DISCLAIMER: SAME AS BWEFORE FOLKS. SEE EARLIER CHAPTAHS. DANKE KINDLY.
Chapter #12! Hope you all enjoy! Thank you for all your lovely comments! Dey maek meh happeh. ^_^
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"Erm..." Began Bilbo, but Thorin immediately shot him a hostile look of warning should he continue on the matter. The Hobbit, guessing that the subject was off limits for discussion, quickly closed his mouth with a snap.
Satisfied, Thorin let his head fall back against the cool stone, feeling quite at home and enjoying the rest that his aching feet had been crying for. There was not one part of his body that did not have soreness to complain of, but it was a good type of pain that he rather enjoyed. It told of a day well done, and this pleased Thorin. He sat like this for some time, until upon hearing movement his eyes snapped open. Turning to the source of the noise, he saw Bilbo, who looked as if he was in the middle of a debate with himself whether or not to disturb the Dwarf. Sighing, Thorin decided to save him the trouble.
"Well?" The Dwarf asked, looking somewhat irritated that his sleep had been disturbed.
The Hobbit jumped, not expecting the Dwarf's question, but recovered quickly.
"Oh, erm yes. I was just wondering about a meal? I think we could both do with one." The Hobbit attempted a friendly grin, but Thorin's impassive face soon crushed the effort. The Dwarf pointed to the discarded bundle of supplies.
"In the front pocket. You should find something, help yourself."
The Hobbit mumbled his thanks, and limped over to the bundle, opening it and viewing the edible contents with a disappointed air. Nothing was particularly appetizing, but the Hobbit's hunger soon overcame his preferences. He then sat himself down in a comfortable corner, eating his meal.
Bilbo, needless to say felt more satisfied that night then he had for quite a few. He was warm, dry, and had a filling (if not the most savory) meal. His glance strayed to the Dwarf, who had resumed his silence. Thorin was by no means a talkative fellow, unless the situation required it, and often enough prefered to spend his camp moments in the company of himself. His nephews were a stark contrast, and Bilbo could not help but wonder how three persons of the same family could differ so greatly.
Oddly enough it was Thorin who broke the Hobbit's thoughtful silence.
"You are strangely quiet Mr. Baggins. Usually you are full of questions, can it be that your curiosity has finally been satisfied?" The Dwarf still had his eyes closed, as if half dosing. He smirked softly to himself as he heard the Hobbit's answer.
"Well I'm eating of course! And you aren't exactly one to encourage conversation." The Hobbit's tone was an annoyed one.
"And what am I doing to offend you now?" The Dwarf asked, amusement clearly written on his face.
"Doing whatever it is that you always do I expect." The Hobbit eyed the Dwarf, giving a smug smirk.
Thorin snorted at this. At least this journey was doing some good. There was a time when only a simple stare would have had the Hobbit flustered beyond believability. He settled himself more comfortably, at least there seemed that there would be peace from questions tonight.
"I was wondering." The Hobbit started.
Thorin sighed. Perhaps peace was a far-fetched notion, at least with Hobbits. He opened his heavy and tired eyes slowly, turning to Bilbo with an expectant look.
"Hmm?" He sleepily managed out.
"When you were speaking earlier about the Petty Dwarves, I heard you mention Seven families..." The Hobbit eagerly encouraged.
"I did." Thorin said bluntly, hoping to discourage anymore questions. Gratitude only went so far, especially when Thorin's sleep was concerned.
The Hobbit however did not seem to notice, and took Thorin's silence as encouragement, much to Thorin's displeasure.
"Which family do you belong to?" The Halfling asked, showing no sign of weariness. Thorin thought it was easily explained by the fact that the Hobbit had done next to nothing that day. Fortunately for Bilbo, the Dwarf held his peace and forced himself to be patient as he answered."The family that perhaps the rest of the peoples of Middle Earth are best acquainted with are the Longbeards. I am of this family, as is Fili, Kili, and most of the company."
"Oh, so you're all related?" Thorin's listener found the revelation quite interesting.
Thorin smiled, "Distantly." he said, "You have probably noticed that there is little resemblance among us."
Bilbo chuckled, thinking of the enormous Bombur. It was true, the company members were as different as apples and oranges. No observer would never guess what Thorin had just revealed.
Although he had traveled with Dwarves for quite a while now, Bilbo still knew next to nothing about them. Even the friendliest Dwarves seemed to guard their kind's secrets. It was rare indeed that the Hobbit had been able to learn anything. What little he had learned was the few bits of information he had got from Balin. Bilbo had truly been surprised to find Thorin readily willing to share his knowledge, and not knowing how long the Dwarf's mood would last, had taken advantage of it.
Thorin had laid back down, closing his eyes once more, seeking the solitude of his dreams and the memories they held. Throughout the day Thorin had felt slightly qualmy, but with the stop of motion his body reacted badly from his exertion. He suddenly felt a vague queasy feeling growing within his stomach, as it rushed about him like smoke, growing in strength and making Thorin very uncomfortable indeed.
He stifled a groan as a particularly nasty wave of nausea washed over him. Luckily the Hobbit did not seem to hear what little sound had made off free despite Thorin's efforts. It would not do to tell the Hobbit, who was unlearned in medicine and would only worry to death anyway. He silenced another moan. Valar! What was wrong with him?! It had not been a minute however, when the Hobbit spoke again.
"Thorin?"
"Last question Bilbo." The Dwarf growled out in reply, now showing his annoyance. He could and would be civil, he could and would carry the Hobbit if necessary, but he drew the line at taking his valuable time for sleeping. He was not feeling well as it was anyway.
"What are Dwarven women like?"
Thorin reared up like a corpse, eyes fixing on the Hobbit as if trying to understand what he meant, and to see if there was some secret meaning behind his words.
"What on earth do you want to know that for?" Thorin demanded, glaring at the Hobbit with an odd and suspicious look. Bilbo was startled for a moment, for this was completely unlike Thorin.
Bilbo casually shrugged, attempting to persuade the Dwarf that he meant no harm. "Curious I suppose. And anyhow, we've got nothing else to do."
"Oh, yes we do." Thorin said sharply, "and that is sleep!"
"Surely you're not going to sleep now?" The Hobbit looked surprised.
"Yes, and why not?" Thorin eyed him with some hostility.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Bilbo looked concerned. What was Thorin playing at? Traveling long and hard for an entire day, and going to sleep without taking supper? It was a foolish decision at the least, and if Bilbo knew Thorin, he was not one to make such a blatant and stupid mistake.
"No." The Dwarf replied guardedly, "I do not feel a need to for the present."
"You don't feel a need to?! You've been about all day without a bite to eat and with me on your back! And you mean to honestly tell me that you 'don't feel a need to for the present'?! The Hobbit protested. Dwarves have a reputation for having hearty appetites (Bilbo had discovered this first hand.) and if Thorin wasn't eating things could not be well.
The Dwarf crossly snarled, "I have answered enough questions for this night Mr. Baggins. I wish to sleep now; if I choose not to eat it is my decision! So by the grace of Mahal leave me in peace!" Although he would not admit it yet, the Dwarf felt a churning in his stomach that had slowly been growing on him during the day. It was hardly pleasant, and the Dwarf feared the consequences of eating while it was so sensitive. To make matters worse, his head felt as if someone was beating on it from the inside, and his body would take violent turns between freezing cold and boiling hot. He had hoped it would wear off during the evening, but there was still no sign of it doing so. If anything, it was getting worse. Thorin did not know how much longer he could stand it, and the Hobbit's constant questions were not helping. He turned from the Hobbit and cast himself once more into a resting position; he had had enough with Hobbits. They brought nothing but trouble anyway.
Surprisingly enough, the Hobbit retorted just as sharply.
"Look here!" he said, "You're acting like a fool! You often talk about how important it is to keep one's strength up on a journey! You need to eat something Thorin!"
The Dwarf leaned up on an elbow, glaring at the Hobbit as he answered in an ireful voice constricted by anger.
"I have chosen not to eat tonight Mr. Baggins. Let there be an end to it! Now be quiet and go to sleep!"
However, the angry response only made the Hobbit more determined.
"You're a fool Thorin Oakenshield. You're not well, and you refuse to eat! I would be better off stuck with an Orc for company!" Bilbo smartly returned. Orc however was a poor choice of words, for it did not have the desired effect.
"Orc is it?!" The Dwarf was fairly fuming, how dare this Halfling compare him to that hated race of monsters! Those that had taken so much away from him! His people! Countless had died! This Halfling dishonored their memory with his words. How dare he. "That can be arranged!" he shouted angrily, forgetting all else. " Foolish Hobbit! I have seen after you Mr. Baggins as honor and my promises to that meddling wizard called for! To the best of my ability! Only to be cursed for my efforts! I wish to the Valar I had never had the misfortune to have been burdened by you! I have bought your safety with great pains Mr. Baggins! You miserable...ungrateful-" He looked as if he was about to say something particularly dreadful, but perhaps thinking better of it, stood up violently with an ugly scowl on his features. With a purposeful stride (At least as best as he could manage while limping) he walked to the ancient Oaken door, with the torchlight dancing off it eerily. He opened it with a mighty motion slamming it behind him as he hobbled out into the dark halls, leaving the wide-eyed Hobbit alone in the cold and silent chamber.
"Fool youself" and "Serves him right if he dies from malnutrition" had been Bilbo's initial thought. But glancing about he felt suddenly very alone, and with that fear. The room seemed to grow much more dark and menacing without Thorin's sure presence, the shadows dancing in a taunting manner, and the slightest sound freezing Bilbo's blood. The Hobbit drew himself up, wishing he could hide and disappear from his terrible surroundings. No longer did the halls hold any charm without Bilbo's companion. Thorin had wandered into the darkness as easily as we might wander into a field. But even fields, as safe as they may seem, can hold unseen dangers. The Dwarf had done this in anger, and was clearly not thinking clearly. Something was quite wrong.
'Now you've done it Mr. Baggins' the Hobbit thought to himself.