The room was cosy. Well, as cosy as a room dug out of solid rock and inside a mountain could be. Bilbo had done everything that she could to make it so but it would never feel the same as Bag End. The stone walls would never hold the same warmth as being surrounded by earth.

Not long after her coronation – if it could even be called by such a grand title - she had tried to insist on a wooden home in the common living quarters where most of the Goblin population of the Misty Mountains resided but it had been one of the few things her Captain of the Guard had strongly disagreed with her on. It would be too difficult to guard, too many access points…too easily set ablaze with her inside (she didn't want to think about who would want to burn a building with her in it).

As it was there was one main entrance to her rooms and a secret passage hidden behind one of several heavy and very old tapestries on the wall.

Coincidently all of the workers who had been involved in crafting the room had perished in a cave in.

Bilbo suspected that her Captain may have taken his duties on secrecy and protection a little too far and orchestrated the deaths of anyone else who knew about the hidden exit. But as it seemed to be nothing but an accident there was nothing that she could do about it. However, that did not excuse the very pleased look he got whenever it was mentioned. Bilbo had learned that in some cases there really was bliss in ignorance.

So, at the insistent of her Captain, she continued to live in a glorified cave. Her Hobbit sensibilities suffered but there was no other answer for it.

It was pleasant enough as far as living accommodations went. It was no Bag End, but then nothing would be.

Heavy rugs littered the floor as well as the walls. Various animal furs, from wolf to fox (gifts she actually approved of) lay over the few chairs that dotted the room and on the low bench seat by the fire.

Lighting fires within the mountain was difficult because of the lack of ventilation but her suite was one of the few that had small channels the led to the surface. Bilbo didn't dare to think what would happen if these channels ever needed sweeping.

The room had been quickly prepared for her after her rapid visit to change her clothes. The fire had been lit and she was glad to see a tray of food sitting on a table. A decanter filled with a ruby red liquid sat on another table next to a jug.

Bilbo walked over to the drinks and held up a heavy wooden goblet that was almost the size of her arm and had quite a bit of weight to it.

She raised it towards her visitor.

"Wine?" she asked her companion, already knowing the answer, "Or ale?"

Azog stepped into the room, having to duck slightly to gain entrance and grunted.

"Ale it is then," she muttered as she went to lift the jug. She could hardly lift it without her arm trembling and a dry chuckle came from the Orc.

Bilbo was about to give him a tongue lashing when she was gently shoved out of the way and Azog took over pouring the drink. She watched as he effortlessly picked up the full jug and poured out the amber liquid into the goblet. She moved to pour her own drink only for him to beat her to it.

It was amazing to watch the massive hand close about the fine crystal decanter and pour the wine so gently into the glass that was just as delicate looking. She had no doubt that he could smash the thing with one hand and very little effort.

She took the wine glass from him with a smile of thanks and took a sip of the warm liquid as she picked her way across the room to the fire and curled up on the fur covered bench. She leaned back against the feather stuffed cushioned and sighed in bliss-filled comfort.

She could hear Azog shifting behind her but it didn't worry her as much as it used to. Once upon a time his shifting about used to make her nervous – as was only natural - but now she knew he would sit when he wanted and not before. He was not used to such confined spaces and even the high ceiling of the cave was cramped compared to the open air.

Bilbo stared into the flames while her husband settled himself and she sipped at her wine, savouring the way it slid down her throat and warmed her from the inside out. She was surrounded by warmth. The furs beneath her were soft and comfortably heated from the fire and she couldn't stop herself from stroking the rich hair. She glanced down and identified the pelt she was sitting on as wolf.

She smiled and chuckled at the irony. A wolf had nearly ripped her throat out a long time ago and now here she was very much alive and using one of its brethren as a seat covering. She gave an unladylike snort and took another drink of her wine in a silent salute to her own survival. Life was funny.

"Dwarves?" the snarl came from behind her.

Bilbo smiled and raised her glass in a silent toast to the fire.

And there we have it.

Bilbo supposed that she should be grateful he stayed quiet during the walk to her rooms. This was not a conversation she had felt like having in front of anyone else. At all. The smile faded from her lips and she sighed. It was time to face the consequences of her ridiculous decision.

"Yes, dwarves," she agreed with a small nod.

As long as they were stating the obvious she would play along with him.

"And a wizard?"

Ah, so he had spotted Gandalf and by the sounds of it he was not happy with his presence at all.

Who was she trying to fool? Of course he had seen Gandalf. It was almost impossible to not see the gangly wizard in a sea of Dwarves and Goblins.

"And a wizard," she nodded her head.

And I really hope they are guarding his staff properly. Bilbo wouldn't put it past Gandalf to find some way of getting to his staff and if he did the whole realm would all be aware of it very quickly. Bilbo had never seen Gandalf as anything but the benevolent grandfatherly figure he had portrayed since her childhood. But she wasn't a child any more and she knew what the troublemaker was capable of when he put his mind to it.

She heard a deep grumble behind her that grew into a snarl.

Bilbo knew that if she was to turn around it would be to find Azog's teeth bared and his eyes blade sharp.

It looked like the conversation about his spy would be put off for the time being in favour of her thirteen Dwarves and one Wizard.

"Why?" he snarled.

Unlike when speaking with Elrond she did not worry about what to tell or what not to tell the Orc.

Bilbo took a gulp of her wine and allowed herself a moment to compose herself.

She told him everything.

-To Be Continued-

Dun dun dun.

Awe isn't Azog a lovely attentive sort? And talk about a psycho Captain of the Guard huh ;)

So the time had come for Bilbo to spill the beans. And just what is the deal with Azog? Well, wouldn't you want to know ;)