Thorin didn't know what to do.

Well, he did, but he wasn't exactly sure how he was going to do it.

He needed to leave.

But he was trapped.

In a corner.

Surrounded by hobbits.

Hobbits that kept refilling his mug and kept asking question after question.

Really, the only reason he hadn't yet lost his temper was because of his experience with the council. The pre-Dís council.

He had stopped trying to answer all of the questions long ago, and was now smiling and nodding where he deemed it necessary. The only thing that helped was that the rest of his company was in much the same situation.

But they were being cornered for different reasons.

Thorin had protective uncles and cousins to deal with, the others just had curious male hobbits.

There's a difference.

And that difference was why he wanted to leave, no needed.

Maybe if he was lucky he'd catch Billa and all would be well.

But that wasn't going to happen.

Not only because he had a history of bad luck, but because he was trapped by hobbits and he would not be receiving any aid from his dwarven fellows.

Weren't they supposed to be loyal to their king?

When questioned, they would answer that things changed when you all bathed and pissed together.

And as such, he was left to the mercy of the hobbits.

"Thorin."

"Yes?"

"You're marrying me niece."

"I suppose I am."

"Why?"

"What do you mean by 'why'?"

The hobbits had stepped even closer, if that was possible. Were he not on a stool, and already pressed against the bar, he would have probably ran away.

"Well, you're a dwarf, and she is not."

"And your point is?"

"Don't you want to marry a dwarf?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Well, for one, if I did marry within my own race, it'd be to a dwarrowdam, not a dwarf. Not that that even matters, as Billa is my one."

Another voice chimed in, startlingly close to his ear. Really, he couldn't be blamed if he twitched.

"What do you mean, Billa is your one."

"Dwarves love only once, and the one you love is chosen for you by our creator."

"Oh. That's strange."

He bristled.

"How so, Master Hobbit?"

"You don't really have to work for it, do you? All of a sudden, you just look at someone, and you're in love. You don't have to worry about it being the wrong person, and you don't really have to fight for it, do you?"

He chuckled. Really, what else could he have done?

"I'm afraid that if you think your niece and I immediately fell together, you do not know her very well."

"Huh?"

"We did not fall together right away. It's a bit more complicated than that, especially as hobbits are unfamiliar with the concept."

"How do you mean?"

"I'm rather ashamed to say that I was quite rude to her in the beginning. We've been through many hardships, some have made our love stronger, and it wasn't until many months into the quest that we actually acted on anything other than friendship."

"What do you mean, hardships? Billa's rather happy, and I can't imagine she'd be as happy if it were so dangerous."

"And that is where you're wrong. It was very dangerous, and while I am meant to protect her from all harm, it was me who put her in danger quite a few times."

"But you're together and happy now?"

He had tensed up, and hadn't noticed until he felt himself relaxing. He reached over and grabbed another tankard of ale.

"Yes, I suppose we are."

They all sat in silence for a while, all sipping their drinks. Well, that was until a small group of hobbits bursted through the door carrying crates full of what appeared to be bottles. They were quickly passed out, and once the corks were removed, the smell of alcohol pervaded the air.

They all looked at each other, the dwarves especially wary. Billa had told many a tale of the hobbit's drink, and it was that slight hesitation that was enough to even pull Bofur and Nori away from one another.

Even Dwalin didn't immediately bring the bottle to his lips.

However, the natural cheer of hobbits soon won over, and the bottles were all tipped back.

There was much sputtering on the dwarves' end, for while they liked their liquor strong, this was something else.

It was with a shared look that they all agreed to drink themselves into oblivion.

For while dwarves usually abstained from alcohol for a week before the wedding, this was definitely a tradition they could admire.

If an old hobbit came around and switched their drinks throughout the night, no one made a comment.

For that old hobbit had made a promise to his granddaughter, and she was one you did not want to anger.

But that didn't matter much in the long run, as the next day, both dwarves and hobbits were hungover.

As were the females, but they had gotten quite a bit done, so they had nothing stopping them from lying in for the morning.

Billa and Dís had gone to their room, and the others had all returned to their own homes. The finished nightgowns had been placed back in the trunk, though Billa had no memory of what they actually looked like.

She did have a memory of the terribly awkward conversation that had taken place once the work was done, and they had been well into the wine. She had to sit there in silence, for if they knew that her and Thorin had already been together in such an intimate matter, their outrage would certainly be memorable.

Actually, from the Tooks, she might get looks of pride.

But that was besides the point.

For it was Lobelia who had been sent to wake her the following morning, and as Thorin had also been dragged to their room sometime during the night, was greeted with the sight of them sharing a bed.

Billa had been able to stay in bed, as Lobelia was practically speechless in her outrage, and after a few choice words, it was made sure that this wouldn't spread around Hobbiton until long after their departure.

However, that did nothing to prevent her from being extremely tetchy that day, and very impatient while waiting for Thorin to dress. She had insisted on staying in the room to prevent any scandalous things that may happen. Thorin wasn't actually awake enough to care, and had proceeded to strip off his night shirt to change.

Lobelia had obviously not thought that through, as not only was she in shock due to Thorin's rather alarming physique, she also had to wait while he primped.

She may have expected to be allowed out the door as soon as his boots were laced, but that was most definitely not the case.

It was almost an hour before they were out the door, managing to leave without first breakfast, but only because there was food to be had in other places.