A/N: Greetings~ Sorry for the long inactivity, been busy. Thank you to those who favourited/followed this story! To Reader-anonymous-writer, RoseOftheLonelyMountain, shadewatcher, Friend Of A Fangirl, The Super Saiyan Fox, claire1663, FanfirHydra, LostInASeaOfPeoplem and doremishine itsuko, thank you for the reviews :D
Yaaay I received relatively well results for my Os and is now studying in a relatively good school :) The downside? I'll be even busier HAHHAHAHA. Will try my best to post a chappie every month, sorry :P
Oh yeah, HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! Time for red packets and goodies :D
Short chapter, sorry. To those who were looking forward to splendid, epic and intense scenes: AHAHAHAHA SORRY TO DISAPPOINT FOLKS NOT HAPPENING this writer is too lazy to build up the tension XD Bilbo got off easy this time round.
DISCLAIMER: The Hobbit's not mine.
Chapter 12
Bilbo spread his arms wide, the feeling of the wind rushing past him bringing a wild grin to his face. It had been too long since he last soared through the sky. This paled in comparison to spreading his own wings, but it was so much better than nothing.
The Eagle he was sitting on gave a warning squawk when he tried to stand. Don't you dare fall off, Child of the Sky.
He laughed. I won't, O Great Eagle. I just wanted to feel the wind again.
The Eagle shook its head. I have no idea how you can bear to trade away your wings, Dragon. Don't you miss the freedom of the Sky?
A pang of sorrow struck Bilbo. Every day, Eagle. Every day.
"Bilbo! Bilbo!" He turned and squinted at the Eagle next to them. Gloin was gripping its feathers tightly with one hand, the other waving frantically in the air.
"What?" he called back.
Gloin shouted something to him, but most words were lost to the wind. Bilbo strained his ears and caught "Get down - idiot! - fall - dangerous-"
Bilbo smiled mischievously at him. "I can't hear you!" He stood and waved at Gloin with both arms. The dwarf paled considerably and shook his head as Bilbo's Eagle trilled, its version of a laugh. That dwarf looks ready to faint from worry, Dragon-in-hobbit-skin. Get down before you really fall off.
Dutifully, Bilbo gave Gloin one last wave and sat down. He gently grasped the feathers on his Eagle's back, snuggling into the softly warm down. His thoughts flitted to Thorin, who was currently caged by one of the Eagle's talons. The Prince was still unconscious, and everyone was worried. For now, since Bilbo could not do anything, he might as well enjoy the ride.
The Eagles soon descended to the Carrock, a rock structure that resembled an immense bear, and Thorin was gently deposited on a flat surface. Gandalf was already hurrying towards the dwarf, murmuring a spell beneath his breath.
Bilbo slid off his Eagle and bowed to it. Thank you, Great Eagle, for your assistance.
The Eagle nuzzled Bilbo's hair with his beak. It was a pleasure. We miss flying with your kind, Dragon-in-hobbit-skin. Hopefully, we will meet again.
May we meet again. Safe winds, Eagle.
The Eagle tilted his head, eyes lit with laughter. Safe winds, Child of the Sky. With a powerful thrust of his wings, he launched himself into the air. Bilbo watched enviously as he circled the sky with his kin, gliding with the wind.
Thorin. Right, he should check on Thorin.
The dwarf was already awake, barely. "The halfling?" His voice was hoarse and weak.
"I'm here. Safe and sound. The dwarves are all fine too - Well, except you. Are you alright?"
Thorin struggled to sit up as the other dwarves disembarked from the Eagles' backs and surrounded him, anxiety written all over their faces. Dwalin and Kili immediately stepped forward to help their Prince up, but were shrugged off. Thorin hefted himself up and scrutinised the Company, checking them for injuries. His eyes came to a stop at Bilbo.
"Are you alright?" Bilbo repeated.
Thorin ignored his question again. Instead, he slid off the rock and took two steps towards Bilbo, narrowing his eyes at him. "You! What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed!"
Bilbo gaped at him. "I saved your life, you were almost killed! And look, wow, I'm not dead! Is this how you show your gratitude?"
"You could have - You could have died!"
"I can fight, Thorin. You could have died too." Bilbo crossed his arms and glared at him. "Which brings me to my next point: what were you doing, rushing to Azog like that? Do you secretly have a death wish?"
"What? No! I was defending the Company!" Thorin protested.
Bilbo levelled him a glare. "That was absolutely unnecessary and you know it. You could have died."
"Well, so could you!"
"You were closer to dying than me!"
"But you could have died as well!" Thorin shot back.
Gandalf heaved a sigh. "Enough!" he shouted, shoving himself between both of them. "Stop squabbling like children. Both of you could have died. What is important is that all of you survived."
"But he was really closer to dying than me," Bilbo fumed. Gandalf gave him the Look.
"Fine," he grumbled, "We could all have died. I do not regret saving you, though."
The dwarf huffed. "Very well. Placing yourself between me and the enemy was an act of great courage. To have ever imply you were weak... I was wrong."
"Basically," Fili whispered, "He means 'thank you'."
The sides of Bilbo's lips tugged upwards.
"You could have just said 'thank you for saving my life'."
"Then, Master Baggins, thank you for saving my life." Thorin smiled at him, blue eyes sparkling. Without warning, he grabbed Bilbo and pulled him into a hug.
Bilbo squeaked in a very undignified manner when he found himself pressed on Thorin's chest. His coat is soft, his mind supplied dreamily as he inhaled a whiff of Thorin. Heat radiated from the dwarf, giving Bilbo a warm and cosy feeling. Bilbo awkwardly hugged him back, sure that his face was red as a tomato. Slowly, he relaxed and relished in the feel of Thorin's warm hug.
This is definitely not good for his heart.
The other dwarves cheered and whistled loudly.
"I am sorry I doubted you." Bilbo could feel the vibrations from Thorin's chest.
"Uhm, that's alright," he managed to say. Thorin gave him another light squeeze before letting go. His eyes were filled with happiness and gratitude, making him look years younger. Bilbo tried not to stare.
The dwarf looked past Bilbo, and his expression changed to one of awe and delight. Turning around, Bilbo's eyes widened. "Is that what I think it is?"
Far in the distance, a solitary mountain stood, its silhouette just barely visible through the clouds.
Gandalf stood next to Bilbo, puffing his pipe. "Erebor - The Lonely Mountain. The last of the great dwarf kingdoms of Middle-earth."
Thorin's voice was quiet. "Our home."
The dwarves moved on with renewed energy, but they did not make it far before night fell. A fire was quickly started, and dinner was soon served. The atmosphere was more rowdy, with the dwarves belting out bawdy tavern songs. Oin was cleaning his earhorn, Bifur was carving a toy, and Thorin leaned against a tree with a small smirk as he watched his nephews fool around with Gloin, Bombur and Dwalin.
Across the fire, Balin watched as Bofur and Bilbo conversed. The hobbit was an enigma. He had proven himself to be resilient, brave, a good fighter, and basically a good ally with a weird sense of humour. Balin should be trusting him, really - even Thorin trusted the hobbit.
Yet, Bilbo knew the Black Speech. He spoke the Black Speech. How did a hobbit came to learn that? He could have learnt it from the elves, but instinct told Balin that it was not just that. Black Speech was feared; even the elves did not like it. Only a select few learned it, in order to better understand the orcs. Why would they teach a hobbit the language?
Balin himself had picked up an odd phrase or two, for after all the years of fighting and experience, it would be prudent to learn some of the enemy's language. He did not fully understood what Azog had said, but he had caught some phrases.
Azog had recognized Bilbo. Azog had referred Bilbo as Child. Child of what? That was a mystery. The orc had also mentioned something about the dwarves' worst enemy, about Bilbo being Sauron's servant (to which he vehemently denied), and about betrayal. What was going on?
Balin did not like this. This hobbit was more dangerous that he seemed.
Bilbo eyed Balin from the other side of the campfire as he polished his daggers.
"Bofur, is it me or is Balin looking at me suspiciously?"
Bofur barely glanced at the older dwarf. "Oh, aye, Balin's scrutinizing you."
"Why?" Bilbo was high on alert. Did he have some suspicions about him? Maybe- Maybe he knows-
Nonsense, the logical side of his brain scoffed. He can't possibly know anything about dragons, or about me. It can't be.
Bofur shrugged. "Dunno. Mayhap you should ask him?"
"Maybe later."
They lapsed into a comfortable silence. Kili and Fili were reenacting the "Heroic Battle Where Bilbo Whopped Azog's Ass", as they had so named it. Bilbo laughed sheepishly, ears red, as Kili darted around with exaggerated movements.
"And then," the Prince excitedly recounted, "He used his special Hobbit-magic!"
Bilbo's laughter died off in his throat. Panic seized him as he tightened his grip on the handle of his dagger.
"Hobbit-magic? What's that?"
"He can control fire! He shot out fire from his hand and burnt the ugly warg's face!"
They saw that. They saw that.
The dwarves turned to stare at him.
"Impossible."
Well, he didn't shoot flames out of his hands, but in no way was he about to correct them. That seemed more believable than "Oh, I breathed fire actually".
"I saw it, and Dwalin too!" Kili protested, and the huge dwarf nodded solemnly.
"Aye, lad ain't lying."
"Is it true, Mister Bilbo? Can hobbits do magic?"
What should he say? Oh Yavanna, this is disastrous.
They were looking at him expectantly.
Bilbo reluctantly put away his dagger and opened his mouth, but found that his throat was not working. Clearing it awkwardly, he tried again. "Uh... Yes, hobbits do have some sort of magic that they can utilise in... dire situations when they're stressed. How else can we protect ourselves?" He laughed nervously.
"We didn't know of this," Balin noted, scrutinising him.
"It's a hobbit secret. Not a lot is known about hobbits anyway."
"So can you do a bit of magic now?" Dori asked.
Gandalf sighed. "Master Baggins has already said that the magic can only be performed under extremely stressful and life-threatening situations. Which he was under when facing Azog, I'm sure. It is a... taboo... to speak of it to outsiders."
Bilbo could have kissed Gandalf.
The dwarves were silent for a moment.
"We understand," Thorin said at last, "and apologise for our prodding. Some things are not meant to be shared to outsiders."
"Like Khuzdul," Bofur piped out and the rest nodded.
Bilbo relaxed, and smiled. "No, no, it's alright. You weren't to know anyway."
"What about the part where he spoke the Black Speech? Was that taught to hobbits as well?" Balin asked, sharply and without warning.
Silence. The only sound was the crackling of fire. Bilbo blinked slowly, staring into the distance and refusing to meet the dwarves' eyes. He knew this would be coming, but he was dreading it.
"No, it, ahhh, wasn't taught to us. I merely happened to have learned it before. From the elves. In Rivendell."
"And what of use would Black Speech be, to a peaceful hobbit?"
Bilbo swallowed. His throat suddenly felt very, very dry. "Nothing but a young hobbitling's curiosity, Master Balin. I was an inquisitive, and persistent, child... I pestered the elves until they relented to teach me the Black Speech. Why do you ask?"
Balin narrowed his eyes at him. "Most learn the Black Speech out of necessity, and necessity only, for it is said to be evil."
The flames spiked slightly. Slowly, Dori pulled Ori away from him. The dwarves' postures were wary, guarded. He winced.
Told you, you can't trust them, in his mind, a voice akin to Gollum's whispered to him. They'll stab you in the back the moment they can. Nasty things, dwarvesses.
Shut up, he told it.
"That's just a rumour. The Black Speech isn't evil; it is merely spoken by a race that committed evil deeds. Gandalf knows it. Are you implying that he's evil?" Bilbo tried to sound casual.
They looked at the casually smoking wizard, who nonchalantly puffed out rings of smokes in response, blinking innocently at them.
"Gandalf isn't evil," Gloin snorted, and the dwarves nodded hastily.
"Truly? You know the Black Speech?" asked Bofur.
Gandalf nodded. "Yes, some elves and wizards learn it. It is not a taboo, just odd."
"When I learned it, I didn't expect to ever use it. What a coincidence that I just happened to learn the language Azog spoke," Bilbo forced a smile.
Balin's stare could cut through glass. "Yes, what a coincidence."
"Where our Master Burglar has learnt the language does not matter. What is important," Thorin strode over and clasped Bilbo's shoulder lightly, "is that he saved my life with it. I will forever be in his debt." Nodding at Bilbo, Thorin went back to his tree, cleaning his sword as if he had never spoken a word. Balin frowned minutely - his Prince had declared the topic closed, much to his ire.
"Bilbo, can we learn the Black Speech?" Ori asked hopefully.
Bilbo hesitated.
"That may not be such a good idea, Mister Ori. Although the Black Speech isn't really evil, it is still best to avoid it," Gandalf warned. Ori visibly deflated.
"However," Bilbo said carefully, "I can teach you some phrases - simple army commands such as "attack" and "retreat", which may come in handy."
"Curses, too," Fili added. Bilbo cracked a smile.
"That too."
The dwarves returned to their rowdy, rambunctious behaviour, and although the atmosphere was not as comfortable as it was previously, at least Balin was no longer staring distrustfully at him.
End of Chapter 12
Well I initially planned to have a scared, suspicious Ori and a supportive Bofur (who also suspects but didn't care) and yeah but oh wells. Let them be ignorant for now ;)
Hope that was okay!
Reviews are welcomed :)
-littlesparrowkeet