Chapter Eighteen

Frerin was not one to speak closely to any of his dear brothers close friends as he called them. To Frerin they were more like bodyguards than actual Kin. It made no difference to him if they spoke ill about him or not, but he was curious. And it was exactly how he got into his current dilemma. Oh, well. Frerin was used to that, he was confident he'd be able to break away from Thorin and his people and join his lover but a certain creature made him rethink his leaving. The necklace he had been holding since he was freed from the goblins cave, laid forgotten beneath his shirt and coat.

Bilbo, the name itself rang like a bell in his head. Urging him to remember where had he heard it before. Shrugging his shoulders, Frerin with his injuries held his head up high while following his brother. Green eyes searched ahead, he mentally calculated when they would arrive to the mountain. Winter would be upon them when they did. If he wanted to leave now would be the time, his lover was not far from where they were.

"Bilbo." The creatures name was spoken again, Frerin craned his neck then spotted the creature; he leaned against Thorin's side, their arms linked and his face pressed against Thorin's shoulder. Was he blushing? Curiosity had him moving upwards the line they had formed. Not bothering excusing himself, Frerin shoved past them, Dwalin and Nori, stopped his advancement. They eyed him momentarily before turning back to guarding his brother. His blood boiled at the disrespect they held for him, although he wished no crown or responsibilities regarding his heritage, he was still a Prince of Durin. A giggle interrupted his train of thought, the gentle creature had once again captured his attention. Thoughts of showing two lowly guards their place, were washed away by the gentle creature. His voice called out to him like a siren, he felt himself glide forward like a fool in love, his arm reached, fingers aching to feel the hobbits soft curls. He wanted the hobbit.

Forgetting about the two guards, Frerin was unprepared. Dwalin captured Frerin's hand in his own and twisted the arm behind his back, pulling upwards. "Prince, what do you think you are doing?" Nori asked, a single blade was placed beneath the dwarrows neck. The steel waiting to pierce skin. Bilbo's giggles subsided, everyone watched their king to be. He had not turned around, Bilbo nervously looked back and forth between the two brothers. He shook Thorin's thin coat in an effort to make the dwarrow react. Bilbo watched as Thorin let out an inaudible sigh before turning around to greet his brother.

Not wavering from their spot, the two guards awaited for orders. "Frerin. What in Durin's name were you thinking of doing?" Frerin felt himself thrown back when he was younger, when his father and brother would speak to him like a child, a child that needed to be scolded for stupid unnecessary reasons. Frerin narrowed his eyes at his brother, the corner of his mouth twitched with words unsaid. Anger came back at full force, Frerin struggled against the hold, he could hear the rest of the Company come to a standstill and watch his movements. It unnerved Frerin further, his own brother was making a fool out of him, in front of his people.

"Let go of me, guard dog." Frerin spat. Dwalin chuckled before pulling Frerin's arm. The prince winced at the pain.

"Frerin! Enough! Dwalin let him go." Thorin commanded, in less than a second later both Dwalin and Nori stepped away from the disgraced prince. Each moved to either side of Thorin and Bilbo.

"Now, you wanted to speak to me?"

"Speak to you, do I have announce to your guards that I need to speak to my own brother?" Frerin massaged his neck and arm, his eyes trained on the gentle creature. The feelings came back, he wanted to reach out once more. There was something about him that he wanted, he needed.

"Yes."

Green orbs locked onto blue, both brothers sizing each other up, Frerin made the first move, he stepped into Thorin's space. "Ha, I don't need permission. I still hold my title. I am above th-"

"You, have lost that title the moment you decided to desert your own family, the moment you decided that being a prince was a burden, the moment you disgraced the person you were to marry." The crown prince could no longer let his own brothers wrongdoings go without punishment. On one hand, he wanted his brother to feel shame, feel the sense of abandonment his sister and father were experiencing at his blant regard for them. But most of all his halfing, the one that suffered the most at his stupidity.

Bilbo shuffled away from Thorin's side, his heart hammered in his chest, Thorin had not openly pointed out who Frerin was to marry, his name was not spoken but it was obvious enough. Frerin opened and closed his mouth, no words came out but his eyes looked over to the hobbit. Confusion was written on his face as he mulled over his brothers words. They already had this conversation before, why did thorin keep bringing it up? Of course he knew he did wrong in marrying someone else, his name was bound to a contract a long time ago. Whoever he was to marry...wait.

Frerin's green eyes widen in realization. It had finally dawned on him why there was a such a gentle creature traveling with Thorin. He finally remembered why his brother had left him to deal with Erebor with his sister and father. He was going to escort his betrothed back to the mountain, when it was his responsibility. Bilbo was the one he was supposed to marry. Frerin made the mistake of stepping forward his arm reaching toward Bilbo once more. Bilbo recoiled from him, Thorin placed himself between them both, his arms crossed over his chest. " Word of advice, brother," Thorin stepped close to his brother, he leaned over and whispered, "If you approach him in anyway, Frerin, in any way. That includes speaking, looking him in an appropriate way. You will have to deal not only with me, but everyone here." Thorin stepped back, he sneered at his brother before turning around and walking to where Bilbo stood.

"Split up in two and look for shelter." Thorin commanded. He didn't bother to turn around and see if his kin were following orders, Nori and Dwalin scattered away but stayed a close distance from their king to be. Bilbo felt the tension around them, he could tell Thorin wanted to say something, yet he was holding back. After everyone left, Thorin finally spoke up.

"I know I had no right to say anything about who you were."

"My name was never mentioned. He would have figured it out either way. Why is he here with us?"

"Us? Us as in the Company or you and I?" Thorin raised an eyebrow in question.. They had been walking for a while, not really scouting the area like they should be. The hobbit knew Thorin wanted to clear things with him, for a fraction of second Bilbo smiled. "Both, I guess." Bilbo came to a stop. He faced Thorin, his hazel green eyes looking for answers in his blue eyes.

"He could leave, he may be a prince but he disgraced it further by breaking an engagement, Father will look down upon him. His punishment will be far worse than my threat. I don't know why he continues following us when he knows the consequences. As for us," Thorin took a tentative step then another one, noticing Bilbo was not backing away from his advancement. His arms came up, large hands framing the hobbits face; his thumb running across his cheek. "He's married to another, he has no business with you or us."

Bilbo's breath left him, Thorin's words reverberated through him, a sense of warm enveloped him until he felt like himself once more, before Frerin had arrived and ruined his moments with his dwarrow. Eyelids partially closing, the hobbit awaited for their kiss, the kiss that would seal their feelings. The prince leaned in, their breaths mingling around each other, lips barely touching.

No time to react, Bilbo felt Thorin hands ripped away from him, opening his eyes he saw Thorin sprawled on the forest floor, several feet away from him, unmoving. "Thorin!" Bilbo ran but a figure merging from the thick tree had him faltering. A large figure stood on all fours, its nose sniffing the air around him, finding what it wanted it turned towards Thorin. Frozen in place i lo frantically looked around for Dwalin and Nori, but he could not make them in the darkness. When had it gotten so dark? From the little he could tell, the hobbit could see the creature stalking towards Thorin's prone body, Bilbo without a weapon felt useless. The large vreaure had not seen him so, Bilbo looked down at the ground floor for any type of weapon he could use against it. It would not harm Thorin.

To his left, was a large stick, looked bigger than what he was used to picking up but it would have to do. Wrapping his hands around the rough stick, he lifted it, his muscles protested at the weight but he held on. "HEY!" The creature paused then turned around, the moonlight illuminated the creatures face, it was a bear.

"Leave him alone." The bear let out a growl. Forgetting about his meal just a few feet away, the bear place all his attention on the hobbit. Without a warning the bear sprung forward, one of it's arms reared back, it claws marred with fresh blood ready to spill more. Bilbo brought the stick back and swung with all his might. The bear stumbled back as the stick made contact. Dropping the stick, which now that Bilbo thought about it was a bad idea. He ran past the bear, dropping to the ground, Bilbo let his hand roamed Thorin's body for any signs of wounds.

Right on Thorin's right shoulder, Bilbo could feel the blood around that area, taking a closer look Bilbo almost let out a whimper at the extent of the wound. Four claw marks ran along the top of his shoulder to the his arm, blood oozing out at a rapid rate.

Momentarily forgetting about the bear, Bilbo turned back around when he couldn't hear anything. The bear was gone, it's place was Frerin, a sword in his hands.

"Where's the bear?"

"It was leaving as I arrived." Bilbo's shoulders sagged in relief only to tense once more. Thorin was bleeding to death. They needed to get him somewhere save before the bear returned.

"Help me, your brothers hurt." The hobbit turned back to Frerin whom stood still, his green eyes looking anywhere but Thorin. "Help me." Bilbo watched as Frerin took a step back and then another. "Frerin? Where are you going?" The first thing that came to mind, was that Frerin was abandoning them, abandoning his brother, who could potentially die. Frerin huffed in annoyance, he rubbed his forehead before moving to where his brother and the hobbit laid.

"Let's find the others." Bilbo watched Frerin with curious eyes, he thanked whatever made the prince change his mind from leaving. "Be careful, he's bleeding." Bilbo stood back, as Frerin hoisted his brother over his shoulder, "Take this," Frerin offered the sword to the hobbit, he eyed it before taking the handle. The sword itself was heavier and the balance was off, compared to Silencer, this sword would hinder much of his movements. Thankfully his wrists had healed.

"Scout ahead, look for the others." Bilbo walked behind Frerin, his fingers moving Thorin's hair aside. "You'll be okay."

All the training his guard gave him came back. He kept the sword up at the best of his abilities. His eyes wandered the area, making sure the bear didn't appear suddenly. There were no noises, not even those of the Company or Gandalf, where was everybody? The sound of rustling made Bilbo stop, he held his left hand up in the air in hopes that Frerin understood the gesture. The sound got louder, Bilbo listened, his body turning to where the sound came from. Nearing a bush of greenery, he moved the large leaves aside, the sword ready for anything.

"Bilbo! I found him." It was Ori, Nori and Dwalin appeared after.

"Where were you? We couldn't find-" Dwalin's words faded. "Thorin!" Marching to Frerin side, he ordered the prince to let him down. He did as he was told. Kili and Fili soon followed the guards action, the hobbit right behind them.

"A bear, attacked him. Frerin arrived after and helped me."

"We saw a house down right that way, it sits in the middle of a field."

"You found shelter. Have you spoken to the owners?" Bilbo looked over at Dwalin, his fingers moving Thorin's hair away from his face.

"It seems like you have already encountered the owner, my dear boy." Gandalf appeared before them, his stature making Bilbo looked up in confusion at the wizard. "How do you mean by that?"

"Lets just say, we should leave before we encounter him again."

No one voiced their thoughts on Gandalf's cryptic words. They all wanted to leave the darkness and head to somewhere safe and quiet where they could tend to Thorin's wounds. Not wasting another minute, Bilbo handed Frerin his sword back without thanking him. There would be a time for that. Dwaling carried Thorin on his shoulder, his breathing labored at the extra weight but that didn't stop the guard from climbing down and running towards the house.

Authors note; Well. I took too long to update. And it seems I apologize for it each time and once again, I do apologize once more. To those that follow this story, thank you and I hope you liked it. I will try to update more frequently, so until next update. Take care, adios!