AN: Oh Dain. I at once love and hate you.

OOOOO

"Cousin! Just who I was looking for!" Dain spoke enthusiastically, as always, but Thorin couldn't help but hate his presence at the moment. And if he shifted a little so he was standing in front of Bilbo, no one mention it. Though Dain did try to see around him.

"Dain. How good to see you. I assume you're here to talk about the Winter Festival again." Thorin tried to sound polite, he really did. But he was pretty sure it came out more annoyed than anything. Dain didn't seem to mind, he was very intently trying to study the Hobbit behind his cousin.

"And who is this lovely little creature?" He demanded, a flirtatious smile on his face. Dain was a notorious playboy and flirt, and Thorin had never wanted to smack his cousin so much as he did in this moment.

"This is Bilbo, my prisoner." Thorin said tensely.

"Oh, yes! The Arkenstone Thief! I've heard plenty about you little Bilbo, but I never thought you would be so attractive!" Bilbo looked the furthest thing from comfortable with the way Dain was looking at him. "What is a pretty little thing like you doing stealing? With a face like that, you could be a King's consort! And since we're on the subject, I'm currently in the market." Dain grinned and Bilbo cringed.

"Forget it cousin, he can't leave Erebor." Thorin barked and Dain pouted.

"You take the fun out of everything Thorin."

"Did you actually have something you needed to talk about?" Thorin was never usually so quick tempered with his cousin. He had gotten used to Dain's behavior over the years. But for some reason he just wanted to shove Dain over the edge of the walkway.

"Fine, be a spoilsport. As a matter of fact, I am here to talk about the Winter Festival, and your invitation list." Dain sounded relatively professional, but his eyes kept sliding towards Bilbo. They raked over the Hobbit making Bilbo's skin crawl unpleasantly. "You invited the leaders of the Menfolk, but Balin and I have talked and we agree you need to invite Thranduil." Thorin grimaced. As if he wasn't already in a bad mood!

"Winter Festival is a Dwarvish and Human holiday. The Elves probably won't even accept."

"Then you should have no problem inviting them! Look Thorin, the Festival is more than just a party, it's a political show. Now I know quite well your aversion to all things Thranduil, but he has helped Erebor a lot since the reclaiming, and he's a very powerful man. You do not want to offend him, more than you already do during counsel meetings, and frankly you need a little something to get back on his good side after that incident at the first Open Market." Dain smirked and Thorin glowered. "Just invite him, and if he declines, you don't have to worry about anything. If he accepts, just buck up and take it like a Dwarf! You're the King for Mahal's sake, and politics are more important than your personal enjoyment! Besides, he might bring some of that Elvish wine of his and by morning, you won't even remember that he was there!"

"Fine! Mahal, I give up! Invite the damn Elf!" Thorin yelled, then rubbed his eyes.

"There now, that wasn't so bad. I'll have Balin send out the invitation immediately." Dain grinned victoriously and turned to leave before turning back. "Perhaps I could beg a dinner with Master Bilbo?" He proposed with a raised brow. Thorin shot him a glare that would make a lesser Dwarf run off with his ax between his legs. "Sheesh, fine. You can have him to yourself." Dain muttered and walked away. Thorin waited until he was gone to turn to face Bilbo. The Hobbit was glaring at the ground and he took a step back when Thorin stepped towards him.

"I apologize for my cousin's behavior, he flirts with everything that lives and breathes. And some statues." Bilbo scoffed but didn't stop glaring, and he did not look at Thorin. The King sighed and stepped forward again, but Bilbo once again stepped away.

"Please don't." Bilbo murmured, crossing his arms across his chest. It looked more like he was hugging himself, keeping himself safe, than anything. "And don't make excuses for him, because I saw the way he was looking at me, and I've seen it before. It led to nothing good the first time." Bilbo's eyes were far away as he said it, and Thorin felt his stomach knot up at the implication. Bilbo's life, for all he did know about it, was still such a mystery to Thorin. And he found that he wanted to know more. He wanted to know everything.

"Will you tell me what happened?" Thorin asked, so quietly and so humbly, that Bilbo actually looked at him. And the Hobbit didn't even glare! He looked...shocked. But he schooled his features into unaffected and shrugged.

"Not much to tell. I was commissioned to steal something for a man of Bree. I did what he asked and when I tried to leave with my reward, he tried to rape me. So I slit his throat." Bilbo spoke so evenly, so calmly, that it took Thorin a moment to properly react. "No one else has tried, because they know what I'm capable of, but I know what that look means. What it means a man wants." Bilbo shuddered, though he still spoke so professionally.

"I won't let that happen Bilbo. If you think Dain is a danger to you, then I'll make sure Dwalin never leaves you alone with him." Thorin promised and Bilbo's brows crinkled in confusion.

"Why would you care about what happens to me?" Thorin had no answer for him. What could he really say? That he felt so protective of the Hobbit that he would gladly banish his own cousin? That he still wanted to banish himself when he looked at Bilbo, so thin and pale and that damned bruise on his cheek? That he wished he could keep Bilbo at his side all day, every day, just to be absolutely sure that nothing would happen to him? For good reason, he doubted Bilbo would take kindly to such answers, considering the fact that Bilbo still hated Thorin. So in the end, he just shrugged. Bilbo frowned so Thorin scrambled to think of something to say.

"You've been mistreated enough since entering my mountain. I will not hear of any more abuse done to you." Thorin tried to sound regal and detached as he said it, but he was sure Bilbo could see right through him just as well as Thorin could see through Bilbo. "I'll escort you somewhere if you'd like." He added quickly, before Bilbo could reply. Bilbo eyed him warily, then sighed.

"If I could just go to my room, that would be nice." Bilbo asked. Thorin nodded and started walking, Bilbo following after him silently. They made it all the way back to the Royal Chambers before Thorin thought of anything to say.

"Fili and Kili wanted me to invite you to dinner tonight. Dis will be there as well." Bilbo bit his lower lip and considered it for a moment.

"I suppose." He agreed.

"I'll have one of the boys come to get you when dinner is ready. Dwalin should be along shortly to stay in the sitting room, so you don't receive any unwanted visitors." Or try to escape, was left silent, though they both knew it was being thought. Bilbo nodded and once again disappeared behind the antechamber door. Thorin turned to leave when the door opened behind him and he spun around.
"Dwalin said Balin wanted to talk to me. About my mother." He told Thorin.

"I'll make sure he knows where to find you." Thorin promised. Bilbo nodded and then shut his door again. Thorin couldn't help but smile a little. Bilbo really cared so much about his mother. It was evident, just like Balin said it was. Thorin found himself excited to meet whatever woman raised such a boy. Although, from what he knew of Bilbo's conversation with Balin, it sounded more like Bilbo had raised himself.

OOOOO

Bilbo was still talking to Balin and Dwalin when Fili arrived in the sitting room to take him to dinner. Balin bid him good day and wandered off, but Dwalin insisted on walking the two of them to the dining hall. Thorin had told him about Bilbo's unease regarding Dain, and he couldn't say he blamed the Hobbit. Dain was kind of a creep. And given what Thorin told him about Bilbo's past (and if Bilbo hadn't have killed that Man, then Dwalin would have found him and killed him) it was no surprise Bilbo was uncomfortable. Dwalin wasn't going to be leaving Bilbo's vicinity unless he was absolutely sure the Hobbit was safe.

"I'm so glad you're out of those cells Bilbo! They're awfully cold! I wanted to sneak you more blankets, but Thorin forbade Kili or me to go anywhere near the dungeon. And while usually I would just ignore him, he was really worked up about it." Fili chattered as they walked. "You should come with us to Dale tomorrow!" Fili abruptly shouted, looking like an excited puppy. Bilbo didn't have the heart to tell him that by law he couldn't, so he just looked up at Dwalin, who sighed but turned to Fili.

"Yer uncle has commanded that Bilbo cannot leave Erebor." He told the young Dwarf, who immediately began to pout and sulk.

"Why is uncle such a spoil sport?" Fili whined, quite serendipitously at the exact moment the dining hall door opened and Thorin appeared in the doorway. Fili's eyes grew big and his mouth dropped open. "U-Uncle...I didn't...did you...I mean to say..."

"Go join your brother Fili." Thorin sighed, sounding remarkably like a parent. Fili scurried off before Thorin could change his mind and start yelling. "Dwalin, are you joining us at our table tonight?" Thorin asked the warrior. Dwalin was about to reject the offer, when he was faced with a pair of big blue eyes. Bilbo was looking up at him pleadingly. In truth, Dwalin was probably Bilbo's favorite Dwarf. He liked Fili and Kili and Bofur and Dis. But Dwalin had saved Bilbo's life, in the dungeons. And that wasn't something Bilbo would just forget.

"I...I guess I could for a little while." He murmured, and Bilbo smiled. If Thorin couldn't help but glare at Dwalin for a moment, no one mentioned it. The Dwarf King went back into the dining hall and Dwalin gestured for Bilbo to follow him first. The hall was not as big as Bilbo thought it would be. There were two tables, one with six chairs and one with twelve. Bilbo recognized everyone in the room. Dis, Fili, and Kili were sitting at the six chaired table. And the twelve chaired table held members of the King's Company. Bilbo counted eight of them. But four would be sitting at the six chaired table, and Bilbo remembered that one of the Company was headed to the Shire for his mother. It appeared that they all ate together every night.

"Bilbo!" Bofur and Ori waved at him from the long table, and suddenly all eyes were on him. He froze in his steps and couldn't seem to remember how to walk.

"His name is Bilbo?" Gloin whispered to his brother, and then the awkward moment passed with a wave of laughter from everyone else, and an explanation from Bombur. Dwalin prompted Bilbo to walk the rest of the way to the six chaired table, and Bilbo took a seat between Dis and Fili. Thorin was right across from him, and Bilbo tried not to look at him as a plate was put in front of him.

"How did the questioning go today?" Dis asked kindly as Bilbo picked at his food, only eating a bit of it at a time.

"Well, it wasn't Smaug, so that was good. I did recognize the Man though, from a tavern I stayed at in Dale. He was giving me the oddest look." Bilbo told her, a slight smile on his face as he remembered the Man. "Unfortunately, he hadn't seen Smaug either, not since the night he saw him with me."

"It did give Nori something to go on though. If Smaug was staying at a tavern, he probably still is. And there's only so many taverns in Dale." Thorin stated from across the way. He already appeared to be finished with his dinner, but he seemed more than happy to stay and sit with his friends and family. Dwalin and the boys were scarfing down their food at a dangerous rate, and Bilbo worried for a moment that they would choke. Dis took a more sensible pace.

"Do you have someone to question tomorrow?" Dis asked, looking expectantly at her brother.

"Not as of yet, but Nori said he would go back down to Dale after dinner." Thorin replied. Dis nodded and then turned back to Bilbo.

"I heard you had an unfortunate run in with my idiot cousin, Dain." At least she was blunt. Bilbo swallowed the mouthful of corn he was eating and nodded sheepishly. "I hope he didn't do anything too bad. Dain has always been the most annoying, opportunistic Dwarf. But he's relatively harmless. And he's only staying until the end of Winter Festival." She promised. Bilbo bit his bottom lip, bucking up the courage to ask a question, even though he knew Dis would only be too happy to answer him.

"What is Winter Festival exactly?" Bilbo asked shyly, and Fili and Kili stopped in their mad inhalation of food to look at him.

"You don't know what Winter Festival is?" Kili asked, gaping openly at the Hobbit. Bilbo shook his head, and their gapes only got bigger.

"Close your mouths boys, you look like birds." Dis sounded so exasperated. "Winter Festival is a celebration during the middle of winter and the beginning of the new year. It is a time of parties and gift giving and lots of food." She explained happily.

"So it's like Yule in the Shire." Bilbo hadn't celebrated Yule in years. He just didn't have the money to purchase a big feast or presents. And even if he and Belladonna were invited to parties, they couldn't go. Not when Belladonna always took a turn for the worse health wise around that time. Usually they spent Yule together, bundled up in their shack, remembering better times. They would talk about Bungo and the presents he would hand make, and they were always so beautiful. They would talk about the magnificent parties that would fill Bag End for days. They would remember the warmth and the love they felt. And then they would usually spend the night trying not to cry because it would never be that way again.

"Every race has their own version, though the Men of Dale and Lake Town enjoy adopting the Winter Festival as their holiday as well. You'll love it! There's five days of celebration and the sixth night is spent in family units. You are of course more than welcome to join ours, since you mother is so far away." Dis said with a warm smile. Bilbo tried to return it, but in truth his heart was aching at the thought of celebrating anything without his mother. Especially something meant to be celebrated with family. Suddenly he wasn't hungry anymore.

"Are you alright Bilbo?" Fili asked, his face turning worried.

"You look all pale." Kili commented.

"I-I'm fine. Just tired I suppose." He told them gently, with a fake smile.

"Want me to walk yeh back to yer room?" Dwalin asked through a mouthful of meat.

"No, I can wait until you've finished eating." Bilbo insisted, though he really didn't want to stay there for much longer. Suddenly Thorin was standing and he looked at Bilbo expectantly. When the Hobbit didn't stand he sighed.

"Come on." He said simply. Bilbo glanced at Dis, who was struggling to hold her mirthful snickers in, before standing.

"You don't have to-"

"Hobbit. I'm walking you to your room, not offering you half the treasury. Come on." Fili and Kili burst out laughing and Bilbo blushed to his ears. Then he stuck his nose in the air, and pointedly walked towards the door. Behind him, Bilbo could hear Dis muttering to Thorin.

"You're a real charmer Thorin. Really. I don't know why he doesn't like you. You're so smooth." Thorin glared at her but followed the Hobbit to the door, holding it open for Bilbo. The Hobbit didn't even glance at him, just walked out into the hall and began towards his room. He had a very good memory when it came to directions. He did live in the maze like Shire after all. Or, he used to. He knew exactly how to get from the antechamber to the throne room, to the kitchen, and to the dining hall, and to the library. If he concentrated hard enough, he could also recall how to reach the bathing chambers, from the library anyways. But the antechamber had its own bathing tub, so he doubted he'd need to use the public chambers anymore.

Thorin tried desperately to think of something to say, but the more he thought about it, the more he considered the fact that he should probably not talk. He only ever seemed able to make Bilbo more disenchanted with him, if that were possible. He was trying to change Bilbo's opinion of him, and he was failing pretty hard. When they arrived in the rooms, Bilbo went straight to the antechamber and shut the door before Thorin could dig himself a deeper hole that night. Honestly, Thorin was grateful.

But that didn't mean he didn't wish he could speak to Bilbo. He wished he could speak easily and peacefully with him, the way Dis and Balin and Bofur seemed to be able to. He kept reminding himself that with time, it might become a reality. But he was incredibly impatient. Not with everything. But for some reason, he was impatient about this.

He locked Bilbo's room and returned to dinner, ignoring all the looks and jokes that the company sent his way. The jeering would normally be endearing, because it ceased to be annoying many years ago. But his mind was on bigger things. Namely, how to make Bilbo Baggins like him.

OOOOO

"Dain I swear to all things merciful if you do not get the hell out of my throne room I will have Dwalin remove you!" Bilbo cringed, but did not look up from his feet. He was once again to the side of Thorin's throne, though the suspect of the day had yet to be brought forward. Instead Thorin was dealing with his cousin, which to Bilbo seemed like an even worse fate than dealing with Smaug. His dislike for Dain was practically tangible, even as he just stood there to the side of the impressive rock throne.

"Come now cousin, your ill temper will be the death of you one of these days. I am only saying that the Arkenstone Thief should not remain in Erebor, where he may very well try his trade again, with more success. Sending him to the keep of the Iron Hills would be a very fitting punishment." Though Bilbo did have to say Dain was persistent. And apparently fearless, because Bilbo had been on the receiving side of a few of Thorin's glares and each time they had melted his insides into a goo. That Dain looked so calm, and continued to argue his proposition, while being the sole subject of Thorin's anger was truly amazing.

"He will be staying here, as I and my counsel have decided! This will be the last time we have this discussion Dain! What I do with my prisoners is none of your business and I would strongly recommend you put thoughts of the Arkenstone Thief far out of your thick skull!" Thorin practically snarled, and by this point only Dwalin and Dain could still look at him. The counsel itself, which sat in on every day of court, were all looking anywhere but the fuming king and his kin. Bilbo was also avoided, their eyes looking all over the room, settling on carvings or banners rather than meeting anyone's eyes.

"Thorin I must insist. There is no place in Erebor for a Thief." Bilbo cringed, but tried not to show it. He knew he would never belong in Erebor, and frankly there was only one reason he was even trying anymore. Once his mother arrived, things would get better. Until then...he found it hard to wake every morning.

"And there is in the Iron Hills?" Thorin scoffed. "It is my decision who and what has a place in my Kingdom, and Bilbo Baggins will remain here. I suggest you retire for the day Dain." It wasn't really a suggestion, and they all knew it. But Bilbo was beginning to realize that there were two people who would argue with Thorin, regardless of the place or time. And Thorin only tolerated it from Dis because she usually was arguing with him for the better of everyone, not just herself. Dain on the other hand...

Bilbo held his breath, and he was sure that several of the counsel members did as well, as they waited to see if Dain would defy Thorin. Luckily, the visiting royal only narrowed his eyes, which flicked from Thorin, then to Bilbo, before returning to the King.

"I am rather tired." He muttered before turning and storming out of the throne room. Bilbo thought that brooding, storming, and general bad temperament must be genetic in Durin's line, because Dain looked just like Thorin as he stormed out. Then he cringed because it was insulting to compare Thorin to Dain, in any way, shape, or form.

"Nori!" Thorin barked out once Dain was gone. He was angry, but he wasn't going to stew on his anger. Instead he sat back, his sapphire eyes burning as he waited for the suspect. He glanced to his right at Bilbo, who's cheeks were a bright red. Though he didn't know if it was embarrassment or anger. Thorin was seriously considering throwing Dain out of Erebor, at this point. It had been three days since he had met Bilbo, and it felt like every day he came to Thorin with a new argument that would eventually end with Bilbo being in his grasp. And Thorin was not going to let that happen. "Are you okay?" Thorin whispered as they waited. Bilbo shrugged, but said nothing. Thorin opened his mouth to say something when the door opened.

"This is ridiculous! I demand to know why I've been dragged from my day for questioning!" Thorin's brow raised at the gall of the man who was charging through the throne room. This was the fourth man they were seeing for questioning, and the first to be impertinent enough to demand answers for himself. Thorin wished that it was Smaug, just so he could teach the Man a lesson. But one glance at Bilbo informed him it was not Smaug. Bilbo looked relieved, as he did every time the doors opened and Smaug did not come through.

"It's not him." Bilbo told Thorin, though he really didn't need to. Thorin nodded and gestured for Nori to lead the Man out. He didn't want to deal with the annoying Man if it wasn't Smaug. That would only make him angrier than he already was.

"Hey wait! Why in Eru's name was I brought here?!" The Man yelled angrily, even as Nori towed him away. The red head was surprisingly strong, Bilbo was realizing. But he heard tales of Nori's older brother, and according to them, Dori was the strongest Dwarf in Erebor. Even more so than Dwalin or Thorin. Bilbo didn't want to believe it, because if it was true, he stole from the strongest Dwarf in Erebor. And that would not bode well for him, he didn't think, when Dori returned from the Shire.

"Obnoxious Man." Bilbo heard Thorin mutter, and he had to agree. That Man had been rather...interesting. And blessedly not Smaug. Bilbo wondered why Nori was still bringing in these men, when Smaug had golden eyes. That was surely hard to miss, and not easily confused with blue, green, or black, as he'd seen on the suspects so far. Thorin gestured for the counsel to take a break. He usually did, after seeing the potential Smaug suspect. He liked to talk to Bilbo for a bit after each "questioning". And today, Bilbo had something to ask of the King.

"Your majesty, may I ask you something?" Bilbo murmured quietly, because the counsel had not quite cleared out yet.

"Of course." Thorin nodded in agreement, but kept his voice low as well.

"What if...what if we never find Smaug? What if he's not even in Dale anymore? He could be on the other side of Middle Earth in three days time, he could be anywhere." Bilbo sounded defeated, which made Thorin want to comfort the Hobbit, but instead he only grit his teeth and straightened his spine.

"He's still near." Thorin said confidently. Bilbo's brow wrinkled in confusion. How could Thorin be so sure? As if the Dwarf King could hear his thoughts, Thorin cleared his throat. "He will not give up so easily on retaking the mountain. He's still a Dragon, no matter what form he's taken." Bilbo nodded, though he did not look convinced. If Smaug thought that Bilbo failed, which he must have at this point, then why would he remain. He was probably off searching for a better thief.

"I'll take my leave then, if it is alright with you, your majesty." Bilbo murmured, already glancing towards the door. Usually they talked a bit more, about pointless things. Bilbo knew Thorin was trying to get on his good side, though he couldn't for the life of him figure out why he would want to, but he was tired. The argument Thorin had with Dain, about him and right in front of him, had mentally drained him and he had not even participated in it. Thorin sighed, but nodded. As Dwalin stepped forward to lead Bilbo out, Thorin spoke again.

"I've told you to call me Thorin." He reminded Bilbo. The Hobbit didn't even turn.

"Of course, your majesty."

OOOOO