Disclaimer: All recognized characters and lines are copyright their respective owners not limited to J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson & Co. The plot is mine, and I have a muse as fierce as dwarvin warriors to support that claim.

Author's Note: This was born of the idea that Thorin's stubbornness and learning that their intended fourteenth member of the company is a hobbit, refuses to consider it, and so it changes their fate, and leaves the last of the line of Durin suffering from survivor's guilt only to find himself at the mercy of a hobbit.

I hope that you all enjoy this story, and please remember to review.

I would also like to warn you now, this story, as it progresses, will contain slash, if you are uncomfortable with that then you continue reading this at your own risk.

-Cassie

Sin Bear the Name of Virtue
By C.K. Blake

"War's rage draws near; and to the sword's strong hand
Let all laws yield, sin bear the name of virtue,
Many a year these furious broils let last,
Why should we wish the gods should ever end them?"

-Christopher Marlowe

One: The Stubbornness of Dwarves and the Hospitality of Hobbits

They all had known thirteen to be an unlucky number, but it was the number of dwarves in Thorin Oakenshield's company, and plus the wizard made fourteen. The wizard of course insisted on adding another to their company, but the stubbornness of dwarves is well known and Thorin upon hearing their newest member would be one of the gentle folk, a Halfling from the Shire, had refused.

Perhaps an additional member, one of these gentle folk would have changed their luck, or maybe would have seen the poor fellow to the same fate. All he knows is that the quest has ended, and he is the last of Durin's line, and he chokes on that realization, no homeland, his uncle and brother lost, their heads taken to the damnable pale Orc, all in their party Dwalin, Balin, Bofur, Bifur, Bombur, Oin, Gloin, Ori, Nori, and Dori are lost, most likely dead in the goblin infested mountains, and all that spared him was falling down a different tunnel, a mere moment of chance, and finding a magic ring.

Still he is not without his wounds as he crawls free from the cave, tumbling down the side of the mountain, the dawn giving him a moment's salvation from the goblins within, but night will come and he will then join his brother and uncle as he was meant to within the cave. Where had the wizard gone? Maybe some might have been spared if the wizard had stayed among them.

The wound in his side seeps red, his hands are scraped from his desperation to reach the sun, and there is still blood from the head wound he gained when he fell down a different cavern than the others. He feels the ring on his finger, pulsing, and he feels bile rising up his throat. This ring must be some kind of dark and terrible magic to have been lost in so evil a place. He takes the ring from his finger, and drops it into his pocket to forget it, to forget this whole questing business.

He is now son of no one, let his mother and the others think he died nobly with brother and uncle and his brothers in arms. That he has survived when they have not is a disgrace. He will lay in wait and take the same fate as the others. He closes his eyes; his head ringing from the knocking it took earlier as the rush of survival instinct leaves him to his defeat to welcome death.

"Aule, spare me the stubbornness of dwarves," the old wizard mumbles in his sadness, finding that he is too late, that Thorin and his company are now lost.

Still Gandalf the Grey senses the heartbeat of one left, steadily weakening, but there is one in the line that lives still. Gandalf follows the senses guiding him, and at the base of the mountain he sees a slumped form. There is blood seeping from a wound in the dwarf's side, blood covering his face and hands, and guilt grows with the sorrow within Gandalf.

"Your part in this is done young Kili, the price for a failed quest too high. I owe you much young dwarf, but I can offer you only sanctuary and life. The rest you must forge for yourself, and I pray that you grow to less resentment for me in time.

The wizard makes quick work of binding the dwarf's side, and then drops his hands to the injured fellow's shoulder before he firmly strikes his staff to the ground, the ancient words of the Maiar spoken, and in their place is only the splashes of blood lost from the dwarf's wound.

The wizard opens his eyes and smiles as he finds himself before a familiar green door, still bearing the mark he carved into it so many weeks ago, all for naught as Thorin wouldn't even consider the venture into the Shire, and Gandalf shakes his head, but there is naught to be done for what has already come to pass.

He looks down at the dark haired young dwarf, and thinks that here, in this place, maybe there will be peace to be found for the young man. He leaves the unconscious dwarf before the door, and knocks against the round, green door firmly with his staff before heading off down the lane.

The hobbit will be nothing if not compassionate for the injured dwarf and Gandalf will return soon with aid for the dwarf, medicine to stave off the growing fever and festering beginning to take hold of the dwarf's wound. He knows he's made the right decision as he looks back and sees Master Bilbo Baggins opening his door, and looking around before looking down startled and finding the injured dwarf.

It is the best decision really to see Kili to the peaceful land of the Shire, and bringing back a healer from Rivendell rather than sequestering the dwarf to a land of the people his uncle despised.

It is with a heavy heart that Gandalf leaves behind the dwarf, but again, he knows the dwarf is left in good hands.

-THE HOBBIT-

The knock on the door perplexes the hobbit within Bag End. Bilbo Baggins, just ready to sit down at his breakfast lets out a sigh and drops his napkin. If it is that harpy Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, Bilbo is determined to give her a rather stern talking to this time about his choice in whom he will enter into courtship, if he ever considers the prospect of marriage, which he more than likely never will as it may result in the natterings of a Lobelia of his own.

He approaches his door, incensed over his meal having been interrupted and opens his door to find no one. He is about to close the door and return within when he notices the strange whistling sound of labored breathing. He turns his face downward to the direction of the noise and his eyes widen at the sight of the injured dwarf, hardly bearded, mostly bloodied, and unconscious on his doorstep.

He manages to drag the dwarf inside of his door, but to see the dwarf further into the house, Bilbo will need help. He worries himself to think, and decides on his closest neighbor Hamfast Gamgee. He frets over leaving the injured dwarf unattended, but something must be done, especially as the dwarf continues to bleed out on his carpet.

He opens his door again, this time rather forcibly and catches the dwarf in the legs, and the dwarf lets out a grunt. Bilbo winces and then hurries forth. He hastens to his neighbor and good friend Hamfast, and apologizing to Hamfast the entire hurried return to Bag End for having interrupted Hamfast's breakfast. The pair enter Bilbo's home and Hamfast is surprised at the sight of the injured dwarf on the other side of Bilbo's door.

Between the two of them, the hobbits manage to get the dwarf to Bilbo's bedroom, and secured in his bed, and Bilbo takes to removing the dwarf's boots and outwear to assess the further damage of the injured man.

"Haven't seen dwarves venture here in quite some time, Mister Bilbo, and this one, he's been hurt something bad. What you suppose got him this way? Think he brings with him danger to the Shire?" Hamfast says.

Bilbo shrugs. "I don't know, but the least I can do is tend him as he found himself to my door, at least until he is well to tell his tale or dead to be buried here."

The dwarf is down to his trousers and shirt in Bilbo's bed, and Bilbo winces at the irreparable damage done to the sheets, but this cannot be helped. Hamfast disappears for a moment and returns with a basin of water and cloths and sets them on the table next to the bed. Bilbo gives him a nod and says, "I think I have it from here, go back to your breakfast Hamfast. He came to my door, and has become my responsibility."

"Are you sure? His wounds look like something from battle. He might yet pose danger to you."

Bilbo smiles at his long time friend and neighbor. "There's not even a guarantee that he will wake up. I'll be fine."

Hamfast hesitates, but does leave as Bilbo requests, but not before offering further assistance should Bilbo need it. Bilbo thanks him and waves him off. Once he hears the sound of his front door closing he returns his attention to the dwarf in his bed and reaches for one of the cloths Hamfast brought into the room, dipping it into the cool water in the basin and he begins to wipe clean the dwarf's face, noticing the flush of fever, he adds a cool cloth to the dwarf's forehead, and then he wrestles to undo the dwarf's shirt to examine the seeping wound.

The cut is on the dwarf's right side, angry and red, about the length of the hobbit's hand, still seeping and probably in need of stitching. The hobbit pokes at the wound, gaining a jolt from the dwarf's body and a groan.

Bilbo recalls some of his mother's lessons on medicine, things she learned from her adventures in Rivendell. He recalls the herbs needed for staunching bleeding, yarrow, and what's needed for treatment of infection and fever, feverfew, lemon grass, rosemary. Things that he has in his pantry.

He hurries to his pantry to find the herbs he'll need and put and kettle on to make an infusion of them. He then goes in search of his sewing kit he uses for mending socks and fixing buttons, and stops to collect some clean cloths he keeps for bandaging and returns to his room.

He cleans the wound as best his can with the cloths and water he has, and he does not miss the pinkish tint of the water now in the basin.

At the whistling of the kettle he returns to his kitchen to steep the herbs in another basin and brings that basin back to his room. While he waits on the herbs to steep he changes the bloody water for fresh soapy water and continues to clean up the dwarf, carefully removing the dwarf's shirt and trousers and under things, and making quick work of wiping him down. Bilbo notices the bruising on the dwarf's chest, arms, and legs, and the cuts on his hands.

He pulls the sheets up over the dwarf's waist for the sake of the man's modesty, and when he deems the infusion ready and the herbs properly steeped, he uses this water to clean the wound. The bleeding slows further, and the dwarf hisses in his sleep as Bilbo uses the hot water to clean and disinfect the wound. Sweat beads on the injured man's forehead more so than before, and for a moment the man's eyes open, and Bilbo meets a wild and fevered dark brown gaze as his hand with the cloth is grabbed in a strong grip. Bilbo's breath catches and then the man's body gives out, and he recedes into a seemingly deeper bout of unconsciousness.

Bilbo uses this unconsciousness to his advantage as he readies needle and thread, dips it in the herbal infusion and begins to stitch shut the wound on the dwarf's side, this sewing not so different from darning his socks, or so he tells himself as he continues his grim work.

By the time he has done as much as he can for his impromptu guest his breakfast is rather cold, but still once he washes his hands he sits at his table to begin the meal he was taken from earlier. As he brings the bread to his mouth there comes another knock at his door and his eyes widen, wondering if he will find himself playing healer to yet another dwarf.

He cautiously approaches his door and his eyes widen at the side of familiar grey eyes in a craggy face surrounded by grey hair and grey beard. He pulls open his door to question Gandalf on the arrival of the injured dwarf only to find that the wizard is accompanied by a tall, finely dressed elf with long brown hair and a kind smile.

Bilbo's mouth falls open in astonishment, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Come now, Mr. Baggins, let us in so that we can attend to your guest."

Bilbo nods and steps back, watching as both wizard and elf stoop to enter his home, and once he closes the door after them he leads them to his room where the dwarf rests, still sweating, but he is still.

"Mithrandir, this is the only one left from the line of Durin?" the elf asks.

Gandalf nods. "Aye, I warned them that they were short in numbers, but there is no greater barrier in the world than the stubbornness of dwarves. It is most unfortunate. The menace of the Lonely Mountain shall remain for some time yet, and I fear that this one, the last of Durin's line is too broken to ever recover the failure of his quest, Elrond."

"Lord Elrond, of Rivendell?" Bilbo manages in surprise.

"Yes, and I see that you've tended his wounds," Elrond says, pulling down the sheet and examining the dwarf further. "Well done on the stitching Mr. Baggins."

"T-thank y-yo-you," Bilbo manages, and watches as the elf continues to look over the dwarf.

"Also the herbs you selected to clean his wounds, very good choices," Elrond says and then looks up examining the hobbit and smiles, "But then I would not expect less from Belladonna Took's son. She was a good friend, and I am sorry for your loss of her."

Bilbo nods with a grim smile and then refocuses his attention on the dwarf. "What about him? Will he live then?"

Elrond looks down at the injured dwarf and reaches for the bag draped at his side. He retrieves a jar from the bag, uncorks it and dips his fingers into a type of salve, applying it over the dwarf's side wound and the gash at his hairline. He then re-corks the salve and sets it next to the basin on the bedside table before he holds his hands over the dwarf's chest and a glow comes from his hands.

The elf's mouth turns to a small smile and he nods as he looks warmly at the hobbit. "His body is already mending. I imagine with the great loss of blood he will need time to recover his full strength, but he will live. It is the emotional loss that is most troubling though. His losses are great in so short a time, and it was as he gained these injuries that he suffered these terrible losses. He does have the will to live, whether or not he yet realizes it."

"Right then, so I'll have him as my guest for some time. I suppose it cannot be helped unless you think his recovery would come about better in Rivendell?" Bilbo says.

"Actually, I think our young Master Kili will be better recovered here in the Shire. I have some of his things that may help to pay for his expenses and care. I doubt he has much faith in elves, but hobbits are not elves are they? And he will be better served by the peace and quiet offered here," Gandalf says.

"But what do I know about dwarves and their care?" Bilbo stutters out.

Gandalf turns to the hobbit and says, "He is a man, the same as you. You know he will recover. Will his being here disrupt so much in your life Bilbo? Take you from your gardening, your books, your writing? He will not put you out in expenses, of that you can be assured. I'll turn his chest over to you, as well as the weapons I was able to recover. He'll need to have clothing. I can make those arrangements as well before I depart with Lord Elrond, but rest assured, that as long as this dwarf remains housed here, Bag End, and all of the Shire will have my protection. See that he is well cared for Mr. Baggins."

"Are you already off then?" Bilbo lets out with a squeak as the wizard retreats from the room down the hall.

The hobbit turns to the elf still in the room with wide eyes. "He's gone to retrieve the things he mentioned, and in the mean time, I advise that you treat his wounds with this salve, it has great healing properties and should speed up the healing of the gash on his head and the wound in his side. Rubbing it into his bruises will speed up the heeling there as well. He will still be weak for some time, but his pain will be less. Also if I may extend an invitation to my home Imladris."

"You mean Rivendell? Me invited to Rivendell? Really," the hobbit asks, amazement in his tone.

The elf chuckles. "Of course. I look forward to getting to know the son of Belladonna Took, but first see to the care of this man. I'm sure you will grow to help each other in time. You have a rather important fellow now in your care Bilbo Baggins."

"Yes, well I will put forth my best effort to his recovery, as you have advised," Bilbo says, only to jump at Gandalf's return.

"Good then. I have his things in the hall by your door. Now that we are certain of Master Kili's recovery we must be off. And Bilbo, thank you for your help in this business. It may not always be so easy as soothing his brow or tending his injuries, but I've confidence that you will manage. Just take patience with him and beware the stubbornness of dwarves. What they call determination most would deem bullheadedness."

Bilbo's eyes widen at this, and the elf gives him a pat on the shoulder and says, "If you have need, I will leave my falcon here, his name is Rasilon. Write your needs in a small letter, call him to you, and bind the letter to the cord attached to his left talon and he will see it to me personally and I will provide you what assistance I can."

"You're leaving right now?" Bilbo asks in astonishment.

Gandalf nods. "I sent for Elrond to check in on Kili, and we can both see that he will be well tended here, and we must away on other business. I will pop in from time to time to check in on you and Master Kili, but I believe you seem to have this well in hand."

Bilbo watches helplessly as the wizard and the elf quit his house and leave a strange dwarf, Kili they called him, in his care.

Bilbo huffs and mutters, "He warns me of the stubbornness of dwarves, but what of the aloofness of wizards?"

With a sigh he heads to his kitchen and mourns the loss of breakfast, but now it is the time for brunch, or second breakfast as some call it, and so he takes out the makings of soup with chicken, carrots, celery, rice, and peas, as well as some of his secret ingredients, a hint of brown sugar, lemon grass, rosemary, time, pepper, cloves, and basil. He puts the cauldron over the fire, and is about to prepare dough for bread when he hears a crash and unfamiliar curse coming from the direction of the hall of his bedroom.

He abandons gathering the ingredients for the dough and hurries down the corridor as more crashing and cursing sounds from his room. He throws open his door and sees his bedroom in a state of mess that quite overwhelms him.

"You there! Stop that!" he scolds at the sheet wrapped dwarf stumbling about his room, pawing through his wardrobe.

The dwarf turns at the sound of the voice and his dark eyes narrow on Bilbo. "Where are my bloody clothes and who in all of Mordor are you?! Where am I? Last I remember I just escaped a band of goblins and was bleeding to death at the bottom of a mountain!"

"Well I was taken from my breakfast this morning to discover you filthy and bleeding on my doorstep. I took you in, got you cleaned up, and saw to your wounds. Your clothes I have yet to tend to in washing, and I doubt anything of mine will fit you. Now I suggest you get back to bed, or if you're in need of the privy the bathroom is the second door on your left," Bilbo snaps, and then remembering his patience he softens his tone and says, "My name is Bilbo Baggins of Bag End, and you will be staying here throughout your recovery. Now if there is nothing more, back to bed with you so that I can finish cooking brunch. Hope you don't mind soup. I've prepared enough of it to last us several meals throughout the day as I'm not sure what your stomach may withstand at this time."

At the grumbling of his stomach the young dwarf blushes and turns his face to the floor in shame. "Sounds fine. I'll back to bed then, but… Could you maybe bring me some of my things? My sword or quiver? It would be a comfort to have now that I'm in a strange land."

"And would you turn these weapons against me?" Bilbo asks, his voice a little high pitched and the dwarf snorts.

"You hardly seem a threat Mr. Boggins."

"It's Baggins!" Bilbo retorts and turns on the heel of his sizable hobbit feet and heads back to the kitchen to attend the soup, and then to his door where Gandalf had left the dwarf's possessions.

He looks through the vast collection of weapons on the trunk, the axes, swords, a bow and quiver of arrows, a mace, two broad swords that appear to match and a collection of knives among them. He selects the knives and takes them to his room to his coarse guest.

When he returns to his room he sees the dwarf struggling to right some of the furnishings he over turned in addition to trying to keep the sheet wrapped about his waist. Bilbo shakes his head and rolls his eyes as he says, "Back to bed with you before you tear your stitches. I can tend to the mess."

The dwarf looks up with a start and then his eyes narrow on the collection of knives in his host's hands. He stumbles toward the hobbit and falls to his knees as he looks at the weapons, delicately fingering the hilts and blinking back tears.

"Where… Where did you get these?" the dark haired, dark eyed dwarf looks up, pain evident in his gaze.

Bilbo clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable and says, "Gandalf left them here for you. He also left a trunk of yours by my door to help with expenses he said. That is neither here nor there. You're a guest in my home. I'll see to you, and you're welcome to stay as you wish. I'll not turn you out."

Kili shakes his head, a broken sound escaping his lips as he begins to tremble, still fingering the hilts of the blades. "This is too much, your kindness, your generosity. I should have died with the others. That would have been honorable."

"Hey, hey now," Bilbo says and reaches down to brace the young dwarf's shoulder with a firm hold and says, "I'll take charge of your weapons until you are better and of clearer mind. You've naught to worry about, the Shire is under Gandalf's protection, and we are a peaceful, quiet people. We keep mostly to ourselves. Now lets get you back to bed and I'll have the soup ready soon. I'll bring you a bowl and one for myself and we'll enjoy it here, and maybe get to know each other a bit better. I also need to prepare the bread. Bread would be good for you, some sustenance to build up your strength."

"Sounds good, but before you do I've a request. My trousers, can you bring them to me, there's something in the pockets that I need," the dwarf says, and Bilbo nods.

He goes to the basket where he keeps his laundry and retrieves the trousers covered in filth. He wrinkles his nose, but if this will bring his guest comfort then he will endure this. Once he's back in the room he sees that the knives are on his dresser on the far side of the room and the dwarf has returned to the bed.

"These are not fit for wearing at the moment. I haven't the time to start on the washing just yet," Bilbo says, but the dwarf shakes his head.

"That's not it. I just need what's in the pocket. I'm fine as I am for now. Nothing neither of us hasn't seen before, both being male," he says, and takes the trousers Bilbo holds out to him and fishes around in the pockets.

His face darkens as he retrieves what looks like a ring from within. He doesn't seem pleased with what he's found, but there is a spark of what Bilbo imagines is that stubbornness Gandalf mentioned earlier as the dwarf examines what's in his hand, and then looks up at Bilbo, "I don't wish to alarm you friend but this is a thing of dark magic. It's been placed in my keeping, and you needn't worry. I'll keep it from your sight. I just didn't want you to come by it accidentally and pay the price for it's keeping."

"Fair enough," Bilbo concedes and catches the trousers as the dwarf tosses them back to him.

"Mr. Baggins," the dwarf calls, and Bilbo inclines his head as the dwarf bows his head and says, "Kili, at your service."

"Then call me Bilbo, Kili. Welcome to Bag End, my home," the hobbit replies, and then raises a brows as Kili seems to be about to ask for something more.

Kili huffs, winces as the movement pulls at his stitches and then says, "I… Would you be able to fetch me some thin leather and the tools for the crafting of it? I'd like something to do while restricted to this bed and it seems I would be hard pressed to work metal or find smith work in my current condition."

"After brunch I can see to it," Bilbo says with a smile and scurries off to the kitchen to check the soup and make the bread for it.

Once the bread is baked and the meat and vegetables in the soup tender Bilbo finds an old tray, a couple of bowls, and silverware. He also takes out a couple of cups, and he is caught in surprise, wondering what his guest might prefer for his drink. Bilbo calls out the question down the hall to his room, and the answer is given back in a shout, "Ale if you have it!"

Bilbo's eyes widen, but he gets the mug and goes off to where his finer drinks, wines and ales are kept and obliges the dwarf with his finest ale. For himself he decides on water. He pulls the large cauldron of soup from the fire and using a ladle fills the bowls, settling them on the tray he's found. He adds the ale and glass of water to the tray, and cuts two slices from the freshly baked bread to add to a plate that he puts on the tray and then with the tray in hand he walks down the hall to his room.

He notices from the doorway that Kili is dozing. He places the tray down on his dresser and approaches the dwarf. He pulls the sheet down from Kili's chest to his waist, examining the stitched wound in his side and as he places his hand on Kili's side to gently shift him to get a closer look the dwarf starts and grabs his arm. Bilbo cries out, and with wide dark eyes Kili releases the hobbit as he realizes where he is.

"Sorry Mr. Bilbo, but maybe next time you can call out to wake me. I'm easy to start these days it would seem," Kili says, a big smile pulling at his mouth, but not reaching his eyes. The dwarf seems too young to be so jaded, and Bilbo imagines that once that smile had been quite pleasant to look upon.

"I'll remember for next time, now we need to get you sitting up so you don't spill the soup. You'll have the tray for your lap. I can manage without it," Bilbo says.

Kili raises a dark brow of inquiry, and Bilbo can only imagine that in happier times this dwarf must have been known for his mischievous streak. "Quite the charmer you are Mr. Baggins, already have me out of my clothes, as you like in your bed, and serving what is for me breakfast in bed."

Bilbo flushes bright red doing his best to ignore the comment and Kili takes the initiative to sit up and Bilbo makes quick work of snatching the pillows and bringing them up for the dwarf to lean back against, providing some cushion between the dwarf's back and the headboard of the bed.

Once Kili is settled and sitting up, Bilbo takes his bowl, glass, and silverware from the tray and takes the tray with bread, bowl, silverware, and ale to the dwarf. Kili takes the ale and sets it down on the bedside table within his reach, and immediately he grabs up one of the slices of bread shoving it into his mouth. Bilbo watches with horrified amazement as the dwarf chews with his mouth open.

Upon finishing the bread, the dwarf takes the bowl of soup in his hands, disregarding the silverware completely and slurps the broth, meat, and vegetables down with little thought. He eats so fast that Bilbo actually wonders if he tastes any of it at all.

Once he's done with the soup, the dwarf then reaches for the ale and drains it. Bilbo wonders how the dwarf has managed so far to eat the entirety of his meal without choking. After finishing the ale Kili unleashes an enormous belch and scratches at his chest before looking at Bilbo and asking, "Well, aren't you going to eat?"

"It would seem at the moment that my appetite has failed me. Would you care for more? There's the other slice of bread and you can have this bowl of soul as well if you're still hungry. I can fetch you more ale," Bilbo offers, and Kili takes the bread and finishes it off and Bilbo takes his soup to the still hungry dwarf while taking the mug out to refill it.

While he's refilling the mug he recalls some leather and tools his mother had, for she favored crafting things, kept in her glory box. He decides he'll retrieve that as well to give he dwarf something to do as he'd requested earlier. With the leather, tools, and refilled ale Bilbo returns to the room. Kili smiles warmly at him, a smile that brightens at the sight of the things Bilbo has brought to him.

Kili takes his time with his second mug of ale as Bilbo clears out the dishes. While in the kitchen Bilbo's appetite returns. He makes a sandwich and eats it quickly so as to return to the guest in his home.

Upon his return to the room he's noticed that Kili has already started working on the leather, fashioning what looks to be a small drawstring purse, and the intended cords of the purse are rather long. He sits down in a wooden chair he keeps in his room, drawing it closer to watch the dwarf at work, taking with him his glass of water to set next to the dwarf's ale within his reach on the bedside table.

The dwarf takes his time fashioning the bag, making it secure, triple threading it, almost as though he's fashioning it to be a small water skin. He tests the weight of the stitching of the leather pieces, tugging it and is pleased at the strength of it.

He then looks up at Bilbo and asks for a candle so he can heat the soldering tool he's been provided with. Bilbo does as asked, finding a candle on the dresser and making quick work of lighting it. He brings the candle over to the bedside table, watches as the dwarf puts the tip of the tool in the flame heating it. Once the tip glows with heat the dwarf seals his stitch work with fire, making the small bag waterproof. Once that is done, and the leather cooled, the dwarf returns the solder to the flame to stay hot.

He situates the bag so that his stitching and soldering of it is on the inside, the seams of the small bag, well done and leaving the bag in a fitting teardrop shape. Bilbo then watches as the dwarf retrieves the tool and begins etching symbols and runes into the leather, taking his time and repeating the process on both sides of the bag.

The dwarf then sets aside the tool, and in Khuzdul, the language of his people, he appears to pray over the item. Once he's finished he reaches into the drawer of the bedside table, retrieves the very same item he'd taken earlier from his trousers, and drops it into the little bag. He then fashions a long leather strip, threads it through where he meant the bag to be a drawstring, centers the item, tightly knots the leather strip, soldering and effectively sealing the small leather bag closed.

Finished with his task he ties the leather strips about his neck until the bag rests at the base of his throat, using a complicated knot to make sure the leather pouch is secure, and then cuts the ends of the strips short, turns it about and then looks up to his host with a smile.

"Would you mind taking the soldering tool and finishing this up by sealing the knot for me? I plan to never be rid of this item, and sealing the knot will insure that," Kili requests and then smiles encouragingly at the hobbit as he reaches for the tool and holds it out to Bilbo. "I trust that you won't burn me, and even if you do, it won't be the worst of the injuries I've suffered of late, Bilbo."

The hobbit fulfills the dwarf's request, albeit rather timidly and carefully. The dwarf is pleased when Bilbo is done and then lets out a long yawn.

"It looks as though you could use some rest. Settle in and go to sleep. I'll let you know when it's lunchtime, and then afternoon tea. I'll prepare some of my mother's favorite for you, and there will be sandwiches and fresh biscuits I'll put on. I'll also look after your laundry. Call out if you need anything Kili," the hobbit says as he blows out the candle and watches the dwarf get settled down into the bed.

"Sounds like something to look forward to. Thank you for your hospitality Mr. Baggins," he says around a yawn and as he drifts off he softly adds, "I promise one day I'll make myself worthy of it."

Bilbo simply shakes his head and begins clearing out the dishes and tray set out on the other bedside table by the dwarf. Once out of his room he settles in to do the tasks at hand, the cleaning, laundry, and mending, but Bilbo can't help wondering at the promise the dwarf had let slip out earlier.

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