Chapter 12: Banishment
"BILBO!" The door slammed open as Bilbo and Thorin were centimeters away. It startled both, causing them to jump back a bit; Thorin turned to glare at who ever interrupted him.
His nephews and the others recoiled a little at Thorin's glare. The king put Frodo back on the ground next to Sam.
"We heard that you found who attacked Bilbo.-"
"-We wanted to check if the hobbits were okay."
Thorin was about scold his nephews for bursting into his room and further postponing another kiss from his burglar, when Bilbo spoke up.
"It's going to be fine. Why don't you lot take Frodo and Sam for breakfast." Bilbo said ushering his boys to the rest of the company. "Thorin and I will be right behind you."
Fili winked at Bilbo but said nothing, he pushed the rest of the company out of the room.
Thorin turned to Bilbo. "You are very good." he said with a smirk. The burglar shrugged.
"I wanted to finish our talk from earlier. Did you mean what you said?" He asked nervously, fiddling with his hands.
Thorin lifted Bilbo's chin, forcing the hobbit to look him in the eye. "Every. Single. Word." He released the hobbit, gesturing for him to sit on the closest couch. Thorin took his seat after Bilbo, sitting as close as possible to him. "Before we continue I must ask, how do you wish Tazla to be punished?"
"What?"
"By the rules of Erebor, attempted murder is punishable by death; that is, only if the victim does not have a punishment of their own." Thorin repeated from memory, knowing the rules of his mountain by heart. He himself had also witnessed many an execution. "Most do."
"I control what happens to her?" Thorin nodded, "Does she have to die?"
"No. However, I know that many members of our company would much enjoy being in charge of her punishment; myself included. Bilbo, do not be so merciful, she tried to kill you."
"I am not saying that I forgive her… I just do not think that she deserves death. You heard her; she did not sound of right mind. Couldn't she be imprisoned for life or banished or something?"
"If that is what you wish; she can be banished. Though I must ask, why do you spare her life?"
"Gandalf once said to me, 'True courage is not knowing when to take a life, but when to spare one.' I feel that she should be spared."
"Very wise. She will be banished at your request." Thorin pulled Bilbo into his lap. "Now on to much more pleasant topics. Are there ways of courting among hobbits?"
"Not many," Bilbo said, thinking for a moment, "usually we give gifts such as brews, new pipes, different flowers, and food, to who we wish to court; Simple things. What about dwarrows?"
"Hair braiding is big. It states a claim on the intended and wards off other suitors, as well as strengthens bonds. Different braids and clasps mean different things. There is also the gifting of something of your trade, usually made by hand. Can we finish our talk from earlier. I must know, are my feelings returned?"
"Very much so; though I cannot describe them as poetically as you did."
"I am not very good with words and feelings; I merely spoke what my heart was telling me."
"I thought it was lovely." Thorin leaned down to capture Bilbo's lips against his own.
The door slammed open once again, making Bilbo jump back; their lips never touching. Thorin sighed angrily. He would maim the next person to interrupt a kiss with his hobbit (Unless it was Frodo or Sam, his nephews were fair game however.)
"King Thorin! Why has my daughter been imprisoned?" Azelon yelled, only to see the hobbit that was supposedly deceased, sitting in Thorin's lap. Bilbo and Thorin stood up.
"The next person to enter my room without my permission shall be sent to the dungeons and will be punished most severally." Thorin mumbled to Bilbo, before addressing his annoying advisor. "She has been imprisoned after confessing to myself of how she tried to kill Bilbo."
"I-I thought… you said-!"
"Bilbo is alive. After your daughter had admitted to poison him-" Before Thorin could say anything else, his adviser was on his knees, crying and begging for his daughter's life.
"Please do not kill her! She is my only child! I beg of you! Please do not kill her! Spare her life!"
"The decision has already been made. Tomorrow at dawn she will banished from the halls of Erebor, never to return, under punishment of death." Azelon melted with relief.
"Thank you, thank you so much!"
"It is not I who you should be giving thanks." Confusion was clear over Azelon's face. "Mister Baggins was the one who requested she be banished. I would have not been so lenient." Before the advisor could say another word, the king pushed him out of the room.
After the door closed, the tension in the room melted away. The king under the Mountain turned back to his burglar. "There is one more thing I must ask of you." He said before leading Bilbo into his room.
He left the hobbit sitting on the bed as he went over to a chest in the corner of the room.
"As I said before, I do not wish to lose you once again. Close your eyes." The hobbit complied. He felt something cold placed around his neck. It sent a shiver down his spine. "I wish for you to be my consort." Bilbo opened his eyes to judge the truth on Thorin's face. He was distracted by the necklace around his neck. It looked very much like the Arkenstone, sending out waves of beauty. "It belonged to my Grandmother." Thorin explained. "It was given to her by my grandfather, after the Arkenstone was found. It is a piece of the heart of the mountain. My mother never got the chance to wear it; however I believe that the one I love should bear it as sign to his true place at my side."
Thorin couldn't help but admire the way the stone shined against Bilbo's neck.
"Thorin…" Bilbo couldn't find words to describe how he felt right now. "Yes." He finally decided on, before pulling his husband to be down finally for his kiss.
~space~
Tazla was to be banished in a few minutes; Thorin was also to announce that Bilbo was going to be Consort under the Mountain. Fili, Kili, and Lady Ellena were helping Bilbo into the traditional consort robes. Well, lady Ellena was, the princes were playing with Frodo and Sam, who were watching from yet another pillow fort (the best so far. The princes had helped them set it up; retrieving pillows from anywhere they could find them.)
Thorin was discussing something with Balin and Dwalin in another room.
"Oh, don't you look lovely." Ellena gushed, petting the small fur cape Bilbo had on. He was also wearing a sleeveless dark blue vest with a low collar line, showing off the necklace Thorin had given Bilbo. The regal outfit was a little tight, and it was heavy. Ellena had mentioned that there was gold threaded in to the fabric. Thankfully he didn't have to wear nasty, confining boots.
"Isn't this a bit much?" Bilbo asked very self conscious of the robes and braids Thorin had put in his hair last night.
"You don't have to wear it all the time." Fili informed him, peeking out from the fort with his brother and the two hobbits.
"Only on official occasions, such as banishments" Kili explained.
"When foreign diplomats arrive,"
"Special feasts,"
"Weddings some times,"
"Oh and when you're in court by Thorin's side." Bilbo's head was spinning. He would have a lot of responsibilities now. It all seemed worth it though to be at Thorin's side.
"Don't worry dear," Ellena comforted, "You look lovely. Thorin won't be able to keep his eyes off you."
"Yeah! Uncle, you look very pretty!" Frodo said from their fort.
"Uh-huh," Sam agreed with his friend. "You look pretty like a princess, Uncle Bilbo."
Bilbo froze, "Sam did you just call me 'Uncle'?" he asked with a growing smile.
"I'm sorry." Sam apologized quickly.
Bilbo fished Sam out of the fort with a little laugh. "No Sam. It's fine. I like it very much." He said kissing the little boy's forehead, hugging him close.
~space~
The king under the mountain had his breath taken away when he first saw Bilbo in the robes of the consort. His hobbit looked absolutely stunning. Thorin felt jealousy stir inside that others would be able to look upon his most treasured jewel.
~space~
Bilbo was nervous. Thorin could read the hobbit's apprehension all over his face. They were about to enter Thorin's court. Tazla was to be banished and Bilbo was to be made Thorin's consort.
Thorin took Bilbo's hand in his own. "It is okay." He said before the door in front of them was open.
All was quiet as Thorin lead Bilbo to his own seat next to Thorin's. The king smirked when he saw the bewildered faces of his council gaping at Bilbo. Fili stood behind Bilbo's chair, as heir to the throne he was required to attend the majority of Thorin's councils.
Tazla was gagged, had her hands chained together, and she had her head bowed as she awaited her sentence.
No one spoke until Thorin stood, moving in front of the woman. "Tazla, daughter of Azelon; you have attempted to kill Bilbo Baggins. For punishment on request of your victim, you are to be banished from Erebor until the day you die."
Her head shot up when Thorin mention Bilbo. Her eyes widened when she saw him next to Thorin's throne, in the robes of the consort; she almost instantly turned her shocked expression into one of hate.
Thorin moved to cut off her glare, glaring back at her just as hard. "Dwalin, see to it that she is expelled from our halls within the hour." His friend nodded, dragging the female dwarf from the room.
Thorin returned to his throne. He watched Azelon and his wife follow hopelessly after their daughter. If they wished to leave as well they were welcome too. There was no guarantee they would be allowed back in Erebor if they did so though.
"I have another announcement. I am takimg Bilbo Baggins as my consort." As expected there was an outcry immediately following.
"A hobbit?"
"What about heirs to the throne?"
"He is not fit to be a consort!"
"Enough!" Thorin yelled, standing up to defend Bilbo. The room fell silent "I am the king; I will marry whomever I please." Thorin glared at each of the seven members of his council. "The hobbit is my choice, and I will marry him. No further discussion will be held on the matter. He is fit as any to be my consort as any. And do you not approve of my current heirs?" Thorin asked, silently daring anyone to speak against him. "Fili is a fine heir. Any more comments on the matter shall be met with imprisonment. If Bilbo and the little hobbits are met with hostility from my council, I will not hesitate to instate a new one."
Thorin could sense Fili smirking from his place besides Bilbo. Even with his back to him, Thorin could feel the heat coming off Bilbo's face in waves.
"This meeting is adjourned for the rest of the day." He turned back to Bilbo, Fili, and Balin. He took Bilbo's hand leading him out of the hall back to his room, with a guiding hand on his back.
~space~
Thorin and Bilbo were wed within a few months. It was a lovely service; Bilbo and Thorin had decided to do a mix of a traditional dwarf and hobbit weddings. The feast lasted for two days.
Some of Bilbo and Frodo's Took relatives came from the Shire to celebrate as well. They brought a letter from Lord Elrond. It had told Bilbo that the shire was safe; Lord Elrond's elves and the Rangers had been able to dispose of all the Orcs before any wide spread damage had happened. It also mentioned something about little Merry and Pippin setting out to fight Orcs, only to end up getting distracted by farmer Maggot's mushrooms.