Hello hello, thank you all again so much for the insane amount of support you've been giving this story since I started writing again. Ya'll are amazing. Here is another little chapter after that cliff hanger. As always I'd love to hear what you think!

They stayed there for several long moments until a cough brought them back to the sharp reality that there were fourteen other people in the room with them. Thorin set Bilbo back on his feet, stepping back quickly and looking away. Bilbo straightened his coat and glanced at the surrounding company. If looks could kill Balin would be six feet under. To his credit, Balin just smiled at Bilbo unconcerned with the glares directed his way.

Bilbo cleared his throat and tried to tone down the intense heat coloring his face. He reclaimed his seat, looking straight ahead when Thorin sat down as well a distinct gap left between them. Beside them, Kili flopped back with a groan and Bilbo shook his head. What was going on with all of them? He tried to brush off the thinly veiled looks the company was sending him, a far cry from how his screen-self was trying desperately to gain their attention.

Screen-Bilbo searched the ground for the key, muttering when he could not find it. His foot hit the key, sending it skidding toward the edge of the mountain. A collective sigh of relief filled the room as screen-Thorin stopped the key from falling.

"Thank you again, laddie," Balin said.

"Look at ye, savin the company once again," Nori laughed, reaching over to clap Bilbo on his shoulder.

"Someone has to save you all from your own stubbornness," Bilbo said to many half-chuckled complaints. They quickly quieted as screen-Thorin unlocked the door and Erebor was opened once more. On-screen and in the hall members of the company choked up. Balin and Dwalin leaned against each other, Balin's hand over his mouth. Thorin sucked in a breath at the sight of himself standing on the threshold to Erebor.

[Thorin:] "I know these walls…these walls, this stone. You remember it, Balin. Chambers filled with golden light."

Ori set aside his notebook, Fili and Kili stayed perfectly still, taking in the home they never knew yet felt the loss of every day. Gloin gripped his locket, the Ri's and Ur's gripped each other, all overcome with emotion. Bilbo found himself pulled into a side hug by Ori, his own heart swelling with happiness at this small moment of peace, of hope for their collective future.

The screen panned to show the throne of the king, and the stone that rested above it. Bilbo sighed as the peace was broken at the reminder of what else they had to do. Getting in was the easy part, the part they could do together. But the hard part, the most dangerous part, that was his job and his alone.

[Thorin:] "That, Master Burglar, is why you are here."

"You're going to steal from the dragon?" Bard asked, unable to contain his shock. He'd expected the dwarves to have a plan or at least an idea that revolved around killing Smaug. The company shifted in the seats, not responding immediately. Thorin opened his mouth but Bilbo beat him to it.

"Yes, I am. It's what I was hired to do in the first place."

"You were hired to steal from a dragon? And you agreed to it?" Bard was filled with questions about how they decided this was the best course of action, but the sheer fact that Bilbo had agreed to play such a key role astounded him. He thought the hobbit was the sane one of the group.

"Well I didn't know the exact specifications of the job when I took it but, yes, I agreed to it." Bilbo smiled tightly, shrugging his shoulders in a casual manner Bard didn't believe for a moment.

"You'll die for a shiny rock?" Bard asked. His words did not have the effect he'd expected. Instead of anger or loud protests at calling the Arkenstone of all things a shiny rock, they glanced away.

"We didn't-"

"No, no I won't die for a shiny rock. In fact, I'm not going to die in this tale." Bilbo said, straightening and shedding off his nerves.

"You have no guarantee-"

"What do you mean Uncle Bilbo?"

"How do you-"

"You two don't know because you weren't here." Bilbo cut them all off and pointed to Bard and Gandalf. "But all of you should remember what we were first shown when we started watching."

"You're hundred eleventh birthday," Bombur said, eyes lighting up.

"Exactly, the reason I'm facing a dragon is something we still need to discuss when this is over," he paused to look at Thorin who frowned in response, "but I don't die and I would appreciate you not thinking me mad for joining the company." Bilbo's words were met with silence. Bard didn't know how to respond. The company answered for him.

"Now I know why you're called Mad Baggins, Uncle Bilbo," Kili said shaking his head but smiling. Bilbo rolled his eyes.

"Oh hush, I'm going to be called that because of you lot."

"I dunno, I think Dwarvish Baggins might work better," Nori said, shrugging. His suggestion set off an argument between the company, each competing to come up with a better nickname for Bilbo and none getting anywhere with their increasingly ridiculous suggestions. Bilbo groaned and buried his face in his hands, though he smiled despite himself.

"We can discuss the Arkenstone later," Thorin whispered. Bilbo looked up, shocked Thorin would agree to such a thing. The uneasy feel Bilbo got when Thorin mentioned the Arkenstone lessened somewhat. Perhaps if his nerves were right and the Arkenstone was bad for Thorin, they would be able to work together to solve it, without Thorin's stubbornness getting in the way. He nodded, letting Thorin know he agreed, then turned away to try and dispel the chaos happening around them.

The Voice must have agreed they needed to move onward for the screen started again and a pained scream filled the hall. The sound startled those watching, their mood instantly dropping when screen-Kili was shown sweating and writhing on a bed, clearly in immense pain. Fili gripped his brother's arm and Kili turned into the support. The dwarves left in Laketown, milled around screen-Kili trying to help, screen-Bard and his children right alongside them. Screen-Bard went through all his herbs at screen-Oin's request, but he didn't have what was needed.

Fili's heart sank.

"Remind me te find some Kingsfoil," Oin said. Ori nodded and jotted it down.

"That's a weed," Bard said as his screen-self mentioned the same. Screen-Bofur offered to find some and, despite the tenseness, his antics drew a few chuckles.

"I don't think I'm going anywhere," Kili laughed.

The screen switched back to the mountain. Screen-Bilbo and Balin were walking down a stone corridor discussing what he should look for. Though his screen-self seemed unsure about the Arkenstone being so recognizable, Bilbo had to admit that from what he'd seen before that screen-Balin was correct. There was only one Arkenstone.

Screen-Balin began to walk away but paused.

[Balin:] "In truth, lad, I do not know what you will find down there. You needn't go if you don't want to, there's no dishonor in turning back."

Bilbo was touched by his words, glad someone on the screen finally asked how he felt about all this. Still, he knew his answer before his screen-self said it.

[Bilbo:] "No, Balin, I promised I would do this, and I think I must try."

"Ye do have a spine of mithril laddie," Dwalin said, shaking his head. He'd known plenty of dwarves who would have turned back. Mahal, the whole company had stayed back while they let him go down to face Smaug alone.

"Aye, you have more courage than most dwarves in battle do."

"Hardly, I'm keeping the promise I made. It's what any respectable person would do." Bilbo said and Bard gawked at such a response. The company also sighed, like this was a conversation they'd had before, but dropped it when screen-Balin began to laugh.

[Balin:] "It never ceases to amaze me."

[Bilbo:] "What's that?"

[Balin:] "The courage of Hobbits. Go now with as much luck as you can muster."

"To the courage of our hobbit!" Kili said to many cheers.

[Balin:] "Oh, and Bilbo...if there is, in fact, a live dragon down there, don't waken it."

"Well, there goes that plan," Bilbo said, rolling his eyes.

"Tragic, Uncle Bilbo, absolutely tragic. I think you could've given Smaug a good tongue lashing if you did wake him up," Kili said.

"Or maybe he'd riddle his way out of it," Ori added.

"I don't think I'd stick around to talk to Smaug if I did wake him," Bilbo laughed, shaking his head.

"Let us hope it doesn't come to that," Thorin interjected, his whole body tense. Bilbo bit his lip, cursing himself for not paying more attention to how his words were affecting Thorin. While the rest of the company seemed to find humor in their antics, Thorin hated watching Bilbo walk into the dragon's lair alone with nothing more than his tiny sword to protect himself.

The idea of Bilbo in the position to speak with Smaug sent chills down his spine. He knew it needed to happen on-screen and would need to happen again when they went back if they were going to have any hope of rallying an army big enough to kill Smaug. But it didn't make it any easier to watch and he wanted to get it over with quickly.

Bilbo leaned against his side and Thorin huffed, shaking off all the gruesome ways a dragon could kill someone and reveling in the feel of Bilbo close once again. He'd thought he had messed up earlier, especially since Bilbo had been so quick to put distance between them. Having Bilbo back at his side let him breathe easier despite how much he hated everything happening on-screen. He could watch this next part, he just had to remember that screen-Bilbo made it out of this mess alive.

Unfortunately, they did not follow screen-Bilbo down the hall. Instead, the screen switched back to Dol Guldur. Thorin tensed at the sight of his father, Bilbo's hand on his the only thing giving him the strength to see this through.

Azog leaped out at the pair, screen-Gandalf managing to bring up his sword before Azog struck him with his mace. Screen-Gandalf and Thrain stumbled back from the force of the blow. Orcs appeared behind Azog trapping them. The mace swung down again but screen-Gandalf threw up a barrier with his staff.

[Gandalf:] "Where is your master?"

Azog laughed, declaring his master to be everywhere. His words sent chills through those watching. Especially since they knew who Azog's master was.

Screen-Gandalf pushed away from the orcs, a flash of light filling the screen and he and Thrain disappeared. The pair ran through the halls and out onto a bridge that screen-Gandalf collapsed behind them. Still, they did not stop running. Thorin leaned forward, hoping beyond hope they would escape. That his father would be safe.

A voice like a sickening hiss filled the hall. Bilbo felt himself go rigid. The ring, which hadn't bothered him since he'd tried to throw it away, suddenly felt heavy in his pocket. He gasped, gripping Thorin's hand to resist the temptation to hold the ring. A massive shadow appeared on the bridge before them. All hope of screen-Gandalf and Thrain escaping vanished. Thorin clenched his jaw and forced himself to watch whatever fate was to befall his father.
Thrain looked up at screen-Gandalf.

[Thrain:] "Tell Thorin I love him. Will you do that? Will you tell my son that I loved him?"

Thorin reveled in the words his father spoke. They were words his father had so rarely told him, though Thorin had never doubted their truth. Screen-Gandalf tried to assure Thrain they would escape, but it was in vain. A smokey tendril shot out, grabbing Thrain and pulling him away with a scream. Thorin lowered his head, his breathing shaky. Everyone bowed their head, taking a silent moment for his death.

Then the screen was back on and screen-Gandalf stood alone against the necromancer. He threw up a shield but the shadow beat against it, the bridge disintegrating around his protected sphere. They struggled, light against the dark. But it was too powerful, too overwhelming, and screen-Gandalf's shield shattered as he collapsed.

The shadow morphed into a wreath of flames and screen-Gandalf tried to hold his staff up in a last-ditch attempt. An eye appeared within the flames. Bilbo stiffened, ice ran through his veins, freezing him in place. He gasped for breath, the overwhelming fear stealing away his air and ability to breathe. All he wanted was to grab the ring. A strong hand held him back. His vision was nothing but the slit pupil of an eye that took the form of a man. Something covered his eyes, soft fur brushed against his skin, and the scent of sweat and smoke filled his nose. A hand patted his back. Bilbo sucked in a breath.

Thorin held him close, shielding Bilbo's face from the sight with his coat while Dori patted his back. Worry for Bilbo was evident in everyone's eyes, but the only way to help him was to get through this part.

Screen-Gandalf's staff disintegrated. Shadowy tendrils lifted him and threw him against a wall, holding him there. Recognizing the figure in the flames screen-Gandalf uttered a word that confirmed their worst fears.

[Gandalf:] "Sauron."

The screen zoomed in on the figure, which had an eye, which had a figure, and over and over it went in a hypnotic blur until at least screen-Gandalf fell unconscious.
"Azog's master, the necromancer of Dol Guldur, is Sauron?" Bard asked in a whisper unable to believe such evil resided so close to his home.

"Aye, laddie," Balin said.

"You don't seem surprised."

"The Voice alluded to it before, this merely confirms our fears," Balin shook his head. If Sauron was that active, would he aid his troops if they came for the mountain? If he did, how would they ever win?

"We have to do something," Bard said though nothing came to mind. What could they do against a being so powerful?

"Thas what we said too," Bofur said, glancing at Bilbo who had managed to pull himself away from Thorin. "But the Voice said if we did anythin with the information, then the quest would fail an everythin would end up much worse."

"But-but surely there must be something."

"There is not," the Voice said, startling them. "None but Gandalf is allowed to do anything with the information given about the happenings in Dol Guldur. You must trust me on this, the consequences of not doing so will lead to the death of all you hold dear."

None dared to speak as the Voice faded away once more.