"Delva?" Kili peeked into the next corridor, only to find that it was just as dark and intimidating as his uncle had been. Brows knit in concern, he continued further into the armory, taking in the sight with silent awe. There were weapons of all shapes and sizes, with armor so intricate they almost seemed too well made for battle. 

For a time, Kili merely observed his surroundings, completely oblivious to the fact that Saeril was right above him.
How was Thorin so sure that the Arkenstone was in the chamber of gold? What if it had been moved? The idea inspired Kili to hunt around -- if only to be in Thorin's good graces again. This would help Fili, too. Once the Arkenstone was found, Thorin could finally rule their kingdom, and all would be as it should have been.

Kili began by searching the area behind and underneath the array of swords. There were plenty of crevices and areas for an Arkenstone to hide. In certain parts of the floor, there were scattered pieces of gold and a few small diamonds, no doubt leftovers from Smaug's attack.
Though Kili was tired, he was also determined. The youngest continued his search of the room, though everything came to a halt when his legs gave out. Just as Fili had predicted, he had collapsed.

Nothing was going right. Thorin was on the warpath, Saeril was gone, Fili was covering for him...and for what? Was [i]this[/i] really worth their perilous journey? Erebor was cold, grim, and terribly uninviting. Home was far away, and the future looked very bleak.