Archive of Our Own

You woke up in the middle of nowhere on a sunny day. After looking around, you don't recognise anything. Everything is just arid land, seemingly uninhabited, with no food in sight. Fortunately for you, a dwarf company, a hobbit, and a wizard find you. They take you with them, telling you they would leave you in the future town they would reach. Unfortunately, there are no towns on the way, and you know it. You know there will be a troll attack and you will be chasing orcs before you end up in Rivendell. All this without medication you used to take in your world, medication essential to your health.

Bilbo

• Bilbo is observant, so he quickly notices something is wrong with you. Not a day passes without him asking if you’re alright, and you always tell him you’re fine.
• His concern is cute, but you’re afraid the dwarfs would understand you truly had something wrong and you don’t want to be abandoned on the road. So a night when Bilbo sits next to you and he is about to ask you again the same thing, you forestall him, “If you ask me one more time if I’m fine, I promise you, Mr Baggins, I won’t talk to you again.”
• When you see his sad, embarrassed face, you understand you went too far. And it’s too late to talk to him since he is already left to join Fíli and Kíli with the trolls. Why did you talk to him like that the night of Trolls’ attack? It was very stupid and you have to apologise as soon as you can.
• Against the trolls, you prefer to stay in the camp when they are captured and released by Gandalf. You spend a quiet night with the fire Glóin had made and Bombur's stew.
• When they come back to the camp, you try to talk to Bilbo, but he seems to avoid you. It’s fine, you will talk to you in Rivendell.
• Then Radagast’s arrival, the orcs pursuit, and… The race was too much for you. Once you’re in the tunnel, you run to Bilbo to see if he is fine. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Are you, hm, oh, nothing. I say nothing,” he says nervously, afraid to upset you.
• “I’m fine, Mr Baggins. Totally fine.” It’s your last words before falling unconscious.
• The light is too bright when you open your eyes in a very comfortable bed. As you try to move, you feel a warm hand on yours, then you notice Bilbo sitting on the floor, sleeping on the side of your bed.
• You smile and take your hand back to stroke his hair. He opens his eyes slowly before noticing you’re awake and then immediately standing up. Seeing his worried face, you laugh, “I’m fine, Mr Baggins. No need to hurry.”
• “You weren’t fine,” he starts, frowning in an upset attitude. “During the whole journey, I knew something was wrong but I didn’t know you were sick, very sick. Why did you hide it to m– to us?”
• “Neither I nor you could do anything about it. I can't be cured, let alone here,” you explain with a sad smile. “But I’m sorry for what I said to you. I shouldn’t say that.”
• “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. The most important thing is that you’re better now. Lord Elrond was able to cure you, you know? I won't have to worry about you anymore,” he says with a generous smile. A smile so warm that it warms your whole body.
• “It’s perfect! It means I can follow you for the quest!” you laugh as Bilbo’s face quickly changes.
• “No! Absolutely not! You will stay here until I– until we come back safe! It’s not negotiable. Lord Elrond has already agreed for you to stay here.”
• “If Lord Elrond had already prepared my room, I can’t refuse,” you smiled, seeing his attitude relax and his warm smile coming back.

Kíli

• Since the company adopted you, the two young nephews often play jokes on you. Especially the youngest. Not a day passes without Kíli having fun with you.
• At first, it didn’t bother you, you felt integrated, and thankfully, you weren’t the only target of their jokes. But now, you are tired of his jokes and of your weak health as well.
• You don’t tell him because it makes him smile every time, and you like seeing him smile.
• Expect an evening when you are very tired. The lack of your medication is really felt, and you ask him to let you alone. If his brother didn’t intervene, you’re sure he would talk to you for a long time.
• The Trolls’ attack was that very evening. You stayed in the camp and they joined you after the cavern. 
• Before Radagast comes, Gandalf walks to you and asks you if you’re alright. Did he realise that there is something wrong with you? Or that you lacked something instead. 
• You just say you’re not totally awake yet, and Kíli teases you, “Don’t worry Gandalf, she’s not a morning person.”
• You laughed with them until Radagast’s arrival, then the orcs pursuit, then…
• After falling in the hole between the rocks, you fall unconscious. Later, you open your eyes when everyone is walking in the tunnel. As Dwalin was carrying you, he puts you down on the ground.
• However, some minutes after, you fall unconscious again, and the next time you open your eyes, you’re in a very comfortable bed.
• “Are you alright? Are you hurt? Do you need something?” you hear in a panicked voice. Kíli runs to you, takes your hand, and touches your cheek.
• You’re oddly fine. Your pain and weakness are over, but it doesn't confirm you’re alright. You’re about to say something but he speaks first, “Why didn't you tell us you were sick?”
• Why? There were many possible answers to this question. “There is nothing we can do about it anyway,” you reply with a smile.
• “Of course, we can! Elrond saved you. He treated you. You’re cured,” he said with a big smile.
• “No, it’s impossible. It’s not something that can be cured, let alone here,” you try to explain, but Kíli had to fetch Elrond for you to believe him.
• So now you’re truly fine and cured, you have no excuse to avoid Kíli’s jokes. But who would want to avoid such a cute dwarf anyway?

Fíli

• You were glad a company found you in the middle of nowhere, so you help them as much as possible while saving your energy.
• As you were on a pony all day, it’s quite easy, but you don’t know how long you will last, so you enjoy the moment.
• When you arrive at an abandoned house, you know the trolls’ attack will happen, and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to see it, even if it's only from a distance.
• You go with Bilbo when he is going to give Fíli and Kíli their bowl while they were supposed to be looking after the ponies. 
• When they learn it was trolls who stole the ponies, Fíli refuses to come with them. You don’t give him a choice and follow them anyway.
• But even though you stay at distance, a troll notices you and you end up with them in a stinking bag. 
• Oh you almost vomit! Luckily for you, you’re thinner than the dwarfs and you free yourself quite easily. You’re about to run away when a troll catches you by your foot and lifts you upside down. “Do you really think you can run away like that, little thing?” the troll laughs with his brothers. “Maybe we should eat your first!”
• Bilbo doesn’t have the time to stop them when he approaches you to his mouth. After quickly smelling you, he yelled “Ugh! This thing is sick! The others are sick too?”. Then he throws you away. Your body falls loudly on the ground and you lose consciousness.
• You don’t see it but later someone will tell you that Fíli yelled in rage at them, freed himself from his bag, and tried to run to you until a troll caught him. Gandalf arrived just in time to change them into rocks, and Fíli was finally able to join you. 
• That’s why when you regain consciousness, he is on top of you asking you to wake up. The unplanned nap did you good despite some bruises. So, you could run with them during the pursuit with the orcs.
• When you all arrive in front of Rivendell, you feel tired, but you say nothing. But your body decides otherwise. When Elrond arrives with his guards and the dwarfs put you and Bilbo in the centre of the circle, your body betrays you and you fall unconscious again.
• You don’t know how many days have passed, but when you open your eyes, it’s night. You’re lying on your back in a comfortable bed. A light breeze blows over your face but you’re not cold. The strong arm around your waist seems to come from the dwarf sleeping next to you. At the view of Fíli so close to you, your body’s heat increases even more.
• Then you notice Kíli as he enters the room. He is smiling, not surprised at all by his brother next to you. “I’m sorry but your bodyguard didn’t want to let you alone,” he whispers.
• “Don’t be sorry. He’s quite warm, it’s enjoyable,” you whisper. “I’m the only one who is sorry to be so weak.”
• “You should have told us you were sick,” Fíli grumbles next to you as he is waking up slowly, his hand grabbing the blanket covering your waist. “You shouldn't come with us to the Trolls.” 
• You remain quiet and look to Kíli until you realise he left, leaving you alone in the arms of his brother. “I didn't want you all to abandon me and I wanted to enjoy the time I had with you,” you sighed, knowing it was stupid to go with them to the trolls. 
• “Don’t talk as if you’ll die. Lord Elrond cured you,” he says as he sits up, now totally awake. You find it hard to believe but his gentle smile convinces you of the opposite. 
• “But you’ll abandon me anyway,” you say as you try to sit until Fíli’s hand pushes you down. 
• “We'll see about that later. For now, rest a little longer,” he says before leaning toward you and planting a kiss on your forehead. “I never want to see you faint again.”

Thorin

• You always follow them with a smile and enthusiasm, but with seriousness and calm. You try to be useful even if you feel your body becoming weak day after day.
• You never talk about your lack of medication and you will never tell them, especially Thorin. You don’t want him to abandon you on the road. 
• “I’m just tired, don’t worry about me,” is your easy excuse. As you’re a woman not used to this kind of environment - and they quickly noticed it, they don’t doubt it. 
• When the trolls’ attack happens, you remain hidden until they’re in bags. You sneak up behind them and try to free them but the ropes are very thick. You have neither the strength nor the weapons to free them. By the time you go to get a knife or a sword, Gandalf arrives and turns the trolls into stone. You’re very useless…
• As you wait for them outside the trolls’ cavern, you watch them going out with smiles and happiness. “Did you find something good?” you ask Thorin, hoping he would show you The Orcrist. 
• During the journey, he was never once mean to you, and you hope it stays the same. So, you’re able to talk to him more easily than you thought at the beginning. “Yes, I found this. Here,” he then hands you a small sword. A light, shining sword at your size. You can’t help but smile and try it on the air.
• If you don’t see it from your eyes, you would never believe it. Thorin laughs when he sees you testing your sword. “There is still a long way to go…” he chuckles as he places himself behind you and adjusts your posture. “Here, put your feet like this, and your arms like that,” he advises you. “Maybe Dwalin can teach you some bases when we–”
• He can’t finish this sentence. Radagast arrives in a rush, then the orcs pursue you…
• During your walk in the tunnel to Rivendell, you hold steady. You’re weak, but it’s not the time to falter!
• Later, Elrond invites you all, and you stay with the dwarf. When he notices you, he offers you a room just for you. You hesitate and glance at Thorin to see what he thinks. After a positive nod, you follow an elf to your room.
• In your calm, clean room, you take a warm bath and have a little nap, thinking it will give you enough energy to make it through the dinner with Elrond and the company. 
• As you have no other clean clothes, you put on the clothes lent by the elves. A long night blue dress. You’re uncomfortable but you can’t go to dinner naked, right?
• When you arrive in the dinner’s room, everyone is already here. Still impressed by the architecture and the view from the balcony, you look for a place in the dwarfs’ tables but Gandalf calls you to his. Could you be more uncomfortable than being at Lord Elrond’s table? Oh yes, because your place is just next to the left of Thorin, the opposite of Elrond. To your surprise, there is less tension between Thorin and Elrond than you expected.
• “Thank you for the dinner, Lord Elrond,” you timidly say as you sit down. If you aren’t impressed by everything (architecture, sunset, silverware, music, the nice, fresh spring smell, oh and Lindir, and Lord Elrond himself!), you could have seen the displeased look on Thorin’s face. 
• You remain quiet during the whole dinner because of your shyness, Thorin very close to you, but mostly because you were feeling tired. So tired. You have never been so happy for a dinner to end, even though it was a very fun dinner thanks to Bofur.
• When everyone starts to live, you get up from your chair and feel dizzy. With a slight shake of your head, you come to your senses.
• It's going to be a long way to your room...
• Thankfully, nobody saw you. You’re about to leave when you feel a strong, warm hand in your lower back. “Allow me to take you back to your room,” Thorin says as he pushes you a little to encourage you to walk. In other circumstances, you would be delighted, but now you’re uncomfortable.
• Did he understand that something was wrong? “It’s alright. I can go back to my room alone,” you try with a smile. But you quickly understand it wasn’t a question when he doesn’t remove his hand of your back.
• On the way, you both remain quiet until Thorin clears his throat. “I ask Elrond to check on you,” he says in an unpleasant tone. “He will come to your room tomorrow.”
• “You what?” you exclaim, losing all your polite manners as you step away from him. This excess of energy makes you wobble. You raised your hand to stop Thorin from getting closer to you. “What did you ask to Lord Elrond?”
• Thorin frowns, maybe from your behaviour or your ‘Lord’ every time you talk about Elrond. “It was easy to guess you’re not fine, and as you don’t seem injured, Oín could do nothing for you. So I asked Elrond to check on you.” It seems to rip his throat out to ask Elrond for help, but he did it for you.
• Except that… “He can’t do anything for me. It’s not a thing he could heal,” despite your smile, your tone changes in a serious way that Thorin never heard. He is about to argue with you when your vision becomes dark and your strength abandons you. If Thorin hadn't been there, you would never have reached your room…
• Before opening your eyes, you hear Elrond’s voice in a language you don’t know. Gradually, your pain and your weakness disappear. When you slowly open your eyes, you see Elrond, Gandalf and Thorin around you. You’re lying in a bed so comfortable that you almost want to fall asleep again.
• It’s when you hear Thorin’s voice that you keep your eyes open. As Elrond is silent, Thorin moves closer to you and takes your hand. You try to sit up but your body doesn’t let you do.
• “You’re fine now,” Elrond starts. “I don’t know what your sickness was but I could heal you. Now, you must rest. You pushed your body too far.” Elrond leaves the room before you’re able to thank him, and Gandalf follows him with a smile. 
• You wait until they leave to talk to Thorin. “I'm sorry to be so useless,” you start, avoiding his gaze. “You were sick, not useless,” he sighed.
• You see him hesitating to say something, but stay quiet finally. He is about to leave when you take his hand and pull it. “Can you, hm, stay with me until I fall asleep?”
• His head turns to you and a genuinely smile appears on his face. He nods and sits on a chair next to your bed, not letting go of your hand. Even though you try to stay awake to enjoy the moment, you end up falling asleep, holding Thorin's hand firmly.