Chapter Twenty One
Over the course of the next several days, Bilbo took care of the babies, while making sure that Thorin rested. He felt guilty every time he used Thorin's name, but he knew that Thorin wouldn't take proper care of himself, as he hated to admit any weakness. So it was that by the fourth night, the exhausted hobbit had enough, he set Fili and Kili into two separate cradles, strapped the noise canceling ear muff on him and his children and waited and waited. Five hours later he was still waiting, checking on the babies and seeing that they were still crying. He gave in and held each in turn, but they were inconsolable. He then set them back in the same cradle and stared as both babies fell to sleep at once. Bilbo stared at the sleeping infants, knowing that it wasn't natural for babies to be so attached to each other, that they wouldn't sleep despite being exhausted.
He was tired himself, but first thing in the morning he would be asking someone about the bond dwarves had with their Precious Ones especially when young. He felt guilty about deceiving his friends, but he wanted to make sure of the situation before claiming anything that might not be true. Fili and Kili were his boys and he'd love them no matter what, but he wasn't certain everyone would feel the same. People generally didn't have romantic relationships with their close relations, but Bilbo had a feeling about the boys. They had always been so close, in their previous lives and Bilbo suddenly wondering just how close they had been, or would have been, if they had lived long enough.
The hobbit was very tired, but then Tarin began to scream again and he picked up the baby gently cradling her in his arms and feeding her, before rocking her back and forth. Tarin had been the most difficult of the babies, a pattern that Bilbo could only assume would last the rest of her life. She continued to scream as there came a knock at the door. Bilbo opened it and stared at Ori, the dwarf looked terrible. "I tried to stay away Bilbo, really, I'll only be coming when it hurts too much to be away from her."
"Its hurting you Ori, to be separated from my daughter?" Bilbo asked and Ori nodded.
"I thought I could handle it, but I can't, I need to be able to see her, to feel her." Ori said and Bilbo frowned.
"I see, what of babies, do they have trouble sleeping when they find their Ones this young?" Bilbo asked and Ori frowned.
"Generally not newborns, the bond I have with Tarin is pretty rare. Though if I come too often she might become dependant on me."
"What form would this dependency take?" Bilbo asked.
"She won't eat or sleep without me, small children don't understand separation after being so close to a person. Even when we get older its hard to be away from your One, you need to see them fairly often at least, or else you can get sick, or die if they reject you. Dwarves don't survive long after their One's die, dwarves can have relationships without their Ones, but after they find them, they are loyal to them for life." He added and Bilbo nodded.
"So you can't sleep and lack appitite when your away from my daughter?" Bilbo asked and Ori looked Bilbo in the face.
"It is hard for me to get to sleep and I have to force myself to eat." Ori said.
"I see, its been only four days since you met her and I'm not going to give you my daughter Ori. Thorin and I will be the ones raising her, not you." He said and looked at Ori's crestfallen expression. "That being said, there's no reason why you can't visit her, at a more descent hour. I don't want her to get too dependant on you though, as I think that could only hurt you both. Hir, how long do my daughter and Ori need together to stay healthy?"
"A few hours every two days, should be enough time." Hir said and Bilbo nodded, though judging by how Ori looked he needed more time with her then that to stay truly healthy.
"If they spend too much time together and Tarin does get dependent, what should I do?" Bilbo asked. "And what are the signs of dependency?"
"Well she will be inconsolable if she's out of eye contact, she won't want to eat and won't be able to sleep, even if she exhausts herself." Hir said. "As for your other question, its just like being dependent on anything else, she will have to be slowly desensitized to the bond, otherwise Ori would have to be constantly with her. Most dwarves are actually dependent to some extent or another on their one's, though usually they are older when the bond is discovered and already know who they are and what they want out of life. In the case of those that find their Ones early, the parents are careful to ensure that they don't get too dependent on each other and if they lessen the time the child spends with their One gradually."
"I see...I suppose you can come in Ori, just for tonight though mind."
"Thank you Bilbo!" Ori said.
"Would you like to hold her, I've been trying to settle her, but she's not one to settle easy." Bilbo said and Ori smiled, taking the baby from Bilbo, a look of peace coming over his face, as he stared down at Tarin in wonder. Bilbo closed the door and led Ori over to his armchair. "Come sit down, you look dead on your feet."
"I shouldn't." He said and yawned. "I don't want to intrude."
"Well you've done that already lad and I'm glad you did. I didn't know you were hurting yourself and I haven't really talked to Thorin as he's been recovering his strength."
"You've been forcing him to sleep haven't you?" Ori asked and Bilbo looked down, before nodding feeling his cheeks warm.
"He won't ever get better, if he doesn't rest and you know Thorin." Bilbo said and Ori nodded.
"I do, but still Bilbo, names are only used in dire circumstances, you can't use them to get what you want from someone, or because you think what you are doing is best for them."
"But what if he hurts himself, he was so very pale Ori." Bilbo said.
"That might have been the stress of you being pregnant, I don't know about hobbits but dwarves have a high mortality rate for pregnant women. So much can go wrong and its very stressful for their partners." Ori explained and Bilbo nodded.
"I haven't been ordering him, not exactly, I've got better at phrasing it so its more of a question."
"Still you don't really know what its like to have someone use your name, like you've been using Thorin's. You're controlling him Bilbo, whether you mean to or not. I know that your just concerned for him, but you need to stop using it, or using his name will become a habit."
"I'd never do that to Thorin."
"Really?" Ori asked and Bilbo nodded. "Give me your name now, so I know you won't." Bilbo stared at Ori.
"You could order us to give you our daughter then." Bilbo said.
"I'd never do that, its against everything we're taught to do something like that, like you are doing to Thorin, Bilbo." Ori said and Bilbo stared at him, he had only meant to help Thorin, he had taken all the responsiblity of their five very young children on himself and had wound up hurting the person he had loved most in the world. Bilbo broke down and started to cry.
"I-I-I didn't know!" Bilbo managed and Ori stared at the hobbit, as Thorin muttered something and sat up on the bed.
"Bilbo what's wrong?" His voice was scratchy from disuse and his arms were full of a sobbing hobbit suddenly.
"I-I-I'm Saorry." Bilbo sobbed.
"What did you do to him?"
"I just told him that he was using your name too much, its been four days since the babies were born." Ori said and Thorin frowned.
"Its been that long, Bilbo why didn't you tell me how much time had passed, I would have woken much sooner."
"Ya- you wa-were so ti-tired." Bilbo said. "I-I Oh-only wan-wanted ta-to help." He said before starting to sob.
"Why are you here Ori? Its the middle of the night!"
"Your daughter and I are soulbonded." Ori said and Thorin stared at him.
"Get out! You use my husband's gentle nature to see my daughter, someone who is far too young to be around her bonded and then drive my husband to tears? LEAVE THIS INSTANT!" He roared waking Tarin and making her start to wail, as Ori looked terrified at Thorin. He set the baby down in the cradle gently, before walking out the door. Thorin held Bilbo as he cried, waiting for him to calm down. "Now Bilbo, you can't take this all on your shoulders, just like I can't." Thorin said. "The only way we can get through dealing with five babies is to share the responsiblity of them equally. I don't blame you, I trust you and I know what you asked of me, for the most part. While its true that dwarves generally don't use each other's names, as often as you have been using mine, I know you were only concerned for me. Still exhausting yourself like this, to see to my welfare and happiness can't go on. You have to see that I care for you, as much as you care for me and you are worrying me. You need your rest as much as I do Bilbo, you've just given birth and your body needs time to recover." He added gently. "I can look after the children when they wake, Faceted Stone Tempered Steel Hidden Depths, will you please sleep until you are no longer exhausted?" Thorin said gently and watched as Bilbo sighed and his sobs turned to soft snoring. He gently laid Bilbo on the bed, before going over to Tarin and gently rocking her in his arms, until she settled once more into sleep. He was surprised that Bilbo had managed to get the boys to sleep as well. He then went back to the bed, wrapped his husband in his arms and fell asleep listening to Bilbo's soft snoring.
Thorin woke up the next morning, glad that for once Fili and Kili had slept through some of the night and he had to tend to tend the other babies only a few times. He knew that Bilbo would wake up on his own, as Thorin had and decided to let Bilbo sleep for a little longer. He yawned and stretched, before going to the bathroom and taking a bath. He changed into simple breeches and a tunic, before gently placing the babies into their carriage and walking from the room. He went to Balin's rooms and knocked on the door. Balin had always been an early riser like him and the dwarf opened the door smiling. "I was expecting Bilbo, I imagine you are here for the paperwork. I went down to the various halls last night and collected it for you."
"Thank you Balin, how have you been?"
"I'm well, being your adviser agrees with me, as I've been doing it for most of your life anyway." He said and Thorin laughed. "So how are you? Bilbo said you were tired."
"I was, but I'm well rested now thanks to Bilbo, though he was a bit liberal with the use of my name. I think we'll be having a talk soon and I'm not looking forward to it, I struggle sometimes to explain our traditions to my husband, but wouldn't trade him for all our kingdom's gold." He said and Balin laughed.
"You have the gold anyway, or the command over what to do with it." He said and Thorin sighed.
"Which seems more headache then its worth sometimes." Thorin admitted and sat in one of Balin's chairs. "I'm trying to figure out how to phrase that Bilbo should come to me with his concerns, rather then using my name to solve everything and winding up solving nothing."
"That seemed well explained to me." Balin said. "Bilbo is an understanding man, he most likely just wanted to do what he thought was best for you and what a dwarven partner would have done in the same circumstance."
"I know that, I know he was helping me and that's why I'm not angry at him, that and he always suggested that I do things, rather then order me to do them."
"Can you be sure of that? Have you been awake these past few days?"
"Not that I can remember, why?"
"Because all of your paperwork has been completed and I don't know how he could have managed that shy of an order. I checked and everything is in order, but still."
"I'm glad that he saw that it got done, I'd hate to be sleeping while my people are wanting for something."
"He's changed you, the old Thorin would have been furious at him."
"Well the old Thorin was a bitter dwarf without a home or a beloved, or children, having all three when you had none before would change any man." He said and Balin frowned a moment, before nodding.
"That makes sense I suppose, though I hope that you'll still have that fighting spirit in the council room."
"You can bet on it, old friend." Thorin replied. "Now can you give me the paperwork for today, I want to get back to Bilbo."
"Alright." Balin said and handed him the papers, Thorin took them and smiled at Balin.
"I'll be on my way now." Thorin said walking out the door and to the kitchens. He smiled at Bomber who looked happier then Thorin had ever seen him and also had worry lines on his face. Only one thing could do that to a dwarf and Thorin grinned. "congratulations my brother." He said to Bomber. "Tell me if you need any help."
"I'm managing just fine at the moment, thank you...Its early days yet." Bomber said and grinned. "What can I do you for?"
"Just some eggs and bacon I think and a plate for Bilbo as well." He said and Bomber chuckled.
"I suppose you are the one taking care of him now."
"Indeed I am, did you know what he was doing?"
"I guessed, but it wasn't my business to interfere in another's marriage and he seemed only to be doing it because he was worried for you."
"I know that, but still I'm going to ask him to voice his concerns to me in future." Thorin said and Bomber nodded.
"Marriage is a balance, you'll get the hang of it in time." He said, before placing a plate of eggs and bacon in front of Thorin."
"I hope so, we never really got to celebrate, what with Bilbo getting pregnant just after our wedding night and everything." He said. "Has he shown them to you?"
"He did, they seem to be very fine babies, though Ori is bonded to Tarin."
"I know, he knows that he's not to see her for a while, its much too soon for her to be around him." Thorin said protectively.
"You know you can never keep a bonded pair away from each other."
"I know they will be together eventually, but I want her to be my daughter before she's Ori's One."
"Why can't she be both and you know how being parted from her will hurt Ori."
"I do, but being with him may hurt her even more, I don't want her to become dependent on him." He said.
"No father would want that for his child." Bomber said. "I want my child to be whatever they will be, to find themselves before they find their true love."
"Aye, I'll be watching my other daughter more closely now." Thorin said and Bomber laughed.
"And going after any would be suitors with Orkcrest?" He said.
"Well it wouldn't do to have a fine blade like that, be getting dull, not at all." Thorin said and Bomber laughed again.
"I think Dori and Nori would have something to say about that."
"Aye, but a dwarf has to watch out for their kin, they know that." Thorin said and yawned. "I've got a lot of paperwork to do, thanks for the food Bomber, it was as excellent as always."
"I'm glad you liked it." Bomber said and smiled, waving at Thorin as he went back to his rooms, with a plate of food for Bilbo. He shook Bilbo's shoulder gently and smiled as the hobbit's eyes cracked open.
"Eat this and you can sleep some more, I've got the babies."
"No, need to tell you something." Bilbo said and yawned widely.
"You aren't up for telling much of anything at the moment Bilbo." Thorin said gently. "Just eat and get some more rest, I've got the babes." Thorin said and Bilbo nodded, before yawning. He started to eat, but fell asleep before he had finished the plate of food and Thorin didn't have the heart to wake him again. He set the plate on the desk and gathered his husband into his arms, lying him down gently in bed. Bilbo's hand caught his tunic in sleep and clutched at the fabric. Thorin smiled softly, before kissing Bilbo's forehead. The hobbit frowned, a hand going up to scratch at his face and Thorin smiled, feeling suddenly light and carefree. He gently removed Bilbo's hand from his shirt and got out the paperwork. He was surprised that Bilbo had bought a pair of ear muffs for himself, Thorin and the rest of the babies. They hadn't been wearing them, when Thorin put them into the carriage. He supposed that Bilbo didn't want to use them often. He gently settled Bilbo's around his head, before starting in on the paperwork. He worked for a while, before Farin woke up and started to cry, which woke up his siblings and made them cry and fuss as well. Thorin used the sling for the three newborns, gently moving it to his back, before holding Fili and Kili in his arms. He went over to the stove and set the bottles to heating, swaying his body comfortingly back and forth. He checked the children and changed them, before taking out the warmed milk and feeding each of them. He then went back to swaying back and forth, gently until they settled and the younger ones fell back to sleep, Fili started playing with the beads on his beard and Kili seemed to be encouraging his brother. Thorin chuckled and moved their hands from his beard. He didn't expect Fili to tug so hard on it, his eyes watered and he let out a curse.
"Bedrock Light Hammer Turning Stone Reforged, don't pull hard on beards." He told the baby, that had hurt badly and he didn't want his son to develop the habit. That set Fili to crying and Kili started to cry as well. He gently rocked them back and forth, as the babies on his back woke and started to cry as well. He rocked back and forth, before putting a clump of hair into Fili's hand and smiling as the tiny hand closed around his hair more gently. Fili quieted, though it took a while for the others to settle, one of the newborns seemed particularly vocal, but with gentle motions and persistance Thorin got her to settle down as well. Both his sons were burbling at each other and Thorin smiled at them. "Well boys, Daddy has some more paperwork to go over, but there's no reason he can't also play with you. He set the twins down on the carpet, before gently laying the triplets into their cradle and picking the boys back up. He found the brightly colored plush toys Ori had knitted for them and dangled them above both babies, surprised when they fell asleep after a few minutes. He laid the toys down close to them, before returning to his paperwork until he heard the triplets start to cry again. He warmed more bottles and fed the babies, realizing that he was hungry himself. He gently woke the boys smiling as they sucked at the bottles sleepily. He grinned broadly when Bilbo woke up, just as he was finishing diapering a wriggling Fili.
"Good morning." Bilbo said and yawned widely, rubbing at his eyes. Thorin thought he looked adorable and he hoped that Alia and Farin would have Bilbo's eyes as well as his hair. Those warm brown eyes were so kind and beautiful, they never seemed to stop from stirring Thorin's heart.
"More like afternoon love, I was just about to go to the kitchens, would you like to join me?"
"I'd love to!" Bilbo said and Thorin chuckled, any mention of food and his hobbit was off like a shot. He watched as Bilbo got dressed for a moment, before checking Kili's diaper, glad that he didn't have to change all five of them. "They need to be more bundled up then that, I usually put them in two or three outfits when we're going out." Bilbo said to Thorin and Thorin nodded, realizing that the hobbit was right.
"I should have thought to get more warm clothing, Fili and Kili both have sweaters, but none of the triplets have warmer clothes."
"They will have to make do with layers." Bilbo said. "I couldn't find the jackets earlier." He said and laughed delightedly as Thorin revealed two little blue jackets, with fuzzy wolf trim. "They will look just like their Ada in these." He said and Thorin smiled.
"I thought you might like them and they are traditional outer wear for dwarves." He said. "Is your waistcoat warm enough?" He asked and Bilbo nodded.
"Its always warmer near the kitchens anyway." Bilbo said. "And even though our sons look very fine in fur and blue cloth, I think I wouldn't." Bilbo said and Thorin chuckled.
"Its true that the dwarven style of dress doesn't fit you love." He said. "Anyway I like seeing you wear your waistcoats."
"And dresses." Bilbo said with a slightly wicked gleam to his eye.
"Yes and dresses, I'll have to repay that favor sometime." Thorin said. "Fofill one of your fantasies." He added and Bilbo laughed.
"I'll have to think of something then, I haven't had the time you seem to have had, or the fodder." He added and Thorin laughed.
"That's true enough, nor will you, I think that there's only one person who can bear babies in this relationship."
"One would hope, I don't know how you can be without me for seven months, I could barely manage four days." Bilbo said and Thorin cupped Bilbo's face in his hand.
"It was hard, but watching your stomach grow with child was worth it. I was alarmed by how big you got, but I'm glad that you had the babes now."
"Me too, come on, lets get going, before our children decide they need something else from us." Bilbo said and carefully tucked the babies in the cradle. He decided that it was better to let Thorin get some food in him, before telling Thorin his suspicions about their sons, maybe some ale too as he knew that Thorin would be as concerned as Bilbo was. Bilbo tucked one of the soft toys between the two boys, before lying their little brother and sisters down next to them. they then left together and walked to the kitchens.
They both sat down and smiled as Bomber offered them both some hot stew. "Thanks this will take the edge off." Bilbo said as he felt the warmth coming from the kitchens to his on his chest and hands and the cold wind blowing in behind him. He wished that Erebor wasn't quite so cold in winter, although a part of him wanted to abandon his adult sensibilities in the snow and why not? He had a patch of ground after all, in his hobbit hole that must be covered in snow by now.
"How's your paperwork going?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I was wondering if you could take a break and play in the snow with me." Bilbo said and Thorin laughed.
"I haven't done that since I was a child, but if you want to play in the snow, we can." He said and Bilbo grinned.
"Great, the little ones should be warm enough for now." He said. "I thought we could go to the hole and play in the garden you gave me."
"I'd like that." Thorin said and returned to his soup.
"I also have a lovely brandy for afterwards and we can light a fire and read together a while." Bilbo said and Thorin nodded, returning to his soup. They finished eating as Dori came dragging Ori, the two dwarves stood stalk still.
"Keep him away from my daughter." Thorin said.
"Its a bit too cold for Tarin to be out of the cradle, but I don't see why Ori can't see her."
"Let me protect the children as I see fit."
"Oh and your going to protect them from our friends? Ori would never hurt Tar-our daughter."
"I hurt you Bilbo, you can't be sure of that. I just got her, I'm not letting another male get near her so soon." He said and Bilbo nodded, knowing the determined expression on Thorin's face too well, it made sense that Thorin's ancestors came from stone, they were stubborn and block headed enough for it. If it had been any other time, he'd have been amused by that thought, but seeing the devastated look on Ori's face was enough to sober anyone.
"You need to let him see her, can't you see my brother is suffering?"
"He'll suffer more, if he goes near her. What if it was your newborn daughter Dori, wouldn't you want to protect her?" He demanded, before jumping up from the table. "We're finished here Bilbo." He added and Bilbo frowned, he didn't like Thorin getting high handed with him, though he knew that Thorin was upset and that was affecting his judgement and his words. He sent the two brothers an apologetic look, before going with Thorin to his hobbit hole.
"Maybe you should have a bit of the brandy first to calm you."
"I don't need calming Bilbo, I'm just worried about our daughter and I won't let Ori get near her until she's older."
"The way Ori looks, there might be nothing for our daughter to be near." Bilbo said. "Would you really risk harming the man our daughter will come to love?"
"Yes if it means protecting her, she has not rejected him, he will not perish. It may be hard on him, but I won't have her getting dependent on him. A dependent dwarf can never be without their One, I want my daughter to grow up independent, not tied to a man." Thorin said.
"I don't think Ori would want to tie her to him, not at least until she understands their relationship." Bilbo said gently. "If she gets dependent, we can wean her off of him."
"Not if it goes on for long enough, without us noticing." Thorin said and Bilbo stared at him. "There comes a time when a child can't be separated, where weaning doesn't work and if the parents misread the signs, the child can die if left long enough without their One. Its more dangerous than you think Bilbo." Bilbo felt tears fill his eyes, if that was true, what about his boys? Fili and Kili deserved to be able to be separate from each other, to become individuals in their own rights. He had to get Thorin out of his bad mood, he knew that Thorin wouldn't take it well no matter what, but it was better to get him into a good mood first, before telling him.
"Do you still have your traveling cloak?"
"I bought one for you as well, I thought you might need it as Erebor can be cold till May." He said and Bilbo nodded.
"Thank you." He said, they both put the cloaks on and walked to the garden together. Bilbo gave a whoop before running into the snow. He had to act carefree for Thorin, otherwise Thorin would guess something was wrong. He wanted this moment with his husband, before their lives would once more be complicated. He wondered if he could help his children, if dependency was like an illness, he hoped it was, that it would be that simple for him to cure. He tossed a snow ball at Thorin's head and laughed as the king arched a single eyebrow, before clearing the snow from his beard.
"This means war! The axes, the axes of the dwarves are upon you! " He said and tossed snowball after snowball at Bilbo, Bilbo returned fire laughing and enjoying this moment. After a while Thorin started to laugh as well, enjoying their game. Finally they both became too cold and went back inside the house together. Bilbo put the kettle on and handed Thorin some of the brandy that he had hidden the night the company had knocked on his door. "Are you trying to get me drunk Heart stone?"
"I'm just trying to warm you up, I doubt some brandy from the shire could get you truly drunk. You know hobbits are lightweights compared to dwarves." That wasn't entirely true, Bilbo might get drunk easily, but that didn't mean all his kind did.
"True enough." Thorin said and poured a sifter of brandy. He knocked it back and sighed. "Now that puts fire in the blood." He said and Bilbo smiled. "What's wrong love?"
"I think the twins are soulbonded."
"No, I would have known it, if that were the case!"
"Would you have? Did you tell Fili to stay close by Kili growing up?" Bilbo asked and Thorin stared at him.
"It was dangerous for them to go out alone, I had no idea that they were soulbonded."
"It was obvious that they shared a close bond, but I didn't suspect this until last night."
"Tell me what happened."
"I thought that if I didn't touch them and I put them in separate cradles, they would settle down. They cried for five hours, before I gave in."
"Five hours, they were separated that long?" Thorin asked and Bilbo nodded. "They've been sleeping most of today, but I thought that it was normal."
"Did I hurt our sons?" Bilbo asked and Thorin frowned.
"I don't know for certain, but its good that you gave in when you did. Both babies are clearly dependent on each other from what you told me." Thorin said. "Which means that the next months will be difficult for us, we've got to get them used to being apart gradually." He added.
"Is dependency like a sickness?" Bilbo asked and Thorin stared at him.
"Why do you ask?" Thorin said.
"Because it sounds like one, to some extent."
"Its a little like a sickness." Thorin admitted. "But don't do what your thinking Bilbo."
"If it will help the boys, I have to try Thorin." Bilbo said and Thorin clenched the sifter tight in his hands a moment, before pouring himself another drink and nodding. Bilbo went to his sons and kissed Kili's forehead, where was Thorin, he couldn't feel him or see him, he needed Thorin! He looked to Thorin for a moment, reassured by his presence, before kissing Fili as well. He then ran back to Thorin and buried his face into Thorin's chest, breathing him in deeply.
"Its alright Bilbo I'm here, we did the right thing by helping our sons. We should separate them now and see how it worked." Thorin said running a hand through Bilbo's hair, Bilbo nodded and got to his feet, not letting go of Thorin's robe. Thorin took Bilbo's hand instead and gently pried his fingers from the robe. Together they went over to the babies and Thorin picked up Fili. The baby didn't stir continuing to sleep in Thorin's arms, he woke the child gently and Fili looked up at him babbling happily, even as he moved away from the cradle. Fili's little hands closed around his hair and Thorin felt tears come to his eyes.
"I need to feel you against me Thorin, holding your hand isn't enough." Bilbo said and Thorin looked at his husband, noticing how pale his husband was. "Lets go over to the chair and you can sit in my lap." Thorin said and Bilbo nodded, Thorin set Fili down in the spare cradle, rocking the boy until he fell asleep. They walked over to the chair and Thorin sat down, as Bilbo cuddled close to him shivering before Thorin put his arms around him. He hadn't thought to check the boy's foreheads and they had felt fine this morning, but his hobbit looked very sick. He felt Bilbo's forehead gently and he moaned softly. Thorin sent a prayer to Mahal, the boys had been sicker then he had realized. He stared at his husband feeling suddenly frightened. He picked Bilbo up in his arms and walked to the nearest guard. "Get Oin, my husband has a fever." He told the guards and one of them rushed off to do as he had asked. After a dwarf was separated from his One for too long, they got sick and needed nearly constant contact with their One to get better. Bilbo was a hobbit though and although Thorin knew what the problem was, he still wanted a healer.
"Talk to me, I need to hear your voice." Bilbo said looking up at him and Thorin nodded.
"What do you want me to talk about." He said and Bilbo sighed.
"Anything you'd like, it just makes me feel a bit better, to hear you speaking." Bilbo said and Thorin nodded.
"How about one of your books then, you need to keep your strength and I've never been much of a one sided conversationalist." He joked and Bilbo laughed before yawning. Thorin settled the blanket around Bilbo, as he waited for Oin to come. Thorin felt that Oin was taking forever to arrive, he was afraid for his husband and he needed to know what was going on. Every dwarf knew the dangers of having young ones that were soulbonded, but they didn't know the specifics by and large. Thorin read to Bilbo, picking out a book at random from the bookshelf and trying to calm himself. Then there was finally a knock on the door. "Come in." Thorin said and Oin entered, going over to Bilbo.
"He does have a fever, but I don't see why he's attached himself to you like this."
"He healed the boys, they were dependent on each other." Thorin said and Oin nodded.
"I see, well in the last stages of dependency babies can get fevers and want to be close to their soulbonded. It depends on each person, but for the most part he will want to be close to you, for the next several days. In other cases of dependency I would suggest that he stay away from you, but he's of a different race and is too old to form a true dependency on you. I suspect that making him stay away from you would be hurting him without need."
"I'm here." Bilbo protested weakly, his face buried in Thorin's chest.
"I know Bilbo, but you aren't feeling well and its better I explain this to Thorin." Oin said. "The fever is generally only a slight one, it will make him tired and in some cases can cause slight hallucinations I think, though I can't be sure because this is something usually only seen in babies and babies can't tell you what they see." He said. "I only know that they commonly cry, especially when separated from their One. As for the boys, you should keep them separate as much as possible, after they are a year old the risk of dependency fades. They should be allowed to see each other a few times a day, but close contact should be kept at a minimum." Oin said. "A few hours every few days should be enough to keep them content and stop them from being dependent on one another again." He said and Thorin nodded.
"Thank you, is there anything I should give Bilbo to help?"
"Only time and rest will fix this, keep him close to you and he should be well soon. It might take a few days at most for him to recover completely, but I doubt it will take that long."
"Thank you again Oin." Thorin said as Oin left the room. Thorin turned to Bilbo and gently ran his fingers through Bilbo's hair taking out the braids, before stroking the hair back with his hands. Whenever he had been ill as a boy, he remembered his mother stroking his head. The contact seemed to sooth Bilbo as well. "Would you like me to read some, do you need anything?"
"Just you." Bilbo said and yawned. "I'm sleepy."
"Well I can read to you some more, if you like?" Thorin asked and Bilbo nodded, Thorin picked up where he had left off in the book and within a few minutes Bilbo had fallen asleep. Thorin kissed his forehead gently, not liking how warm it was. It wasn't entirely comfortable in the chair either, so he gently picked Bilbo up and went over to the bed, lying down with him in his arms, he decided that there would be no harm in getting some more sleep and closed his eyes as well.
The sound of Bilbo screaming woke him and he held the hobbit in his arms. "NOT THORIN, DON'T LEAVE ME! NOT THORIN!" He screamed and cried, his eyes open and staring unseeing, Thorin held him down on the bed.
"Bilbo, I'm here love, Bilbo I'm right here." Thorin said.
"THORIN, NO DON'T LEAVE ME!" Bilbo said and that was all that Thorin could get out of him, the babies woke then and started crying. Thorin got up and put their bottles in the warmer, which made Bilbo even more distressed. "HE'S GONE, HE'S DEAD, THORIN!" Thorin hurried back and wrapped Bilbo up in his arms.
"I'm right here Bilbo, I'm not leaving you." Thorin said, his eyes filling with tears, he hated seeing Bilbo sick like this, but the babies needed to be take care of as well. He left a second time, picking up the babies and putting them on his side of the bed, while Bilbo thrashed about on the other. He got the bottles out and laid out across Bilbo's stomach, Bilbo stopped thrashing at least, but he was still calling out for Thorin. Thorin took care of the babies and returned them to their cradles, before going back to his husband and rocking him in his arms. The screaming and crying lasted for hours, as Thorin held onto him, finally Bilbo stopped screaming, only letting out a low moan and the exhausted king laid down next to his husband, pulling the blankets over them both, before falling asleep.