It was a strange sight that greeted Otho Sackville-Baggins when he went to the market that day.
A procession of short bearded men on ponies were slowly making their way into Hobbiton.
In the middle of the procession was a simple looking wagon wreathed with greenery and flowers of every color imaginable.
A strange sight indeed.
They stopped in the middle of the marketplace square where a dark haired and bearded man in the front dismounted.
Otho shook his head and tapped Gaffer Gamgee on the shoulder.
"What's going on here?"
The gardener turned to him and shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't know. Although I recognize that dwarf there. He stopped and asked for directions almost a year and a half ago. Mr. Baggins left the next day with him and 12 others."
'Dwarf? Ah, now I remember.'
A exclamation of surprise rippled through the crowd and he turned to see the aged form of the Thain himself hobbling toward the dwarf.
'Just what was going on?'
/ ~ / ~ / ~ /
Thorin dismounted as soon as he saw the elderly form of the Thain approach him.
He bowed low to the hobbit.
"What is the meaning for this?"
"Forgive me. I am Thorin Oakenshield, Son of Thrain, Son of Thror, King Under the Mountain at your service."
The Thain nodded.
"And at yours, Your Majesty. But I must say I am confused by all this pomp and circumstance."
A pained look crossed the dwarf's face which caused a wave of dread to wash over him.
"May we speak in private?"
The hobbit nodded and motioned behind him.
"Come. The Green Dragon has just what we need. Help an old man inside."
Thorin nodded.
/ ~ / ~ / ~ /
"Falco! Two ales here!"
The bartender nodded and quickly two mugs of ale were set down in front of them.
The Thain grabbed his arm before he turned and Falco leaned over to listen.
"Oh and Falco, privacy is most welcome at this time."
"Understood, Thain."
The elder Hobbit lifted the mug in a silent toast before taking a deep drink.
"Ahh! The finest ale this side of the Shire."
He noticed the dwarf king did not touch his.
'Most odd.'
"Very well, King Under the Mountain, I'll cut to the point...Why have you asked to meet me?"
The pained look came back again and the dwarf gave an audible sigh.
"I bring news of Bilbo Baggins."
The Thain sat straighter in his seat.
"Oh?"
"First I would have you know of the journey he had taken."
The Thain nodded in agreement.
"Well, I do enjoy a good story from time to time."
Thorin took a small drink from the mug before he started.
"It starts simply enough...
with the arrival of a Wizard and a glowing mark on a green door."
/ ~ / ~ / ~ /
The Thain was awestruck at the story the dwarf King had told him.
Belladonna Took would be proud.
Bilbo Baggins was definitely his mother's son.
But still that did not tell him of what had happened to the bachelor.
That sensation of dread hit him once again.
And when the dwarf fell silent and would not meet his eyes...it was then he knew.
"Bilbo isn't coming back alive, is he?"
"That is why I am here. To offer my apologies in person and to return his body to the land of his birth."
The elderly Hobbit wiped a tear from his face.
"I had held hope that he would return unhurt but even I do not know what the Valar have planned."
"I apologize again. I know now that he never should've went in the first place, but a part of me is glad he did."
Thain leaned onto his cane looking ath the dwarf with a twinkle in his eyes.
"And which part would that be, Your Majesty, if I may be bold to ask?"
Thorin nodded.
"My heart, Thain, my heart. I had not known until it was already too late."
"So that is why you came here in person. You loved him and so you brought his body home."
"I wish it was under different circumstances completely. He was my One and so I want to tell his family myself."
Thain nodded grimly.
"I regret to tell you that only a handful of his family reside here in Hobbiton. The only two he was very close to was Drogo and Primula Took."
"Then I would speak to them."
A grave nod was his answer.
"Drogo and Primula drowned naught a week ago. A tragedy that is, especially since it left young Frodo without parents."
Thorin closed his eyes in pain but opened them when the Thain spoke again head bowed in sorrow.
"That was the reason I had hoped that Bilbo was still alive. You see, Primula and Drogo chose Bilbo as Frodo's guardian should anything happen to them. Now that Bilbo is gone, there is no one to raise little Frodo but Otho and Lobelia."
Thorin didn't hesitate.
"I will take him."
The Thain looked up in shock.
"You?"
Thorin nodded.
"Yes. I can assure you that he will be well provided for."
The elder Hobbit shook his head.
"I don't know if that would be a good idea. A Fauntling is quite a handful."
The dwarf stood suddenly, startling the Thain.
"Bilbo was named guardian of this child and he is gone in no small part thanks to me, so I feel responsible for him. If I can atone for my short-comings as a leader and manage to honor Bilbo's memory, than allow me to raise the child."
The Thain smiled at Thorin sadly.
"I can see why my grandson would have fallen for you. You have honor, King Under the Mountain. Very well. I will let you have guardianship of Frodo in Bilbo's place."
"You shall not regret this. I swear it."
A wrinkled hand waved his words off.
"Well then, I suppose it's time to lay Bilbo to rest."
The dwarf could only nod in reply, fearing that his voice would break should he speak.
/ ~ / ~ / ~ /
All the Shire turned out dressed in their finest.
The burial of Bilbo Baggins was one to be remembered for many years to come.
For the dwarf king that loved him had fashioned the finest casket ever seen.
It was of pure white alabaster, encrusted with emeralds and edged in silver.
There were three sets of Dwarvish runes inscribed upon the lid in a circle.
"Âtamânel,
Ghivâshelûh,
Mizimelûh."
And in the very center of the runes in a setting of pure silver sat the Arkenstone.
Thorin stood at the right of the coffin dressed in clothes of dark blue edged in silver and a simple crown of gold resting upon his head.
'Goodbye my Kidhuzurâl.'
A tug on his sleeve made him look down at the young boy standing next to him.
"You knew my uncle?"
Thorin knelt down to look the boy in the eyes.
"Yes, I did, little one."
The boy's eyes filled with tears.
"What's gonna happen to me now that Uncle Bilbo's gone?"
"The Thain has given me guardianship of you. If you want it of course."
"You gonna take me away to the mountains to live wit you?"
The dwarf nodded at the awed look in the Fauntling's eyes.
"Forever?"
Thorin shook his head.
"Not forever Frodo. You can come back and visit whenever you want."
"Pwomise?"
"I promise."
Frodo smiled widely and threw his arms around Thorin's neck.
'Oh thank you!"
Pain shot through Thorin's heart at the sight of the child's smile.
He smiled just like Bilbo.
'I will take care of him, Bilbo. He will not forget his Hobbit heritage.'
He looked up at the final resting place of Bilbo Baggins with tears in his eyes.
'I promise.'
Âtamânel - (the) breath of (all) breaths
Ghivâshelûh – (the) treasure of (all) treasures
Mizimelûh – (the) jewel of (all) jewels
Kidhuzurâl - golden one