Can't Say We're In Love

New caravans arrived in Erebor nearly daily, a strong trade route was essential to survival, and Erebor's gates had been open for over ten years now without conflict. When Garham saw the King's entourage in the market and the small little halfling holding his hand beside him, whom he looked upon so fondly with a gentle smile and great affection, he wondered if perhaps they were together. It certainly seemed so, to be so tactile in public was a rather blatant statement. Strange a match though it was, this was Erebor, not the Iron Hills, perhaps such things were allowed outside of the bedroom here, and the smiles on their faces showed just how much they cared for each other. But right then a petite little dwarf scribe came up and took the king's arm, and Thorin released the hobbit to turn and kiss the scribe fully for all to see.

The halfling didn't seem put out, in fact he just held to the arm of the dwarf on his other side, who wore a very floppy hat that matched absolutely nothing of the rest of the finery he wore. And that dwarf had no qualms about kissing the halfling, or pinching his bottom for good measure. Perhaps the hobbit and king weren't together after all... unless of course, they were in an open marriage.

The End.