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After the Winter Gala Biblo did his best to put his encounter with Thorin out of his mind. Of course it should be no surprise that Thorin would rebuff him as soon as he found out about his relations. For some reason though he could not get the feeling of rejection from his gut.

One thing that soon drew his attention from that night was Legolas's strange behavior. It wasn't unusual for Legolas to become distracted with one particular suitor for awhile but then the infatuation would fade and once again he would be swarmed by suitors. However this time he had started to tell his suitors that he had finally found his heart's match and would be pursuing them solely from now on. Bilbo had never seen Legolas talk that way before. He always seemed content to continue his open lifestyle. It drove Bilbo to wonder exactly what had happened. Finally his curiosity could no longer contain itself.

He found Legolas leaning against a balcony banister staring out onto the snow capped mountains that were just being dotted with stars. Legolas's sharp eyes were gazing far out into the distance. His expression was dreamy and it took Bilbo a moment to gain his attention.

"Oh…Sorry Bilbo, I was thinking…" Legolas apologized before reluctantly turning to face Bilbo instead of the mountain.

"That much is obvious." Bilbo chuckled before his smile softened "You've not been yourself these past few days…We have always confided in each other have we not?"

Legolas smiled gently, something distant was glinting in his eye. "Indeed I'm sorry Bilbo; I didn't mean to exclude you." He paused for a moment as he seemed to struggle for words, another thing that was unlike Legolas. "I have found my heart's match Bilbo…But how am I to face what would come from revealing it?" The dreamy expression had melted away to one more of anguish.

Bilbo reached to comfort this friend. "Surely it can't be all that bad…You don't think that I would ever begrudge your choice?"

Again the smile that radiated Legolas's beauty blossomed on his face. "Never Bilbo. I won't tell you his name until I make my intentions clear to him. But his family is very close to the Durins…I can't see how it would ever be possible." His tone changed to one of such sadness that Bilbo felt compelled to hold his friend close. "Whatever I can do to aid you I will."

Legolas smiled sheepishly for a moment "Well…there is one thing…"

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Legolas was going to owe him until his dying day. That was the thought that was loudly echoing in his mind as he struggled to make his way through the market place. Legolas had given him a pouch of gold to use to get a courting gift for his mysterious man. He was very specific; he wanted strong wrist cuffs for a large man. They were usually made for axe wielders as a type of defense. Legolas had wanted to pick it out himself but thought it would be too obvious if he did so. Thus poor Bilbo's current predicament.

There was only one smith that had a good enough reputation for his friend. He was known to be fierce in battle and fair in his prices. His work was some of the best and he was most noted for his wrist cuffs since he himself was an axe wielder. Dwalin.

When Bilbo approached his stall he was hammering away at a new piece of work. His sheer size alone had him backing away at first. Then he remembered Legolas's desperation to impress his heart's choice and the loving way he had described what he had wanted to give him. There was a sinking feeling in his stomach that had him standing his ground. The smith noticed him and set aside his tools as he lazily wiped his hands off on a rag. "Whut can I do for you lad?" His tone was much more courteous than his gruff accent would lead one to believe.

Unable to back out now Bilbo cleared his throat "I'm looking for a set of large wrist cuffs. Made of reinforced gold and inlaid with rubies if possible. Something elegant but simple." Legolas had of course gone into much more detail but he felt that gotten the point across.

The burly man stared at him for a long moment. His bald head was glistening with sweat that made his dark tattoos stand out in stark contrast against his flushed red skin. "Whut would you be wantin' those for?" Again his rough accent made the words come out harsher than he probably meant.

Gathering what gumption he had Bilbo straightened "I am picking up a courting gift for a friend." Not that he thought it was any of the smith's business but Dwalin was known for being particular.

His answer seemed to pacify the smith though and he set out a small display with three different sets like the one he described. Bilbo gave him a timid of smile of thanks and began measuring them against Legolas's often high standards.

While he was focused on the wrist cuffs another guest came to the stall. This new comer managed to gain Dwalin's attention right away. He was a bookish looking fellow with his arms filled with journals and quills. "Another tip broke…Could you mend it for me? It's one of my favorites…" There was a small pout to the tone that had the burly smith smiling gently as he took the injured quill "Aye…I can fix that."

Finally Bilbo was prepared to make his choice and managed to wrangle Dwalin's attention from his visitor. As the purchases were being wrapped Bilbo felt pride in his choice. They were a finely made set that he felt would appease Legolas's need for beauty and would also function well.

With the parcel in hand Bilbo was eager to show them to Legolas and see his approval. In his haste he didn't see a large form that was also approaching the stall they collided causing Bilbo to drop the gift into the snow. He regretted leaving without his gloves now as his hands dug through the cold to retrieve the cuffs. He heard a grunt as the package he was searching for was waved in front of his face "Oh thank…" his voice trailed off as the stormy blue eyes of Thorin caught his own and his hands numbly took the outstretched parcel.

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Thorin had not expected to run into Thranduil's charge so soon after the gala. He had rarely seen the young man before the event and since then he had yet to get him far from his mind. He had growled when a slight form had crashed into his own and then saw he had caused the focus of his irritation to drop the packaged he had been so tenderly holding. He had seen the glint of gold and rubies peeking through the wrappings. The size alone told him that they were not meant to be worn by the youth's delicate wrists. Nor were they something either Legolas or Thranduil would have need of.

He found himself unsettled by the likelihood that they were intended as a courting gift. They were beautiful and well made meaning the courtship was a serious one. As he handed them back to the small cold fingers he murmured "Those will make a fine gift." His tone gruffer than he meant it to be.

"Oh…Thank you…" Bilbo said as he tucked his package under his arm securely. It seemed for a moment that he was going to say something more before the clock tower chimed the latening hour "Pardon me…I have to go." The smaller man murmured shyly before rushing off.

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Dwalin had been treated to the entire exchange and found his lips curling in amusement. A glance to Ori told him the young scribe had seen it too and no doubt he was already thinking of how he would record the moment.

The clan leader had a hair up his ass since he had first run into the young man at Gandalf's party. Though Dwalin knew how stubborn one could be when it came to their heart's choice. When he had first noticed his little Ori he had felt certain he had only gone too long without laying with someone. Over time though he had come to accept that his heart had made its choice.

He was thinking that it was time that Thorin's heart was making a choice. Perhaps it just needed a little help…

"Whut can I be doin' for you Thorin?"

The clan leader had been looking after where the younger man had gone and seemed startled for a moment before turning towards him. "I came by to see how the sword I ordered was coming…"

Ah, so he had come by to check on Oacrist. That made sense; it had been a pet project of theirs for awhile now. "It's commin fine lad. Just another week or so and she'll be done. Might be a bit longer though, that lad just bought a fine set of my wrist cuffs, might have to make some more."

That got the reaction he was waiting for. There was a small frown forming though it was hidden by the dark hair of his beard. "Did he now? I wasn't aware that he knew of any axe wielders…"

Dwalin chuckled "No not for him Lad. Said they were a courting gift." He could be devious when it suited him. And many thought that Balin had gotten the brains of the family. Ha.

He could see that already Thorin was trying to hide his reaction. He might not even know that he was fixed yet. But he would. Heart meets heart when eye meets eye was how the old saying went after all. Thorin was a stubborn one though; it might take him some time to come to terms with it.

He decided to twist the knife a little 'Fine set that, took a whole pouch of gold for me to part with them .I was almost set to use them myself. Whoever receives them would be hard pressed to refuse…"

It seemed that Thorin was not in the mood to hear anymore of this and curtly said he would be back to check on Orcrist in a few days. Ori was smilingly at him with a knowing look but he ignored it as he went back to work, though humming a faint tune as he did so.

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The encounter with Thorin had once again left him shaken but he tried to regain his joy at finding such a perfect gift for Legolas. As soon as he returned Legolas nearly shoved him into his private room to see the gift; just as he thought Legolas had cooed over their simple beauty and admired the strength of function.

Legolas was trailing one of his long archer fingers around a prominent stone as he said softly "If he doesn't accept these then there's no hope for me at all."

Bilbo feverantly hoped that whoever Legolas's chosen was they would cherish his heart and accept the courtship.

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Thank you for reading! More fun in the next chapter!