During the initial four days after his arrival, Thorin didn't cross paths with Master Baggins frequently. Occasionally, he observed glimpses of Dis and him spending time together as they sought to acquaint themselves with each other. Their activities mainly revolved around staying indoors or lingering nearby when outdoors. Meanwhile, Thorin could be consistently found in his woodshop for the majority of the time.
Thorin successfully evaded both breakfast and lunch with them, but dinner remained an unavoidable family affair.
At dinner, Thorin maintained a reserved demeanor, keeping mostly to himself and trying to tune out the conversations around him. He seemed quieter than usual, though no one seemed to take notice. Meanwhile, Master Baggins was brimming with stories that he enthusiastically shared, much to Thorin's evident displeasure.
On the fifth day following Bilbo's arrival, Dis approached Thorin with a request. "You want me to do what?" Thorin exclaimed, nearly spitting out his beverage.
Dis shot him an annoyed look. "I'd like to go to the meadows with Bilbo for a picnic, and I'd like you to chaperone."
"You want me, of all people, to hang out with Master Baggins and you?" Thorin asked brusquely. "Why on earth would I fancy that idea?"
"I want you to chaperone, Thorin. You will not have to make conversation with him," Dis pointed out. "Mother and father will not let us go if I don't find someone to accompany us."
"Then take one of the servants," Thorin interjected. "Why does it have to be me?"
"Because I trust you to leave us alone," Dis replied, looking at him pleadingly. "Please, Thorin, I beg you."
Dis cast him a gaze with doe eyes, her lips curled up in a warm smile. It was the perfect trap, as Thorin could never resist such a face from his sister.
"Fine then." He conceded. "But no chit-chat. Just pretend I am not there."
And so, Thorin found himself trudging behind Dis and Bilbo on a sunny morning as they made their way to the meadows. Bilbo carried a reed basket containing their picnic, while Dis strolled along next to him, both engaged in pleasant conversation. Thorin caught snippets of words here and there but could not make much of it. Not that he cared anyway.
They spent a solid hour strolling to the meadows, the sun's rays intensifying and kissing their skin upon their arrival. Dis and Bilbo settled amidst the blossoms, while Thorin, a short distance away, removed his jacket. Stretching out in the grass, Thorin reclined, his gaze fixed upon the azure sky. Meanwhile, Dis and Bilbo engaged in lively conversation and shared laughter nearby.
Thorin sensed himself slipping into a peaceful slumber yet remained attuned to the sounds of the surrounding conversation.
"I think your brother is asleep." Bilbo said.
Dis laughed. "Much of a chaperone he is."
"Should we wake him?" Bilbo asked.
"No, let him enjoy his nap for the time being."
"I sense a hint of disapproval from him." Admitted Bilbo, a trace of concern in his voice.
"Why would you think that?" Dis questioned.
Thorin, roused from his nap by their conversation, kept his eyes closed, intrigued by what would be said next.
"He appears to have taken a disliking to me for some reason," Bilbo responded. "He's never really given me a fair chance. Always acting grumpy and broody whenever I'm around."
Dis chuckled once more. "Don't take it to heart, Bilbo. Thorin has never been fond of new acquaintances. He takes time to get to know and trust someone before he starts opening up."
"It seems like quite the challenge," Bilbo remarked. "For a moment, I thought you were going to tell me you found him in the trash."
Thorin grinned unseen, funny, master Baggins, quite funny.
"Just bear with him. He will come around eventually." Dis assured. "He's not as bad as he may seem, my brother."
A peaceful silence enveloped them for a while, with only the gentle rustle of the breeze breaking it.
"Shall we eat our lunch?" Bilbo eventually asked.
"That sounds good." Dis replied.
Thorin could hear the subtle movements as they opened the basket and arranged everything before settling back down.
"Should we awaken your brother now?"
"Thorin!" Dis called out.
Thorin feigned being startled awake, sitting up and scanning his surroundings. "What is it, Dis?" he asked, rubbing his eyes. "Sorry, I must have dozed off."
"Will you join us for lunch?" she asked, smiling.
"No, thank you. I am not hungry," he replied, even though the truth was that he was hungry; he simply didn't want to dine with them.
Dis shrugged. "Suit yourself."
After Dis and Bilbo completed their lunch, they took a leisurely stroll around the meadow. As they passed by, Dis dumped the leftovers in Thorin's lap, saying, "I know you're hungry, don't be stubborn."
Thorin begrudgingly ate his lunch, the voices of Dis and Bilbo gradually fading into the distance as they walked away.
Having finished his lunch, Thorin tidied up the remains and neatly arranged everything back in the reed basket. Sensing the wind picking up speed, blowing stronger than earlier in the day, he looked up at the sky. Clouds drifted by, and on the distant horizon, he could see thunderclouds approaching.
"Dis, Master Baggins!" he called out, the two not immediately in sight. "We have to go; there's a storm coming our way!"
It didn't take them long to rush back, Thorin already moving in their direction.
"We should go," he repeated. "At least, if we don't want to get drenched."
The three of them hurried back to the mansion. The first drops of rain falling when they were halfway there, thunder rumbling in the distance.
"Wait!" Bilbo suddenly cried out. "My basket. I forgot my basket."
"Leave it. There is no time to turn back." Thorin insisted.
"I have to go get it." Bilbo retorted, turning on his heels. "It's important."
"I strongly recommend against it, master Baggins." Thorin spoke in a stern voice. "These storms can be dangerous. Neither my sister nor I will join you if you go back now. You will be on your own."
"I'll be fine." Bilbo blurted out, then sped off in the opposite direction.
Dis and Thorin continued to the mansion, but they did not make it before the rain started to pour down from the sky.
Soaking wet they arrived at their home. Promptly discarding their wet clothes upon entering.
Both headed to their respective rooms to change into dry attire, rejoining in the hallway once they were dressed.
"Master Baggins is not going to be pleased to find himself in this downpour." Thorin stated, looking at the rain through the window. "Can't say I didn't warn him."
"I hope he is ok." Dis softly replied, joining her brother at the window. "I'm a bit worried about him, to be honest."
Thunder rumbled above them again, a flash of lightning illuminating the sky.
"If he isn't back in 30 minutes, I'll go search for him." Thorin reassured his sister, noticing her troubled expression.
Thirty minutes passed, and Bilbo still hadn't returned. Thunder continued to rumble, and lightning strikes illuminated the sky, accompanied by the relentless downpour.
Thorin, realizing the urgency, donned his raincoat and boots, well aware that they wouldn't keep him completely dry but were better than nothing.
"Be careful out there, Thorin," Dis said, worry evident on her face.
Thorin pulled her into an embrace. "I will. Don't worry; I will find him. He probably just lost his way."
"Thank you, Thorin," Dis replied, burying her head in the crook of his neck. "For doing this... I know you do not like Bilbo, and yet..."
"It's not because I don't like Master Baggins that I don't care about his well-being," Thorin interrupted, letting go of his sister.
"That wasn't what I meant," Dis interjected. "I wanted to say you were going through the trouble to find him, even though you don't like him."
Thorin was outside for less than a minute only to find himself instantly drenched as the rain continued to pour, obscuring his vision.
Despite the challenging weather, he maintained a determined pace toward the meadows, scanning the area for any sign of Bilbo.
Worry began to creep in as Thorin failed to spot Bilbo anywhere. The path, already challenging, became even more treacherous in the downpour, raising concerns about Bilbo's safety. The thunder rumbled, and lightning struck, startling Thorin.
As the adverse weather persisted, Thorin grappled with the decision of how much further he was willing to go. Balancing the urgency of finding Bilbo with the increasing dangers of the storm, he had to consider his own safety in the process.
"Bilbo!" Thorin called out, desperately searching for any sign of Master Baggins.
"Bilbo!" He tried again when there was no response. Thorin pressed on, walking a bit further, shielding his eyes from the relentless rain with his hand. Suddenly, he tripped, tumbling face-first into the grass, the impact knocking the breath out of his lungs.
Rolling onto his back, Thorin saw the cause of his fall: Master Baggins lay in the grass, his reed basket clenched firmly in his hands.
"Bilbo?" Thorin asked, crawling towards him on his knees. "Are you alright?"
Bilbo didn't react, prompting Thorin to investigate further. To his relief, there was no evidence of physical harm. Apart from being unconscious, he seemed unharmed.
"Bilbo." Thorin stated again, shaking the smaller man's shoulder. "Wake up, you idiot!"
Bilbo's eyes slowly fluttered open. "Thorin?"
"Come on, get to your feet." Thorin said impatiently, getting up himself. "We need to get out of this storm."
Bilbo did as he was told, although very slowly, still clenching the reed basket against him.
"I think I slipped and fell." Bilbo tried to explain. "The weather turned rather suddenly."
Thorin rolled his eyes in annoyance. He had warned him about the incoming storm.
"Save the talking for later. First, let's get you inside."
The two men made their way back to the mansion slowly, with Thorin supporting Bilbo, who struggled to maintain stable footing on his unsteady legs. The rain continued to beat down on them as they navigated through the storm toward the shelter of the mansion.
"Thank goodness, you are back." Dis stated in relief as they walked in. "What happened?"
"I found this one unconscious in the grass, halfway to the meadows." Thorin explained, taking the reed basket from Bilbo. "Take off your wet clothes, master Baggins. You might catch a cold."
Thorin heeded his own advice, swiftly getting rid of his soaked clothes as one of their servants promptly brought him a fresh set.
He watched as Bilbo undressed himself, noticing he wasn't as chubby as he expected. There was even a bit of muscle visible on his abdomen.
"Thank you," Bilbo stated when they were both in dry clothes, looking at Thorin sheepishly.
"Thank you?!" Thorin growled, needing to express his displeasure with Bilbo. "Is that all you've got to say for yourself?! I told you that a storm was coming! I warned you not to go back! And you didn't listen! You needed to be stubborn!"
Bilbo, who didn't expect Thorin's outburst, took a step backward.
"And then I go searching for you! In the pouring rain! Putting myself in danger to find you!" Thorin scolded. "And for the sake of what, a reed basket!"
"It's important to me," Bilbo softly spoke, his eyes directed at the ground.
"It is a basket, Master Baggins! Plenty of those go around!" Thorin continued his lecture. "What could be so important about this one that you choose to retrieve it in the middle of a storm?!"
"It is my late mother's basket!" Bilbo cried out, looking straight at Thorin. "It's all I have left of her!"
Thorin's annoyance was immediately forgotten. Gazing at the crumpled man before him, he felt a twinge of sympathy for Bilbo.
"I am... sorry. I did not know," he admitted, looking at Dis helplessly, aware that he was in the wrong but unsure of how to fix it.
"I'm sorry," he stated again, then abruptly turned around and walked away.
Thorin skipped dinner that evening, unable to face Master Baggins. He remained uncertain about what to say or do to mend the strained situation. While he still wasn't particularly fond of Bilbo, his disliking for him had diminished the moment Bilbo mentioned his deceased mother. Thorin understood all too well the pain of mourning someone one cared deeply about.
Hopefully you enjoyed the second chapter.
Feel free to leave any feedback, it's greatly appreciated.
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