Here's the next chapter.

Enjoy.

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Chapter 7

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"Why should I? You don't trust me. I'm a warg, a freak."

Bilbo scurried to his feet and tried to move away from Thorin before having a dizzy spell from standing too quickly and started to fall. Thorin had already gotten to his feet and grasped Bilbo by the waist and pulled him close, wincing when he fell against his bruises.

"Bilbo."

"Let go of me." Bilbo whimpered, his feelings getting out of control.

"No."

"Thorin let go. Please I don't want to hurt you."

Thorin frowned and slowly let Bilbo go just as Bilbo pushed himself away and his body shifted. Bilbo stumbled to the ground and whimpered.

"Bilbo!"

Bilbo whined and looked away as Thorin knelt next to him. Thorin placed a hand on Bilbo's head and gently ran his hand along Bilbo's head. He could see the bleeding wounds left by Azog's warg and Azog himself causing him to growl in anger. Bilbo whimpered and struggled to stand and move away.

"Bilbo stop! You'll hurt yourself."

Bilbo stumbled again and laid against a tree shaking his head trying to push aside the dizzy and lightheaded feeling. Bilbo heard Thorin walking around before he felt something brush his neck making him tense. Bilbo opened his eyes to see Thorin gently brushing the fur aside and laying his undershirt against Bilbo's neck.

"Bilbo, am I your mate? Tell me the truth." Bilbo whined looking away as he tried to curl his body up. "Bilbo how much do you know of dwarves and their Ones?"

"Nothing why?"

"We only love once. The only way to know if someone is your One is for skin contact or if the connection is deep enough through sight. I myself, had closed off to the thought of every finding my One, otherwise I would have known long before we touched just then."

"So? It doesn't matter. You could never…"

"Let me stop you right there. There is nothing wrong with you. I do trust you Bilbo and it has taken me a while to get used to your shifted form, but I know who you are. I also know a little about shifters and their mates. I have put you through pain, haven't I?" Bilbo looked away from him again. "How long have you known?"

"Since our first meeting."

"You kept it to yourself all this time. How?" Thorin said in shock.

"Knowing what would happen if you every found out about my shift and then after knowing that you would never trust me anyway. I'm dangerous."

"So am I."

"Thorin?" A voice called out from behind the trees.

Bilbo and Thorin looked up and saw Oin come through the trees with Gloin, Dwalin and Ori behind him carrying things. Thorin stood and walked over to Oin and pulled him aside speaking quietly in Khuzdûl knowing Bilbo could hear them. Bilbo looked up seeing someone beside him and saw Ori kneeling down and pressing the shirt down a little more.

"Are you ok Bilbo?"

"I'll be fine Ori. Don't worry."

"You still dizzy lad?" Dwalin asked.

"It was that noticeable?"

"You nearly fell off the rock. Yes, it was noticeable. Even now, given how you are laying against this tree I gather you were dizzy and fell against it and haven't got the strength to move."

Bilbo whined seeing they knew, making Ori giggle and look up seeing Thorin marching back over. Bilbo looked up at Thorin and then to Oin who was mixing some items in a bowl that looked like someone had carved for him to use.

"Can you shift back, Bilbo?"

"I don't know; besides I have no pants left."

"I have a spare pair in my bag." Ori said. "I think they should fit you. I'll go get them."

Bilbo went to protest but Ori had disappeared. Bilbo looked up to see Oin standing beside Thorin and pushing him to a rock that was close by and started inspecting his wounds. Bilbo winced when Oin pressed against Thorin's bruises which brought no response from Thorin. Bilbo could sense that Thorin was in pain, but he wasn't going to show it and Bilbo could see the slight reaction of his muscles to the pain.

"Just some bruising and minor cuts. We'll clean them up. The whip marks don't look to bad either."

"Whip marks?" Bilbo asked.

"Yes, these here and similar ones on his back."

"How?"

"It was in the goblin tunnels when you weren't with us." Thorin said. "They are nothing. Just finish up with the cuts Oin and then see to my One."

Oin, Gloin, Dwalin and Ori jerked to look at Thorin in shock while Bilbo looked on in confusion as to why Thorin would say that. Ori had just come back with a pair of pants for Bilbo when he heard and looked quickly to Bilbo in wonder.

"Who?" Oin asked.

"Who else is injured here that needs seen to Oin?" Thorin asked rhetorically. "See to Bilbo."

Dwalin, Oin and Gloin slowly turned to look at the warg who refused to look at anyone. Ori knelt beside Bilbo and put his hand on Bilbo's head hoping Bilbo would look at him seeing as he knew how Bilbo felt regarding feelings for their One. Ori knew who his One was but knew there was never a chance for him as he knew he was no match for his One.

Oin slowly started to work on Thorin's cuts and marks and cleaned them off before sending Thorin into the river to clean up properly so he could apply a salve to ward off infection. As Thorin did this with Dwalin's assistance, Oin turned to Bilbo who still refused to look at anyone.

"Bilbo could you change back for me?"

"Does everyone mind looking away till I have some pants on?"

"Of course." Oin motioned for Gloin and Ori to turn away while Bilbo changed. Ori was standing with his back to Bilbo but held out the pants behind him so Bilbo could dress into them. Bilbo was glad for pants, but they were still too big and a bit long for him.

"Thankyou, I'm done."

Oin turned back to Bilbo who was sitting against the tree still looking away from everyone. Oin knelt beside him and inspected the bite marks on his neck. They weren't too bad, but they were worse than the ones he had before Rivendell and there was some heavy bruising there as well.

"These are bad Bilbo. Worse than before Rivendell and it looks like that warg was trying to strangle you as well."

"It was."

"Well I'll clean these up and then you and Thorin can eat and then get some sleep."

"Can I sleep in my shifted form?" Bilbo asked, causing Oin to frown at him.

"Of course, why do you ask?"

"It's just since the most recent attack I wasn't sure how the others will take it."

"We are fine around you, Bilbo. They won't care and will want you comfortable." Bilbo nodded slowly and wince as Oin put a paste on. "Keep still. This will help prevent any nasty infections that will be caused from that wargs mouth."

Bilbo hissed when a few started to sting from the paste and when Oin finished he started checking on Bilbo's head.

"Oin what are you doing?"

"You are dizzy from the hit to the head I saw you take. Settle down."

"Oin I'm ok. My head doesn't hurt that much."

"The quicker you let him look the quicker any pain he will inflict will disappear. If it doesn't hurt now it will tomorrow." Gloin said.

Bilbo glared at him making Gloin smirk and look to the river to see Thorin and Dwalin making their way out. Gloin stepped up beside Thorin and helped him from the river with Dwalin. Thorin was dressed in nothing now, his pants left over the rock and Dwalin was equally unclothed making both Bilbo and Ori blush bright red seeing this and look away quickly.

"Ok. Well you are lucky you don't have a concussion so once you have eaten you can go to sleep."

"Thankyou Oin."

"Now my King." Oin said turning to Thorin who was once again dressed in his pants and Dwalin in his clothes. "Let's get those wounds pasted up and then get back to camp. Ori and Gloin do you mind going and making sure food is left for the rest of us. We will only be a few minutes."

Gloin and Ori nodded and left the clearing and Dwalin stood stoic off to the side of Thorin. Bilbo watched the three for a second before trying to climb to his feet. He heard some words said in Khuzdûl before a hand on his arm steadied him and helped him to his feet. Bilbo looked to Dwalin who led him to a nearby rock and made him sit before standing beside him. Bilbo winced knowing he wouldn't be able to leave before Thorin allowed it even though he was hoping to.

Oin finished putting the paste on Thorin's wounds before helping him into his shirt, his undershirt was wet and hanging on a branch to dry, before disappearing with Thorin's thanks. Dwalin moved and helped Thorin into the rest of his clothes but left the armour off as Thorin was going to need to fix some of it before putting it back on.

Bilbo tried to sneak away again but the dizziness he was experiencing was making its presence known and getting him caught. Thorin caught him the next time as Dwalin was collecting his armour and taking it back to camp before coming back for the two, giving them a chance to talk.

"Bilbo, we need to talk."

"Why? It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does. Bilbo, I do care for you. I have cared for you since Rivendell."

"How? You were so angry with me back on the mountain with the stone giants."

"I do not express fear well. I wasn't angry with you. I was scared and I almost lost you. I had already started to care for you more than a friend and I apologise for the pain I know I put you through. Why do you think I stopped you from leaving when we were in the cave?"

"I was expecting you to throw more harsh words at me before kicking me from the company."

"Bilbo, I can never love another ever. You are my One and that will never change. I am sorry for all the hurt and fear I have put you through."

Thorin wrapped his arms around him from where he sat beside him and Bilbo shuddered and wrapped his arms around him in return. Bilbo felt the connection become stronger now and he could sense some of Thorin's stronger emotions and he did feel the growing love for him that Thorin spoke of.

"Dwalin?" Thorin called out and Bilbo looked back to see Dwalin walk from the trees and over to them. "Do you mind carrying Bilbo back? I would…"

"But I won't let you."

"I was going to say that I couldn't but yes I know you won't let me."

Dwalin nodded and looked to Bilbo and wrapped an arm around his waist and Bilbo wrapped his own arms around Dwalin's neck as Dwalin lifted him into his arms. Bilbo looked around sharply hearing soft snickers before his eyes landed on some bushes that were shaking. Bilbo looked at Thorin and then pointed at the trees and shook his head. Thorin followed his gaze and saw the moving bushes and now he could hear snickers. Thorin looked around and saw two pebbles of decent size and quickly lobbed them at the bushes as Dwalin walked off with a laughing Bilbo at the response given.

"Hey!" They heard Kili say and an "Ouch." From Fili.

Thorin didn't even bother staying as two heads popped up from the bushes as Dwalin disappeared from sight and Thorin not too far behind. Dwalin walked over to where two bed rolls that were saved, were laid out next to each other and sat Bilbo down on one.

"I don't need this Dwalin."

"You are injured and those injured get the bed rolls."

"I'm not going to use it. I'm going to shift for sleep. I'll heal quicker and be warmer since my shirt is still wet."

"Well till then you use the bed roll."

Thorin gingerly set himself down beside Bilbo on the other bed roll and reached a hand out to Bilbo. Bilbo looked at Thorin and placed his hand in Thorin's making Thorin smile and squeeze his hand. Bilbo looked around the company and saw Bombur over by the fire with something cooking over it that he was dishing out. Two plates made from large leaves were handed to Thorin and Bilbo. Bilbo nodded to Bofur in thanks before digging in and polishing off the food. Bilbo left the leaf beside him before slowly climbing to his feet and moving back towards the rock unsteadily before sitting down next to it. He looked around and saw everyone was busy eating and only Thorin was looking at him.

Bilbo looked away and slowly started to remove his waist coat. He looked up and saw Thorin had turned back and everyone was still focused on each other or their dinner before he quickly slipped off his pants and laid them all a distance away before shifting. Bilbo groaned and shook his body before laying down against the wall. Bilbo curled himself up against the wall and relaxed.

Thorin finished his meal and looked back to Bilbo and stood up grabbing the bed roll and moving beside Bilbo. Thorin laid the bed roll down next to the wall by Bilbo's head and sat down.

"We haven't finished our discussion." Thorin said.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 7 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

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