Hi everyone,

Sorry for the delay.

Here is the next chapter. Enjoy.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ Chapter 15 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

"My King, Lord Dain of the Iron Hills has arrived."

"When?"

"Just now. He…"

"Cousin!"

Thorin looked over to the doors and saw Dain walking in with a big smile that suddenly dropped when he spotted Bilbo beside him.

"Cousin what is that traitorous creature doing here still?"

"Dain…"

"He should not be here. Why have you not thrown him from the mountain? He stole the Arkenstone."

Bilbo was shocked. He knew a few that were on the council didn't like him for what he did but he didn't realise Thorin's cousin thought the same.

"Dain!"

Dain stopped when Thorin suddenly roared over him and stood from his seat. Bilbo put his hand on Thorin's arm to try and calm him. Thorin was fuming, Dain had left not long after the battle had finished to get his injured home, with the promise to send more. He hadn't stayed to help Thorin once he knew he was ok.

"Dain that is enough."

"Thorin I…" Thorin put his hand up silencing him.

Bilbo looked down seeing Frodo standing between Thorin and his chair tugging at his sleeve. Bilbo smiled and pushed his chair out a little and Frodo tried to scramble up but was unable to. Thorin looked down at Frodo and lifted him up and sat him carefully on his lap. Frodo buried close into Bilbo trying to hide from the new dwarf.

"It's ok Frodo. It's ok."

"Dain, Bilbo is pregnant with my child."

"What?! You allowed him to stay and he got pregnant. Why Thorin? Why would you allow someone who stole from you to stay?"

"Bilbo was pregnant before the battle, before he kept the Arkenstone from me, with good reason to as well. You would have me thrown my One from Erebor along with my child, Dain?" Thorin asked and Bilbo looked down at Frodo when he sniffed.

"It's alright Frodo."

"Who is that?" He asked quietly.

"It's Thorin's cousin, Dain."

"Why is he angrwy at youw?"

"Nothing you need to worry about my boy." Bilbo said with a smile before looking at Thorin. "Thorin, Frodo and I are going to go back up to your chambers." Thorin nodded. "Fili and Kili can take us." Bilbo then lowered his voice. "Deal with Dain but don't be too hard on him."

Thorin nodded and looked to his nephews who already stood and Kili took Frodo from Bilbo. Thorin helped Bilbo to stand and Fili was about to say something to him but he glared at Dain before looking to Ori.

"Ori can you help Bilbo."

Ori nodded and hurried over and took Bilbo's arm and led him out as they followed Kili and Frodo, Kili entertaining Frodo. They heard heavy footsteps behind them and saw Dwalin following after them quickly.

"Dwalin you don't…"

"What did I tell you earlier today?"

Bilbo groaned but started down the hall again and he looked at Ori who was blushing bright red as he helped him. Bilbo knew that Ori had yet to say anything to Dwalin and he was going to change that tonight. Bilbo let out a sigh of relief when his chambers came into sight and collapsed on the bed as soon as they entered. Kili chuckled as he sat Frodo on the bed and then flopped on the end of it right next to Frodo who squealed.

Bilbo saw Dwalin sit by the fire so he could see all the areas of the room. Ori stood fidgeting by the bed and Bilbo moved over and patted the bed so Ori sat down. Frodo climbed up the bed and curled up beside Bilbo making Kili pout.

"Hey!"

Frodo giggled making Ori smiled, he'd seen how scared Frodo was when Dain entered and the two boys were always good getting everyone's minds off things with their antics. Frodo patted the bed next to him for Kili to sit by him so Kili moved over and laid down and wrapped his arms around Frodo who giggled trying to squirm around to get out.

"My hobbit."

"Careful laddie, your uncle might think you are trying to steal his hobbit, if you continue to cuddle up with those two." Dwalin said with a chuckle.

"Nah he won't. Besides I'm not cuddling Auntie Bilbo, I'm cuddling Frodo."

"Unclwe, why is he cawlling youw auntiewe. Youw are notw a girlw."

Bilbo, Ori and Dwalin laughed at the question while Kili just snickered. Frodo just looked confused as to why they were laughing at him.

"Kili calls me auntie because when I marry his uncle I'll then be his uncle as well, but he calls me auntie because I'm pregnant and he hopes to get a rise out of me."

"Hasn't worked though." Kili said. "I'll just have to try something else."

Bilbo smiled at Kili knowing the young dwarf would try. Bilbo looked up seeing the door open and Balin stick his head in with a nod and they saw Thorin storm by. Dwalin stood and followed Balin seeing the look he was giving him. Bilbo watched as they left before looking straight to Ori.

"So Ori…" Bilbo started and Ori's eyes widened realising what Bilbo was going to stay. "When are you going to speak to him?"

"What's this? Who?" Kili asked from where he was laying on the bed next to Frodo still.

"Well Ori likes Dwalin and won't say anything. He was taking lessons from Gloin on how to look after axes but hasn't approached Dwalin yet."

"Really?" Kili said with a smile at Ori.

"Yeah. Actually you being here will work really well Kili. Maybe when Dwalin leaves you can take Ori with you and follow Dwalin. He should clean his axes tonight right?"

"Yeah always after dinner when he has used them." Kili said.

"Excellent. Will you take Ori down there to ask Dwalin?"

Kili smiled widely with a nod of the head. Ori groaned and shrunk in on himself, suddenly really worried about what was going to happen. Bilbo smiled and put his hand on Ori's shoulder.

"You'll do fine Ori. I promise. Just be yourself. That is who he will want."

Ori nodded slowly and Bilbo looked down feeling Frodo move around and saw he was asleep curled up against him. Bilbo smiled seeing this and looked at Kili.

"Will you put him to bed for me? I would take him but I don't think I'll be able to stand again tonight."

"Sure, best tell him though."

"Frodo wake up, my boy." Bilbo said shaking him slightly. "Frodo." Frodo's eyes opened and he looked up at Bilbo. "Would you like to sleep your new room tonight or with me?" Frodo looked down slightly unsure. "You can always come back in later if you wish."

"Ok."

"Well Kili is going to take you there and put you to sleep. I will be here if you want to come back." Frodo nodded and leaned up hugging Bilbo. "Goodnight Frodo. I'll see you in the morning." Bilbo said with a smile and hugged him back tightly.

"Nwight Uncwle Bilwo."

Frodo followed Kili to the edge of the bed and Kili picked him and walked out of the room. Bilbo looked to Ori who went to stand. Bilbo grabbed his sleeve to stop him.

"Don't even think about it."

"Bilbo I can't do it."

"Yes you can. Gloin told me you have done well and are just as good as himself."

Ori blushed and they sat in silence for a few minutes before Kili came back.

"I said I would put a piece of parchment on your door so he knew which one it was if he got up during the night."

"Thankyou Kili." Bilbo looked back to the door when it opened and Thorin walked through and Balin and Dwalin walked by outside, heading out of the royal wing. "Why don't you guys head off?" Bilbo said with a pointed look to Kili to take Ori to see Dwalin and Kili smiled widely.

"Come on Ori. Let's go."

Kili grabbed his arm and pulled him out. Ori protesting the whole way but said a quick goodbye to Thorin before disappearing. Thorin frowned looking between Bilbo and the now closed door.

"What have you done now?"

"Oh nothing. Kili is just taking Ori to see Dwalin." Bilbo said with a smile. "Frodo is asleep in his room. He may come in during the night."

"That is fine Bilbo. I don't mind. It's a new place to him."

Bilbo smiled as Thorin removed his robes and blew out most lights other than those beside the bed before helping Bilbo from his own and into his sleep clothes. Bilbo was sitting on the edge of the bed so he didn't have to stand too much.

"What happened with Dain?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Thorin. You were upset when you walked by and Fili stayed behind. I know Dain was going to say something to him and he and Kili have adopted your stern look, if they ever want to use it."

"Dain is concerned about who will be the heir. Fili told him that he was heir till our child is old enough to decide if they want the throne. It will be fine. I have told Dain I destroyed the Arkenstone as well."

"How did he take that?"

"Not well but it is not his choice."

Bilbo nodded and lay back on the bed and Thorin slid in beside him. Thorin pulled him in close and kissed him gently.

"Dain will be fine. If not he can leave."

"Thorin this is your cousin."

"And he knows well enough what happens when a dwarf loses their One." Thorin said pressing his lips to Bilbo's forehead. "I would soon banish myself before doing anything to harm you."

"I know Thorin. You have showed me that."

"Get some sleep."

Bilbo smiled and pressed in closer to Thorin and laid his head on his chest. Thorin pulled him in closer and blew out the candle on his bedside leaving Bilbo's going, just in case Frodo woke and comes in.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

Kili almost snickered at the look on Ori's face. He had been dragging Ori from Bilbo's room and leaving the royal wing when Fili came around the corner. His face lit up seeing his brother before a glare replaced it seeing Kili and Ori holding hands. Poor Ori went white as a sheet and tried to remove his hand from Kili's.

"Kili." Fili started.

"Come with us Fili. We have to make sure Ori does what he has to. Bilbo's orders." Kili said grabbing Fili's and dragging him and Ori down the corridor.

"Hey he didn't order me to." Ori protested still trying to remove Kili's hand from his own.

"What is going on?" Fili asked walking beside Kili and holding his hand.

"Oh Dwalin is Ori's one. I'm taking him to Dwalin who is most likely in the armoury cleaning his axes."

Fili looked at Ori with a big grin making Ori pale and he let go of Kili's hand and quickly moved around to Ori's other hand effectively stopping him from trying to remove Kili's hand. Fili then proceeded to help Kili drag Ori to the armoury. They made it there in record time and Kili carefully opened the door and stuck his head in and saw only one dwarf there and it was just the one they were looking for. Kili quietly closed the door before looking to Ori with a smile.

"Ok Ori you ready?"

"No! I'm not. Guys leave this be. I can't do it."

"Sure you can." Fili said.

Kili pushed the door open less quietly and Fili pushed Ori gently through the door and then Kili pulled it shut with a small thud. Ori froze as Dwalin looked up and behind him and saw Ori there.

"Ori are you alright lad?" Dwalin said making Ori jump.

Ori shook slightly before walking over and stood beside Dwalin who was now frowning at him.

"Um…I… Can I help you with those?" Ori said softly and refused to look at Dwalin.

Dwalin's eyes widened in surprise at what Ori said before they softened and he placed the axes down and stood up, making Ori take a step back. Dwalin quickly reached out catching Ori's arm, who jumped, stopping him from moving away.

"You… You want to help me clean my axes?" Dwalin asked, double checking what Ori asked and Ori nodded. "Ori you don't know who long I have wanted to do the same but I cannot write anything to save my life." Making Ori smiled at what he admitted.

"I think you are too hard on yourself. I would like anything you wrote."

Dwalin pulled Ori back to the benches and let Ori sit beside him. Dwalin lifted his other axed and held it out to Ori who carefully took it and the cleaning supplies from Dwalin and proceeded to clean the axe. Dwalin continued on his other one, his gaze slipping to Ori and his cleaning of his other axe.

"Was this why you were leaving dinner with Gloin for the last few months? To learn to clean axes."

"Yes it was."

Dwalin gave a small chuckle and nodded. Ori was doing a really good job. They sat in silence for a half an hour cleaning the axes. When they were done Dwalin took the axe from Ori and proceeded to put them away and Ori collected the cleaning supplies and put them where they were meant to go. Ori hoped that Fili and Kili had left by now as they headed to the door. Dwalin caught Ori's hand before he opened the door and Ori looked up at him with a blush.

"I have to ask Ori, do your brothers know about this?"

"No. They don't like you because you are always after Nori." Ori said sadly. "No don't. Dwalin it's your job and what Nori does is wrong. Given he doesn't do it now but he used to and it was wrong. I don't blame you for doing your job. I am glad that neither of you got hurt whenever you went after him."

"Oh I will say I owe your brother a few lovely cuts but no neither of us were badly hurt. I refrained from hurting him because of you. I figured if something happened to him I would lose any chance I had with you."

Ori smiled at him for it. Ori quickly stood up on the tips of his toes and quickly gave Dwalin a kiss on the cheek. Ori blushed brightly and looked at his hands and he fiddled with the hem of his clothes. Dwalin blushed at the kiss as well and watched Ori turn bright red and Dwalin liked the colour on him. Dwalin reached up and turned Ori's chin up to look at him and rested his forehead against his.

"I am willing to go at whatever pace you want Ori. If you are uncomfortable please tell me."

"Thankyou Dwalin."

Dwalin smiled and pressed a kiss to Ori's forehead before taking his hand and leading him out. Ori blushed brightly as Dwalin led him to his own chambers. Ori wished the walk was longer when they reached his door.

"Thankyou Dwalin."

"Thankyou for this chance Ori." Dwalin said and he pressed a kiss to his forehead again.

Ori turned bright red again as a smile made it too his face and Ori walked into his room and said a quiet goodnight before closing the door. Dwalin smiled when the door shut before he turned and headed to his own chambers which weren't too far away. The whole company were situated near the royal chambers and the only way to get to the royal chambers was to go past these chambers which were for Lords or High council members or special guests, one room ready for when the elf King arrived.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

Thorin woke a few hours after he fell asleep hearing something sniffing in the room somewhere. Thorin sat up and reached beside the bed where a dagger was stashed before climbing out of bed. Thorin walked to the end of the bed and found the source of the noise at the foot of the bed curled up on the cold stone floor.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 15 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

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