More Than The Shire, Deeper Than The Mountain: Part 1
Thorin held onto the hobbit as if his life depended on it, never had he been so glad to be so wrong.

"Don't ever risk your life like that again Bilbo" he whispered as he tightened his grip onto the hobbit.

At first Bilbo said nothing for he was far too shocked by the sudden warm embrace that Thorin Oakenshield had enveloped him in.

Finally he found his voice and whispered his own reply

"I cannot promise you that Thorin, I could not see you fall to that white orc for I have come to realise that you mean more than the Shire to me, "

Thorin froze still clinging to the hobbit as the words Bilbo spoke echoed throughout his very being.

"As you do to me Bilbo Baggins" came his eventual hushed reply

The hobbit looked up into Thorin's eyes and saw that his words were sincere, giving a slight gulp Bilbo nodded then smiled awkwardly as he slowly realised that the rest of the Company of Dwarves and Gandalf were all stood watching them both with smiles etched on their faces.

"What happens now?" Bilbo asked the dwarven leader.

"I know not, let us see what the fates and our hearts command of us"