The stables were a quiet, reflective place to go. The smell of leather and straw satisfying any equestrian enthusiast. Thorin was taking a relaxing moment to brush down his beloved pony. Enjoying the work as he moved his hands over the fine animals body. No and then he'd treat her to a scratch here and there, the funny mare stretching out her upper lip in enjoyment as her little itches were taken care of.

Thorin was enjoying the solitude, until his ears picked up incoming footsteps and voices. He gazed outside her stall and towards the hall, noticing a trio headed in his direction. It was Fili, Kili, and Bilbo, goodness knows why they'd come. It's not as if Thorin was involved in any tomfoolery last evening, after all. He was the king and never did things that were unbecoming of that position...

"Hello, Thorin." Bilbo hailed the watchful dwarf, standing at Minty's stall door and watching him brush the prized animal.

"Greetings uncle!" Kili and Fili both smiled at the aloof king, Fili reaching into his pocket to take out a cube of sugar, reaching in the stall and feeding the mare.

"What brings you lads to the stables, headed out for a ride?" The king inquired, his hands still busy with the pleased pony.

"Not at all, I rather disliked what riding we did to even get here." Bilbo stated his opinion, "No, we are here because there's been something strange going on. Apparently I did a lot of silliness last night, yet I've no memory of any of it. Tell me, Thorin, did you happen to see me wandering the halls last evening?" Bilbo questioned, watching the dwarf carefully.

Thorin shrugged, "Since when am I you're keeper? I stayed in my room the whole night, hobbit." He lied very convincingly to the group watching him.

"Is that right?" Bilbo eyed the dwarf uncertainly. "Thorin, didn't you and Gloin have a dispute the other day about who had the fastest steed?"

"He knows Minty is the fastest." Thorin harrumphed.

"But you did argue, didn't you?" Bilbo urged onward.

"Well, yes." The king conceded.

"Funny thing happened to Gloin last night, he had his eyebrows shaved off. He blames me for doing it, but it's hard to believe a sleepwalking hobbit could do such a careful job without nicking him." The hobbit remarked, Thorin found his forehead wrinkling and his brow beginning to sweat uncomfortably.

"Don't you agree?" Bilbo questioned, noticing the dwarfs sweating behavior.

"I'm no hobbit expert, how should I know your capabilities while sleeping?" He huffed out, annoyed and feeling poked at by Bilbos words.

"I just find it strange, you know? Gloin and yourself disagreeing and then his accident..."

"Enough! Hobbit, I've no time for your bush beating, if you've something to say, just come out with it!" The dwarf barked at the coy looking faced Bilbo.

"Whatever do you mean?" Bilbo shrugged. "A bit touchy today, aren't we?" He harassed the quick to anger king.

"You come in here, disturbing my time with Minty, and start making accusations! I've a right to be angry, hobbit." Thorin growled, looking towards his nephews now.

"And you two! What business do you have with the hobbit? He's not to be doted on like a visiting consort for Durin's sake! Go out and purchase supplies from the market place, Mr. Baggins can do just fine without you following him everywhere!"

"But uncle..."

"I said, go!" He yelled at his kin, satisfied as they began to slowly back away from both hobbit and king.

"You don't have to be so hard on them, Thorin. They were only being kind to me." Bilbo pouted towards the grumpy dwarf.

"They're not your chamber maids, Bilbo." Thorin huffed at the unamused hobbit.

"I suppose I'll be going then, since there's nothing more you have to say about my adventures last evening." Bilbo sighed and started to turn away from the king.

"One question before you go, hobbit. How's your arse feeling today?"

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The Hobbit belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien.

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A/N: Aha! Thorin is such an ornery ass! You can imagine the bickering after his question. Bilbos gonna be so miffed with him! An ending finally to this tale, gonna go back to single chapter stories for these two. Hope it's well received and thanks for enjoying my little tales of hobbit and dwarf mischief! It means a lot!