A/N Thanks to everyone who took the time to write reviews! You are all very kind and it is extraordinary for me to be able to read the all your thoughtful and very generous responses! I read them all and they make me smile a little bit ridiculously large knowing that people seem to genuinely enjoy the story, flaws and all :) Sorry this chapter is so short - though the last one was unusually large - but I've been so busy trying to get my life together in a foreign country and its all a bit intimidating and nerve-wracking but also exciting! The semester will be for real real starting soon so I'm not sure how frequently I'll be updating, but I seem to be able to find time to write bits and pieces in the wee hours of the night, so it will keep coming! Enjoy!

The company had moved out only a few hours after the eagles had dropped them off on the tall plateau of rock that faced a large valley and then seemingly endless forest. After Thorin's wounds had been tended to, Gandalf had surprised them all by telling them that he had other business to attend to and would be leaving them soon.

While the group had protested most vehemently, seeing as how having a wizard at one's back was turning out to be incredibly, life-savingly useful. Thorin had simply narrowed his eyes, shaking his head and muttering something about the predictability of the wizard's unpredictability.

Gandalf had assured them he would stay long enough to make sure that they made it somewhere safe to resupply and, if they were lucky, find some new ponies.

They descended down the precariously high rock to the valley below trailing after the wizard. While most of the company was tired and in someway injured, Thorin was by far the worst of the lot. He was limping and favoring his left shoulder after his encounter with Azog and was trailing in the back with Bilbo instead of leading from the front as he was accustomed.

Their leader had gritted his teeth after refusing to halt and continued on with his usual stubbornness, no matter how many perfectly logical and highly practical arguments Bilbo made.

"Thorin…" Bilbo began again for what felt like the fifth time that day, the dwarf's name still feeling unfamiliar on his tongue. He had hoped Thorin would have seen by now that pushing himself while injured was both unnecessary and idiotic, but the dwarf merely grunted and hobbled forward.

"You know it's not, uh, weak or anything to take a bit of a rest. No one would judge you for it." Bilbo tried yet another tactic as he walked beside Thorin, still facing Dwalin's back but looking out the corner of his eye at the dwarf.

"Yes I am well aware, but that does not change the fact that those goblins could be after us again as soon as night falls." Thorin winced as he tried to straighten out to his full height. 'Probably trying to intimidate me,' Bilbo thought with a sigh, 'old habits and all that…'

"So… What if Fili and Kili were as injured as you, hm?" Bilbo crossed his arms with a huff, "would you stop then or would you keep pushing them as you push yourself?"

"I would –" Thorin began, his eyes shifting and Bilbo could tell their leader was desperately trying to think of something plausible, "I would… carry them."

"Carry them…" Bilbo said incredulously as the dwarf quickly looked away, refusing to make eye contact with him.

"Yes."

Bilbo was caught between wanting to shake Thorin until he saw how ridiculous he was being and sighing at how predictably and infuriatingly stubborn the dwarf was.

"So what you're telling me is that you would carry both of your fully grown nephews for an entiredays journey if they were injured?"

Thorin still refused to meet the hobbit's gaze, as if not looking at Bilbo meant he would not have to admit he was wrong.

"…Yes."

Bilbo let out an exasperated groan, "now you are just being purposely obtuse!" The hobbit stuck an accusing finger into Thorin's shoulder; "there is nowayeven youcould carry two dwarves laden with armor for an entire day!"

Bilbo had been ready to pounce on this opening until he realized that Thorin had let out a small hiss of pain at the hobbit's contact with his body.

"Alright, that is it!" Bilbo threw up his hands in annoyance, "we are stopping even if I have to knock you unconsciousto do it!"

Thorin turned to full on glare at Bilbo who just narrowed his eyes right back, "I have told you I am fine. We are not stopping just because –"

The dwarf wasn't able to finish his protest as Bilbo called out a halt to the company who all seemed to heed the hobbit's command with some relief. Bilbo was slightly surprised to see that the dwarves were actually listening to him, especially Dwalin – who usually never did anything against Thorin's direct orders – but after the hobbit had saved their leader, even the elder dwarves and those he had barely spoken seemed to gladly acknowledge his request.

"We are not stopping!" Thorin tried to resume his refusals but had his coat grabbed rather swiftly by Dwalin's hard fist and was pulled over to a rock sitting near a babbling creek that ran next to the path they were on.

"The lad's right, Thorin," Dwalin crossed his scar covered arms after plopping Thorin down. "You need to stop moving for awhile or you'll just be making it worse. We'll set off again in a few hours, just try and get some rest."

Thorin looked around to the rest of the company for support but found the rest were either shifting their eyes in the anticipation of the dwarf's fury, or had expressions similar to Fili and Kili who both looked relieved and nodded their staunch approval of Dwalin's words.

The brothers walked over to their uncle was sitting, "I think we all need some rest at this point," Kili groaned as he stretched his aching back before Fili clapped his shoulder with a laugh.

"Not for us, brother dear, we need to go hunt for some food. I swear if I hear your stomach make another noise I'll remove it myself."

Kili stuck his tongue out at his brother as he placed a hand over the offending organ. "If you didn't want to hear it then maybe you shouldn't have eaten all the bread!"

Fili jabbed his brother with the pommel of one of his many daggers. "See now that is funny, because I'm fairly sure I remember giving the last piece of bread to you."

Kili jumped away with a glare, but it was quickly replaced by a wicked grin, "Oh my, I must have forgotten! Though I don't know how I managed that seeing as how it tasted so delicious."

The blonde dwarf flipped his dagger so the pointy end was facing Kili as he narrowed his eyes with devious grin of his own, "you had best start running, brother. I'm rather afraid I've had so little time to practice lately, I might just accidentally hit something vital."

Kili let out a nervous laugh as his glanced quickly between his brother and the dagger, "I, um…" the younger dwarf looked pleadingly at Bilbo who just gave him an amused shrug before Kili pointed frantically at something behind Fili with wide eyes, "Oh no! Watch out Fili! It's a- it's a giant boar!"

As Fili spun quickly on his foot to see what was behind him, Kili took advantage of his brother's momentary lapse in concentration by sprinting in the opposite directing, cackling with mirth.

"Oh you little prat!" Fili shouted at his brother's retreating form before chasing after him, "I'm going to turn you into a pincushion! A dwarfpincushion!"

Bilbo chuckled as the two dwarves ran around the camp in a flurry of shouts and laughter. He almost didn't catch the muttered "idiots" from Thorin who was gingerly removing the sword from his back.

The dwarf made to remove the oak shield that usually hung from his belt but his hand stuttered to a halt as he realized it was no longer there. Bilbo watched Thorin's face grow tight as his fingers clenched at empty air.

The hobbit took a seat on one of the nearby rocks, not really sure what to say. His friendship with Thorin was new and tentative and he didn't want to ruin it by running his mouth again, lest he ruin his second chance.

Thorin closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before opening them again, "I must have… it must have fallen."

Bilbo didn't really understand why the shield was so important to Thorin, but seeing as how his title was 'Oakenshield' it must have been something significant. "I'm sorry, Thorin… I know it must have meant a lot to you."

Thorin let out a short, sad laugh. "Yes… I suppose it did." There was a moment of silence before the dwarf continued quietly, "though I did not realize how much until it was gone."

Bilbo glanced at Thorin curiously, wondering why a dwarf of all things would keep a piece of wood to defend himself. He debated with himself for all of a few moments before giving in to his curiosity.

"How did you come by it? If you don't mind me asking…"

The dwarf continued removing his gear, albeit very slowly, as he sunk into some unknown memory. "It was during the battle for the east gate of Moria. Better known to my people as the Battle of Azanulbizar."

Bilbo wracked his brain, he knewhe had heard this somewhere before he just couldn't place it.

"It was during the battle my grandfather Thrór was slain by Azog the Defiler," Thorin spat the orc's name as it fell from his lips. Bilbo felt himself recoil slightly at the name, 'stupid, stupid hobbit!' he thought to himself angrily, of course he had heard it before! Balin had told him of the battle, 'the last thing Thorin needs is to be reminded of that right now!'

Bilbo floundered for a second, unsure if he should change the subject or not, before the dwarf continued, "we had fought long that day. Our forces were beginning to retreat. I… watched many of my kin slain by our foes."

The hobbit winced, imagining how hard it was for Thorin to talk about even more losses to his people that the dragon was not responsible for. "That was the first time I saw the pale monster. He swung his mace with a blood lust and malice I have witnessed in no other of his kind… It was... horrible to see many of the bravest dwarves I have ever known shake with terror."

"My grandfather foolishly faced the orc by himself," Thorin's face was now unreadable as he un-buckled his bracers, "he had already been injured protecting my father and I couldn't reach him in time…"

Bilbo almost reached out a hesitant hand to comfort the dwarf, but thought perhaps he should wait, oh, maybe more than a few hours into their friendship before he made a habit of breaching the dwarf's personal space.

"I'm sure… I'm sure you tried as best you could."

"Unfortunately, Master Baggins, in the field of battle trying counts for very little. The fool shouldn't have attempted to take on the beast himself. I believe he had… I believe reclaiming Moria was his last hope after the destruction of Erebor. As the battle turned, reason left him and recklessness took its place."

Thorin shrugged off his great coat as he spoke quietly, "He was slain within minutes, his head cut off and raised up over the battle." Bilbo couldn't help but let out a small gasp at the image, that Thorin had seen his own grandfathernot only killed but then to witness the mutilation of his body… It was almost too much for the hobbit to even comprehend.

"I admit I was… filled with a rage I had not experienced again until last night. I lost myself and I was almost killed because of it. The orc had torn my sword from me and was about to deliver a blow that would have crushed me, but I was fortunate. I reached out and grabbed a stray piece of wood and used it as a shield."

The dwarf was down to his woven blue shirt now and Bilbo thought for the first time he looked… real. The Thorin he had known before was almost an untouchable idea, cold and distant, but now that the hobbit looked at prince before him in not a single piece of mail, Bilbo thought he looked almost fragile. Not that the hobbit would ever say that to Thorin, no he liked his limbs exactly where they were, thank you very much.

"That branch saved my life. I was able to buy enough time to grab another sword to cut off Azog's hand and rally my troops. We lost many that day. It cost me… cost us far too much."

Bilbo gaped at Thorin for a moment, "you were the one that cut off his hand?" The dwarf gave Bilbo an almost imperceptible smile, "it was the one good thing to come of that day. Though I had thought him dead from his wounds until last night…"

Thorin gave a pained sigh as he stretched his back a bit before hunching again quickly, "it seems I have been mistaken about many things as of late, Master Baggins."

The hobbit shot up, finally realizing that no one had changed the wrappings on Thorin's back since very early that morning. "Well no reason to let that fester on top of it all. Take off your shirt, I'll change the bandages."

Thorin grunted as he shot an annoyed glare to the hobbit, "it can wait a little longer."

Bilbo threw up his hands for the second time that day, "oh for the love of—can you please not be difficult at a time like this! Your back is probably oozing puss and blood and all manner of infectious things!"

The dwarf frowned as he crossed his arms, "it is not oozing puss. Has anyone ever mentioned you hobbits talk far too much?"

Bilbo pretended to ponder for a second before giving the dwarf an unimpressed smile, "Why yes… I believe it was you actually. Now take off your shirt or I will get Dwalin to help me, I know he at least cares for your health."

"I — oh alright. Just make it quick, we've lingered here far too long already."

Bilbo quickly fetched the salve and some fresh bandages from his pack and returned to where Thorin was sitting.

It didn't take long for the hobbit's deft fingers to remove the bandages from Thorin's back. Ori had done some very adept stitching on the larger cuts from the warg's claws, but the mace had left some very impressive bruising that covered nearly all of the dwarf's skin.

As Bilbo applied the salve, it hit him again just how poorly the previous night could have ended, not only for himself, but for Thorin as well. He'd have to thank Gandalf for getting the eagles to come to their rescue before the wizard left on his business. The hobbit wrapped the wounds back up and smiled softly at the dwarf's back.

'He really isn't so bad,' Bilbo thought to himself, 'once you get past all the glares.'

The hobbit hoped in that moment that he and Thorin would become good friends. The dwarf needed someone to talk to as much as he needed someone to tell him when he was being irritatingly stubborn.

'He's felt alone for far too long,' Bilbo pondered feeling a twinge of sadness, 'I just hope he's willing to open up enough to let me help.'