A/N IMPORTANT: So I have to explain to you how this chapter will be organized. There will be present time and a memory. I have to go somewhere with this story after all. So to avoid any possible confusion. The chapter will start in the present time, in the middle of it, a memory will be remembered, then the present time again. Don't worry, everything will be written so that it confuses no one. Also, this is the last chapter. After this, I will write some sort of epilogue with Thorin's pov.
WARNING: Major character death. Bring tissues.
Gandalf hurried to the tent of Thranduil where Bard and he would usually meet the Elven King. He arrived in time to see the two leaders mount their respective rides. "There you are Mithtandir. We can finally be on our way now." The elf's cool voice said. A white horse was given to the wizard and the three of them rode to Erebor, hoping that the King Under the Mountain would see reason. Gandalf prayed to all of the Valar that this doesn't finish in bloodshed.
As they arrived, Bard presented the Arkenstone, given to them by Bilbo Baggins the night before. The bowman tried to negotiate, but Thorin was full of rage and fury, he didn't hear a word. Then a small hobbit spoke up. None of Thranduil, Bard or Gandalf could hear what was being said, but they could see how Bilbo's body shook as the dwarf monarch roared something. Yet, they were all amazed and humbled to see that the hobbit didn't back down. Nop, he stood tall and held his head high. Gandalf certainly wasn't expecting Thorin to grasp the burglar by the neck and dangle him off the rempart.
As Bilbo's frame hung with only a hand holding him, Gandalf's mind automatically cane back to a memory of the hobbit when he was younger, much younger. They say that in life-threatening situation you can see your while life pass by. It seems it is the same for when dear friends are threatened, although you only see a particularly fond memory of them.
Memory:
Belladonna Took was chiding him once more because it took so long for him to visit. 3 years had came and left before he was able to visit his friend and her family in the peaceful Shire. After at least half an hour of scolding, Gandalf was finally allowed to wander a little in the small forest nearby with the child of Belladonna and Bungo. They were slowly strolling through the woods before they set a small camp. Bilbo in all his naive innocence, with wide, amazed eyes and a quivering lip, begged the fireworks maker to share some of his stories. The Man chuckled but decided to entertain the lad nonetheless.
Night was almost settled when their gazes, both young and old, turned to the numerous stars shining upon them. A single thrush flew over the moon and Bilbo sighed slightly. "Sometimes, I wish I was a bird." The boy confessed. "And why is that, my dear?" A small smile graced the hobbit's lips. "It must be good. Just to be free. To fly away when you want to." He said and Gandalf could only frown. "Dad is not against my Tookish behaviour but I know that as a Baggins, I will have to be proper. All the hobbits say so." A slight silence filled the space and the tall wizard wondered why such a small kid should be burdened by adults problems. "But I don't care! I will take advantage of every second I have being free!" Bilbo jumped to his feet as he announced this loudly.
Gandalf smiled. "You know there is a way to fulfil this flying dream of yours." His head covered by copper curls tilted to the side, obviously confused. "How so?" The Man lifted himself of the ground with no difficulty and smirked. "Can you climb trees?"
They spent half an hour getting Bilbo to know how to climb trees efficiently. Once he got the handle of it, Gandalf planted himself under the tree and opened his arms, waiting for the hobbit to jump. The boy started in shaking in fear as he understood what was being waited of him. "No! I can't jump Gandalf! I'll fall for sure." The Man just smiled. "You have to take risks sometimes in life." The lad stubbornly shook his head. "I can't. I'm scared Gandalf..." At the admission, the smile turned fonder and old, wise eyes softened. "Know this, my dear Bilbo Baggins, I will never let you fall. Ever. I promise you. I will not let you fall." He swore and Bilbo took a few deep breaths before closing his eyes and taking the leap of faith. As his eyes were tightly closed he did not see the ground approaching but he felt two strong but gentle arms catch him. His eyelids lifted and he stared at his friend with awe before scampering away from the soft embrace, climbing the tree quickly again. The wizard's deep laugh accompanied by delighted peals of laughter followed then all the night. Even as Bungo chastised them for staying so long and making him worry, the smiles did not fade from their faces.
Present time: Gandalf took his most dangerous voice as he yelled. "If you do not like my burglar, return him to me. Do not damage him." But Thorin was lost in his own crazed world and did not appear to have heard him at all. He just smiled darkly and released his grasp. Time slowed as Bilbo's shrill scream echoed.
The mighty Wandering wizard, the sent of the Valar, the friend of the eagles, the famous Gandalf the Gray fell to his knees as a sickening crunch resonated in the deafening silence before the gates of Erebor. For the next few hours, you could see the powerful Maia, reduced to an hunched, devastated, old Man, sobbing over the bloodied and cracked body of Bilbo Baggins, out in the snow. All that the elves could hear were the heartbroken mutterings. The same sentence repeated over and over like a broken disc. "I promised to never let him fall." were all the words Thranduil and Bard could get out of their wizard friend. Bilbo Baggins was truly dead.
Voila! Yes I am awfulllll! I just made myself cry lmao. I will admit that I knew Bilbo would die since the beginning. And yet it makes me sad af. This story is almost finished. Only Thorin left and it's over. Hope you enjoyed as much as I enjoyed writing it.