A/N: I want to thank my reviewers LalaithElerrina, Sesshomaru's Babydoll and Tyo, you're stars! And here's the second instalment...

Bilbo lay on the crisp white linen bed that night, soundly asleep. He was much too small for it, but it didn't matter. The dwarves had tired him out at Gandalf's meeting. It seemed that none of them could agree on whether to show the map to Lord Elrond -

'Confound you all Thorin! You are simply being stubborn – I did not bring you here to sample the food! And that is all you have done so far!'

'I will not allow Elves to see my Grandfather's map! I do not require their help!'

In Bilbo's mind it was perfectly simple; just show Elrond the infernal piece of paper and have done with it. They could be on their merry way by sundown. Not of course that he wanted to leave Rivendell. He was perfectly happy soaking in the cultured, peaceful atmosphere and could stay here until it was time to go home. Part of him wished that Gandalf, in a fit of exasperation at Thorin, would actually call the whole thing off. And then he realised that Smaug would fly over here and offer up the key to Erebor on a golden platter before Gandalf would do such a thing.

He had slipped into a fitful sleep, dreaming that they'd made it to the Lonely Mountain where Thorin and Smaug decided to split the treasure and were arguing over who got to keep the priceless dinner plates. He awoke with a sudden start to the moon shining into the room and a soft breeze playing with the draperies. He sat up and rubbed his eyes; groaning, he got up and wrapped an elven dressing gown around him.

Yawning, he took a candle and made his way to the library where he planned to read until he felt sleepy again. He was most surprised to find that even at this small hour, he was not alone in the corridors.

The petite lady he saw yesterday was walking towards him, carrying a candle of her own and also sporting a dressing gown. She paused, as though unsure who she was looking at. And why should she be sure? She'd only met him once to glance at in the corridor.

'Who goes there?' she called, softly.

'Er... Bilbo Baggins at your service!' Bilbo called back, hoping Lord Elrond wasn't going to appear in his nightcap and tell them off for waking the entire house.

She glided closer; her hand was around the candle, protecting it from the night winds playing around the corridor.

Bilbo immediately felt nervous and smiled uneasily. In his clumsiness his candle wobbled and the flame went out, sending up smoke and making him cough unexpectedly.

'Are you alright?' she laughed gently.

'Yes, I'm...' He fumbled in his dressing gown for a handkerchief. 'I'm quite alright. Sorry! I won't keep you...' And he made as if to walk on.

'But where are you going at this hour, if you don't mind me asking?' she enquired.

'Not at all. The library,' he answered.

'But it's here.' She smiled, pointing to an open doorway in the corridor. 'I was just going there myself.'

'Oh, how silly of me.' He gestured to the doorway, motioning for her to go first.

'Thank you,'

Once inside, they both paused for a moment, looking at one another and unsure what to say.

'My name is Arabella,' she offered.

'Oh! Bilbo Baggins, at your service.' He bowed slightly.

'Yes.' She smiled. 'You already told me.'

'I'm sorry.' He felt himself going pink. 'I er... fear I'm rather sleepier than I thought. I'm sorry to take up your time; it was nice to meet you. I think I'll read for a while and then go back to bed.'

She smiled genuinely at his retreating back. What an endearing creature he was!

'Mr Baggins?' she called softly.

'Yes?' he turned back around.

'It was nice to meet you too,'

He swallowed and smiled quickly, turning before he could say something else absurd. He walked a little further into the library, chose a likely book and sat himself down at the table in the centre of the bookcases. He focused blankly on the first page for a while and then shook his head, muttering, 'How ridiculous you must have sounded Bilbo. Honestly, I never thought a pretty face could addle my brain so.'

The dainty figure watching him from the balcony above blushed.

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