AN: The first half of the Winter Festival, wrapped and ready to be opened. Call it a late (or early) Christmas present, since Winter Festival is essentially Christmas/New Years. Hope you enjoy!
OOOOO
The week of the Winter Festival came quicker than Thorin thought possible. He was focusing so hard on finding Smaug and appealing to Bilbo that the Holiday literally snuck up on him. In the form of two nephews, dressed to the nines in fancy red and green fabrics.
"What do you think uncle?" Fili asked, puffing his chest out proudly, showcasing the line of emerald buttons on his coat.
"The tailor really outdid himself this year, right uncle?" Kili added, striking a pose with his hands on his hips. "There's clothes for you in your room. Some for Bilbo too." That caught his attention. He complimented the boys and then hurried off to his chambers, arriving just in time to see Bofur handing Bilbo his red and green bundle of new clothes.
"Why do you keep bringing me new clothes? I've lived with only one pair for years now." Bilbo huffed, but took the clothes anyways.
"Ya, and it's no wonder those trousers were in such poor condition when yeh arrived. If yeh keep complainin' about whenever someone gives yeh a gift, they'll stop givin' them." Bofur scolded him fondly, pushing the Hobbit towards his antechamber before Bilbo could retort that he didn't want gifts. "Thorin, yours are on your bed." Bofur called over his shoulder before disappearing into the antechamber with Bilbo. Thorin blinked, astounded, at the closed door for a few moments before frowning. What did Bofur think he was doing, following Bilbo in like that?
"Careful, yer eyes might melt a hole in the door." Thorin jumped and spun around to see Dwalin standing against the opposite wall with a smirk on his face. "Come on. Dis said I'm to make sure yeh try on yer clothes. The first party is tomorrow, and we have to make sure they fit before then." Dwalin also shared Bofur's skill at avoiding retorts, and he quickly shifted Thorin's attention to the clothes waiting on his bed.
Red trousers and a green overcoat were laid out side by side, along with a white shirt and a red vest. There was also a sprig of holly to pin to the jacket lapel. It was cheesy, but Winter Festival was a time of cheesy clothes and no one judged anyone for what they wore. Because it was likely they were trying to look more ridiculous themselves. Last year Dis had worn a puffy dress three times the size of her usual dresses, with red and green stripes and holly leaf designs in golden thread.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Both Thorin and Dwalin stopped at Bilbo's exclamation and neither could hide their smiles. Thorin quickly finished buttoning up the white shirt and rushed over with Dwalin hot on his trail to peak in and see what kind of ensemble had been made for the Hobbit.
Bilbo looked...great. He was wearing green trousers, cut to his preferred Hobbit length, and a red shirt. Bofur was currently trying to put a white overcoat on the resisting Hobbit, complete with lace and holly leaves on the lapels, and the hem. Thinking of what Bilbo would look like in the coat made Thorin grin wickedly and he quickly announced his presence and volunteered to help with the Hobbit wrangling. At that point, Bilbo gave up and let Bofur put the stupid, ruffled coat on him. He did have experience with Thorin and his Hobbit wrangling after all, and he was not eager to repeat it. When Bofur finished the last button, Bilbo looked a step beyond annoyed.
"Bilbo, yeh look wonderful! Yeh'll blend right in with the other ridiculous outfits, I promise. Just wait until you see the princes'." Bofur told him through hardly muffled giggles.
"Seriously, Bilbo, yeh do look amazing." Dwalin told him, before biting his lip to keep laughter from booming forth. Thorin simply smirked, his eyes going over and over the Hobbit to make sure he would never forget the sight. He looked like an ill tempered lamb.
"I look like some child's doll!" Bilbo hissed, crossing his arms and glaring at the three Dwarves.
"Oh...well...at least yer a cute doll." Bofur said innocently and this time he and Dwalin burst out laughing, unable to contain it after the look Bilbo gave them. Thorin restrained himself from opening laughing at the Hobbit, but that did not temper Bilbo's wrath.
"Would you all get out!" He yelled, and three Dwarves could be seen scampering out of the antechamber within the next five seconds.
"Oh. Just wait 'til the others see him." Bofur practically hooted with laughter, following his King and the Warrior to Thorin's chambers. "Wait 'til Dis sees him!" He added, and Dwalin started howling with mirthful laughs all over again. As if she was summoned by the speaking of her name, the door to Thorin's chambers was thrown open and a very pleased looking Dis walked in. And a very pleased looking Dis hardly meant anything good for Thorin. She quickly closed the door behind her...maybe a little too quickly.
"What?" The Dwarf King sighed, making his sister grin wider.
"I'm here to tell you that Thranduil has arrived. And that he's in your sitting room right now. With his son. And Bilbo." Thorin hardly heard to the end of her words before he growled and stormed out of his room. Sure enough, Thranduil sat on the only couch in the sitting room, to the right of Bilbo. And to the left of Bilbo sat his equally infuriating son, Legolas. And they were both apparently over the moon with their discovery of a Hobbit living in Erebor.
"You're such a delightful young man! Whatever are you doing here of all places?" Thranduil was saying, and Bilbo flushed red at the praise. And oh the cursing that went through Thorin mind, if not through his mouth, at the sight. Leave it to Thranduil to flatter his Bilbo! Not that Bilbo was his but...still.
"He's my prisoner Thranduil, and as it is, he will remain my prisoner." Thorin said, maybe a little harshly if Bilbo's flinch was anything to go by. Thranduil frowned and looked back toward Bilbo.
"Why on Middle Earth would you be a prisoner?" Again Bilbo flushed, and he looked away from the Elvenking, this time in shame. "Do not be embarrassed, Bilbo, I will not judge you."
"Yes you will. I'm not as innocent as everyone seems to think I am." Bilbo murmured before jumping up and running back to the antechamber. Thranduil and Legolas watched him go before turning glares on Thorin.
"Was it necessary to hurt his feelings like that?" The Elvenking hissed.
"My brother lacks tact. Among many other things." Dis muttered, and Thorin turned only to realize that he was being glared at by three Dwarves as well. "I'll go make sure he's okay." Dis decided and shoved Thorin out of the way to walk to Bilbo's room. Thorin sighed and rubbed at his face before taking a seat across from Thranduil and his son.
"You arrived earlier than we anticipated." It was a weak topic of conversation, and he was still getting dirty looks from everyone present, but he ignored them rather efficiently.
"We overestimated the time needed to reach the mountain. I had not realized you finished clearing the main road from Lake Town to Dale." Thranduil spoke diplomatically, but there was a coldness in his tone.
"I am glad your travels went well." Thorin put on a fake smile, which Thranduil mirrored.
"As am I. I remember coming to the Winter Festival many times before Thror began his downhill spiral. It was always a wonderful experience. I was surprised to receive your invitation, but pleased none the less." A tense silence fell, only broken when Dis popped her head out of Bilbo's room and gestured for Bofur and Dwalin to join her. The two Dwarves were more than happy to comply. "What exactly was his crime?" Thranduil asked once the door was closed again. Thorin grit his teeth, but decided it would do no harm.
"He tried to steal the Arkenstone, under contract from an enemy of Erebor." Officially, only a few people knew that Smaug was still alive. The Company, and a few other reliable Dwarves who helped Nori with the search. They did not want a mass panic on their hands if the citizens of Dale found out they had a Dragon hiding amongst them. And Thorin would not put it above the Elvenking to start said panic.
"I see. I would have thought, knowing you, such a crime would be cause for death." Thranduil pointed out.
"Normally it would. But Bilbo was cooperative and agreed to help identify his employer in exchange for a pardon." Thorin explained tensely.
"How very kind of you. I am sure Bilbo appreciates the reprieve. Though, if I'm correct, such a pardon demands he stay in Erebor for the rest of his life, under permanent parole."
"You are correct." Thorin grunted.
"But when we were speaking, he sounded very enthusiastic about the Shire, and his mother. Would you deny him his home and his family?" Legolas spoke up at long last, always with some kind of accusation in his tone. Always.
"His home in the Shire was not a desirable one, he has admitted that. And his mother is being sent for as we speak. She is sick, so my men are hoping to cure her of her ailment as a gesture of kindness to our new informant." Thorin explained, his voice never loosing it's sharp edge. "But, we surely have others things to talk about. Tonight, at the pre festival feast." Thranduil looked evenly at him for a few moments before nodding.
"Of course. Legolas and I should be getting to our rooms. It's been a long journey and I at least am in need of a little rest before dinner." The Elvenking stood, his son following suit as well. Thorin was the last to stand, and he nodded as respectfully as he could at the two before they left the sitting room, being led by one of Dwalin's guards. Thorin waited until they left to walk over to the antechamber door. He couldn't hear very well through the thick door, but he heard muffled speaking. Then Bofur started talking, and he could hear that loud and clear.
"Thorin and Thranduil have been partners in trade ever since we retook Erebor. But he's never really forgiven the Elvenking for the whole drama that happened the day Smaug took the mountain. It's always very tense whenever yeh put them in a room together. And Thorin tends ta make a fool out of himself with his words more times than not." The hatted Dwarf was saying.
"He wasn't making a fool of himself, he was just stating the truth. I'm a prisoner. That's all I'll ever be." Bilbo was much quieter than Bofur was, but at least Thorin could hear him if he pressed his ear right to the crack of the door.
"Yer more than a prisoner. Yer our friend. Everyone in the Company loves yeh Bilbo. Even the ones who haven't spent much time with yeh! Even Gloin! And he doesn't even like most of the other members of the Company!" Bofur exclaimed, and there was a short, unrealistic chuckle. Like Bilbo was trying to laugh, but just couldn't make it sound authentic.
"Thorin can be an big ass at times. But he didn't mean to insult you. I think he was trying to make Thranduil lose interest in you." Dis commented, and she was obviously closer to the door than Bilbo and Bofur. Maybe on purpose. She most likely knew Thorin was trying to listen in.
"Why would he care if Thranduil had interest in me? I can't leave Erebor anyways, so it's not like I could go running off with the Elvenking." Bilbo pointed out with a little sniffle.
"Yeah well, Thorin's not the brightest gem in the treasury. He gets jealous easily." Dwalin grunted, with a snicker from Bofur.
"Jealous?" Bilbo scoffed, obviously unconvinced.
"Dwarves are often possessive, over everything. People, items, family, home." Dis explained gently. "It's just because he likes you, that he gets so possessive. You just have to be patient with him Bilbo, and eventually he'll figure out he's being a douche."
"Why would he ever like someone like me. A killer and a thief." Bilbo sighed. There were a few moments of awkward silence.
"I like you." Bofur finally murmured.
"So do I." Dis added.
"Liked yeh before I even knew yeh." Dwalin admitted. "There's something about a boy who can stand up to a King like that. It's awe inspiring." He added.
"You've made mistakes in your past. You've done things you regret doing, but at least you feel remorse for them! I can't imagine many thieves and killers feel guilty for their crimes. You had a good reason for doing those things, as terrible as they might have been." Dis assured him, and there was a sigh that sounded like Bilbo.
"That doesn't really make me feel better about it. If I had just...found a better job. Something better than helping cheap Farmer Maggot. I could have provided for her honestly, and I would never be here!" Another silence fell, and there was the sound of someone sitting on Bilbo's bed.
"I'm glad that you're here Bilbo. Don't you see? You don't have to worry about jobs or thieving or killing anymore. Just because you're a prisoner does not mean you'll have a bad life here. All things considered, you'll have a really great life, especially compared to your old one. And when your mother gets here, she'll have a great life as well." Dis said soothingly.
"She'll find out what I am. That'll break her heart." Bilbo murmured sadly.
"No one will tell her Bilbo. I think even Dori was told to be vague." Bofur promised. Bilbo sighed again and sniffled.
"Can I be alone for a while? Please?" He asked shyly.
"Yeah. Will you be okay?" Dis asked. There was no verbal response, but Thorin could just imagine the non committal shrug. "I'll come get you for the feast. And Dwalin will be in the sitting room if you want to go somewhere before then." Dis reminded him, but Thorin didn't hear it. He was already across the sitting room and headed into his chambers so he could deny snooping. He would apologize to Bilbo at the feast. If he survived until then. He didn't even want to think about the scolding he was sure to get from Dis. You'd think the King Under the Mountain would never be scolded. But Dis was one hell of a scary woman.
Thorin sighed and began changing back into his normal attire. He had a few hours before the feast. Maybe he could spend the time thinking of something to say that would not involve insulting or degrading the Hobbit. Mahal knew he'd need every second of the hours given. Thorin really was no good with words. He never thought he'd hate that so much as he did now.
OOOOO
Thorin never got a chance to apologize to Bilbo at the pre festival feast. Bilbo was seated half a table away from him, between Dis and Thranduil. And even after dinner was done, and the attendees were all milling about chattering away, he couldn't get close. He was always distracted by one member of the company or another, or Dain. But he could still see Bilbo, could see the happy smile on his face and sometimes he caught the faintest sound of one of Bilbo's bell like laughs. But Thorin, at least, could tell that most of those smiles and laughs were fake.
Thorin knew Dis could tell as well, because his sister made an excuse for Bilbo long before the evening was supposed to be over, and walked the Hobbit back to his antechamber. By the time Thorin got back to his room, and looked into the side room to check on Bilbo, the Hobbit was fast asleep. He couldn't quite help himself, and he wandered into the dark room to look at the sleeping boy. Bilbo looked so peaceful when he slept, something he never looked when he was awake. Whether he was angry, or pretending to be happy, or uncomfortable...Bilbo never looked truly at peace. Thorin wondered if he even looked at peace near his mother. Or if he simply couldn't bring himself to relax unless he was deep asleep.
"Yer a bit of a creep, lookin at him while he sleeps." Thorin jumped and turned to the door, where Dwalin was smirking at him. Thorin gave him a glare, but Dwalin only smirked more. "Yeh have a wonderful way of making an ass of yerself, yeh know that?"
"Obviously I know that." Thorin remarked, probably louder than he should. Bilbo moaned and turned in his sleep, but thankfully didn't wake. Thorin cast one more look at the Hobbit before stalking out of the antechamber and locking the door behind him. Dwalin followed the King across the sitting room and into his chambers, all the while smiling mirthfully at the expense of his ruler. "Why can't I ever say the right thing to him?" Thorin wondered, not entirely wanting an answer, but knowing he'd get one from Dwalin. It would probably be mocking and insulting to his character, but he'd get an answer.
"Cuz yer an idiot. And because yeh like him. More than yer willing to admit, or even acknowledge in yer own head." Thorin rolled his eyes, but Dwalin was going to keep speaking his mind whether Thorin was annoyed or not. "I've never seen yeh act the way yeh do around him. At first I thought it was hate or loathing. But I've known yeh all my life, and this isn't anger or disgust. This is a crush gone terribly wrong."
"I do not have a crush on the Burglar. If anything, I am intrigued by him. I need to make it up to him for treating him so poorly when he was in the dungeons. And apparently in every conversation I have with him." Thorin sighed, sitting heavily in one of his stuffed chairs.
"I don't think yer capable of having a decent conversation with him. Yeh were never good at talkin', especially when yer nervous." Dwalin informed Thorin, taking the other chair.
"Why on Middle Earth would I be nervous?" Thorin demanded. Dwalin only gave him a look which Thorin chose to ignore. "I'll apologize to him tomorrow."
"Yeh can try. I think Dis, Bofur, and Thranduil have taken it upon themselves to keep yeh away from the boy." Dwalin snickered, and Thorin's bad mood got even worse. "I'm gonna retire for the night. Don't kill anything without me, and try to be nice to the Hobbit when you wake him in the morning." Dwalin said and slunk away before Thorin could unleash any kind of wrath on him. The King muttered about relatives as he got ready for bed, but when he eventually crawled into bed, sleep would not find him.
It took hours of thinking, mostly about the Hobbit, before he fell asleep. And even then, his dreams were invaded by golden curls and wide blue eyes and a smile that he wished was real. Why didn't Bilbo ever smile for real? Thorin wondered if he could get Bilbo to smile. Just once.
OOOOO
Thorin suppressed a yawn as he greeted yet another dignitary from Lake Town. It was the first night of Winter Festival and his Great Hall was positively flooded with Dwarves, Men, and unfortunately enough, Elves. The lone Hobbit was somewhere across the room with his Company, but Thorin kept looking around for Bilbo anyways. Even as he smiled and conversed with Men and Elves and Iron Hills Dwarves who were all apparently fascinated with how Erebor was doing. Thorin was sure that most of it was just appearances for appearances sake, but sometimes he just wanted to slam his face against the wall until they went away.
The Dwarf King was also keeping an eye on Dain. His cousin had heeded his warning, for the most part, after their explosive fight in the throne room. But he still let his eyes linger on Bilbo for far too long. And Thorin could practically see Dain's mind working on a way to get Bilbo alone. As long as it was in his power, Thorin would never let that happen.
For the moment, Dain was flirting with a female Dwarf who worked with the stone masons in the lower levels of Erebor. She was pretty, and unmarried, but if Thorin remembered correctly, she was more concerned with wealth than a relationship. Perfect for his cousin, if he did say so himself. As long as Dain continued to shell out his fortune, she would be happy to join him in bed. And Dain would be plenty happy with the arrangement. Except, like Thorin, the Iron Hills ruler was also looking for Bilbo quite consistently.
"King Thorin?" He was jolted out of his brooding by Legolas, who was looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Prince Legolas. How can I help you?" Thorin asked, though he would much rather walk away and let Balin handle the poncy Elf prince. As it was, his adviser was watching him carefully to make sure Thorin didn't make an ass of himself with the son of their trade partner.
"My father has requested an audience with you after the party has died down." Legolas told him formally, apparently undisturbed by Thorin's hardly veiled sour demeanor. Thorin nodded stiffly and the Elf bowed before walking away.
"What could that tree shagger want to talk about in private?" Thorin huffed, not looking forward to the meeting one bit.
"Thorin I know you and Thranduil hold no love for each other...but perhaps you could try to remember that without him, we would not have regained Erebor." Balin remarked with a raised brow. Thorin muttered to himself, but he did not dispute the matter. Instead he returned to his favorite past time...looking for Bilbo. He had last caught sight of the golden haired Hobbit over by the food table, which made Thorin smile. But it didn't appear Bilbo was there anymore.
Thorin looked for a few minutes before he caught sight of Bilbo standing near one of the only windows in Erebor. He was sitting, the moonlight falling around him like a cloak and making his hair shine, and his skin glow. He looked radiant. Not that Thorin would ever admit it. Dis, Bofur, Fili, and Kili were all crowded around Bilbo but Thranduil was also there, and that left Thorin no peace of mind. The Elf King of Mirkwood had obviously taken a liking to Bilbo, and Thorin didn't like it. Not one bit.
"You could always go talk to him." Balin recommended, and Thorin most certainly did not jump. He had forgotten about his old friend being there, and he was surprised when Balin started talking, but he did not jump.
"And say what? 'Sorry for making you feel like the scum of Middle Earth, want to get a drink'?" Thorin scoffed, and Balin only smiled softly.
"Maybe you could start with a simple, 'How are you this evening'." Balin suggested before wandering away. Thorin considered it, before shaking his head and returning to being a political figure. He was introduced to so many supposedly important people that he lost count fairly quickly. None of them were particularly pleasant or engaging, though one Dwarrowdam from the Iron Hills heavily implied she'd like to see the inside of his bed chambers. He had immediately turned her down, probably a little too harshly, because she scampered off quickly after that. Thorin had to wonder why he rejected her though, since a year ago he would have no problem taking a bed mate.
Finally, after a tediously long time, the party started to slow down. Men started to return to Dale, and Dwarves started returning to their homes in the mountain. Thorin was surprised that the few Elves in attendance were holding on to the night so fiercely. He though the weed eaters would be the first to retire. And damn, did they hold their ale.
"Thorin." Suddenly he was faced with Thranduil, and his promise to talk to the Elven King after the party came back to the forefront of his mind. Sometimes he made really stupid agreements. But he pasted on a political smile and gestured to an empty corner of the Great Hall.
"Did you enjoy the party?" Thorin asked, as pleasantly as possible.
"It is better than I remember it being. Congratulation on such a successful evening." Thranduil complimented in the most monotonous tone Thorin had ever heard.
"Let us hope the success will continue through the next five nights." Thorin hoped that this wasn't going to be a chat strictly filled with empty enthusiasm and compliments. Then again, he wasn't thrilled for a real, business talk either. Thorin wanted to encourage Thranduil to get on with it, but he didn't know how to say as much without being rude. Not that he particularly cared about being rude to Thranduil, but Balin would care. Thankfully, Thranduil appeared as impatient to get this over with as Thorin was.
"Let me get straight to the point Thorin. How much do you want for Master Baggins?" Thorin could only gape at the Elf for a long moment, unsure if he'd heard that right. Thranduil sighed, and rolled his eyes at the dumb look he was receiving. "That sounded a little insensitive. I meant to say, how much will it take to release Master Baggins from his parole? He deserves to be able to leave this mountain, to be able to choose where he goes and when. I will offer any amount of valuable or goods to see to it that he has that choice." Thorin stared at him for another few moments before snapping his mind into gear.
"It does not work that way, King Thranduil. Bilbo is a prisoner, and his crime is too great ignore. He is luck I talked my counsel into sparing his life at all! If I had not agreed to the life time parole, Bilbo would have been executed. And nothing will change that. No amount of valuable or good can reverse the decision." Thorin explained in a cold voice. He didn't know why he was so irritated by Thranduil's words, though a voice at the back of his head was more than happy to tell him. Don't lose Bilbo. Don't ever lose Bilbo. Don't let anyone take him away. Especially an Elf. Especially Thranduil.
"Bilbo is a child of Yavanna, he deserves to live in the sun, outside this dreary mountain." Thranduil persisted, his normally stoic voice for once holding emotion.
"There are plenty of balconies and courts for him to sit in the sun. Once he has identified...his employer, he will have a very good, very respectable life here. You should not worry for him." It was more of an order than a conciliation, but Thranduil ignored it all together.
"I do worry for him, and I will continue to worry for him. He does not belong here in Erebor." Thranduil snapped, and Thorin was reminded of his conversation with Dain. It made him even angrier than he already was.
"Bilbo Baggins will remain in Erebor. Goodnight Thranduil." Thorin growled, marching away before he could say or do anything else to ruin their fragile alliance. He stormed right out of the increasingly empty Great Hall and to his rooms, where he encountered Bofur and Dis saying goodnight to Bilbo. As soon as the Hobbit saw the Dwarf King, he looked down. Thorin wondered if Bilbo knew what Thranduil had talked to him about, but decided he didn't care. He just wanted to go to bed and pray to Mahal that he'd survive to the end of the Winter Festival. Between Dain and Thranduil, he was beginning to doubt it. "Lock his room before you leave." Thorin grunted at Dis and disappeared into his room.
"Well...he seemed tense." Bofur stated after a good long moment of silence.
"I think I saw Thranduil talking to him as we left the party." Dis whispered.
"That would do it." Bofur agreed. The two Dwarves and the Hobbit stared at Thorin's closed door for a moment longer before Bilbo yawned and was mothered out of his fancy clothes and into bed.
"That was fun." Bilbo murmured tiredly as Dis tucked him in.
"Well it's just the beginning Bilbo. Goodnight." She smiled kindly.
"Goodnight."
OOOOO
AN: TA DA! There's definitely one, maybe two, more chapter of the Winter Festival to come, before the story really starts to get...I would say interesting if I didn't mean screwed up. So yeah, I'll see you next week! Feel free to leave a comment or question!