Chapter Text
Gandalf stared at the raven proudly sitting at Bilbo's mailbox. It was clearly not an ordinary raven, and one of those from the dwarven royalty. The ones that knew two languages and lived as long as the owners. He had always tried to befriend the birds, but they were snobbish in how they only listened to dwarves no matter what.
When the wizard reached for the bird, it squawked and snapped at him. For being such a smart bird, it was being incredibly stupid for annoying Gandalf the Grey. And people thought the great eagles were the outlandish ones.
"Oh! It's Thorin's!" Bilbo cheered as he put away his pipe and went up to the bird. "Please, come here gorgeous!"
This time it gracefully hopped to the hobbit's shoulder, and nipped at his curls playfully. The hobbit giggled before taking the letter. He went back inside with the raven and Gandalf followed in interest. It was clear that the raven was as comfortable with the hobbit as it was untrusting with the wizard.
Bilbo first went to the kitchen and gave some sausages to the raven who eagerly ate the meat. The hobbit then started making breakfast absently, and the raven liked the bacon even more than the sausages. Still it sat on his shoulder patiently, never crying for meat and only squawking in happiness whenever it got a new morsel.
"What does Thorin write?" Gandalf asked around a mouthful of eggs and toast.
"Mostly that their journey was fine and they've settled back in their house. Fíli and Kíli already ate all their jam and tried to get his."
Gandalf saw the tender smile on Bilbo's face, and thought that maybe he would not have to come around as often. Not that there was much danger in Middle Earth as days past, but it was a little taxing to have to come spend a few weeks at the Shire every year. Not that Gandalf would ever break his promise to his favorite Bella.
"If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go write my reply now," Bilbo said with a smile.
The raven ruffled its feathers proudly for a moment at that, and Bilbo gave it a warm chuckle and stroked its head before walking away to his desk.
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Thorin stared at his hair in misery. While he had seen his first white hair a few years ago, the streaks were now impossible to ignore. The dwarf wondered just how Fíli and Kíli managed to stress him out more than ever when Kíli would soon be an adult. But then Thorin had grown up with Frerin.
Dís said the silver made Thorin look striking and wise, but Thorin was more concerned about how it made him look as old as he felt. He remembered just how quickly Balin had turned completely white, an how Dwalin had lost his mohawk.
The dwarf was distracted by a clipped tapping on his window, and he turned from the mirror to see his raven Toräck was back. He allowed the raven to hop up on his forearm and unravel the letter.
"I agree with your sister about your hair," the raven chirped happily in its guttural language as it picked at Thorin's curls.
"I hope you didn't pick at Bilbo's hair," Thorin grumbled, even though he could not get annoyed by his raven. Toräck had been with him nearly his entire life, and had often risked his life to scout ahead for Thorin and his people.
The raven was oddly silent, so Thorin turned away from the letter to shoot the bird a glare.
"The halfling liked it," Toräck argued mulishly.
"How would you know? Did you ask him?"
"He gave me sausages, and then bacon," Toräck said, chest puffing out and causing his black feathers to shine prettily in the morning sun. "He clearly likes me better than Ko."
"Well, he's more accustomed to Ko. She's always flying between the Shire."
Toräck snapped his beak sharply, and Thorin thought it all more than a tad funny. It was not like Ko was not his cousin, and instead a bird threatening his entire reputation.
"Just hurry up and write a response then," Toräck said with a cackle. "Bilbo only took a couple hours while you take a couple weeks."
"I'm not versed well in writing like the hobbit," Thorin mumbled.
"That and decent manners," Toräck said with another snap of his sharp beak.
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Ori opened his letter from Bilbo in glee, totally forgetting about taking off his shoes when he entered Fíli and Kíli's house. Like before he had by luck seen Ko fly by, and so had decided to follow her to get his letter right away. He wished he could get a raven, but Dori was the one whose father had been somehow linked to the Durin line. So Nori and Ori had no claim at all to get a raven.
But there were many noble dwarves, like Dwalin, who did not have a raven. And Kíli did not have his own, favoring instead to share with Fíli. Ori was always surprised at how well the brothers got along with each other when they were menaces to everyone else around them.
Ori let his eyes trail along the lines, and smiled when he heard about the normal flow of Bilbo's life. He had just transferred more seedlings for his fall harvest to the garden, and said he was trying some new orange 'sweet' potatoes. (The concept made Ori a little worrisome, as Bilbo had such a bad habit of eating so much green food.)
Yet a few paragraphs in, the subject dragged on about a new letter opener that Bilbo had been given by Thorin. The hobbit explained how he used it to open all his letters now, which created the another reason for excitement at getting mail.
It was crafted to be like a small sword, and he had accidentally cut himself on the edge when the hobbit had tested its sharpness. This made Bilbo name it Sting, as the cut had been annoying with the sting it brought when he did the dishes or washed his hair.
As much as Ori enjoyed letters from Bilbo, it was a tad boring that he talked mostly of Thorin's raven and a letter opener for nearly half a page. He wondered if Fíli and Kíli had a similar story in their letter, but thought that Bilbo was smart enough to not gush over their uncle to them.
Ori waved goodbye and declined Dís' offer for some breakfast to walk back to his house in a slight trot. He had been too busy leaving the house he had forgotten his trademark gray shawl. When he got back to the house, Ori was offered breakfast a second time.
"In a bit, Dori. I have to write a letter to Bilbo first."
"Tell him to try and save me some of that chamomile teas those merchants bring before the market closes. I'll be sure to pay him back when we see him next year," his brother called from the kitchen.
"Alright!" Ori called in return before sprinting up the stairs.
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Thorin trotted into the Shire on his own pony, as Kíli and Fíli were both at the cart's head. While before that had been fine, Thorin had begun to feel bad for their draft horse having to haul their cart and three dwarves.
"Home away from home, eh?" Dís said from beside him on her own pony.
Thorin decided to let the knowing tone in her voice go and simply nodded. He was hoping for a relatively peaceful Summer, as Frerin had decided to stay behind in the Blue Mountains. Thorin had not even asked for the reason why, and had just accepted it with a nod (and an internal grin).
The market quickly came into view, and Thorin glanced around at the bustling hobbits who greeted their caravan with warm greetings and smiles. They unloaded the wooden skeletons for their stalls, and the canvases that stretched over the frames, before they were back on the carts and spurring the donkies on one last time.
Everyone seemed to give a breath of relief when they got to the familiar grassy field. Everyone went about setting up their tents where they had been for many years. As odd as it was that they put their stakes exactly where they were last year, Thorin knew just how dedicated to routine dwarves were.
As tired as everyone was, they rushed to go to the market. After weeks being on the road they were excited for baked delicacies and warm food prepared right.
"Think Bilbo baked up a good amount of treats yet?" Thorin heard Kíli attempt to mutter secretly to his brother.
"What's this?" Dís asked in interest.
Being so blatantly caught, Fíli gave a sharp elbow to Kíli's ribs (that had the young dwarf keening) before turning back to his mother and stating honestly: "Bilbo bakes all day when we come. He... always tells us to invite everyone else, but we just say each time you're all too busy."
"Ori!" Dori snapped, and at least Ori had the shame to look caught red-handed.
"I really like his almond cookies," Ori argued weakly.
"It's decided then," Glóin said with a heavy nod. "It's about time we go give our hobbit a visit and raid his pantry."
A cheer went up, and Thorin sighed in realization that they would not be setting up shop to start offering their services today.
"Yes, we know it's not blackberry season yet so what's the point, but maybe he still has a leftover jar from last year?" Dwalin asked.
Thorin shot his old friend a nasty glare, yet Dwalin only proved how much of an ass he was by laughing and pulling Thorin along.
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Bilbo tried to control his staring, but it was absolutely impossible.
Now, Bilbo as a very respectable hobbit. Even if people muttered about how he did not have sweethearts by the dozen like other hobbits his age, and even if he had a bad habit of wandering outside the Shire borders on his strolls, Bilbo had a good reputation.
He polished his acorn buttons till they shined in the dimmest lighting, and he kept his shirts white and soft. The curls on his feet were always combed and free of mud, just like when he was younger. He always made sure to watch the sun so his skin did not become bright red like a cranberry.
Yet Bilbo was sure the most respectable hobbit could not stop but look. Because it was not everyday that such an attractive dwarf was working with his shirt off.
Usually the forge's doors were closed, either to prevent fauntlings from wandering in or just to keep the heat in, Bilbo was unsure. But he did know it was an especially sticky day today, so he thought that the heat would be near unbearable with the forges.
As Thorin brought his hammer back down on the bright orange rod of metal, Bilbo thought his heart would speed up so much it might explode. Not that staring at a half-naked dwarf would be the worst way to go.
Because, sweet Yavanna, what a sight Thorin made.
His long hair that was usually down was braided behind him, curling down to end at the middle of his broad back. Bilbo noted again that Thorin had more white than last year, and thought the contrast brought a new spark to the dwarf's features.
Another clang made the hobbit jump, and grab at his chest in shock for staring so openly and completely forgetting himself. While yes, it was not everyday Bilbo got to see shining muscles lit by a fire's gleam, it was still a tad rude. It was just so memorizing to watch them stretch and change at various angles.
Yes, their great Aulë who had fashioned his dwarves out of stone had made them fine creatures indeed.
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These weekly meetings for dinner at Bilbo's place were a special treat. At first Ori had been unsure about it, and worried about how much they were eating away Bilbo's money. Because while dwarves had a healthy appetite for drink, it was only second to their fervor for food. With both loves taking an obvious place behind shiny things that caught their eye.
But that was quickly remedied by everyone simply buying something to drop off to Bilbo the day before. Usually they were cuts of meat, but Ori always made sure to bring potatoes. Fíli and Kíli were set about bringing apples and berries for dessert, while Balin thoughtfully brought flour and seeds for bread. Bifur was the best in how he just bought massive jars of honey.
Bilbo had finally given up trying to wrangle some sort of order when the dwarves ate. Yet they were always sure to clean up after themselves, with a new set of lyrics that made Bilbo laugh.
Tonight's dinner had been going like usual, yet it was interrupted curtly by a clipped sound at the window. Everyone turned to stare at the raven that Ori did not immediately recognize.
"What is Frerin doing using his raven?" Dís asked in shock. "I'm surprised it actually managed to get here, as the idiot barely uses it."
Ori did note that the raven was a little heavier than other ones he had seen. Its feathers also seemed ruffled, like it had a rough journey.
Thorin was the one who finally stood up and went to the raven, giving it a piece of cut ham as an offering for the letter. Everyone went back to their conversations mostly to allow Thorin at least the pretense of privacy.
"Dís," Thorin said curtly, cutting through the lull of voices.
While the beautiful dwarf would usually stomp on her brother's harsh tone, she seemed to understand something was truly off. She stood up without a word and went to stand as his side.
"May we borrow your garden, Bilbo?" Thorin asked politely.
"Of course, please," the hobbit said in a daze, clearly as confused as the rest of the company about the interruption and Thorin's tense shoulders.
Everyone waited exactly ten seconds after the siblings had gone before bursting into conversation. Ori decided to stay silent, and stared down at his mashed potatoes with a frown.
"Something's wrong," he muttered softly.
Dwalin huffed in agreement next to him.
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Bilbo did not know what was written in that letter, but he had never seen Thorin's face close-off so fast at whatever he had read in the letter.
As much as the dwarf had become accustomed to the Shire, there were still times when Thorin became distant. When a hobbit would come up and pick at his tunic without asking for permission; when the lasses cooed about just how he got his curls to play so nicely. Or whenever the dwarves decided to go swimming in the river to every hobbit's horror. It was distressing to see him revert to his past indifference.
They were well past dessert, and everyone was tuning their instruments before the fire, when Thorin and Dís came back. Thorin did not offer any words as he went and sat down in the chair that had been left open for him. He also did not reach for his harp, and instead took out his pipe to begin furiously packing it.
"What's this all about, Mom?" Fíli asked, breaking the silence and everyone's wonderings of who was going to be brave (or stupid) enough to ask.
Dís sighed, and shot a glance over to a still-standoffish Thorin, before stating: "It's about Erebor."
Bilbo perked at that, as he had seen that word on some maps of Middle Earth. But it was nothing to the collective gasp that the dwarves gave around the room. It sounded like all the air had been sucked out of the room to be immediately replaced with tension.
"What's happened?" Kíli asked impatiently.
Dís frowned, and Bilbo suddenly realized he was intruding on something mighty personal with the dwarves.
"If you don't all mind, I think I'm going to go outside for a bit and catch some fresh air. It's much too stuffy with all you here. But please, feel free to stay as long as you need," the hobbit said as he stood and straightened his waistcoat nervously.
Before anyone could say anything, Bilbo darted out down the hallway to his garden. While he wanted nothing more than to stay and hear what they were talking about, Bilbo could easily tell this was nothing for a stranger to listen and wonder over.
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Bilbo had just started puffing on his pipe in the dying light of a long day when the door creaked open. He turned, expecting to see maybe Ori, but started when he saw it was a grave-faced Thorin.
"May I join you?" he asked in a deep rumble.
The hobbit stared for a moment more before nodding his head enthusiastically. Thorin sat beside him on the porch, the wooden planks creaking but not breaking at the added weight. Bilbo noted he had brought his pipe with him, and the two of them sat and smoked for a bit in silence.
"Have you ever heard about the Lonely Mountain?" Thorin asked, voice deep and steady as it broke the silence between them.
"I thought you called it Erebor?" Bilbo said with a frown.
Thorin was silent and exhaled with a cloud before saying: "It's the same, but the name I said came after it fell. After the dragon attacked."
At hearing just the mention of such a creature, Bilbo nearly chocked on his smoke.
"We were the richest kingdom in all of Middle Earth," Thorin said without prompt. "Dale below us was the focal point for trade for miles around. But that sort of wealth attracted more than just respect, and Smaug was lured out to us one day."
Bilbo held his breath and turned to see Thorin looking at his hands. His blue eyes were dark with pain of the past, and the hobbit reached forward to rest his free hand on his bare forearm. Thorin seemed to jump at the contact, but Bilbo stubbornly did not let go.
"Our King, my Grandfather, was too blind in his greed to let the kingdom go. He ordered us to attack Smaug, and while we did defeat him, it was at terrible costs. It was only through the dragon's own irrationality of breaking down so much infrastructure in anger, especially around the treasury, that the mountain's structure became unsound."
Bilbo's grip on his arm tightened, as he dully realized that Fíli and Kíli did not call Thorin a royal out of joking, but to a fragment of the past.
"My Grandfather refused to leave, unwilling to abandon the gold and Arkenstone. So now Erebor is a broken tomb for him, many of my people, and Smaug."
Thorin was silent then, and Bilbo wondered if he should say anything in return. Finally, after Thorin looked back up at Bilbo, the hobbit managed to speak.
"If your home is gone, what is Frerin writing about?"
"A desperate mission to see if all must be lost. If we cannot recover the gold, or the items of our ancestry."
"That sounds like quite an adventure," Bilbo said breathlessly.
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Thorin looked away from Bilbo and down to his little hand that was still clinging desperately to the coils of muscle on his forearm. His nails were beginning to dig into the dwarf's skin, but it was a welcome Dístraction.
"Frerin has been planning, and wrote to get supplies from here to bring back for next Spring. I know he'll be stubborn enough to go by himself if he needs to."
"You're going to go back," Bilbo said softly.
Thorin swallowed, and wondered if the heavy feeling in his stomach was worry or nerves.
"I'm sure we will still find nothing more than a tomb. I have already lost so much there, and then at Moria, I am almost... afraid to go back."
Thorin had no idea why he was telling all of this to a little hobbit. Maybe it was because Bilbo knew the bone-deep grief that came with losing loved ones. Maybe one day Thorin would tell Bilbo about Moria, and how he had lost his father to a massive white killer before felling the orc himself. Fíli and Kíli had also lost their father that day, and Thorin could still remember the screams of Dís' pain at learning of Vili's death.
Thráin had saved Frerin, but it had abandoned all the responsibilities to had been supported and loved, but he felt alone. Alone, and shamed that they had lost many lives again a desperate attempt to reclaim another of their homes. It had made Thorin admit they needed to start somewhere new.
"You need to go back," Bilbo stated. "I was at a complete loss after losing my parents, and I hated having to see their graves every day."
Thorin watched as the hobbit's gaze moved from his face across the lawn to the two patches of yellow and red flowers. They were closed even with the bright light of a moon nearly full.
"But everyday I went to see them, and soon it did not feel like a weight I had to carry."
The hobbit turned back to Thorin then, and said with a small smile: "You need to do the same. You need to see this mountain to lose it off your shoulders."
Thorin stared at Bilbo, and sighed when he realized it had been the right decision to come out here and consult him. Thinking to follow through with another gut feeling, Thorin leaned forward enough to knock his forehead gently against Bilbo's.
The hobbit gasped, before giggling, and it was in that moment where Thorin realized he was in love.
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Bilbo watched as everyone got onto ponies two weeks before they would usually leave. They had barrels of grains and preservatives that would last through the Winter before they set off on their adventure in Spring. Other hobbits were milling about, confused why the dwarves were leaving early.
The hobbit sighed, thinking that he had nothing with blackberries to offer Thorin. He had given them apple turnovers and blueberry muffins, but it still made the hobbit disappointed. He would not be seeing Thorin for three years and he could not even give him a unique parting gift to help him along. Sure, some jam would not be the line between success and failure, but Bilbo thought the dwarf would need all the support he could get in this journey.
Bilbo jumped as he felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned away from watching Ori blushing next to Dwalin to see Thorin looking down at him. The hobbit had thought as a kid the intimidation factor of Thorin's height would diminish, but still the dwarf towered over him.
The hobbit did not know what to say, but Thorin did not seem to be looking for words as he pulled Bilbo into a tight hug. Bilbo felt warm and safe, like when he hid under the covers from Winter's chills.
The hug was intense, but it lasted much too short for Bilbo's liking. Thorin pulled back and stared at him dully, brow furrowed in obvious worry.
"We'll return in three year's time, if everything goes as planned."
Bilbo smiled weakly, knowing that nothing, especially a journey this big, would go as planned. They would probably loose their supplies at least twice, and nearly die half a dozen times.
The hobbit watched them ride away that late morning, and Bilbo found himself thinking about one dwarf or another each day afterwards.
He got letters from Ori, or Fíli and Kíli, detailing how the planning was going. He only got a select few from Thorin, and Bilbo appreciated that the dwarf took time out of his busy schedule to write to him. Still, Bilbo was always a tad sad to see Toräck go without knowing when he would see the proud raven again.
It was in one of those letters that Thorin mentioned the day they would be setting off, and Bilbo marked it neatly on his calender after converting their differing months. As the days were counted down and the dwarves' departure grew ever closer, Bilbo became increasingly sad.
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Bilbo wished he could come on their journey, but what did he have to offer? He would just be a hinderance, even if he wanted to see the world beyond the Shire so very badly. He had been meaning to ask Ori if he could come visit the Blue Mountains, and it seemed that would have to wait for some time more.
Thankfully Gandalf came visiting two days after the dwarves supposedly set off, and Bilbo explained the situation to him. The wizard stood and puffed up, black shadows coming from his sole one to make Bilbo's smial seem like something from another world. Clearly Gandalf was affronted the dwarves had not though to bring him along. Bilbo was honestly happy to hear soon Thorin and everyone would get a wizard to add to their numbers.
"Why don't you follow me at least to Rivendell then," Gandalf said thoughtfully after he had calmed down enough to sit back down and enjoy his wine. "Show off that elvish of yours? You'll have a tale or two to tell the dwarves when they get back then."
The hobbit only took a moment to think it over before cheering: "When do we leave?"
"We should have left this morning!" Gandalf declared before bustling out of Bilbo's round door to get them a pony and horse.
The hobbit himself rushed to get a pack ready. He decided to have a mix of his old gardening clothes to travel in, and then his best waistcoat for when he arrived to live with the elves.
Bilbo smiled as he ran a finger-pad over the acorn engraved in one of his brass buttons. By how worn the design was, Bilbo could tell it was one of the first buttons Thorin had made him.
He was just getting together what food to take with him, and what to give to the Gamgees else it go bad, when Gandalf came back in uninvited with a dangerous twinkle in his eyes.
"Come now, let's get on our way!"
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Ori could only come to one conclusion about the journey so far: it was boring.
All they did was ride, and then ended the day by sleeping on mats that were so thin they might as well be sleeping on the ground. That and there was a depressing lack of good food, even with Bombur as their creative cook.
Ori would not have minded it as much if he could read while riding without getting queasy, or if riding was not so rough that the dwarf could not draw while in transit.
Inevitably Ori thought to the Shire, where they would be arriving at in a month if this was a normal year for them. He would go exploring with Bilbo, and purposefully throw over-ripe berries at Fíli's head in a rude attempt to dye the dwarf's blonde hair.
"Missing home?"
Ori turned to the deep voice to find Dwalin riding aside of him, his bisected eyebrow raising in further question to the younger dwarf.
"In a way," Ori sighed dramatically. "I miss Bilbo, and being able to draw and write with him. I was just beginning to teach him how to knit before this crazy adventure came up and I was roped along."
"You volunteered," Dwalin said with a rough chuckle.
"I surely did not volunteer to have my ass hurting this much," Ori snapped back.
There was something muttered low behind Ori, followed by a loud yelp and thud. Ori frowned before turning around and saw that Bofur was on the ground, with Nori riding on and having obviously been the one to kick him off. Knowing Bofur, he had probably made a dirty joke that Nori had not appreciated his younger brother being a part of. Ori was almost worried for the dwarf, but Bofur just shook off the dust before hopping right back on and catching up.
The young dwarf cleared his throat and straightened his back before looking back at Dwalin, who was similar to Nori in his clear annoyance at Bofur. Maybe the older dwarf had better hearing than him and had heard the comment.
"Well, if you really need something to do, I can help you out with that. What with you only being armed with a small slingshot and knife, I'll teach you how to use an actual weapon."
"You'll teach me how to wield your war hammer?" Ori asked in a blink.
Again, Bofur was kicked off by his pony as Nori growled.
"I couldn't help it!" Ori this time heard Bofur say through his laughs.
Nori caught up the few feet to give a glare at Dwalin and Ori both before saying: "Ori, I love you like a fool, but think before you speak."
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When Thorin finally got to the mountain (and their biggest problems were a pissy wizard and prissy elf king), the company and him found that the mountain had fallen even more apart. While they thought some internal structure would have held, it was obvious the entire entrance hall had fallen in from the inside.
"It'll take years to excavate," Bofur said as he kicked at the wall of rubble. "Actually, it'll take lifetimes. This is delicate business."
"I learned in Dale some men went to try and find some gold," Nori spoke up. "But they were never heard of again. The humans said they heard some rumblings and screaming before the mountainside crumbled. Thankfully none of it made it down to the town."
It was nearly embarrassing, to see their home above any other crumble so easily. But Smaug had broken so much of the internal structure when they had battled him. Thorin also remembered how some of the catapults had hit the pillars and walls instead of the dragon in their haste to kill the snake.
Most days Thorin wondered what would have happened if they had just ran. If they had let Smaug sleep in the gold without foolishly trying to kill him right away. Maybe if they had waited the dragon would have gotten old and fat.
"Maybe it's for the best," Thorin finally spoke with a nod. "I wish Fíli and Kíli, and Ori too, that you could have seen the magnificence of the halls. But it's pointless if it's not what it was before. Yet there are other things just as beautiful and kinder in this world."
Everyone was oddly quiet, and Thorin could admit his words had been heavy, but not that in need of a long moment of silence. When the dwarf turned away from gazing at the wall of broken stone, he saw Frerin's cheeks puffed out and red from repressing giggles. Everyone else seemed mildly embarassed.
"What?!" Thorin snapped. Maybe it had been unlucky instead to bring Frerin than to have a number at thirteen.
"You're besotted!" his brother babbled. "How else would it explain how you, the heir to all that gold – the Arkenstone, brother – just turning away from it. Like there's truly nothing to find underneath all that rock!"
"No one is stupid enough to risk excavating and stealing it from us," Thorin said with a frown. "Well, other than the orcs and goblins, but they deserve to be crushed. Maybe some of our race will come along and remake our home, but we aren't strong enough for that yet. It's not our destiny."
It was as if Thorin's big declarations were all being ignored today, as Kíli cheered: "He's not goldsick, he's lovesick!"
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Bilbo thought Rivendell was absolutely amazing, yet he still missed the Shire. If the hobbit was being honest with himself, he dearly missed his friends just as much, if not more.
There was nothing besides objects waiting at his smial, which was probably why he had stayed so long here. He knew he would soon have to leave before Fall started, but he would wait as long as he could. Because what was the point of Summer if there were not the dwarves to make his hot days full and loud?
Bilbo enjoyed most the libraries, and took many days reading. Sometimes he forgot time like a true elf and missed meals until his stomach loudly protested. Other days he spent simply walking around the grounds, letting his big toes dip into the clear waters.
Elrond was the epitome of a good guest. He often dined with Bilbo, and if he did not, his twin sons were always about. While they were as different as they could be to Fíli and Kíli, they still reminded the hobbit of the dwarven brothers. Elladan and Elrohir reminded the Bilbo of his friends for their reckless attitudes and bad habit of challenging the other.
Apparently they were to escort him back, and Bilbo looked forward to seeing how they would act once out of Rivendell. They were stubborn about teaching him archery, and the hobbit had only agreed just to see Kíli's face when he hit a bullseye in a fake 'first attempt' at learning the bow.
Yes, that would not be a tale, but a good trick to take back.
"I will be sad to see you go, Bilbo Baggins," Elrond said over dinner that night.
Bilbo looked up from his salad in a start. While he got along well with the elf lord, that was a large statement to make without prompt.
"I will miss this place as well," Bilbo answered back.
"But your heart is not here, so you will go on without trouble," Elrond said with a slight smile. "I look forward to seeing these dwarves when they come back on their return journey. Gandalf promised he would bring them this way. Tell me, why don't you stay here until they arrive?"
Bilbo chuckled at that, thinking his elvish would be impeccable after three years with them. Oh, Ori would be so jealous at Bilbo pulling so far ahead in their private studies.
"While that is a great offer indeed, I miss my home."
Elrond gave a hum and nod at that before turning back to his food and leaving the subject alone.
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Ori was so very happy to be back in the Shire after being gone for over three years on the road.
They had barely made it to the Blue Mountains before Winter set in, and there they stayed before heading out at their scheduled time like before. Ori had pushed for an earlier time to leave, but everyone still had things to deal with before being away again.
Why, the massive spiders Ori had found in his room must have been a distant relative to the ones in Mirkwood. Still, his supplies were still good, so he set about writing a letter right away to Bilbo. Ori did not give lots of details, and he had sent a letter along with Gandalf at Rivendell when they parted, but the dwarf just wanted to assure the hobbit they had all (miraculously) made it home alive.
While they had all gotten back relatively whole, there were still many hiccups along the way. The biggest being Kíli falling entirely in love with an elf maiden, enough so that Ori was sure the dwarf would argue to get his own raven now.
Their caravan arrived two weeks later than their usual date, but they were only met with excited cheers and welcomes. It seemed the hobbits had dearly missed their crafts and skills in their time away. Ori was sure they would be hearing of their heroics from Bofur for weeks to come.
Ori was about to go sprinting up the hill when oddly enough Dwalin caught his collar and pulled him back. Ori frowned at him, but Dwalin only gestured with with a nod to look before him. The scribe finally took the time to see that Thorin was already winding his way up closer to Bag End. At least he was, until he took the wrong turn.
"But it's going to take at least an hour for Thorin to get there. Can't I just sneak around and say a quick hello to Bilbo before slipping out again?" Ori whined.
"No. You know as well as I how they need to see each other first. We can work with Grasper and Keeper in the meantime."
Ori groaned, as while it was great to spend time with Dwalin, the demanding weapons practice always made his arms feel like they were on the verge of falling off.
.
Bilbo was cursing violently at the stubbornness of his beets when he heard a distant call of his name. It was not the voice of Gandalf, as he had gone away some weeks ago, and it was too deep to be of a hobbit.
The hobbit perked up and dusted the dirt from his pants before trotting up to the side gate. He opened it in a rush and went to his front door, where Thorin was frowning at his cheery green door.
"Thorin!" Bilbo called in a start, a little chagrinned by how high his voice sounded.
Not that the dwarf minded, as he turned to Bilbo with a slight smile on his face. Immediately Bilbo recognized that he had more crows feet fanning out from under his eyes, and the silver in his hair had increased even more. Yet the hobbit did not take much time staring before he ran forward laughing.
Thorin brought him into another warm hug, and it felt longer than just years that Bilbo had felt the dwarf's warmth.
"You should have sent a letter!" Bilbo said breathlessly when Thorin finally let him go. "I would have baked myself silly or something equally useless!"
Thorin just continued smiling gently down at him, and Bilbo felt himself flush not from the sun. He opened his door and rushed in the dwarf before going to make them tea. When Thorin came back from taking off his boots, Bilbo gave him a cup and a large plate of scones.
"I have something for you," Thorin said, and Bilbo realized in a start it was the first thing the dwarf had said to him.
Bilbo smiled and sat down in the chair next to Thorin, holding out his hands palm-up and closing his yes indulgently. After a moment he felt something light drop into his hands.
When Bilbo looked down to see what it was, he giggled at seeing the acorn.
"I though it better than a button," Thorin said with a smile. "It's from a tree belonging a skin-changer, and the oaks in his yard were taller and stronger than any others I've ever seen. You would have liked his gardens. A poor prize indeed for such a long journey, but I thought it fitting for you."
Bilbo risked a glance back up at Thorin, and saw what he thought was worry making the dwarf's thick eyebrows knot.
"It's perfect, Thorin," Bilbo said earnestly.
This had Thorin sighing and lowering his shoulders in relief.
.
Thorin was glad his siblings were not around, as the dwarf was tearing himself apart quite enough over how cowardly he was with his affections for Bilbo. It had been painful, but so conveniently easy, to run away on the adventure and leave his stolen heart in the good hands of the hobbit.
The dwarf was confident enough to admit that he had missed Bilbo on their long journey, but he was not lovesick as his nephews tended to sing so eloquently. That was Kíli, when he sighed like a child dreaming each time he got a letter from Tauriel.
"Ready to go?"
Thorin looked up from his useless hands, which could not fix this situation, up to Bilbo who had spoken. He was wearing a golden waistcoat today, and he gripped his walking stick with a sure grip. His toes wiggled in the dirt road as his face broke into a smile.
"I was the one waiting," Thorin said as he stood, stretching out his back from sitting so slouched in his deep thoughts.
Bilbo's smile widened before he set off, and Thorin followed him between the throngs of hobbits. They continued walking in silence as they left the market (Thorin flipped off Dwalin who was smirking and sitting with a laughing Ori) and made for the rolling hills. As much as the dwarf was worried he would get uselessly lost, Bilbo was as good as navigating here as Thorin had been under his mountain.
Without the clatter of others around them, Bilbo routinely asked how Thorin's morning had been. Thorin asked in return after giving his boring answer, and enjoyed listening to Bilbo's description of how his tomatoes were coming over his own boring accounts of making shovels.
"Is it really alright that you're taking so much time each day for me?"
Thorin turned away from staring at a passing sparrow to see Bilbo had stopped and was looking at him with worry.
"Fíli needs to learn how to use the forge without me crowding him, and Dwalin's there if anything should arise," Thorin said with a shrug.
"Good to hear!" Bilbo chirped.
Thorin stiffened as Bilbo raised a hand to pat his taller shoulder for a long moment before setting off again.
In the month that Thorin had returned, these slight touches between them had become custom. When Thorin was sure they were alone, he would touch his forehead to Bilbo's. The hobbit always gave a quizzical look to him after, but never asked about it. The hobbit in turn would grasp Thorin's arm, or hands sometimes, in passing.
With Bilbo turned away, Thorin threw his head back dramatically and gave a silent prayer up to Aulë and Yvanna. He wondered if it had been as hard with their differences to become such close lovers.
Thorin usually did not relate himself and Bilbo to their respective creators, but there was just something so otherworldly about being uselessly in love.
.
Ori eyed around the hallway, making sure to remain hidden. After batting away some of his bangs hanging in his gaze impatiently, his eyes narrowed as he watched Bilbo and Thorin sitting by the fire.
Thorin was playing his harp alone while Bilbo seemed entirely entranced by the soft music. The hobbit was leaning so forward in his chair he was threatening to topple over, and probably end up directly tangled in Thorin's harp and lap. It was almost embarrassing to see just how plain their affections were, but how unwilling they were to act on them.
Ori could empathize with the fear, but they were making him feel annoyed at just how long they were taking. And even if Bilbo was still in his forties, it was not like either of them were getting any younger and rasher to just get their feelings out!
"Alright, that's enough," Dwalin said suddenly behind Ori.
The scribe had just enough time to squeak before Dwalin swung Ori over his shoulder and turned down the hallway to their room. Everyone else was tucked in and asleep, as if they were bored with the 'Thorin & Bilbo show, featuring the very popular guest Love.'
"Think they'll work through their problems?" Ori asked over Dwalin's shoulder.
"We did," Dwalin offered helpfully.
Ori huffed at that before saying: "You think yourself such a brute, but you're smarter about these things than Thorin. And the biggest problem we had was how Dori could easily throw you back to Erebor if my brother felt so inclined."
The scribe yelped in shock as he was dropped on the bed without warning, but his body did not even have a chance to settle with a few bounces as a body framed his.
"Can we stop talking about our best friends now?" Dwalin asked in a rumble.
Ori giggled before leaning up for a kiss.
.
Bilbo stared at Ori, and tried to figure out just what was different about the dwarf. It came after a few moments more, when Bilbo's eyes focused on his hair.
"You have a new braid!" the hobbit exclaimed.
"Oh, yes, well, remember my letters about Dwalin?"
"Really?" Bilbo asked in glee. "You worked everything out? I suppose that quest was good for more than just one thing!"
The dwarf nodded proudly before pointing to the braid and declaring: "Yesterday Dori finally agreed, and we began our official courtship. This is the first step: a courting braid declaring to all that I'm not available."
Bilbo pulled at his own curls pathetically, thinking his locks were not long enough even for a simple braid.
"If you grow your hair out, your's will be as long as mine by next summer," Ori said absently. "Odd how your hair grows faster even though you cut it every few months."
Bilbo glared at Ori before snapping: "It's not nice to tease."
"I would say the same to you by the way you dance around Thorin."
The hobbit groaned before saying: "Ori, it's not that simple!"
"Yes it is!" Ori said, leaning over the table and nearly getting his shawl stuck in raspberry jam. "You think it was easy for Dwalin and I? I thought he would only see me as a child forever. I thought my brothers would never welcome him, as he arrested Nori so many times and threatened Dori's claim as being the strongest dwarf."
"Ori," Bilbo said patiently. "I'm just a simple hobbit. Thorin is a king in his own way. And we are good friends at least. I am more than content with that."
"Bilbo, see reason!" Ori snapped impatiently. "Thorin barely gives time to look at other people, but he puts aside time each day to see you. He laughs and actually smiles with you. Yes, you think no one else notices, but a scribe needs to have sharp eyes! And the way you seem to glow is almost unnerving!"
This had the hobbit deflating, and he asked out quietly: "Is it that obvious?"
"Nori has had a betting pool going for years now. You should see just how high the stakes have become," Ori informed.
"My goodness," Bilbo said in a sigh. "What has this all become? Remember when we just ran about getting our trousers dirty and trying to catch fish barehanded?"
"We grew up, Bilbo," Ori said gently as he reached over the table to grab the hobbit's hand in his. "And love's not so bad once you actually start being a part of it, instead of it hovering over your every action rudely."
.
Bilbo was so accustomed to going on his excursions alone that initially it had been odd to have Thorin tag along again. But that quickly went away, and Bilbo knew he would miss the dwarf in yet another way when they had to pack up and leave till the next year. Their departure date was actually coming up in barely ten days, and Bilbo pushed that thought aside so it did not ruin their nice stroll.
Today they were taking a long hike to the large patch of blackberries Bilbo found years ago. The hobbit hoped desperately this would not be the year when others besides the birds found out about the hidden gem. Every year he was selfishly afraid someone was going to find the patch and pick them all before Bilbo could do exactly that.
The only threats were hobbits and animals, but the former did not venture this far out. As for the later, usually larger forest animals like deer stayed away from the numerous thorns so they did not get cut or caught.
Of course Thorin did just that when he tried to help Bilbo, as the dwarf did not have the ability to slip into small, tight places like Bilbo. The dwarf only got cuts all about by his stubbornness. Finally the hobbit took pity on the dwarf (and the plants that were getting throttled) and told Thorin to just wait while Bilbo collected the berries. In the cover of the bushes Bilbo took moments to watch Thorin swear and pull out thorns from his clothes and skin. It was hilarious and humbling to see the dwarf that forged bare chested get bested by a simply plant.
The walk back seemed to lift Thorin's mood, but maybe that was because the dwarf was eating berries by the handful at times. Bilbo would chide him over his childish behavior, and how he was staining his fingers, but it was hilarious to see the so-serious dwarf let himself go for a bit.
Soon enough the day was done and the berries were washed and segmented for what they would be made into. Bilbo would have a busy day in the kitchen tomorrow and looked forward to it.
Thorin was standing just outside Bilbo's round door, and the hobbit realized sadly that he did not want him to leave. But it was late, the sun long set, and they already had an indulgent smoke and talk by the fire.
"Goodnight, Bilbo," Thorin said, pressing his forehead to his.
The hobbit leaned forward in familiarity to the action, but when Thorin pulled back Bilbo asked the question he never had before: "What does that mean?"
.
Bilbo's tone seemed uncertain, but not afraid.
"Just that I... care about you," Thorin said, and the hedge was obvious even to his ears.
The hobbit hummed, and the dwarf gave out an internal sigh of relief at seeing he had taken that as a viable answer. It left Thorin completely defenseless for Bilbo to lean forward and press his lips to Thorin's.
Thorin had seen this done between other races, and while it was not an entirely foreign concept to dwarves, it was not as meaningful as bringing foreheads together. Still, Thorin thought the gentle pressure of Bilbo's soft lips against his was a welcome action.
Yet the hobbit stepped back and away far too soon, and Thorin watched as his hazel eyes fluttered open. A blush started to fan out over his tanned cheeks, and Thorin tried to school his expression into something less intense.
"That means I hold you dear as well," Bilbo finally spoke with a smile. "But more than just a friend."
For a first kiss between them, it was gentle, innocent and so simple in contrast to what the two had gone through. Thorin knew love in the Shire was different from the serious rules in dwarfish culture. Here it was as simple as a youth finding another attractive, a few dances, weeks of walks and flowers, and then a marriage.
Thorin realized in a start that in a way, he and Bilbo had been doing all of that for some years now.
"Can you do that again?" Thorin asked as he lowered his head so Bilbo did not have to balance on his toes.
The hobbit huffed, as if he thought the request silly and not sweet, before he brought his lips to Thorin's again. This time there was obviously more confidence and energy, and Thorin eagerly reached forward to wrap his arms around Bilbo's waist and pull him flush against him.
Yet this caused the hobbit to break away in a gasp, and Thorin noted with a deep spike of pride that the flush on Bilbo's face was now practically glowing in the moonlight.
"The neighbors will see," Bilbo whispered, squirming but not pushing away Thorin.
"Let them talk. It's what you hobbits do best," Thorin answered.
Bilbo frowned at that, and opened his mouth probably to show just how true Thorin's statement was, but the dwarf cut him off with another searing kiss.
.
The last days of Summer passed by effortlessly in the Shire, and one morning Bilbo woke to realize that while he had gotten over his childish affections for Thorin long ago, he was now entirely in love with the dwarf.
It was such a shocking revelation that was years in the making the hobbit could only lie in bed and stare at his ceiling for a good hour.
It was truly the easiest thing to accept, but it was tricky with the added knowledge that the dwarf would be going away for two seasons tomorrow. Maybe it was the rush of a deadline fast approaching that made Bilbo's heart skip ahead.
Bilbo remembered when he was a child, and had thought those affections had been love. Yet they were nothing but a distant memory to this constant ache in Bilbo's heart at thinking Thorin going away from him. But it was not that like the hobbit would force the dwarf to choose him over his family. No, Bilbo was in love, but he would not become cruel as well.
So the hobbit put on a proud face for the rest of that day he spent baking and making jam for Thorin and everyone to take with them back home. He was making great progress until Thorin had invited himself over and had the bad habit of wrapping his arms around Bilbo's soft waist and distracting him with kisses on his neck and cheeks.
Bilbo was a stubborn hobbit, and he had muffins and pies to bake, but he could only ignore a dwarf clinging onto him for so long. So when he finally turned around to return the affections, Thorin pushed aside items on a counter's surface (successfully cracking at least four eggs on the floor) before lifting Bilbo to sit on it to help with their stark difference in height. Then Thorin fit himself comfortably between Bilbo's knees and kissed him like a drowning man with Bilbo giving him air and salvation.
The hobbit was sure that dwarves did not kiss as much as hobbits, but by the way Thorin dedicated himself to the act did not show that. The rasp of his beard sent chills down Bilbo's spine, and he especially liked it when Thorin bit and sucked on his lower lip.
Finally they pulled apart, and Thorin indulgently pressed his forehead to Bilbo's as they caught their breath.
"The blackberry scones are going to burn," Bilbo said through a pant.
This had Thorin's eyes widening before he moved away in a dash to the over. While Bilbo was sure his fingers were rough enough from being a blacksmith for so many years, he still put on the bright red oven mitt to take the tray out of the oven. Indeed the scones were a touch more brown than golden, but they still looked more than edible.
"My hero," Bilbo said with a giggle and roll of his eyes.
Thorin smiled ruggedly before taking off the mitt and returning to attend to his hobbit.
.
Just like the reliability of the seasons, Gandalf came about to stay for a few weeks of Autumn with Bilbo. While it seemed the lad was becoming more and more used to being alone, Gandalf always enjoyed the visits to his favorite smial.
He knocked lightly, and frowned when it was not answered and opened right away. The wizard could smell the delicious scents of things just baked, and he was sure if he peeked in the kitchen window he would see the counters lined with delicacies.
Throwing aside courtesy, Gandalf opened the door and called out Bilbo's name again. Still he was met with silence, so he walked in without bothering to take his shoes off. He could feel nothing off, and indeed when the wizard passed the kitchen the counters were lined with treats. That and some broken eggs on the floor oddly enough.
Thinking if he was not here, he was probably in the garden, so Gandalf went to the back door. He glanced around the garden, and it only took a moment to find Bilbo. The wizard raised an eyebrow as the hobbit already had a guest with him.
The couple were sitting in the shade of an oak, ignorant to the world around them. Bilbo had his back pressed against the tall trunk, as Thorin had his head in the hobbit's lap. While the dwarf was turned away into Bilbo's stomach, and Gandalf could not see his face, the wizard was sure the dwarf was smiling. Meanwhile Bilbo hummed and lazily carded his hands through Thorin's long hair.
Gandalf took a moment more to watch them, and allowed his smile to stretch over his face. How amazing: for a stubborn dwarf who always shied away from others to find love in a hobbit, and for a skittish hobbit to find the world not outside his smial, but in another.
Gandalf's gaze glanced over to the two patches of poppies, and noted that they had begun to cross pollinate and make orange poppies between them. Oh yes, Gandalf was sure Belladonna was so very happy for her son. Bungo, on the other hand, was probably pulling his hair out for his son falling for someone so different and foreign.
Feeling that everything was truly alright, Gandalf crept back into the smial and took a few pumpkin muffins (he indeed loved Bilbo's addition of the icing to Belladonna's recipe) before going down to see how the other dwarves were doing.
.
Bilbo watched as the dwarves were once again lined up to leave. They were already impatiently snacking on the goods Bilbo had made for them yesterday (no thanks from Thorin, although he did finally clean up the eggs before dinner).
It was odd, to see the new addition of a braid to Thorin's hair. The dwarf had taught him the pattern yesterday, and had said that from the hobbit kissing him, it had been the first clear declaration of intent. So Bilbo had the position of suitor while Thorin was the one who needed to be wooed.
Bilbo thought it silly, but his hair was not long enough for a braid still, so he allowed it.
When Kíli climbed up to grab the reigns for the cart, Bilbo felt his eyebrows furrow in confusion. It had almost always been Thorin leading the cart, and his nephews on their own ponies when they were old enough. Indeed, there was Kíli's pony, but it was empty and tied to Fíli's to follow along.
Bilbo did not have much time to wonder over it when he felt a large hand at his lower back. He jumped at the intimate touch before turning to see Thorin give him a slight smile. For dwarves apparently being secretive in all they did, Thorin was mighty open with their new status.
"Are you riding on Kíli's pony? Another learning exercise I take it?" Bilbo joked, trying to make light of how depressed he was feeling.
Thorin stared and pulled at his courting braid uneasily.
"Actually, I meant to ask you yesterday if I could possibly stay with you. But then... well."
"You two got distracted! Perfectly natural," Bofur called helpfully as he trotted by on his pony.
Thorin sent the dwarf a glare, but Bofur only waggled his eyebrows suggestively before riding ahead to join his brother and cousin at the head of the caravan. Apparently Bifur had won the betting pool, and a good amount of gold and respect had been the prizes.
"Truly?" Bilbo asked, eyes never straying from Thorin's face.
"Anything to get away from my siblings really," he said, and then added in a quieter tone: "That, and Kíli waxing poetry for his elf maiden."
Bilbo stared, and wondered if this was wise. Then Bilbo thought how they were two adults and did not need some intruding chaperone the entire time.
"I would like nothing more," Bilbo said as he reached forward and grabbed Thorin's larger hands in his.
.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Thorin enjoyed Winter. Usually it brought up memories of cold nights on the road, and sickness that ran rampant through his people, but the season in Bilbo's smial was the exact opposite.
There was always good food, and good company to add along with it. Thorin always offered to help cook, and Bilbo would look at him as if offended.
"Thorin, if I'm going to woo you, I need to show you my best qualities. And cooking is definitely one of them!"
Each time the dwarf would just chuckle and roll his eyes. Bilbo always enjoyed bringing up the formalities of their courtship when they were following anything but tradition. Why, it was only appropriate to share a bed and live under the same roof after they were married, but they were doing just that now.
But Thorin had decided long ago that some traditions and pasts were meant to be buried and left behind.
For it being such a cold season, Bilbo seemed oddly energized every morning they woke up. It made Thorin wonder if this was how the hobbit usually was in this season, as if to combat against the memories of ones past.
"No," the hobbit answered slowly as they were hidden under the covers one cold night. "I'm happy now because you're with me. Winter is easy to deal with when you have your own personal furnace."
Thorin saw through the joke though, and felt himself puff up in pride at being able to give such comfort and warmth to his hobbit. Thorin himself always thought it perfect how well Bilbo fit against him.
Winter soon passed into Spring, and while Thorin was not a lover of nature like the hobbits, even he was left breathless by the transformation. The Shire truly was a sight to see with it in full bloom. When Bilbo asked if there was anything he wanted in the garden, Thorin thought and realized that he did.
"Those blue flowers, the ones you gave me when you were but a fauntling," Thorin said, "What're they called?"
Bilbo smiled gently before moving away from the stove to sit in Thorin's lap. He wrapped his arms around Thorin's neck and gave a light kiss to the tip of his nose.
"They're called forget-me-nots. They signify 'true love' and 'remember me forever' when given to another."
Thorin flushed, and then blurted: "You must have thought me a fool at your birthday all those years ago."
Bilbo laughed, and then leaned forward to press his forehead against Thorin's.
"It made me happy, but I dared not to hope too much," the hobbit said between them.
"We must have them now," Thorin declared. "So I can gift them to you knowing exactly what I'm giving away and saying to you."
"I'd like that," the hobbit said before ducking in to steal a kiss.
.
A Summer four years later found Ori straightened his tunic as he stood straight with Dwalin. Sweet sounds from violins played by Fíli and Kíli swelled in the background. The other members of the company waited with their instruments for when Bilbo and Thorin would come down the aisle. Thorin would be lead down by Frerin, while Bilbo would be escorted by Dís.
"It's funny to think that once again we're standing before an altar," Ori mentioned. "Just now we're the best men, and not the ones getting married."
Dwalin looked at him softly before raising a hand to pull gently at Ori's courting braid that had turned into a betrothal one last year.
The ceremony was short and sweet, and Ori nearly lost his composure to laughter when Thorin presented Bilbo with a flower crown he himself had made. Ori could hear Fíli and Kíli could not contain their mirth. Thankfully it was cut short by Tauriel clapping hands over their mouths.
The night was spent drinking and dancing under lit lanterns, and Ori thought the wedding nearly as perfect as his own. Maybe that was why Ori had drunk so much, and was feeling mighty tired even if he knew there was still a couple hours more of a party.
Dwalin just effortlessly picked his husband up and began swaying him about in his arms. Nearby Ori saw Nori point and laugh while Balin just shook his head fondly at his younger brother's antics.
The scribe also noted that Tauriel had noticed the move, and had picked up Kíli to mirror them. It caused Fíli to fall off a bench from laughing so hard. Not that Kíli seemed to mind, and Ori knew just why. It was nice to be cradled safely in the arms of someone you loved.
Ori was just beginning to doze off from Dwalin's gentle dancing and singing when he saw Bilbo and Thorin slip away from the festivities to begin their walk up the hill. Their hands were clasped, sides nearly pressed together as they walked together.
Ori was sure that Thorin would not get lost on his way up to the little round home that belonged to the both of them now anymore.
.
One of Bilbo's favorite parts of each morning was feeding Toräck sausages. The raven gleamed so prettily as he sat in the windowsill, his feathers catching the light and reflecting all sorts of colors.
Even if the raven ate so much lately, it did not seem to gain weight. Probably because it was so busy returning letters between everyone in the Blue Mountains. Toräck had just been away for four days with a letter to Dís, so Bilbo was all too happy to have the bird returned.
"Dís sent back a disturbing letter," Thorin said from the table.
Bilbo turned from Toräck (who huffed at being ignored) to see Thorin was watching him. The dwarf did enjoy when Bilbo stood in the sun and his hair shone like gold.
"Frerin is actually serious about someone? Is he getting married?!"
"No, although I think Kíli is threatening that lately. He may just run away to Mirkwood if we don't agree to host a large wedding here. To think: a wedding between a dwarf and elf in the Shire. It will definitely be the first of its occasion."
"I thought you liked Tauriel," Bilbo said with a huff. "She's even better than Nori with her knives."
"Yes, well, back to the horrid news of another problematic family member of mine?"
"Yes, yes, go on," Bilbo said, impatient with Thorin's dramatics.
"Dís is threatening to move here."
"Oh!" Bilbo said as he clapped his hands together gleefully. "That would be just perfect!"
Thorin's scowl only deepened before he stated: "You must know that everyone else will follow along then. The Shire will be permanently invaded with dwarves."
"Oh, stop being so envious of me spending time with anyone else," Bilbo scoffed.
"It can't be helped. We're known for hording and hiding away what they love and cherish most," Thorin said as he stood and made his way over to Bilbo.
As much as Bilbo was the one who wrote verse and poetry, sometimes the hobbit was caught off guard by Thorin's ability to unabashedly say whatever he wanted without a hint of worry.
Bilbo's smile widened as Thorin presented a cluster of forget-me-nots before tucking it safely behind his hobbit's curved ear.
"I see they call you Oakenshield because you're full of sap," Bilbo grumbled, although he was still smiling wide.
"Only for you," Thorin said.
Of course the moment was broken when Toräck squawked loudly at his breakfast being put off for so long. Yet Thorin just opened the window and waved away his bird crassly.
Then he returned back to Bilbo, and the hobbit laughed before melting into his dwarf's tight hug.
.
FIN