They though that Bilbo was dead. They didn't found his body but they had all saw him there, time to time, middle of the battle, helping where he could, saving their lives. But after the battle, no one had seen him. No dwarf, no man, no elf, not even Gandalf, who looked more worried than ever. Not good sigh to see, it made everyone else worry too, more than usually.
They looked and looked.
Thorin asked after him but no one could say it, not aloud, that their hobbit was dead.
So they searched.
But then it came time that they have to get rid of the dead bodies what they couldn't burry. Although it was already wintertime the corpses couldn't last over whole winter, they have to burn them.
Bofur cried, kneeling on the ground, his head buried under his arms and no one else was much better.
They told Thorin then, who was slowly recovering and for some days they though that they would lose their king.
Kili howled out his cry holding his brother who was still unconscious.
No one had had the chance to apologize, to say how sorry they were, how much they wanted to thank him, ask him to stay. They had been fools, mad with gold.
Days and days later Thorin stood again, though still sick and weary, front of his throne, the Arkenstone buried deep in the caverns, not him to find it again.
Fili, finally awake, stood beside of him with his brother and front of them was the Company, or what was left of it. Bilbo was gone.
"Alongside the Gandalf I have send the letter to his kin to the Shire. I…" Thorin's voice almost broke and he cleared his throat. "I told them that I married him, that he was my husband, our Consort and though we did not find his body from the battle field…" Again there was a pause and for a moment Thorin closed his eyes, remembering the sigh of Bilbo, Sting shining its blue light, front of him, defending him, saving his life. He never got the chance to ask his hand, to court him, to say how much he actually loved him. There had been one night, only one glorious night after the dead of the Smaug what they shared, but after that everything was gone wrong. But no one would know the truth apart the Company, and they would not tell anyone. "We have buried him as a hero what he was. He will not be forgotten. Never."
And all this time they couldn't see him, standing near them, watching them, mourning and cursing the ring in his finger. It was stuck.
#
AN/ Sorry any mistakes. I know I have already running some other stories but I just couldn't leave this out. And to those who knows, I'm going to update Touch next.