After changing into her new clothes, which consisted of new fur boots, black baggy trousers, a dark blue and red tunic, a blue and silver shirt, and a thick belt, Agarwaen took to exploring a little, desperately needing to look at something other than gold. She didn't go far for fear of getting lost, but even so, there was so much to see.

The entire inside of the mountain was held up by massive stone pillars and tall smooth walls in each cavern. Patterns and runes were etched into the walls, some filled in with gold and silver.

Her new boots, much louder than that of elven make, produced echoes with each step, and for the first time since joining the company of dwarves, she felt small.

These halls were made for dwarves with pride and presence, dwarves who could walk into a room and bring with them silence and respect. She was nothing like them. No matter how much she tried to be different from her kin, she was still an elf, and instead of pride and presence, she held grace and poise. After being outcasted, she tried to prove to others that she was different from her race, that she could be rowdy and reckless. But was she really trying to prove it to them, or to herself?

Lost in thought, she continued on almost blindly up a flight of stairs that led to a landing, and then went up further in the same direction she'd come. Upon reaching the top, she found she'd stumbled upon a marketplace. Just like the rest of the kingdom, it was huge. Vendors were scattered throughout the center of the area, and shop entrances were carved into the walls.

Light filtered in from somewhere above, likely a hole that led outside, but the area was still slightly dim, as no torches or sconces were lit. It felt eerie, to walk through an abandoned market. Gold coins laid here and there on tables and on the ground, empty cups sat on the counters of vendors, and the goods at food vendors had rotted away or been absconded away with by rats. Fine silks and dresses hung on racks, dusty and faded, and cases of jewelry and beads were left open. The beads, it seemed, were sold in a majority of the shops, and she recognized the designs and shapes of some that were in the company's beards, hair, and braids.

Leather and metalworking shops were left with things strewn about, belts, scabbards, swords, and axes lying on the floor and covered in a thick layer of dust. The buildup of dust hadn't been as bad out around the vendors, but that was probably due to air coming in from wherever the light did.

As Agarwaen's eyes adjusted to the darkness inside the smith's shop, she could see the once freshly forged weapons. They were made expertly, with unique and useful designs and blood grooves. She picked up one of the swords, and was surprised to find it much lighter than she expected. She swung it around, discovering that it was one of the most well-balanced swords she'd ever held. Dwarves were skilled craftsmen indeed.

She put the sword back on its rack, and was about to leave when she saw a dagger sitting on the counter in a display case. It was made from steel, carved dwarven runes along the blade. The handle was black and silver, and a large black opal was set on the tip of the hilt. Agarwaen opened the case, picking it up to examine it. It was a little dull, but still a very fine blade. Could this count toward her share of the treasure? She needed a new dagger anyway. She picked up the sheath that was stored with it, and walked out of the shop.

"I see you've found the old market." She heard Dwalin's voice say, and looked up to see him standing among the vendors.

"I um...yeah. I'm allowed to be here, right? Because I can go back..." Dwalin shook his head.

"You're fine, lass." He looked around. "It's been so long since I was here. I was only a wee lad at the time, too. It's...different."

"When will your people start returning to the mountain?" She asked.

"Thorin sent a raven to the Blue Mountains earlier to tell them of our success. Perhaps by winter next year we'll have dwarves filling these halls once more." He started towards her slowly. "What have you got there?"

"Oh, um, a dagger I found. Do you think Thorin will let me keep it?" She held it out to the dwarf, who took it and unsheathed it.

"I don't see why not. A fine choice, this. It'll need to be sharpened though. There's grindstones in the forge."

"What does it say?" She asked about the runes on the blade.

"Tanzen al warg. Dance of death." He read before putting it back in its sheath and handing it back.

"Any luck on finding the Arkenstone?" She questioned, hoping the answer would be no.

"No. For all we know, the dragon could have eaten it."

"I'm sure it's somewhere. We might just have to dig for it is all." She was glad there was still time to find it before the dwarves.

She ended up heading back after tucking her new dagger into her boot, getting lost only once before making it back near the horde.

"Agar!" She heard Fili and Kili call at once. Her head snapped up and she looked around for the source of the voices. Fili and Kili ran at her from down on another walkway, and she bolted down a flight of stairs to meet them. They ran into her, almost knocking her over, and both wrapped their arms around her in a tight embrace. She smiled and hugged them back.

"You're alive!" All three cried at the same time.

"We thought you'd been eaten!" Kili laughed and looked up at her.

"I thought you'd been turned to ash." She replied, grinning back down at him.

"Where's Bofur and Oin?"

"Right here!" Bofur yelled from down the walkway. Agarwaen's smile widened as the two other dwarves walked up to them and Fili and Kili finally let her go.

"What happened down there? Is Bard and his family alright?" She asked as Bofur gave her a quick hug as well. The dwarves' smiles fell.

"They're fine, but...they've lost everything." Fili replied.

"Many didn't make it out." Kili added. Agarwaen's jaw clenched. Why did people have to die? Why was there war, and why did it bring so much death? Why did evil have to roam the lands and demolish peace?

Maybe instead of a wanderer, she should be a hunter. A hunter of orcs. She'd make them fear her, and even though it would most likely end in her demise, she'll at least be able to get rid of some of them.

"Uncle will give the men enough gold to rebuild they're town though, right?" Kili asked.

"I hope so. Have you seen him yet?"

"Yes, he...Agar, there's something wrong with him." Fili responded.

"Fili, you have to promise me...promise me that you will not let this gold control your heart. Please."

"What are you talking about?" Bofur questioned.

"Thorin is being corrupted by greed. He walks among the gold day and night, never resting, never thinking of anything other than treasure." She replied sadly. "We think it's dragon sickness."

"Can it be cured?" Oin asked.

"Not by any physical healing, no. It's a disease of the mind. Balin knows more about it than I, but...I am worried for Thorin. I don't know if it can be fixed."

"Uncle is strong-willed and smart. He'll pull through." Fili said with a sure look.

The group eventually returned to the treasure horde, continuing the search for the heart of the mountain.

"We must find it." Thorin muttered from beside Agarwaen, atop a balcony. "It is the only thing that matters."

"We will." She responded, knowing that if it was she who discovered it, her relationship with the dwarves would come to a bitter end. She would take it and run. Never to come back to Erebor again, she wouldn't even be able to say goodbye. She would take it far out west and either bury it or drop it in the middle of the sea. Somewhere no dwarf would ever find such a cursed object ever again. She loved the company dearly, and feared that it might be able to corrupt them all. She couldn't let that happen.

"Any sign of it?" He called over the railing of the balcony. A chorus of 'nothing here''s came from the dwarves down below. "Keep searching. The Arkenstone is in these halls. Find it! No one rests until it is found!" Agarwaen looked to Bilbo, who also had a grim expression on his face. He met her eyes before quickly looking away. She then made toward the stairs, determined to find the jewel first.

"You needn't waste your time, Agarwaen." Thorin called after her, and she stopped but didn't look back. "The entire company is down there already. They will find it soon."

"I feel like I must help. It is unfair for me to sit idly up here while they labor. I will do my part in restoring that which is yours." She replied before continuing on. Thorin watched her leave, praising her in his mind. She was a true friend. One that he felt he could rely on no matter what. She was indeed very precious to him, and he would not let any harm befall her.