Hiding Myself. A fem!Bilbo Bagginshield fanfic

Chapter 19

     Kili looked around the tunnel the Company was camped in. His brother sat at his side sleeping. Dwalin sat nearby watching the end of the tunnel, and Balin was on the other side. Kili watched Ori begin scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment. The young dwarf followed Ori's stare to see his uncle sitting against the edge of the tunnel with Bella Baggins sitting in front of him. Kili smiled as he watched Thorin run his hands through Bella's hair, pulling out a braid.
     Bella smiled to herself as she tossed the bead Thorin had given her from hand to hand. In all honesty, she was only playing with it to stop from falling asleep. The feeling of Thorin toying with her hair was relaxing to the point of exhaustion.
     "Bella. " the Dwarven king murmured. She nodded slowly. "Would you mind if I braided your hair? "
     The small burglar smiled. "Of course not. "
     She sensed his smile in the way that he chuckled softly. A sudden tug on her hair startled her.
     "Are you alright, Ghivashel? "
     Bella nodded. "I'm fine, Thorin. "
     He nodded and continued braiding her hair, humming a song as he did so. The song the Company had sung before leaving for their journey so long ago.
     The feeling of someone running their fingers through her hair and braiding it brought back fond memories for the hobbit lass. Her mother had often braided her hair, usually at night to keep it from knotting. Every Yule Feast and Shire-Holiday, Belladonna would braid her daughter's hair in such an elaborate braid that it would take weeks to undo.
     It brought a smile to Bella's face when she thought of what her parents, her father especially, would say if they could see her then.
     On a adventure far from the cozy Shire with thirteen male dwarves... Oh how her father would fuss.
     "What are you thinking about, my Bella? " Thorin's deep voice rumbled from behind her.
     "I was just thinking of the fit my father would throw if he could see me now. " she said.
     "I assume he would not approve of this. "
     His tone made her wonder if he meant the quest, or if he was referring to the relationship between them. "My father was never one to leave the Shire. My mother explored to the borders but never past them. " she explained. "Of course, she never went anywhere after marrying my father. It wouldn't look good, for a Baggins to go off somewhere. "
     "But that is exactly what you have done. "
     "Yes, it is. "
     Thorin finished the braid, grabbing the bead from Bella's small hand. He affixed it to the end of the braid.
     "My mother gave me this bead... right before she died. I thought my sister might get it, but she gave it to me. "
     Bella nodded. "And now you've given it to me, right? "
     The hobbit turned around to face the thoughtful dwarrow as he spoke. "Yes. She told me to 'give it to one whom you call beloved. Someone you love with all your heart.' "
     Smiling, she kissed him softly. "I'm glad you think of me like that. I'm not really worthy of this, any o-"
      Thorin cut her off with a shake of his head. "You are worthy of this. You deserve all the love in the world. I cannot give it to you, but I will try. "
     Bella smiled at the king and immediately snuggled into his embrace.
     "My father would have a fit if he saw us. "
     "And your mother? "
     "My mother would most likely interrogate you, and then brag to all the neighbors that her daughter managed to 'get a king. '"
     Thorin chuckled. "In other words? "
     "In other words, she'd adore you. "
     The king nodded, still chuckling, and ran his hands over Bella's new braid. The bead was just under the maiden cuff that had been his sister's.
     Thorin sighed and settled back against the wall of the tunnel and tightened his grip on the sleeping hobbit in his arms. It was going to be a long night.

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     Bella looked back at the Company of dwarves behind her. A few held torches aloft in the tunnel.
     They reached the end, stopping just before the opening. Kili moved to stand beside the burglar, looking out over the treasure hall.
     The hobbit lass turned around to face the Company. "I-I suppose I should go out there and investigate? "
     Thorin turned towards her, the golden light of the treasure reflecting in his bright blue eyes. He looked around for a second before settling his gaze on her face.
     "Only if you feel it is safe. " he said, barely able to be heard. A blatant look of concern shone in his eyes. She smiled reassuringly at the Dwarven king and nodded.
     "I'll have to find out, won't I? Anyways, I don't hear or see Smaug anywhere at the moment. "
     The dwarf nodded reluctantly. Kili stepped forward and laid an arm around her shoulder. "Stay safe sister. "
     She nodded with a smile and moved towards the edge. "Don't worry about me, I'll come back. "
     The Company soon settled down in rest in the tunnel. Kili and his uncle stood at opposite sides of the opening like sentinels. Fili watched them with a knowing look.
     The two dwarves that were waiting most impatiently were the two who loved the burglar the most, just in different ways.

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     Bella watched the golden coins slide down the piles as she climbed. A myriad of golden and other precious objects were all around her, filling the room. She saw many fair items in the treasure hoard.
     She squeaked in alarm when her foot fell out from under her!
     Regaining her balance was a nasty business.
     A more silvery glow filled the air now, the centre of it coming from ahead of her. She stumbled forwards and scrambled towards the glow.
     And then she saw it.
     The Arkenstone, the Heart of the Mountain.

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     As soon as Bella clambered back into the tunnel she was immediately pulled towards a Dwarven chest. Dark brown hair fell around her face.
     Kili let go of the hobbit and smiled with obvious relief. The burglar turned to Thorin.
     "It seems safe. I could find no hint of him. " she reported. "I think he's really left, Thorin. For the time being, anyhow. "
     The dwarf nodded and gave a swift order to the Company to move into the hall. The dwarves rushed past, some with more care than others.
     Bella stepped forward to follow the dwarves, stopping when she was pulled backwards.
     "Thorin... "
     The Dwarven king, his hands on Bella's waist, grinned when the hobbit looked up at him. "Yes? "
     "Is this really necessary? " she questioned with a smile.
     "No. I just felt like it. "
     She rolled her eyes and stepped away. The dwarf walked ahead of her, jumping down before her. When she stood near the edge he picked her up and set her down beside him despite her protests.
     Bella dashed towards the far wall with Thorin racing after her. She grasped his hand and pulled him, laughing all the while.
     They stopped at the far wall stacked with armour of all kinds, some harps nearby. Thorin looked over at his nephews and Balin fitting on armour. Bella smiled, the sound of the dwarves seeming cheery behind her.
     She was startled out of her thoughts by Thorin's voice. She turned to see the dwarf holding a magnificent corselet of silvery rings. Bella ran a hand across the surprisingly silky surface.
     "Here, put it on. " the king said. "It is a gift for you, Ghivashel. "
     She took the piece of armour in her small hands and inspected it. It seemed light as a feather but still strong.
      Bella slipped it over the loose shirt she was wearing under her cloak. The corselet fit her like a glove and felt like it wasn't even there.
     "What is it? "
     Thorin chuckled softly. "Mithril. It is the strongest thing in Middle-Earth. No blade can pierce it. "
     She stared up at him as she clutched onto the corselet. "Why are you giving me this? Surely there is someone else who needs it more. " she argued half-heartedly.
     Thorin cupped her face in his hands gently. "I want you to have the strongest shield I can give you in case I cannot be there to protect you, my dear Bella. "
     She smiled and leaned towards him, her hands now resting on Thorin's shoulders. She pressed their lips together in a loving kiss that was full of words neither knew how to say. Bella only hoped she could do everything right.