Chapter 4

Beautiful Royalty

Bilbo plopped where he stands, embarrassed or flustered; he couldn't really tell. Bilbo couldn't believe how carried away, he was and he was a 'male' no doubt! Shaking his head violently, Bilbo smacked the sides of his face multiple times with both of his hands. Unbelievable! How he shivered up like a woman when a beautiful man placed a flower in his curly hair.

'Ack! Beautiful! I just thought of him as beautiful! What is going on!' Bilbo burned up as his heart pounded. 'Nope, its not happening!' His mind was set as he stripped his vest and his pants scraps.

Unbuttoning his white shirt, the twin suddenly gave him a surprise of a "Hello!"

Bilbo fell backward and with the flower still in his hair, Kili rudely whispered to Fili where Bilbo can clearly hear.

"Do you think he's high right now~?" As Kili had noticed the weird look, Bilbo was having.

"Hey! I heard that!" Bilbo shouted angrily as he got up, but the twins paid little attention to his outbursts and just laugh among themselves. "You guys are mean."

"Don't be like that Bilbo! The flower is cute in your hair!" Fili said that made Bilbo remember the flower.

Quickly the hobbit removed the flower and felt annoyed enough that he really wanted to toss it away but at the same time... this flower had gained a soft spot in his heart as he held it out in front of him.

While the twins were minding their own silly business, Bilbo was admiring the flower that Thorin gave him. So soft, so refreshing, Bilbo smelt it and it reminded him of home in the Shire. That hole in the ground, it meant everything to him, regardless his family or friends who probably out drinking their minds off. Bilbo always felt he was out of place, but his house... it was the only thing, he felt like he belonged somewhere and nowhere else...

He sighed as he grew a little sick of traveling and sometimes, everyone needed their alone time.

"Come here, Bilbo! Come bathe with us!" Kili exclaimed as he pulled on the hobbit's hand.

"Bathe together!" Bilbo cried as he remembered his founding sanctuary now infected with maggots like Fili and Kili. "Nope! No way! No how!" He cried as Kili had pulled him over his shoulders. "Put me down!"

"Come on! Take off your pants!" Said the now nude dwarf, Fili.

As the oldest came behind them, Bilbo screamed and kicked, but at the same time, he felt like laughing as this was truly a rare event that Bilbo had lived through.

These two sure knew how to cheer up a sad hobbit, but still a naked hobbit is still a naked hobbit! And Bilbo was not happy to have his remaining clothes stripped away from the twins. Who were already splashing the water in the pond.

"There goes all the clean water..." Bilbo sighed as he sat alone on the rock, naked like a shaved wee lamb, he watched the twins played. It was strange that as he recalled being homesick, but when he was around Fili and Kili, he felt like he was at home.. Peaceful but more spontaneous; he was surprised that he did not mind this. Was it because he wished his home so much that the feeling itself; just come to him? Or was it, these twins helped remind him the feeling of home and the family that Bilbo wanted so much? He could not tell.

Bilbo laughed; it was like inviting the guests, he didn't expect to come on his tea time on Wednesdays. This was quite the unexpected journey indeed as Bilbo slowly got up from the soaked rock where he sat.

"Bilbo?"

The call to his name had yet again surprised the hobbit as he spun around to face Thorin, who planted his foot on the stone and with a small twist of his waist, Bilbo accidentally slipped backwards. By reaction, the king caught hold of his arm and pulled him hard enough that Bilbo bumped into his chest. Fully naked without a cloth to cover him, Bilbo has begun to turn into beet really fast. Thorin too started to feel urges as well.

With his new found feelings for the hobbit, Thorin knew he was holding a naked halfling in his arms.

And of course nearby the twins saw it, they saw it all. Trying so hard to hold it in, Kili burst out laughing first before Fili pushed him into the water to shut him up and soon Bilbo push Thorin away.

"I'm sorry! I didn't... meant to slip!" Bilbo scrambled as he tried to find his words that work and he quickly walk away from him.

The tall beard, blush furiously as he remembered the touch of the soft skin that Bilbo had. Whether it was a sign or not, Thorin thought he could not take it anymore. His feelings for Bilbo had burst through the top of the mountain. And he wanted to do more for the hobbit and not just by giving mere gifts anymore. Something that more meaningful.

"Come on lads, we don't got all day to play!" Dwalin shouted as he commanded the rest of the company to move it. Tired of spending precious time by the pond; Dwalin regroup the team and got them moving.

Bilbo was falling behind, but when he caught up to Fili and Kili who were at the end of the line. The two had to start chuckling at him.

"No, don't you dare." Bilbo tensed as the twins winked at each other. As they knew what had happened.

"Now why would we do that?" Kili jokey out.

"It can't be that bad!" Fili said as he slapped Bilbo's back. "I mean really, Thorin holding your nake-"

Smacked right at the time he was about to say it; Bilbo managed to stop him to go any further. "I told you, don't you dare!" He angrily said as he started to steam. Sending the negative vibes and dagger glares, Kili whistles aside and pretended he had forgotten the event and the laughter was nothing but a mere part of his personality. "You too, Kili!" Bilbo reminded him as the twins were captive to Bilbo's command.

Finally, having his way, Bilbo was enjoying this moment, despite getting embarrassed, it was nice that the twins just went with it, no matter how angry or how happy, Bilbo felt like he can be himself around them. These Durin folk..

"Bilbo? Who's that?"

"All he does is smell flowers all day, he's a little strange that one."

"Tooks? Bah but a Baggins now that family we can look up too."

"Getting into trouble is what he can do."

Nightfall came and Bilbo was haunted by those words, back home. He may have the most lovely house, but the hobbits around him. They question him. Most of the time, Bilbo shrugs it off as the other hobbits are just jealous and whatever came out of their mouths just doesn't bother him. But it did bother him. Every so often, limits can be reached and a quiet hobbit wasn't so quiet as Bilbo often refused guests to his home except for Gandalf who kind of push his way through.

"I was looking for someone who would like to share an adventure with."

Bilbo smiled as he was glad that he took the chance of the lifetime as he remembered he ran through the Shire with a pack and a contract in hand. Jumping over fences and going down the trail in a burst a speed. Bilbo felt alive.

But not tonight; he felt like he was wanting to cry this time. He missed his home, he missed his chair, he missed his bed. No matter how much fun it was to hang around with Fili and Kili. Bilbo still felt like he was left open.

Tearing up and had walked far enough distance away from the others, Bilbo let it all out. He was thinking too much and he just had to let it go. He even remember how Thorin was so cold against him in the beginning.

Calling him useless and a nuisance, Bilbo had enough of the insults as he got out so far for them. To the three trolls with their mutton and to the caves with the ores when they got separated. Chased by the pale ore to the trees and finally where Bilbo found the courage to knock that Ore out of Thorin's harm's way. Bilbo felt happier to feel Thorin hugging him into an embrace. So use of being strong, Bilbo had forgotten how to take a break from it as he slipped down to his knees and held them close. Crying to the point until he almost slept, Bilbo heard it again.

"Bilbo."

The name that sting for his attention. The name that his mother had given him.

"My sweet Bilbo.." He heard it again, this time he felt warmth.

"Who is it?" Bilbo mumbled out in his dreams as he awakens his heavy eyelids.

Slowly but surely, Bilbo noticed Thorin Oakenshield was sitting up against the tree trunk with eyes piercing below, the Dwarf King smiled. Laying his head on his thighs, Bilbo quickly sat up due to embarrassment; why do these awkward situations keep happening to him? "Thor... Thorin!" He squealed as Thorin quiet him down.

"You were crying. Is everything ok?" He asked that made Bilbo more at ease.

"Of...of course."

"I don't believe you." Thorin has begun to raise his voice as he lifted his hand to him. The halfling flinched with eyes shut tight and shivering palms on his knees, he was surprised that Thorin's touch calmed him. "Bilbo... you can tell me." Thorin's voice eased him.

Stroking his hair to now to his cheek, Bilbo was flushed. "Well.. it's nothing big." As the stubborn streak steered the dwarf away.

"Very well." As Thorin did not pursue it. "I'm just worried about you is all." He said as he pulled in the hobbit into another embrace.

"Ack, Thorin!" Bilbo struggled under his wrap. Peering upwards without another outburst of rage and knows he can stand a fight against Thorin, Bilbo has begun to feel he was very vulnerable at the moment and just wanted to let go his fists and give in for the generous warm hug that Thorin was meaning to do.

"Look, I'm sorry that I embarrassed and harassed you since the beginning but believe or not. Hobbit, I like you." Thorin explained as he realized he blurt out too much. "Though, that might not be true. Because I."

He stops as it came like a blink of a light. Bilbo had gathered enough courage to kiss him on his cheek and within a whisper. Bilbo said this. "Thank you."

Secured with security and the comfort, Bilbo longer needed for. Thorin held the halfling at his tightest, steering away his brown curly locks, he then kissed the halfling's forehead.

Blinking several times, Bilbo wasn't used to this newfound feeling.

"Mother, what do you want me to be when I grow up?"

"To be happy, Bilbo."

Was this happiness? As Bilbo let Thorin take the lead. Sitting back down on the ground, his arms and legs spread out, Bilbo tiredly dazed upwards.

'This is dangerous..' Bilbo thought as his survival instincts kicked in. Bilbo shut his eyes as Thorin continued to cease him by licking his neck. "Stop." Bilbo command as the King did stop as he let the hobbit sit up. "Thorin." He has begun to say as he knew this might hurt the feelings for the dwarf. "It just can't work out between us. You are a King; the King of the Mountain and he would need a Queen. And sadly I cannot fulfill that role."

Thorin's mind draws a blank and suddenly it was filled with some interesting laughter. Was the hobbit really considering him, that highly?! The dwarf couldn't help but smile and he lost the groove of pursing him in such a lustful way.

"Why are you laughing!" Bilbo asked as he had enough of being left out of the humour. "I have enough." As he got up to stand and dust off the remaining dirt off his jacket.

Queen! Queen Bilbo! That's a good matchup! As Thorin let go his mind go wild.

Bilbo frown as he had enough of people laughing at him so he begun to take a step. Suddenly the dwarf had captured his hand from the ground. Startled, Bilbo was pushed up to a tree.

"Thorin!" He screamed in surprise as Thorin smile was wide.

"I'm sorry.. it just... I rather see you as my queen." Both turned red, one was filled with the confession of love and the other was dying of embarrassment sadly it was Bilbo was the one that was dying in embarrassment.

"Seriously?" He asked.

"You didn't say no." The King replied that got the hobbit thinking.

"Maybe someone was thinking about you, probably in a cute green dress."

Bilbo cheeked his teeth awkwardly as he remembered what Kili had said to him before. No way!

Bilbo just shakes his head to the left and to the right. "I'm sorry, but this cannot happen on our mission, Thorin. I only want the best for you and falling in love with me will only bring you down. Trust me." Bilbo had logically planned it out as he held up his feelings a sway.

Thorin then just smiled due to the events that had happened, he thought he'll just have to keep trying until Bilbo was ready to commit fully. Thus he chose patience was his virtue.

In a distance a warg and a pale-skinned rider grimly smiled at the sight of the two.