More than Meets the Eye (Hobbit Fic) Part 2

Bilbo felt the knife all the way as it pierced the skin near his stomach and inched deeper. A gurgle erupted out of his throat as the blade was suddenly yanked from his body. His legs felt weak and the pain flared in his abdomen, spreading like fire through his veins and sending him to his knees. A scream never made it to his lips as he choked and fell to his side for the second time today. Vision flickering, he saw the Orc sneer and raise his weapon above his head again and plunge down.

~~

Thorin Oakenshield was sharpening his sword when he had noticed the hobbit wander off into the trees. Not only did he go on his own, but he had the audacity to leave his sword on his bedroll. Whatever had made their burglar stray away from the company AND leave his weapon behind must have been either important in his eyes and trivial in Thorin’s. He was tempted to bark at the hobbit to come back or send one of his nephews after him but he shrugged and continued tending to Orcist. If the Halfling wanted to get lost or injured, it was his own fault and nobody else’s. That was until a shill scream made his hands freeze and his head to snap up

“ORCS!”

All the dwarves’ heads snapped up and they all exchanged worried looks. They sat there in shocked silence for a few time-wasted moments. They dropped whatever they were holding and grabbed their weapons from their sides and without a second thought, began sprinting in the direction they saw Bilbo Baggins tread through. Thorin cursed and chased after them.
He saw Kili notch an arrow and fire at an Orc that was about to bring his blade down into Bilbo’s heart. He ignored the relief that flooded his body as he sprinted past the coughing hobbit and into battle, swinging his sword and killing Orc’s left right and centre. Not long after, however, he found himself surrounded by three of them. An Orc charged suddenly and he swiftly killed it moved onto the next who was close to stabbing him.

He was only just aware of the loud slamming of feet behind him just as the second orc went down. He swung around 180 degrees and had only a few milliseconds for his eyes to graze over Bilbo’s convulsing and curled form on the floor and an Orc over him and bringing his knife down. He blocked the dagger, flinging it away and stabbing it, soaking his blade in black blood. He snarled and turned, ready for another Orc only to find that the rest had fled. He glanced around for a few moments before wiping his blade and sheathing it.

He was about to take a step towards the camp when his brain remembered something quite important. It was less of a something and more of a someone. His cobalt eyes glanced downwards at Bilbo. The hobbit looked a little worse for wear but otherwise unharmed apart from the cut on his cheek and bruises littering his neck where the Orc had strangled him harshly. He lay on the dusty floor, his clothes covered in mud, and eyes closed and breathing a little irregular. Thorin rolled his eyes. How the hobbit could faint with such little injuries was a mystery. He shifted to one foot and lightly, but harshly nonetheless, kicked Bilbo in the back and growling a:

“Get up, pathetic Halfling.” The burglar’s eyes snapped open and he groaned. Thorin swallowed the feeling that something was immensely wrong with the hobbit and this time nudged him instead “Get. Up. Or I will leave you here for whatever beast to kill you” He winced inwardly at the bitterness in his tone but shook it off again. Bilbo nodded and scrambled quickly to his feet, a cry of pain ripping from his lips a tug pulled at Thorin to check if the hobbit was alright but instead he hissed out the first thing that came to mind

“You had better not gotten yourself injured, Halfling, you are no use to any of us dead.” He sneered and saw Bilbo’s mouth snap shut as if he were about to say something before he was interrupted.

“No…” Bilbo whispered “I’m not injured. I just… got up too quickly,”

“Good.” Thorin nodded absentmindedly “Now let’s return to the camp, the company is waiting.” With that, he turned and started walking, not caring if Bilbo was following or not.

~~

Bilbo certainly thought he was going to die the moment his body had given out and fell to the floor. He certainly didn’t think he’d die like this, and so early on this death-forsaken adventure. He had been stabbed. Stabbed! And nothing could prepare him for the agony that ripped through him like nothing he had felt before. For at least 20 years of his life he had convinced himself he had been through worse after falling out of a tree and breaking his arm. That was nothing compared to now. This made breaking bones seem like a paper cut. Speaking of injuries, shouldn’t he be dead?
Clanging of metal made his ears ring and yank him out of his thoughts. His breath hitched as something landed near him and footsteps approached. Did Thorin kill the Orc? Or the other way round?
A harsh kick landed on his back and his eyes, that he wasn’t aware of closing in the first place, snapped open.

“Get up, pathetic Halfling” Oakenshield growled from above him; Bilbo bit his tongue so he didn’t spark an argument that consisted of many swears and curses that his father’s hair would have grown white. He was nudged again and he stifled a scream of agony

“Get. Up. Or I will leave you here for whatever beast to kill you” Bilbo found himself struggling quickly to his feet and this time failing to swallow a cry as white exploded in his vision. Opening his mouth to say that he was hurt was interrupted

“You had better not gotten yourself injured, Halfling, you are no use to any of us dead.”

Oh

The words died in his throat. He wished he hadn’t saved Thorin at all and left him to die. He wished he wasn’t so stupid and charged into that. He wished he had actually died himself. He wanted to shout at Thorin-No, scream!

‘Of course I’m injured you idiotic dwarf! I’ve just saved your sorry excuse of a life! I have a wound just above my stomach and am still bleeding through my shirt!’

“No…” the hobbit started, ignoring his Took side as it barked at him and he strained his eyes to look at something other than Thorin’s cobalt orbs that left him shaking in fear “No I’m not injured” he lied subtly, closing his waistcoat that did a perfect job in blending in with the blood “I just… got up too quickly”

“Good.” Thorin nodded and just left.
When he was sure the bastard of a King was out of ear-shot, Bilbo’s hands flew to his abdomen and he whimpered

“Fool of a Took” he whispered at the rising moon “What have you gotten yourself into?” He swayed slightly and stumbled into a tree, smearing it with fresh blood. His wound burned like no fire he had ever felt before and it was spreading.

~~

By the time Bilbo had stumbled back to camp, he was shaking like a leaf in the wind and shivering like he had in the Fell Winter. His wound was throbbing something fierce and he felt sick. It was almost pitch black and the fire embers were being blown away by the wind. All but one of the company were sleeping and Bifur was on watch. His head had snapped up in surprise as Bilbo’s legs finally folded in on themselves and had him sprawling across the floor, limbs a mess and a hand pressed against his stomach. He must have looked a right mess as Bifur had helped him to his feet, saying words in Khuzdul and dark eyes worried.

~~

“I’m fine” Bilbo had gritted through clenched teeth which was disguised with a smile “Just a little dizzy is all, it will pass and I should be fine in the morning” Bifur was not convinced.

Earlier in the journey, the grey-streaked bearded dwarf had taken a liking to the hobbit and secretly began teaching Bilbo Iglishmêk, ignoring Thorin’s words not to. He had become awfully protective of the small creature, growling at anybody he didn’t like that came near to the Halfling, sharing some of his food with the Hobbit and, on most nights, covering the small frame in a blanket. Only to have Bilbo wake up a while later and take it off, only to have Bifur place it back over him and the process to repeat all over again. His cousins too had enjoyed Bilbo’s company and they had all become a little like a family and despite Bifur’s inability to speak common, Bilbo had never shunned him or frowned at him or took pity on him like most Elves, Men and Dwarves. Oh no, he would always come up to him and say a bright ‘good morning’ and always check if he was coping well during the journey and even went as far as, Mahal bless the small creature’s heart, offer to carry his pack when he looked like he was struggling a little even though the Burglar was visibly struggling himself. Over the past few months, he and Bilbo began to easily read each other like an open book. But seeing Bilbo Baggins like this made Bifur want to kill something. He signed something furiously

Where have you been? Thorin arrived at the camp almost an hour ago!

Bilbo looked up at him and shrugged, wincing at the movement

You’re injured.

“No, I’m alright” Bilbo smiled and Bifur knew it was fake

You’re lying. Where does it hurt?

“I’m fine, Bifur, I promise.”

Then why are you holding your stomach like that?

“I’m just hungry… I didn’t have a chance to eat before we were attacked”

Why do you keep lying? It’s obvious something hurts!

Bifur stopped and his eyes softened and he placed his gloved fingers on Bilbo’s cheek, ignoring the flinch, and tilted Bilbo’s head to the side, exposing quite a nasty gash from the cheek bone to his chin. Bilbo was one of the only beings that Bifur showed such gentle kindness to as well as his two cousins. All three meant the world to him. Seeing them injured broke his heart

That’s a nasty cut, little one.

“It will heal.” Bilbo mumbled, looking down at his large feet

At least let me wake Oin and have him check you over.

“No!” Bilbo and Bifur jumped at the loud outburst and Biilbo lowered his voice “No… Use it on somebody who needs it”

Dwarves are stronger than hobbits. We will be fine in the morning. You however are a different story.

“I will be fine Bifur, stop worrying” Bifur’s brow creased as Bilbo leaped five feet in the air when Dwalin groaned and moved in his bedroll before relaxing beside Ori again

You’re shivering!

“I’m just cold.”

Please don’t lie to me

~~

Please don’t lie to me.
That made Bilbo’s small heart break.

“I’m not. Bilbo lied through his teeth and he nearly threw himself at the dwarf in front of him. He wanted to cry and shout until he couldn’t anymore. He was in agony and he couldn’t tell anyone, not even about the dwarf that has shown him such kindness when most of the others wouldn’t. He just didn’t want to seem weak. He wanted to prove himself and gain the respect of the rest of the dwarves. He didn’t want to be teased anymore. He didn’t think he would be able to take it.

At least have something to eat. Bombur and Bofur left some food for you.

“I don’t want to eat anything” Bilbo answered truthfully this time “I don’t feel hungry anymore”

Then let me help you to your bedroll.

Bilbo relented and gave a nod. He made sure Bifur supported him on the side which didn’t have any blood on so no suspicions would arise. He felt like his guts were twisting in knots every time he lied to the dwarf. He didn’t want to. Really, he didn’t.

They reached Bilbo’s bed, which definitely had more blankets than usual, and Bilbo lay down. Bifur covered him up quickly and bumped his forehead with his. Bilbo didn’t know whether it was to reassure the both of them or if Bifur was checking something. He didn’t really care because his body finally gave up and he lost consciousness.