Chapter Six
Over the course of the next six days, Bilbo's friends visited him often. Although the hobbit wasn't very pleasant company, as his worry for Thorin, turned into terror that he would never wake up. Bovin assured Bilbo that Thorin would wake eventually, but the dwarf had been wrong about how long it seemed to be taking. His friends informed him of when Oin died and offered to find a servant to care for Thorin, so Bilbo could attend the funeral. He had told them that Thorin needed him and he couldn't leave him and he would pay his respects at a later time.
Bilbo had never shed more tears in his life, than he did over the course of those days. Even when his parents had died, he had not grieved like this, for not only had he lost a friend, but he worried for his lover as well. He started to talk to Thorin, in the hopes that Thorin would show some reaction, to his words. Still there was nothing and Bilbo tried to read the books that Balin had given him, so he could think about something other then Thorin for a few minutes. His thoughts always returned to Thorin eventually and the despair he felt dragged him down.
"Please wake up Thorin!" Bilbo begged for what seemed like the thousandth time, but this time he heard a subtile shift in Thorin's breathing. "Thorin, I'm right here and I need you to be with me, I need you to show me you'll be alright. Otherwise, I don't know what I'll do, please Thorin." Bilbo begged and heard Thorin's snoring stop, Thorin squeezed his hand. "Thorin?" Bilbo asked as Thorin's breathing started to seem panicked. "Its alright Thorin, I'm right here, there was an accident with a potion, you were given too much of it. Still the healer assured me that you would be fine, just calm down." Bilbo said, before his hands went to Thorin's forehead and he stroked back his hair gently. "Can you feel that love?"
"Yeeas." Thorin said slowly. "Whaaa' appen?"
"Save your strength love, you were given too much of a tonic, you've been asleep for six days. I've been caring for you, I was worried about you, I'm so glad your awake now."
"iey?"
"Pardon?" Bilbo asked and Thorin's eyes opened to slits.
"Whhhy?" He asked.
"Oin lost his One, he didn't know what was going on and gave you a potion to help you get over the shock of me being pregnant." Bilbo said. "Or that's what he thought he was giving you, what he gave you instead was a potion that's generally used sparingly and in surgeries, do to the side effects."
"Wha'?"
"What side effects, well the potion knocks you unconscious though its slow to take effect, then all your nerves are numbed and you can't feel anything. It freaked me out, when you wouldn't wake up and I've been terrified that you wouldn't wake, even though the healer said you would. Don't ever do something like this to me again!" Bilbo said and started to cry, Thorin tried to lift his arm, but found that it felt like it was weighed down. His whole body felt like that and his One was crying and he couldn't comfort Bilbo. Frustrated tears filled his eyes and he was so weak, that he couldn't even wipe them from his face. Bilbo clutched at his shirt and sobbed, there was nothing he could do for his One, he couldn't even hold him. He hated being weak, being unable to move and having his mind clouded by fog. He tried to move again, but found he couldn't and he felt himself start to panic.
"I'bo." Thorin said and Bilbo looked to Thorin, who was clearly terrified, Bilbo couldn't imagine what Thorin must be feeling.
"Thorin, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall apart on you." Bilbo said and gently caressed Thorin's hair. "Its just that its such a relief to see you awake, I know this must be hard for you, but the healer assured me that it wouldn't last. You woke, so I can believe him now, will you take a calming potion? I can read to you from my study books if you like, or get a book of tales."
"Don' lea'." Thorin said and Bilbo stroked back his hair.
"I'll stay right here, but you need some broth, I will only be gone for a moment." Bilbo told him and Thorin tried to reach for him, but he was gone. Bilbo was gone and Thorin had no idea of where he had gone.
"I'bo!" Thorin called.
"I'm right here Thorin, you would have heard the door open, if I went anywhere, wouldn't you?" Bilbo asked trying to calm him. "You need to eat."
"Don' wan' ta ea' wan' ou." Thorin said and Bilbo smiled softly, he came back with a mug of broth.
"Do you want to see Thorin? I can open your eyes for you, if you like, though I'm not sure you can keep them open on your own." Bilbo asked.
"Wan' ta 'ee." Thorin agreed and he heard Bilbo placing something down on the table, before fingers gently pried back his eyelids, he gazed up at Bilbo and frowned, his hobbit looked horrible. Bilbo's hair hung lankly down his back, his eyes had rings under them and despite the smile on his face, Thorin could see the stress he was under. Stress that was not good for their growing child, or his mother? What did one call a male hobbit that was to give birth, Thorin realized that he'd never thought to ask Bilbo that question. Now however he was too tired to, sleep was calling to him, but he wouldn't surrender, he wouldn't leave Bilbo alone again and he didn't want to go back to the darkness.
"You see love, its alright, everything will be alright. You may be out of it for a few more days, but in time your going to be fine." Bilbo assured Thorin and himself. "That is, if you drink your broth." Thorin wondered briefly where would the broth go, as he plainly was in no shape to go to the water closet. "You have nothing to worry about love, I'll take care of you, until you get better and Fili and Kili are doing a fine job at council. They are sure to send along what was agreed to on each council day they attend and make sure to give them to me in Westron, to read to you once your feeling better."
" 'ow!"
"Your still sick Thorin, can you be sure that you will be able to make a sound judgement about their decisons now? Or that you will even remember what I read to you? You must first regain your strength, before you see what the council has agreed to."
" 'ow i'bo." Thorin said and Bilbo nodded.
"Very well, have some broth first." Bilbo said and held the cup to Thorin's lips, he drank it though some got on his chin and was wiped away by a rag. Tears of humiliation filled his eyes and a hand ran through his hair. "You are my One, my kind may not have Ones like you dwarves, but I feel connected to you. You have seen me at my worst Thorin, even if I do not remember that humiliation, you still saw me when I was addled and you saw to my well being. I know you are not addled now and it is not the same, but still you are my One and I will care for you, because I love you and I know you love me as well, even though you do not say it as readily. I do not mind caring for you, while you are sick, I would not have someone else do it in my stead. You are mine to care for, as I am yours and there is no shame between us." Bilbo said and wiped the tears from his eyes. "Now I will read to you and the child that rests within my belly. Balin gave me a book of dwarven legends to help get my mind off of things and they are quite good." Bilbo said and smiled at Thorin. He took his hand from Thorin's face and started to read, Thorin didn't like being in the blackness but Bilbo's voice comforted him. He found himself soon drifting through the blackness, Bilbo sighed wishing that Thorin could stayed awake longer, but he knew being awake was unpleasant for Thorin at the moment. Not only because he was tired, but because of the lethargy that claimed him. Bilbo set aside the book and went over to the door, opening it quietly and slipping through it. He walked quickly to the healing chambers.
"Bilbo?" Bovin asked and Bilbo smiled at him.
"Thorin has woken up, it was just briefly and he couldn't move properly, but he woke up."
"That is good, it should take a day or two more for the potion to completely work its way out of its system. I can give you a calming tonic for him, it should help if he should feel panicked, as anyone would in his place."
"Why aren't you at the council?" Bilbo asked.
"I have taken a leave of absence from the council, as I wanted to ensure that you and the king were well cared for. I will be overseeing your pregnancy and giving you the tonics I believe you need for the health of the babe. If you are at council, I will go with you, but I expect to resume my post within a few months." Bovin said and Bilbo nodded.
"Thank you for making sure Thorin is alright."
"I am worried for your health as well Bilbo." Bovin said. "You need to care more for yourself and the babe."
"I am fine, the babe is fine." Bilbo replied. "I would never do anything to harm my child, I have been resting and reading, when Thorin does not need me to care for him. Speaking of which you said that..."
"Oh yes, I almost forgot, you might need to help him with the chamber pot at first, I doubt that the king would be willing to use soiling cloths now he's awake." Bovin said and handed a chamber pot to Bilbo. "If you can get the soiling cloths under him, you should be able to help him use this." Bovin said and Bilbo nodded, taking the chamber pot with him back to Thorin's quarters.
Thorin was still sleeping soundly when Bilbo returned and Bilbo set the chamber pot down, before settling into bed himself, deciding that there would be no harm in taking a small nap. He settled his head on Thorin's chest, wrapped one of Thorin's arms around himself and closed his eyes, soon he was asleep.
Thorin awoke to a pressing need and the sound of Bilbo snoring loudly. It was clear that the hobbit was exhausted, he felt better then he had when he last woke and he didn't want to disturb Bilbo's slumber. He managed to roll over onto his side, the hobbit now lying on his back, with Thorin's arm wedged under him. He was surprised that Bilbo hadn't wakened, he removed his arm from Bilbo slowly, before moving his feet from the bed, it felt like they were encased in two suits of armor. He managed to lift them off of the bed and slide down off of it. They could not however hold his weight and his legs buckled sending him to the ground with a crash.
Bilbo sat bolt upright in bed and stared at Thorin on the floor. "Are you alright?"
"I am fine." Thorin replied. "Will you turn away?" He asked and Bilbo did as he suggested, Bilbo heard him struggling, but he knew that Thorin was proud and the note in his voice said clearly that aid would not be welcome.
"Thorin, its nothing I have not seen before, I have been caring for you...If you need my help..."
"I can do this on my own, I am no mewling babe!" Thorin said and Bilbo nodded.
"Alright Thorin." Bilbo said and saw Thorin struggle back to the bed, it hurt him to see Thorin like this. It was almost better when he was unconscious, it must be a terrible for a strong dwarf to find himself suddenly weak.
Thorin made it back over to the bed and pulled himself up onto it, nearly falling several times in the process. He then laid there exhausted, as Bilbo tried to wrap his arms around him and Thorin shrugged him off. "How can you want to touch me, when I'm so weak."
"This isn't your fault Thorin, what happened to you was an accident and you will get better. Please let me touch you." Bilbo said.
"You changed me, like a babe!" Thorin said.
"I did what needed to be done, it was for me to do and for no one else." Bilbo said and kissed Thorin's cheek. "Thorin I love you, people that love each other, care for one another, even when it is not easy to do so. You needed my help and so I helped you." Bilbo told him. "Now I'm tired and your tired, why should we waste energy on arguing?" Bilbo demanded and yawned. "I'll go heat up some broth, you stay here, alright? I'll be back in a moment." Bilbo said and got up from the bed, going over to the stove and taking two cups from the side board, he filled them both with broth and went back to Thorin, handing one to him and taking the other.
"I can eat other food." Thorin said and Bilbo nodded.
"I'm sure you can, but this is easiest for both of us." Bilbo told him trying not to loose his patients. "Do you really want me to go all the way to the kitchens for food, because I will if you want me to."
"No this is fine." Thorin said, he did not wish to be alone.
"Good, would you like to hear more legends, or do you think your up for listening to the rulings of the council?" Bilbo asked.
"You told me to wait." Thorin said and Bilbo nodded.
"You are feeling better aren't you and you remember being awake?" Bilbo asked and Thorin nodded. "I see no reason why I can't read the reports to you then." Bilbo said and smiled at Thorin. "Though I imagine that neither of us are up for reading much of them."
"I want to feel you against me." Thorin said and Bilbo blushed slightly, before reaching for a thick stack of papers and cuddling against Thorin's side, as he read from them and sipped at the broth he held in one hand. It was fairly boring stuff, apparently the major thing that had been discussed that day was a tunnel expansion within the scribe hall, as several of the tunnels had collapsed when the dragon attacked. However that account alone went on for forty pages and apparently there was nothing like dwarven politics to put someone to sleep, if your ear wasn't being shouted off at the same time. Bilbo had been surprised at how boring dwarven politics were in fact, when he had first read the transcriptions that Fili and Kili handed to him. He finished off the broth and set it to the side table, smiling as Thorin did the same, wiping his beard with the back of his hand.
"I'm going to take a bath, since we've already seen all of each other, would you care to join?" Thorin asked and Bilbo blushed. He would need to do this eventually and why not now, he knew that Thorin would never hurt him and he had no reason to be afraid.
"That sounds good to me, but where will we bathe?" Bilbo asked and Thorin smiled.
"Erebor has a host of secrets, the king's chambers not being the least of them. Some died with my Grandfather, others remain." Thorin said and stood up. "In the old days, my entire family would have shared these rooms with me."
"Rooms? I know of only two." Bilbo said and Thorin smiled.
"Yes and most do so, the room I am currently using used to be just a parlor and the bathroom off of it for guests. When we reclaimed Erebor, I decided that my nephews should have their own chambers, rather then have to share them with me. Still there are fourteen rooms hidden beyond this one, as well as passages that connect them to the rest of the hall. There is also a stair that leads to the treasury and out of the mountain itself."
"Really?" Bilbo asked in interest, it sounded fascinating to the hobbit, Bilbo had always enjoyed the thought of secret rooms and hidden passageways.
"Yes my dear hobbit, really." Thorin said and laughed. "Come on, I'll show you the way." He added and Bilbo got out of the bed, Thorin hated feeling so weak, but the hobbit gave him a shoulder.
"Lean on me, you won't harm me Thorin." Bilbo said and Thorin sighed, before putting some weight on Bilbo's shoulder. He then touched one of the stones in the wall and the wall slid back silently revealing a tunnel beyond.
"The royal baths are through here, the dragon didn't harm the plumbing and the water still comes in hot, its fed through heating coils that also power the kitchens and other smaller bath chambers. Thorin told Bilbo, as they entered a room. Bilbo was surprised at the size of the bath they stood in front of. Steam came off the water and Thorin smiled at the hobbit. "The water is moved through by a slight current and it cycles from one end to the other, as long as the pumps are on."
"What about when it gets dirty?" Bilbo asked and Thorin smiled.
"When it gets dirty, the water cannot get dirty, once it has cycled through the bath chamber, there are great screens that keep the dirt out and the water flowing throughout Erebor." Thorin said and Bilbo frowned.
"You mean to say that the healer's hall uses water that has been cycled through six halls of Erebor?"Bilbo demanded. "How do your wounded survive?"
"Bilbo the impurities are cycled out."
"What if there's sickness, is that cycled out as well?" Bilbo demanded. "Plagues can spread through water, if its not clean enough!"
"The water is clean Bilbo, you've been drinking it for months and it has done you no ill." Thorin said before stripping off his pants and shirt and sinking into the bathing pool. "Join me Bilbo." He said holding out his hand and Bilbo hesitated, he was filthy and it wasn't as though he'd be getting water from anywhere else. He simply wouldn't drink in the lower levels anymore, for all that Thorin claimed that the water was clean throughout Erebor, Bilbo had trouble believing him. He took off his own clothes and sank into the water. He washed his hair first, scrubbing at it with the soap that lay nearby and stared as the froth drained away. He then turned to Thorin, who had leaned his head back against the stone lip of the pool.
"Would you like me to help you wash your hair?" Bilbo asked shyly and Thorin smiled at him.
"I would, would you permit me to braid yours?" Thorin returned.
"Perhaps when you are stronger love, but I would rather you saved your strength for now."
"I was drugged, not injured, I will be fine Bilbo and I highly doubt braiding your hair will harm me."
"Then you can, after I have finished with your hair." Bilbo said and smiled at Thorin, before sitting down above his head and gently brushing back his hair with a boar comb that lay nearby. He got out the few tangles there were and gently brushed at Thorin's beard as well, before returning to his hair. Thorin's hair was thick and silky when wet, Bilbo enjoyed running it through his fingers and brushing it with the comb. It was clear that Thorin enjoyed having his hair brushed, Bilbo smiled at the small sounds of contentment Thorin made, sounds that turned to snores. Bilbo slowly got up from his position behind Thorin and settled back into the bath, deciding to soak for a while more. He sighed leaning back against the stone sides of the pool and closing his eyes for a moment.
Something called to Bilbo, entreated him to come and save an innocent life, to allow it to be born. He felt the magic close around him and Bilbo was helpless to its call. He stood from the bath, naked and dripping, not even having enough time to get his clothes, before the call forced him down the stairs. The stairs were long and they would have tired the hobbit, if the hobbit had been allowed to feel anything other then the compulsion that now drove him. He reached the bottom finally and the piles of glittering gold. His hands dove into a particular pile and came up with a round object that rocked and rolled in his arms. The little one needed help to escape its shell, the little one needed Bilbo to free him and Bilbo felt the connection to the child in his arms.
Little did he know that Smaug had seen the lifebond between Thorin and Bilbo. Even though Smaug's children would be forced into service to Bilbo, to obey his every command, and those of Bilbo's children,once he was no longer in this world. It was better then the death sentence that would otherwise have fallen upon his hatchlings. Smaug was a dragon that planned for all eventualities, even those that included his own demise. He had bound the creature to his hatchlings, made him ensure that they would hatch and bound Bilbo's lifespan to that of his hatchlings, until they were grown. Therefore if his hatchlings died, before they could defend themselves, Bilbo would perish along with them. Finally he made a strong compulsion for Bilbo to see the hatchlings as he would his own children.
Bilbo knew none of this, as he held the egg in his arms, small fingers prying at it, getting to the life within. With both of them working at it, the egg soon split and the tiny dragon stared up at Bilbo, with love and devotion. It was little known that dragons imprinted upon the first thing they saw, once coming into the world and the children that followed. It was also not well known that dragons could shift from from birth, if the need or wish arose. So Bilbo was left holding a squalling babe, with fine scales running up and down its arms. Bilbo had no choice but to set the child aside, to bring forth another into the world. He then felt the compulsion break and stared down at the two children, one that lay in his arms and the other in the pile of gold. The first born gazed up at him and he smiled at the child, before picking him up, both children seemed genderless. These children were his, just as much as the babe that rested in his belly. Even though Bilbo knew next to nothing of dragons, he knew something wasn't right, for him to so readily accept the two hatchlings as his own. He knew that dragons could sometimes spell others, but at that moment he didn't care.
"You are Vladis and you are Somar." Bilbo told the babies in his arms. "You will be my children in all ways and know that you are loved." He told them, as he held them in his arms. He had no notion of how to raise a dragon, but he had to learn, for he loved the children in his arms and he would see no harm come to them. How Bilbo would manage that in a kingdom full of dwarves, that would love nothing better then to harm two dragon hatchlings was beyond him. Still he felt that something bad would happen to him, if they came to be harmed. A feeling that was proven to be true, as Bilbo searched a final time through the pile of gold, that had been the hatchling's hiding space. He came up with a single sheath of paper.
Creature, I know you are a thing that cares much for others and so I have seen fit to make you the guardian of my hatchlings. You cannot refuse this honor, as your life and the lives of those of your line, will be tied to theirs and you and your children will die if they do. You have control over their lives and actions, but as you are a creature that is bound by love, I have compelled you to love them and consider them your own. This love you have for them, will not be shared by others, as I have no intention of making this easy for you and I have little doubt that your actions have led to this being necessary. As such I Smaug, child of Sarl do demand blood debt, a debt that is to be paid in the guardianship of my children. Dragon hatchlings eat a fair amount, feed them chewed meat and know that a dragon always pays his debts.
Bilbo stared at the missive, the missive that would endanger his life and Thorin's. He knew that other dwarves would not be pleased to hear of Bilbo raising dragons, perhaps their displeasure would out way their loyalty to their king. Bilbo had no choice but to care for the hatchlings now, that did not mean that Thorin had to. Bilbo had read that a dwarf's one could leave them, though it was agony for both involved. To protect Thorin, Bilbo would do anything, even if it meant having to leave the king. He took the missive with him and walked up the stairs slowly. his heart was heavy, as heavy as the babes he carried in his arms. There was no way that they could be disguised as normal children, their scales showed their true nature clearly. Yet Bilbo realized, the scales were on their arms and feet, perhaps they could be hidden if Bilbo clothed them.
Still he could not explain the presence of the babes to those around him and they were too young to be left by themselves. He would have to read up on dragon lore, before he left, so that he could care for them properly. Thorin would understand why he left, why there had been no choice but to leave. Well there was one choice, a choice that the hobbit would not take. The choice to end his life and that of Thorin's, to kill the children that he loved.
He filled his pockets with gold coins and started his journey back up the stairs. He made it to the top of the stairs, the children lying in his arms. "You will not harm me or mine, my little ones." Bilbo told them both and walked into the bathing chamber. Thorin was still in the bath, as he had been hours ago and Bilbo watched him sleep, he wished that there was another way, yet there was none that he could see. Bilbo walked to Thorin's chambers and left him a note, explaining what had happened and enclosing Smaug's missive as well. He told Thorin that he loved him, that he would always love him, but he could not in good conscience keep two dragons in Erebor. He then hid both missive and babes, going back to the bath and gently shaking Thorin's shoulder. Thorin awoke slowly and smiled at Bilbo. "You fell asleep Thorin, lets get you back to bed." Bilbo said and Thorin nodded, standing slowly and exiting the bath, before putting on his clothing. Bilbo didn't know how he would cope without Thorin, he loved the dwarven king and to be parted from him and his friends would be horrible. Especially since Oin had just died, Bilbo didn't want to leave, but he knew he must. Otherwise everyone he loved in this world, would be in danger.
He helped Thorin to bed and smiled as the dwarven king fell upon the blankets, he was soon sound asleep. Bilbo kissed his cheek gently, before leaving his missive on the bedside table. He retrieved the hatchlings from where he had hidden them, before wrapping them in blankets. He then took out his ring and put it on, before walking to the elevator. Luckily Fili and Kili were coming back from council and Bilbo managed to squeeze into the open door. He had no idea of how he was going to feed the hatchlings, no set plan, save to get out of Erebor. "You will be quiet until I tell you otherwise." Bilbo told the babies, as the elevator moved downwards. Dwarves got on and off of it, as he neared the ground floor. It was a horrible ride for the hobbit, as all he could think of was Thorin and how parting from the dwarf hurt him.
He reached the bottom floor, the market floor and stared at the variety of goods that were available. Apparently the market did not keep set hours, so Bilbo strolled freely through it, picking up odds and ends for the children and himself. He got a sturdy pack and plenty of clothes, before the alarm was sounded that someone was stealing from the stalls and the guards came out in force. He was surprised at the number for just one thief but he supposed that they would have to take any theft seriously. Bilbo hid in a back ally, one hand pressed to the hatchlings, as his heart hammered in his chest. It took a while for the guards to cease searching for him. He crept out of the back ally and stole a leg of chicken, biting into it, chewing it, before pressing his mouth to the children. He had never seen anything as hungry as the hatchlings seemed, they snapped at the meat, with their luckily toothless mouths and soon it had vanished. He went to another stall and stole more meat, before moving to yet another stall making sure not to take too much from each. Then he heard the shouting, apparently Thorin had discovered his note and was searching for him. He didn't understand why Thorin would search for him, not when he had two hatchlings that he had been forced to care for.
He saw all the company, apart from Thorin, looking frantically about him, as torches were brought out. It was then that Bilbo remembered that the company knew of his ring. That he might be invisible but his shadow was not. Guards were everywhere and Bilbo didn't know what to do, as he tried to keep to the shadows as best he could.
"Bilbo, it does not matter to us, we know you have to do this thing and you are like an uncle to us. Please don't leave us!" Kili begged.
"This is no fault of your own Bilbo, we know that you don't want to do this, but you must." Fili added.
"Would the people understand, if they knew? They would sooner kill every one of you, then suffer again at the hands of dragons. No boys, I can't go back and I must go forward, I must protect Erebor and my friends. I will not have dragons within the kingdom again, not after all you suffered."
"We would have you in the kingdom, Thorin is king and you don't know what its like to be without your one!" Kili said and Bilbo moved, before the guards could find him.
"Don't I Kili? I might not be a dwarf, but I love Thorin and its my love for him that makes me leave him. I would only endanger him, as I have to take care of two dragon hatchlings, Thorin and I could never be together, Smaug saw to that when he gave me his children." Bilbo said, before moving again. "There is nothing I can do boys, save what I am about to do."
"Every person Erebor has sworn not to harm the line of Durin!"
"And has every man outside of Erebor sworn to the same. I do not doubt that people from Laketown are just as fond of dragons as those of Erebor, perhaps fonder even. I will not have my children harmed."
"They aren't your children, the babe that is in your belly is your child, not these things!" Kili said and Bilbo saw Fili put a comforting hand to his shoulder. He couldn't stand to watch his boys be so sad, but he had other children now as well, children that would need him. He glanced down at his babes and kissed the tops of their heads.
"They are my children, I see them as such, I know I have been forced into seeing them as such, but still I see them as mine. I take care of what is mine, as best I can, for as long, as I can, but I can no longer take care of the company or Erebor. I cannot endanger my children, be they of scale or skin and I will not see them harmed. If they are to stay here, they will be harmed, or used and I won't allow that."
"Bilbo please!" Kili said. "Don't leave us!
"You will always be my boys, no matter where the road takes me. I will always think of you and love you, even though we can't be together." Bilbo stated. "I cannot have my child shouted at day after day, or have my other children harmed because of who their parent once was. I will also love your Uncle until the day I die, that is why I have to leave."
"You aren't leaving Uncle Bilbo, bar the gates, now!" Fili said and the gates crashed down, as Bilbo moved to another area.
"Do you think that something as simple as a gate would stop me?" Bilbo demanded, before falling silent. He tried to walk around the dwarves, but there were too many, especially sticking to the shadows as he was forced to do. Ultimately he climbed on top of several crates that were against a wall. He settled there, while the guards and citizens walked around Erebor looking for him. He was hungry and tired, but he couldn't sleep, for if he did he might give his position away. The babies were quiet in his arms and he looked down at them, smiling at their little faces, they had started to look sleepy. "Don't fall asleep." Bilbo whispered to them and they looked up at him with innocent eyes, little arms waving about, as time went on. He couldn't bring himself to make them stop moving as well, so he held them as they squirmed and little tears trailed down their cheeks. It made him want to cry himself, but he couldn't. Instead he dried their tears as best he could, as the guards continued to stamp around. Though eventually some of the common people gave up the search, none of the company did. They continued to call his name and look for him, Bilbo felt horrible for keeping them up all night. Yet he would do anything to protect the children he held in his arms, anything.
Someone started to snore loudly in the room above his head. Bilbo sighed allowing himself to fall asleep for a bit, it wasn't likely they would find him there after all.