"I told him not to go out there," Balin told a worried Bilbo. "I knew he'd eventually collapse." He sighed and helped Oin, Dwalin, Nori, and Bifur carry the unconscious dwarf from the saddle of the pony to an empty cot. "He's still too weak for anything. I'm surprised he managed to stay conscious for so long."

"How did the Arkenstone do this?" Bilbo asked quietly. "I've heard of magical stones but it's always said they just bring back the shell of a person; something that cannot remember who they used to be."

Balin pulled up a chair for the hobbit and one for himself. "The Arkenstone is an ancient stone that has always been in the heart of the mountain long before our ancestors claimed that mountain. It has been gathering energy ever since it was created; it is one of the most powerful magical stones as I've learned now. I had my own suspicions of it's power, and they have been confirmed just this morning. As I understand it, and this is merely my own thinking mind you, when King Thror took it, he named it to his own bloodline; he claimed it was a sign that his and his line's right to rule was divine. So, it became a part of the family bloodline sort to speak."

Bilbo nodded as he tried to understand. "And it's power was able to bring him back?"

"Aye, you placed it on his chest and folded his hands around it," Balin continued. "It's ancient strength and power was able to return the dwarf we all knew to the world of the living. And since it was a part of the Durin bloodline, it restored Fili and Kili as well," he said. "Though that part is just my own thinking. I still don't know for sure if that is what revived them as well."

Bilbo's face lit up. "Fili and Kili are alive?"

"Yes, confused but well," Balin smiled. "But Thorin needs rest, Bilbo. You'll not be sitting here when he wakes-"

"So, you're going to let him leave on a pony again should I go somewhere else?" Bilbo suggested slightly ticked.

The white-haired dwarf sighed heavily. "Alright, you can stay," he relented grouchily. "But he's still too weak. You must tell him to go back to sleep should he wake." He moved to leaved then looked at Bilbo again. "Scratch that. If he wakes, alert Oin or a healer. He'll need some medicinal herbs."

"Of course, Balin," Bilbo nodded, turning his attention to the unconscious dwarf prince before him. "I will." He gave a small smile when Balin patted his shoulder before walking away. He took Thorin's limp but warm hand in his and brought it to his lips. "I love you, you stupid dwarf. Please don't get yourself killed again on my account."


Thorin cracked his eyes open and swallowed dryly. He had no idea what ceiling he was staring at; all he knew was that every muscle in his body ached and his head was throbbing. He moved and grimaced when pain shot through his arm and up to his neck, unconsciously crying out.

"Thorin?" a small but panicked voice asked somewhere to the left of him. "Thorin? Are you alright? Can you hear me?"

He muttered (or tried to anyway) and began to cough.

"I'll get you some water," the voice assured him, and Thorin tried not to hope that it was Bilbo. "Don't move."

The dwarf prince stubbornly ignored the voice's orders to stay put and painfully struggled to sit. He was halfway to halfway up when a hand softly pushed him back down.

"Thorin, you mustn't move," the voice said with some annoyance. "You're not ready yet. You're still healing."

"Laddie, listen to our hobbit," another voice, definitely Oin's, added.

Hobbit. Thorin visibly relaxed at that word. Bilbo was here. Bilbo was still in Erebor. He hadn't gone with Gandalf to return to the Shire. It hadn't been a dream at all. "B-Bilbo?" he rasped weakly.

Two small hands wrapped around one of his own. "I'm here, Thorin. I'm here."

"But-"

"I'm not going anywhere," Bilbo assured him quietly. "You'll be fine, dear. Oin's going to help you take some medicine then you must go back to sleep."

"... want to stay with you," Thorin whispered tiredly.

Bilbo smoothed his hand over the dwarf's forehead. "You will, Thorin." He kissed his nose and let Oin force a cup of medicinal tea down the dwarf's throat. He pulled his chair closer and put one arm around Thorin, resting it on the other shoulder, before laying his head against the dwarf's own. "I'll be right here until you wake up," he whispered.

A half-asleep Thorin nodded and mumbled, "I love you."

The hobbit smiled and let out a breathy but teary laugh, kissing Thorin's dried lips. "I love you too. Go to sleep."

"I am asleep."

Several days later, Thorin finally woke from his healing slumber. This relieved all the dwarfs including Bilbo who had sat vigil by his bedside, watching for any indication that the dwarf was dying. Balin, Oin, and other healers had ushered the hobbit out of the way until the dwarf's bandages had been changed and he had been given more tea. Fili and Kili had woke as well, both their fevers had broken and they were slowly sipping broth.

"Bilbo," Thorin reached out once the others had cleared.

"I am here," he said, taking Thorin's hand once again.

The dwarf prince looked into Bilbo's eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I have done to you."

He frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"My apology. You have not yet accepted it," Thorin winced. "It was never my intention to treat you so, but the dragon-sickness overtook me. I know that's not an excuse for my behavior towards you, but it's all I have to offer. What you did was the right thing to do, taking that stone and giving it to that elf." He squeezed Bilbo's hand weakly. "I ask you for forgiveness, dear hobbit. I remembered what you said about not forgiving so easily, and I understand, but I love you Bilbo Baggins. I love you and I have loved you since that night you heard me insulting you in Lake-Town. Do forgive me, darling, for every pain I have caused you for it was not my intention. I will always love you, Bilbo. I just want you to know that I will never succumb to such sickness again."

The hobbit opened and closed his mouth before shaking his head. "Thorin, I can't let you off so easily." He watched Thorin wilt again. "I'm sorry, but you hurt me a lot. That hurt can never be healed. I'll always have that memory of the hatred in your eyes and the way you thoughtlessly grabbed my neck and squeezed my throat. I can't accept you apology. I meant it when I said I would need a lot of time to think about it." He sighed and tried to make the dwarf look at him again. "Thorin, please. I do love you with every fiber of my being, but we have our whole life ahead of us. There's still time for me to forgive you."

"What if the infections return and I die?"

Bilbo's brow creased. "Do you want to die?" he asked almost hopelessly. "Should I have never given you the Arkenstone back-"

"I told you to rid yourself of it," Thorin interrupted stiffly.

"Fine, fine," Bilbo sighed hurtfully. "Just one more thing. Please don't tell me this is what our relationship is going to be like, because I'm not ready to threaten to leave you every time I don't agree with what you have to say."

Thorin didn't answer.

Bilbo pulled his hand out of the dwarf's grasp. "You selfish dwarf!" he huffed, thumping his hard shoulder and turning to leave.

Not once did Thorin stop him.