AN: I am shamelessly going to ask you to please comment on this 8.3k chapter as it managed to be the most difficult chapter for me to finish writing with how many times I've reshaped the plot of this fic. Over 70k and I'm not on the road yet!

Chapter 17 - Smials

The Battle of the Hills was a story that brought the dwarrow of Ered Luin together, and yet, the official death of the Pale Orc renewed discussions of ascension.

Without Thorin being willing to completely denounce his father as dead he could not be named king.

In fact, Dís was officially named Queen Regent and her word outweighed Thorin. It was meant to be a reproach, only, Thorin was more than happy to cede control to Dís when it came to the colonies.

In fact, it made his bid for Erebor more convenient.

What was not convenient was Kíli and Fíli's insistence on going with them.

"It's not safe!" Dwalin yelled at them.

"Ered Luin wasn't safe either," Fíli snapped causing everyone to flinch. But that didn't stop him. "The Shire wasn't safe. Life isn't safe. Ered Luin isn't big enough, we don't have enough close neighbours to support us, and having a dragon on one side of the Iron Hills and the Enemy growing in the south isn't good for anybody."

Thorin sighed, exchanging looks with his siblings.

Kíli was better suited to be heir, inheriting much of Dís's common sense logistics of governing a settlement.

But Fíli had a head for the wider movements of Middle Earth.

"Go," Dís said, sounding defeated.

"Amad–" Kíli began.

"You have to go, may Mahal preserve you, but he's right. You are both too young for this, yet if there was a war you'd be expected to fight." She took a deep breath before continuing, "You're also wiser than your years and fine enough warriors in your own rights. Besides, Durins always found their way to trouble, one way or the other."

In other words, the chances of them following were high, and locking them up was no solution at all. Forcing a dwarf to do anything always, always, led to trouble, especially the royals.

Both boys hugged their mother, and she clung to them swallowing her tears until she had privacy for her fear and grief.

oOo

The planning for the reclaiming of Erebor took several months, and in that time, Estur decided to return back to the Iron Hills. She was too young to join the Thorin's Company and she found herself missing life in the East.

Her new friend, Sonna, chose to come with her, finally, leaving her past life fully behind her.

Sonna would see the world and found herself.

oOo

Thorin didn't know what his One would do as Gandalf had yet to confirm or deny whether Bilbo had agreed to become their burglar.

"I still can't believe Dain said no," Frerin bemoaned for what felt like the hundredth time.

"His adventure in Moria must have been enough for him," Dwalin offered, his tone thick enough with condensation it would take a cave troll to break it.

Balin sighed, "Likely, that is because Moria is now overrun by orcs if the rumours are to be believed. Which means our ore is in the hands of the enemy. I don't agree with his choice but I do understand. For if the dragon is alive, the Iron Hills are not so far away."

"Which is why he should want the worm gone," Frerin snapped.

Thorin might have been as angry, but Bilbo's courting gift hung heavy against his heart as his feet took him up a familiar path.

"It is because of the threat in the south he does not come," Thorin explained. "However, to have the worm at his back is no safe gamble."

Thorin did not believe the dragon was dead, he wouldn't be half so lucky.

Gandalf seemed put out by Thorin's steps which had grown slower and heavier with each foot fall, for the wizard soon decided to be the first up the route to Bag End.

"He won't leave his nephew, Thorin," Balin offered. "There is no need to fear his coming with us."

"Uncle Thorin, can we catch up with you," Fíli asked.

Thorin turned to nephew with a narrowed gaze, "Why?"

Fíli had been acting strange since he discovered they would be going to the Shire.

And Kíli, the brat, knew what was up and refused to say anything.

"Estel and I passed through the Shire, I just wanted to show Kíli some of the hills and the Party Tree. We won't have time tomorrow."

Thorin sighed and waved them off, the Shire was the least of the dangers they could encounter and it had its own beauty that he was glad for his nephews to explore freely.

Fíli took Kíli's hand and ran off like the dwarflings they ought to have still been, flying wild and reckless along the rolling green hills beneath the afternoon sun.

Thorin's gut twisted. They were both so mature for their ages but every now and then they would show their youth.

Dís was right that they were too young for this venture.

But locking them up in the dungeons wasn't really a solution.

And Fíli had travelled enough and likely had enough friends between Ered Luin and Rohan that they could make at least half the journey by themselves.

The rest of the company kept walking toward Bag End and Thorin was torn between wanting to pummel the wizard and the desire to see Bilbo again before he departed on this quest.

But Balin was right.

Bilbo wouldn't come with them. He hadn't been willing to leave Frodo two years ago; he wouldn't be willing to go dragon burgling now.

"What is wrong with you?" Frerin demanded suddenly.

Thorin had long since lost track of the conversation as he glared down at the wildflowers as if each one had mortally offended him.

Better anger than heartbreak.

"We're going to meet his secret love," Nori chirped.

Frerin snorted then gaped as Thorin merely grimaced at the statement.

How could he deny it? He would have made Bilbo King Consort if he hadn't been a mere crownless king himself.

Mahal save him, half of his drive to reclaim Erebor was so he could be worthy of his One.

"Thorin," Frerin demanded. "You told Nori and not me?"

Nori huffed, "He didn't have to tell me, unlike you, I'm observant. Dís made the same longing expressions and sighs around Mori for weeks before she realised he was blind. And in case you haven't noticed, you're the odd duck, princeling, your siblings would just as soon be mistaken as twins. They have the same face with the same sappy expressions."

Frerin shook his head, "Wait, how did she miss that he was blind?"

"Because she only ever saw him in the kitchens when he was working with Bombar. You know how those two were. And that was Mori's kitchen, he didn't need his cane there. But all the subtle looks she gave him and gesture were completely lost on him. They were adorable."

Thorin looked up to the stars, if Nori thought Mori had been adorable, he would be wrapped around Bilbo's finger before he could count the dishes on the table.

Frerin waved his hand, "But Thorin, why didn't you tell us?"

"He told Balin and I," Dwalin said.

Frerin glared daggers at him.

"And I told Dís," Thorin admitted.

"Why didn't you tell me though?" Frerin whined.

"Because you're annoying," Nori answered, stealing the words off Thorin's lips.

Frerin glowered, despite his full beard, looking younger than Fíli.

"I know you almost always have my best interest at heart," Thorin explained. "But I know you. And I couldn't afford you trying to get involved."

Frerin still looked infuriated until he truly thought about it and his shoulders slumped. "I can't say you're fully wrong."

Dís was bold and bullheaded, but Frerin could sometimes go past that. By past that, he meant extreme lengths to see his family happy headless of the political repercussions.

Thorin's attention was diverted by the fact he had finally reached the doorstep. He took in a bracing breath, then knocked.

Bilbo's welcoming smile was everything he could have wished it to be, "Thorin! I didn't realise you would be visiting us this year. Come in, come in."

"Gandalf didn't tell you?" he asked as he stepped in, taking his boots and socks off as well as his cloak.

Bilbo frowned and turned to glare over his shoulder. "No, he did not. But I can imagine what he has to tell me and I'm not going on any adventures with Frodo."

Thorin didn't want to tell him about the rune on his freshly painted door. "Right, would my company be able to stay the night?"

"Of course!" Bilbo exclaimed. "How many?"

"Fourteen," Thorin answered a tad sheepishly.

"Ah," Bilbo said. "Well you're in luck, we've been cooking since teatime. I'll just send Frodo out for Ham Gammgies's pie crusts."

"How can I help?" Thorin asked.

Bilbo smiled at him again, "Not in the kitchen, my dear. But you can move the table, we aren't all going to fit around the table. I think I have enough rooms for fourteen if a few don't mind sharing beds. The faunts already share a room, so they can stay with me in mine."

"They won't mind," Thorin assured as everyone entered, following his example by taking off their shoes.

Thorin introduced, "This is my younger brother Frerin, my cousins Balin, Dwalin, Oin, Gloin, and my sister's brothers, Dori, Nori, and Ori."

Bilbo bowed to them, "At your service." Then he smiled at the Ur's. "Welcome back, Bifur, Bofur, and is this your brother Bombur?"

Bofur slapped his brother on the shoulder, "Right in one, Bilbo!"

Bilbo smiled as he looked Bombur over before saying with a mischievous glint in his hazel eyes, "A pity you're married."

"Why?" Bombur asked warily.

Bilbo smiled, "Because you're quite fetching for a dwarf. You'd have quite the gaggle of twitters following you about."

Bombur, whose cheeks were already burning, went red up to his ears.

Thorin probably should have felt jealous, but his One's favour remained a warm weight over his heart.

The rest of the company seemed a bit unsure of whether their host was mocking Bombur or not.

By dwarven standards, Bombur, as one whose craft was baking, would be quite fetching indeed, but in exile, where fighting skills were not only prized but necessary if you had a family, Bombur wasn't all that desirable.

Not that Thorin had any stones to throw, if he, Frerin, Kíli, and Fíli were dwarrowdams, they would have been considered as beautiful as Dís, but as they all favoured Thrain's wife a little too well, their 'elvish' qualities made them all rather undesirable no matter what their fighting prowess was.

Bofur resolved any concerns by slapping his brother on the back and teasing him in Khuzdul about Tera fighting off hobbit competition.

"Fourteen dwarrow, incoming!" Bilbo called as he turned to handle the merry chaos his kitchen always was with a wizard, four other adult hobbits, and seven faunts.

Thorin heard Esmeralda curse but whether that was about their cooking plans or something one of the faunts had done, Thorin would never know.

oOo

Ferin jolted back as so many children hollered Thorin's name.

Frerin exchanged a look with Nori who had his back to the wall, apparently overwhelmed by all the excitement.

Sure, dwarrow were a generally excitable lot, but this was so many pebbles.

oOo

Dwalin looked to be in a state of shock as a group of tiny, tiny people jumped his charge.

oOo

Thorin, for his part, was not at all phased as scooped them all up in a hug. They all talked too fast to understand, but Thorin carried them further into the home so others could enter.

As soon as Bifur and Bofur were spotted, the company luckily all inside, Thorin was immediately forgotten in the potential for new toys.

Which the two cousins immediately pulled from their packs. Thorin didn't seem upset as he greeted his hobbit.

Thorin directed the company to the guest room he knew was Gandalf's and directed them all to take off their shoes, socks, and weapons there.

When they emerged, it was to an argument that Esmeralda swiftly ended with surety of the cat herder Thorin had come to know her as.

"Dwarves eat two to three meals a day, and thanks to the wizard, we had no time to prepare a full supper and dinner. So we will all share in a single supper and you fauntlings can have dessert for dinner."

A cheer dispersed between the faunts, though Frodo and Sam remained at Bilbo's side, eager to help.

Spotting them in his living room, Bilbo smiled, "Ah, my dear dwarrow, for those of you who haven't met my family."

Gandalf looked startled as if he hadn't realised this wasn't the first time Bag End had sheltered dwarrow.

Bilbo travelled, it was not so odd that he had met some of them. But recent years have changed the normality of things. Especially, after the Battle of the Hills.

"I am Bilbo Baggins and these are my nephews, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee."

Sam, who was not a true blood relative, went red from embarrassment, but before he could explain away his family being Bilbo's gardener, Bilbo went on.

"These are my cousins, Paladin and Eglantine Took, and their faunts, Pearl, Pimpernel, Pervinca, and Peregrin, or Pippin, Took."

The lasses curtsied, while Pippin just sort of vibrated in excitement as he hung onto Merry's arm.

Thorin hid a smile at his company's obvious awe at so many pebbles and the lasses that outnumbered the lads.

"And then our true Bucklanders, Esmeralda, who is Paladin's younger sister, and Saradoc Brandybuck and their son, Meriadoc."

"Merry's fine," Merry chirped happily.

Thorin inclined his head to them, "This is my brother Frerin. My cousins, Balin and Dwalin. And my more distant relatives, Oin, Gloin, Dori, Nori, and Ori. Then I believe you all know Bifur and his cousins Bofur and–"

Bofur wrapped an arm around Bombur' shoulder, "And my brother, Bombur."

Bilbo clapped and the four adults sprung toward the kitchen while the faunts went to Bifur and Bofur.

And while Bombur may have been 'a looker' they were much more interested in the toymakers.

"Excellent! Thorin, could you help with the table please?"

Thorin nodded and Frerin muttered in Khuzdul, "You let him order you around? You have it bad, don't you?"

Thorin didn't dignify that with a response as he went to move the table.

Which he ended up needing Dori's help with, not because the table was that heavy but because the faunts had all piled onto it, including a hesitant Sam who Frodo dragged along with him. All of them giggling madly.

Frodo was notably older than the other lads, but Thorin was happy to see that Frodo still embraced his mischievous side.

Soon the table was laid and a bounty was placed in front of them.

Bilbo froze when Frerin said, "Fíli is going to love this food."

He wasn't the only one to go still, the other adult hobbits looked sharply at Frerin, except for Saradoc who choked on his peas.

The other dwarves looked at them strangely, a protective glint entering their eyes. They were all more touchy about the princes, to the point where he was certain neither Dwalin nor Balin would enjoy their meals if Fíli was somehow unwelcome.

Thorin was a bit more trusting of the Shire.

The faunts went on eating, though they watched more quietly.

Thorin pressed his knee to Bilbo's in support and question.

Bilbo kept his gaze on his plate.

Finally, Saradoc asked, "Did you? Did you just say Fíli was coming here, tonight?"

The other adult hobbits had gone deathly still, all the blood draining from their faces when they seemed to place the name.

Frerin tilted his head, "Yes, why? He has mentioned that you met in the past when he passed through this way before."

"Passed through?" Esmeralda repeated, disdain in her tone. "Fíli Baggins, 'passed through the Shire?'"

Bilbo winced when Thorin looked at him questioningly.

Paladin glared at Frerin, "Are you talking about Fíli Baggins?"

"He's not a Baggins, he's a dwarf," Dwalin growled.

Esmeralda's eyes went wide, her mouth opening in a small 'O' of surprise.

"Fíli Baggins is a dwarf?" Eglantine asked.

"He was adopted!?" Paladin exclaimed, turning on the master of Bag End. "Bilbo!"

Bilbo looked down at his plate, "When everyone assumed he was mine, it was easier. I wasn't technically of age yet."

"You adopted my nephew?" Frerin asked.

"You're Bill Findel?" Nori asked, causing Thorin's world to tip off balance.

"I– Yes. I–" Bilbo began, not immediately denying it.

Thorin felt his heart ache and he had no idea how to feel as the conversation continued.

oOo

"But it is Fíli, brother of Kíli?" Esmeralda interrupted, causing Bilbo to flinch.

Fíli had been Saradoc's best friend when they were all faunts.

"Yes," Balin said. "Fíli's brother is Kíli, sons of Dís and Mori."

Esmeralda looked as if she was about to cry while Paladin, who was some years older than Bilbo, looked furious.

But something occurred to Bilbo, had Frerin meant Fíli is here in the Shire?

Here with Gandalf?

Thorin took his hand, squeezing it gently, "You raised Fíli?"

"Yes, I raised him after finding him in a blizzard during the Fell Winter that took over a fourth of the Shire's population. As far as he knew, his family was assassinated and there was no one to return him to.

Thorin swallowed, you saved my sister's son?

Bilbo nodded fully ready for him to be angry, but instead, Thorin looked somewhere between relieved and grateful.

"In all the years we knew you, why did you never say anything?" Bofur asked.

Bilbo felt his heart clench but he looked to Thorin, "Because I wronged you, I wronged him, when I did not try harder to find his remaining kin. I– I trusted the wrong messenger."

"You protected him," Thorin said, expression still unreadable.

"I did, but I still failed him. It was Fíli's story to tell, and I know he has not forgiven me or he would have told you about me," Bilbo said.

There was a beat of silence.

Saradoc though shook his head before saying meaningfully, "He wasn't ashamed of you. Besides, you know him, he was probably too proud to admit he was wrong, or he was ashamed of lying in the first place, so he avoided the topic."

"And you know him so well?" Frerin challenged.

Sara straightened in his seat, "Of course I do, he was my best friend when we were faunts!"

"I've never heard of him," Merry said, unhelpfully.

Esmeralda ruffled her son's curls, "We didn't talk about him because Uncle Bilbo didn't return from the east with him."

There was more to it than that, of course, but it wasn't for faunt ears what Bilbo's Tookish relatives would say about Bilbo's current neighbours.

"So you did take him to Rohan?" Nori asked.

Bilbo was not going to be the one to explain the elves to them, at least, not in front of the faunts.

"Well, I certainly wasn't the one to teach him smithing. His skill and knowledge is beyond any hobbit you'll ever meet."

"It's beyond men too," Frerin remarked, proving he wasn't as moronic as Thorin sometimes made him out to be.

Gandalf got ahold of the conversation then, "Now, now. I'm sure all can be explained in more detail later." He gave a meaningful look toward the little ones. "But let's first discuss the quest that we wish to hire Mr. Baggins services for."

How Gandalf thought that was a better topic for faunts, Bilbo would never know, though he supposed, it would make for a good tale.

"Hire me for what?" Bilbo asked.

Gandalf's gaze twinkled, "Why my dear Bilbo, to become a burglar, of course."

The faunts cheered, having no idea who Fíli was but prospective criminality they understood just fine.

Esmeralda called it, "Enough! All of you need to finish eating and then we can discuss dragons, the little ones are down for bed."

A huge uproar from the end of the table went up.

Paladin sighed, "You finally get out of being Thain."

Bilbo grinned, "I'm really breaking my hear, Thain Paladin II."

Paladin rolled his eyes.

Thorin blinked, realising that, truly, a Thain was different than a king if he could exchange the title that easily. "As simple as that?" Thorin asked. "You're coming with us?"

"Of course, he's going with you," Merry called leaning over the table.

Thorin raised an amused brow, "Oh?"

"Because he loves you," Pippin said with ease of someone stating that the sky was blue.

First course was finished before Sam managed to get Gandalf to expand on their planned journey.

"Where we are going is to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim Erebor," Gandalf said grandly.

"The twelve of them, plus a wizard, and a hobbit?" Bilbo clarified. His Heartsong was going to get them both killed if it was just them against a dragon, the fury of wizards notwithstanding.

"Fourteen dwarrow, actually," Gandalf corrected with twinkling eyes.

Bilbo arched a brow at the inane wizard, "You want me to steal from a dragon?"

The faunts lost all sense of composure, talking wildly even as they continued to eat. If the dwarves didn't get to it there wouldn't be much left for them.

"Bilbo is not going on this mission," Paladin said.

Esmeralda snorted, "He's Belladonna Took's son, of course, he's going."

"I'm going too!" Frodo called.

"No!" Bilbo and every adult the room said.

The faunts giggled, though Sam was clinging to Frodo, silently begging for him not to go.

"I'm of age," Frodo muttered, slumping in his seat.

"Before I answer, Mr. Still Grounded Until He's Fifty," Bilbo drawled. "Who else is coming? You said fourteen dwarrow, but I count only twelve."

Thorin looked suddenly guilty.

Because they all knew the truth, if Fíli was coming tonight then the thirteenth and fourteenth were the sons of Dís.

Bilbo glared at him as he hesitated to answer.

Bofur broke the wait by asking, "What, no questions about the furnace with wings?"

Bilbo found he didn't really care about the dragon, and asked, "Who are the two remaining dwarves in your company, Thorin?"

oOo

Thorin looked away as he finally answered, "My nephews, Kíli and F–ow!"

They all startled when the hobbit rose, tipping his stool with a clatter and smacked their king upside the back of the head.

"You idiot! You absolute moron! How could you even think to let them come? You don't even take them to the Shire!"

The company was gobsmacked, aside from Balin and Dwalin who exchanged a coin like they knew this was coming.

Despite being the equivalent of bodyguards, they were grinning at each other, doubtless impressed by their first meeting with Thorin's One.

"I didn't let them, they refused to–"

"They aren't even considered adults yet, are they? By the fires of Mt. Doom, they're the equivalent of tweens. You can't bring tweens to fight a dragon. Thorin have you completely lost your mind?"

"They are my nephews and heirs–"

"How is that not more of a reason to protect them? What did Dís have to say about this? Did they leave Ered Luin with her blessing?"

"They didn't leave us a choice. It was either take them with us or lock them up in the dungeons or have them follow alone behind us. It is their birthright to come. Dís did give them her blessings. And while we are indebted to you for protecting Fíli, you are not his sire to be making choices on his behalf."

oOo

Frerin wondered at the ease in which Thorin was accepting that, but Bilbo was already family even if they chose not to formally court. Dís herself had marked him so.

Which come to think of it meant Bilbo had probably confided the truth to her.

No wonder she had been so smug when she got home.

Besides that, the King's One was royalty no matter their station.

"The boys are going with us," Balin said.

Bilbo looked incensed.

Frerin added, "And even if it was given reluctantly, Dís's blessing was given."

Bilbo pinched the bridge of his nose, "Thorin–"

There was a knock on the door just then.

Bilbo was the first out of his seat.

oOo

"You okay?" Kíli asked as Fíli raised his hand to knock.

"No," Fíli said. "He's going to yell at me for knocking."

They had been exchanging letters for a while now but this still felt soooo…

It felt like an eternity had passed and yet, standing here, he felt as if the clock had turned back time and he was a mere dwarfling again returning home late.

As much as his dwarvish family had filled the holes inside of him, without his father being present, his life felt unfinished somehow.

The round door opened, smelling like home.

"Dah," Fíli greeted his father who had grown older and yet retained a spark that was entirely elvish.

Bilbo ran at him, grabbing him in a tight hug.

Fíli hugged him back just as fiercely though careful of his own strength. Dah had always been such a pillar of strength and wisdom in his life that it was always startling to realise how small he was.

Eventually, they parted, and Fíli reached down to wipe away the tears off his father's cheek.

Bilbo laughed at himself, "I've missed you so much, Fíli."

"I'm sorry," Fíli said earnestly both asking for forgiveness and confirming his own of their messy past.

Dah nodded, cupping Fíli's cheeks, "Your beard's growing in."

Fíli smiled at the evident pride. He gaze cut to Kíli's beard who hadn't grown as thick yet.

Kíli stuck out his tongue just as turned his attention to him.

Sucking in a breath, Kíli rushed a hasty bow, "It's an honour to meet you, Master Baggin–"

"None of that, Bilbo is fine," Dah tsked, pulling Kíli into an embrace. "It's good to finally meet you. You remain Fíli's favourite topic of conversation."

Kíli blushed.

"Come, come," Dah urged, drawing himself straight and ushering them in. "Or you'll have nothing warm to eat."

oOo

Kíli was not blind to how comfortable Fíli was entering this warm home and kicking off his boots.

Hobbits were interesting. Here he thought dwarrow had big families but the Baggins family (or were they Tooks?) was huge with so many pebbles.

A few of the hobbits, greeted Fíli with open-armed hugs while others eyed him with profound interest.

Kíli sat between Fíli and a lass who piled their plates with food.

So maybe it was hard not to love these people if their generosity over the years hadn't already earned his favour.

The dwarrow had fallen silent, both from eating and the way hobbits began talking faster and faster among themselves and with Fíli until they switched to another language.

It was less poetic than elvish, yet more… Mystical? If that was the right word.

"What language is that?" Kíli asked.

"The Green Speech," the hobbit on the other side of Esmeralda, Sara, answered. "Fíli's your brother so you can learn it if you like. It's not as complicated as elvish."

Bilbo waved his hand, "It's harder to hear though, bit like music really. Some say it was made so we could talk to flowers, others said it was so we could speak and no one would hear unless they knew what they were hearing."

"So it's a secret language," Balin said.

"Not really," Sara said. "But Gandalf, Glorfindel, and Estel are the only two non-hobbits I know who know it. Most don't bother with it, men, I swear can't hear it at all. They lose patience with it. Even a basic greeting is beyond them. Estel doesn't count."

Gandalf hummed, "It is a language of dreams and passing moments. It is not one that can be written nor easily repeated."

Kíli tried his best to pick out the words but he was pretty certain he was going to run into the same difficulty learning the Green Speech as it had been for Fíli to relearn the written Khuzdul.

The food though, was absolutely incredible and it made sense where his brother had learned to cook.

But Fíli didn't really bake much, the desserts at Bag End fresh from the oven were worth more than gold.

Kíli looked at his uncle and saw that he pretty much only had eyes for his One who was fussing over Fíli. Then Kíli exchanged a look with his Uncle Frerin, the thought passing between them, Is this what was missing in our family?

oOo

Frodo scratched his utensils together to distract from the tension of the moment.

"Frodo Baggins, do not, blunt the knives," Bilbo chided.

Which led the dwarrow to give the night's entertainment with song and tricks while cleaning up for everyone, to much laughter and applause.

It was quite late by the time they were able to discuss their journey.

They still had to wait to get down to details for confirmation the faunts were asleep, excluding Frodo and Sam who had been granted permission to stay up late.

"Why did you take Fíli to the Roharrim?" Gandalf asked Bilbo.

"I'm not a blacksmith nor do I know how to use any weapons. I wanted Fíli exposed to crafts few hobbits have interest in."

"You know dwarrow can be more than metal and stone workers," Dori remarked.

"He knows," Fíli said. "But I enjoyed it, and I got really competitive about it."

"Too competitive," Bilbo sighed. "We could hardly get you away from the forges."

"It paid off," Thorin said. "Especially, for one so young."

The pride on his face, the hobbit's, and Kíli's, had Fíli ducking his head.

Esmeralda came out from the back hall with the affirmation the little ones had lost the fight to exhaustion.

If he was being honest, Thorin was having a difficult time focusing on anything other than how wonderful his One was.

The silver cuff with the sigil of Durin was well deserved indeed, it was no wonder Dís had approved of him so quickly.

"So you're taking the northern pass after Rivendell?" Bilbo asked.

That snapped Thorin out of his stupor. "No, we are not going to the elves."

"You said you were going over the Misty Mountains," Bilbo stated.

"But not through elven territory," Thorin argued.

"Gandalf is taking you through Rivendell," Bilbo said, turning to the wizard in question. "Aren't you Gandalf?"

"Well," Gandalf muttered into his cup.

"We need to go that way anyway. Elrond said he's willing to take Frodo on as an apprentice and Sam wants to learn elvish. This is convenient for everyone. The elves patrol their lands, it leads us away from the man settlements, and they will feed and resupply during our stay there," Bilbo explained.

Frerin shook his head, "We can't trust the elves. I know you fought together in the Battle of the Hills, but they will try to stop us from reclaiming the mountain."

"And who are you to speak for the trustworthiness of another people?" Paladin asked hotly.

oOo

Bilbo drank water, feeling the day weighing heavily on him and wasn't done yet. They had to get through these discussions and then he was going to have to pack.

Thorin's brother's response chased away his musings of sleep.

"I Frerin, son of Thrain, son of Thror–"

Bilbo choked, coughing loudly to clear his pipes of the water he had drunk.

Frerin raised a golden brow at him.

Bilbo felt his cheeks heat but he looked between Thorin and Frerin, "I'm sorry, but you don't mean– not King Thrain, not King Thror, of Durin's direct line, do you?"

"Yes, he does," Kíli said with a sing-song tone.

"You're Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain," Bilbo asked his Heartsong, completely mortified.

"Yes," Thorin affirmed.

Bilbo looked at him then looked at Fíli and swore in the Green Speech, causing Fíli to burst out laughing and answer in the same. Bilbo knew the others only could hear twittering and sighing and not the foul language being tossed about.

No, to the dwarrow, it would be as if they spoke in bird song and the sound of the wind through leaves or even a brook babbling over rocks.

Thorin smiled, "I didn't think it would matter to you, Thain of the Shire."

Bilbo glared, "My position is temporary and how my times do I have to tell you and Dís, I'm not a king."

Paladin nodded, "And he is required to go with you and Fíli, so he's no longer Thain."

"What do you mean 'he has to?'" Thorin demanded.

Bilbo waved the concern away, "You're royalty, Thorin, and you never thought to share that with me? No wonder Dís and that little traitor looked so smug. I'm going to twist Estel's ear for not introducing you properly."

"We are not going to the elves," Frerin stated.

Bilbo glared at the blonde then looked at Thorin and smiled, "So you'll trust Frodo and Sam's safety to the elves rather than taking them yourself?"

They might not being moving forward on their courting, or perhaps they were, Bilbo knew that Thorin looked on Frodo as one of his own kin.

The expression on Thorin's face affirmed as much.

"Fine," he bit out. "We will stop in Rivendell–"

Protests went up among his company.

Thorin raised his voice, "We will not be telling the elves are reason beyond escorting the pebbles."

"We're not pebbles," Frodo pouted.

Balin cleared his throat, "There's also the matter of the contract, which I now have to change because we didn't realise our burglar would be someone who was Durin kin. As well as your payment."

Bilbo glowered at the elder dwarf, "No, you are not paying me for following my sons on a suicide mission."

"I'm not your son," Kíli quipped.

"Congratulations on your adoption," Bilbo told him. "Now sit down and eat."

Balin looked a bit upset but it wasn't because of Bilbo's impudence.

"You have to take some form of payment, laddie," Balin said. "It wouldn't be right."

"And what am I going to do with gold and jewels?" Bilbo asked. "I already have more money than I can spend due to my ancestors, and to the dismay of Hobbiton, my business."

"Are you a halfling lord?" Nori asked.

"Hobbit," Fíli and Thorin corrected.

"Respectable family," Bilbo answered.

"The invention of golf is a Gandalf tale to tell," Paladin said dryly.

"You don't have to spend it, you can save it for your heirs, for Frodo's children," Balin offered.

Frodo mouthed, ew, though was polite enough to not say it.

Which got a chuckle from those who saw.

Bilbo shook his head, "It would not help us. If anything, it would make us a target to outsiders."

"Outsiders are already a problem," Paladin noted.

"More of, then," Bilbo conceded before his gaze moved to Fíli.

oOo

Bilbo smiled suddenly which had Bifur hiding a smirk, well used to the Baggins' brand of mischief.

Fíli was already shaking his head, but before he could verbalize a protest, his dah said, "Give my fourteenth share to Dís."

"What?" Thorin asked.

Bifur shared a grin with his cousins. Bofur and Bifur were both amused by the awe and consternation the hobbits were causing the company.

"Your sister," Bilbo answered, amused.

"I know who she is, but why?"

"I could not begin to apologize for the years of her son's life she lost nor thank her for such a beautiful son. Doubt that would help anything really, and though gold is worthless in comparison, I am told dwarves like shiny things and it's a good a place to start as any."

The company was gaping at him.

Bifur noticed that the look Thorin was giving their burglar was a bit more than admiration.

"Dah," Fíli croaked.

your fourteenth share will go to Dís, which ultimately means it will go to Kíli and Fíli.

"Dah," Fíli chastised again.

Bilbo shook his head, "You can choose not to go poke a dragon and I'll be content to stay."

"I have to go."

"And I have to follow."

"You don't owe me anything," Fíli snapped.

"That's not how family works," Frodo said.

oOo

Sara intrupted, "Thorin, what are the foothills of Erebor like?"

Thorin arched a brow, he was rather fond of Saradoc, he was cheerful and sweet, and Thorin very much doubted he would ask for anything selfish.

He knew hobbits, at least the hobbits of this smial, too well.

Frerin, Balin, and Dwalin looked far more irritated. Dori too, for that matter.

"And what would that be, Mister Brandybuck?" Balin said a tad coldly.

"I want land outside of the mountain and help building smials in the foot hills. We could build them ourselves, but I would imagine the grounds a fair bit harder there than in the Shire."

Thorin could only stare.

Smials.

Plural. Thorin knew that Sara knew that he was in love with Bilbo and that living circumstances were keeping them apart, but to move their whole families from the Shire?

Esmeralda hugged her husband around the waist, not as if to hold him back, but as if he had just answered a prayer.

"I don't understand," Balin stated. "Why would you want such a thing?"

"Well, no one's using it, right?" Saradoc asked. "And I want the land closer to the elves than the ruins of Dale. I know the woodland elves didn't help you none but no elf has ever harmed a hobbit."

There was an implication there that turned Thorin's stomach. But before he could fully think the thought through, Frerin spoke.

"The land around the mountain is dead nothing grows there to this day but weeds and prickly shrubs."

Esmeralda scoffed, "Well of course not, Smaug is evil and killed for gold, nothing will grow right in a land unloved. But that doesn't mean the soil isn't rich. A forest surrounded your mountain, did it not?"

"Yes, but you're missing the part where it burned down, lass," Dori said. "We call it the Desolation of Smaug for a reason."

Esmeralda shook her head, "If a thousand year forest burned down then the soil is the wealthiest sort of ash any could ask for. Some trees even require a burning before the seeds will sprout. Let us hobbits worry about the growing things, and my husband and cousin will help you get your shiny rocks back."

"I'm still missing the part as to why you want it?" Frerin asked.

"Because it's good land and no one's going to use it. If you get your mountain back you're not going to live on the outside of it."

Thorin nodded, "If you want it, you can have it. Though I warn you, there is evil in the north, spiders to the west in Mirkwood, and men to the south. I know you're history with elves is favourable but the lands to the south east, between Erebor and the Iron Hills may serve you best. If nothing else, the renewed trade between the dwarven kingdoms would ensure a steady flow of protection between you, the humans, and investations."

Saradoc smiled, "You've proven to the Shire already that dwarves are good for their word. That sounds best to me."

Fíli spoke then, "But why do you want to leave the Shire?"

Gandalf added, "And why is it you think to speak for all of the Shire, Master Brandybuck."

"Because I was already forced out of my smial," Saradoc snapped. "And not because of goblins or orcs or dragons, but because of men. You Big Folk think it's all business as usual when the men start gettin' queer. But starving men are scarier than wargs. I know to kill a warg, but I can't kill a man just because he steals from a lass. We aren't as stupid as you think us 'halflings' to be, wizard. It's no excuse for a hungry man to steal from a hungry mother. It's evil to let a child starve, to take from one. To leave an infant in the snow because they can't feed it.

"And men do that to themselves. We've seen it. What do you think they'd do to us if they can't take care of their own? I would rather face a thousand dragons by myself than let my faunts go to war or be sold into slavery. Because our histories tell usthat when it comes to men, it's best to move on. We can't defend ourselves against them like we can against goblins. Men aren't all evil and we'd fail against an enemy like them."

There was a silence.

"I would give that land to the hobbits and build their smials myself if the dragon is defeated regardless of whether you join us, Saradoc," Thorin said.

Gloin shook his head, "I thought the plan was to rob the dragon, not kill it."

"Then that's a dumb plan," Esmeralda said.

"Didn't one of your stories say Smaug had a fallen scale on its breast?" Sam asked. "Can't you make some more black arrows like in the stories?"

They all turned to look at the tween, who immediately ducked behind Frodo who smiled, "You could set up traps on Ravenhill, and just launch a ton of arrows at once."

"How do you know where Raven Hill is?" Frerin asked.

"Uncle Bilbo's maps," Frodo answered cheerfully.

"Could you get your cousin to build those?" Bilbo asked. "I know an army couldn't march on Smaug but surely a small troop could set up some of those ground bows. I'll go into the mountain to check in on the dragon, who's hopefully already dead, and if he's not, I'll anger him and he'll be so irritated Smaug will be pushed to hunger."

Fíli laughed despite himself, "Perfectly logical."

"Angering large fire drakes is not logical at all," Gandalf refuted.

"No," Fíli corrected. "I meant we lead him into a trap."

"Dain already said he wouldn't help," Frerin said.

"He said he wouldn't give us an army," Kíli said. "But why couldn't we commission some weapons. There's enough of us to carry at least four of them if they meet us on the shore of Laketown. Besides Fíli and I already have detailed design plans we can send ahead of us."

"Maybe he'll change his mind about helping if he learns you've allied with the hobbits," Frodo offered.

"Why would that make him change his mind?" Fíli asked.

"Because it's strange," Saradoc answered, flashing Fíli a smile. "Even elves think we're strange and they can visit us whenever they like. I bet most of the dwarrow in the Iron Hills have never even heard about hobbit parties."

"They'll wish they hadn't once they're challenged to a drinking competition," Frodo mused, eyes twinkling.

Bofur said, "No good dwarf says no to a drinking competition."

Esmeralda smiled sweetly at the toymaker, "You can tell him we're unbeatable."

Bofur just grinned and tipped his hat to the lass.

"I think everyone ought to get some sleep," Bilbo said. "We'll have a few months to debate how best to defeat a dragon on the way. Saradoc and I need to pack. Master Oin, if you'd join me, you can take your pick of my stores."

Oin rose eagerly to finally see Bilbo's medical supply storage for himself but Balin rose to his feet with a staying hand.

"Now wait a moment, we haven't fully agreed to terms–"

Pippin's mother snatched the contract out of Balin's hand.

"I'll rewrite it for you and tomorrow you can read it over and then they'll sign."

Balin glared at her, "Erebor is–"

"Currently under the possession of a dragon," Esmeralda said, only the speed of her words giving any indication of how nervous she was for her Sara. "Yes, we got that part. But in this room you have adult representatives from the most influential and respectable families in the Shire. And if our futures rely on the future of this quest and this contract, then we will be writing it. Because if the dwarves fail us then we will have nothing and our children will be stranded."

Gloin said, "You didn't help us when Erebor fell."

"You didn't ask," she said primly. "It's not our fault no one takes us seriously enough to ask for help and we stay out of foreign politics because it's safer that way. But here you are, fourteen dwarves and a wizard who we've opened our doors to without hesitation, asking for our help and you're taking two fathers away from their families. If that isn't considered neighborly then every good thing I've heard about you is a falsehood."

"They're not going to cheat us," Thorin interrupted Balin's rebuttal. "Even if they wanted to, it's not as if they have a military to take the land by force. And Saradoc is right, we wouldn't use that land for anything."

"They are asking for our militaries to protect them," Balin pointed out.

"They have earned that over the last decade of taking myself and my kin in their homes and traditions without reservation. If I am to be king of the wealthiest dwarrow kingdoms once more than I would like to be generous to our friends. Our friends who were kind to us when we have nothing but danger to offer them.

"Bilbo's gold will go to Dís and Saradoc will have a deed to the foothills of Erebor. It is to our benefit anyway, as having growing fields closer to us is always beneficial and means we won't have to trade with the elves as much. The men of Laketown are fishermen, the farmers of Dale, those who survived, moved onto the lands surrounding Gondor. This is beneficial to everyone."

"But the hobbits shouldn't have to leave the Shire," it was Ori who spoke up.

Bilbo smiled, "No, we shouldn't have to. But it's not worth spilling blood over if we have another choice. Our ancestors were nomadic in an effort to avoid conflicts. Darker times are coming and I would rather be surrounded by friends, even if it means we must make for ourselves new homes in far away lands."

They all stared at the hobbit.

Among the company, side from Bofur, Bomber and Bifur whose families were from Ered Luin, they had all been forced from their homelands and they could never been half so gracious about the ordeal.

oOo

Thorin caught his hand as he passed, pulling him aside back into the study.

Bilbo bowed his head and stepped away as soon as the door was shut.

Afternoons helping the hobbit stock shelves and package orders for his increasing business in supplying medical supplies sat between them.

All the nights and seasons that had passed between them suffocated by the secrets they had kept from one another.

"Thorin, I'm sorry—"

"Thank you," Thorin interrupted.

Bilbo's head jerked up, "What?"

Thorin closed the space between them slowly, gently taking back his One's hands between his, "Thank you, Âzyungûn. Thank you for saving my sister's son. Thank you for adopting him, for feeding him, and for loving him as your own."

Bilbo blinked back tears, "You– you aren't angry?"

Thorin cupped his dear face between his hands, wiping a stray tear away with his thumb. "Perhaps I would have been, for the time lost, but not now that I know you. Now that I know who the dwarf my nephew has become, wise, brave, and beyond anything else, kind."

"He told me his family was dead when we found him," Bilbo said. "I was afraid–"

Thorin lowered his forehead to his, "Living with you, he had family, he knew he was loved, he learned his craft, and he has never known hunger as his older brother has. Dís believes herself indebted to you."

Bilbo shook his head, "No, Thorin, I– Did Fíli not tell you?"

Thorin pulled back, "Tell me what?"

Bilbo's whiskey hued eyes searched his face, before stepping back. "It's late, and tomorrow will be a long day."

He felt his heart sink down to his toes, "Frodo is of age. Fíli loves you. You're leaving with us ere break of day. What stands betwe–"

Bilbo held up a trembling hand as he shook his head, "Do not ask me. Do not ask me if, or until, we survive the dragon."

Thorin flinched, "I would not ask you to face a dragon. In fact, my wish is that you wouldn't."

Bilbo gave him a sad smile, "You did not have to ask. You have taken my heart and my son with you, how could I not follow?"

"If I still have your heart and we are to be together till the end then why must we stay apart?"

The remorse in Bilbo's eyes was gutting, "Because you have the pieces and I don't know how you will see me after you put them together."

"You told my sister," Thorin said, reaching out gently to touch the glinting silver ear cuff.

Bilbo shuttered, leaning toward him like a flower toward the light.

"That's why she gave you this. You are Kin of Durin."

"But you are not your sister, and she agreed that you might view it differently than her. It is remains Fíli's story to tell," Bilbo said as he pulled back.

Thorin watched him leave, his heart in shambles about the risks of this quest and the distance that remained between him and his One.

oOo

AN: Thoughts, Utah Raptors, or feedback, pretty please?