Chapter Eighteen: Training, Promises and Departures

Three Months Later...

Bilbo's POV

I woke to the sound of the bees bussing around me again, I looked around to see everyone had already gone to eat outside. Gathering my coat, I made my way to the garden where everyone, even Gandalf and Beorn, were gather and eating Amara's cooking happily.

Amara turned and noticed me before smiling happily as she greeted me. "Good morning, Bilbo."

"Good morning, Amara. Everyone." I greeted back, these last three months at Beorn's have been both peaceful and exhausting. While we were able to heal after the events in the mountains in the safety of Beorn's home, Amara took it upon herself to train us all in the same manner that she had trained me for the past two years. However, unlike when she was training me, she was drilling two years' worth of training into them in three months. Which was more brutal.

"The little bunny has finally crept out its rabbit hole." Beorn said in a teasing tone. Being the smallest of the group (aside from Amara, who was three inches shorter than me), Beorn began to refer to me as a bunny rabbit. Which everyone, save for Amara, joined in.

"Do not tease my brother, master Beorn. Or I will not teach you any more of those recipes you are so eager for." Amara said to him in a cheerful manner, but to those of us who knew her well enough, we knew that she was pretty serious when it comes to her recipes.

Many women in the Shire had tried to get their hands on Amara's exotic recipes that have caught they eyes of many gentlehobbits, though Amara only gave them to those who had earned her respect and trust.

Amara continued to clean up after all the cooking she did, though she didn't use her magic to clean up like she did back in Bag-End that night when the dwarves came into my home. As soon as everyone was done eating and she was done cleaning, Amara stored the kitchen back into her item box before turning back to the company.

"Okay boys, I expect to see you all in the arena for training within an hour." She called out to us all.

"Yes Amara-sensei." Everyone responded, I learnt long ago that that term of respect was used towards one's mentors and trainers. Amara went off to a tent nearby, where I assumed she was going to change into training clothing.

Eight Hours Later...

The dwarves and I were running around a track that Amara made, everyone was almost out of breath as many struggled to keep up with the others. Amara also ran with us on the track, but she was in the front leading us.

Amara motioned for us to stop. "Alright, that's enough for today. Hit the baths, fellas. Then be sure to eat your fill, cause we won't be eating like this again for a while." She said as she then snapped her fingers and appeared as if she was fresh from the baths before walking over to the house, while the rest of us made our way to the bathhouse tent.

"I can't feel my legs." Fili said as he

"I can barely lift my arms." Kili butted in as he removed his garments before both he and Fili then washed themselves before slipping into the hot bath, many other did the same until it was only Thorin and I left.

I looked over at the dwarf king and saw all scars of what were once deeps wounds from that night against Azog, I was always amazed at the powers of Amara's healing spells even after witnessing them so often over the two years.

I finished washing my body and then slipped into the large bath with a sigh of delight,

"Bilbo, question for you." Ori's voice reached my ears as I then looked up to see him sitting next to his brothers.

"Yes?" I replied before Ori then looked at me shyly before asking.

"When you said back in Bag-End that Amara trained you, did she push you this hard when she trained you?"

"Pretty much, although I'm already used to it after two years." I said with a small chuckle in my response, which in turn caused the rest of the ground to go quiet and turn to stare at me as if I had grown a second head.

"How did you endure this kind of training for two years, Bilbo?" Bofur asked, astounded.

"All those healing and nutrient potions helped a bit." I said before looking down at the water and motioned my arms around in the water, causing ripples to form on the surface. "But it was these baths that really made it all worth it." I smiled as

"Aye." Balin said as he leaned against the bath railing. "These kind of baths are not so easy to come by, even in the elven cities." I could only imagine how Amara even came to possess such a luxury but I knew better than to ask as I figured that she had created it with her magic while on her travels before she ended up in the Shire.

Once we were all done with our bath, we could all smell the delicious scent of Amara's cooking and made our way out to eat. She explained the dish she had cooked was called Chinese Fried Rice. I certainly looked delicious, but after taking one bite, I couldn't help but moan in pleasure before everyone started helping themselves to a serving for themselves. By the time we all had full bellies, everyone helped Amara clean up instead of letting her deal with it. We motioned for her to go enjoy a bath for herself, leaving her no room to protest, forcing her to go bathe.

As the dishes were cleaned and put in their rightful place, many of the dwarves went to enjoy a smoke of their pipes before turning in for the night. As tomorrow we were to leave Beorn's home and continue our way towards the Lonely Mountain.

I slid into my bedroll and laid my head down on the super soft pillow that Amara had made for me as she did for all the other members, and within minutes I was fast asleep.

Amara's POV

I soaked in the bath for a good long while before I got out, my skin smoothed and perfect on my toned body as I had began to dry my body before dressing into comfortable clothing and stepped out of the bath tent. I always felt so clean and refreshed after a bath, it was always the best feeling in the world.

It wasn't until I looked up at the porch of Beorn's house where I saw Thorin sitting there, smoking his pipe as he looked out at the direction where Erebor was.

"Thorin?" I called out softly as this caused him to turn and face me. "Can't sleep?" I asked as I sat on the porch next to him.

"Tomorrow, we set back out on our journey. But we have to enter that cursed forest." He said, I could see in his face that he was thinking of the elves that lived in that very woods that had turned their backs on him and his people when they needed help after the dragon took the mountain.

"I know, mi amor, but don't worry. I have been working hard on a powerful spell to protect us from the spiders." I said as I leaned against his chest, his arms wrapped around me as if trying to protect me from the cold night air. "Though the very idea of coming into contact with them is not something I'm looking forward to." I shuddered at the image of those giant-ass spiders and their creepy face staring down at their prey.

"Fear not, 'Ibinê." Thorin pulled me closer to me. "I will be with you." His voice filled my ears and it made me feel so safe and at peace, I recalled the moment when I first saw him on the silver screen. His voice was like an instant drug to me, it took me three weeks of listening to his singing of Misty Mountains to learn to control it.

I looked up at his face before asking in a pleading tone, "Could you tell me more about your childhood in Erebor?"

Thorin turned and looked down at me with a smile. "Don't you know it already? From your movies?" He asked.

"No, they never delve too far into your past other than from a short time before the dragon arrived and stole the mountain." I explained, and it was true. Both Tolkien and Peter Jackson never delved deeper into Thorin's past, many fans were curious as to what Thorin's childhood was like and what kind of child Thorin was.

Thorin smiled as he sighed and then began to regal us with tales of his life as a child in Erebor's golden days. Of how he would explore with his younger brother Frerin and tricks that they both pulled on their sister Dis, the death of his mother and moments with his father and grandfather that he treasured.

Everything up until the discovery of the Arkenstone and the dragon's attack on the mountain, I snuggled against him more as I pictured it all in my head.

"Sounds like a wonderful life." I said in a sigh of content.

"There were moments of grief. My mother's death nearly took my father from me." Thorin said as he tried to recall it, I could tell from his facial expression that he was struggling to recall his mother's or even his father's faces after so long a life. 'But he's now being held prisoner in Dul Guldur, after being driven mad from torture.' I thought to myself as I knew that his father was alive in Dol Guldur.

I imagined Thrain after the death of his wife, because like the elves, dwarves fall in love only marry their true soulmates and that losing them was enough to kill them if they didn't have something to hold them together.

"I think I can kind of understand. I know it would kill me to lose you. You mean more to me than anything." I said as I held on to him like a child clinging to their favourite security blanket or toy.

"And you to me, Halwûna." Thorin said as his arms tightened around me, "Even the Arkenstone holds no place in my heart as you do." He looked down at me with love, love only for me.

"Remember these words when we reach the mountain." I said as I felt the same love for him as he did for me. "Thorin... Eres el amor de mi vida. Eres mi todo." I said, realising that I had spoken in Spanish words of love that I felt for him.

Thorin looked at me in confusion. "What does that mean, Amrâlimê?" He asked me, I smiled softly as I placed my hand on his cheek. He leaned into my hand, almost like those adorable baby videos on Youtube.

"You're the love of my life. You are my everything." I translated with a loving tone, my eyes gazing up into his as he leaned closer to me till our lips met in a passionate kiss. 'And I promise that I will reunite you with your father once everything is over.' I silently vowed, I already had made five magical medallions over the last three months. Two of which I planned to give to Gandalf and the other three were for Thorin and his nephews, as soon as we reach the mountain.

As Thorin pulled away, breaking our kiss, He looked into my eyes and stood to his feet before holding out his hand to me.

"Come, Amrâlimê. Join me." He said, I took his hand as he then led me back into the house and towards our sleeping company. We both laid together in the Japanese futon that I had made, Thorin pulled me into his arms as he closed his eyes and nuzzled his face into the spot where my shoulders met my neck.

His beard tickled but I didn't mind as I leaned back and closed my eyes, allowing sleep to take over.

The Next Day...

After breakfast, Beorn supplied us with ponies and gear to reach the forest. I was lifted onto a pony by Thorin before he jumped on with me, his strong arms wrapped around my waist as he took hold of the reigns of the pony.

Looking around, I saw Gandalf and Beorn standing a distance away talking, I knew what was being said between the two as I looked up at Thorin and then motioned over to them. Thorin then realized what I was indicating before he then called out:

"Gandalf. Time is wasting." He said as he motioned to the sky, his arms wrapped tighter around my waist.

After speaking more with Beorn, Gandalf then raced towards and mounted his horse before kicking it into motion. The rest of the company followed, I sent a magical orb back to Beorn before we were finally out of his sight.

I sighed as I looked forward, the second part of our quest was ahead. One where we would have to face spiders and... Wood elves. More specifically: Thranduil, Legolas and Tauriel.

Translations:

A/N: Searched online for these, not use Google translate cause that isn't always accurate.

Spanish:

Mi amor - My love

Eres el amor de mi vida - You're the love of my life

Eres mi todo - You are my everything.

Dwarvish:

'Ibinê - My gem

Halwûna - Sweet One (Fem.)

Amrâlimê - My love