Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit in any way.
Pairing: Dwalin/Bilbo
The Warrior's Bride
The Warrior
Dwalin had been a surprise –a welcomed surprise- but a surprise none the less, and when the wiggling screaming at the top of his lungs babe was placed in arms, Balin promised himself he would do everything in his power to make his brother happy.
He just wish it wasn't so bloody hard!
Like all Dwarves, his little brother was stubborn as a mule, practically unmovable when told what to do and no wanting to do it.
The fact was, Dwalin needed to settle down, well maybe not needed to, but Balin would feel better that there was someone to look after his brother should something happen to him.
A nice lad or lass would do (Balin wasn't picky), preferably able to cook, wouldn't cower at his brother's size and appearance, and could handle Dwalin when he got into a temper and more importantly not take offence to his bluntness. It wasn't that big of a request and normally Balin would have left it be, let his brother go at his own pace, if said brother showed any effort.
Yes, being guard to the King didn't give you much time for courting and such (though there was some time for a bit of fumbling in the closet, which Balin had explained to his brother much to said brother's horror), but Thorin and Dwalin were good friends, as close as brother having grown up together. The King would have gladly given Dwalin time off if the Dwarf expressed interest in courting another Dwarf.
The problem was, Dwalin wasn't.
"You're worry for nothing Balin" Bombur said, before smacking greedy hands away from his small cakes with his wooden spoon.
Balin scowled and shook his stinging hand, he had come down here to royal kitchens to ask his friend Bombur for advice and cake, he already had two.
"Dwalin always goes at his own pace; he'll find a spouse in his own time"
"Time will end before my brother gets moving" Balin grumbled.
Bombur chuckled as he decorated his small cakes, Balin didn't know why the other Dwarf bothered seeing as half the time the old warrior was sure his Kin didn't even taste the food they shoved down their throats, let alone notice the decoration. He didn't.
"Aye, you may have a point there" Bombur said.
"Maybe I should throw suitors at him and see what happens" Balin then sighed, eyes staring intently at the cakes before him, for moment he wondered if he was fast enough to snag a third piece.
"Dwalin is not a pet, and besides suitors do throw themselves at him and the Dwarf ignores every single one of them"
It was true Balin mused, his brother was one of the most desirable bachelors in Erebor, handsome, wealth and Royal status, Dwalin was quite a catch, any Dwarf would be lucky to have him.
"And perhaps that the problem" Balin thought.
Balin knew that more than half the suitors who threw themselves at his brother (and himself occasionally, he wasn't that old!) merely wanted his brother for his wealth and title, Balin was sure that was the problem, his brother who did not trust easily in the first place, so to learn that someone who wishes to be with you only for what you have instead of just you, must not only be heartbreaking but discouraging as well.
"Don't look so sad, my friend" Bombur said as he slide a cake towards the other Dwarf when he noticed the other's sullen look, "I'm sure Dwalin's special someone is out there"
As he dug into his cake, Balin hoped that 'special someone" would appear soon, all this stress was not good for him.
Despite what his brother thought, Dwalin did want to find his special someone, perhaps even his One; slim though it may be. He did look, but there was none who caught his attention or made him feel anything at all, and those who did approach him well….its best left unsaid. Those he did approach were often thrown off by his bluntness, which apparently was even too much for his own race.
"Maybe you should court an Elf"
"You ever say those words to me ever again; I'll cut off your beard and feed it to you"
Thorin smirks before going back to the parchments litter over his desk, paying his now grumbling cousin sitting next to him little mind, this conversation was nothing new.
"If anyone is going to be courting one of those tree-shaggers it's Kili, that lad ain't right in the head"
No less entertaining though.
"Don't let my sister hear you say that"
"I'm not scared of her"
"Everyone's scared of her"
"I'm not"
"Says the Dwarf who spent three days in hiding after letting Fili and Kili have sweets when they weren't supposed to"
"I was tricked" Dwalin huffs.
Thorin snickers.
When Thorin is finished with today's paperwork, the two headed to the council meeting, Dwalin doesn't feel guilty at all at the pained look he sees on his cousin's face before the King disappears behind the large doors. Alone Dwalin heads to the kitchen where he knows his brother is, no doubt stuffing his face full of cake and moaning about Dwalin's lack of love life.
He is not disappointed.
Balin is slumped over the table the kitchen staff used for quick meals, stuffing his face full of cake, while Bombur looked on amused.
"He was so cute as a Dwarfling, use to follow me everywhere" Balin says over a mouthful of cake.
Rolling his eyes Dwalin goes over, he stands by the table and swipes the Dwarf's cake.
"Dwalin, wonderful to see you!" Bombur greets, "your brother was just about regale me on your Dwarfling days while crying over cake"
"Why do you encourage him?" Dwalin sighs before eating a piece of cake.
"I have to get my entertainment somehow" Bombur shrugs,
"I'm still here, and give me back my cake!"
Dwalin moves the plate away from his brother's grabbing hands, lifting it high, when his brother tried for it again with a triumph grin on his face.
As he watched the older Fundin jump up and down to get his cake, while the younger crackled and just held the plate up higher, Bombur wondered who would be able handle them, let alone marry.
When Balin suddenly tackled Dwalin, Bombur also hoped they loved to bake.
"Ow, you bite me, you bastard!"
A lot.
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