AU: First of all an apology. This chapter is short and late. My computer broke down and is being fixed. I had wanted to add the pony-watching part to this chapter as well but as it's past midnight and I am too tired to finish that part I've decided to just upload the part I already have now. Something's better than nothing, 'right? I also love reviews so keep 'em coming, my dear dwarves. Hope to update the pony part tomorrow, before 2013 starts.
"Chapter III"
When they finally arrived at the old ruins Thorin intended to stay and spend the night, Gandalf was the first to be out of the saddle and inspect their surroundings. The grey old wizard frowned and groaned, and after stroking his beard announced "I think it would be wiser to move on." He groaned and turned to face the dwarf King who stared back at him with his jaw set tight. He had just instructed Kíli and Fíli to look after the ponies and Oin and Gloin to start a fire. It wasn't hard to see that he was eager to spend the night here and have them all find some rest. Their heated argument was overheard by Bilbo who stood at the side with his pony and tried not to be in anyone's way.
Oin and Gloin set about making a fire almost instantly and happily created a pile of wood while the other dwarves dismounted their ponies and followed the two brothers to a clearing. The dark-haired dwarf threw a glance at the men behind him, his eyes lingering particularly long on the young hobbit. Bilbo watched them go and would have followed too if he had not been distracted by Thorin and Gandalf's conversation.
"The elves could help us." Gandalf said. "We could get through," he reasoned as Thorin started to walk away from him. The wizard hastily limped after him, stick –or staff- firmly in his hands and irritation on his brow. "We have a map we cannot read. Lord Elrond could help us."
He had hardly spoken the words when Thorin grimaced and cut him off. "Help?" His voice was filled with distaste for the pointy-eared race. "What help came from the elves?" he spat back, doing the best he could to swallow back the bile and foul comments the mere mention of the other race brought forth. "Orcs plundered Moria," Thorin continued while the hope fled from Gandalf's face, "The elves looked on and did nothing. You ask me to seek out the same people who betrayed my grandfather?" Thorin inched closer to the tall man. In a moment of silence the King swallowed and was clearly haunted by a bad memory. " Who betrayed my father." He added.
"You are neither of them." Gandalf assured him in attempt not only to comfort him but also to reason with him. But Thorin's expression remained foul while Gandalf spoke and the wizard quickly added a sneer. " I did not give that map and key for you to hold onto the past."
Bilbo could not hear what it was the dwarf muttered back to the wizard, but whatever it was it had been the final straw and a heavily upset looking Gandalf retreated from the recluse and headed his way. The hobbit stood between the ponies, tending his own white pony, Myrtle. Balin stood at the other side of the animal and was watching with interest as the wizard approached. For a moment it was as if he wanted to come their way but then something about his posture betrayed that Gandalf was going away and this worried the hobbit immensely.
"Everything all right?" he asked, patting Myrtle on the head while his eyes never left the wizard marching past them. "Gandalf, where are you going?"
The wizard passed him by and without looking grumbled a reply, yet loud enough for all dwarves to hear. "To seek the company of the only one around here who has some sense." The agitation was audible in his voice.
"And who's that?" Bilbo dared ask.
"Myself, Mr Baggins!" The wizard all but shouted. "I've had enough dwarves for one day." The grey wizard disappeared behind the rocks and hills and left the company to fend for themselves.
While Thorin took on his role as the leader of the company, like was expected from him, the hobbit leant to Balin and voiced his worry. "Is he coming back?" But the dwarf shrugged and left it at that. He hobbled away to prepare dinner along with some of the other dwarves.
The hobbit took this as his cue to bring Myrtle to the other ponies and catch a glimpse of a certain dwarf who was supposed to watch them. He followed the other dwarves and felt his heart beat faster with each step he took. As if the thought of seeing him again was enough to influence his heart. As if the thought of seeing that one dwarf was the only thing to be on his mind. Bilbo frowned at the realization that he was thinking of Kíli more and more as time progressed and how much it hurt to want to see him.
He was in luck for Kíli stood, stroking Gloin's pony, and looked expectantly at the forest path from whence the hobbit came. Their eyes locked and for a moment Bilbo's breath hitched.
But the eye contact did not last long for Kíli's shoulder was touched by Fíli and the younger brother turned to look at the other dwarf. The magical moment was broken and Bilbo let out a disappointed sigh. He let go of Myrtle, wishing her well and kissing her nose before casting one last look at the two brothers. They were talking animatedly with Dori and so he left in silence and with a heavy feeling inside of him, as if his stomach was going to drop and the earth would swallow him.
Once again he did not see how the dark eyes of Kíli followed him until the bushes had swallowed him and the forest hid him from the young dwarf's sight.
Bilbo let his eyes slide past the remaining dwarves huddled around the fire. The leader was there, proud Thorin, who stood majestically and hardly lifted a finger to help preparing the food. He sought his armour and prepared it for battle, then made his bed for the night and sat on a rock to ponder. Bilbo watched him as he did this and bit back a cough. He felt cold and alone now that one special dwarf was away from him. He could not see the dark-haired youngling, he could not even hear him. Kíli and Fíli were secluded from the group, ordered to watch the ponies.
It was only now, while Bilbo was lamenting the distance between the young dwarf and himself, that he remembered a certain line spoken earlier that day by the boy. It had been something about looking forward to seeing him tonight, and the hobbit flushed at the thought. Had it been his imagination? And why was he looking forward to seeing Kíli too? Why was he hoping the dwarf had truly said this?
"Mr Baggins, you all right?" The hobbit jumped slightly and turned to watch the dwarf by his side. It was Bofur who was grinning like a mad dog and offered him a piece of a sausage.
"Yes, yes, I'm quite fine, thank you. No need to worry about me. No need at all." The hobbit's stammered reply sounded. The dwarf's grin seemed to expand even more.
"You look a little flushed, lad. Not coming down with a fever I hope?"
It was as if the dwarf was onto something, as if he knew about the thoughts occupying the hobbit's head, and Bilbo eyed him suspiciously. "No, I'm not ill, thank you." He retorted a tad irritated. "I am not quite as useless as that."
Bofur decided to ignore the Hobbit's low self-esteem and skipped over the moment to address a different matter. "He'll be back though." He said, as if it would make all the bad things in the world go away. It was a good try at comforting the hobbit, but the last mentioned was utterly confused and gawking at his companion.
"What? Who?" It was all the hobbit managed to utter. For a moment he feared Bofur was talking about Kíli, the dwarf who was claiming his each and every thought. When had that happened? The first night they had spent out in the open and under the stars, touching each other? Had that been the moment that changed Bilbo's magnificent mind into a whirlpool of lust-drenched thoughts?
"Gandalf. He'll be back." Bofur's soft voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he blinked at him, apologizing.
"Ah, of course. I-I do hope so." The hobbit stuttered and got up to his feet. He quickly hurried over to the fire to see how the food was getting along. It wasn't just his pure interest in food that brought him here but also the strong wish to get away from Bofur and his knowing smirk. As he hurried to the fire he did not see Bofur 's cheeky smile and slight nod. The dwarf knew, but left Bilbo guessing. It was clear the little hobbit hadn't figured out his own feelings yet and after all, the journey had only just begun.
