Meeting the Thain
The journey west from Rivendell took the Company over a week, if they hadn't decided that they should visit the Thain in Tuckborough before heading on to Bag End, it would have been less. It was a pleasure to ride through the wide open spaces of the shire, they had not seen a hint of Orcs of any other trouble this time and the riding was easy.
They stopped at a tavern called The Pussy Willow to get directions to the Great Smials, the home of the Thain. The stableman pointed them in the right direction and they rode on. What they found was a hobbit hole eerily similar to Bag End, but with a blue door. It wasn't until Thorin and Balin were shown to the Thain's study that they realised that The Great Smials was even larger than Bag End.
Ferumbras looked to be little more than a child but was the son and apprentice of Fortimbras, the current Thain and he escorted the two dwarrow to his father's study and announced them.
"Father. Thor Thundercloud and Balin Fundinson."
"Thank you, Ferumbras. Gentlemen, what can I do for you?"
"We would speak to you regards Bilbo Baggins, my lord." Balin was to do most of the talking.
"Ah, Cousin Bilbo. The elf Elrond said you have a contract with Bilbo?"
"Yes, my lord. We had business over the Misty Mountains and required assistance. Gandalf the Grey recommended Master Baggins to us and after discussing the matter with him in some depth, Master Baggins joined our Company and we rode East. Our business is complete but Gandalf had Bilbo take a different route back to Bag End from the rest of our Company. We were very fortunate that the Great Eagles offered to carry us to Rivendell and as a result of this we are here that much sooner than anticipated. Without the Eagles we planned to be some weeks behind Master Baggins and Gandalf, instead we find we are a number of weeks in front of them. This leaves us with a concern. Accommodation. Lord Elrond assured us that with the contract that we have with Bilbo that we would be able to stay in Bag End until his return. Is this correct?" Balin outlined their predicament. He handed over a copy of the contract, a copy that with Elrond's help now read the Company of Thor Thundercloud instead of Thorin Oakenshield.
After carefully reading the document, Fortimbras handed it back to Balin and rang a bell calling Ferumbras back to the study.
"Well, that seems to be in order. I'm glad to have had Elrond visit, otherwise we would have assumed that Bilbo had died. There's been a request to auction off his estate, but now, knowing he's alive, I've had the great pleasure of telling the Sacksville-Baggins' to go plough they garden in, it'd look better." Hearing his father say this had Ferumbras gasping in shock. The dwarrow knew how insulting this was as Bilbo had said this to a Man in Bree on their way east and had a nearby hobbit going very pale at the sound of it.
"Yes. Well, Bilbo wasn't fond of the Sacksville-Baggins', by the time we'd reached the Misty Mountains, he regretted not send you a letter to tell you what was happening, he feared for his silverware. Said something about Lobelia Sacksville-Baggins always trying to steal it?" Thorin spoke for the first time after sitting down.
"Lobelia was very put out to find she wasn't going to get Bag End. Even if Bilbo was dead, she still wouldn't have gotten it. We might have auctioned of the effects, but his will was very clear, the smial goes to his cousin Drogo Baggins. But it was most pleasant to cut Lobelia's plans off at the neck. Most pleasant." Replied Fortimbras with a chuckle. "But enough pleasantries. Yes the contract you have will give you access to Bag End, but not unlimited access. By this I mean that you can use Bag End for your accommodation for no more than 12 weeks. This is fairly standard. But I know just how big Bag End is and its going to be a squeeze for 13 dwarves and one elf. Do you plane to all stay there until Bilbo's return? What then?"
"Thank you, Thain. That brings us to the next item of business. We have been told of a cave system just north-west of Bag End that we are interested in purchasing."
"Which one? There's a small system near the Bindbole wood or the one on the edge of Overhill?" To hear there were two sets of caves that close to Bag End was astounding.
"We only knew of the system at Bindbole, sir. That's our goal. But we'd like to investigate the other at some point in he future." Balin said after exchanging a glance with Thorin.
The next hour or so was used to negotiate the purchase of the cave site and an appropriate parcel of land around and above it and an option to purchase the second site if it turned out to be suitable. The purchase of part of Bindbole Wood, however was a much more involved subject and the best agreement that they could come to was that Tauriel could rent the Wood for 10 years if she purchased the land between the cave system and the Wood. After that 10 years, if she still wanted it, then she would be able to purchase 1/3 of the total Woods and still retain the rental on the rest of the Woods.
"Well, gentlemen, if that's all, I'll accompany you to Bag End and see you have keys and an introduction to Bilbo's gardener Hamfast."
"Actually there is another matter I'd like to discuss…well, two really." Started Thorin. "Balin, could you go ask Fíli for the bag? He'll know which one I mean." Thorin waited until Balin had left the room before continuing. "I don't know how much you know about dwarrow and their customs? But I'm going to assume for the moment that you know nothing so there are no miscommunications, sir."
"Well. You'd be right then. I know very little about… dwarrow, you said?" He continued when Thorin nodded. "About dwarrow customs."
"Good. Firstly can you tell me the attitude to same gender relationships here in the shire?"
"Same gender? Well, now. That's a little complex. They are not frowned on, but it is recommended that both parties have an heir outside the relationship. The Bowen lass that married the Wheaten girl, was slightly different. The Wheaten girl had been to Bree with her family but fell afoul of bandits on the Road. She was the only one to survive and was badly hurt and, with very few exceptions, she can't tolerate menfolk anywhere near her now. Poor child. The two of them nominated one of the Bowen lads as her heirs as we all knew there was no chance of her ever having children of her own. But the Rockridge lad that married the boy of my neighbours, the Seedrights, they asked a sister of the other lad to carry a child for each of them. Most of them however, already have an heir chosen before they wed. Why? How is this relevant?"
Thorin was pleased that such cases were already there. Balin knocked and entered the room after Fortimbras replied. He handed Thorin a small-ish bag that had clanked and chinked as he'd carried it in.
"Bilbo Baggins is the head of the Baggins' family, his father's family. You, sir, the head of his mother's family and as the current Thain are of a higher rank than Master Baggins." Fortimbras nodded. "As such, it is you who I am approaching on in this matter. I wish to Court Bilbo Baggins. In dwarrow Courtship, there are a number Formalities that must be completed. The first is to speak to the Head of the Family of your intended and receive permission before you approach your intended with the matter. The Second is the gift to the Family of your intended. This must be relevant to the Family, but also be something that has been made by your Family, but not by you. If you are granted permission and your gifts are accepted, only then can you speak to your One, as we call our love, about Courtship and Marriage." Thorin took a deep breathe and lifted the bag onto the desk in from of the Thain. He carefully opened it to reveal two wrapped bundles that when spread out on the desk were three sets of stunningly wrought knives, from a small paring knife right the way through to a seriously wicked looking butcher's cleaver. All had beautifully carved handles of bone with intricate vines twisting around to provide a good surface to grip. The second bundle consisted of a series of pocket knives of different shapes and sizes, some with one blade others had many blades, one Thorin opened to show different types of blades and even a pair of tiny scissors.
Balin's raised eyebrows and the dropped jaw of the Thain, showed they both saw the quality of work on the desk. The Thain reached out a hand to touch, before pulling his hand back tucking it under the desk.
"These were made by your Family?" The Thain spoke quietly.
"Yes. My nephew and first heir, Fíli made the pocket knives, he specialises in small and fine work like these. It took me many months to realise that he wasn't suited to work on the bigger items like swords and plough-blades. My other nephew and second heir, Kíli likes to work on blades. Knives, daggers and arrows are where he does his best. I could only teach the boys so much before they had learnt all I knew, at that point I found other Masters to teach them and now they have both been accepted as Master of their Craft. It was a very satisfying to see lads I'd bounced on my knee, be declared Masters." Thorin's memories filled his eyes and heart.
"Truly these are a Master's works. You talk of their skills, Master Thundercloud, but what of your skill? Do you have skills to support Bilbo?"
"Myself, I tend to work best with shaped items, things like kettles, pans, hinges, doorknobs. Not that we all can't turn our hand to weaponry, but that's not where our greatest skills lay. Smaller finer work. Any halfway decent smith can forge a sword, but a door lock? A chees knife? A pocket knife? A hinge? A candleholder? A Kettle? And lets not forget that all smiths must be able to repair a pot or blade. In addition to this, our trip East was very profitable, we, my Company, that is, would never have to work again if we didn't' want to, but that's not how we are, we all to keep busy in our own way. The other matter that I wanted to raise with you was to purchase a small slice of land fronting onto the Rushrock Water, where I can build a small forge. But to answer your question, sir. Yes, I can support Bilbo in any way he wishes me to."
At this, the Thain sat back in his chair and looked to the ceiling. He did this for several minutes before tilting his head back to look at Thorin. Thorin felt like he was facing Smaug all over again. He didn't think that the Thain would appreciate the comparison. Finally the Thain sat forward and lifted his hands.
"Well. I'll be along latter in the week, probably, Hevensday or Mersday, with the paperwork for the purchases. As for these knives, Thor, I'll give one set to my wife, one to Bilbo's heir's intended when they finally marry and the other will be kept to use for the big Shire Gatherings. If you don't mind, that is? The pocket knives, well, I'd like to keep this one for myself and we'll wait until your Wedding and the rest'll be lucky dip gifts for the lads that have started to Court in this year. How does that sound?" Fortimbras, picked out a simple pocket knife inclined his head to the rest of the blades on the table.
Thorin let out a breathe with a whoosh that left him feeling slightly lightheaded.
The Thain stood and ushered them back out to the rest of the Company.
"Come into the garden, lads and lets have some luncheon. After that Ferumbras and I will accompany you to Bag End and see you situated." Fortimbras said to the dwarrow gathered at his gate.
"Aye, Fortimbras, we'd like that." Said Balin.
But not one of the assembled dwarrow moved, their focus was solely on Thorin. They knew what Balin had collected the Family's Gift and waited to see if he had permission to Court the burglar Baggins. Fortimbras must have realised this for he turned to the dwarrow and said.
"Masters Fíli and Kíli, I am proud to have your work in my home." He had to stop and wait as a rousing cheer went up from the dwarrow. "Master Kíli have asked your uncle if I may give a set of your knives to my wife and another set to the lass Bilbo's heir intends to marry, not until the wedding of course. The other set we'll keep for using at Shire Gatherings. Master Fíli, I kept one of your blades for my self and the rest I intend to gift our to the lads who start Courting this year, again at their weddings, of course. Oh and when I come to Bag End next week, I'd like to talk to both of you regarding making a set of knives for my eldest son and his bride-to-be."
Thorin suddenly found himself with an armful of nephews and he couldn't bring himself to care that they clung in public, he was too happy.