They had been granted two weeks.

Then it was time to work again.

Thorin was not very keen on it, so Bilbo found more than once he had to prod Thorin to get to the court room.

"Did he ever used to act like this?" Bilbo asked Dis during tea. "I literally have to throw him into the court room. It's not an easy feat!"

"No. I daresay it's not," Dis said, smiling. "But you manage it well enough. Thorin listens to you and adores you. To be honest, when I heard about you, Bilbo, I had my doubts."

Bilbo slumped. "Oh. You're confidence is kind."

"Well, I was worried because Hobbits do not grow up in the same culture and they have different values."

Bilbo nodded. It was inevitably true.

"However, I was proven wrong and I am glad I was. More tea?"

"Please. You know, while I do enjoy our chats, Dis, I sort of…feel…useless. I wish there was more I could do. I understand if you refuse, but would it be too much to ask if I could learn Khuzdul?"

Dis almost dropped the cup.

"I wouldn't abuse it, if that's your fear. It just seems ridiculous to be the consort and yet be ignorant of the culture belonging to the kingdom I am consort to."

Dis hummed. "That makes sense. You do realize that to do that I would have to teach you more than just the language. Our culture is very complicated and we follow various different rules and rituals laid down long ago even before the Dwarf Kings came to light."

"I understand that."

Dis appraised him. "I'm not sure you do. You would be completely giving up your own culture and beliefs to embrace ours. We understand that is hard and not many are willing to take that plunge. Besides, Khuzdul is holy, that is why we are so protective of it and our culture."

"I understand."

"Try asking Thorin. He would be a better judge."

"I already did. He refused."

"As he should, I suppose. I suggest it would work better to get to know the people first." She smiled. "Then when they trust you as dearly as they do their king, ask again."

#

"And that," Bilbo says, jumping off the table while the applauses bite his ears, "is a basic jig. Very simple, quite fun, and never gets old."

A few try to attempt it, but the older dwarves aren't as limber and have a hard time keeping up with the movements.

One named Oin keeps griping on about his joints.

"Get the Prince a drink!" a dwarf shouts, clapping his back.

Another mug of ale presses into Bilbo's hands. Bofur is on guard. He comes in.

"King's coming!" He shouts.

"Good, he can join us," Bilbo shouts.

The doors open and Thorin strides in.

"Come have a drink, Thorin."

"Bilbo, what are you doing?"

"Socializing. Bofur's here too, if you haven't noticed."

"I have. I thought we agreed you wouldn't sneak off."

"I didn't sneak off. I left a note. That's not sneaking," he counters, raising the mug to his lips and taking a long drink.

Thorin sat beside him.

"There are other ways to socialize."

"I know," Bilbo set the mug down, "but do any other way involve getting to know the people. Even if it's accepted on the surface, I'm sure it may take a while for me to really be accepted. I figured it'd be easier to start with—"

"The commoners?"

Bilbo pursed his lips.

"Well, yes. If you want to say that. I would have said the people. They're the ones whose opinion matter's more than the nobility, Thorin."

Thorin nodded. "This wouldn't have to do with an attempt to get them to trust you enough so they demand you be allowed to learn Khuzdul?" he whispered.

Bilbo blinked, "And if it is?"

"I thought we were at an accord."

"We are, you said you couldn't teach me because my ability to respect the language was in question. This will take care of it, won't it?"

"I don't know if it's that simple."

"Thorin, I'm going to live here. I don't want to be ostracized because I'm a Hobbit among the Dwarves."

"You won't be."

"I will be," Bilbo corrected. "I doubt everyone is happy that I have become the Prince Consort, even if they hide it well enough. I wish I had your optimism, but I would rather be rational than optimistic, Love."

Thorin ran his hand through his hair. "You are determined."

Bilbo grinned. "And I will not be swayed."

Thorin let his hand drop. He scratched his chin. "Another thing that could help you may be practicing our faith. It may require conversion, but that is simple enough."

"You're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad that you want to know the people? It's wise. Some are very religious and look to the Royal Family to follow our faith very strictly. If you would have me teach you…"

"I would like that." Bilbo beamed. It was going faster than he thought. "Now you came in search of me. Do you require my company somewhere?"

"Not somewhere. Just your company."

"Then we best be off." Bilbo stood and set a couple coins on the counter. "Thanks for the meal, Bombur."

"You're quite welcome, your highness," Bombur boomed.

Bilbo bade goodbye to the others and followed Thorin out.

Dwalin and Bofur were conversing about…something.

"Bofur, Dwalin, we're leaving," Thorin snapped.

"Right," Bofur said.

He and Dwalin walked behind their respective lord.

"Oh! M'lord Bilbo, the brothers Ri agreed to have tea tomorrow afternoon instead."

"That's fine," Bilbo said, turning to look at Bofur, grinning. "My afternoon just got taken up."

"Over sharing, my lord!"

#

Bilbo felt he had entered into a new world entirely as Thorin led an evening prayer in Erebor's temple.

Bilbo had been to different shrines to different Valar in his life, but he had never seen a temple before. The room was dark and large. Candles were the only light in the incense stinking room.

Thorin did not venture past the curtain separating them from Mahal's alter on the other side of it.

Bilbo adjusted the blue prayer shawl over his head again, rubbing a tassel between his thumb and forefinger.

He and Thorin were the only ones in the temple.

The people prayed outside.

Thorin knelt down to his knees. Bilbo mimicked him, keeping an eye on Thorin, who touched his forehead to the ground. Bilbo did the same.

Every so often he'd glance up for the next queue Thorin would send him, hoping it wasn't rude to do so.

Thorin stood, as did Bilbo.

He offered a prayer in Khuzdul, raising his hands up as though offering something to Mahal which Bilbo could not fathom.

"Father, permit me use of the Common Tongue," he said. "So that my One may know and learn your edict. He desires to learn your ways. I ask again, will you not allow it? If it is to be, I know you it will happen in time, whether it be soon or long. In your name, ámin."*

They left the temple.

Bilbo did what he could to ignore some of the whispers from those outside. He could not tell what said was prayer and what said was gossip anyway.

"Is that all?"

"It's all that can be done for now. If it is meant to be, then it will be, Mahal willing," Thorin said, taking Bilbo's hand in his and kissing it. "I hope that it can be done. I agree you should learn, and it seems Dis does as well. But as I have told you, it cannot be done without there being absolute surety."

"And how will we know?"

Thorin shrugs.

Bilbo isn't sure he likes the bleakness of Thorin's answer. It seemed so unsure and filled Bilbo with doubt.

"What next?"

"Dinner."

Bilbo grinned. "Good. I'm famished."

Thorin returned the smile. "I thought you might be."


* ámin is made up, and a variation of amen, which means "God willing" or something like that…

About Bilbo's decision to worship Mahal: It will start as a reason to get the people to insist he learn Khuzdul, but he will eventually convert to this faith one hundred percent. Because of the Dwarves' similarities to Judaism, there will be several references to Judaism as I know it (meaning the Judaic culture that Christ and his predecessors practiced). One being the Shroud and the Holy of Holies, presented here. The Shroud was a curtain which separated the Holy of Holies where only one priest could go into per year. Thorin's roll is both King and High Priest, which is unusual as the King of Israel normally held only political power. I decide to make Thorin also High Priest because of my faith as a Christian where the King (Jesus) is also the High Priest. Normally, Bilbo would not be allowed in the temple as he is a "gentile" (normally meaning non-Jew, here, non-Dwarf), but the Dwarfish worship of Mahal is less strict here (a Christian practice of all inclusiveness: all is welcome who wants to come) so he can come so long as he has a prayer shawl (which Thorin lends him). Yeah. I take some liberties…if there are any inconsistencies or if I am wrong somewhere PLEASE correct me! Thanks.