Hi,

I had a bit trouble writing this chapter, as it contains bits of violence I am not used to writing.

Warning for graphic violence.

Bilbo kissed Thorin passionately before departing from the lake house, pouring every ounce of desperation and love into the embrace. They had spent the entire night entwined in each other's arms, sharing kisses, caresses, and intimate moments. But amidst their physical connection, they also delved into discussions about what the future might hold for them.

As the hours slipped away unnoticed, the first light of day began to illuminate the horizon, reminding them of their need to return to the mansion before they were discovered missing. If anyone hadn't already noticed their absence, they would soon enough.

Thorin swiftly tidied up the makeshift bed after Bilbo's departure, ensuring that everything was returned to its original state, leaving no trace of the night before. With a heavy heart, he made his way back to the mansion, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet of the early morning.

Upon reaching his room, Thorin wasted no time in shedding his clothes and slipping under the covers of his bed. Though it was still early, he hoped to steal a few hours of rest before the rest of the household awoke. Closing his eyes, Thorin tried to push aside the weight of his thoughts, but his mind refused to settle at ease. Despite his efforts to quiet the turmoil within, his thoughts continued to churn, replaying the events of the night and grappling with the uncertainties of the future. Tossing and turning in his bed, Thorin found himself caught in a restless cycle of contemplation, unable to find solace in sleep.

Startled by a soft knock on the door, Thorin rose from his bed and approached it cautiously. Opening the door, he was surprised to find Bilbo standing on the other side. Without a word, Bilbo hurried into the room, closing the door behind him, his movements agitated as he began to pace back and forth.

Thorin observed Bilbo's restless pacing for a moment before approaching him with a gentle touch. Placing a hand on Bilbo's shoulder, he turned him around to face him.

"You should go back to bed." Thorin spoke softly, his voice filled with concern. "You should not be here."

Despite the warmth of his words, there was an underlying sense of urgency in Thorin's tone.

With eyes wide with despair, Bilbo leaned in and pressed a tender kiss against Thorin's lips.

Caught off guard by Bilbo's sudden action, Thorin tensed momentarily before yielding to the intensity of the kiss. Bilbo's arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer as their lips met in a fervent embrace. Despite his initial apprehension, Thorin found himself unable to resist the magnetic pull of Bilbo's kiss, surrendering to the moment as their passion ignited once again.

"I was not able to find sleep," Bilbo confessed in a hushed voice when they broke off the kiss. "I can't stop thinking about last night. I can't stop thinking about you."

"So do I." Thorin replied, his words barely a whisper. "But still, if anyone catches us here..." His voice trailed off, the weight of their predicament hanging heavily between them.

Bilbo rested his head against Thorin's, their foreheads touching in a moment of intimacy. "Run away with me." He whispered, his voice tinged with longing.

"It's not that simple." Thorin replied, a warm smile playing on his lips despite the seriousness of the situation. "Where would we go exactly?"

"I don't know," Bilbo admitted. "But I like the idea. Just the two of us together, without a care in the world."

"We cannot do such a thing, Bilbo." Thorin replied, taking a step away from him. "There's no place in this world where we could be together. At least not publicly."

His words were heavy with the weight of their reality, the harsh truth of their circumstances casting a shadow over their desires.

"You're going to give up this easily?" Bilbo questioned, his hurt evident in his tone.

Thorin shook his head. "We'll figure something out, but for now, you have to go. If anyone catches us, there will be nothing to figure out anymore."

Bilbo nodded, a determined expression filling his features. Without giving Thorin as much as a second look, he opened the door again and vanished into the hallway, leaving behind the weight of unspoken emotions lingering in the room.

It was only during dinner that Thorin saw Bilbo again that day. Despite the weight of their secret weighing heavily on his mind, Thorin's family appeared oblivious to the events of the previous night, still confined to the aftermath of the New Year's party.

Dinner passed by quickly, the conversation mostly revolving around discussing the events of the previous night and the latest gossip from the New Year's party. As dessert was served, Bilbo suddenly stood up from the table, announcing that he had something to say. Thorin braced himself, knowing he had to maintain an appearance of cheerful happiness when Bilbo proposed to Dis.

However, the words that left Bilbo's mouth were unexpected, catching Thorin off guard and leaving him speechless.

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning," Bilbo stated, his voice soft yet resolute, his gaze fixed on the floor.

Thorin felt as though the ground had dropped out from beneath him. His spoon slipped from his fingers, clattering onto his plate as his mouth fell open in shock. He could feel his heart shattering into a million tiny pieces, his mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions. He wanted to speak up, to protest, to beg Bilbo to stay, but he knew he had to remain silent, concealing the turmoil within him beneath a carefully constructed facade.

"You are leaving?" Thrain asked, his tone laced with disbelief. "You are not intending to marry Dis?"

Bilbo shook his head, his expression pained. "No, I'm sorry. But this isn't going to work."

"And you're realizing that only now?" Thrain retorted, his frustration evident. "After all these months, you suddenly decide she isn't enough."

His words were sharp, cutting through the tension in the room.

"I wanted to give it my best shot," Bilbo replied softly, his gaze shifting to Dis. "It's not you. You are a very charming, beautiful young lady, and I enjoyed spending time with you, but..."

"There's no romance," Dis finished Bilbo's sentence, her voice tinged with resignation.

Thorin couldn't bear the weight of the situation any longer. The thought of Bilbo leaving them, leaving him, became too overwhelming. Without offering any explanation, he abruptly rose from his seat and stormed outside, the door slamming shut behind him.

Thorin paused as he heard Bilbo's voice calling out to him. His emotions churned within him, torn between anger and longing. For a few moments, he hesitated, unsure whether he should go to Bilbo after the hurt of feeling abandoned.

But ultimately, he couldn't resist the pull, the undeniable urge to be with Bilbo, perhaps for the last time.

The two men stood in front of each other, the air heavy with unspoken tension as they gazed at each other in silence. Thorin struggled to find the right words, his throat tight with emotion, until finally, he managed to ask a simple question: "Why?"

His voice was barely above a whisper, filled with a mixture of hurt, confusion, and longing, as he sought an explanation for Bilbo's decision to leave.

Bilbo's head faltered as he answered, his voice tinged with resignation. "Because there's no use for me to stay here any longer."

"Then what about me?!" Thorin cried out, his emotions spilling over. "Am I not enough?"

"That's exactly the point, Thorin!" Bilbo retorted, his voice bitter with frustration. "You said it yourself this morning! There's no future for us!"

Thorin shook his head in disbelief. "You said you were going to propose to Dis! I figured we still had time to sort things out!"

"And then what?!" Bilbo bluntly yelled, his frustration boiling over. "I marry your sister, while we keep sneaking around everyone's back?! Until maybe, we get caught someday?! How is that fair to anyone?!"

The raw emotion in Bilbo's voice struck Thorin like a blow, the harsh reality of their situation laid bare before him. He struggled to find a response, his heart torn between his love for Bilbo and the impossible circumstances they faced.

In that moment of raw emotion, Thorin's lips crashed against Bilbo's without a word.

The kiss was filled with desperation, a tangible expression of the despair that weighed heavily on their hearts. Thorin kissed him with fervor, pouring all of his pent-up emotions into the embrace.

Bilbo's fingers entwined in Thorin's hair, his touch conveying a sense of urgency and longing. Eagerly, he returned the kiss with fervor, drawing Thorin closer as if he wished to merge their bodies together.

Thorin and Bilbo froze as they heard a voice behind them, their moment shattered by the intrusion. As Thorin turned around, he felt a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach at the sight of his father, Thrain, standing there with a look of utter disgust and anger on his face.

Thrain's voice was filled with venom as he addressed Bilbo. "So this is the true reason you don't want to marry my daughter? Because you are planting sick thoughts into my son's head! Sinful thoughts! Look how far you have already driven him!"

Bilbo swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "It's not what—"

"This is not what I think it is?!" Thrain thundered, his rage palpable as the veins on his forehead bulged with anger. "My eyes are playing tricks on me then?! For I know what I just saw!"

Thorin's mind raced as he tried to comprehend the situation. Caught between his love for Bilbo and his loyalty to his family, he felt a sense of helplessness wash over him.

Thorin's heart sank as he watched his father's outburst, the situation spiraling out of control with alarming speed. He could see the fear and panic in Bilbo's eyes as Thrain made a move to grab him by the wrist, his voice filled with venomous rage. Get your belongings! I want you off of my property! I will stop this nonsense right now!"

Before Thrain could lay a hand on him, Thorin stepped forward, interposing himself between his father and Bilbo, his own voice shaking with a mixture of defiance and desperation. "No, Father, you can't—"

But his words were cut off as Thrain's rage intensified, his grip closing on Thorin's arm as he snarled, "You dare to defy me, boy? After all I've done for you? I can't believe you fell for his tricks!"

Thorin's heart pounded in his chest as he spoke out against his father, his voice trembling with defiance. "It is not his fault!"

But before he could say another word, Thorin felt the sharp sting of Thrain's hand connecting with his cheek, the force of the blow causing stars to dance in front of his eyes. He tasted blood in his mouth as he staggered back, stunned by the violence of his father's attack.

Thrain's eyes blazed with fury as he continued his angry assault, his voice booming with authority. "You, Thorin Durin, are going back to the mansion! I will have a word with you when I'm done here! And you, Master Baggins, best get out from underneath my eyes! I want you gone!"

Thorin's head spun as the gravity of the situation dawned on him. His father seemed determined to separate them, and it was evident that Thrain wasn't considering Bilbo's best interests.

Afraid for Bilbo's safety, Thorin remained steadfast by his side. "You cannot send him off alone, father. It's already dark, and he doesn't know his way around. He could get lost."

But Thrain's rage showed no signs of abating.

"That's not my problem!" He bellowed. "He should have thought about the consequences of his actions, just like you! Now go inside!"

Thorin's heart sank as he realized the futility of reasoning with his father. With a heavy heart, he glanced at Bilbo, silently conveying his determination to stand by him, no matter what.

"Absolutely not!"

Thrain's visage turned momentarily blank before his rage surged once more.

"You'll be the end of me, boy!" He lashed out at Thorin. "Don't you see?! He's sown seeds of doubt in your mind!"

"I love him, father," Thorin countered, positioning himself protectively in front of Bilbo, wary of his father's potential aggression. "Please, I beg you. Don't send him away."

In an instant, Thrain seized Thorin by the hair and forcibly began hauling him back toward the mansion.

"You think you can defy me, do you!?" Thrain bellowed, dragging a protesting and struggling Thorin along. "By the time I'm through with you, you'll learn never to challenge me again!"

Unable to break free, Thorin cast a desperate glance toward Bilbo as he was forcefully pulled toward the mansion. He prayed silently that Bilbo would have the wisdom to refrain from following or intervening, realizing that for the moment, Thrain's fury was directed solely at him, with Bilbo seemingly forgotten.

As the mansion door slammed shut, the final image imprinted in Thorin's mind was the mixture of fear and sorrow etched upon Bilbo's face.

Once inside, Thrain unleashed his fury upon Thorin without restraint. He flung him to the ground, delivering vicious kicks to wherever his foot could land. The commotion drew Thorin's mother and Dis to the hallway, along with several servants, though none dared to intervene in Thrain's rage.

Upon noticing the onlookers, Thrain ceased his assault on Thorin and instead began dragging him toward the stairs. Before departing, he issued a stern warning audible to all present. "Master Baggins is no longer welcome on this property! Any attempt to aid him will result in immediate termination of employment!"

Once upstairs, Thrain hurled Thorin into his room, delivering a final warning before slamming the door shut. "You are confined to this room! Should you dare to defy me again, the consequences will be far graver than what you've just endured!"

Thorin remained sprawled on the floor of his room, his body throbbing with pain from the relentless barrage of kicks delivered by his father. Yet amidst the physical agony, his mind remained sharp, thoughts drifting to Bilbo, now left vulnerable in the chilling embrace of the night.

Realizing the futility of attempting to slip away unnoticed again, Thorin eventually mustered the strength to rise from the floor. With every movement sending waves of discomfort through his battered form, he made his way laboriously to the bed, where he collapsed in exhaustion. Hoping that Bilbo had exercised caution and departed the premises while Thrain was preoccupied with him.

Despite his reluctance to succumb to sleep, Thorin found his eyelids growing heavy and his body succumbing to fatigue. Before he could resist any longer, the weight of exhaustion pulled him into a realm of fitful dreams, where restlessness plagued his slumber.