Chapter 3 Thorin
Thorin was depressed. Yes, yes... He reclaimed his kingdom. The dragon was dead and his men were safe and had their home back. The treasure was huge, and even the relationships with the Elves and Men were bearable.
But Thorin had a problem. And the problem's name was Bilbo Baggins. No, not that he had a problem... The main problem was that he did not have it anymore. Bilbo left and Thorin felt awful. He didn't think he got so attached to their burglar before he left for his home.
It was only normal, Thorin told himself numerous times, it was what to expect... He was a hobbit, he left for his home, for his hobbit hole...
Oh, how Thorin hated those comfortable holes in the ground! How he wished they did not exist, it was really selfish, he knew it, but he wanted Bilbo to be homeless somehow, so that he could make Erebor his home, he would be given everything here, he would have huge chambers and as much gold as he needed and even more.
But Bilbo had his home, and of course he wanted to go back...
Thorin was badly injured during the Battle of the Five Armies, but thanks to his excellent healers and to, it was terrible but yes, thanks to the Elven King Thranduil, he survived. And that's what made him feel even worse – Bilbo left when he was still in bed, recovering, was Bilbo so sure he would recover? Or did he just not care at all? Yes, yes, Gandalf said he had some urgent things to do and couldn't wait, and it was only reasonable for Bilbo to go home with the wizard.
But still… He didn't care, did he?
Thorin's ego was injured even more than his body...
Months went by and he felt better physically. He was working much, but was still in bed most of the time. His thoughts and musings were getting more and more uncontrollable and he seriously started thinking about going to the Shire.
No one would let him, he was a King, he had duties… And even if he went there, what would he say? What could he do about the whole situation? Why was it always so difficult with Kings… Why was it always so difficult with distances… Why was it always so difficult the infuriating little Halflings…
He was miserable. And he was bored. The only way to deal with everything was to forget. So he would forget.
It was an ordinary day in the mountain. Thorin was reading multiple reports on the reconstruction of his Kingdom when Kili burst into his chambers, Fili close behind him with a letter. A letter? More reports… Those kingly duties never ended it seemed.
"Uncle Thorin! What do you think we've got?! A letter!" Kili exclaimed enthusiastically and very loudly. A letter. Obviously. How boring.
"From Bilbo." Kili added innocently.
No longer boring. Not boring at all!
"From the Halfling?" Thorin all but whispered.
Could it be?
He wrote me a letter...
"Yes, from him! A dwarf came from Ered Luin, he visited Bilbo and was given a letter "for the Company of Thorin Oakenshield", and here it is!" Fili said, smiling knowingly.
"He visited the Halfling?" Thorin repeated.
What the hell? He felt something, and it was not a pleasant feeling. It felt as if someone took the Arkenstone and walked with it as if it was their own, when everyone knew it belonged to the line of Durin… Jealousy… Some dwarf visited the Halfling? How dared he? What did they do? Did they talk? Did Bilbo smile at the dwarf? Did he serve him tea? Tea always meant much to hobbits…
Thorin was going to kill the dwarf.
AND he was going to kill the indecent hobbit.
Thorin was a very jealous dwarf. And an extremely possessive one.
"Uncle!" Oh… Thorin was taken out of his murderous musings. "We told Balin to gather the company here. You don't mind, do you? This letter's for all of us."
Oh… The letter, yes… for everyone… not for him alone.
The Company started to arrive, one by one, and finally everyone was there.
"Ok then," Balin said. "Shall I start?"
"Yes, Balin" Thorin said calmly and regally, managing to regain his previous 'bored' facial expression. "Read it."
Calmly. And regally. But, oh great Mahal, he was so nervous…
THIS was Bilbo's letter.
He was so desperate to snatch it right this instant and hide it, so that it was only his...
Oh, Mahal, help me!
AndBalin started reading.
The letter happened to be very nice and formal. Bilbo was content and happy to be home.
Forget. Forget. Forget.
And then Balin read those words.
I miss my favourite dwarf. You know who you are.
It was unexpected.
But what did that mean?
Thorin was shocked, amused and horrified at the same time.
He really had many questions now.
WHO did he mean?
Could it be him?
It could be anyone of the Thirteen! Anyone in the Mountain! No… No, the letter was for the Thirteen members of the Company, so trying to think logically…
How can anyone think logically here? Bilbo! Why are you always so difficult?!
Thorin was lying in his bed when all the shouting and struggling happened. He didn't care much. He wanted so much to be the favourite one. It was stupid and childish. What an idiot! He was a king. He could have anything. And yet he couldn't. He really needed to recover as soon as possible to try to do something about this problem. To just forget it was not an option anymore.