Hello, everyone, I'm so SO sorry for the delay. Please forgive me!

Again I'll be happy to know what you think.

And thank you for reading!

Chapter 10

"Fili, what do you think will happen, now when Bilbo is here?" Kili asked his brother when they were finally alone in their chambers. "Do you think we have a chance to get rid of The Elf?"

It seemed this nickname would stick to Thranduil somehow. For a very long time.

It was a very fussy day, they were settling three new guests of the Lonely Mountain (though they were hoping that one of them would stay forever...), and as the Royal Guest Chambers were occupied by the Elven King, who obviously was not going to vacate any time soon, they had to find a good enough place to stay for an unpretentious elven prince, a rather quick-tempered wizard and the Royal Burglar. The Royal part of the title for Kili and Fili and the whole mountain of course meant not only the highness of his position at court, but also that the hobbit belonged to the Royalty of Erebor, which is the line of Durin - Thorin, Fili and Kili that is. Thorin of course believed that it meant only him and him alone.

"I don't know, Kiii..." yawned Fili falling onto the bed. "But poor Thorin… He IS now between the hammer and the anvil… I only hope he makes the right choice… And that he has a choice at all, actually." The dwarf stretched lazily and yawned again. "I'm tired…"

"Fili." Kili sat on the bed and took his brother's hand firmly. "Fili, we must help. It concerns our family. I don't want to live the rest of my life with this Elf and his cucumbers and strawberries or whatever else he has on his face… I don't want to see those things on our uncle's face..."

"Hell no! I think The Elf's son is not so bad… Listen," Fili sat up and started whispering conspiratorially to his brother's ear. "When I saw him to Thranduil's chambers this morning, I was delayed… accidentally… near their door... boot problem... you see, so... I might have overheard something... The prince was asking him to leave Erebor, to go home... Then the shouting started and I had to get out of there…" he paused looking at his brother expectantly.

"So? What does that mean?"

"Oh, Kiiii…" Fili sighed and yawned again. "You're so dense sometimes my dear brother..." he chuckled.

"FILI!"

"Fine, all right. THAT means, that the prince can become our ally, you understand now, eh?"

"The elf prince? ... Hey!" Kili brightened. "You're right, Fii…" he smiled. "Tomorrow we'll talk to him!"

"Tomorrow. Yes. Now I want to sleep, Kili. And you should too. Remember what The Elf says - you need to sleep a lot to look good in the morning or something like that..."

"Oh, Fiiii… How will I sleep now when you reminded me of Him and His girly habits?" Kili made a disgusted face and pretended that he was vomiting. "I'll have nightmares…"

Someone tapped on the door.

"I hope it's not him… Or I won't be able to sleep for a week…" grumbled Fili mimicking his uncle's famous scowl while Kili was getting up to open the door.

"Bilbo?" the younger dwarf asked in surprise. "Why are you here?"

Bilbo looked upset in the least. He was gloomy and uncheerful. He lifted his eyes and Kili flinched. This hobbit could kill if he needed to... and he was glaring at the dwarf as if his favourite doily has just been incinerated.

"Bilbo?"

"Can I stay overnight here with you?" The hobbit asked.

"Um…" Kili mumbled looking helplessly towards Fili. And Fili helped.

"Bilbo," he smiled encouragingly. "We'll talk and then decide, all right?"

He was the elder brother and the wiser one.

Earlier that day

Bilbo and Thorin finally left the Royal Baths only 2 hours after their reunion. First hour and about 45 minutes they were just talking and hugging each other occasionally. And the last 15 minutes Thorin was washing himself hurriedly, because he was worried, extremely worried that Bilbo would go without him, though the hobbit solemnly swore that he would wait. Thorin still couldn't believe his luck. When he finished, Bilbo was still there where Thorin left him.

"So soon?" he asked surprised. "How did you manage to wash your hair so quickly?"

"I always do it like this." Thorin lied smoothly and smiled. When I have to check that my burglar is not stolen from me... He couldn't say that, though he wanted to. The cool water helped him and he came to senses partially and thought that perhaps he got a little ahead of himself showing his affection for the hobbit. He didn't want to scare him away. And he wasn't sure that he Thorin Oakenshield was meant in that letter of Bilbo's... He needed to find it out and if he was wanted, then he would do anything to be with Bilbo. That's what he decided. Anyway, he wasn't going to clear the way for Bofur or anyone else so easily, so...

"Bilbo," he started glaring at the corner of the room. Here was the real Thorin, Bilbo thought. Serious, glaring and all that… So his madness must be attack-like...

"Bilbo…" he repeated. "The Royal Guest Chambers are occupied at the moment, so… do you mind… do you mind… ah…" his voice was regal and calm, though he started fidgeting with his wet hair… "Bilbo. Do you mind living in my chambers?" he finally asked. And hastily added: "They are big and quite comfortable, I actually have four rooms for myself, and that's more than enough, and you'll have your own room of course. There's really nothing else fitting we could give you at the moment…" He felt himself blushing. Though he hoped the hobbit would think it was a bath's effect.

"Of course I don't mind Thorin," Bilbo smiled happily. "Why would I? We shared an adventure together, didn't we? We were sleeping on the ground most of the time and in a pile with a dozen other dwarves. I'm the same hobbit, Thorin, do you think I mind sharing a chamber with you?" Bilbo chuckled. "And thank you for your offer, I'm gladly accepting it. It is an honour actually - to share a chamber with a king." he winked and laughed lightly.

Thorin just stared at him. After a minute of staring at each other, Thorin finally smiled. And it was such a stunning smile, that it took Bilbo's breath away. For the first time he himself initiated a timid hug. Thorin hugged him back eagerly.

"Let us go, Bilbo Baggins," he smiled taking his things and moving to the door tugging Bilbo with him. "I'll show you our chambers."

Our chambers… Bilbo liked the sounding of that… liked it more than what was safe in his current uncertain situation.

Finally many hours later everyone was settled, Gandalf occupied the last vacant chamber left in the Royal Wing. Legolas decided to stay in his father's suite of rooms, because they really were enough for both of them considering the fact that they were even bigger that Thorin's, though Thranduil was displeased endlessly saying something like "now it is a crowded place… how am I supposed to live here…". But Legolas was a kind and patient soul, he loved his father no matter what and was immune to his oddities.

Bilbo was taken to Thorin's chambers of course. He was given a nice green room near Thorin's own bedroom. Bilbo smiled. It was too good to be true. He thought that if Thorin's chamber was a hut, with nothing to sit on he still would be content... even if Thorin didn't have his kingdom back Bilbo would be happy to have him... it would be even easier, they could both live simply in Bag End... if only Thorin reciprocated his feelings...

He was so occupied with those thoughts that he didn't notice Thorin come in with two huge fur blankets.

"Here, Halfling…" Thorin started awkwardly. "Take these, and you won't get cold at night, it's cold you know... nights are cold here… it's a mountain, so…"

"Thank you, Thorin, are you sure you can spare them?"

"Of course," Thorin gave Bilbo a small smile relaxing a little. "I'll be fine, I have my fur coat."

"Oh… Of course. Thank you again." said the hobbit taking the blankets from Thorin and putting them on his bed.

"Um… Thorin…" Bilbo started innocently when they were rudely interrupted by…

"Thoooriiin…" sang a loud voice from Thorin's room. "Why are you not in bed, darling? What did I tell you?"

Thorin's eyes went wide and he grabbed the door knob with one hand and Bilbo's elbow with another. Bilbo for his part desperately tried to conceal his emotions though it didn't work, because when Thorin noticed his expression he hastily started to explain.

"Bilbo. Listen. It's…"

"Thorin, are you sure it's okay that I'll be living here? I don't want to… interfere… you should have told me… I would have stayed with Gandalf or someone else... "

"That's not what you're thinking, halfling..." Thorin exclaimed underbreath. "Oh Mahal, this Elf… I'll dispose of him and come back and explain everything… all right? Stay."

Bilbo didn't answer. With a heavy heart Thorin left his room and stepped into his own where Thranduil was lying on his bed.

Mahal… I will never ever sleep in that bed again… not ever. I'll be sleeping on the floor, or on Bilbo's doorstep… but not in that bed - not after that.

"Thranduil," he said stiffly. "How can I help you? May I ask what you're doing in my chambers?" In my bed, what are you doing in MY BED you green-crazed, cucumber-loving…

"Oh Thorin dear," Thranduil smiled obviously ignoring Thorin's questions and very unpleased facial expression. "You made me worry. Why did you leave your room when you're wounded, when I told you to stay in bed. And your hair is braided and clean, oh don't tell me you went to the Baths?! I never thought you were this reckless…"

Thorin inhaled deeply. He desperately tried to repeat in his head that "it is a king, he is a king, elven king, you can't just kill him and hide the body, keep your hands away from the sword... "

"Thank you for your concern. I'm quite fine as you can see. And I need some privacy. " Thorin was strong, he managed it.

"Of course, Thorin," Thranduil smiled sweetly and stood up. "I just wanted to inform you that my son is here and he will be staying in my rooms."

"I'm aware." Can't just kill him… but maybe I can slap him?

"So you understand what this means…"

What?

"What?!" he asked incredulously.

"It means that to meet privately we'll need to use your chambers. I'll come later."

And Thranduil left.

Thorin stood there with his hands in his hair and just stared at his bed... Dear, sweet, beloved Mahal... At this rate Thorin was going to be driven out of his own mountain.

And then he remembered. Bilbo!

"Hobbit!" He ran to the hobbit's room but it was already empty. Bilbo left. He must have heard all that. Thorin was a fool to think Bilbo wouldn't try to eavesdrop – what with that invisibility ring of his… And he said he didn't want to interfere…

"The blasted elf is trying to ruin my life!" Thorin shouted out loud not bothering that half a mountain would hear him.

He hurriedly scanned the room. Bilbo's things were still there. That was a good sign at least, if he decided to leave he would come to get them, and Thorin could explain… But explain what? That he was cornered by a crazy elf king? Thorin covered his face with his hands. That was a disaster. If he wanted to have even a tiny chance to get rid of the elf and to keep his hobbit, he needed some help... very soon.

Thorin sat on Bilbo's bed. There were his fur blankets. It looked so nice. It felt so nice. It would be so natural to... Thorin lied down shyly and closed his eyes. He would wait here, he had a reason at hand - his own bed had now the afterThranduil aftertaste… He would burn it later…