Disclaimer: The Hobbit, all characters, places, and related terms are the sole property of J. R. R. Tolkien's estate, and Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and WingNut Films.

Of Touching Beards and Clumsy Hobbits

It happened so fast, so unexpectedly that Balin was left feeling he'd been swept off his feet.

One moment he and Miss Baggins were walking side by side in companionable silence. The next the burglar stumbled and was saved from falling flat on her face by the quick reflexes of the white-haired dwarf.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Master Balin! I wasn't paying proper attention. Thank you," she stammered her apologies and thanks before marching forward, embarrassed at how her clumsiness had gained the group's notice.

Balin was frozen in shock, his eyes round and cheeks flaming. He hardly could believe it, though he'd seen it with his own eyes: Bilbo had brushed her hand through his beard when he'd caught her. Had repeatedly touched his beard. And in public.

It was so scandalous, such un-dwarf like behavior; it nearly was enough to make the advisor faint. Never had he suspected… He was not young, and certainly not a hobbit. But to boldly have Bilbo propose marriage to him, it, it...it made his heart swell.

The dwarf swallowed the strong urge to laugh gleefully at his companions' reactions. Thorin and Dwalin were positively brooding; Bofur, Nori, Oin, and Bifur glaring daggers; and Ori, Fili, and Kili appeared heartbroken. The lads almost dampened Balin's joy. Almost.

Grinning, the dwarf hurried to catch up with his hobbit, already plotting on how he would accept Bilbo's proposal.

THE END