The Children Of The Smith and The Green Mother

by sarenelsoria

Mahal and Yavanna created Hobbits. In order to save Thorin and his family, Bilbo decides to ask Mahal for his strength to see him through the battle. After the battle he becomes able to sing to stone and sense the thoughts and feeling of other Dwarrow. He and Thorin must work on forgiving one another, as they have a daughter to think of and their actions no longer effect only them

1. Chapter 1

Chapter One

All around Bilbo was chaos legions of orcs, goblins and wargs battled against dwarves, elves and men. He might be able to escape himself, but he knew that his soul bond would fight until his last breath. For his people, for his kingdom and to avenge the deaths of his kinsfolk. Bilbo therefore had no choice, because living without one's soul bond alive, was a fate worse than death. He would do everything in his power to protect his soul bond from harm, even though Thorin now hated him. There was nothing Bilbo wouldn't do for that dwarf, even if it meant never talking with his kin and banishment from the Shire, he would do it. For a life without Thorin was no life at all.

"All Father hear my plea, allow me your blessing, allow me to use the strength of my kin and the wisdom of my ancestors. Allow me to join with those in the halls, so that I might protect myself and defend others. I know the sacrifice and I willingly make it. From this day until my last, I shall only speak the tongue of the All Father and I shall no longer sense the ground under my feet, instead sensing only rock. My hands shall not make plants bloom and grow, but instead craft things of wonder. I surrender myself to you All father, do with me what you will." Bilbo said and shuddered as the power filled him, he felt his beard lengthen growing at a rapid rate, as the hair on his feet shortened.

He let out a roar of anger and defiance and attacked with his sword. He hacked through flesh hearing the screams of his enemies, feeling the blood coating his entire body. He found two axes grasped in the hands of a dead dwarf and grabbed them from the body, continuing to cut his way through his enemies, determined to find his soul bond and save those that were the kin of his heart. The enemy started to avoid him, attempting to flee, but they would find no escape this day. He let out a snarl and continued to cut his way through his foes, until he stood beside his one. Thorin stared in shock at him, this feral being that Bilbo had become. Bilbo roared his challenge as he raced forward, towards Azog.

"Bilbo No!'" Thorin said but it was too late, for Azog had spotted the hobbit and laughed, saying something that sounded demeaning in black speech. Bilbo moved between Azog's legs, the attempt to block him and strike at him coming too slow. Thorin stared at the hobbit, as Bilbo clove Azog in two and then continued on through more goblins that Fili and Kili had been fighting. The hobbit clearly had gone battle mad, but Thorin had no idea that Bilbo could fight as he did, as a dwarven warrior who was skilled with axes would. He always kept two on him, but picked up more as he went throwing them seemingly effortlessly in a well timed precision that took years to master. Bolg appeared then furious at his father's death and determined to kill the hobbit in retribution. However Bilbo moved so quickly that Bolg could not strike a blow, a few goblins tried to sneak up on the hobbit from behind and were quickly killed, while the hobbit continued to fight Bolg, clearly waiting for an opening. He saw his opportunity finally after tiring Bolg and struck, his axe flew directly into Bolg's throat.

The orcs stared as the son of their leader collapsed with a gurgling noise clutching at his throat, before running for their lives. A moment later the hobbit crumpled to the ground and Fili and Kili stared at what they assumed to be the dwarf to have saved them. He was covered in blood from head to foot and unconscious though he was snoring loudly enough to show that he still lived.

Together they took the dwarf back to the healers and laid him down in front. "Do all you can for him he saved our lives."

"Bilbo!" They stared at their Uncle who came running towards them.

"Bilbo?" Kili asked.

"I don't know how but that's Bilbo." Thorin said his face white as a sheet, as the healers examined the hobbit.

"He doesn't appear to be injured, the blood isn't his own. I believe this to be some sort of battle fatigue. If he doesn't wake up in the next twelve hours bring him back to the healing tents or call for one of us. I am glad that you have all made it through the battle, are you wounded at all?"

"I and my sister sons are well thank you for your concern." Thorin said distractedly staring at the hobbit. "He will be taken to my tent, do all you can for the injured and tally the dead so that their families might know that they are among the fallen." Thorin instructed and the healers nodded. "I will be in my tent if you have need of me." Thorin added and walked with Fili and Kili to his tent, he couldn't think from the worry and shock, for Bilbo now had a beard and long hair when before he had hair that hadn't reached past his shoulders. The hobbit's battle ability had also shocked Thorin, though there were some stories of dwarves that lost themselves in battle and became fierce warriors, Thorin had never met anyone that completely succumbed to the battle fever before. Weariness after battle was not foreign to Thorin, but those who succumbed to battle fever sometimes didn't wake for weeks or months. Some though uninjured died from exhaustion and so although there was nothing physically wrong with the hobbit, Thorin couldn't bring himself to leave Bilbo's side. He sent for a towel and washcloth and started washing the blood from Bilbo's body; the hobbit didn't so much as twitch as Thorin washed off the blood. He had to also remove Bilbo's clothing and had clean but dwarven clothes replace the ruined clothing. He was careful to try to preserve the hobbit's modesty, but he doubted that the fastidious hobbit would enjoy being covered in blood and bloody clothing. He hesitated before having a servant deliver a washbasin and carefully washed Bilbo's hair.

Only when the hobbit was fully clean and dressed once more, did Thorin tend to himself, before resuming his vigil over Bilbo. People came and went, but as the days passed Thorin barely registered them. He had to stay there, to hear the hobbit's breathing to see his chest moving up and down. He had to be there when Bilbo finally awoke, because he would wake, he had to wake. Thorin stared at the hobbit and held his hand, letting go only when the healers needed to care for him. Thorin would have done it himself, save he had no idea of how to properly care for Bilbo and the healers were providing him with the best care possible. Thorin had plenty of time to think, to curse how blind he had been, how lost to gold madness and greed. He had nearly killed his One and then Bilbo had gone into battle. If Bilbo had made one wrong move, he might have died and Thorin would have been alone for the rest of his days. As it was Thorin refused to face the thought that Bilbo might not wake again, simply focusing on his breathing.

He continued to watch over the hobbit, remembering only to eat when food was thrust in his hands. Several of his company visited and told him that he should rest, his sister sons begged him to even. He couldn't just sleep when Bilbo might be dying. The hobbit was much thinner than he had been at the start of their journey and he had somehow changed his appearance. Thorin thought Bilbo's beard to be handsome, but it concerned him because he didn't understand how or why it had happened. No race on Middle Earth could grow a beard like that so quickly naturally. Some strange force was at work, a force that Thorin didn't understand and was fearful that it was somehow taking Bilbo away from him.

The Company was concerned as well about Bilbo, but Thorin as well, the dwarf didn't sleep and although he ate when he was given food, he didn't seem to truly see that they were there. Any suggestion or comment they made was met with silence, as Thorin continued to stare at Bilbo, looking for any sign of a change.

"I understand what its like to worry for your One, but this is ridiculous." Gloin said one day inside Thorin's tent. "He should at least try to sleep for a little while. Bilbo will be fine and we would watch over him, but not only does he not hear us when we tell him to get rest, he doesn't speak to anyone, its as though he's shut down, as though Bilbo were already dead."

"Thror was much the same when his wife caught a fever, once she passed he was never the same." Balin said. "I was young at the time, but I remember."

"Aye we might be a bit thick headed, but when we give our hearts to someone, we love passionately even for dwarrows, but this isn't normal. There must be something we can do." Gloin said. "I love my wife, but I would think that I would have enough sense to sleep, if she was in a bad way, at least get a few hours every now and then. When she was pregnant with Gimli."

"Not this story again!" Kili groaned. "I love you cousin and Gimli, but if I have to hear you tell of his birth one more time, I'll hurl on your tunic." He said and everyone laughed.

"Perhaps we might induce sleep with a sedative, no one should go without sleeping as long as Thorin has, perhaps the rest might help snap him out of whatever reverie he's trapped in." Oin said.

"I doubt Thorin would agree to that." Fili said and Oin frowned.

"Well he doesn't have to, he still eats when we bring him food and ale, and we can simply give him something to allow him to sleep."

"He wouldn't forgive us drugging him if he was in his right mind." Fili said.

"But he's not and some people have died from the waiting for a One to recover. Their One recovers in time, but finds that their spouse had died waiting for them to awaken. Its fairly rare for a dwarf to enter such reveries but it does happen and I will do anything in my power to ensure the well being of Thorin." Oin stated and Fili stared at his Uncle before nodding.

"Do it then." Fili said. "But don't move him, I don't wish him to react negatively if he wakes and he doesn't see Bilbo."

"It might be best to have him sleep for a few days, to ensure he recovers his strength. Once asleep he might not awaken for a while anyway, but with such things it is better to ensure the safety of the patient." Oin said and everyone nodded, a short while later Oin added some sleeping powder to a bowl of stew and set it into Thorin's hands. When he began to eat, it was clear that Thorin wasn't listening to a word they were saying. He wasn't even half finished, when the spoon dropped from his fingers and he started to snore. Oin collected the bowl and spoon, while the others watched Thorin and Bilbo sleep for a while.

"We should get back to what needs to be done, we should move them back into Erebor however as it is getting colder and colder in that tent as winter comes." Balin said and the others nodded, together they left the tent and went back to their respective work, as several servants moved both Bilbo and Thorin into Erebor.

Bilbo woke slowly, the first thing he heard was loud snoring and he licked his lips, as he realized he was thirsty. He groaned, feeling as though he'd been kicked by a pony, or rolled in a barrel. He felt tired and hungry, but more than that he was confused. Where was he, the last thing he remembered was the Orcs coming and his decision to call upon Father Smith and take the blessing he offered. Tears came to Bilbo's eyes when he thought of never filling the way growing things rejoiced in the soil. He would never again be able to speak to flowers or coax them into full blossom. He would never again feel the wind on his hairy toes. He had been blessed with the father's gift and lost the mother's, but if his friend's survived the battle, the price had been worth it.

He would be able to feel stone instead of earth, to hear it sing to him as it sang to the father of his race, but he would no longer feel the comfort of the soil and plants as his mother did. He sobbed in earnest then, for all he had lost and all he had gained, as well as the pain of the transition to one who was blessed by the Father rather than the Mother.

Bilbo realized he felt someone's hand resting in his own and opened his eyes to stare at Thorin, who was asleep in a chair, his head bent forward at an uncomfortable angle. "You silly dwarf, you must have been watching over me, I wonder how long its been, since the battle. I should go find some food and see about getting a pain potion, I doubt that you will wake for a while yet." He said and stood, though his body was sore, it was much stronger than it had been before and Bilbo found he was able to lift Thorin easily enough. He deposited the dwarf in the bed, determining that it was large enough for the both of them. He had yet to forgive Thorin, but their hearts were bound together and so there would never be any parting for either of them save death. He needed to be around Thorin, craved it with his soul, but that didn't mean he wanted to be around the dwarf.

Bilbo walked from the room and smiled at several guards that stared at him in shock. "You should not be moving about, it has been nearly a month since the battle, and your body should have a chance to heal. I will fetch a healer and they will ensure that you are well."

"I thank you for your concern but I'm fine, its normal to sleep for a few weeks, after accepting the Father's Gifts." Bilbo said and smiled. "Though I wouldn't mind a pain potion, I won't let a bunch of healers poke and prod at me. Of course I'll explain about my people and what happened and why, but there's no need for me to be examined."

"Respectfully everyone else would disagree your Lordship."

"I'm not a Lord, wherever did you get that idea."

"Your One is the King, is he not?"

"Yes, Thorin is my soul bound though we never truly formalized or even talked about our bond. What does that have to do with the price of Old Toby in Tooksburrogh?" Bilbo asked as he sighed and set himself on the bed. "If you don't wish for me to move, I won't I am rather sore, but I need food and a pain potion and not to be gawked at like most people do, when someone declares themselves a son of Father Smith."

"Your creator was Mahal?" One of the guards demanded and Bilbo nodded.

"And his lady wife, though most of my people prefer the Mother's Mercy, rather than the Father's Strength. We are of course allowed to choose between the two, though we are born with one and may petition our creators for the other once. We cannot choose more than once, my appearance as I am now will be how I..." Bilbo trailed off as his feet moved off the rugs and onto the stone. He could feel it under his feet, connecting him deep down till he reached the molten rock at the center of the earth. He gasped stretching out his senses and smiled when he felt the gems inside the stone, each sang with a different song and welcomed his presence. There were others as well and Bilbo smiled, it was just like the Shire, the way the earth, flowers and hobbits were all connected to one another. It was different but also the same and Bilbo felt his heart lighten as he started to sing along with the songs the others were singing. Some of the stronger one paused in their song seeming startled of Bilbo's own strength and he sent a wave of reassurance through the stone to them. He smiled finding his friends and sending them feeling of welcome and happiness. Bilbo had always been strongly tied to the soil, now he was just as strongly tied to the stone and he had an entire mountain to explore. He laughed in delight as he moved through the rock sensing all around him, until someone gently put a hand to his shoulder.

"Bilbo?" Someone asked and Bilbo smiled, reigning in his senses until he felt Kili's surface emotions, concern for him, as well as a bit of fear.

"I'm fine Kili, just getting used to the sense of the mountain, its beautiful."

"You can sense it?" Kili asked and Bilbo nodded.

"I sense strongly and I can hear the mountain's song and feel inside of it. As I can feel inside of you, but its impolite to sense past surface emotions." Bilbo said and smiled at him, before spotting the healer. "Excellent, did you bring the potion I asked for then?" Bilbo asked the startled dwarf. "Nothing to dull the senses, but some willow bark would be truly appreciated right about now."

"You are gifted with The singing? You are not dwarven, how is this possible?"

"Well we could exchange creation stories, but lets just say that dwarves are the first race Mahal had a hand in making and my race is the second." Bilbo said and nodded his thanks as the healer handed him some willow bark. "We are also children of the Green Mother, but to have both their powers running through us would be too much and lead to madness in a mortal. So as any good parents, they came up with a way that we might either choose the Mother's Mercy, or the Father's Strength. Most hobbits prefer the mother to the father, as we seldom war and do not need to rely upon his strength often. Though a hobbit might choose to ask the Father to lend His strength. I did so and that is how I transitioned from being like the Mother, to being like the Father. The changes wrought are physically demanding, so it was perfectly natural for me to sleep as long as I did. I'm sorry if I worried everyone, but my body needed time to recover and it usually takes about a month for someone to recover from accepting the blessing of the Father." Bilbo said and smiled. "I am truly fine however and I would like to leave these chambers at once."

"Thorin has been very worried about you, we had to drug him to sleep and he won't speak to anyone."

"I will not see Thorin, what was done cannot be undone. I would like to stay here however, if you would permit it, but I refuse to be abused by my soul bond and to have the threat of that abuse hanging over my head. I will not stay here in the hope that Thorin was fully recovered. He has threatened my life once and he won't be given the opportunity a second time." Bilbo stated and Kili stared at him.

"But your his One."

"And he is mine, being a part may be hard on both of us, but staying with him is impossible after what he has done."

"What he has done? You were the one who stole the Arkenstone and declared him unfit to rule his people. You were the one that betrayed him first, but that does not excuse Uncle's actions. Still you cannot expect a gold maddened dwarrow to react well to betrayal."

"I expected my One to understand that I was attempting to save him and the rest of us from either a bloody end by elvan arrows or slow starvation. You cannot eat gold and it seemed as though I was the only one who was thinking clearly, the rest of you were song struck. Lost in the beauty of the gold and there is no shame in that, but in order to live one needs to eat and you cannot eat gold or rocks, regardless of how beautiful they might be. I will not stay with a dwarf who I fear will either harm me, or kill me if he gets angry with me. I refuse to be the husband of an abuser and you may try to explain it away, but I had the mark of his fingers along my neck when we went into battle." Bilbo said. "Leave and allow me to grab my things and find quarters elsewhere, or we can fight, only I won't know when to stop, nor will I be able to be reasoned with."

"Very well if you are that desperate to get away from him, you may leave, but at least wait until he wakes."

"I will not remain in a room with him, is my banishment rescinded, can I stay here or should I seek shelter elsewhere?"

"You were brought here, of course you may stay here." Kili said and Bilbo nodded.

"Thank you, now I will gather my things and depart." Bilbo said and closed the door behind him, he set to gathering his things, before removing several hairs from Thorin's head and putting it into a bag with the rest of his belongings. He might not forgive Thorin, but that didn't mean he didn't wish for a child and as it was Thorin was the only one that Bilbo could have a child with. Thorin didn't deserve to know his child, nor did he deserve to talk with Bilbo about such things, he had lost all rights to Bilbo's body when he had held him over the castle wall.

Bilbo finished packing and followed his stone sense to a chamber he found to be empty. The small home Bilbo found himself in was full of dust and it seemed as though the dwarves hadn't got to the tunnels Bilbo was in yet. A cup and a plate filled with the remains of a meal sat on a table. Four chairs sat opposite one another and Bilbo tested the strength of them, they were made of metal and therefore made to last. They had weathered the past one hundred and sixty years surprisingly well. He then explored the rest of the chambers. He found some dishes as well as old food and three further rooms, two, which seemed to be for a baby and a young child as well as a privy. It was fairly clear that he would have to get new furniture, as all the furniture in the house was unusable after so long, the only thing that had truly been salvageable were the bed frames and the cradle. He sighed and walked up and down the tunnels looking into the other rooms but the only thing he found was some gold, silver and copper coins. When he had gotten a fairly nice pile of coins together he put up his hood and went to the market. There he bought a couch, food and a mattress, having a dwarf load it into a cart for him, with a horse pulling it. "Bring the horse back by tonight, or you loose the extra coins you gave me for her and the cart." The dwarf said and Bilbo nodded, surprised that he could understand him, but then again he had gained the ability to speak in the tongue of the Father, when he had lost the ability to speak in Mother Tongue, such was always the case with those that accepted the Father's gift of strength.

"I will bring it back to you before sunset, it was a pleasure doing business with you." Bilbo said and smiled at the man as he took the cart and the horse back to his room. First he cleaned the room, before putting away the supplies and bringing the cart back to the merchant. He then walked back to his quarters and ate a simple dinner of bread and cheese, having no time for anything else. He rested for a while in the bed before he felt his sense prickle with awareness and urge to make something, just as he would get the desire to garden sometimes in the past. He took a large stone and stone carving tools he found in one of the other houses in the tunnel he was in. He then set to carving, first to be formed was the face, the face of a small child, which emerged from the stone, and she would have his eyes and Thorin's hair and mouth. Her ears were from Thorin and Bilbo smiled to see her face. She was beautiful and she was his. He continued to carve through the night until a young girl lay carved on his floor.

He set his hand on her forehead, before getting out the bag of hair and cutting some of his own. "Father accept this sacrifice and in return breath the breath of life into my daughter. Allow her to love, to laugh, to play, to have her cares be few and her joys be many. Allow her to be a credit to you and your lady wife and to serve you in the days to come. She is a child created out of the bond between her fathers, a child forged from love and the desire to have a child to follow after I am gone." Bilbo said and the hair vanished, as the stone cracked and the girl started to cry. Bilbo smiled down at her, as she reached for him. "Sweetheart it is alright, I am your Daddy, I am here. I know the world is new and scary, but you are loved and you are fine. I'm sorry I forgot to get you clothes, my dear heart, but I was so eager to see you, I could not wait."

"Daddy! I'm Tris, I'm hungry. " The little girl said and Bilbo laughed combing a hand through her hair.

"Then lets get you something to eat my pebble, one of my tunics will serve as a dress for you, before we get you clothes at the market, you can pick out anything you want to wear at the market." Bilbo said and the little girl nodded, those that newly came out of the stone knew little of the world, but knew enough to see to their needs. Sometimes the Father told them some of his wisdom, other times he left much up to the parents of the child. Bilbo could see the intelligence in his child's eyes.

"Daddy can we look around at the market, after you get my clothes?" The child asked and Bilbo smiled.

"Of course little one, now lets have breakfast." Bilbo said and set out two bowls full of porridge, the child copied Bilbo's motions and squirmed when he wiped at her face. "Hold still now sweetness, you have some oatmeal on your face."

"It tickles Daddy." The girl protested looking put out and Bilbo laughed, she looked so much like Thorin in that moment, that he couldn't help it. "Its not funny."

"Of course its not, why don't you wipe your own face then?" Bilbo asked and the little girl nodded, wiping her face, before returning to her meal. Bilbo smiled and got out his coin purse and traveling cloak, putting the child on one hip as they walked to the market. Tris asked questions constantly in wonder at the world around her and Bilbo explained to the best of his ability.

They reached the market and Bilbo went to a stall full of children's clothing. "Looking for family, best to be prepared when they come in a few days time."

"No he's looking for me." Tris said poking her head from the cloak.

"I wished to arrive early and get settled here. " Bilbo told the merchant who nodded, as Tris picked out several pairs of pants, as well as dresses, which seemed to be in her size. "Could she try them on, to make sure they fit alright."

"You are blessed with a beautiful daughter, hello little one, what's your name?"

"Daddy calls me his sweetness, but I'm..."

"Thermopis, her mother was a hobbit, but she died in the birthing bed."

"A hobbit, like the king's One?" The merchant asked and Bilbo nodded, as Tris changed, Bilbo was glad that Tris allowed him to tell such a story without giving him away, or asking questions. Tris knew that she had been carved from stone and there had been no mother with her, she also most likely knew that she had two daddies and would be able to recognize her other father, if she saw him. His daughter trusted him and was already smart enough to know not to question his story. He smiled as she finished picking up her clothes and. He helped her as she put them on and grinned at him. She twirled in the slightly oversized dress and giggled. Bilbo laughed and scooped her up in his arms, tossing her in the air, before he caught her and gently tickled her sides.

"Again Daddy, toss me again!" Tris demanded and Bilbo laughed tossing her in the air one more time, before paying for the clothes he had bought.

"Now lets go find you a doll, such a pretty little girl should have a dolly of her own and some beads for her hair." Bilbo said and Tris grinned.

"You're gonna get me beads Daddy, like he wears?" The little girl asked and Bilbo nodded.

"Of course and I'll get a set for myself as well." Bilbo said and the girl smiled, as they walked together, first to a dwarf selling sets of carved beads. Bilbo got two simple sets etched with the rune signs for good luck, prosperity and happiness.

"These are pretty, can we get these?" Tris asked and Bilbo paled at the small gemstones set into the clay beads.

"Maybe when you're older, you should have plain sets for now, so they will be easy to replace, if you loose them." Bilbo said and his daughter nodded. Bilbo smiled softly and kissed the top of her head, also buying a book on braiding. He then walked with his daughter to where a merchant had set out several toys for sale.

"You can choose two toys." Bilbo said and smiled when his daughter chose a dwarven warrior and a dwarven lady, he paid for both toys and got a card deck as well, to teach her some of her numbers and help her learn how to count. "Do you have any children's books?"

"Aye we have books, but they are expensive."

"That's alright."

Bilbo assured the dwarf and bought the books he had in stock. Bilbo then froze when he saw Dwalin striding down the road.

"Hello little one, what's your name?" He stopped to ask her and Bilbo smiled, trust Dwalin to have a soft spot for children. Tris looked from Bilbo to the dwarf, before she smiled.

"Thermopis, but Daddy calls me Tris. Mama was a hobbit, but she's gone to the Lady's Garden now."

"I am sorry for your loss young one."

"I didn't know her, I just know Daddy, my Daddy is the best, and he just got me a lady and a warrior!" Tris said and thrust her dolls forward. "See!" Dwalin smiled at the child.

"And you, what is your name?" Dwalin asked and Bilbo stared at Dwalin a moment, realizing that there was no way that Dwalin wouldn't recognize his voice.

"Bilbo, I haven't changed so much that you wouldn't recognize me and this is my daughter."

"How?" Dwalin demanded and Bilbo shrugged.

"The usual way, two people's souls connect and from that connection new life is created."

"But she's at least twelve years old Bilbo!"

"Aye that's how the Father wished her to be carved, surely you know how you were created."

"She was carved by Mahal?"

"She was carved by me, she's my daughter."

"But she's Thorin's too."

"He has no claim to her, he might have had a hand in her birth, but that does not make him her father."

"Why Bilbo?"

"Why did I carve her? One does not deny the requests of the All Father." Bilbo stated simply. "And I always wanted children anyway."

"What did Daddy do, to make you mad?"

"Your daddy hurt me and I'm not going to let him hurt me again, or you my pebble." Bilbo assured his daughter stroking a hand through her hair.

"No one will harm you ever, you have my word Tris, daughter of Bilbo." Dwalin said and bowed to Tris who giggled and smiled at him. "If you will not allow Thorin to see her, will you allow her other family to?"

"Of course she can see them, but not Thorin, I don't want her around him. Tris this is Uncle Dwalin."

"Hello Uncle Dwalin, you have a really big axe, are you a warrior?"

"Indeed I am little one, would you like to ride on my back, I could take you to see your cousins, if that's alright with your father."

"Of course, I'd love to see some of the Company again, but don't try to keep us somewhere we don't want to be, there are always ways out of places, for those that are stone blessed."

Bilbo said and Dwalin laughed.

"Aye I know, how did you come to speak our tongue?"

"When I asked for the Father's Blessing, I was also able to speak his tongue, as does my daughter. Most other hobbits know that the Father Tongue is a language as much as the Mother Tongue, but neither can be taught to us, if we try we aren't able to understand them. The words blend together and sound incomprehensible to us. I can still of course speak common and elfish, but our little ones speak either Mother Tongue or Father Tongue when they come into this world."

"And they are always so old?" Dwalin asked.

"Not always it depends upon what the parents feel when they get the urge to carve a child out of stone, or mold a child out of clay."

"We were never given the knowledge of how to carve dwarves into being, our children are born in the same way that the children of men are. Despite the fact that for every three dwarves, one dwarrowdam is born. If you could impart the knowledge, many could have families that could not before."

"I will ask Father Smith if he decides to visit me in my dreams. He seldom does, so I believe he approves of the way I am living my life and has no wisdom to impart about my actions."

"Mahal visits you in dreams?" Dwalin demanded and Bilbo nodded.

"Doesn't he visit you, you are of your people's royal line, that means you must have a powerful stone sense."

"I'm about average actually, Durin the First picked his first son to follow him and so it went down the line to the current ruler of the Longbeards and Durin's folk."

"Ah I see, so you chose through right of birth, rather than right of connection with the gifts of the parents." Bilbo said and nodded in understanding. "In the beginning there were fourteen hobbits, which is why fourteen is considered to be a lucky number for our people. Our parents gave us names and once the first fourteen were grown, our parents allowed us to govern ourselves and choose a leader from among us. We decided ultimately that the one with the strongest gift among us should rule and so Fantrabris Took was chosen to lead our people. As the years went by and more of us were born, we needed formal rule less and less, so the position of Thain became one who gave wise council and led during times of great peril. He was chosen as someone who descended through the original line, and had great power as well as great wisdom. After many years there was also less need for father's protection so those hobbit families that were born with the Father's Gift rather than the mothers, slowly chose to ask for her blessing instead of Fathers. Father wasn't angry by this, because he loves Mother and he understood why his children would wish to be like her. He still gave us council in dreams when we had need of it and he assured us that he was fine with the choices that his children had made. So more hobbits were born and more went back to the earth, or to the stone, until I was born and decided to go on an adventure with some of my Creator Kin. In doing so, I lost the chance to lead my people, but I thought I would have been rather horrible at it anyway. I'm too flighty to lead anyone, that's what my mother used to say, always looking for elves or dwarves..."

"You could have lead your people, you are of the royal line."

"There is no royal line in the Shire not anymore, but the current Thain is my grandfather, who unfortunately is not in good health. It was most irresponsible for me to leave at such a time and the next Thain will be chosen soon and it will not be me, which is something that I am perfectly fine with. I tried to be dependable and respectable and I was miserable, everyone could see it, even Father Smith, but I was determined to be like my Da after he and Ma died. It wasn't who I was however and sooner or later that would have become clear to me, it was just sooner than expected as you knocked on my door. Fourteen is a lucky number for my people and I felt that the quest would not fail and I wished to help you, so I went with you and here were are today." Bilbo said and smiled at his daughter who had been listening as well.

"We aren't like the other hobbits Daddy, cause we can do what Father Smith can."

"Yes, my pretty pebble you are a bright girl to understand so much, for one so young. The rest of my kin can sing to plants and have them grow big and strong, as well as have the most delicious fruit. Where as you and I can sense the stone under our feet and feel the people who live in the stone. As you grow older I will teach you how to control your stone sense and how to use the gifts you were given by Father Smith." Bilbo promised his daughter and the child nodded.

"Thank you Daddy, but why can't I see my other Daddy?"

"I told you that it was because he was mean to me and I'm afraid of him being mean to you as well. I will not explain further until you are older, but this is your Uncle Dwalin."

"Actually I'm her distant cousin."

"I consider you to be her Uncle, as you share a kinship with her other Daddy and you two are close. Such is the way of things in the Shire, most of us have always been related to the rest, but only those the parents are close to are considered Uncles or Aunts. My mother had nine brothers and sisters, but I only had eight Uncles and seven aunts growing up, some of which were actually cousins by relation. I know its confusing to you, but I want the company to be honorary Uncles to my daughter and their spouses to be their Aunts or Uncles as well."

"You know that some of us aren't married to women then, or will not marry women." Dwalin said and Bilbo nodded.

"It doesn't matter in my culture and I assumed that it didn't matter in yours either. Some men take issue with other men sharing their lives together, but Hobbits have always considered love to be love, in all its forms. I look forward to meeting the Ones of the company, goodness knows I've heard enough about Gloin's wife to feel as though I know the woman." Bilbo said and Dwalin laughed.

"Why will you allow me to be with the child, but not Thorin?"

"You have never harmed me Dwalin, Thorin has and I won't be giving him another opportunity to harm me, or my child. As I created her she's mine, though she belongs to herself as well, as all children do."

"Even if he was mean to you, I'd like to meet him. He's my Daddy, he won't be mean to me."

"Oh my Amethyst you can't know that, I thought he would never harm me, but he did hurt me quite badly. I will never let anyone harm you."

"You can't promise that Daddy, it will be okay, if I don't like him, then I won't see him again and Uncle Dwalin will protect me." Tris said and gazed adoringly up at her Uncle. "Please Daddy, I want to see my other Daddy, he helped create me, I can feel it."

"He may have had a hand indirectly with your creation, but I don't feel comfortable with you seeing him."

"Please Daddy?"

"How about meeting your cousins instead, they are good young men and funny, they are also fond of playing tricks and they will love you dearly." Bilbo said in an attempt to divert his daughter's attention, as he could sense she was very upset and longed for her other father.

"Can't you let Tris see Thorin, if only for a moment?" Dwalin asked and Bilbo shook his head.

"I will not risk the safety of my daughter, or myself and that is final. I am her carver and I will have final say in what is best for her."

"What is best for her is to meet Thorin and for you to be a family!"

"It is not family, nor is it home, when one spouse lives in fear of another, I refuse to live with one who may get lost in the desire for gold, till he forgets all else but it. I refuse to live with one who might just one day decide to take my life, or harm me in some other manner. Who might one day harm my daughter."

"Thorin has recovered from the gold sickness."

"For now, but there's no guarantee of him not falling ill with it again. I will not risk my daughter getting to know one father and have him become a different man from one day to the next. A much cruller and colder man, as he became for me. I could not help him, I could only watch as he slid deeper and deeper into the madness."

"But you could help him now, I've felt the strength of your power."

"Such things are not done, to influence the thoughts of others is taboo among my people."

"Even if it would prevent more suffering, even if it would help the one who's thoughts you influence. You could make him dislike gold, with the amount of stone sense you have."

"Then he would not be himself, not be my One. He would be someone I manipulated and controlled through my stone sense. I would rather be apart and have him be fully himself, then be together and control his thoughts and feelings."

"Even if it means him going mad?"

"The alternative is hardly better Dwalin."

"You can sense his thoughts now, you can know his feelings, you will be able to tell if he's angry, or upset or lost to gold madness. You could help him, yet you abandon him."

"Yes, he chose to hold me over the castle walls, he chose to nearly strangle me, I choose to keep my daughter and myself away from him."

"Why don't you join minds and then you can see how he is feeling and what he is thinking, surely it isn't against your people's custom to share thoughts."

"Only when agreed to by both parties and I don't agree to it, because he could still harm me."

"How could he convince you that he will never hurt you again, being without you is hurting him and you may very well drive him back to the madness if this continues."

"He is responsible for his own choices, as are we all. I refuse to be with my One because he may become abusive at any moment and I refuse to live in fear of him. To have my daughter live in fear of him."

"Will you have another child, then? The line of Durin was nearly broken and we need more children."

"Not if it is a need and not a desire, I carved my daughter, out of love and because Mahal wished it. Mahal will tell a parent when it is time to carve, otherwise we don't carve, though some ask to carve and he allows it when the time is right. When the time is right for me to carve again, I will do so, because I love children and wish to have many, but not for Thorin and not for the kingdom, but because they will be my children and I will love them."

Tris cocked her head listening and smiled at Bilbo. "Father Smith says that you shouldn't let fear rule you and you should let your love guide you." His daughter said and Bilbo sent out his senses, feeling Mahal's spirit inside his daughter and he frowned, before approaching the spirit.

"Why don't you wait until she is asleep to speak with her All Father?"

"Because you are making a mistake, one that could lead to worse things in future. Your daughter should know her father and you should be with your husband, what happened before will not happen again. The Arkenstone is powerful and can corrupt those that covet it, Thorin had it thrown back into the heart of the mountain while you slept. It will never be found again and Thorin's mind is his own. I know that my heart children consider it rude to sense the emotions and thoughts of another, but you should reunite with Thorin and rectify what is wrong between the two of you."

"I will do as you wish All Father, as I have all my life, but I do not feel that this is the right decision. I would always be looking for him to harm me."

"And when no blow falls, when he is as he was, when will you see that he will never again seek to abuse you. When will you see how torn up inside my son is over what he has done to you? How it eats at him and how he longs just to simply hold you in his arms? I know his mind as I know the mind of all my children and he has come back to himself and is determined to remain sane. It has come to the point where he cuts himself off entirely from the stone, in fear that it may corrupt him somehow and you know what it is to cut yourself away from the stone or the soil. As always your choices are your own, you are my child, but I cannot control what you will do, nor would I wish to. I love you, as I love all my children and I know that if you seek to stay away from Thorin, you will only hurt yourself, him and your daughter." The essence of Mahal then faded and Bilbo blinked as he became aware of his surroundings once more.

"I will go to Thorin, for a little while, but for now our visits will remain short."

"Thank you Bilbo." Dwalin said and Bilbo felt his relief and gratitude through his stone sense. They walked together to where Thorin was, Dwalin carrying the clothes and Tris, as the little girl smiled at everyone she met and asked Dwalin a string of questions which the warrior tried to answer, before she asked yet another. They arrived before the door to Thorin's quarters.

"Can I take her?" Bilbo asked and Dwalin handed his daughter to him, as he opened the door. They stood in a living room and Bilbo walked through it to find Thorin in his study, drinking from a mug of ale, his eyes wet with tears. "He doesn't love me anymore."

"Don't be sad Daddy." Tris said and Bilbo looked from Thorin, to the empty bottles.

"Who are you?" Dwalin demanded and Bilbo sat down as Dwalin continued to stare at Thorin.

"Perhaps introductions should wait, until you are sober. Dwalin will you help him to bed? Tris darling Daddy needs a nap."

"But I just met him." Tris complained.

"Yes but he won't remember it, he won't remember any of this, with the amount of ale he's had."

"Bilbo? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to please come back. " Thorin said and sobbed into his hand.

"I'm here now, hush now its alright." Bilbo said and stroked Thorin's back wondering what he'd been so frightened of, before he set his daughter down on the floor. "Don't wander too far with your stone sense Tris, I'm going to help Daddy Thorin get to bed, you will meet him properly another day."

"I'm a Daddy? How is this possi posssi happen." Thorin asked and Bilbo sighed.

"I'll explain once you've slept off the drink."

" 'Socay stay with me."

"I'll stay until you fall asleep." Bilbo promised and Thorin nodded, he got up from his chair swaying heavily as Bilbo put one arm around him and Dwalin came and took Thorin's other side. They walked together, half dragging Thorin to his bed and Bilbo pulled off the dwarf's shoes before lying down next to him. Thorin wrapped him in his arms and Bilbo saw his daughter crawl over them, nestling against Bilbo's back. Soon both his daughter and Thorin were snoring and Bilbo found that he couldn't move and was tired anyway. "In a few hours I'd like to meet with the Company and introduce them to Tris, but I don't want to wake her now."

"I will leave you and your daughter to rest, thank you for staying with Thorin."

"We will need to work on much, but he is as he was." Bilbo said and yawned before closing his eyes, he was asleep soon after.