AN: I apologise now my brain is warped. I don't own any of the characters I am just corrupting them. Bilbo is whipping up a feast in my kitchen…anyone want to come for tea?

FanFiction Queen: I'm sure he will eventually, he is trying. I must admit most technology doesn't like me but it is more that I prefer a pen and paper…a letter is always so much nicer than an email :D but no it was definitely the internet I was upset with the other day. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations.

Fallendarkness666: Ah would that be Kili's comment when he awoke and tried to move? I do like writing the morning after chapters, awkward is fun.

Chapter Fifty Two - Heitr hlaupa.

By the time the younger members of the company had beenrounded up and sent towards the hot spring Bilbo had attracted the attention of the rest of the company. "Here Master Baggins," growled Gloin, "what's the meaning of keeping secrets from us all."

Bilbo stared up into brown eyes and huffed, "I am not keeping secrets Master Gloin, I merely thought the young ones would prefer to bathe first since bar Master Oakenshield most of the more mature dwarfs are less injured." He returned Gloin's glower with one of his own, deliberately not backing down, "Seriously Master Gloin you are starting to annoy me, it is hardly a bath where the plumbed hot water will run out, it is a wooden structure built around a natural hot spring and its surrounding pool, so stop behaving like a child who has been refused ice-cream!" he snapped.

Bilbo turned sharply when a hand fell on his shoulder, bringing his arms up in a defensive gesture. Bifur stepped back and raised his hands in a universal sign of peace. "Sorry Master Bifur," Bilbo sighed, "Maser Gloin has just wound me up, although from your expression I guess you actually came over here to stop me swinging for him." Bifur grinned and made several hand gestures, "I'm sorry," winced Bilbo wishing he'd had some time to learn so of the language the toy maker spoke, "I still don't understand the hand movements." He smiled back wryly, "I really must get Bofur to teach me now we have a few moments of peace." He clapped a hand onto Bifur's wide shoulder, "it would be nice to talk with you without an interpreter." The badger like dwarf merely rolled his eyes and clapped his own hand onto Bilbo's shoulder, before turning away with a gentle smile.

Bilbo resisted the urge to whimper at the pain the friendly pat had caused him and rolled his shoulder slightly, mentally cursing Thorin for being right about him not getting healing aid. Swearing fluently in the ancient tongue of his people he trudged over the flower filled grass to the hot spring. He could feel Thorin's eyes on his back and so kept his spine straight, but increased the violence of his swearing. Once he reached the edge of the thatched and wooden structure he hitched a smile on his face and wandered into the steamy shade to collect the piles of clothing strewn about. Half way through his task he noticed that Kili was actually being supported by Fili and so with a heartfelt sigh wandered down the carved steps, thanking Yvanna that he was still dressed in only his under garments.

"Really," he tutted, "I would have thought you would try to get out of the water if you were that tiered." He flicked his eyes over the mottled effect the bruising had given the brunette dwarf's pale skin. Carefully he reached a hand to smooth down the dwarf's sides, deliberately keeping the pressure light and found that several ribs while not broken were badly bruised. Kili was lucky that he only had one fractured rib, and Bilbo had no qualms in telling him so.

"But Master Boggins," whined Kili, batting long eyelashes in an attempt to keep the hobbit sweet. "I at least have seen Oin about my ribs since you growled at me. You haven't!" he shifted in the water swearing as the heat moved against the grazes on his left hip. "Don't think I haven't realised you are hurt there is no way you and Uncle would have been snuggled together if you both weren't hurt and probably drugged up on that super strong tea you made last night." He actually managed a grin at the shocked look on Master Boggins' face. Kili stepped free from his brother's supporting arm and flung his own around Bilbo's shoulders, wrinkling his nose at the strange feeling of wet clothing against his bare skin. He could feel the shocked gazes of everyone bar Ori and Fili as a heavy weight at his back and so rolled his eyes at them before steering the hobbit so their backs were to Nori, Bombur and Bofur. "Now you see, if you had nothing to hide you wouldn't be standing in the water wearing your clothes, again."

"Really Kili," groaned Bilbo, "You know fine well I have much to hide but there is no way you can prove it is injuries." He smirked as he met Ori's gaze, "if you are feeling better then we can try a different game tonight." He forced an innocent expression onto his face as he carefully slipped an arm around Kili's bare waist, "I'll even find out if Master Beorn has any alcohol." He was greeted with cheers from Ori and a groan from Fili, while the dwarf at his side buried his face into his neck in embarrassment.

Behind them Nori was staring at his younger brother in disbelief, "I swear you are worse than I have ever been brat."

Bilbo who had succeeded in freeing himself from Kili, by dint of nearly throwing the brunet dwarf at his brother, paused at the top of the steps and looked at Nori in disbelief. "What because he likes having fun?"

"Shut up Bilbo you know fine well what I mean." Bilbo chuckled at the pout in the auburn haired dwarf's tone.

"No I can't say I do Mister Nori, you sounded just like my cousin Lobelia there and it is making me want to run away and cry." He grinned wickedly, causing Ori to clap his hands gleefully and Nori to back away across to the other side of the steaming pool. "In fact I think I will go tell Master Bifur to buy you a nice pink, flowery, lace trimmed dress." Nori squeaked in appalled horror, "Oh don't think I won't Mister Nori, just ask those three just what I am capable of if you have forgotten the pathetic elfs at Rivendell." He smiled warmly at the stunned dwarf and left the building with his arms full of clothes.

In a much better mood Bilbo squelched back across the grass to dump the pile of clothing with Balin and collect the tunics and drying sacks. "Oh shut up," he muttered as he realised Thorin had moved to sit with the white haired dwarf and was staring at him in disbelief. "Your nephews are a pain."

"I wasn't going to say anything," growled Thorin, and Bilbo swallowed at the look on the dwarf's face, "but now you mention it, don't throw them at me!"

"I told you to shut up," huffed Bilbo dropping the last of the dirty clothes by Balin's side and ignoring the white haired dwarf's disbelieving chuckles. "The lads are nearly done," he informed them shooting Balin a pointed look, "Make sure Master Oakenshield cleans his wounds properly."

As he turned to leave Balin grabbed him by the back of his soaking shirt and Bilbo smirk as the dwarf shook the water from his fingers before staring at the older male in disbelief. "Ah no Master Baggins," smirked Balin and Bilbo could feel himself getting ready to run at that smirk, he raised an eyebrow and the smirk became almost gleeful, "we all decided that since you did such a good job of treating Thorin last night and even getting him to sleep in this morning we would leave that job to you." Bilbo actually took a step away before he stopped himself and stared up at Balin in disbelief, the smirk became so innocent that Bilbo swore the dwarf had taken acting lessons. "There is also the fact that you two have already bathed together so there should be no feelings of embarrassment." Bilbo knew he must look gormless but couldn't actually close his mouth, his only consolation was that Thorin looked even more shocked than he did.

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Back in the hot spring pools Bofur and Nori had rounded on the three youngest dwarfs, while Bombur was smirking at them from across the pool. "Spill," begged Bofur attempting to pull off puppy do eyes and failing miserably. Nori was prodding his brother in the ribs, carefully avoiding the splodges of bruising, but otherwise being completely unrelenting in his quest to get information.

"Geroff!" snapped Ori eventually, pushing Nori so his brother ended up on his backside under the water. While the auburn haired dwarf was still under water the trio shared a quick glance and Ori nodded determinedly. He turned to Bofur and a now very bedraggled looking Nori. "Fine we will tell you something, can't tell you everything as we don't know it all ourselves." He pulled himself onto a ledge and studied the two in front of him carefully.

"Kili did you manage to save that book?" he asked apparently randomly and was rewarded with a brilliant grin. "Excellent, then we can show them bits later as well." Making himself comfortable Ori went over information in his head, "Well I suppose we should start from the beginning. Fili, Kili do you want to start us off?"

Kili's grin was blinding, "well for Fili and myself it started with our arrival at Bag End and our meeting with the esteemed Master Baggins. When we arrived we thought we were going to be bored out of our brains and would be leaving without a burglar, he put paid to that idea within minutes of our being there. He managed to prank us seconds after we introduced ourselves. Scared the crap out of me, I don't know about Fili but I seriously thought he was after my body and just my body mind you, although we did walk right into that one."

Fili was nodding by his side as Bofur and Nori looked at them in disbelief, Kili rolled his eyes at them and hauled himself carefully to sit beside Ori and Fili made himself comfortable leaning back between his brother's knees.

Clearing his throat Kili continued, "next thing we know he is staring down Dwalin and getting him to behave, uncle even admitted he'd messed up to us. And we all know he never admits to mistakes, ouch! Sorry Ori but it's true for the rest of us. Anyway where was I? Ah yes. Next came the drinking, I don't think I have ever tasted alcohol like it. Felt like it was taking the skin off my throat, tasted of liquorice once you got used to it though. We tried to shock him with our physical interactions with each other…I think everyone had arrived then…but he turned it back on us and laughed at out embarrassment. Then he started the card game and…Ori you are probably best taking over here."

Ori smirked and shot a glance at the relaxed Fili, "just because you want their attention elsewhere so you can feel Fili up Ki. But for you I will take over the story." He chuckled as three of the group blushed and Fili punched his knee. "Oh don't take on so it's not like you weren't as into the more risqué bits of that book." Nori's surprised gasp had him groaning, "Get over it Nori, I'm not a child anymore."

Shaking his head Ori mentally went over where Kili had left off, "Hmmm aye I had noticed Master Boggins wasn't at all bothered by the interactions of those two, in fact he relaxed more when they did it. I believe this is where he got me involved in the drinking and that card game. Not sure what he called it but it was fun. Anyway my main impression of Master Boggins at that point was of someone who knew how to have fun and had a brilliant sense of humour. It was made even better for me when we actually beat those two," Ori smirked, "I mean really we had just met and managed to beat brothers who had gambled together for years."

Shifting Ori crossed his legs and leant his elbows on his knees still mostly below the hot water. "Next thing I know he's eyeing up Thorin and Thorin doesn't seem to know where to put himself. We somehow ended up in the kitchen with him and learnt a great deal about the meaning of flowers and plants in Shire society. You really don't want to know what some of them mean, I mean who would have thought a daisy symbolised lust," he snorted at the wide eyes of his brother and Bofur. "You all got completely high of his stash of leaf, serves you right for nicking it."

Fili and Kili burst into laughter, even though Kili had to hold his ribs to do so it was obvious that they had found that night amusing, "Oh it wasn't that night you showed us that book though Ori was it?" gasped Fili.

"Nope that was the next night," Ori glanced out of one of the gaps in the wooden structure, "I'll make this short as Master Boggins is on his way back, I found a hand written book down the side of the bed I was given and I think I was more engrossed with that book than any I had read before." Ignoring Nori's disbelieving look he continued, "It was a book written by nine strangely named people, we learnt at Rivendell that it was Master Boggins and his friends. We three," he gestured at Fili, Kili and himself, "know which one our hobbit is, you might guess when you see the drawings. We found out they made their own games up…most of which were dangerous, they wrote down their pranks and there were several detailed explanations of physical activities that would make even Gloin blush. I'm sure Kili will let you read the book tonight Nori, I suspect he'll drag Bofur into our games though. We found out long before anyone else that he had several tattoos and piercings, so do several of his companions, including that nice Dart we met at the tavern at Hobbiton. He can fight, has a temper, a fantastic sense of humour and is a great cook, Heya Master Boggins why do you look like someone stole your spoons?"

"Balin is the matter! Do you know what they have decided? Without consulting either of us! Oh I am so mad Ori, blood old manipulative men!" he huffed and Ori raised an eyebrow.

"Really? It can't be that bad," he tried to sooth.

"Not that bad," Bilbo's voice was rather high pitched, "they want us to bath together!"

"That's not bad Master Boggins," smirked Ori, "after all you have done it before."

"No Ori we haven't Thorin scared the crap out of me I threatened him and then I left. So no we haven't, besides I can hardly treat him as I would a hobbit can I he's hardly going too…oh piddle I forgot you three were here. Why are you looking at me like that?"

Ori chuckled as he pulled himself out of the water and with little modesty walked around the pool to grab a drying sheet from Bilbo's arms. Proceeding to dry his hair he wrapped an arm around Bilbo's waist and steered him to sit on a low bench. Wrapping the sheet around his waist he knelt in front of him, carefully lowering his voice so he wouldn't be heard by the others, although he suspected that the cat-calls from the Durin brothers and Nori's indignation on his behalf would have drowned him out anyway, he tried to calm Bilbo down, "What's so bad Master Boggins? You surely can't be embarrassed to bathe with another male. That I won't believe." He squeezed an unresisting hand, "Hey it might even work to your advantage if you can stop Scribe from jumping his bones."

"Ori," chuckled Bilbo, "I am Scribe, I know I don't act like him all of the time but he is me, I just have several settings of him."

"Oh I know that Master Boggins," smirked Ori, "There is Master Baggins, Bilbo, Master Boggins and then Scribe…it makes how you will react to situations quite amusing when you aren't on the receiving end." He took a deep breath and tried to take Bilbo's mind off things, "I hope you don't mind but we have promised Nori that he can have a look through that book."

"Nice change of subject Ori," chuckled Bilbo, "No I don't mind I suppose it is about time someone other than you three knew about the true me and Nori, Bofur and Bombur would be the safest three. There are things in my past that I don't particularly want sharing." He smirked at Ori diffusing the small tension that had risen, "I think you may have broken Nori with your actions just there, are you sure he will be okay to cope with learning about me?"

Ori's bright laughter filled the hot spring building as the six dwarfs dress in the tunics one of Beorn's sheep had provided and caused the six entering dwarfs to stop stock still and stare in disbelief at them.

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Bilbo rushed from the hut when he had gathered the dirty clothes. He was anxious as to how Nori, Bofur and Bombur would react to learning about some of his past. He hurried passed a still sulking Thorin and dumped the clothing by the large tub of water to see just how much Ori, Fili and Kili had told. He was stopped from going into the main building by Ori sweeping him back to the washing tub, "Tell me what I have to do and then go help Kili, stubborn fool won't let Bofur treat his bruises." Bilbo growled and quickly showed Ori how to work up a lather with a combination of herbs before rushing into the hall to glower at a protesting Kili.

"Enough!" he snapped, "Let Bofur or Fili treat your injuries." He cocked an eyebrow, "in fact go over to that corner and let Fili treat them, Bofur go join your brother and Nori I know the three of you are rather nosey about my past."

Waiting only until Kili and Fili had done as they were told he swept from the room and collapsed on the bench next to Thorin with a very large huff. "Just so you know I am going off the entire company this time Oakenshield," he grumbled gaining a half-hearted laugh from the dwarf next to him.

"I apologise about Balin's presumptions Master Baggins He is not normally so…why are you looking at me like that?"

Bilbo raised an eyebrow, "Why am I back to being Master Baggins? Are you really that upset that they want me to make sure the wounds on your back are clean?"

"What?" Thorin's head shot up and Bilbo was treated to the sight of eyes blazing almost sapphire blue, "no not at all." When Bilbo raised his eyebrow Thorin seemed to sag and he felt a little bit guilty, "Well I am not upset with you." He admitted and Bilbo sagged with relief he didn't understand, but Thorin was still talking, "I am annoyed with Balin, they should know better, while it may not raise eyebrows if one of my cousins or my nephews had bathed with me alone, it is highly irregular for a non-family member to be alone with someone in such a situation."

Bilbo recalled Thorin's words about physical interactions when they were in Rivendell and nodded in a sort of depressed understanding, "it is a little bit different in the Shire," he admitted getting another much more cheerful almost giggle in response. He sighed and leant back against the wooden beams behind him, "I should probably apologise if any of my actions have made you uncomfortable Master Oakenshield," he began, shutting his eyes and tilting his head so the sunlight fell across it. "I have no excuses for my behaviour once I found out about your people's beliefs. I especially want to apologise for using you as a pillow last night."

Thorin stared at the hobbit reclined next to him as the word sunk in. He swallowed several times as he took in the image the smaller man made. The sun made his skin seem to glow from within, the damp clothing clung to a now more obviously muscled form and even dirty the head of curls reminded him of a combination of precious gems and gold. He swallowed again and forced himself to answer, "Think nothing of it Bilbo," he muttered quietly, shifting carefully so as not to disturb the hobbit next to him, "I am well aware that our people's opinions on physical interactions differ but I do not mind shoving mine far away on this quest. I do believe it was I who told you not to leave as your body heat was easing my ribs was it not." He sighed and relaxed as much as he was able, "I am glad you accepted my apology at the Carrock Bilbo, I feel like I have behaved most disparagingly against your person." When Bilbo merely gripped his weapon worn hand in one of his long fingered ones Thorin smiled softly and closed his own eyes.

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When Ori came around the corner he smiled softly at the sight of his king and best friend sitting side by side and holding hands. He hoped they managed to figure it out as they would probably be the only people in the world who would understand the other completely, they just had to knock the other's rough edges off first. His bare feet made no sound as he slipped passed them to make sure they weren't disturbed by the other six dwarfs when they returned. He didn't want to return to the hall yet, having a suspicion that Fili and Kili may have found a quiet corner to themselves and he would be pelted with questions from Nori, Bofur and Bombur. He sat on a warm step and curled his feet into the soft grass. As he leant back on his elbows he realised he would probably fit well in the Shire, he was far too relaxed wandering around in bare feet.

AN: I hope this wins your approval, please leave me a review and let me know what you think.