Nithul (MMMG): I'm back! Sorry I kept you waiting for a month and a half, but I don't have steady access to a computer right now, (mine's out of commission), and it's going to take a few more weeks for me to get a new one.

And as most of you noticed, I have had to change by name because my parents found my FFN account and freaked out, (again). I will still respond to MMMG, if you want to call me that, but on with the chapter!

38 reviews! I love you guys! And gals! Thank you so much!

Malo919: Just woke up and you're reading my story? Cool!

FanFiction Queen: Laughter under control yet? PARTY TIME! I liked the piercing to, that's why I added it.

XxBlabberMouthxX: Glad you like the hobbit creation story. I discovered that Hobbits appeared in the second Age, and the Entwives disappeared in the second Age, so I thought, 'Why not have the Entwives changed into hobbits?' Worked great!

Nataly S. Potter: Yay Hobbit origins!

TNM-Writer: Let me know if you find one. I want the fancy beads too.

Killer-Fangirl: Cute and sad... yep. Maybe, I'm not sure.

Guest: I have some ideas for protective Thorin, but they can't happen until the Stone Giants and Goblin Town, (next chapter).

Beloved Daughter: Merry and Pippin weren't exactly listening, :p Those two. LOL

Oh my Grass: More Thorin and Bilbo coming up!

simsfans: Maybe he will, maybe he won't. I haven't decided yet. Decisions, decisions.

Robin Grimm-Goodfellow: Glad you like the timeline, (it helps me from being confused too!) 1. That is something I made up. Tolkien didn't go into much detail as to where Hobbits came from, so I came up with that story. 2. Eventually... when Thorin feels like telling him.

zeichnerinaga: Matriarchalic? The closest dictionary word I can find for that is Matriarchal: a woman who rules the family, clan, tribe, etc. But I can see where you got that from.

Chapter 12

The next day, Bilbo spent most of his time with Thorin, except for when Gandalf pulled Thorin aside to convince him it was time to let Elrond look at the map from his father. While that was happening, the hobbit wrote in his new red book about their tale. Bilbo also had a brief talk with Nori about his 'keepsakes' from Rivendell. He didn't want to put off the thief, so he encouraged him to take things that weren't marked 'Made in Rivendell', things that could easily be thought of as misplaced and not as stolen, while returning the other items without their owners catching him.

And except for when Fíli and Kíli played a prank on an unsuspecting elf, which led to angry Thorin bellowing at his nephews, most of the afternoon was spent cuddling. Yep, Thorin cuddled, Bilbo could die happy. Before he knew it, night had fallen and Gandalf was insistent that they looked at the map from Thráin.

But this time, Thorin had requested his presence at the meeting, not Gandalf. That had filled Bilbo with a warm feeling, but right now, he was worried as he watched Thorin argue with Gandalf about showing Elrond his map. Balin and Elrond watched with concerned or amused expressions, both if you were an elf. The map would give away the intent of their quest, which worried Thorin greatly, but at the moment, he was more then ready to shave Gandalf's beard off. Meddlesome old wizard.

"Our business is no concern of elves." Thorin growled.

"For goodness sake Thorin, show Lord Elrond the map." Gandalf said exsasperatly.

"It is the legacy of my people." Thorin shot back. "It is mine to protect, as are its secrets."

"Save me from the stubbornness of dwarves!" Gandalf growled. "Your pride will be your downfall."

"Thorin, a word?" Bilbo asked and pointed to a doorway.

The dwarf willing followed the hobbit to a place where they could talk with as much privacy that they could get at the moment. Bilbo understood Thorin's worry, this was one of the dangerous parts of staying in Rivendell, but they need Elrond to 'find' the moon runes and translate them since he couldn't miraculously know the secret of the map and what the dwarvish runes read.

"Thorin, I know you don't want Elrond to see the map, but we really don't have much choice." Bilbo said. "Every dwarf in this company from Balin to Nori has looked at that map and found nothing. Elrond might find something we have missed, and we need to know what that is."

Thorin sighed, still upset about an elf holding a dwarven map, but knew that his Ze had a point. They had not found anything new on the map, and did need aid in seeing if there was something they missed. The fact that the help came from an elf was an unfortunate detail.

"I'm going to be annoyed if I left my hobbit hole for this." Bilbo said. "I can see it back at home now: 'Bilbo went off on an adventure and only make it to Rivendell because a dwarf was too stubborn to get his map translated'."

Thorin couldn't stop his chuckle at Bilbo's words, or the sudden image of the hobbit going on a rampage threw Rivendell for that reason. However, the anger would most likely be directed at him, and he really didn't want to face Bilbo's wrath. It's always the quiet ones that snap the loudest, as Balin liked to say.

Sighing while nodding his head, Thorin withdrew the old map that had once belonged to his father from an inner pocket in the chest of his tunic. The happy look on Bilbo's face almost made Thorin forget what he was about to do. Almost.

He completely forgot when Bilbo kissed his cheek.

Bilbo hummed as he went ahead of Thorin. To be honest, he didn't really know what possessed him to kiss Thorin like that. They had only begun courting yesterday, but it felt right to do it. Thorin quickly collected himself and followed Bilbo back inside, giving Elrond the map, much to Balin's and Gandalf's shock. Elrond opened the map and looked at the contents.

"Erebor." Elrond said a tad sharply. "What is your interest in his map?"

"The map was last held by Thráin, Thorin's father." Bilbo supplied, before Gandalf could provide his lame 'academic purposes' excuse. "While any dwarf could read the runes visible on the map, Thorin was wondering if his father could have left a hidden message before it left his hands."

Thorin smiled gratefully at Bilbo once Elrond's back was turned, and Balin did the same. Gandalf even was wearing a 'that was a good excuse' look on his face. Elrond examined the map before he saw a silver glimmer and a sound of understanding left him.

"Cirith Ithil." Elrond said in Sindarin.

"Moon runes?" Gandalf echoed in the common tongue.

"What are moon runes?" Bilbo asked.

"A special writing invented by the dwarves that uses a special quill and ink." Balin explained. "The method is rarely used anymore due to the dwindling amount of materials needed. Makes me wonder where Thráin got some."

"It's an easy thing to miss." Gandalf added.

"Well, in this case that is true." Elrond agreed. "Moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon of the same shape and season as they day one which they were written on."

"Can you read them?" Thorin asked.

Elrond nodded his head once and gestured for him to follow them. Walking quickly, they went down a tunnel that led to a cavern in one of the cliff-faces. A waterfall in front of the rocks, and a special crystal sat towards the edge of the outcrop, to where Elrond was leading them.

"These runes were written on a Midsummer's Eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly 200 years ago." Elrond said as he reached the waist high crystal 'table' and placed the map upon it. "It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell. Fate is with you Thorin Oakenshield, the same moon shine upon us tonight."

The group looked to a group of clouds, which moved aside to show the crescent moon. The moonlight shimmered threw the waterfall and reacted with the crystal, which began to glow. Looking to the map, blue-silver dwarven runes appeared on the paper.

"Stand by the gray stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole." Elrond read the runes aloud.

"What's a thrush?" Bilbo asked, instead of his 'Durin's Day' question. "Some kind of weapon?"

"It's a bird laddie." Balin replied. "A robin is a well known type of thrush."

"And Durin's Day?" Bilbo kept up his 'curiosity'.

"It's the start of the dwarves New Year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together." Gandalf explained for Balin, again.

"And when is that this year?" Bilbo pressed.

"October 24th, but this is ill news." Thorin replied with worry. "Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us."

"We still have time." Bilbo quickly tried to soothe the worry.

"He's right, we have the time to find the entrance." Balin agreed. "We have to be standing in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened."

"So this is your purpose, to enter the mountain?" Elrond questioned.

"What of it?" Thorin growled back, his patience running out.

"There are some who would not deem it wise." Elrond replied as he folded the map.

Thorin reclaimed his map quickly, feeling the loathing he knew would come. He knew that the elves would never approve of his quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain. Many of his own kin, behind his back, had called him crazy for even thinking about attempting this quest.

"What do you mean?" Gandalf asked the elf lord.

"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle Earth." Elrond replied before starting down the tunnel that lead back to Rivendell.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Bilbo mumbled as a look of understanding worry crossed Gandalf's face and he raced after the elf.

No reply was given to his question, only shoulder shrugs from the two dwarves. With a tilt of his head, Thorin directed Bilbo and Balin back down the tunnel that lead to the city. No words were spoken, but Balin did depart down another passage to give Thorin and Bilbo some alone time.

"Do you think we can do this?" Thorin asked once they were alone.

"Of course we can reclaim Erebor." Bilbo replied. "Stop doubting yourself."

"You should be doubting me, I'm sending you in first… alone." Thorin winced at the thought.

"I knew what I was getting into when I signed the contract." Bilbo replied. "I'm staying Thorin. There is nothing you can do to get me to leave. Besides, someone has to keep those two princes' in line."

"Mahal knows that even Dwalin can't manage that, even after he's given those two have a rough day in the training field." Thorin sighed, but his lips did twitch with humor.

Thorin glanced at Bilbo before offering an arm, which the hobbit immediately stepped into, tucking his head under Thorin's chin. Sighing happily, Bilbo nuzzled the black hair along Thorin's neck, feeling more safe and content he had felt in a long time.

The two wandered the halls for a brief time after, stopping after they came across the shards of Narsil and the fresco painted opposite of the broken sword. Despite Thorin's curiosity as to why a dwarven sword was in an elven city, he was quick to steer Bilbo away after seeing the fear on his face as he looked at the painting of the Dark Lord Sauron with the one Ring on his finger, and Isildur cowering beneath him while holding the hilt of his father's broken sword.

Bilbo let out a sudden yawn shortly after they left the picture and the shards of Narsil behind. Thorin immediately guided them both back to their rooms, where everyone else was waiting. Bilbo didn't hear much of what was said, but was guided to one of the beds to rest, where he was out before his head hit the pillow.

The next morning, Bilbo woke feeling very content. When was the last time he had woken up feeling this at ease? Definitely before the first time he went on his journey. Snuggling into the warmth next to him, Bilbo was definitely comfortable with the idea of just going back to sleep. Wait… the warmth next to him? What?

His eyes popped open to see black. Upon focusing, he realized it was black hair, and his nose smelled the scent of Southlinch pipe-weed mixed with a metallic aroma and a deep musk. Bilbo's brain caught up with his common sense and he realized that he and Thorin were cuddling together.

Thorin stirred and glanced down to see a sleepy hobbit, blinking and looking a bit dazed. Thorin gently ran his hand through Bilbo's curls, and the halfling settled back down with a hum of satisfaction, gently nuzzling Thorin's neck as his eyes drooped again. Sleeping seemed like a good idea to Thorin, and he closed his eyes again as well.

Then Fíli and Kíli woke up.

Thorin's roar woke everyone else as he chased his nephews out of their rooms. Weapons were drawn as Bilbo rubbed the sleep from his eyes and shook water from his hair. It was then he noticed that his braids were coming undone and he would need Thorin to redo them. It would take another month for his hair to reach the length were his hair wouldn't have to be rebraided every other day. Hobbit hair grew like a weed, about half an inch a month when healthy. Bilbo had stopped trimming his hair the day they had left Bag End, when he realized he had a crush on Thorin, in hopes that his feelings would be returned.

Oh good, Thorin was back.

"The kitchen's are under enormous strain, and we are almost out of wine." Lindir reported as he and Elrond walked threw the city that afternoon. "How long do you think they will be with us?"

"That has yet to be decided." Elrond replied as he came to a halt, Lindir also stopping next to him.

12 naked dwarves were in one of the main fountains in the city. They were laughing and having 'the time of their lives', as some would call it. It was a sight neither of them had wanted to see or wished to see ever again. As they shared a glance with each other, the same thought was in their heads.

The dwarves couldn't leave soon enough.

"Are you sure about this?" Thorin asked.

"Of course I am." Bilbo replied. "And here I thought you would want to cause trouble for the elves."

"I do, but I'm not sure about this idea." Thorin said, sounding a bit apprehensive.

"Elladan and Elrohir added extremely hot spices to my meat pies this morning." Bilbo replied. "I'm just letting them know I don't take someone messing with my food lying down."

Thorin sighed, but passed Bilbo the bottle in his hands. Soon, what Bilbo had wanted to do was done, and the two quickly hid in a nearby room. Elladan and Elrohir had heard the dwarves shouting as they splashed around in the fountain, and came running to see what all the commotion was about. They slipped on the oil Bilbo had put on the floor, went tumbling over the railing, and into the fountain the dwarves were in.

Bilbo collapsed against Thorin as he laughed, his voice muffled by the dark blue tunic the dwarf wore. Thorin was grinning as well, shaking with suppressed laughter. The two got themselves under control, but whenever they glanced at each other, they started giggling again.

"What's going on?" a new voice asked.

Bilbo and Thorin turned to see a child, a young boy with shoulder length brown hair and blue eyes. Bilbo felt his heart constrict as he realized that he was looking at the ten-year-old Aragon, or Estel, as he was called at this age. He could very easily see the king and warrior that this child would one day grow into, the man who would help his beloved Frodo on his journey to Mordor.

"Elladan and Elrohir… slipped." Thorin replied to the question, seeing that Bilbo had frozen.

"On what?" Estel asked.

"Each other." Bilbo replied quickly, getting his voice back. "And some water the dwarves splashed out of the fountain."

"Really?" Estel perked up.

"Catch him!" Bilbo yelped.

Bilbo had seen the mischievous look many times in this life. Fíli and Kíli had worn it, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, and a whole bunch of fauntlings begging for stories and sweets… Before either the hobbit or dwarf could catch the young human, he slipped on the oiled floor, over the railing, and into the fountain after the two elves.

Thorin and Bilbo eyed each other and carefully made their way across the slick floor. Looking over the edge of the railing, they saw the dwarves were busy tossing Estel gently from dwarf to dwarf and dunking Elladan and Estel into the water. Elrond's face was one of absolute horror, and Lindir's jaw was visiting the wet floor.

"That wasn't part of the plan." Thorin mused with a chuckle.

"Oh, shut up!" Bilbo hissed.

Bilbo found himself back in the gardens again, except this time he was hiding from Elladan and Elrohir, whom he knew would want to extract revenge from the prank he played on them. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, and Bilbo turned to see the Lady of the Golden Wood standing not far from where he was. For some reason, he wasn't that surprised to see the Lady Galadriel with him in the gardens. She had this way of knowing things that others didn't.

"My lady." Bilbo bowed his head in respect.

"Bilbo Baggins." Galadriel replied. "You have been through much, Minya Nosta, and your task is not yet completed."

Minya Nosta. Twice Born. Living life for the second time. There were not many that ever had this chance, and Galadriel only knew of two, including the one that now stood before her, the only one she had ever met. The hobbit must have done something to gain the attention of Eru Ilúvatar, and was now attempting to change the future for the better.

"Are you going to try to stop me?" Bilbo questioned with a worried look.

"No." Galadriel replied with a shake of her golden head, and the hobbit relaxed. "It is not my place to intervene with the Minya Nosta, unless it is asked of me."

"Do you have anything you wish to tell me?" Bilbo asked.

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." Galadriel whispered softly before she disappeared from view.

Bilbo hummed as he found his feet leading back to his rooms. Galadriel had told Frodo the same thing when he had looked into her mirror, after losing Gandalf in Moria. But it held the same truth. One could be small, but could still make a big difference.

When Bilbo entered the rooms, he realized that night had fallen. Thorin was waiting for him at the door, and offered his arm for a hug. Bilbo immediately stepped into the hold and watched as the dwarves dried out their clothes, but thankfully were wearing their small clothes.

Bifur cracked another piece of furniture, a table?, and put it on the fire they had made to cook some meat. Once the fire was cackling healthily, Bifur grabbed some leafy green vegetables and glared at them, as if he could set them on fire just by staring angrily. Bofur blew on a sausage he had been warming up and glanced up at a creaking sound. Bombur was sitting on another table with a plateful of food piled high. Bofur glanced at the sausage and then up to his brother.

"Bombur." Bofur called.

The dwarf tossed his brother the sausage, which was caught. Bombur looked down as the table creaked more, before breaking in half and sending him tumbling to the floor with his plate of food spilling all over him. All the dwarves burst out laughing at the sight, except for two. Bifur, because he was still hating the leafy greens in his hands, and Thorin, because he did not find the sight of one of his company on the floor very amusing at all.

Bilbo stepped out of his arms and all laughter stopped. The look on Bilbo's face was very similar to the one he wore when they had sung and had a food fight their first night in Rivendell. The hobbit didn't say anything as he helped poor Bombur off the floor and leveled them all with his glare again, leaving Bofur for last. You would think that his own kin wouldn't play such a poor prank on one with self-esteem issues.

Bilbo left the room before he exploded in anger, and Thorin followed after he leveled his own glare at the company. In all honesty, he thought that Bilbo's glare worked a lot better and got through their thick skulls more then his yelling at them did any day. Thorin followed Bilbo up the stairs next to their chambers, and caught the hobbit from behind, pulling him close in a hug. Bilbo relaxed in his hold before both of them realized that Gandalf and Elrond were on a nearby path. Bilbo stiffened as he recalled the conversation.

"Of course I was going to tell you, I was waiting for this very moment." Gandalf was saying. "And really, I think you can trust that I know what I am doing."

"Do you?" Elrond questioned. "That dragon has slept for sixty years. What will happen if your plan should fail… if you wake the beast?"

"What if we succeed?" Gandalf shot back. "If the dwarves take back the mountain our defenses in the east will be strengthened."

"It is a dangerous move Gandalf." Elrond scolded.

"It is also dangerous to do nothing." Gandalf replied. "Oh, come now, the throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright. What is it you fear?"

Thorin's grip tightened around Bilbo's waist, as if he had figured out where this conversation was going to go. He hadn't told Bilbo about his family's sickness of the mind, and this might lead to Bilbo cutting off their courtship.

"Have you forgotten?" Elrond asked, unaware that Thorin and Bilbo were able to hear him. "A strain of madness runs deep in that family. His grandfather lost his mind to it, his father succumbed to the same sickness. Can you swear Thorin Oakenshield will also not fall?"

Thorin buried his head in Bilbo's golden hair, as if that would stop what the elf was saying and stop the fear and doubts that he kept long buried deep inside him from rising up. Bilbo hadn't pulled away from him, so that was good… he hoped.

"Gandalf, these decisions do not rest with us alone." Elrond said heavily. "It is not up to you or me to redraw the map of Middle-Earth."

The conversation faded from their hearing range, toward where Bilbo knew that the Lady Galadriel and Saruman the White, the betrayer, were waiting to hold counsel. Bilbo turned in his dwarf's arms. He wrapped his arms around the dwarf's middle and gently nuzzled the soft hair on his neck. He knew Thorin hated feeling weak, but was probably more afraid that Bilbo would stop their courting process right now.

"I'm not leaving you." Bilbo whispered. "I told you last night that there is nothing you can do that can make me leave. I don't care what this sickness does, though I should probably know what it's about and how it can be treated. You are you, Thorin, the dwarf I have strong feelings for. It would be just as ridiculous as if you were leaving me because I have a thing for… roasted peaches on nuts, raw squashed tomatoes, and pickled pigs feet."

"Ew!" Thorin wrinkled his nose, but a chuckle did escape him.

"There's the fellow I've gotten to know." Bilbo smiled. "The one that I see slip through the mask of kingliness every so often. The one I like to see. The one I will keep from falling because his heart shall be too filled with love from me and his kin for fear and doubts to even think about visiting."

Thorin chocked briefly, whether in relief, happiness, or thankfulness, he wasn't sure… maybe it was all three, he wasn't sure. He held Bilbo tighter and kept his face buried in the curly golden hair. He liked Bilbo's golden hair much more then the gold that his grandfather had horded and the gold the smiths of men would reluctantly pay him with… once in a Blue Moon.

Footsteps made Thorin lift his head to see Fíli and Kíli running up the stair towards them. The worry on their faces lessened when they saw their uncle and their hobbit together, but didn't disappear fully.

"What is it?" Thorin asked, and Bilbo noted that the concern he felt was more evident in this lifetime then it had been last lifetime.

"Dwalin's been keeping watch on how often an elf passes by our rooms, and he says that they've gotten consistent." Kíli replied.

"They've set a watch on us." Fíli finished grimly. "We need to get out of here, tonight."

Thorin's face grew grim, and Bilbo's grew worried. While he knew how silent dwarves could be from last lifetime, he had no experience of that this lifetime since he had left with the group this time instead of running after them with his contract waving like a banner in the wind. Biting his lip, Bilbo knew he had do act concerned since he didn't really know how quietly dwarves could be.

"Can we sneak out of here?" Bilbo asked.

Thorin, Fíli, and Kíli all looked at him with bewildered expressions before they turned into thoughtful ones. The hobbit had seen how quiet they could be when they were sneaking up on the trolls, so maybe they could sneak out okay.

"Let's get moving." Thorin said, and guided his nephews and the hobbit down the stairs in front of him. "Dwalin, how consistent are they?"

"One or two elves every five minutes, mostly two." Dwalin replied.

"Pack up." Thorin ordered. "I don't care if your clothes are still wet from your 'bath' earlier, we need to get out of here tonight."

"What about the ponies?" Balin asked.

"We'll have to leave them." Thorin replied grimly. "We can't make it out quietly with them."

The dwarves moved quickly, and quietly, still making jokes and laughing with each other so there would be no need for anyone to look into their rooms. Once everyone was packed up, they waited for the guard to walk by again.

"Where's Bilbo?" Bofur asked suddenly.

Thorin whirled around and did a quick head count. Only thirteen. Bilbo's curly head of bright golden hair was missing.

"You want us to do what?" Elladan asked.

"Sprinkle this powder over the guards that are patrolling our chambers." Bilbo replied as he passed the pouches of ground plants to the twins. "Your father has set a watch on us, and we need to leave."

"I'm not so sure about this." Elrohir said as he eyed the powder.

"I have blackmail." Bilbo teased in a singsong voice.

He unrolled a piece of parchment that had a list of people and pranks that had been played on them, or would be played soon in the oncoming weeks. The twins eyes grew wide and they tried to get the parchment back, but the hobbit was too nimble and quick for them. They caved and agreed, and Bilbo told them he would leave the list at the east entrance of the city before he slipped back to their chambers, heading in after the next guard passed the room

"There you are!" Ori said, relief evident in his voice.

"Where were you?" Thorin demanded as he crossed to Bilbo and grabbed the hobbit by his shoulders.

"Getting some extra help." Bilbo replied and showed him the list. "A little blackmail and the lord's sons and very willing helpers."

Loud laughs came from the entire group, several even clapped him on the back, and Thorin shook his head as his mouth twitched with humor. Waiting a few minutes for the next group of 'guards' to pass by, they slipped out as soon as possible and made their way towards the eastern gate. Along the way, they had to dodge several elves, a few of whom were asleep in the middle of the path.

Bilbo slipped away again, this time he went into the stables. Myrtle whickered when she saw him, and Bilbo chuckled lightly as he fed her an apple. He would miss the spunky little pony, but knew that Thorin was right. There was no way they could saddle up the ponies and get them out of Rivendell quietly. Fishing another apple out of his pocket, Bilbo gave it to her with a gentle hug.

"Good-bye old girl." Bilbo whispered.

Slipping back outside, Bilbo quickly slid back into the line of dwarves between Kíli and Fíli. Both nodded at him as they slipped out the gate and onto the path leading through the Misty Mountains. The terrain quickly changed from the smoothly paved elven road into a rugged path commonly found in the mountains.

"Be on your guard, we're about to step over the Edge of the wild." Thorin instructed from the front of the line. "Balin you know these paths. Lead on."

"Aye." Blain nodded and began to lead the company.

Bilbo stopped and looked back at the city. Last time he stopped, it was because he had wanted to stay with the elves in their beautiful home and not leave on some wild goose chase to find a door that no one knew where it was. This time, he was wishing that dear Myrtle could come along with them. She had been such a faithful mount, and it was saddening that he had to leave the spunky little pony behind, despite the fact that she would be well cared for and not warg food.

Turning back into the line before Thorin could call for him like he had last time, Bilbo stepped between Óin and Bifur and followed the path up to where Thorin had stood aside to do a last minute headcount. Bilbo stopped next to him with a small smile.

"I wish Myrtle could come with." Bilbo whispered softly.

Understanding flashed in Thorin's eyes and he unknowingly relaxed at Bilbo's words. He had been nervous that Bilbo had wanted to stay in what would appear to be a hobbit's paradise, what with all the gardens and all. However, all Bilbo just wanted was for his pony to come with. Understandable, but not possible.

"I know." Thorin nodded as the line kept going. "I'd like all our mounts to come with and not remain in this city, but there is no way we would have been able to get them out without anyone noticing."

"I know." Bilbo sighed as he rested his head on Thorin's shoulder. "It's just wishful thinking."

Thorin wrapped an arm around Bilbo's back as the last of the company walked passed. It felt nice to hold his One in his arms. Bilbo hummed as he nuzzled the black beard on Thorin's neck. It seemed like that little action was starting to become a habit, but neither of them minded.

Bilbo wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, but stirred when he heard Kíli ask where they were, and Dori telling him and his brother to 'give Mr. Oakenshield and Mr. Baggins a moment'. Thorin sighed as he heard as well, and stopped petting Bilbo's golden curls.

"Guess we should join them before they send out a search party." Thorin said softly.

"Yeah." Bilbo whispered back as he pried himself away from Thorin's warm body. "Guess we should."

Bilbo leaned forward to press a kiss to Thorin's cheek, but the dwarf turned at the last second. Bilbo ended up kissing him full on the lips, and both of their eyes widened in surprise. Both pulled away as their faces reddened, and Bilbo kept sneaking glances at Thorin. To be honest, he liked the feeling of kissing Thorin on the lips, and wouldn't mind doing it again. But what he didn't know was if Thorin was okay with it.

Thorin had been shocked, but found he had enjoyed Bilbo's lips on his, despite how brief it had been. Taking Bilbo's chin under his hand, Thorin tilted his face back towards his, and placed his lips against Bilbo's again. They relaxed as their eye drifted closed and their arms wrapped around each other. Not sure how long they stayed like that, Thorin didn't really care as long as he could keep kissing his Ze, they eventually had to pull apart for air.

With happy smiles on their faces, and another chaste kiss on the lips, Bilbo was guided up the path by Thorin's hands just as Bofur was sent to go looking for them. The miner looked at them, shrugged, and then turned to call up to Fíli and Kíli.

"They weren't ambushed by elves, they ambushed each other!" Bofur yelled. "A few someone's now owe me some gold!"

Groans and cheers were heard from several members of the party. Bilbo rolled his eyes, not surprised that the company betted on when he and Thorin would first kiss. They had even taken bets as to how long it would take Thorin to ask Bilbo to court him, and many had given up hope. That is, until Thorin started laughing when they first arrived in Rivendell and all Bilbo could do was shrug at his reaction.

And Bilbo was willing to bet that they would also gamble how long it would take them to go from courtship of engagement, and when, where, and just how big their wedding would be.

Dwarves, you just couldn't help but love them.

Minya Nosta- Twice Born

Nithul (MMMG): And that's the end of chapter 12. On the road again! And yes, we had to leave poor Myrtle behind... I'm going to miss that pony... Or am I?

Here's a timeline for what happened in this chapter.

June 12th: Elrond reads the Moon Runes

June 13th: The dwarves swim in the fountain

June 14th: The White Council and the company leave Rivendell in the early hours of the morning

Nithul (MMMG): Please review and let me know how everything is going!