around and walking back lazily the way we had come from. However, after rounding a few corners, the sound of hurried footsteps reached our ears, echoing off the stone-walls as feet hit the floor with every step. I looked up in confusion just as a small figure came running around the next corner. Bilbo was panting rather heavily as he caught sight of us, an agitated look on his face.

"Bilbo?" I asked worriedly, stepping forward from in between the two dwarf brothers as the hobbit gestured wildly in the direction he'd come from. "What's going on? Did something happen?"

"The Lakemen… elves… they…" Bilbo took a deep breath as to regain his voice. "They are here."

My eyes widened slightly as Fili, Kili and I quickly began following as Bilbo quickly led us back to the front gate.

"Bard?" Kili asked from behind me as we hurried along the corridors, our heavy footsteps echoing oddly dull off the walls. Bilbo just nodded in reply.

"And Thranduil." Bilbo said uneasily, hurrying down a set of stairs in front of us as we followed, our pace much quicker than when we had climbed them a while before. "They demand to speak to Thorin and Company. They want amends. A part of the treasure."

"And Thorin is not exactly in the mood for negotiations." I said.

"That would be quite an understatement." Bilbo said from in front of me.

It didn't take long until we reached the others. We ran up the stairs that led up to the balcony above the firmly closed front gate. The rest of the company were already gathered there, looking down on the Lakemen and Elves that were standing in front of the doors to the mountain. Kili was the one that led on after Bilbo stopped rather uncertainly, squeezing his way through our companions to get to the front where Thorin was standing.

"What is going on?" Kili asked his uncle as we reached the front, even though he probably already knew as he caught sight of the amount of people gathered before the gate beneath us. Lakemen armed as if for war were standing together with elvish bowmen, staring up at us grimly and silently. It was then that Thorin's voice suddenly boomed over them darkly as the dwarf-king called to them.

"Who are you that come as if in war to the gates of Thorin son of Thrain, King under the Mountain, and what do you desire?" Thorin asked loudly as he looked down at them.

I shortly glanced at Thorin, seeing that Thorin's eyes were dark with anger as he let his gaze wander over the crowd of elves and men, his eyes shortly lingering on the green banner of the Elvenking.

There was a heavy silence over the people for a little while before suddenly a very familiar voice echoed over the crowd, it took me a moment until I could find Bard at the front of the crowd, standing next to an equally familiar blond elf.

"Hail Thorin!" Bard called loudly so we could hear his voice clearly from where we were standing. I could see his gaze resting on Thorin for a moment before he swept it over the rest of the dwarves he could see. When Bard's gaze landed on me I saw his expression soften lightly before he looked back to Thorin. "Tell me, why do you fence yourself like a robber in his hold? We are not yet foes, Thorin and Company, and we rejoice that you are alive beyond our hope!"

I heard Thorin huff quietly, his eyes narrowing sceptically as Bard continued. "We came expecting to find none of you living here except those that have parted from us not too long ago." He gave a short nod in the direction of Kili, Fili and myself. "Yet now that we are met there is matter for a parley and a council!"

"And of what would you parley?" Asked Thorin loudly, his voice unrelenting and leaving no doubt that any chance of parley was practically non-existent. I suppressed a sigh, shortly catching Kili's worried gaze from where he was standing in between myself and Thorin whilst Fili stood on Thorin's other side. They were flanking their king, standing tall and strong like princes should, but I could tell that their thoughts were whirling and worried as to what the outcome of this discussion would be, considering the mood Thorin had been in ever since we had arrived.

"It was by my hand that the dragon, Smaug, was slain and your treasure delivered. Is that not a matter that concerns you?" Bard replied, staring up at the dwarf-king, brows drawn tightly together. "Moreover I am by right descent the heir of Girion of Dale, and in your hoard is mingled much of the wealth of his halls and towns, which Smaug stole long ago as he did your kingdom. Is not that a matter of which we may speak? Further in his last battle Smaug destroyed the dwellings of the men and women of Esgaroth. I would ask whether you have no thought for the sorrow and misery of these people? They aided you in your distress, gave you food and lodging. And in recompense you have thus far brought nothing but ruin to them, though doubtless unintended."

My eyebrows rose slightly at Bard's carefully chosen words, he was speaking like how a leader should, and I knew that he was right with everything that he was saying for I had said the exact same thing to Thorin six days ago. A council to discuss all these subjects would indeed be wise. It would give them an opportunity to negotiate over the amount of treasure that these people were entitled to, for they certainly were entitled to some of it. Bard's words were fair and true, and I thought Thorin would at once admit what justice was in them. But Thorin just huffed again causing me to roll my eyes at him.

"You put your worst cause last and in the chief place." Thorin answered, seemingly calm as his voice floated over the crowd beneath him. "No man has a claim to the treasure of my people, because Smaug who stole it from us also robbed him of life or home. The treasure was not Smaug's that his evil deeds should be amended with a share of it. The price of the goods and the assistance that we received of the Lakemen will be fairly paid – in due time." And then Thorin's voice grew louder again, turning into a mighty growl as he continued. "But nothing will we give, not even a single coin of gold, under threat of force! While an armed host stands before our doors, we look on you as foes and thieves!"

"Uncle." I heard Fili mutter quietly from his side.

"Thorin!" I spoke at the same time, but the dwarf-king ignored us both. The rest of the company could only watch as he spoke with concerned expressions on their faces.

"It is in my mind to ask what share of their inheritance you would have paid to our kindred, had you found the hoard unguarded and us slain."

"A just question." Bard stated, his expression grim. "But you are not dead, and we are not robbers. And still my other claims remain unanswered."

"I will not parley, as I have said with armed men at my gate. And I will not parley at all with the people of the Elvenking." Thorin growled, sending Thranduil who had followed the exchange silently the whole time a dirty look. "Whom I remember with small kindness. He and his men have no place in this debate. If you would speak to me again, first dismiss your elvish host to the woods where it belongs. And then return, laying down your arms before you approach the threshold."

And with that, he turned around, only stopping when Bard's voice echoed once again over the crowd up to us. "The Elvenking is my friend, and he has helped the people of Laketown in their need, though they had no claim but friendship on him! We will give you time to repent your words. Gather your wisdom then we will return!"

Thorin didn't turn around and walked back inside the mountain without another word, and I shortly caught Bard's gaze as the Lakeman looked up. I could only sigh frustratedly and press my lips together slightly, I guess my long talk with Thorin was a waste of time. Nothing was going to make him change his mind. Bard's face remained grim and his eyebrows rose slightly, almost as if in question when his gaze landed on me.

I shook my head, not knowing what to say before I turned around and followed the others back inside.

I couldn't believe that Thorin would rather have war than give a small portion of the gold to the people of Laketown. He was going to start a war and if he did I wasn't sure how many of us would live to see it through...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope you liked it! Please comment, vote and follow me! Thank you!!!! :D