Chapter 12

Finding Home

"To war!" As the dwarves ran out, followed by the Mirkwood elves and the fishermen from Laketown whom recovered from the first battle faced their one foe, the Orcs.

Thorin felt stronger and more focused, especially when Bilbo had accepted his engagement with short time in the ceremony and straight to war. Now, Thorin the King of Erebor was ready to face anything.

Bilbo alone was not skilled with strength, but with his witty mind, the hobbit managed to get rid a couple of Orcs that dare to cross his path including Azog who returned.

"Back for more?" Azog announced as the two faced off but Bilbo only smiled. He found it enjoyable that he changed his presence quite a bit that made Azog amused. "You should let me have your King's head and join me, little hobbit."

"Why would I do such a thing?!" Bilbo yelled back as Azog was surprised as his crooked grin widen. "I am now reunited with the King of Erebor and I will not break this bond!" Bilbo explained his situation to Azog who snarled.

"Stupid hobbit!" He screeched with his teeth showing.

"I'm sorry, but I'll never be yours." Bilbo announced as Azog charged forth.

"Bilbo!" Fili cried at the stupid hobbit who doesn't have that level of skill to face the terrible white Orc. The young dwarf got in their way as Bilbo helped slash Azog at his ankles.

The great Orc fell to his knees, but did let the pain bother him as he got up again to slash his blades towards the young prince who managed to defend himself.

At one point, he captured Fili by the throat and taunted him that his brother was weakling is why he died so easily which angered Fili as he stumbling about with his feelings and he threaten Azog. "Die." said the white Orc as he crushed the dwarf's neck further in until Bilbo had stabbed him onto his back.

The Orc howled as he released the young dwarf and faced the hobbit with a furious glance. "I will kill you!" As he smacked Bilbo across the face just how he once did when he first captured him and Kili.

"Enough of this!" Fili announced as he stabbed another sword into Azog' back, which made the Orc very angry as he was about to reach out to Fili until someone shot an arrow straight through his only arm.

"Azog!" Thorin cried as he joined in the battle. The King was the only one that could fight, Azog in an equal level and skill as both practically ravaged each other at their throats. The time had come as Gandalf the Grey followed by several eagles; they reigned over the skies. "It's over!" Thorin told the angry Azog as the Orc realized the losing battle.

Azog then knocked Thorin off his feet and Bilbo was crying for the King's name as Azog had his blade attached to his arm, ready to dive into Thorin's chest, but unexpected Fili had pushed him away, but with a high chance of getting himself killed, Azog had slain Fili right into his chest instead.

Both, Thorin and Bilbo stop; this angered the king, but Bilbo in the gentler side was crying. "Fili!" He screamed as Thorin continued to face Azog on his own. Bilbo shuddered as he had the young prince in his arms barely making the effort to get up again. "Come on.."

"It's okay.. uncle Bilbo." Fili cried as he watches Bilbo shed some tears. "I'll finally be with my brother." He told him as Bilbo tried so hard to hold himself together as he embraced the cold body but Fili was no more.

Blood stains and his heart stopped at his pace, Bilbo raised up and picked up a short sword on the side with his weapon; Sting still lounged in Azog' back, Bilbo went to try to receive it. Thorin kept Azog busy as the white Orc cried in spite of pain as Bilbo managed to redrawn his favorite blade.

In result, he smacked Bilbo at his chest and followed pursuit at Thorin, he grabbed him by his garments and toss him beside the laying hobbit who seem ready to face defeat. The two looked at each other and grabbed each hand as Azog raised Thorin, who let go of Bilbo's hand.

"No... Thorin.." Bilbo cried as Thorin faced Azog who finally went for his kill. Bilbo was breaking as he watched.

"Finally mine!" He heard Azog said which angered him as Bilbo raised up and shoved his blade right into Azog' throat.

The Orc stop just as the weak King helped as well; lifting his blade and shoved right his opponent's stomach. Guts spilled as Azog drop Thorin and collapsed to his knees, Bilbo then pulled Sting away and beheaded the white Orc without mercy.

The anger in his eyes tainted him as he no longer feel anything in his heart as he looked at Thorin who lay on his back.

"Bilbo..." Thorin gasped as he could barely move; Bilbo was too stun and to exhausted as he too collapsed but sweep into an unconscious state. "Bilbo!" Thorin cried as he forced himself to move, he crawled over and placed his arms around Bilbo. "It's okay, Bilbo.. It's okay!" He cried to the fainted as he too closes his eyes to rest.

The battle was won, but there were many casualties luckily the other dwarves that accompanied Thorin's troupe had survived with the expectation of Fili' passing as Bilbo found himself waking up in the king's chambers. Worried to the point, he ran into the medical chambers where several dwarves were aiding for the suffering.

"Thorin!" He cried as Gandalf came to him. "Where is he?" He plead ever so sadly as the wizard looked hurt as he led the hobbit into a single chamber where the King of Erebor rested. "Thorin! You're okay!"

Thorin didn't seem well, but he was happy that he got to see Bilbo once more. "Bilbo..." He said his name as Bilbo realized the situation by the sound of his voice and his face was going pale. "You should go home.."

"No!" Bilbo cried. "I have chosen to be with you! I have chosen to come back to you!"

Thorin was hurt as he chuckled. "I know. You are a king now, but this is not what I want you to be." The King explained carefully as Bilbo was starting to mourn. "Please go back to the Shrine, Burglar. Back to your chair, your bed and plant your trees and the flowers you like."

"Stop... Thorin... just stop.." As Bilbo was in a complete denied.

"I'm not going to be here any longer so let me say this, I love you Bilbo Baggins. My little burglar." Thorin spoke ever more weakly as Bilbo was continuing to hold his hand and his crying would not stop. Thorin had once again closed his eyes as Bilbo lean over to give him a small kiss to remind them both; that their hearts will always be together.

With many wounds it was in no doubt that Thorin would survive as Bilbo found himself running down the hallway, trying to escape whatever lingered inside of him and that was the agony of his lost loved ones.

First Kili then Fili and finally Thorin the royal family, Bilbo went by himself and gotten a blanket to wrap himself in and mourn for the deaths that had fallen in this battle. "You fool, Baggins. Why didn't you help?" As Bilbo blamed himself, he wept until his eyes were red as he was the kindly little soul that everyone expected of him.

He spent all morning, mourning for his lost as he was announced the 'King' of Erebor, Bilbo used this power to reunite peacefully with the fishermen from Laketown as he offered them food, shelter and or anything they needed. He had in his grasp the silver necklaces that Thranduil was wanting back from the dwarves. Without a fret from his council; Bilbo offered the jewels back to the King of Mirkwood.

"So you do agree the King of the Mountain was a fool indeed?" The elf king asked as Bilbo looked up his tall figure.

"He was and that's why I like him."

"You are a strange creature indeed, Mr. Baggins." As Thranduil took his leave taking his elves with him. Bilbo then went to provide the Arkenstone to Balin, who looked at him with worry.

"You can just stay here," He told his highness as the hobbit declined his offer.

"I can't; this is your home and it's not mine. I am not a King and I never will be." Bilbo explained as Balin was caught sniffing. "It is alright, Balin. I'm just a hobbit after all."

The old dwarf stopped himself and took his time to settle his mood. "I know, but please do visit. Bilbo Baggins."

"You too," Bilbo said as Balin embraced him.

"I'm going to miss your witty smarts." Balin commented as Bilbo smiled.

"Thank you and I'll miss you too." As Bilbo went to say his goodbyes to the rest of the dwarves who he accompanied this entire journey. "Come visit and raid my pantry anytime!" Bilbo said ever so cheerful as the dwarves agreed.

The long journey back lifted Bilbo's sorrows away as it felt like nothing extreme had happened luckily Gandalf offered to join him back home. They traveled by horses and onto their own feet that got weary.

There and back again; Bilbo reigned to his hobbit hole as Gandalf left him at the border of the Shrine for many years went by, Bilbo did not seek the accompany of a potential lover as all he wanted was to take care of Frodo where they two shared a birthday. For years, Bilbo watched as his favorite flowers grow and withered easily when there was a bad day, but that did not bother the old hobbit at all. The feeling did not affect him as he believed that the journey when he joined Thorin's company had changed him completely. As Frodo came to an age to take care of himself, Bilbo often spent the years alone, he even proved Thorin's promise as he planted his own trees, he even sat in his chair to write out his entire journey of the beginning to the end.

Until finally the events of the Lord of the Rings came to an end and Frodo had stopped the King of Mordor; Bilbo was ready to give his life away to the elves that he befriended over the years. Frodo as well wanted to follow with his uncle as he too agreed. The two sailed across the ocean towards the light where they could never come back home to the Shrine.

"Is this it?" He heard Frodo say as Bilbo opened his eyes, realizing he was lying on the soft grass, he got up and scanned the area. It was a field filled with flora and trees that seemed to be distanced away from each other. "What happened to you, uncle?"

Bilbo was confused about what Frodo meant until he saw his hands; it used to be wrinkly with age, but this he saw his youth had come back to him as he stared into crystal clear waters to see the reflection of his youth. "I look what I used to look." Bilbo inputted as Frodo smiled.

"You don't look a day old, uncle!"

"How is this possible?" As Bilbo felt his face.

"You're quite the handsome fellow indeed." Frodo said as an unexpected company came up to them. "Now, who are you?"

Bilbo blinked before he casts his eyes to the three dwarves, he recognized right away. "Balin!" He cried as this old dwarf had his passing as well with age.

"Mr. Baggins!" The old chap said as he embraced the little hobbit.

Bilbo then looked at Fili and Kili who smiled. "Uncle Bilbo!" They both said as the two hugged Bilbo.

"Uncle Bilbo?" Frodo was astonished, but was joyous that his uncle had other people beside him that he can rely on.

They were in tears, but happy with their reunion, including Frodo as part of the family, it was the clear bright skies that lighten the mood that they have passed the border of life.

"How is this possible? Why am I young again?" Bilbo said as Balin explained.

"In here the world allows us to appear our desirable selves. It's just magical, I guess." As Bilbo chuckled.

"So you do like your white beard, you're saying?" As Balin did not look a day older since the beginning of their Journey.

Balin nodded. "Very much so."

As everyone started to get along, the tree nearby, then spoke Bilbo's name, right away Bilbo was stunned of whom he saw next. Thorin Oakenshield came around the tree and saw the newcomers with widened eyes.

"Uh oh, come here, Frodo Baggins! You might need to give your uncle some breather." Fili recalled as Frodo was confused, the twins dragged him out as Balin followed as he too did not want to ruin their reunion.

"Bilbo..." Thorin cried as Bilbo walked towards him under the shade of the tree, Bilbo found himself crying as he touched Thorin on his cheek. "You're here." As Thorin too lifted his fingers to stroke the hobbit's face.

"Yes.. I am." Bilbo said as Thorin leaded in and kissed the hobbit at his lips.

For so long they have been departed from each other, their feelings each other had burst as they made out under the tree. For longest periods of time, the twins, Balin and Frodo had yet to come back as both Thorin and Bilbo enjoyed each other company under the tree.

They sat beside each other as Bilbo rested his head on his shoulder. "I'm home," Is what Bilbo said and this made Thorin very happy as he remembers their engagement or the times they went through, it didn't seem that their passion for each other had died. "I love you, Thorin.." He mumbled in his sleep, which Thorin chuckled to himself.

"So it took you this long to admit it, huh? Mr. Baggins?" As he kissed his lover's head, which awoken Bilbo by mistake. Dazing about as he remembered where he was, Bilbo smiled back to Thorin.

"Perhaps," Bilbo said as the two kissed uniting their love once more.

The End.