Chapter Four
The next few weeks Bilbo was too busy to get together the proper herbs to try to help Thorin get to sleep naturally. In any event cuddling next to the dwarf had shifted from duty to something Bilbo enjoyed. In fact without his snoring Bilbo wondered if he might have trouble sleeping. Thorin looked much younger than he had when he had first met Bilbo, as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Bilbo could understand how having such images in your mind replaying night after night could wear down a man. He also now doubted the effectiveness of the remedy, but he needed Thorin to invite him into his room, before he could keep the nightmares away entirely.
Bilbo knew that he was most likely going to be caught eventually, but he found that he didn't care since he was helping Thorin and it was his duty as Thorin's intended to see to his well being, as it was Thorin's to see to Bilbo's. So Bilbo finally decided to ask Thorin if they might share a bed and spend more time together. He didn't want to begin a sexual relationship with Thorin, until he knew him a lot better than he did now. However getting to know Thorin was hard, he knew little things about the dwarf now, but it wasn't enough for Bilbo, as he started to like what he did know.
Thorin was devoted to his nephews and to his sister who was do to arrive any day from Erebor. In fact Thorin had almost made his sister Bilbo's traveling companion, before deciding against it do to the supposed timid nature of his intended. Bilbo laughed at what the dwarves thought of his race, although some of the things they thought were true.
Today was the day, Bilbo decided, the day he would ask both things of Thorin. "Thorin, I'm lonely being alone all day and I feel as though I've had little to no time to you. I also spend my nights alone and I would rather spend them with you as my room feels cavernous."
"I would love to spend more time with you and to have you in my bed, but I am a very busy man Bilbo and I'm not sure that it would be appropriate."
"I know that, I understood what I was getting into when I agreed to marry you. I want to get to know the man I am to marry and not do it in the company of a hundred other dwarves and thirteen of his closest friends and family. I want us to spend some time alone together, eventually we are to be lovers and I want us to know each other, truly know each other before that happens. In any event I wasn't asking to have sex with you, merely to sleep with you."
"I would like to sleep next to you as well, but you know the sort of dreams I suffer, first I want you to bind my arms to make sure I don't lash out at you in my sleep."
"No Thorin, we won't do any such thing, I trust you not to hurt me, and you never have before. When I've woken you when the nightmares get particularly bad." Bilbo said and Thorin nodded. "In any event I want you to sit with me in my kitchen and eat my food. Its a serious part of hobbit tradition to cook for one another."
"I'm afraid I know nothing of cooking."
"Then you can help me to chop at some point, afterwards we could eat the meal together." Bilbo offered and Thorin nodded.
"I would like it, so I finally get to see your kitchen?" He asked, Bilbo had kept Thorin out of it, as he wanted Thorin to see it when it was finished and not a work in process. "Do you need any more gold, before you get your stipend again?"
"I should have enough for the rest of the month, though I don't know what I'll do with it all after the kitchen is finished." Bilbo said and smiled at Thorin.
"Different consorts have done different things with it, one created a clothing line, while another dedicated their time and money to public works. It is your gold, do whatever you want with it." Thorin said and shrugged.
"Well thank you for it, I suppose that we should go to breakfast now." Bilbo said, having no particular desire to leave the room and the small amount of time he had to be alone with Thorin, however he was also hungry.
"I suppose we do, I look forward to having dinner with you tonight." Thorin said and Bilbo smiled. They walked together in silence to the dining hall, Bilbo realized after the first few mornings they had spent time together that Thorin only showed who he was in private by necessity. In public he had to constantly be strong, unyielding and a king his people could count upon. In private he was still stubborn and taciturn, but also laughed more readily and was more willing to talk of himself and his interests outside of being king.
Bilbo took his usual place at the table and waited for Thorin to serve himself, before taking some of the food. As ever everyone was talking over each other and Bilbo wasn't sure of what conversation he should be following, as Thorin remained silent throughout the meal. After they were done eating, Bilbo decided to go down into the market again, he hadn't been back since he had gotten his cloak and asked for the wood deliveries.
He went first to the market stalls and found the herbs he needed, although they were all separate. The clerk watched with interest, as Bilbo calculated what he needed and measured the dried herbs carefully. "I haven't been sleeping well and this tea always helps me." Bilbo said and smiled at the clerk, before paying for the herbs and mixing them together. He then went to the market and bought food for the dinner he would make for Thorin. Suddenly as he put the fish into a carry bag, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Without a moment's thought he dove to the cobblestones, as a knife went over his head and was deflected by one of his guards. Instantly they closed ranks around him as several people shouted in Khudzul, Bilbo stared up at one of his guards, before starting to stand, the guard shook his head and Bilbo nodded. More guards arrived, as he felt the anger of the crowd, they were angry with him, but Bilbo had no idea as to why they would be.
He stared as a guard pulled him to his feet and they left the market quickly behind them, the sound of boots hitting cobblestone and angry and frightened screaming filling his ears. All Bilbo could see was a sea of black uniforms with the blue and red lapels, signifying the difference between market guards and royal guards. He felt his fear trying to choke his breath, to turn him into nothing more than a frightened animal and steal his reason from him. He stood still, standing his ground, as the guards yelled at him to continue moving.
"No I have just as much right to go to the market as everyone else." Bilbo said. "I am not moving until you explain what this is about."
"Some are mad because you are seldom seen and when you are, it is always with your guards, so they cannot approach you. Others are angry that you would sully the royal line and those are the ones that will turn violent."
"Oh within a few generations, they will be just as dwarves as the rest of their kin. Or at least that's the way it was for my family, except with hobbit traits instead of dwarves. " At the guards puzzled look, Bilbo felt baffled. "My great grandfather was a dwarf, I thought everyone knew that and that's why I was chosen to go to Erebor in the first place." Bilbo said and frowned.
"We had no idea, if the council knew of such they hid It.."
"Its not a secret, hobbits love children, regardless of their ancestry or parentage." Bilbo said and smiled. "Though through the years the dwarves traits have diminished, beyond a certain desire for adventure, a love of making things and having to shave twice a day I'm pretty much like any other hobbit."
"You shave?" The guard demanded scandalized and Bilbo nodded.
"Grows like a weed if I don't and tickles something horrible."
"Stop shaving."
"Why? It would bother me to no end and I'm fine with the way my chin is now thanks all the same. I have a right to decide what I look like after all."
"Because to cut or shave is a mark of shame within dwarves society."
"And constantly scratching your face is deemed to be attractive?" Bilbo demanded and put his hands on his hips, as he felt the small hairs on his chin bristle with indignation, making him want to scratch at them. "Of course Great grandmother Lilly had to fall in love with a Long beard." Bilbo continued to scratch.
"You are part Long beard?" The guard asked and Bilbo nodded distractedly.
"Yes, the clan name is Halin, but we haven't kept in touch, not that much interest on either side I'm afraid." Bilbo said and shrugged. "Hobbit and dwarves culture is very different after all and our Halin kinsman never knew quite what to do with us. One would visit every once in a while and be hosted by my family, but other than that, we rarely if ever meet." Several of his guards stared at him as Bilbo saw a dwarfling in danger of being trampled by the crowd. Quickly he grabbed the child and smiled down at the crying little boy. "Are you alright lad?" Bilbo asked as the boy cried in his arms, shaking like a leaf and filling Bilbo with a fury he had never before known.
"HOW DARE YOU THREATEN A CHILD?" Bilbo demanded angrily and the shouting stopped, as the people stared at him. "THIS LITTLE ONE WAS NEARLY TRAMPLED BY YOUR FOOLISHNESS, IF YOU MUST PROTEST MY EXISTANCE, AT LEAST MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE FIRST." He glared at the crowd, as the boy pressed against his robes.
"That's my son, I've been looking everywhere for him." A dwarf's woman said as the same time the boy cried out for her. Bilbo stared down at the child, before handing him over to the woman, who cradled the distraught child in her arms. Bilbo had never before felt the rage his family talked of, the rage that turned them into unseeing fighters, as they became a weapon for the Valar. Bilbo had believed that the stories of berserkers in his family line had been just that, tales told to little children to encourage them to hold their tempers, however now his vision was turning red and he felt his hands draw out his sword at a distance. He roared out his challenge and the guards stared at him wide eyed, disbelievingly as he ran forward and attacked a man that had been hiding in the shadows.
"How dare you try to harm one of my son's?" Bilbo felt the words pour from his mouth and felt his body attack the dwarf. "He is my fighter, more than you ever shall be. You are no son of mine, there shall be no halls for you, as you fight against your brother and attempt to spill his blood, you will never receive the rest you seek, you are in disgrace, you are not worthy of me, nor the gifts I gave you. I call on you Arindos and name you outcast." Bilbo stared at his sword as it burned bright red and Bilbo struck the terrified dwarf across the face with it. The rune stood out clearly for all to see, as the thing that watched through Bilbo's eyes glared down at the dwarf who had fallen to its knees.
"Please all father I did not know."
"That is no excuse, you are anthemia, from this day forward, as are all my children that seek to slay others of their clan." Not Bilbo glared at the dwarf, without a hint of pity in his eyes. " Those that wished to harm their kinsman step forward, I know who you all are and I will not hunt you down, if you make me your punishment will be worse than you can imagine. " Not Bilbo glared coldly at the crowd as four others stepped forward and one by one he struck them with the sword, he tried to get his arms to work, tried to get control of his body, but his body refused to obey him.
"I will be gone soon little one, first the guilty must be punished, then I shall leave. I have no desire to stay forever in the head of only one of my children. "Although he is also of another race, my fighter has dwarves blood within him and a dwarves soul. He is my warrior and those that seek to harm him will receive no mercy, no forgiveness. They will receive only my blade of justice and their last sight will be of my blade. He is a protector of my children, as his family have been for generations and he will not be harmed, or else I swear by the earth and sky, I will end your existence." Bilbo felt the presence leave him, as his eyes rolled back in his head and he hit the ground with a thud.
When he awoke next, it was back in his own bedroom, he had no idea of how much time had passed. He felt exhausted, dizzy, nauseated, and hungry and his entire body hurt horribly. He groaned and a hand came to his head with a cold cloth. "Bilbo?" Thorin's voice seemed to echo loudly in Bilbo's ears, Bilbo groaned again.
"Thirsty, hungry, everything hurts." Bilbo said and felt the king's hand pat his arm.
"I am sorry that you are hurting, what do you remember?" He asked.
"The child, is he alright?" Bilbo demanded bolting upright, before lying back down, as the room spun.
"He is fine, but you turned into a messenger for the all father, why didn't you tell me you had dwarves blood. That your family could relay messages from the All Father?"
"I thought you knew, that's why you requested someone descended from the Took family."
"I requested that my betrothed be a descended from the Took and partial to men, because your kinsmen are known for being stronger and more adventurous than most hobbits. I did not want someone that would cater to my ever whim, but rather someone who would challenge me." Thorin said and Bilbo nodded, before frowning when he felt the hair on his face.
"How long have I been out?" Bilbo demanded as he touched his face.
"Two weeks." Thorin replied. "I attempted to go to council, but it was clear to everyone that I could not concentrate on my work, with you injured, so my sister sons are seeing to the council until you are better."
"You care that much for me?" Bilbo asked and smiled shyly as Thorin blushed slightly.
"You are to be my consort, the barer of my children how can I not care for you? I know we do not know one another well yet, but I hope that may come in time." Thorin said and Bilbo smiled at him in return.
"I am sure that we will get to know one another in time, I care for you as well." Bilbo said and patted Thorin's hand. "Are there any herbs that I might take for the pain."
"Of course, Oin?" Thorin asked and Bilbo winced as it felt like someone had stabbed a dagger into his head.
"I'm not entirely sure of the dosage, but I believe that this should be enough." Oin said and gave Bilbo some tea to drink, he gulped it down and frowned as the pain disappeared but his head felt like it was full of cotton.
He giggled at the thought of having a head full of cotton and reached out playing with one of Thorin's braids, watching it as it swung back and forth. "Ya hair is pretty." Bilbo giggled again. "Pretty hair."
"How much did you give him?" Thorin demanded and Oin frowned.
"A little too much I think, it's hard to get the proportions correct." Oin replied.
"You know if you frown like that it might be stuck."
"What might be stuck?" Thorin asked amused.
"Your face, you frown too much, your smile is pretty I like it when you smile." Bilbo said and Thorin felt the corners of his mouth curve up as if of their own accord. "You are so pretty, my pretty dwarf." Bilbo said and his eyes started to drift close.
"Have some broth first Bilbo, then you can sleep." Someone suggested and a mug was passed into his hands. He frowned as the mug seemed to be four and he had no idea of where to put his lips. He tried the one on the middle and managed to press the mug to his mouth, drinking the broth however proved to be a challenge. He managed it, but not without some spilling down his cheeks, before Thorin wiped them with a napkin.
"Than' uoou." Bilbo said and yawned, before lying down in bed and closing his eyes once more.