Thorin's P.O.V.

I woke to everyone else still asleep. Feeling something cold pressed against my chest, I tried to move it away. But it just clung to my tunic. Looking down, I saw that it was none other than Bilbo Baggins. No, not Bilbo. Alaric, one of the few vampires that could walk in sunlight. Sighing, I stopped moving, and Alaric just moved closer to my chest, no heart beating, no breath coming.

"Uncle?" Kili asked, looking up with tired eyes. I slowly inclined my head for him to continue.

"Uncle, I was wondering, Bilbo is going with us, isn't he? We won't leave him here?" Kili asked, his dark eyes sad.

"No, Kili. We will not leave him here. He is a part of this Company." I explained to my youngest nephew.

Kili smiled. "That's good to hear." he said drowsily before he curled back up to Fili. I nodded and looked back down to Alaric. His hair was lightly touching my chin, and his pale skin shown in the early rays.

"Alaric? Are you awake?" I asked in his ear. Alaric shifted and opened his eyes to look up at me.

"Good morning, Thorin."

"Good morning, Alaric."