Balin stood between of the two cots. Almost whole his life he had followed Thorin, believing him to do the right choices. He had though that after everything what they had experienced he would follow his king even to death.
But no.
Balin's eyes stared the smaller form of second cot and felt the tears forming.
Bilbo, he couldn't understand why, had followed Thorin to the battle and now they had to wait would one of them to ever wake up. And even if Thorin was his king Balin now hoped that it would be Bilbo to survive from this because the hobbit never deserved this fate.
"Why you didn't run?" Balin sighed remembering how Thorin had yelled Bilbo to run for his life.
"Run! Bilbo! Don't give up! Run my love!"
But Bilbo never run away, but stood there, facing the orc. And Balin could see him smiling at Thorin's choice of words.
My love.
Bilbo held his Sting high, glanced back at the king, who hold his tight, unable to rose and move and protect his beloved who he had casted away in his madness.
"I will be close behind." Bilbo had said almost too quietly, knowing how badly Thorin was wounded.
It was first time that Balin saw that fire inside those kindly eyes. And it terrified him.
"You don't have to go alone."
"BILBO!"
Balin closed his eyes, not wanting to remember. Now he understood what Gandalf had meant about Hobbits and if they ever lose their control.
Bilbo had done that, he had killed Azog.
They could only watch, too far away to interfere though Dwalin was running to help. But he only have to help the hobbit to walk and lay down beside Thorin who was still awake. When Bilbo curled up to his hold and stopped moving Thorin had also closed his eyes.
And now, Balin waited, hoping that they would both survive.