A/N: I don't know how fitting it is that ten years later this is finally completed, but it feels like a full circle at least. I thought back a lot to who I was when I first started writing this and I wish that girl could know how her life was going to turn out. The heartbreak, joy, pain, and what lay ahead of her. I don't know if she'll be happy with who she turned into, but I know she'll be proud nonetheless. Please enjoy the last chapter of The Red Coat, and I truly mean that.
"Please, please work," Bilbo prayed, jiggling the pin the lock of the door. His fingers were numb with pain but he pushed through. Even when blood smeared on the door lock, he continued to maneuver the pin. He couldn't care less about anything, anything at all besides Thorin. He needed to see him, speak to him about everything and good gods why wouldn't this door open?
He cursed again, dropping the pin from his sweaty hands. He could hear talking going, but it had been going on for quite a bit and who knew how much longer the dwarves would be here. If they left before Bilbo could get out of this hell...
No, no, he thought furiously as he picked up the pin again. "I will not give up so damn quickly!"
Click.
Bilbo almost didn't breathe, too scared that the sight of the door swinging open would disappear. He slowly rose to his feet and slipped out, picking up the button.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Balin glanced at the door, setting his cup of tea down on the side table. "Are you expecting company, Miss Primula?"
"Oh my, no! I can't think of anyone who would be here right now interrupting such an important moment for my girls," Primula ground out sweetly. She had a tight smile on her lips, the gaudy feather fan in her hand swinging fast. "Just give me a moment, Master Dwarf, and I'll get rid of them."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"I see...Dwalin, get the door for Mrs. Baggins." The scarred dwarf nodded and headed out of the sitting room without a word. "Bring their guest in here with us. The more the merrier!"
"It's Bramble, sir," Primula corrected, her fan covering her frown.
The older dwarf narrowed his eyes. "Were you not married to Bungo Baggins?"
"Yes, but he died in the first year of our marriage," she explained, sniffling and dotting at her eyes with a handkerchief. "Yavanna took him from us too soon. I have been left behind alone to take care of everything."
"And you have your daughters, correct? No sons?"
Primula ignored his second question. "Yes, my girls are my entire world. Girls, girls, come forward! This is Tigerlily and this is Azealia! Aren't they just the most beautiful girls you've ever laid your eyes on?"
"Is it time to try on the coat?" Tigerlily stumbled forward and curtsied low to Balin, wobbling on her way up. "Er, your Majesty."
"No, I'm going first!" Azealia stomped as she shouldered her sister to the side. "I-I mean, I would love to try on the coat first, your Majesty."
"Oh, I am not royalty. My heart wouldn't be able to handle such stress. I am the Head Advisor to Queen Belna, Ori is the Royal Scribe, and of course, Dwalin is the Captain of the Guard." Balin glanced towards the doorway where Dwalin had disappeared down.
He returned his gaze to Primula. "This tea is quite lovely, madam. I promise you just a few more questions and we can go on with trying on the coat. Ah, Dwalin, who was it?"
"Balin," Thorin greeted, moving past the warrior.
"Your Majesty!" Tigerlily gasped.
"It's the prince!" Everyone in the room rose and bowed.
"We greet his Majesty, Prince Thorin," Balin said.
"You may rise. Where is Bilbo?"
The very air in the room grew still.
"Must I ask again?"
Primula straightened up. "I apologize, your Majesty, but there is no one with that name who lives here."
"Your stepson, Bilbo Baggins, doesn't live in this home? The home where he was raised by his mother and father?" Balin pressed, sipping the tea cup. He enjoyed how sour the older hobbit's expression turned.
"It is a private matter, Master Balin. I do not wish to discuss it with strangers."
"How peculiar," Thorin said coldly, looking around the room. "I see portraits of yourself and your daughters, madam, but none of him. Why is that?"
"My mother said he doesn't live here," Azealia said haughtily.
Thorin glanced at her momentarily before snapping, "I was not speaking to you and I suggest you watch your tongue. Dwalin is quite skilled in tongue removal."
Azealia squeaked in fright and hid behind her sister.
"If you insist on knowing, Bilbo left the day after the ball," Primula lied.
"What did you say?" Thorin turned his gaze back to the older woman.
She dabbed at her dry eyes with her handkerchief, shaking her head. "I did not wish to air such filthy laundry in front of royalty, but you leave me no other choice, your Majesty! He left! I begged the lad to stay (what would the neighbors think, I cried!) but he insisted he couldn't stand it here anymore. He ran off with a dwarf that morning, and only Yavanna knows where he is now. But instead of talking about that boy, why don't you allow my beautiful Tigerlily to show you that the coat is hers?"
Thorin clenched his fists but said nothing. After a few moments of tense silence, he smiled and icily said, "You're lying."
"Excuse me? Your Majesty, you may be in line for the throne, but you cannot accuse a Bramble of lying with no evidence! I have a reputation!"
"Then who is that standing behind you?"
She froze. "E-Excuse me?"
"I would turn around, madam," Balin suggested, grinning ear to ear.
Primula turned around slowly, her eyes widening.
Bilbo stood in the doorway, glancing about nervously. His untucked shirt was torn and dirty from the floor of the cellar, his once taupe trousers in no better state. His left hand clutched the upper part of his right arm, a long pin clutched in his right hand. He stepped forward slowly and gave his stepmother a smile.
"Stepmother, you didn't tell me we had guests."
"This is a right mess," Queen Belna groaned, rubbing her forehead with her hand.
"You are correct as ever, your Majesty. I have gathered everyone involved," Balin said.
Her eyes scanned the lot of dwarves and hobbits in front of her before she met the bemused eyes of Balin. Does anyone care to explain to me why there are three hobbitesses in chains in front of me?"
"Hobbitessi? Hobbiti?" Dis asked, looking at Ori.
The red haired dwarf tilted his head before responding with, "I-I'm not sure, actually."
"Isn't this your area of expertise?" Dis pointed out. Ori said nothing in reply, but his cheeks were a bright red as he harumphed.
"Anyone?" Queen Belna urged, ignoring the two at her side.
"I-I can, your Majesty," said a timid voice from the lot. The golden haired hobbit stepped forward, his hands twisting the corner of his dirtied shirt.
"And you are?"
"I am Bilbo Baggins of Bag End, your Majesty," Bilbo answered, bowing low for the queen. "And I fear that my cowardice is the reason for all of this."
"I suggest you start explaining, Master Baggins. Because of you my son and grandsons were love stuck for days. My patience is worn thin with you already and I have half a mind to have you put in chains as well," Queen Belna tersely said.
Thorn opened his mouth to say something but a glare from his mother kept him quiet. Bilbo gave him a reassuring smile and turned back to the dwarf queen.
"Yes, your Majesty. I dragged Mira and Hannai into this. If it wasn't for my fear of the unknown, they would have stayed at the ball and danced the night away with Prince Kili and Fili. But their loyalty to me is beyond anything I deserve," Bilbo choked out, tears spilling from his eyes. Hannai, standing next to Fili on the dais, sniffled a little at his words.
"Why run then? Has Prince Thorin been unkind to you? Has he been cruel to you?"
"No! Never!"
"Then why hurt him so?" Queen Belna demanded.
Bilbo stared at Thorin as he answered tearfully, "Because I am no one, your Majesty. I am an orphan whose own stepfamily shows no love to. How can a lowly thing like me even think of loving Prince Thorin? But I do. With every ounce of my heart, I love him. And that is why I said yes to his courtship."
At that, Bilbo untucked the braid he had hidden away. The beautiful plait was held with the bead Thorin had secured it with. The mithril bead with a piece of Arkenstone.
The crowd in the throne room gasped and began chattering away. Queen Belna raised her hand for silence and the room immediately quietened. "Master Baggins, you are full of surprises. I do not need any further convincing as to your love for my son, but I did make a declaration that searched for the hobbit who wore the burgundy coat."
"That is I," Bilbo confidently replied. "I have here the golden button that fell off the coat and I can try on the coat for your Majesty."
Queen Belna smiled and motioned Thorin forward. The dwarf walked down the dais with the coat in hand, holding it out for his hobbit. Thorin whispered, "You are braver than you think, Bilbo."
"Only because I love you so," he whispered back, slipping his arms into the coat. With steady fingers he buttoned it up and a bright gold light filled the room.
This time, unlike with the girls' masks, Bilbo rose gently in the air. Golden light surrounded him and when he was lowered down, he was back in the outfit he had appeared in at the ball.
"You look stunning," Thorin whispered in awe, wrapping his arms around the hobbit.
"Well, this appears a good a time as any to make my presence known," said a gravelly voice from the back of the throne room. A gray hat and walking stick were seen above all the heads and Gandalf strode forward. The two broke from their embrace as the crowd parted for the wizard.
"Ah, Gandalf the Gray. What brings you to Erebor?" Queen Belna asked. "Does it have anything to do with this matter?"
"It does, but not in the way you think, your Majesty. I am fulfilling a promise I made to a friend a long time ago. You see, I am Bilbo's wizard godfather and I swore to his mother to always keep him on the path to happiness."
"You were the means by which they attended the ball?" Thorin asked, putting the pieces together.
"Yes, your Majesty. I wished to see Bilbo step into the light then, but he was not quite ready."
"I'm sorry," Bilbo began, but Gandalf waved his response off with his hand.
"It is quite alright, my boy. Everything has worked out in it's own way. However, I also bring to your Majesty's attention."
"What would that be?" Queen Belna asked curiously.
"The horrible treatment that Primula Bramble has inflicted on her stepson." Gandalf's voice boomed out in the room.
Everyone turned to the chained trio kneeling in front of Queen Belna. They had been gagged, but at Gandalf's words, the guard took off Primula's gag.
"He's lying, your Majesty! He is nothing but a kook! Bungo never told me about a fairy godfather for Bilbo!" Primula yelled.
"Wizard godfather! I am not a fairy," Gandalf shot back.
"I only ever disciplined the boy! I never did nothing that wasn't for his own good!"
"You're lying," Bilbo interrupted. "You hit me and punished me whenever the mood struck you. I almost became orc food because of your cruelty! If it hadn't been for Thorin saving me, I wouldn't be here right now!"
"Your Majesty, may I speak?" Oin stepped forward.
"Go on."
"I treated a hobbit a while back. He was black and blue, and there were older scars on him. Upon seeing him now, it was Master Baggins that I treated!"
"I remember! We talked about it after Dwalin got hurt on a border patrol," Ori exclaimed.
"Mother, I spoke with Dori on the matter right before the ball," Thorin added.
"Lies! They are all lies, your Majesty! I am a good mother!" Primula cried out.
"Enough!" Queen Belna rose. She walked down the dais and straight to Bilbo. She held his hands in hers. "Look me directly in the eyes, Master Baggins. Tell me: is everything true? Has this been happening under my nose for years?"
"Yes."
"Thank you for your honesty and bravery. I hope you can forgive me."
"I do not understand, your Majesty. Forgive you?" Bilbo asked.
"I am your ruler and I failed to know that one of my citizens was being hurt. Hobbits have aided dwarves in more ways than I can think of and I detest hearing that harm came your way. At the hands of one you considered family," Queen Belna said. "I have made my decision! I declare here and now that Primula Bramble and her daughters are no longer recognized as citizens of Erebor! You shall be banished form Erebor until the end of your days for your cruelty!"
Primula collapsed to the floor in tears, her daughters scooting closer to her as they sobbed through their gags.
"Your Majesty, may I make a request?" Bilbo asked.
Queen Belna nodded. "Do you wish for their limbs to be removed?"
"I can pluck out her eyes," Thorin offered.
"I've always been good at skinnin'!" Dwalin added.
"Er, no thank you. All of you. Instead of banishing them, I wish for them to be in servitude to the people of Erebor. I want them to suffer in the conditions that I did and only when they have truly learned the wrong of their ways, may they be forgiven."
"That is all? Do you not wish for revenge after everything they have done to you?"
"I wish to move forward with my love and friends," Bilbo answered, holding Thorin's hand.
"Very well. Primula Bramble, be glad your stepson is more merciful than I. From today on, you shall serve the poorest of Erebor alongside your daughters until I see fit," Queen Belna declared.
"And we will always be watching to ensure you do not slip up," Thorin darkly promised the trembling hobbit woman.
"Take them away!"
"Come, Gloin! We're going to be late!" Ori shouted. He held in his hands a bowl of white petals and he passed a similar bowl to Gloin. The rest of the company all huddled on the raised platform, eagerly looking down the path for any sight of them.
"I'm coming! I'm coming! Quit rushing me!"
"The carriages are about to go past!" Dwalin shouted. "Hurry your arses!"
"Dwalin! Language!" Ori reprimanded.
"What an eventful few weeks. That wicked woman and her daughters are gone now and we've had a wedding," Balin said.
"Wedding? Don't you mean three weddings in one day?" Dis groaned. "You'd think having them all on the same day would make it easer, but no! I swear, I will never catch up on all the sleep I've missed to get those three fools married!"
"But they all looked so handsome! And Mira and Hannai looked so beautiful in their dresses," Ori added.
"Mahal has blessed us with a beautiful day as well," Queen Belna mused. "A picture perfect day."
"Ugh, thankfully it's all over. Here come the carriages! Get ready with your petals!" Nori shouted down at the gathered crowd.
Two carriages approached the opened gates of the palace. The first one was a bronze carriage lead by brown ponies decorated in red and blue flowers. It held Prince Kili and Princess Hannai seated on one side and Prince Fili and Princess Mira on the other. The couples waved to both sides of the crowds, sharing a kiss here and there to the growing cheers.
"Everyone looks so happy to see us," Hannai said.
"If I get hit with another petal, I'll scream," Mira retorted, spitting out a petal.
"You look beautiful even with petals in your mouth," Fili flirted, kissing his bride's cheek.
"I made you a flower crown with some they threw in, Hannai," Kill exclaimed, holding up the flower crown to her. Hannai took it gratefully, kissing her groom.
The carriage behind them, a golden carriage led by white ponies decorated in white flowers, held Prince Thorin and Prince Bilbo. Prince Thorin was dressed handsomely in robes of blue and white, the Durin crest shining brightly on his chest. His hair was adorned with messy braids that his One had done himself and the ceremonial crown his father used to wear.
Beside him, Bilbo beamed as he waved. He dressed in a white version of his ball outfit. His hair now held two braids, the ends held with the mithril clasps his love had forged. On his left hand was a beautiful gold band that matched Thorin's. It also matched the bright gold buttons that adorned his white coat and his golden crown.
"You are my everything, azyhungal," Thorin whispered in Bilbo's ear.
"You are my heart," Bilbo replied sweetly, a soft blush on his cheeks. He pulled the dwarf in for a kiss, the crowds cheering and Bombur whistling at them.
He pulled away just in time to see a brown thrush with knowing eyes flying over the carriage. Bilbo quickly waved at the bird, laughing delightfully as he hugged his husband and smiled at his new found family. The bird then took off into the sky and away into the setting sun.
The brown thrush flew over rolling hills until it landed on the staff of Gandalf the Gray. He set down his pipe and gestured the bird to join him by the fire. He listened to the bird's chirps and handed it a treat, petting it on the head before saying, "Oh, do you want to know what happens next? Well, they all live happily ever after."