Here's the next chapter.

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~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ Chapter 4 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

It had been a long six days as Bilbo regained some of his strength and he was able to move under his own power but he tired easily and he suspected that it would be like that for the rest of the pregnancy. He was dressed in clothing that were similar to what he wore at the start of the quest but were more fancy and fitted loosely for his ever growing stomach.

Right now Bilbo was sitting on a stone chair beside Thorin who was on his throne. Bilbo's seat was similar to Thorin's just smaller in size and had a cushion on the seat of it so that Bilbo was not sore from sitting too long. They were now just waiting on the Elves of Mirkwood and the men of Lake-Town to arrive.

Balin, Fili and Dwalin were standing beside Thorin with Balin next to Thorn, as the King's most trusted adviser as he always was. Kili, Dís and Oin were beside Bilbo with Kili next to Bilbo. Thorin wanted someone capable next to Bilbo in case anything happened. He knew it was unlikely but still wanted the reassurance and Kili put his hand up immediately and didn't take no for an answer from both Thorin and Bilbo as they didn't want a prince to be acting as a guard. Kili argued that for the meetings he would stand by Bilbo and until they could find someone they trusted outside the throne room to guard him. Bilbo really didn't want to have Kili doing it but seeing how much it meant to Kili, Bilbo was able to convince Thorin who agreed but only for meetings.

Bilbo looked over seeing Thorin talking quietly with Balin. He knew being the King's adviser he was trying to settle Thorin's nerves at having the elves in the kingdom. Bilbo hated to think about what would happen if Thorin found out about Thranduil's help.

Bilbo looked over seeing the doors open and a precession of elves came through with Bard and some men of Lake Town behind them. Bilbo saw Thranduil at the front of the elves and moved with the same amount of grace as he had all the other times he had seen him. Just off to the side behind him was a young elf Bilbo had heard Gandalf call Legolas and he suspected that it was Thranduil's son, given the likeness between the two, Bilbo hoped he didn't have his father's pride though.

The elves stopped, finally having reached the throne and Bard walked up to Thranduil's side and both bowed their heads to Thorin.

"Welcome again to the halls of Erebor." Thorin said and Bilbo could feel he was tense from the grip of his hand.

"We thank you for meeting with us, King Thorin." Bard said.

"It seems the halfling is recovering well from his injuries." Thranduil said looking at Bilbo and Bilbo felt Thorin's grip on his hand tighten dramatically as he withheld words he wanted to speak. "You seem to have progressed further with your pregnancy since the last time we met."

"Yes I have. Constantly active." Bilbo said putting a hand to his stomach.

"My offer of assistance is still valid halfling."

Bilbo wince when Thorin's grip tightened further and Bilbo looked over seeing his was visibly shaking.

"Thorin please calm down." Bilbo whispered to him though he was sure the elves and dwarves heard him.

"What assistance?" Thorin growled.

"I offered my assistance to the halfling before the battle when he presented the Arkenstone to myself and Bard of Lake-Town." Bilbo flinched remembering what that stone brought and really wish it wasn't brought up. "I knew looking at him that he was with child and knowing how hard dwarf pregnancies are on dwarves and men, this pregnancy is going to be extremely tough on a small halfling. You may need the extra assistance."

Thorin was fuming and Bilbo had to remove Thorin's hand from his grip before he broke it in a rage. Bilbo placed both hands on his arm and tried to get him to look at him. Balin looked at Thorin and then to Bilbo and quickly walked down the stairs from Thorin's side towards Thranduil and Bard.

"Perhaps a small break is in order. Shall I show you to the dining hall?" Thranduil nodded and went to follow the old dwarf but saw Thorin stand up.

"Why would you offer to help Bilbo especially if he is carrying my child? Were you going to try to ransom some gold for both their lives?" Thorin growled in rage.

Bilbo quickly stood brushing of Kili who tried to hold him back, worried for both their safety, even though he doubted Thorin would hurt him but accidents happen. Bilbo grabbed Thorin's arm and tried to pull him around to look at him and not the elf. Thorin was stalking down the stairs after gently brushing Bilbo off. Thranduil just stood there looking down at him. Bilbo looked to Dwalin and Fili for help.

"Please we must stop this." Bilbo said to them.

Both nodded and quickly grabbed Thorin and pulled him back as he was about to pull out his sword at Thranduil's silence. Bilbo ran in front of Thorin and tried to calm him. Balin went to lead the elves and men away but Thranduil stood there looking at Thorin.

"I offered my help regardless of whether or not you would accept the halfling back. You know that there is a risk for dwarves to carrying and same with men. There is a higher risk for someone who is smaller than you. I do not care if the child is yours. I was going to help because all children are sacred to elves just like they are with dwarves."

"I don't believe you."

"Thorin please stop this." Bilbo said to try and get his attention.

"You were willing to cast him over the gates of Erebor for a stone and had you not known of the child you would have done so."

"King Thranduil please." Bilbo said feeling this getting out of hand, already feeling kicks getting firmer with the increased stress he was feeling and most likely in response to Thorin's anger that the child could sense.

"I was blinded by the gold lust!"

"Yet I thought your love for the halfling would have prevented that."

Bilbo winced feeling a strong kick to his side and Kili was beside him seeing it. Kili put his arms around Bilbo's shoulders and looked at him as Bilbo whimpered.

"This needs to stop. I think the child senses his anger."

"Uncle calm down." Kili said raising his voice.

"I love Bilbo! Don't speak of what you do not know!"

Bilbo cried out at a hard kick and crumpled to his knees and Kili was able to hold him up from collapsing completely. Dís was by Bilbo's side putting her hand to his stomach as Legolas knelt on his other with his own hand on his stomach. Bilbo whimpered as the kicks kept coming.

"UNCLE!" Kili yelled at him causing silence in the halls other than Bilbo's whimpers.

Thorin looked in horror and shrugged Fili and Dwalin off him seeing they were shocked as well. Legolas moved aside seeing Thorin coming and moved beside his father who had stepped closer.

"Bilbo?" Thorin said softly and placed his hand to his stomach and one on his shoulder.

There were a few firm kicks that made him whimper before they got softer. Bilbo had grabbed a hold of his robes in case he tried to move away from him after. Balin seeing they needed sometime alone for a little bit decided to speak up.

"Shall we head to the dining room?" Balin asked.

Thranduil nodded and followed the dwarf out with the rest of his company and the men of Lake-Town. Thorin just looked at Bilbo who was leaning against him, his eyes were shut and were glistening. Thorin knew then that the child had been hard on him seeing the unshed tears. Dwalin led Dís, Fili and Kili from the room and Oin would join them shortly after he check on Bilbo.

"Bilbo I'm going to press gently tell me if anywhere hurts too much?" Bilbo winced in a few places but nothing was worse than a bruise. "Seems to just be bruises which is good. Take a few minutes to yourself and talk this out together and when you are ready we will come back in. I'll have Dwalin stay inside the door but he shouldn't hear you unless you both are yelling." Oin got up and left the room.

"Bilbo?"

"Please no more fighting."

"I am sorry."

"He is just trying to help. He doesn't seem that bad as what you made him out to be." Bilbo said before seeing the look on Thorin's face. "What?"

"Why would you accept their help?"

"Because I didn't know how you would react at the time when I gave them the stone. Besides there can never be enough help with births. Please you are trying to work out a peace, don't give them a reason to start a war."

"I will try. It won't be easy to forget the last 150 years."

"I know but just try."

"Let's get you up."

Thorin went to pick Bilbo up in his arms but Bilbo kept him at arm's length.

"You are still injured Thorin. I can walk."

"Are you sure?"

Bilbo nodded and with Thorin's help climbed to his feet. Bilbo shook slightly as he stood before feeling arms wrapped around him and he was lifted off the ground. Bilbo turned to growl at Thorin only to find it was Dwalin holding him.

"I got ya." Dwalin said walking back up the steps to the thrones. "I wasn't listening either Thorin, I just saw what you were going to do and knew you couldn't carry Bilbo without further injury to yourself."

Thorin glared at him as he sat Bilbo down on his seat and Dwalin walked back to the entrance and stood by the door. Thorin slid his sword back into its sheath before he knelt in front of Bilbo and put his hands on his stomach. Bilbo smiled and coved Thorin's hands with his own smaller ones.

"You should have Dwalin fetch the others and continue with the meeting." Bilbo said.

"You sure you are ok to continue?"

"Yeah I'm fine just don't fight with Thranduil, I think the child doesn't like you getting angry. And when you are fighting it causes me to become distressed which the child doesn't like either I would say."

Thorin nodded slowly and leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Bilbo's stomach making the hobbit blush. Thorin pulled back and saw the blush before standing and leaning down to Bilbo and kissing the hobbit on the head.

"I don't think I have seen you this affectionate before."

"I don't tend to show much emotion when we were out on the road. Didn't want to risk anyone seeing. Here it doesn't matter so much. Still won't show it in public."

"Dwalin is there."

"Dwalin is basically family, like the rest of the company. Dwalin!"

"Yes, Thorin?"

"Fetch the others we are ready to continue the meeting."

"Of course."

Dwalin left and Thorin sat back on his throne and held Bilbo's hand. Bilbo rubbed his belly getting soft kicks in return making Bilbo smile. Thorin looked down at him and reached across with his spare and laid his hand on his belly and got a firmer kick in return before soft kicks followed. The doors opened and Thorin looked up to see Fili and Kili coming in first and then Balin with the elves and men. Dís, Oin and Dwalin bringing up the rear of the group. The dwarves took their places again and Kili knelt down beside Bilbo and whispered into his ear.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes Kili. Thank you for catching me."

Kili nodded and rested his hand on his stomach for a second before standing beside him again. Bilbo looked down at the elves and men before looking to Thorin who was not looking so angry and trying so hard to once again keep calm. Bilbo decided to speak first and hopefully break the tension in the room.

"King Thranduil I thank you for your offer of assistance with the birth. I have spoken with Thorin and if it is still on offer we would like to accept."

Thranduil's eyes shifted from Bilbo to Thorin who was trying to keep himself from getting angry. Bilbo looked between them and squeezed his hand.

"Is that true King Thorin?" Thranduil asked.

"If your offer stills stands we would like to accept. It is true that pregnancies for dwarves or man carrying a dwarf child are hard. Bilbo being smaller than a dwarf may find it harder. We would like to accept your offer."

"Of course my offer still stands. I will return when dwarf pregnancies are at their end. It could be anywhere from there onwards that the child is born."

"I will have chambers set up for you for that time."

"Shall we continue?" Balin asked.

Thorin nodded and they started talking about trade and passage between the three of them. The people of Lake Town were going to take up residence in Dale and with the nights growing colder they were needing clothing and warmth.

"Lake-Town is destroyed. Dale is a little more than ruin. You can't find adequate shelter there. I will have one of the living quarters opened up for your people. It may be a little dusty but it's warm and dry."

Bard looked at Thorin and bowed his head. "I thank you. I will have some men stay during the day to help your people to rebuild here and some women that cannot make the journey every day to Dale can help around the mountain."

Thorin nodded his acceptance and Thranduil was looking to Bilbo who was starting to doze off. Thorin followed his gaze to Bilbo, they were almost finished and then he would take Bilbo back to his chambers.

"I will provide food for both your people till adequate food can be grown and caught. With winter coming it will be hard to grow anything now."

Thorin nodded his head and thought of repayment before he stood. Everyone looked to him and Bilbo jolted from his doze and looked at Thorin with a frown.

"Excuse me one moment, I need to retrieve something." Thorin quickly removed his outer robe and held it to Bilbo who smiled and took it, laying it across his stomach.

Thorin walked down off to the side and followed the walkway out. He wandered the halls till he reached his grandfather's study, now his study, and looked amongst the gems till he found what he wanted and placed them in a pouch. He grabbed another slightly larger pouch and filled it with gold coins. He also grabbed an oval shaped item wrapped in leather and placed them in his pocket.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

Bilbo looked over when he heard footsteps echo along the walkway. The others had looked up as well to see Thorin walking back the way he came minutes before. He knew the others were getting impatient as they awaited the return of the dwarf king but there wasn't much of them could do about it.

"Thank you for waiting." Thorin said as he arrived back.

Walking right up to the Elf King had the group of dwarves gasp in shock. Thorin reached in and pulled out the pouch and held it out to Thranduil who looked at it as if he were to touch it, it would bite him. Thorin just held out the pouch with emotionless eyes till Thranduil took it from him.

"I would say this would suffice as payment."

Thranduil looked confused before he opened the pouch and his eyes widened slightly at what was inside. Thorin had handed him the larger pouch filled with gold coins, more than enough to cover the cost of food for winter three times over. Thranduil nodded his head in thanks before frowning again at Thorin's outstretched hand. It had another pouch slightly smaller than the other. Thranduil turned slightly and handed the pouch to his son before reaching for the next pouch. Thranduil opened it expecting to find more gold but he almost dropped the pouch when he opened it, his eyes wide in surprise.

"I believe that it is something of yours that you wanted to back." Thorin said as he stepped back.

Thranduil looked at Thorin in shock before he sealed the pouch back up and bowed down low. He never thought he would see Thorin had it over so easily and for nothing in return. He had already paid him well over what was owed for food and now handing over the gems of his people.

"Why would you return these? What do you want in return?"

"Nothing. They are yours and I should have given them to you from the start. The same with the gold promised to the people of Lake-Town but the gold lust clouded my judgement."

Thranduil looked thoughtful before nodding his head and sliding the pouch into his robes. Thorin moved back up to his throne where Bilbo was waiting for him. A slight wince of pain flashed across his face and Thorin quickly placed his hands on his belly. Bilbo smiled and gathered up Thorin's robe and held it out to him. Shaking his head Thorin took the robe and laid it back over Bilbo's stomach before taking his hand again.

Negotiations continued for another hour before they reached an agreement for the day. Everyone was ready for a break and Bilbo had nodded off to sleep in the chair, his head resting on his hand that was free. Kili was keeping a close eye on him to make sure he didn't fall forward and continue to fall to the side.

"There is one last thing I would like to do before we finish for the day." Thorin's voice pierced the air and woke Bilbo from his nap. "Fili, Kili."

Both looked to Thorin before walking from the line till they stood in front of him. Bilbo was awake and wondering why Thorin had called the boys out.

"There is a task I have for you both." The two looked at each other for a split second. "Bilbo would you unwrap this for me."

Bilbo took the parcel from Thorin who refused to look at it and he gasped seeing what was in the leather. The Arkenstone sat shining on the leather. Bilbo didn't understand why it was wrapped up and why Thorin had it on him. Bilbo was slightly worried that it would start to cloud his judgement.

"Fili and Kili I want you to take some of our best warriors of your choosing and take this stone to Mount Doom in Mordor and cast it into the lava."

"You mean to destroy the stone?" Bilbo said softly.

"Yes. It has been a bitter curse for my family and I will not have it curse anyone else."

"Thorin Oakenshield!" A voice boomed from the door.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 4 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

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