Imagine from thereandbackagainimagines; Imagine getting a note from a secret admirer in the Company to meet you at some place private. You assume it Bofur's, who has been winking at you, but it turns out to be Thorin. (I changed it to Balin. I know there aren't many people who think of Balin that way but just read this :) )

Before I say my final goodbye I have decided that I want to try and write some more imagines. Just to say thank you. I just wanted to say that so that it is clear :) ^^

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"I swear it happened Bilbo."

The hobbit simply shook his head. It was only the twentieth time you tried to convince him today. "(Y/N), I am quite sure that you are just seeing things. Bofur treats everyone that way" he explained. Bilbo bend down to gather some more firewood.

"Just listen to me. Bofur has been winking at me for weeks now. I don't care how nice a dwarf can be you don't go around winking at everybody." You followed Bilbo's lead and gathered more wood. 

The hobbit stopped to think about it. "I suppose that is a little weird" he admitted.

This was the opening you had been looking for. "You see. The first time he winked at me was when he gave me a plate of food. Why would he wink at me for that?" 

Bilbo walked around a bush. "Because he wants you to enjoy the food? That one isn't that weird" Bilbo said. He already felt less sure that the dwarf was acting strange. A few months of traveling with the company had taught him not to be surprised by anything the dwarves did.

You shrugged. "I suppose so. But then he winked at me again when he asked I was alright. You know, after almost getting roasted above a fire." Bilbo never talked about the trolls so you figured it was you who had to start that conversation.

He only hummed in response. "Oh look (y/n)! We can make hazelnut soup tonight!" he said excitedly. 

You followed his voice to find Bilbo putting down his collected wood to gather some hazelnuts. "I don't think Thorin will take to it kindly when he hears you were collecting hazelnuts instead of firewood" you said matter of factly.

Bilbo shrugged. "I don't think Thorin will mind after he has tasted my soup tonight" he said thoughtfully. He got up with his arms filled with hazelnuts. "But back to Bofur. You were saying?"

"Yes, I almost forgot. The winks." You gathered Bilbo's wood in your arms and followed him back to camp. "He also winks at me whenever I sit down around the fire. And just when I am about to fall asleep he winks at me too!"

Bilbo laughed loudly. "That doesn't sound suspicious. My mom used to do that too when I was younger" he said, dreaming off. "Tuck me in until I was sixteen."

You looked up in surprise. "Your mother tucked you in until you were sixteen?"

The hobbit stuck his nose in the air, his eyes closed. "My mother loved me. We were very close when she was still alive" he explained.

"Anyway, that may all be a good reason for his behaviour. But what would you say when you read this letter?" You dropped the wood on the ground, getting the letter from your pocket. Teasingly you waved it around in front of Bilbo's nose.

"If you want me to read it you should just give it to me" he said annoyed. Bilbo took the letter from you and read it;

Dear (y/n),

This may come unexpected but I want you to read this. 

Forgive me for the blunt words I am about to write down. How many times I wished I was brave enough to tell you this in person. 

We have shared in many a conversation, sharing things that I hope were just as special to you as they were to me. I can promise you that those words are save with me. Just like I trust mine are safe with you.

I am almost tempted to stop the letter here. Yet I know that if I will not speak my mind now that the time may never come. Let alone this feeling that pushes me to bring ink to paper.

Many a night I have wondered how I was going to tell you this. Now the only thing that comes to my mind is to tell you under the Willow tree. We had our first talk under there. The start of knowing one another like not many know us.

And while it may not be the same tree, I was hoping that it may be the start of a deeper relationship.

Will you join me there tonight?

I would like to tell you the words that have been pestering me since I was fortunate enough to meet you. Know that I will still think of you the same when you choose not to come. 

All I want to ask is that when you don't feel the same, we won't lose our friendship. You are very dear to me. 

My feelings are getting the better of me. For now this will be enough. I realize you need to hear these words come out of my mouth. And so you will if you join me tonight.

With kind and loving regards, 

Waiting for you beneath the Willow tree, 

(A name that is scratched out)

Bilbo whistles. 

Proudly you put the letter back where it came from. "You owe me an apology master hobbit. I am afraid that I was rigth and you were wrong" you said with a smirk.

"My dear (y/n), I think you have got it all wrong" Bilbo says with a chuckle. He continues to walk back to camp. Smiling when you rush after him.

"What do you mean? Did we read the same letter?"

"That we did. But what you don't know and what I do know is that it is not Bofur who has send you this letter" Bilbo said with a wink to tease you. When your cheeks heated up he felt like his goal was accomplished. "Ask yourself this; Is this a letter that Bofur would write?"

You had to give it to Bilbo, the letter wasn't as straight forward as you had expected from Bofur. If the letter would have come from him it would have been more blunt. "Who is it then?" you asked yourself more then Bilbo.

"I suggest you go to the Willow tree tonight to find out."

You nodded. That was the best idea.

"Master Baggins, next time you go to find firewood I suggest you don't let yourself get distracted by nuts." Thorin smiled affectionately at his little hobbit consort as he returned. 

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"Just breathe. It isn't that hard. It is just a tree. A tree can't kill you" you reminded yourself. You took a few deep breaths before you started pacing again. It had been half an hour since you left the safety of the company to go to the Willow tree.

The letter hadn't told you how late you were supposed to be meeting. And you still had no clue who could have send you the letter. Maybe it wasn't even a real love letter.

You stopped in your tracks. Of course, Fili and Kili had played a prank on you. That was the only other possibbility. 

Just as you were about to leave, someone cleared their throat. 

You spun around and found Balin. He was standing beneath the tree, his hands clasped behind his back. He was looking up at the stars. "A beautiful night, I would say" he said with a smile. If he sounded a bit nervous then you ignored it.

"Aye, that we have. I just wish it was a little warmer a night." You hugged yourself. Now that you mentioned it, it was quite cold.

Something soft was draped over your shoulders.

"Balin I didn't mean you had to give me your coat" you said, already trying to get it out. Dwarven fabric was quite rough and hard to take off.

The old dwarf put his hands up in the air. "It is alright (y/n), you can have it for now. Us dwarves are less affected by the weather than other races. Just keep it for as long as you need." A small blush laid on his cheeks.

It was probably nothing. Maybe he was feeling more cold then he liked to admit to you. And the warmth was quite welcome. "Did you come here to get some fresh air?" you asked to keep the conversation going.

Balin smiled kindly. "Some fresh air is always welcome." He kept quiet for a few minutes before speaking again. "I am glad you came (y/n). This means that you have found my letter?" He smiles warmly at you.

Your mouth drops open. When you realize that you are staring at him awkwardly, you quickly shut your mouth closed. Did he send you the letter? That couldn't possibly be... There were so many males in the company and he was the one that had his eye on you?

Or did someone find your dairy? The page where you had written your names together with small hearts. Maybe they had even found the pages where you fantasized about Balin telling you that he loved you. 

"I am sorry if you expected someone else here lass. Maybe it was just an old fool's dream that someone as beautiful and young as you would fall for me." He smiled but you could see the pain in his eyes. "If it is alright with you we can just forget about this an-"

"No." The word left your lips before you even knew it was there.

The only sound that could be heard was that of chatter coming from the company. Somewhere a wolf, or maybe a warg, was howling. And the wind was softly blowing through the trees.

Beneath the Willow tree, it was silent. 

Two hearts were trying to decide who should speak first. Who would make the first move and possibly get hurt. Was either one of them willing to take the risk?

"I mean..." You took a deep breath. 

Balin smiled at you, nodding for you to continue.

"What I am trying to say is that I was hoping it came from you. I didn't think it came from you because there is absolutely no reason why you would feel for me that way. Our friendship is really dear to me. There is no way that I want to mess with that in any way. 

So when you wrote me that letter I thought of everyone but you. Simply because I never thought we liked on another. In that way. I think I already said that. You do understand what I mean, right? 

There have been so many nights where I wondered if it was all just in my head. And now that you are here I can't believe that you actually do feel the same. But if someone set you up to this then you shouldn't feel bad about it. It is really nothing. Just a small crush. I think... Should I stop my rant?"

You looked at him with pleading eyes. On one hand you wanted him to silence you but on the other hand you felt like you hadn't made yourself clear.

What he did next was something you hadn't expected from him.

Without saying he word he came a few steps closer. Your breathing became heavier as he neared you. 

His hands searched for yours to hold, to test if this was what you truly wanted. As his hands enveloped your own he could feel that you were trembling. The cold was not the reason anymore.

"I was hoping that you would feel the same, my dear One. May I kiss you to show you how I feel?" His eyes were sparkling with hidden feelings, ready to be released.

You nodded.

That was the only sign he needed. Slowly his lips came forward until they finally kissed you. 

He was waiting for you to take the lead, to show him what you wanted. Yet there was also the strength of a dwarven male that would protect you against anything that would come your way. At the same time you felt protected and free to explore.

Fireflies appeared from the bushes, ready to start their dance of the night. They circled around you in the most beautiful moment of your life.

The clearing you where you were standing lit up by the lights of the bugs around you. It created enchanting shadows all around you. 

Who could ask for a better kiss than that?