Author's Note:
So the Rules of Old is just something that I made up on the notion of dwarves staying in their own race for love. To me it also gives a little tension between the couples.
Another thing, this chapter has given me a headache as to how to write Bilbo's banishment, Thorin's sickness and lust for gold lingering still (Maybe in later chapters I will explore this a tad more) and the politics of a kingdom.
Please read, review and enjoy!
Chapter 3: Banishment.
Bilbo was over the moon happy when he and the rest of the company had heard that Thorin was alive, over his fever and awake. He woke up nearly four days later and had asked for Fili and Kili's health.
Bilbo however, was dealing with Balin and the politics of Erebor. Balin had gotten a lot of things done during those nearly four days with that of the Elvenking Thranduil and Brad from Lake-Town.
In fact, Bilbo ordered Balin to give more then what Thorin had said in Lake-Town, to Bard and his people. Bard of course tried to deny it but, Bilbo wouldn't have it and Bard had no choice but to accept it.
When it came to King Thranduil, Balin had found the jewels that the woodland king has been wanting for nearly 60 years. With that Bilbo had Balin deal with King Thranduil on trading for another 60 or more years. Balin wasn't too pleased, but it was the right thing to do.
As it came to the Arkenstone, Bilbo asked Bofur to put it back into the mountain itself. Where no one would find it ever again. Bofur did so but barely made it out with his life when the mine that he chosen had collapsed in on itself thanks to Smaug's living in the mountain for so long.
Clean up from the battlefield was also taking place; the orcs bodies were buried after being torched, the men of both Elves, Dwarves and the race of Man, were buried with four days of silence and for the families to grieve probably. Bilbo also gave more of the gold away to the families.
Dwalin, Gloin, Balin, Oin, Bifur, Bomber, Ori, Nori, Dori and Bofur got their treasure, but Bilbo didn't take his like Bofur, Bifur and Bomber predicted.
Throughout all of this, Kili and Tauriel weren't that shy about their relationship. In fact, Kili would be teasing toward Tauriel but she would get him back with a prank that left him mouth a gaped and stunned. Fili had pulled Kili aside several times, trying to get some sense into his younger brother's head but couldn't.
Bilbo had one talk with Kili and that seemed to straighten him. Reserving the fun and play behind closed locked doors which, Bilbo also suggested for them to do.
Thorin had learned of this and had Kili with Tauriel in his tent about two days later after he woke up.
Looking at the two, Thorin couldn't understand where he went wrong. His eyes lingered on Tauriel, more than his nephew liked but, it was hard for Thorin to accept this …fondness.
"Kili, you do realize that you will be forever banished from any dwarf town, city and kingdom? And if you need any help of any sort, none will be given to you?" he asked his nephew worriedly.
"Uncle, Tauriel is my One. You know just as well as I, which I will not leave her, even if I'm banished from any and all dwarf town, city and kingdom. I will not be separated from her, just like you refuse to do so from Bilbo," Kili said right back boldly.
Thorin glared at him and said "Bilbo and I are not together, Kili son of Dis! Do I regret forever more on what I did to him? Yes. Do I also know that I can never make up for what I had done? Yes. Bilbo and I are-"
"Are lovers, Uncle! I saw the two of you fall hard for one another after he flung his life in front of Azog. I was there! I saw it with my own eyes, on how you two over came the Rules of Old and had a night or more with each other on our quest," Kili cut his uncle off.
Thorin wanted to protest, he wanted to shout and scream reason to his youngest nephew but, something happened. His vision blurred and for a split second, he saw Vili standing in front of him.
His breath was stuck in between his throat and mouth, his heart hammered as he gazed at the image before him.
"Uncle, Bilbo has put a politician right where our house did wrong with that of Thror. He has made things very clear and easy for everyone to understand and nearly forgave us! Bofur even risked his own life to put the Heart of the Mountain back where it rightfully belongs!" Kili urged more to his uncle.
"He did what?" Thorin barely uttered.
Tauriel then gently took Kili's hand into her own as she saw something dark cloud and cover the dwarf king's eyes.
"He put the Arkenstone back into the mountain, where Bofur nearly got killed for doing it. Bofur is alright, but no one knows exactly where he put it back," Kili told more to his uncle.
Thorin started to move about, kicking his legs, lifting himself up and wanting out of his bed.
Tauriel then pulled Kili out of the tent and Kili asked for Dwalin and Oin to get Thorin back into his bed. Dwalin pushed his distant cousin back down on his bed.
"Calm down Thorin or I will make you," Oin spat at him.
Thorin growled and settled down in his bed again as he glared at the floor.
"Thorin, may I ask," Dwalin started softly. "What is so wrong of breaking the Rules of Old?"
"Dwalin, you just as much as the next dwarf in this room or in this camp, knows that if you break them-"
"That no one shall return back to their homelands or get any help what-so-ever," Bilbo then cut in as he walked into the tent.
Thorin felt his soul jump for joy, but his emotions and mind were seething at the mere sight of the hobbit.
"What do you want?" he asked roughly, boring holes into Bilbo's body with his raging ice blue eyes.
"To have an agreement with that of Kili and Tauriel," Bilbo answered very plainly.
Thorin remained silent, demanding to hear it from the burglar. Bilbo shifted a bit before clearing his throat.
"What if, along with myself King Thorin, King under the Mountain, that Prince Kili and Princess Tauriel, come to my homelands?" Bilbo purposed.
Oin and Dwalin stood there shocked as well as Thorin. So far, Bilbo had never said the full title of what Thorin was or is now. A part of Thorin looked at the hobbit before him and once again his vision blurred and so strongly he saw Vili within Bilbo.
"Kili is going to remain here," Thorin said before thinking.
"King Thorin, please here me out," Bilbo begged to the king dwarf before him.
"He is a dwarf prince! He will-"
"Die by not knowing that his One is alright. King Thorin, let him come with me to the Shire. To Hobbiton. From there, he can learn and grow and he will not be in any danger what-so-ever. Please King Thorin," Bilbo cut in finishing what he wanted to say.
Dwalin and Oin did not like to hear Bilbo beg nor did any of them like that the Rules of Old have caused so much grief throughout the times that it has been in place.
"What do you mean, go with you?" Thorin's small whisper was barely heard by Bilbo.
"I'm a hobbit, King Thorin. I am not a dwarf or have you forgotten the Rules of Old and the past that my mother once lived in for that she died of a broken heart and soul without her one true love, Vili?" Bilbo said right back, glaring at Thorin.
Thorin had flinched at the name of his baby brother, which did not go unnoticed from Bilbo. Thorin sighed and rubbed his eyes with his fingers.
"Bilbo, I have not forgotten my brother. I cannot change the Rules of Old, I wish everyone can understand this," Thorin grumbled out.
"Then please explain to us all what is it that is so important of these blasted rules? Because all I can see from how that they are put in place is that, they cause a lot of headaches, grief and trouble. Just like that of the Arkenstone," Bilbo dared to voice his opinion on this.
"Where is it? Where did Bofur put it?" Thorin all but yelled at the end.
Bilbo paled at how different Thorin suddenly became as it reminded him of Riddles in the Dark with that awful creature, Gollum.
"I-I don't know Thorin but I hardly doubt that Bofur would ever tell you where it might possibly be. There were a lot of cave-ins when he ran for his life," Bilbo stuttered a bit.
Thorin was both glad that Bofur made it out alive and that the Arkenstone was where it should be but, also wanted it back in his hands once more.
"I will make him show me-"
"Bofur, Bifur and Bomber are coming back with me as well. Their vow to my mother is unbreakable and I wouldn't mind having them with Kili and Tauriel in my home," Bilbo again cut in.
Thorin looked up at Bilbo with pleading eyes it seemed. Bilbo did not know the dwarf before him anymore.
"What do you want me to do?" the dwarf king asked.
"To rewrite the Rules of Old and possibly, let me help you, Thorin," Bilbo said, dropping the title.
"I cannot do that, no one can Bilbo! The Rules of Old, state that any given future king cannot rewrite them. It also does not help that the scrolls that they were written on have been lost, well before Smaug came!" Thorin said in a hiss.
"You have Ori. He knows his work better than anyone I have seen so far. Put him in the library of Erebor and I swear to you, Thorin Oakenshield, King under the Mountain, that you will find them. And maybe from words passed down from one dwarf to another, that you might be wrong. I swore to you that I would help reclaim Erebor and not tell a soul of what had gone on, but" Bilbo began, "you still need to trust me and my judgments as to what I did while you were healing and sleeping,"
"What do you mean trust you? Bilbo, that trust between is gone. You're talking about banishment, of not just a woodland elf, but also some of my kin going with you back to the Shire, along with my nephew?" Thorin replied back, confused.
"Thorin, have you so easily forgotten what you did at the gates of Erebor?" Bilbo asked him, his "armor" around his heart was cracking.
"I remember it Bilbo Baggins, but I did not mean to carry it out. I will not carry it out for you are not banished because of what you tried to do to save all of us. Including myself which I am forever thankful and in your debt,"
"I cannot have anymore 'forever in your debt's' Thorin. Just please, let me go and you will never have to deal with me ever again. It's not banishment but, Tauriel can send letters to Lake-Town and bring your replies back," Bilbo said looking at the ground.
Dwalin had never seen such strong person in his life. True he had seen the very finest soldiers but, no one in his mind could stand up to Bilbo's will to do things right. As he saw the hobbit that was strong and angry that stormed into this very tent become nothing more than a small creature of heart, he felt sick.
"For the love of Mahal! Thorin, have Ori find the scrolls, let Bilbo go back home with that of Kili on an important trading trip to the Shire and Hobbiton, then when Ori finds those blasted scrolls, read them as thoroughly as you possibly can. After reading them, possibly here, re-write them and then send word to Bilbo again. Anything but this!" Dwalin snapped at him.
It took everyone in that tent by surprise, including Dwalin himself. Bilbo looked over at the strong warrior dwarf and with great gratitude, Dwalin saw his friend nod in a thank you.
With a very heavy sigh Thorin then stated "Very well. Just tell me what you did while I was healing Mister Baggins and then in a few days time you can go home,"
Bilbo looked at Thorin and said "I did what I thought was right from the very start: I gave Bard and the people of Lake-Town about 14 times more gold then you originally stated. He wants to rebuild Lake-Town closer to the land and I gave him more to do so.
With Thranduil, I gave him those jewels that he was denied by your grandfather and also that chest that held more of those bright shiny gems. Also I gave Thranduil and Balin ideas of how for you two trade with one another instead of biting at each other's throats. Thranduil agreed on the terms that Balin and I hashed out; his kin will help with growing food at the slopes of Erebor as you will give him and his kin some forges to work in freely. It doesn't have to be within Erebor itself, just some forges outside of it.
Then there was a hiccup with Dain. He wanted a share of the treasure because of him helping you with the Battle of the Five Armies. Balin, Dwalin and I argued with him that he couldn't have it unless he talked to you first. He didn't like it very much, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't or hasn't come in here after you are awake,"
Throughout this explanation Thorin had gone from extremely livid to being utterly pale and then beyond annoyed again.
"And the others?" he grunted out.
"On what? Their fair 1/14 share of the treasure? Already gotten it. I did not want my own because I am a hobbit. The vest and knowing that your kingdom is back in your family once more is enough for me, Thorin. You know this, just like everybody else," Bilbo guessed a bit.
"Bilbo, please, just-"
"No, Thorin. I will not. You can have it for all that I care. I do not want it. Not after what happened with you,"
"Bilbo, you will be passed into legend. Songs and tales will be written about you-!"
"Which I do not mind! Thorin, please understand that I am not a dwarf. I am completely different from you and your way of thinking. Gems, jewels, treasure, that is all fine and dandy for everyone else, but to a hobbit: we do not care for it. Give me a garden, a simple 'thank you' or simple things will work for me. Knowing that you are alive as well as Kili and Fili, is beyond what I could have hoped for,"
"…What did you hope for?"
"That you all would be alive. Happy and healthy. Nothing more Thorin," Bilbo answered him simply.
Thorin looked down at his blankets; his chest hurt horribly, his eyes were throbbing in pain as the exhaustion was finally catching up to him.
"I will not leave Thorin, if that is what you fear. You need your rest and so does everyone else, along with getting some food," Bilbo stated to him.
"Fine, then leave me," Thorin said resting against his bed as his mind was buzzing.
Neither he nor Bilbo had come to an agreement that day nor did they talk to one another since then either.
Bilbo was with Kili, Fili and Tauriel. So far they were just talking and being with one another because Bilbo loved these two brothers very much.
"When will you leave?" Fili asked softly, knowing that Bilbo was leaving soon.
"Around 9 tomorrow morning. Your uncle and I didn't come to an agreement on anything. He's just so stubborn and still riddled with that madness of the Arkenstone and lust for gold. Kili, will you be alright-?"
"I'll be fine Uncle Bilbo. It's only about 3 months from here to Hobbiton on horse," The young dwarf prince cut in.
Bilbo nodded and then said "If it helps, I can have her spend some time with you for a week or two before she makes the trips to Hobbiton?"
Kili looked down at his "Uncle" and then wrapped him up in his good arm, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you," Kili whispered softly as he felt the small hobbit hug him back.
"Can either one of you explain to me what the Rules of Old are or I might go crazy with not knowing of them!" Bilbo suddenly asked the two princes.
Fili chuckled and then looked down at Bilbo and said "The Rules of Old were written on scrolls that no one could break, damage or anything of the sort. This may have gotten some things mixed up but, it has been passed down from dwarf to dwarf since the beginning of our race.
Anyway, The Rules of Old are scrolls of what many dwarves think to be diaries of Mahal and when he met his wife, Yavanna. Yavanna was a dwarf that made things grow. I'm surprised that you hobbits haven't made her your divine or something because of that knowledge. So, a lot of the dwarves know the romantic stories of Mahal and Yavanna, mostly told to little dwarf girls but, our mother told them to us anyway.
"The Rules of Old can be about anything because of what many kings have thought them of to be. As you know, no one has found them since they were lost in the First Age. With that being said, a lot of tales and side-stories have popped up and caused a lot of heartache and grief. Many wars and battles have been caused within small dwarf towns because no one knows what is actually written and if you don't know what's written: Anything can tip the scale,"
Bilbo thought this over as he had never heard of this Yavanna until now. It would make sense for hobbits to look to her as a divine but; hobbits were from the race of man. That is why Bilbo's race was closer in age and mortality to that of them.
"So how are you and Mileth coming along?" Bilbo asked Fili who suddenly stilled and blushed deeply.
"We're talking to one another, but it seems that she knows of the Rules of Old and we haven't gotten far," Fili forced out.
Bilbo nodded and then said "Flowers to a girl is always a nice way to get their attention. Along with poetry, chocolate, dinners or picnics and …hunting trips,"
Fili looked at his "uncle" and said "Hunting trips?"
"Well, she and I have spoken a bit and she does like hunting to a certain extent. If it is just for the fur and not for eating, she is completely out of it. She won't hunt for sport. But she is very skilled with her bow and arrows. Might have you and her, Kili, go at it with your skills against one another someday," Bilbo explained more to his "nephews" with a smile.
Fili chuckled low as he looked at his younger brother's expression. Kili was very skilled with a bow and arrows but, to see him go against Mileth would be interesting to see.
"Flowers, chocolate, hunting trips…what else does she like Bilbo?" Fili asked curiously, hope was rising in his soul.
"Well, she won't be here for much longer Fili. She's a wander like you guys were. Going from one place to the other. Just go up to her and start talking," Bilbo said back, gently pushing him in the right direction.
Fili blushed as he walked away and muttered "She better not be leaving any time soon,"
Kili chuckled and laughed as he looked at Bilbo. His smile faded when he saw how sad their "Uncle" was.
"Bilbo?" He asked him.
"Mm? Oh, I'm alright lad. Just thinking and taking everything in now," Bilbo replied back, faking his cheerfulness.
"Come on, Uncle, what is wrong?" Kili asked, he hated to see his "uncle" like this.
"Is it wrong of me to say that I do not want to leave but, know that I have to for all of my life?" Bilbo softly asked Kili in return.
The youngest of the dwarf princes sighed and then pulled his uncle into a one-arm hug as Bilbo hugged him back. There was nothing that neither of them could anything about it. Thorin had issued Bilbo to be banished for life and it was hurting them all.
"I will ride with you for a while and then leave you at Beorn's house. It will give me some time to think of something. Fili will work on Thorin, Fili has always been able to get through to him whenever it has come to you," Kili whispered, rubbing Bilbo's back.
"You don't have to go all that way out, Kili. I don't think I would need an escort that far," Bilbo protested on that little bit.
"You know, maybe it would be easier if Gandalf went with you. I haven't seen much of him but, I know he's a dear friend of ours and would put my worries to rest," Kili said smiling down at him.
"I agree, but I would like to know more on Vili, Kili," Bilbo said, he couldn't understand why his dreams were filled; for these past few nights, with that of his mother's old one true love.
Kili looked down confused and said "We told you everything that there is to know, Bilbo. What else can we tell you that have not already been said?"
"I just…I'm getting these dreams of him appearing so suddenly that he is glowing somehow. I have tried to understand them and put them off, but they keep reappearing and I don't know what they mean," The hobbit explained as they were near the edge of the battlefield now.
Kili hummed and then said "I have heard some tales where, the dead would appear in your dreams if something is not going right. That they try as hard as the dead person might, to correct things. But that is only within the same race of the dead person,"
Bilbo looked at Kili and then said "But if it is in the same race of the dead person, then…does that mean?"
Kili gently steadied his uncle out before having him sit down and said "Easy, just breathe deeply between your legs. That's it, deeper breathes, its okay Uncle,"
Bilbo listened and did what Kili had instructed him to do. The thought that he was, after all this time, was the son of Vili. That is if he was.
"Maybe Gandalf will know more, he was there too at that battle of the South, long ago," Kili said as Bilbo nodded, gasping and letting himself calm down.
Kili stayed with Bilbo until it was time for lunch. Bofur, Bifur, Bomber, Balin, Dwalin, Oin, Gloin, Ori, Nori, Dori and Fili were all at the large table when Kili and Bilbo walked slowly inside the large mess hall tent.
"I have been in the libraries today," Ori informed Bilbo as he looked at him.
"And? What is it like there Ori?" Bilbo asked him, eager to know.
"I have some books for you to have, just simple stories and such. Our king doesn't mind if you have them, Bilbo," Ori replied nervously as he handed the bag of books to Bilbo.
Bilbo at once started to look into the bag as he found books that were in the common tongue of many different stories.
"Did you find the scrolls that contain the Rules of Old?" Fili and Kili asked Ori.
"No, however I did find a tunnel leading down from a hidden passage. It's caved in but, I think with some work there, there might be something or why else would the kings of old have it in the first place?" Ori answered as everyone looked at him in awe.
"Ori, it could possibly be where the scrolls of the Rules of Old are kept. Just make sure, Dwalin, Balin, Gloin and Oin help you clean it up. I don't want you to get killed or anything," Bilbo said to him.
"You know, you sound exactly like Thorin for he too said the same thing," Ori said with a soft smile.
Bilbo nodded stiffly as no one brought up the name of their King to him, unless it was important.
"I bet I do, but I do care about you all so much. If you are ever in that part of the world, please don't hesitate to come in. Tea is at 4 and you can easily stay as however long you all would like to," Bilbo told them all as they all looked at him with pride.
They nodded as Balin got up with an extra full plate and walked away.
That afternoon and evening, Bilbo was helping or staying out of the way of everyone. He didn't see that he had sat down in the Mess Hall tent and all of the company; except for Thorin, was there.
It surprised him when he saw Balin sitting near him.
"Balin, good graces, please don't do that to-"
"Thorin would like for you to know, that he wishes you the best of luck as you could have for your journey home," Balin cut in as Bilbo nodded.
His heart was aching, he had thought of Thorin all afternoon and whether the dwarves from the company knew of his pain, he couldn't hide it now.
"Balin, can you vow to me," Bilbo said as the older dwarf looked at him.
"And what is it laddie?" Balin asked curiously.
"To not retake Moria. And if you do, you can come to Hobbiton, to Bag-End before you leave. I care for you all, Balin," Bilbo told him as the older dwarf was like that of a grandfather figure to Bilbo.
Balin then leaned over and whispered "Where did you hear that? I know Dwalin didn't-"
"No, but his muttering can be heard if and when he's agitated on a subject," Bilbo cut in as Balin nodded in understanding.
"Fine, laddie, I won't retake Moria," Balin said loud enough for everyone to hear, which had them all still at this.
"Balin, what do you mean that you won't?" Fili asked nervously.
"We need you hear more than ever, mostly with Uncle," Kili chimed in too.
"I have been thinking of it laddies. I just… didn't know if I was needed here or not," Balin said to them as Bilbo knew that the older dwarf didn't voice his true opinion.
Bilbo sighed and then said "You will always be needed here Balin. You are the head of the council of Erebor. You are sitting in the council as we speak!"
Everyone grew silent at that because they knew that Bilbo was handling the politics of the kingdom for now.
"We are the Council members of Erebor?" Bofur and Nori asked him shocked.
"Yes, who else would Thorin trust most if wasn't for you coming on this quest. Many will try and throw him off, gold lust and riddled mad from the Arkenstone, the king is weak right now. He needs people that he can trust before he went mad! Please tell me that I'm not the only one who thought of this?" Bilbo answered them, looking at Dwalin and Gloin.
"Aye, the lad has a point," Gloin said to them.
"Yes, but, why are you still here?" Dwalin asked him.
Bilbo sighed and then said "I am leaving tomorrow morning. Balin will take over: listen to every single word that he has to say or else I will come back in the middle of the night and make you regret of going against his words. Ori with Dori, you two are assigned to Erebor's Libraries; Find those scrolls of the Rules of Old. Send me a letter as fast as one can come, I want to know what the Mahal's beard is in those contexts!
Nori, as always you're the spymaster. Gloin, the treasure sorting and such belongs strictly to you; I don't care if you have to lock Thorin out of those rooms, keep him away from there! Oin, Lord Healer of Erebor.
"Bofur, Bifur and Bomber, my personal council members and if anyone should ask on where they are at, tell them that they are a trading trip by Thorin's request. And if that stubborn dwarf king questions in return on it, give him a look and he'll figure it out on his own. Fili and Kili, you two are the princes and heirs. Try not to get into too much trouble. Please?"
Everyone was listening to every word that Bilbo was saying and all of them felt sad that he was leaving.
Kili and Fili both stood up before bowing deeply to their "uncle" with "Yes Master Baggins, we promise,"
"Thank you lads, now, I'm tired and ready for bed," Bilbo said suddenly winded and full.
The company bid Bilbo good night as he walked out of the mess hall tent.
"I'm going to murder our uncle if he gets his head cleared or straightened," Kili whispered to Fili who nodded in agreement.
That night, Bilbo slept very little. His worries and fears rattled his mind as he didn't want to leave Erebor.
For what little sleep that he got, he was up early, packed all of his stuff and left each and every one of the company members; including that of Thorin, a letter.
When it was just beginning to be light enough, he was in his horse's saddle and trotting away with Gandalf.
"You know, you will be missed since they didn't get the chance to say a proper goodbye, Bilbo Baggins," Gandalf grumbled low to him.
"It is better this way, Gandalf. I caused so much trouble, why on this green good earth, would I want to add more to it? Besides, I'm banished from here for life. Dwalin even asked last night, why I was still here. I couldn't answer him that I didn't want to leave," Bilbo said in a defeated tone.
"We will wait near Mirkwood, Bofur, Bifur and Bomber should arrive by mid afternoon by then. Now, tell me why the sadness Bilbo," Gandalf informed him, giving him a look.
"Is it wrong of me to love someone that I can never have? Even if the Rules of Old do not allow it?" Bilbo said back, twisting around in his saddle as he looked one last time at the Lonely Mountain with such sad eyes that Gandalf cursed Thorin silently for doing this.
Stopping his horse and letting Gandalf ride further and out of earshot, Bilbo whispered "Good bye, my love. I will always think of you fondly and love you dearly,"
A soft breeze greeted Bilbo's face as he stared at the gleaming mountain as he slowly turning his horse around and then galloping after Gandalf.
