Wowza, this took a long time to write. I did some research on it, too. Basically, it begins, and theirs some helpful insight into Dwarvish traditions, which will definitely be elaborated later, along with the Khuzdul language and such. I had a lot of fun writing this, and I hope you like reading it!

Chapter 5: Bilbo

Bilbo was deeply engrossed in one of his favorite books when he heard the knock at his door.

He set the book aside, scrambling off the bed to answer the door.

Thorin stood there, in the clothes he had worn to go see Bard. Feeling suddenly exposed, Bilbo wrapped his robe around his body, "Ah, Thorin. Hello."

"Bilbo," Thorin's voice rumbled, "May I come in?"

Bilbo stepped aside to allow the dwarf space to enter his room and closed the door behind him with a soft thump. As he turned to face Thorin, he noticed that the dwarf fidgeted nervously.

"Is there something that you needed?" Bilbo asked.

"Yes," Thorin said, "I need to tell you something."

Bilbo's mind raced at all the possibilities, trying to push his unrealistic hopes out of his head.

"As you may know, I am not very good with words, like yourself," Thorin began, "But I would like to say, than ever since you saved my life, I have felt certain…" He trailed off, obviously nervous.

Bilbo opened his mouth to speak, to say anything to break the silence, but Thorin stopped him.

"No, please," Thorin sighed, "Let me speak. Otherwise, it will never be said."

Bilbo closed his mouth, and sat down in one of the chairs in the room, waiting for Thorin to continue.

"I am in love with you," the Dwarven king blurted.

Bilbo was shocked.

"W-What?" the Hobbit asked, unsure that he had heard correctly.

Thorin crossed his arms over his chest, face and ears red, and said it again.

"I am in love with you, Bilbo Baggins."

Bilbo let out a long breath, and Thorin sat down in the chair opposite him, "Well?"

Bilbo swallowed, "I, um…I feel a bit faint."

Thorin pondered this for a moment, deep in thought, and then finally asked, "Is that a yes, or a no?"

Bilbo burst into laughter, the tension in the room lifting, even though he knew that the Dwarf didn't mean it as a joke.

"Yes," Bilbo was still smiling, wheezing with laughter, "It means yes."

"Oh, thank Vala," Thorin sighed in relief, rubbing a hand over his face, "I was worried there."

Suddenly, there was a pause, as if both of them wanted to initiate something, but neither of them wanted to start it.

"Bilbo," Thorin began, "You do realize what accepting this relationship would mean?"

Bilbo was confused.

"Well, seeing as I am King, if you do so accept this relationship…and I could see, after this, why you wouldn't want to…" Thorin sighed, looking Bilbo in the eyes. It was obvious that he took this very seriously.

"You would be my consort. My…" Thorin searched for words.

"Spouse," Bilbo finished.

"We don't have to move that way too quickly," Thorin assured him, "But, if it is something that you would, maybe, eventually—"

"Yes," Bilbo interrupted, "Although, maybe not so quickly," he added.

"Then, as is the Dwarvish tradition…" Thorin pulled two white beads out of his pocket, and held them out so Bilbo could see them. They shined in the firelight, and both were inlaid with a flawless sapphire.

"Beads of Intent," Thorin explained, "We braid them into each other's hair to show that we are together. It keeps unwanted suitors away, as well."

Bilbo, who had a rather extraordinary eye for detail, gasped, "Are these hand-made?"

Thorin chuckled, "Yes, out of white marble that many of my ancestors made their beads out of. I was forced to make them as a child, for every King must have a consort at his side eventually. Although, most wait until the day they have found their One."

"Their "One"?" Bilbo questioned, "What does that mean?"

"A dwarf's "One" is their one and only; the person that they have dedicated their life to loving, and will love no other," Thorin explain, rolling the beads between his fingers.

Bilbo knew it was selfish of him to ask, but he couldn't help it, "And…have you found yours?"

Thorin glanced up, meeting his eyes, and in that moment, Bilbo couldn't decide if he wanted to shrink into his chair for his boldness or lunge forward and kiss him.

"Yes, I believe I have, Mr. Baggins," Thorin smiled at him; one of those rare, open smiles. The kind that you knew for sure he wasn't faking, that he was truly happy.

"Why the sapphire?" Bilbo asked, curious.

"In our tradition, the sapphire stands for new and blossoming love. I also just think that it is a beautiful gem," Thorin admitted.

Bilbo sighed, content, and then snapped himself out of it, "Okay, so, um…any other…courting rituals I should know about?" Bilbo asked.

"Yes," Thorin cleared his throat, "Any gifts that we may wish to give each other, although you do not have to; they have to be handmade."

"Okay," Bilbo processed this.

"And, also, if you would so desire," Thorin swallowed thickly, not meeting Bilbo's eye, "Kissing may be shared, but not in the eyes of anyone other than us."

"Seems fair," Bilbo commented.

"And we are not allowed to share a bed until after the wedding, when, or if, that may occur," Thorin added.

Bilbo was stunned, "You mean we can't even just sleep in the same bed?"

Thorin fiddled with the beads, staring down at them, "Sharing in a sexual relationship before marriage is very frowned upon in Dwarvish culture, so they changed the tradition so it would not even be possible."

Bilbo understood the logic, but it was a little frustrating.

"May I?" Thorin raised a bead up into the light.

"Oh, yes! The beads. I almost forgot," Bilbo smiled, "Of course. I will braid one into your hair, as well."

Thorin chuckled, "You don't have to, you know. Everyone knows whose beads these are."

"No, no," Bilbo insisted, "I want to. I'm invading your life, and your culture, and I'd like to become as much of a part of it as I can."

Thorin was slowly braiding a strand of hair that fell around his face, "I like to think of it less as "invading" and more as "being welcomed to"."

"Well, the same thing still applies," Bilbo said.

"Very well," he passed him the bead.

Bilbo had learned how to braid when he was very young, although he hadn't had much use for the skill for many years. He did manage to braid it correctly, though, and soon there was a white bead dangling from their hair.

"Oh, and one last thing, Master Hobbit," Thorin stood, "Dwarves like to know when their friends are betrothed; especially when it's their king. I would like to make an announcement."

"Right, seems fair," Bilbo stood as well, taking his hand and interlacing their fingers, "I suppose I'll have to tag along, shall I?"

Chuckling, they both departed, going off to tell the others the good news.

Soon they had all the dwarves gathered in one of the rooms, standing in sort of a circle, with Thorin and Bilbo facing all of them.

The silence was awkward, but Thorin began without a stutter or fault.

"As many of you probably know at this point, I have chosen to become betrothed. Word does spread fast among only fourteen."

Many of the group nodded, except for Ori, who looked confused, and Balin, who just smirked.

"And I thought it only fair, since I have come to think of you as close to me as my own bloodline, that you all would be the first to know," He gave a glance down at Bilbo, who fiddled with the bead in his hair absently.

The silence struck the room suddenly.

And then, it erupted.

Dwalin, grinning, ran forward and embraced Bilbo, lifting him off his seat. The entire room seemed to ease up, and soon the group was talking and laughing and congratulating them.

"So, Uncle, have you shown him to your massive bedchamber yet?" Kili asked innocently. Then, giving his brother a look, he smirked, "If you know what I mean."

Bilbo turned a marvelous shade of red, and even Thorin looked embarrassed, "I am going to do it more traditionally, Kili."

Fili faked a snore, "Oh, come on, Uncle! You're not even going to allow yourselves a little fun?"

Bilbo, suddenly finding this all very funny, was stifling his laughs into the palm of his hand. On the other hand, Thorin looked furious.

"You two—"

Kili was cracking up, "Come on, Uncle, we were just kidding. Even Bilbo is finding it funny," Kili gestured to Bilbo, trying his best to stop laughing.

Bilbo consoled himself for a moment, and looked up at Thorin with the most serious face he could muster. Then, Thorin cracked a smile, and both of them were at it again, along with the group, laughing until their sides were sore.

The best part was, it wasn't even funny, and yet, they were having the time of their lives.