"Is this really necessary?" Bilbo growled and Bard rubbed more fish blood into his neck, "This feels disgusting."

"That's cause it is." Fili moaned, looking very green in the face.

"Well, you can change back and hide in those barrels with your Dwarf friends and be covered in fish, naked and freezing. Or, you can pretend to be dead it's your choice." Bard replied with a sly smile.

"Nobody is going to believe you bought down Bilbo on your own." Thorin argued, "Especially not with a single arrow."

Bilbo felt pride swell at the compliment, glad wolves couldn't blush.

"You don't know how good I am with a bow." Bard argued with a cocky smile. "Besides, it's only until we get to my house in Lake Town. I'll have some men help me haul you up into my living room and once their gone you can change and wash. Now lie down and be dead."

Bilbo growled but did as he was told. Trying to lie a little awkwardly, like he'd been hauled into the boat. This was going to be fun…

-oOo-

"Blimey! I knew Dire Wolves were big but this thing is 'uge!"

It seemed like ever since they arrived at Lake Town that was all Bilbo heard. It was getting very hard to lie still and breath shallowly with all these people constantly poking him. The Dwarves were lucky, they'd gotten out of their barrels some time ago and gone off somewhere with Bard's son. Now he was alone as several men were pulling him up by his fur and lifting him onto a stretcher to carry to Bard's house.

"Careful with him!" Bard yelled, "Don't ruin his fur, I'll hardly get a good price for a rug if half of its mattered and ripped."

Bilbo resisted the urge to growl. He felt ill and exhausted and all he really wanted to do was fall asleep. Not doing so while staying still with his eyes closed was proving to be a battle. Finally, after what seemed like an age, he was dropped roughly onto the floor of a warm room and the other men shuffled out.

"How did you kill that thing, Da?" A soft voice asked.

"He didn't." Bilbo replied for him, getting up and stretching. "You couldn't have been more gentle? I'll be bruised for an age after that."

There was a small commotion after that in which Bard explained to his daughters what was going on and his son bought the Dwarves up through the toilet, which Bilbo found endlessly amusing.

Finally, Oin got to treating Kili's wound, which was festering badly, Bilbo could smell it for where he lay in front of the fire with Bard's youngest daughter asleep against his side. There was more talk then, something about Kingsfoil and pigs but Bilbo found himself drifting off and before he knew it, he was asleep.

-oOo-

Beorn lifted his snout to the sky. The scent of Orc had long drifted away from his domain and usually, that would leave him content but instead, now it made him worry. The Orcs had passed on yes, but they were in all likelihood hunting his new pack mate. He hoped the wolf was safe and that his Dwarves were treating him right. He didn't sense a warrior inside Bilbo, he was too gentle a soul, he would not do well in war.

And war was most definitely coming.

Frustrated, he swiped a great paw against one of his trees, causing deep gashes that wept sap and only fuelled his worry.

Perhaps…

Perhaps he should go and see what all this Lonely Mountain fuss was really about.

-oOo-

It had not been a pleasant night. Kili's temperature had risen but thanks to Oin and his quick treatments he wasn't in danger. But that didn't mean he comfortable. Oin, Fili and Thorin had taken it in turns each hour making a thick paste from the kingsfoil and rubbing it into the wound before washing it off with hot water and starting again. Each time the paste was removed black skin and pus followed but finally, as the sun began to rise the wound began to look clean. Still deep and sore, but no longer poisoned.

"It's a good thing we got to it when we did or you'd have had a much worse time of it boy." Oin grumbled.

"Don't tell Bilbo it was bad." Kili mumbled sleepily, "It was meant for him, he feels guilty…"

The wolf had fallen asleep swiftly after their arrival, not even waking when Bard's eldest daughter went about cleaning the blood from his fur and dressing his cut ankle. Nobody dared to disturb him.

"We rest today." Thorin announced, "Tonight we find weapons and a boat out of this city."

Suddenly the door banged open and Bard came running in. At first Thorin though he'd forgotten something, since he'd only left to go fishing a few minutes before but the worried look on the man's face suggested otherwise.

"We have a problem." He spoke up; slamming the door closed with a loud bang which startled Bilbo awake.

"The Master of Lake Town wants a rug made from the 'dire wolf' I slew yesterday."

Bilbo rumbled and laid his head back between his forepaws.

"Just say no." Thorin argued, "A man is entitled to the animals he hunts."

"Not here." Bard muttered, "The Master takes any and all he wants, if you don't willingly give it, he sends men to take it. We can't have his men come here and find all of you. We'll all hang."

The man cursed under his breath.

"I shouldn't have become involved in this…"

"Well we can't sneak out of here now!" Fili cried, "Kili is still recovering and its broad daylight outside! We'd be spotted for sure."

The Dwarves began frantically whispering amongst themselves trying to make a plan.

"Bilbo, change." Thorin ordered, "I'm sure Bard's son can lend you something to wear but right now this form will only cause more trouble."

Thorin went back to talking with Dwalin for a moment before he realised his order had fallen on deaf ears.

Bilbo stayed exactly where he was, with his head in his forepaws staring straight ahead, ears flicked back flat against his skull. Thorin was no trainer, but he did know that was a sign or irritation at the very least, if not outright anger.

"This is no time for moodiness." Thorin argued with a little more force, "I know you are not used to being woken but that is no reason to be childish. Change back!"

Bilbo's eyes flicked to Thorin. He growled.

It was a warning growl, no question but a growl none the less. By now everybody had stopped and were watching nervously. Thorin Oakensheild was not one to be ignored, even by a skin changer. The Dwarf's eyes narrowed and he took a step forward to stand over the wolf and ask again but Bilbo rose to meet him, growling deeply but still not speaking.

"Did Bard's daughter do something to him?" Kili whispered, "This isn't like him at all."

"If you have a problem Mr. Baggins, I suggest you speak up about it." Thorin spoke evenly.

Bilbo barred his teeth for a few moments before taking a step back and a deep breath.

"Sorry."

The word came out pained, like Bilbo really had to think about how to form the sounds, which immediately set of warning bells. Then, much to their relief, he changed, a Hobbit was before them once more.

Bilbo gave a sigh of relief and quickly changed into the clothes provided by Bard's son. It wasn't hard to miss the red tinge his face had taken on.

"I'm sorry Thorin." He spoke up sheepishly looking ashamed, "Wolves don't cope well with sickness. They can't sweat out a fever, so the heat makes my head muddled in that form. Well, you know what they say, never approach a sick or wounded animal, they tend to lash out…"

"Great, just what I need another sic member." Oin grumbled, as he roughly looked Bilbo over.

"So, we've got a recovering Dwarf, a sick skinchanger and a platoon of men on our tail." Gloin muttered, "So far our time here is going swimmingly."

Finally, the writers block is gone! Thank you so much for all your suggestions!