Chapter 5 ladies and gents! Once more: I. Do. Not. Own.

Notes for this chapter, so I don't lose your trust and follows:

Thorin is 195 in the movie

Bilbo is 50

Coming of age for hobbits-33

This will still be slash, but the story will be spun through a few years. Still taking votes for a pairing, although all of you so far want Thilbo. I kind of do too… Oh well! Enjoy Chapter 5.

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Bilbo let out a small laugh as he recalled the frozen expression on the dwarf's face as he clamored about the kitchen and pantry for his more portable food that did not require a lot of preparation. He finally settled on a plateful of cold chicken, some boiled and lightly roasted potatoes with herbs, a few mince mean pies, and a bowl of cold stewed vegetables. The hobbit piled all of his finds on top of a sturdy board with handles, made for just such an occasion, and, not forgetting to settle a bottle of red currant juice and a couple of mugs on the crook of his arms, walked back towards Thorin's room.

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Thorin sat at the bed, the blankets bunched up under his feet as it took him a moment to comprehend what the hobbit was talking about. Sneaking a glance towards his…dwarfhood…he felt that he did not agree with his host, and the size did not change at the slightest. Never the less he headed the call, and with a grunt leant forward to grab the mentioned material in order to pull it up. Unfortunately for him, it seemed that the wounds in his back were not as complacent with said decision and protested vehemently. Thorin tried to make his movements as slow and unassuming as possible, but the effort still left him a bit breathless as he settled back into the feather stuffed pillows, covered with the blanket. He left his hands on the outside in anticipation of the meal, and his mind went towards the daring gestures of one Bilbo Baggins. He could honestly say that this was the first time somebody had handled him like that, with so little disregard towards his privacy. Perhaps it was different for hobbits, their view on decency, but in the dwarvish society one did not yank off the one thing keeping the modesty of another safe! It was simply not done, and now Thorin was not quite certain on how to act around the other.

As he sat there thinking, and feeling the medicines and salves slowly do their business, the hobbit entered the room once more, arms laden with food and drink. Thorin's stomach sung a happy verse at the mention of that and readied itself for a busy morning.

Bilbo smiled as he saw his guest finally safely under the covers and placed the board on his lap. "Here we go Mr. Oakenshield, sir! Chicken, taters, greens, and pies. All perfectly filling, and very good for you on a morning as such. Topper it off with some red currant and you'll be right as rain in no time, not wincing and cringing, but up and about." Said Bilbo as he settled himself on the sofa and filled the mugs with juice. Rising slightly he placed one of them within easy reach of the dwarf, stole a small potato from the plate and popped it into his mouth.

Thorin followed the heroic journey of the potato with his eyes and swallowed. "Is it custom to steal food from one's guest in Shire?" asked the dwarf with as much dignity as one who wished to be a piece of food could possess.

Bilbo faltered and looked at Thorin. His eyes widened at the question and a smile broke through his lips. "Well, generally we wait until elevensies to do that, but I think one can afford a leeway in such a situation." He laughed "Never the less 'tis a good point you make, and I shall go grab myself a plate." With those parting words the still chuckling hobbit rose and walked towards the door. "Do you want anything else while I am in the kitchen?"

The dwarf shook his head and continued to eat the excellent pie, "No Master Hobbit. It seems you have brought everything."

The hobbit nodded and trotted off towards the kitchen. Once he was in there, quick work was made to get a plate and cutlery, along with napkins, and returned to the guest bedroom to his dwarven guest, sitting on the bed, with bandages being one of the only things to hide his modesty. Thinking about that as he settled on the couch and took some food for himself Bilbo pondered whether he should fix his guest clothes or just get him new ones. Sneaking a glance at the eating dwarf, he resorted to cleaning and mending what he could, as it did not look as though the man could really afford a whole new set of attire. But perhaps…

"Tell me Master Thorin, why was I able to find you in such an unfortunate condition under the road? There has been talk of upcoming storm all morning; surely you would have been warned of it at any of your previous stops?" Asked the hobbit as he cleaned his mouth with a folded napkin, while staring at Thorin with inquisitive eyes.

Thorin pulled his attention from the food and gathered his thoughts. "I have been warned of it Master Baggins, but I had thought that the distance between my previous stop and Shire would be covered before the dratted rain started. It appears I have been wrong and have paid for my miscalculation with bruises and hurts. Although now I must say that I do not fault the rain, as it had brought me here" Smiled the dwarf as he scooted a little closer to the edge of the bed and let a small smile onto his face.

"Hmm…Yes, but you see it was I who brought you to this place. On my back. In the rain. And you, my dear dwarf fellow are no maiden to be carted around. You're taller than me, and at least two times as wide! No mean task for one of my size I must tell you..." said hobbit as he went by the bed collecting the plates and placing them back on the wooden board.

Thorins expression sunk as he realized that favorable first impression was unfortunately impossible at this point. As he looked over the hobbit and actually paid attention to his stature, he marveled that the lad even had the strength to bring him back. Was he a dwarf he would be considered a mere dwarfling. That thought brought Thorin's mind to a halt as he reconsidered his advances. What is he was? What if he had been making eyes at a really young hobbit? He had no way of judging the other's age having never dealt with hobbits before. Dread settled in the dwarf's stomach and he hastily called towards the retreating figure "Master Baggins! An inquiry if you may. How many summers have you seen in your life?"

"If that is a question relating to my competence as a healer I must assure I have had more than enough time to study the medicinal purposes of many herbs and their application as well" answered the hobbit with a bit of a small huff. Why was it that everyone questioned his abilities? He was good at what he did! He knew his bayberry and winter cherries from asphodel and wolfs bane. His grandmother was a great healer and she taught him everything she knew before she passed.

"No, no, Master Hobbit, do not misunderstand it is…" Thorin scrambled to come up with a way to ask with without further offending his host "…a custom! Yes a custom for the dwarfs to know the age of their hosts if there is even an occasion where that knowledge is not known prior to the first meeting." This particular dwarf was just happy that he came up with that explanation for his query.

"Oh, I'm sorry for being presumptuous then Master Oakenshield." Calmed Bilbo. The dwarf didn't doubt him, he was just being polite. That he could do with. "I have recently celebrated my 32d birthday." He knew he was a bit young, but he only had a year till his coming of age. It didn't mean he was not fully capable of living on his own, and it wasn't as if he had a choice at the matter either. Is mother passed a long time ago, and his father it seemed didn't quite have the same will to go on living without her next to him.

As he heard the hobbits answer Thorin felt deep seated shame well up inside of him. 32! The lad wasn't even fully grown yet, and here was Thorin…He had enough tidbits of knowledge to know that hobbits were not considered mature until they were at the very least 33, and even then it was frowned upon for them to have relations. He silently sent a thank you to Balin who had tutored him as a lad, in order to know the customs of the people of Middle Earth. He still remembered the exact angle an elf can incline his head in order to show the recipient of the gesture either respect or deep sated loathing…

As the information sunk in and the hobbit was still standing at the door with a look of expectation on his face the dwarf forced himself to talk. "Thank you Master Baggins for indulging my…custom. I am 177."

The hobbits eyes went a bit round at the number. Well no wonder the dwarf doubted him; he wasn't even a fifth of Thorin's age! "My, you must have seen a lot. Are all dwarves blessed with long lives? If you do not mind me asking." Said the hobbit as he leaned against the frame.

"The dwarves are blessed with even longer one Master Baggins" smiled Thorin as he reclined on the pillows but turned his head to still face the one on the doorway. He was growing tired once more, and it has been such a long time since he had had a proper bed to support his back, and soft pillows for his head. Slowly he was sinking into deep state of relaxation, and now that he knew his advances would not be proper, the urge to show them had grown smaller. "I am a dwarf in my prime, and yet I have many more years ahead of me, before I am even begun to be considered old. We are the people of mountains and rocks, and rock takes forever to age" finished the dwarf.

Bilbo smiled at the answer and started turning away. He saw the way the dwarf's head seemed to have sunk into the pillows and realized that his guest must have once more be tired. Well, all the best for him, as it would give Bilbo time to take care of his and Thorin's clothes. "You just rest then Master Oakenshield. Holler when you wake up and I shall bring more food and medicine." With those words the hobbit slinked out of the room, softly closing it with his hip, and went about cleaning up the remains of breakfast.

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That's is for today. Wait a few days and I'll write more. In the mean times I appreciate creative criticism. Tell me if you want to do some fanart; that is always welcome. And also here is a new poll for you. What dwarf should show up after Thorin? Review, follow, favorite, ta!