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Bilbo hurried himself through the hallways of Erebor, on his way to Oin's room, hoping to find him there. He had left the dwarven king's room as soon he noticed Thorin had a fever.

Once he arrived at the healer's door, he urgently started to knock, not stopping before he heard movement.

"In Durin's name, what is…" He heard as the door opened. "Bilbo…"

"It is Thorin, he is not well. Please come." Bilbo blurted out, then started back for the dwarven king's chamber.

It did not take Oin long to follow him, the healer marched straight to the bed, where a pale and coughing Thorin was now awake.

"What is it laddie? Are you ill?" He asked while he observed Thorin. "You don't look to well."

"It's nothing." Thorin managed to get out in between coughs.

Oin proceeded by placing his hand on the dwarf's forehead. "You are running a fever. Would you mind taking off your shirt, Thorin? I must check your wounds."

Thorin glared at Bilbo, who was nervously hopping up and down. "There's no need for that. I'm fine!"

"Laddie, I strongly suggest you let me look at those wounds. That fever did not come out of nowhere."

Thorin threw another glare in Bilbo's direction before he reluctantly took off his shirt. "Go on then!"

Oin carefully removed the bandages from the dwarf's body, exposing the wounds to his and Bilbo's eyes.

Bilbo gasped as he saw the worst of them, the edges of the wounds looking inflamed and puss oozing out of them.

Oin, who had remained perfectly calm the entire time, now became agitated. "Fine, you say?! Will you look at them Thorin, they are infected!"

The dwarven king, who was already pale, became even paler at the sight of his infected wounds. His irritation towards the halfling and the other dwarf was immediately forgotten as he observed his own body.

"Didn't I tell you to come find me to take care of these wounds?! You stubborn dwarf, you never listen to anyone else besides yourself!" Oin grumbled, gathering some supplies out of his bag. "I at least figured one of you would have tended to them! But no, now I can do the dirty work!"

"It's not Bilbo's fault." Thorin managed to get out. "He tried to send me to you multiple times."

"You should have listened to him!" Oin replied, giving Thorin a stern look before turning towards Bilbo. "This is not going to be pretty. You can leave if you want."

No, I'll… I will stay." Bilbo softly spoke. "What is it exactly, that you are going to do?"

"I'll have to drain the puss from the wounds before I can do anything else." Oin explained. "He's going to be in pain, Bilbo. Are you sure you want to stay?"

Bilbo swallowed hard before moving towards the bed, sitting down next to Thorin's head. "Yes."

"You should go." Thorin whispered.

Bilbo shook his head, then took the dwarf's hand in his own. "I'm not leaving you."

Thorin clenched his teeth together as Oin started draining the puss out of the first wound, still a low growl escaped from his lips.

Focus on me." Bilbo said, combing through the dwarf's hair.

Thorin directed his eyes to the hobbit, who to his surprise looked calm and reserved. Which was peculiar for him in a situation like this.

As Oin worked further at a steady pace, Thorin's breathing quickened. Another moan came from deep inside him and he had to restrain himself from moving.

"Remember when we first met, Thorin?" Bilbo, who could see the dwarf's discomfort, asked to divert the dwarf's attention.

"Aye, the burglar who looked more like a grocer to me." Thorin answered between clenched teeth.

Bilbo smiled. "Not exactly the fondest memories, are they? Let's try something else."

Once again, a growl escaped from Thorin's lips as Oin continued to work on his wounds.

"What about the time we got carried by the eagles, or at least when you woke up again… you finally found me worthy."

"I've always found you worthy, Bilbo." Thorin softly answered, trying not to grimace, and failing at it. "I was just too much of an ass to admit it to you."

"Or the time I freed you lot out of king Tranduil's dungeons." Bilbo continued, still stroking the dwarf's hair. "I almost drowned though, not my best moment."

"Then there was the time we opened the secret door to Erebor." Bilbo spoke as the king just looked at him, not able to speak. "The look on all your faces, but especially on yours. I will never forget that moment, as in that moment you looked genuinely happy."

Thorin tried to smile at the halfling, thankful he was trying to comfort him, nevertheless his attempted smile came out as an ugly face.

"And the first time I saw you again after you got cured from the dragon sickness." Bilbo softly said, his hand now caressing the dwarf's cheek. "It filled my heart with joy to know the real you were back. The you I could call a friend."

"First one is done." Oin announced. "You're doing well laddie, just hang on a little bit longer."

As Oin started on the second wound, Thorin's eyes opened wide. He let out a cry of pain before his eyes turned into their sockets and he passed out.

"Thorin!" Bilbo cried out, grasping at the dwarf's arm. "No, don't leave me!"

"Don't worry, Bilbo. He only passed out from the pain." Oin reassured him. "Probably for the best. Nasty business this is. But he will live."

"Then why didn't you give him anything against the pain?" Bilbo asked, his hands helplessly fluttering over Thorin's body.

"I do not have much at hand. These things are hard to come by. And knowing Thorin, he would have refused them anyway." Oin replied. "He did good though, I have seen many wounded in my years and a lot of them screamed bloody murder as I treated them. He even lasted longer than I expected."

Bilbo sighed, his anxiousness now taking over again as he didn't have anything to do anymore. Yet he remained at Thorin's bedside.

"Bilbo, could you go to my room and grab something for me?" Oin asked, noticing the halfling's discomfort "There's a greyish little jar between my ointments, it works against infections."

"Aye." Bilbo stated, then practically bolted out of the room.

As he walked the hallways in a ridiculous slow pace, his courage and perseverance faded away like snow for the sun.

He felt hot tears sting in the corners of his eyes as the seriousness of the situation hit him.

He should have been sterner with the dwarf, he should have dragged him to Oin after they returned from their trip outside. But no, he let himself be distracted by Thorin again. How stupid could he be?

Once he arrived in Oin's room, he quickly looked for the ointment. It was not hard to find, as it was the only little greyish jar between the lot.

When Bilbo arrived back in the dwarven king's room, Oin was just finishing up and Thorin was still unconscious.

"Thank you, laddie" Oin said, taking the ointment from Bilbo. "Once I have applied this, I'm going to bandage his wounds. He will be set for the night."

"Thank you." Bilbo stated, sitting back down on the bed.

"It's nothing." Oin replied, gathering his belongings. "I'll be back in the morning. Can you keep an eye on him for the night?"

"I will." Bilbo promised.

"Oh, and he needs bedrest. He cannot leave this room, understand?" Oin said as he started for the door. "Goodnight."

Bilbo sighed, then settled himself in the bed next to Thorin. "He couldn't give me a simpler task?"

He stared at the dwarf as the hours passed by. The only movement from Thorin being the rise and fall of his chest.

For Bilbo sleep would not come, still being too focused on the dwarf's health.

It was only when the sun was rising, his eyes closed, and he drifted into unconsciousness.

"Remember the time we returned from battle. When you killed Azog, but the battle was not over yet." A warm voice softly spoke.

Bilbo's eyes fluttered open, staring right into the stormy blue ones of the dwarven king.

"You did not want me to leave, but I had to. Although I didn't really want to leave you behind." Thorin continued, stroking Bilbo's hair.

"You're awake." Bilbo stated, smiling at the dwarf. "How are you feeling?"

"A little sore, I must admit." Thorin replied. "Might be my own fault though, since I didn't listen."

"You've always been stubborn."

"I would have expected an I told you so." Thorin replied. "I certainly deserve one."

"I told you so."

Thorin let out a little chuckle, followed by a grimace.

"Careful." Bilbo stated. "Oin will skin you if you get hurt again."

Thorin sighed. "I can imagine."

"Anyway, you were saying…" Bilbo redirected the subject. "Sounded like you weren't quite done."

"Well, I think we both know what happened before I left." Thorin replied grinning.

Bilbo shrugged. "Can't recall that moment honestly. Maybe, if you jog my memory, I might remember."

Thorin gave him a playful push before he closed the distance and pressed his lips on the hobbit's. "Does that ring any bells?"

"Kind of. Not entirely sure though." Bilbo teased before his lips locked with Thorin's again.

Soft whimpers escaped the hobbit's lips as Thorin deepened the kiss, his fingers finding their way into the halfling's hair, gently pulling it.

Bilbo's hands cupped the dwarf's face, his tongue darting against the other's lips, begging to be let in.

Without thinking, Bilbo rolled on top of Thorin, who let out a loud groan.

"I'm sorry." Bilbo stated, removing himself from Thorin immediately. "I was not thinking. I should have been more careful."

Thorin took a few deep breaths before replying. "It is ok Bilbo. I am not used to being this sensitive myself."

Bilbo leaned on his elbow, hovering over the dwarf. "We shouldn't be doing this anyway. Oin could be here any moment."

"Are you afraid he's going to walk in on us?" Thorin asked, a glimpse of amusement visible in his eyes.

"Kind of"

"He knows how to knock." Thorin replied, pulling the hobbit closer again.

"You should be on bed rest." Bilbo interjected. "No exercise allowed."

"Well, I'm in my bed." Thorin stated. "And I'm resting, or something like that."

Bilbo chuckled. "I don't think this falls into the category of resting."

Thorin pouted, which made Bilbo laugh.

"Fine, I'll go to Oin, he can tend to my wounds and then we can continue." He said, already on his way out of bed.

Bilbo pulled him back. "No, you are on bed rest. That means not leaving the bed for anything but a sanitary stop."

"Bilbo… you can't seriously expect me to do that."

"I'll tie you to the bed if I must."

Thorin grinned. "Sounds interesting."

"Get your head out of the gutter." Bilbo laughed. "Fine then, I will get Oin. You stay here."

"Can't make any promises."

Bilbo gave him a stern look, then got out of bed. "What about this then. If you are gone when I return, there will be no more kissing."

"That's not fair." Thorin interjected. "You drive a hard bargain, master Baggins."

Bilbo walked to the door, turning towards Thorin just before he slipped out. "Stay!"

The pillow Thorin threw at him landed against the door.

So, if you have any feedback, I would be glad to receive it.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

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