Manservant Under The Mountain

by sarenelsoria

None of the company dies, Bilbo leaves before the battle of five armies. Dain believes that Bilbo should be more strongly punished for stealing the Arkenstone. He hires Bounty hunters to bring him back to Erebor, on the journey the bounty hunters break Bilbo, making him have the mind of a child before he heals. Thorin inacts an old Dwarven law and makes Bilbo his Manservant. m/m

4. Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Bilbo woke up slowly, he felt so content, like everything in his life was perfect for the first time in a long time. He heard someone snoring and he felt someone's arms wrapped around him. He wondered how he had gotten here and what had happened, for as far as he knew, he had no lover. Still it was nice to lie within another's arms and listen to them breath. He found that he needed to know who his bed partner was and how he had gotten here in the first place. Wherever here was, the last thing he remembered was enjoying a brandy in his hobbit hole. Bilbo's eyes opened and his eyes met the sleeping face of none other then the King Under The Mountain. Bilbo stared at that face, Thorin appeared younger then he'd ever seen him. Perhaps it was because sleep had slackened his face, or perhaps it was because Thorin was smiling in his slumber and Bilbo could count on one hand the times he had seen Thorin smile before.

It was then that his previous thought about lovers seemed to accurate to the hobbit, as they were both naked and Bilbo felt sore, in places that only got sore after doing one specific activity. For some reason he was back in Erebor, he had slept with Thorin and for the life of him he couldn't remember a thing of what must have been months. The hobbit hoped it was only months and not years that he couldn't recall. His chest hurt like something had been burned into it, he gently pulled himself away from Thorin and walked to the mirror Thorin had on the doors to his wardrobe. He gasped when he saw the two axes, which covered his chest. Bilbo would have never gotten inkings and these seemed more burned into his skin then anything else. He traced the line of one and winced, as he fingers touched the sensitive skin. What in the name of the Valar was going on? He then strode back over to Thorin, to give the dwarf a piece of his mind.

He yanked back the covers and stared at the naked dwarf, surprised when he found no mark on Thorin's skin. Apparently whatever had happened, he had somehow managed to get this mark on his skin. The weird thing was that Thorin didn't seem to have one. He found a matching mark to his on Thorin's upper thigh, but that looked more like a birthmark then anything. He realized then that he wasn't really ready for Thorin to wake, he didn't want to talk to him at the moment. He covered Thorin back up and looked for his trousers. He found his trousers and Thorin's discarded at the end of the bed and he wondered again what had possessed him to sleep with the dwarven king. He pulled on what seemed to be his trousers and a shirt, before finding a dwarven jacket that could only be his. He then used a comb, to comb back his hair before leaving the room. His chest hurt with a throbbing pain, that got worse the farther away from Thorin he was. When he first opened the door, he found himself in a corridor, with doors to the left and right of him. He had no idea of which way to go, but he also knew that he needed medical attention, so he picked a direction at random and soon found himself in what seemed to be a kitchen, with benches set around nearby.

"I need to find Oin." Bilbo said to the dwarf, who seemed to be preparing pastries.

"Oin, its a bit early to be with Oin lad." The dwarf said and Bilbo frowned.

"I haven't been a lad for years." Bilbo said. "I woke up, in a strange bed, back in Erebor and I need Oin, I need answers." The dwarf stared at him a moment, clearly surprised.

"Very well, Oin's room is the third on the left. I know because sometimes I deliver food to the company, when they get too absorbed in their various tasks to stop by the dining hall." He said and Bilbo nodded, his chest hurt something horrible and he had this odd desire to see Thorin, which grew by the moment. He wondered if such a desire stemmed from his new brand, but why would he want to see Thorin, if Thorin had been the one to brand him. None of this made any sense to the poor hobbit, who was very confused and hungry.

"Do you have any bread?" He asked and was given a small loaf of bread, he thanked the dwarf working in the kitchen and went on his way. He had just finished the bread, when he came to Oin's door. He knocked on it, then banged on it, as his knocking elicited no response.

"What ever is the matter? I'm coming!" Oin's voice could be heard.

"Stop that knocking, its too early." Bofur said clearly cross. Then Oin flew open the door and stared in surprise at the hobbit.

"Bilbo what in Mahal are you doing here? Its very naughty to bang on other's doors."

"Why is everyone treating me like a child? How did I get here?" Bilbo demanded and Oin hugged him tightly, Bilbo suppressed a scream, as Oin touched his raw skin. Oin stepped back, realizing that something was the matter.

"What's wrong Bilbo?" Oin asked gently.

"Everything!" Bilbo said and stormed into Oin's room. "Its all the fault of you dwarves, I should have never gone on that stupid quest!" He raged. "Now I don't remember anything for who knows who long, I think I slept with Thorin and someone branded me! Why in the name of the Valar, would anyone brand me?"

"Wait, you have a brand?" Oin asked gently and Bilbo glared at him.

"Yes, its across my chest, I never realized how sick you dwarves were. Was I drugged or something, is that why I can't remember."

"Thorin didn't drug you Bilbo and I doubt he deliberately took advantage of you. You know Thorin, he wouldn't do something like that."

"Why am I branded then?" Bilbo demanded.

"I'll tell you, once you've calmed down and I've applied some soothing cream to your wound." Bilbo glared at Oin, before unbuttoning his shirt and wincing slightly as it parted from the wound. It felt much better to have it exposed to the open air. Oin got out a jar and gently spread it on the wound, Bilbo sighed at the soothing cool cream touching his skin. Oin finished with the cream and eyed Bilbo warily. "Are you still upset?" He asked and Bilbo nodded. "There's a tonic that might sooth your nerves somewhat, if you wish to take it." He said and Bilbo nodded again.

"I had better, for I don't think I'm going to like what you are about to tell me." Bilbo said and Oin sighed, going over to his healer's kit and extracting a potion. He took out ten drops and added them to another bottle. He then shook the bottle and extracted a drop of the light green liquid for Bilbo. He handed him the bottle and the dropper. "Take a dropper full of this every few hours, until you regain your equilibrium." He said and Bilbo nodded, shooting back a dropper and wincing at the taste. "There, it should take effect soon." Bilbo felt as though he had landed in a slight fog. He blinked at Oin and smiled dreamily. "I hate to do this to you Bilbo, after what has already been done, but I need you to be calm." He told Bilbo.

"Itze alrigh'." Bilbo slurred and Oin frowned.

"I messed up on the dosage apparently, you seem to not have much tolerance for dwarven tonics. Now Bilbo, you are Thorin's manservant."

"Ohw?" Bilbo said surprised slightly, before that lovely fog came back.

"It was the only way Thorin could protect you from his cousin, who thought you insulted the royal house of Durin. Dain was going to have a convening of the council to determine a sentence for your theft of the Arkenstone."

"Saf'ed ur li'." He said with a frown, he didn't like thinking about the Arkenstone.

"I know you did Bilbo, the entire company knows it, but it was still seen as a betrayal and dwarves take betrayal very seriously." Oin explained. "On the way to the mountain, you were drugged, you had the mind of a child and I think you were sexually abused on some level as well." He said and Bilbo frowned.

"Abus'?" He said and Oin nodded.

"Aye lad, though you seemed to have lost your memory of that time. When a dwarf lies with the one that came from the same rock as he did, he heals them of any wound." He said and Bilbo frowned.

"Wha'?" He asked and Oin gestured to a chair, Bilbo sat in it.

"Mahal makes a single soul that matches our own, very seldom are dwarves lucky enough to find their One. We can only find each other by making whole again, that which has parted. To a dwarf penitrative sex means more than the other races." He said and Bilbo frowned.

"Ya nee' ta haf' ex ta find ya Ooon?" He asked and Oin chuckled.

"That tonic was definitely too strong, but yes Bilbo in the simplest terms, you need to have sex for a dwarf to find his one. Though we can sense a connection if our one, starts to make us come. That can cause a dwarf to go into the claiming haze. I suspect that is what happened with Thorin, though I wonder how he allowed it to go that far, when you were sick."

"Don' knaw, dooose eet mahthar?"

"I suppose it doesn't matter how this happened, because it happened and there's no going back now." Oin said. "Thorin bound himself to you, that is why the mark of his house appeared on your chest." Oin explained. "A dwarven binding is when a dwarf gives their One their name. Our names are very precious to us, because Mahal shares them with our parents before we are even born." He explained and Bilbo nodded. "Not only that, but they also have some power over us. Using a dwarf's name can settle their emotional state, or bring forth certain emotions that the speaker desires." He said and Bilbo nodded. "You could see how that could mean problems for the dwarves in question, never knowing if your emotions are truly your own, or if someone else is making you feel that way. Despite that, a dwarf has a need for his one to know his name."

"don' emem'er." Bilbo said and Oin nodded.

"That may be a good thing Bilbo, but it could be possible that Thorin doesn't remember finding that your his one either. It has happened before and while nothing is as beautiful as the first claiming, a couple sometimes repeats the exchange of names and claims one another for what is for them the first time." Oin said and saw Bilbo frown. "Not that you need to do that with Thorin of course, not until you are ready." He added and smiled at the hobbit. "Now maybe you should go back to Thorin, he will be upset if he wakes alone."

"Don' wan em ta be sa'd." Bilbo slurred and Oin smiled.

"You are a good hobbit Bilbo." Oin said to him and Bilbo smiled, he walked enjoying the sensation of that fog wrapped around his mind. He didn't want to think, for he knew his world had been forever changed. He made his way back to Thorin's chambers and felt the constriction around his chest ease, the moment he saw Thorin. The king was moaning in his sleep, as if he was having some sort of nightmare. Bilbo went over to him and gently rested a palm on his shoulder. Thorin relaxed instantly at the contact and Bilbo smiled softly having the sudden urge to kiss him. He pressed his lips to Thorin and the dwarf's eyes snapped open, one hand seizing Bilbo's.

""et oh." Bilbo said trying to pull his wrist away.

"Why am I unclothed?" Thorin demanded. "What occurred?"

"I ya ooon, don' kno' ow." Bilbo said and smiled at Thorin, before looking at the ground. "Wa' ah ome, den e're." Bilbo said and shrugged.

"Oin gave you something didn't he?" He asked and Bilbo nodded, his free hand going to his shirt and unbuttoning it part way. Thorin stared at the axes, his eyes wide. "No, I would have remembered that."

"Don' emem'er eeet iefer." Bilbo said. "Don' naw wh'y eet 'ap'end." He said and frowned. "Don' emem'er 'omin 'ere." Bilbo said.

"I can't understand you Bilbo, how did this happen?" He said and Bilbo shrugged, he was just as clueless as Thorin. "Did you assault me in my sleep, that's the only thing I could think of that would cause this." Thorin said and Bilbo shook his head, he wouldn't have molested Thorin, unless he wasn't in his right mind.

"o'in 'aid I wa' a'ous'." He said and frowned, as Oin burst into the door.

"He wasn't in his right mind Thorin, I thought that you should have some time together and its plain you don't remember anything of the claiming either." Oin said and went over to his bed. "Bilbo you acted like a child, most likely some of the men that captured you, made you perform certain sexual acts." He said and Thorin felt a righteous anger.

"They hurt my...Bilbo?" He demanded.

"It is likely and Bilbo thought he was helping you in some way, that's the only answer I could think of to explain how this happened. Did you have a nightmare last night?" Oin asked and Thorin frowned.

"I don't remember, my past haunts me, you know that Oin." Thorin said and Oin nodded.

"Do you remember any good dreams?" He asked and Thorin nodded.

"Vaguely, but it felt as though I was dreaming throughout." He said and Oin nodded.

"That can happen sometimes, though it is rare for a claiming to be initiated while a dwarf is sleeping, it has happened before." Oin said. "More often then not, it has been in cases where the couple was sleeping close by one another and one or the other had an...exciting dream." Oin said and Thorin actually blushed, Bilbo would have been mortified, if he wasn't full of that lovely fog.

"I see, can we drop this subject." Thorin asked and Oin nodded.

"Of course, if you understand that Bilbo isn't at fault for what has occurred."

"I can't blame him, not considering that his mind was addled at the time this happened." Thorin said. "I just wish I could remember it more clearly."

"I am sorry that you can't my friend, but I should leave you now. I am sure you and Bilbo can agree on what action to take on your own." Oin said and Thorin nodded, as Oin left the room.

"I think it is better if you act like my manservant for now." Thorin told Bilbo. "There are those that would think I took advantage of you, it is better that no one knows you belong to me for now." He said and Bilbo nodded. "Though I find that I want to yell it out for all to hear and have you openly display my claiming marks for all to see, it would be better if we waited. Has Oin told you how you are supposed to be my manservant now?" He asked and Bilbo smiled at him, before nodding. "I'll get myself dressed, but you had better stay by my side today in the council meeting." He said. "I find that I do not wish to be parted from you anyway." He added before turning to the hobbit. "Unfortunately I must ask that you help me into my council robes." He said and stood, Bilbo closed his eyes, it was one thing to look at Thorin naked when he was angry, quite another when he was full of that hazy calm. "Bilbo I am sure you have seen every inch of me, but if it makes you feel better, turn away until I get my trousers on." He said and found his trousers, pulling them on. "Its safe for you to look now." He said and chuckled as Bilbo opened his eyes. "You are a modest hobbit, aren't you my...Bilbo?" He said and Bilbo felt his cheeks flush slightly.

He got out the robe and Thorin pulled it on, as Bilbo fastened the many buttons. Thorin then put on his fur jacket and smiled at Bilbo. "Well should we go to breakfast?" He asked and Bilbo nodded. "Take some of those books you got from the Scribe's Hall yesterday." Thorin suggested and Bilbo nodded again, looking over the sack. Most of them seemed to be children's books, though there were a few dwarven histories and books about dwarven culture. He took those and Thorin handed him a small travel sack to put them in, before going to breakfast. They saw Fili and Kili and Thorin grinned at his nephews. "Good morning boys."

"Morning Uncle." Fili said

"Morning Bilbo." Kili said a moment later and Thorin smiled.

"Bilbo recovered in the night, but he was upset, so Oin gave him a potion. It calmed him down, but it also made it very hard to understand what he's saying. I would almost say that it made him tipsy, if it wasn't for the fact that all his reflexes are normal." He told the boys and they nodded.

"I'm glad your feeling better Bilbo." Kili said and smiled jovily at the hobbit. "Will you be going to council with us today?" He asked and Bilbo nodded.

"I thought he might read about our culture, while we're in council. That way he can do his duties and not be bored, as we talk in a language he doesn't understand." He said and Fili and Kili both nodded.

"Come sit with us, Uncle." Fili offered and Thorin nodded, sitting beside Fili and Kili, as Bilbo took the seat opposite them. The food was soon brought to them and the meal didn't last as long as Bilbo would have liked, before they were going down to the council hall. He let out a little eep of surprise as the floor moved and Thorin's hand on his shoulder reassured him.

"Its an elevator Bilbo, they go up and down on great big pulleys worked by gears that are hidden behind the elevators in the market hall and the royal quarters. Elevators are safer then horses, they seldom break." He told the hobbit and Bilbo nodded, trustingly, he had no choice but to trust Thorin, so far from home and what was more, he wanted to. "Now why don't you read for the journey down and I can educate my nephews." He said and both boys groaned.

"Please Uncle, no lessons not now, we'll be in council all day." Fili protested.

"Can't we do something besides learn dwarven politics, something fun for a change?"

"You know that you have to know these things for when I am gone boys, you are the only heirs I'll ever have."

"Don't say that Uncle, you will find your one." Kili said and Thorin frowned.

"My one wouldn't be able to have children Kili." Thorin told him and Bilbo realized that was most likely true, not because Bilbo was male, male hobbits could have children, if they fell truly in love with another male, but because Thorin was a dwarf and he'd never heard of any hobbit having a child with a dwarf. He doubted the two species were compatible, even though they both tended to stick to their own kind.

"Why not?"

"Because he would be male." Thorin replied and both boys looked shocked at their Uncle a moment.

"We thought you liked women, not that it matters, your One is your One and we like men too." Kili said.

"Why did you have to go and tell him that?" Fili demanded. "You might as well say that we're bound to each other and have done."

"Really?" Thorin asked and both boys blushed. "And you didn't think to tell me?"

"Well its a bit unusual Uncle, isn't it?" Fili asked. "I mean how many people find their One is their little brother."

"When did you find out?"

"After we recovered from our wounds and at the celebration of the reclaiming. We both had almost died and well, we thought there might be a chance." Kili admitted and smiled at Fili.

"Turns out that we were right, it was amazing." Fili said and all three blushed, as the hobbit continued to read.

"I'm glad that you found each other boys, but from now on lets keep your bedroom activities in the bedroom. I don't mind if you kiss around me, or hold hands, but I don't really need to know what you get up to in your own quarters."

"Yes Uncle." Fili and Kili said and grinned at each other. Will we ever finish each other's sentences like that, or is that something just Fili and Kili do? Bilbo found himself wondering. "Do you know about dwarven bonds Bilbo?" Kili asked and Bilbo moved his hand from side to side, in a gesture that he'd often seen Bifur make. It seemed to mean somewhat or maybe, considering how he'd gaged Bofur's response to Bifur's signing.

"Do you know what that means?" Thorin asked and smiled at Bilbo, who nodded and repeated the jester. "You somewhat know what it means, or you think you do."

"You shouldn't be teaching Bilbo Iglishmêk Uncle." Fili said.

"Bilbo is my One, we were bound last night by accident. Neither of us seems to remember it and I have a few prisoners to give a good piece of my mind to along with some good old dwarven steel." He said and the boys stared between Bilbo and Thorin, Bilbo blushed not comfortable with their eyes on him. "Don't be embarrassed Bilbo, you weren't in your right mind at the time and I am glad that it worked out this way, otherwise I might have never known."

"Why don't you remember Uncle?"

"Bilbo was abused, Oin thinks that in his addled state he tried to comfort me. When I was having a nightmare. As he had comforted those men, its not Bilbo's fault."

"They made him have sex with him?" Fili demanded.

"I hope for their sakes that it didn't go that far, most likely they just made him make them come and I don't know how many there were." Thorin said and saw his own anger reflected back at the boys and Bilbo's discomfort. For Bilbo's sake, I'm going to change the subject now. Thorin signed to the boys and they nodded, Bilbo frowned at the signing but was glad that Thorin wasn't talking about it anymore. He didn't remember the attacks themselves, but he wouldn't have gotten into this situation if he hadn't been abused in some way. It seemed as though it had happened to someone else, that Bilbo woke up in bed that morning and none of the events before that night in his hobbit hole ever took place. He would prefer it to be that way, to keep it separate, so he didn't ever remember what had been done to him, so he didn't have to. "Now when the council is in session you will sit at my feet, in case I need anything. You might see other manservants of members of the council, though not that many have manged to find one so far. Those that do crimes that don't hurt others, or are down on their luck can become manservents but very few dwarves would be willing to become one. You will only be my manservent for a few more days Bilbo, just until its more seemly for our bond to be discovered. There are those that will suspect that our bond was consummated earlier then we say, but they won't say anything to our faces." He said and Bilbo nodded, he had a sudden urge to kiss Thorin and Bilbo was never one to deny himself his urges. He smiled slightly lopsided before pressing his lips to Thorin's in what he intended to be a quick chaste peck. Thorin took it for an invitation and soon the dwarf king was mining his mouth, like Bilbo had some sort of treasure hidden there. The hobbit groaned, intensifying his own efforts.

"Our eyes!" Fili said covering Kili's eyes with one hand and closing his own. "It burns our eyes, no stop squirming little brother, your too young to see this."

"Then why are you watching?" Kili demanded, trying to get Fili's hands off his face.

"I'm not."

"If you were, you might learn a few things boys, who for example knew that hobbits could be such wild little things." Thorin said and Bilbo grinned, smoothing down his tangled hair. Thorin seemed fond of grabbing it when he lost control of his passion.

"It looks like you bedded him, more then kissed him!" Fili said and Bilbo grinned, before winking at Fili. "Did you just wink at me Bilbo, Uncle he winked at me! He's a minx in hobbit clothing!" Bilbo crossed his arms and twiddled his fingers, a sign that he'd seen Bifur make to the elves, and one that he doubted to be complimentary. Kili and Thorin laughed while Fili looked murderous.

"You just told Fili to screw himself." Kili said and Bilbo grinned.

"I'd rather screw you." Fili told Kili.

"Lads!"

"You have no right to complain Uncle and your One gave me insult, you should be glad I don't answer this challenge."

"Well you weren't being very flattering to Bilbo either Fili." Thorin pointed out. "All the same, kindly don't use that sign again Bilbo." He said and Bilbo nodded. "How many more signs do you know?"

Bilbo held up five fingers and then moved his hand for the gester of somewhat.

"Oh so you somewhat know five signs, or you guessed their meanings?" Thorin said and Bilbo nodded. He gave the sign for listen first, Bofur would always pause whenever Bifur gave that sign on their journey and pointed to his ear. "Yes that is the sign for listen." He then gave the sign for I am listening, before raising is left arm into a a fist and slapping it on his elbow. He pointed to Thorin and flexed his right arm. "Yes that's the sign to tell someone to be strong, I never knew you were watching Bifur so closely." He said and Bilbo shrugged, before closing his eyes and faking snoring. "Are you saying our quest was boring? I remember it being far from it."

"Well it was a bit boring when nothing happened other then us riding or walking all day." Fili said and chuckled at Bilbo's antics. "Apparently Bilbo still has some of the faunt left in him. Why do you always act so straight laced, like Uncle does when he's not around family, only you do it all the time." Fili asked and Bilbo shrugged, before grinning. "You should act like this more often, respectability is boring"

"Are you encouraging my One to vex me Fili Vilison?" Thorin demanded and Fili laughed.

"Perhaps Uncle, perhaps I think your getting a bit stogey in your old age!"

"I'm not a day over two hundred and you know it!" Thorin fired back and stopped at Bilbo's wide eyes. "How long do hobbits live?" He asked suddenly and the boys turned from teasing their Uncle to Bilbo. Bilbo frowned looking at Thorin, with wide eyes. He then held up ten fingers twice. "Twenty years?" Thorin demanded and all three dwarves looked horrified, Bilbo shook his head and held up ten fingers then crossed his fingers in the symbol for times and then repeated the gester, then time adding two fingers and doing the dwarven sign that he thought to be most. "You mean to tell me that you will only live to see one hundred and twenty and you will be lucky to see that. How old are you Bilbo?" Thorin demanded. "My life will end with yours, I have a right to know."

This time Bilbo showed fifty fingers and watched as the dwarves around him paled.

"You have only seventy years left and that if we are to be lucky?" Thorin demanded and Bilbo nodded.

"You forget that the binding lengthens his life, he looks younger then he did yesterday and he acted as though he was a boy yesterday." Fili said and smiled, though it was forced. "You will live for a hundred more years going by our line and Bilbo will most likely live as long as you do. Bindings outside our race was rare, but they always extend the life of those that are bonded." He said and Bilbo's eyes became wide, as the fog in his mind was blown away by this new shock.

"I won't live those years as an old man will I?" He demanded and all three stared at him. "I'd rather die then not be able to care for myself."

"If that happens and I doubt Mahal would be so cruel as to allow it, I will care for you until you are ready to go with me to Mahal's Halls." Thorin said. "Most likely you will will be as you are now, until the last year or two of our lives, as it is for dwarves. Thank you for reminding me Fili, I was a little too shocked to remember Mahal's gifts to us." He said and cupped Bilbo's face with his hands. "I do not love you yet, but our bond is strong and I can feel it tying us together." He smiled at the hobbit. "I would be honored to share my life with you." He added and Bilbo blushed, now that he was over his original shock, he found himself glad that he had found Thorin. He had always admired the dwarf and perhaps loved him a bit more then he felt appropriate for the love of simple friendship. That was why he had run and why it had hurt so badly when Thorin had dangled him off of the mountain. That was why he had left, expecting to never come back and left a part of his heart with Thorin.

"You seem pensive Bilbo, what's the matter?" Fili asked and Bilbo shook his head, and then grinned at Fili and Kili. "Is nothing the matter?" Fili asked and Bilbo nodded.

"eey mm 'aheh." Bilbo said.

"Your happy, that's good but we can't really understand you, not drugged as you are." Kili said and Bilbo shrugged, before leaning back against Thorin, smiling as the dwarf wrapped his arms around him.

"You know, we really should get some chairs for the elevators, make the ride more comfortable, without worrying about whatever's someone has tracked in here." Thorin said and his nephews nodded. "I think someone should be willing to design a collapsible chair and it would be more practical than standing here all the time." Thorin said and stretched.

"I like standing, too soon we'll be sitting down for the rest of the day, I miss being outside." Kili complained.

"The free day is soon and you two can do whatever you want, as long as you don't destroy anything, or endanger yourselves, or others."

"You take all the fun out a free day Uncle." Kili said and pouted.

"At least you get to go to the archery range and I fancy a bit of a skirmish myself, I'd hate for my knives to get rusty."

"Practice blades only Fili." Thorin said and Fili nodded.

"Yes, of course Uncle, can I teach Bilbo how to wield a blade, he should be able to defend himself." He said and Bilbo's eyes went wide, he shook his head frantically. He had hated killing that Warg and never wanted to take another life.

"You don't have to take a life, each time you defend yourself Bilbo and it would make me feel better knowing that you could protect yourself." He said and Bilbo hesitated a moment, before nodding. "You will train then? Perhaps not with Fili, Balin is an excellent teacher and he could teach you Khuzdul as well." He said and he saw the hobbit's interest. "That is of course if you want to learn it." Bilbo nodded and hugged Thorin, Thorin laughed and wrapped his arms around the hobbit. "I want you to know all of me Bilbo, I want our relationship to be that of equals." He said and kissed the top of Bilbo's head. "We should be arriving soon, so you should assume your place a step or so behind me." Thorin said and Bilbo nodded. The elevator doors opened and he walked with Thorin, Fili and Kili to the council room. He sat down at Thorin's feet and glanced around him. A dwarf sitting at the feet of some official or other glared at him and Bilbo hastily looked away and backed away slightly. His back coming to rest against Thorin's legs and Thorin nudged him gently with his feet. It was a slight jester but reassured the hobbit. More people came into the hall and four more dwarves joined the first. They were a grim lot, their hair was done in special braids and Bilbo imagined that they signified something. They sat silent as statues, as voices rang out around them. Bilbo then saw one of them get kicked by the dwarf he sat under and barely managed not to cry out.

Thorin clasped his hands in his lap, his hands baling in a response to Bilbo's dismay. Luckily none of the nearby dwarves seemed to catch the exchange. The conversation continued around them, until second breakfast passed along with elevensies and it was getting on towards lunch. Bilbo felt Thorin kick him, his leg swinging out and stopping right before it hit him. Bilbo crawled out from under the table and bowed to Thorin, he had known that the other dwarf had made some sort of bow and he emulated what he had seen, before bending to Thorin's mouth. "Go get the weight staff to give us all something to eat and drink, there isn't time for anything else." He said and Bilbo nodded, going to the dining hall as the arguing continued. Bilbo thought it was surprising that the dwarves managed to get anything done at all. He went to the kitchen and nodded at the wait staff.

"Could I have lunch delivered to the council hall, they seem to be working something out that requires they not break." Bilbo said.

"Yes, we will deliver the food, now go back to the one you serve." One of the members of the dining hall said and Bilbo nodded. He walked back feeling a bit angry at the servants words to him, not nearly as much as he imagined if he was a dwarf. He had noticed how prideful dwarves could be upon occasion. He took back his place under the table and listened to the flow of the language around him, hearing the tone of the words spoken, even if he didn't yet understand the words himself. Khuzdul was a grating tongue, it sounded much like boulders and rocks scraping against each other. The other dwarves weren't reading or doing anything, so Bilbo hadn't thought it appropriate for him to do so.

The food arrived then and Thorin passed Bilbo a sandwich, while he watched the other dwarves be fed sandwiches or bits of scrap. He knew that dwarves had a different culture then his own folk, but he hated seeing others suffer. He ate half of the sandwich, before offering it to the nearest dwarf. He stared from the sandwich to Bilbo and back to the sandwich, clearly hungry, before glaring at Bilbo and crossing his arms, moving one fist up and then swiftly down. Bilbo didn't know what he was saying but judging from his face alone, it wasn't anything complementary. Bilbo stared down at the sandwich in his eyes, and felt tears fill his eyes. He dashed them away angrily, as the other dwarves glared at him. Thorin couldn't do anything, if they were to continue this act and Bilbo knew they had to continue it, for Thorin to maintain his creditability as king, but he hated sitting here. He sniffed and felt Kili put a hand on his shoulder, reassuringly. The dwarves under the table eyed him disdainfully. He finished the sandwich and turned to his books, sniffing occasionally, as tears ran down his cheeks. He was a gentle creature that hated seeing others suffer and these dwarves were suffering. It was clearly not right the way the manservants were treated, but he was in a foreign land and he doubted that centuries of customs would be changed because one hobbit disliked an aspect of those customs. He buried himself in his book, learning about dwarven culture and traditions.

He had never known for example that dwarves had a thing called stone face, which was maintained in public and only cast aside in private, where their true personalities, thoughts and feeling came out. To break face was an act only tolerated by young dwarves, those older that did so were glared at, the act of glaring was to somehow do damage to the dwarf's pride and honor. From what he read, dwarves cared a lot about honor and to have one's honor taken was worse then death to a dwarf. He frowned, unsure if there was some deeper meaning to the word honor, before continuing to read. Dwarves apparently found hair to be a symbol of one's honor, dwarves cut their hair when they believed themselves to have done something unworthy of their forefathers, or had failed their kin or people. It explained why so many of his friends still had short hair, after the years they had spent away from their home. They still grieved for their lost kin and must have felt guilty that they couldn't save them, or Erebor from attack. Apparently dwarven hair was also sensitive and only those that were close friends, kin or their One could touch another dwarf's hair or beard and only their One could do it uninvited. There was the exception of those that lost honor, by committing some heinous act or deed and those that offered their services to other dwarves to atone for crimes committed. Apparently the braids that dwarves plated their hair into all meant something, but the meanings were not in the text and the next chapter focused on courting traditions. Bilbo couldn't help the slight flush that came to his face, glad that the dwarves were glaring at him and he could dismiss it as simply being embarrassed by their stares.

The next chapter focused on how hair beads were an important part to courting and once two dwarves had found one another, they put beads they had made themselves to signify their connection with their One. There was also the first braiding, which was usually done among family and friends. Then they worked on some sort of craft together, dependent on their skills and the skills of their partner. Finally came the vowing ceremony, where the two dwarves would promise themselves to each other, this process was only completed once both the dwarves were in love with one another. The whole courtship typically took a few months at most, after the initial claiming, as the pull a dwarf had for his one were strong ones. The next chapter seemed to focus on dwarven politics, there seemed to be at least some order to what was happening, apparently there representatives from each of the seven dwarven houses and these houses had a crier, for the issues of their house. When the crier heard an issue that was more important in another house he was supposed to lower his voice, though judging by the sound of it, it didn't work that way. Then after the topic had been decided, the house would make its case, for whatever it wanted done and the king would rule after deliberations about what was to be done. It sounded to Bilbo like a very complex and fairly pointless system, but then again hobbits more or less governed themselves. He imagined with the way dwarves liked to fight, drink and work with fire, that without a system in place Erebor would again be in smoke, with the dwarven clans the ones that put it there. It made sense that they had a complex system of governing, as they seemed to be a rather complex race.

Thorin reeled back his foot and stopped a fraction of an inch short of kicking Bilbo, as the other dwarves were kicked around him. He didn't have to fake the flinch that came with the kick and he pushed the book he was reading back into his pack, before standing and bowing to Thorin, watching the bows the other other dwarves did, as he himself bowed. He didn't try to mirror their movements, instead making his own bow. He then bent his head so Thorin might speak in his ear. "The council is over for the day, we managed to solve the agreed upon issue in a shorter amount of time then usual." He said and Bilbo nodded. "It is time we return back home." He said and again the hobbit nodded, following one step behind Thorin, as he stood and walked to the elevators, Fili, Kili and Balin following him. "Tomorrow you won't be in council Bilbo, Balin has agreed to start teaching you defense." He said.

"Thank you Balin, I'm afraid I won't make a very good pupil."

"Nonsense lad, you'll be fine once we train you up a bit." Balin said and smiled at the hobbit. "Now what would you like to learn first?"

"Daggers." Bilbo replied, he had always liked daggers the best, out of the dwarven weapons and they would be easiest for him to use.

"A wise choice and perhaps some unarmed defensive moves?" Balin said and Bilbo nodded, as his stomach rumbled.

"Are you alright Bilbo, I know your used to eating more then dwarves do." Thorin said concerned and Bilbo nodded.

"I'll just eat more at breakfast, lunch and dinner, that should be fine. Hobbits don't have to eat seven meals a day, we just enjoy it. Its part of our culture, to a hobbit cooking for someone, is much like braiding hair within dwarven culture. It conveys love and attention and shows that you care for whoever you cooked for. There are small traditions that go with each meal as well and they stem primarily from the fact that pregnant hobbits are almost always hungry and my race is a fertle one. After a time it was was decided that it was rude to ask if someone was with child, or merely hungry, so our traditions surrounding food were born so to speak. Not to mention the fact that we enjoyed eating before that." He said and Kili laughed.

"I imagine that you did..." He trailed off as Thorin glared at him and Bilbo smiled.

"Yes well, my folk are fairly simple to understand in comparison to yours. We like our comforts, our friends, family and good food. I suppose to other races we could be considered soft and too gentle, but I would rather be considered soft and too good natured, then to hurt another." He said unable to mask the anger in his tone.

"You didn't like seeing the other Manservents?" Thorin asked and Bilbo glared at him.

"Too right, those dwarves are suffering!" Bilbo said.

"Yes, but we have to have a system where the threat of serving another, or the community, is there Bilbo. Otherwise our cells would be full and they would be suffering even worse. Dwarven cells aren't known as pleasant places to be."

"I expect no prison is, I know dwarves are different then hobbits, but still why do you let those men suffer?"

"Its our way Bilbo, its been our way for more years than I can count. Serving as a manservant is done for a usually short period of time. The longest anyone has ever served as a manservant was five years, its not a lifelong sentence and it insures that the dwarves that serve it never want to commit such acts again."

"If that's the case, if that system works, how was I tortured? Just because I don't remember it doesn't mean it never happened." Bilbo said.

"Because they didn't realize how much you meant to the company Bilbo, they didn't realize that you are important to us and they will pay for it." Thorin said and Bilbo didn't like the look on his face.

"You can't and not have how you discovered my abuse to come out. I don't remember it, I couldn't give an account and you are many things but you aren't a tyrant Thorin."

"I can't just let them get away with it Bilbo, they hurt you and I'm well within my right to demand blood price."

"Don't let your anger see through your reason, make sure that the punishment fits the crime and if you can avoid telling the people all of what happened to me, I would be grateful. I don't want it publically known that I might have been captured, starved, beaten and abused." Bilbo said and Thorin nodded.

"It will be as you wish." Thorin said and Bilbo nodded.

"Thank you."

"What's going on between you and Thorin?" Balin asked.

"You haven't told him?"

"The rest of the council might have overheard." Thorin replied. "Balin, Bilbo is my One, we think it likely that he was forced into performing acts of a sexual nature on at least some of the dwarves that kidnapped him." He said and Balin stared at Bilbo.

"Oin told me about the what had happened to you at breakfast, but he didn't inform me of the bonding, congratulations to the both of you."

"Thank you." Thorin said and smiled at Balin. Bilbo thought that the elevator was taking forever to reach their floor. His stomach grumbled loudly and Kili laughed.

"Hungry Bilbo?"

"Yes, quite hungry." Bilbo agreed, his stomach actually felt like it was eating itself, in the attempt to get food. He frowned, that was impossible wasn't it? He'd never heard of a hobbit having a child by a dwarf before.

"So what have you read of our culture and customs so far."

"I think this book is mostly a basic guide to dwarven culture and customs, it seems to touch on the most important aspects of your society." For the rest of the elevator ride, Bilbo talked about what he had read without bias, stating the facts as he remembered them, not wishing to argue with Thorin or the rest of his friends anymore. "I was wondering if someone might teach me the meaning of the different dwarven braids." He asked shyly as the elevator doors opened.

"I would be glad to include that into our lessons." Balin said and smiled at the hobbit.

"Thank you Balin." Bilbo said and they walked together to the dining hall. Twelve of the thirteen members of the company were there and Bilbo greeted them, before sitting down next to Thorin at the table. The food was brought and Bilbo ate hungrily, only stopping around the seventh course and causing wide eyed stares from many of his friends. Bilbo blushed. "I suppose I'm making up for lost time." He said, patting his stomach.

"How did you put that much food away?" Bomber asked and Bilbo laughed.

"I was hungry, I only had a sandwich for lunch." He said and smiled jovially. "I'll help out in the kitchens sometime to make up for it, if you would allow me to do so Thorin?"

"Of course you can help out in the kitchens if you like Bilbo, though you will need to focus on your studies first."

"Studies, what are you studying?"

"Dwarven customs, dagger fighting and self defense. Thorin thought it a good idea for me to be able to defend myself and insure I don't put my foot in it too often around you lot." He added and several of his friends laughed.

"We want you to know that we don't consider you to be Thorin's manservant, not really." Boufur said and Bilbo smiled.

"Thank you Boufur, I appreciate that." Bilbo said and yawned. "If you will excuse me, I'm tired." He said and made his goodbyes to his friends. He walked back to Thorin's rooms, undressed and got into the cot at the end of Thorin's bed. He was fast asleep by the time Thorin came in from the dining room.