In Broken Beats - Chapter 5

The previous evening had lasted well into the night. It was filled with merriment as the four of them shared events that had passed in the 8 years since they had parted.

And no one was more on the edge of his seat than Bilbo himself, as he stared in awe at Thorin as he spoke.

When Thorin's eyes shifted to lock with Bilbo's, he watched as a faint tinge of pink had flooded the boy's cheeks, and he lifted a single eyebrow in response which caused the boy to break the eye contact and look down at the red-bound journal and ink set he had given him.

The inks were a collection of colors handpicked by Thorin himself. There was a rich brown that had immediately reminded Thorin of Bilbo's wide eyes, a shimmering gold that represented the rich honey of Bilbo's curls, vibrant green echoed the little round door to Bag End, and a brillant blue that was the very color of the sky above Hobbiton. "I thought you would like them...for your studies, of course."

Bilbo threw his arms around Thorin's neck. "Thank you, Thorin! I will use them all the time!"

He contributed the shiver going down his spine from the touch to the fading heat of the dying fireplace.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

It was shortly after all gifts were passed out that they all decided to turn in for the night, and a very reluctant

Bilbo was sent to his room by his mother and father, who were unaffected by his rather loud and vocal,

"But mum!"

"No buts, Bilbo Baggins, or did you forget about your chores tomorrow."

Bilbo snorted, "Chores? More like punishment..."

"Well then, perhaps a bit of both. You did take almost a full bushel of tomatoes from Farmer Maggot's garden."

Thorin's interest was peaked, and he leaned forward, quickly looking to Bilbo, who was avoiding meeting his eyes, but he could see a faint tinge of pink once again on his cheeks.

"It was only one bushel of tomatoes, mum! Hardly anything to throw a fuss about."

"Only tomatoes?"

Bilbo shifted from foot to foot, his eyes widening, and the pink on his cheeks ever darkening.

"Yes, it was only one bushel of tomatoes, along with two dozen carrots, one sack of potatoes, three cabbages, and don't even get me started on the mushrooms you pinched last week." Belladonna had walked towards him, one hand on her hip, punctuating each stolen item with a jab into his chest.

"It was enough vegetables to set up a grocer's stall, so don't you dare, 'mum' me. You get your hind end in bed and I expect you to be up bright and early to help Farmer Maggot with delivering vegetables to the market and anything else he may need a hand with."

A small part of Thorin couldn't help but be impressed. Impressed that a young lad like Bilbo was able to get that much food without getting caught, well almost.

He also tried not to think how becoming the blush made the young man look.

Bilbo dropped his head to his chest and nodded slowly. "Yes, mum. I'm sorry."

He turned to Thorin, "Good night, Thorin. Thank you again for the gift."

The dwarf gave a nod, "You are quite welcome. Good night, little one."

Bilbo moved over to his mother and father, and gave each a hug, saying his good nights, before he plodded down the hallway behind Thorin to his room, tucking the red bound journal under his chin and clutching it to his chest with one arm, while carrying the inks with the other.

He stopped when he reached his door and stretched his head back out into the hallway to gaze once more at the broad back of the dwarf, his cheeks a dark pink and a soft smile on his face.

He softly spoke under his breath, "Welcome home, Thorin."

All of a sudden, as if hearing him, the dwarf turned to glance down the hall, a questioning look on his face.

Bilbo jumped back, pressing himself against the wall, the bag of inks clutched to his chest.

His smile grew once more before he ducked into his room, closing the door softly behind him.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

Thorin had for a moment thought that someone was watching him, so he turned his head to look behind him, when he didn't see Bilbo in the hallway, he shook his head slightly before turning back to face both Belladonna and Bungo.

"It was eight years, almost to the day that I had last left this house, and yet you both look as if far longer had passed. Why?"

Bungo frowned at his feet.

Belladonna nodded from her seat and started to speak. "We age much faster than dwarrows do, Thorin. We thought you knew already, from all those tales you told us."

There was a violent urge within Thorin and before he could stop himself, the words left him in a rush. "How fast DO Hobbits age?"

Belladonna nodded, "I knew this question would come sooner or later. I do have some knowledge of dwarf lifespan, seeing as I did some traveling when I was younger. I know that dwarfs live to be 250 or more years, but we hobbits only live to be about a hundred, although there are a few lucky ones that live just a bit longer than that."

'Bilbo...'

"And how old is Bilbo now?"

"He is only 22, but for every year a dwarf ages, we age two."

So Bilbo, although much younger than he, would grow old much faster.

Thorin nodded, then stilled when the realization hit him, dread settling in his veins like ice, making his chest ache. His eyes tingled and burned, but he would not let a single tear fall, no matter how painful the news was.

He would see the young boy-nay-young man, grow old and die right before his eyes.

And he didn't know if he could handle that.

/ ~ / ~ / ~ /

A pounding at his bedroom door woke him and he groggily blinked his eyes.

"Thorin! Mister Thorin! Are you awake?"

Thorin groaned, 'How is he so wide-eyed and awake?'

He flipped onto his stomach and slammed the pillow over his head, trying to muffle the sounds at the door and silently willing the boy to leave him to more sleep.

When the knocking ceased, for a brief moment Thorin thought he had won, until the handle jiggled and the creak of the door opening told him otherwise.

"Now come on, sleepyhead, you have already missed breakfest, second breakfest, and elevensies! At this rate, you're going to miss lunch as well!"

Thorin grumbled under his breath about meddling hobbits and their need for numerous meals, that was until his stomach growled loudly, causing the young man to giggle violently.

He groaned again, pushing himself up sitting, his back facing Bilbo.

After a moment he stood and turned around.

Bilbo's cheeks turned a dark pink and his eyes went wide at the sight of Thorin's bare chest. He was broad, with well-defined muscles, and covered in a sparse pelt of thick black hair.

"Bilbo, are you well?"

The dwarf received no answer from the wide-eyed hobbit. Again he tried as he walked slowly towards him, as if half expecting him to bolt.

As he got closer, he could see the pink tinge again coloring his cheeks. A part of him, deep down, felt smug by the confused, wild look in Bilbo's eyes as he tried to look at anything but him.

He swallowed thickly as Thorin approached him, backing up until he hit the edge of the open door. He grabbed the handle in embarassment, "Uhh, I..uhhm. IthinkIhearmumcallingme, bye."

He quickly pulled it behind him as he fled out of the room.

Bilbo couldn't get out of there fast enough and when the door closed, he slumped against it, holding a hand to his chest, hoping to calm the furious rhythm his heart was beating against his ribs.

Not knowing that on the other side, a dwarf prince was standing at the edge of his bed, staring at the door, feeling just as confused as he was.

With only one thought running through their minds,

'What just happened?'