Chapter 3

Since that day many things began to change in Bilbo's life, though it was true, everything was transformed from the moment he arrived to Pentamerone, but he did not believe that his life might change more and it still did. His morning (the only moment he could close his eyes and rest) became a constant torture; he could only think of Drogo and the strange encounter with Smaug. Eric kept saying that this will only bring more problems to him and, indeed, Bilbo began to fear those words to come true.

However, he did not understand the big problem he had until strange things started happening in Noctem. The skin-changers had adopted a strange attitude towards him; they approached cautiously and avoided eye contact, as if they were afraid that something would happen to them simply because they were looking at him directly. It seemed that they treated him with respect, which only made Bilbo feeling confused and fearful.

One day he tried to communicate his suspicions to his boss but he only laughed.

'I know, I've also noticed it' he said, cheerfully, as if it wasn't a problem at all.

'Why are you laughing?' Bilbo protested, frowning 'This is serious! Why do they do that?'

Eric rolled his eyes.

'I cannot believe you do not know already, you're too naive and innocent to realize it' he said, amused and exasperated. 'It's simple, Bilbo. Apparently, the attraction Smaug feels for you is more powerful and durable than I had thought. Apparently they all treat you like you were their...'

But Eric did not finish his sentence because customers demanded drinks and they did not seem willing to wait much longer, at least the hunters were the ones who looked more desperate.

Bilbo tried to concentrate on his work and forget everything that Eric had told him; he thought it was incredibly ridiculous that Smaug had ordered something like that, he was just a human, nothing compared to an immortal. In addition, the investigation about Drogo it was not making any progress and he began to worry about him every day.

'Hey... I still do not know your name. I've seen you many times, but I have not dared to ask you...'

The human turned, a bit uncomfortable; he hated when some customers tried to have a much more personal conversation with him. This time it was a hunter; he had supported his chin in his hands and looked at him as if he was drunk (which was most likely, given the circumstances).

'If I were you I would not try it, Marius' said Eric looking at him sternly, 'I'm serious, you will have problems.'

Marius growled. He ignored Eric and moved closer to Bilbo, but then a skin-changer intervened and showed him his sharp teeth.

'Stay away from the human' he growled.

'You cannot give me orders,' Marius said, suddenly furious.

However, that skin-changer was not alone, there were five more who came to support him.

'I have no desire to fight, hunter, but if you insist on trying to touch or even look at this human with bad intentions I will have to get you out. You have to understand something and I hope all your friends listen to this also: this mortal belongs to someone and no one else can touch him' he said making the last words to be heard by all.

Bilbo frowned. He did not like to be treated like an object and he tried to opening his mouth to protest, to say that he belonged to no one, when he felt Eric took him by the arm. He saw him shake his head, as if to say it was better not mess with. So he had to bite his lip and keep quiet.

Marius still seemed to resist being intimidated. The other hunters had seen the problem and because of his hatred to skin-changers they approached to support him. Bilbo 's heart was beating fast , he was hoping it would not end in a fight.

'Or do you want to have problems with lord Smaug?' Insisted the skin-changer 'Because he would be very upset if he finds out you approached his human...'

But there was no need to say more, the name Smaug was enough for Marius to walk away and the other skin-changer and hunters disperse.

'And you, Eric' said the skin-changer who had threatened to Marius, 'you shouldn't have a human like him in this place. All the attention he receive will only make Smaug get angry... He probably gets him out of here and takes him back with him to Dol Guldur soon.'

Bilbo shivered. No, Smaug could not do that. He was exaggerating; he spoke as if his leader was too interested in him, in a mere mortal. No, he had only seen him once... and they had kissed, but it had not meant anything...

'We'll see what happens,' said Eric, trying to appear calm.

But the skin-changer did not seem quite satisfied. He looked at Bilbo for a few seconds, then he looked away as if he had made a mistake.

'Are there many mortals like you out there?' he asked, suddenly. 'Here there is none except you.'

'I don't know what you're talking about' Bilbo said . And it was quite true, he had no idea what the skin-changer tried to say. A human like him? Weak? Insignificant? What did exactly he meant by that kind of words?

'Bilbo is not like "those" mortals because there is none' Eric corrected him. 'They are legends and myths that your people invented because they are unfamiliar with humans.'

The skin-changer was not quite agree, judging by his expression. He looked at Eric and then turned his eyes to Bilbo, as if he was living proof that the owner of the bar was completely wrong.

'What did he mean by that, Eric?' asked the mortal, once the skin-changer walked away.

'Nothing important, Bilbo.'

The human frowned. He did not like anything that situation at all, especially the fact that most of the people in the bar believed that he belonged to Smaug. He told Eric, however, he received no word of support from his boss he expected.

'I'm sorry, but if Smaug thinks you belong to him you cannot do anything against it. I told you, you're his from the moment he laid eyes on you. There is not choice for you.'

'But...'

'No, Bilbo, you have to understand. I've already explained you; Pentamerone is governed only by three leaders: Smaug, Thranduil and Thorin. They decide what to do with our lives, whether we want it or not. And since Smaug, one of the most powerful lords of this place has decided that he wants you to be his, you must shut up and accept it. Or what? Are you going to confront him and tell him "No"? Are you going to tell him to leave you alone?'

The young man looked down, he didn't like that. It was like his feelings do not count anything.

'Well, I do not understand why you complaints, it's not like you don't feel attracted to him, is it? The other night it seemed that you were very happy with him.'

Bilbo flushed, because, unfortunately for him, Eric was right. He still remembered the feeling that ran from his head to his toe while he kissed him. However, he could not think of those things, his mission was to find Drogo and return home with him, though it seemed increasingly difficult.

'I'm not here for that, I just want to find...'

But Eric interrupted him sharply.

'I'd forget it!' He pulled a crumpled paper from his pockets, 'I was asking for Drogo in other bars and one of the owners told me he had seen your friend in this direction. It is a bar billiard'

Bilbo smiled.

'You have to ask for Alex, they said they saw Drogo arguing with him in that place' he added and suddenly became very serious. 'But you must promise not to go there alone... you better find Kili and ask him to accompany you, I'm sure he will accept.'

He nodded, but did not pay much attention to the words of his boss. He did not want to waste time. So the next afternoon he left the apartment; he had few hours to return to Noctem so he had to do it fast.

It took a while to find the street that was written on paper, after all, he still could not get used to this strange place. However, when he arrived at the bar, he regretted not having followed Eric's advice. He knew that he still in Dale's zone, so he was sure there were no skin-changers, but also there were no humans, only hunters and those looked even more dangerous than those who went to Noctem. He tried with all his might to ignore the scrutinizing eyes that were watching him or the way that one of them licked his lips when he saw him passed by. If it was not because he had promised something to Primula, he'd walk away from there in that moment. But he took a deep breath and went to the manager and asked for Alex Kellan.

The manager had no need to say his name, Bilbo 's request had been heard loud enough for a hunter with long brown hair tied in a ponytail, stay away from the table where he was playing and walked to the mortal. Bilbo saw that one of his companions whispered something in his ear and winked, before looked at him.

The young man felt increasingly uncomfortable.

'Do I know you?' asked Alex as he was close enough to him, perhaps too close 'I don't think so, I would remember you, I definitely would. You're not easy to forget.'

'Actually... I wanted to talk about Drogo...'

Alex tensed immediately and took Bilbo's arm to get him out of the bar. The mortal thought the hunter wanted to hurt him, until they stopped outside the place and he finally let him go.

'What do you want to know about him?' the hunter muttered, nervous.

'The last time you saw him... what happened? What did he say?'

'I don't know if I should talk about this to you, I don't even know you...'

'Please' interrupted Bilbo, 'I'm desperate... he is my friend and my cousin's husband... his family needs him. I will not use the information you give me against anyone, I just want to find him, please...'

Alex seemed reluctant to give information; however, Bilbo's plea had effect on him.

'He wanted me to get him out of here,' he said, reluctantly, after a while.

'Can you do that?'

'Yes,' Alex said , 'but it is very risky and I need time for planning. Drogo wanted to cross it in a week and I told him that was impossible. He looked scared and anxious, but he did not say why. He said he could not wait that long, and I replied that I couldn't do it in less time... So he went. I think he looked for help in the other side of the city.'

Bilbo swallowed. He did not want to hear that, firstly because he was increasingly worried about Drogo and second he did not want to find it necessary to go to Dol Guldur to look for him.

'Listen to what I say' Alex blurted suddenly. He had been looking at Bilbo the last few minutes 'if Drogo is on the other side, you probably will never see him again. You better stop looking for him; it's too risky for you. And don't ever come to places like this again, I say this for your safety. Come on, get out before someone decides to leave the bar and come for you.'

Bilbo wanted to say that he did not think to stop looking for Drogo, but he realized it was just a waste of time; also he was eager to get away from that place. He turned, but did not move.

'If I ever decide to leave... Could you get me out of here?

'Of course.'

'Thank you' he answered, before leaving.

But, as he advanced, Bilbo realized that he was lost and he had the terrible feeling that he was being followed. He wanted to go faster and try to convince himself that it was just his imagination, but soon, he took the wrong path and walked to three hunters who he had seen in the bar. They definetly had followed him.

'Don't want to play with us, little mortal?' One of them said, licking his lips.

Bilbo tried to think of the best way to escape, but they were three and certainly much faster than him...

He approached slowly, with an unpleasant smile. Then Bilbo heard footsteps behind him; he was almost sure it was another that was going to join them and approach him from behind, when he saw the smiles began to fade from their faces. And the young man saw the fear in their eyes, shining.

'I thought the rules that I made about humans were clear' said a deep voice behind him, 'no one can touch them...'

'Of course, Thorin Oakenshield, we just thought he might need help, he is lost and...'

'Well, I think he doesn't need you anymore. You can go.'

Without protest, the three hunters disappeared, however, Bilbo was still afraid of the other hunter; he felt the fear through his veins. He did not want to turn around now that he knew that behind him there was one of the lords of hunters... Also his voice intimidated him; it was too deep and too hard...

'What were you doing here? This place is dangerous to humans, you cannot trust in the hunters of this part of...

But Thorin interrupted himself when he took Bilbo by the shoulder and made him turn sharply. The young man suppressed a groan. He quickly realized all the details on him. His hair was long and dark, he has a short and dark beard, for a moment, Bilbo wanted to touch it, but was distracted more when he saw his eyes; they were completely blue and so deep that Bilbo felt fascinated when he looked at them. He was so absorbed in them that he did not realize that Thorin also had been staring at him.

The hunter reached out his hand to touch Bilbo, but the mortal realized it on time and, fearing he would hurt him, he stepped back to avoid contact.

Thorin moved away too, with a strange expression on his face. He shook his head as if he was trying to wake up from a pleasant dream.

'A human like you shouldn't be here,' he said, now annoyed. 'How can you risk yourself like that? Knowing that you're...'

Bilbo was getting confused, also it seemed that the hunter had trouble concentrating, he was trying to avoid seeing the mortal's eyes.

'Mortals like you should avoid these places or at least have someone to protect them and...' Thorin shut up again and shook his head as if he tried to concentrate.

But Bilbo was tired of being confused, so he looked directly into his eyes, hoping that finally someone could answer the question he had on his mind since the day before.

'What do you mean with "someone like you"?'

It was as if several emotions were reflected in Thorin's face at the same time, however, the anger should have won because he frowned.

'You must know,' said Thorin, looking away again, as if something that was away from Bilbo interested him more. The young man thought he saw some flush on his cheeks. 'Humans like you are just here to torture us...'

That did not clarify anything, just the fact that, without knowing him well, Thorin hated him. Bilbo felt bad about it, but he had no idea why.

'Come, I'll walk you home.'

'No, thanks, I'll be fine,' said Bilbo, feeling annoyed.

He thought he saw Thorin smiling, but maybe it was his imagination because this gesture quickly disappeared.

'Do you know where are we?' he asked, trying to hide his amusement.

He shook his head and snorted.

'I thought so' said Thorin. 'Tell me where you live'

Knowing it would be impossible to reach the apartment in time to change his clothes and arrive to Noctem without his help, Bilbo gave him the address.

'It's not far from here, follow me.'

Reluctantly, Bilbo realized that he wanted to see Thorin 's eyes again, but he still walking, so it was impossible at that moment. He felt strange being with him. He intimidated him because he was the leader of the hunters and he knew he had a lot of skill in combat, but he also felt...

'Why were you in that place?' asked Thorin, interrupting Bilbo's thoughts.

'Because I'm looking for someone,' he answer.

'But you should know the humans don't approach to that place...'

'I arrived to Pentamerone few days ago; I don't even knew existed the... you' he answered, feeling embarrassed. He did not believe he was telling the truth to a complete stranger.

Thorin stopped and turned to see him directly, he seemed surprised.

'You just came for that? To find someone? Nobody warned you about this place?'

'Yes, they did it, many times' replied Bilbo, ' but he needs me, he's my friend and my cousin's husband... I had to come to know what had happened to him. I cannot leave him.'

Thorin looked at him in silence, the young man had no idea what could be going through his mind and began to feel uncomfortable, suddenly noticed that one of Thorin's hands rested on his cheek, and without knowing why, he blushed. However, he quickly removed his hand and turned to walk without saying a word.

Bilbo felt much better when he saw the old building, he thought he saw Thorin scowling. He thanked him before heading to the entrance, but something stopped him again.

'Tell me your name.'

The mortal turned surprised by the order, he was sure that Thorin was someone used to giving orders all the time but he did not like that.

'Tell me your name, please,' Thorin said again, interpreting correctly the human's frowning.

'Bilbo Baggins' he replied.

'Bilbo... I'll help you to find your friend.'

The young man was so surprised that for a few seconds he could not react.

'Just promise me you will not risk yourself like that again.'

For the first time since he had arrived there, Bilbo did not feel so alone. He approached Thorin and took one of his hands as he gave him a radiant and sincere smile.

'Thank you.'

Without thinking, Thorin smiled at him back and touched his face, his thumb stroked the human's lower lip, making him blushed violently. Bilbo stepped back and Thorin shook his head and clenched his fists as if he were fighting something stronger than him.

'Stop torturing me' Bilbo heard him muttering.

'Thorin...'

'See you soon' he interrupted, turning around.

Despite how happy he was that someone would help him, Bilbo had a strange feeling about his future, as if his problems were to increase with each passing day. However, he had not to think of them in that moment. He had to go to Noctem.