Disclaimer: I do NOT own The Hobbit, or/and LOTR, all the credit for that goes to the author, I only own the story and the idea. I do this out of pleasure without any benefit, besides the opportunity of giving a new story who also love this pairing.

Chapter 8

Bilbo was confused a few seconds ago the world around him had banished and now he was back on the same place he started, only there was something different. There was light around him and anywhere he moved that light would follow, at the distance he could still see the darkness that was consuming him but the light wouldn't let it touch him. And there were voices, one of them he didn't know it was speaking in a strange language, the other one was the same voice that had been with him the since he landed on that place.

-"Please my love don't give up, don't leave me alone, I need you"- over and over those words were being repeated to him, Bilbo could hear the soft voice on his head, sending a warm feeling all over his body. Without a warning Bilbo fell down to his knees holding his left wrist, it was the first time he had felt any type of sensation since he got there, looking down he saw a pattern was starting to form. It was like vines intertwined starting at the base where his pulse was getting stronger and going around. It was painfully warm, the more it advanced around his wrist the clearer Bilbo could hear the voices around him. The light was starting to get too bright for him and as the pattern met the other end Bilbo Baggins passed out.

Thranduil wasn't sure how much time it had passed, he was too deep in his thoughts to be aware of anything other than Bilbo's hand on his. He was startled out of his thoughts when he felt a hand rest on top of his, opening his eyes he looked down, there was a marking of some sort on their wrist, like the vines that made up his crown. He followed the wrist up to find a pair of eyes looking at him.

-"Bilbo"- he signed, relief evident in his voice –"oh my love, you are awake"-and without thinking the Elven King grabbed Bilbo and pressed him to his body, he couldn't explain the rush of feelings he was getting at seeing Bilbo was awake, he was there with him feeling soft and warm against him, he pressed a kiss to the hobbits curls not caring they were damped with sweat from all the nightmares he had. –"Thank you"- he breathed –"thank you for coming back to me"- he kept whispering sweet nothing to his ear, pressing kisses on his head every now and then, not ready to let him go.

-"Thranduil, he's still recovering and the need for air is one of his primary necessities"- Lord Elrond couldn't help but tease, it was strange to see someone as composed as King Thranduil to let his ward down, specially in front of others. Thranduil shot him an annoyed look but let go of his hobbit although reluctantly. Setting Bilbo back on the cot gently he took hold of his hand again. Bilbo didn't know where he was, once the blond elf let him go he kept looking between him and the other elf beside him. The one that had been holding him was beautiful although he felt that word didn't do justice to his real beauty, his hair was golden almost white, it was long and Bilbo had to fight the urge to touch it. His skin looked like it was made of silk, so pure and clear with beautiful blue eyes staring at him in love. Although Bilbo doesn't remember much he can't belief he has ever seen someone more wonderful than him.

-"Who are you?"- his voice was small and hoarse from lack of use, the other elf seemed to noticed this as he offered him a glass of water, he gently lifted his head to help him drink. Looking at him Bilbo got a feeling of familiarity coming from him, like he knew him from somewhere. –"I feel like I know you but from where?"- he glanced between the two waiting for an answer.

-"Do you know who you are?"- the one with the dark hair asked him, Bilbo took a minute to think, he remembered very little, he knew he was a Hobbit and came from the shire, his name was Bilbo Baggings, he also had a vague memory of traveling alongside dwarfs and a wizard though their names or why he could not recall.

-"I'm Bilbo Baggings from Bag End"- he payed close attention to the elf, slowly an image started to appear, him staring at a beautiful palace in the distance and then the elf with the dark hair on a horse talking to the wizard in the same language he heard on his dreams. –"Lord Elrond, that's you right?"- to say Lord Elrond was surprised was an understatement he didn't thought the hobbit would recognize him perhaps his anemia wouldn't be as severe as predicted.

-"Yes my dear hobbit that's me, would you happen to know to elf beside you?"- he made a gesture with his head indicating Thranduil, who had been quiet the whole time. Bilbo turned to look at him, he tried to search his memory for something that would seem familiar but other than his voice he couldn't recognize anything else –"I remember your voice, w-when I was in that place"- his words cracking as he remembered that dark place. –"you said you would stay with me"-

-"Always my love"- he replied with a small smile bringing his hand to his lips, -"my name is Kind Thranduil of the Woodland Realm and you my little one are my destined partner"- at this his lifted his sleeve up and showed the name there for the hobbit to see. Bilbo looked at the elf's wrist, the name 'Bilbo Baggings' was written there he looked up at the elf with confusion on his face –"A symbol representing myself is on your left wrist too"- he encouraged him to look with a fond smile which Bilbo couldn't help but return. Lifting up his arm he looked at the pattern on it, he recognized it as the symbol he got right before he woke up.

-"You have bonded in spirit"- Elrond commented surprised, he had been concentrating on not letting Bilbo's spirit move on to the Otherworld that he didn't noticed Thranduil lending his energy to the hobbit in the process. –"I think its best if I let myself out, calm the inquiries of a certain wizard, I leave assured you'll fill our small friend in on everything that has happened?"- he asked standing up heading towards the entrance, he paused before opening the flap looking back at the elf and halfling, the Elvenking just nodded not taking his eyes of his soulmate. Shaking his head he walked outside. He was meet with the stares of Gandalf the Grey, Bard the Bowman and Thorin Oakenshield, the guards still positioned at the entrance of the tent not letting anyone inside and ready to fight anyone who tried.

-"How is he? Let me in so I can check him"- Gandalf demanded, Bard looked worried and confused, while the dwarf king look angry.

-"Who are they talking about if I may ask?"- the gruff voice of Thorin interrupted them all –"it might be someone important if it give that efl the right to walk out of my consul"-

-"I'm sure its nothing we should concern ourselves with, if its our right to know King Thranduil will be sure to inform us"- the man spoke sharing a look between the wizard and Elrond –"let us go now, back to the mountain, there is still a peace treaty we need to discuss"- with one last look Bard turned on his feet heading back to the mountain, giving a huff Thorin followed casting one last look at the tent. Once they were out of earshot Elrond turned to Gandalf.

-"Mr. Baggings has woken, although I'm afraid that he is suffering from a short term memory loos due to his time in the Dark Worlds"- Gandalf nodded his understanding –"His spirit was ready to leave his body when I caught it on time, the magic of my words and King Thranduil lending his energy to the Halfling has bonded them in spirit"- Elrond started walking, the wizard following close –"it seems their bond is stronger than I though"-

-"How much was he able to remember?"- the wizard questioned, -"I'm unsure Mithrandir, he was able to recognize me by name, but any memories of Thranduil seem to be gone, time will bring his memories back"- Lord Elrond turned to Gandalf as he light up his smoke pipe with a nod he replied –"then we shall wait"-

Back in the tent Thranduil rearranged himself so his chest was supporting the Halfling's back, he could see he was having trouble maintaining his eyes open –"Rest my love, tomorrow I will answer your questions"- Giving a small nod Bilbo got closer to the warmth of the body behind him and closed his eyes.

He was in a mountain, the night calm and warm but for some reason Bilbo could not catch his sleep. Looking around he sees there's other people around him, most are sleeping others are awake looking into the fire. Getting up he heads for the horses, in the silence of the campfire screams can easily be heard in the distance

-"Orcs"- someone says, turning around he sees a dwarf, his hair is dark and long with two braids on each side. There's another one next to him, his face obscured by the fire the only thing Bilbo can distinguish is his hair, similar to the other one except blond.

-"Orcs?"- he hears himself ask although no words came out from him. The two dwarfs proceeded to tell him about the night raids of the orcs, it was at the end of their story that a new voice spoke up.

-"You think that's funny? Is the night raids of the orcs nothing but a joke to you?"- the deep voice of the dwarf distracts Bilbo. His form is strong, his features handsomely rough, his stance like that of a King, Bilbo couldn't help but admire him, he was so captured by him that it took him a moment to realize another dwarf had spoken catching only the end of the tale.

-"Our forces rallied and drove the orcs back, our enemy had been defeated, but there was no feast, no song that night, for our death where beyond the count of grieve, we few had survived. And I though to myself then, there is one who I could follow, there is one I could call King"-

Everything around him started to blur and Bilbo was brought to another place, this time his walking at the edge of a mountain. There is giants fighting making the walk difficult, the dwarves are jumping from a rock to another, his is moving fast, coming close to a rock wall. Right before being crashed against it they jumped but he didn't made it. He was dangling from the edge when the dwarves took notice of his absence, Thorin jumped down and helped the others pull him up.

-"I though we'd lost our burglar"- a bland dwarf exclaimed with a relieved tone, another dwarf turned to him then, Thorin, -"He's been lost, ever since he left home, he should never have come, he has no place amongst us"- with that he turned and kept moving forward the rest of the company following behind. Bilbo felt something on his chest tighten at those word, he wasn't sure why the opinion of that dwarf was important to him. Bilbo followed the group, it took him a moment when he realized the scene had changed once more, he was back in the Dark Worlds, there was nothing but darkness around him, the voice and warmth were gone. There was movement on the corner of his eye, turning around he saw a shape, it was big as the body moved Bilbo noticed its wings, everywhere he turned all he could see was the scaly body. –"I am fire, I am death"- the body said, the closer it moved to bilbo the louder the phrase got, another figure joined the first one, Bilbo recognized it as the dwarf King, Thorin, -"He's been lost"- he heard him say with disdain –"should never have come"- There was a new figure joining the other two, it skin a sick white color, with his only arm he pointed a sword at him –"Dwarf-toy scum, you will die"- Over and over the voices kept repeating on his head, Bilbo bowed his head, hands on his ears, -"Stop"- he tried yelling but a broken sob came out instead –"Quiet!"- he closed his eyes the figures were close to him now, he could feel their horrid breath on his shoulders –"Get away"- he couldn't take it anymore he didn't know what was happening around him, he wanted to get away from everything.

-"it's a dream, you are safe, wake up"- the soft voice came back, feeling the warmth around him Bilbo let it grab him and pull him out of his dream.

It was dark outside when Thranduil woke up, everything was silent, the last candle was slowly burning away, there was a sensation on unease within him but it felt foreign like it was someone else's. Turning to Bilbo he noticed he was moving in his sleep, putting a hand to Bilbo's forehead he felt it was warm and sweaty his eyes moving around under his eyelids. Putting a hand to his shoulder he shook him a little –"My love"- Bilbo didn't respond, he started to move more frantically, murmuring things under his breath that Thranduil couldn't make out. –"It's a dream, you are safe, wake up"- After a few seconds Bilbo opened his eyes, he looked around in alarm, where was he? Slowly the events of the day since he woke up came back to him, the elf, Thranduil was there looking at him as he surveyed his surroundings.

-"How are you feeling?"- Thranduil was having trouble keeping up with every feeling Bilbo was experiencing, fear, confusion, unease, sadness, the last one was hard to find the reason for it.

-"I have been better"- Bilbo replied giving a small smile. He was starting to feel uncomfortable laying down with the elf looking down at him. Moving the sheets a bit he tried sitting up but found his arms were too weak to hold his weight. Immediately he felt two arms go around him gently pulling up, Thranduil kept his hand on his back until Bilbo felt steady enough. Taking one last look at Bilbo, Thranduil go up and moved to the far corner of the tent, he poured water into a glass and walked back to his hobbit handing him the glass.

-"Thank you"- the moment their fingers met the pattern on Bilbo's wrist started to glow, warmth spreading through his body –"does that happen all the time"- he asked, the glow dimming as their hands moved away.

-"No, you received my mark right before you woke up from the Fever Sleep, anything involving it it's a mystery to me"- Thranduil was still looking at the mark a weird expression on his delicate face.

-"How did we met?"- the question had been lingering at the back of Bilbo's mind. –"you came to me with the Arkenstone in the hopes that Thorin Oakenshield would not go to war"- Thranduil saw the troubled look on Bilbo.

-"Something is troubling you"- it wasn't a question, taking a deep breath Bilbo started talking –"I had dreams of me traveling along side a group of dwarves, one of them caught my attention in particular, Thorin Oakenshield"-

-"Your memories will come back to you in unpredictable manners, it might be through dreams, or by seeing something familiar"- Thranduil said ignoring his discomfort at Bilbo remembering the dwarf first. It then occur to Thranduil that the presence of the Grey Wizard might be beneficial to his hobbit –"Perhaps you should see Gandalf, it is to my understanding that he is the culprit of you coming along this . .adventure"- He couldn't be completely mad at the wizards for having Bilbo face just a dangerous task, had it not been for him he would not have met his little love.

Taking in Bilbo's features he couldn't help but be amazed at his beauty, to elf standards he was rather lovely, his face was delicate and soft, his cheeks covered with a rose tint an effect of his high fever the past days. Bilbo's eyes captivated Thranduil the most, his eyes big and full of wonder with an aura of innocence surrounding him. Without realizing it he had been been leaning towards Bilbo, their faced inches away from each other, Thranduil saw Bilbo slightly licking his lips not being able to hold back he closed the space between them capturing his lips on his own. The kiss was tender just a soft press of their lips, slowly as if afraid he would scared Bilbo Thranduil move his lips just a second later he felt Bilbo doing the same. Wanting more Thranduil licked Bilbo's bottom lip asking for permission, Bilbo let out a small sigh willingly opening his mouth for Thranduil, he could feel how the elf's hands moved to the back of his neck, his fingers getting tangled on his curls. After what felt like hours Thranduil ended the kiss, leaning his forehead against Bilbo's he had to remind himself to take it slow with him. Bilbo was smiling gently at him, smiling back Thranduil leaned back bring Bilbo with him giving him resting his head on top of his, his arms wrapped around his small hobbit. Noticing Bilbo was fighting his sleep he laid down, pressing one more kiss to Bilbo's temple they fell into a peaceful dream.