The Shire

Thorin was nervous as he knocked on the green door in Hobbiton for the second time in two years. Bilbo had already forgiven him on his supposed deathbed, but he had left before Thorin had been victorious over death. Thorin was not sure if the hobbit had only forgiven him because he was dying, so he followed him to the Shire. The hobbit was more than his friend, he was his companion. Thorin respected his opinion and needed him at his side, as his advisor and as his friend. The hobbits gentleness might keep Thorins hothead at bay. As the hobbit opened the door, the teacup in his hands landed on the floor as he looked upon the dwarf king and chattered into hundreds of pieces. Without a word he walked up to Thorin and threw his arms around the kings neck, sobbing into his shoulder. Thorin was his king and he had only left him because he felt like he did not belong in Erebor after Thorins death. Thorin let out a relieved sigh as the hobbits arms closed around him and pulled him close. The world became a better place as they walked inside and the door closed behind the dwarves and their hobbit. Nobody knew that it was the friendship to the burglar that had destroyed Thorins love.

'Tell me everything.' Bilbo sat down in his armchair in Bag End. Thorin, Bofur, Dwalin and the Ri brothers were sitting in his living room, drinking tea and catching up with their former burglar. 'Why did you leave Erebor again?'

'I left Erebor to see you.' Thorin admitted. 'To seek your forgiveness.'

Bilbo wanted to say something, but Thorin held up his hand. 'I have been blind in my lust for gold. I have done things and said things to you that you should never have forgiven me. You did forgive me, after the battle. But I needed to know if you really forgave me. With all your heart and not because I lay there, dying.'

'Indeed, I was told that you were dying, Thorin.' Bilbo sighed and thought about the pain he felt as the healers had told him that the dwarf prince would not survive the night. 'I could not stay and watch you die. I needed to remember you alive, so I left. I have forgiven you, Thorin. I had already forgiven you as you had banished me. It was not you who hurt me, it was your sickness. We were so proud of you as you charged out of Erebor in your mithril armor and surrounded by your loyal company. You had defeated the sickness and you defeated the army that threatened us all. All who believed in you, all who followed you have been proved right in their belief. They believed in you and they still do.'

Thorin lowered his gaze at the hobbits words. He still felt guilt about the way he had treated the hobbit, his burglar, his friend, but the hobbits words relieved him greatly. But he had also heard the choice of plural in the hobbits words and it reminded him of who he had lost.

'Now...tell me everything. How are the others?' Bilbo wanted to know. 'How are your nephews? How is Balin?'

'Fili took his rightful place as my heir on the throne of Erebor. Kili and Balin will support him until my sister arrives in Erebor. She will arrive with the first caravan. Bifur, Bombur, Oin and Gloin have travelled to the Blue Mountains to ensure the quick return of our people to Erebor.' Thorin informed the hobbit. 'Gandalf has left shortly after the battle and was not seen since. I have no idea where he went, but I am sure that he is fine.'

'What about Gaia? How is she?' Bilbo wanted to know. He had not seen the Dunedain since she had rushed into battle at his side.

Thorin remained silent, but the pain in his eyes was obvious. Dwalin cleared his throat and the Ri brothers bit their lips. Bofur was the one who talked first.

'The lass has left us. Tauriel, Kilis elf maid, told us that she was wounded by the orc scum Bolg in battle and had been in the elves care afterwards. That was the last she'd seen her.'

'She is dead?' Bilbo had misunderstood Bofurs answer. 'But...'

'She has left us, she is not dead.' Dwalin interrupted Bilbo. 'At least not that we know of.'

'What are you talking about? Why did she leave? I thought that she and Thorin...?' Bilbo looked at Thorin sheepishly, who closed his eyes in bitterness.

'I overheard Dori and Ori talking one night.' Bilbo admitted shyly. 'After we left Mirkwood Thorin and Gaia had been nearly inseperable. Ori drew a picture of them both as we were in Laketown. And Dori said that the first thing to celebrate in Erebor would be a wedding.'

'She left.' Thorins voice was hoarse with grief. 'She turned her back on me. And I deserved it. As much as I value our friendship, Bilbo, and as much as I regret having hurt you - I hurt her more. Gaia supported me with all her soul, with all her heart and I banished her along with you. She did nothing to me, she did not steal the arkenstone, she did not lie to me.' Bilbo lowered his gaze at Thorins words, although he knew that the dwarf had also forgiven him for his actions. 'Gaia saved me from doing something that I would have regretted all my life. If I had thrown you off the cliffs I would have never been able to live with the guilt. She saved my life that day, once again. Also yours. And I banished her along with you. Kilis elf maid told me that Gaia protected my unconsious body from Bolg and was injured in the process. As I woke up several days after the battle, Gaia was gone. You had also left after our talk. I felt lost and betrayed, but I understood in the end. I knew where to find you and now I am here.'

'And nobody knows where Gaia is now?' Bilbo asked. 'Maybe she went back to Bree?'

'We passed Bree on our way here.' Nori stated firmly. 'She has not been seen since the day she left with Thorin two years ago.'

'And thats it?' Bilbo was not ready to give up. 'Thorin, you loved her. You love her still, I can see it.'

'And what of it?' Thorin stood up and began pacing in Bilbos living room. 'I do not know where she is. She ran from me and she had every right to do so. I do not deserve her.'

'That is nonsense, Thorin.' Bilbo stood up and took Thorins arm to stop him from pacing. 'You deserve all the happiness and love in the world. But you have to fight for it, you can't wait for it to come to you.'

'I have no right to ask her to come back to me.' Thorin lowered his head in defeat. 'She left without looking back. I do not know where she is, nor do I have the right to know.'

Bilbo sat back in his chair. He could not believe that Gaia would have left without looking back. She had loved Thorin so much, it had been obvious. Even when Thorin had banished her, she had continued fighting for him. There had to be a reason why she had left. A reason which had hurt more than Thorins banishment.

Sorry for the short chapters, but its better for the tension and the structure of the story that way. But the shorter the chapter, the more often an update ;)