AN: This chapter was so fun to write because...Dis. I love me some Dis. Enjoy!
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Thorin knocked on the door of the antechamber early the next morning. He knew Bilbo was probably still asleep, but he was eager to start the hunt for Smaug. After the questioning was over, Bilbo could always take a nap. But for now Thorin needed him awake. No sound, or movement, greeted his knock so he gently opened the door. Light from the sitting room spilled into the dark antechamber, falling right on the sleeping Bilbo, who looked tiny in the plush bed. Thorin opened his mouth to rouse the Hobbit, but found that he just couldn't do it. Bilbo looked impossibly peaceful sleeping, a light smile on his lips and hair tousled.
Thorin chuckled and opened the door further, walking to the side of the bed. The Hobbit really was something. Stubborn and smart and unfortunately subjected to hardship after hardship. Thorin wondered how Bilbo ended up the way he did. He knew the boy's mother was sick, but what had led to that? And why did he never mention a father? What happened to the elder Master Baggins?
"Fili and Kili weren't exaggerating. He's adorable." Thorin looked over his shoulder at his smirking sister, who was leaning against the doorway. "Look at that face brother. How can you even think of waking him?" Dis asked, mostly sarcastically.
"We have work to do. He needs to be woken." Thorin muttered reluctantly. Dis scoffed and Thorin looked at her with a raised brow.
"Nonsense. You can question the suspect after he wakes up, you have all day! Go see to Kingdom business, and try to make progress with the Winter Festival. I'll stay and when he wakes, I'll feed him and bring him to the Throne Room." Dis suggested, but it sounded more like an order. Dis was in a word...terrifying. Even to Thorin. Fiercely protective of her family and home, and with world renowned stubbornness. But she was gorgeous and she could be very sweet when she wanted to be. There was no arguing with Lady Dis, and if you cared for your life, you should just go along with whatever she decided. Still, Thorin sighed and rubbed at his face.
"As soon as he wakes." Thorin grunted.
"Of course brother." Dis said with a smile. The King looked at Bilbo for another few moments before shaking his head and walking out of the antechamber, and sitting room. Once he was gone Dis replaced him at Bilbo's bedside. She studied the Hobbit intently, wondering what it was about him that so affected her brother. Thorin may be able to kid the others, and himself, but he could never kid her. He liked the Hobbit. Maybe too much.
Dis smiled and returned to the sitting room, taking one of the large armchairs near the fire. She always kept something to read handy for just such an occasion. She managed to read quite a bit before there were sounds of life from the antechamber. Bilbo came stumbling out of the room, his hair a mess and his eyes cloudy with sleep. He looked at Dis for a long moment, not seeming to understand what exactly she was, before the sleep finally cleared and his eyes widened.
"You...you're Fili and Kili's mom. Thorin's sister. You look just like him." Bilbo gasped.
"You're correct. I'm Dis, daughter of Thrain. And you are Bilbo Baggins, my sons didn't shut up about you for days after they first met you." Bilbo's cheeks colored with a blush and Dis smiled. "Now that you're up, I have a present for you Master Baggins." She said happily, gesturing to a bundle of clothes on the table separating the two armchairs in the room. "While you do look quite adorable in those oversized cast offs, I think you'll be more comfortable in these. The tailor finally got around to making a shirt in your size, and your trousers were washed last night. So, here you are. Get dressed and I'll take you to get some breakfast." Bilbo could only dumbly collect the clothes and cautiously backtrack to the antechamber.
When he emerged a few minutes later, he looked much more comfortable indeed. His raggedy brown trousers that stopped at his calves were mended as well as washed, they looked better than they had in months. And the shirt, made of the most beautiful royal blue fabric, mimicked the style of the shirt he came to Erebor in. But the fabric was sturdy and thick to keep from catching cold. Not that walking around without shoes on would help. Bilbo had somewhat fixed his unruly hair and was still trying to bat it down as he came back into the sitting room. Dis laughed at the childlike action and Bilbo looked up at her with big, nervous eyes.
"You don't have to look so scared of me, Master Baggins. I think you'll find that I'm much more agreeable than my numbskull brother." She told him, standing up from her comfy chair. Bilbo swallowed thickly and tried to smile.
"You can call me Bilbo, my lady." He said shyly. Dis smiled brightly.
"Then you can call me Dis, Bilbo." She replied immediately. Before Bilbo could protest the casual use of her name, she closed the distance between them and slipped her arm through his, linking them at the elbow. "Let's go get some food. I'm starving." She said with a good natured smile. But Bilbo couldn't help but think it was most likely Dis that Fili and Kili got their impishness from.
"I'm not that hungry." Bilbo told her as they walked. Dis scoffed.
"I'm not as stupid as the other Dwarves Bilbo. You've been starved for more than a week. A few meals yesterday does not make up for that. You don't have to eat much, just eat something so you don't faint in the middle of the questioning." Bilbo paled at the mention of the questioning. He was still nervous about being Thorin's informant. What if the Dwarf King actually found Smaug? What if Nori brought the Man form Dragon into Erebor? Bilbo shuddered to think just how angry the Dragon would be when he saw Bilbo acting as Thorin's informant. "You're scared of Smaug, aren't you?" Dis observed, noticing the way Bilbo looked so uncomfortable.
"Aren't you? He's a Dragon. He's practically a living death machine." Bilbo said with a shudder. Dis shrugged.
"He's taken Man form."
"That does not make him any less terrifying, let me assure you. There is a deadly grace to everything he does. A promise that he could kill in the blink of an eye, with no remorse. When I first met him, before I even knew he was a Dragon, I knew he was dangerous." Bilbo sighed, his eyes far away.
"Why did you agree to his contract then? If you feared him so much. I know you wished to help your mother, but surely there would be less dangerous ways to go about it." Bilbo snorted.
"I've been stealing and killing for years now to provide for my mother. There's no such thing as a less dangerous way in my line of work. The reward Smaug offered...it was just impossible for me to pass up such an opportunity. My stupid pride, foolish hope, and faith in my talent blinded me to the fact that it was a suicide mission all along." Bilbo frowned, a little dark cloud settling over him. Dis frowned as well and squeezed his arm consolingly.
"Well, you don't have to do any of that anymore. Your mother will come to Erebor as a guest of King Thorin, and you won't have to worry about her health or her happiness." She prompted.
"I'll always worry about her. She's all I have after all." Bilbo murmured, his eyes glazing over for a moment. "How long do you think it will take her to get here?" He asked, suddenly excited. Dis gave him a fond smile. She could understand why so many of the Company were so in love with Bilbo after only a short time of knowing him.
"The trip there will take them about three months, the trip back will take longer because they'll go slower with your mother traveling with them. And they won't even attempt to travel back until she's healthy enough, so another few months for that. I'd say next fall, or maybe next winter." Bilbo nodded, a little glumly.
"I don't want it to take that long." He huffed. Dis squeezed his arm again.
"I know. But the time will slip by and before you know it, she'll be here." She promised. "Perfect example. Yesterday Fili was in diapers. Now he's one of the best soldiers in Erebor. He's not even of age yet, but he puts some of the soldiers to shame when they spar." She told him proudly. Bilbo smiled as well. He liked Dis, she was very kind to him. "Now, here we are. Remember, you don't have to eat a whole spread, but try to eat enough that your body will start to recover." She prompted, pushing open a door that led to the kitchen.
"Lady Dis! Good morning!" Bombur said happily when Dis walked into the kitchen. Then his eyes caught on Bilbo, and that curious look from the dungeon returned to his face. He abandoned the cake he was mixing and wandered over to stand in front of Bilbo. "Hello again, Bryan." He said, stressing the fake name Bilbo had given him.
"His name is Bilbo, Bombur." Bofur stated from the table he was sitting on a few feet away. Bilbo jumped, because he hadn't even seen Bofur until the hatted Dwarf spoke up.
"I uh...may have given him a fake name the first time I met him." Bilbo said awkwardly, scratching a nonexistent itch on the back of his head.
"Why'd yeh do that?" Bofur asked curiously. Dis too looked interested. Bilbo's blush reached all the way to the tip of his ears and for some reason he looked like he was about to get in trouble and he was scared to admit to it.
"So I could steal from him and three others." Bilbo admitted. No one said anything, though Bombur crossed his arms and waited for an explanation. "It was a test from Smaug, to see if I was as good as people said I was. B-But, I have the rings here, in the mountain. I'll return them, I promise." Bombur's stern gaze immediately softened and he smiled.
"You were very good. We didn't even notice they were missing until we were taking our baths that night." Bombur told him. "What can I get for you little Bilbo?" He asked, as if the entire thing in Dale had never happened. Bilbo blinked a few times in surprise before Dis shepherded him over to sit next to Bofur.
"Um...just porridge." Bilbo said sheepishly. The last time he'd had porridge had lead to a confrontation he wasn't going to forget soon. He hoped something as dramatic wouldn't happen again. Maybe he could actually finish the whole bowl this time. He was pretty hungry. And his body felt malnourished. Even more than usual, that is.
"Just porridge? Yer so skinny Bilbo, yeh need a full turkey, that's what yeh need." Bofur chuckled to himself. Dis sent him a glare and he immediately shut up.
"If he eats too much he'll get sick. His body is recovering from starvation Bofur. We should be glad he's eating at all!" She hissed, as if Bilbo wasn't sitting between the two Dwarves and hearing everything she said.
"Here you are." Bombur set the bowl of porridge in front of Bilbo, along with a bowl of some kind of brown sand like substance and a small pitcher of milk. Bilbo stared at the two additions with creased eyebrows, wondering what he was supposed to do with them.
"Yeh put them in the porridge. Ta make it taste better. Yeh know, less bland." Bofur informed him, though his mouth was full. Little bits of cinnamon bun crumbs fell from his mouth as he spoke and he made no move to brush them off his tunic or sleeve. Bilbo was still confused. "Yeh've never had brown sugar porridge?" Bofur asked, after swallowing his mouthful.
"I pretty much survive on bread and dried meat." Bilbo murmured, looking down at his bowl. "Before I came here, the last time I had porridge was before my dad died." Bilbo told them, his little dark cloud returning. Rather than say anything, Bofur just grabbed his bowl and spooned a liberal amount of the "brown sugar" into the thick porridge.
"And a little bit of milk." Bofur murmured, more to himself, pouring in just enough milk to make the glob thin out a little. "Try it." Bofur encouraged after putting the bowl back in front of Bilbo. The Hobbit looked at the bowl a bit doubtfully but finally he sighed and took a bite. Bofur, Dis, and Bombur all leaned forward slightly to watch him chew and swallow. Bilbo's eyes brightened and he started eating with fervor, shoveling bites into his mouth quicker than he could chew. Bofur laughed, but Dis put her hand on his to slow him down.
"You'll get sick if you eat like that." She reminded him. Bilbo blushed and curbed his enthusiasm. Dis started talking amiably with Bofur and Bombur, only lightly nibbling on some toast. Bilbo kept half an ear open to listen to them, but mostly focused on his food. He was almost done with the bowl, which surprised him, when the doors opened and Dwalin walked into the kitchen. The bald Dwarf cast a look around the inhabitants and his eyes stopped on Bilbo.
"Thorin requires yer presence in the Throne Room." He said gruffly. Dis sighed.
"I told Thorin I would bring him to the Throne Room once he was awake and fed. He's still eating." She pointed out. Bilbo glanced down at his mostly finished bowl and put down his spoon. He wasn't exactly full, but his stomach was starting to turn a little. Any more food and he might throw up.
"I'm fine actually. Probably should go, don't want to make him keep waiting." Bilbo said uncomfortably. Dis frowned, she could hear the way Bilbo's voice hitched and she saw the way he curled in on himself slightly. It wasn't just Smaug who Bilbo was afraid of. But, from what Dis knew of Thorin's actions towards Bilbo thus far, she wasn't that surprised.
"Bilbo, Thorin is never going to hurt you again, I'll make sure of it. You don't have to be afraid of him." She told him, and he blushed. He obviously wasn't comfortable, and honestly, he was a little ashamed that he couldn't hide his true feelings from Dis. He was usually so good at acting and putting on a show. How could Dis see through I'm that easily?
"He's the King, he can do whatever he wants, especially to prisoners." Bilbo murmured.
"He may be the King, but I'm his sister. And I've always been able to beat him in wrestling. If he lays a hand on you, tell me and I'll make sure he learns from that mistake."
"Here here." Bofur agreed.
"Besides, Thorin is hardly ever violent. Don't know why he was acting like that towards yeh, but he has been under a lot of stress lately. The Winter Festival, almost loosing the Arkenstone, and now Smaug is still alive." Dwalin mentioned, and Dis turned that famous glare on the warrior.
"Stress does not excuse his actions Dwalin. I know you are loyal to Thorin, but even you know that he was acting like an animal." Dwalin didn't reply, just looked to the side to watch a kitchen attendant busily scurry by. "Are you sure you're full Bilbo?" Dis asked, gesturing to the porridge. Bilbo did as well and patted his stomach.
"No, but I feel like I'll be sick if I eat more." Bilbo told her with a weak smile. The Princess hummed and wandered to Bombur's counter to snatch two apples.
"In case you want a snack later." She told him, tossing one of the apples to him and biting into the other. Bilbo's smile grew into something real and he tucked the apple into his pocket. "Come on then. I'll walk with you two." She decided, linking arms with Bilbo again, and Dwalin as well. The warrior grumbled but didn't remove his arm. Dis chattered about insignificant things as they walked towards the Throne Room. She told Bilbo about the different rooms he might like in the mountain, and the different people he just had to meet. She told him about a couple of balconies that were really just ledges in the mountain that happened to have doors near them. She happened to mention that they had good gardening soil, and the smile that lit Bilbo's face made her feel warm from her toes to her ears.
"Do you think Thorin would let me garden? On one of the balconies?" Bilbo wondered shyly. Dis snorted a laugh.
"Hang Thorin if he thinks he can stop you! I'll get you all the tools you need, and you can make me a list of seeds to get from Dale." She said decisively. Bilbo smiled gratefully and continued to listen to Dis' idle talk. He stopped quite suddenly and Dis and Dwalin stopped as well. Bilbo was looking at a door and biting his lip.
"That's where Bombur's ring is. And Gloin and Dori and Bifur, if I remember their names right." He told them. "There's also some daggers and some picks and maybe a bottle of ether." He added, looking away from their faces. He wasn't expecting Dwalin to laugh, and he jumped a little when the Dwarf did. "What?"
"That was yer hide out?" Dis asked, a little doubtfully.
"Yeah." Bilbo murmured.
"No ones been able to open that door since we took the mountain back. The lock was warped just the slightest amount and keys wouldn't open it. How'd yeh do it?" Dwalin asked.
"Just with lock picks. It stuck a little bit, but every lock has a weakness." Bilbo shrugged. Dwalin hummed a little in consideration and Dis smiled a little.
"Well, you'll have to open it then, since none of us can. I'll get you some of Nori's picks later." Dwalin told him before walking on. Bilbo followed, still linked with Dis. When they got to the door to the Throne Room, Bilbo stopped walking again, a look of utter anxiety crossing his face. No matter what the Dwarves said, he couldn't help but fear Thorin. And the thought that Smaug could also be in that room just made him want to run away and curl up in the darkest room of Erebor. Dis squeezed his arm and Dwalin patted his back. But then the bald Dwarf opened the door and took Bilbo by his shoulder to lead him into the room. Dis unfortunately wasn't supposed to go in the Throne Room, at least not during court or trials. And this was kind of a mix of both, from what she understood.
Thorin and most of the court Dwarves looked when the door to the Throne Room opened. The King's sharp eyes examined Bilbo as the Hobbit was lead closer and closer to him. He looked good in the new shirt, and he was glad those trousers had been somewhat mended. Still no shoes, but that was to be expected of a Hobbit. The dark circles under Bilbo's eyes were lighter than they were yesterday, but he still looked sickly and thin. And very very uncomfortable.
"Yer Majesty." Dwalin bowed, dragging Bilbo down into an awkward bow as well. Dwalin and Thorin may have been best friends and life long companions, but Thorin was the King. In public, even his family had to bow to him.
"Dwalin. Master Baggins." He acknowledged, then gestured for Bilbo to come closer. The Hobbit just stood there, biting his lip nervously, until Dwalin gave him a little shove forward. Bilbo stumbled over his feet for a few steps but came to stand in front of the King. "You'll be standing next to the Throne for the questioning." Thorin told him, pointing to the space just to the right of the stone armrest. Bilbo did as he was told but fidgeted uneasily when he realized just how close he was to Thorin. He glanced up, unsurprised to see that the Arkenstone was no longer in it's normal place in the throne. Thorin followed his gaze and smirked. "It's being guarded in a very secret location." Thorin murmured to him. Bilbo only nodded. "You're not even going to ask where that may be?" He asked, amazed. Bilbo shrugged again.
"What would be the point of asking? Obviously you wouldn't tell me even if I asked. And I don't particularly want to know." Bilbo told him. Thorin hummed in acknowledgment and studied Bilbo for another few moments before turning back to what he was doing before Bilbo had arrived. There was a Dwarf who had been stealing from vendors in Dale standing before the throne, but he was no where near as good as Bilbo. For one, he was caught because he was wearing the tunic he stole in the store he stole it from. Once judgment was passed on the petty thief (pay twice the amount the tunic would have cost and give it back as well, same for all other goods stolen) Nori appeared and whispered to Thorin. The Dwarf King nodded and turned to Bilbo.
"Nori is bringing the first suspect." He told the Hobbit, who flinched and suddenly forgot how to swallow. "You will be honest with me, won't you Bilbo?" Thorin asked, maybe narrowing his eyes a little bit.
"Why would I lie?" Bilbo murmured.
"To save your skin." Thorin suggested. Bilbo frowned, looking for a moment like a petulant child who wanted nothing more than to punch someone insulting him.
"Well you've never let me lie to you before." Bilbo hissed. Thorin smirked.
"I imagine you can usually get away with your lies. But you forget, I raised Fili and Kili and had two of the most troublesome Dwarves as siblings all growing up. I know how to see past a little deception." Thorin explained.
"I imagine that's also how you know how to manhandle people so well." Bilbo muttered bitterly, thinking back to how Thorin had been startlingly good at handling him when he was being taken to his cell for the first time. Indeed, Thorin chuckled, almost warmly, and nodded. "So why do you even ask if I would be honest? I can't lie to you, so of course I'll be honest." Bilbo pointed out, a little of his irritability showing.
"Oh just idle curiosity." Thorin smirked. Nori cleared his throat, and Bilbo realized the entirety of the court was looking at the two of them. He swallowed thickly and looked at the Man who Nori had brought forward. He was tall with long black hair, tied back in a pony tail, and green eyes. And most importantly, he was not Smaug.
"It's not him." Bilbo sighed, his relief strong enough to make his stomach flutter. Thorin looked at him evenly for a few moments then turned back to the Man.
"Have you seen any Men or Elves acting oddly lately?" He asked seriously. The Man appeared to think it over for a few minutes and then shook his head.
"Not seen many odd ones. Tavern's always got loud rowdy folk, but nothing odd." The man told him. "W-Why was I brought for questioning exactly?" He asked, his eyes darting to Bilbo questioningly. Bilbo realized with a start that he did recognize the man. He had seen the man in the tavern when he had sat down with Smaug. The man had been looking at them with the strangest expression.
"He's seen him though." Bilbo told Thorin. "You saw me in a tavern, a few weeks ago." Bilbo stated to the Man, who nodded. "My companion, have you seen him?"
"Not since that night. Thought he left town. Tavern folk usually do after a few nights." Bilbo felt his shoulder drop in disappointment and he looked down at the floor. "I-I'll keep a lookout for him though, if you want." The Man offered.
"Yes, that would be very helpful." Thorin said and then dismissed the Man. Nori obediently led the still probably confused Man from the Throne Room. "Court is dismissed for the day." Thorin decided, and a general rumble of agreement went through the room. Bilbo shifted from foot to foot, unsure of what he should be doing, as the Dwarves cleared out of the room. When it was only Thorin, Dwalin, and himself, the King stood and removed his crown. "Bilbo, what exactly does he look like?" Thorin asked. "Nori's been going with the assumption of Man or Elf height, dark hair, and odd color eyes." He explained.
"Well...that's not far from it. He does have very dark black hair, and he is the height of a Man. There's a sort of...air of not-normal around him, and he has the most...terrifying...golden eyes." Bilbo shuddered, remembering the way they had burned on his skin when Smaug looked at him. "He wears black clothes, and he's lithe, like an Elf. Really, I don't think Nori would miss him, if he saw him." Thorin nodded and glanced at Dwalin.
"Tell Nori." He instructed. Dwalin bowed and walked away to find the Spymaster, leaving Bilbo and Thorin alone. That scared Bilbo more than he wanted to admit. He dropped his eyes to his feet and waited to be dismissed as well. Though, considering his guard had been sent away, he didn't see it happening in the near future. At the very least, he'd have to have Thorin escort him somewhere. "Did you eat today?" Thorin asked.
"Yes." Bilbo replied blankly. Thorin sighed and tilted his face up.
"Please look at me when you speak Bilbo." The King requested, catching Bilbo's eyes at long last. "I know I do not deserve anything from you, but I would like it if you did." He added, maybe a little hesitantly. Bilbo never got the chance to reply. The door to the Throne Room opened and Dain II Ironfoot strode in with a smirk on his face. "Oh Mahal." Thorin breathed. "Here we go."
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AN: Mwah hahahahaha! Dain Ironfoot returns to the story! And it will be glorious! Feel free to leave a comment or question!