/ / / Accidental Admissions \ \ \
Thorin made the tea and came out carrying a tray with two cups, different types of tea though, and some of the scones.
"What happened?" Thorin asked when he sat across from Bilbo.
"I stepped into a rabbit's hole and twisted my ankle, as I said, nothing very impressive."
"And Legolas was there?"
"He is showing Kili some nut trees," Bilbo said with a smile. "He has been incredibly helpful."
"Apparently," Thorin said with a frown. "I want Gluna to look at you anyway."
"She won't be able to tell you any more than Legolas and I did," Bilbo said and took a drink. Bilbo made a face at the bitter taste of the tea. He looked up at Thorin expecting to see a smirk but found the king watching him carefully instead.
"Do you need anything else?"
"No," Bilbo said. "I know you have meetings today. You can go back to your duties. I told Doma not to pull you out of your meetings for my injury."
"I am pleased he came for me," Thorin said and dragged the small stool from Bilbo's old room over so that he could sit.
"Thorin," Bilbo made a face at the lingering sour taste in his mouth. "You can return to your meetings."
Thorin shook his head. "I want to hear what Gluna has to say."
Bilbo nodded and drank the last of the tea quickly to have it done with.
"I know it will help," Bilbo said. "But that tea does not deserve the name."
Thorin nodded very seriously and stared at the door. Bilbo shook his head and rested back. He closed his eyes trying to focus on something other than the throbbing radiating up his leg from his ankle. He knew it was slightly worse than a simple sprain but he didn't want Thorin to think he needed to spend time with Bilbo when there were so many more important things than the hobbit that Thorin needed to be worried about.
Gluna arrived, tsked at Bilbo gently and then checked his ankle.
"Bad sprain," she said. "Keep it elevated and don't walk on it more than you have to. You know how to care for it, Master Baggins."
"There is nothing we can do?" Thorin asked.
"No," Gluna said shaking her head apologetically at Thorin. "It will heal itself, rest and relaxation."
"Very well," Thorin said. "Thank you, Gluna."
"Your majesty, Master Baggins," she said before she turned to leave.
"Would you like to move to the bed?" Thorin asked looking between Bilbo's swollen ankle and the soft bed.
"No," Bilbo said. "I will be able to get there alone when I am ready. I have food and tea, thank you. You may return to your meetings if you need to. It's only a sprain; you do not need to change your plans."
Thorin frowned at him. "I am not going to leave you alone when you are injured."
Bilbo opened his mouth to speak but there was a knock on the door that interrupted him. Thorin stood and strode towards the door; Gani was standing on the other side with two unknown dwarves standing at his back.
"Your Majesty," Gani said and dipped his head.
"Come in," Thorin said.
The two dwarves came in and placed their stack of parchment on the table next to Bilbo. They dipped their heads at Bilbo and then turned back to Thorin.
"Anything more, Sir?" One of them asked.
Thorin shook his head. "No, have a guard posted outside."
They nodded and slipped silently out of the room.
"Are you well, Master Baggins?" Gani asked standing awkwardly next to his chair.
"It is simply a sprain," Bilbo said. "Would you like to sit?"
Gani shook his head. "I came to see if you required anything."
"Nothing," Bilbo said. "Take the afternoon to go and visit your relatives or friends that have arrived from the Blue Mountains."
Gani's eyes flicked to Thorin and then back to Bilbo and he almost fidgeted before he caught himself.
"You were very helpful," Bilbo continued. "Getting me back to the mountain. Thank you."
"Yes," Thorin said. "I greatly appreciate your effort as well."
Bilbo watched Gani relax. "If you have any need for me, Master Baggins-"
"Bilbo, please," Bilbo interrupted.
Gani's eyes flicked to Thorin.
"Gani," Bilbo said kindly. "You can call me Bilbo."
Gani nodded but didn't say anything.
"Very well," Bilbo said with a small smile.
"If you need me, I can come and do whatever you need." Gani said again, his eyes on Bilbo's ankle.
"Thank you," Bilbo said and smiled at Gani as he said his goodbyes and slid out of the room.
Bilbo watched as Thorin came over and settled back onto the stool.
"Let me use the stool for my ankle," Bilbo said. "You can have the comfortable chair."
Thorin looked indecisive for a moment but then nodded and gently took the cushion from under Bilbo's foot and positioned the stool to make sure that Bilbo was comfortable as he moved. Bilbo relaxed with a scone and watched as Thorin organised his parchment and settled into his chair.
"Why was Gani so reluctant to call me by my given name?" Bilbo asked only when Thorin had his stacks organised and was reaching out of a scone of his own.
Thorin looked up at Bilbo carefully, watching him for a few moments.
"Thorin," Bilbo said. "He had no issue with calling me Bilbo before."
Thorin nodded and looked at Bilbo with a tight expression. "No dwarf within my mountain should presume to call the King's Consort by his given name."
"The…the King's Consort?" Bilbo asked. "How does everyone, we have only been-you and I, two days?"
Thorin shifted just a little to the left in his chair. "You have been wearing my bead for months."
Bilbo frowned. "I have been wearing your bead since the day after the Battle, has everyone been under the impression that you and I have been romantically involved since then?"
Thorin shook his head. "Of course not."
"However…" Bilbo said. "That explains a great deal. The way the dwarves have always treated me and the manner in which they have deferred to me, the position of Royal Advisor," Bilbo sat forward. "You were setting me up so that when we decided to become involved romantically the dwarves would already accept me."
"If," Thorin corrected.
"Pardon?"
"If you returned my feelings," Thorin said. "If you decided to stay you would be afforded the respect and position that you deserve."
Bilbo was unsure of what to say for a long moment and he could see that Thorin was watching him closely so Bilbo knew he needed to say something. "What would you have done if I hadn't," Bilbo knew the second that the words came out of his mouth that they were the wrong ones.
Thorin's face closed off and Bilbo couldn't help but equate this face with Thorin the king rather than Thorin the dwarf.
"I mean," Bilbo said with an attempt at a smile. "I was never going to not but if I hadn't I was only curious. I had feelings for you before the battle, you were, I mean you are fascinating and I was quite taken with you even though you were decidedly unhappy that I was the last member of your company." Bilbo knew he wasn't making it better however he didn't know how to stop.
"If you had not reciprocated," Thorin interrupted thankfully. "You would have continued on as my counsel until you chose to leave the mountain, I respect your opinion Bilbo even though I once dismissed you."
"I never would have not fallen in love with you," Bilbo said in a rush. "Oh, I mean, I…not that I'm saying that I love you obviously since-"
Thorin dropped to his knee next to Bilbo's chair and dragged Bilbo forward into his arms. He kissed Bilbo sweetly, slowly, licking into Bilbo's mouth and leaving him breathless and clutching at Thorin's elbows.
"Say it again," Thorin said harshly millimetres from Bilbo's lips.
Bilbo flushed. "I love you."
Thorin smiled, wide and stunning, but Bilbo knew only because of the crinkles around Thorin's bright eyes and then suddenly his lips were captured again. Bilbo threw his arms around Thorin's shoulders and pulled him in, twisted into Thorin so that more of their bodies were touching. As Bilbo moved his ankle twisted and with a grunt of pain Thorin pulled back from him with a worried look.
"No," Bilbo said trying to drag him back in.
"Have I hurt you?"
"No," Bilbo said grabbing the front of Thorin's jacket and attempted to pull him back in. "I am quite well, I will not move it again, come back and kiss me."
Thorin shook his head and ran his hand along Bilbo's calf though his touch was hesitant over his ankle.
"Thorin," Bilbo said tugging pointlessly on Thorin's coat. "Come back up here and kiss me, please."
Thorin nodded and returned to press one quick, firm kiss to Bilbo's lips. "I…" Thorin looked unsure how to proceed, Bilbo knew what he wanted to say but he could almost see the dwarf's brain simply refusing to say it.
Bilbo kissed Thorin again, there was no rush and Thorin never had to say the words if he didn't want to – Bilbo was going to take his reaction to Bilbo's admission as reciprocation for now.
"I do," Thorin said with a sigh.
Bilbo smiled brightly. "Can I help you with your work?"
Thorin smiled tightly and pulled back with a sad look. "You should be resting."
"I am not tired and the tea has dulled the pain somewhat, I would like to help. After all," Bilbo said with a firm smile hoping to make Thorin stop worrying. "I am a Royal Advisor."
Thorin nodded. "I would like you help, would you care to read the food projections?"
Bilbo nodded and held out a hand, he made sure to let their fingers touch as he took the pages. The hard set of Thorin's eyes softened a touch and Bilbo smiled.
While they were reading Dís knocked on the door to report the progress on the rooms.
She looked over Bilbo sitting and reading a report across from Thorin and smiled, just a little, before informing her brother that there would be a meeting in the Great Hall tomorrow for Thorin to be seen by all of his subjects and to make a short speech. She left as abruptly as she had arrived now that she had organised Thorin and could return to organising everyone else.
They had moved onto new reports when there was another knock on the door, Balin, with Dwalin at his back looking as fierce as he ever did. They came to discuss the situation with restoring plumbing to some of the rooms in the eastern wing that had been degraded and would need to be replaced before the rooms could be inhabited. Dwalin had some expenses that Thorin needed to approve for trips away from the mountains to the nearest cities of Men to collect more supplies. Thorin dismissed them after organising a council meeting for the next morning in the sitting room outside.
"That's a sitting room?" Bilbo said before they left.
"All of the rooms that come off that room," Balin said. "Are royal chambers, for the use of the royal family, so that great sitting room is for the royal family's use."
Bilbo nodded.
Balin and his brother left to see to their duties at Thorin's nod.
"Are you quite sure that you do not need to return to your duties?" Bilbo asked after Thorin had made him another cup of tea.
"I am positive," Thorin said. "I am not going anywhere when you might need something."
Bilbo smiled even though he felt that his small injury should not be keeping Thorin from the rest of his duties. They had just finished their readings when Kíli, Fíli and Biorn arrived with a cake.
"We collected plenty of food," Kíli said.
"And nuts?" Bilbo asked with a smile watching the way that Kíli coloured a little. Fíli looked at his brother with interest.
"I have taken them to Griumma," Kíli said. "She is roasting them tonight after dinner."
Bilbo smiled. "Sounds excellent. Did you speak to her about when she would require us to return to the forest?"
Thorin sat forward. "Bilbo, I do not think it is wise for you to be on the next journey into the forest, you have trained the dwarves to know what to collect, now you may leave them to their task."
"I like to go down there," Bilbo said. "I catch up with Legolas, and I see the fruit and vegetables that grow wild in the forest. I have been able to make suggestions to Bard and his Men about crops."
Thorin frowned and sat back a little but Bilbo had a feeling that would be the end of that particular conversation.
"She said three days," Kíli said changing the subject.
Fíli turned to his brother. "I thought you were going to go back tomorrow afternoon."
"I wasn't going to say anything," Kíli said quickly looking at Bilbo and back to his brother. "Bilbo wouldn't be able to come with me anyway."
Bilbo looked at Kíli carefully, the dwarf was avoiding his eyes and Bilbo knew that Kíli was hiding the situation with Legolas from his brother. Bilbo wasn't sure if that meant that Kíli was worried because Legolas was an elf or if Kíli was not as interested in Legolas as Bilbo had assumed. Bilbo looked at Fíli who was watching his brother as though he knew he was lying, like he was trying to figure something out. Bilbo wondered how often the two ever lied to one another – before this moment Bilbo would have assumed they never did. He wished he could ask more questions but given that Kíli was hiding this for a reason Bilbo could not, in good faith to his friend, ask when Thorin or Fíli were present.
"So," Bilbo said brightly. "There is cake?"
"Of course," Biorn said. "Do you have plates?"
"Can I have a scone?" Fíli asked eyeing the last half scone on the plate.
"No," Thorin said looking at his nephew like he was an idiot and grabbed the scone before he stood and disappeared into the kitchen for plates. He returned with plates and a knife. "Would anyone like tea?"
Fíli began to laugh, followed closely by Kíli causing Biorn to shake her head at then.
"What is so funny?" Bilbo asked his eyes flicking between the brothers and Thorin.
Thorin rolled his eyes. "I have made tea before," the brothers continued to laugh. "I had to live in the towns of Men for decades," they nodded and Bilbo could see them trying to hold in their laughter.
"Thorin made me tea earlier," Bilbo said lifting his chin. "It was very nice."
Thorin frowned at him but rested his hand on Bilbo's shoulder. "If you don't want my tea then please leave."
"We'll be keeping the cake too," Bilbo said looking at Biorn who winked at him.
Kíli and Fíli sobered immediately and looked at Thorin apologetically.
"Wow," Bilbo said looked at Thorin above him. "So, I could have simply baked for you in the Shire and you would have loved me then?"
Kíli laughed. "No, he would have still been distrustful but he would have been well fed."
"It appears to me," Bilbo said wrapping his hand around Thorin's wrist on his shoulder. "That the way to the heart of a dwarf has nothing to do with metals and gems but rather through food."
Fíli shrugged. "Dwarves have been known to be convinced of a specific match because of the cooking skills of the hopeful suitor."
Bilbo smiled and looked up at Thorin with a soft smile. "I would love some tea, Thorin."
Thorin nodded and stood, he picked up the tray from the table and walked straight into the kitchen, Biorn stood and followed him in but neither Fíli nor Kíli moved.
"Has Uncle Thorin annoyed you yet," Fíli said dropping into a crouch next to Bilbo.
Bilbo shook his head.
"He's always been very protective of the dwarves…well dwarves and hobbits, that he cares about."
Bilbo smiled. "He shouldn't be here caring for me when he has more important things to focus on."
"He's been working from here hasn't he?" Kíli said. "Mum came down earlier."
"But he had meetings and was going to see to the new work in the tunnels."
Fíli shrugged. "I was surprised, Thorin doesn't know how to delegate and yet today he did. Perhaps he will even one day know how to take a day off," Fíli picked up the parchment. "He certainly has been doing work while he's been here with you."
"He is the King," Bilbo pointed out. "Do kings ever get to take days off?"
Fíli smirked. "He did yesterday."
Bilbo coloured. "Yes well, he hadn't slept the night before.
Kíli and Fíli looked at one another and laughed.
Bilbo rolled his eyes. "Don't be so immature."
Kíli smirked. "We're just so happy he's finally…enjoying some companionship."
"We're hoping it will help with all of his," Fíli waved his wrist. "Grumpy, workaholic, overly literal tendencies."
Bilbo looked from one brother to the other. "You are both incorrigible."
They beamed at him and Bilbo was saved from any more talk by Thorin coming back into the room, Biorn at his side, with enough cups for everyone and a Bilbo's large teapot. Biorn was carrying a smaller teapot and from the smell alone Bilbo knew that Thorin had made his healing tea. Bilbo knew it was a good decision, his ankle was sore, however Bilbo really didn't want to drink anymore of it. For just a moment he wondered if this was payback for all the tea he had made Thorin drink as the dwarf was recovering.
He took his cup of tea with a smile and was careful not to let his disgust show. Thorin rewarded him by pouring him a cup of 'real' tea when he had finished the healing tea. Biorn's cake was soft and spongy and Bilbo resolved to get the recipe from her when he could. Soon things like cake would be a luxury that the dwarves of Erebor would not be able to indulge in, at least until the next harvest came in. Once the established farms of Lake-town and the new farms of Dale were able to bring in a crop Erebor should no long need to ration things as they would need to in the coming months. Bilbo savoured his cake and though for a second wistfully of elevenses and second breakfast even though he knew he wouldn't be able to introduce either to Thorin for many long months.
Fíli, Kíli and Biorn left them soon after they finished tea and Bilbo made sure that Biorn took the cake with her. When they were gone and since Thorin had no more reports to read he pulled his chair around next to Bilbo's and they poured over the book in Khuzdul that Thorin had given Bilbo to practise his abilities and started teaching Bilbo how to actually speak Khuzdul instead of just being able to read it. After dinner they took the book, and the cushion for under Bilbo's ankle to bed and Bilbo tucked himself under Thorin's arm while they worked. Bilbo fell asleep to Thorin's voice in his ear making deep, guttural sounds that followed Bilbo into his dreams.
/ / /
Thank you to Elphiethegreen for starting to beta this.
In the end due to some comments this has received recently (continuity and speech stuff) I am going back over the story to edit it myself so expect things to alter slightly (not too much) but I'm still posting more, that shall not stop, promise. I want to thank her for her help so far though.
I have a plan for the next few chapters, which is brilliant.
This was supposed to be posted last night but I am applying for new jobs. I am leaving teaching so it's all very new and different. Sorry, rambling.
ENJOY!
