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Jimmy glanced at the hobbit wearing the mithril vest. Bilbo looked like he wanted to speak… but held back.
"Bilbo," Jimmy said calmly, breaking the silence, "we've been through more than a few trials together on this road. If there's something on your mind, just ask."
He smiled faintly.
"There's nothing off-limits. If I can answer, I will. If I can't, I'll tell you why."
Bilbo hesitated for a moment, gathering his courage.
"Well… It's about the Arkenstone. I remember that—"
Jimmy nodded.
"Yes. You're right. The Arkenstone did come out of your pocket. And at first, there was something wrong with it: a whisper, a pull, almost like temptation."
He paused.
"It tries to convince whoever holds it to keep it. To claim it."
"But," Jimmy continued, meeting Bilbo's eyes, "I know you never intended to take it for yourself. Still, you also would never willingly hand something like that over to Thorin."
Bilbo's eyes lit up. It felt like being understood at last.
"Then why did you give it to him?" Bilbo asked.
"There were two reasons," Jimmy replied.
"First: Thorin cannot truly be King Under the Mountain without the Arkenstone. With it, the dwarves will recognize him. Even if some hesitate, they will still follow his command. Only then can he lead them into the war that's coming."
He gestured toward the distant mountain.
"When the battle is over, the dwarves who wandered for generations will finally return home. Only then does Erebor become their mountain again; only then does it truly become Thorin's kingdom."
Jimmy's voice grew heavier.
"Without the Arkenstone, any dwarf who found it could claim the throne. And if ambition took hold… some might even kill Thorin, then search for it afterward."
Bilbo froze.
"You don't really think that could happen? That's… that's impossible, isn't it?"
Jimmy shook his head slowly.
"Bilbo, you've lived your entire life in the Shire. You've never had to see what people become when power is involved."
He continued, steady and grounded.
"The human heart is unreliable. If you place your safety entirely in someone's goodwill, you're gambling with your life."
His gaze shifted back toward the mountain.
"Thorin is a king. His choices don't just affect him. One mistake can cost thousands of lives. That's why he cannot afford to rely on trust alone."
Jimmy exhaled quietly.
"And besides you didn't notice? The corrupting presence is already gone."
Bilbo blinked.
"Gone?"
"My guess," Jimmy said, "is that when Smaug died, whatever influence lingered on the Arkenstone vanished with him."
Bilbo visibly relaxed.
"That's… that's wonderful news."
His hand drifted into his pocket, fingers brushing the Ring. Jimmy noticed immediately.
"Bilbo," Jimmy said, raising his hand, "watch closely."
Snikt~
His claws extended, punching straight through a nearby boulder.
"This is power."
He pulled his hand back, then—
Slash!
One clean strike split the stone in two.
"This is also power."
Jimmy sheathed the blade.
"Power itself isn't good or evil. What matters is restraint."
He traced an invisible line in the air.
"Cross that line. Use power without limits. Let convenience or desire control you and sooner or later, it will consume you."
His tone softened.
"But using power to survive. To protect yourself when death is at your door."
He shrugged lightly.
"In moments like that, right and wrong stop being complicated."
"Because when life is on the line," Jimmy finished, "everything else becomes secondary."
As for whispers, temptations, or murmured lies from something unseen: ignore them. Hold firm to your convictions, and those voices become nothing more than background noise… like a mosquito buzzing outside the window, or a dog barking without the courage to bite.
"If it really had power," Jimmy added calmly, "it would step forward and act on its own. Something that can only manipulate the weak isn't nearly as dangerous as it pretends to be."
"Phew~" Bilbo let out a long breath, his shoulders finally relaxing.
"Jimmy… you really are dependable," he said earnestly. "After hearing you, my heart feels much lighter."
He hesitated, then continued.
"There's something you should know. I've survived many close calls because of an object I found. It's similar to the Arkenstone… or maybe even stronger."
He swallowed.
"The Arkenstone only whispers. However, this thing allows you to hear its voice clearly. I was wondering whether it could be purified, the same way you said the Arkenstone was."
As he spoke, Bilbo reached into his pocket and pulled out a golden ring. The moment it left his hand, regret flickered across his face.
Jimmy reached out and took it. Bilbo instinctively pulled back slightly, a flash of reluctance crossing his eyes.
The moment Jimmy held the ring, it felt as though someone were shouting from the other side of a closed window.
He handed it back immediately.
Bilbo released a quiet sigh of relief, his expression easing.
"That one can't be purified," Jimmy said. "Its power comes directly from something far darker. If you cleanse it completely, all that remains is an ordinary ring."
He paused, then added.
"But don't worry. It doesn't create evil or greed. It only amplifies what's already in a person's heart. If there's no darkness to feed on, its voice loses all meaning."
Bilbo slipped the ring back into his pocket, then asked hesitantly.
"Jimmy… then why weren't you affected at all?"
He looked genuinely puzzled.
"When you gave it back to me, there wasn't even a hint of greed in your eyes. I'll admit it: even letting someone see this ring takes me a long time to decide. When you took it, I almost didn't want to let go."
He looked up.
"Don't you have greed or darkness?"
Jimmy laughed.
"Of course I do. I'm not some saint."
Then his expression sharpened.
"The reason it means nothing to me is simple: I trust my own strength."
He spoke slowly, deliberately.
"External tools are still external tools. Only what you build yourself truly belongs to you. I don't believe in power that's handed over for free."
He glanced toward the mountain.
"Think about Thorin. You remember what he told us: there was a time when he forged farm tools just to earn a few meals of black bread."
Jimmy raised an eyebrow.
"Now ask yourself this: if someone offered Thorin a single gold coin today to make a hoe… would he accept?"
The answer was obvious.
"This ring has nothing to offer me," Jimmy continued. "What it promises doesn't even compare to what I already possess. So why would I listen to it?"
Bilbo fell silent, deep in thought.
Suddenly, Fili's voice rang out from outside.
"Jimmy! Jimmy! Hurry! Something's wrong at Lake-town. You can see firelight even from the watchtower."
"Is that so?" Jimmy replied. "I'll take a look."
Everyone knew Jimmy's eyesight was unmatched. The moment the flames were spotted in the distance, they instinctively called for him.
…
As Jimmy ran, a thought crossed his mind: Smaug is dead. Then who set Lake-town on fire?
They reached the watchtower quickly. Kíli and Fili were already there. Balin and Thorin arrived moments later.
"King Thorin," Jimmy asked casually, "still forging weapons."
Thorin frowned.
"Jimmy, how many times have I told you: just call me Thorin. You are a friend of all Durin's folk. Between friends, titles only get in the way."
"Oh. Right," Jimmy said. "My mistake, Thorin… still forging weapons."
"Yes," Thorin replied. "You warned us a great battle was coming. Our weapons may be sufficient, but Erebor should arm its allies as well. More preparation never hurts."
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