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Written with and edited by: InsanitysxCreation

A week had passed since Thorin and Bilbo's first office meeting, and the two had made it their new routine to meet up with each other. Bilbo would now bring a tray of delicious food to Thorin's office every day, helping the king with the piles of paperwork that never seemed to go away. The hobbit never seemed to mind though; each day, he'd walk in with a smile on his face, placing the tray of food on the table and happily rambling about different topics as he set up. Things such as his lunch with Dwalin and Ori, how his garden was doing, the last book he'd read. And Thorin listened closely every time. He loved to hear his hobbit go on and on about whatever pleased him. It made his chest swell with joy to know he would soon be his.

Thorin knocked on the door to the library of Erebor, clearing his throat when he saw his Captain of the Guard sucking the face off of the Royal Scribe. The two pulled away blushing madly, Dwalin's blushing bald head standing out above all.

"D-Dwalin, why don't you hurry back to your post," Ori half squeaked, "I'll see you later tonight." Dwalin grunted and leaned back down to peck his cheek, before striding quickly out of the room, making sure to avoid his friend's eyes. Ori hopped off the table he had been perched on and went around to the other side of it from Thorin.

Thorin chuckled. "I am sorry to interrupt."

Ori shook his head, braids whipping back and forth. "Oh no! It's fine, he was...j-just...just here for his lunch break."

Thorin smirked. "And I see he was getting a fine...lunch." He chuckled at the further redding of Ori's cheeks, continuing on to the topic he was here for. "I am here to ask how the flowers are going. I checked up on them, but I...I don't know anything about them. Flowers used to be just something I stepped on to get someplace. But hobbits give them meanings and names and types. I don't even know how they should look when they are ready."

Ori's red cheeks calmed at this. "Don't worry, your Majesty, I checked up on them a few days ago and they are growing fine. Hobbits give their gifts once a month, so you should be able to give him the flowers at the next full moon. Until then, spend time together. That is what Hobbits do in their courtship, get to know each other. The other's family. Life. Past. Has Bilbo asked to spend more time with you?" the scribe asked. He picked up a few scrolls and looked at them as Thorin answered.

"Yes, he has actually. We spend supper together every day now. He makes me pies and helps me with paperwork." He smiled fondly, thinking back to Bilbo's laughter during their last meeting.

Ori beamed at that, tipping his head up to look at Thorin directly. He shuffled a few books on the table before him, more of absent-minded habit than any real purpose. "Well, that's great! That's a very good sign he is accepting the courtship. But since you can't meet Bilbo's family, why don't you get him to spend time with Fili and Kili, even Dis. Has he had a chance to meet her?"

Thorin shrugged. "I don't know; if so it has not been around me. I was planning on bringing Bilbo down to the mines soon, like I promised. Maybe I can ask him if he'd like to meet her then."

"That would be a good idea," Ori replied earnestly. "It wouldn't be a good idea to spring your sister on him without any warning."

Thorin agreed, cringing at the thought of what disastrous things would happen in that situation. He doubted Bilbo would ever speak to him again. A quick clearing of his throat and a great mental shove, and he directed their conversation elsewhere.

"Speaking of siblings," he said, leaning on the table beside him, "how are your brothers doing? I always mean to go down to Dori's shop, but things get in the way." He gave a grimace, remembering the constant meetings that accounted for most of his job. Ori brightened, though, and he focused on the younger dwarf.

"Dori's shop is doing really well. He has to throw out at least one wanna-be courter a week, but I think he finds it fun, so Nori and I haven't done a lot to chase them off. Honestly, the lot of them are masochistic; they know what the answer will be, but they keep coming back to taste the wall on the other side of the street."

Thorin laughed, feeling a trickle of tension ease. "Dori should enter the boulder-throwing contest next Durin's Day, throwing idiots will certainly have given him the practice."

Ori also laughed, nodding a little. "I'll let him know you suggested that. Nori has been good, too, well, good for Nori. We don't see him as often, though." Ori paused in putting away a book, fingering a foxed edge with a slight frown. "Last time he was home, though, I heard him muttering something about dissent with some miners. He sounded really frustrated."

Thorin frowned at this. "Dissent with the miners? I haven't heard anything about this, no complaint has been sent in. And everyone seems to be very happy to be back to their craft." He paused for a moment, trying to remember if he could have skipped over some papers; with all he gets, it is possible something could have fallen through. "What was Nori doing down there anyway? I know I hired him to be a spy, but I never asked him to go down there, he'd have no business to be."

Ori shook his head, picking up another pile of books to put away. "I don't think he was down there, though I could be wrong. Perhaps he heard them talking in Dori's shop or down in the taverns, people always gossip there. Next time I see him I'll question him about it."

"That would be appreciated, if he heard something at all that could be a threat, he should have reported it back to me. Now, all workers have days to complain about, so it could just be harmless talk. But to be sure I need to know exactly what he heard. The kingdom is just now getting back onto its feet, we don't need trouble to brew up."

"Yes of course, your Majesty, I'll be sure to do that," Ori said, climbing up a ladder to reach the higher shelves.

Thorin smiled. "Thank you, Ori, and please I told you to call me Thorin, at least when we are only in each other's company. We traveled a great deal together; you can leave those titles for the throne room, my friend."

Ori shuffled some books around; Thorin could imagine the blush dusting his cheeks. "I wouldn't, ah, want to presume, yo- sir."

Thorin steadied the ladder when Ori went higher. "Well, now you know you have my permission."

Ori was quiet for a few moments as he put away books. When he came down off the ladder, he took a deep breath before looking Thorin in the eyes.

"Would you preside over our wedding?" Ori asked, more forcefully than he meant to by his look of mild shock and quietened tone. "Mine and Dwalin's, I mean. I know he really wants you to, and I do, too, it would be such an honor, but I know he was nervous asking you and putting that pressure on you as well, I think he assumed Balin would do it but I know he really wants you to; of course I completely understand if you're too busy or-"

Thorin stopped Ori's rambling speech by gently placing his hands on the younger dwarf's, stilling their increasingly frantic twisting motion on the abused knitwork around Ori's neck. Together, they untangled Ori's scarf before Thorin answered.

"Yes," he said with a smile, "it would be my honor and pleasure to preside over your joining." Ori beamed and threw himself at Thorin, embracing him quickly before he could think twice about the action.

"Thank you," Ori said, clasping his hands together in front of him. "It means so much to me, to us. I... Thank you. I'll go tell Dwalin the good news!" Ori practically skipped to a side door, disappearing around a bookcase. He reappeared after a moment. "Oh, and you and Bilbo are welcome to dine with Dwalin and I whenever you want!"

Thorin laughed. "I look forward to it!" Ori beamed and disappeared behind the bookcase.