Chapter 14

Thorin was growling and raging about waging war on the Shire, or assassinating the Thain once he had control of Erebor again.

Bilbo looked at his father. "The Blue Mountains Dwarves rely solely of the Shire for their produce and pipe weed. It would not be wise for you to anger the Thain. Do not seek revenge, Father."

Balin nodded quickly. "The Prince speaks true."

Bilbo blinked slightly when he realized that that was what he indeed was. A prince. A prince to a nation. He looked quickly over to Fíli and Kíli. Fíli was beaming.

"YES!" Kíli started laughing at his elder brother. Thorin sighed and silenced them with a look. Bilbo shook his head and got up to start cooking. Bombur coughed and blushed.

"Ah…the Prince shouldn't serve the rest of us."

Bilbo stared at Bombur. "What?"

"Bilbo, come here." Thorin said quietly. "Bofur can help his brother." Bilbo shook his head and moved towards his father. Thorin shifted uncomfortably and then sighed. "Can you tell me the true account of Belladonna's death?"

Bilbo nodded slowly. "I was staying in Rivendell for my studies in politics. I never understood why Mother was so insistent." Bilbo snorted. "Now I do. Anyways, I was sword fighting with the Twins when we heard the horn that Lord Elrond gave to my mother. It blew and then was cut off. We rushed out but…" He shook his head. "She was coming to visit me from the Shire. We were going to stay in Imladris for a few months until I finished my studies, then we were to travel back to the Shire, stopping in on my old teacher at Bree. That…never happened."

He sighed and shook his head, staring into the fire. "We rushed into the valley, the very same one that the company and you had been chased through. I can only assume that she was heading for the secret entrance that Gandalf had used. She…didn't make it." Thorin slipped an awkward hand on Bilbo's shoulder. Bilbo understood that Thorin was seeking comfort as much as he was giving, and so, he leaned into Thorin's touch. He could see Balin and Dwalin smile, or as much as Dwalin could smile.

"Lord Elrond cut down the Orc raiders, they had come down from the mountains. I had rushed to my mother's side and held her, calling for a healer, but there was nothing to be done. Her wounds were too deep, too harsh to withstand. She…died in my arms, reciting the lyrics to her favorite Hobbit lullaby in Khuzdul. It was a reminder for me never to forget either side of my heritage."

Bilbo sighed again and shook his head. "After that, I returned to the Shire. I buried myself in my work for the Thain. I was never informed about any of your visits. Come to think of it, he had sent me away to another section of the Shire around the time you said you had come." Thorin's blue eyes flashed in fury.

"And Lord Elrond? He never told you of your lineage?"

"Nay. I suppose that he was bound by the Thain. I was, after all, still under the Thain's leadership. Lord Elrond couldn't break oath with an ally. The Shire provides almost all the food and fruit that they cannot grow themselves."

Thorin blinked and then looked around. "So…when the company was insulting the food…"

Bilbo smirked wickedly. "Yes. You were insulting the Shire's farms." Bofur and Ori winced.

Thorin sighed. "I am furious with the Thain. I am enraged at Elrond, but I will not seek revenge, yet. For your sake, my son." He smiled. His eyes, however, were dark with anger. "I need to walk. I have much to process." Thorin stood abruptly and left the camp.

~later that evening~

Bilbo sighed and growled. He hadn't had a moments peace ever since the Dwarves heard of his lineage. Thorin had been following him around, awkwardly trying to get to know his son. Asking him questions and weakly offering to show Bilbo how to sword fight. Bilbo had accepted Thorin's attention, but he still wanted time alone.

A branch snapped under a heavy boot. Bilbo sighed and leaned against a tree. "Father?"

"It will get some taking use to for you calling me father, but I like it." Thorin chuckled quietly and leaned against the same tree. "So, Balin and Dwalin found out?"

"Dwalin eavesdropped on me and Gandalf."

"Gandalf and me."

Bilbo blinked. "What?"

Thorin coughed. "As a Royalty, you will have to speak perfectly. People will be watching and judging you."

Bilbo huffed. "Gandalf and me. Gandalf caught him out and threatened to turn him into a gerbil should he tell anyone without my permission. Dwalin told Balin."

Thorin snickered and shook his head. "I am sorry."

"When will you realize that I've forgiven you?"

"When I've finally forgiven myself." Thorin looked at the stars, a shadow over his face. "Nori is a good thief. He will have a high chance of succeeding."

Bilbo blinked. "What?" His eyes widened. "No! I signed on as burglar, and I will fulfill my contract!"

"I will not send my son to steal from a DRAGON!"

Bilbo growled and turned to face his father properly. "You didn't mind when I wasn't your son!"

"That was very different! You signed on as a burglar without any other contracts on your person!"

"I was a bloody prince of the Shire. Still am!"

Thorin stopped short. "Yes…" He huffed. "Well, when the mountain is taken back, I will simply have to inform the Thain that he needs to look for another heir." Thorin nodded matter-of-factly. "Stupid old goat deserves it too. Lying to me all this while…" Thorin glowered at the ground, wondering aloud if the Shire would mind if he stuck their leader with a spear like a wild pig.

Bilbo spluttered. "YOU WILL DO NO SUCH THING. ON EITHER COUNTS! When all this is over, after I will steal from the Dragon, I will return to the Shire."

Thorin glared at his belligerent son. "You will do no such thing, Bilbo! You are my son and your place is beside my throne, as heir!"

"Fíli is your heir!"

"Unless another is brought forward!"

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO YOUR NEPHEW!"

"Fíli will understand. You are my son! You are only the grandson of the Thain. I have closer ties to you than he does!"

"He was there for me!"

Thorin froze and then snarled. "Only because I was lied to! Your grandfather stole you from me and kept you from me! He lied to me! I would have taken you back to my Halls where you belonged if I had known you lived!" The still raw wound of betrayal was deep. Thorin would never forgive Elrond or the Thain for forcing him to grieve the death of his son when he did not need to.

Bilbo huffed. "I refuse to serve a people that I know nothing about!"

"Then I will teach you." Thorin grew calmer. "Yes. When we re-take our mountain, I will teach you the customs and cultures of our people." He nodded firmly. "It is settled." He got up and waited for his still angry son to get up as well. "Come on, it's time for dinner."

Bilbo grumbled. "We are not done with this conversation!"