Chapter Four
The very second that Bilbo opened his eyes; he knew he shouldn't have. In fact, being awake at all seemed like a very bad idea all together.
His tongue felt two sizes too large for his mouth and his eyes felt like they were going to pop out of their sockets at any given moment. His poor nose might as well have been nonexistent for all that he could feel it. As for the rest of his body….well the less said, the better.
"Ah, I see you are awake at last. You gave us all quite the scare, Master Hobbit." Came a voice from….somewhere….
The room, well, he assumed it was a room seeing as he was in a very nice, very warm, and very comfortable bed; was much too dim for him to see anything other than dark shapes and flickering lights from what he expected what a candle.
The voice though… that he would have recognized anywhere. Its soft, velvety and all together far more sensuous than should be legal intonations might have been more gentle than he was used to; but the voice of Thorin Oakenshield was not soon forgotten by anyone who heard it.
"T-thorin?" Bilbo rasped and winced at the rough scratching in his throat. There was a slight shuffle, the gentle beat of boots on stone and then a warm palm caressing his far too hot face. He whimpered and leaned into the hand.
"Yes, Bilbo," said the dwarf. "I'm here. And you're lucky to be so."
Bilbo groaned softly. "What happened?" he asked, trying to grab as much as cool from the dwarf's hand as he could before it was ultimately removed. "I feel as though I've been knocked in the head by a troll."
Thorin 'hmmed' "I'm sure getting knocked in the head by a troll would feel better compared to the headache you've got." The hobbit stuck his tongue out at him petulantly.
Bilbo wrinkled his nose. "If you are not going to tell me what happened then kindly leave me to suffer in peace, you great Boob."
Thorin chuckled lightly. Bilbo hadn't missed the fact the dwarf had yet to remove his hand. Not that he was necessarily complaining. He turned his bleary eyes to his friend's face and offered him a small smile
He was unprepared for was the gentle smile that graced his friend's fine features in return.
"You should rest now. I rather think that you've earned it, Bilbo."
The hobbit didn't have the heart, or the energy to argue. Nodding blearily, he nuzzled once more into Thorin's palm and muttered a quiet "kay" before closing his eyes.
Thorin stood beside his hobbit, listening to the small creature's labored breathing. "Not a burglar indeed," he murmured to the sleeping figure. He wasn't sure how it happened, but over the course of this journey, and subsequently his rescue from the hands of both, Azog and Thranduil, Bilbo Baggins had managed to sneak in through the back door of his heart and make himself quite comfortable there.
He knew what the rest of the company- save his nephews and Balin and Dwalin- thought. Well maybe even his nephews a little. He'd heard them on more than one occasion tell the others that he was emotionally stunted. He did nothing to dissuade them of this illusion though because quite honestly, he didn't really care (thus proving their point somewhat but he would never tell them that. They had big enough heads as it is).
He knew he wasn't very good with his emotions but he hoped that those he cared about knew of his regard. Once more he looked down at the hobbit in the bed. His heart gave a little flutter at the sight of the plump lips and smooth face. A face that should not be as appealing as it was.
He should not be feeling this way toward the hobbit. Bilbo was not a dwarf. When he reclaimed Erebor, he would be expected to marry someone of high standing. A dwarf of high standing. He already had heirs in Fili and Kili so marriage to a female wasn't particularly required and there were so few women that taking a male as a consort would not be frowned upon.
The dwarf king shook his head. He was getting much too ahead of himself. He wasn't even certain that what he felt for Bilbo was indeed love. He knew that he certainly held him in high regard, but could he possibly be in love with the company burglar? And what of Bilbo's feelings toward him? Did the hobbit harbor such tender emotions for him? He didn't see how he could; after all, until just recently Thorin had not treated the poor Halfling with anything other than disdain.
He grimaced. He regretted how he had treated him. Of course he did. But had it been enough to awake the deep stirrings of affection within Bilbo? He didn't think so.
Thorin supposed that he could have just asked Bilbo how he felt about him but he was ashamed to say that when it came to matters of the heart, he was a absolutely incompetent- perhaps that is where his beloved nephews got 'emotionally stunted' from. The thought of asking the hobbit if he cared for him scared the dwarf more than facing down Azog or even, Mahal forbid, Smaug. At least with them, Thorin knew where he stood (preferably underneath their feet in both cases).
With Bilbo however, Thorin hadn't the slightest clue. And there was always that underlying fear of rejection.
Thorin did not do well with rejection.
Thorin shook his head again and removed his hand from Bilbo's face. Pining after a small hobbit would not win him back his grandfather's kingdom; nor would it defeat that thrice damned wurm who inhabited it. Nothing else mattered now, except Erebor. Each of them had a part to play on this quest. He breathed in deeply and turned away from the bed.
He spied the book the villagers had found near Kili's barrel sitting on a wooden chair beside the bed. It was written in a strange tongue that Thorin had not seen. As a young prince in Erebor, Thorin had learned a great many languages of Middle Earth, but this one was new to him. He assumed that the book belonged to Bilbo and was written in some sort of hobbit language-if Hobbits had such a thing- and had the book brought to his burglar's room.
Thorin dismissed the book. Even if it was some sort of hobbit literature, it was of no use to him now. Bilbo Baggins of the Shire had thus far proven to be a valuable ally. Whether or not he would remain so, they would see when they reached the gates.
Kili heaved a huge sigh as he sought safety behind a butcher's shop. After his trip to Bilbo's room, the young dwarf decided that he would venture into the town after all. And with only minimal pushing from his esteemed uncle.
Kili had grinned at Thorin's insistence that he get to know the town as the villagers would soon become their closest allies and they needed to make a good impression.
The youngest heir could tell though that his uncle really just wanted to be alone with the hobbit. With a wink and a mock bow, he fluttered out of the door.
"But of course, Uncle," he said, not even bothering to keep the grin from his face. "Better get to setting all those diplomatic ties and what not right? Why I bet Fili has charmed every woman and girl already."
He hadn't seen it, but Kili could feel his uncle's withering glare at his back.
So Kili went out to the town. And it was all fine. The sun was shining brightly in the sky with nary a cloud in sight. There was little wind to bring the chill of winter closer to them and the sounds of chattering folk in the market were a welcome distraction from the clutter that filled the young dwarf's mind. Everything really was fine.
Kili was just passing by a group of villagers gossiping outside the local tavern. They didn't appear to have seen him. And really why would they? He wasn't exactly strutting around in their line of vision. Better than Mr. Bilbo of course, but he wouldn't be seeing over the tops of any counters that was for sure.
The group wasn't a very large one maybe four or five people, most of them women. He wasn't sure what they were talking about, but as he drew closer, he thought he heard the words "Erebor" and "King"
Intrigued, he moved to the side of the street, still close enough to hear the conversation, but far enough away that he would not be immediately suspected of eavesdropping. He and his brother had grown particularly good at sneaking around and listening in Ered Luin. They would always get caught by their mother, which naturally caused them to devise new ways of listening in and getting what they want.
He knew the skill would eventually come in handy. And really, if the villagers were going around talking in whispers about the company, then it was his duty, as one of the heirs to the throne to find out.
"And what is that?" The only man in the group asked harshly. "Will his shimmering good looks save him from the dragon's wrath? Are we to believe that it is his 'good and noble heart' that will stay the madness from his mind? Do you truly believe that these wanderers have any hope of succeeding? Many who have tried to enter the mountain have never come back."
Kili frowned. They didn't think that his uncle would succeed? But hadn't they just been rejoicing in their return?
"I agree with Dalt. Have you seen them?" said the woman closest to the man. "I've never seen such a raggle taggle group in all my years. Some of them don't even rightly look like dwarves to me."
Kili bit his lip. He knew what was coming, knew exactly who it was they were talking about. It never failed. No matter what city or village they were in, someone would inevitably bring up his appearance.
"Yes, that little black haired boy," Dalt said with a nod. "I thought all dwarves were born with a full beard, yet he barely has any scruff. Much too thin too. Looks more like an elfling he does. That so-called king probably kidnapped him and bewitched him. And just what is that other boy? Why he's barely taller than my youngest! These are the foretold heroes? I should hope not. They're nothing but thirteen beggars looking to make a little money."
Kili could feel the tell-tale pricking of tears behind his eyes. How dare this Man say such things about his family? Hadn't they suffered enough? Didn't they deserve a home just like them? His uncle would be King Under the Mountain soon, and with Mr. Bilbo on their side, they were sure to succeed.
"We have Mr. Bilbo," he spat as a single tear trekked its lonely way down his cheek. The whole group turned toward him, startled. A few, the one called Dalt and his lady friend had the decency to at least look embarrassed at having been caught bad mouthing the dwarves. "You have no idea what our hobbit is capable of. And we will get our mountain back. No one's asked you for help and we don't need it! And for your information, I am too a dwarf!"
With that, the young dwarf turned on his heel and took off back to the house that had been given to his company for their stay. He'd had it with this town.
Barely acknowledging any of the greeting he received, he stormed into the house and fled to the second level where a certain burglar was currently waylaid. He felt a sudden urge to see, to speak to the one other person in the company who may have felt just as lost and out of place as he did.
He wouldn't lie, the comment about his heritage had stung more than he would have liked.
He didn't want to see Thorin or even his brother. Neither of them knew what it was like to be considered different. To not even be recognized as part of a clan or family was the worst feeling the world. Maybe they were right, Kili's mind whispered poisonously. Maybe he wasn't a dwarf.
Sniffling and wiping his eyes when he came up to Bilbo's door. He laid a hesitant hand the wood before pushing it. Tears continued to roll down. But if he wasn't a dwarf…
"Then what am I?"
When Fili had gone looking for his brother, he was understandably confused when, after an hour of searching, Kili was no where to be found. Usually, he could guess with scary accuracy where his younger sibling was at any given moment. Kili's mind was so close to his own. Or at least, it used to be at any rate.
Ever since the elven king's dungeons, Kili had been...odd. Fili couldn't help but feel like his brother was becoming foreign to him.
He frowned as he walked through the city. The pungent smell of fish and lake water permeated the air around him. The dwarven heir wrinkled his nose in distaste. Lake-town wasn't the nicest place he'd ever been to. Then again, considering the places he'd slept while on this journey, anything was better than a cold floor.
He supposed it was a good time to relax and take a load off.
He sighed. Maybe it was just because of his uncle's influence but he couldn't help but think that they were missing something. There was a tension in the air that he couldn't quite place. Maybe it was the proximity of the Mountain...
"Why, hello there, Master Dwarf," said a voice from beside him.
The young prince started and turned toward the voice. He saw a young woman leaning over the counter of a stall. Fili blinked, since when had he made it to the marketplace?
"Um, hello there, Miss," he said politely, walking over to her.
She was pretty, in an exotic kind of way. Much too tall for his taste, but for a child of Man, she wasn't bad looking.
Her hair was soft brown, tied up into a messy bun on top of her head. Her face was thin, dirty from the dusty air around the city. From what he could see, her dress was a pale red and very plain. Her family, like many of the others he'd seen probably didn't have much money.
He could appreciate her comely appearance. Not that he'd ever tell anyone that. Especially after the travesty with Kili in Rivendell, he wouldn't be disclosing his interests with anyone in the company any time soon.
And speaking of mistakes in Rivendell... Fili narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
The young woman behind the counter laughed. "Haven't ye ever seen a proper lass, Master Dwarf?" she teased.
Fili bristled. "Of course I have." he sniffed. "It isn't my fault that you women-folk have to look so different all around." The prince put his arms across his body in a pout. "I'd much prefer the dwarrowdams back in the Blue Mountains."
The young woman raised an eyebrow. "Oh really now?" she said. "Ye really must be young then."
Fili could feel his cheeks starting to burn. "What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"Can you honestly tell me that all of the world's problems would disappear if everyone was exactly the same?"
Fili blinked. He'd never really given such a thing much thought. And why would he? Other races weren't his concern. He had a duty to the Dwarves of Erebor.
"I suppose not..." he said. For a moment they stood side by side, watching the townspeople dash to and fro from the different stalls in the market.
"I'm Tessa by the way." said the woman with a smile. "My da works at the docks on the lake."
The prince nodded and gave a small bow before saying, "Fili, son of Dis and nephew and heir to the great Thorin Oakenshield, the soon to be King Under the Mountain."
Tessa grinned. "Impressive titles for one who looks little more than a child." she teased again. "Is Thorin the grumpy looking one?"
Fili nodded reluctantly, slightly miffed at the child comment. "Aye, he is. And he's not...grumpy... he's just...incredibly focused.
Tessa laughed, the sound like tinkling bells in Fili's ears.
It was dark by the time that Bilbo woke up enough to be coherent. He still felt like orc doo doo but at least his head wasn't threatening to implode on his body. He wished he could say the same for his poor nose. He hadn't thought that it was possible for one person to have so much snot in their body. Apparently he was wrong.
He attempted to sit up without jostling around too much, but was stopped by something-or rather someone tightening around his middle. He looked down in the dim candlelight so see the wild and unruly dark tresses of a young dwarf and the smallest hint of a face peeking out from underneath them, snuggled up to him fast asleep and smiled softly.
'The poor lad must be so exhausted. And who could blame him? After what he's been through on this ridiculous journey I'd want to sleep forever and a day.'
He wasn't sure how long he'd slept or even how long they'd been in the city. The last few days were rather hazy for him. He briefly recalled someone carrying him to the room, a cool wash cloth placed on his too warm head. There was the barest memory of a large hand resting on his cheek… the warm basal tones of a voice telling him to sleep. He shook his head trying to make sense of it all.
They had made it to Laketown. That much was certain. But where were they now? And where were the rest of his company? Without much thought, Bilbo silently began to caress the dark tresses. He was glad that Kili was safe at least.
Absently he reached under the covers to his trouser pocket to find his ring. He had a sudden urge to hold it. To know that it too was safe. The material he felt was decidedly not his trouser leg. Eyes widening he thought to himself,
'They must have undressed me when they brought me to this room! But where are my clothes and my dear ring?!'
Breathing heavily he tried to calm himself down. It was just a silly old ring he told himself. A useful ring, but a ring all the same. There was no need get excited about it….
"But," he said softly. "What if someone's taken it? What will I do then?"
"What if someone's taken what, Mr. Bilbo?" asked Kili sleepily from beside him. Despite his fretting, Bilbo managed a small smile and patted the boy's head.
"Oh nothing Kili," he said easily. "I'm just being silly. I didn't mean to wake you." And he was, he realized. No matter how useful or pretty an object was, it was nothing compared to the bright brown eyes gazing sleepily up at him.
Kili nodded and lay his head back down. Bilbo sighed. He knew the dwarf didn't like to be alone but why wasn't he sleeping with his uncle? Or his brother for that matter.
"Not that I'm not flattered, Kili," he asked. "But why are you here? And where are my clothes?"
Kili blinked his eyes open again. "Oh that right," he said, maneuvering to sit up. "You've been sick, Mr. Bilbo. Uncle and Mr. Oin brought you here when you fainted at dinner last night. They took your clothes to be washed too and put all of your things on the chair over there."
Bilbo blinked. He was sick? Well he certainly felt like he'd caught a chill. But fainting? Really?"
"Everyone was really worried about you too. Especially Uncle."
Now Bilbo could feel his face heating up again, but it was no fever that tinged his cheeks this time. Thorin had been worried about him? That thought should make his heart flutter like that. It really shouldn't. He cleared his throat.
"Right, well thank you for answering my questions, Kili. That certainly explains a lot, But not why you are here in my bed." He said as he gave the boy a pointed look.
The young dwarf gave him a sheepish grin. "Oh….right…." There was silence for a few minute before the hobbit gave him a small nudge to continue.
"Well, I guess you could say that I'm being silly too," started Kili softly. Bilbo raised an eyebrow.
"You acting silly?" he said. "I never would have thought. Are we hiding from someone or did you just miss me that much?" He'd meant it as a jest, but the embarrassed blush that tinted Kili's face made him think otherwise.
He was even more surprised when instead of answering; Kili dove straight under the think woolen blankets and curled into him again. "I don't wanna talk about it now," came the muffled reply.
Bilbo rolled his eyes. He didn't feel well enough to play the young dwarf's games right now. He shrugged and made himself comfortable again.
"Very well then," he said. "I for one am going back to sleep. Stay if you'd like, but I wouldn't be surprised if Thorin or one of the others comes to collect you later. And I shall be very cross if I am woken up in the process."
Kili mumbled something that might have been "Good night Mr. Bilbo." But the hobbit's eyes were already closing in sleep by the time his head hit the fluffy pillows behind him.
The next few days flew by in a rush for the dwarves and Bilbo. Aside from finally being deemed well enough to venture out of his room, the whole town was itching to see the brave little Hobbit who had aided in the lost king's return.
Bilbo could scarcely walk down the street without someone calling his name or a child bringing a flower crown to place atop his head. He accepted all of this with great cheer and dignity, even telling stories of his adventures to large groups of village children who gasped with joy at the way Bilbo had managed to trick the trolls and outsmart the great King Thranduil. They giggled at the dwarves antics in Rivendell and at Beorn the bear-shifter.
He was feeling very satisfied with himself as he entered into their house late one afternoon, his arm laden with gifts and packages from the market.
"I am beginning to think that perhaps the people are more inclined toward you than me, Master Baggins."
Bilbo looked up in surprise to see an amused Thorin sitting at table. Bilbo had not seen the dwarf king in all the time he'd been awake. He'd chocked it up to Thorin just being busy arranging their final trip up to the mountain and putting in the necessary "kingly" appearances. Yet, he still couldn't help but feel that he was being avoided.
Fili and Kili both assured him that this was not the case and that he should just go and talk to Thorin, but Bilbo hated to disturb him if he was so busy. Besides, it wasn't as if the city was boring. There were plenty of shops and attractions to keep him and the rest of the dwarves entertained. And it seemed that along the way, the hobbit had gained an entourage.
And by entourage, he of course meant Fili and Kili. And by Fili and Kili, he mostly meant Kili. Fili had taken to hanging around a cloth stall and talking to a pretty young woman whenever they were in the town. Without his brother Kili had taken to following him around like a duckling after its mother.
Today he had sent them off on some errand or other with the promise that he would bake them his mother's famous chocolate chip cookies after dinner. The two immediately fled to the market to hunt for the ingredients that the hobbit had said he would need.
Now as he set his purchases and gifts down on the table he was relieved to be child free. At least for the moment anyway. He smiled at the king sitting with his feet propped up on the table carving a wooden horse with a knife. He was dressed in a red wool tunic and a plain pair of brown trousers. His tunic was half way open reveal a heavily muscled chest with in chest hair. The hobbit blushed at the sight. It really was horribly unfair how attractive Thorin was.
'It isn't like he could ever find someone like me attractive though, I'm not even a dwarf.' He thought as he dug through his many bags.
"I thought my nephews were with you?" Thorin asked. There was a rustle and the sound of a chair moving. Bilbo tried to contain his blush as felt the dwarf king move over him.
"Oh," he stammered. "They were getting on my nerves so I sent them into the market for cookie ingredients."
Thorin chuckled lightly as he watched the hobbit pull out various food stuffs and place them on the table. There were at least three plates of sweets, and one entire tray of brownies.
"Why not just let them have them have these?" he asked. Bilbo gave him a mischievous grin.
"How else was I supposed to get rid of them?
Thorin leaned over him to snatch a brownie from the tray. Bilbo could feel his deep rumbling laughter reverberating through his entire being and barely managed to contain a shiver.
He cleared his throat against the emotions in his heart, now was certainly not the time for those.
"I uh missed you while I was sick…" he winced; cursing is brain for choosing particular line train of thought.
Thorin grunted. "Kili looked like he was doing a fine job of keeping you company enough. He seems to prefer your company over mine lately."
Was it just him? Or could that possibly be a hint of jealousy in his friend's voice. But why would Thorin be jealous of his nephew? Or is it me he is jealous about?"
Trying for humor he said, "Oh? Is that when you decided to pawn the little darlings off on me?" he glanced up behind him briefly to gauge Thorin's reaction. He didn't look as though he was in the throes of barely concealed jealousy. It must have been his imagination after all…
"I wouldn't call them 'darlings'," he replied. "Hellions is closer to the mark."
"Yes, well," Bilbo said. "Any time you feel like taking them back, please feel free."
He felt a sudden chill as Thorin moved away from him. "Duly noted, Master Baggins."
A sudden noise had both men splitting apart as if the other were a poisonous snake.
His ears burning brightly, Bilbo looked to the door to see who it was that had entered so rudely.
He fought back an irritated sigh as low and behold, in trotted Fili and Kili dragging behind a sheepish Ori.
"What are you two doing?" asked Thorin from beside him. He took a quick glance at the dwarf king. Thorin too, looked irritated at the interruption but then again, Thorin looked irritated more than 90% of the time so maybe it was nothing.
The brothers smiled up at their uncle. Innocence radiated off them and that made both adult highly suspicious. Especially when coupled with Ori's wide eyed guilty look.
"I thought I asked the two of you to get things for cookies?" asked Bilbo. The grins faded slightly.
"We were, Mr. Bilbo," said Fili started. Kili took over,
"But we ran into Fili's new friend Tessa and while we were talking to her Ori wandered over and said that he'd lost his way so of course being the decent folk we are, we had to show him back to this humble abode."
"And then we thought, that maybe since it was lunch time that we would all just come back and see if maybe you had lunch ready." finished Fili with a hopeful smile.
Both adults rolled their eyes. Bilbo looked at Thorin with a wry grin.
"Anytime you'd like them back..." he said. "Thorin grinned at him and Bilbo could instantly see where the two boys had gotten it from.
"Now that you mention it," Thorin said. I'm really rather enjoying the break from pulling out my hair."
Bilbo groaned.
Later that night; after the entire company had been fed (half-way thanks to Bombur) and rejoiced in Bilbo's returned health; which really just meant that the dwarrows got more drunk than usual; Bilbo trudged slowly up to his room on the second floor.
Blinking in surprise, he saw that the door to the room was slightly ajar.
Cautiously, he pushed the door open all the way, prepared to face the worst.
He blew out a sigh of relief when he saw that it was only Kili.
The dwarf had moved the little chair from beside the bed to the windowsill. His back was to the door; his knees were drawn up to his chest and his shoulders were hunched. His head, bowed. It looked like he was staring at something.
Bilbo's eyes flicked briefly to where to the small pile of his belonging that used to be on the chair. He could see the dragon book peeking out from under his coat. The ring was safe in his pocket once again.
"Kili what are you doing here?" Bilbo asked, coming completely into the room.
Kili jumped and looked back behind him. He calmed visibly when he saw who it was. "Oh, Mr, Bilbo, it's just you..." he said with a grin. "Thought you might have been some horrible monster...or worse...Uncle."
Bilbo snorted and went to fetch his sleep clothes. "A horrible monster attacking you and possibly killing you is preferable to Thorin finding you in my bedroom?
Kili gave him a sheepish smile and turned back to whatever he was staring at in his hand.
After rummaging through the pile of once neat clothing by his bed, Bilbo started to strip off his shirt. "What have you got there?" he asked.
Kili shrugged. "It's just a talisman," he said. Intrigued, Bilbo pulled his nightshirt over his head and padded over to the dwarf. He leaned over his shoulder to peer at the object. In Kili's hand was a large black stone with some runes etched into it.
"A talisman?" he asked. Kili smirked at him.
"A powerful spell is upon," he continued. "If any but a dwarf reads the runes on this stone, they will be forever...cursed."
At the word 'cursed' Bilbo backtracked and stared with wide eyes at the young dwarf. Kili broke into a wide mischievous grin.
"Or not," he said. "It depends on if you believe in that sort of thing really." He showed the stone to the hobbit to prove it was harmless.
"It's just a token. See?"
Bilbo took the offered stone and studied it. "Oh," he said. "I see, it's a runestone." He handed the stone back to Kili. "Where did you get it?"
Kili took it back and smiled at it fondly.
"My mother gave it to me so that I'd remember my promise." Bilbo tilted his head. He'd figured that Thorin must have had a sibling since he had two nephews. But he'd assumed that it was a brother who'd sired the two boys.
'Shows what I get for assuming, I suppose.' he thought. "A promise huh?" He asked the boy beside him. "What sort of promise."
"That I would come back to her." he replied. "She worries. She thinks I'm reckless."
The conversation lulled while the two looked out the window into the dark night. Bilbo leaned over to Kili and whispered,
"I do believe she's on to something."
Kili blushed and grinned, cradling the stone to his chest.
Bilbo smiled and reached out to ruffled Kili's hair
"Alright, you great Loon, I think it's time for this hobbit to go to bed." Kili nodded and placed his head on his knees.
"Hey, Mr. Bilbo, can I ask you a question?" he asked. Bilbo started back to the bed.
"Yes, Kili?" he asked with a yawn.
Kili didn't say anything for a minute. "Have you ever felt...different?" he asked quietly. "Like you were born in the wrong body?"
Bilbo paused and turned back to the younger male. "What do you mean?" he asked. "You look just fine to me." The hobbit was confused about the turn of conversation now. He thought back to the day he'd found the young dwarf in his bed.
Kili didn't answer him. Bilbo walked back over to him again. "What's this about?" he asked.
The dwarf buried his head in his arms. "I don't know." he said.
Without thinking, Bilbo put his arms around Kili. The dwarf turn toward him and put his head on his shoulder. Bilbo didn't miss the small sniffle from the boy.
The hobbit pulled away and cradled Kili face, his own eyes softening at the other's red rimmed ones.
"Listen to me, Kili," he said. " No matter what anyone else says, there is nothing wrong with you. You are perfect just the way you are."
Tears welled in Kili's eyes. A few wayward drop leaked out and trekked down his cheeks. The words were familiar. He'd heard them so many times from his brother, uncle and mother.
Hearing it from another. From Bilbo, somehow made it better. More real.
He hugged Bilbo again, pleased when he was hugged back.
After a few minutes Bilbo pulled away and placed his hands on Kili's shoulders.
"I want to show you something." he said "Promise you can keep a secret? I don't want Thorin to know about this just yet."
Kili wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "Is it that dragon book from that weird bag? I found it the other day."
Bilbo laughed and started toward the bed once more. "Then you already know half of what I wanted to show you." Reaching the pile of his belongings, he pulled the book from under his trousers and shimmied up on the bed. He patted the spot next to him and motioned for the young dwarf to come over.
"Come here, you might as well stay the night, then. It took less than five seconds for Kili to move from the window to the bed.
He snuggled into the hobbit and rested his head on his shoulder again. Bilbo laughed and pulled the blanket over them both.
Later that night, Thorin was walking around the house. He checked on his company. He was happy that his men were happy. He closed the door to the room where Bombur and Bofur slept and made his way to the room his nephews were sharing.
He opened the door and blinked. In the moonlight he could only see one of the beds filled and only one head in the one bed. His brow furrowed. Where was Kili?
He sighed and closed the door softly. He walked down the hall a ways, to the last room just before his own.
Opening the door, he spotted two figures in nestled in the large bed. He fought back a jealous growl at seeing his youngest nephew curled around his-the burglar.
He was happy that his nephews got on with Bilbo, he really was. Given the way he felt toward the hobbit it was important that the people he cared for most approved. Even if Bilbo never felt the same. He shook his head and closed the door.
He walked back to the room he had been given. Tomorrow he would inform his company that they needed to gather supplies. They could dally in this town no longer. The remainder of their journey would take them at least a day. Durin's day was in four days.
It was finally time to go home.
Chapter four/end