Bilbo’s decision of leaving Bag End to his cousin surprised Thorin and at the same time made him feel sure that Bilbo was willing to stay at Erebor. Thorin closed his eyes, smiling at the light weight of Bilbo, and pressing the hobbit against him, yet the sigh he heard from Bilbo worried him. The king knew his way of talking hadn’t been the tender tone Bilbo deserved, and he wasn’t excusing himself, but he was used to be serious and cold toward almost everybody all the time. The way he lost his family turned the dwarf quite bitter, adding to that his stubbornness and natural bad temper. This had never been a problem to Thorin until now; he should learn to show his affection for Bilbo not only in actions but in words too. He brought a hand to Bilbo’s soft curls. “I love you, Bilbo.” Thorin fell asleep soon as he caressed slightly his hobbit’s hair.
Thorin frowned at the annoying noise and opened his eyes after a moment to encounter Bilbo’s. Smiling at him, the dwarf pulled him closer for a good morning kiss.
“That call must be for you” Thorin sat on the bed and began to braid his hair, he was still sleepy, and spoke again with his eyes barely opened. “You should let them in and tell them where you want your furniture to be set.” He looked at Bilbo and smiled at him, sighing after a moment. “I must go now, I’ll tell Balin you need to speak with him and remember to send for that cousin of yours today or he won’t be here in time. Find me as soon as you finish here, my love.” Thorin kissed Bilbo deeply, and then he got dressed and left the room.
The corridor to their chamber was crowded with dwarfs workers and wooden boxes with Bilbo’s belongings; clothes, books everything had been brought to his new home. Thorin took a time to see from close Bilbo’s desk, a delicately worked wood, finely varnished, with many drawers and a perfect slant to write comfortably, adorned with black patterns on the edges and a big red velvet surface to place the paper. When Thorin finished his examination, with a long and heavy sigh and with his duties in mind, he made his way to the vaults.