A/N: Hey guys :D
Thanks so much for all the support with this story- you guys are the best!
"I regret to inform you that Belladonna Baggins has been cremated, as per the government's instructions."
There was a long silence, as though everyone in the room collectively held their breath. Bilbo froze, and in front of him the teen could see his father stiffen.
"…Pardon?" Bungo asked quietly, voice devoid of all emotion.
Elrond sighed, rubbing fingertips to his temples.
"The government have informed us that Mrs Baggins has been cremated. I'm sorry, I know you had other plans."
Bungo paled, lips a hard line as he narrowed his eyes. The man seemed like a statue, scarcely breathing as he stared down Elrond.
When he did finally speak his words were clipped, tone hard with an icy edge Bilbo couldn't remember ever hearing before now.
"So you are telling me not only was my wife's body never released, but she has been forcibly cremated against the requests of her will and her family's wishes."
Elrond looked pained at that but said nothing, unable to deny any of the accusations of the man opposite.
Bilbo stared down at his hands, swallowing past the lump in his throat as they shook.
This isn't what she wanted, this isn't how it's supposed to be…he couldn't help thinking, the thought seeming to play on repeat in his numbed mind.
Someone placed a hand on his shoulder, the weight registering somewhere at the back of his thoughts, but Bilbo couldn't bring himself to look up from his hands. White hot anger unfurled in his gut as Elrond began speaking again.
His hands stopped shaking.
"I know this is difficult to understand, but believe me when I say it is for the best-"
"No!" Bilbo and Bungo snarled as one, surging to their feet. There was a clatter as Bilbo's chair skittered back, and both Baggins' looked at each other in shock.
It was only a second, but in that brief moment both could see the pain in the other's eyes, the fury there.
In that second, they were the closest they'd ever been.
Simultaneously, father and son turned to glare down at Elrond.
"Perhaps it would be best if we were to reschedule for tomorrow, Dis?" the headmaster murmured, eyes never leaving the pair in front of him.
"Of course," Dis agreed easily, as she and the others filed out.
Fili and Kili looked worriedly at one another, hesitating as they looked between Bilbo and Bungo. With a small smile, Frerin placed a hand on each of the twin's backs and none too gently ushered them out of the room.
Kili opened his mouth to argue, but Frerin simply shook his head softly, sharing a glance with Dis as the three walked into the corridor beyond.
Thorin grit his teeth, feeling utterly helpless as Dis grabbed his shoulder in an iron grip and dragged him out behind her.
He struggled for a moment, staring after the firm set of Bilbo's shoulders before finally allowing himself to follow his sister. The mahogany doors closed behind them with a sharp click, the sound like a gunshot in the silence. Thorin stared at the ground, hands curled into fists at his side.
"Bilbo needs us there-"
"It's best if we leave it. This is something they need to do," Dis interjected calmly. Wordlessly, Thorin glared at the ground, muscle ticking in his jaw.
Further down the corridor Fili and Kili appeared to be having misgivings of their own, arguing heatedly with Frerin and gesturing towards the thick wooden door. Meeting her brother's eye, Dis nodded to Frerin who saluted back, firmly grasping the twins and marching them down the hall and out of sight.
Once Fili and Kili's indignant squawks faded away, Dis turned her attention to her youngest brother.
"This…this is bullshit," Thorin spat, hands clenched into fists at his side.
"It is," Dis conceded, and he couldn't help glancing up at her in surprise. She gave a dry chuckle then, shaking her head softly.
"I'm not going to reprimand you for bad language when there's no other word for it. It is bullshit," she added, frowning again as she stared at the doors, "that said, there's nothing we can do from here-"
"I'm not leaving," Thorin cut in, voice firm with finality, and Dis couldn't help the surge of affection that warmed her chest.
"No," she agreed, amusement lacing her tone, "I was going to suggest you hide in the next corridor so you don't get caught."
/
The anger and hurt in the air was almost tangible, and Bilbo felt he would drown in it.
Silence reigned once again, as Elrond stared back at them, face impassive.
"In what way could this possibly be for the best? Explain. Now," Bungo ordered, gritting his teeth as a muscle in his jaw ticked.
"I apologise, but that is top secret. As you know, I am a member of the council and I assure you-"
"That's not good enough!" he snapped, and Bilbo flinched at the volume, "Who agreed to this? Give me a name!"
"All council decisions are made anonymously. I understand that this is a difficult situation, but I am afraid what's done is done," Elrond said evenly, and Bilbo found himself storming up to the edge of the desk.
"Is it not enough that she died for you?" Bilbo snapped, emerald eyes narrowed in fury. Elrond gave a small start as he stared up at the youth, slate grey eyes narrowing.
"How do you-"
"Died for- Bilbo, what are you talking about?" Bungo cut in, fixing his son with a heavy stare. All at once, Bilbo seemed to wilt, shoulders slumping as the anger appeared to leave him entirely.
Instead, tired eyes stared back, and Bungo almost flinched as he saw another pair of green in his mind, the sight leaving a now familiar aching sensation in his chest.
When Bilbo's gaze slid away Bungo was almost glad for it.
"I saw her that night," Bilbo admitted quietly, barely able to speak around the lump in his throat, "I thought it was a dream or something, but I…" he trailed off, eyes fixed down at his feet.
"What…what did she say?" Bungo breathed, and Bilbo's shoulders slumped.
Slowly, Bilbo raised his head to stare at his father, emerald eyes misted over as he lost himself in the memory. Elrond watched on silently, all but forgotten.
"She said…she said she had to go, that if she didn't there wouldn't be anything left to come back to…" he murmured, brow furrowed, "what on earth could she mean by that?"
Bilbo fixed Bungo with an unwavering gaze, searching the older man's face for some kind of answer. He felt like a small child again, begging his father to tell him the monster in the closet wasn't real, that everything would be fine.
Bungo looked away.
"Perhaps it would be best to take a break for a spell, Bilbo?" Gandalf said softly, and Bilbo opened his mouth to argue back.
"Go. We will speak later," Bungo murmured, carefully not looking up as Bilbo blanched.
"You- you can't! I have just as much right-"
"Now," Bungo snapped, and Bilbo flinched back as if he had been slapped.
Gently, Gandalf rested a hand on the boy's shoulder, steering him out of the office. Elrond nodded to him once, before turning back to Bungo and offering him a drink.
Wordlessly, Bungo accepted the glass.
/
Thorin tensed as he felt two pairs of footsteps against the marble, both approaching the doors.
A pale Bilbo stepped through, followed by Gandalf, features pulled into a deep frown. Thorin felt a sinking sensation in his stomach as his friend stood motionless, staring down at his hands mutely.
"Bilbo…" Gandalf murmured, and when he didn't look up, Gandalf rested a hand on his shoulder once more.
Shrugging off the hand in a stiff motion, Bilbo stepped away, footsteps echoing as he walked down the corridor. It wasn't until the soft footfalls faded that Gandalf slumped against his staff, sighing heavily.
Thorin glared at the man, willing him to get out of the way so he could catch up to his friend, huffing as Gandalf made no move to do so.
Slowly Gandalf reached into his robes, revealing his signature pipe. Regarding it morosely for a moment, the man returned it to his pocket regretfully.
"Oh Bella…he needs you," Gandalf whispered, head bowed for a moment.
After what felt like an age to Thorin (but was closer to mere minutes) Gandalf straightened, turning and entering the room with the same thoughtful frown on his features.
The door rested closed against the frame without clicking shut, and Thorin huffed as he moved to follow Bilbo. Just as quickly the teen froze as he felt footsteps approaching again.
Holding back a growl, Thorin kept hidden glancing out at the corridor irritably. How was he supposed to help Bilbo if he was stuck hiding in some hallway all day?
As the soft impact against the marble sounded in Thorin's mind, he glanced out into the hall and stiffened.
No one was there.
No, Thorin amended as his irritation faded away, someone couldn't help himself and doubled back.
Silently, the door opened without a sound as someone unseen slipped through, the door resting against the frame without a click once more.
Thorin raised an eye brow in amusement as he noticed the small sandwich wedged in the door, preventing it from closing all the way.
Cute, he thought with a smirk, leaning against the smooth wall behind him.
/
Bilbo frowned as he moved to hide behind a small coffee table, the world shifting in shades of grey. A headache had begun at his temples, the light pounding already an insistent throb.
Bungo, Gandalf and Elrond all sat at the large desk to his right, the bright white of Elrond's form a constant reminder to stay hidden.
Their voices took on the now familiar muffled quality, and Bilbo scowled at the unfairness of it all.
I need to get closer, he decided, barely able to make out words from his place at the front of the room.
Slowly, the teen shuffled forward, keeping as close to the ground as possible. The drone of illegible words continued, and Bilbo counted that as a win.
If they were still talking they didn't know he was here.
Painstakingly, Bilbo shuffled forward little by little, the large bookshelf in his sights stubbornly just out of reach.
Elrond stood, rubbing his temples, and Bilbo froze.
Don't look up don't look up don't look up-
The headmaster turned, retrieving a new bottle and turning back to Bungo opposite. Taking a seat once more, Elrond poured the amber liquid into two glasses, topping up what was already there in his own and refilling Bungo's.
Bilbo sagged in relief, finally managing to reach the coveted bookshelf.
From his new vantage point, Bilbo could hear the men's voices clearly despite the ringing in his ears as his headache intensified.
I'll have to be quick, the teen realised, his body feeling weak and sluggish.
"-been trying, it's just…" Bungo trailed off, apparently at a loss, as Gandalf placed a hand on the man's shoulder.
"He does take after his mother after all, does he not?"
Bungo scoffed, downing his drink in a smooth motion. Elrond said nothing, merely poured the other man a fresh glass.
"That's the problem," he whispered, staring down into his drink.
What…what does that mean? Bilbo thought helplessly, utterly thrown by the statement.
Frowning, Bungo slid the glass back to Elrond, amber sloshing for a moment before settling. Gandalf had a decidedly proud gleam to his eye as Bungo straightened in his seat, shoulders no longer slumped in defeat.
"Which is exactly why I need an explanation," he continued, tone strong with conviction, "Not only was my wife killed because of you, but now you rob her of her final resting place."
Elrond shifted uneasily, and Bilbo winced at the spike of pain in his head.
"I truly am sorry, but that information is sensitive- you know this Bungo," Elrond added as Bungo seemed about to object, "If I could give you the answers, believe me I would, but my hands are tied."
Bungo grit his teeth, hazel eyes hard with anger as Elrond sighed.
"All I can tell you is your wife's death was not meaningless, and she deserves to be honoured as a hero," he continued softly, and Bungo looked away.
Gandalf looked between the two, his expression grave. Another wave of pain shot through Bilbo's head, and he clenched his teeth.
Not yet, just a little longer, he pleaded, hands white knuckled at his sides.
"Who cares if she was a hero?" Bungo growled back, and Bilbo tensed.
Elrond seemed thrown off as the man stood, resting both hands against the smooth wood of the desk.
"All death is meaningless!" he continued, voice raising in volume, "it doesn't matter if it was heroic, or honourable- it all means nothing. My wife is dead. Bilbo's mother is dead, and we're left with nothing!"
Bilbo was tempted to cover his ears at the raw emotion in his father's voice, each word causing a horrible pang in his chest. His head ached and his vision seemed to darken for a moment, but Bilbo couldn't help but think the agony in his chest was worse.
Bungo collapsed back into his chair with a dry laugh, the sound more grating and pitiful than it should have been.
"And do you know what the worst of it is?" he whispered defeated.
Bilbo strained forward to catch his next words, soft as they were.
"The flowers."
Confusion flickered across Elrond's face for an instant, a stark contrast to the sudden understanding that lit up Gandalf's.
Bilbo sat frozen in shock.
"For every day I tended her garden, I hoped she'd be there the next. I knew she never would, of course, but that's where my Bella belongs. That's where Bilbo's mother belongs," Bungo breathed, each word spoken with such heart-broken reverence it made Bilbo dizzy.
Head spinning and hands shaking, Bilbo stumbled to his feet, uncaring that Elrond was certain to notice him as he lurched towards the door.
Elrond never looked up.
Behind him, he could still hear his father's muffled voice, could still hear Gandalf's as he comforted him. No one seemed to have noticed him, and for that he was grateful.
The door in front of him opened of its own accord, and Bilbo gave a soft gasp as he was pulled through quickly, the door closing soundlessly behind him.
His vision blackened around the edges, and the teen blinked quickly to clear it. Grey eyes that should have been blue looked down at him, and Bilbo slumped forward weakly as the rest of the world flooded back in, his figure flickering back into view.
Thorin stared down at the shaking form in front of him, Bilbo slouching forward as he fought to regain his breath. Wordlessly, Thorin steered the teen down the hall, not stopping until the two slipped into a room.
Tugging a chair over with a scrape, Thorin gently helped Bilbo into it, the teen still frighteningly pale.
"You idiot," he muttered, and Bilbo rubbed a hand against his forehead tiredly, thoughts feeling strangely muddled.
"Why am I an idiot this time?" Bilbo grumbled, and he heard Thorin snort to himself from somewhere behind him.
Glancing around, Bilbo realised with a lifting heart and stumbornly growling stomach the two were in a kitchen. Small cupboards covered the tiled walls, and Bilbo had the vague thought that this was the first room without marble he'd seen in a long time.
Thorin wandered behind him, clattering around as Bilbo closed his eyes, savouring the moment of peace.
"You shouldn't have used your gift, idiot," Thorin added, as if in afterthought, and Bilbo chuckled weakly.
"Not the smartest thing I've ever done," Bilbo agreed, smiling as he could practically hear Thorin roll his eyes.
The smile faded as he thought back to Bungo's words. Something in his chest tightened, and a lump formed in his throat. Where was he even supposed to begin sorting through what had happened?
Guilt rose in his chest like bile, and Bilbo rubbed it idly, opening his mouth-
-and promptly jerking in surprise as a sandwich was shoved in.
"Mmmph!" Bilbo exclaimed indignantly, even as he fought the urge to cry with happiness because food!
"Thought so," Thorin said smugly, and Bilbo poked his tongue out at him as he reached for the next one.
A comfortable silence passed as Thorin watched Bilbo practically inhale the batch of sandwiches, lips twitching into an almost smile as the teen's face slowly became a healthy pink again.
"What were you, Frerin and the twins all talking about earlier?" Thorin asked after a time, curiosity lighting his tone.
Bilbo groaned, dropping his head into his hands.
"That bad, huh?"
Sitting up, Bilbo sighed, running a hand through his messy auburn curls as he filled Thorin in on the bet, and his subsequent loss.
"…and that's why betting is immoral," he finished in a grumble, huffing indignantly at Thorin's poorly concealed chuckle behind a cough.
"Well, what if you had won?" the brunette shot back, "What would you get them to do?"
Bilbo thought for a moment, hand tapping his chin before a wide smirk crossed his features.
"Something humiliating- like dance in the dining hall in front of everyone."
"Naked I'm guessing?"
"Obviously. Or maybe run around the campus naked?"
"In front of Saruman- can you imagine his face?!" Thorin cut in, mouth lifted in a hooked grin.
"Oh my god, yes! With flowers in their hair-"
"-singing 'we are so pretty'-"
"-in front of everyone during the next match!" Bilbo finished, and the two dissolved into laughter.
The pair laughed for far longer than the joke warranted, really, but Bilbo found he didn't care. He couldn't remember the last time he had laughed so hard- or in fact, at all- and the teen had a strong feeling Thorin was the same.
Thorin allowed himself that moment of happiness, forgetting his guilt and worry as he lost himself in the feeling.
It feels…nice, Bilbo decided, as he smiled in response to Thorin's own quirked lips.
And this time it was real.
A/N: So pretty serious chappie but hopefully the ending took the edge off a little :)
Let me know what you thought, thanks so much for all the reviews and everything on this story- seriously, you guys are awesome :)