NOTES: This is for the Hobbit Advent Calender on Tumblr. It's a little mixed up. This was supposed to have been posted on Dec 1, but I didn't know about it then so I got a late start. Tomorrow I will be posting Day 4's prompt and I'll eventually go back and write Day's 2 and 3. There will be 25 chapters by the end of this.
This is unedited besides a quick spell check so if there are any major issues, let me know and I'll fix it. Thanks!
Bilbo stared in growing horror at the scene before him. In the opening of the hallway that led from the Palace to the Common Dining Hall stood Thorin and Bofur. Above them, innocently hanging from the stone, was a sprig of mistletoe and to either side of the entrance way, lying in wait, were Fili and Kili. Bilbo knew he should have been suspicious when the two boys had shown particular interest in his stories when they had been discussing Midwinter Holidays and their various traditions a few weeks ago.
He knew he shouldn't have told the story of the time his mother had ambushed poor, unsuspecting Bungo beneath a bunch of mistletoe when they were courting.
He knew it wouldn't end well.
But he had told them anyway, and then went on to explain the whole tradition and story behind it to them.
Where Fili and Kili had managed to find mistletoe when there had barely been any green grass in the desolation left behind from Smaug this past summer, was anybody's guess. Though the two had gone on a 'diplomatic mission' with a small group of soldiers to Mirkwood (read: Thorin couldn't stand them anymore and sent them to go fight spiders) recently. Bilbo assumed they could have found the parasitic plant there...maybe...
Bilbo watched Fili and Kili pounce just as Thorin and Bofur stepped beneath the plant. The two Princes gestured to the bundle of leaves and berries excitedly, large grins plastered across their faces as they explained what it was and what they were supposed to do. Judging by Thorin's thunderous expression and the way his gaze instantly snapped to the hall behind his nephews, searching, Bilbo thought he should probably employ a tactical retreat and settle for the sausages and cheese wedges he had in his room for dinner. The Hobbit and King may have made their apologies and forgiven each other, but things had never been the same since that day on the wall a little over a year ago. There had been no real closure for either of them and as such things could get tense between the two of them quickly and without warning. No doubt Fili and Kili had blabbed where they had picked up this new tradition from and it would probably be best if Bilbo avoided Thorin for a few days.
Especially when Bofur's face lit up with comprehension. The miner had a look of mischief on his face as he pulled Thorin around to face him and planted a large, no doubt wet, kiss squarely on his lips. Fili and Kili whooped and hollered and those common Dwarves who were nearby cheered. Bofur pulled back, lips quirked into a smug smirk, and winked at Thorin before sauntering off in that signature way of his. Several of the Dwarves he passed smacked him on the back while Thorin was left standing in the entrance way, still as stone as a blush crept across his face.
Bilbo stared at the King's reaction. Well...that certainly was interesting. Perhaps the boys knew more than the rest of them.
Speaking of the boys, they had taken their Uncle's shock as their chance to sneak off without reprimand. They were already to the other end of the Hall and out the main doors before Thorin regained his senses. The Dwarven King stomped his way over to the table that the company usually claimed as their own, throwing a glance to Bofur, who had decided to sit with his miner friends this evening, as he passed. Deciding it was high time he took after the boys and fled himself, Bilbo rose from his seat, only to fall back into it with a small 'oomph' when a large hand landed heavily on his shoulder.
"Sorry," Dwalin grunted, not looking a bit apologetic as he fell into the seat beside Bilbo. "Where are you off to in a hurry? Dinner's only started."
"O-oh, you know, I-I just realized that I forgot...something in my rooms. I was just going to pop over there-" Bilbo tensed, his stuttered explanation dropping off when he felt the chair on the other side of him being pulled out and a large body drop into it.
Bilbo watched Dwalin's gaze flicker from him to who he assumed to be Thorin behind him, caution and wariness making his muscles go rigid in case he had to put himself between his King and the Hobbit. It hadn't just been Bilbo and Thorin's relationship that had suffered that day. Those last few weeks of madness had been steadily driving a wedge between Thorin and his Company. The events on the gate had just been the final hammer blow in the creation of the rift between them that was slow to heal completely. Some, like Gloin, were quick to forgive and move on. Others, like Balin, had forgiven Thorin eventually, but still watched him closely for signs of the sickness returning.
Dwalin had always been Thorin's staunchest supporter but he had followed after Balin's example. He kept a wary eye on Thorin and his temper and always seemed to pay closer attention when Bilbo was around.
Ori had asked Bilbo once, why he had stuck around after the battle and all the horrible things that Thorin had done, after the Company had let him do those things. He hadn't known how to answer the scribe. The truth of the matter was that he had meant to leave. He had gone to Gandalf a week after the battle, when his head wound was healed and the headaches had stopped, asking if they could be on their way as soon as possible. Gandalf had frowned and asked Bilbo why he wanted to leave in such a hurry when he had just healed. Bilbo had listed what he thought were very good reason to be gone from Erebor but the Wizards frown had just deepened. He had tried to talk the Hobbit into staying longer, even if just a few more weeks, but Bilbo had held firm and Gandalf had eventually agreed to speak to people about arrangements. A few days later, Bilbo had searched Gandalf out, only to discover that he had already left the camp, 'on urgent business to the south' one of the Elves had said. He had just stared at the empty tent for several minutes, disbelieving and incensed that Gandalf would leave him behind like that.
Bilbo had tried to make his own arrangements but Dain and Bard could spare no men to help him across the Misty Mountains and back to Rivendell. Thanduil had offered him a place in his palace until arrangements could be made, but for some reason Bilbo couldn't bring himself to leave his friends, to abandon Thorin and Fili and Kili when they were so close to death.
Perhaps Gandalf had been more aware of Bilbo's feelings than even Bilbo had, when he had left the Hobbit behind.
"Bilbo," Thorin began and both Dwalin and Bilbo relaxed slightly. The King was only slightly irritated then. The company had been quick to pick up on Thorin's verbal cues to his mood after the battle; 'Hobbit' was used when he was in a rare good mood, 'Bilbo' for when he was neutral or somewhat annoyed, and 'Mister Baggins' meant he was angry. 'Burglar' and 'Halfling' hadn't passed Thorin's lips since that morning on the gate. Bilbo turned to Thorin, letting him know that he was paying attention. "I would appreciate it if you did not feed my nephews' imagination for games. They are rowdy enough as it is."
"Of course," Bilbo replied. "It's just, Ori had asked about Shire traditions and I got off track with a story of my Mother and Father when they were courting and I didn't realize that they were paying such close attention. Or that they would run off with the idea." He felt he had to explain his actions, that he hadn't purposefully given Fili and Kili the idea.
Thorin glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "Next time, be more aware of who you are speaking to and their proclivity for pranks."
Bilbo hung his head and slumped in his seat, idly pushing food around on his plate. After everything that had happened, he still hated disappointing Thorin. But most of all, he hated himself for still caring about what Thorin thought of him. He just couldn't bring himself to completely cut the Dwarf from his life, even though he had every right to.
"Ach, ease up on him Thorin," Dwalin grumbled around a mouthful of potato. "Poor thing's so far from home still. Of course he's going to take to anyone who will listen about The Shire." He reached out and ruffled the hair on top of Bilbo's head, frizzing the curls.
Looking up at the giant of a Dwarf through his fringe, Bilbo smiled. He liked it when Dwalin let others see how gentle and sweet he could be instead of always hiding behind the warrior persona. Of course the gruff, battle hardened warrior was just as much a part of who Dwalin was as this softer side, but sometimes Bilbo wished he didn't feel like he had to hide it so much. It had taken the Hobbit quite some time to see behind the mask and gain his trust enough to see it.
"You weren't the one who was ambushed by Fili and Kili underneath a bunch of leaves and berries with Bofur," Thorin grumbled. "They demanded that we kiss before they would let us through. I don't know why Bofur humored them." He glanced at the miner.
Dwalin stared at Thorin for a moment, jaw slack. "Bofur kissed you?" Thorin clenched his jaw and refused to answer, but the returning blush was answer enough. Dwalin looked to Bilbo, seeking confirmation. When he nodded, the warrior threw his head back and laughed so loud it echoed around the hall. "It's about damned time one of you made a move," he wheezed when he finally got his laughter under control. Though he couldn't quite suppress the grin. Thorin raised his tankard for a long draw of ale and didn't look at either of them. "Nori owes me gold for this. I told him you were too chicken shit to make the first move."
"You bet on something like that?" Bilbo whipped around to face Dwalin, sitting up straighter. "Now I can understand betting on some things, but betting on someone's love life is just too far. It's rude and potentially hurtful."
The warrior had enough sense to look at least a little ashamed after Bilbo's berating. Thorin, though, slammed his drink on the table hard enough to make the plates jump and finally looked Dwalin in the eye. "I believe the saying for this situation is; the pot calling the kettle black."
The two held each others gaze for a moment and to Bilbo's surprise, Dwalin was the one who looked away first, shifting in his seat and glaring at his plate. He turned back to his own plate to contemplate this new information, occasionally glancing up at Dwalin who refused to look at anyone. The three of them were eventually joined by several others from the Company. When the question of where Fili and Kili were came up, the story of their prank inevitably came up too, much to Thorin's irritation. There was lots of cheering and money exchanged. Nori tried to talk himself out of owing Dwalin through technicalities but he was having none of it. The small money purse in his hands and Nori's new sour mood did wonders for Dwalin's mood, lifting it up again until he was laughing and joking with the rest of the company as usual. When he was finished with his meal, Bilbo pushed away from the table and bid goodnight to his companions.
"Hobbit, wait!" Thorin called as he was walking away. Bilbo turned back to the table, wondering what he could want. "Dwalin will go with you, there have been reports of bad rock in your area of the mountain. Wouldn't want to lose you down a hole, now would we?"
"Uh...I guess not?" Bilbo hadn't heard anything about unstable rock near his rooms. But no one was paying attention to him. Instead, Dwalin and Thorin were staring at each other. It never ceased to amuse him how Thorin could have an entire conversation with his eyebrows. Dwalin lost the silent argument and rose from the table and stomped from the hall. Bilbo hurried to catch up. "Er...were you not done? I could have waited until you were ready."
"It's fine," he grumbled.
The two fell into silence as they walked, winding their way through the corridors, hallways and grand staircases of the mountain. Bilbo had been offered elaborate rooms in the Palace with Thorin, Fili and Kili as part of Thorin's apology but he had preferred to take more modest lodgings near the Merchant District, where Dori and Gloin had chosen to settle with their families. The door to one of the many taverns that had cropped up in the past few months suddenly opened, issuing several drunk Dwarves into the semi-busy thoroughfare. Quicker than Bilbo thought possible, Dwalin's arm shot out, wrapping around his shoulders and tucking him into the Dwarf's side to avoid getting trampled.
"Thanks," Bilbo breathed. Once the group had passed, he moved to put more distance between them but Dwalin didn't remove his arm from around Bilbo's shoulders. Bilbo stared at what he could see of the large hand draped over his shoulder. He glanced up at Dwalin to find him staring resolutely ahead. He ducked his head again to hide a small smile.
It wasn't must further to Bilbo's apartment. They were almost there, just passing beneath an elaborate arch that separated the residential area from the larger corridor, when Fili and Kili suddenly jumped in front of them. Dwalin's arm quickly slipped from Bilbo's shoulders as the two blinked at the Princes in surprise for a moment before Bilbo finally understood the implications of their appearance.
"Oh no," he groaned and the grins on the boys' faces just seemed to grow.
"Guess what you two just walked under!" Kili crowed, pointing to the ceiling.
Bilbo tilted his head back and saw the bundle of leaves hanging above his head. Just how much of the stuff had they managed to find? He never should have told that blasted story.
"Did you boys hang it everywhere?" Bilbo questioned.
Fili shrugged his shoulders, "Just where we thought we'd be able to catch Company members."
"More like where ever we could reach," Kili muttered.
He had a point. There weren't a lot of places in Erebor where the ceiling was easy to reach. Most areas had columns climbing to impossible heights above their heads to support the ceiling.
"So," Bilbo heard Fili start. "You two know what you need to do. Get with the kissing and we'll let you on your way."
Bilbo was too busy staring at the mistletoe, wondering how they had gotten it up there, to really pay attention to what was being said.
"You two will be moving if you knew what was good for you."
The ceiling here might be much lower than in other parts of the mountain, but it was still fairly high.
"It's just a little kiss. Even Uncle participated!"
In fact, he could only barely make out the red glint of the berries in the firelight.
"Are you really going to ignore Bilbo's traditions like this? After all he did for us? And being so far from home?"
Wait...red?
"Don't you go twisting this around into some sort of sympathy deal for Bilbo. You brats are just looking for cheap entertainment."
Bilbo took a closer look at the plant and noticed that the berries clinging the spiky edged leaves were red, not white.
"How dare you imply that-"
"Do you boys realize that that is not mistletoe?" Bilbo interrupted, tilting his head down again to watch Fili and Kili's reactions.
Everyone blinked at him a few times.
"What?" both brothers asked in unison.
"That," Bilbo pointed up, "is not mistletoe. It's holly."
"But you said it would be an evergreen. And have berries. That was all we could find!" Kili threw his hands up in disbelief.
"Well, yes. Mistletoe is an evergreen and it has berries. But it's leaves have smooth edges and the berries are white. That up there was pointy leaves and red berries. It's holly. Did everything that you grabbed look like that?"
Fili paled while Kili nodded. "I don't suppose mistletoe and holly are interchangeable in the tradition, are they?" the older Prince asked.
"I'm afraid not boys. Different plants, different meanings, different traditions."
Next to Bilbo, Dwalin watched the proceedings, a grin spreading across his face. "Just wait until I tell Thorin that you didn't even bother to get the right plant," he rumbled, taking pleasure in the horror stricken faces of Fili and Kili.
"I-I-I-I-" Kili stuttered, trying to find some way out of their predicament.
"I just remembered that we were assigned to leave with a group soldiers to help the elves with their pesky little spider problem in the morning," Fili came to the rescue. "We should really be heading to bed now. Gotta be up early." He took Kili by the arm and steered him away. Once the two of them were out in the corridor, they broke into a sprint, heading away from the Palace and their Uncle.
Bilbo watched with some amusement. "What do they do when they go to Mirkwood?" He turned to look up at Dwalin. "I really don't like the idea of them being around those spiders again."
"Not much from what I'm told." Dwalin shook his head. "They're too busy trying to annoy that pompous king of theirs."
Bilbo gave Dwalin a sly look. "You mean Fili is too busy annoying them. Kili would be mooning over Tauriel."
"Ach, don't remind me of that!" Dwalin slipped his arm back around Bilbo's shouders as he feigned disgust and guided the Hobbit towards his rooms a few doors down the hall.
Bilbo grinned, enjoying the playful mood. "There is nothing wrong with her. She's a perfectly, delightful Elf. I think she'd be a good match for Kili."
"Don't let Thorin hear you say that."
"Oh never." Bilbo said flippantly as he moved forward to dig his key from his pocket. Dwalin stood to the side, facing him. "Wouldn't want him to think that I was the one to put the idea in Kili's head."
Just as the door swung open with a faint squeak, Bilbo felt the soft press of lips and wiry hair against his cheek. He jerked away in surprise and raised a hand to where he could still feel Dwalin's kiss seared into his skin. Dwalin watched his reaction intently and Bilbo could feel a deep flush spread across his face at the look.
"You know there's no mistletoe in my doorway, right?" Bilbo said, partly to break the heavy tension that had settled in the air and partly because he didn't understand. He had hoped (oh how had dared to hope) but he had never expected anything beyond the easy friendship that they shared now. He had started to think that Dwalin was one of those dwarves who chose to devote themselves to their profession rather than seek out the companionship of a lover. "You didn't have to do that."
The intensity of Dwalin's gaze hadn't lessened any. Bilbo fidgeted under the scrutiny and looked away. Dwalin took Bilbo's hand, his much larger hand engulfing Bilbo's, and gave it a squeeze. "I know," he said softly. The tone made Bilbo turn back to him, confused. When he was facing Dwalin again, the Dwarf gently pressed his forehead to Bilbo's. "I wanted to. Just like I want to do this." He tipped his head just right to lightly press their lips together.
The kiss was quick and chaste and Bilbo reveled in the feel of Dwalin's lips against his and his beard scratching against the sensitive skin around his mouth. He thought that maybe it was just a little bit perfect. Dwalin pulled back first, taking a moment to let his eyes rove over Bilbo's face.
"Goodnight Bilbo," Dwalin murmured, smiling as he gave the hand in his another squeeze.
Bilbo smiled back at him. "Goodnight Dwalin."
He went to bed that night, grinning and giggling like a love struck tween.