Summary: Bilbo meets with the Thain. Does he get his blessing? And Avna and Bazani discuss their plans
Disclaimer: I own nothing. This is fiction
Meetings and Schemes
Kili knew Bilbo was nervous. There was always the chance that the Thain would decide not to give the blessing. Kili wasn't sure what would happen then. Would they return to Erebor? Would Bilbo have to stay here and raise his child among the Hobbits?
"Kili, calm down. If you freak out, then Bilbo will freak out. And if Bilbo freaks out, then he can't explain to the Thain, calmly and rationally, why he is having a child out of wed lock and why he wants to return to Erebor to be with the man he loves who is married to another woman!"
Kili gaped at Bofur. Throughout his little speech, Bofur had been getting more and more annoyed until, finally, he was shouting at his Prince.
"Bofur, are you okay?"
The older dwarf sighed and fell onto the bench beside Kili.
"I'm sorry lad. I just have a feeling."
"Feeling?"
"Aye, that something's wrong. I just don't know what."
"You and your feelings. I'm sure everything is fine. If not, we would have heard. Thorin would send a raven."
Bofur nodded, knowing the prince was right. Relieved, he reached for one of the bread rolls on the table. He'd miss elevenses when they went back to Erebor. Hobbits may be stuffy and old fashioned but they certainly knew how to eat.
"We need to head to the Thain now. Like, right this instant."
"Why now?"
"Because Kili, if we leave now, we will reach him right after he finishes his elevenses. He'll be full and happy and, shall we say, open to suggestion. So move it!"
Kili and Bofur followed Bilbo out the door. Bofur was impressed. Bilbo was sneaky. He'd make a great Royal Consort.
"He's acting like nothing's happening?"
Avna nodded, biting into her cake. Okay, even she would admit, Bilbo's cakes were better than this.
"Yeah. He's being professional. You told me that if I slept with him he'd start coming around."
The Queen frowned, stirring sugar in her tea.
"I suppose I underestimated how much he loved Kili."
"So what are we going to do?"
The Queen sipped her tea, waiting for inspiration to hit. A smile spread across her face as she thought.
"I know what to do. You're pregnant."
"No I'm not."
"Stupid girl. We'll say you're pregnant. Fili's honour means he'll have no choice but to marry you."
Avna gasped. Bazani was right. Fili was a Prince. Honour was everything to him. She grinned as she imagined being married to Fili.
"Wait, what happens when there's no child?"
"Oh sweetheart, miscarriages are so common amongst dwarves."
"True. Bazani, this is a great plan. We're brilliant!"
The Thain stared at his grandson.
"I must have misheard you. You are having a child and you are not married? And even if you want to marry this dwarf, he is married. And to top it all off, he is the King of the dwarven kingdom of Erebor."
Bilbo laughed nervously.
"Yes, essentially."
"And you want my blessing? For this child."
"Yes. Please."
The Thain sighed. Bilbo had always been adventurous, but this was madness.
"Do you love him lad? Like you mother loved your father?"
"More than that. I love him like Yavanna loves Mahal."
"And you're happy?"
"Delirious Grandfather."
"Then you am I to stand in your way. Kneel boy."
Bilbo knelt in front of his grandfather, smiling as the elder Hobbit placed a hand on his head.
"I, Gerontius Took, Thain of the Shire, give you, Bilbo Baggin of Bag End, my blessings. May your larder never empty and your family be large. May your marriage be as happy and long as a Midsummers festival. May you pass into the next world loved and mourned in equal measures and may your life be full of love, health and happiness. So mote it be."
A/N Done. R&R please. Next chapter, Fili reacts to Avna's news and Borin meets someone in the forest. A friend or foe?