The flight to Beorn's, whoever Beorn was, took maybe about an hour tops. Thorin rode on the second eagle in the flight pattern, Gandalf the only one ahead of him. Bilbo was held close to his chest, one hand spread out over the hobbit's bare chest to make sure he was still breathing. Bilbo was still wrapped up in Thorin's coat, but a pair of pants had been found for him. A little long, but they covered him, so Thorin was happy. Well, as happy as one could be after the initial shock had faded and reality had set in. Bilbo had somehow survived falling off a cliff into a deep abyss then changed into a dragon and saved all of their lives (Thorin wasn't sure who would lecture the hobbit first about that, him or Gandalf) and breathed fire. Breathed actual fire. As much as that should have terrified the dwarf king, Thorin found himself very calm. His home had been destroyed by dragon fire, but he was slowly coming to realized that most things in this world was very two sided. Lord Elrond had been nothing like Thrandruil and Bilbo's fire was nothing like Smaug's. It was as simple as that.

Beorn, it turned out, was a giant of a man and a skinchanger to boot. He had picked up on Bilbo's scent (so he said) as soon as they landed inside his fenced in yard and had appeared out of nowhere. He wasn't being very open about his and Bilbo's relationship, but he was greatly worried, all but carrying Thorin inside. The others had been ushered to a table quickly being filled with food, but Beorn led Thorin, Gandalf and the still Bilbo to a back room.

"What happened?" Beorn gestured to the bed, the perfect height for someone of hobbit height. (Thorin was not reading into it)

"Bilbo fell a great height while we were in the mountains and we feared him dead," Gandalf shed his outer layer, kneeling by the bed as Thorin laid Bilbo down. "He appeared in the nick of time to save all of us from certain death by a group of orcs led by Azog."

"That beast was still breathing?" Beorn snarled.

"Sadly," Gandalf laid a hand to Bilbo's brow.

"What else has the little one done to make you two so agitated?" Beorn looked at Thorin as the dwarf sat on the edge of the bed, hand firmly gripping Bilbo's, smirking a little.

"He saved us in his dragon form, when he was severely injured and clearly exhausted," Thorin growled.

"Ah, so he was being stupid. Again," Beorn sighed. "I'm glad to see someone else is taking care of him."

"Not so much taking care of as forcing him to slow down for a moment or two," Thorin grumbled, which got a chuckle out of Beorn.

"Aye, that sounds a lot like Bilbo. He's a good heart, but it's taken a beating over the years. I'm glad he's found you," there was a strange, sad look in Beorn's eyes, but Thorin chose not to say anything of it.

"Bilbo will be fine," Gandalf sat back, looking relieved. "With a lot of rest, food and comfort, I wager. He's done his best to treat himself, it seems."

"Thorin," Bilbo's hand tightened its hold on Thorin's as the hobbit came around.

"He would wake up at the mention of food," Beorn laughed as Bilbo groaned.

"Thorin," Bilbo forced his eyes open and Thorin moved closer.

"I am here. We are safe. Some eagles came and got us. Brought us to Beorn's. Rest, I will have Oin come in soon and look you over," Thorin pressed his free hand to Bilbo's cheek.

"Tell me….tell me its not…..not the bear," Bilbo forced out.

"For once I was hoping you would be happy to see me, little brother," Beorn laughed, kneeling down by the bed. Thorin noticed how Beorn's eyes were soft but his shoulders were tense, "Thorin has been telling me some crazy things."

"No crazier….than you," Bilbo somehow managed to glare up at Beorn.

"Aye, that may be but I don't go falling off cliffs, do I? That ain't all, is it?" Beorn frowned now.

"There were stone giants," Gandalf supplied.

"Stone giants…..and you thought," Beorn growled, his entire body tense.

"I had to….to do….something," Bilbo growled right back.

"Thankfully he wasn't able to," Thorin cut in. "For I am sure that if Biblo had changed into a stone giant, it would not have been at all that pleasant for him."

Bilbo looked stunned, Gandalf looked amused and Beorn was thoughtful, "My brother has told you about us?"

"Yes. He has told me you have different forms, different levels of changing," Thorin nodded. "But he never mentioned you."

"Biblo probably failed to mention a few things, not because he does not trust you but because he does not trust himself," Gandalf inspected his nails. "But I think this conversation can be held another time, when all parties are on somewhat equal footing."

"I am…..am fine, wizard," Bilbo grunted, trying to sit up and both Thorin and Beorn reached forward and pushed him back down.

"Rest, little brother. I will take care of the others. You don't rest and you'll get what you've got coming," Beorn growled. "Thorin Oakenshield, a word?"

"I will stay with him. Send Oin in," Gandalf nodded to Thorin.

"Be gentle," Thorin warned before pressing a kiss to Bilbo's forehead. "We will talk. Soon. I love you."

He didn't give Bilbo time to reply, quickly leaving the stunned little hobbit behind. He nodded to Oin, who scurried inside before heading for where Beorn waited, looking thoughtful, "You wish to talk?"

"You've seen my brother in a way that most don't. Why is that?" Beorn sat down on a bench that was pushed over by a pony.

"He is my One," Thorin said calmly, not looking away.

"Does he know that?"

"No. I know or I assume he knows of dwarven culture," Thorin sighed.

"But you said three simple words no one outside of our family have said to him. Why?" Beorn leaned forward.

"Because he deserves to know he is loved. Because whatever has made him so scared of his own brother is not going to scare me off," Thorin crossed his arms.

"He is not afraid of me. He is afraid of what he could do to me," Beorn sat back, patting the bench next to him. "It is a long story, but one you deserve to hear, since I think you won't be leaving him anytime soon."

"I don't plan on it," Thorin nodded, moving to sit by Beorn.

"And he needs that. He needs someone who will chase him all over this cursed rock," Beorn looked into the nearby fire. "It is a long story and a sad story. A story that is not yet ended, thankfully. It gives me hope that it may end happily still."