Chapter 3

Oin and Gloin

These two cousins of Thorin were an interesting pair to watch. Bilbo knew that Oin had plenty of skill as the group's healer, but suffered from almost total deafness which meant he wasn't exactly an alert member of the group. But Bilbo did appreciate how good he was at healing injuries; he had helped Thorin after their encounter with Azog and was staying in Laketown to try and help Kili; Bilbo just hoped that the Dwarf's skills would be enough to cure the young Prince of whatever was ailing him. Bilbo wasn't convinced that it was just a simple wound, not when it had come from an orc.

He thought about how Oin seemed to be able to interpret supposed signs that it was time for them to take back the mountain and wanted to know more about that. He'd always taken an interest in the outside world but had never before thought that he would actually get to see it. Now that he had, he wanted to know as much as he could and Oin seemed like a good Dwarf to ask about it. His age gave him wisdom, like Balin, and they were always interesting to listen to when the Company stopped for the night and gathered around the campfire.

Where Oin was mostly calm and patient, his brother Gloin could not be more different. He could have a temper sometimes and seriously hated Elves. But he wasn't all bad; he'd shown Bilbo the pictures of his wife and son that he carried with him, and Bilbo could see that he loved them very much. No doubt Gimli would grow up to look just like his father, and he figured that Gloin would be very proud if this was the case. Dwarves were a very family-oriented group, just like Hobbits.

Bilbo had heard that as a healer, Oin had sometimes delivered Dwarf children in his life. One of these, he had heard, had been his own nephew Gimli. There was a rumour that Oin had dropped the Dwarfling on his head during the delivery, but that Dwarves had harder skulls than other beings. He knew that to be true, judging by the headbutts that the Dwarves frequently gave each other. He hoped that none of them wanted to try that with him; he didn't think he could take it and might even pass out.

Gloin was known as the group's banker, funding the trip. But Bilbo could remember how guarded he could be with the money and smirked to himself as he observed the others. He could remember how Gloin had initially been reluctant to pay his share towards Bard but had soon changed his mind after seeing the mountain; that told Bilbo a lot about how much this quest meant to them.

He did enjoy their company despite how irritating some of them could be. They had accepted him into the group after he had saved Thorin and he was glad that he'd done it. He just hoped that the Dwarves' notorious lust for gold didn't completely consume them; that was a very worrying thought and he didn't want his friends to deteriorate in such a way. What if they turned into Gollum-like creatures, fixated on their golden possessions?

Bilbo knew that they were relations of Thorin and wondered how far along the line of ascension they were. He'd heard that a cousin of Thorin's, Dain of the Iron Hills, was next in line after Kili (although Fili would likely produce an heir). But he figured that none of Thorin's relations within the Company were too worried about ascending to the throne because there were so many before them. Even Kili didn't have too much to worry about as long as Fili had a son before he died. Even he could tell that Kili might never be ready to take the throne; his spirit was too free to be tied down in such a way.

He wondered how the Dwarves in Laketown were faring and if Kili was in serious danger; he knew that Oin's healing skills were very good, so maybe there was nothing to worry about. He was sure that Oin was doing everything he could for the young Prince; Kili was in good hands right now so Bilbo was trying not to worry.

Bilbo fondly remembered the first conversation he'd had with Oin, in Bag End. He had tried to get something back from Bifur, only for the injured Dwarf to talk to him in rapid Khuzdul. He'd been thoroughly confused until Oin had spoken up.

"He's got...an injury," Oin said to him, nodding.

"You mean the axe in his head?" Bilbo asked, almost sarcastically. Oin raised his ear trumpet, which didn't seem to help his hearing problem. It would later be used by Dwalin at the dinner table for playing pranks on its owner.

"Dead? No, only between his ears. His legs work fine."

Bilbo had been confused at first, but he could smile about it now. The Dwarves all looked out for each other; that much was clear and he enjoyed watching them interact with each other. Although they often wound each other up, they were still fiercely loyal to one another.

Even though not all of them were related to each other, it was clear that they all considered each other family. Every single one of them had their role within the Company and the quest, and he had enjoyed these past few months on the road with them. When he did eventually leave here after everything had settled, he knew that he would miss all of them and wondered if he could return for a visit one day; he hoped that he would be welcome.

Thorin certainly seemed open to him staying for a while and making return visits, at least for now. But what about when he found out that Bilbo had the Arkenstone and had lied to him? He didn't want to think about that right now.