Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cold. The last thing Thorin remembered was being terribly cold. the coldest he’d every been in his life, damp from sweat and blood but he didn’t have the deep, bone raddling ache from battle anymore and in the absence of pain the only thing still tethering him to life were the irrefutable facts he could tell himself; azog was dead, the sky was grey and thorin was Cold. and Bilbo. Bilbo was there, he was holding onto a hand thorin couldn’t feel anymore and was saying things he couldn’t hear and was smiling at him and even though he couldn’t feel it, he knew Bilbo was warm. He was alive, bright eyes and hair shinning in the misty light breaking through the clouds and only a little dirty and bloody but undeniably safe and irrefutably warm.
warm and comforting, as thorin had come to know him, and in that comfort, thorin faded and the last thing he registered was the absence of warmth and cold, and everything else as the world went black.

So it was a bit of a shock when the very next thing he registered was burning flames tearing across every inch of skin on his body. Every shallow breath felt like swallowing a block of frozen ice only for it to shatter and impale him from the inside out. it was with unnatural strength that he was able to open his eyes and see the world around him again. not the immaculate halls of waiting as he’d assumed they’d be, but the crumbling remains of green stone and dwarven mason work. Erabor. he was sure of it, and surely this was punishment for the first and last unfortunate days of his rein as king under the mountain. Mahal had seen fit to let him spend his eternity in the reminder of his loss and failings and live his afterlife in grueling pain for the suffering his madness wrought. it was in this brooding that Dain shoved his bushy face straight into thorins, noses so close his eyes would have crossed if not for the pain of existing as his cousin stated plainly “mahal’s great balls boy! Never have I been so grateful to see your scowling mug! leave it to you to only look happy in death!” Dain moved to lift said half alive dwarf from where he lay and knock their heads together, and surely would have if not for the vicious roar promising to send dain into the halls of their maker so he could kiss mahal's balls himself.
A phase that was a particular favorite of dwalin’s
and with Oin coming into view and shoving his cousin away Thorin concluded that he was in fact alive and being cared for just within the front gates of Erabor.

Needless to say thorin had questions, but not the strength in his body to twitch his pinky without a bright hot shock of pain reverberating throughout his being. that twitch was evidently what oin had been looking for and taking pity on thorin, quickly started to raddle off precise information, as only a medic could. “Its alright now, the battles done, the eagles brought you down from raven hill, the boys are already here. that elf lass was able to help a fair bit, so kili yet lives, as does fili but itll be some time before we know more. Dain’s got us covered for food and supplies. nothing for you to do now even if you could move so best not to try.” he said all this as practiced hands poured a fowl smelling liquid into a chipped bowl and encouraged thorin to drink, the world going pleasantly fuzzy and numb before thorin could even think to protest being sent back into the dark. when next he woke, and he did not know if it was minutes or days, he was relived to feel deep bruising aches as apposed to the hell fire that last engulfed him. he found his breath came slightly easier, and the twitch of his pinky was able to curl completely with the rest of his fingers into a fist, if a very weak one. thorin tested his limits further by turning his head to the side and was rewarded with a sight that sent a sob throbbing up his chest and into his throat.
there, to the right of him laid out on tattered sheets over thin straw, were fili and kili. both dirty, limbs lax and eyes closed, thorin watched for what felt like an eternity before he was able to see the rise and fall of one chest, then the other, breaths jagged and too short but breaths all the same. he could here a wheeze he suspected was from fili but it pained him greater then any physical wound to think on it, knowing he had almost lost them. he thanked his maker silently, then turned to take stalk of the room. it was dark save for a few candles, but he recognized as the old guard barracks in the low levels, close to the forges and not far from the gate. He could also see dwalin stuck up against the wall, arms crossed and watching him with a fierce scowl, but eyebrows drawn together tight in worry. “took you long enough” dwalin huffed, and every the solider, got straight to the point “you dying?” thorin gave what little shake of his head he could and dwalin returned it with a nod. “good” he said as he pushed off the wall and lumbered over to thorin “Don’t.” and that was the end of that. Dwalin cast a look towards the boys, assessing their breathing much as thorin had before turning and making for the door. with a rush of wakefulness thorin jolted as if to follow before remembering his still very half alive state but was able to rasp out quietly “bi...bil..bo...where” was all he could muster. for a moment it seemed dwalin hadn’t heard him, though as he put his hand on the door his shoulders tensed and half turned back toward thorin. it was a long moment before dwalin softly barked “rest.” and quietly left the room. dwalin doing anything softly or quietly was alarming and did not encourage thorin to rest, so as he lay in his makeshift bed of straw and tattered blankets, he thought of all that happened, all that went wrong and many more things that may have gone wrong when he blacked out until someone softly called “uh..uncle?” and with little swiftness thorin managed to turn his head, until his wary old blue eyes locked with young ones. kili had better luck turning his head, and thorin was only a little jealous when he lifted it until a hiss of pain brought kili back down, but he still managed to speak “so, not dead then?” Thorin cleared his throat, wincing and simply said “not yet.” that gained a twitch from his youngest nephews mouth before he coughed roughly and groaned. and while it was clear his nephew was in pain, the crushing weight on thorins shoulder softened slightly, but did not leave him. Thorin knew that weight may never leave him. A flash of fili tumbling down a mountain side struck behind thorins eyes, and he was suddenly very tired and seeing kili’s eyes again closed, thorin thought he might drift off too. as he closed his eyes and felt his body start to float he heard kilis voice once again, lazy with sleep “where’s taurel?” and though thorin knew he would be unconscious soon, he knew he would never know rest or peace again until he actually died.

Oin kept them sequestered for almost a week before any real changes occurred in their healing, plying all three with ointments and medicines and thin broth. Kili was the least injured but was unwilling to leave his uncle or brother until fili awoke. Thorin was healing steadily, aided by elven magic but worry kept his focus as well until fili on the third day, opened his eyes and when he did, kili had to stifle a sob when his brother called out to him. Oin was on fili at once, poking and prodding gently when, with a very solemn expression , fili looked at thorin and sadly rasped “I cant feel my legs” and thorin tasted bile rising in his throat. But oin, the practiced healer, continued his examination.

And lightly stabbed the boy in the leg with a needle.

Fili jolted and cursed and oin proclaimed he would be fine, so thorin weak as he was, had all but crawled to the boys and gripped them as tight as he could, heads pressed together as he whispered to them quietly. And if oin saw tears glisten in his patients eyes, he knew they came from relief instead of pain, and did not intervene. For now they were cleaned up and healing , sure they would live.

Though after a few days, that surety waned.

Kili endlessly spoke of the elf lasses well timed rescue, her intervention with borg, how she had stayed the beast from impaling kili by means of elven rope around his arm and neck, leaving kili to behead the creature. From there they made their way down to fili. He was breathing, but barely and she had spent great strength healing him before the eagles arrived to bare them down to the gates of the lonely mountain. He knew nothing until he awoke in this room but tales of the elf were near limitless. Details of her great deeds and beauty (ugh) were punctuated by the thunk thunk thunk of fili constantly throwing sharp bits of wood or oins instruments at an invisible target on the wall (“I need to re-hone my skills uncle, I don’t want to risk loosing feeling in my hands or my ow! “Felt that didn’t you fee?”) they were all desperate for visitors. By the eighth day according to oin, When all three could sit up in bed and stay awake for with only little winces, oin deemed them fit enough and thorin braced for the bombardment of the entire company at once.
But it didn’t come.
Instead when they shuffled in it was quietly, with little pats and gentle smiles, bearing gifts of food and warm blankets.
But all bets were off when kili and fili caught sight of bifur and his axeless forehead. the older dwarf recovered quickly and spoke, perfectly in westron “its certainly a weight off my shoulders, and my head!” and all was silent before the boys groaned and jeered. When they settled, thorin off handedly asked, a little quirk playing on his lips, “certainly master Baggins will be glad to have an ally in quick wit, now that he can understand you.” And the silence that overtook the room this time was deafening. Thorin knew he had never been the best at light conversation, and sure awkward silence was something he was used to. But he had thought the jab light enough to at least elicit a polite chuckle. His nephews at least looked at him with fond exasperation and perhaps relief? but bifur had tensed like thorin had insulted his mothers beard. He made to say something before gloin cut in ‘aye! Bifurs been nigh insufferable, I wrote to my mûla about it, sent a raven out just as soon as it nested back in the rookery, now that bird was quite put upon you see! But the wind is growing fierce and I wanted to assure her we were all alive before any rumors got goin! Terrible worrier my wife is, as you well remember! Gimli gets that from her I’m afri-“ “so you are not angry with him then?” bifur cut to the chase. both gloin and thorin flinched back as if slapped. Yes, he supposed, the last time he had spoken to master Baggins in front of his kin…
Well, it had not been the friendliest conversation.
It was hard to remember all that was said as his brain had been muddled with fear and rage and gold, Gold beyond measu- but he quickly cut that thought off with a memory. A sweet, sad one but much more clear. Not of gold, but of bronze, curly hair, and eyes, bright with unshed silver tears, holding his icy hand as he took what almost was his last breath.
I am so..so sorry…for leading you into…such peril
I was grateful to share in all your perils
He had not heard the words at the time, ears still ringing from battle, but in his heart he knew them to be true.
And that memory was warm, but it was also only his, as none other then the two souls on ravel hill had experienced it. So thorin shook himself and squared his shoulder, addressing everyone in the room who waited on baited breath. “I am not angry with him” thorin confirmed “he was with me, after azog...we made amends” Then a cold shot went through his spine “he came down from the hill, didn’t he? He is well is he not?” was he absent because he doubted his welcome, or had the company sought to protect him? Had the eagles not brought him down as well?
Did he even know thorin and the boys were alive?
The lack of eye contact from his company was not encouraging and thorin could not voice these worries. But after a moment gloin took pity on him.
“he’s…fine,” gloin said hesitantly “and dwalin mentioned you had…asked after Him when you woke but…” and bofur took over “see the thing is that bilbo isn’t in the mountain right now, he’s in dale” thorin puzzled at that, but did not let fear grip him tightly. If bilbo was well enough to leave the mountain, perhaps he was merely brokering for supplies with the men folk or trying to assure bard that the situation had changed “the king isn’t crazy anymore, and we’d all like to put this behind us so we don’t have to kill each other before the winter has a chance too. Here’s some gold” it was honestly terrifying how easily thorin could picture that in his minds eye. And it would not be the first time the burglar attempted to broker peace while thorin was…incapacitated. “send word to dale that I am receiving visitors then, I would speak with him.” I would thank him, Apologize again perhaps. I would make sure he was well and share a laugh and hold him close and give him lordship here so he may stay and send for his armchair and books- “if he be amicable” thorin finished, in both his speech and thought, but neither gloin nor bofur nor anyone else made to move. Balin instead took the lead “that’s easier said then done lad- my king. Dain met bilbo at the gates and demanded the arkenstone, but he did not have it” and kili chimed in “of course he didn’t have it, he gave it to bard, we saw that much from…well we knew that on the ramparts” and thorin tried not to wince, the shame of his actions still cutting deep. Balin nodded and continued “we arent sure who has it, or if it was lost during the battle, for now with so many dead and injured we’ve reached a tentative truce; dain wont attack them but he cant treat with them, as he is not king here” and his eyes flicked to thorin “without word from the king, nothing can change, Bilbo’s banishment was witnessed by all, and if you would continue your campaign for war…dain will send whoever is yet able to fight in defense of erabor.” And here all eyes were sad and pleading, and trained on thorin. Now he could not meet their eyes, but spoke with any authority he yet geld “I would be tour king, if you would have me, but know that I will not seek war. Or vengance, the destruction we face, I brought upon us and I would let no other stand for my crimes” he met balins gaze, pleadingly “tell dain this: master Baggins is not banished, he is Khuzdbâha and deserves to be among us…should he wish it. I would make peace with the men” and balin cleared his throat when thorin took a long pause “…and the elves.” Balin nodded but added warily “and the arkenstone?” and thorin felt bile in his throat, if he never saw that cursed gem again it would be too soon. He was not his grandfather, would not slip tot be ruled by greed , he would not let all they had overcome be defined by one singular trinket. “it matters not, the king that prized that jewel over his kin is dead. Tell all and a sundry a new king will take his place, and lead under this mountain with a clear head and a just heart” thorin mutter under his breath “and if they wont follow me without it, they can all sod off.” And they all cheered, Balin laughed for the first time, watery but joyful “aye! We’ll see it done” and began to dole out the necessary responsibilities. dwalin stepped forward and kneeled to thorin “I'll handle dain, I tried to tell him the burglar came to us and warned of the orcs trick, but he would here of it from none but you, so expect a visit” and to oin he said “or another patient if he tries to write me off again” and thorin thanked him. Ori and bofur volunteered to go to dale and relay the news to bard “it’ll be faster then sending a raven, and only two of us will show we aren’t their to attack, plus were bilbos favorites” and fili and kili soundly protested, for themselves and on their uncles behalf “with respect my princes; hush. But we’ll send your love!” and kili shouted for them to bring back taurel As well. stating that as prince under the mountain he would welcome her and then some. Fili pinched his brother and shushed him as the others filtered out. Gloin had evidently sent a raven to his wife in the blue mountains when first the ravens returned and he was quick to go and draft another letter to his wife, with the hope they would deliver it before the winter grounded them. Balin lingered for only a moment, patting the boys and king, at a loss for words but pride and relief spinning bright in his eyes. The emotions weighed heavy on the king and princes as well, and as they hunkered down to wait, they drifted off to dream of better things; the hope of renewed alliances, friendships and for thorin hopefully, more.

The first thing he woke to unfortunately, was his cousin dain throwing open the door and hollering loud enough to shake the mountain. Which was not the more thorin had been hoping for.
“Bring back the traitor is it?! Oh aye, why not send for the elf king to give me a lap dance while were at it?!” and thorin groaned deeply into his pillow.
“he’s one of us dain” kili having woken from the noise came swiftly to their burglars defense “ the orcs were on us and we didn’t kno-“
“oh aye, I’ve ‘erd it already! Great noble thing the wee Halfling did! ‘oh he’s a man o are company, oh ‘e’ protected the king from the bird turd orc an saved us wit barrels’ mighty me! ‘is hammer must be as large as ‘is feet the way you lot are linin up an bendin over for- “
“enough” thorin roared though his face was still smashed into his pillow so perhaps it was not all that commanding. He shifted around and sat up to face his cousin with some dignity. “I thank you for your aid cousin, and your stewardship, but know this; our burglar is no traitor, he is welcomed under this mountain of which I am king and you are not.” He added petulantly, “ if you will hear me, though I do not hold the kings jewel, know that master Baggins quick intervention preserved the lives of myself and my sister sons” with a glare he added “and his presence was instrumental in winning the mountain in the first place, if the wyrm rotting in the lake is anything to go by. He is brave, loyal to a fault and every bit a warrior as the rest of us. I would see him hailed and rewarded thusly.”
“aye, as I’ve said I heard this already, his good deeds out way the worst of it, and suddenly the stones not worth the fight. never cared much for that gaudy stone anyway but it’s the principle you know, the mountains what’s worth holding onto” though dain eyed his cousin with a bushy, raised brow “and the Halflings hammer , I suppose”

“Enough”

“fine then, balin already sent the boys to collect him, as ordered my king. Just had to come up ‘ere and buss you’re stones a bit about it.” With that dain iron foot smacked thorin on his fleshy, holey one and pulled up a chair at thorins bed side. He pointed a thick finger at kili “ Id follow you if you plucked a pebble from the brook and named it the kings jewel, but I don want ta ‘ere a single word bout no pointy eared fairy archer. I don care how she sparkles or shimmers or what ‘ave you; nothin taller then a dwarf is getting in this mountain without a fight.”
Kili puffed up like a wet, angry cat but thorin stayed him “the she elf acted well, and she has my thanks, we will discuss it further when we are out of this forsaken room.”
Kili huffed “fine” and just when thorin thought he’d put out that fire, his nephew blew on the embers “but she is a great healer and fili still cant feel his toes” said brother was able to kick the younger one off his own straw bedding though, and that didn’t really help the argument, so dain and thorin ignored him. But dain muttered anyway “I doubt the steel spine is much in need of further healing, in fact why are ye sorry bunch still dawdling about in yer sickbeds? Wee princes and a king for not yet a fortnight and already yer arses grow soft as yer heads.” In protest, thorin decided to test his renewing strength by reaching down and upending the chair his cousin sat on, sending the ginger dwarf tumbling to the floor, laughin all the way. His nephews cheered and went to tackle the prone dwarf, but fili stumbled and dropped on kili before they made it a foot from their beds, while with a wince thorin remembered his bandaged chest, covering a multitude of stitches, having forgotten them under the fresh tunic dori had brought him. All in all they made a sorry looking bunch when oin walked in. He chided all of them “for pities sake! I trying to usurp the crown before its even on his head, dain? They are still all of them not fit to walk yet, much less rumble. Leave if all your going to do is wreck my patients” the boys grumbled at being called invalids but thorin no less agreed, and wiggled his fingers at dain as he got up to leave. Not one to go down quietly though, dain threw over his shoulder “aye, off with me then, Ill see to the state of your mountain while you focus on gettin wrecked by yer hafling” and thorin was very proud of fili, when he sent a knitting needle hed nicked from ori whizzing past his head and landing it in the door jab not two inches from dains.
But thorin knew better then to turn and tell his nephew as much, because he could feel a prickle on the back of his neck, knowing the boys had taken dains goading as an opportunity to needle him. And the boys were never known to let such An opportunity pass them by. The smugness that leaked from his nephews voices was palpable. “dain has a point oin, we should really be up and about when bilbo gets here, I’m sure uncle would like to greet the brave warrior upstanding”
“Yeah it would do us good, uncle especially will need to stretch a bit”
“get the blood pumping as it were”
“Hobbits you know, so mannerly, wouldn’t be polite if uncle just dropped to his knees while trying to reward him thusly”
“honestly kee, what sort of reward would that be?”
“Not the kind I’d want to witness, fee, so it would be best oin, if we could leave the room!”
“Mahal help me” thorin started, cheeks aflame “silence yourselves or I will name a raven my heir and send you both to live with the goblins.” They chuckled but went quiet and thoughtful, pleased to see some tension leave their uncle, but still restless. Fili spoke first “we do need to get out of here, I can wager a guess at that steel spine jab, but we don’t want rumors about us being bedridden getting to our enemies” Thorin went to assure his nephew “most of our enemies lay dead or with their own great losses, we set upon this quest in secret remember, and apart from dain, the other clans did not even know we had made it here” Thorin thought of gloin and his letter to his wife “at most and with any luck, only our closest kin will know we are alive and that the mountain is ours, but no other word will travel past mirkwood until February at the earliest.” Thorin patted his fur blanket and started to compose a list of tasks for himself and the boys to see to as soon as they were out of this room. They had food, the forges were lit and it could be assumed those that were able were already working on repairing and fortifying whatever they could. Sorting the treasury would be a great undertaking. In truth he didn’t want to think about the gold other then sending it off in trade and to fufill his oath to the men. He would probably have no choice but to give thrandule the white gems of lagasthel now and was surprised the elven king was not banging at his door right now. As thorin mulled it all over there was a tentative knock at the door, that oin answered. Bofur strode in looking very pleased while ori hesitated at the door. Bofor exclaimed with his usual enthusiasm “well hello my lieges! Bless me but you are a sight for sore eyes!” thorin was glad to see them both, but couldn’t help poking his head around bofurs frame to get a look at the door, expecting bilbo to be standing with ori. As much as his nephews teased him, thorin was im fact not happy with the notion of greeting the hobbit before he’d had a chance to stand, change his tunic or brush his hair. He felt entirely grubby and while he knew bilbo had seen worse it still irked his pride. When he looked to see ori standing alone, thorin addressed both dwarves “was your missuon successful ?”
“Aye! Had no trouble getting to dale at all and bard met us without weapons. Always liked that bowmen me. And no elves! He said thrandule quite them as soon as the last elf was collected. He couldn’t speak for thrandule o course but he agreed to meet with you in the valley, neutral ground, as soon as your able.”
“Good?”
“Yes”
“…”
“…”
“And master Baggins is well then?”
“aye bilbos well as to be expected I suppose, your highness ”
“dains not giving him trouble?”
“certainly not, your grace”
“are the elf and wizard with him?”
“I’d expect so my lord”
“…”
“…”
“bofor”
“yes, your majesty?”
“is bilbo in the mountain?”
“…well, here’s the thing” and thorin silenced him with a look before he lost what temper he had left. Instead thorin turned to the young scribe, still standing in the doorway, eyes downcast and fidgeting with his sleeves.
“Ori?”
“bard let them all into dale after dain sent them away, and offered to shelter them through the winter…but gandalf asked for a boat to ferry them across the lake. Beorn and the lady elf went with them, they wanted to leave before the lake froze” he held up a piece of paper “he left a note” and thorin was quick to gesture ori bring it to him, heart thudding loudly in his chest. His hands shook only slightly, and had to squint to read the hastily written words.

I’m off then. An absolute mess this has turned out to be but I’m sure we’ll all be glad to see it over and done with. I will handle things as I see fit from here, I’m sure you understand. No need to write.

-Bilbo Baggins.

Thorin stared at the page, then flipped it over to see if more was on the back and found nothing. After a long moment he took a deep breath and handed the letter back to ori. “well…” and couldn’t think of a reply. It really wasn’t very much to work with.
But bofur, from his time reading it in dale up until the moment they walked into the room, had come up with plenty of ways to spin the very few words master Baggins had left them with. “it makes sense honestly, telling us not to write, we don’t know if he’s staying with beorn or heading for the shire or if he’ll even make it. I mean of course he’ll make it but it’ll be months before he’d be able to write back! I don’t care what gloin says, that raven he sent his wife is probably nested in an alcove somewhere in the mountain. And! And he says he’s ‘handling things from here’ so surely he’s got a plan to return! Always comes back for us that one probably just went back for the doilies and such!” bofur was serious in a way thorin had never seen before as he said “he always comes back. He didn’t leave us. At least not permanently, not without saying goodbye. point is there are three facts in life: the sky is blue, my left bollocks larger then the right one and bilbo baggins would never abandon his company. He’ll be back.”

And thorin and his nephews nodded absently. While they couldn’t speak to the size differential of bofurs bollocks, they knew he was right on the other points.

At least they hoped.

Chapter Text

After that, the days blurred together. Thorin and his nephews where freed from the care of oins sick room. It had been around two months since they had woken and quickly set to work. Dwarves, as everyone knows, are very skilled masons and architects, so when thorin ventured from the lower halls, he should not have been surprised to see clean and refurbished walk ways and halls. Dains men had been busy, with the promis of going home with a healthy compensation from the treasury. While thorin had itched in his sickbed to get his hands on metal and anvil and rebuild his home from the ground up, he found and was often reminded by balin that as king, the most important tasks for him would be of a more political nature. Balin led thorin to the royal offices of the king, smaug up until their waking him, had kept to the lower levels, and when bofurs team had reinforced the supporting structures and cleared debris, it was a good omen to see the royal wing and guild halls had been virtually untouched, though Thorin was less pleased at the notion of leaving the infirmary only to ant his arse behind a desk. But he did somewhat happily sit on a war ram, as He rode out to meet with bard alone in the valley between erabor and dale, against his kins advisement. but the bargeman proved true once more, and they spoke in a way thorin much appreciated.

Blunt and with little fan fare.

“I don’t have the arkenstone” bard said blandly and thorin nodded “we have the matter of payment for the destruction of lake town to discuss. I once promised your people enough to rebuild their homes ten times over, and now we must add dale to the equation.” But bard shook his head “gold won't do much to keep us warm through the winter, and it won't keep our bellies full if we have no one to trade with, what can you offer on those terms?” Thorin was quick to answer “the aid of my kin was not limited to soldiers; they brought supplies enough to sustain us well into summer, we can offer enough to see us all through spring, as well as coal to light your fires, the dragon did us one good service in relighting our forges.” But bard interrupted “and another by snuffing his own” and if they had been on better terms, perhaps thorin would have chuckled. The king continued “we will have peace if the offer still stands, and see the winter through together. When the snow clears dale will be compensated as many times over as lake town.” And here bard seemed contemplative “perhaps you should stay your generosity o king, lest it be taken advantage of. I think we have all seen enough of what greed can do, and I will not have it take root in either town. Pay what we need for lake town and dale, but no more, and we shall move forward from these dark days best we can.” And thorin begrudgingly nodded. It would take years if not the lifetimes of their heirs to rebuilt the trust between their peoples, but this was as good a start as any, and thorin was grateful for the opportunity.

I am grateful to share in all your perils

Thorin bid goodbye to bard, now lord of dale, and proceeded to plant his arse behind a desk for the good of his people. Over the next few months things in the mountain progressed from rebuilding to ready and waiting. Balin, dain, dwalin and gloin were overseeing the clean up and organization of the treasury, and thorin was grateful once more to hear nothing of obsession or greed from those that worked there. It seemed for all that the gold was not cursed from laying under a dragons hide for so long, meaning the sickness lay solely with thorins family. He had not felt the pull or whisper of it since the day of the battle, but he would be ever vigilant going forward, for the sake of his people and his family.

And on the subject of family, thorin thought the time had come for him to draft a letter to his sister. Gloin had assured him the raven had flown out with his decrees, but it had not returned, likely due to the winter storms moving in, but now close to February, they should be expecting a reply within a week.

all the same thorin felt like absolute shite not writing to his sister on the status of her sons, so he penned a quick message now.

Dear dis,

All is well, your sons are hail and working to set erabor to its former glory. We look forward to your return come spring.

Sincerely, Thorin, king under the mountain.

There done. Simple. There was no need to go on and on about there battle and subsequent healing when she was so far away. It would go over better also, to learn of the close calls of battle when she could look upon her sons and see they had lived. Yes, when writing letters thorin knew it was best to be concise.

I’m sure you understand

With that letter done it was time for a break. Thorin meandered through the royal wing and looked in on the little library where balin was teaching the boys of erabors trade history and alliances, when the mountain opened to delegations in the spring they would need to be every inch proper, Well behaved and learned princes. Thorin did not envy balin that task in the slightest and quickly moved on. He continued down the hall and a flight of stares, passing the bridge that lead to the throne. His throne now, though he had not sat upon it since…the dark days. Thorin was not avoiding it, the same way he was not avoiding the treasury, but simply saw no reason for pomp and circumstance until the dignitaries arrived…if they arrived. For though his cousin and his soliders had proven true to thorin, the other clans had not sanctioned his quest to erabor, and had not sent reinforcements when word spread through the iron hills of their success.

And many may choose not to deal with erabor still, no matter how much gold she housed, for the empty space sitting above the kings chair.

It would be a fickle irony, thorin thought to give so much and have gained so much, only for their kinsmen to turn their noses as what thorin lacked.

An absolute mess this turned out to be

Right then, time for food. Thorin had made every effort to not waste oins good work. He ate at appropriate intervals and slept a number of hours and had even taken to wearing little spectacles in his office so as not to strain his eyes. he was a much better patient then his nephews, who had taken to loitering among the soldiers, reveling in there hero status and throwing their royal weight around in the training rings. Fili had learned of his moniker as ‘fili steel spine’ do to his miraculous recovery (though oin said the blade had missed his spine entirely, it was only by a hairsbreadth) and was regularly asked to spar with the soliders. Kili was deemed ‘kili of the wood’ for his unsuccessful petitioning for the inclusion of at least one elf in the mountain and thus would spar with any dwarf who spoke a barbed word against their former enemies. Thorin and kili had yet to speak seriously about the she elf but thorin was trying to be the fair, open minded king he promised to be. He just needed time, and a lot of things to pound in the forge, and a couple cases of strong ale. but he would broach the matter soon, and give his nephew his word to judge the lass fairly.

If thorin oakenshield gives his word, he will keep it

Forget food, he wasn’t hungry anyway. In fact with sparing on his mind, he decided to head to the battle rings himself. He was a dwarf of action and could not remain idle for long. And while his cousin dain yet remained under the mountain he might as well take the opportunity to knock his fool head around. While dain himself was a lord in the iron hills, he refused lodging in the royal wing preferring to stay close to his soldiers and the battlements; eager for signs of either an approaching enemy or the call of spring, so he could return home. Leaving the winter and the lonely mountain behind him, only to regale his wife and son with the legend of the ‘ unsacking of erabor’ or the ‘battle of way more enemies then you said it was gonna be thorin, mahal, can’t you count?’ dain was still spit balling titles and every time he ran one by thorin a good fight was sure to ensue.

The clash of metal was music to his ears and he felt lighter even as he hefted a heavy battle axe over his shoulder. Orchrist had been recovered on the field but it remained in his bed chamber out of respect for dains men; while kili was more then happy to tell any who would listen about the wonders of elves, thorin didn’t wish to show preference over dwarven weapons.

But damn him if it wasn’t a fine blade.

And if he was attacked in his sleep he’d be happy to have it right under his pillow. Finding dain was easy, if not for the fact if he wasn’t eating or sleeping he was fighting, then the booming sound of his manic laughter was a dead give away. “c’mon lads, has our wee winter holiday turned ye into a bunch lil fay-folk? Don make me beg like a bar maid on her back, have at me!!!’” and so thorin, whilst trying very hard to block that mental image, pushed past three wary dwarves and rushed his cousin head on, axe swinging wide and coming to rest against the handle of dains own, right in the middle of where his hands braced the weapon in defense. Effectively blocked, thorin drew back only to parry and swipe at his cousins iron foot, metal and iron clanging louder then his cousins chortle. “oi now, don’t go for the foot lest you want to loose your head!” dain took the opportunity to grasp the handle of thorins axe, pulling him forward and close enough to knock their skulls together with a sound crack. Thorin shook it off and used the close quarters to get a hand on dains own axe. Twisting it blade down with his leg and catching his cousin off balance and kneeling, but not out. The new position let dain grasp thorins own leg and upend him and soon both dwarves had abandoned their weapons entirely and grappled like wee pebbles in the dirt, pulling braids and beards alike. “if you had anything to pull you wee lass!” dain chortled. thorin was still shoring his beard short and no one but dain had brought it up; like they had not questioned him on his lack of crown or royal robes. He had taken out the twin braids that marked him as a prince and replaced them with seven small ones that started at his peak and formed into one long one at his back, secured with seven small silver beads and a larger mithril clasp he had found in his mothers rooms.

But it wasn’t a crown.

And dain struck a blow to thorins head, dislodging one such braid.

And his tunic was fine and durin blue and bore the symbols of his house but it wasn’t the long flowing regalia of his grandfathers time.

But it was enough for dain to scruff him and toss him to the edge of the ring. And thorin charged at his general, because he would not be defeated so easily.

Because this was his mountain.

And he was a king.

He landed a blow to dains nose

but he didn’t feel like a king.

Another boxed dains ears

And he had to eat and sleep but he didn’t want to.

Uppercut to dains jaw.

and spring was on the way and he’d have to open the doors and meet with people and talk to them, the ones that stood by and didn’t sanction their quest or send armies or HELP-

A knee to dains shoulder. The blunt edge of his axe to dains forehead. A mighty fist wrenching his cousin straight in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

And he needed to write them letters. Inviting them first, but he wasn’t permitted to send word to the one person he most wanted to speak to.

Don’t bother writing

And thorin forgot that dain iron foot also had an iron knee, until it connected with his own stomach and all the air left him in a great whoosh, ending his struggle as dain pinned him. “ha!” Dain chortled even as he spit blood from his mouth “I warned you, o king under my arse! Sittin in tha chair all day was gonna make you softer then my right nut- “ thorin flipped his cousin and kneed him right in the stones, since dain had mentioned the weak point. It was a cheap trick but thorin didn’t much care, the same way he didn’t much answer dains call for a rematch as he walked away.

He needed a drink.

A big one and set back off in the direction of the dinning halls.

Thorin tended to take meals in his office with balin or his nephews, but when thorin did venture out for a meal it always warmed his heart a little to see the company together, eating and making merry and generally enjoying the boisterous atmosphere. But in recent weeks thorin had noticed when he would walk in the conversation would die down, eyes would train on him and offer him tight smiles and oddly tense welcomes.

It didn’t really help his mood, and he was already in a mood

so when he entered from a side door and noticed ori, bofur, dwalin, dori and nori huddled together at a far table, thorin tried to stay low and keep his steps light.

He was not sneaking. He would not sneak in his own mountain.

He was a king damn it, not some thrice damned burgl-

“do ye have to list us by name? What’s wrong with jus sayin ‘hello from the company’ ?”

“Its more personable. If we just say ‘ from the company’ he might not know which company.”

“… he was livin in a hole in the ground before we came along, were the only bloody company he was a part of!”

That caught thorins attention and while he was not sneaking, he did duck behind a pillar to listen in, dread prickling at the back of his neck.

“If you want to make it personable take out the bit about the weather; never cared for that, like askin ‘hows your ma?’ we never met her what would we care about her?’

“I think his mothers dead though”

“aye, so’s mine and yours, we don’t need to bang on about it is my point”

“ why don’t you ask after his garden? Always was talking about his garden, or food!”

“Oh that’s brilliant! ‘hullo bilbo, miss you dearly, hope you’ve had lots of outside time amongst your green things and plenty to eat. We haven’t! But were not dead and thought you’d like to know!”

“Jus say ‘hi’ ”

“Or don’t say anything at all” and thorin froze, dwalin sounded much closer to him then thorin thought he should, but a quick peek round the pillar showed dwalin leaning over nori’s shoulder, arms crossed and frowning “he said not to bother” and everyone started to bicker as ori ripped the page out of his book, balled it up and threw it into a steadily growing pile, unbeknownst to them very close to thorin.

He chanced a quick arm out from his hiding place, snatching up three small balls before he straightened. He used the opportunity to finish snea- quietly moving into the kitchens, deciding that a big drink would constitute a small barrel of iron hill mead and took it back to his office.

If anyone noticed him leave they said nothing, and no one tired to stop him on his way up the stairs and down the hall and none bothered him for the remainder of the night so he imagined he had may actually be quite good at not sneaking.

Or the glower on his face was more potent then usual.

Stealing his nerves for what was sure not to improve his mood, he filled a tankered and paced as he drank and paced until the tankered was empty. Then repeated the cycle two more times before he sat down at his desk and unfolded the little bundles of paper, and read.

To whom it may concern,

this letter is addressed to one mister bilbo baggins, of baggens bag-end of the shire. We, the corresponding party wish to inform mister baggins of the state of our location, erabor of Rhovonion.

Things are well.

please respond at your earliest convenience with a corresponding reply.

Sincerely , The former company of thorin okinshield, son of thrain, son of thror, king under the mountain. Thorin oakenshield.

Alright that wasn’t so bad. Thorin drained another tankered and read the next reject.

Dear mr. Baggins,

Hello! It is us, the company of thorin oakenshield. Greetings! We are writing to you even though you told us not to In the hopes that you have been seen safely back to the shire. We are eager to tell you all that has happened here since you departed. We hope you know in spite of how things were left we hold your friendship very dear to our hearts and remember you fondly. Please respond at your leisure with news or come back soon.

Sincerely, your friends. From erabor, kingdom under the mountain.

Well that is…certainly something.

Another tankered later and thorin was eyeing the third paper. He was not the most superstitious dwarf in the mountain, but even he had to admit good things seldom came in three. Now half way through the barrel of mead and pleasantly warm, he decided to have at it.

Dear bilbo,

Greetings! By the time you read this, spring will have come to the lonely mountain and we wish to tell you we are well, and hope the same for you. Erabor was not so bad as we expected without the dragon in residence and repairs are all finished and the mountain will be open and hospitable to all once more! Dain and his men will leave not long after and while we expect many merchants and delegations to come flocking as the ravens did, we will have many rooms left vacant. How’s the weather in the shire? Well do we remember the rolling green hills and flowers of your lands, but Erabor has flowers too balin said it would be much the same for us come spring. Our kin in the blue mountains will travel to us first we expect, once word gets out, and will likely pass through the shire on their way, so if you’d like to join them, pass along a message, we hope you know it would be welcome. If you hold any concerns about your welcome at all., then know we would of course come and visit you if you’d prefer, and we promise to only come by your invitation, not a wizards. and to sleep at an inn and not empty out your larder. We hope to see you We hope you are well and look forward to conversing soon.

Your friends Ori, dori, nori, bifur, bofer and bomber, oin and gloin, fili steelspine*, kili of the wood*, dwalin and balin.

*the self made names of Two dunder headed dwarves, that I won’t explain here because surely they’ll want to tell you themselves in person.

From the kingdom of Erabor, located in Rhovonion.

...what in the name of mahals great hairy balls was THAT. Thorins hands shook as he refilled his tankered splashing mead on the floor and his shirt as he paced furiously about his office. So they had, against specific instruction from master Baggins NOT to write, taken it upon themselves to bombard the hobbit with THIS?? This flowery, heavy handed, alluding drivel? As if they were dainty ladies of court fluttering their eyes and fans and twirling their beard tuffs to entice a suitor. The absolute embarrassment this would bring to the line of durin, it didn’t even bear thinking about! They were warriors damn it, they didn’t send letters with thinly veiled hints and suggestions to pop in for a little vacation. ‘oh no we have so much space and so many rooms and oh did we mention the flowers and hey my cousins got a cart with space for a hobbit, wanna ride to the mountain?’ Ghashûri-dûmûr! (Beardless orc shit)

And they had left his name out!

Thorin had not once, except in the dark days under the golds thrall, doubted the loyalty of his kin, but he greatly doubted their sense; why would they specifically neglect to include him in this, this…

Did they think bilbo didn’t want to hear from him?

Thorin stopped as if he’d hit a brick walk, sloshing more drink onto the floor. A pity, as the barrel was almost empty and that thought had been more sobering then an ice bath.

Did bilbo not want to hear specifically from thorin?

Thorin hazily recalled the note he’d left behind in dale; it was vague and hadn’t actually been addressed to anyone, but bard had handed it to ori.

And ori had handed it to thorin.

Perhaps, He thought sickly, the company felt no shame in writing to master Baggins because they assumed the sentiment didn’t apply to them. Perhaps they were right.

Don’t bother writing

Oh well we’ll see about that.

Dropping the empty tankered thorin hefted the barrel and drank straight from it until it was bone dry, then he wobbly stormed to his desk and pulled out a quill, ink and paper, and halfhazardly donned his little spectacles, deciding this was the perfect time to compose a letter of his own.

Dear master burglar,

If that is your real name.

Greetings from Erabor, the kingdom you visited and briefly burgled from. I understand you deemed corospend, crorospeck, cockresponces letters unnecessary, but I, the very much alive king under the mountain, would be remsis, remisstress, it would be an insult not to share with you all the wonderful things that have happened in your absence. As I said, I am alive and well, better then I have been in years! My mountain thrives and so do I! And my nephews, you remember them don’t you? Good strong boys and fine heirs to the throne of which I happily sit upon! Yes in fact the entire company and everyone in the mountain is making merry and have the time of their lives. We are so overjoyed in fact, we may just rename this the merry mountain.

Hoping you are well.

Thorin Oakenshield, happy king under the happy mountain with all the happy dwarves.

There, perfect.

thorin rolled the parchment up, stamped it some what messily with the kings seal and attempted to tie it in a bow. But then He had forgotten to mention erabors renewed alliance (ha!) With dale and how well they were all working together without any burglars about. So thorin picked up another parchment and wrote another letter before sealing it and tying it up for delivery. Only to remember another tidbit he just had to share and continued to write perfectly structured and respectable letters befitting a king.

Dear hobbit, We thank you for your assistance in matters of state, though you have no worldly knowledge of use, your love of barrels and little hobbit body served us well, as we lead our noble and legendary quest-

To whom it may concern,

Per my last letter, I would graciously like to impart to you, in spite of your many, many failings in the art of wilderness preparedness and questing, my kinsmen found your skill in food preparation adequate and we thank you for your aid in our survival. To reiterate, I thorin, am alive, in case your leaving had anything to do with-

Dear master Baggins,

It is I thorin. Son of thrain, son of thror, called oakenshield. I write to you to let you know of my survival. I was unconscious throughout the winter and have only just woken up this past throrsday in the month of February. To my surprise, I found you gone, and if you had left word, I assure you we did not receive it so if you would be so kind as to reply-

Dear mister baggins

Dear bilbo

Dearest bilbo

Ghiveshel please

Greetings mister Baggins,

We write to you to inquire about your return journey and your well being

Are you well?

Did you make it?

Why did you leave?

If you would have just waited

I’m glad you left, your contract was fulfilled there was no reason for you to wait

I’m sorry about dain, I resended your banishment the second I awoke and he will leave come spring

I’m sorry about banishing you in the first place, you know I wasn’t myself

How’s the weather in the shire? I recall the spring was fine whilst we were their, perhaps I shall see it again one day, oin says I am well enough to travel-

Are you coming back?

You can come back , anytime you’d like bring your books and your arm chair

If you come back I’ll let you plunder my lonely mountain to yours heart content, is it true what they say about hobbit feet being the same size as your-

Please don’t leave me to deal with the men folk or the elves, you would be much better suited.

They’d all be much better suited, I can’t do this.

I wear no crown and cant stand to look at the throne or gold because I remember what it did to us-

Mahal wept for the cruelty of hobbits! First you steal from us, and keep the bloody arkenstone, I don’t need it I don’t want it, I have my home.

But it doesn’t feel like home, I felt more at home on the road, we traveled so long I don’t know how to do this anymore

Do you remember the fireflies?

Why would you help us win back our home, only to leave and take all the comfort of it with you?

Thorin stared blearily at the last page before shoving the whole lot aside and plopping his head down on the desk, dizzy and tired.

Now in hindsight, he never should have drunk an entire barrel of iron hill mead, because it is strong stuff. And he never should have written while drunk because he knew strong stuff made tongues wag with alacrity.

But he really shouldn’t have signed, sealed and wrapped those embarrassing letters in tight, if uneven bows.

But how was he to know any of that would come back to bite him in the arse?

he had every intention of simply tossing them into the fire, once he woke from a little nap. How was he to know the last days of winter were behind them, the snow melting and the winds dying down enough for letters, unfortunate or otherwise, to be attached to ravens legs and sent away. How was he too know that someone would bring him dinner in his office, notice the scrolls and promptly take them to the rookery to be sent off at first light.

How was he to know that his letters would not be the first to leave the mountain since its reclamation.

The first and last was in fact gloins letter to his wife, sent some months ago and it read this.

My darling mûla, My greatest gem,

it fills my heart with joy to be able to write to you and I hope this letter finds you in good health. To be brief, I confirm that our quest has been a success, the dragon lay dead and the mountain is in the hands of durins folk once more, please relay that the good princess dis, and celebrate but also mourn, for we have not been without our losses and the winter is yet upon us. My sterling heart, we faced a mighty battle, the king and his heirs fought bravely, bringing honor to these halls once more, but they all three were gravely injured and have not yet woken. I hope in spring I will have better news. Dains folk are with us and survival is the battle we face now. No matter what comes and if these be my last words to you, let them be words of love.

Take care and know I carry your beautiful face behind my eyes whenever they close.

Your loving ruby, Gloin.

And again, as soon as the winds were passable (and long before thorin had written to his sister) in ered luin, Did gloins second letter arrive to mûla.

My most precious pearl,

We survived the winter, and have this to say to you:

The old king is dead and a new one sits on the throne, one who shall lead with a clear mind and a just heart.

The crown prince fili is know called steelspine, but both thorin and kili have fallen to a fate for which there is no cure.

Wow to the line of durin.

Hoping you are well and to see you all soon, give my love to gimli.

Your mithril man, Gloin.

And somewhere far to the west, nestled in the rolling hills of gentle streams and little rivers, in a hole under a hill, yet more ink was being set to page, and another story altogether told.

Once upon a time, in a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit…

Chapter Text

Now it must be said that of all the line of durin yet living, dis was by and large the most patient and even tempered.

At least she certainly thought so.

Still a young lass barely out of nappies when the dragon came to erabor, the lady dis knew much of duty and sacrifice. And waiting. Through the years of their wondering, Dis had acted soley for her people. caring for her fading mother and others in their search for a home, when her grandfather took her father and brothers to kazahd dûm.

She waited and worked.

and sacrified, though she did not know that until only thrain and thorin returned with a fraction of the soliders they’d left with.

And again with the battle of azhulizabar, where her father had led her brother

and only thorin returned.

Dis knew it was her duty to stay strong in the face of such grief, choosing instead to work for her people. and when they’d finaly settled in ered luin, and she had met a charming mischievous dwarf that had given her two sons, did dis decide the struggles had all been worth it.

Until vili left to escort merchants across the misty mountains, and never returned, and that grief she refused to feel was almost unbearable.

That had been the hardest to accept, but still she preformed her duty to her people, traveling as a blacksmith for a year while thorin stayed behind, caring for their halls and her sons. And she did so with all the grace and poise of any princess that had never known a hard life. And after that very hard year, she came back to growing healthy sons and things started to settle.

But as the days of peace and plenty returned to their people, it had not returned to her brother. She could see the years tic by and with it the ever more prevalent tic in thorins hand. She recognized that restlessness , having seen it in her father and grandfather. And she prayed he would fight the urge.

But still, when thorin came to her one day with his mind set on returning to the lonely mountain, dis had supported his quest.

And when thorin railed against neysayers and called for their kin to join him on this quest, she bore his conviction with solemn dignity.

And when her boys told her they were going with him, she thought she had been most patient, in not knocking all three of their fool heads clean off.

But that’s neither here nor there.

The point is. Dis was the most level headed because, when she saw that her boys would not be swayed, she refused to let their parting be shadowed by bitterness.

Instead she had unpacked one of villis old knifes and a stone he’d given her upon their first meeting, sharpened and polished them before inscribing runes of protection on each and gifting both to her sons. She’d given thorin the hardest headbutt of his life and made all three promise to come home safe.

And dis worked and sacrified and waited.

And waited.

And waited, for over a year for any word they had made it as she ruled in the halls of her brother. But When the news finally came she wasn’t prepared.

mûla, gloins wife had shared with her first the news of their success, but also the unsure state of the three royals. The letter promised more news in the spring, so dis did her best to keep busy until then.

And there was much to do. First the celebrations at the news of the reclamation , then the work to ready caravans back to the mountain, and safeguarding those who would stay and watch over ered luin in the meantime. But she did not worry, she gave herself no time for it, knowing her duty now was to see their people back to erabor, and she would handle everything else with dignity and a steady heart

but when mûla brought her gloins second letter in early spring, Tears streaming down her lovely face, dis felt her strong heart, her dignity and the very world itself , break.

The old king is dead…fili steelspine…, thorin and kili have fallen.

And the letter said no more. And dis needed no more. no sooner did the path of the east road clear of thick snow before dis set upon it, a caravan of soliders and supplies with her.

Perhaps it would have been a better call, as regant of erad lyin, to stay until the last caravan, but dis could wait no more. In her minds eye she could see erabor again. Not the shinning green of immaculate halls or the blazing red of dragon fire, but grey shadows and blackness.

And she could see her eldest son, her golden ray, sitting on a crumbling throne dull and overcast. Heir and now king, under a mountain that was his families tomb.

She saw him Shadowed by the black grief of kingship, to be broken but unable to show it. She could see his duty, his sacrifice and his waiting.

And dis would not let him wait alone, as she had.

She hired rangers to see them through the misty mountains, ensuring they could move safely but with speed. On late nights, mûla would find her keeping watch and try to coax her into conversation, but dis would hear none of it. She stayed focused, she did what she was bred to do, she would lead her people once more to safety and keep a sharp eye for the mountain, were her sons…where one of her sons yet drew breath... but she tredged ahead.

The days had lost all meaning by the time they came to the border, mirkwood, where they were met by an elven captain and dis wondered if this would be an opportunity to release some aggression. for if she could not grieve in front of her people, none could fault her for eviscerating their sworn enemies.

But it was not to be, the captain bowed and offered them safe passage through the wood; a token of good will for the king under the mountain.

the new king under the mountain, dis reminded herself. Because the old one was dead. From her grandfather to her brother the king was dead and frenrin and amad and vili and her sons-

Her son was king now, and he needed her, so Dis accepted the escort and the caravan went on.

It was a few weeks more before they made it to dale, having to go the long way round, for some reason there were no boats on the lake, but dis could not be bothered to inquire when they reached the city of man. She didn’t care, all she wanted was to get to the mountain.

And raize it to the ground, Though she knew she could not.

But she wanted too, so badly.

For that was the source of all her grief wasn’t it?

The grief she wasn’t allowed to feel. It was the place her grandfather had lost his mind, a beacon of death that called forth a dragon. The mountain had not protected their family or their people and her father and brothers and now her son had given their lives to it.

And duty be damned, all dis wanted was to go in, knock the crown from her sons head and carry him and their people home. She would carry thorin and kili home too. Back to the blue mountains, for she knew erabor could never be her home again. Knew that guilded tomb would never offer her or fili peace. It was all tainted, stained red with the blood of all they loved and it could crumble to dust for all she cared.

But that would not happen.

For fili was king, and as his uncle and the kings before him, he would not abandon his post but for the breaking of the world. So dis would stay, not for erabor, or their people or anything else but him.

She had nothing left, after all.

They passed through dale with little fan fare, the men folk watching but did not engage and the gaurds let them pass through without delay when she had stated their business.

They were less then a league away now and dis could feel the weight of the heavy stone centuries as if they were sitting on her chest. She felt a cold sweat break out on her neck as a horn blew and the gates opened. but she remained composed. As the gaurds closed in, she rallied herself to speak with calm, dignified composure.

But she didn’t get the chance.

All at once she was immediately bombarded by a blur of dwarves, two hitting into her chest like battering rams. Two dwarves, one blonde and one black haired, and both gazing at her with tears in their familiar eyes. And when they spoke the dam she’d worked so hard to build, the stone doors around her heart and all the years of careful royal training,

“amad!”

“mother!”

Crumbled like a rock milled to dust.

Dis sank to her knees, numb fingers clutching at the shirts of her sons, eyes glossy but focused on their every feature. The scar on kilis chin when he’d first taken an interest in the bow, and the one on his ear when his brother had started throwing knives. The golden braids of the elders mustache, so much like his fathers. Dis looked them over as critically as she would a gem before she set it, any flaw or dullness, any indication that this was not real.

 Because it couldn’t be real, surely.

to her disappointment, dis realized she must have died on the road. Faded from heartbreak as her mother had so long ago. But at least this was a sweet afterlife, her sons in her arms. She had thought vili would be here to great her but perhaps he was just waiting his turn. Dis mused all this as her sons talked over eachother and loudly.

Just as it should be.

“We're so glad your hear!”

“Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?”

“You won't believe what we’ve been up to”

“actually you probably will, but it was only a small fire”

“and it was all kee's fault”

“Shut up! No it wasn’t, amad you should see my battle scars!”

“Your battle scars? You barely have any thanks to some fancy magic, but amad, they call me the steelspine these days”

“Cuz 'fili stones for brains' is to long”

“Shut up!”

“no, you shut up”

“Boys” it was out of her mouth before she even thought it, so familiar with the bickering.

It felt so right.

Finally.

“sorry amad, you must be tired! We can get you settled. uncle should be along soon; we saw the caravan from the battlemants but he’s hold up in his office, he’ll be so surprised to see you!”

Thorin, yes he was dead too. And frenrin. So they would all be reunited. Dis was at peace with that, knowing she had all eternity to yell at her brothers. she held tight to her boys, petting them on their head and smiling gently. It was only then her gaze shifted above their heads and saw a red haired dwarf run past to embrace someone behind her. "mûla! The brightest gem in the world! My gimli-boy!" the rest dissolved into gibberish as gloin tearfully reunited with his family.

Gloin. But gloin wss alive.

He had written to mûla, who was also alive the last time dis had checked, and in that letter it said that fili had lived.

So how in the name of mahals left testicle were they all standing in the same place?

As the most level headed durin, alive or not, dis decided to gain more information, before the axes started flying.

“Kili?”

“Yes mother?”

“Your not dead then?”

“What?! No! Im alive, just as you are!”

Ah, right then

“and your uncle?”

“…amad, are you alright? Your eye is twitching and –“

“Fili?” and at least the boy had the grace to wince, warily, he confirmed.

“uncle thorin lives”

Oh ho, not for long.

“take me to him” and both boys wilted at the request (demand), Shifting around like guilty pebbles tracking mud through her house.

Fili, perhaps aptly called steelspine, was the first to speak “he’s…busy., not to busy for you of course, but he doesn’t know your you. That is he doesn’t know you’ve arrived! Why don’t we get you settled first and then we can head to his office-“

“The kings office?”

“…no?”

Steelspine indeed, but no matter, the boys forgot that dis had grown up here for a time, in the royal apartments and chambers and wings.

She knew where that office was.

And so with a final pat to both boy's heads, she strolled from the front gates and up the stairs, her sons tumbling after her.

“Now amad, really you must be tired”

“and uncle will be so disappointed you got the drop on him, Dropped in! Without him having a grand procession to welcome you!”

“His favorite sister!”

“his most kind, loving, forgiving sister”

“don’t you want to get freshened up first?”

“nope”

“Mother please”

“Amad, where did you pull that axe from?!”

Oh look, they were at the throne room already, just a couple flights more to the kings suites.

“hello dwalin”

“dis…nice axe”

“Thank you, I know”

“…ya gonna kill him?”

“Yep”

“Mother no!”

“uh oh.”

“…ya know you’ll have to take over dealing with the elves and men”

Dis dropped the axe, but she still slammed open the doors to the kings offices, startling balin and the very much alive, but not for much longer, thorin oakinshield. His face seemed to ricochet from tired, to surpise and joy before settling on resigned fear.

And that, was the most rational emotion dis had seen on her brother in a long time.

Balin, wise as ever, backed up.

Dis strolled calmly to her brother and with great dignity and poise, solidly decked him in the face. Thorin rolled with the punch, but let it come all the same, wincing as she came back around to yank a fistful of hair, bringing them nose to beak.

“MY SONS” she started before anger choked her

“I know” thorin sighed

“MY BOYS” she tried again

“I know”

Still choking, tears in her eyes, she tried once more

“…your ALIVE?”

“I am, WE are, but it was close and I am so, SO sorry”

Words, as we all know, were not the weapon best wielded by any in the line of durin.

sSo instead dis dissolved into fitfull sobs, crushing her brother to her chest and in turn being crushed by three pairs of strong, living arms as she unleashed almost a hundred years of repression. All of it, grief and fear and anger and everything. If it was minutes or days, dis couldn’t say. When last she had cried something like this, she had been a pebble herself, devastated frenrin had cut the yarn hair off her favorite doll. thorin had held her as her mother whispered soothing words into her hair and her father promised to make her another. And that had been the last time until now. But at the end of the absolute tsunami of emotions she rode, something new came. The pitiful, painful howls of relief. This felt like home.

Finally.

When her tears had slowed, hic ups dying down so she could catch her breath, she pulled back and looked at her tired, older, so much older now, brother.

And thumped him on the shoulder once more.

“Why didn’t you write?!”

And that made thorin pause, he looked perplexed “I did, we sent the ravens out as soon as the winds died down. It should have arrived months ago.”

“well it didn’t, no word from you anyway. The only news we received was from gloin. He wrote before the winterfell to tell of the reclamation" and with a wobble in her throat “ then again some time later, to tell us you and kili were dead. We left not a fortnight after, so if your letter was on the way, you’ll forgive me for not waiting for it.”

Thorin puzzled at that, deciding an explanation from gloin was also warranted. Evidently mûla was of the same mind, for not a minute later did she walk in with her husbands ear firmly between her fingertips. When he stumbled free, the king pinned him with a stern look.

Gloin, firmly used to it, shrugged

“what?”

“why, in the name of mahal, did you tell anyone I was dead?”

“that’s not what I said! I repeated your words exactly! ‘tell all and a sundry the old king is dead’, you’re a new king, a new type of king, it was figurative!”

“and kili?” dis sniffed “what could you possibly mean by saying both thorin and he had fallen?”

Here gloin palled under the glare of three dark haired durins, while the golden haired one snickered.

“well, that, ahem…ya see, what I meant was, um”

“come now, gloin, don’t let that silver tongue turn to lead” The king goaded

With a glare gloin all but growled “fine then! If that’s the way ya want it, we all know you two have been moppin about for want of big feet and pointy ears! “

“I beg your pardon?”

“Oh don’t beg me nothin your majesty! You’ve been stiffer then me dead granny since our burgler left and theres no denyin it!"

“Now see here-“

“And took that elf lass with him! least she's on this side o the misty mountains! You want to see er so bad, go give thrandule back his fairy necklace and be done with it.”

“Hey! Don’t you bring her into this-“

“I didn’t, you did! Trying to play a game of ‘guess whats in my trousers’ through a jail cell she put you in, durins beard!”

“Amad! Don’t listen to him it wasn’t like that!”

“oh it very much was”

“shut up, fee”

“…big feet…and pointy ears?”

“aye, lady dis! The line of durin could not be felled by orcs or dragons, but give us an elf lass and a persnickety hobbit only to take them away and it all goes to pieces!”

“enough! I will hear no more! You know not of what you speak and I am king under this mountain-“

“Oh stop it thorin, I saw the letters on your desk myself, the ones you wrote to that persnickety hobbit. before I sent them off to him.” Balin muttered, effectively bringing a very loud room, deathly silent. The king, pale as death, turned to his adviser slowly and whispered “…no…you couldn’t have, I burnt those.”

“no you didn’t. and aye, I did send them, same time I sent out the one for dis. You were…unavailable to converse with at the time, but as they were sealed and wrapped, I took the liberty of delivering them to the rookery myself.”

“…YOU DID NOT!”

“and a good thing I did too! Terrible business, not writing to one of our own of the goings on here. I know he said not to, but that was probably some puffed up hobbity politness. Like saying to someone ‘oh hear, take the last piece of bread’ ‘oh no, no, thank you kindly, im stuffed, please help yourself’ he knows us better then that! Good grief boy- your majesty.”

“…”

“…though, come to think of it, I don’t know why you needed to write so many.”

“…I need a drink”

Dis, head and heart reeling, agreed completely with her brother and suggested they move to the dinning halls. She was pleased to see the member’s of her caravan sitting and eating happily with the other inhabitants of the mountain, and was pleased to reunite with the rest of thorins company, but she was Pleased even more to simply grab a barrel of ale and a few trays of food, depositing them in her sons arms before escorting the boys and her brother back to the royal apartments. While it may not have been the most gracious move to abandon her people, dis decided she didn’t care.

Because it had been a long day and this conversation promised to be longer still.

She settled the boys on the couch across from her settee, in her mothers old receiving rooms, while her brother claimed a high backed arm chair at her side. They filled their cups but no one spoke, and the boys tried very hard to avoid eye contact. Thorin himself was attempting to glare holes straight through the floor, so dis, ever level headed, broke the ice.

“so then…what’s this about a hobbit and an elf?”

thorin blanched, and kili fidgeted, but fili showed that steel spine once more “you see amad…when we set out on the quest, we realized we only had thirteen members! And a wizard but he didn’t count. but he did tell uncle we would benefit from having a burglar help us on our quest and suggested we could find one in the shire! A hobbit! Mister Baggins, bilbo that is, though he wasn’t a burglar at the time and he got mad when we tossed his plates-“

“and the elf, dear heart?”

Fili shrugged sheepishly when his brother groaned “ the captain of the mir-greenwood elves, thrandules brood. She locked us in a dungeon. But! But then she saved kili when he got poisoned and again on raven hill! She helped me too, you see amad, these days they call me steelspine because-“

“yes dear, thank you” dis dismissed her eldest, promising silently to sit with him and listen to every excruciating detail of his quest later. Now it would seem , there were other mines to dig. She turned first to her youngest son and raised an eyebrow, waiting patiently. Eventually, kili caved “her name is taurel, she did all fili says, but more! It is not an overstatement to say I wouldn’t be breathing without her, mother, we wouldn’t. And I mean to pay that debt with my life, if she’ll have it.”

Dis, begrudgingly was proud, but she couldn’t aquiess her childs whims so easily “but she is not here?”

Kili deflated “ no…but I know she would come if I sent word! She is just in thrandules court, captain of his guard, she is seeing to her duties.” And dis felt her own heart clench at the surity of her sons tone. But, nevertheless, the truth must be known “my gem, we traveled through the elf realm to get here. We were led by the captain of the elf kings guard” and kili beemed “he was male” And kili was taken aback, but not discouraged “well…perhaps there was a shift change! She has red hair, long and flaming like a trail of autum leaves-“ and his brother groaned but dis cut them both off “my dear, if she was there, I did not see her” and to avoid the disappointment in his gaze, dis turned to her brother and waited once more with any eyebrow raised. thorin knew this game, had taught her this trick in no uncertain terms, he squared his shoulders preparedto wait her out.

But again dis was the most patient durin alive and where family was concerned, thorin would fold in no time like a house of cards.

This proved true when he broke eye contact and took a long pull of his ale. “go on then.”

“A hobbit?”

“A member of our company, but gloin is wrong. I only mean to ensure our friendship” and both boys groaned before their uncle shushed them. “he faced many more foes then was contracted to him and we owe him greatly” another pull and a wistful sigh “a loyal friend, too loyal, but a child of the west and too the west he returned ”

“And you did not ask him to stay?”

Thorin winced “ even if I could have, it was not my place. he had to return, I couldn’t- I wouldn’t ask more of him then he saw fit to give.”

“But now you’ve written him letters”

And thorin nodded

“many letters”

And thorin groaned

“and he hasn’t written back?”

And thorin drained his ale before starting in on another.

The boys, silent and rapt with attention, were near hanging off the edge of the couch, so dis thought it best to excuse them. They likely had more then enough commentary on the subject, but she would hear it later.

As the boys left, thorin got up to pace and dis, still in traveling clothes, pulled out a pipe from a fold in her dress and lit it. She watched as thorin tensed and smiled sadly. It was a lovely blend, though more floral then she preferred. Old toby, the best from a merchant in bree, and dis puffed as she appraised thorin critically. He was not particularly thin and she liked what he’d done with his hair, but something was off. His steps were more of a shuffle and whenever he stopped his shoulders sagged as if the weight of some specter sat there. But His eyes were the most telling; they were dull, practically lifeless and the thiught made dis shiver. They did Not have the haze of madness her grandfathers held, but it was as if everywhere thorin looked, he found something was lacking, Missing.

Perhaps gloin had not been so far off.

“so, what did the letters say then? I take it an invitation to visit was not their sole intent.”

Thorin rubbed his face aggressively before speaking.

“An invitation was given” muttering he added “in more ways then one. But it was more the tone, you see, I was…not myself. I spoke without thought and stated things that, if taken in the wrong light-“

“Thorin”

“I was angry, and certainly disappointed... I had no right but I did not want him to think…he just left! he didn’t get to see us rebuild or claim a reward for his deeds and sow the friendships he made within the company…and now he is gone. He told us not to write, He would rather put this whole mess behind us, like it never happened.” Thorin had paced throughout his speech but now he had come to lean on a table in front of a large mirror, speaking more to himself then to dis “I should have respected that, I meant to, if it would bring him peace…he’ll think me mad. again. still. he’ll never come back now, if he ever had the mind to.” And there was something in his words that struck dis deep and when thorin looked at himself in the mirror, dis, saw pain. it was a pain dis recognized in her own mirror, when she thought of vili. she could see the grief she felt at his loss, reflected in her brother.

So gloin had not been wrong at all then.

She snuffed her pipe and walked over to thorin, gingerly wrapping her arms around him as if he would shatter if she applied to much pressure. Twin blue eyes met in the mirror, both weary, but one sure. “he is not here thorin, but he is not gone. He lay just to the west, over mountains you have crossed many times. And if it would bring you peace, I would have you fly to him. speak the words you shouldn’t have written and let the scales fall where they may”

“He does not wish to see me”

“He bid you not to write, did he say he did not wish to see you?”

“…”

“tell me of the letter you wrote me. The one I did not receive, what did you say, exactly?”

“I said all was well, the mountain is ours and we looked forward to your arrival.”

“…that’s it? Nothing of your journey, or this hobbit, or why one son is besotted with an elf and the other is called steelspine?”

“…no?”

“Well then there you have it; the hobbit told you not too write because he did not wish for the raven to waste a trip.”

“Now wait a moment-“

“No.” dis hissed “I have waited long enough. I have waited for peace and I have waited for war and when they both came I was not ready. When I lost vili, when he was gone, I was not ready. Waiting solves nothing, the sacrifices we make for the line of duty mean nothing. Time and time again, I have waited for a scrap of something decent only to be bombarded with devastation, but no more. We will give no more. You have accomplished what you set out to do; the impossible! An absolute mad dash across these great lands to steal a mountain from a dragon. but you did it! And has that brought you peace? No, I can see it plainly, you have not found what you were looking for. Or rather you found something you didn’t know you were looking for, but now without it, so has the fight gone from you.” She paused here to turn her brother around, cupping his cheek gently, bringing there foreheads together. “Nadad, I see you. I see you lost, broken in a way you never have been no matter what we suffered. You would respect the hobbits wishes, but what of respect for yourself? Your heart is not in this mountain, not anymore. You are fading without it, and I will not watch that!” desperate, she added “do not make me watch that, not again, not when it is so easily avoided. There is no great army keeping you from the west, I bid you go to him.”

Thorin sighed “but who would lead in my stead”

Dis snorted “who else? The one that has been doing it for no less then a century” and thorin looked sad, so very sad and perhaps a little afraid “I cannot ask that of you dis, as you say we have given enough, you more then anyone. I would not leave you now, when you have only just returned home, for a selfish endeavor.”

Dis shook her head “ I did not think I was returning home. I thought I was visiting a tomb, one that housed my brother and son, while my other son lived some half life in the dark. It was only the truth that you all live that broke me from that darkness. A place is not a home without love thorin, and if your love will not come here, then this is not your home, no matter what you give to it. You must go and see if you can make a new one in the west and find peace.” And here dis tilted her head and added after a thought “ but if he does come here, make sure to bring those letters with you, I would very much like to read them.” And finally, finally thorin chuckled. Soft and watery, but also warm and light, some of the tension releasing from his shoulders as he hugged his sister close. “you are a very great love of mine, you and your sons have been the light keeping me from loosing my way in the darkest mine for so long.” He sighed into her hair “I lost myself…before. and he almost paid with his life. I doubt I could ever regain his trust in full, in many ways I deserve this punishment.” And dis pulled back “this is no punishment, it is cowardice, and you thorin called oakenshield are no coward. You are foolhardy and brash, and terrible with words as you are with directions” she smiled “but not cowardly. And I think your hobbit is waiting for you to prove that.” And thorin sighed, rubbing his face into dis’s raven tresses. “in truth I think you just want to meet him so you may both belittle me together, he is as sharp tonged as you.”

“well then, I simply must meet him now. So while you collect him, I will handle things here.”

“but-“

“do not argue, unless you want my boot up your backside. I will see it all handled, and you will ready yourself for another journey. but this will be the last time you keep me waiting, and I expect a letter sent the moment you reach Bree.”

“aye Nan'ith, I think I can manage that. Assuming a simple, ‘I live’ will surface?”

Dis pinched thorins ear and he flicked her forehead gently, before they set to draining the barrel of ale as they formed a plan. Dis’ caravan had consisted of gloin and bomburs families, and what soliders that could be spared. Dain was gone but Spring meant trade would come to Erabor , and with a mountain (literally) of gold in the treasury that thorin was eager to send out, it would not be long before textiles, furniture and finery would find their way into the mountain, ready to receive kin and clans alike. Dis was not eager to deal with the men folk of dale, but thorin was assured that she wouldn’t be able to muck it up as bad as he had, and that he would personally inform bard of the change in power on his way out. So all that was left to do was reform his company, his most trusted and see if they would follow him once more, out their door and into the unknown. This time there would be less need for stealth or battle prowess, but a greater need for friendship and comfort.

“I must take bofur with me” thorin hiccuped “he and bilbo always got along, and ori! Ori! He likes books, as bilbo does. And bombur likes his cooking”

“from what I know of hobbits, everyone likes their cooking, bombur should stay here with his wife and children. I think it wise to take balin, he is adviser to the king after all, mûla and I get on well enough, if I need to make any grand decisions in your absence I think she could fill in. and gloin Will not leave her either, but balin will likely stop you from ruining things with this hobbit.”

“true enough! Balin will go, if he can make the journey, he is old”

“Your face is old”

“shut up dis. Dwalin! My most loyal warrior, he will stay to protect you.”

“he will loose the run of himself if he doesn’t have you to trail behind. Take him, he gets so emotional, you know how easily his feelings get hurt”

“True indeed! keep dori then, though if ori is with us he may not stay. Nori is an excellent spy master and will keep you abreast of any threats to the crown”

“Your face is a threat to the crown”

“likewise, now for the Oliphant in the room.”

“the boys?”

“the boys”

Dis sighed “ I do not wish to part from them ever again, but nor did I when first they followed you out of erad luin. Least now most of our enemies are defeated” dis with a hiccup of her own added “but if my sons come home hitched to elfs or orcs or what have you, I will lop your head clean off.”

“Fair enough! So then, that leaves oin and bifur. Bifur has grown quite fond of westeron, so he and bilbo may yet enjoy each others company, but it is always wise to travel with a healer should one be in need”

“your face is in need of a hic”

Sigh “shut up dis”

so it was decided and over the next two months thorin, with balin, dwalin, fili, kili, bofur, oin and ori made ready to leave for the west. The offical story was this: since bilbo had requested them not to write, thorin would extend the hand of friendship in person and offer to bring bilbo back to claim his place as a hero of erabor as part of thorins official coronation ceramony and be recognized by the other dwarf clans (but if the company didn’t already know about the letters, If fili and kili had not blabbed, then thorin would swallow orchrist whole.) dis said goodbye again to her boys and brother, promising to take care of their people and bid they return safely to her. And if they did not, there would be no place in middle earth where thorin could hide. The renewd,  smaller company set off in june and would hopefully be in the shire by september.

So long as they kept the map out of thorin's hands or they'd never make it at all.

Chapter Text

The conversation with bard, upon his companys leaving for the shire, was everything thorin had come to expect from the lord of dale. Brief, practical and devoid of pleasentry.

Really if it hadnt been for the arken- that which will not be mentioned, thorin thought he and bard would have made great friends. And bard proved as much when like his other friends, the man ribbed thorin about the reason for his journey. “going to see master baggins then? Please say hello to him from me and my children, if you have a moment before he slams the door in your face.”

And thorin promised he would relay the message, if bard promised to be kind in dealings with his sweet, shy baby sister, for she was a delicate soul, and bard , gullable fool, agreed. That thought kept thorins steps light and jovial until they reached the lake. The charred remains of lake town had all but rotted beneath the waters and there was a dank darkness that made it look more like sludge then anything else. Thorin remembered what trudging through dragon ladden muck had felt like and the company agreed it would be worth it to go around this time. A few days later they were faced with the second dilemma, in the form of the gates that marked the borders of the elven realm. Kili, of course, thought they should chance going through (and catching a glimpse of his fire haired paramour) but the rest of the company had not forgotten the unpleasantness of thrandules realm and would rather go around. The argument came to an end shortly, as a brown haired male elf met them. He introduced himself as captain of the guard and bid them the same respect and service he had given dis. When kili asked if taurel would accompany them, the elf was quick to confirm his fears. unlike master baggins, taurels banishment had not been revoked, and the last shed been seen was when headed west with the wozard and halfling. He did not mention beorn, and the company did not ask, but they followed the elf all the same. At the end, the captain bowed slightly to the king and his heirs, before wishing them well and saying, with mischief in his eyes “please extend my kings well wishes to the hobbit, if you would, for my lord would never wish to seem forgetful of one he calls friend.” And thorin would have bristled if he had not already suspected as much. Bilbo had given the king a great boon with the arkenstone, a chance to rub thorins failings in his face, and the elfling would take every opportunity to remind the dwarf of it.

 but thorin had not come unprepared.

 With a snap of his fingures, dwalin stepped forward with a heavy black chest and produced the jewels of lasgalen. The elfs jaw made quite the rustle as it hit the forest floor and thorin took great joy in smugly stating “master baggins indeed acted in the best interest of all involved, and we would follow his example by settling things between our realms, as Im sure pettiness and greed will not hold in either court.” Stick that in your pipe and smoke it thrandule.

The king nodded and the company set their course west. Until balin pipped up and said they were heading to far south actually and they redirected. here they met the third choice of their journey. Beorn. Which really wasn’t a choice at all, as they remembered the fearsome bear man was not fond of dwarves and had in fact been fairly fond of hobbits. But lacking a hobbit as they were, they quickened their rams and promised kili they would visit on the way back from the shire. If bilbo came back with them. And if he thought the elf lass was with beorn, as unlikely as that was. Kili’s mood only soured as the days passed, staring wistfully up into the night sky and the stars it held. While his nephew's silence made thorin uneasy, he did not attempt to draw him out, for he also would be caught staring wistfully, eyes searching the horizon for distand hills of fresh grass and wild flowers.

Until ori offhandedly told him he was looking in the north, not the west.

The weeks went by like that and soon they reached the misty mountains and were once more found by an unlikely guide. A young looking ranger, grubby and standoffish, inquired as to the purpose of their journey and did not listen when they said they did not require his aid. Merely the ranger walked ahead of them with little conversation, and did indeed lead them on paths that made quick work of the perilous terrain. They did not comment on his clear avoidance of the goblin caves, though they were likely empty without their king. Nor the sharp eye he kept at night; prowling with a net as if he intended to catch something. By august, they were through the misties, so they just had to find the east road to bree and then the shire. The ranger did not accompany them past the last ridge of the mountain range, instead melting back into the shadows cast by the peaks with narry a word goodbye.

Weirdo.

As they passed the hidden gap, bofur made to treck back into the troll cave where he had a hidden investment, only to be scruffed by dwalin as they continued on. But once they saw the ill faited statues of the three monsters they decided it was time for a break. bofur and fili inscribed their names and various insults on the stone statues. Dwalin drew a crude rendition of his penis on one of the trolls foreheads and they were off again. It was only once they'd settled in bree did the company take the opportunity to hammer out the finer details of their plan (i.e how to not get the door slammed in their faces or be run out of the shire) it took a couple ales before they could come up with anything, though it was not really anything good.

Bofur was first to set the stage for their unfortunate play.

“We’ll go in first and feel out the reception, if he doesn’t throw us all out on our ear, he’s not gonna give you the boot…well not that he has boots, but you know what I mean, and if you play like your injuries are still smarting, he’ll be so overcome with compassion he’ll want to see you back to the mountain himself! Then when we get there…we’ll just…not let him leave”

“we are not kidnapping him.” Balin stated flatly

“that’s not what I said! Were just…keeping him”

ori, ever the one for an epic tale suggested something flashier “we can go too ered luin first, bring a caravan with us to the shire and deck you out in finery, have you ride up to his door on a ram and give a great speech of glory and friendship! Ill write it, and he’ll be so overwhelmed he’ll hop right on the ram and you can ride off together, straight into the sunset”

Dwalin snorted “sounds about right, since the sun sets in the opposite direction of the mountain” he turned to his king “jus say 'hey sorry my cousins a nob, here’s a crown lets go back to the mountain' ” and thorin liked it, but it was quickly overruled.

Fili and kili went back and forth before settling on the obvious and perhaps most dramatic scenerio “we’ll dress thorin up as mother and introduce him as such and after bilbo has had a chance to shower us with love and food, we’ll say something like ‘oh its too bad uncle isn't here’ and bilbo will say ‘oh goodness me, certainly, how I miss that dear old dwarf’ and then thorin can rip off his dress and say ‘surprise! I-“ and thorin didn’t even wait for the others as he downed his tankered and made for the bar to request three more. All for him you see, because he was certain to need them. As he settled on a high chair, he overheard a peculiar conversation.

“Strange things, and a bad omen too! My old gaffer says he hasn’t seen the like of it since the fell winter.”

“and its just summer! Why would orcs and wolves be setting there sights on us now?”

“That’s the thing, they’ve come close but they haven't tried to breech the wall. my uncles on the night watch, he says their heading further west. And no ones been killed yet so their not lookin for food”

“Towards the shire? How curious. Poor things, such sweet folk can scarcely defend themselves.”

“I hope they’ll be alright, skittish little things they are but they don’t cause no trouble. Plus my cousin says she rolled in the hay with one of 'em and I'm not sure of course but let me tell you she was walkin funny for a month! what a loss that would be!”

“Tragic”

His tankerds forgotten, thorin hopped off the stool and darted to his company, effectively ending the bickering with a slam of his palm on the table.

“gather your things and settle the tab, we make for the shire now”

“wow now laddie, what’s the rush?"

“There are rumors, foul creatures prowling near the hobbits, orcs. their looking for something” He pinned balin with a harsh eye “or someone.” The older dwarfs face went ashen, before his eyes hardened and nodded to his king “aye, well if they are, they’ll find more then they planned on. But we’ll be no use to bilbo if they catch us from the shadows. We make for the shire by dawn, so we best get some sleep.” Balin patted his arm “bombarding him at the wee hours isn’t going to engratiate us and well do we know biblo can handle himself for one more night.” And while thorin didn’t like that plan, as everything in him screamed to go, move, get to the hobbit. He could see the logic in balins advise, as always. They retired to their lodgings shortly after, but thorin did not sleep a wink. In stead he kept vigil, a candle burning low as he surveyed the darkness from the window in his room. Trying in vein to see any disturbance in the black “best to rest now, my king, the trials will find us in the morning, no doubt” balin whispered as he sattled up to thorin but the king ignored his adviser. balin tried again “perhaps you’d better spend your time thinking about how best to apologize for those letters” and thorin grunted turning to his advisor “why did you send so many? Your not a fool, you knew they couldn’t have all been apologies and invitations” balin chuckled “well, I don’t know exactly what you wrote, but I wager if you felt so compelled, then whatever your words, they were honest. surly they were not mean spirited?” the adviser raised an eyebrow and thorin ducked his head, like a child that had been caught stealing cookies “I affirmed his place with us, in so many different words, but some of it was also…ill conceived” and the king did not blush, but perhaps grew red from the vigorous scrubbing of his hand across his face “I may have given him leave to take certain…liberties…should he return”

“oh?” the old dwarf asked too innocently and thorin huffed, defeated “I gave him leave to ‘plunder my mountain’ ” and the advisor did not snort, but it was a very near thing “well, good on you lad. If that doesn’t garner you a warm reception I don’t know what will.” thorin glared “he did not write back” And the old dwarf patted thorins arm once more “it will be fine. those ravens didn’t return to us, true, but that doesn’t mean he’s ignoring you, its possible the letters never even got delivered. Just focus on reaffirming your friendship and his safety and I’m sure the plundering will come in time” balin returned to bed and left his king to brood through the night. just before dawn he roused his companions and they set off.

Now while orcs, when properly organized, are formidable foes, it must be said in general that they are not the smartest of creatures. And one of the shires natural defenses against dull minded enemies were confusing, confounding, absolute shite roads. If the orcs were after bilbo, thorin had to admit, he was safer here then anywhere else.

Because where in the ever loving krufbah (derogatory) were they? They had followed dwalin down the east road out of bree and by mid day they had reached the borders of the shire. that much they were sure of, from the look of short, curly haired, cherib faced, bare footed farmers. they had inquired upon a kindly old hobbit where abouts they may find the master of bag end. The old hobbit turned to them with a sad look, hat in hand. “apologies, mister dwarf, but I’m afraid theres not to be done, mister Baggins passed some time ago.” And thorins heart dropped, his knees buckled and all he could rasp out was “when?”

“Oh, I don’t know, now let me see…yes, I suppose it would have been…oh about twenty years ago now.”

“…beg pardon?”

“Aye, terrible thing. Just terrible, old master Baggins, bungo now this is, took ill. Bless him. sweet man, wife was a little barmy but what can you expect from a took, afteral-“

“Excuse me, but we inquire as to the whereabouts of the younger master Baggins.”

“Oh! Well why didn’t you say! They’ve settled over in Buckland, you’ll be wanting to take this road all the way to the south and once you’ve reached brandy hall you’ll find him!”

“…thank you, much obliged”

And as the dwarves wandered south (‘no thorin, its this way’) did the old hobbit scratch his head and hum to himself. “dwarves in the shire…how queer.” And back to work he went.

When the dwarves had reached brandy hall in buckland, they were unpleasantly surprised to find not their master baggins, but a mister baggins, by the name of bingo. This was evidently bilbos uncle and told them if they wanted to find bilbo, they'd best head back up the road and journey further up to hobbiton.

“now, You’re fine if your in bywater but if you hit michael delving you’ve gone to far, oh! And if you come across sackville, run.” And so the dwarves retraced there steps to the east road and took it further west, but as they progressed the hobbits became less helpful, the signs even more so and the winding paths had started to remind the dwarves of stepping into the enchanted illusions of mirkwood. Anyone who would stop when they asked for directions was down right obstructive.

“we seek master bilbo baggins of bag end”

“…bingo? He's in buckland”

“no, no bilbo baggins, of bag end”

“Drogo? He died. just a year ago Im afraid, him an his wife, poor dears, left their little boy behind-“

“Terribly sorry to hear it, but we are looking for bilbo baggins.”

“…and you say you tried bywater now?”

And off they went, deciding it would simply be better to wander around and let bilbo find them, or to look for a green door, if he hadn't changed the color. The sun was setting as they came to a collection of little hobbit holes winding up around a large hill, and dwalin, having lost his temper ages ago, barked to the nearest hobbit, bent over a black berry bush by the road. “oi, we seek bilbo baggins, d'you know 'im?”

“Bilbo you say? Now you wouldn’t mean old mad baggins on the hill?”

“…mad baggins?”

“Oh aye, mad as a march hair that one. See he went bonkers a little over two years ago, only been back less then half that time now, wild as anything. It was a shock I say! For a good family name to be tattered by one silly miscreant, tearing off into the blue after a bunch of grubby, shifty eyed…wander..ers?” at this point said hobbit had turned around to face a pack of grubby wanderers and promplty scurried into his hole, leaving dwalin to bark an obsinity at the sky. “scuse me sirs, did you say you were looking for mister bilbo?” a lilting voice called out and the group turned to find a young hobbit lass watching them with smart, tawny eyes. Her curly hair was the color of wheat with bronze shot through and her skin was perfectly sun kissed. She was pleasantly plump, with freckles dotting her shoulders and the tops of her whispy feet. She was sweet and serene looking and certainly not bilbo so dwalin was not thrilled with her. “aye! Have been for most of the day! And the last four months so if you know where the little bugger is, speak it!” and if the lass was cowed at all, she did not show it, instead she quirked her brow and cleared her throat “happily, so long as you tell me what you want with him first” and before dwalin could lob an axe at the girl, balin jumped in. “apologizes my dear, the road has been long and we are tired. We seek master baggins as friends. we travelled with him for a time but a year ago and want to see how he fairs.” And the lasses eyes widened as she leaned in conspiritorily “truly? Are you actually them?” and balin smiled and bowed, introducing himself but the lasses nose scrunched up “anyone can say a name, prove you know mister baggins, that you actually traveled with him” and quick as a flash the dwarves jumped to it. Ori produced a sketch of bilbo (that thorin was going to ask about later) and bofur proceeded to reenact the story of the night they met the burglar, with kili stepping in to sing a strange song of knives and forks. Dwalin was telling the lass where she could stick her proof when thorin trumped them all. “he carried with him a sword that he called sting, and an acorn that he treasured dearly. I recall it matched the buttons on his favorite vest, a red one.” And the lass all but sqeeled with excitement. “goodness me! You are them! He told my father about that acorn and helped him plant it! Come, come! You must be hungry from your journey and it wouldn’t do to leave mister baggins guests out on the road! I’ll take you up to bag end myself, its just round this bend.” And the little lass moved to the front of their ranks, happily babeling as she did. They turned a corner and looked to the left up a hill and there it was. A perfectly round, perfectly green door. The lass lead them through the gate and moved to a little rock by the bench that under it held a key. she then opened the door and ushered the company in “boots off if you please, and we’ll see about getting some dinner sorted. Now I’m sorry to say mister baggins is out at present but I’d expect him back anytime.” And for the first time thorin and the company took in this odd, pretty, young hobbit lass. They noted the ease at which she flited about the place, dishing out plates and cups and tea and food as if she had a hundred times before. How she seemed perfectly sure of her place in Bilbo’s house, acting as hostess in his stead. And how she had known where his key was hidden, as if she had been the one to put it there. as if she owned the place.

And thorin wasn’t sure how to react to that thought, but he was leaning towards, badly.

if balin had sensed the mood shift, he was kind to interveen

“thank you for the hospitality mrs…?”

“oh miss, actually but twyla if you please”

“very well…and you are bilbos…niece?”

“I am not”

“His…cousin perhaps?”

“No more so then your average hobbit, I’d expect”

“…you are not his daughter surley?”

And the lass, dainty as she was, snorted like one of dains great hogs before covering it with a cough

“Beg your pardon. Certainly not, you see I am not a baggins at all, but a gamgees” and the lass, twyla, smoothed her skirts and executed a perfect curtsy “twyla gamgee, at your service. In fact I’m sure mister baggins would tick my nose if I offered anything less! Such a dear one he is.”

And while thorin agreed he did not like this lass to call bilbo anything close to dear. Thoroughly puffed he asked flat out “ so you are not the lady of this house, yet you worry over Bilbo’s esteem?”

And the lass chortled again, but answered knowingly “I should say not! Could you imagine? That would certainly get some tongues wagging, with how queer mister baggins is. That is to say, some folk deem him quite odd since your adventure. No I am not his lady, but as his apprentice it would not do to be inhospitable.”

And all eyes trailed to thorin, most amused and balins quite smug.

Except for fili's, which stayed trained on the little lass, but thorin was distracted by other revelations.

Apprentice. Not Bilbo’s lady. Because bilbo was queer. Quite queer by his peoples standards. Yes that made much more sense.

 Thorin felt immediately more inclined to the girl, he nodded “you bring him honor then, miss gemgee, so you’re a burgler as well?” and for the first time the lasses beaming smile faltered

“Certainly not! I’v never stolen a thing in my life”

bofur snorted “aye, we’ve heard that one before”

“well…as you imagine, in such a small community, burglary is somewhat…frowned upon. So instead he’s been teaching me the art of story telling.”

“…story telling.”

“certainly! Sure it’s the predilection of a master burgler not to get caught but if one does get caught, they best have a good explanation. Yes that makes sense, so I am apprentice story telling burgler to master baggins” twyla tilted her chin somewhat smugly “I’ve been helping him edit his book, in fact, about your adventure.”

And kili seemed terribly pleased with that statement “mister boggins has been writing about us?!” with a waggle of his eye brows he added “nothing to racy, I hope, you know what they say: what happens on the road, stays on the road”

And thorin groaned “kili silence yourself, what is bilbo writing exactly, miss gemgee?”

But before she could answer a great shout came from the front hall “who's tracked mud all over my carpet! And why are there so many SHOES?!”

As the company turned toward the disembodied voice, twylas whispered loudly “lovely to meet you gents, do us a favor; don’t tell him I let you in, as it happens I’m not exactly…aloud to be here without his knowledge.”

And Thorin nodded absently but did not turn to the girl (for if he had, he’d have seen her scurry to a window) but he was in fact determined not to look. His heart was in his throat and he could thonk of nothing thay would cause him to look away from where their burgler would appear. But he heard ori, sounding confused ask “why wouldn’t you be al…did you, did we break into Bilbo’s house?” and thorin did turn, if only for a second, startled to see the alleged tresspasser at the back of the room, window open and half way through it. She stilled briefly and huffed with the same pithy indignation she must have learned from bilbo, it was uncanny “’course I broke in, Im an apprentice burglar, do you expect me to learn anything by being invited?”

“well…no, but-”

“Certainly not! Now that’s me off then, good afternoon.” And out she went, just as the sound of bilbos voice rounded the corner “I swear if this is some sort of joke, I will show you the flat side…of my…heel…oh…oh”

 and suddenly there he was. All bronze and golden hair, bright emerald eyes aflame with indignation, and all the pithy righteousness thorin remembered. Thorin was so busy remembering all this in fact, that he forgot to breath. And no one stood to welcome Bilbo home, into his own house.

that had been presumably empty when he left it.

The range of emotions across the hobbits face was dizzying, from anger to shock, confusion and unfortunately, fear. Oh no, why did he see fear in bilbos eyes when they settled on him? The room tensed and waited. But the fear only grew into despair as bilbo looked at thorin, devastated and whispered “oh no”.

Oh…no. So, the others had assumed correctly. Bilbos quick departure and lack of communication had been because of thorins misdeeds. The hobbit had wanted to forget them and continue his life without a thought to erabor or the dwarves in it. And they had shown up uninvited. No apology would be great enough, no treasure enough to-

“Please” whispered the hobbit and it shook thorin to his core “don’t tell me there’s another dragon”

and it was silent for not but a second before the room erupted.

Dwalin jumped to his feet and pointed a thick finger “Don’t say that! Why would you say that!?”

“well excuse me, but the last time you showed up unannounced, was in fact because of a dragon! What am I supposed to think?”

And the play began

“we were passing through to the blue mountains and wanted to say hi!”

“you left a couple brass buttons back at the mountain and we wanted to return them to you”

“Jus wanted to see how your dollies were fairing”

“we missed you laddie, plain and simple, and wanted to see that you were well” and that ended the need for further explanation.

The hobbits shoulders sagged, a smile quirking one side of his mouth, before he sighed and shook his head, opening his arms wide “well, come on then” and bilbo was tackled by three young dwarves and one with a silly hat. They laughed and exclaimed, chattering over each other before dwalin came to the burglars aid. Lifting the hobbit to his feet and smacking his back good naturedly. Balin gave him a soft hug but thorin hung back, still unsure of his welcome. He was trying to think of the most dignified, nonchalant greeting he could, when a shadow from the hall caught his eye, a tiny figure peeking just through the archway. Large pale feet, with little dark hairs matching the curls on its head and a pair of blue eyes locked onto thorin like an arrow striking true.

It was a tiny…child? Dwalin and balin had caught his gaze and followed it, prompting the tangle of dwarf and hobbit to look up from their reunion and follow suit.

Bilbo was quick to untangle himself and move towards the child, picking him up and swinging the tiny thing onto his hip. “well now I’m being terribly rude, allow me to introduce you all! Company, this is frodo baggins. frodo this is the company of thorin oakenshield, well most of them and” the hobbit turned toward thorin eyes warm if not a little tentative “this, is the king himself” the little boy gasped, at least his mouth opened in awe, but the gasp may have come from kili as he exclaimed “ooo, it’s a tiny baby hobbit” “wait kee, what if hobbits shrink as they age, maybe this is bilbo's grandfather” the boy stayed locked on thorin, but his nose gave a twitch and his brow furrowed at the comment. He looked so terribly like bilbo when he did that, thorin thought, but the coloring was wrong. Black hair, blue eyes and pale. Dwalin and bofur seemed of a similar mind and turned to their king with eyebrows near lost in their hair lines. Or in dwalins case, his tattoo line.

Thorin had expected many things to happen when he arrived here, chiefest amoung them to not get past the front door, but the appearance of a child, evidently Bilbo’s child, was something he wouldn’t have come up with in a hundred years. The child was certainly older then the almost two years they’d known their burgler, but he’d made no introductions at their first meeting all that time ago, so the confusion was mounting.

And bilbo, caught at least that much and clarified “frodo is my nephew, he’s been living with me for a few months now, and chewing my ear everyday asking after you lot as luck would have it!” And the child recognizing he was the center of attention and would likely have to speak to these fabled characters, did what any child would.

He wiggled free of his nephews grasp, dodging the princes as well and promptly booked it out of the room.

“frodo!” his uncle called out and then sighed “yes well, I suppose that was bound to happen” then shaking himself looked back to the silent dwarves “but I think we may have missed a few steps here" and glared at the boys “so your all alive then?” and fili and kili sheepishly nodded, and thorin did much the same when that glare focused on him “and all is…well…under the mountain?” and they all nodded, murmuring aye’s a bit awkwardly. The hobbit tilted his head and pondered for a moment, staring at nothing before he muttered “and none of you simply thought to write?”

And if anyone laughed (fili) then it was quickly overshadowed by a sigh of exasperation (thorin) and an angry outburst (dwalin)

“you told us not too ya finicky thing!”

“what? I most certainly did not!”

“oh aye ya did! Ori, do you have the note?”

 said scribe shuffled some loose pages in his notebook before producing a very crumpled page, handing it to the hobbit. Bilbo read the note quickly and frowned “ah” he said as he tucked the note into his back pocket . He coughed into his hand and looked anywhere but at the dwarves “forgot about that…my apologies .”

“…that’s it?”

“well no… that’s not right. I just suppose that given how things were going...I meant that there wasn’t any need…not that I actually expect you too but…oh dear” for once bilbo seemed at a loss for words, but it still led balin to ask the question “why leave a note at all? Why leave instead of waiting for one of us to come get you?” and words wpuld not fail bilbo again “I’ll remind you that I was effectively given the boot from an iron foot and could hardly feel welcome in dale, though bard did extend the invitation. Gandalf made the suggestion we travel with beorn to wait things out, but we could hardly impose more on him…it just made sense in a way, to make for the shire, regardless of what came next” bilbo looked to thorin and something deeply broken shone bright in his eyes, they seemed of one mind then.

Go back to your books and your arm chair

The king nodded and made to stand but did not approach the hobbit .

It was clear to all in the room, but most certainly thorin, that bilbo had not been expecting him to survive his injuries, and truly neither had he. They had made ammends on unsteady ground and clarification was needed for them to move forward. “dain was wrong to turn you from our gates, and the company argued for your inclusion but he would hear from none but me on the matter and you may recall I was…incapacitated for some time and unaware of the situation. When I was strong enough, I resended your banishment officially as soon as I could, but you had already gone.” And thorin struggled here “when ori arrived with your note instead of your person…it read as if you’d rather forget all that had happened and we made to respect that wish…but it did not sit well. I would confirm to you once more that you will always be welcome in Erabor, and we would welcome you as a friend in our halls” and everyone in the room seemed to sag with relief, bilbo subtly rubbing his face and nodding. “well that’s very good to hear, so all’s well that ends well I suppose.” And they waited for bilbo to continue but when he did not balin added “yes well, not exactly over Im afraid. bilbo whilst traveling here we overheard some…concerning rumors in bree. Something about orcs near these lands.” And all eyes turned expectant to the hobbit. His face went terribly blank for a split second, before his nose twitched and he answered perhaps to quickly and with a voice to high “orcs? No, no orcs here, I'm afraid. Well actually no I'm not afraid, because im sure there aren't any orcs here, so you’ve got that all wrong.” And everyone looked most unimpressed at the hobbits attempt to brush them off, so he tried again “well of course every now and then there are creatures that lurk about, but we haven’t had any trouble here in many years and there isn’t a reason for them to show up now” and balin raised a shrewed eyebrow “really? So fresh after a great defeat of their forces, theres no reason for them to follow you here and try to exact revenge?” and bilbo fiddled with his hands a moment before slipping them into his vest pockets. “they aren’t after me I assure you, did you lot have any trouble on the road?” and they shook there heads doubtfully “well there you have it then, everything is fine! If they didn’t go for you then why would they come for me?” and everyone was a bit quicker with an answer then was probably polite

“because your a little guy with a letter opener and no army?”

“because these lands are gently and quiet and not a well fortified mountain?”

“Because you an yer fancy vest was travelling in the dead of winter with an old man and an elf lady?”

“oh! Speaking of which, do you know where taurel might be? She isn't in the greenwood and she probably can't fit in a hobbit hole but if you have an address- ow! Dammit fili”

And bilbo answered their questions by choosing the ones he deemed most important “my swords name is sting, thank you kindly.” And left it there.

They all groaned and the hobbit shooshed them “my friends, and it is good to call you that again, I welcome you here for as long as you'd like to visit, but I assure you, there is no trouble; nothing to fight, nothing to conquer. and I hope you would take the time to enjoy that before you return to your mountain" and if someone coughed expectetently (balin) it was ignored, but thorin could not ignore the hard gostle of a pointy elbow (kili) at his back. Thorin cleared his throat and continued “glad are we to hear it and we will of course stay for a visit. But perhaps you’d like to do the same…if you’d like to return to erabor, we would happily have you along” and the hobbit did not look at him, acted as if he hadn't heard him before quietly stating “thank you…but I can’t, can I? It wouldn’t be…safe. That is it wouldn’t be safe for frodo. Not you of course or the the mountain but the road there. It would be much to much for a little faunt, and I won’t leave him behind, he’s had to much of that.” And it seemed from bilbos tone that it was not up for debate. While they may not be in active danger (though no one was convinced orcs around the shire was normal) the road was long and perilous and it had been difficult on all the grown, steardy beings that traversed it. Sure gimli had made the trip with his mother, but the boy was a strong pebble and this frodo…did not seem to be. So it was silently agreed and the hobbit, sensing the shift, excused himself to see to the child as they ruminated.

And so not for the first time, the company retired to bilbos smoking room, dispondent at the loss of a burglar and the wrench it threw in their plans. After this visit, if he would not join them, where they just supposed to...go home? Thorin released a great sigh of smoke from his mouth very akin to a dragon, When once again he noticed the slightest movement in the shadows. A quick, tiny shift from the dark hall behind a chair then over to the side table by a couch were dwalin was gaurding a plate of cookies. The old warrior locked eyes with his king, then flicked them to the table, where a tiny hand was slowly moving towards the plate.

It would seem burglery was an inherited traite for hobbits.

Dwalin pretended not to noticed as the hand fumbled, feeling around slightly until it landed on its prize and shot back out of sight. The little hobbit then tried to retrace his steps unnoticed, but balin cleared his throat. “now laddie, we wont say anything about you being up past your bedtime, but I'm sure your uncle would frown upon the sweets.” And the little hobbit froze, back to the dwarves and for a moment thorin thought he would simply make a run for it. But the child seemed wise beyond his years, he turned to balin, shoulders hunched and walked back to dwalin. He handed the big dwarf the cookie, crestfallen.

But when it came to young ones and sweets thorin and dwalin were of the same mind. the grizzly dwarf broke the cookie in half and offered it up to the lad. Frodo grabbed it immediately amd inhaled it. “fwank oo” the child said, he swallowed before locking onto thorin as he’d done earlier, to the kings chagrin. Never in all his life had thorin had to deal with a quiet child. Fili and kili were hellraisers from the second their eyes had opened and dis and frenrin had been much the same when they were young. It must be something in the hobbit blood, though bilbo had never held back his tongue, be it silver or barbed. Still there was an intelligence there, almost challenging thorin to strike the right key to get the child to speak. Thorin hummed as he contemplated and something in those young blue eyes sparked. So the hum turned into a low and constant thrum with a lift every so often. And the child leaned forward, so thorin hummed the first bit to the hymn of the lonley mountain, the song they once sang in this very room, some two years ago. And the child gasped.

He knows it thorin was surprised to realize, but how…

 Bilbo may have sung it to him. And the clench in thorins heart squeezed tight at the thought. Still he faced a dilemma. The song of the lost mountain was one of mourning. While the meaning was likely lost on the child thorin didn’t think it appropriate to sing it anymore. So instead he tested another tune. He hummed the refrain for the song of durin and the curious little child inched closer to thorin's chair, arms stretched up slightly.

A universal signal, one thorin remembered from his days being accosted by two mischievous pebbles.

He picked frodo up and settled him close to his chest as he sang the first few lines of durins song. Speaking of green mountains and unnamed Lands. It was very fine, a song of discovery and adventure. It told of magnificent dwarven halls, fit for the finest kings and seemed to enrapture the child that stared up at thorin. As if he could see great stone thrones and mighty doors lined with runes from thorins voice alone. The others joined in at the chores, weaving magic through the air, stirring something ancient and slumbering back to life. But slumber it seems, could not be fought by all, as frodos eyes drooped and a wide yawn broke free. Thorin and the company dwindled, the song coming to a halt before the hobbit child asked “is that a song of the mountain?” and thorin chuckled “not of our mountain exactly, but every dwarf knows it. Even our ravens sing it” and the child peeked open an eye to look up at the king “I’d like to hear them sing it please” and thorins heart warmed “perhaps one day you will.” But the child was not so easily sated “if they are at your mountain could we go there and hear them?” and thorin felt as if he was walking into a trap “your uncle would rather you not risk the journey” and the boy shook his head “but you’re the king, not uncle bilbo, you don’t have to listen to him”

oh this is definitely a trap but thorin would not fall “he was most sure Karkith, that you are too young” The child scoffed, nose twitching just as bilbos would have “I can make it! Im strong! Uncle promised to take me to see the elves and he’s said he’d like to go back to the mountain-“ “that’s enough now, frodo” and both little hobbit and king froze. they all turned to see bilbo leaning against the doorway, arms crossed and looking more despondent then annoyed. Bilbo wordlessly held his arms open and thorin was quick to deposit frodo into his arms. The child puffed out his cheeks and looked ready to argue with his uncle, but a little tweak of the nose kept him quiet “its much past your bedtime young man, and we shouldn’t be disturbing our guests. How terribly rude! I’m sure whatever you have to say can wait until morning.” And the older hobbit ducked out. Balin chuckled “well, it would seem not all hope is lost" and the rest agreed. If the child was so determined, perhaps they should not give up so easily. They had promised to stay and visit for a time, perhaps that time could be spent training up a little hobbit and getting him fit for the road.

Him and his uncle.

The king and company were mulling it over when the hobbit rejoined them “right, some ground rules I think” and he turned to bofur, dwalin and ori “no sleeping wherever you please, I have guest rooms you know” and to the princes “don’t leave your weapons out where frodo can find them, he would not look well in an eyepatch or less a finger or toe” to balin, who raised his eyebrow “…nevermind” then the hobbit turned to thorin “no singing” but kili would not be stopped “oh, so you'll take him to see the elves, but when I ask after just one” and bilbo snapped his fingers at the princling “keep it up and I’ll send you to sleep with the orcs, I haven't forgotten that none of you explained how you got into my house without my say so. Now good night and keep it down.” And they did.

they kept quiet both their song and their plans for the hobbits down the hall. 

Chapter Text

The next morning saw them all up bright and early. The company and hobbits discussed their plans over an absolutely feast of breakfast foods, and never had the dwarves been so happy to be back in this gentle land. Bilbo extended the invitation to stay for as long as they wanted and in the end they decided on a fortnight. Bilbo and frodos birthday was coming in that time and they were all joyed at the idea of celebrating together. The company would need to leave soon after if they were to get back to erabor before the winter shut them out, and in the intern, thorin layed out tasks to his kin in khudzul “the child is an ally, speak to him all you will about the mountain, and make sure he baggers his uncle” fili and kili nodded, experts in uncle baggering as they were. “and we’ll need to get birthday presents for the hobbits, so a trip to the market is needed, but be subtle" bofur and ori, as the least intimidating (excuse you) dwarves would journey out. “we need to keep an eye on the orc situation, I want to lead patrols without raising suspiscion” and dwalin nodded, ever ready to lend his axe, but oin and balin were of a different mind “he said it was fine, I don’t know about you but I plan to plant my arse in his garden and eat until you have to roll me back to erabor” but balin cut the king with his own tasks “you still need to write to dis and gleam the status of any other letters that require your attention” and everyone would have had an opinion about that had the child not cut in from his place in thorins lap, "what are you saying?” and thorin chuckled “it is nothing of consequence, ibinê, finish your breakfast.” the boy still pouted but said nothing. When they had first settled at table and frodo had claimed the dwarve king as his seat bilbo had tried to remove him. But the king insisted it was fine and both pairs of blue eyes had looked so pleadingly at the hobbit that bilbo relented, but only if the child behaved. A knock came to the door but just as quickly that door opened and shut, and the trill of a lilting voice came wafting in “good morning mister baggins and – gasp, goodness me! Sorry to interrupt, I didn’t relize you had company” and if twyla took lessens from bilbo in believability, it was not a surpise the hobbit looked…not surprised “good morning twyla, not sure how you could forget since you let them in my house yesterday”  “I'm sure I don’t know what you mean”

“yes, Im sure you don’t”

“anyway, I’ve come to collect frodo, thought he and sam might like a turn at fishing before we get on to their studies.” And both older hobbits looked gently to the youngest, suddenly sad one. Frodo shook his head and twyla gave a sympathetic look “that’s alright, it’s a beautiful day, we’ll find plenty to do after your schooling” And when the child hopped down to follow after the lass, he was quickly shadowed by kili and fili in tow. Balin took the opertunity to ask “pretty lass that one, a teacher?” and bilbo barked a laugh “she’s trouble, I assure you, but smart enough. I taught her letters and such when she was his age, shes always had a mind for histories. But really I think she hangs about just to give me grief.” And balin gave his king a mighty side eye “well that's fine, speaking of letters”

“such a fine day outside” thorin was quick to cut in “master baggins, might we take a walk? I much desire to see your lands” and not have this conversation in front of these old gossips.

The hobbit was quick to agree and off they went, leaving everyone else to their food. With bilbo as a guide they trailed around the east farthing woods, catching the stray eye and whisper, for even thorin had to admit they made quite the queer pairing. If bilbo noticed the attention he ignored it with ease.

But thorin could not

“apologies if our presence fuels ill talk from your neighbors” but the hobbit shook his head “oh its not you, I'm afraid my reputation is simply not what it was”

“you mean what it was before you left with us?” and the look bilbo shot at the king was telling

“Im sure I don’t know what you mean”

“All the same…apologies”

“nonsense, knowing how its all played out I wouldn’t change a thing”

And the king winced “well, certainly one or two things could have been improved upon”

And bilbos nose twitched “perhaps…I certainly would have packed warmer clothes, who knew the mountain would be so cold?”

Thorin accepted the olive branch with a greatful nod and they meandered for a few minutes, just enjoying eachother presence before bilbo sighed.

“We might as well have it out then” bilbo stopped at thorins confused look “about whatever letters you didn’t want balin to ask me about”

Thorin sighed as well, not at all ready for this conversation, but bilbo did not seem particularly angrey (yet) or worse, sympathetic.

“Yes…well I knew it was to much to hope for that they’d gotton lost. I have not a good reason, you see I was…incapacitated ”

“Yes I know, and really I’m sure that isn’t anything for you to apologize for.”

“You did not deserve such disrespect, such…ire, at times. I am so sorry”

“Think nothing of it really, its hardly your fault and I half expected it from how things were left.”

“you are not angry?”

“Not at all, I promise. Truly, I think I'm too pleased to see you all here; Whole and harty, I could scarsly be angry about anything! And I plan to keep it that way while you’re here, so lets be done with the melancholy. We have much to celebrate. The greatest reason to celebrate in fact!”

“for us dropping in uninvited once more?”

“no, for my and frodos birthday!” the hobbit winked and thorin chuckeld and they discussed the occasion as they strolled. It was a bit of a culture shock to learn hobbits did not receive presents on their birthdays but gave them (and thorin did ask twyla and frodo alike later to make sure that was true) but everything else seemed to be the same; ale and food, dancing and stories about the hosts. They walked and talked and circled back around to bag end, where fili came jogging out with a roll of paper in his hand. “a ravens here, it's from erabor” and thorin ripped open the page as fili handed him his specticles (ignoring the hobbits raised eyebrow) expecting the worst, he found it, but not in the way he had imagined.

To whom it may concern,

This letter is sent with the intention of reaching thorin oakenshield, brother to the most patient lady dis. As no letter from said oof has been forthcoming, one can only assume he has gotten turned around and perhaps fallen off a cliff on his journey. For certainly he would not be so dim as to forget to write again. If that is not the case, please relay to the arsehole that his mountain is well, but if he does not reply to this message post haste, another will be addressed to the master of bag end with a littany of embarrasing stories from the kings childhood. Such as the time he stepped on the arm of a small hammer and hit himself in the testicles.

Kindest regards,

The lady dis, daughter of fris,  steward of erabor and the halls of a ram turd.

“not bad news I hope” bilbo said as he tried to read over thorins shoulder before said dwarf shredded the page. The hobbit puffed “well, whoever it is, I imagine they’ll be wanting a reply. I’ll get you some ink and paper, fili, would you be so kind as to call frodo home for elevensis? Might as well grab the gamgees too“ and if his nephew looked a bit red at the prospect of 'grabbing' the hobbitess, thorin did not notice. he followed bilbo into the house and was sat in the parlor with ink and parchmant from bilbos study. He did not so much as think before the words were put to page.

Dear dis,

Thank you for your letter, it was well received by the intended party. And while I apologize for not keeping to my word of writing to you from bree, I assure you we have arrived safely to the shire and are making headway with our mission. We intend to set out by the end of september, but I cannot yet speak in regards to the hobbit joining us. Mister baggins has with him something too precious for the road and I fear he will not come, but hope is not yet lost. so I ask you to continue your good watch over erabor, and to keep your fickle nose out of It for now.

With love,

Thorin son of thrain, king under the mountain.

P.s: the boys say hello.

Thorin sealed the letter with bilbo's stamp, dropped his glasses and went to the kitchen, where bilbo was plating cold meat and a bowl of water for a large coal colored bird. It was one of dis’s personal favorites, naōk, a very sweet tempered male, but not a fan of thorins. The bird nipped his finger when he offered the parchment, settling closer to the hobbit. Naōk was further delayed when frodo came bounding in, thrilled at the prospect of a giant bird in his uncles kitchen. All bets were off when naōk spoke to the child, preening under frodos excitement. Twyla dropped apple tarts from her mother on the table and joined the boy to marvel at the talking bird, fili watching her with a strange expression from the hallway. Bilbo joined thorin at the table with tea. “you might as well put that letter in the mailbox, it would probably reach the mountain faster”

“the boy enjoys birds then?”

“Well, talking ones anyway, though my telling of the eagles is a personal favorite of his.”

“oh? I thought perhaps our quest was ‘too much for a young faunt’”

“it is, and you know that, but I've been telling frodo a …age appropriate version”

“Heavily edited then, has miss gamgee gleamed the truth from your writing?”

Bilbo glared at thorin “I don’t recall saying I was writing it down”

“ah, well…of course you are, for it is a legend worthy of being remebered”

“Oh?”

“Quite, filled with adventure and majestic creatures and…things”

“and a lot of walking. and sleeping and walking. And running. and not very much eat but certainly much walking and talking and oh! Yes of course how could I forget the walking”

“Well…perhaps some…revision is warrented. But it was a great deal more exciting then all that"

“like getting tied up by trolls? Or imprisoned by elves? Or that time ori ate a raspberry and we found out he was allergic?”

“that was concerning, but I take your point; creative liberties are given by the authors whims, and no other. And at least I trust the author to be forthright where it counts” and if the hobbit blushed, he quickly turned it into a flush of anger by glarring at the hobbit lass still cooing over the raven “and YOU, young lady if I find you rummaging in my study once more I shall have words with your mother! Terribly rude, reading an elders memoirs”

“Aye master baggins, but you do need to be brought back to reality every know and again in your writings; do you really expect anyone to believe that the king got lost seven times on the way to bag end?”

“excuse me?”

“Im sure I don’t know what you mean twyla”

“oh yes master baggins, I’m sure you don’t.” And it was well past the appropriate time for elevensis, closing in on lunchion (gracious bilbo, where do you hobbits put it all?) But the hobbit bid the king to gather his company, bringing them, twyla and her shy brother sam to the table. the raven, though very full made, his escape much to frodo's disappointment. So the company took great joy in telling frodo all they knew of the ravens, their connection to durin and their family lines. Many jokes were made and appropriate stories told and it was a merry luncheon indeed. Though thorin was sad to see that fili was quiet and distracted, he had never seen his eldest nephew unsure of himself and it was obvious to thorin what the problem was.

He felt guilt for not writing to his mother before the raven left, such a dutiful boy.

When thorin said as much to oin, the older dwarf suggested he put his spectacles back on and bilbo snorted tea through his nose.

so that week progressed in such a fashion; they would all join at table for the various and many hobbit meals, then go about their days in lazy splendor. It seemed to thorin a challenge his kin had never known; to be without the weight of survival. But they took to it as any other battle; oin and balin as the most seasoned of the group oversaw the comings and goings of the shire from the bench in the garden or seated by a warm hearth, tea and nibbles spread between them. bofur and ori surveyed the shire, ori vigorously scribbling everything he found of note on hobbit culture and social graces. The boys were carrying out Their missions with gusto; frodo would spend a few hours with bilbo and twyla in studies and then fili and kili would desend, letting frodo lead them around the shire while dwalin kept a watchful eye at the borders. The boys would teach frodo about the thrill of adventure and the open road, play fighting and tossing the little hobbit so high he could imagine the feel of flying astirde an eagle. This inevitably brought the attention of other faunts and soon thorins brave soliders were generals in their own right to a little hobbit army. though Dwalin more often played the part of the mountain that would need to be recaptured from enemy forces. Thorin would find himself at bilbo's side as he patrolled the woods (with the hobbits guidence) or sitting together while the children played, just enjoying the others presence. Many times in the warm, peaceful atmosphere of their companions thorins mind would wander. not to worries and responsibility, but to the words his sister said before she pushed him towards the shire.

A place is not a home without love thorin. And If your Love will not come here, you must go and see if you can make a new one. And he could see himself making such a home here.

It clenched his heart to think such things, after all they had sacrificed to reclaim erabor, only to feel it lacking, missing something. It was true, though his sister overstepped, for his feelings s toward bilbo were deep affection, it was not the love dis thought it was. It was simply the desire to see these hobbits happy and growing, the light of the shire shone brightly because of them. And the joy thorin experienced at seeing his nephews carefree for the first time since they were frodos age, it was a sight he didn’t know he missed until he saw it again. He imagined for just a wild second, writing to his sister and naming her as king or whomever of their kin she chose to lead if she would come here, be with her sons and these excellent hobbits, so they might watch them all grow with bilbo at his side.

It was a very queer thought.

for thorin still loved erabor, missed it even now and thought it could only be improved by having these hobbits within her walls. But it was selfish, and asking bilbo to leave would be selfish and thorin was worried for the first time that there was no right choice to make. But as the hobbit of his deep, queer affection smiled up at him whilst the echo of joyful laughter rang out behind him, thorin was reminded that his thoughts were not to be melancholy here and he forced himself to focus on the present and all good things it offered.

For as we all know, moments like this are hard to come by and gone much sooner then we imagine.

-------------------------

The night was silent and pitch black and only broken by the shuffeling of heavy, foul boots. A skulking figure moved through the trees as a snake through water, a bloody piece of parchment clutched in its gnarled fingers. When the figure stopped it let out a low whistle, and three more creatures approached. The largest stepped forward and took the page, reading it quickly, confirming his suspicions.

The hobbit…has something too precious for the road

Shire…baggins

"Its here. Send the word out; we converge on the Halflings in a weeks time.”