Ultimate truth

AN – BEFORE my dear readers begin to read, they should know of the slight changes I have applied just in case someone would want to flame me with the fiery lava all the way from Mount Doom. First of all, Gerontius Took or the "Old Took" will be in this chapter and he will be searching for his missing grandson. I know that he and Bilbo never actually met(at least I think so…), but I can alter whatever I want in this. In Madness Returns, the old Took is still living and breathing as you will see. And he can even pull a punch… well. Enough spoilers. Off you go. I listened to Lulu´s theme from Final Fantasy X while I was writing all of this. So blame it on Square Enix if it´s maybe too much angsty and sad. Read at your own risk. n_n

When he woke up, his first thought was that he must be dead. All he saw was a white ceiling. He was wrapped up in blankets. As he tried to get up, someone stopped him with a hand and forced him to lie down again. "You are not to move for a while. You were on the brink of death, Thorin."

His eyes somewhat adjusted to his surroundings and he recognized the Grey Wizard. His right hand was wrapped in bandages, but overall he looked fine. His mind was in disarray, he felt light headed and his body hurt terribly. The war...he was battling Azog. Then...

He rose up quickly, worriedly and ignoring his pain. " WHERE IS BILBO?!" Thorin asked Gandalf, putting away all those blankets. Gandalf raised his thick eyebrow. "Rest up or Master Elrond will have my head. He looked after you and Thranduil. You were brought to his home shortly after you have collapsed. I saved you, so maybe you should show me some gratitute at least. "

Thorin complied, but only because his whole body was hurting immensely. What was that damned spell?! Was that really Sauron? He was banished so long ago... everyone thought he died. Why is he even alive? And why of all people he had to possess Bilbo? Such a kind, loving person. The man he loved above all else.

Gandalf was keeping a close eye on the King under the Mountain. He knew and everyone else knew that things were going to get very, very ugly soon. No one will be safe as long as Sauron is on loose. Every man, elf, dwarf and even a hobbit will be in danger. Sauron is a very evil character who must be stopped at all costs. "Thorin. I know it may sound harsh right now, but your people need you, and most of all Middle Earth needs you. Everything else doesn´t matter." As he expected, Thorin flipped out with swelling anger." Everything else doesn´t matter? Are you telling me that Bilbo is forever lost and I will never get him back?"

The Grey Wizard sadly shook his head. "I do not know. I am sure he is trying to break out right now as we speak.I can only pray for his success. If not..." Gandalf hinted and sighed wearily. He didn´t expect this turn of events. When he visited Bilbo some months ago, he didn´t know that something like this would happen. He prayed that it never came to the last solution.

Thorin didn´t quite follow on Gandalf´s not then what? "Gandalf. If not... then what?"

He was spared of telling Thorin the ultimate and bitter truth. "All will be talked over soon enough. You and other kings of all free nations need to know the truth and the beginning of it all. I will hold a council first thing in the morrow. For now you should rest up. You are barely alive, all thanks to your stubbornness, I would say." A tall elf stood in the room. It was none other than Elrond.

Thorin gazed at the elf, confused. "Why hold a council? We are wasting time. I will leave in the morning for Dol Guldur."

Gandalf didn´t approve and neither did Elrond." No, you won´t leave. You have to rest up at least a bit and you need to listen to the whole story. Sauron isn´t so easy to beat as you think. Only a few have survived that battle and we are lucky that one is still in Middle Earth." Thorin stared at the Grey Wizard. "Who might that survivor be?" Elrond stepped closer. "Me. I was there and saw everything. It was a bittersweet victory. Gil - Galad and Elendil were the leaders of an alliance between elves and men. I will tell the rest tomorrow. Now rest."

Elrond and Gandalf left him alone and Thorin pondered about Bilbo and himself. How could things get so complicated? Why now? Why him and Bilbo? He only wanted to be happy with him, living with him. Only death should tear then apart and only for a short while. They would rejoin in the afterlife. But now? His love was all he had to offer to the hobbit and even that was taken from him.

And there was still that thing that Sauron said.

Bilbo wanted him dead? To exact a revenge on him and on Erebor? What a load of crap. Who would believe such lies? Bilbo was of gentle, caring nature and that was the thing that made Thorin fall for him the most. His personality and the way he smiled, looked at him with such warm look in his eyes. No, he could never believe anything that damn bastard says. He trusted him with his life. He saved him so many times already.

Now it was Thorin´s turn to save Bilbo.

He laid down again completely, turning around before he settled in a somewhat comfortable position and he closed his eyes. If he wanted to save Bilbo, he needed to be strong.

He didn´t want to wait even a hour longer. The dwarf king slowly rose up and he hissed a little. His body was better, but not much. That damned council wasn´t needed. He already knew all the facts he needed to know. First, rescue Bilbo somehow and second, see that Sauron is killed finally and hopefully forever. His armor was on a nearby table. He was a king and a dwarf. He won´t let other kings see him without his armor. Thorin took some more time to get his armor on because of his injuries, but eventually he put the whole royal armor on and slowly made his way out of the room.

If he truly needs to hear the whole story, then so be it.

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Meanwhile…

He has finally arrived at his destination. He dismounted the winged beast and dismissed it. There he was once again, in Dol Guldur. But this time, he had a plan and a host body that was too much valuable to his enemies to kill. Surely not even the holders of the Three Rings would just kill his host. The Dark Lord is never wrong.

Soon enough, he will be strong enough to make a new body for himself, but that can wait. First, he needs to eliminate all of his enemies. The Dark Lord knew that they would try to bring out the hobbit from within the Ring. It was their only option. Or to kill his host and maybe that would kill The Dark Lord, too. But they won´t kill him. The life of that hobbit means far too much for them.

The Dark Lord is never wrong.

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Back in Rivendell…

The King under the Mountain made his way through the many, many corridors and blind alleys in Elrond´s gigantic house. He remembered that one night they stayed and then set out further the next thing in the morning. He and Bilbo weren´t on the exactly best terms back then. It was due to his inability to admit to himself that Bilbo was gaining a place within his heart. If only he said that back then, all of this could be prevented and Bilbo wouldn´t be imprisoned inside that blighted Ring and… and…

Thorin didn´t look where he was going and he literally ran over another person. The other person was falling, when Thorin saved that person from falling on the ground. He felt stupid and embarrassed that he didn´t look where he was going. It was very un-kingly. " I am so sorry. Are you alrig—" His words vanished when he saw just exactly who he saved. It was a tall woman with long, blonde hair, blue eyes and and pointy ears. She was an elf. He let go of her. He didn´t quite like elves, even after he and Thranduil made peace. But this woman…

He stared at her for a good minute, then she smiled at him, knowingly. " I know who you are. You are Thorin, son of Thráin, King under the Mountain. I once knew your father and grandfather. My name is Galadriel and I rule over Lothlorién with my husband, Celeborn. We came here to attend the council that will determinate the fate of Middle Earth… and the fate of two people caught up in the middle of this spiral of threads of fate."

Thorin didn´t know what to say. He expected her to be more… he didn´t find any words that would describe her. She rested her hand on his shoulder. Thorin noticed a shining light that was emanating from a ring on her finger. The light was gentle, soothing."We should go. Elrond and others are surely waiting for us."

Galadriel walked as first and Thorin followed her through the labyrinth of halls and many rooms. Soon they have reached a huge, massive door. She halted and turned to face him with her hand on the doorknoob. "Son of Thráin, are you ready to face your destiny? " Thorin felt the lump in his throat. He nervously nodded. He will face anything just to save Bilbo.

She opened the door and a bright light blinded temporarily Thorin, who shielded his eyes with hands. When the light subsided, he saw a large group of men, elves and dwarves and even a hobbit. All seemed too much kingly in their own way… so these must be the other kings of all free nations… He recognized a few dwarves like Dáin, the Iron Foot and the other dwarfish kings of the other kingdoms. Galadriel walked past him and sat down next to an elf who looked like he saw many battles, many deaths , but also hope for the future. That must be her husband… he scanned with eyes further… and Thorin also saw Thranduil with his son Legolas and other kings whom he did not know and quite frankly, he didn´t need to know them or their names. They all have come here for one thing. But one person was very intriguing him. That hobbit… Bilbo never said anything about a king. Elrond was sitting in a throne and next to him was his daughter, Arwen. Elrond wanted to begin with the council, but his daughter stopped him.

Thorin didn´t see that. He walked straight to the proud looking hobbit with the same curly blond with a few white locks. He stared at him openly. Hobbits didn´t like it when someone was staring at them, mostly it was the Big Folk as they called Men, but dwarves were other thing. Thorin didn´t seem to notice the annoyment from the hobbit´s side, who was dressed in full armor like he was. He had a sword with him and he looked like a capable warrior. "W-Who are you?" Thorin stuttered a bit. Hobbit looked at Elrond, who gave him a nod. "I am the leader of hobbits, something like a King. My name is Gerontius Took. I´ve been brought here yesterday on a back of an Eagle. He said I will find the answer to my questions here. I am looking for my close relative who went missing a few months ago. Now sit down, dwarf so that this bloody council can begin." Thorin glanced at Elrond and at Gandalf who sat from the right side next to an empty chair. That must be his. He walked past Dáin, who acknowledged him by a knowing nod of his head and other dwarf lords. He made respectful nod to Thranduil and his son and sat down, waiting for the concil to begin.

Elrond stood up and looked at everyone. "Welcome kings of all free nations. You all have been called here for a reason. We must decide the fate of Middle Earth. An evil force who was supposed to be banished or dead has unfortunately reappeared once again. He was thought to be defeated in the last alliance between Men and Elves. The leaders of that alliance were Gil-Galad and Elendil. It was a hard fought war and we won, but at a high price. Gil-Galad fell as first and Elendil fought with all his might. Before he was struck down, his sword broke before him. Isildur, his son cut down a finger with that broken sword. The Ring was taken from the evil warlock, Sauron, who was too much greedy for power and that need for power consumed him. Isildur, Elendil´s son killed Sauron or so we thought at that time. I went with Isildur all the way to Mount Doom, Orodruin where that One Ring was forged. I pleaded him to throw the Ring inside the lava, but he… kept it. He said it´s a prize he won and he won´t hand it over to anybody or destroy it. That was his downfall… Some time later he was on the way back home from a long road with his Guard of two hundred knights and soldiers. They have reached the northern borders of the Gladden Fields . There they were ambushed by a band of Orcs said to be ten times their number. Orcs killed him and thus the One Ring was called Isildur´s bane. And the One Ring disappeared for a very long time. Now, it has resurfaced again. I give the word to Gandalf, who knows the rest."

Elrond sat down and now Gandalf was in the center of everyone´s attention. " Many years I have spent searching for the missing facts and I have only obtained them not so long ago. Not everyone knows that this year I have set out reclaim Erebor with thirteen dwarves and…" He paused and looked at Took. "A hobbit. We needed a burglar. And he kindly agreed. Long story cut short: We succeeded. Bard, the new leader of the Lake Town killed Smaug and Erebor is once again under the rule of the King under the Mountain, Thorin." He motioned to Thorin. Some other kings glanced at him curiously, but Gandalf continued. "On the way to Erebor, we were trapped in the Misty Mountains. There, we were separated from our burglar and he fell into the depths of Misty Mountains and the rest was imprisoned and collared by the Orc King. I can only speculate that there, he found the One Ring and with its help escaped through the exit and caught up with us. He didn´t tell us how he did it, but I had a bad feeling about all of this. Our burglar is a fine, well respected hobbit back in the Shire. That´s what he always told the dwarves and he was a very responsible and I must say a very good friend to many of us and with some he formed a very good relationship." Gandalf paused again and Thorin felt like he is doing that on purpose, always glancing at him. Thorin mostly didn´t like the glare he was getting from the hobbit.

"Once we have regained Erebor and everything was going to get better, Azog made a move and soon a war broke out. Many of you know about this. Thranduil, Bard and Thorin formed and alliance and Azog was killed. I came sometime later, so I didn´t see it, but it was told to me that he was killed by our burglar. I came in riding with the rest of our companions on the backs of Eagles. Only Thorin and Bilbo were there, in the middle of that mayhem and chaos. I sensed a bad vibe from our burglar. My bad feeling only intensified when he began attacking Thorin and he had no choice but to shield himself. I have to inform everyone that the One Ring has been found and Sauron, The Dark Lord has been revived. He possessed our burglar and he is trapped in the Ring. Now, there is only one question. What can we do?" The last question resonated in everyone´s mind.

The hobbit stood up and walked over to Gandalf. He was way beyond angry. "Are you saying that my grandson is trapped in that blasted Ring and you knowingly exposed him to such danger? I have known that it must be your work, Gandalf. My grandson was so much like his father, he would never depart on an adventure. My daughter was the adventurous type. You almost lured her out to your crazy adventures, but thankfully my son in law stopped her. And now, my grandson is held captive or something. How are you going to fix that?"

Thorin stood up."If you want to blame someone… blame me. I told him to stay inside my kingdom when the war broke out. I was the one who made him hide, feel useless. I only wanted to protect him, keep him safe. I am…sorry."

The old Took balled his fist and punched the very surprised and not exptecting Thorin. He landed at Dáin´s feet. Dáin somewhat grinned and helped Thorin get up to his feet. Thorin bowed down to the old Took. "I´m truly sorry. It´s all my fault. I want to free him and destroy that Ring. Isn´t that why all of us have been assembled here?"

Elrond nodded. "Yes. And we have only two options here. First would be the best. Me, Galadriel and Gandalf break through his inner defense, his mind. You, Thorin will call out to him and bring him back. He and Sauron switch again and The Ring will be forever destroyed by this dagger." He pulled out the same dagger that destroyed Arkenstone. "Where did you get that?!" Thorin blurted out.

"I gave it to him for safekeeping. It´s from…. Nevermind. Continue, Elrond."

"If we take the Ring forcefully, there is still a danger that they won´t swap places. And The Dark Lord who is using the hobbit´s body as his shield against all who would oppose him, he doesn´t expect us to make any move because of the body he possessed. Me, Galadriel, Gandalf and all of you assembled kings go to confront him. The Ring should be taken care of with this dagger. We can only hope for our victory."

"What is the second option, Elrond?" Thranduil asked the question that has been bugging Thorin and the old Took the most when Elrond made a big pause. Galadriel stood up and she faced them.

"If the first option isn´t possible, we have only one left solution. That is to kill Sauron along with his host body and soul still trapped inside The Ring."

"NO!" Old Took screamed.

"NEVER!" Thorin yelled out of frustration. He would never, ever let someone harm Bilbo let alone kill! He won´t stand for this great second option. "I don´t care about the rest of Middle Earth or how dangerous Sauron is. I will never let someone kill Bilbo!"

Arwen gazed at the horizont. "Your love is strong, Thorin, son of Thráin, King under the Mountain. What if you can´t save him? What then?" Thorin gritted his teeth. "I will find another way! I won´t let him die! It´s a promise!"

Arwen looked at him. "Remember that promise for it will be time when you´ll have to choose. Ada, let´s resume the council." Elrond glanced at everyone assembled, then at Galadriel and her husband, then Gandalf and finally the old Took who stayed silent even though they were talking about his grandson. Thorin didn´t feel too good right now. He felt weak and he had a sick feeling. "I… I must leave for a while. I have to think about this… Please excuse me…" The confused King under the Mountain left the great hall in a hurry, not even looking back at the shocked other kings.

Outside the great hall he felt a bit better, but the weak feeling stayed. He really felt so weak…

He collapsed on the floor. He heard someone calling his name in the background of his hazed mind. It sounded like…

"Thoriiin!" He turned to face him and the other embraced him and planted a kiss on his lips. He pouted a little. "Both of us have been so busy lately… It´ s great that we have finally time for ourselves without Kili and Fili peeking in and meddling. Isn´ t that true, my love?"

He smiled and held his face, all the while he was staring into his eyes. "I love you,my dear hobbit. I am happy that I´ ve found you and I´ m not letting go of you." With that last sentence, he pulled him in a loving kiss and the hobbit relaxed and soon burried his face in the royal garb of the other. "My love… don´´ t ever leave my side. You are the only one for me. Now. Forever."

The hobbit´ s eyes watered up as he kissed the other and they stayed like that for a while, listening in each other´ s slow heartbeat.

….

"BILBO!" Thorin yelled out, stretching out his hand to feel him, his warmth… but he caught nothingness. He opened his eyes. He once again saw the white ceiling. So, it all was just a…

"A dream?" He said out loud.

"I showed you what can be, but the ties are weakening." Thorin looked to the right and he saw that woman Arwen. "You? You did that? But… why?"

"Because to love is to give yourself to the other, forsake your own safety just to keep the other safe. Forsake your own life for the other. Love can be the strongest weapon and it can as well be someone´s greatest weakness." Thorin gritted the sheets angrily.

"My love for Bilbo is not a weakness!"

Only then he had noticed the other person on the left side. He slowly turned and instantly rose up to sit in the bed. It was the old Took, Bilbo´s grandfather. "I…erm…" Thorin turned to Arwen for help, but she smiled( grinned) and stood up. "I will leave you two alone. We still didn´t make any move or decision and in the meantime, my father and others are discussing all that we know. Please, excuse me." She left the two leaders of two different nations alone and a heavy feeling of guild nestled itself inside Thorin´s swelling heart. It´s all his fault that this hobbit is in pain right now. If only he had done something or said how he feels sooner… none of this would be happening. That elf woman! She left him alone and she is the one that caused him to blurt out his feelings in front of another hobbit, their leader and on top of that – Bilbo´s grandfather. Why didn´t he say that he was somewhat royalty?

"So… you love my grandson?" Thorin was caught off guard by that question. He never thought that hobbits were so… right to the point…straight – forward. But, he´s only met Bilbo so far… and now his grandfather. It´s best he says the truth. He already heard my confession, thanks to that Arwen, Thorin thought.

"Yes, I love him."

The old Took settled move comfortambly on the armchair. "And… does Bilbo love you back?"

Now that´s the question he wanted to know the answer to for a long time. But deep inside his heart, he knew that Bilbo shared the same feelings he shared for the hobbit. It was always visible in his eyes, postures and gestures while he was looking, glancing at him from the corner of his eye, making sure that Thorin didn´t spot him looking… but he noticed. He noticed everything about the hobbit.

" We didn´t confess yet to each other due to… war. But I am sure he feels the same. I can feel it."

The old hobbit simply gazed into his eyes. "I see your determination and that you speak the truth. However, my grandson is in danger and it seems that you are set to free him no matter what. Am I correct?"

"I am not going to let him down. He is fighting and I am going to fight, too. He has saved my life several times already and even broke my family line curse that has been casting a shadow for ages down on us. I am forever in his debt. "

The old Took smiled knowingly. "I see… I am going to let you sleep. A final conclusion will be announced tomorrow morning to all kings and leaders of all free nations. You should rest for now. It´s already noon. "

He stood up and walked over to the door. In the last moment he turned with a hand on the doorknoob. "One last question."

Thorin straightened up a bit. "Yes?"

"How did you fall in love with my grandson? He is rather… stubborn."

Thorin smiled at that. "You see… that´s how I fell in love. I love his stubborn, never give up attitude. He saved me from my archenemy all the while he was in fear. But he pushed it aside and protected me in the face of danger. The second time… he saved not just me but my entire kingdom and the third time he had saved me from myself when the gold sickness controlled me. He stood before me and fought against me. And then… oh… I have just remembered. He said that he loved me. He really said it…" Thorin wondered how he could ever forget that… must be due to stress he´s feeling.

The old Took laughed. "Now I see he´s a true Took! Of course half Baggins, too, but still… he showed some real guts. I am proud of him. Now, I am going to rest up. The flight on the Eagle wasn´t pleasant. We hobbits quite don´t like heights. Now, if you´ll excuse me…"

Thorin nodded and the old Took exited his room. Thorin could swear that the old hobbit winked at him before he closed the door. Must be my imagination, Thorin thought. After some quiet minutes he laid down again, closing his eyes.

Whatever their decision will be, he has made his own decision already. Saving Bilbo is his top priority. Everything else doesn´t matter.