I really appreciate that you guys like this story so much! I don't have an idea on how long this might be, but I know that it covers the Battle of the Five Armies and sometime after the original story line. I couldn't find a name for Thranduil's elk so I named it myself.

(Edit: Sorry I didn't update earlier but my computer is shit and needed to be fixed for a week. Sorry!)

Paring: Bilbo Baggins/Thranduil, the Elven King of Mirkwood

Bilbo Baggins/Legolas Greenleaf

Rating: MA, can change to Explicit on AO3.

The Hobbit belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien.

It was like he was being paraded around, almost as if he were a pretty jewel to show off to the elves that had not yet met him. At this point he welcomed it freely and did not even care if he was being openly cherished, more so by Legolas and Thranduil than any others. Bilbo was quite used to being manhandled by the elves and as of now he was literally sitting in the lap of luxury.

The King of Greenwood was visibly smug as he sat at the head of a long wooden table with the hobbit in his lap, his curly head pressed firmly against his chest. Legolas sat at the right side of his father while the left side was empty, a subtle reminder that the Queen was gone. Then the nobles were next at the table, the filled out a good thirty or so seats and then the Council sat the farthest from the Royals.

"My fellow elves, I am most sorry for the earlier interruption of our feast, but please let us focus on the little joys of our lives. Let us rejoice in the memory that the stars give us and let us take pleasure from the small mercies that Eru Iluvatar has given us," Thranduil maneuvered his arms around Bilbo and took a fork. His eyes scanned the room quickly before he took the first bite, officially starting the feast.

Bilbo grabbed his own fork and ate off the smaller plate next to Thranduil's, seeing as it was placed there for the hobbit to reach easily. Living with dwarves for months had changed his eating habits, he had been used to eating meat and soup. Not much room for vegetables in the three rationed meals a day, so he was getting used to the salads that the elves were fond of.

Throughout the entire room there was the peaceful sounds of cutlery clanging softly on dish and the soft conversations that were going on. Servants bustled back and forth, refiling goblets with wine and slowly taking empty plates from people. Above him he could hear Thranduil talk to Legolas in Sindarin about something that was either very lackluster or very tedious. After a lovely entree of smoked salmon Bilbo was full and rested in the warm lap of the King. Every now and then he would notice people looking at him.

So he sat there, like a perfect doll and was engulfed in warmth from the King behind him; very aware of the stares aimed his way form other elves. His curly hair was weighed down by a small silver circlet and in the lap of the King he looked like he belonged there; dressed in the silks of royalty. It gave the hobbit a sense of security he hadn't felt since the seeds of doubt had been placed in his head by Legolas and Thranduil.

He had been alone for so long, and it felt good to be wanted and needed again.

Every now and then he would be politely introduced to an elf or a couple, but other than that he only talked to the royal family. After many different courses that could put even the most grand hobbit dishes to shame music started to play. It was lyrical and beautiful as he watched couples take to a dance floor and were so graceful that they fluidly moved along. As if they were merely gliding across the floors and never once touched it.

"What do hobbits like to do in their spare time Bilbo?" Legolas inquired as he relaxed in his chair with a glass of wine in hand. The prince was doing his best to keep Bilbo in conversations, hoping that the hobbit was having a good time. Thranduil had taken to lightly talking with other elves as Bilbo chatted with Legolas, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. His hand absently stroking his hair, careful not to mess with the delicate circlet resting on the curls.

Then without warning he felt himself get pulled into Thranduil's arms before being carefully passed to Legolas; a worried archer stood behind the King's chair. Looking to Thranduil he saw a look of anger on his face, well to be honest anger didn't describe this. It was like pure fury and Bilbo was actually afraid of the usually gentle elf; to seek protection from the elf he sank into Legolas. His head resting against the elf's neck as Legolas cradled him tenderly.

"Ada, please calm down," the Prince whispered as he nodded his head in the direction of the other elves.

However, he did nothing of the sort.

"Banishment is her punishment! If any are to see her in our woods again then strike her dead," he said to the archer before dismissing him. His long fingers grasped at his arm rests as he tried to calm himself down, if only for Bilbo's sake. The hobbit was getting wary of the king as he sat himself down and regained his composure, his honey eyes darting back and forth between Thranduil and Legolas. "I'm sorry for loosing my temper," he said to the table.

"Apology accepted your Highness," they replied.

He eyed the King a bit before conceding that if it was truly important than he would tell him, and it pleased Bilbo greatly that he was trusted enough with all this information. Even Legolas told him things that he found the Prince never truly tell others, not even Tauriel was told some of these things. The thing that got Bilbo the most was that Thranduil had told him of his deceased wife, although he never mentioned her name directly.

It was just the other day when the King had opened up at Bilbo's inquiries of a Queen, and not only did regret and sorrow flash across his face but there was acceptance. Thranduil had accepted his wife's death and even though it disheartened him, though in Bilbo's opinion that was not a bid enough adjective, he had prevailed.

"I would not change what had happened dear One," he told him just two days before the Company escaped. Thranduil had pulled the hobbit into his lap and smiled as he let the King brush his hair. "If I had then where would we be today? Even if I miss her, and there are days I miss her dearly, but going through that trauma and coming out a better person," he whispered into Bilbo's ear that bright afternoon.

"Was it hard?" he asked.

"It is not easy dear Bilbo, and I will not lie to you. I almost Faded from this world, but it was with my strength I prevailed," pressing a soft kiss to the sun kissed curls on his head. Bilbo had settled into the warmth behind him serenely and smiled at the time; the hobbit was falling farther into the spider's web and was not minding it at all.

"What was she like?"

"I can't dare to describe her, just like I can't even begin to describe you," and the two had spent time lazily overlooking the Forest River. Of course Thranduil had to go back to his kingly duties and then Legolas took his spot. Yes, he was irrevocably caught in the web that the elves made around him, and he would not even try to struggle against it.

At the time Bilbo had said that he would come back after going with the Company, after fulfilling his contract of course. He was a hobbit of his word and would do as he said he would.

Then the Company had left without him and he accepted his fate, that he was to forever stay with the Mirkwood Elves.

Now he happily sat with royalty and soaked up the attention he had been devoid of for a long time; he had not felt this adored and loved since his parents had died in the Fell Winter. Legolas had braided his hair lightly as Bilbo was given some desert, which the hobbit then shared with the Prince and the King. Bilbo gladly shared the pound cake with the two and lightly sang along with the music.

"Do you know any songs Bilbo?" Legolas asked him.

"I know drinking songs that my Took relations knew as well as the more refined songs from my Baggins side," it had been a hard time trying to explain to the scribes his large family tree. The only thing Bilbo didn't do was tell the location of the Shire and the elves were fine with that so long as he supplied them with more information. That had truly been a nightmare.

"A pray tell some of the songs," Thranduil smiled gently as he calmed his posture down. The others in the room had begun to settle at the mention of the hobbit singing and Bilbo flushed prettily at them.

"Are you sure?" and he was met with enthusiastic nods from all and let Legolas set him on the table. His large feet touching smooth cloth and all eyes were now on him if they weren't before. "My Dad had called this Demelza's Song," he said as he cleared his throat and all fell silent.

"I'd a pluck a fair rose for my love

I'd a pluck a red rose blowin'

Love's in my heart, i'm tryin' so to prove

What your heart's knowin'..." his voice was soft as it drifted through the large room. All the elves were watching him with a nice, relaxed posture as he sang and the harp in the background was not helping the elves stop their unconscious slouch. Bilbo closed his eyes and took a deep breath before looking back up with his honey eyes.

"I'd a pluck a finger on a thorn

I'd a pluck a finger bleedin'

Red is my heart, wounded and forlorn

And your heart needin'," his eyes flashing over Legolas and Thranduil's forms briefly before going back over to the others in audience.

"I'd a hold a finger to my tongue

I'd a hold a finger waitin'

My heart is sore, until it joins in song

With your heart matin'," he dragged out the last syllables slightly before looking at his feet while the elves clapped. This ears tinged red with embarrassment as Legolas helped him off the table.

"That was beautiful Bilbo," Legolas beamed and behind him Thranduil mirrored that expression. He never really knew just how cold-hearted Thranduil had been just weeks before he had been found in their Mirkwood, and in order to keep Bilbo the elves weren't ready to let that fact go. Not a bit. Even if it meant lying to the hobbit, well it really wasn't lying at this point.

Especially if Thranduil was gradually becoming nicer under the hobbit's influence.

~.~.~.

The days passed in relative ease and he was allowed to leave the healer's ward completely; though he had a guard follow him wherever he went and it got slightly annoying sometimes. Bilbo was allowed to go anywhere he pleased and met all kinds of elves, and enjoyed talking to them. Though the circlet on the top of his had others looking cautious as he did so.

The elflings had no problem with Bilbo and he had no problem with them; often indulging to play with them while Legolas and Thranduil attended to their duties. Tauriel hadn't been able to visit him as much as she and he would have preferred but every other day she would come by.

A week had passed him by and he spent his time in the library and kitchens or strolling the gardens with Legolas or Thranduil. His time in the Mirkwood was going good so far, bar the little meltdown Thranduil had during the feast. Tauriel had told him that one of the female archers was seen running after the Company, and her punishment was banishment.

With the promise of death if any of the Mirkwood elves see her, she added as a second thought.

Bilbo was sure that they wouldn't be as cruel to do such a thing, but the look on Tauriel's face gave him another thought on the matter. Sure he wasn't an elf and he was learning their customs just as much as they were learning his; though they were wise beings so surely they could see the fault in taking a life. However, he did remember what Beorn had said about the Elves of Mirkwood.

After being in their company for some time he deduced that he was wrong to judge them quickly, since they had been kind to those who deserved it and harsh to the ones that abused their forest and surroundings. Bilbo had long forgotten which category he belonged to or, if at all, he was an exception to them by him being a child of Yavanna.

One that dwelled to purify the earth itself and lived in harmony with the land.

They had concluded that such a being could hold not be malcontent, nor could he be malevolent.

In other words he was everything the elves had grown up hearing about, the little beings that pattered around their holes and healing the earth with their songs. A smile on their face as they went about with their day and a love for good food. Some elflings whispered about that if there was one then there was more to be found, and Bilbo put that idea down in its tracks. Softly saying to their ears, "We are not some possessions to be hoarded, we're just like you. We have families and friends, but most importantly we have feelings."

"Then why did you come here?"

He smiled ruefully that day and pushed back his past firmly, "Not everyone of us has those things I told you about. I was one of them." A small girl sat by his large feet and looked up with innocent brown eyes.

She asked him quietly, "You don't have friends, or a family, or feelings?"

"I do have feelings, but I lost most of my family and friends long ago."

"Why?" the little elf asked and he only pulled her into a hug.

"I hope you'll never know," what he didn't know was that Legolas was watching his hobbit interact with the elflings when he heard this. His heart felt for the poor hobbit and he decided then and there that he would be his family from now on. While he hoped it would be on a deeper level, Legolas would be perfectly happy with the notion of being a friend.

Thranduil on the other hand would not stop at being a friend, no his ultimate goal was to be more than friends to the honey eyed beauty. The King would stop at nothing to have Bilbo Baggins as his Consort, everyone else be damned. He would allow certain privileges to his son, but in the end he would not belong to Legolas. That was a line he would not allow his son to cross, no matter how much he loved him.

Either way there would be one victor and he planned on being it.

Then came the problem of the dwarves, what if they did manage to get to Erebor and by some miracle kill the dragon? What would the Elves do against the Dwarves if they wanted Bilbo back? They technically gave up all claim to him when they omitted him from their escape, but then again Aule's children were greedy beings. Those wretched creatures took what they thought was theirs and have even fought wars over the most minuscule things.

While he highly doubted they would find a way in the mountain, much less a way to slay a dragon; there was still some room for caution.

Then came the report that the town of Esgaroth had been seen engulfed in flames and a dead carcass was seen beginning to rise.

They had managed to find a way into Erebor and Thranduil was not a greedy man, far from it he had proved as he ordered for carts to be loaded with provisions. No he found this most opportunist in his favor, while helping the men of Esgaroth he would get back his wife's gems.

Then proceed to drape them across Bilbo's small frame.

In the end this wasn't for his personal gain, while it would help his cause.

As a sort of advantage he decided to bring his son and Bilbo with him to the ruins of Dale, well when he explained it to Bilbo he said something along the lines of it being 'good will'. It was actually to show off the hobbit.

So he found himself on his precious elk with his precious hobbit in front of him while Legolas trotted next to him on a magnificent white horse. Tauriel leading the other members of the guard and army in the dead of night, and as Bilbo slept curled up next to his larger frame Thranduil talked to Legolas.

"At the first sign of trouble I want a perimeter set up around Bilbo, none shall even think to harm him. Much less get past the guards assigned, understood?"

"Of course Ada, though I have a bad feeling about this," and Thranduil raised his rather large eyebrows in question, prompting his son to continue. "There is an evil wind from the north, surely you have felt it as well."

"It is not in our lands so why bother?"

"Here's the thing Ada," he said while turning his head to his father, "I fear something will come and raise our lands to the ground."

"Nonsense Legolas, I assure you our home is well protected," Thranduil promised as he subconsciously ran his fingers through Bilbo's curls.

Liking very much how the hobbit curled into his hand, yes he had made sure their land was safe for Bilbo.

Though he couldn't promise the safety of other lands.

As he had said once he shall say it again and this time for Legolas to hear, "Other lands are not my concern, but my land and those who live in it are."

~.~.~.

It was the early morning when Bilbo awoke, his head pressed against Thranduil's front when he raised it to look into the sky. His hands rubbed at his eyes as he felt the smooth gait of the elk underneath him. "Good morning Bilbo," Legolas chirped from beside him.

"Mornin' Legolas," he mumbled back as he tried, and failed, to stop a yawn.

Thranduil looked down at Bilbo briefly and gave him a small smile before returning his gaze to the road, they had previously stopped while Bilbo slept and he had sent the army to stand by Dale and wait for his arrival. The horses that pulled the carts were given their chances to rest and refresh, and his own elk had taken the time to relieve itself of the two beings on his back. "Calm Thiadon," he said as he carefully maneuvered himself and Bilbo off the elk.

His haughty elk merely gave him a glance before going off to drink water and do what elks do.

Now his elk was trotting along a path that hadn't been walked for ages, not since the days of old and Erebor had been dragonless. As well as under King Thror's rule, which had not ended well for anyone in his opinion, and Dale had prospered under Girion's care. It brought back memories of when he went to visit the human city every now and then. He now tread it again, though this time he was prepared for war and it was not an easy path to walk.

No doubt that the men of Esgaroth would be surprised to see a golden army on their doorstep, though he was sure that they would arrive in time to explain the situation.

"Good morning Bilbo," he greeted pleasantly as he guided Thiadon carefully down the time-worn road.

"Good morning Thranduil," Bilbo replied as he stretched slightly in the large elven saddle. His smaller arms were engulfed in the thick outer robe that Thranduil put on him when they left Mirkwood. Legolas grinned at the sight of his curls being disheveled and laughed at the sight Bilbo made; the hobbit's circlet was lopsided and his robes were wrinkled.

Bilbo, having seemed to notice what Legolas was laughing at, was absolutely mortified at his less than respectable state of attire; to which Thranduil told him that they would have to fix it in Dale. Though it did nothing to stop Bilbo from trying to tame his curls and right the circlet and put it back into its original position.

Key word was tried, but he did look much better than when he woke up.

Then the convoy of elves came to the top of a rather large hill overlooking the once prosperous lands of Erebor and Dale, now charred and desolate. There was nothing green there, and the forests surrounding the Lonely Mountain were barren. The once fertile fields that at one time yielded good crops had been reduced to nothing more than burnt hills.

"This is the Desolation of Smaug," Thranduil whispered to Bilbo as he urged the convoy on.

If someone looked at Bilbo's eyes in the dawn's soft light they would have seen tears gather at the sight. Those honey eyes were filled with tears for the once fertile lands and he whispered a quick prayer to Yavanna, praying that the land would be renewed in time. He sincerely hoped that the Green Lady would restore what used to be there and repair the damage done to her earth.

Bilbo moved his gaze to the ruins of Dale and nearly lurched in horror, while he could see the golden armor of the elven army he could see the fires that were slowly extinguishing in the city. People were huddled around another and froze silently, accepting their fates before they truly fought for it.

Time passed him by as he took in his surroundings and the suffering of the earth underneath Thiadon; it hurt to think of all the people that died in these lands. It was natural that he felt the way he did, and this was similar to the poisoned woods of Mirkwood. Though these lands were in a hibernation-like state while the forests were screaming out to be cleansed of their infection.

When he finally looked up they were passing through the gates of the once great city and he looked into the faces of starving men, women, and children all around him. Bilbo took deep breaths as Thranduil spoke to the man who seemed to be in charge, and as people brushed his feet in their desperation for food he felt like he was going to be sick.

In.

Then out.

In.

Then out.

It still didn't help that the ones that had gotten their fill were staring at him in curiosity, and he wrinkled his nose in distaste when he heard the tell-tale noises of someone who couldn't take the food in their stomachs.

Please, stop; no more, please.

"This is the cause of dwarven greed Bilbo," and Bilbo turned his head to look at the Prince next to him.

"What?"

"If they had not delved too deep in their mountains then Smaug would have never been enticed by their treasures," Legolas said as he looked at the buildings towering over them. "I had friends in the city that were killed when the dragon came, their voices silenced by the greed the dwarves reaped. Never to speak nor laugh again," and he smiled ruefully at Bilbo.

"I'm sorry," and Legolas shook his head.

"It is not a fault of yours."

"I helped the dwarves though," he began but was cut off by the man that had been talking to Thranduil.

His brown eyes were alight in fury as he stared at Bilbo from his perch on Thiadon, "You helped those wretched dwarves?" He shifted into Thranduil's embrace when he heard the man nearly growl at him.

"I did-"

"Do not talk that way to him Bard, you may be an ally but I will not stand for someone harming Bilbo. In any way, shape, or form," Thranduil snapped at the man before calming the hobbit in front of him.

Bard cleared his throat in embarrassment before coming out with a tightly gritted apology, "I am sorry Master Bilbo, but those dwarves caused me to lose my daughter."

"May I give my condolences," the hobbit replied softly, not yet warming up to the Man.

"Thank you, Sigrid gave her life for that of the blonde dwarf. She died pushing him and my youngest into a boat, they owe me everything," he seethed.

"And you will get it Bard, I assure you," Thranduil cut in before Bilbo could say anything. He then ordered a nearby elf to get tents set up as well as men ready to join the upcoming fight. Legolas nodded at Bard before guiding his horse to follow Thiadon up to where they would set a strategic tent. Overlooking what would be the battlefield, and to Bilbo it was more than just a piece of land.

It was were people lived and thrived, where people ran and died, where people would fight to be slaughtered.

"People are going to die," he told Thranduil as he looked out to the Lonely Mountain, where those damned dwarves hid.

"Yes," he was brutally honest to Bilbo.

Thranduil pressed a kiss to the top of his head and hugged the hobbit to his chest, and said oh so softly. Almost to where Bilbo didn't hear it.

"I won't let you die my Love," he gave another kiss to the top of his head.

"This I swear."

Yay! I'm really happy that you guys are responding well to this story, and I don't really know how long it will be. Just a little heads up.

Ragehappy Mavin Fan