Dearest Bilbo

Chapter Twenty

Coming out of sleep slightly dazed had always been Bilbo's normal routine. Coming out of sleep with bearded kisses being placed along the column of his neck was not.

"Stay."

Thorin's sleep-addled voice was even deeper than usual, and Bilbo gravitated toward its possessor. The body drawing him close was as warm as the furs covering their bodies. It was such a pleasant place to be, Bilbo was almost convinced to do as his lover had suggested.

"You know I can't, not unless you want me to ruin all our plans."

The king growled with disappointment and ran his hand down the smooth skin of the hobbit's back, toying with the cleft he discovered at its base.

"To hell with our plans," Thorin murmured in his ear.

Bilbo wanted to comply, but Nori had gone to a lot of trouble showing him how to come and go from Thorin's rooms without detection. In fact, it gave him an idea. "Try to get away for your midday meal and I'll meet you here," he suggested.

Thorin's response was a mischievous smirk that turned the hobbit's insides into jelly.

"I'd like that."

This time, the king's reply sounded more like a purr, which made Bilbo consider how very animalistic Thorin could be at times. It reminded him of the great cats of the south who had been hunted to extinction nearly an age ago. Bilbo had seen illustrations of them and Thorin even had a mane similar to the males of that species. Although the king's was much darker, it was just as luxurious and he loved to run his hands through it.

Just then, they both heard the peal of the city's chimes, announcing the sixth hour. Erebor would come alive soon and as much as he hated the thought of leaving Thorin's bed, especially with Thorin in it, if he was going to get out without being seen, he had to do it soon.

It was ridiculous how separating himself from Thorin was now so incredibly difficult. It wasn't like he was leaving for good. They would see each other throughout the day. But it wasn't the same, and Bilbo almost regretted his decision to continue with this ruse. He was ready for it to all be over so that he could wake up every morning like this. He didn't need the sun shining into his room and down upon his face. All he needed was Thorin.

With a determined groan to express his difficulty, Bilbo rose from the bed, unable to deny his beloved at least three more kisses before he dressed. He'd nearly made it to the door before his heart was pulled back and he was forced to turn and take in the sight of Thorin leaning on an elbow admiring him from afar, wearing a rather smug smile, though there was disappointment in his eyes. The dark mane was adorably flying out in every direction and brought a smile to Bilbo's face. "I'll see you later, love," he told him before heading out.

The hallways were deceptively quiet, although in the direction of the royal kitchens, he could hear the clutter of metal pots and Bilbo knew his time was growing short.

He returned to the hidden door and after a few attempts, finally found the release that opened it to reveal the ladder hidden inside. The lamp above was still burning and Bilbo silently made his way up, crawled through the tunnel, and exited at the far end as Nori had told him to. When he stepped out, the door to his room was just a few feet away and he quickly stepped inside to prepare for his day.

Breakfast would be served in half an hour and he planned on being there, hopeful that Thorin would pass through as well. The king didn't always eat this early in the morning, but the previous evening's exertions had left Bilbo starved and he hurried toward the dining hall. By the time he'd arrived, both Nori and Bofur were there filling their mugs with coffee and stopped to eye him with a good deal of amusement on both their faces.

All right. It was time they all had a little chat. Without even suggesting anything, the two dwarves joined him at the far end of one table, away from spying eyes and ears.

"You two are obviously up to something," Bilbo declared while reaching for a piece of ham to put on his plate.

"Us? I have no idea what you're talking about!" Bofur pretended, although there was a twinkle in his dark eyes that gave him away.

"You made it back without being seen?" Nori asked, which completely unraveled Bofur's implied innocence.

"I did," Bilbo answered. "Thank you for your help, but honestly, I'm going to try and convince Thorin to forget this nonsense. If you think about it, it is rather ridiculous."

"No!" Bofur shouted, immediately regretting his loss of control. "Listen, Bilbo," he said more quietly, leaning toward the hobbit. "For as long as I can remember, those two have played their little pranks and have gotten away with them! It's high time they got a taste of their own medicine. And besides, you've now got two of the most cunning dwarves on your team."

Nori cast Bofur a somewhat incredulous glare because of that exaggerated statement.

"All right," Bofur amended, "you've got one cunning dwarf, and another one who doesn't mind taking a risk once in a while, especially if it means putting that big arse in his place."

There wasn't a lot of love between Bofur and Dwalin. Everyone knew that, but an odd look was exchanged between him and Nori following his bold statement.

"Sorry lad," Bofur added with a touch on Nori's arm, "but you have to agree that Dwalin needs to be taken down a peg or two. Ever since the king put him in charge of security, his head's gotten bigger than a troll's."

It was an interesting situation, and now that Bilbo had safer access to Thorin's rooms, it wasn't as hopeless as before. And with Nori on their side, their chances at success had doubled.

Bilbo filled his plate with a few boiled eggs and some of the sliced tomatoes he recognized from his own garden and ate his fill while listening to the two dwarves make their own plans.

"Balin is busy in the mornings but right after lunch, he's free to make mischief. I say we complicate his day a little more."

"Are you talking sabotage?" Bofur questioned with growing concern. "I don't want to take this too far and damage anything or anybody."

"Just remember how upset the king was to discover his private property was missing," Nori pointed out.

"You mean the private property that you stole?"

"That I was coerced into borrowing," Nori corrected. "I think it might be a good idea for Balin and Dwalin to experience something along those lines, so they'll understand that it's not okay to do things like that!"

Bofur seemed unconvinced. "Aye, I see what you're saying. I'm in as long as it doesn't interrupt the work schedule or slow down our progress. We've come a long way."

"You have," Bilbo interjected. "But I like the way you're thinking. I'll be of any help I can."

Bofur smiled and pulled out his pipe. "The best thing you can do, Mister Baggins is to stay out of our way. You're dealing with professionals now. All right, one professional, and one extremely handsome dwarf."

Bilbo chuckled while forking the last of his meal into his mouth. He was more than willing to agree with their plan, although he'd bring it up with the king first.

"Let me speak with Thorin about it and I'll let you know. I'm supposed to meet him in his rooms at midday."

"Good," Bofur announced grinning wickedly. "Nothing wrong with putting a little butter on your biscuit. A bit of cream in your afternoon tea isn't a bad idea either."

"I prefer a bite of sausage at lunch myself," Nori added with a chuckle.

"In this case, an entire side of beef, you mean, with perhaps a little sausage on the side," Bofur managed to get out between soft huffs of laughter.

"All right, all right, that's enough," Bilbo announced, his face turning redder than the tomatoes he'd just consumed.

A year ago, Bilbo would've been appalled to take part in such a conversation, but now he recognized it for what it actually was: Acceptance and friendship. He wasn't only welcome within the mountain, he was trusted and liked. The evidence surrounded him and filled him with a sense of overwhelming peace.