The dwarves were cooking some food when Bilbo returned, including meat that he wasn't even sure where they got it, but he wasn't interested. He was just fine with the food that the elves had given them in their hospitality. He had always been despite the rest of his dwarven companions on both of his trips being so averse to it. It's not like they didn't eat plants all the time while they were journeying, they just cooked it slightly differently.
Instead of joining the rowdy group, Bilbo headed up the stairs towards the guest room that the elves had given them to share. The dwarves, of course, had refused and slept in their bedrolls at the bottom of the stairs so Bilbo got the room to himself, but he wasn't really complaining about it. Sometimes it was nice to get away from all of their boisterousness. He was still a hobbit, after all, and hobbits loved peace and quiet.
Bilbo stopped on his way, though, when he heard Gandalf's voice echoing from a walkway nearby. "Of course I was going to tell you," he was saying. "I was merely waiting for there to be a chance. And, really, I think you can trust that I know what I'm doing."
Bilbo thought it was best not to listen in on the conversation and he started to turn in order to head to the room, but he was caught by Lord Elrond's response. "Do you? That dragon has slept for sixty years. What will happen if your plan should fail? If you wake the beast?" That was a good point. Bilbo unconsciously moved a bit closer so that he could hear their conversation a little better.
"But if we succeed," Gandalf replied. "If the dwarves take back the mountain, our defenses in the east will be strengthened." Of course Gandalf had ulterior motives for helping them, but to hear them from his own lips was almost discomforting. It made Bilbo doubt, even if only a bit, that Gandalf was truly in this for the dwarves. He still trusted Gandalf, of course. He had every faith that the wizard would not let them down.
"It is a dangerous move, Gandalf."
"It is also dangerous to do nothing. Oh come on. The throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright." Bilbo suddenly felt that he was no longer alone and he turned to fine the very dwarf that they were speaking of standing behind him, listening to the conversation as well. He didn't look affected by anything they were saying, which was probably good. "What is it you fear?"
"Have you forgotten?" Elrond almost hissed, pulling Bilbo's attention back to him. "A strain of madness runs deep in that family." Okay, Bilbo really shouldn't be hearing this even if he already knew all about it. He tried to turn away again, but that didn't stop him from continuing to hear what Lord Elrond was saying. "His grandfather lost his mind. His father succumbed to the same sickness. Can you swear Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall?" Bilbo wished that he could swear for Thorin Oakenshield, but he had seen the sickness in King Thror.
"There is something wrong with the king," Bilbo said once the two of them were alone in their room. He needed to say these words, but he would not disrespect the king by saying them where they could be overheard by anyone.
"What are you talking about?" Thorin asked as he began to undress out of all of his royal clothing. They had earlier had a meeting with the elves that Thorin had to be present at. A meeting that had not gone well at all.
"Didn't you see him during the meeting?" Bilbo asked. There was no way that he was going to let Thorin get away with ignoring the strange way the king was acting. "He was much too pleased when we denied the elves their payment."
"They stole from us," Thorin pointed out.
"I'm not arguing that point," for the simple reason that he wasn't sure that he really believed it to be anything more than a ruse cooked up by the warping mind of a respected king. "I am talking about the look on his face when we kept the jewels. That's not even talking about the growing treasury of the royal line."
"We are just getting more money coming in."
"And we should be using that money to help the people in anyway that we can no matter how small it is. What use do we have for such a horde? We're going to bring horrible things to our doorstep."
"What do you want me to do about it?" Thorin asked frustratedly.
"I want you to stop making yourself blind to your grandfather's Gold Lust," Bilbo burst out, but then he immediately sat down and buried his head in his hands. He hadn't meant to yell.
Thorin immediately wrapped Bilbo in his arms with a worried look on his face. "What's really bothering you? I understand what you're saying about my grandfather, but that can't be the only thing that is worrying you."
"I think it's the Arkenstone," Bilbo sighed. "Ever since that thing has been found, our king has started to act strangely."
"That is the King's Jewel, Haran," Thorin said. His voice was soothing, but his words were not. "I'm sure you are mistaken."
"I am not mistaken," Bilbo broke free from Thorin's arms immediately and began to pace through their room. He would not allow himself to be comforted until he got his point across. "And, if you do not see that, then you will fall to the same sickness. I don't want to see that happen."
"I won't fall to Gold Lust, my One," Thorin said.
"You might not have a choice with that thing on your throne."
"I promise you that I will not fall to Gold Lust," Thorin shook his head. "I promise."
"I don't believe you," Bilbo shook his head. "You might not have a choice."
"I promise," Thorin said again. "With you by my side, I will never need any sort of jewel or gold anyway." Thorin stepped forward and caught Bilbo in his arms once more. "I promise."
Thorin had been so earnest when he had made that promise, and yet, Bilbo still had a hard time believing it. He would have been much happier if the Arkenstone would just disappear.
"Gandalf, these decisions do not rest with you alone. It is not up to you or me to redraw the map of Middle Earth."
That's was the last thing that Bilbo heard as he completely turned away at that point. He would not listen to this conversation anymore. He really shouldn't have been listening in the first place, really, but he couldn't really help it. He was half Took.
When he turned, he found Thorin facing away with his head bowed. "Are you okay Thorin?" Bilbo asked.
"I'm fine," Thorin shook himself.
"What were they talking about?" Bilbo only asked because he wanted it to seem that he didn't already know, but he immediately regretted it when Thorin glared angrily at him.
"It's nothing," Thorin growled. "Forget it."
Bilbo nodded. He really didn't really want to hear it anyway. He already knew the answers to any questions that he might have asked if he didn't know.
"Pack your things," Thorin continued. "We're going to head out."
"I haven't unpacked," Bilbo pointed out. That was the good thing about accepting the hospitality of others: Bilbo didn't have to unpack any of his things to live comfortably when the dwarves had to unpack almost everything. That had been one of his reasons for trying to get the dwarves to sleep in the offered guest room, but they had refused adamantly despite his efforts. Now he was ready to go even though they were not and he would have to wait for them.
Thorin looked disdainfully over at him, but didn't saying anything as he walked down to give the same command to his kin. Bilbo simply went up to the guest room to grab his things. He could still get his time alone while he waited for the others to pack their things at least. Maybe he could remember something good while he waited.
"There's two little dwarflings around here somewhere," Bilbo said playfully. In fact, he already knew where they were, but he didn't want to ruin their game of hide and seek by finding them too quickly. It was a bit hard to avoid finding them, though. There was only one place that the two of them could hide together in this room and Fili and Kili were never separated. Instead of finding them under the table, though, Bilbo searched in the oddest places where not even Kili, who was still very small compared to the other dwarf children, could fit. He could hear muffled giggles coming from the table, but he pretended not to so that he it wouldn't "lead" him to their hiding place.
It was for that reason that he was not expecting it when two warm and very familiar arms came around him and lips kissed his uninjured cheek. He was so surprised by it that he almost pulled his sword on his own soul mate. Luckily, Thorin had known it would happen and so had gone for the sword just before Bilbo did. "It's alright, my One," he said. "Dis and I are back."
"Don't sneak up on me like that," Bilbo shook his head as he turned to face Thorin. Both Thorin and Dis had gone out for a hunt while Bilbo stayed to protect the children and he took that job very seriously. He even kept the sword, which usually rested at his home, strapped to his side when they were in his charge. "I'm already have children in my care."
"I'm sorry," Thorin laughed, looking not at all sorry.
"Speaking of my sons," Dis said with a raised brow, "where are they?" She knew where they were, Bilbo could tell. There hiding spot wasn't actually that hidden at all, but it seems she wished to play along with the game as well.
"I'm afraid they disappeared on me," Bilbo sighed over-exaggeratedly. "I'm just not a good enough seeker."
"Oh dear," Dis gasped, though she was having a very hard time keeping the smirk on her face in check.
"Perhaps we should just have dinner without them," Thorin suggested, "and we even got the best meats for dinner."
"No!" Fili gasped as both he and Kili scrambled out from their hiding places. That was a bad move, since Thorin immediately scooped them both up.
"Gotcha," he growled playfully as he tickled the two of them.
"I hope the two of you were good for your uncle," Dis said.
"Yes ma'am," Fili said immediately and Bilbo nodded to confirm it.
"Then we will have to award you for being so good," Dis said. "I'll make something sweet to eat after dinner." The two young ones cheered immediately and Dis set about doing just that.
Those had been better days, Bilbo believed, more so than even the time in Erebor because there was nothing that could possibly tempt his soul mate away from him. It wasn't that he didn't want to return to Erebor, it was their home, but he just found that most of his happiest memories were actually in the Blue Mountains with his family together. He couldn't wait to make those same types of memories when they returned to Erebor.
"We're leaving." Bilbo's head shot up to find Thorin glaring at him through the doorway and he sighed before grabbing his things and following his king out of Rivendell.
AN: I just wanted let you guys know that the conversation with Lord Elrond and Gandalf is in the extended edition of the movie, but the conversation with Bilbo and Thorin afterwards is not.
I also wanted to say that I thought this chapter was a bit short so I added an extra little memory in, but if you don't like that or if it confused you in anyway, please let me know and I will try to refrain from doing it in the future.
Thank you all for reading. I love you all.
