It was nearly nightfall. Freya had gone back to her room she had been resting in. She had found her trousers and long sleeve and started changing out of her dress; back into her normal clothing. If Thorin, her cousin and the dwarves were going to go to war; she wasn't going to be left behind. She would fight till the death if that's what it came down to. First Freya had to go find her cousin and learn the truth. The young woman wandered down the hall, she saw that Bofur was at the battlement, standing watch encase any one decided to intrude. The rest of the company was still in the armory, sharpening their weapons and discussing battle plans. The young woman continued down the hall and eventually found her cousin. Bilbo was alone, sitting on the platform, his legs hanging over the edge. Frey wandered over and took a seat beside him, just Bilbo tuck something back in his coat.

"You've had it all this time, haven't you?" Freya began, turning to look at her cousin who was looking at her. "The Arkenstone." Bilbo's eyes shifted to the ground for a second before he met hers again and nodded. The woman turned her gaze to the city of Dale.

" Freya, there was times I wanted to give it to Thorin, many times, but I just couldn't do it. He's not the same Dwarf we met in the Shire." Bilbo stated and he expected his little cousin to protest against him but she didn't; instead he saw her nodding her head.

"I know. And I'm glad you didn't give it to him. I fear Balin was right, it would make him worse if it fell into his hands ." She admitted, her voice slightly broke. The burglar place a hand on his cousins hand, causing her to look at him.

"Freya. I'm going to Dale to give them the stone. " Bilbo began and saw the woman's eyes widen. " It's the only way to prevent this war from happening. " I believe if Bard gives Thorin back the stone, then he will honor his word to the people of Lake-town and then their will be no need for war. Thorin values this stone above anything." the hobbit finished as he pulled out the stone in question. Freya starred at in in awe for the longest time, before she said anything.

"Then I'm coming with you." Freya stated, as she got up from the cold ground. Bilbo put the stone back in his coat and stood up and didn't like this at all.

"No, Freya. If Thorin finds out you had anything to do with this. He-he could hurt you and I know he would never forgive himself if he did. You should stay here." Bilbo protested. Freya shook her head at him. She wasn't going to let Bilbo do this alone.

"Bilbo we will do this together." Freya firmly said, clasping her cousins hands in hers." Bilbo finally nodding though he had his worries if Thorin found out she had any part of this, he didn't want to imagine what he could possibly do to her, with the state his mind was in right now.

"If we are to do this, we have to go now. We can't let the others see us." Bilbo pressed and the woman nodded in understanding. The two hobbit's made hast to the wall. The cousins were on one side of the battlement and they peered over the side, seeing Dwalin and Gloin muttering about something and soon disappeared down another tunnel. Once it appeared they were alone, Bilbo pulled out a good amount of rope, that he had hid in his coat. He began tying a tight knot to a solid ring attached to the mountain as quickly and quietly as he could as Freya kept watch.

"You both should be inside..." Bofur's voice spoke up, causing Freya and Bilbo to jump. "...out of the wind."

"No, I, uh...we needed some air." Freya stuttered as they looked at Bofur who was across on the other side of the battlement, hiding what they were doing. The dwarf was standing near the fire, keeping his hands warm. " the place still stinks of dragon." Bofur smirked at that and had to agree, it would be sometime before the smell of dragon faded from the mountain.

"The elves have been moving their archers into position." Bofur informed as he glanced over the edge at the city of Dale.

"Ah." Bilbo mumbled to himself as he looked over the wall as well and knew what was coming.

"The battle will be over by tomorrow's eve...though I doubt we will live to see it."

"These are....dark days." Bilbo stated as the cold wind began to pick up around them as the three of them stood in silence in deep thought about this.

"Dark days indeed." The dwarf agreed. "No one could blame a soul for wishing themselves elsewhere." Bofur said as he approached the cousins. "Must be near midnight. Bombur's got the next watch. It'll take a bit to wake him." He said as he began to descend down the stairs.

"Bofur..." Freya called out. The dwarf stopped on the step and looked at her. "We will see you in the morning." She declared with a half smile.

"Goodbye, Freya, goodbye Bilbo." He said returning the smile and he continued down the stairs, to go find his brother. Freya swallowed, feeling the pit in her stomach. Bofur was basically telling them to run and leave this place.

"Freya, come on we must leave now." Bilbo hissed quietly at her, pulling her by the arm. The burglar went over to his rope, tugging on the knot one last time to make sure it was tight enough and tossed the other end over the wall. Bilbo was the first to climb his way down and soon it was Freya's turn, slipping a few times but made it down safely and the two of them climbed over the broken stone that had broken the walkway up to the gate and once across the two of them ran all the way to Dale, panting heavily as the snow began to fall.

Once inside the ruined city. The two hobbit's were for once thankful for how small they were and how quiet they could be. They slipped passed the armed guards easily. They were looking for Bard when Freya heard a familiar voice in a tent, across from where they were hiding. " Did you hear that?" Freya whispered.

"Hear what?" Bilbo questioned just as quietly.

"It's Gandalf...he's here. Listen." Freya said, feeling like their was still hope. If she couldn't get through to Thorin, surely the wizard would be able to.

"Since when has my counsel counted for so little?" Gandalf said. "What do you think I'm trying to do?"

"I think you're trying to save your dwarvish friends." Thranduil accused. " And I admire your loyalty to them. But it does not dissuade me from my course." The elf continued, getting up from his chair approaching the wizard. " You started this Mithrandir, you will forgive me if I finish it. Are the archers in position?" He called out. Gandalf turned around to look at the elf king in shock.

"Yes, my lord." A guard said.

"Give the order. If anything moves on that mountain, kill it." Thranduil ordered. "The dwarves are out of time."

"Bowman!" Gandalf yelled, walking out of the tent and approached Bard. "Do you agree with this? Is gold so important to you? Would you buy it with the blood of dwarves?!" The wizard questioned him.

" It will not come to that." Bard pressed. " This is a fight they cannot win."

"That won't stop them." Bilbo interrupted walking up to them with Freya right behind him. " You think the dwarves will surrender? They wont, they will fight to the death to defend their own." Bilbo stated.

"Bilbo Baggins! And Freya Brandybuck!" Gandalf said, relieved to see the two of them alive.

"If I'm not mistaken, this is the halfling who stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards." Thanduil said, sounding annoyed.

"Yes." Bilbo admitted through gritted teeth. "Sorry about that." he apologized. The bowman smirked that this being had been able to get pass elves.

"And miss Freya, we meet again." Thranduil stated, looking at her curiously. Noticing she appeared to look different then when he last saw her.

"We came...to give you this." Bilbo said as he approached the table and pulled something from his coat pocket and placed the wrapped item on the table and slowly unfolded the cloth to reveal a shiny object and they all recognized it.

"The heart of the mountain." The elf gasped as he looked upon it in awe for the longest time. "The kings jewel."

"And worth a kings ransom." Bard stated, reminding that he wanted to settle this without and bloodshed. " How is this yours to give?" Bard asked, looking at the cousins.

" I took it as my 14th share of the treasure." Bilbo replied. Gold wasn't as important to hobbit's as it was too some people.

"Why would you do this? You owe us no loyalty." Bard stated, having a point.

"Were not doing this for you." Freya said, stepping beside her cousin.

"I know that dwarves can be obstinate and pigheaded and difficult. They're suspicious and secretive with the worst manners you can possibly imagine. But they are also brave and kind... and loyal to a fault." Bilbo explained as he looked at his cousin. "We've grown very fond of 'em, and we would save them all if we can."

Thorin values this stone above all else. In exchange for its return, I believe he will give you what you are owed." Freya stated. "There will be no need for war." she continued on, waiting to see if they all approved of this. Thranduil looked at her for the longest time, wondering about something else.

"And why would you risk telling us all this?" Thranduil challenged, looking right at the woman, the wizard looked at him confused.

"Because, I love him and I would do anything to save him." Freya declared, her eyes not leaving the elves.

" I wonder if he feels the same about you? But then again Dwarves cannot love."

"You're wrong." Freya growled at the elf, before turning away. Bilbo and the wizard followed out of the tent.

"The two of you rest up tonight. You must leave on the morrow." Gandalf insisted.

"What?" both hobbit's questioned.

"Get as far away from here as possible." Gandalf continued.

"W-were not leaving." Freya pressed, look at the wizard as if he had to be joking.

"Hmm?"

" You picked us as the 14 and 15th member. Were not about to leave the company now." Bilbo argued, agreeing with his cousin.

"There is no company. Not anymore. And I don't like to think what Thorin will do to the both of you when he finds out what you've done." Gandalf warned, looking at Freya particularly.

" I'm not afraid of Thorin." Bilbo hissed.

"And neither am I" Freya added and the wizard stopped and turned to face the two of them.

"Well, you should be. Don't underestimate the evil of gold. Gold over which a serpent has long brooded. Dragon-sickness seeps into the hearts of all who come near this mountain. Almost all." He pressed. "You there!" The wizard shouted to one of the lakeman wondering around. Freya and Bilbo recognized him as Alfrid the masters adviser in Laketown. " Find these two hobbit's a bed...and fill their bellies with hot food." the old man ordered. "They've earned it." he whispered for only the cousins to hear giving them a smile. Alfrid waved for them to get walking when the wizard grabbed him by his clothing. " Hey. Keep an eye on them. If they should try to leave, you tell me." Gandalf urged. Alfrid nodded and led the two hobbit's to a room that had two beds available. The man soon left and the cousins crawled into the beds. Freya had her back to her cousin, her eyes were still open as she thought about what the wizard had said. Would Thorin really do something to them both if he were to find out the truth? The woman tried to get some sleep.

Later in the middle of the night. Bilbo woke his little cousin and the two of them made their way back to Erebor unseen. Knowing in a couple of hours they would be surrounded by an army of elves.