Unnatural Attraction

He looks so young…He's all curves and soft glades and not at all edges. Curls instead of strict braids. Suede instead of leather. Silk instead of fur. With small hands and round cheeks, and a wide smile so filled with naiveté. And the more I look at him, the more disturbing feelings grow. Feeling that should not ever be directed at someone like him.

The conversation turned to ages and cultures one night beside a fire, and it was his nephew that asked with an air of flippancy:

"And how old are you Mr. Bilbo? Surely a Burglar of your standing has years of experience behind his back."

The hobbit flashes and tries to play it off, but Kili is persistent and finally an answer is given.

"If you have to know, I am fifty years old. Quite a respectable age!" huffs the other, not noticing the sudden silence around him. He looks up and sees everyone staring at him with astonishment. "What? Have I got something on my face?" rubbing his cheek with a sleeve.

"You're only fifty?" says Fili with a shuddering breath as he drags his hand through his hair, looking at his suddenly distraught brother.

"Well yes, how old did you think I was?" Frowns Bilbo in return.

"At least 80; at the very minimum 80!" Cries out Kili

"What's wrong with being 50 then?" asks the hobbit as he tries to understand the trouble that his age brings about the company.

"Bilbo, I'm 75. Fili is 84. There is no one younger then us here. " says Kili quietly.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Thorin doesn't listen to the end of the conversation. He slinks back into the shadow, carrying on his watch, but inside… on he is bleeding on the inside. How could Gandalf let such a young thing be brought along? How could he even live alone? The hobbit was basically a tween!

At that revelation more and more guilt churns up inside the dwarf. He is not only attracted to a member of a different species, but to a child…