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Chapter 6

When they all finished supper, Bilbo walked over to Thorin, clearly nervous. But Thorin just smiled at him and motioned for Bilbo to sit on the tree trunk behind him.

"If you don't mind, I'll practice with my harp while you're braiding my beard." Thorin said and looked at Bilbo.

Thorin had had a rather long talk with his nephews. He had told them that he wanted to court Bilbo and that Bilbo had accepted his courtship, though he hadn't responded. Fili and Kili seemed satisfied with their uncles choice, but Thorin would bet all the gold of Erebor, that Fili and Kili would tease him and Bilbo to no end.

"I-I wouldn't mind… I like your play so…" Bilbo trailed off and made himself comfortable behind Thorin. Thorin pulled his harp out of his pack and started playing, while Bilbo started braiding. They both relaxed and had smiles on their faces. Out of the corner of his eye Thorin notices Ori, who furiously drew on a piece of parchment. Thorin smiled.

Bilbo was happy. He never thought that he would braid Thorin's beard, it was a deep sign of trust. Bilbo could tell that much. When he was finished, he gently stroke through Thorin's hair, without even noticing.

However, Thorin noticed, as did Fili and Kili. They exchanged gazes and smiled.

"Are you finished?" Thorin asked Bilbo.

"Hm?"

"I asked if you are finished." Thorin almost purred. This Hobbit had magic hands! Those hands could do a lot of… Thorin fought these thoughts down and said: "C'mere, I'll braid your hair."

Bilbo merely nodded and sat down a few inches in front of Thorin. Thorin just sighed and pulled Bilbo to his chest. He noticed Bilbo's blush, starting at the nape of his neck and wandering to the tip of his ears. Thorin would love to suck in the tip of Bilbo's ear, but he held himself back.

"Relax…" he whispered into Bilbo's ear and had to use all of his power to not lick at Bilbo's ear. Bilbo shivered and Thorin could feel the heat emerging from Bilbo. Thorin almost lost it, but he schooled his features and started braiding Bilbo's hair. Soon enough, Bilbo relaxed and slumped against Thorin's chest, purring in satisfaction.

"Just like a little cat…" Thorin murmured.

"Hm? What did you say?" Bilbo asked. He was so fixed on Thorin's hands in his hair that he hadn't understood Thorin.

"Nothing." Thorin coughed and continued braiding complicated patterns into Bilbo's hair. Unfortunately Bilbo soon fell asleep, but Thorin didn't mind and continued braiding his hair, until he was finished. Then he stood up, and carried Bilbo over to Bofur.

"Keep him warm through the night, and no funny moves!" Thorin growled and handed Bilbo over to Bofur, who just smiled knowingly.

"Of course not. I would be very stupid to intervene!" Bofur smiled and walked to his bedroll. Bilbo snuggled closer and murmured something that sounded suspiciously like "Thorin" and settled again. Bofur gave a quiet chuckle and fell asleep soon after his head hit his makeshift pillow.

When Bilbo awoke the next morning, he felt strangely disoriented.

"Come on lad, breakfast is finished! And Gandalf found us a place where we can stay for a few days!" Came the cheerful voice of Bofur. Bilbo groaned and tried to crawl away from Bofur's hands, which were shaking his shoulders.

His crawling was soon stopped when somebody lifted him. Bilbo could smell the smoke of the campfire and the smell of the forest. Something very familiar. He snuggled closer to the chest he currently was hold to.

"Not fair, Uncle, you cuddled with Bilbo twice now!" Kili and Fili exclaimed outraged.
"Shh, or else you'll wake him up!" Thorin growled low.

Ah, Thorin Bilbo thought. He had a beautiful dream about him, which may or not be the indication for Bilbo's next move.

"Thank you!" Bilbo mumbled sleepily and reached up to press a kiss against Thorin's lips. Everything went deadly silent. Suddenly, Bilbo jerked upward, more awake than ever before in his entire life.

"I'm so sorry Thorin!" Bilbo breathed, horrified. Surely, the friendship between them was over now!

"Don't worry Bilbo, you were still half asleep!" Thorin grinned, a slight flush on his cheeks. He locked his gaze with Kili and Fili, and to Thorin's great relief they were too flabbergasted to say anything. That didn't go for Gandalf though. The old fart was laughing his arse off. Thorin glared at him and sat Bilbo down, who looked as if he was about to faint.

"Everything alright?" Thorin asked concerned and looked Bilbo in the eye. He was met with a storm of emotions, too complex and too often changing for Thorin to make any sense.

"Just a bit shocked… What was that about a place where we can stay for a few days?" Bilbo asked distractingly.

"Ah, yes, an old friend of Radagast. I believe his name is Beorn. He is a skin changer." Gandalf said and right after they finished breakfast, they followed Gandalf.

To his shame Bilbo had to admit, that he hid right behind Thorin, when he saw the huge skin changer for the first time. Thorin just roared with laughter and patted Bilbo's head, while Fili and Kili held their sides laughing.

"To believe that you are the same Hobbit who faced Azog…" Thorin said and smiled down at Bilbo.

"Hmpf, I was just a bit shocked at his size. I could defeat almost everyone out here!" Bilbo said, to save what little of his pride was left. Exactly this led him to the situation he was now in, face to face with Dwalin.

"Show me what you got, Halfling!" Dwalin grinned patronizing. Bilbo took a deep breath and remembered what Balin had told him.

Dwalin is a good fighter, but his temper is in his way. Properly provoked, even the smallest creature could defeat him.

Bilbo grinned mentally.

"Hey, Master Dwalin, are you really sure you want to fight me?" Bilbo asked his voice as bored as he could manage. Bilbo blew some nonexistent lint from his fingers and gazed up in the sky.

Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a muscle in Dwalin's jaw twitch.

"Permit me one question. Do you want to have children?" Bilbo asked. Dwalin looked at him in confusion and Bilbo used Dwalin's distraction to inch closer to one of the nearby trees.

"Of course I do!" Dwalin eventually murmured, without realizing that everything went according to Bilbo's plan.

"Then you should pay attention to your testicles!" Bilbo grinned, with that evil grin of his. He was now standing right in front of the tree.

"Oh wait, I forgot one thing…When Azog attacked, you were sobbing, hidden in the trees…" Bilbo said. That did it, Dwalin completely lost to his rage. He screamed and dashed towards Bilbo. Just before Dwalin reached Bilbo, Bilbo took a well measured step to the side. Dwalin met the tree with a nasty cracking sound and fell back. He didn't move until Bilbo looked worriedly down on him. He just flinched when Bilbo set a foot on top of him.

Bilbo could hear the other dwarves howl in laughter, and even Thorin couldn't hold back any longer. Bilbo was amazing.

"I'm sorry Dwalin. But I had to get you mad; otherwise I would have never defeated you." Bilbo said apologetic and helped Dwalin up. But Dwalin just grinned and punched Bilbo's upper arm and said: "Don't worry, Bilbo. That was a clever move!"

Bilbo blushed a bit and asked: "Surely I have the respect of the whole company now… I defeated their strongest fighter."

"You forgot Thorin. He is way better than I am, his mind is always focused and he doesn't let any of his mind slip while fighting." Dwalin said and walked back to the group.

Bilbo stood where Dwalin left him, lost in thought. Balin hadn't had said anything about Thorin's weaknesses while fighting… Bilbo thought it was out of respect, but what if Thorin simply had no weakness while fighting?

"I guess tomorrow is my turn to test our burglar's skill with the sword." Thorin suddenly said and Bilbo whirled around to face Thorin. Bilbo gulped when he saw determination in Thorin's eyes.

I hope it will be alright Bilbo thought, slightly terrified…