Here's the next chapter.

Enjoy.

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Chapter 14

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Thorin looked down at Bilbo a while later to find him fast asleep. Thorin smiled and looked up as everyone stopped talking.

"You best get the lad inside Thorin. Let him get some rest." Balin said.

"I think so."

"I'll collect your sword and armour. Go take him inside."

Thorin nodded to Balin in thanks and gathered Bilbo close and stood and headed inside. He went through the living area and into the room where Bilbo had been in for the last few days. Thorin knelt and carefully placed Bilbo down on the bed and covered him with the blanket as Bilbo stirred.

"Thorin?"

"Shh go back to sleep. I'll be back in a minute."

Bilbo 'hmm'ed and curled up under the blanket making Thorin smile before he headed back to see what racket outside was about. Fili and Kili were wrestling with each other, likely on an argument. The others cheering for one of them to win. Thorin shook his head before turning back and walking around grabbing a couple of cups and filling them with water and headed back to Bilbo and laying the beside the bed. Thorin pulled off his boots and laid down behind Bilbo under the blanket and pulled him close.

Thorin instantly felt Bilbo squirm in his arms and when he loosened his grip Bilbo rolled over and moved in close to him. Thorin smiled and wrapped his arms back around him firmly and held him close, kissing the top of his head.

"You know I should really shift right?"

"I know. If you wish to then you can." Thorin said and loosened his arms so he could leave them if he wanted and Bilbo paused before replying.

"I'll have to stay as a warg till we leave after tonight."

"Alright." Thorin said with a smile.

"Also did you know Ori and Dwalin are each other's One's?"

"No, I didn't. Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I am. Ori has been drawing pictures of Dwalin and Balin confirmed that Dwalin knew Ori was his One, before Ori was even of age."

"Really? He never said anything to me."

"Apparently Balin tried to get him to say something to Ori when Ori became of age, but he wouldn't since he was always after Nori and didn't think Ori would even consider it."

"He is stubborn."

"They both are. But I got Ori to say something to Dwalin, well sort of. Ori put the drawing he did of Dwalin on his bedroll. Ori doesn't have the courage to say anything. I can't blame him, Dwalin is intimidating, just like you are."

"Well hopefully it gets them talking, because not having your One and knowing who they are does not turn out well for most. Dwalin is lucky to be how he is so far, but he threw himself into his work and that's what helped for him. Ori will suffer if they don't talk. I wonder how long he's known."

"I don't know I didn't think to ask."

"Well we can ask him later. Have a nap Bilbo, dinner is a few hours away."

Bilbo nodded and ducked his head down and snuggled in close to Thorin who wrapped him in close.

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It was late in the evening the same day and straight after dinner when Ori saw Dwalin was going to his bedroll, he quickly excused himself and disappeared outside with his book, quill and pipe. Ori sat around in the front garden of Beorn's where the walls surrounded part of the house. There was a small lantern lit above a bench and Ori used the light to started drawing the mountains that were out back.

Ori looked up a little while later hearing crunching of boots and saw Dwalin walking over to him, papers held carefully in his hand. Ori closed his book and looked at his lap as Dwalin sat beside him on the seat. Neither of them said anything for a few minutes and Ori was about to get up to head inside.

"You drew these?" Dwalin finally asked holding out the drawing of himself.

"Yes." Ori whispered nervously.

"Why?"

Ori just shrugged too scared to talk now and Dwalin watched him for a few minutes. Ori was still only staring at the ground in front of them. He hadn't lifted his head to look at Dwalin since he saw him walking over.

"You know then? Balin said something when he saw these." Ori hesitated but nodded his head. "How long have you known I am your One, Ori?" Dwalin strained to hear his whispered answer but couldn't hear anything. "What was that?"

"About a year before Thorin announced the quest to reclaim Erebor."

"Ori how have you kept this secret for so long? Why didn't you say anything?"

"Why didn't you?" Ori countered angrily but gasped and shrunk down scared of how Dwalin would react, he'd seen what Dwalin had done to someone who challenged him.

"Ori I knew you were my One years before you were of age. Really, I didn't know how to say anything because I am the one that was always trying to get Nori arrested. I didn't expect you to want me after that."

"It was your job Dwalin and what Nori does is wrong. I don't like what he does, even if it was to keep food on our table. I don't blame you for that."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Dwalin asked.

"I'm not a warrior, I'm a scribe. We have nothing in common."

Dwalin snorted at the comment and Ori flinched. Dwalin sighed seeing it and lifted Ori's face to look at him.

"I have seen you with a weapon Ori, you are just as dangerous as the rest of us. I don't want or need someone who is like me. Mahal, you can lift my war hammer and handle it with ease, not many can."

Ori blushed and felt Dwalin lean in and press a kiss to his forehead before he leaned down and rested their foreheads together.

"I would like to court you Ori. It's your decision, my One."

"I would like that Dwalin. My brothers won't like."

"They can't say anything. They know what happens if they try to keep One's apart. Thorin would have something to say as well, if they try." Dwalin said making Ori smile, now nervous about what Dori and Nori would say. "You are an adult now Ori, they don't have a say in what you do. They will always give you advice."

"Balin?"

"Yes." Dwalin sighed. "He is my older brother just like Dori and Nori are to you and they will always want what is best for you."

"Balin said he tried to get you to approach me when I became of age, but you wouldn't."

"Yes. It's true. He tried to push me for a while before he stopped."

Ori smiled and leaned into Dwalin when he wrapped his arm around his shoulder and pulled him in close. Ori scooted over to sit right up beside him and felt the thick, heavily scared arm wrapped around his shoulder more and pull him in firmly.

"Will you lay with me tonight?" Dwalin asked.

"I would like that." Ori said softly and nervously.

"Come, we should head inside before someone comes looking for us." Dwalin said as he stood up and Ori stood up as well. "Would you mind looking after these for me till we reclaim Erebor? I fear they will only get damaged with my things." Dwalin asked holding out the drawing Ori had done.

Ori nodded taking the drawing and carefully sliding them back in his book. He was glad that Dwalin wanted to look after the drawings. Ori followed Dwalin back inside as he held the door open for Ori. Ori looked around as an arm wrapped around his waist and lead him back to the table. Thorin was the first to spot them and a smirk wormed its way on his face, before he whispered in Bilbo's ear making Bilbo's head snap over a smile forming on his face.

Dori was the next to notice and his face went red in anger seeing Dwalin's arm wrapped around his baby brother's waist. Nori seeing Dori go red followed and his gaze went dark and he glared and stood up with Dori and walked over. Everyone had stopped talking and were staring at the four of them.

"Get your hands off my brother." Dori said.

"Dori…" Ori started.

"Let him go now." Nori said.

Balin, Thorin and Bilbo seeing an argument forming headed over.

"Now why don't we talk about this quietly and calmly." Balin suggested.

"Your brother will remove his hands from my brother, or I'll remove it permanently." Dori said.

"Now Dori." Balin said.

"No, he's pushing Ori in a direction he won't like. Ori come here now." Dori said.

"No." Ori said softly.

"What?"

"I said no, Dori. Dwalin is my One."

"No, you only think he's your One. You are still young Ori."

"Ori is of age Dori, he will know his One when he sees or touches him." Thorin said. "You cannot keep them apart."

"Watch me."

"Ori come on. He's always trying to arrest me." Nori said.

"That's because you are always stealing things." Ori argued.

"Ori." Nori started.

"NO! This is my decision. I'm of age, I can decide things for myself. You are welcome to give me advice, but you can't tell me what to do anymore."

Dori went bright red again and stormed off with Nori in tow, looking hurt. Ori whimpered seeing them leave, he didn't want to upset them.

"Give them time to calm down. They'll come around." Balin said softly putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Dori is going to hate me. He hates Dwalin, so does Nori."

"He won't hate you. Give him time to get used to the idea that your One is Dwalin." Thorin said.

Ori still looked over where Dori and Nori were having a heated conversation quietly. Dori was so red in the face Ori wondered if it would ever go away.

"So, I guess congratulations are in order." Thorin said as the other made their way over once Dori and Nori had left.

Ori blushed and Dwalin was lucky enough that his was mostly hidden and he was able to remain indifferent as everyone congratulated them. Ori jumped as Bilbo pulled him into a hug making Ori chuckled.

"Thankyou Bilbo."

"You're welcome Ori. Don't worry about Dori and Nori they will come around."

"Can you do me another favour?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Can you get my bedroll and things?"

"Sure. Staying with Dwalin?" Ori blushed.

"Thorin, stop your One from terrorising mine." Dwalin grumbled.

Thorin smirked as Bilbo giggled and went over to Ori's bedroll that was next to Dori and Nori's. Both looked up when he came over and almost lost it when Bilbo picked up Ori's things.

"What are you doing?" Nori asked before Dori lost it.

"Doing a favour for a friend."

"Why?"

"Because you are both angry with him, he shouldn't have to stay with that."

"Where's Ori going to sleep?"

"Why should it matter? Also, why should it matter who his One is?"

"He is too young to know for sure who his One is."

"Ori is older than Kili is and Kili has his One. Why shouldn't Ori." Bilbo asked angrily.

He jumped when a hand settled on his shoulder. Thorin had walked over seeing the discussion and feeling Bilbo's anger come through to him. Thorin shot Dori a look to calm down or he would make him.

"You cannot separate them Dori, Nori."

"He isn't Dwalin's One." Dori argued.

"Yes, he is. Now if you try to separate them, I will have Ori removed from your family." Thorin said.

Dori and Nori lost all anger and went pale. Bilbo frowned and looked to Thorin who was staring directly at the two.

"You… You can't do that." Dori said.

"I can and I will if you decide to separate them. You know what it will do to your brother."

Both knew exactly what happened to Ones who were separated. Both nodded slowly and Thorin knew they were going to stop trying to separate them, but he knew it wasn't going to make them like Dwalin either.

"I suggest you take some time to calm down and then talk to Ori tomorrow."

Both nodded, ashamed and Thorin took the bedroll from Bilbo and carried it back over to the others. Dwalin had led Ori over to his bedroll and the others started to head to their own. Ori nodded his thanks to Thorin and took his things from him. Thorin nodded to them and led Bilbo back to the room.

"Why did we leave?"

"Everyone is going to sleep and I'm sure Dwalin and Ori would like some privacy."

Bilbo laid down on the hay bed as Thorin removed his coat and sword and laid beside him and covered them with the blanket.

"Thorin why did you say you would take Ori from Dori and Nori. What did you mean by that?"

"To separate one from their One is considered highly wrong. If they were to try to take Ori from Dwalin, a King or Lord can intervene and generally that means removing the one in question from the family. Even if the dwarf is past the age of majority. To have a dwarrow removed from the family means the dwarrow's family has done something shameful to the dwarrow."

"Oh. Thorin would you really have done it?"

"I don't know Bilbo. I may have if they really tried to separate them. Dwalin is my best friend and like a brother to me. He deserves to be happy."

"They both do."

"Sleep Bilbo."

"You realise I'll be a warg again tomorrow."

"I know. I might not like it, but I understand why." Thorin said.

"Where are the rest of my clothes Thorin?" Bilbo asked since he was now only in a coat that Thorin had provided.

"I believe Balin is having them cleaned. He left your sword and this ring here." Bilbo sat up slightly and saw the ring tied to his swords belt so it wouldn't get lost. "This is an interesting ring. Where did you get it?"

"It's a family heirloom. I didn't want to leave it behind for the Sackville-Baggins's to take when I left. Do you think anyone has a small pouch or something so I can put it in there and attach to the swords belt?"

"I'll get Fili to fashion something for you. He finished a belt for you as well. Just needs to make sure it's not too long. We can look at that the day we leave."

"Thankyou."

Thorin smiled and pulled Bilbo to his chest making Bilbo sigh and curl up to him. Thorin watched as Bilbo's breathing evened out before falling asleep completely.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 14 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

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