He had almost forgotten, after three weeks underground; how bright and warm the sun was. Despite the winter weather, the feeling of the rays as they hit his face calmed him, the light acting as a balm for his soul. The air was crisp, and a light dusting of snow lay in shadowy crevasses where the sun never touched. It was close to noon as he and Ori made their way down the side of the mountain. The ravens and other birds that had found their way back after the dragon's demise watched them closely, but otherwise there was no life on the lonely mountain. The chill cut through Bilbo like a knife, but he didn't complain. His freedom was worth a little suffering.
They moved quickly down the path with their pace not quite a jog, trying to get as far from Erebor as possible before his absence was discovered. They reached Dale within the hour and continued farther still even as dusk raced on their heels. The duo reached the river by nightfall, the temperature dropping considerably with the breeze pushing off the body of water. But it hadn't frozen yet.
"Should we take the boat?" Ori asked, setting down the pack on the river's edge.
"If we do it's just the two of us to steer it up stream, I'm not sure that I have the strength to fight the current." An analogy for my life? He thought with a frown.
"Very true, we will need to make our way upstream by foot then. Should we continue on in the dark?" Bilbo looked up at the mountain, seeing a small beacon of light shining from its face. He knew who stared out from the rampart, looking for any sign of life below.
"Yes, lets continue until we are too tired to walk." The dark of the night wasn't as terrifying and oppressive as it was in the mountain, the starlight glittering above them. They marched their way through tall dry grass following a long side the river. There was no sign of life, almost everything either hibernating or having moved on for winter. Much smarter than the hobbit and the dwarf currently on the run from a mad king.
While they ended up taking quite a few breaks throughout the night to eat and trade the pack between them, it was almost daybreak before they decided to stop for camp. It was a small clearing, the grass bent sideways in a large circle as if a deer had slept on it the night before. Bilbo's legs felt like gelatin as he collapsed in the grass to stare up at the lightening sky.
"Are you alright?" Ori stood over him, worry written all over his face.
"Yes, just tired. I'm sorry to be dragging you along with me, and at such a breakneck pace. I'm sure you'd much rather be back in Erebor with the others."
"Not really," He sat down beside Bilbo to rummage through the pack, pulling out some dried meat to share. "It was my idea to come with you. Balin needed to get a message to Dwalin and I just happened to have a pen. Plus, I would not have let you make this journey alone. Neither would my brothers."
"Honestly, out of everyone, I didn't expect Dori to go against Thorin." Bilbo rubbed his temples from the growing headache.
"It's complicated for them; your courtship with our king is a troubled one, but it is not unheard of for dwarven males to force themselves on their partners. I was born out of love, but it took Ma and Da a very long time to find each other. You may have noticed that none of us look the same. Dori might want to seem all proper, but we come from a very impoverished community where thieving and prostitution are common. They grew up with Ma coming home bruised. That's why Nori became a thief, to try to make enough money to keep her from needing to meet customers. And that's why Dori is so protective of me, so that I never have to know what they went through…" He trailed off as he stared back at the mountain behind them. It was shocking Bilbo to hear where his friends had come from, but it was also like putting together the last of a puzzle, the bigger picture finally coming together.
"What is she like? Your mother?"
"Interestingly, she's a lot like you," Ori laughed. "Witty, smart, and calm. I hope you'll one day meet her when she comes to see the mountain; she would love you."
"You must miss her a lot."
"I do, but I will see her again soon, and I will have this," He patted his notebook, "to share with her."
Pushing himself to his feet, Bilbo turned to the river. "I'm going to go rinse off, we can get some sleep and travel by night if that's okay?"
Ori waved him off, opening his book to a blank page. "That is fine."
Making his way to the water's edge, he tested the temperature with his toes. Icy water made him shiver but he needed to clean up sooner or later. Pulling off his coat, he pulled the crystal soap and handkerchief from one of the pockets. Setting it to the side, he shed the rest of his clothes to stand shivering by the river side. Using the hanky as a washrag, he dipped it into the river before lathering it with the crystal as foam covered his hands. He quickly rubbed the cloth over his arms, chest and legs ignoring the soreness from the journey. Lastly, he rubbed the crystal between his wet hands before washing his face. Splashing the chilly liquid over himself to rinse, he looked up to see bright yellow eyes staring back at him.
Not a heartbeat went by before a grin spread across Bilbo's face.
"Beorn! You shouldn't sneak up on people like that," The bear raised its lips in a makeshift grin, giving a big shake of his shoulders and head. Stepping forward the giant bear crossed the river to come to his side, shaking water everywhere. Slipping the Mithril over his shoulders, he watched the beast turn into a man right before his eyes.
"Hello future friend." The large male looked around as Bilbo dressed. Not much had changed, other than a tired look about him, dark circle under his eyes and a slimness to his face.
"You're a long way from home, what brings you all the way out here?"
"The wizard sent me to fetch you," He growled in the direction of Ori, "Told me to keep you away from the dwarves."
Bilbo shook his head, "Ori is traveling with me to Lake Town, so I'd appreciate keeping this one around." This only received a grunt as they made their way up the hill to their makeshift camp sight. Coming to the clearing he found Ori passed out, a blanket covering him from the cold. Bilbo realized that what he had assumed was a deer bed was more than likely the shifter's bed given its size. He shook his head as fate continued to surprise him.
"We're very tired and need to rest," He whispered as the bear man took a seat. "We had planned to continue forward in the evening."
"Then I will keep watch. When you wake you and the other one may ride on my back. We cannot waste time; the orcs are almost upon us." Bilbo nodded, stifling a yawn as he laid down next to Ori. After a few minutes of shivering with his eyes closed, the breeze was stifled. Opening one eye, the bear curled himself around them, offering shelter and warmth. With a sigh, Bilbo found troubled sleep.
Sleeping hadn't helped him feel any less exhausted, and he'd almost been tempted to ask for more time after only a few hours of restlessness. But after waking for the third time from a nightmare of blue dragons with black eyes, he decided to wake Ori and get a start on the journey. The lad had been shocked to find Beorn in their company but was delighted that they wouldn't be walking the rest of the way.
"Do you think he would tell me his about his people?" He'd whispered to Bilbo as they had climbed atop the furry back of the male.
Bilbo stifled a laugh as he felt the bear shake, knowing he'd heard every word. "Why don't you ask him?" The large brown head turned to give the lad a wink before jolting forward, picking up speed as they raced towards Lake Town. The weeks' worth of travel was soon eaten up under the quick pace of the bear, and even as his arms became sore with the effort to hold him onto the fur, he was only grateful that his friend had found them.
The night came and went, and it was soon midday when they found themselves slowing on the edge of an elven camp stationed halfway between Lake Town and Erebor.
"Why are we stopping here?" Ori asked as Beorn eased his way between the tan tents. Bilbo hadn't discussed much with him about his plan, not sure himself, but they had agreed to go to Lake Town for an odd job he had for Ori.
"Likely Gandalf is here." Bilbo was tempted to ask Beorn to continue on as Dori had suggested. Both Beorn and Bard knew the full extent of the battle to come, with Thranduil likely able to infer from his storytelling if the others were to share the plan. They didn't need him here…
He felt the pressure on his mind, the golden chime of the ring, and knew at once that despite everything that had happened, these were not his thoughts and that he would stay and see this through. He had his family to protect, and he'd always known it would come at a price. His resolve hardened into diamond as they approached the largest tent.
The guards all but shuddered as he slid off the bear to meet their gazes.
"Ellisar, Bialaer. How was the party?" He grinned up at them as he passed.
"Why do they look like they hate you?" Ori whispered?
"Do they?" He answered innocently. Slipping through the tent flaps, his eyes were quick to adjust to the shocking sight before them. Thranduil was seated in the high-backed chair before a large table where he was joined by Gandalf and Bard. This was to be expected. In addition, Lord Elrond stood before the map discussing battle strategies with Legolas. Finally, the most shocking of all, Dwalin was seated next to Gandalf. Upon seeing Bilbo, his chair clattered to the floor as the larger Dwarf rushed to wrap him in a crushing hug, his feet dangling from the floor. The bear growled from outside the tent, the large muzzle dipping through the flap to send a puff of warm air as he huffed his displeasure.
"I thought you'd died! Been eaten you fool! I didn't dare believe the wizard when he said he'd seen you." Setting him down, Dwalin held him at arm's length to look him over, his expression becoming stricken as he took note of the bruises marking his neck. "He really has lost his mind…"
"I'm glad you are here," Bilbo smiled weakly up at him. Turning he found the rest of the group staring at him. Despite his wanting to shrink under the scrutiny, he straightened his spine to march forward, taking a seat at the table. Dwalin and Ori came to stand behind him on either side, "We have a lot to discuss."
"And are you to tell us another tale then? Craft another lie?" Thranduil sneered.
"You only ever asked for one story from me, and you specified that it could be fact or fiction of my choosing." Bilbo met his gaze head on, "I gave you both."
"Was it?" Gandalf inquired, the genuine curiosity of his expression.
"It was. I've known this coming battle with firsthand experience and have planned accordingly so that we would all meet on this day. My aim has always been to keep our losses to a minimum. So King Thranduil, while I may have invented fictitious characters for my story, I spoke truth on all else."
"Might we hear this story?" Gandalf lit his pipe, while Bilbo took a deep breath before diving into the past and the future. Starting with the fortuitous meeting with Gandalf, his balking at adventures before joining one, trolls and orcs and elven dinner parties. The Misty Mountain, saving Thorin, meeting Beorn, the spiders and Thranduil's barrels. Leaving Lake Town, confronting Smaug and finally, the battle. He tried to keep his emotions in check as he relayed the deaths of the line of Durin, but he could feel the stillness in the dwarves behind him.
And then he started his story again, with an offer from a pair of blue wizards knocking on his door. So much had changed that it actually shocked him as he remembered their adventures this time around. By the end of the second half, the room was shocked to silence except for Bard and Beorn.
"So you did murder the Master," Bard's gaze was shuttered.
"While it does eat at my conscience, I had to keep the dragon from burning down your town. I had to protect you and your children; furthermore, I needed you, as my ally, in a position of power. Where he originally died by dragon fire, I simply kept the balance so your future would not be hindered by my actions." Bilbo shrugged. Bard didn't seem pleased by this news but didn't question him.
"This is not what I would have expected from a simple hobbit from the shire, no matter how much Took blood ran through his veins." Gandalf frowned at him over his pipe.
"I would have agreed with you the first time around, I craved my home and my books and my chair. The easy life I left behind with no worry for myself or anyone else's. But along the way I found a family, part of which I lost because of my own shortcomings. I was given a second chance, and I have lied, thieved, burned, and murdered to keep them safe. There isn't much left of the original Bilbo Baggin's when I look in the mirror," He wasn't sure how he felt about it himself, but he pushed forward, standing to make his point, "I still crave the simple life, as do all that see such times. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. I was just given a bit extra, and I will see my family safe by the end."
He felt Dwalin and Ori's hands on his shoulders supporting him silently as he faced down the greatest threat to his mission so far. Before, the men and the elves had attempted to attach Erebor before the orcs had arrived, wanting its treasure. He had no use for treasure, but he needed them on his side, on the dwarves' side before he could tell them the rest of his plan.
It was Lord Elrond who broke the silence, giving a small chuckle. "I'd not expected much of you the first time we met. Am I to assume that you are the one who left the cryptic note beneath my chamber door requesting my aid in saving the one you love from orcs four weeks after Durin's Day?"
"Yes." Bilbo met his eyes, finding amusement there, but also something more. Images of a beautiful statue of an elven wife, protected by a garden of flowers flashed through his mind, soon replaced by the image of her living likeness dancing in the sun with three children elves. Elrond used ósanwe to share his memories in Bilbo's head. It was a quick flash, but the emotion behind them nearly brought him to his knees.
Elrond gave a pause, watching Bilbo's reaction before deciding. "It seems like great weather for an orc hunt to me."
"I am not so convinced. Why should I risk my people for a lying halfling and his greedy companions? You should be back in some hole and leave us to clean up your mess."
"You'll hold yer tongue, before ye lose it," Dwalin snapped from behind him "He is the King consort of Erebor, the highest of dwarven linages and has as much right to be here as any of you." Thranduil rolled his eyes but remained silent.
Taking it in stride, Bilbo addressed the rest of the table, "Does anyone else have concerns with my story? Or can I move on to my plan?"
Bilbo lay in bed, knowing he should be sleeping. It had taken so much energy to hold his ground as the much taller council of idiots had argued over the top of him. Every idea he put to a vote had one or more of them countering with what-ifs, angry insults or blatant threats amongst themselves. By the end he'd been praying for Mahal to smite the whole tent just to get away from the bickering.
He'd confirmed with Ori that Thorin had sent out a raven to call for Dain's assistance in holding the mountain. Bard had assured him that the small army of men were ready to move out, and that at least half of the elves were prepared to move forward thanks to Elrond. After laying out his plan one last time he had retired to leave them to their selves, Dwalin and Ori stepping in along side him with Beorn following behind. Dwalin had taken them back to his ramshackle lean-to with a small fire on the outskirts of the army's encampment where Beorn had promptly turned back into a man and went off in search of food with Ori trailing behind asking him questions. Which left him and Dwalin.
He felt safe and warm and knew he should be passed out by this point… if not for the fact that he missed Thorin. Despite all that happened he couldn't bring himself to hate him and instead tried to remember the good. Over and over, he replayed the last year of memories, trying to look at them as an outsider. He needed to know if it had always been the gold sickness driving him in his attraction, if any of it had been real.
Opening his eyes, he found Dwalin sitting across the fire staring at him with a small frown between his eyes. "Ye knew our futures, but never told us." He broke the silence, sounding angry.
"You never would have believed me, none of you." Bilbo shrugged, turning to lay on his back and stare up and the sky that was turning shades of pink and orange as the sun made its descent. The silence was deafening and Dwalin thought about what he had said.
Finally he asked, "Do ye still love him?"
Bilbo squeezed his eyes shut as hot tears found their way down his face. This was the same question he'd been racking his brain with for the last two days. His heart hurt, and he knew the answer. "Yes." He whispered, "Not the one that has taken his place under the mountain, that one I've always feared. But my Thorin, the one whose been with us the entire journey, I've loved him for over sixty years and will love him until the day I die again… But I don't know if he's ever truly felt love for me, or if it was always the sickness…" He voiced his doubts out loud, taking a deep breath as he tried to steady his emotions.
"Ye have good reason to doubt him; I saw it with my own eyes when he sent me away, in a rage that I didn't protect ye. I've been tearing myself apart with the guild at knowing I got ye killed, and now I feel the same because I saw the darkness in his eyes, and I wasn't there to protect ye from it. But ye shouldn't doubt OUR Thorin's love for ye; ye caught his eye from day one, and he has been trying to court ye slowly ever since. There was no gold sickness in it, it was honest love." His voice had gotten quieter as he spoke, ending in just a whisper before he asked, "I guess what I need to know is what yer plan is, with regards to him. He's yer One, and my King. As far as I'm concerned, I will not be leaving yer side for the rest of yer life. I will protect ye as I was ordered, and as I should have done as yer friend. If you wish to escape back to the shire, I will accompany ye…"
"And am I fool if I want to stay? To hope I can cure him again?"
Dwalin paused, unsure if he'd heard correctly but needing to know. "Cured?"
Bilbo nodded, turning his head to see the concentration on the dwarf's face. "Between the joining the battle and his death, he came back. Whether or not it would have lasted I don't know, we never had the chance to find out."
"If you've seen it yourself, then no, you're not a fool to hope. We will do whatever it is ye decide. If ye choose to try and help him despite it all, yer a better person than I." He shrugged, "And if afterwards ye decide to leave, we will leave, it's that easy."
"You wouldn't stay, if he came back?"
He stood from his seat across the fire to walk over to where Bilbo lay, sinking to his knees. Bilbo sat up as Dwalin drew the dagger from his sheath, "He has dismissed me of my oath to serve him as my King. Despite being my friend for hundreds of years, I owe him no allegiance. I owe you my life and the life of my brother, and offer you my oath, if you will let me serve you." He laid the blade flat in his palms, offering it to a stunned Bilbo. Slowly, Bilbo nodded, accepting the blade from the dwarf.
Looking down at it, Bilbo could see it was the same one he was constantly sharpening, a short blade for a dwarf that barely fit in a hobbit's hands. It shined with dark Damascus waves in the steel. The hilt was gold and leather with a hammer marking embossed into the guard. Looking up from the blade, he met Dwalin's gaze.
"You're my friend first and foremost. Anything 'duty' related comes second, okay?"
Dwalin grinned down at him, "Aye, how else am I to tell ye when you're bein' a dumb-arse."
Bilbo laughed and nodded, handing the blade back to him as the ceremony was done. Seconds later, one of Thranduil's guards approached with a look of 'I drew the short straw' on his face.