Never Let Me Go~Bagginshield

So Here We Go Again.

"Bilbo, you being here means a lot to all of us," Bofur told me, his voice changing from cheerful to hesitant. "I hate to have to bury the dead, but...it is a task that must be done."

There was a question I was dying to ask. It was threatening to roll off my tongue, but I bit it back. "Kili? Fili? How are they?"

Bofur's face fell at the mention of Thorin's nephews. "Fili is okay, but Kili fell to Bolg, son of Azog. Thorin saw Fili's grief and sent him to Rivendell to be with Tauriel, his elf lover."

"Kili is gone?" I was shocked. How could that be possible? Had I really been away that long?

"Has Thorin taken a partner?" I asked suddenly. It was as if my thoughts were escaping my lips without me being able to control it.

Bofur shook his head. "No. He was too occupied with the burial of his kin and the rebuilding of Erebor to have time to search for anyone to rule by his side."

My heart couldn't help but flutter. I pushed away the hope.

"Well, Bofur, it's good to see you. I'm going to get settled in."

I entered my cabin and set my things down. So much time had passed...or at least it seemed like it had. It seemed like an eternity ago when Thorin had had his way with me on top of that cursed treasure.

My heart was ashamed to admit it still wanted him.

How awkward was it going to be seeing him again? I wasn't sure that I was ready. That I would ever be ready. But, I was mature enough to know that us meeting again was inevitable.

Balin came for me a few hours later. After a bit of small talk, he finally came to the point. "Thorin has requested to see you."

My unruly heart jumped. "Now?"

"Now, Bilbo. Don't you think it's time?"

So here we go again, I thought miserably. Outside, I nodded.

Balin led me carefully through a courtyard to the huge, beautiful mountain which cloistered Erebor inside it. The very mountain I had risked my life to save.

He swung open the heavy double doors and I stepped inside. Carefully, I traversed the long hallway and stopped a few feet from the throne...where Thorin sat.