Thank you, everyone, for the reviews! I love it when I get reviews, it means someone's reading and loving my stories! Here is the fluffy chapter! Enjoy!
Pound. Pound. Pound. Beat. Beat. Beat. Can't hear. Can't focus. Can't see. Oh, dear. Maybe I should have rethought this. In and out. In and out. Just like you rehearsed. Everything will be fine. He will like it. He will accept you. He will love you. Just focus. But I can't! No, Thorin. Focus. Breathe. Listen. He's talking to you. Don't just nod! Answer! Pound. Beat. Pound. Beat. For the love of Aulë, I can't hear over my blasted heartbeat!
"What is wrong with me?" Thorin grumbled, interrupting Bilbo's sentence and grasping the door handle to enter the royal chambers.
"Sorry?" the hobbit said, frowning at the dwarf's sudden question. "Were you talking me?"
Thorin flushed as he realized he had spoken aloud. Clearing his throat, he shook his head, opened the door, and gave Bilbo an apologetic smile. "No, I am sorry for interrupting; it was very rude of me." He grasped the large case tighter than was necessary and nodded for the hobbit to enter. "P-please continue," he said, entering the chamber, himself, and closing the door behind him with a quiet click.
"Oh, well..." Bilbo started, rubbing the back of his neck and standing in the middle of the room, rather awkwardly, as he was flustered after Thorin's unexpected apology. "There's really nothing to continue on with... I-I was just mentioning our... uh, m-m-my living arrangements... here..."
Thorin nodded. Beat. Pound. Pound. Skip. Beat. Beat. Jump. Move, dwarf! Move! Right. Left. Right. Left. Good. Now, set up- No, wait! Offer him a seat, then set up. Good.
"Here," Thorin said with a quivering and nervous voice. "Sit," he gently commanded to Bilbo, pulling out a chair by the fireplace.
Bilbo smiled and sat down on the chair, curious as to what sort of 'courting gift' Thorin had planned. "You know, I do appreciate your efforts to court me," he said, twirling his fingers through his puffy tunic while watching the dwarf king unlock the large case.
Thorin looked up from the case and smiled. "I do hope you like it," he said, coughing to hide his blush.
Breathe. In and out. In and out. Ignore your pounding heart. Focus. Focus. Ow, that was your finger.
"This night could only get better," Thorin sighed to himself as he hefted a silver, gold, and mithril harp from the large case and set it down in front of the fireplace with a heavy grunt. He shifted his attention to the case where he, then, closed it with another grunt before he turned to Bilbo. "I... u-understand that hobbits like music... as much as dwarfs do..." He offered Bilbo a small and nervous smile. "Maybe even more so... Um..." He cleared his throat and pulled up a chair beside the harp where he sat down. "I do... h-hope you e-enjoy my music... Um, when I lost m-my way in the Shire-"
"Twice," Bilbo interrupted, a shy smile creeping upon his lips.
Thorin smiled. "Y-yes... I saw h-hobbits playing m-music, and I want to share this... dwarvish m-music with you... as my courting gift because I-I-I think y-you will like it," the dwarf finished with a very shy smile on his face.
Bilbo nodded and tried to ignore the pounding in his ears and the fluttering of his heart in his chest. This is just Thorin. Get a hold of yourself, Bilbo. It... It is a start of a new relationship between you two. Don't mess it up. I know, but... he's so handsome when he's nervous. Shut it, hobbit! He's starting to get ready to play. Smile. Encourage him. Tell him how you feel about him... No. Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. N- Do it!
"Thorin," Bilbo began, his heart pounding abnormally within him.
The dwarf king stopped moving his fingers just as they were about to strum music from the harp strings. "Yes?" he asked, afraid Bilbo was going to walk out on him.
Bilbo fiddled with the hem of his royal blue waistcoat, something Thorin found himself unable to draw his eyes away from. "I am sure whatever you play will be the perfect courting gift... to me." The hobbit smiled though he was unsure of himself, and his fingers kept playing with the material as he grew more and more anxious. "Um... can I..."
Thorin swore his heart stopped as Bilbo began to stand. Oh no... He's going to leave. He's going to leave. No... Do something! I would, but I can't feel my legs.
The hobbit stopped a few inches away from Thorin, who hadn't moved and whose arms were still raised as he was ready to play the harp, and took a deep and shaky breath. "Can I... sit... here? With you?" he asked, pointing to Thorin's booted feet. "I would... much rather listen to your music while... feeling you beside me."
Thorin pretty much gaped then quickly closed his mouth as he remembered what happened the last time he gaped at the hobbit. "I... uh..." Shaking his head, he stood and crossed the room and brought back a long bench-like stool. He set it in front of the harp after he returned the chair to its original spot. "Uh, here," he said, scooting the stool closer to the harp before sitting on it. "Come." He motioned Bilbo to sit in front of him, between him and the harp. "My burglar cannot sit on the floor when he could sit with the King," Thorin attempted at a joke and was relieved when Bilbo giggled.
"Oh Mahal, I love your giggle," Thorin whispered into the hobbit's ear as he pulled Bilbo against his chest.
"Thanks," Bilbo flushed, hesitantly leaning into Thorin's warmth.
Thorin let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding in before he lifted his arms to play the harp. Taking a deep breath, he began to stroke and strum the harp strings, smiling when sweet music filled his ears. He closed his eyes as he thought of the notes of the song he played... and slowly, he began to sing.
The dwarf's deep voice filled Bilbo's hobbit ears and rumbled his chest and fluttered his heart. Thorin's voice sounded so soft yet Bilbo knew how gruff the dwarf king could be. Slowly, he felt all the nervousness and fear from recent events float away as the music took its place. He felt Thorin's tensed muscles relax and calm as the dwarf continued to sing and strum the harp. He sighed and closed his eyes, listening and melting in the sweet sound and warmth of the dwarf king that he could get used to for a very long time. Fully resting against Thorin's armored chest, Bilbo let out a content hum as Thorin's arms moved gently and his voice sang deeply. After a few minutes of sweet music, Bilbo opened his eyes to hear Thorin ending the song with what sounded like a smile upon his face.
"That was beautiful," Bilbo whispered, his voice lost after such sweet music.
Thorin shifted nervously on the stool. "Really?" he asked. "You really thought so?"
Bilbo nodded. "Do you mind me asking what the song was about?" he asked. "I know dwarfs like to keep their traditions secret..."
"My halfling," Thorin began affectionately. "I sang this beautiful song to you; I intend on showing you our 'traditions' as you call them." He smiled and sighed softly. "This song was one that my mother used to play for Dis, Frerin, and I when we were small dwarflings. She used to sing to us every time our father, Thrain, was gone from the mountain and not here to tell us wild stories of his life." Thorin sighed again, this time heavily. "It is a song I cherish greatly." He paused as he gathered his thoughts. "I do hope you liked it..."
Bilbo stood to turn around and face Thorin. He sat back on the stool and scooted towards the dwarf king whose breath became hitched slightly. His own breath was shortened when Thorin gently placed his large hands on his slim hips, pulling him closer until their faces were inches apart. Taking a shaky and nervous breath, Bilbo twined his arms around the dwarf's neck and lifted his face up to Thorin's own. "I loved it," he whispered, his breath touching Thorin's face like a soft blanket.
Thorin, who at this point couldn't breathe, leaned down and pressed his lips against Bilbo's soft and moist ones. His eyes closed and his grip on the hobbit's waist tightened as he sent all of his feelings into the kiss. Cautiously, he pressed firmer to deepen the kiss... slowly, as if not to push his hobbit. He felt something warm and fuzzy well up inside him when Bilbo moaned into his mouth. "Bilbo..." he moaned himself, trailing his hands up Bilbo's back and pulling him closer.
"Thorin," the hobbit groaned, grasping Thorin's hair as the kiss deepened.
The dwarf growled at the way his name rolled off of Bilbo's tongue, his tasty, tasty tongue. He marveled the feeling of Bilbo's small hands digging into his thick mane though he struggled to keep his majestic composure throughout the kiss. With time and many breaths for air, Thorin turned to mush against his hobbit's lips, which were swollen and red from their constant kissing. He groaned and grunted as Bilbo's hands moved form his hair to his cheeks where they caressed his soft beard and trailed down to his neck. His breath hitched at the feeling, and absentmindedly, Thorin let his own hands cup Bilbo's small, hairless face to get a better angle of the hobbit's mouth and to show Bilbo that he can be gentle and caring as well.
Bilbo felt his heart swell with love as Thorin's soft but callused hands held his face. After a few more light kisses, Bilbo reluctantly pulled back and licked his swollen lips while smiling at Thorin's red face. "I... I..."
"I love you," Thorin whispered, leaning forward and pressing one final kiss to the halfling's lips.
Not even bothering to contain his joy, Bilbo threw his arms around Thorin's neck once more and held him close. "I love you as well," Bilbo replied, pulling back and giving Thorin a shy smile.
"Finally," came a relieved voice from the next room.
Thorin groaned and dropped his head on Bilbo's shoulder; the hobbit's hands trailed to the dwarf's cloak-covered back.
"You have no idea how long we were here waiting for those words," Kili said, coming around the corner looking a little chubby after his extra dinner the company had given him in honor of 'coming back from the dead'.
"Just once, can your uncle please have a little privacy?" Thorin asked, lifting his head to glare at Kili and Fili.
"Oh yes, Uncle," Fili said, sitting on the floor by the couple. "We barely came in a few minutes ago."
"And you didn't peek around the corner?" Bilbo asked, raising a thin auburn eyebrow at the brothers and hoping they hadn't seen Thorin and him share their second kiss.
"Nope!" Kili said, plopping down on the floor beside Fili. "Not a peek!"
"I do not believe you," Thorin grumbled, tugging Bilbo closer. "Where is your mother?"
Kili shrugged. "We snuck out of the sitting room; everyone was celebrating and drinking ale. Mother had already gone to her chambers a couple hours before."
Thorin let out a low growl of discontent. "Out," he said firmly, as firmly as he could with Bilbo resting against his chest and making his heart beat irregularly.
The brothers pouted. "But Uncle..." Kili whined, clasping his hands together as if he were begging. "You never got to hear my brilliant tale of how I am here with all of you today." He offered his scowling uncle a smile as he stood on his knees, really begging Thorin. "Please, Uncle... Bilbo?" the dwarf asked, changing the question to the hobbit whose face was hidden by Thorin's protective arms as his uncle held the hobbit close to his chest.
"Thorin," Bilbo said softly, tracing Thorin's armored chest with his slim finger. "I want to hear."
"Fine," Thorin sighed, giving in for his hobbit. "Do tell, Kili, of how you lived... But spare me of any heartbreaking moments; I have gone through plenty already."
Kili nodded and nearly bounced on his knees. "Thank you, Uncle!" He clapped happily with a wide grin on his face. "Alright, well... um..."
"Yes?" Thorin pressed, raising a thick eyebrow at his nephew.
"Wait for it," Kili replied, raising a hand to shush Thorin. "I'm thinking... and sparing you of the heartbreaking moments." The young dwarf thought and thought and gathered his thoughts nicely before he took in a deep breath. "So, my brilliant tale begins with that god-awful fever I had. I must admit, I thought it would end me right there, but no. Mahal thought I should deserve to live... I remember the fever clouding my senses-"
"Why such big words, Kili?" Thorin interrupted, frowning slightly at the dwarf. "I didn't know you knew such academic and Ori-associated words."
"Thorin, let him talk," Bilbo said, lifting his head off the dwarf king's chest. "I want to hear how he lived."
Kili stuck his tongue out at his uncle. "Yeah, Thorin. He wants to hear my majestic tale of how I am here with you all now... And let me tell the story how I see fit!" The young dwarf huffed and sat down on the floor again. "Where was I... oh, yes. I had the fever and after that, I really don't remember anything until I woke up in this cold room somewhere in the mountain. It was freezing cold down there and there were these dwarfs hurrying around the room, and they looked as if they were doing something important. Anyway, I tried to move but I couldn't. I was lying on a table, and when I looked down, I was dressed in some sort of ceremonial... clothing... like... l-like..." Kili's voice trailed as he tried to force the next few words out. "L-like m-m-my f-father... when h-he was b-buried..." He sniffled a little and wiped away the only tear that had escaped from his brown eyes. "Anyhow, since I couldn't move, I thought of calling out but the fever really took a toll on me and I couldn't talk." He sighed heavily as he remembered not being able to move and feeling completely helpless through it all. He quickly glanced at Bilbo, who was playing with Thorin's braids as the dwarf king pressed a light kiss to the hobbit's forehead, before continuing on with his tale. "... I just really wanted to get out of there and see you and Fili again, but I didn't know how to... And the dwarfs there paid no attention to me-"
"Because they thought you were-"
"I know they thought I was dead!" Kili huffed, cutting off Fili.
"Then, what happened?" Thorin asked slowly, blowing a strand of auburn hair away from his nose.
"They put me in a tomb, and I tried to say something but nothing came out." Kili glanced at Thorin who gave him an encouraging smile to continue. "The lid was closed and I knew I had to get out."
"If they closed the coffin," Bilbo began, shifting on the stool until his back leaned against the dwarf king's chest, Thorin's hands coming to rest upon the hobbit's front. "How did you escape?"
Kili grinned. "That is where my majesticness comes out!" he said proudly, puffing out his chest. "It had taken a lot of strength, but I did it. I stuck a rock that was hidden in my coat before the lid closed... and they failed to notice!" He shifted his brown eyes to Bilbo who only shook his head and smiled for the young story-teller to continue on. "I was moved and the next thing I smelled was dirt, and I knew I had to get out quickly."
Thorin frowned and Bilbo pulled from his dwarf's arms as Kili stood from his seat only to lay in the center of the room, apparently to reenact his 'majestic' escape. "What're you-" Thorin began, raising his eyebrows as his nephew began to move his legs.
"I'm reenacting how I kicked open the door," Kili said, kicking his legs at some invisible force. "Then..." His legs stopped moving but his arms moved instead. "I tried to pry open the lid-"
"I thought you said you couldn't move because of the fever?" Thorin asked, pulling Bilbo back up against him despite the hobbit's protests.
Kili sat up and huffed again. "Uncle, hours have passed. They already put me in the mountain; I had slept on it and was fully awake and functional."
Thorin held up his hands in defense. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Continue, please."
"Thank you," Kili said, nodding firmly. He opened his mouth to continue but quickly casted one glance at his uncle and Bilbo and saw that both dwarf and hobbit were lost in each others eyes while their hands roamed each others bodies; Kili rolled his eyes. "Will you two listen?" he said loudly. "I am only telling this once, so-"
Bilbo and Thorin pulled away from each other at Kili's firm voice; their cheeks coloring scarlet as both looked around the room and not at each other. "Sorry," Bilbo apologized in a small voice.
"Sorry," Thorin added, looking down at his booted feet in apology.
"Alright," the young brown-eyed dwarf breathed. "As I was saying, I tried to pry open the lid with both my hands and feet... and I succeeded! My majesticness, courtesy of my dearest and favoritest Uncle, came through and saved my life. I pushed my way out and... was faced with dirt." Kili sighed and stood to reclaim his spot beside Fili who was lightly dozing, already having heard this story once before. "And, then..." Kili said in the most dramatic voice he could muster. "I dug my way to the top-"
Thorin coughed. "Likely story, Kili," he said as he rolled his eyes. "You cannot dig your way to the-"
Bilbo elbowed him. "Let him finish."
"You don't actually-"
The hobbit gave him a stern look.
"Fine."
Kili narrowed his eyes at his uncle before continuing. "I wasn't that deep, maybe a few inches. You know how the dwarfs put a layer of dirt on the casket two days before they actually bury it? Well, they did... but they forgot when the two days came around... so I was able to escape unnoticed." He paused for any interruptions but none came. "Then, the heart of the mountain is technically in a chamber at the lowest level..."
Thorin nodded.
"I was forced to break down the door and escape that way since I had no key and the walls were too thick."
"That noise... was you?!" Thorin said, raising his voice slightly. "Here, most of my guards thought it was a thief?! Kili... that was you trailing mud into the mountain's halls?"
Kili nodded. "Yes, Uncle. You are catching on very quickly." He laughed as Thorin shook his head with an amused look on his face. "Yes, and by the time I had made my entrance, the whole mountain was flooded with orcs. So, I ran to the armory and met you all on the battlefield." The young dwarf nodded and held his arms out as if to say he was done with his tale. "That's it... I'm sparing you of the heartbreaking moments here."
Minutes passed before Thorin nodded, letting everything sink in. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it as nothing came out. "Majestic?!" he said, standing from the stool. "Really?"
Kili nodded, a wide and mischievous grin on his face. "Yes, I made mention of you, Uncle."
"I noticed..."
"Still shocked I'm alive?" Kili asked. "Or are you wanting us to leave so you can ravish your newly claimed hobbit?"
Thorin glared at the dwarf. "Out," he said, pointing to the door.
Kili pouted. "But Uncle," he whined. "I want to stay here. Please..." He pouted more before falling backwards onto the floor and feigning sleep.
The dwarf king shook his head, smiled, and glanced at Bilbo whose attention was focused on the two passed out dwarfs in the room. "What?" he asked, feeling eyes on him and noticing Thorin was watching him. "Is there something wrong?" he asked, thinking Thorin was staring at some weird object on him. "Thorin?"
Thorin smiled, a toothy smile that made Bilbo's heart flutter many times faster. "Nothing is wrong, Bilbo. I am only admiring you."
Bilbo felt himself blush up to the tips of his ears. "W-why?" he asked, needing to know that this was not a dream at all and that Thorin loved him.
"Why?" Thorin frowned. "Because I have admitted my feelings to you," he said, coming to kneel in front of the hobbit. "I have told you how I feel about you." He grasped Bilbo's hand and brought it up to his lips, enjoying it when the halfling giggled as his own beard tickled his hobbit's soft hand. "I love you, Bilbo. That is why I admire you so," he finished, placing Bilbo's hand to its original place before standing up. "Unless you feel differently, I would understand..." he trailed, training his eyes on his boots as he ended the sentence.
Bilbo stood from the stool as well and wrapped his arms around the dwarf's neck. "Your love is always welcome," he whispered into Thorin's ear.
Sweet shivers flew down Thorin's spine at Bilbo's soft voice. He wrapped his own arms around Bilbo's waist, careful of the hobbit's still-sensitive wounds. "Thank you," he said a bit hoarsely. "Your love as well," he added with a light smile to his face.
"I'm glad," Bilbo said, pulling away from the dwarf king and glancing down at Fili and Kili who were both asleep on the floor. He sighed and buried his face in Thorin's chest. "Shouldn't we make them leave?" he asked, his voice muffled by Thorin's armor.
"Yes," Thorin agreed, rubbing Bilbo's arms gently. "Here, sit," he said, softly pushing Bilbo back onto the stool.
"Are you going to carry them?" he asked, raising an auburn eyebrow as the dwarf bent over Fili.
Thorin snorted. "Of course not." He shook Fili's arm. "Fili, Fili."
"Uncle... no..." Fili grunted, turning onto his stomach as he continued to snore. "Leave... 'lone..."
"Fili, get up," Thorin said, continuing to shake Fili. "And get Kili up as well."
The blond dwarf groaned as he sat up before peering at his uncle through his tired eyes. "Fine," he said roughly. "I'm up." He turned to his left and saw Kili asleep on his back. "Get up, Kii," he said, poking Kili's shoulder. "Up, oi..."
Thorin joined Bilbo on the stool and watched Fili slowly stand and kneel beside his brother.
"Brother. Up," Fili said tiredly.
"Humpf!" Kili argued, turning on his side.
Fili's shoulders sagged in defeat. "I hate you," he muttered as he bent and grasped Kili's clothes. "You... are going... to pay for... this," he grunted as he stood and hoisted a sleeping Kili onto his back. "Woah! Oi! You... are freakin' heavy!" He stumbled for the door of the chambers, grumbling as he went. "For... escaping the mountain... he's... heavy..." Fili grunted, literally dragging his feet across the room.
"It's pure fat, big brother. Pure fat!" Kili grumbled, having been woken up by Fili's careless movements.
"Shut it!" Fili ground out, walking through the doorway before collapsing onto the floor, Kili on top of him. "You. Are. Super. Heavy! How are you still that heavy after all you've been through?!"
"It's the Durin name, dear Fili. We are stout dwarfs," Kili said, rolling off Fili and getting to his feet. "Plus, I just had two big meals..."
Fili narrowed his eyes and was about to retort when he heard giggling from the room. "Why I oughta..." he grumbled, standing up. "I can hear you! And it's not funny!" He turned around and glared at his laughing uncle and hobbit. "Oh, you two..."
"What?" Thorin said, having been the first one to control his laughter.
"Uncle laughs?" Kili joked. "I haven't heard that in a long while."
"Me too," Fili agreed, a small smile curling his lips as the glare disappeared. "Come Kili. Let's leave now..."
Kili pouted by protruding his bottom lip. "But why...?"
"Because Uncle wants to spend time with Bilbo," he replied. "That's why."
Bilbo, who had regained his composure a few minutes ago, glanced at Thorin to find the dwarf king's face completely pink.
"Ooh, what kind of 'time'?" Kili asked as Fili shoved him out the door, their voices fading as the door closed shut.
"I... uh..." Thorin began, his eyes avoiding Bilbo. "I... um... d-did you... no... I..."
"I think I'll be going to sleep, now," Bilbo smiled.
"Y-yes... I... well..." He stood and offered Bilbo his hand. "Um... I have no idea why I am acting this way," he confessed as Bilbo didn't let go of his hand after the hobbit stood.
Bilbo stood on his toes and pecked Thorin's cheek. "I do," he said with a small grin on his face, biting his bottom lip to keep from giggling.
Thorin glanced at him and smiled. "I know," he said, leaning over to kiss Bilbo's sweet lips. He started for the bedroom but hesitated as he was unsure if Bilbo wanted to sleep with him... now that they were 'together'. "Um... do you... I mean, you do not have to-"
"Oh, no," Bilbo said, shaking his head. "I'm fine with this... unless you're not?"
"No," Thorin answered quickly, pulling Bilbo into his bedroom. "It's perfectly fine," he said, closing the door behind him. "I... um... there is the bathroom in case you would like to change..." He pointed to the far end of the room and Bilbo nodded. "I... need to get out of my... clothes..."
"I can turn around..." Bilbo offered, sitting on the edge of the bed and facing away from the dwarf.
Thorin cleared his throat nervously and proceeded in taking off his cloak. He undressed himself rather shakily and awkwardly, seeing Bilbo on the edge of the bed watching the wall. He carelessly threw on a dark blue tunic and kept his briefs on before sitting on the bed as well. "Um..." he began and Bilbo turned around. "Are you going to change...?"
"Oh, yes," Bilbo replied, standing from the bed and taking off his waistcoat as he tried to ignore Thorin's gaze. He put the folded waistcoat on the bedside table before sitting on the bed once more with a shy smile on his face.
"Are you sure you're comfortable...?" Thorin asked, nodding his head at Bilbo's pants. "In that?"
Bilbo nodded before yawning. "I'm fine," he said tiredly.
Thorin cleared his throat again, stood to peel back the heavy furs, and slid into bed, while Bilbo followed the same action.
Both dwarf king and hobbit laid awkwardly beside each other, both afraid to make the first move. After a few moments of staring at the ceiling and counting the seconds of silence between them, Thorin bravely turned on his side and faced Bilbo. He hesitantly wrapped a strong but gentle and soft arm around the hobbit's waist, careful of Bilbo's injuries, and pulled him close to his own chest. After his own muscles relaxed, Bilbo's as well, Thorin let out a grunt of content. "Are you alright with this..." he asked, unsure if he had invaded Bilbo's personal space.
"Yes," came the half-asleep-and-sounding-as-if-he-wore-a-smile answer. "This is perfect."
Thorin felt himself smile and... yes... snuggle into his hobbit's warmth, letting a well-deserved night's sleep come to him at last.
Wow, Nervous!Thorin, Nervous!Bilbo, Kili and Fili, and music, and fluff, and love all in one... Whew! Such a sweet chapter...
I am terribly sorry all you readers, but we do have orcs to get rid of still... in the next chapter...
Thank you for reading! and reviewing! ^o^