Chapter Text
He remembered Mirkwood. It was so dark, so gloomy, nearly lifeless. All he could think of was Bilbo as the spider's venom drained his energy. No fear came to him that Bilbo wouldn't save them, but he didn't want to relive this again. It was always one of his least favorite parts about each life.
He's coming, Thorin thought. He'll save us, and then we'll end up in Thranduil's dungeon.
He reminded himself that this would be worth it in the end.
"Thorin," Bilbo's voice called. He sounded so far away. Thorin hoped that this was real, that Bilbo truly was there. He didn't want this to be just a dream induced by the spider's silk. "Thorin, is that you? I've got everyone else out! Thorin, everything will be alright!" He clung to his hobbit's words like a man dying of thirst to a well's bucket.
When Bilbo freed him, he said nothing. There wasn't anything to say. Bilbo was seeing him now at his weakest, when he barely had any energy left. He could've died by spiders of all creatures! A warrior like him deserved to die by orcs, or in battle against elves, or by Smaug himself for crying out loud, but not by spiders.
Bilbo led the dwarves, helping them in whatever way he could. He even helped carry Bombur, asleep due to falling in the Enchanted River, with Bofur and Bifur. That still had happened. Thorin's eyes hungrily followed over him, wishing for him. He could feel himself going hard, and in Mirkwood of all places. It wasn't supposed to happen this way! Thorin wasn't supposed to be weak, and he wasn't supposed to be lusting after Bilbo in Mirkwood. What he needed was to be his strong and majestic self again, to impress Bilbo.
He tried to negotiate with the elves, but they were taken. As always, Bilbo vanished.
He'll be back, Thorin thought. He always comes back.
He congratulated himself for at least trying to help his company escape. Bilbo had at least seen him do that; from what he remembered of his past lives, he'd need to show his bravery again.
The dungeons were as bleak and dreary as Thorin remembered them to be. He was all alone, at the mercy of Bilbo. It would take at least a month before Bilbo could actually free them. He had a lot if thinking in front of him.
~
Thorin began to track the elves. A woman named Tauriel always came in the morning, eying everyone suspiciously. She did give extra food however, causing Thorin to question her motives. What was she trying to get from them?
Sometimes a blond man would follow her, by the name of Legolas if Thorin had heard correctly. He was strangely kind, and far more talkative than Tauriel herself. He didn't spend much time near Thorin, however.
It seemed like a long time before Thorin saw Bilbo, though really it was only about four days if Thorin was counting correctly. Time stretched on in his cell, and he only had his thoughts to keep him busy.
"Thorin," Bilbo said, and for once he didn't act surprised at the hobbit being invisible. By now it was the most normal thing in the world. "I've finally found you!"
"Bilbo!" Thorin wished he could see the hobbit. He must really have been worried about Thorin now, though he couldn't blame him.
"Don't ask why you can't see me because that doesn't matter."
Thorin nodded. "Yes, of course, whatever you say." He sounded eager, and he couldn't really help it. His hobbit had finally come! "Oh Bilbo, how are you?"
"Surviving." His voice was quite glum. He was probably hungry, cold, and very lonely. Just because he wasn't behind bars didn't mean that he was any safer or more free from the clutches of Thranduil. Once Thorin had his gold back he was going to make Bilbo hiscown private room in the mountain, and fill it with everything that he'd loved. There would be enough books to make Ori faint, enough tea to make Dori cry out of want, enough warm, regular meals to make Bombur endlessly hungry, and anything else Bilbo wanted. Bilbo would be fed, warm, and rich, not to mention married to him. The thought both brought him comfort and filled him with determination.
"I'm so sorry about this; it certainly wasn't listed in your contract."
"Don't worry about it." There was a sound, Thorin guessing it to be Bilbo shifting from one foot to the other.
If he knew of what he'd done before, Thorin thought, then he wouldn't be nervous. But the thought brought him no comfort, for it only reminded him of his end.
"You're so far from everyone else! Do you know how worried that I was? I really thought you to be dead for some time, and I was so sad!"
"I'm alive!" No, Bilbo would not mourn for him. Not this time, and never again. "And don't ever think otherwise. I've lived through worse." Thorin knew it was a weak joke, but it needed to be said.
"You're right. I do just wish things didn't have to be this way." He shifted once more. "Please put your hands through the bars."
Thorin did, and Bilbo put something in it. He looked down to see a small cake, covered in white frosting, with a bright red cherry on top.
"How did you get this?" Thorin asked.
"I, well," Bilbo said, drawing out the pause, "I stole it. You didn't speak highly of Thranduil, so I stole from his own plate!"
Thranduil. The name reminded Thorin that this wasn't over, that he was still coming. It was going to be just as bad as the times before, or at least Thorin guessed it would be.
"Thank you," Thorin said. His mouth watered; the cake, though small, certainly looked delicious, and Thorin wished he could've seen Thranduil's face when his own food was stolen from his plate. "Now would you do me a favor?"
"What?" By the tone of his voice, Thorin could tell that Bilbo would do anything he said. He wanted to ask for something else, to ask that when the guards brought food he snuck inside and spent a few hours with him. But right now he had far more important issues than that.
"Steal a cake for yourself," Thorin instructed. "Actually, steal as much as you want. I am guessing that you are very hungry."
"Of course, Thorin!" His voice held some shock in it, a little bit of surprise that Thorin knew of his hunger. But Thorin knew Bilbo would follow his instructions and eat food. What he needed was a well fed and happy burglar. He didn't want Bilbo any other way.
~
Thranduil came for him after a few days. Thorin had been waiting for it, mentally preparing himself for this moment. Surely Bilbo would find a way to sneak in and see it. If he wanted to prove that he was more than just a mad prince chasing after a broken, impossible dream, then now would be a time to do that.
This was the first time that he came without any guards. "Oakenshield," he said, "it has been quite some time."
"Yes," Thorin said, "it has." He showed no emotion, though inside he burned with rage and anger. But keeping his cool was important, especially in front of Bilbo. Even if he wasn't seeing the two talk right now, he still needed to act as though he was.
I'm not afraid of you, Thranduil. Thorin thought. I've faced far worse.
His words were true, and it didn't matter whether or not Bilbo was there. Thranduil was an obstacle in the way of Thorin getting what he wanted, and he would be taking none of it. If Thranduil wanted a fight, whether by weapon or wit, then Thorin would give him a fight.