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There had indeed been a spell placed on the dragon’s cursed gold, only none of them knew to look for it until it was too late. Bilbo knew how much Thorin feared the sickness. Feared becoming his grandfather. Looking down at him now, laid out on a stone slab, candles lighting his sleeping visage, Bilbo didn’t know which was the worse fate.
It had been after Bilbo had entered the mountain, after they had tried to slay the dragon unsuccessfully, and after they had watched Smaug get shot down over a burning lake. Thorin had ordered them back to the treasury to search for the Arkenstone. Dread hung heavy over Bilbo as he remembered the dragon’s words, but looking into Thorin’s determined face, seeing the dwarf he knew and loved. He decided to put his faith in him. Not some gold-obsessed dragon.
The moment Bilbo revealed the Arkenstone, Thorin’s face had lit up. His eyes shining bright, declaring Bilbo a true friend. The second he touched it, though, he winced, pulling away as if burned. Everyone hovered over him, asking what was wrong, and before Thorin could get a word out he just…collapsed.
Bilbo studied the dwarf’s sleeping face, because he had to believe Thorin was only sleeping, even when his skin was so cold and heartbeat almost nonexistent. This couldn’t be the end to the story of Thorin Oakenshield.
“Sorry lads, this is well beyond me. You need a wizard, not a healer.” Oin sighed as he pulled away from Thorin’s side.
Oin, Fili, Kili, and Bofur had arrived just that day and they immediately rushed the elder dwarf down to Thorin’s side.
“And our wizard has abandoned us.” Dwalin growled.
“Maybe it’s the Arkenstone? Has anyone tried removing it from his hands?” Fili asked.
They hadn’t immediately, everyone being too afraid to touch the glowing gem. However, since Bilbo had obviously picked it up with no problem, he had been elected to try and remove it from Thorin’s hands. Nothing had happened so they left it in their king’s grasp.
“What are we going to do about Thorin?” Ori asked softly.
“What are we going to do about us?” Gloin complained. “We have an army of elves at our doorstep and no king to lead us!”
“I have already sent a raven to Dain explaining the situation. With the exception of Thorin being…incapacitated.” Balin explained.
“We should give the gold to Bard! We owe the people of Laketown.” Kili argued.
“That’s the king’s decision, lad. And right now, our king is unconscious.” Dwalin shot back.
“And we’re damn sure not handing anything over to the elves!” Nori cried.
The arguing devolved from there as everyone had their own opinion on the situation. Give the gold to Bard, don’t give the gold to Bard. Summon the wizard, don’t summon the wizard. Give the gems to the elves…well actually, no one was of that opinion after their incarceration. In fact, the general consensus was they felt like the elves could go fuck themselves. All except for Kili who was apparently healed by one of those elves. Bofur, Oin, and Fili even agreed that this Tauriel was the exception to the ‘fuck themselves’ rule. However, that did leave the problem of the elven army against the fourteen…well thirteen of them.
Bilbo hadn’t gotten into it yet, lost in the self-loathing guilt of having been the one to do this to Thorin. He had been warned, and he did it anyway. He tempted fate, and Thorin paid the price. As his fellow company grew louder in volume though, Bilbo found he couldn’t take another moment. He looked up and met Fili’s eyes.
“Lead them.” He ordered the dwarf.
“I can’t!” He argued. “I’m not…”
“You’re Thorin’s heir. ” Bilbo emphasized. “Make them remember.”
Fili’s eyes widened before he adopted a determined expression.
“ITKITÎ! (SILENCE)!”
The room immediately quieted. Fili puffed out his chest as he strut forward until he was standing in the middle of the room.
“First things first, we will not deal with anyone while under the threat of war. We’re going to fortify the hole that Smaug made. Bofur, I leave you in charge of that project. Anything you can find, feel free to use. We will not surrender Erebor so soon after reclaiming it!”
The dwarves nodded and murmured in agreement.
“And what of Thranduil?” Balin asked.
“If Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, thinks he can push us around, he has another thing coming. We can wait him out until Dain arrives. We are dwarves of honor, and we will pay the men back which will take negotiating. If we can keep them stalled long enough, no one has to go to war.” Fili explained.
“Or at least when we do, we have an army with us.” Gloin added.
“AYE!” Many of them shouted.
“Now, I know I’m not Thorin, and honestly, I hope to have many, many years before I have to take up his mantle. But if you put your trust in me, if you follow behind me, I will do everything I can to see us through this last obstacle before we can enjoy the fruits of our labor! Our reclaimed home! Erebor once again belongs to the dwarves!”
The resounding roar from the company echoed through the very halls. Bilbo half hoped it would have been enough to awaken Thorin, but when he turned to look at him, the dwarf was as still as always. Bilbo sighed as Fili led the dwarves away, staying back for just a few moments longer to have a bit of privacy. He carefully picked up a piece of hair from Thorin’s face, and pet it back into place.
“Don’t worry, Thorin.” He forced a grin. “Fili is going to do great. You’ll be so proud of him. And when this is all over. This thing with the elves and the gold and the several hundred angry fishermen…we will bring you back to us. I swear it.”
Bilbo had half a mind to lean forward and kiss him, but he quickly aborted that idea. He had promised himself he would tell Thorin how he felt before he went back to the Shire. That way they could part in friendship before any awkwardness formed if Thorin didn’t feel the same. And if he did…Bilbo might not mind living in a mountain. Could use a garden though. But now there was just one more obstacle in front of him. Bilbo could be patient though.
“But not too patient so you better wake up.” He grumbled before chasing after his dwarves. They were still going to need a voice of reason after all.
***
It turned out war was unavoidable. Fili had done brilliantly about setting up a meeting with Bard, but before they could even have it, Gandalf came riding in talking about an army of orcs led by Azog. Luckily, Balin’s quick thinking in contacting Dain proved to be the advantage that they needed. Bilbo had been forced to remain behind with the women and children they let into Erebor. He had constantly been pulled between his desire to check on his friends from the ramparts and the irrational need to check on Thorin down below.
Bilbo wasn’t sorry in the least to see Dain slay the giant pale orc even if Dwalin felt like Thorin had been robbed of his destiny. Bilbo had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. Perhaps it had always been Thorin’s destiny to fall unconscious upon reaching Erebor. To spare him a worser fate, because if Bilbo were being honest, he hadn’t wanted Thorin anywhere near the brute after what happened on the cliffside after the goblin tunnels. Though he knew none of his friends would agree with him on that, so he kept his mouth closed on the subject.
Now that the danger had finally passed, they were able to bring up Thorin’s state to the wizard. Not that Gandalf was particularly helpful on that matter.
“I thought I told you all to wait for me.” He groused.
“So we were just supposed to sit on the cliffside as Durin’s Day came and passed us by?” Nori snarked.
“There’s no telling what manner of foul magic sits on that gold. A dragon’s curse is not to be trifled with!”
“But why has it only affected Thorin?” Bilbo huffed.
Gandalf didn’t have an answer to that, which was more frustrating than it was satisfying to see the wizard grumbling to himself. If their wizard didn’t even know how to help Thorin, what would they do? Gandalf went through the effort of standing over Thorin, mumbling spells under his breath with no change. After that, Gandalf declared he needed to confer with Radagast. It was quite demoralizing to hear their only hope in waking Thorin lay with the crazy brown wizard with mice coming out of his sleeves. They asked for space to work so Bilbo and the rest of the Company stood to the side, too far to hear what was being said but close enough to keep Thorin in sight. Bilbo sent up a prayer to his Green Lady that whatever they came up with would be effective in bringing Thorin back to them.
“So Bard agreed to receive the gold in payments then?” Gloin asked Fili.
The blonde prince nodded. “Once he realized just how much is down there, he agreed that having a small fortune laying vulnerable in a crumbling city to invite thieves from everywhere to come and slit their throats wouldn’t be the best option.”
“And what of Thranduil?” Dwalin asked.
Dain, who had joined them in the hope of seeing his cousin again, smirked. “Oh, he’s pissed. Thinks he’s being slighted especially after he ‘sacrificed his people to save our lives’. But not quite as quick to threaten now that there are more than thirteen dwarves standing in his way.”
“And a hobbit.” Bofur added, rubbing Bilbo’s hair for good measure.
Dain really didn’t know what to make of Bilbo upon their first meeting. Yet, after the numerous tales of their adventure, that Bilbo felt were quite exaggerated by the company, he’s been very amiable.
“Aye, and a hobbit.” He smirked, looking over at Bilbo.
“Well that’s it then! That’s all I can think to do!” Radagast exploded, throwing his hands in the air. “You figure it out, if you’re so smart.”
They watched the brown wizard march by them, muttering under his breath the whole way. Almost collectively, they all turned to glare at Gandalf. If he ruined their chance to have Thorin back because he was being obtuse…
“Radagast reminded me of a very ancient form of magic.” Gandalf sighed. “It’s a longshot, but it might be what will wake Thorin.”
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Dori groused. “Let’s do it and wake him up.”
There were other shouts and affirmations at that, pursing Gandalf’s lips into an irritated frown.
“It’s not something I can do.” He sighed. “It requires…a kiss.”
Silence filled the space around them as everyone mused on the incredulity of that statement. Suddenly, Kili gasped.
“True Love’s Kiss! Just like in the stories Ma used to tell us. Fili, do you remember? That must be it! Well, go on Bilbo.”
Bilbo practically jumped out of his skin as Kili gave him a small push towards Thorin. He spun around sputtering around his cheeks that felt like they were going to catch fire at any moment.
“ME?”
The rest of the dwarves all started nodding and mumbling in approval as they encouraged Bilbo to kiss Thorin.
“Now, hold on…” Gandalf tried to interrupt, but they all ignored the wizard.
“It has to be you!” Nori jumped in. “It’s not like you and Thorin have been subtle.”
“I’m sorry?” Bilbo scrambled. “Subtle? Subtle about what? Thorin and I are just friends, just…”
Bilbo trailed off as none of the dwarves looked impressed with his denials. Great Green Lady, has he really been that obvious? Balin chose that moment to step forward, mediator that he was.
“Bilbo, lad. It is…a legend we’ll say among dwarves that Mahal designed us for only one other being. Our One if you will. Now, I have been with Thorin since he was an infant, but he has never acted around another the way he acts around you. I truly believe that you are his One. If you have the ability to awaken our king, isn’t it worth it to try?”
Bilbo swallowed around the lump forming in his throat. His first instinct was to deny what Balin was saying. He wasn’t a dwarf. How could he be a dwarf’s One? No, it was too much. Far too much to take it at once. However, beneath all the denials his brain could conjure a seed of curiosity took root. His true weakness. If Thorin woke up after he kissed him, that would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was in fact Thorin’s One, and answer the question of whether he should stay or not. If he didn’t wake up…Bilbo would just cross that bridge when he came to it.
Staring out across the sea of faces, Bilbo saw his friends’ confidence. He saw their hope, but more importantly he saw their acceptance. The latter was worth all the award winning tomatoes he could grow. He gave a single nod as he marched up to where Thorin lay.
“Bilbo, wait! It’s not…” Gandalf tried to interrupt, but Bilbo wasn’t listening.
He bent down, eyes on those petal pink lips that he’s been wanting to feel and taste for far longer than he was proud of. Softly, hesitantly, he placed a gentle kiss, fighting all of his desires to take more. He pulled away waiting to see cornflower blue eyes, awake and watching him. As the silence stretched onward, Bilbo felt his heart sink. It didn’t work. He wasn’t Thorin’s true love. He wasn’t his One.
“If you would have let me explain,” Gandalf sighed. “It’s not True Love’s Kiss.”
“What?” Bilbo asked, spinning around.
“True Love’s Kiss can be quite powerful, but it’s not what we need in this situation.” Gandalf stated. “The magic I was referring to was True Loathe’s Kiss.”
“True Loathe’s Kiss.” Bilbo repeated incredulously.
“Yes, of course.”
Bilbo blinked and blinked again. There was no way that could be a thing. After all, why would you kiss someone if you loathed them? Shouldn’t it be True Loathe’s Bite or something equally ridiculous?
“That makes no sense!” Kili was the first to protest aloud.
Which really said a lot for the situation if Kili became a voice of reason.
“Do not underestimate the power in conquering your hatred of a person enough to kiss them.” Gandalf explained gravely.
“Yes, but who could possibly loathe Thorin that much?” Ori asked.
Suddenly, the entire company shared a look as the same person passed through each of their heads. It was also at the same time that they all spoke the name. Some with triumph and others with despair.
“Thranduil.”
***
Getting an audience with the elf was a little bit harder when they had already pissed him off by denying him his gems. Luckily, though, that was their bargaining chip. One mere mention of being ready to offer a trade, and Thranduil had thrown open his tent flaps. Plus, it helped that they had a wizard with them vouching for their legitimacy.
“So what is it that I can do for you greater than fighting in a battle in defense of your mountain that would earn me my gems back?”
Fili, Bilbo, and Balin all shared a look before it was decided that Bilbo would do the talking. He cleared his throat.
“Uh, yes. Hello.” Bilbo gave a short wave. “In case you haven’t noticed, Thorin hasn’t been…present in the negotiations.”
“I thought that was by design. Or the dragon had eaten him which would have been preferable.”
Fili’s hands tightened into fists at his side, and Bilbo quickly put his hand on his arm to calm him. There was all the proof they needed that Thranduil was their guy.
“No.” Bilbo denied. “Not eaten, just…ah, bedridden, you might say. We were hoping you could help us…heal him.”
Thranduil gave him a calculating look as if trying to garner the truth of his words.
“I attempt to heal the dwarf king, and you give me back my gems. Simple as that?”
“Simple as that.” Bilbo confirmed.
“And if I’m not mistaken, you are the halfling that stole the dwarves from my halls in the first place. What makes you think I can trust you?”
Bilbo ducked his head, apologizing which made Thranduil watch him even more incredulously. They had thought about this ahead of time though, and without further ado Bilbo took out three of the gems from his pocket and placed them before Thranduil. His eyes widened with awe and desire.
“Consider that a down payment. The rest you will receive if you accompany us back to the mountain.”
Thranduil’s eyes gleamed and before he could answer, Bilbo pointed out another stipulation.
“And before you think you can storm in and take them by force, please know that the rest are hidden each by a different member of the company. We will allow no more than three guards to accompany you, and only after you perform your task will you get your full payment.”
Thranduil’s expression drooped, but his eyes were calculating. Almost impressed by Bilbo’s plan?
“Very well. Your terms are agreeable. Let’s be off now so I can finally leave this forsaken land.”
So they all marched back to the mountain with Balin giving Bilbo a questioning look. He knew he probably should have mentioned exactly what Thranduil’s ‘healing’ would entail, but he was assuming already being there would make him more agreeable. That and Bilbo may still be a bit bitter that Thranduil’s lips were going to touch Thorin. He hoped it worked with all his being, but that didn’t soften the blow at the thought that Thranduil might be the one to awaken him where Bilbo couldn’t.
Thranduil brought with him Legolas, Tauriel, and the one elf Bilbo had spent the most time tormenting while he had been invisible in his halls. He had been rather rude about his dwarves, so Bilbo thought he deserved it, but he could tell from the glares aimed at the back of his head, the elf did not feel the same. They reached the chamber where the company remained, all of them moving a bit closer to Thorin as if they suspected Thranduil to kill him instead of kiss him. Actually, that might not be that far off base. Thranduil ignored them though as he stepped forward to gauge Thorin’s state.
Thranduil put his hand on Thorin’s forehead, muttering under his breath only to frown in confusion. He moved his hand down to take Thorin’s pulse, then back up over his chest, still muttering under his breath. Finally, he shook his head, a furrow in his brows as he stepped back.
“This is no ordinary injury. It’s a curse. I would imagine one placed by your former dragon resident. I don’t know if there’s anything I can do for him.”
Bilbo took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.
“We assumed that was the case, but there is one thing you can do that might help. You can kiss him.”
Usually Thranduil was the master of hiding his emotions. However, it became clear as day what he was feeling as his features shifted from surprise to disgust to embarrassment to anger.
“Absolutely not!” He growled, his face beet red. “I would rather kiss my elk.”
“Knew it.” Dwalin sneered.
There was a snort from the elves that had accompanied Thranduil that he thought might belong to Legolas. The elf whirled around to glare at him, but Legolas had already covered up any evidence of his amusement. Thranduil decided turning his glare onto Bilbo was a far better use of his time.
“If you’ve brought me here, just to degrade me…”
“I wish I was joking.” Bilbo sighed, cutting his threat off. “But I’m not. Gandalf said there was only one way to wake him and that’s for you to kiss him. If you don’t do it, you don’t get your gems.”
Based on the look he was receiving, Bilbo was fairly certain Thranduil was imagining all the different ways he could kill Bilbo and get away with it. His eyebrows twitching and face still resembling Bilbo’s prize winning tomatoes. However, Bilbo held his ground. He would endure anything the elf could do if it would bring Thorin back to him in the end.
“My Lord?” Tauriel stepped forward hesitantly. “I…I could do it.”
Kili’s jaw dropped in disgust and betrayal, and even Tauriel looked grim and appalled. Thranduil, on the other hand, was triumphant.
“There, see? Tauriel will do it and then I can…”
“No!” Bilbo interrupted. “It has to be you.”
“Why?”
Bilbo would almost have called it a whine if he thought a thousand year old entity capable of behaving like a faunt getting a bath.
“Because you loathe him.” He admitted quietly.
“I DO NOT…”
Thranduil cut himself off as it dawned on him that Bilbo had said ‘loathe’ not ‘love’. Bilbo snorted before he could stop himself. Like he would ever be that delusional. However, it seemed Thranduil finally caught on to what was happening. He was back to looking collected and indifferent as he crossed his hands behind his back.
“True Loathe’s Kiss. Yes, I’ve heard of this magic.”
“So…do it then.” Fili encouraged which had all the other dwarves shouting as well.
Thranduil’s eyebrows pulled together for a quick second before he slowly approached Thorin once more. Bilbo couldn’t imagine what was going through his mind as he stared down at the dwarf king. He could only hope that the return of his gems was worth it to him. Thranduil bent down over him, their faces mere inches apart before Thranduil turned to the side looking like he might gag at any moment. Bilbo felt himself getting offended for Thorin. Kissing him had actually been rather nice. His lips were soft, his beard and mustache rubbing against his skin just right. However, he supposed he would be more worried if Thranduil looked like he might enjoy it.
Finally, Thranduil screwed his eyes shut and pressed his lips against Thorin’s own. Bilbo and the rest of the dwarves held their breath. Please, please, let this work. Thorin’s eyelids began to flutter. So quickly that Bilbo was almost afraid he had imagined it. Then his fingers twitched next. Bilbo felt something warm fill his chest. It was working! Thranduil began to pull away, and before he could get far, Thorin’s hand snaked around the back of his head, pulling him back down. Bilbo choked on his breath. Everyone else’s reactions were somewhere close to that as he heard gagging and snickering and gasping.
Thranduil made a noise of disgust and anger, and Thorin finally opened his blue, blue eyes. At first he seemed confused, then his eyes widened in horror as he pulled away from Thranduil screaming. Nobody, elf or dwarf, could keep it in at that point as they nearly fell over in their guffaws. The only ones not amused were Thorin, Bilbo, and Thranduil.
“BY MAHAL, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!”
“I was saving your life.” Thranduil hissed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“I consider this an act of war!” Thorin continued, ignoring Thranduil’s words. “How dare you…assault me in such a fashion!”
“No, Thorin!” Bilbo rushed to the dwarf’s side as he started reaching down for his sword. “You were under a curse, Thranduil saved you.”
Thorin paused, a smile overtaking his features as he ran a hand along Bilbo’s jaw.
“I had the strangest dream about you.” He stated before he suddenly furrowed his brows.
“Saved me? From what?” Thorin demanded.
Before Bilbo could answer, Thranduil addressed Fili.
“I demand my payment now for services rendered. Your king is awake. I’ll take my jewels and go.”
Fili nodded in consent as Dwalin and Gloin brought over the box containing the White Gems of Lasgalen. Thranduil opened it, making sure all was there as his eyes glittered in the shine of having his gems once more.
“Now wait just a minute…” Thorin growled, jumping to his feet, nearly falling down again had it not been for Bilbo there to prop him up.
Legolas stepped up at that point, bowing shallowly to Thorin before answering. “This was the end of the bargain we made. We will be taking our gems back now.”
“Bargain? Made on whose authority?” Thorin demanded.
“Mine.” Fili stepped up, bowing to Thorin. “Forgive me, my King, but I had to make many tough decisions in your stead.”
Thorin blinked, caught off-guard by the confession. “All because I was sleeping for a few hours?”
“A few days.” Bilbo corrected.
Thorin startled at the confession before turning his gaze back to Thranduil. The Elf King watched him with a cool expression, his demeanor held in a way that made Bilbo think he expected to get denied once more. However, Thorin shocked them all when he sighed.
“Take them and go. I will not contest a bargain made while I…slumbered. But know this, Thranduil, son of Oropher, us meeting again would be too soon.”
Thranduil nodded. “I couldn’t agree more. I’ll leave you to your war torn Mountain Kingdom.”
Thorin looked over at Bilbo, panic in his eyes as he mouthed ‘war torn’. Bilbo just shook his head promising to explain it to him soon. The other elf guard picked up the gems, giving Bilbo in particular a final glare, before the elves left for good. Although there was a backwards glance from Tauriel towards Kili for some reason. Not that it mattered too much as everyone cheered and rushed to bump heads with Thorin or pat him on the back. They left the somber room, dragging Thorin up to their makeshift camp to make him a meal.
The other dwarves who had arrived with Dain, cheered and bowed at seeing the King Under the Mountain on his feet once again. They led Thorin into the bigger tent they were using for meetings between the company and let the feast begin. Thorin demanded answers quickly between bites of food, and so they told him of all that occurred since he had fallen asleep.
Bilbo fidgeted and averted his eyes when Balin talked about Thorin touching the Arkenstone and falling into a deep sleep. He had to get up and leave entirely when he told Thorin that Bilbo had attempted to kiss him first with ‘True Love’s Kiss’. Imagine! A hobbit leaving a meal. He couldn’t help snorting at how pathetic he was. It just wasn’t fair that he didn’t get to confess to Thorin himself. All his well laid plans, gone to waste. He found his way to the ramparts trying to ignore the piles of orc bodies as he let his gaze linger to the west. Perhaps it was time he finally went back home.
“Bilbo?”
Bilbo whirled around to see Thorin hesitate in approaching him. Bilbo tried to force a smile.
“Should you be moving around so soon?” He asked.
“Trust me, I believe I’ve certainly had enough rest to last me a lifetime.” He grumbled.
Bilbo hummed, amusement in his tone as Thorin took his place beside him. For a long moment, they let the silence wash over them. Each lost to their own thoughts as Bilbo tried not to focus on the warmth beside him and how welcome it was after days of cool skin. He knew he needed to address what Balin had said. He just wasn’t sure how.
“Thorin, I’m sorry that…”
“I dreamt of you.” Thorin interrupted.
Bilbo froze, his hands going down to grip the hem of his coat as he resolutely kept his eyes on the line of Misty Mountains.
“Yes, you mentioned that earlier. I certainly hope it wasn’t about how I cursed you.”
Thorin gently grabbed his shoulder, turning Bilbo to face him. Bilbo hesitantly raised his gaze to see Thorin’s furrowed brow and searching blue eyes.
“Smaug cursed me. You couldn’t have known.”
“He told me you know.” Bilbo confessed, overwhelmed at once with all the feelings he’s been trying to deal with while Thorin was unconscious. “Told me he was tempted to let me have the Arkenstone to watch it drive you mad. I didn’t know it would…If I thought for even a minute you would…”
Thorin shushed him with a gentle kiss. Bilbo felt his mouth drop open and his cheeks flare to life against the cold breeze around them.
“It would have worked, just so you know. If ‘True Love’s Kiss’ had been the answer. I’m certain you would have been the one to awaken me.”
Now Bilbo was questioning if he was the one dreaming. Please, please, don’t let this be a dream.
“Really?” He asked breathlessly.
Thorin nodded, a smile growing across his face and dancing in his eyes. Vala, it was so wonderful to see those eyes again on him. Bilbo started fiddling with his hem again.
“I thought…I mean, I hoped… Well, it doesn’t matter now.”
“Say it.” Thorin demanded softly, cocking his head to the side.
“I wanted it to be me.” He stated, meeting Thorin’s gaze despite how much his body shook. “When everyone was saying things about Ones and true love…I wanted to be the one to awaken you. Certainly, it shouldn’t have been Thranduil .”
Bilbo spat the name with enough force that any dwarf would be proud of. Thorin, however, just laughed.
“Azyungel (Love of all loves), surely you are not jealous of Thranduil, are you?”
Bilbo’s brows furrowed together and nose twitched just at the reminder. Thorin tilted his chin to give him another gentle kiss.
“I promise, there is no one I would rather kiss than you.”
Bilbo couldn’t stop himself at that point from wrapping himself around Thorin and pulling him down into a longer, heated kiss. This was finally something he was allowed to have. Thorin wanted him. It was almost more than Bilbo could bear as the tingle on his lips traveled down to the very tip of his toes and back up again. When they pulled away this time, they were both panting with ridiculously soppy grins on their faces.
“At least tell me I’m the better kisser.” Bilbo teased.
Thorin’s expression immediately soured as he looked away.
“Please don’t remind me of that again. I thought he was my first. When I woke up and realized I wasn’t kissing you which is what I dreamt, by the way. I thought Thranduil had stolen my first kiss.”
Bilbo blinked in shock of the confession. Thorin’s first kiss? He could have had Thorin’s first kiss and instead it belonged to Thranduil?! Bilbo tried his hardest not to let the dark thoughts of all he wanted to do in retaliation show on his face.
“I’m so glad to know it was actually you.” Thorin breathed in relief.
Bilbo cocked his head to the side. “Thorin, I don’t know that it counts. You were unconscious and not able to consent after all…”
“It counts.” Thorin interrupted firmly. “I get to decide, and I absolutely count it. You were my first. And I hope…my last.”
Bilbo smiled at the unbearably romantic sentiment. “You know, if we do it often enough, I might be able to convince you I’m your only too.”
Thorin’s grip tightened on Bilbo’s waist as his eyes darkened. “Sounds like we should get to work on that.”
Thorin leaned in and Bilbo immediately returned the kiss. He could get used to this very quickly. True Love’s Kiss might not have been enough to wake Thorin, but it was doing wonders for them now as each kiss became more and more addictive. It was a different sort of magic, and one that had a little hobbit living under a mountain of stone as King’s Consort where he could remind himself how lucky he was to have made it home.