Bilbo hadn't gone far to change. Thorin didn't know whether it was because he couldn't or because he didn't feel he had to, but he was close enough for Thorin to hear the change. He could hear the cracking, snapping and clicking of bones. He heard the tearing of flesh and muscle, the ripping of hair. But worst of all were the groans of pain coming from Bilbo. They almost sounded like sobs to the dwarf king and they ripped at his heart. Was changing always this painful for him? Or just now, with the injuries? He focused on examining Bilbo's shirt instead of imagining what must be happening to the smallest of his company. Soon, silence fell over him and he held his breath, trying to hear Bilbo….."Thorin?"

It was weaker than he was expecting, but it was there. He quickly stood, scooping up the pack and clothes and heading around the tree. Bilbo was curled up near the base of a nearby tree, back to Thorin. His skin, which Thorin had once thought smooth, was now revealed to be crisscrossed with scars and now bruising and cuts. He was trembling a little as Thorin knelt next to him, resting a hand on Bilbo's shoulder. Bilbo let out a little breath, turning his head to look up at Thorin. He wasn't surprised to see tear tracks, "What do you need help with?"

"I just need a moment," Bilbo said softly, looking away. Thorin frowned before reaching his arm around Bilbo's chest and sitting him up, resting him against Thorin's chest. Bilbo gasped, probably from pain, "I said a moment!"

"I would feel better if we had you under Gandalf's care than freezing out in the woods," Thorin stated simply. He could feel the long gash on Bilbo's side under his hand, which would make the other gash be on his hip or rear on the other side. "Are you still bleeding?"

"Only a little. A little blood washes out eventually," Bilbo sighed. "Shirt first, please."

Thorin grabbed it and slipped it over Bilbo's head before he could say anything. With a huff, Bilbo let Thorin help him maneuver his arms into it and pull it down. Now came the hard part, "I need to stand."

"That would make the most sense," Thorin chuckled before standing carefully, gently pulling Bilbo up with him. Bilbo didn't make a sound, but Thorin could see he was pale. "How are you feeling?"

"Old," was all Bilbo said before holding a hand out for the trousers. He let Thorin hold him up, but nothing more, slowly pulling the trousers on himself. He rested for a moment afterwards, allowing Thorin to hold his weight before he straightened, letting out a little hiss before slowly turning in the direction the others had gone, one hand on a nearby tree. Thorin let him go for a bit, but wrapped an arm around Bilbo's waist as the hobbit started forward. Bilbo shot him a dark look, "I can walk on my own."

"Your trembling legs say otherwise," Thorin pointed out. "Is it always so taxing?"

"No, only when I am hurt. My body must change to accommodate the wounds," Bilbo leaned a little more on Thorin. "And I am no longer as young as I once was."

"During the Great War," Thorin supplied.

"Well, yes, then," Bilbo gave a small smile. "I've stayed away from fights since then."

"Gandalf said you two came over together?" Thorin asked, trying to distract Bilbo.

"Ages ago, yes. We arrived shortly after the elves. Did he tell you I used to change into a dragon?" Bilbo chuckled. "Those were the days. We spent some time here in our old forms before deciding we needed to blend In more and choose more natural forms."

"Can you still change into a dragon?" Thorin frowned, thinking. How would Smaug react to another dragon?

"I have not tried in some time. I have not tried to change into anything other than these two forms in some time. I am sure I could do it, but it would be trying the first time. I would need to rest afterwards," Bilbo sighed. "Perhaps someday."

"Maybe before we cross the mountains we will rest a bit," Thorin offered. "It would not due to be tired when climbing mountains anyway."

"I could try then," Bilbo nodded as firelight came into view. "If I remember correctly, I should end up the same size or larger than Smaug. It would serve us well when we reach your mountain."

"Why did you stop changing into other things?" Thorin asked softly as the voices of the others reach their ears.

"I settled, matured," Bilbo shrugged, wincing. "I did not feel I needed to change as much anymore. I have lived to see this land change and fight and die and be reborn. Unlike Gandalf, I show my age."

"You look like a young, somewhat healthy hobbit to me," Thorin chuckled.

"I show my age most of the time," Bilbo huffed, but gave Thorin a small smile as they entered the clearing the others had claimed for camp. Gandalf was off to the side, waiting, with a satchel of healing supplies. Thorin helped Bilbo sit before sitting down next to him, face neutral as the others glanced at him. He saw Fili and Kili nudge each other, smiling a little. He shot them a glare, but Kili just stuck his tongue out at him. Young nephews. A growl from beside him drew his attention back to his present company. Bilbo's shirt was off again and Gandalf was dabbing a salve into the gash.

"Thorin, if you could get the bandages out," Gandalf asked, sounding amused as Bilbo tried to jerk away. "We'll need to wrap his ribs. No changing for a few days, friend."

"Then I have become a burden," Bilbo huffed. "Myrtle won't be happy."

"You will ride with me," Thorin dug through the satchel, looking for the bandages. "My pony is more than capable."

"Now, Thorin, I am perfectly fine riding Myrtle," Bilbo started, but Thorin fixed him with a hard stare.

"I wasn't offering," he said simply before beginning to wrap Bilbo's torso, getting a hiss of pain out of the skinchanger. Gandalf shot Thorin an amused look and a wink. Thorin glowered back, pulling the bandage tight. Gandalf chuckled before examining Bilbo's left foot.

"What did you do here?" Gandalf frowned as he examined the black and blue foot, which Thorin had failed to notice earlier. "Don't tell me the troll stepped on it."

"He threw a rock at me," Bilbo huffed. "While his brother was trying to step on me."

"And the cut on your rear? Where is that from?" Gandalf started applying another salve to the foot.

"I tried persuading the trolls to fall off a cliff," Bilbo grunted as Thorin tied off his bandage and handed the rest of the wrap to Gandalf so he could wrap the foot.

"And the one on your back?" Thorin frowned.

"The one had his own knife," Bilbo glared at Thorin.

"But of course you weren't letting them that close," Gandalf sat back, watching the two.

"I may have been stuck under a rock at the time," Bilbo looked away. "I can treat the last gash myself."

"Stop being modest," Thorin huffed, taking a jar of salve from Gandalf. "You can pull on some underpants first, but I am looking at it."

The snickering behind him alerted to Thorin how that had sounded, but he ignored it as he turned his back to Bilbo, glaring at his men so they looked away.

"You have no say in the matter," Gandalf laughed and after much grumbling, Bilbo tapped Thorin's shoulder. Thorin turned around to see Bilbo was indeed wearing underpants now, but the one side was pulled up so he could see the gash. It ran from Bilbo's lower left buttock down to just above his knee on the backside of his thigh. Thorin frowned before setting to work, cleaning the wound and rubbing salve into before wrapping it. Bilbo only let out one hiss before falling silent. Once Thorin was done, Bilbo quickly, although unsteadily, pulled his trousers back on.

"Foods ready!" Bombur called, drawing everyone's attention. The rest of the night was spent resting. They weren't going to head out till midmorning, so everyone quickly got to sleep, hoping to be well rested in the morning. It didn't miss anyone's attention when Thorin set himself down by Bilbo or when, in his sleep, Bilbo curled into Thorin's side. Nor did anyone miss the small smile on Thorin's face as he wrapped an arm around the hobbit and pressed his face into Bilbo's hair, falling asleep. Oh, this was going to be fun.