Back at camp, Thorin set Bilbo down on his bed as the others went to their own sleeping spots to watch over the hobbit. The company had been given a large tent upon their arrival to share. Fili and Kili set off in search of clean clothes for Bilbo once he was treated while Oin and Balin looked through what they had with for healing. Dwalin carried over a large basin of water, setting it down by Thorin, who was kneeling next to the bed, holding Bilbo's hand lightly in his as he examined the shackles, "I'll get those off, laddie. Start cleaning him up."
Thorin did as was told, quickly removing what was left of Bilbo's waist coat and undershirt with his knife, throwing the scraps on the ground. He grabbed a cloth from the basin and started wiping away the grim and blood. Underneath it all, bruises appeared and abrasions. He took extra care around cuts, making sure to clean out the wounds as well as he could. Biblo stayed still, limp under Thorin and Dwalin's care. Between the bulk of the two, they gave the hobbit some privacy while behind them, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur worked on setting up a partition between the bed and the rest of the tent.
Dwalin got the first shackle off and quickly cleaned the area underneath, growling as he dabbed at the torn up flesh. Bilbo flinched a little and whimpered, but Dwalin gently patted his hand, watching Bilbo's face till the hobbit settled down. By this time, Thorin had Bilbo's upper half cleaned, including his face, and was working on cleaning the hobbit's hair with the help of Balin. The other dwarves stayed on the other side of the partition, talking softly as they waited word on their hobbit. Dwalin reached for the other hand, trying to pry it loose from its death grip on Thorin's coat. Bilbo gave a tiny hiss, flinching under Dwalin's touch. Dwalin raised an eyebrow at the other two. Balin was smirking while Thorin frowned, "Try again."
Dwalin did as ordered and tried to remove the hand one finger at a time. Bilbo jerked away from Dwalin, eyes flying open as he gave a cry of terror. Dwalin quickly jerked away, letting go of the hobbit so as not to hurt him. Thorin moved onto the bed, touching Bilbo's shoulder gently. Bilbo spun around, striking out at Thorin. Thorin quickly grabbed Bilbo's hand so he didn't hurt himself, then the other, but Bilbo just tried to pull free. He wasn't with them, somewhere else, somewhere in a nightmare. Thorin shifted his hold, wrapping his arms around Bilbo and pulling the hobbit close, one hand around Bilbo's waist and one on the back of Bilbo's head, "Easy, Bilbo, shush. We aren't going to hurt you."
Bilbo went limp in his hold and Thorin feared he had passed out. He loosened his grip on Bilbo to see if he was awake and the hobbit grabbed hold of his tunic, gripping it tightly as the worst sound Thorin ever heard reached his ears. It was a hollow, empty sob, shaking Bilbo's entire frame. Thorin felt tears come to his eyes as he pulled Bilbo close once more, stroking Bilbo's head as he sobbed harder. Dwalin's hand came up and rubbed Bilbo's back as he started to sing softly, Balin joining in, singing the song from so long ago. From little hobbit holes and grouchy hobbits, an old map and a forgotten home, hopes and terrors and the beginning of something much more than the 15 beings gathered in the house that night.
Thorin had no idea how long they sat there, but Bilbo's sobs eventually died away. He still trembled in Thorin's hold, but he had let go of Thorin's shirt. Thorin loosened his hold as Dwalin's hand fell away, looking down at Bilbo. The hobbit wouldn't meet his gaze, his tear filled eyes focused on Thorin's chest. Thorin gently wiped away a tear, "Will you let Dwalin see you wrist?"
Bilbo nodded, holding out the shaking arm. Dwalin supported it in one of his hands, quickly removing the shackle and gently cleaning the abused flesh. Bilbo dropped his head to Thorin's chest, a small whimper escaping him. Thorin gently rubbed his back, "Does it hurt too much?"
No point denying Bilbo was in pain. Thorin almost missed what Bilbo said, it was so soft, "Everything hurts."
"It will get better, laddie," Dwalin nodded to Balin, who came over and started treating the wrists while Dwalin worked on getting Bilbo's pants off. Thorin kept his hold on Bilbo, providing something strong for Bilbo. His trembling was lessoning now as Dwalin worked on cleaning his lower half. Dwalin's partially contained groan had Thorin looking down to see where Dwalin was holding one of Bilbo's feet. The once well kept hair had been burned off, leaving some nasty looking blisters, "Oh, laddie."
Thorin glanced at Bilbo's face to see more tears falling silently before he turned his face into Thorin's shoulder, shaking again. Thorin took the hand Balin had already treated in his, rubbing his thumb over Bilbo's knuckles, trying to comfort him as Balin and Dwalin set about wrapping Bilbo's abused feet. It would be some time before Bilbo would be able to walk on his own. Dwalin and Balin quickly finished treating Bilbo's wounds. Bilbo's body was mostly covered in bandages now, making him look even smaller. Dwalin left and came back shortly with blankets and some clothes that looked too large for Bilbo, "They've got soup out there if you're up to eating, laddie."
Bilbo nodded into Thorin's shoulder and Balin left to get the soup while Thorin and Dwalin helped him dress. When Thorin made to stand, Bilbo gave a small cry and gripped Thorin's tunic tightly, "Don't go!"
"I am not," Thorin rested a hand on Bilbo's grip on his shirt, speaking softly. "I was just moving to get more comfortable and grab the blankets. I am just going over there, ok?"
Bilbo loosened his grip and Thorin stood, grabbing an extra pillow and the blankets and setting them down on the bed. He pulled his coat out from under Bilbo and wrapped it around his shoulders before sitting back down as Balin came back in. Bilbo pressed himself into Thorin's side, gripping the edge of the coat tightly. Balin smiled sadly as he sat down on Bilbo's other side, handing Thorin a bowl before gently setting one in Bilbo's lap, "Can you eat it yourself?"
"Yes," Bilbo said softly as Dwalin left to get himself and Balin bowls. Bilbo's hands shook, but he ate by himself, not looking up from the bowl. Thorin glanced over his head at the brothers, who looked sad. Bilbo got through half the bowl before setting the spoon down, returning his grip to the coat. None of them tried to force him to eat more. None of them could begin to fathom what was going on in Bilbo's head, but they would be there for him. Balin took the bowls and left before returning with a pitcher of water and a glass. He filled it and handed it to Bilbo.
"Drink some," the older dwarf coaxed. Bilbo did as he was told, taking small sips till he had finished half the glass before handing it back. Balin set the glass and pitcher on a table by the bed, "It will be there if you want more. Just ask Thorin. Dwalin and I will be just on the other side of the blanket with the others. Call if you need anything."
Bilbo nodded, ducking his head down a little. Balin sighed and pulled him into a hug before leaving. Dwalin squeezed Bilbo's shoulder before leaving. Thorin looked down at Bilbo, who was shaking again, "It's ok to cry, Bilbo. You're with friends here."
Bilbo sucked in a sharp breath before turning into Thorin and clinging to him as he sobbed once again. Thorin wrapped his arms around Bilbo, singing softly to him a lullaby his mother used to sing to him. Bilbo was exhausted by the time he was done, barely keeping his eyes open. Thorin chuckled and wrapped the coat around Bilbo tighter before shifting so he was lying down, Bilbo pulled tightly to his side with one of Thorin's arms wrapped around his waist. Bilbo turned and buried his face in Thorin's chest, curling up as tightly as he could. Thorin pulled a few more blankets over them before pressing a kiss to the top of Bilbo's head, "Sleep. I will protect you."
