Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit
The next day Thorin carried Bilbo as they continued their journey. When the sky once again grew dark, and dinner had been cleared, the dwarves fell off to sleep one by one until Bilbo and Thorin were left awake. Kili and Kili, who Bilbo had not seen, were on watch duty. Thorin noted the signs that something was terribly wrong in his head, Bilbo had not smiled, Bilbo had barely touched his food, Bilbo had cringed at being touched, Bilbo had not made eye contact with anyone, Bilbo hadn't slept a wink, and Bilbo had barely spoken. So when Bilbo began to slowly lift his shirt, Thorin grew quite upset. That was until he saw the letters carved into the soft flesh of Bilbo's stomach. Azog marking his pets, his toys, his sex slaves. Thorin was once again overwhelmed with the urge to hug his hobbit who should have never gone through such an ordeal but Bilbo lowered his shirt and scooted a little farther away. Had he lost Bilbo forever? Did Bilbo hate him as much as he, Thorin, hated himself? Thorin doubted it; Bilbo was not capable of that level of hate. Bilbo's hollowed eyes looked at the ground as he put his arms around himself and pulled his legs in close. "Bilbo I am so sorry. I should have protected you." Thorin's broken voice sounded odd in his ears but Bilbo's pointed ears seemed not to have heard, he gave no inclination he had heard Thorin's apology.
"Do you still love me? Even if I'm broken?" Bilbo asked as his dead eyes finally met Thorin's.
"I shall always love you Bilbo. I am sorry this happened to you. If I could take away your pain I would, I would bear it myself if I could. I should have protected you, not let this happen. I just wish I could know what you need. I wish I could know when you need to be held and when you need your space and when you need to talk." Thorin's voice grew frustrated.
"I don't want to talk. I want you to talk. Your voice is soothing." Bilbo said as he shut his eyes and leaned against Thorin.
"What should I talk about? I was so worried when you were gone I nearly went mad. I suppose I shouldn't talk about that. I'll tell you about my home instead. The mines. They are no place for a respectable hobbit like yourself. There's hardly any sunlight. You look so nice in the sunlight. I like the way it catches in your hair." Thorin murmured on as Bilbo leaned steadily more against him until at last the burglar had gone to sleep. Thorin stayed up all night talking, hoping it would keep Bilbo's nightmares at bay and it did.