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2024-12-21
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19. Masquerade

Summary:

Thorin fled from Erebor, leaving the regency of the kingdom to his sister Dís and later to Fili.
He has been living with Bilbo in the Shire for almost a year now. But he still hasn't discovered all the cultural riches of the Hobbit people, and even less so the celebration of 1 February.
Bilbo even has a surprise in store for him!

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

 

The Shire

After the celebrations in Yule, Thorin wasn't expecting another celebration any time soon. Despite the cold temperatures and the winter, the hobbits worked hard throughout January to prepare another celebration. Bilbo wanted to give Thorin as many surprises as possible so that he could discover the celebrations of Imbolc, the return of the light. The former king of Erebor had arrived in spring at the threshold of Bag End without his title, but just with the desire to heal away from all his traumas, to be with the person he valued most and could always count on, Bilbo. After just a few months, Thorin had abdicated, or rather fled, Erebor. Surprised at first by the announcement, the hobbit eventually welcomed and accepted his friend's choice, and above all offered him refuge here in the Shire, a completely different environment, a different culture from that under the mountains.

He was not in the habit of preparing celebrations, especially after the winter, as was the custom in Erebor and in all the dwarf kingdoms, where they shut themselves off from the world for three months, the three harshest months of the year, sometimes more depending on the weather. Of course, they had their own celebrations to mark the end of this period and the return of much milder days, but the preparations took place at the same time as the period, not several weeks in advance as in hobbit culture. The celebrations were less codified than those of the hobbits, and really related to the cycle of the earth and all the symbolism around it.

For hobbits, 1 February symbolised the gradual return of light, the equal distance between Yule and Ostara, spring, the beginning of rebirth and the end of the dark days. The ewes also began to nurse their young offspring at this time, the time of newborns and fertility. The symbols were a mixture of candles, solar straw constructions and milk-based foods. The festivities even lasted two days and continued with the preparations of the earth to welcome future seeds and gently awaken the flora. Thorin was aware of a feast below Bag End, but he knew nothing of the bonfire or the masquerade taking place on the two days of celebrations.

Bilbo would disappear for hours at a time, cloistered in his study, leaving Thorin with more questions than answers. Unfortunately, he couldn't ask around in the neighbourhood, as the hobbits were still too wary of him, and some even feared him. Things would get better, and above all he would be able to develop a relationship with all the inhabitants of Hobbitebourg, but he had only been living there for a year. He also knew that this would upset the norms of their culture, a man, and a dwarf at that, wishing to live with another hobbit. Thorin found this difficult to understand, and even tried to understand why, as he didn't want to bother Bilbo with questions about hobbit culture. He was still getting his bearings in this place, so foreign and so far, removed from the mountains.

Thorin quickly got into the swing of things, preparing the various dishes for the celebration and decorating Bad End. Many of the candles were created using pastel colours such as green, pink or white. The first flowers of the season were harvested to decorate the living rooms, as garlands, dried and even burnt. All these flowers gave her the idea of plaiting the hair of a certain hobbit. Spring was beginning to arrive, and he was delighted by all the preparations; he felt alive again after this mild, cloistered winter.

Last night before the celebration.

Thorin and Bilbo met in the living room by the fire with warm milk and honey. The hobbit was making the last straw suns place in various corners. Everyone was comfortably seated in an armchair in front of the hearth with a woollen blanket over them.

“Have you finished your secret project, my dear Master Baggins? “

“Almost everything is ready and no Thorin, you won't get any hints. I want to keep it a complete surprise and it's a miracle that no one has divulged any snippets of information about tomorrow's celebrations.”

“The people of Hobbitburg are not very friendly and are very suspicious of me as a foreigner,” Thorin said.

“ It must be said that the last time they saw dwarves, it was to stir up trouble among one of their own. Or a certain king in the making who was trying to find his way and got lost twice in a town like this, even though it seems to be a maze of underground galleries “stung Bilbo with a smile.

“It's not a certain apprehension, but fear and mistrust. Let's hope they change their minds, I'm their new neighbour for an indefinite period, they'll have to get used to it.”

“It's shaking up their culture, but you can't ask too much of them. And what a scandal it would be to have a hobbit of living with a dwarf to boot.”

“Aren't hobbits in the habit of living with siblings once they've reached adulthood, or between people who aren't related by blood?”

“Well, no, we don't leave home until we're married and go to live with our other half, to found a home together. It's very traditional, and sometimes our elders come back to us so that we can look after them. It's all very codified. And your arrival has shattered all those beliefs. My Took side was already causing the locals to see me as a strange creature, but it's even worse now that you've come.”

Without warning, Thorin rose from his armchair, dropping his blanket and still holding his cup. He kissed Bilbo on the forehead in a completely innocent gesture.

Is he really?

“I'm sorry, Bilbo,” Thorin murmured.

Like Thorin, Bilbo blushed at his sudden closeness to the former leader of Erebor. The latter was constantly staring at the hobbit's face, trying to memorise every one of his features drawn by the multitude of candles in the room.

“I hope I won't cause you any trouble with your neighbours if I stay here any longer. I've already been here for almost a year. “

 “You are welcome, here, Thorin, and I mean that. I don't care what these old fogies say. I'm living life on my own terms in Bag End.”

“Thank you, Bilbo, once again. I won't be long, as I have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. Good night, Bilbo. “

The hobbit looked at him, disappointed that he was already leaving him. Their eyes met and Bilbo lost himself in his blue eyes. Finally, Thorin turned his back to leave, but Bilbo grabbed his arm in desperation. He wanted so much to take him in his arms to reassure him, to tell him that life wasn't so bad in Hobbitburg if you ignored the critics and the gossip.

“Bilbo?”

“I... I...”

Don't leave me

But no sound came from Bilbo's mouth. What a strange turn of phrase. He pulled himself together and shook his head, as if to chase away any intrusive thoughts.

“Good night, Thorin, see you tomorrow. “

Thorin nodded one last time before going to bed. Bilbo finally breathed, or rather his anxiety kept rising in view of Thorin's surprise at the masquerade. He sincerely hoped that Thorin would like his costume, but it was so complicated to keep a secret about a celebration that he enjoyed the most. Now, with his dwarf friend by his side, the celebrations seemed less boring. Together, they could face anything.

*

The flower parade did not take place until ten o'clock, with the costumed parade, but by eight o'clock the cries of joy and the crystalline laughter of the children were echoing in every corner of the town. All too curious, Thorin opened his bedroom window to find out what was going on, unaware of the day's programme. He was surprised to see all the children dressed up in brightly coloured costumes representing fruit, flowers or animals. What a surprise, and above all to celebrate the arrival of the sun and the first moments of spring. You had to admit that all the little ones looked cute in their strawberry costumes, bird costumes or costumes full of fresh, delicate flowers. It gave her an idea to finally braid Bilbo's hair with flowers.

With his blue blanket over his shoulder, he entered the kitchen where Bilbo was busily preparing everything for the big feast: pancakes, a big honey cake and a milk drink.

“A masquerade? The children in disguise? Thorin wondered, his head full of questions. “

“To chase away the evil spirits of the dark period, to chase away all our problems, to leave behind the demons of the past year. A fresh start, a rebirth. And speaking of the masquerade, I think it's time to reveal my surprise. “

“Bilbo, don't tell me...”

“ Shhh, you'll see, follow me Thorin into the room that was off-limits to you all last month.”

Bilbo had sewn him a costume and made him a mask for the event? This hobbit was too invested, too good, he was going to make him feel bad for giving so willingly when Thorin gave him nothing in return.

As he entered the room, he was captivated by the two costumes on the two wooden mannequins. One was a blue raven and the other a majestic stag in shades of green and brown. He knew very well which one was his. Tears welled up in his eyes at the beauty of the costume, which was made up of typical hobbit clothes at his waist and an all-leather mask with paintings that reminded him of the shapes carved into the rocks of Erebor. Gold and yellow made up a large part of the outfit. Two colours that reminded him of the coat of arms of his family, of royalty.

“Thorin?”

“Bilbo, I don't know how to thank you... It's a magnificent outfit that I almost don't dare wear because the work is so colossal. How did you do it in such a short time? “

“With the help of some terrified neighbours,’ he replied with a wink. Put it on! We're going to be late for the election of the most beautiful costume! I'm sure you'll enjoy the banquet and the drinking competition too.”

“The program is indeed tempting”

Bilbo pushed him towards the costume to put it on. Thorin, almost hesitant, took hold of the many items of clothing that made up the costume: yellow velvet trousers with braces, a wide blue shirt, a yellow jacket and finally a long blue woollen coat with some gold embroidery representing ravens. The ravens of Erebor. Without wasting any time, the dwarf took off his current clothes and put on the costume without any consideration for Bilbo. And Bilbo was clearly not ready for the sight before him, especially as it took him by surprise. He couldn't look away from the muscular body, the strong, hairy chest with its geometric tattoos and a jewel on one of its nipples. Bilbo wasn't the least bit embarrassed, but rather very interested by this promising sight, and suddenly he didn't want Thorin to put on his costume anymore, but rather to undress, to come and curl up in his arms so tightly. He was blushing like a tomato, but warmth quickly spread through the rest of his body. Stay focused, refocus on your simple costume.

The hobbit also changed under Thorin's watchful eye. Finally ready and with his raven mask covering three quarters of his face, there was no way of seeing his embarrassment or his envy. He was following the curves of this round, lovingly generous body very closely. The slightly rounded belly bore witness to his devotion to simple pleasures and her love of good things. Thorin wanted to kiss him but held back - nothing inappropriate and everything in order, as dwarf culture would have it. Bilbo continued to dress in his green trousers with multiple tassel embroideries, his almost transparent white shirt and his brown jacket. Finally, he wrapped himself in the warmth of his cloak with moss, acorns and branches. His leather mask also had such fine arabesques and real deer antlers were attached to it, impressively. A magnificent stag.

“Thorin? Come on, we've got some breaks to shut and show what great neighbours we are in Hobbiton!”

“Mh yes “Thorin cleared his throat and looked away to avoid making contact again. “But first I think you're missing something in your hair, Bilbo.”

“Oh, what's that? “

“A braid to free your face from your hair which has become so long. And those beautiful white flowers blooming everywhere, those snowdrops.”

Smiling, Thorin approached Bilbo and stood behind him to touch his soft curls and finally braid his hair for that all-important symbolism, and not just any symbolism. A courting braid. The hobbit enjoyed the touch of Thorin's fingers in his hair, massaging his scalp, he never wanted this divine sensation to end. The former king of Erebor could not believe that he had managed to braid Bilbo's hair for this highly important braid, as if it now allowed him to court his burglar.

“And that's it, I'm done, Master Baggins! We're ready to win this costume contest, the others don't stand a chance! And even less so for the possible food competitions!”

Thorin then offered his arm to Bilbo so that they could stroll happily to the assembly point. The masquerade is theirs!

Notes:

I don't like what I've written for this prompt. I think it's a bit messy and I started from the wrong angle to tackle a carnival. I didn't have enough time to develop it as much as I could, and I was under the stress of having to finish it absolutely in order to present it to you tonight. But like an essay for an exam, nothing is perfect and it's often botched.
That's OK, challenges are also about disappointment!