With a good meal inside them, the entire company seemed more relaxed. Dwalin had gotten his emotions back under control, Dori was no longer nagging Ori about every little thing, and even Thorin seemed a little less…
Bilbo was stuck for an adjective that would accurately describe the King.
Gristly?
Even Fili and Kili seemed a little less on edge, if that were possible. They were huddled off the side of the Company, their heads together but well outside of the main circle. Bilbo hoped that after a warm meal, they would sleep well. He hoped they had at least one warm blanket between them – but then he had no idea how dwarves treated their slaves on the road. The state of their clothes gave him a hint, but…
Bilbo's thoughts stopped abruptly.
He did hope that after the meal the two young dwarves would relax more.
But had they eaten a warm meal in the first place?
He racked his brain back to dinner time. Bofur and Bifur had practically restrained Bombur to allow the rest of them their fair share of the stew. Thorin and his advisors had quickly collected their food and retreated back to their intense conversation. The other dwarves had involved Bilbo in a lively conversation about the mating rituals of Ents – apparently Ori had read a book about them and Nori swore he had seen one in his travels. Gandalf had quickly eaten his food and then excused himself for the evening.
For the life of him, Bilbo couldn't recall seeing Fili and Kili eat.
Cursing Nori and his attention-grabbingly graphic stories, Bilbo got up and looked around for someone he could demand answers of. He knew that Dwalin would listen to him, but after seeing his face earlier Bilbo wasn't sure he would escape a conversation about the boys in one piece.
Bofur – he had seemed sympathetic earlier on the ride…
"Bofur?"
Bilbo had taken a moment to collect himself – if Lobelia Sackville-Baggins had taught him anything, it was that a rational beginning to a complex conversation pushed the odds in your favour.
Bofur looked up from the wood he was carving.
"Something bothering you, Master Burglar?"
Bilbo took another slow, deep breath.
"Bofur, I know I don't understand most of your traditions, and the last thing I want to do is cause offence. But I have to know: did Fili and Kili get to eat tonight?"
Bofur didn't respond at first and turned his gaze away, and Bilbo was worried he had killed their friendship before it truly began by asking a taboo question.
"They can't," he said quietly.
Bilbo waited.
"They can't," Bofur repeated, finally matching his gaze. He wasn't hiding his hurt anymore. "They're just two boys, but they can't eat until their u… Master gives them permission."
Bilbo sat back on his heels, letting this new piece of information sink in.
"Food was saved for them," Bofur added, pointing to a bowl on the edge of the fire. "But we can't offer it. Technically, we can't even mention it, reminder-like, to Thorin. But between you and me," and at this Bofur motioned Bilbo closer, "I wouldn't put it past Dwalin to screw tradition and yell it at Thorin himself."
Bilbo chanced another look at the axe man.
Suddenly Dwalin looked up himself. He saw Bilbo and Bofur together, saw them looking at the lone bowl at the fireside.
There was a long moment, a moment where Bilbo wasn't sure if Dwalin was about to pounce on him and Bofur for speaking of something so personal.
Then Bilbo saw that same terrible stare turn to Thorin, and Bilbo knew exactly where Dwalin's thoughts on the matter lay. Bilbo saw the muscles shifting, saw Dwalin about to rise and act…
A short cough from Balin was all it took to settle his brother back in his seat.
Not willingly or happily, necessarily. But Dwalin kept his position and Balin continued his conversation with his king as if nothing had happened.
"Bombur," Thorin called suddenly. The camp stilled.
"Yes, my King?"
"See that they get their rations."
"Of course, my King."
And with that Thorin returned to his map.
Bombur reached out for the bowl, but Bilbo beat him to it.
"May I take it?"
Bombur looked to Bofur, who looked over to Dwalin. Neither of them seemed to have any objection.
"I don't want to pry," Bilbo said, "But food is important. To hobbits, I mean."
Calling this food was a little generous, Bilbo reflected as he crossed the camp. He was studiously ignoring the other's side conversations, which only left him the bowl to look at. It seemed that the soggy vegetables and gristle from the bottom of the stew had been lumped in a bowl and left to sit for a few hours.
The food-loving hobbit in Bilbo was crying out at the injustice of this being called 'edible'.
The plain hobbit in Bilbo hadn't stopped crying about Fili and Kili since they left the Shire.
He made sure to tread more heavily than usual to announce his presence.
"Fili? Kili?" he started softly. "I brought your food over."
Two sets of dark eyes jumped up to his face then shot back down to his feet. Obviously he hadn't been as loud as he thought.
"Thank you, Mister Boggins," the dark one stuttered.
"It's Baggins. Bilbo Baggins," he replied gently.
The blonde dwarf cuffed the other around the head, and they half bowed from the ground.
"Please forgive my brother, Mister Baggins," he began.
"I accept the punishment you deem fit," the other nodded.
"No, no that's not necessary," Bilbo stuttered. "And please, call me Bilbo." He passed them the bowl of food mostly edible ingredients and backed away quickly.
"Thank you again, Mister Bilbo," the blonde dwarf said.
Bilbo kept backing away, watching the boys – brothers – quickly, neatly devour the contents of the bowl. He kept backing up until he walked right into something. A large, dwarf shaped something.
Thorin.
"You've noticed my two slaves, Master Baggins."
"Uh… yes. Yes, I have."
"They are mine. Not the Company's. Mine."
"Of course."
Bilbo bit his lip to stop his mouth wasting more stuttered responses to the King Under the Mountain's retreating back.
He didn't say another word as Thorin called for lights out and the other dwarves began moving towards their beds.
He made it back to his own bed roll before he noticed Balin had set up along one side of him.
"Laddie, you are a part of the Company now. There's a few things you should know…"