Thorin's POV:

By the time they'd reached the shore, the pack of orcs chasing them were nowhere to be seen. And as Thorin glanced over at Bilbo, who was somewhat adorably drenched and lightly shivering, he felt a rush of gratitude that Bilbo would be safe for at least a moment more.

"We need to keep moving," Dwalin's voice cut through the moment, gruff and urgent. "The orcs won't be far behind."

Thorin nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. His eyes lingered on Bilbo, the way the hobbit's soaked undershirt clung to his small frame, the way droplets of water glistened in his tousled hair.

He cleared his throat, louder than he intended. "Bilbo, you need to get dry."

Bilbo looked up at him, wide-eyed and startled. "Excuse me?"

The rest of the company turned to Thorin as well, curiosity etched on their faces. Thorin felt a flush rise up his neck. The last thing he wanted was for the others to pick up on the confusing and unspoken feelings that churned within him whenever he looked at Bilbo.

Though he suspected that Balin, with his knowing glances, had already figured it out.

"I mean—we all need to get dry," Thorin corrected himself, his voice faltering slightly. "Now. Before the orcs catch up."

But the stares continued, and Thorin could see Fíli and Kíli out of the corner of his eye, both of them barely suppressing their laughter.

"You have five minutes!" Thorin snapped, throwing his hands up in frustration before turning sharply on his heel and marching away.

Behind him, he heard Balin's calm, steady voice. "He's right. We should all dry off before we continue. Bilbo, let's start with you. Clearly, that is what upset him the most."

The heat in Thorin's face intensified. If the ground beneath him could have opened up and swallowed him whole, he would have welcomed it.

He walked a little farther, trying to regain his composure, but the image of Bilbo—wet, vulnerable, and looking up at him with those wide, innocent eyes—stayed with him.

When time was up and they needed to resume their journey, he returned to the group silently. But he couldn't help but glance at Bilbo one more time.

A hobbit, small and shivering, who had somehow found his way into the heart of a king.

Tauriel's POV

She and Legolas pursued the orcs tirelessly, cutting them down one by one as they followed the path the dwarves had traveled.

Only when the last trace of the dwarves had vanished from sight did Legolas reach out, his hand closing firmly around Tauriel's arm, pulling her to a halt.

"We've done all we can, Tauriel," he said softly, his voice edged with concern. "It's time to return."

Tauriel shook her head. "There are still more orcs. And they will catch up to them eventually. We must continue." She tried to pull herself from his grasp, but Legolas tightened his hold.

"No, Tauriel. Our place is in the Woodland Realm, where our people need us. You swore an oath to protect them, as Captain of the Guard."

"I made a promise to the dwarves and the hobbit as well," Tauriel replied, her voice fierce. "I will not abandon them. If you wish to return to your father, I won't stop you."

"But you know I will follow wherever you go."

Guilt flickered across Tauriel's face. She knew it too well—had even relied on it. Though her skills in combat surpassed most, she couldn't take on an entire horde of orcs alone.

She needed Legolas, not just for his combat skill, but for his unwavering loyalty and the love she now saw clearly in his eyes. It was a love that had always been there, but which she had only now allowed herself to see, perhaps too late to truly understand it.

Too late to truly appreciate it.

For as she turned to look at the river, she still saw visions of her dark-haired hobbit cascading down it in his barrel, looking back at her.

Though she would never admit it to Legolas, Tauriel knew where her heart truly lay - and it was not with the prince beside her.

With a deep breath, Tauriel turned back to Legolas, her resolve hardening. "I will see this through," she said quietly. "And when it is done, I will return. But I cannot walk away now, not while they still have a chance."

"Then I will be by your side, as I always have been."

With a final glance at each other, they set off once more.