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The cave was pure darkness. Nothing could be heard except for the slow, steady sounds of sleeping dwarves. The fire had burned down to embers, only leaving a soft glow against the damp stone walls. Bedrolls were scattered across the uneven cave floor. The air stale and heavy weighed upon the company after another long day of travelling.
Bilbo stirred. At first, he wasn't sure what had woken him. No noise, barring a steady drip of water coming from the back end of the cave and for once no danger. No being chased by raging orcs or captured by revolting goblins, a rare moment of peace. Just a familiar, uneasy feeling that tainted his thoughts and refused to stay quiet. And of course the consistent, low snoring of Bofur sitting propped up against the cave wall who was supposed to be on watch. The steady rumble went straight through Bilbo's head, just loud enough to be a persistent nuisance. He rolled slightly onto his side, pulling his blanket tighter. That was when he noticed him.
Thorin layed beside him, flat on his back, eyes open and fixed on the cave ceiling. He hadn't moved or blinked. Bilbo frowned slightly, wondering if he was awake or had he finally fallen asleep, with his eyes open? "Thorin?" He whispered. No answer. Bilbo let it be, leaving him to rest, until he turned his head. Their faces had suddenly become not far from touching. Bilbo stayed very still, waiting for what would happen next. Thorin's gaze was sharp even in the low light, but softened the instant it landed on Bilbo. "I did not mean to wake you." He murmured. "It's alright," Bilbo whispered back, "I was already half awake." They layed there, inches apart, nothing but the sound of soft wind outside the cave entrance. Thorin shifted onto his side so that he was facing Bilbo fully, careful not to disturb the sleeping dwarves around them.
"You should get some rest, master Baggins, we have a long journey ahead of us." Thorin said quietly. Bilbo smiled faintly. "You're one to talk." Thorin huffed. "Sleep does not come easy." Bilbo studied him. The tension in his brow, the way his jaw was set as if he were preparing for something unseen. "Bad thoughts?" Bilbo asked gently. Thorin hesitated. He looked at Bilbo, but ultimately said nothing. Bilbo nodded, as if that explained everything. "I get those too, usually about dragons or orcs or... being terribly out of my depth." A corner of Thorin's mouth twitched upwards. "I can assure you that you are not." Bilbo raised a brow, "I most certainly am." "Perhaps." Thorin allowed. "But you face it anyway." The words hung between them. Bilbo shifted closer without quite meaning to, his blanket Brushing Thorin's sleeve.
"You worry too much." Bilbo said. "And you do not think enough of your own worth." Thorin replied, just as softly. Bilbo's brows furrowed. "That's hardly fair." Thorins voice dropped, rougher now. "I have watched you. You continue to put yourself in danger for the sake of others, for me." Bilbo swallowed, "someone has to keep you all out of trouble." Thorin let out a breath, something in between a laugh and a sigh. "You do more than that." They were silent once again. The cave breathing around them. After a moment, Bilbo asked, "what were you thinking about before I woke up?" Thorin's eyes flickered to the ceiling, then back at Bilbo. "What it would mean to fail." Bilbo frowned, confused, "fail?" Thorin looked at him then, really looked. "Fail those who have put their trust in me." He said softly. Bilbo's hand moved before he could overthink it, resting softly against Thorin's muscular forearm. "You won't, I know you won't." Thorin glanced down at the reassuring contact then back up to Bilbo's face. "You sound very certain." Bilbo smiled, sincerely. "I am. I know you Thorin. You'd do anything in your power to finish what you started." Thorin studied him for a long moment, as if memorising the details of Bilbo's face in the dim light. Then quietly, "I'm glad you're here, master burglar." Bilbo's heart skipped a beat. "Well," he said lightly, though his words wobbled, "I do have a talent for unexpected things." That earned him a real smile. Seeing Thorin be happy, even slightly, always put a warm fuzzing feeling around his heart.
"Aren't you going to wake him?" Bilbo asked, glancing over at Bofur who had his hat half drooped over his face. "We're safe enough here, I think everyone deserves a good rest but he'll be getting an ear full in the morning." Thorin said.
They continued to lie there, close enough that Bilbo could feel Thorin breathing slowly, steadily in and out and finally his eyes drifted closed at last. And with the company sleeping soundly around them, the cave held their shared silence and all was quiet.