Summary: Bard


"Good morning, Bilbo." Bard began.

"Good Morning?" Bilbo asked in confusion, he'd come to Dale for their market, for once leaving all of the children behind.

"I was wondering if you would join me for lunch?"

"Of course." Bilbo said, "Is something the matter?"

"No. Yes. I don't know." Bard growled, "King Thranduil isn't talking to me, he hasn't since we parted ways after leaving Erebor."

Bilbo sighed, why did every one come to him for advice about their matches? He'd gotten a nervous Dori appearing after Legolas and 't know how to approach Balin about the lines of colors that had bloomed around his leg after the battle of the Five Armies and Bilbo wondered a little just how any Dwarrow managed to get married after meeting their Ones. He'd also gotten a shy Ori at his door asking if he'd chaperone him and Bofur for a walk through the market.

And that wasn't counting the hours he had been chaperoning Fili and Sigrid, honestly Bilbo wondered if Bard even knew that the two had gotten their colors from each other or Thorin for that matter, so far Fili had been making due with Kili and Tauriel chaperoning but well Kili and Tauriel still needed chaperoning themselves, and soon enough Bilbo was going to be chaperoning an entire ballroom filled with couples.

"Elves have weird customes, according to Legolas he can't actually speak with you until he speaks with your father, as you father is dead he'd be able to go to your uncle or mother but it is very possible that he will go to your daughter Sigrid instead, since she's bene busy at Erebor he hasn't been able to since he needs to do it in person." Bilbo explained.

"Why does he get to take the lead?" Bard asked as they sat at a table, "Does he think I am going to be the woman?"

Bilbo sighed and mentally reminded himself that the Race of Men rarely had hurt-colors appear between two of the same sex.

"In Elvish tradition it is the oldest that takes the lead or the one that is more established, this make is less likely that they will not work out if they come from different areas." Bilbo explained, "For example if Thorin and I were Elves, before he took back his homeland who do you think would take the lead?"

"Thorin." Bard said immediately.

"No, actually, it would have been me because I had a home and a job and I was not a wanderer." Bilbo explained, "Yes, Thorin is older but where would we have lived, where would we have gone?"

"Ah." Bard said softly, "But does that mean I just wait?"

"Yes, actually, I'll talk to him and remind him that you are not an Elf and tell him to talk to you." Bilbo sighed.

Bard found himself tracing the yellow on his knuckles, "Thank you, Bilbo."

"Of course." Bilbo said, "I'm just wondering when I became the one to get advice from."

Bard laughed, "It's because you actually listen."

"I should stop that." Bilbo said.

"But you won't."

"No, I won't."