OOOOO

"Master Baggins." A sweet voice cooed near Bilbo, but he didn't want to wake up. He hadn't been this comfortable since he left Bag End. Even at Beorn's! These Elves really knew their way around a soft mattress. "Master Baggins. It's dinner time." The voice told him with a bit of humor in it. Bilbo murmured incoherently and rolled onto his back, blinking his eyes slowly. Tauriel stood at the edge of his bed with a sweet smile and a bundle of clothes.

"Is it dinner already?" Bilbo asked sleepily. Tauriel laughed, and it was like bells.

"Master Baggins you missed dinner. And breakfast. And lunch. You've been asleep for a very long time." She explained, and that woke Bilbo up.

"I've really been asleep that long?!" Bilbo couldn't believe himself! The Dwarves were all locked up in some dungeon and here he was, lounging in the luxuries that he didn't deserve!

"Yes, but don't worry. King Thranduil completely understands. Your journey through Mirkwood must have been very tiring. But he would like you to join him for dinner tonight, if you're feeling better." For some reason Bilbo didn't think Thranduil asked as nicely as Tauriel was making it sound. He glanced at the clothes in her hand, and she sat them down next to him. "Your clothes are still being washed, but these should fit you. They're the smallest we could find." She said with a coy smile. Bilbo blushed.

"Thank you." He said with a small smile.

"I shall wait outside to walk you to the dining hall." She told him and gave him a small bow before leaving his room. Bilbo sighed, stretched, and then practically slid off his bed to stand up. He couldn't believe he had slept for so long! But he did feel more rested than he had in weeks. He picked up the loaned clothes and looked them over. The trousers were a deep green and he smiled a little to see they had been cut to his preferred length. He wondered if Tauriel did that herself. The tunic was silver, and would probably be a little long, but he didn't mind that. There was also a leather belt and some leather shoes. But he put the shoes to the side.

Tauriel bit her lip to keep from laughing when Bilbo came out of his room. He looked young before he was in oversized clothes, but now he looked no bigger than a Elfling! Bilbo saw right through her attempt at not laughing, and narrowed his eyes.

"I don't think they look that bad." He said proudly.

"No! They don't look bad at all Master Baggins! You just look so...cute! You look no more than a century old!" She told him, resisting the urge to just gather him up into a hug. Bilbo lost his defensiveness and looked down at himself.

"I suppose I do look a little young." He chuckled. He imagined that a century was quite young to Elves. Tauriel smiled warmly at him, before beckoning him to follow her. He asked her idle questions as they walked. About Mirkwood and the spiders and her opinion of her King. And then he turned to more serious questions.

"What has become of the company?" He asked shyly.

"I am not supposed to discuss the prisoners." Tauriel told him, though she sounded a little reluctant. Bilbo frowned, and if it looked like a pout, neither of them said anything.

"Am I a prisoner?" He asked.

"No. You are a guest." She said firmly. She stopped in front of a large white door. "Good luck." She told him with a smile before opening the door and escorting him in. Thranduil was seated at a large, nearly empty table. The only other person sitting with him was Legolas, who smiled at Bilbo as Tauriel led him to the open chair on Thranduil's left. The King sat at the head of the table, with Legolas to his right.

"Master Baggins. I was beginning to worry that you were in poor health." Thranduil spoke as Bilbo sat down.

"I apologize. I did not realize I was quite so tired." Bilbo blushed and looked down at the fine table cloth.

"Worry not, little Hobbit. Is your room to your liking?" Thranduil asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's...fantastic! Thank you very much for your kindness." The Elf King smiled, clearly satisfied with himself. They didn't speak as they ate. Unlike the Rivendell Elves, Thranduil served meat, along with mashed potatoes and fruit and vegetables. It was delicious, all of it, but Bilbo had grown used to eating smaller portions on his journey, and he just wasn't as hungry as he used to be. Not anymore. He managed to finish his first plate, but when Thranduil offered a second, he politely declined.

"I was under the impression that Hobbits ate frequently, and in large quantities." The Elvenking was clearly curious, and he had been too kind to Bilbo for the Hobbit to not answer his questions. Bilbo took a sip of the strong wine before sitting back.

"Hobbits eat on average seven meals a day, and in varying quantities depending on the meal. But on this journey, I have learned to make due with one or two meals. It has been bizarrely eventful for a simple journey to the Iron Hills. Sometimes we run very low on rations." Bilbo explained, though he saw the way Thranduil rolled his eyes when the Iron Hills lie came up.

"Indeed. And are you unhappy, having to cut back so severely?" The King questioned him.

"At first I was very distressed because of it. But I know that my comfortable life as a Hobbit is not congruent with an adventure, of any kind. I've made due." Bilbo felt a little proud of how well he was doing on the quest. Aside from the cutting, he really hadn't changed too much because of the journey. And he was taking it as well in stride as possible. He just wished Thorin and the Dwarves saw it like that. Sometimes they still looked at him, and their eyes said it all. Weak. A liability. Unfit for a journey. A waste of time.

"You are most unusual then, in Hobbit standards." Thranduil pointed out. Bilbo flushed.

"I suppose I have become less respectable because I ran out my door, but I think that I am doing what my mother would have wanted me to do. I think I am making her proud." Or I would be, if I weren't slowly destroying myself. Bilbo knew that was what he was doing. He could feel it in his soul. But he couldn't bring himself to care enough to stop. Not when it was the only thing keeping him together.

"You joined thirteen Dwarves on a journey across Middle Earth...because you thought your mother would approve?" Thranduil was obviously still hung up on the idea.

"W-Well...yes. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life in the Shire, never having seen further and Bree. I decided I would join the Dwarves until they got to their destination, then go south to Gondor and back West through Fanghorn or Lothlorien." Bilbo told them, a little light of excitement in his eyes.

"You seem to know the world pretty well already." Legolas observed.

"My father made sure I was adept with maps. I have...probably far too many of them. Back home." Bilbo smiled softly thinking about Bag End. Thranduil hummed lightly and then sighed.

"I suppose we shouldn't delay such an innocent journey." Thranduil murmured, though he still didn't sound convinced of the innocence. "Are you going to pass through Lake Town?" The King asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know, Balin is the navigator. For good reason too. Thorin got lost twice trying to find my home when they passed through the Shire. I can't imagine how many wrong turns we would have taken by now if he had been in charge." Bilbo let himself smile fondly at the thought of the Dwarves. They weren't exactly his friends yet, at least he didn't think they were. But they were all he had at the moment.

"I shall have to ask him then. Perhaps we could both go see them." He proposed. Bilbo lit up instantly.

"Could we?" He asked, scooting to the edge of his chair.

"Of course, I'm the king. I can do whatever I please." Thranduil said, and Bilbo would think him smug but for the sly grin he was wearing. "Follow me Master Baggins." He stood and lead the way and Bilbo jumped up eagerly to follow. Unlike with Tauriel, there was no conversation between Bilbo and Thranduil as they walked. It would be awkward, but for the fact that Bilbo was enjoying just looking around at the halls he passed through. When finally the Elvenking stopped in front of a relatively plain door, in comparison to the rest of the palace, Bilbo was just about bouncing in place. The second the King pushed the doors open, Bilbo was stumbling in and hurrying to the first cell he came across. Fili and Kili looked up in surprise when Bilbo was suddenly standing in front of their cell.

"Bilbo!" They both exclaimed, jumping up to meet him at the bars of the cell. Ten other calls of his name shortly followed Fili and Kili's as all the Dwarves became aware of his presence.

"What are yeh doin here laddie?" Bofur asked, worry on his face.

"Oh, he was very excited to visit." Thranduil droned from where he was still standing at the entrance to the dungeon. All the Dwarves turned cold eyes to the King, who ignored them all and walked leisurely until he stood in front of Balin's cell. As he questioned the eldest Dwarf, Bilbo went from cell to cell.

"Are yeh okay?" Dwalin asked, scanning Bilbo up and down very closely.

"I'm fine, I even got a bath!" Bilbo said with a grin.

"A bath! No fair! Why don't we get baths?" Ori whined.

"Yeah, I'm sharing a cell with a warg over here!" Fili muttered, earning himself an indignant shout from Kili.

"Have yeh seen Thorin, Bilbo?" Dwalin demanded once the other stopped talking about baths.

"No, but I've been asleep for a really long time. No one woke me, so I just...kept sleeping until an hour ago." Bilbo admitted, his face red.

"Sleeping so long? That's not natural. Are yeh feelin alright?" Oin immediately piped in. Bilbo felt his arms and legs throb with the question. No, he was not alright. But like hell he was ever going to admit that to the Dwarves.

"I'm fine, like I've said. I was just exhausted. After the trek through Mirkwood, I think I'm excused for that." He pointed out. "What about all of you?" He changed the subject quickly.

"We're fine. Eager to be on our way though." Balin stated, and Bilbo realized he was no longer talking to Thranduil. The Elvenking was very intently watching Bilbo's interaction with the Dwarves. He seemed...discontent for some reason. Like he didn't like what he saw. But Bilbo couldn't for the life of him think of why.

"Could I see Thorin?" Bilbo asked, his voice more hopeful than he meant it to be. Thranduil considered him for a few moments before speaking.

"Not tonight. I'll have Legolas take you down to the Deep Dungeons in the morning. For now, I believe my son and my commander have plans for you. To wear you out so you can go back to sleep for the night." His smile seemed to suggest that Bilbo wasn't going to enjoy this much.

"W-What kind of plans are they?" Bilbo asked nervously.

OOOOO

"B-But I don't know how to sword fight!" Bilbo said, a bit panicked. He was holding Sting, graciously returned to him by Legolas, and facing the Prince and Tauriel.

"Exactly. We're going to teach you. It should be enough physical activity to help you get to sleep tonight, and it's a valuable skill to have." Tauriel explained with a brilliant smile. Bilbo opened his mouth to object, but nothing came out. "Just relax Bilbo! Only a short lesson tonight."

"Tonight?! That implies we will be doing this some other night as well!" Bilbo's eyes widened almost comically at the thought. Legolas laughed and Tauriel elbowed him.

"Come on Bilbo, let's see what you know so we can know where to start with the lesson." Tauriel beckoned for Bilbo to attack her.

"Is there a level zero?" Bilbo muttered before holding up Sting. Legolas laughed again and this time Tauriel pushed him right to the ground. Legolas pretty much stayed there for the lesson, laughing and calling out little things and just generally enjoying himself as Bilbo tried and failed to fight Tauriel. When at last, a couple hours later, Tauriel decided the lesson was over, Bilbo was sweaty and tired and was wondering why on earth he had let himself get talked into that.

"I'll walk you back to your room." Legolas offered, tossing his unused sword to the red haired Elf.

"Thanks." Bilbo huffed. At first Bilbo thought there might just be an awkward silence the whole way to his room, but soon enough Legolas started talking.

"You really like the Dwarves, don't you." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

"Well...they've grown on me. More than I've grown on them." He murmured the last bit under his breath, but Legolas had Elf ears. He heard everything.

"My father said they were all very happy to see you today. And yet you doubt their affections towards you." Again, it wasn't really a question. Bilbo just shrugged. "You have walked many miles since leaving the Shire, spent months on the road with the Dwarves. What makes you think they do not care for you after such a long time and distance?" Bilbo snorted.

"You obviously don't know many Dwarves." He said sarcastically.

"No, I have not met an overabundance of them. But I've heard that they hardly ever show the emotions they're truly feeling. They pretend to be angry or unaffected when really they feel unbearably happy or sad." Legolas told him like a teacher might talk to a student. Bilbo didn't feel reassured. "Besides, I don't see how anyone could dislike you. I've only known you a few hours and I already like you." Legolas stated with a warm smile. Bilbo tried to return it, he really did. But he could feel just how fake it was. He knew Legolas could too.

"Thank you. For trying."

"Of course." Legolas smiled again and chattered about pointless things for the rest of the walk. Bilbo didn't take a word of it in, his mind far away. It was trapped in a never ending circle, remembering every time one of the Dwarves said or did something that made him want to burst out in tears. In particular, his mind kept coming back to the night it had been too much. The night he had run off into the woods to cry. The night Thorin had given him the first knife that would cut into his skin. The night Bilbo began cutting himself. It seemed like yesterday. "Bilbo?" He snapped his head up, realizing that they stood in front of his door. "Are you okay?" Legolas asked, and it was real actual concern in his tone.

"Yes, of course. Just tired. I think I'll take a bath and get in bed." Bilbo said, making sure his voice held none of the turmoil he felt inside. Legolas didn't look completely assured, but nodded and bowed anyways.

"I'll come get you in the morning to take you go to see Thorin." He promised before walking away. Bilbo ducked into his chambers, making a beeline to the bathroom, and dropping sweaty clothes as he went. He was sitting in a perfectly warm bath when he noticed the knife a few yards away, sitting on the sink. It was a shaving knife, not that he'd ever had need for one. He wondered why Elves would have shaving knives, because as far as he knew they didn't grow facial hair either. But he supposed it was a guest room, and maybe they had Men guests sometimes, being so close to Lake Town. In any case, it was just what he needed.

By the time he drained the water, it was a shade away from red, tainted with blood. And Bilbo felt quite weak. He had probably overdone himself, but he had been waiting so long for a chance to actually open his skin like this! Scratching at old scabs just wasn't the same. In any case, he washed the red residue off the white tub and then enfolded himself in a robe before stumbling to the bed. He made sure he was wrapped up tight, so Legolas wouldn't see the cuts when he came to wake him the next morning. And he promptly fell asleep.

OOOOO

"Bilbo? Bilbo, it's me, Legolas. Did you still want to go see Thorin?" Instantly Bilbo was awake, sitting up quickly before remembering he was wrapped in a cocoon and nearly falling out of bed. "Do you always sleep like this?" Legolas asked with a chuckle.

"No, not really. It just seemed like a good idea at the time." Bilbo said with a yawn. "I don't suppose my closes are done being washed."

"Unfortunately no, there are some resilient stains. But I did bring you a fresh pair of trousers and a clean tunic. Since the ones from yesterday got a little gross." Yeah. Only a lot.

"Thanks." Bilbo murmured sleepily. He resisted the urge to rub his eyes, knowing that the robe sleeves were pretty loose and if they slipped at all, Legolas would see. The prince left the new clothes on his bed and then left to wait for Bilbo in the hallway. Bilbo tried to mentally prepare himself for the pain he knew he'd feel the moment he started moving his limbs, but he still flinched and gasped when he started untangling himself. His arms burned, and his legs throbbed. Last night it hadn't seemed so bad, but this morning he was surprised he was even alive. And that scared him, more than he cared to admit.

The trousers were brown today, cut to his length again, and the tunic was green. The tunic yesterday had been sort of scratchy, but the one Legolas had brought was softer than silk and fuzzy. And blessedly long sleeved. Bilbo ignored the shoes again and tied his belt around his waist again. He tried to get his curls to lie down, or at least go in one direction, and he was still running his hands through the mess when he left his room.

"You know there's a comb in the bathroom." Legolas mentioned as they started walking.

"My hair's usually so well behaved, I don't get why it's acting like a petulant child." Bilbo huffed, giving up. "Does it at least look passable?" Bilbo asked shyly.

"It looks fine Bilbo. Oh, I brought you an apple since you slept through breakfast." Legolas tossed him the said apple and then began with his mindless chatter once more. Bilbo was more than slightly relieved that both Legolas and Tauriel seemed to sense he would rather listen than talk. Apparently they were more perceptive than Dwarves. Not that he was surprised. When they arrived in the Deep Dungeons, Legolas stopped him in front of the door. "Listen, I have to tell my father everything you or he says. So if there's something you don't want him to know, don't say it, okay?" Bilbo was honestly shocked Legolas was giving him a warning!

"T-Thank you. For telling me." Bilbo smiled, and this time it was real. Legolas smiled back and opened the door. Bilbo rushed in and moved from empty cell to empty cell until he found the one he was looking for. "Thorin!" He exclaimed happily. Thorin's head shot up from where it was resting in his hands and he didn't seem to comprehend what he was looking at for a moment.

"Bilbo?" Thorin sounded confused, and disbelieving as well, as his eyes took in the Hobbit standing just beyond his cell door. There was an Elf behind Bilbo, Thranduil's son if Thorin remembered correctly. But his eyes only briefly looked at the Elf before going back to Bilbo. "How is this possible?" Thorin asked, stumbling to the cell door and reaching out tentatively towards his visitor. Bilbo took Thorin's outstretched hand in his own and smiled slightly, as much as he could. He was still a little bitter with Thorin for purposefully hurting his feelings all that time. But he was glad to see the Dwarf King whole and safe.

"I convinced Thranduil to let me visit you. The others have been so worried. So have I." He explained, squeezing the King's hand reassuringly.

"You got to wash your hair. Ugh, but what are you wearing?" Thorin smiled warmly and reached up to card his fingers through the soft golden curls. His eyes examined the fine elvish tunic that adorned his Hobbit with distaste, but Bilbo hardly seemed bothered. "Have they hurt you? Have they hurt any of you?" Thorin demanded, his hand dropping down to Bilbo's shoulder so he could bring him closer. They were both practically pressed into the bars, but Thorin wanted Bilbo to be closer. He wanted to hold the Halfling and make sure that nothing was wrong with him. He wanted to hold him and never let go.

"We're all fine. I mean, the company is pretty annoyed, and as I said, worried. But they're fed well and they even let Fili and Kili stay in the same cell with each other." Bilbo told him with his most carefree voice.

"How long will he keep us his prisoners?" Thorin whispered this question, though they both knew Legolas could hear, with his sharp Elf ears.

"He says he will let you go soon. But he did ask that you consider calling off this petty feud of yours, his words not mine, and maybe becoming partners again. Crops for Star Jewels, like you used to. You know, if you ever retake Erebor." Bilbo relayed the message Thranduil had given him last night before the sword training, and he wasn't surprised when Thorin grew rigid and tightened his grip on his shoulder and waist. Bilbo didn't even realize that Thorin's arm had curled around his body, but he was all too aware now.

"I would not give that coward anything. And I would rather trade with Smaug himself." Thorin growled, and Bilbo flinched. Legolas shifted in the background, earning himself a sharp glare from Thorin. "You may tell your King that he will receive nothing from me. Just as I received nothing from him the day the Dragon attacked my people." Thorin spat at the Elf. Legolas grit his teeth and nodded.

"I will relay your response. Come Master Baggins, we must tell my father." Legolas gestured for Bilbo to follow him, but Thorin tightened his hold on the Hobbit before he could make a move.

"Go tell him yourself." Thorin snarled, not noticing how Bilbo flinched this time. The Hobbit gently tried to pry Thorin's hand off his shoulder, but it was like trying to bend an Elvish blade in two. He whimpered as Thorin pulled him ever closer. He was sure the bars of the cell would leave some pretty interesting bruised on his chest and stomach at this rate. "He stays with me." Thorin hissed when Legolas stepped forward.

"T-Thorin you're hur-"

"Your King is nothing but a spineless coward hiding away in his decaying kingdom while others suffer." Thorin declared, trying to get further under the Prince's skin. Legolas wasn't listening to the Dwarf anymore, he was more concerned by the little whimpers Bilbo was making. The grip Thorin had on the Hobbit looked painful at this point, and he couldn't imagine the bars were any more comfortable than Thorin's hold.

"Release Master Baggins this instant." Legolas thundered, and Thorin blinked a few times before looking down at Bilbo. The Hobbit's eyes were closed shut and he was biting his bottom lip intently, like he was in pain. He was gripping the bars of the cell door so tightly his knuckles were white. Thorin relaxed his hold on Bilbo, and his Halfling nearly dropped to the ground for a moment before he recovered. He took large steps back from the bars Thorin's cell, rubbing his sore chest and shoulder.

"Bilbo...I-I'm sorry..." Thorin choked out, dumbfounded that he had hurt his love. Bilbo took a few deep breaths to calm himself, since he did not want to burst out into tears now of all times.

"N-No, it's fine. Really." Bilbo insisted nervously when Legolas moved to check his chest. "The uh...the company wanted me to tell you that they think it would be wise to cooperate with the Elves. Balin specifically said it would be better to forgive old grievances and move on." Bilbo told Thorin, though he couldn't stop cringing from the pain in his chest and shoulder.

"Bilbo...I don't care about any of that...I'm so sorry. Please, let me see if I have seriously hurt you." Thorin reached out for Bilbo's hand, but the Hobbit couldn't bring himself to take it. "Bilbo." Thorin's voice broke in just that one word.

"Thorin I'm fine. I'm used to bruises by now." Bilbo tried to sound carefree, but he didn't know how well he succeeded based off the frown he was receiving from Legolas. "I'll...I'll just tell Thranduil that you accept then?"

"Bilbo. Please." Thorin begged, ignoring the question all together. Bilbo sighed but stepped forwards, not too close though. He carefully untied the belt on his waist and pulled up his tunic. So far no bruises had blossomed, but the skin was red in the places it had been pressed against the metal bars.

"See. I'm fine." Bilbo smiled reassuringly and let the tunic drop. "Thorin, please focus, this is important. Thranduil-"

"I don't care about Thranduil I care about you! If Balin thinks it's a brilliant idea, then tell him yes! Please, let me worry about you!" Thorin yelled, and Bilbo flinched back. Legolas put a hand on his shoulder that wasn't currently throbbing.

"I think we should go Bilbo." He murmured.

"You take your filthy hands off of him!" Thorin snarled. Legolas just gave him an unimpressed look. "Please don't go Bilbo." He added, his face softening immediately.

"I-I have to. I have things to attend to, and the other members of the company too. I'll come back tomorrow, if we're not back on our quest by then." Bilbo put his hand gently on Thorin's, which immediately grabbed him tightly. "I promise." He whispered when Thorin looked unwilling to let go. The Dwarf King wanted to protest, he wanted Bilbo to stay, but he saw the way Legolas was looking at him. Like he would gladly sever Thorin's hand from his body if it meant he would let Bilbo go.

"Tomorrow?" Thorin asked, just to make sure.

"I promise." Bilbo reaffirmed and pulled his hand from Thorin's grip. "Maybe I can talk Legolas into bringing you something to read later. I can't imagine how boring it gets down here all by yourself." Bilbo proposed, because Thorin looked so...heartbroken. He glanced at Legolas, who looked a step beyond hesitant, but eventually nodded. "See, everything's okay. I'll see you tomorrow Thorin." He smiled one more time before letting Legolas lead him out of the Deep Dungeons. Bilbo kept his cheerful and careless act up all the way to his room, but the second he shut his door, he slid down the wall and buried his face in his hands.

He just...couldn't believe it. Thorin had hurt him! Not on purpose, but that didn't make it hurt any less! His chest throbbed with a slow pulse, almost like his legs, and his shoulder just ached. Yes, Thorin had seemed appropriately horrified with himself, but Bilbo was still trying to convince himself to forgive Thorin for the way he acted in the first part of the journey. This was going to put a major damper on that as well.

Bilbo longed to cut, to help regulate the surging emotions in his system, but he knew he had pushed himself almost to the limit the night before. He couldn't risk spilling more of his blood now. Not for a few days at least. He would have to give in and cry, as much as that pained him. Honestly, it hurt more to cry than to bleed. But he let the tears come and he didn't fight them. He let them roll down his cheeks and soak the collar of his tunic as his shoulders shook with sobs. He hated crying, but right now he just couldn't stop.

Legolas heard Bilbo start to cry through the door, and he couldn't help but glow red with anger for the Dwarf who had caused those tears. Bilbo wanted Legolas to bring Thorin a book. Maybe he would have a little chat with the Dwarf while he was there. In fact, he wasn't busy at the moment. He would stop by the library and then pay a visit to the King. Legolas didn't even pay attention to what book he was grabbing, he could care less if it was in a language Thorin could read. It was a book, and that's all Bilbo had asked.

Thorin was back in the place they had found him in that morning, sitting on his bed with his face in his hands. Though this time his shoulders slumped with sorrow and guilt. Legolas tossed the book through the bars, and it landed with a loud THUNK that made Thorin jump and look up. For half a second Thorin looked hopeful that maybe Bilbo had come back with Legolas, but then his whole face darkened and his shoulders set defensively.

"How. Dare. You." Legolas hissed. He had never been so angry before. It was true, he didn't know Bilbo that well. But the Hobbit was so kind, and sweet, and stronger than any of the Dwarves probably knew. And to think that Thorin had hurt him! He shuddered to think of anyone hurting Bilbo, ever!

"Piss off." Thorin grunted, ready to ignore the Elf.

"If it weren't for Bilbo you would be trapped down here for the rest of your miserable life, Dwarf. The only reason my father believes your ridiculous story about going to the Iron Hills is because of him. And in the first five minutes he was down here, you put marks on his skin." The Prince seethed. Thorin flinched, actually flinched, and then his glare turned into pure fire.

"Do you honestly think I'm proud of what I did? I have never been more ashamed of myself! And I do not need a snotty, self righteous Elf here to make me feel worse!" He yelled.

"Have you hurt him before? He said he was used to bruises. Is this a regular occurrence for Thorin Oakenshield? Hit him and then say you're sorry?"

"I would never hurt-"

"You just did!" Silence filled the dungeon and the two males glared at each other with flaming eyes. "You don't deserve Bilbo. If I had the power my father has, you would never see him again." Legolas sneered before turning and leaving. Surprisingly, there was no scathing remark from Thorin as he walked away. Silence followed him all the way to the door of the Deep Dungeons, and once the door slammed shut, Thorin Oakenshield allowed himself to cry.

OOOOO