Chapter 11

The wound Thorin had received was deep enough to prevent him to move at the pace he wanted. However, his decision to arrive in time to rescue Bilbo motivated him to keep holding, despite the pain and weakness that afflicted his body. Fili and Kili were the ones who stood near him and caring for him. They hoped that his stubbornness diminished enough to he listen their advice and stop to rest a moment.

"Enough!" said the wizard after walking hours in a completely desolate terrain. They had decided to skirt the last human village, after it, they would face a totally destroyed landscape, full of desolation and loneliness created by the fury of Smaug. But they had to make sure not to be seen; Azog had died, but they knew very well that there was still orcs in Middle Earth.

"We will rest here. And you... have to sleep, Thorin."

The prince was about to open his mouth to protest, but Gandalf gave him a withering look.

"I swear, Thorin Oakenshield, if you insist on this, I'll have to leave you ... everyone, only Legolas and I will continue to Erebor."

Thorin observed wizard's stern expresion, so he decided it was best not to contradict him, at least at that moment. With great difficulty, he managed to sit at the foot of a tree, Fili and Kili came to him immediately. The prince took a deep breath; the truth was that he was much more tired than he wanted to admit. His eyes were closing, but he tried to keep them open.

"Do you want some water, Uncle?" asked Kili, looking at him with concern "How do you feel?"

"I'm fine ... I'm fine, I just need some sleep."

But Fili, knowing his character, ignored him and placed one of his hands on his uncle's forehead.

"Gandalf! Thorin has a fever ... Could you do something?"

The prince took off his nephew hand. He frowned at him. Although, the truth was he beginning to experience pain in his wound.

"I'm fine" he repeated, trying to stand, however, Kili shook his head and put one hand on his left shoulder.

Gandalf, after rolled eyes, approached the dwarf and examined the wound, because of the effort he had done it was open again. The elf stood beside him, watching intently.

Legolas extended his hand to the prince of the dwarves, in which were strange green leaves.

"Chew them awhile and then eat them; they are very good for the fever, my people use them frequently."

Thorin looked askance at the elf, he shook his head and pursed his lips. Gandalf, who was watching everything, snorted.

"It is no time to continue with this irrational pride, Thorin. Do you want to reach as soon as possible to Erebor, don't you?

The dwarf nodded.

"Then you have to eat them."

Thorin grimaced in disgust and, reluctantly, took what Legolas offered him and began to chew. It did not take long for him to feel relaxed, the pain was still present in his body but to a lesser degree. His thoughts returned to Bilbo, as he tried to resist fatigue, he did not want to close his eyes because he did not know when he would wake up, he was pretty sure nobody there would bother to do it soon. In addition, every minute his hobbit was with the dragon, he felt like it was a minute less for him. He did not want to lose him. He did not want to imagine what would happen if Bilbo regreted... He was so eager to see him and confirm he was completely fine ...

His eyes were closed but the fever did not go away and his body continued to experience pain, but before losing consciousness entirely, he experienced a warm feeling inside him, as if someone had joined to his consciousness.

Not far from there, in a mountain that was close to the travelers, a small hobbit began having strange dreams. Despite Bilbo felt that those dreams were very real, he thought the pain he saw on a face he loved so much was just a consequence of his concerns and his broken heart. He did not want delude himself on thinking that Thorin was alive and after realizing that he was not, even though his heart was still yelling he was alive. And he did not want to think that each image appeared in his mind every night, torturing him mercilessly, was something that might be happening somewhere in Middle Earth.

For several nights Bilbo woke desperate with warm tears in his eyes that rolled down his cheeks and that they were cleaned by gentle and loving fingers. The hobbit was afraid to sleep, every time he closed my eyes he saw Thorin lying on the ground, with all the Company around him, worried, watching their prince shook with fever. And looking his lips saying a name: Bilbo. Then the hobbit awoke with the feeling that Thorin was wounded and ill, struggling to continue their journey despite the pain and suffering; in his heart he was sure that Thorin was closer…

He stirred in his sleep until the images forced him to awake, sobbing. Whenever he felt about to break, he always had two arms around him that stroking him until his heart calmed down and he could go back to sleep. Smaug asked him repeatedly what was frightened him so much, but Bilbo was never able to answer. And the dragon-man surrendered and he just hugged him gently and cleaned their tears with his fingers or his lips, stroking Bilbo's hair until he had reassured and confident enough to go back to sleep without being afraid of the nightmares.

And Bilbo, little by little, to be so overwhelmed by having the notion that Thorin was injured and could not do anything for him, he began to cling to the only thing that could calm him in those moments: Smaug. Without realizing it, he began to need those caresses he gave him every time he opened his eyes, startled. The deep voice of Smaug became in what he needed to get back to sleep peacefully. He began to notice that the images disappear at times, as if the presence of Smaug repelled them...

As if the connection was broken.

One of those nights, Bilbo woke up, but this time he didn't felt Smaug's warmth surrounding him, he did not hear his voice trying to calm him. The hobbit felt completely alone, as if a cold feeling had come over him. He did not like it, it made him feel more scared.

"Smaug? Smaug!"

Fortunately the skin-changer appeared soon, it seemed his ear was very sensitive, especially to the voice of his hobbit. He knelt before him and took his face in his hands, gently.

"Are you okay?" he asked, with his beautiful green eyes shining with concern.

"You leave me" Bilbo snapped, blushing as he realized it sounded almost like an accusation.

Smaug could not help smiling as he realized that, after all, Bilbo was beginning to need him. He was incredibly warm when he felt the hobbit clung tightly to his neck, and he lamented leave him alone, especially knowing that he was so unstable.

He hated seeing Bilbo so scared. Smaug also hated himself because he could not defend or protect him from his own dreams, even if he wanted.

"Forgive me, Bilbo. I was looking for something to eat for you."

The Hobbit clung more tightly to his neck.

"I'm not hungry."

"But you have not eaten well in days ..."

"It doesn't matter ... Please, don't leave me."

Smaug gave him a quick kiss on the lips and held him to his body.

"Don't you understand, my little hobbit? I could never get away from you, they would have to kill me first."

After many days of waiting, Thorin's blue eyes looked again his old home: Erebor. And though it still retained some of its former glory, the prince did not feel the same emotion that he thought it would cause him. It was true that his heart was still locked in there like many before had said, however, it was not gold, jewelry or the castle the reason why his heart still in there, it was because of Bilbo. He was so focused on seeing him again, in getting him out of there alive that the other things had ceased to matter.

Smaug could keep everything locked in Erebor but he would not allow him to stay with the only thing really loved.

"How well you know Erebor?" asked Gandalf.

Thorin scowled.

"Like the back of my hand."

"Do you know all the entries it has?"

"Yes. A series of tunnels could lead us to..."

But the wizard shook his head, cutting him off.

"We cannot risk going everyone; I don't want Smaug to realize our presence that could make the whole plan fell apart. No, what we need is someone to communicate with Bilbo and tells him to find out how to make Smaug get out, without he transformed into a dragon. It's our only option."

Thorin scowled.

"No, it is not. Bilbo could get ..."

The wizard glared at him.

"All you get with rescuing our hobbit now will be unleashing the wrath of Smaug, Thorin Oakenshield. And your efforts will not help, because the dragon will kill us all and he will take Bilbo back. I honestly do not think that is the outcome that you want ..."

Of course he did not want that. He crossed his arms and grunted.

"So ... what's the plan?"

"You said when you were sick you felt the presence of Bilbo, as if he were with you ... So the connection is still strong, I need you to use that connection to try to communicate with Bilbo."

Thorin nodded, even though the last few days, in which his health had recovered, had not felt Bilbo again. That worried him.

"You will run through one of those tunnels, but you will not enter the castle ... Although I think you cannot, Smaug certainly has all the possible exits blocked. Especially now that he has a prisoner."

"But if I cannot get in, then..."

Gandalf snorted.

"You don't need to do it, all I want is you achieve contact with Bilbo, enough he approach the tunnel. You have to make him get close, so you can tell him to stick with what he promised."

Thorin seemed not quite agree, but the wizard did not allow protest.

"And to make sure you will not try to do anything else, Legolas will go with you."

That night Bilbo's eyes opened slowly, a nightmare was not what it had awakened at that time but the feeling that someone was calling him. The feeling that Thorin's deep voice say his name again after so long. His heart beat rapidly, excited, feeling that he was back near ... He turned his head in every direction, but all he could see was the gold, jewels and Smaug, who was sleeping next to him. The dragon-human fingers were intertwined with his.

There was no sign of Thorin, however, he felt he was close and had he to get to where he found him soon...

Carefully Bilbo managed to separate from Smaug and stand up. The hobbits had an uncanny ability to go unnoticed when they wished and Bilbo used this ability to get away from Smaug without him awake.

Without being fully aware of what he did, Bilbo was guided by his heart and walked the halls of the castle until he found one of the tunnels. And every step he took made him more desperate, as if he knew he could ... he could be with him again. However, when the sensation became unbearable and he managed to penetrate far enough into the dark tunnel, he realized that the exit was blocked with stones.

But Bilbo knew Thorin was on the other side, he could feel as if his body was only inches from him.

"Bilbo."

The stones did not let the sound produced on the other side was heard completely, but enough so that Bilbo could hear the voice of ...

"Thorin" the hobbit felt his eyes fill with tears and he was glad no one could see him. Knowing that his prince was alive and had returned for him was too much for his heart. He wanted crossed the way and to be with him so he could get lost in his arms. It had been too long without seeing him...

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

Bilbo felt a strange painful sensation in the chest to remind Smaug. No, he had never hurt him, he took care of him all that time and had tried to make him happy.

"No, I'm fine."

The Hobbit reached out and touched the cold stone wall that prevented him reach Thorin, he felt that Prince did the same on the other side...

He missed him.

"Listen, Bilbo. Gandalf sent a message for you: you have to make Smaug get out of here, but without becoming a dragon" the voice of Legolas cut them off. "Can you do that?"

"What for?" asked the hobbit, although he knew perfectly well the answer.

"To destroy him, is our only chance."

Bilbo shook his head even though no one could see. No, he could never do that. Smaug had never hurt him, he could not betray him.

"Bilbo?" This time it was the voice of Thorin that he heard.

"I'll need time to think how to do it," said the hobbit, trembling. "I don't think it's going to be easy to convince him to come out..."

"You'll have a few days, then."

"I'll back for you soon," Thorin promised. The Hobbit knew that Prince refused to leave him, but he had no choice.

However, Bilbo wanted to use these days to think of a way to find a solution. He could not let Smaug die.

When Bilbo returned to the room where the treasure was, he realized Smaug had awakened.

"Were you looking for a way out?"

The hobbit heart beat rapidly, frightened, but instead of finding the expected fury in Smaug's eyes, he found only pain. And Bilbo felt bad about being the cause of all that suffering.

"But surely you discovered that there is no way to escape from me, no matter how much you want it" Even though he tried to hide it, the voice of Smaug sounded like it was broken.

"I didn't want to escape," said the hobbit.

"So what were looking for in the tunnels?"

Bilbo shivered, he had no idea Smaug knew where he had gone. Maybe later his curiosity would make him try to find out more... He had to think of a way to distract him, to make him forget everything...

"I needed a place to think alone."

Smaug looked at his eyes.

"You needed to be away from me."

"That's true, but I had to think without any distractions to make a decision."

"What decision?"

Bilbo put his hands on Smaug's shoulders and forced him to lean forward to reach his lips. It was the first time the hobbit initiated a kiss, however, he felt guilty to experience a warm sensation on his lips. That kiss would serve to distract Smaug, he should not enjoy it ... but he did and when Smaug approached to his body and stroked his teeth with his tongue, Bilbo opened his lips more to allow him to enter more deeply into him.

"Does that mean you accept to live with me?" Smaug asked hoarsely and his eyes darkened with desire.

Bilbo flushed, he hated lie to him and he hated being attracted to him.

"Yes."

Smaug bent to kiss him again with more desperation. His fingers did not resist too long and slide under Bilbo's clothes. The Hobbit tried to protest, but he realized that a part of him did not want him to stop. Then he got scared of his own feelings.

"Smaug, I don't think..."

But was interrupted when Smaug slide his lips down a little more and began to nibble on his neck. His hands caressed his back and one of them drew a gentle way to get his spine down his pants. Bilbo let out a moan of pleasure when one of the fingers of Smaug found his entry and penetrated him deeply. The Hobbit clung tighter to him and could not help but shudder as another finger entered him.

"Please, we have to wait... ahhhh!"

Bilbo could not help but let out a scream when Smaug bit one of his nipples while his fingers shoved into him.

"I've waited a long time" he protested, starting to lick the hobbit's chest slowly.

"I know" Bilbo gasped, "but just a little more... is all I ask you."

Reluctantly, Smaug pulled his fingers off him. Bilbo felt a little cold after that. But he tried to block the sensation.

"I'll wait just because you've accepted to live with me," Smaug said stroking Bilbo's hair, "but I won't wait too much..."

The Hobbit kissed him on the lips. Smaug arms immediately surrounded him and approached him to his body.

"Smaug?" Bilbo said, once his breathing became more regular.

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Whatever you want... except for your freedom. Tell me, what do you want?"

Smaug smiled as he watched him in the eyes, his nose was touching Bilbo's.

"If I asked you to leave this all... the gold, jewelry, Erebor ... Would you do it?"

"Do you want me to go away from here?"

"Yes."

"Bilbo, you are asked me to go against my nature of dragon... We always covet" Smaug said seriously, but he did not seem annoyed. He bowed his head and began to rub his nose against the hobbit's neck.

"Sorry, I thought..."

"Fortunately for you, there's something I covet more than every single thing in here" Smaug interrupted him before giving him a kiss. "But you know that I would never leave this place without you, I can accept your terms but you would have to come with me."

Bilbo shuddered, thinking of all he would have to give up...

"Also, if you really want to leave here then you have to give me something before we go..."

"What do you want?" Bilbo asked, shuddering.

"I will sacrifice many things for you," said Smaug, tracing the hobbit's lips with his fingers. "I will do whatever you ask me, Bilbo, but you have to give yourself to me completely... you have to let me be inside you."

Bilbo said nothing, knowing that the only way to prevent him from dying was to make him go and try to avoid he being transformed into dragon again, so no one could find him... But he would have to go with him...

"The decision is in your hands."

However, Bilbo had no idea what would happen when he dies, he knew that dragons lived centuries... and he only had a few years, he could not watch him all the time.

"What will you do when I die? Will you come back here? Will you come back for gold?"

Smaug's face looked like broken when Bilbo mentioned the possibility of dying.

"Don't say that again" Smaug growled "I don't like thinking about it. But don't worry... when I make you my consort our lifetime will be exactly the same."

"Will I live as long as you?"

Smaug smiled and kissed Bilbo's forehead. But he shook his head.

"No, your body is too weak to endure the life of a dragon, you could never live that long. What I meant is that my life will adapt to yours. When you die... I will die.

Bilbo watched in disbelief and confusion.

"But you'd be cutting your lifetime! Why would you do that?"

"Don't you understand, my beautiful hobbit?" Smaug asked, smiling "That way I would not have to endure even one day of your absence... It's wonderful because I will never feel that I'm losing you... My life will end at the same time at yours."