Chapter 19: A Kiss Most Treasured

Bilbo and I walked in a comfortable silence around the quiet halls of Erebor taking in the massive structure that the dwarves had carved into the mountain. Of course, there were parts broken apart from when Smaug had claimed ownership of the mountain but despite that, it was all still a wonder to see. Eventually, we made it to the treasure room not seeing Thorin anywhere hoping he had gone to get some sleep or food sitting down on the platform overlooking the shimmering jewels.

We both sat silently taking in all the treasure knowing that once Thorin came back the calm of the ocean of gold would once again move.

"Oh, I found something I wanted to give you." Bilbo said rummaging through his pockets pulling out a ring.

I felt my cheeks begin to warm staring down at the ring, the band was made from mithril while a bright sapphire was embedded in the center still sparkling like it was new. He placed it gingerly in my hand watching him look away flustered of my reaction as I put it onto my finger seeing it fit perfectly.

"I know it's not much but I hope you li—" I cut him off pressing my lips gently to his feeling him stiffen but quickly loosen up placing his hand on my cheek.

I leaned in closer to him deepening the kiss feeling his lips fit perfectly against mine until we needed to break for air pulling away from him. His eyes fluttered open giving me a lopsided smile as we pulled away from one another looking back at the treasure. Neither of us needed to say another word instead we clasped our hands together knowing each other was all we needed.

It didn't take long for Thorin to appear again in the treasure room now wearing his royal robes and crown seeing him look over at us for a moment before taking a step into the gold.

"Mine… all this treasure… and somewhere the Arkenstone lies." Thorin said darkly seeing the bags under his eyes showing he had yet to get some rest.

He seemed to ignore us just staring down at the gold obviously looking for the Arkenstone as I gave Bilbo a weary look hearing voices higher up. We both got up seeing Fili, Kili, Oin, and Bofur hearing them cheer when they saw the two of us exchanging hugs.

"Where is Thorin?" Kili asked while Bilbo frowned saying, "Its… he's not good right now… the gold it's getting to him."

They looked at him shrugging off his warnings going down to where Thorin was but I decided to head back up to the dining room having enough of Thorin's personality change. I reached the kitchens seeing some of the dwarves working on getting supper ready since Fili and Kili had gotten some fresh deer before reaching the mountain.

"That's a pretty ring you got there lass." Dwalin said eyeing my finger as I smiled saying, "Bilbo found it."

Gloin reached for my hand saying, "It's made with mithril you'll find nothing stronger."

"Like the bond you and young Baggins share no doubt, it will last for eternity." Balin said making my cheeks turn bright red pulling my hand away saying, "I hope so, though being an elf and he a hobbit I wonder how it all will work."

"If it's love, that won't matter milady." Ori said matter-of-factly making me smile saying, "Perhaps you're right, no point on dwelling on things that don't really matter."

They all nodded in agreement hearing the others come back into the kitchens seeing the disheartening look on their faces clearly worried for their king. Fili explained that tomorrow everyone was to begin the search for the Arkenstone per Thorin's order since he didn't want to leave the treasure room.

We all ate in an awkward silence no one wanting to bring up how Thorin had been acting mostly out of fear to anger him. He had come up briefly to grab something quickly then disappeared again seeing Balin look the most worried for him. I had assumed most of them were used to this since Thorin's grandfather had been the same about his treasure but watching someone they had known for so long slip into madness was just too hard to face.

I excused myself walking down the halls to the room I had claimed for myself cleaning the rest of the room so I wouldn't choke on the excess dust. I opened the wardrobe seeing clothes still inside all obviously too small for me sighing. I was so used to being outside and in the sunshine, I began to wish I was back in it again leaving the room to head to the gate overlooking Dale. I could see lights in the distance no doubt the survivors of Lake-Town were going to travel to Dale to seek shelter from the growing cold but they were still a few days walk away.

Bilbo

After Los had excused herself seeing she wanted to be alone I watched her disappear from the room hoping she was alright. I started thinking about the kiss we shared in the treasure room and it made me giddy inside just thinking about it. She was beautiful and strong surly more than I deserved in my life and yet she seemed to want to be with me just as much as I with her.

I began walking to the room I imagined I was now sharing with her until quick footsteps approached me from behind.

"Master Baggins I wanted to give you something." Ori said looking winded digging through his pack taking out a long cylinder tube twisting the top off.

He pulled out a piece of paper holding it out as my eyes widened hearing him say, "I wanted to gift it to you since Los would surely not like it."

I looked at the sketch, it was Los and I leaning against a tree both of us fast asleep seeing me lean against her shoulder both of us looking truly peaceful. I thanked him gazing at the picture as he bowed walking away quickly while I rolled it back up walking to the treasure room. I sat and watched Thorin looking through the gold hearing him mutter to himself thinking no one else was around frowning.

I began wondering if giving him the Arkenstone was the right choice but deep down I knew it would be fruitless and could even make things worse. Then I wondered how long I would make everyone look before it became apparent it had gone missing and then what would Thorin do? Shaking my head I decided not to dwell on that for right now, perhaps after looking for a few days would help Thorin and I had to hope that would be the case.

My thoughts began drifting to the ring that rested safely in my vest pocket running my finger along it frowning. This ring was powerful and influential I often longed to just look at it at times but watching Thorin slowly succumb to madness by the Arkenstone made me pull my thoughts back. Los had said once she got a dark feeling from this ring and I had promised her unless under dire circumstances I wouldn't wear it again. In the end, she was much more important than this ring should the time ever come to choose.

I opened the door slowly to Los and my room seeing her form on the bed already fast asleep seeing her chest rise and fall calmly. She had her legs curled up so they weren't hanging over the edge smiling lightly wondering how on earth she'd fit on a Hobbit bed. My face flushed just thinking about her sleeping form in my bed beside me shaking the sinful thoughts that became apparent in my body.

I shrugged off my coat placing it on the nearby chair climbing into the bed beside her hearing her mutter softly in her sleep as she rolled over facing me. I pulled her in close to me seeing her smile in her sleep nuzzling up against my chest causing my heart to flutter with happiness. Never did I think at my age I'd find someone who made me feel this way, but here I was an elves arms wrapped content around me knowing that if she was by my side I was truly home.