Thorin had an illness.

It wasn't something like the gold sickness that had poisoned him when he had reclaimed his throne, no this was something much worse. It affected his mind just as the sickness had and plagued him with all manners of hallucinations but this brought about something more sinister than greed.

Desire. It was one of the many temptations of the flesh. The obsessive need to have something that you would do just about anything to get your hands on even if for a moment. It was a situation in itself, but in his case it was a someone.

His deep blue eyes watched on dangerously from the shadows, his heart beat was out of control and his skin felt as if it were ablaze. There, just a few feet away from his grasp in the now flourishing garden was his desire. A head of brown curls ruffled gently in the breeze, soft white skin bright from the rays of the early afternoon sun, beautiful doe eyes that looked at every surrounding flower with love and pride, lips so pink even the roses that his delicate fingers touched would wither in envy. Thorin couldn't count the number of nights that his thoughts were haunted by Bilbo Baggins. He would awaken in the middle of the night under the comforts of his royal bed sheets drenched in sweat, muscular body sweaty and quaking and his shaft hot, hard and aching for the one who had bewitched him.

But no matter how hard he tried to deny and resist his feelings, his mind would become plagued with images of the Hobbit. As much as he desired to have Bilbo trapped beneath him, moaning his name in a mind shattering state of ecstasy as he would pound into his untainted insides mercilessly, he could not.

Bilbo was too innocent. It was just the way he carried himself. So graceful and elegant as if he were royalty himself and also he had such a rare heart that was full of so much love and kindness it made it hard for anyone not to fall in love with him instantly. He was curious yet humble and the way he would light up a room everytime he spoke or was just simply there was more than captivating.

Thorin couldn't have him, he knew this much. He could if he wanted to of course but he couldn't bring himself to it. He had too much darkness in his heart. He was too dangerous and the thought of him hurting his desire because he couldn't help the demons that ruled his mind and causes him to think such sinful thoughts of someone so pure was enough to keep his lust at bay. He couldn't afford to corrupt the only light in his dark heart.

"Thorin?" The king snapped out of his thoughts. He was so deep that he didn't even see the beautiful halfling approach him with an assortment of flowers in a straw basket cradled in his arms. "What are you doing lurking in the shadows, not stalking me I hope." Thorin felt his cheeks redden with shame, he had been caught and now Bilbo will think he's a pervert. But Bilbo just laughed saying that he was only joking when he saw how flushed he made the dwarf with his words.

"So, what do I owe the pleasure of my kings presence?" Bilbo asked with a smile sweeter than honey. Thorin felt something go off on his head when the words 'my king' escaped Bilbos lips. It felt like a hot mist just crept into his mind and spreaded throughout his entire body and made his head swing. He felt that familiar sensation as he did every night for the past six months since he had developed his unholy fascination with the halfling.

"I was on my way to see Balin but then I saw how lovely the flowers were today I couldn't help myself with staring. You've done a wonderful job with them." It was a half truth but it was the best he could come up with. He couldn't help it when his heart fluttered at Bilbos soft blush and bashful smile at his compliment. "Thank you. The soil here is alot richer from the Shires' so everything grows alot fuller here." Thorin knew Bilbo would have appreciated having his own garden. It was the least he could do for him since the halfling agreed to stay in Erebor after the war. Bilbo admitted to him that he would miss his comfortable chair, his books and his cosy fireplace but he couldn't live the rest of his days in the Shire as he once did. The quest had changed him too much for him to go back.

"I'm glad. Would you like to take a walk with me, if your not busy of course." Thorin asked with a gentle smile but those eyes of his were beyond gentle.

"I'd love to. I was planning on putting these beauties in the library to brighten the place a bit, can we stop there first?" Bilbo asked with a hopeful smile and bright brown eyes. Thorin felt like he was about to pass out from how fast his heart was beating. "Of course, can I carry that for you?" He asked as they headed back into the mountain and through the spaceous halls. "Chivalrous as always but I think I can manage." Bilbo joked, anytime the king caught him fetching anything he would always insist on carrying it for him no matter the weight, why he didn't know but he just thought of it as him being nice.

On their way to the grand library Thorin walked behind the Hobbit, not too much but just enough so he didn't have to justify to Bilbo why he was staring at him the way he was. He made it his personal duty to memorize every little thing on Bilbo. Every curly strand of rich brown hair, the way his ears would twitch in the cutest way ever so often when he spoke of something fondly and most of all the way those hips swayed with each graceful step he took. It was silly and creepy what he was doing, he knew, he didn't need anyone to tell him that but Balin and Dwalin never hesitate to tell him whenever they catch him in the act.

"Any longer and you'll burn holes into his head Thorin. Just tell him how you feel, he's a sweet boy and I'm sure if you talk to him he will understand, and if you play your cards right he just might return your... feelings. Just.. don't ... frighten the poor lad?"

"He'll catch you one of these days Thorin. Hopefully you'll have a good excuse when he does."

Atleast they weren't against his feelings for their former burglar, but even if they were he wouldn't care for he was too far gone now. Before he realized it they had reached the stone crafted double doors that guarded the library and all the knowledge she held. As heavy as they looked they were quite light which made them easier for Bilbo to have access to. He pushed the doors open effortlessly and made his way into the brightly lit room with Thorin right behind him. Books upon books were piled onto eachother in tall and short columns on every vacant table and chair. Everything from dwarven history and traditions to their diets and anatomy.

"Excuse the mess. I've been in here so much I haven't had the time to put anything back." Bilbo explained trying to clean up a little to make the place somewhat presentable for the king. Thorin scanned the room. Every square inch of the four stone walls were filled with books of many colours and sizes minus the gaps of missing books. He knew Bilbo loved books, hence giving him full access to the largest library in his kingdom but he never thought that the Hobbit would go crazy and try to read every book he could get his hands on. But if he were being honest, it was quite heart warming to see how interested Bilbo was of his people even though they were not his own.

"You've been very busy I see." Thorin chuckled as Bilbo blushed at his remark. "Yes, apart from the gardens the library is my favourite place to be. There's so much to read I never get bored. It's all so intoxicating I can't seem to put a book down when I start it, if I could I'd stay in this room for the rest of my days, and let knowledge keep me wrapped in her tender embrace." Bilbo smiled fondly, a dust of blush tainting his rosy cheeks and his pointed ears doing that cute twitch again.

Thorin unconsciously licked his aching lips, the way Bilbo spoke as he held different books in his arms and caress their old pages and thick covers with such gentleness and care made him think what those hands would feel like caressing him as he ravished his little halfling. "You can stay in here as long as you like. I still feel a bit responsible for your decision on not rerurning to the Shire so the least I can do is provide all the comforts of home for you." Thorin tried to look sympathetic but he couldn't help the smile that was on his face as he thought about how determined the hobbit was at staying. "And it's much appreciated." Bilbo smiled sweetly. After putting his flowers away and organising a few books here and there the two left to venture through the halls of Erebor.

The ex-burglar really was too sweet for his own good. As the hours passed by, the duo continued to walk aimlessy around the mountain just talking and enjoying each others company. Bilbo was going on and on about the places he'd recently been and how everything was unlike anything he's ever seen. Thorin couldn't keep his attention on the words that were being spoken to him, Bilbo was just so enchanting. It was like a warm glow was around him as he proudly spoke about all the things he's read and found around the kingdom all by himself, he was truly the most beautiful creature in all of middle-earth. "But I must admit that the layout of the forges and the mines are absolutely incredible. I went down there a couple of weeks ago and it was all so breath taking, there isn't a kingdom near or far that has a sufisticated system as Erebor." Thorin chuckled "I'm glad you think so. If you'd like I can have something made for you, since you like it so much."

Bilbo laughed, the sound resonating sweetly through the halls and piercing Thorins heart causing a shiver to race up his spine. "I'm not the jewellery type but thank you for the offer, besides there are better things the forgers to be doing than making jewellery for me." Thorin stopped right in his tracks, how could Bilbo think such a thing? If it were up to him he would have the Hobbit dressed in nothing but the finest of jewels. At his command Bilbo would have every and anything his heart desired, was he that oblivious of how much power he held in those soft delicate hands of his?

"Thorin?" Bilbo asked as he too stopped looking at the king puzzled. "Why did you.." Thorin took a hold of the startled halflings' hands in his, blue eyes looked deeply into Bilbos' brown confused ones.

"Never say such a thing. You saved not only me but my people as well without thought of yourself, you accompanied an arrogant king and his kin on a quest most would laugh in the face of..." Bilbo felt his breath hitch in his throat as Thorin stepped even closer to him, the scent of his royalty, mint and morning dew flooded his nostrils making it hard for him not to blush. "And most of all ... you..." This could be the moment he actually made a move to in some way let the Hobbit know of his feelings.. The scarcely pure parts of them anyways, for if his little beauty were to find out just how... unstable the king under the mountain was when it came to anything about him he would leave Erebor and never come back. Not like he'd let him if it ever came down to that. If he had to lock Bilbo away from the rest of the world and keep him all to himself where he could have him and love him the way he rightfully deserved to be. He would have by now, but he wanted Bilbo willing and begging to be his. It would make their... intimate moments much more enjoyable and all the more sweeter.

"Forgive me, I just remembered I have something that needs my attention."

Bilbo watched on in confusion and concern as he watched Thorin stormed away from him. This wasn't like the dwarf, that wasn't the dwarf he knows. The dwarf he knows always holds such determination and pride in his eyes but they were so different now, they were... conflicted and cold now. Of course he noticed the changes, apart from being light on their feet hobbits were VERY observant. Everytime the two were around eachother Thorin was different. The way he spoke, the way he would look at him, the way his touches would linger.

It was very troubling and not having a clue what was going on with his best friend had his heart aching, so he went to the only people that knew Thorin as well as he did to get some answers."We can't tell you." Bilbo was to say the least shocked at the blunt answer.

"Why not?" He asked the young princes of Erebor who for some reason look very nervous. "Because if we tell you, you'll leave us." Kili said softly looking down at his shoes sadly. Leave? What was so wrong with Thorin that if he knew he would want to leave?

"Just trust us Bilbo, it's noting our uncle can't handle. He's just... stressed that all." Fili offered with reassurance, but Bilbo knew better. He travelled and lived with all thirteen of the dwarves to know when something was wrong. "Fine, if you wouldn't have the decency to tell me I'll go ask Thorin myself." Bilbo huffed about to walk away but the rather loud exclamation for him not to from the prince's was even more proof that something was definitely wrong.

"You can't do that!"

"Please Bilbo you must trust us. Uncle just doesn't want to hurt you!" Kili clasped his hands over his mouth as fast as the words left his mouth. Bilbo looked up at them shocked. "This.. is about.. me?" He asked not wanting to believe that he was the reason why Thorin was acting so out of character but the looks that the prince's have him was enough proof.

Never fear I'm starting part two as soon as I upload this. Thank you ever so much for the love and support so far on the other stories I don't know I got so lucky to have readers like you.