Recovery, Redemption and Romance

by luvsbitca

When Thorin is injured in the Battle of the Five Armies, Bilbo surprises everyone with his healing abilities. Then as Erebor starts to rebuild he continues to surprise people with his knowledge and skills. On top of everything else that is occuring there is a dwarf king and a hobbit are be trying to court one another without the other knowing. Direct Spoilers for the end of book.

37. Thorin's Announcement

Oh man, so it's been two months. In that time I've started a new job/career and have been unable to find the time to write anything but the challenge fics I had committed to. Plus, back when I posted the last chapter Thorin was being a pain and refused to cooperate with this chapter (it was supposed to be from him POV) but I finally managed to sit down and write it so I really hope you've stuck with me and that you enjoy it. I'm hoping the next two chapters will not take so long to write. Enjoy…

/ / / Thorin's Announcement \ \ \

Three days after they discussed everything, Bilbo went down to the forest with Thorin on a pony next to him.

Dwalin and Fíli had decided to accompany them for security purposes but Bilbo had a feeling that Fíli just wanted to be able to make the day harder for his brother. Bilbo wanted to believe Fíli to be better than that but the dwarf had a downright gleeful look on his face when Thorin and Bilbo walked to the innermost doors. Bilbo could see the guards beyond Fíli and Dwalin watching Thorin and Bilbo walk over with worry in their eyes. He wished he was at the point where he would be able to smile at their worry but their fight was still too recent and Bilbo was not ready to relax.

Bilbo turned to see Kíli and Gani coming towards them with ponies enough for everyone. The rest of the dwarves that normally ventured into the forest with them had travelled earlier in the day. Thorin had had meetings early in the morning and they had waited until mid-morning to set out. Bilbo mounted his pony with a hand from Thorin rather than the box he normally used and allowed himself a moment to watch Thorin mount his own pony. He hoped today went well. He wanted nothing more than for Thorin to see Legolas as the ally he could be and perhaps pave the way for Thorin to one day accept the relationship that was developing between Kíli and Legolas.

All the dwarves turned to Thorin when he was mounted and the King took a deep breath before he nodded and urged his pony forward. The ride was slightly slower than Bilbo, and his group, normally rode but they had spent a long time out of the mountain and today was about showing off the work done by the dwarves to Thorin. After they went into the forest Bilbo planned to take Thorin and show him the progress made on the farms as well. Bilbo rode next to Thorin and pointed out the work that had been done to clear away some of the rubble from Dale and in cleaning up the city. Not much work had been done due to the continuing work on the farms and within the mountain but it would eventually be rebuilt. It was good to see that something had been done even if it was not moving as quickly as the Men would perhaps like in an ideal world.

There were a line of elves standing just inside of the forest's shade. Bilbo saw them and inclined his head. Legolas was the only one to react, a slight nod to tell Bilbo that the elves were waiting for them. Bilbo knew Kíli had been down in the forests since the last time Bilbo had visited. He assumed that Kíli and Legolas had discussed the visit. Bilbo prayed that it went well.

They rode the rest of the way to the line where bare land met forest at a slightly faster pace.

Bilbo was the first to dismount his pony. Sliding down to the ground with the confidence he had worked hard to gain around the ponies of Erebor. He walked his pony to the place where he regularly tied her up while he was gathering in the trees. The rest of the party followed him and Bilbo was amused to note that Thorin placed himself between Bilbo and the elves quite noticeably.

Thorin led the way to the Legolas and inclined his head. The elf returned the gesture and the group behind Legolas followed suit before stepping back.

"Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain," Legolas said, in that tone that always seems to make the trees move without the aid of the wind. "It is an honour to meet with you again."

"Legolas Greenleaf," Thorin said, his own voice booming. "Your welcome to Mirkwood is appreciated by all dwarves of Erebor."

"This wood is the home of my elves but the trees here have cared for the races of this area since Aulë's time. It is as it should be for the forest to once again work with the dwarves, Men, and Elves of this land."

Bilbo smiled widely at Legolas from his place just behind Thorin and the elf's eyes twinkled when they met the hobbit's.

"It is your Elves we have to thank for assisting us," Bilbo said, stepping forward. "We would never have found our way nor so many good vegetables to eat if you had not been here to offer us so much assistance."

Legolas' lips twitched in the half smile that Bilbo had grown used to before he had seen the proper, full, grin that the Elf levelled on Kíli. "Thank you, Bilbo Dragonthief, we are honoured by your friendship."

Bilbo could feel the weight of Thorin's gaze on his head as he smiled and inclined his head to Legolas in thanks. Now that the formal part of the meeting was over Bilbo took a step forward.

"Come, Thorin," Bilbo said, catching the King's jacket sleeve for a moment before he pulled back. The hobbit assumed this would not be the right time to show affection; he was still attempting to work out when dwarves would be affection in public. Hobbits were much more open – they would show affection whenever the opportunity struck or whenever they felt like it. Dwarves had already proven to be a more secretive race than hobbits. Thorin's hand reached out and caught Bilbo's with a gentle squeeze before he let go and turned to the hobbit.

"I would appreciate seeing all that you have been doing within the forest."

Bilbo smiled and started to walk farther into the forest. Thorin walked next to Bilbo and the hobbit could feel the brush of Thorin's coat against his arm.

"When we come down to the forests the dwarves separate out into smaller groups," Bilbo said, walking the same path he normally took. "I have been teaching them all about the fruits, vegetables, and nuts that grow wild within these forests. We are being very careful not to pick too much of anything so that the wild plants can continue to germinate and regrow next season. We want to leave enough for the future as well. We are travelling farther into the forest all the time attempting to ensure that there is enough food for the animals, the Men, and the Elves. Legolas, and his elves, have been acting as our guides while we have been travelling through Mirkwood. Legolas, himself, has shown us edible plants that I had never seen before. Griumma has been quite pleased with the cooking suggestions that Drauchir," Bilbo paused to gesture to the dark haired elf next to Legolas, "has had. She said she has not seen some of the plants before either, but she tells me the dwarves are enjoying the food she has been able to make from them."

Bilbo paused when he felt Thorin's hand encircle his wrist. He realised with a start that he had been talking too much, that his chest was a little tight with worry. He took a deep breath and smiled weakly at Thorin. He stopped talking and continued to lead Thorin, and their party, through the forest. He took them to the patch of lemon trees where Bilbo liked to sit and eat his lunch. Sitting in the middle of the patch of trees was a large mat – Elfish fabric, and a spread of food. Two Elves stood silent and still at the other side of the natural clearing. They bowed their heads at Legolas and then faded back into the trees.

"To celebrate your visit, Thorin Oakenshield, into Mirkwood and the opportunity to rebuild relations between our races I invite you to partake in an Elfish feast collected from the very same woods in which you, and your dwarves, collect your food. Please, sit, Thorin, King Under the Mountain, as a guest of myself and my elves."

Bilbo watched Thorin who was staring at Legolas with wary eyes. Bilbo gently nudged Thorin's elbow. Thorin nodded, once, sharply and then he began walking towards the mat, he stopped at the edge and Bilbo followed him over. Legolas moved to stand on the other side and smiled at Bilbo. Bilbo smiled encouragingly, hoping that Legolas would understand that the Elf was doing a very good job of winning over Kíli's uncle. Bilbo looked to Thorin but the dwarf was watching someone else, Bilbo followed his gaze until he saw Kíli walking around to the other side of the mat rather than near them. The black-haired dwarf did not walk all the way to Legolas but he obviously put himself between Thorin and Legolas. Bilbo smiled when he saw Fíli following at his brother's side.

Legolas was the first to sit down, dropping down onto his knees and gesturing for everyone to join him. Bilbo stepped onto the mat and sat down with his legs crossed. He knew that the dwarves would not be overly impressed by the spread of food; for the Elves of Mirkwood were as adamant about not eating meat as their Rivendell cousins. Bilbo had been eating the Elfish meals since they had been visiting the forests and he knew the food was good even if there was no meat.

"Legolas has been a great help to us," Bilbo said, when they had all taken a small helping of food. "It always surprises me what amazing things are growing in this forest given the other things we found within Mirkwood."

"There is a darkness in the forest that has been growing," Legolas said. "The Elves are watching over it closely."

"What do you mean?" Thorin asked, putting his plate down.

"Something dark is hiding within Middle Earth," Legolas said. "It is just whisper, rumour, and shadow at the moment. Elrond worries about it and so my Elves and I watch but we do not know what could be causing it."

"Darkness?" Thorin asked thoughtfully.

"You ended a great reign of darkness already," Legolas said. "The wisps of darkness could simply be the end of Smaug."

Bilbo turned to Kíli hoping that the dwarf would know to change the subject; the last thing that Bilbo needed was for Thorin to think there was another reason to keep him out of the forest.

"I have learned a lot about food from Legolas as well, Uncle," Kíli said. "He has even given me some excellent tips with the bow."

Thorin looked at Kíli with surprise. "You are excellent with the bow."

Kíli beamed at his uncle's praise and then he looked over at Legolas. "Thank you, Uncle. Legolas was taught differently and has made some suggestions I had never thought of before."

"As Kíli has enlightened me about his own technique," Legolas said. "Are you enjoying the nutbread? It is a particular speciality of my mother's mother."

"Your Nana made this?" Bilbo asked.

Legolas tilted his head. "Nana?"

Bilbo smiled. "That is what hobbits call their mother's mother."

"Then, yes, my Nana made this nutbread."

"I brought something for you as well," Bilbo said, tugging something from within his satchel. He handed it to Legolas who took it with a nod. The elf unwrapped the package and smiled at Bilbo as he showed the rest of the group the scones inside of the wrapping. "I made them with the very last of my ingredients."

Thorin made a displeased noise next to Bilbo and the hobbit smiled and turned to look at him.

"I kept enough for us," Bilbo said, at a whisper, smiling at Thorin.

Thorin returned the smile and the dwarf turned on Legolas. "Have the elves been weaving their magic over the forest to encourage it to grow during the winter?"

Bilbo sighed and turned to Legolas who looked as serene as he normally did. "We have been asking the forest to hold off on sinking into the normal hibernation of winter to help the Men and Dwarves. The forest will flourish now that Smaug is gone. Next year it shall rest in peace before waking for a new spring that will be the true start of another era in these lands."

Thorin nodded. "You do not remind me of your father at all."

Legolas stared back at Thorin but did not say anything.

"Legolas has been incredibly helpful ensuring that none of the dwarves get lost within the forest," Kíli said, looking at his uncle. "Not only has he been assisting us with the location of new fruits and vegetables his elves have helped us if the dwarves have wandered the wrong way in the forest."

Thorin turned to Kíli sharply. "They have been watching the dwarves? Spying on them?"

"If we wished to spy," Legolas said, calmly. "You would never know."

Bilbo dropped his head down with a sigh.

"We are not spying upon the dwarves," Legolas continued, his voice surprisingly open. "We are here to help the dwarves. I know you have history with my father and while he is my father and my leader I am here, in these woods, to ensure that the Dwarves of Erebor and the Men of Dale thrive here in these lands until the ending of this age."

Bilbo watched Thorin carefully and he saw just a twitch, barely noticeable, but he had made it his mission to learn the tiny indications of Thorin's mood as they could be seen on his face. Bilbo had a feeling that Thorin was somewhat pleased by Legolas' reaction.

The rest of their lunch passed quietly, discussing the variety of edible plants within the forest, the abundance that existed farther into the forest – far enough that it would require the dwarves to be out collecting overnight which would become more needed as winter dragged on into spring. The farms would take time to produce and even the farms of Lake-town would not be able to completely supply the mountain and her inhabitants. Erebor would need to rely on the forest for longer than they would like but Thorin was adamant that his dwarves were up to the challenge. As soon as they could start the fires and the mining they would be able to start carting some foodstuffs in to supplement the food they could get from the forest and the farms. As they finished Bilbo suggested that Kíli take his brother to collect food for the mountain. Legolas offered to accompany them and Bilbo agreed readily saying he would show Thorin around the forest with their guards.

Bilbo led Thorin through the forest, visiting some of the working parties as he explained to Thorin everything they had been doing. Afterwards, they left Kíli in the forest to oversee the dwarves that were working, not that they needed supervision, while the rest of the party remounted their ponies and rode to look at the work that had been done on the farms of Men. The Men were working on a farm far away from the ones that Bilbo took Thorin to, to show him the work his dwarves had been doing. Thorin grew more silent the longer they rode and Bilbo began to speak more to fill the silence. Bilbo could see Fíli turning to look at Thorin as well. It appeared that even the blond dwarf thought something was wrong.

The sun was fading into the west when Bilbo started back for the mountain. Thorin was still quiet – obviously thinking deeply about something and neither Bilbo nor Fíli, if his expression was anything go by, had any idea what he was thinking about. They rode quickly as they headed back to the mountain.

Bilbo followed Thorin back to their rooms silently, he watched the dwarf as he stopped to speak to Dís about the events that had occurred within the mountain while he had been gone. Thorin did not stop for long and Bilbo did not want to leave the King. After they left Dís, Thorin walked to their chamber and paused inside. He turned to look at Bilbo and smiled softly before he bent to kiss the hobbit passionately.

"I need to bath."

Bilbo nodded.

"Or would you prefer to go first?"

"No," Bilbo said, curling his hand around Thorin's jaw. "I will prepare something for dinner while you wash and then I will."

Thorin kissed Bilbo again and then strode into the bathroom. Bilbo let his eyes follow Thorin until the door closed behind him. The hobbit went into the kitchen and washed his hands before he set out making them something for dinner. He heard Thorin finish in the bathroom just as he slid the tray into the oven and left the kitchen to have his own bath. Thorin was quiet as they passed and Bilbo was not sure if he should ask the King what was wrong – the day seemed to have gone so well and yet now it seemed that a shadow had fallen over the dwarf.

When Bilbo came back from the bathroom – scrubbed clean from the ride and the dust from their day, to find Thorin at the fire adding another of the large stones that the dwarves used on their fires along with the wood they collected from around the mountain. Bilbo had never realised just how well the stones would hold heat. When they returned to the Shire he would have to tell some of the older hobbits about it – the ones that struggled with the coldness of winter. Thorin turned when he heard Bilbo walking into the room. Bilbo smiled and was somewhat surprised when the dwarf returned it with a wide smile.

"I got some bread from Griumma to go with what you put in the oven."

"It should be ready in a few minutes."

"I am also getting some mead from Bombur to go with our meal."

"You've been busy while I was in the bath."

Thorin smiled softly again. "I thought you may be hungry after a long day."

"It was a long day for you, too," Bilbo said. He walked over to Thorin and stood up on his toes so that he could kiss the dwarf. "Thank you. I will just go and check our dinner."

Bilbo walked towards the kitchen, he could hear Thorin following him to stand in the doorway, watching Bilbo, as he pulled their dinner out of the oven to check it. Bilbo stirred the food and pushed it back into the oven.

"It should not be long," Bilbo said turning to Thorin. The dwarf was watching him again in that serious way that worried Bilbo. "Thorin, you…today you got very quiet when we were riding at the farms. Did something that you saw today upset you? Was it Legolas? He-"

"It is not Legolas," Thorin said. "I believe you may be right that he is an ally to the dwarves of Erebor. The journey into the forest convinced me that we can continue on the path we are travelling. I may not trust elves but I will work with that Elf for as long as he proves to be helpful to us."

Bilbo smiled widely. "We can trust him but that is a better result than I ever expected to achieve in only one day."

"Both of my nephews speak of their confidence in him, as do you, and I do value your opinion along with those of my family and advisors. For as long as you are sure of him I will support your working relationship with him."

"You do not look happy about it."

"His father deserted his alliance with my Grandfather at our time of greatest need. I do not want to trust him."

"Then why?"

Thorin's face darkened and he looked down at the floor.

"If you do not trust him," Bilbo said, his heart sinking. "Then you need to be honest with me."

"You like him," Thorin said looking up. "You believe he wants to be a friend of Erebor."

"He has never given me a reason not to believe him."

"I know. His father's deception still weighs heavily upon my dwarves. We should have been the masters of this mountain the whole time. My dwarves, my family, should not have been forced to rely on the help of other Kingdoms, my father and his father should not have died in exile. My sister's husband should not have fallen in battle as he did. If Thranduil had not betrayed us we would have stood a chance of defeating Smaug all those years ago."

Bilbo nodded. "Then we would never have met," he said quietly and then shook his head. "Sorry, I know that Thranduil has proven himself to not be a friend to the dwarves of Erebor but I am proof, standing before you that the personality of the father does not always pass onto the son. My father would never have ventured so far from his own hearth and I believe that if I am capable of being a hobbit who goes on adventures then I should have the same faith in Legolas that Gandalf had in me."

Thorin's eyes softened and he took a step towards Bilbo. "And that is why I am trusting what you are telling me about him. I would believe in you from now until the end of my life and then further into the next life."

Bilbo took the steps between where he was standing and Thorin quickly. "I love you," he said as he threw his arms around Thorin and kissed him.

Thorin's thick arms surrounded him and yanked him closer until Bilbo was struggling to find some traction against the kitchen floor. Bilbo hitched his arm over Thorin's shoulder and used the dwarf to hold his body up as he tilted his head to kiss the dwarf more forcefully. Thorin spun them around until Bilbo's backside pressed into the bench. Bilbo's feet caught the floor just long enough for Bilbo to hop up onto the counter then he dragged Thorin into the space between his knees without allowing their lips to lose contact. Thorin's hand dropped down until his fingers slid under the fabric of Bilbo's shirt, running along the skin of Bilbo's back. Bilbo buried his fingers in Thorin's damp hair when there was a loud knock from the main room. Bilbo dragged himself away from Thorin and looked past him to the door.

"That will be Bombur with the mead," Thorin said, breathing heavily against Bilbo's cheek. "I should get it."

"And the meal will be ready," Bilbo said. "I will get us some." Thorin looked down at Bilbo's lips and Bilbo grinned at him. "Later…remember that for later."

Thorin kissed him again, quickly, and then pulled away to go and open the door. Bilbo took a few deep, slow breaths and then hopped off the bench top and smiled as he walked to the oven. He pulled the meal from within and continued to smile as he dished them both up a plate. He arranged some scones onto another plate with the cream he had managed to procure from Griumma earlier that morning. It would be their dessert but he did not want to have to come back into the kitchen for it. Thorin's hairy arm crossed into his line of sight and Bilbo twisted around to kiss the dwarf before Thorin walked away with the two plates. Bilbo followed him moments later with the scones and found two large mugs of mead and fresh bread sitting on the table before the fire. Bilbo did not take his normal seat across from Thorin but instead sat next to him on the long chair. The dwarf smiled at him and allowed his knee to rest against Bilbo's as they both ate.

After the hearty meal and scones Thorin took all of the plates into the kitchen and then tugged Bilbo over to the bed. He had remembered everything for later.

##Other Story – Emotion In Motion## #Chapter 4 – Worship#

The next morning an Open Court was held. Before it started Thorin stood up.

"I went down to Mirkwood yesterday to see the work done by the dwarves of this mountain to collect our food and to help the Men of Dale rebuild their farms. Every dwarf who has gone down to Mirkwood or to the farms has been imperative to the development of our relationship with the Men of Dale and the Elves of Mirkwood. Thranduil crossed us at our time of need however his son has proven, through his willingness to help us, that he may be an ally as we go forward and once again make this mountain our home and seat."

There was a murmur of noise that swept the large chamber.

"This great project will once again make our dwarves, and our mountain, the shining centre of this area. The race that brings all races together to reclaim this wild land from the ravages placed upon it by the evil reign of Smaug. We may live under the mountain but all races shall know the might of Durin's line and know that Smaug would not have been defeated without us."

There was a great cheer from the crowd.

"However, it is not a dwarf who is leading the charge to work with other races but Bilbo Dragonthief. A hobbit who has chosen our race to be his new family, who has chosen our mountain to be his new home and has chosen me to be his intended."

Bilbo had to take a step back as the noise grew louder again and the dwarves turned to face him rather than Thorin. Bilbo froze. In front of him a sea of smiling, clapping, happy dwarves who were all looking at him like he was something more than he was. A large hand came down on his shoulder and he turned to look at Thorin who was standing next to him. Bilbo looked up at the dwarf to find his eyes bright with joy. Shining with the love that Bilbo had often felt, had seen in deed, but did not see shining so very brightly in Thorin's eyes as he did now.

"Yesterday," Thorin said, turning to the crowd and grinning at them as they grew silent at his booming voice. "Yesterday, I had the chance to see just how much work Bilbo had done for our mountain and our dwarves. He has not worked alone, however, as anyone who has seen the work done on the farms, or participated in the work that has been done in the forests and on the farms, knows he is the tip of the blade and the heat of the furnace that leads these projects. The dwarves who have been working are the pride of Durin's Folk and they have paved the way for our future. The leader of this work, the hobbit who has shown himself to be a mediator between races, a healer of Kings, and the one responsible for the food that we eat every day. He has proven himself to be a hobbit of great worth to us and all the other races that surround our mountain. For all of these reasons, Bilbo Dragonthief, one of the Baggins of Bag End, has proven that he is the perfect partner for me. He shall stand at my side for all the days of my reign and shall be an example of exactly what is expected of a Royal Consort of Erebor. His work and legacy will shine a light on all the generations of Durin's Folk that will prosper in this mountain due to the work we are doing, the work Bilbo and I will do for the future of Erebor."

The dwarves in the Great Hall started screaming their approval and Bilbo simply wanted to sit down as the sound overwhelmed him.

/ / /