"Treasure of all treasures. Ghivashel means treasure of all treasures. Also, your apology was accepted before you even made it, silly Dwarf."
Relief filled Thorin's expression. He nodded in understanding and thanks, and they grew silent.
After a while, Bilbo finally looked at him. There was something that he wanted to know.
"Thorin? If you have feelings for me, why did you never say so? You are usually quite blunt and straightforward when you want to tell someone something, or when you want someone to know something," he pointed out.
His question and statement took Thorin aback. He was not expecting him to say that.
He peered out of the window and did not answer him right away. Several minutes later, he turned back to him with a deep sigh.
"You are right about that, but my being blunt and straightforward doesn't mean that I always find it easy to speak my mind...or from my heart, for that matter," he added in a low voice.
Now it was Bilbo's turn to be caught unawares. However, upon reflection, he had to agree with him. What he said was true and pertained to just about everyone.
He nodded pensively and murmured, "I understand, and I can also understand why you had been jealous."
Thorin saw that he did and inclined his head too. "Yes. I will admit that I was. It doesn't help that I know that some of the others would like to have you for themselves-for whatever reasons they have-and I cannot stand the thought of it. Then again, it is likely that they don't want me to have you either," he remarked.
"Perhaps so."
It was quiet for another moment. Then Thorin stood with a grunt. "I suppose we ought to rejoin the others now. They must be wondering where we are and what we are doing. Besides, you look like you could use some more sleep."
They returned to the stables, where the Company was spreading their blankets on the floor. Some of them eyed Bilbo and Thorin suspiciously, but the latter two didn't notice as they placed their swords next to each other on a nearby wall.
Bilbo laid down and fell asleep as soon as he pulled the covers over himself. It was just as well that he did too. He wouldn't have been sure of how to react if he saw that Thorin made himself comfortable just a few inches from him.
XXX
It was night when Bilbo felt himself being rousted out of his slumber. He quickly sat up and looked around. It wasn't until after his eyes finally adjusted to the darkness that he could see that nothing was wrong. Thorin was nowhere to be found, however, but Bilbo figured that he had likely gone to the bathroom. Or went to have some alone time. He noticed that he often did.
The weight in his vest pocket containing his magic ring caused him to realize that that was why he woke up so suddenly. He had been feeling as if someone had laid a heavy hand on his chest.
He pulled it out and was beginning to look it over when he heard footsteps. He crouched low quickly.
The tallest being he had ever seen, who could only be Beorn, appeared. Bilbo watched him closely, wondering what he was going to do. Gandalf did say that he wasn't "overly fond" of Dwarves. He was probably furious that he and the Company were in his house.
Much to his relief, Beorn walked away and left him alone. Bilbo relaxed and slumped into the hay that covered the floor.
He found himself growing sleepy again not long after. He slid his blanket up to his chin and closed his tired eyes.
Just before he dozed off completely, he noticed that Thorin still hadn't returned. He hoped that he was all right.
XXX
Early the next morning, Bilbo woke up a second time to the sound of birds twittering and a loud buzzing. Then he felt something on his nose.
He opened his eyes to find a large bee on it. He flinched, and thankfully, the bee didn't sting him. Another bee was on his right shoulder too, but it flew away when he moved.
Bilbo took in his surroundings and noticed that the others weren't there. However, saw them in a room next to the stables. He stood and put on his red coat before leaving it.
When he joined everyone, he noticed that most of them were standing around, but Bofur was peering at something out of the window. Thorin nodded when he saw Bilbo and actually gave him a small smile.
"What's going on?" Bilbo queried as he inclined his head in return. He found himself standing next to him.
Gandalf told him that Beorn was outside, which explained what (or who, rather) Bofur was looking at. It also explained where the sound of wood being chopped was coming from.
He (Gandalf) then said he and Bilbo would introduce themselves to Beorn first. After that, the rest of the would come out in pairs. Finally, he advised them that they must not make loud noises, sudden movements, or overcrowd him. The last person who had the misfortune to startled Beorn was "torn to shreds."
Bilbo was afraid that everything would go wrong as he followed the aforementioned Wizard outside. However, none of it did (much to his relief), though it nearly had. Beorn looked unhappy about the fact that Thorin and the others were taking refuge in his home, but he grudgingly allowed them to. He even appeared to recognize Thorin as well. He was wary of Bilbo too, at first; he wondered if he was a Dwarf.
Much to everyone's surprise, Beorn agreed to help them as he served breakfast. He admitted that he did not like Dwarves. He thought that they were "greedy and blind. Blind to the lives of those they deem lesser than their own." Nevertheless, he hated Azog and the others Orcs even more, and they did not blame him for that. Azog had enslaved him and other Skin-changers for sport. Now, Beorn was the only one of his kind left.
"What do you need?" he inquired of Thorin after saying that he hated Orcs more.
Once the aforementioned Dwarf king told him, Beorn promised to provide everything for them.
"In the meantime," he concluded, "please make yourselves comfortable, and get plenty of rest. You will need it for the remainder of your journey."
Beorn allowed each of them to have their own bedroom to sleep in during their stay. Bilbo put his things in his and left to go back outside. It was hot, so he took his coat off and sat under the oak tree in the backyard.
He had just leaned onto the trunk when he noticed an acorn lying in the grass by his foot. It caught his eye because looked smoother than the others around it. He picked it up to inspect it closely.
Yes, it was definitely smooth. In fact, it was a perfect one. If it were to become an oak tree, it would be quite a strong, sturdy one. Just thinking about it reminded him of...
"Ghivashel? Are you okay?" a deep voice suddenly queried, interrupting his musings. He turned to see Thorin walking over to him.
Bilbo didn't believe it was possible for his face to get any warmer, but he was wrong. It wasn't that it bothered him that Thorin called him his treasure of all treasures. He just needed a bit of time to get used to it.
He shook himself. Where did that thought come from?
"Er...I'm fine," he responded, putting the acorn in his pocket. He would plant it in his garden, if he ever made it back home. "I just came out here to...have some alone time and to enjoy the scenery. This place is almost as lovely as the Shire."
Thorin nodded as he took in his surroundings. "Yes, it is," he agreed in a whisper.
His gaze landed on Bilbo, who shifted. The latter had just remembered that he was considered under-dressed in Thorin's and the other's eyes. And yet, the aforementioned Dwarf king was not staring at him in disfavor or exasperation this time.
Bilbo cleared his throat awkwardly. "Er...well, how are you?" he asked, changing the subject.
Thorin sat next to him with a grunt. "I cannot complain at the moment. Of course, if Beorn had chose not to help us, I would have a reason to be."
"None of us would argue with you there. But I am amazed that he chose to."
"As am I, and I am grateful to him for that."
Another long silence followed, occasionally broken by the sound of laughter. Bilbo must have sensed that Thorin had something on his mind because he eventually spoke up again.
"Was there something that you wanted? Or did you have something you wanted to discuss with me? I'm sure that you didn't come out here just to see if I was okay," he remarked.
Thorin inclined his head. "You are right...it's just that I don't know how to say what I wish to tell you."
Bilbo gave him a reassuring smile. "Just tell me. I won't bite your head off."
He chuckled. "I can only hope that you won't after you hear what I have to say."
Laughing with him, Bilbo motioned for him to continue.
Just as Thorin opened his mouth to speak, the rest of the Company and Gandalf came outside. Nori was the first to spot them.
"Hello, you two! Getting cozy under the tree, are we?" he called.
Most of the others chortled. However, a few of them looked a bit jealous.
Thorin's expression became sullen. "Never mind. I will talk to you later," he grumbled to Bilbo.
He got up and stormed back into the house. Bilbo was exasperated and wanted follow him, but knew that it was not a good idea to. He would just have to wait to speak to him when they had privacy.
And it didn't look as if they would any time soon. Everyone seemed to be keeping an eye on them all morning. This was partly true; some of them were curious as to what they had been doing that morning. Those of them who were envious hoped that they weren't doing anything that they suspected them of doing.
Other than that, the rest of the day passed by without any trouble. They remained outside, only going in to have dinner and supper. Thorin would reappear then, but he was not in the mood to talk. It was clear that he was still resentful about being interrupted from telling Bilbo something that was obviously important.
He was a bit disappointed when he saw that he would have to postpone their conversation a little longer, but it couldn't be helped. They were all so full and sleepy after supper that they decided to go to bed early. Of course, if he and Bilbo had been wide awake, this would have been an ideal time to have it. The others would have been asleep while they did.
XXX
It was dawn when Bilbo woke up the next morning. Unlike the previous one, it was relatively quiet as he washed up and dressed. He figured that the others were still sleeping.
However, he found Beorn in the stables milking one of the cows. He smiled when he noticed him. "Good morning, Master Baggins. I presume that you are hungry?" he inquired.
"Yes, a bit," he replied.
"I shall give you your breakfast, then."
Beorn was just about to set out some food for him when Thorin entered the dining room. They nodded to each other politely before the latter sat down and grinned at Bilbo.
"Good morning," he said as Beorn left.
"Hello, Thorin. How are you?"
"Fine, and yourself?"
"I cannot complain."
"Good, good."
They ate in silence for a little while, then Thorin spoke again. "Would you like for us to pick up where we left off once we are finished our breakfast? If not, we can do so at another time," he added.
Bilbo inclined his head. "Sure. I do not have a problem with that. No one is up yet, and Beorn won't bother us, so it is a good time as any."
"Very well."
Accordingly, the both of them headed outside after eating the rest of their meal. The sun was now peeking over the horizon, filling the world with radiance and making the landscape a golden-green color. Bilbo admired his surroundings before sitting next to Thorin. The latter did also while gathering his thoughts, as he did the previous afternoon.
Finally, he clearly his throat. "You remember when I told you that I don't always find it easy to speak from my mind and my heart? And that I have feelings for you, yes?"
Bilbo nodded a second time.
"Well, I am still finding it difficult to. Speak from my mind and heart, I mean, but I will do the best I can."
There was another brief pause before he continued. "I cannot bear to contain my feelings any longer. I am tired of doing that. Some of the members of the Company will not like it, but I do not care anymore.
"Yes, I know that you don't feel anything for me in return, Bilbo. Not yet, that is. Perhaps you never will. I would understand it if you had feelings for someone else. If that was to be so...Well, I know that there wouldn't be a thing that I could do about it, though I wouldn't like it. But I just want you to know; I'm not going to hold back any longer."
And much to Bilbo's surprise, Thorin leaned over to kiss the side of his forehead. Then he went back inside, leaving quite a frozen Hobbit behind.
(A/N: Sorry for the extensive wait. Please review!)