"Well," said Bilbo when the door was closed again. He honestly didn't know what to say next, but he didn't want their conversation to end so soon (he didn't know when they would meet again after all).

There was silence (very awkward if Bilbo did say so himself) in which neither of them did anything. Bilbo got so antsy that he began to play with his fingers and tap his toes. Surely there was something to be said at this time, but nothing would come to mind. Not even his go to small talks about the weather (which was understandable since he couldn't see the sky anyway). Bilbo bit his lip. He couldn't very well be blamed for his distraction, though. How could he? When his soulmate was right there. And so handsome at that. Anyone would be driven to distraction.

The dwarf finally sat on the chair Bilbo had been trying to put him in earlier and gestured Bilbo to do the same in the one to his right. The chair was a little big for the hobbit, but at least he didn't have to crawl into it like the chairs of the big folk. Still, his feet hung just shy of the floor and Bilbo had to stop himself multiple times from swinging them like a child.

"May I ask your name?" the dwarf asked after another moment of silence.

"Oh dear me!" Bilbo gasped. "Oh dear! Oh dear! How could I be so stupid. Oh dear. My father would be so ashamed of me. This is the second time I have absolutely failed at an introduction. I should have introduced myself as soon as I walked through the door. Anything later is discourteous. Well, at least it is for my people. I suppose I shouldn't assume what is courteous to the dwarves. Oh dear. I hope I haven't offended any of my friends."

"I'm sure they are not offended," the dwarf said. "Nor am I. I have also failed to introduce myself. I am Thorin, son of Thrain, son of…" his voice caught and his eyes shifted low. There was a gleam in his eyes almost like unshed tears. Bilbo nibbled on his lip. Perhaps he should say something, but he had already tallied up his rude behavior and to interrupt would only add to the score (which was far too high already thank you very much). "Thror." Thorin said finally. His voice barely more than a whisper (though to Bilbo's sensitive ears, it may have as well been spoken loud and clear).

"It is a pleasure," Bilbo said with as much cheer as he could muster. Anything to make Thorin stop showing such a sad look. He scurried down from his chair and swept himself low in a bow (though it was so awkward to him that he was sure that he would fall over any moment from it). "My name is Bilbo Baggins…Oh! Um… Son of Bungo Baggins." Hobbit culture did not require someone to introduce the name of their father, but it certainly seemed that dwarf culture did. He would have to get used to it. "Good evening. Well, at least I think it is evening. I can't quite tell actually."

"It is just after sunset," Thorin said.

Just then there was a knock on the door and then a dwarf stepped in without even waiting for a response. Bilbo thought that was a bit rude (what was the point of knocking if you weren't actually going to wait anyway). Perhaps dwarves cared less for such things. Or perhaps the only reason this was allowed was because this was the dwarf Thorin asked to bring a map. At least that's what Bilbo assumed based on the handful of rolled up papers he had in hand.

The new dwarf was an old fellow with grey hair and a round nose. He looked like he should have been a jolly dwarf, but his face was aged with grief and his eyes swollen from tears. Of course, Bilbo had realized that the dwarves had been through a lot, but none had yet actually shown any signs of it. It made Bilbo want to cry himself. He may not know exactly what these people had been through, but he at least had some idea what such a loss could do to a person. He probably didn't look much better after his parents had died (though he can't really remember, it was so long ago).

"Balin," Thorin said, inclining his head towards the newcomer.

Bilbo turned so he was fully facing the other dwarf. "Good evening," he said. He would show his soulmate that he did have some semblance of manners. "My name is Bilbo Baggins." (Of course he had already forgotten to introduce his father, but he could hardly be blamed for forgetting such a thing when he had only just learned it).

"I was told you were asking for these," Balin said, attempting some semblance of a smile and completely ignoring Bilbo (which the hobbit thought was quite rude actually until he remembered that Balin probably couldn't even see him, let alone hear him). He placed the papers down and rolled out one of them to show a map that ranged from the sea in the East all the way to the Iron Hills in the West. Immediately, Bilbo's interest was piqued. He had a great love for maps. In fact, if they were in the Shire, he could probably pull out a map that focused more closely on each of the important lands between here and there. With all the best paths too (at least according to his mother).

"Yes," Thorin said. "This will do nicely."

"Is there anything particular you were looking for?" asked Balin. "I could point it out to you if need be."

"No Balin," Thorin said. "This is all that I need."

"Are you sure you?" Balin asked. Bilbo got the feeling he was pressing rather a little more than he probably should.

"I'm fine Balin," Thorin said.

"If you're sure," Balin finally nodded, backing to the door with a short bow. "I'll just be down the hall if you should want me for anything else."

"Thank you Balin." And with that the door closed and the two of them were alone once more.

Bilbo took this moment to shift closer to the map and get a better look (and so what if he also got closer to Thorin in doing so, there was no need for you to suggest that was his actual intention). Immediately, he could trace his general path, though he wasn't exactly sure where the exact positioning was.

"They really can't see you," Thorin said, still staring at the dwarf. "I have to admit. I did not believe you at first. Why should I be so blessed?" This last part was said in a mumble and Bilbo knew that he wasn't meant to have heard it, but who would be able to hold their curiosity when faced with a statement such as that (quite a lot of people would if we're being honest, but Bilbo was known to be a curious one, so we can give him at least that). Besides, should it not be Bilbo who is commenting that he doesn't deserve to be so blessed by such a magnificent specimen as this handsome dwarf.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"What?" Thorin said.

"What do you mean by asking why you should be blessed."

Thorin thought for a moment, rubbing the scruff at his chin. Then he sighed. "I suppose you do deserve to know. There is rumor in our history of spirits visiting a blessed few. These spirits who called themselves Hobbits bring with them plenty and prosper until they disappear."

"Well," Bilbo said, "we hobbits certainly aren't spirits. But perhaps you have seen some of the ones who did the same as me. I'm so glad to hear that they made it. We've always wondered, you see."

Thorin hesitated, not knowing what to say for a moment before finally leaning over the map to change the subject. "I assume you took this path," Thorin said, tracing his finger over the line that went down from the Lonely Mountain and then split left through the forests of Greenwood and up towards the Grey Mountains. "It should have taken you near Moria."

Bilbo bit his lip hard. Now he realized why that Balin fellow had been so insistent on staying to help with the map. Thorin was trying so hard to look like he knew what he was talking about (and how cute he looked while doing it), but he was certainly not at all reading the map correctly. He was even pointing to a rive as though it was an actual path. And then to say that Moria was in the Grey Mountains (of course Bilbo wouldn't have known where Moria was either if this map hadn't clearly marked it with an arrow and all) when it was actually located much more South in the Misty Mountains.

"No," Bilbo said, pinching his leg to stop himself from giggling. "We decided to take the long way around the forest." Bilbo traced his finger around the edges of the trees until he'd passed under the southern end. Then he came back up again until he right on top of the word Moria pointed to (okay so he was being just a bit cheeky). "And this was the last place I know of us being."

Thorin's eyes widened when he saw just where Bilbo was pointing and he grabbed once more at Bilbo's shoulders. "You actually went straight to Moria?!" he asked, his eyes wide and his hands tight. "What in Mahal's name were you thinking? Did you want to get yourselves killed."

Bilbo yelped. He had certainly not expected such a reaction. And why should he be blamed for it anyway. "Well, how was I supposed to know that it would be dangerous! I didn't know there would be a-" All at once the memory of that place came crashing down on him. There was blood on his hands and a tang in his nose. He could see their faces. Their eyes, cold and bare. Someone was screaming far in the distance, crying out. Screaming in pain and fear. Asking someone, anyone, to come and save them. Anyone. But no one would come. No one would find him. No one would save him. Not now that his parents were dead. There was no one left. No one would come for him.

"Bilbo!" Thorin shook him and suddenly his wide eyes looked filled with fear. He pulled Thorin close to him, wrapping his arms around the small hobbit and rocking slightly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please stop screaming."