Memories
Gloin didn't think much of Bilbo Baggings. He had no reason to, they never conversed. But he started watching him a little closer as the boy started taking lessons of medicine with his brother. He watched closely, and he saw his closeness to the Ur family, their protectiveness of him. He saw the childness in the hobbit, like he didn't live his childhood fully. His curiousness, his nonstop energy, and his innocence hidden in big emerald eyes.
Yet, there was the other side, the old battered, wounded side. His sometimes, innocent eyes, sometimes looked so tired, so pained that it made the banker's heart ache. He often wondered what it was that made a 50 years old sheltered hobbit so hurt inside. Never he could find the answer to his question. But as he watched the kid on his lessons with his brother, something disturbed him. He found out what it was after two weeks. It was the patience and sad smile Bilbo had each time he had to repeat himself for Oin to understand him. Even Balin didn't have the patience to spend more than 3 hours repeating himself every time and Balin was patience itself. Yet, the lad spent his days sometimes with Oin and never got annoyed. Not once.
Gloin noticed the impressed looks that the company was sending to the boy, but he seemed oblivious. One day, the curiosity was to much and Gimli's father asked Bilbo. "Lad, how is it you never lose your cool with Oin?" He asked and the hobbit raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that Master Gloin?" Gloin pinched his lips. "It annoys even me sometimes to repeat everything. Why is it you never get frustrated?" He repeated. The boy smiled sadly and watched the horizon intently. "It is not Master Oin's fault if he's deaf. I think he misses hearing well, but never complains to anyone." The red-haired dwarf frowned. "Yes, but you have that smile as if you saw someone else in my brother's place." He knew it was rude to urge him for answers but now that he finally asked, he wanted his questions to be answered.
"My grandmother Laura Baggings was just as deaf as he is. I tried my best to converse with her, but I had the patience of a 3-year-old faunt. Once I lost my temper and yelled at her. I said terrible things that I will certainly not repeat. I caught a glimpse of tears in her eyes as I ran away. I felt terrible as the anger slowly left me. When my mother found my hiding place, I was weeping, but as I saw the disappointment in her eyes and in her scolding, tears just started falling even harder. It took me a whole week to muster the courage to apologize, but when I came there, I learned grandma died in her sleep. I never got the chance to apologize, to tell her I loved her. The last thing I told her was… horrible. Don't worry Master Gloin I'm not trying to make you pity me, or am I using Master Oin to forgive to myself. No, I really like your brother. He has a wicked sense of humour but is very affectionate once you get to know him. I'll always feel below orcs for how I treated my grandmother, but I do not see her when I look at him."
He explained before going to the nearby stream for a bath. Now that he had his answers, Gloin understood a little better the lad. He felt a little guilty for pushing the boy to tell his story. He regretted thinking that hobbits were sheltered creatures because of their safe homes. Pain and hurt come to every person one day or another. Nobody really escapes it. And as he watched his brother ruffle Bilbo's hair, smiling warmly, he thought it would maybe be for the best to try and get to know him.
Next: Oin