"Thorin, please." Agarwaen wheezed out, blood still gushing from her face, mixing with tears. Thorin hesitated, looking down where she lay broken and pleading for mercy. His ally, his companion, his friend.

She stopped grasping at his boot and squeezed her eyes shut. At least she would die knowing she stood up for what was right. She did not blame Thorin, not for this, not for anything. It was the accursed gold and the damned Arkenstone. She could only hope that somehow, it would get far away from here and Thorin will never hold it and go fully mad. She was glad it was her beneath his boot and not anyone else. Not Bilbo, not Fili, Kili, Balin, Bofur, Nori, or anyone else.

She was at peace.

The clanking of Thorin's sword hitting the floor beside her face made her jump and finally she found that she could breathe again as the weight on her chest had been lifted.

Thorin dropped to his knees beside her, staring down at his own hands.

"Go." His voice was quiet and broken. "Before I kill you, please. I...oh Mahal..." he gripped his head as Agarwaen scrambled to her feet and ran without looking back. Tears and blood continued to drip from her face as she ran, blurring her vision so she relied on memory to know where she was going. Smacking into corners as she went, she eventually made her way through the mountain, running into Dwalin along the way.

"Lass? Lass!" He stopped her upon seeing the condition of her face.

"Tell the others I said goodbye. Don't follow me." She cried, yanking her arms out of his grip and continuing toward the gate, where she found Bilbo throwing a rope over the edge of the ramparts already.

"Bilbo?"

"A-Agarwaen!" Multiple variations of shock overtook his face all at once.

"What on earth happened?" He ran to her, trying to figure out what exactly to do.

"Thorin's gone completely mad. I have to leave and I can't come back." She tried wiping some of the blood out of her eye but only ended up smearing it.

"He did this to you?" Bilbo pulled a cloth out of his pocket, dropping what was inside of it into his other hand before putting the item back into his pocket. It glowed a magnificent white in the dark.

"The Arkenstone..." She breathed.

"I-I'm getting it out of here." He explained. "I'm going to give it to Bard so he can exchange it and we can avoid war." She couldn't help but smile through the pain in her cheek. The hobbit was smarter and braver than anyone could ever think. "H-here." He handed her the cloth to wipe her face as best as she could.

"Why didn't you tell me you had it?" She asked, wincing as she pressed the fabric to her cut.

"I...I wasn't sure if you would tell Thorin."

"I've been planning on finding it and running away with it since I realized the Arkenstone would only make him worse." She shook her head. "I can't give him something that would destroy him."

"Well...come down with me to Dale. You can get help there."

"Their equipment is stretched thin as it is, and not to mention Thranduil is down there."

"Then where will you go?"

"The only place I can go. Rivendell."

"But that's so far."

"It's just a cut, Bilbo."

"Well...what about your promise to me? You have to take me home, remember?"

"I can't do that if I serve my death sentence anyway. I'm sorry, Bilbo."

"Bard and I won't let that happen." He said with determination. "I-I'll use my ring if I have to." She looked down at the hobbit, contemplating.

"Alright." She nodded, and Bilbo led her back to the rope where the two then proceeded to climb down and make for the city. They snuck in through a damaged part of the city wall on the eastern border and quietly made their way through the city.

The sound of Gandalf's voice brought an overwhelming sense of joy to Agarwaen, and she and Bilbo listened for a moment as they approached.

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

"That won't stop them." Bilbo spoke up as he neared the two. Agarwaen lingered behind, knowing that they stood before Thranduil's tent. "You think the dwarves will surrender? Well they won't. They will fight to the death to defend their own."

"Bilbo Baggins." Gandalf smiled.

"Agarwaen too." Bilbo said as he looked back to where she stood in the shadows. She stepped forward, causing Gandalf and Bard's eyes to widen, Bard's in slight confusion as well at the unfamiliar name.

"What happened?" Gandalf asked.

"It doesn't matter. All that you need to know is that I am not welcome in the mountain any longer." Gandalf sighed.

"You went against him." The wizard muttered.

"He is blinded by dragon sickness." She nodded.

"Oakenshield did that?" Bard was clearly upset.

"It was my fault. I pushed too hard. But that is not why we are here. Bilbo has something of importance he would like to show you." Gandalf nodded and led the way back into Thranduil's tent. Agarwaen stopped when for the second time that night, a sword was aimed at her throat.

"I am beginning to think you are extremely stupid rather than just brave." The elvenking sneered.

"Thranduil, put that down!" Gandalf yelled.

"Put it down? No, I should think not. She's evaded her sentence far too long. I will see this ended tonight."

"Stand down!" Gandalf bellowed, using his magic to louden his voice and grow the shadows around them. She'd seen that trick many a time, and didn't even flinch. "We need every sword we can find, and she is one of the best." The wizard tried to reason. "You know that as well as I."

"And I thought we had discussed this already. There is no evidence that the army you speak of marches."

"Army?" Agarwaen asked, still eyeing the elvish blade at her throat.

"Azog is leading forces from Dol Guldur and will be here soon. He is determined to take the mountain."

"Kill me later, would you Thranduil? I promise you can have my head, but only if you let me fight."

"Agarwaen!" Gandalf scolded.

"I'm done running, Gandalf!" She snapped back. "That mountain, those dwarves, they are the only things important to me right now. I have nothing else."

"You give your word?" Thranduil asked, ignoring the fact that Gandalf looked like he was about to smack the elf with his staff.

"Agarwaen, don't do this!" Bilbo begged.

"You have my word." She said, her only focus on saving her friends. Thranduil's sword returned to its scabbard.

"Very well then. See to it that you get cleaned up and you will be fitted with much more...functional armor." He looked her up and down distastefully. "Now...If I am not mistaken," He sat down and looked to Bilbo, "This is the halfling that stole the keys to my dungeons from under the nose of my guards?" Bilbo looked around uncomfortably.

"Yes..." He muttered. "Sorry about that." Bard smirked at the scene. "We came to give you this." Bilbo pulled the Arkenstone out of his pocket and set it on the table before them. Thranduil stood up in awe.

"The heart of the mountain..." He mumbled. "The king's jewel."

"And worth a king's ransom." Bard added. "How is this yours to give?"

"I took it as my fifteenth share of the treasure."

"Why would you do this?" Bard asked. "You owe us no loyalty."

"I'm not doing it for you." Bilbo shook his head. "I know that dwarves can be obstinate and pig-headed and difficult." He looked to Agarwaen, who nodded. "Suspicious and secretive with the worst manners you could possibly imagine, but they are also brave, and kind, and loyal to a fault. I've grown very fond of them and I would save them if I can. Thorin values this stone above all else. In exchange for it's return, I believe he will give you what you are owed. There will be no need for war." Bard and Thranduil then looked to each other, considering their next move.