A/N Helllllo all! Thanks to everyone who took time to review, I very much appreciate your immensely kind words :') On a side note, I wrote a one-shot based on Frerin and how he died (aka why this chapter took so long to get out) which you can find on my page ( or: /works/707672) if you're interested in more Durin family feels/ flashbacks to when Thorin and Dís were younger in this fic universe. Also, I had this awesome thought of doing a modern hobbit AU in which Bilbo is a therapist and all the dwarves go to him to solve their fucked up pasts but then I realized I had pretty much already written it in here, so, I'm thinking of revising the title to A Very Respectable Hobbit: How Bilbo Baggins Got His Middle Earth Ph.D in the Therapeutic Sciences of Dwarf Psychology (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Enjoy!

Bilbo Baggins was feeling confident. Yes, that's right, the hobbit was indeed savoring the feeling of having something for once go right on this quest. He had somehow convinced an elf to help them, Thorin's wounds were healing very well, and he had had a quiet, if short, sleep in Fili's cell.

Of course, looking back, Bilbo thought he should have immediately stamped out the feeling as soon as it had begun because nothing, nothing guaranteed complications like the expectation he was going to succeed.

Bilbo had woken up and quickly gone to check on Thorin's wounds. The dwarf seemed to finally have gotten a good rest, whether it was because of Beorn's balm or not, Bilbo didn't know, but he was extremely grateful. Having snuck into the prince's cell as quietly as he could, Bilbo silently checked on Thorin's wounds, seeing that the slashes left by the warg's claws had closed up.

Now instead of four horrible, puss infested wounds, Thorin had four thick scars that ran from his spine to his shoulder. The dwarf was a warrior, Bilbo could tell that much from the lines left from previous battles that littered his skin, so he hoped Thorin wouldn't mind too much that there was a permanent reminder of that awful night on his skin.

The bruising was no longer a mess of purple and blue splotches, but merely skin with a slight yellowish taint. The hobbit had sighed with relief, feeling that he could now stop watching the stubborn dwarf limp around and finally stand strong and tall as he was meant to.

It had made Bilbo… sad, he supposed, to see such a proud and noble dwarf hunched and pained. The Thorin that the company needed, the Thorin that the prince needed himself to be perceived as was not an injured wreck, but proud and headstrong.

Bilbo had let himself gaze at the dwarf's face for a few uninterrupted minutes. He had never really had the opportunity to take in Thorin's features without those fierce blue eyes staring back at him. The hobbit would like to think now they were friends, Thorin's stare would make him less nervous – and it did – but he had yet to feel like he wasn't being stared through. Like the dwarf's gaze passed his own eyes and face, passed his expression, and simply delved into the very depths of his mind.

It was… unsettling to have the absolute focus of such a dwarf on him for extended periods of time. Thorin always seemed to expect the best out of his company, and more intensely, himself. Even though the hobbit knew he could probably never be the brave or resourceful type of soldier that Thorin was used to relying on, Bilbo couldn't help but want to try.

As he looked at Thorin's face in sleep, Bilbo saw it truly peaceful for one of the very first times in all the months he had known the dwarf. He had seen the prince angry, despairing, and – on a few very rare occasions – pleased, but the hobbit rarely saw their leader looking relaxed.

The weight of a thousand lost souls that Thorin usually seemed to carry around was lifted and the dwarf looked so much younger and untroubled. Without his usual scowl, Bilbo thought Thorin appeared far more like he should. Like someone who could wake up and smile at you, easy and friendly, and you wouldn't think anything of it.

But Bilbo did think of it. He remembered what Thorin had told him the night before. That the dwarf had not only lost a countless number of his people, but also a brother. Of course, Bilbo didn't have any siblings to speak of, but, if Thorin and his brother were even remotely as close as Fili and Kili… Well, Bilbo didn't even want to begin to imagine what one of the Durin brothers would do if the other were to die.

Bilbo made his way to the door of the cell again, but before he left, the hobbit took one last look back. He hoped so deeply at that moment that once all this adventuring business was done, Thorin would be able to keep that look of peace on his face even while awake. That he would finally be able to let himself feel free.

The hobbit made his way over to the door to the guardroom, slipping the ring back on his finger. Pressing his ear to the door, Bilbo listened for voices. Hearing nothing but his own breathing, the hobbit made his way through quietly.

However, Just as he shut the door behind him, the opposite door slammed open and two elves came through. "And so he told me, me, that we had to take all the barrels away! Like we have nothing better to do!" The elf farthest from him let out a groan as he turned towards the twenty or so barrels that stood on the opposite side of the room.

"All of these?" The closer elf nodded, holding up his hands in exasperation, "I know, that's exactly what I said! First they want us to guard the prisoners, then get their leader ready for more questioning, and then take all the barrels out!" The two elves shook their heads, "I don't understand why we don't just make the dwarves do it. They might as well do some lifting if they're here eating our food."

Bilbo felt his eyes widen in shock, 'they're going to take Thorin again!' He couldn't let his friend face the elf king again! Not when he had finally got the dwarf to agree that revenge was worth putting off at least for the time being. If Thorin saw Thranduil again… Bilbo didn't want to even contemplate how poorly that would turn out.

The far elf started speaking again and jogged the hobbit out of his panicked thoughts, "At least the storeroom is just down the hall and the river does the rest… I don't know why the prince insists we even need to trade with Esgaroth, their wine is barely palatable."

The closer elf shrugged, "Something about fostering closer relationships with our neighbors. I'm of the personal opinion that they should be the one's doing the fostering but it's not like anyone would ask me anyway."

The feeling of elated confidence was quickly slipping out of Bilbo faster than Lobelia Sackville-Baggins could swipe his fine silver into the ruffles of her dress. All the time he thought he had, all those hours to plan and alert the dwarves was dwindling away. He had to get them out before the elves took Thorin again. He could only hope that his new elf friend would know that whatever plan he had been making better happen well before nightfall.

"That's because your ideas are generally a notch higher than absolutely horrible," the far elf chuckled as he eyed the barrels distastefully, "better start moving these, the prince will want them in the river by nightfall."

The other elf groaned rather spectacularly but nodded in agreement.

As the two elves began their task of lifting the large barrels out of the room one by one, Bilbo sat stock still trying not to let his mind run wild with the sheer number of ways that they were now most likely going to be caught.

Thorin seeing the elf-king was not an option so he had to think of something, anything else. If only he knew where to find Legolas, then maybe they could work together… But as Bilbo watched the elves going about their task, he couldn't help but feel that, short of leaving the dwarves and going to look for Legolas in a completely unfamiliar palace, there was little he could do.

Bilbo would wait. He would wait a few hours for the elf to come and tell him his plan and if he didn't show, well then, Bilbo would have to figure something out himself. Though he dearly wanted to, the hobbit dared not pace for fear of making noise that might rouse any suspicion.

The first hour crept by in a fit of nervous anticipation. He hoped, oh how he hoped that Legolas would just hurry up already. It was… Well, it was very rude to keep someone waiting, especially at a time like this! Bilbo could feel his very nerves begin to fray.

As the second hour passed, Bilbo felt well and truly helpless. He was running out of time, and what little he did have left before they came for Thorin, the hobbit didn't want to waste it sitting around doing nothing but nervously wringing his hands.

Bilbo had been about to throw the far door that fed into the hallway open in his panicked anxiety, but as soon as his hand touched the wooden frame, it popped open.

The hobbit jumped back in surprise, clutching his heart, but let out a gasping sigh of relief as he saw it was not one of the elven guards, but Legolas.

"Bilbo? Bilbo are you in here?" As soon as he saw the expression on the elf's face, however, the hobbit's momentary sense of elation was quickly doused in cold fear.

Slipping off the ring, Bilbo popped into visibility. "What's wrong?" he asked anxiously, fearing that something big was indeed about to make their plans for escape much more difficult.

"Things have… changed, my friend."

Bilbo gaped at Legolas' slightly down turned mouth, "Changed? What does that mean?"

The elf shifted somewhat nervously, "It means that the guards are coming for Thorin Oakenshield now. My… The king has ordered that he not be returned to his cell until he talks."

Bilbo let out a sting of curses that would have earned him a swift spoon to the head from his father, but felt that, in this case at least, he was rather more than justified. "Legolas, we need to get out of here now!"

The elf looked slightly taken aback at the hobbit's yell, "Now? I was going to suggest we wait until tomorrow night, my friend."

Bilbo couldn't help but wave his arms frantically as the hysteria started to well within him. "Thorin can't see Thranduil now! It won't… it won't end well for him."

Legolas narrowed his eyes slightly at the hobbit, "Does he plan to hurt the king?"

Bilbo shook his head swiftly but couldn't help but feel that the elf didn't quite believe him, "No – no nothing so… premeditated, I just… Look, I know Thorin, and I'm telling you we need to leave now."

The elf sighed as he ran a hand over his pale hair, "I… I am sorry, my friend, but I do not think it can be done."

Bilbo let out a frustrated hiss as he crossed his arms, "Of course it can be done! We just have to… we need to think of it! There has to be something, a secret passage? Places like these have secret passage's right? Or – or some sort of… of…"

And then it hit him, their way out.

"We could… use the barrels."

Legolas looked at him like he had sprouted an extra pair of hobbit arms, "I'm afraid I am having some difficulty following your thoughts, little one."

Bilbo looked up at the elf, his eyes widening in hope, "The barrels! The barrels that go to Esgaroth! I heard the guards talking about them, if we could just – just get in them somehow, we could follow the river out!"

"You want to… ride inside barrels down miles of rapid filled waters?" Bilbo nodded enthusiastically, feeling that his mother would have been immensely proud of his quick wit. "I feel compelled to inform you how absolutely ridiculous that sounds."

"Well, do you have a better idea?" Bilbo shot in defensively, "Because I am open to suggestions at anytime, you know."

The elf raised his hands in placation, "I just… This will be dangerous Bilbo. Not just because you might get caught, those waters will not be safe especially inside barrels."

Bilbo felt about ready to tear his hair out. Of course he knew that this would be risky, but the alternative was letting Thorin go back to face the elf-king! He… he would do anything to keep that from happening. "I know. But we need to leave now, not tomorrow night or whenever Thranduil sees fit to send Thorin back to his cell. Thorin will never talk, so this might… this might be our only option."

Legolas nodded slowly, "Alright, if this is what you want, then I will aid you as best I can."

Bilbo shot the elf a small, albeit strained, smile, "I… thank you, Legolas. You have shown us great kindness."

Legolas gently laid a hand on Bilbo's shoulder, "Of course, my friend. I will go try and stall the guards as long as I can. You must go gather your dwarves. I hope we meet again under better circumstances one day."

"Me too."

Bilbo smiled warmly at the elf who turned towards the door again before pausing and looking back over his shoulder, "… and Bilbo?" The hobbit looked questioningly at his new friend, "Be careful."

The hobbit let out a strained laugh, "Oh it's just a bit of water, how dangerous can it be?"

Legolas smiled gently, though his old eyes looked almost sad. "I meant when you reach Erebor. A dragon is not the only enemy to Thorin Oakenshield that resides there."

Bilbo felt equal bits confused and annoyed at the cryptic nature in which the elves seemed to be partial to offering their advice. "There's something worse than a dragon?"

The elf turned back to the door and started to push through it, "In it's way, I suppose it is. Good luck, Bilbo. May the Valar watch over you."

There was a moment of silence as Bilbo considered what the elf said but he felt nothing but more confused than he had before. But, even if he had wanted to, this was most definitely not the time to be solving elvish riddles.

Bilbo ran into the cell room and, as quick as he could, freed Nori, the only dwarf he was confident who could easily free the others from the cells.

"Nori," the hobbit began hurriedly handing his companion one of the other lock picks from the dwarf's bag, "haven't really got time to explain but we need to leave."

Nori seemed to instantly grasp that right now was not the time to argue or ask questions. The dwarf and Bilbo started to make their way around the room, rousing the dwarves from their cells. Sooner than Bilbo could've hope for, the room was filled with the confused faces of thirteen dwarves.

"Alright I need you all to listen closely and carefully," Bilbo began, speaking as fast as he could, "I have a plan to escape but we need to leave right now. Just… please don't ask questions until we're gone, we really don't have any time."

"What, exactly, are we—" Dori began irritably from the back but he was quickly cut off by Thorin.

"Lead on, Master Baggins."

Bilbo held the dwarf's gaze for a few moments. He could see in their leader's eyes a willingness to trust, a willingness to give up control of the situation for once. If the hobbit hadn't been so anxious, he might have had time to think about more than the warmth that spread through his chest. Thorin trusted him, believed him capable of getting the company out of this infernal place.

And so get them out he would, because Bilbo Baggins was not about to betray the trust of a friend that had been so hard won or, as he suddenly realized, deeply valued as Thorin's was to him. The hobbit turned around quickly and led the parade of dwarves into the next room.

There were a few minutes filled with stressed panic as the dwarves raided the cabinet with all their possessions inside. Bilbo worried the hem on his coat, willing the dwarves to move faster. Legolas could only buy them so much time before it became suspicious.

Once they had sorted out all the packs, Bilbo ran down the hall, checking every door until he heard the faint sound of rushing water. 'There!' he thought excitedly, 'that had to be it!' The hobbit opened the door and ushered the dwarves through until they were all inside a dark room filled with barrels and the sound of a river.

"Alright everyone get in a barrel." If his heart hadn't already been beating far faster than Bilbo could ever consider healthy, he might have found the looks on their faces amusing.

"You want us to... get in?" Kili began, his tone as incredulous as his expression.

"Yes I want you to get in! This is our way out," Bilbo waved his arms trying to emphasize that it was, in fact, the only way out. "The river feeds right into somewhere called Esgaroth, which I'm assuming you'd all much prefer to being in cells here."

There was a chorus of grumbling from the dwarves until Thorin shouted something in a language Bilbo couldn't understand. "Everyone choose a barrel and get inside. Now." There was a good ten minutes of shuffling as the dwarves wedged themselves into the barrels.

Thorin and Bilbo started to fit the lids on the barrels; working together to secure them tight enough on that water would not seep through. Bilbo couldn't help but nervously eye the rushing water that seemed to cut through the room. Given what happened the last time the company had tried to go through the rivers of this land, he thought the tightness in his chest was well deserved.

As soon as they had put all the lids on the barrels, Thorin and Bilbo started to push them one by one into the water and watched them bob swiftly out of the room. They had just pushed the last dwarf filled barrel left into the water when they heard pounding of footsteps and shouting coming from the hallway outside the room.

Bilbo felt his heart skip a beat, as he looked panicked between Thorin and the door. He had to get the dwarf out now! The hobbit started to push the prince with all his strength towards one of the remaining barrels, "Get in the barrel!"

Thorin seemed to allow the hobbit to push him for a few moments before he realized what was happening.

"No, Master Baggins, you get in first!" Thorin hissed angrily as he tried to twist them around so that Bilbo was closer to the barrel.

"No! you get in first!" The hobbit grunted back as he tried with all his might to make them switch places.

"Bilbo Baggins. Do." Thorin grunted as they locked in a very strange sort of half tugging, half pushing battle of wills, "As. You. Are. Told!" Each word accompanied one of them pulling against the other.

"Why don't you" The hobbit panted as he glared at the Thorin, "do as you're told!"

The dwarf looked about ready to just pick Bilbo up and throw him in, but the door finally gave way and two guards rushed in, swords drawn. Thorin let go of Bilbo to place himself in between the hobbit and the elves but as soon as he lifted his foot to step forward, Bilbo placed both of his hands on the back of the prince's fur-lined collar and yanked as hard as he could.

Thorin let out a rather undignified grunt of surprise as he stumbled backwards until he hit the side of the barrel. "No time to fight!" The dwarf looked furious as he narrowed his eyes at Bilbo, clearly ready to push him out of the way so he could fight the guards.

The hobbit grabbed Thorin's coat with a small shake and looked up at his friend and pleaded for him to see reason, "Please Thorin!"

The dwarf looked from Bilbo to elves and then back. Thorin clenched his eyes shut for a brief moment before he grasped Bilbo underneath the hobbit's arms and hauled him into the barrel.

"Thorin! Thorin! No!" Bilbo yelled as he was rather ungracefully plopped down into the wooden keg. The hobbit struggled up as he felt the barrel start to be pushed towards the edge of the water, "I am begging you, please don't do this!"

Time seemed to slow down to a sluggish pace as the ground gave way to water and the guards started to rush towards his friend's unprotected back. Bilbo watched in horror as they just about closed the distance on the dwarf, but just when Bilbo thought Thorin was going to turn around and draw his sword, the dwarf jumped. Towards him. Where he was standing. In a barrel.

There were a few brief moments in which Bilbo Baggins was not entirely sure which way up or if their lungs were soon going to become intimately acquainted with the water. As the barrel finally righted itself, Bilbo had never been more grateful for his small size in his entire life. With Thorin now miraculously squished in the barrel with him, it was… Well, the word cramped would have been a generous description.

Bilbo was practically underneath the dwarf until Thorin pulled him up so they were now chest to chest and his friend's arms were hanging out the side to give them more room.

Despite the sheer absurdity of the situation, Bilbo couldn't help but look up at his friend and feel a swell of happiness within his chest. Thorin had listened to him, had chosen his friends over his revenge. The dwarf narrowed his eyes as he looked down at Bilbo's wide eyes.

"What...?"

The hobbit shot his friend a beaming smile, "I think you know, Thorin. Though you did have me worried there for a second."

The dwarf scoffed as they bobbed down the dark passage ignoring the shouts of the guards, "Regardless of what you may think of me, Master Baggins, I am not that foolish. And I… thought about what you said. About Frerin. It made me… consider a few things."

"Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad you –" but Bilbo didn't get the chance to finish his sentence as there was a sudden and rather terrifying drop. The darkness of the passage abruptly opened up to the light of the outdoors and the barrel plummeted down a large drop. The hobbit let out a yelp of surprise as he clutched at Thorin's coat and shut his eyes hoping this unfortunate experience would be over soon.

As soon as the barrel reached the waters below, they began swirling down swift, coursing rapids. If there had been any room left in the barrel, Bilbo was sure the force of the waters crashing against them would have thrown him from side to side. The hobbit was not proud of the fear that seemed intent on flooding every possible vein in his body. But as they tipped dangerously close to the surface of the river and taking water in, Bilbo couldn't help but clench Thorin's coat in his fists and bury his face so at least he wouldn't see the countless close brushes with a very wet death they were currently having.

The dwarf thankfully realized that Bilbo was in no way going to be anywhere near collected or composed while they were spinning wildly in the wooden death trap. Thorin brought an arm up and held the hobbit tightly to his chest.

Bilbo decided that he would not concentrate on the water crashing around them or the nauseating swirling of the barrel. As he tried to calm his panicked breathing, the hobbit decided that he would concentrate on the strong, fast heartbeat of his friend. The consistent thrum of sheer life pounding in the dwarf's chest gave him something to focus on and be grateful for.

He… he felt like he had almost lost Thorin in that place. Not to the elves or to the dark cells. Bilbo felt that he had almost lost Thorin to himself. To the rage and the pain. To the hunger for revenge, for the blood the dwarf felt he was owed. But now, now the hobbit could feel Thorin, solid and here with him; still leading their ragtag company to Erebor and Bilbo had never been more relieved.

Before joining Thorin Oakenshield's company, Bilbo had never experienced something that he would categorically refer to as an event he would never, under any circumstance, ever, ever want to repeat.

However, since that fateful night in Bag End, Bilbo thought the amount of miserable and terrifying things on this journey that he could go happily through the rest of his life never thinking about again could fill several tomes and Volume One, Chapter One of Bilbo Baggins' Book of Horrible Happenings would be appropriately titled Barrels: Why They Are Malicious and Spiteful Modes of Transportation and the Relative Merits of Never Going Near Rivers Ever Again.

While the waters had calmed down considerably, there was not much either Thorin or Bilbo could do for comfort and the hobbit had had just about enough of this whole travelling business as he still felt the remnants of the nausea that had been plaguing him for the last chaos filled hour. Why they couldn't just, for once, take a nice, relaxing carriage somewhere, Bilbo had no idea.

He had finally let go of Thorin's coat though the dwarf still had his arm around the hobbit. Bilbo had looked up questioningly at his friend but he was only met with a grunt and a shrug as the dwarf muttered something about it not having anywhere else to go.

Bilbo didn't mind really, it kept him warm at the very least. "I…" he began slowly as they bobbed down the waters with the line of twelve barrels in front of them, "I hope the others are alright."

Thorin looked down from where he had been absently gazing off into the distance, "I'm sure they'll be fine, Master Baggins. If this quest has taught me anything about this company, it is that they are a uniquely hardy set of dwarves."

The hobbit couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped him, "I suppose you're right… Though they certainly won't be pleased, I can't imagine they're any more comfortable than we are."

Thorin shrugged at him and glanced away briefly, "I am fine."

Bilbo laughed again, not at all surprised that his friend would never admit to being anything other than 'fine.' "Well I am dying for a stretch and a good night's sleep. Is Esgaroth near to Erebor?"

Thorin nodded slowly, "… We will be close."

The hobbit smiled up at Thorin encouragingly, "That's good then!"

Bilbo certainly wasn't eager to go anywhere that might possibly have a dragon lurking somewhere in it's depths, but he knew that for his friend nothing could have been more important. They were finally close to the place Thorin had dreamed of for endless years. Finally close to the dwarf hopefully getting… whatever it was that he needed so he could finally start to live again.

"Yes… I've been wanting this for so long, it seems almost… impossible to be so near home."

Bilbo patted his friend's arm, "Nothing impossible about it!"

Thorin raised a black brow at him.

"Well… Yes, it was a bit… touch and go there a few times, but we're all fine! No need to dwell on all those, uh, unfortunate incidents."

"Are you referring to the occasions where you saved my family and myself from death?"

Bilbo let out a strained chuckle, "Those occasions exactly. Like I said, no, uh, no need to dwell."

Thorin gave him a small frown as his brows creased, "A Durin does not forget his debts, Master Baggins."

The hobbit rolled his eyes, "Oh, not that again, I was merely saying that while we're here right now, thankfully breathing the fresh air and seeing daylight again, we might as well try to enjoy it."

Thorin continued to frown at him, as if finding it frustratingly hard to believe that someone could so casually wave off a matter of such great importance as if he were merely saying 'no thank you, I've had enough cheese tonight.'

The dwarf looked ready to pursue the topic further but seemed, at the last second, to settle for muttering something about the strangeness of the Shire folk and their complete disregard for propriety. Bilbo simply gave him an exasperated sigh before he almost tipped the barrel over in his sudden flailing.

As they rounded a bend in the river, Bilbo saw the water opened up into a great lake and on that lake there looked to be a town! "Thorin! Thorin!" Bilbo began excitedly.

The dwarf looked distinctly disgruntled as he tried to keep the barrel from tipping. "What?" Thorin ground out irritably.

The hobbit grinned and pointed over the Thorin's shoulder, "Look!"

The dwarf twisted his neck so he could see behind him. As the prince's gaze met with the sight of the town, Thorin let out a relieved sigh, "Oh thank Mahal."

The cluster of barrels continued to drift slowly towards the shore, but, given his immense excitement at finally being able to stretch his legs and move, Bilbo thought the time passed rather quickly. As soon as the waters were shallow enough, Thorin dislodged himself from the barrel and jumped into the clear lake. The dwarf dragged Bilbo up to the sandy bank and helped the hobbit out until his feet touched the delightfully not wooden ground.

Bilbo all but collapsed on the beach as he let out a groan of satisfaction. Stretching out on his back, the hobbit just laid there for a few peaceful moments until he heard a gruff cough. Opening one eye, Bilbo looked up to see Thorin glaring down at him with his arms crossed, "No, please, Master Baggins. On your own time, I'm sure the rest of the company doesn't mind waiting any longer."

The hobbit made a face but decided to lay still for just a few more seconds before reluctantly getting back up on his aching legs. He and Thorin dragged the barrels up onto the beach one by one, opening the lids to reveal twelve very unhappy dwarves.

"That," Fili choked out as he practically burst from the barrel, "is the last time I am listening to you, Master Baggins." The blond dwarf ran over to a small bush and proceeded to throw up into it. "You've put me off apples forever. I hope you're happy."

Kili groaned as he took a few hobbling steps before collapsing onto his face, "You are a cruel, cruel hobbit, Master Boggins." The young dwarf threw out his arms as if pleading to the sky, "What did we ever do to deserve that?"

The hobbit rolled his eyes at the two dwarves, feeling equal parts annoyance at their blatant ungratefulness for getting them out and sympathy for having been shoved into a confined space for most of the day, "While I am sorry that the circumstances were not ideal, I would like to remind you that you are, in fact, not currently in a cell."

"At least the cell," Fili paused to throw up once more, "wasn't filled with bloody apples."

Bilbo couldn't help but laugh at the dwarf's rather green face. Fili looked up at him with a glare, "Oh come now, it's a little funny."

The dwarf made a rather rude hand gesture, "Oh, positively hilarious." The hobbit tried to stifle his laughter as he patted Fili's back a few times. "See if you get any cuddles tonight, Master Baggins," the blond dwarf stuck out his tongue petulantly, "Yeah, Master Boggins," Kili groaned from the ground beside them, "no more cuddling for you."

Bilbo smiled as he held his hands up in exasperation, "Fine, I offer you, Fili and Kili of the great line of Durin, my most sincere and deepest apologies for rescuing you from the elves. Had I known," Bilbo gave an exaggerated sniff, "dwarf princes were more accustomed to being freed from imprisonment in greater comfort, I of course would have made more of an effort."

Fili laughed as he clapped Bilbo on the back, "I feel that in this case, we perhaps could show you some mercy, what do you think brother? Is a royal pardon in order?" Kili stood up shakily but grinned all the same, "Hm… He has been on rather good behavior recently, so… I suppose just this once, Master Boggins, we will be lenient."

Bilbo gave them a deep and ridiculously flourished bow, "I thank you for your kindness, my kings. All the Shire will hear of your abundant and generous good will."

The two brothers grinned back at him and put an arm around a shoulder each. "Well I am thinking that a nice, strong drink is in order," Fili glanced up at the town with eager anticipation. "Too right, brother," Kili joined in with fervent agreement.

Bilbo looked over to the dock that lay about twenty yards from them and saw the dumbstruck face of two fishermen who seemed to have forgotten they were holding nets. Clearly seeing thirteen dwarves and a hobbit burst out of some barrels was not a common occurrence for the residents of Laketown. Bilbo gave them a little wave as the company set off, stiff-legged and exhausted, towards the nearest place with enough ale to get them all good and drunk.

Despite having spent most of the day stuck inside cramped barrels, the dwarves had taken to the availability of ale with the fervor of a man dying of thirst being offered the sweetest life-water imaginable. Though, to be fair, Bilbo imagined that was exactly how the dwarves were feeling at that moment.

It wasn't long before the company had downed several tankards each and started to grow loud. They had tried to set up relatively unnoticed in the corner of the tavern, but, seeing as how this was a group of drunken dwarves celebrating their liberation from their hated elvish foes, Bilbo probably shouldn't have been surprised that it didn't take long for the singing and laughing to spread around the entire establishment.

The men that had littered the tavern looked shocked at first to see the first dwarves in many, many years to visit there, but there was no party quite like a dwarf party. After only a few hours, the men and women of Laketown seemed to have all gathered to hear the merry company of dwarves tell tales and sing songs.

There was ale flowing generously from keg to mug and soon the noise was joyful and boisterous. Some of the dwarves had gotten their hands on instruments not unlike the ones that they had played in Bilbo's home and, sure enough, as soon as their skilled fingers began to play, dancing and singing had started to surround the company.

The dwarves now littered the tavern in smaller groups surrounded by intent listeners but by far the most popular was the slightly odd ensemble of Fili, Kili, Bofur, and Gloin playing an almost impossibly fast and lively tune. Gloin had improvised a set of small drums on two upside-down bowls, while Bofur had been given something that sounded like a deep flute.

However, it was Fili and Kili that had delightfully surprised him. How they got their hands on a pair of identical fiddles, Bilbo hadn't the faintest clue, but there was no doubt that they were incredibly skilled. Fili and Kili didn't simply stand and play; they had jumped on top of one of the tables and twirled around wildly as their fingers and bows moved fast and sure across the strings.

Bilbo had been watching them from a slightly more secluded bench near the back that had a mostly uninterrupted view of the festivities. Bilbo liked a merry gathering as much as the next hobbit, but he was feeling mostly exhausted from the last few days. Bilbo felt someone slide into the seat next to him and a mug of ale entered his vision.

Looking up the arm that held the ale, Bilbo met Thorin's gaze. He smiled as he took the mug and sipped it slowly. The dwarf leaned back against the wall with a small sigh but a little smile crept onto his face as he watched his nephews play.

"They are quite skilled."

Bilbo smiled warmly at Thorin, seeing the pride in the dwarf's eyes, "Yes they are, certainly very popular with the crowd."

The prince laughed softly as he took another swig from his mug, "They have never been shy about their musical talents. When times were… difficult, my nephews used to play for coins while I worked in the smithy. I'm ashamed to say they often brought back more in one night than I did in a week."

The hobbit felt his smile falter; it was… sometimes hard to remember that there was a time when Thorin and his family had little more than the clothes on their backs. "Did…" Bilbo began softly, "did you teach them how to play?"

Thorin shook his head, "No, my sister taught them. Her chosen loves… loved to hear Dís play. She thought it important her sons learn if only they were closer with their father's memory in some way."

"She must be very proud of them," Bilbo spoke softly as they watched the two young dwarves jump from table to table, smiles wide on their faces.

"Very. They are dearer to her than anything else in this world." Thorin's face grew slightly tense as he looked down into the depths of his mug, "she… didn't want them to come along."

The hobbit looked up at his friend curiously, "Because of the danger?"

Thorin nodded as he sighed, "I suppose that's not entirely accurate, I should say that she didn't want them to come along without her."

Bilbo felt his eyes widen slightly, "Your sister was going to come?"

The dwarf let out a noncommittal grunt, "None of them were supposed to be on this quest. I am well aware that getting Erebor back could result in any of our deaths. I wanted them to remain in the Blue Mountains to rule our people in case something happened to me."

"It was hard enough to convince Dís to stay behind, but thankfully Dwalin was there to help me. She… She respects him enough to listen to his advice at least. Fili and Kili overheard our talking and given how loud Dís can be, that's hardly a surprise."

Thorin took a long drink before he continued, "They volunteered to go. I think it must have been mostly Kili's idea. For all Fili loves adventure, I don't think he… Fili knows the danger in our quest. I think he mostly just didn't want his brother to go somewhere so risky without him."

"Kili is young. He wants to prove himself," Thorin smiled softly at his nephew, "I know he thinks we do not treat him as an adult, and perhaps that's why he was so eager to come along, but in many ways Kili is still naive to this world."

Bilbo took another sip of his ale as he watched Thorin gaze at his nephews, "Fili and Kili love their mother more than anything. For them Erebor is… little more than a dream, an abstract idea that has been gilded in other's memories, and for that I blame myself. Kili wants to show himself capable and Fili doesn't want his brother to get hurt. Of course they… want to get Erebor back, but I think they would be just as happy with Dís in the Blue Mountains."

Thorin frowned once again, his eyes growing dark with worry. "They snuck off to the Shire leaving nothing more than a note before I went to meet with our kin. Dís was… furious that they had left. The last thing she told me was that they had better come back to her without a single hair out of place or she would skin me alive."

The dwarf thumbed at the handle on his mug absently, "If anything happens to them it would… destroy what's left of my family. Dís is a strong dwarf. Probably the strongest I know but without them... Without them I fear she would lose her will to continue on."

Bilbo placed an hand on the dwarf's arm an squeezed it gently, "They are very capable fighters, Thorin. Fili and Kili can take care of themselves."

Thorin nodded almost imperceptibly as his gaze slowly moved to meet the hobbit's eyes. "I also fear that I would… lose myself. When their father died, I tried the best I could to fill that role. Whatever they think of me, they are just as important to me as sons of my own flesh would be."

Bilbo smiled up at Thorin, "They love you just as they would love a father, Thorin."

The dwarf seemed to consider his companion for a moment, "I pray that should Mahal see fit to spare any of the company on this quest, that it would be them. I know that is selfish of me, but they deserve… they deserve long, happy lives." Bilbo squeezed the dwarf's arm once again in comfort, "I hope that life is within the halls of Erebor, but should we fail, I… would want them, at least, to get back to my sister."

Bilbo looked at Thorin deadly serious, "We will not fail, Thorin. I may have had my doubts in the beginning, but I have seen you lead. I have seen the courage of every member of this company." The hobbit hoped Thorin could see that the faith the company had in him counted for something, that the faith he had in his friend counted for something.

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life."

Thorin simply looked at the hobbit for a few moments, but a smile soon broke out on the dwarf's face, "… Thank you, Master Baggins. That… means a great deal to me."

Bilbo smiled back warmly and brought his hand back to the mug of ale.

"So…" Bilbo began feeling a sudden, intense curiosity, "If you don't play the fiddle… what do you play?"

Thorin raised a brow at the question before turning to face his nephews again.

"The harp."

Bilbo Baggins had chosen exactly the wrong time to take another sip from his mug as the ale in his mouth soon found its way onto the floor in front of him as the hobbit spit in shocked amusement.

Thorin narrowed his eyes at the hobbit, clearly not thinking his answer was in any way humorous. "And what, exactly, is amusing about that?"

Bilbo pounded his chest with a fist, trying to pass off the snort as a cough.

"N – nothing at all!" There was just something about the idea of Thorin Oakenshield playing an instrument as delicately beautiful as a harp that Bilbo found nothing short of absurdly hilarious. Surely, surely Thorin would play something…Something that would require the dwarf hitting it violently, like a – like a drum of sorts.

Though as he pictured Thorin angrily strumming a harp, Bilbo thought that if Thorin had played the drums, it would be infinitely less amusing for him. The dwarf had an expression on his face like he could tell exactly what the hobbit was picturing in his mind.

"It is tradition, Master Baggins, that the first born learn to play the harp."

Bilbo finally stopped beating his chest and tried his best not to let a grin creep out onto his face, "Then why doesn't Fili play it then?"

Thorin's mouth snapped shut as he turned away from the hobbit, glaring at nothing in particular, "Because Dís said it was for 'simpering elves' and Fili strongly agreed with her."

The hobbit couldn't stop the laughter from pouring out as he held his stomach. Thorin refused to look at him for a good minute straight as the happy tears started pouring out of Bilbo's eyes, but the hobbit could have sworn he saw his friend's mouth lift into a small smile.