AN: The song is performed by Maureeen McGovern and David Campbell.

P.S. Two updates within ten hours, in case you feel you've missed something. We'll get back to plot next chapter ;D

Chapter 19 - Heartsong

Bilbo kept giving Fíli looks and Kíli wouldn't meet Thorin's gaze.

Frodo and Sam were busy exploring the elven realm with someone named Lindir and therefore was not present to greet them.

Thorin's irritation with the wizard was already reaching new heights as he continued to speak over their heads in elvish. He was about ready to snap.

"Do they offer us insult?" Gloin demanded.

"They're offering you food," Fíli snapped at him, losing his tightly wound composure.

And then what he said sunk in.

Thorin came to an abrupt halt, "You can understand them?"

Bilbo stepped forward, "He's my son, of course he speaks Sindarin."

Thorin searched his One's face, reading the resolute disappointment there.

And Thorin put together all that he had been trying desperately not to see.

His gaze fell on Fíli who had forgotten his Khuzdul but could speak elvish.

Who possessed a grace that was unlike hobbits. Whose gifts with smithing far surpassed any human capability.

In fact, Fíli knew techniques in smithing that Thorin did not know.

Things that were credited to the elves who hoarded jealously to lord over the dwarves even if they had first been discovered by the dwarves of old and lost to time.

Time that did not affect the elves as it did the rest of Arda.

Fíli had been raised by a hobbit.

A hobbit who would have been no more safe among the Roherrim than a lone dwarf. Perhaps the Rangers visited Rohan, but they did not dwell there.

Bilbo would not have been so foolish to raise a dwarfling on his own in Rohan long enough for Fíli to complete a smith's apprenticeship, much less that of a weapon's master.

But Bilbo wasn't just any hobbit.

Fury was too tame a word for what he felt just then. Fury at himself for not seeing this as his sister surely had, and fury at himself that he wasn't a person his nephews felt safe enough to confide in.

And beneath that rage was deepest betrayal. Bilbo had not known that Fíli was Thorin's nephew in the beginning, but he had learned it a few years ago when Thorin had opened his heart to him. Instead of trusting him, Bilbo had pulled away.

And Fíli…

Thorin didn't know his heart could break like this.

Did his sister's son fear him so greatly that he thought he would be exiled from their family for how strangers had raised him? Did he truly not understand how loved he was?

And who was to blame for that uncertainty? Thorin for his inability to protect him, or for whatever had caused the rift between Fíli and Bilbo?

Regardless, Thorin knew he was too overwrought to be civil. He physically felt as if his blood was boiling. He turned from them, and whatever the look on his face was, both Dwalin and Balin stepped aside.

Frerin was looking between him and Fíli trying to put it together.

Thorin said nothing for the rest of the evening, and the whole company save for the wizard remained subdued. And the elves had the good sense to leave him be.

oOo

Bilbo could tell Fíli was on the verge of tears when instead of settling in the hall the company was camping out in, Thorin left to prowl Imladris.

Dwalin seemed to think the king was more than capable of looking after himself for he did not attempt to follow.

Bilbo shook his head, "Enough, Fíli. I know you are angry with Glorfindel and myself but you should not be ashamed of who you are. The past cannot be changed. I waited for your letter, I respected your request to break contact. As I respected your request to keep your secrets, but now it is time to tell them. I'll speak with Thorin."

oOo

Fíli looked to Kíli who only shook his head.

Frerin crossed his arms, "Explain, nephew. We all know you've driven your mother and adoptive father half mad with your secrets. We aren't going to turn against you, if that's what has you so afraid."

Fíli glared at him, "Oh, so you won't be mad then, that I learned my craft from elves? Or that it was an elf's pride, Bilbo's father, who kept me from returning home? Glorfindel told me that no one wanted me in the Blue Mountains. That no one would claim me."

"He told me the same," Bilbo revealed.

Fíli looked at his father, "You never told me that."

"You didn't give me the opportunity. That does not mean I am blameless, my son. For I never thought to doubt Glorfindel and I should have included it the letters I wrote you in the time that passed between us.

"But your secrets were your own. By the time I learned Thorin was your uncle, I realised that you hadn't told him about me. That you were ashamed of me and the elves. I– I admit I was hurt. But I do not fault you."

"I do," Frerin said, far more harshly than Fíli had ever heard his uncle speak to him or Kíli before. "Do you really think we would love you less? Do you really think your mother or Thorin would think less of you?"

Fíli's felt is own temper rise, "Why shouldn't I think it? Do you hear yourselves with the way you speak of the elves? Glorfindel died killing a Balrog and a fire drake is a much larger issue to the woodland realm than to a city of stone. If legends are to be believed, Smaug destroyed every living thing that grew on and around the mountain. What would have happened to the Greenwood if they had housed you? Not to mention that not all elves are the same."

"Do not," Frerin warned. "Speak of what you do not know."

Fíli glared at him, "Be honest, if I told you the elves had purposely kept me from returning home, would you have declared war on Imladris?"

There was a profound silence.

Balin cleared his throat, "I would not have advised it."

"But would Amad and Thorin have done it? I was hurt and angry when I returned to Ered Luin. I know I couldn't have explained my history with Glorfindel without emotion. What would have happened if I had been truthful from the beginning?"

Uncle Frerin didn't agree or disagree.

Yet it was Nori who stepped in, "Does it matter? The past is the past. Fíli has only recently come of age, we will not hold the tragedies and horrors that happened against him nor how those events shaped his reactions. We are here now. Thorin will get over himself soon enough."

Balin shook his head, "Aye, and whether we like it or not, we still owe Glorfindel a debt for helping to fell, not one, but two Balrogs, for the killing of his daughter, and for keeping Fíli, even separated from us, safe. There will be no wars."

"How exactly did your mother die, Bilbo?" Bofur asked, looking as if he had connected the dots.

Fíli flinched and Bilbo pulled him down in to a hug. It was the most familiar they had seen between the two so far.

"My mother was a healer, the best the Shire had, perhaps ever had as she was trained by Lord Elrond. I was traveling with her between house calls when we came upon a dwarf tormenting a dwarfling. Fíli fought his captor and when the dwarf slapped him, my mother charged him. He slit her throat, and when he turned back to chase after Fíli, I repaid the favour and stabbed the monster in the neck. I took Fíli home with me and raised him myself."

They all stared at him, save for Fíli he pressed into his father's embrace like he was a lifeline.

Gloin spoke, "You lost your mother, protecting our prince?"

"No," Fíli said. "He lost his mother and father because hobbits fade when their true loves pass on."

"Their Heartsongs," Bilbo corrected softly.

They all stared at Bilbo, stricken.

Frerin's voice was gruff, "Thorin is your Heartsong, that's why you were able to cede your title to your cousin without question. Why your family assumed you would go."

Bilbo nodded, "Staying home wouldn't have kept me safe. You're going to face a dragon, my life was forefit. It's one reason my people avoid war."

"You should have told him this," Dwalin said, furious.

"And what difference would that have made, his responsibilities are larger than either of us. Besides, I am able bodied, and my sons were going on the same journey, there would have been no honour to my staying behind."

Fíli fisted his hands, "It's not fair that they both died, it's not fair that Thorin could servive your–"

Bilbo hushed him, "I am grateful that my Heartsong would not be physically harmed from my passing. It is a relief. You and Frodo are grown and I have had a good life. I would not want to survive Thorin's passing into Mahal's Halls, that too is a blessing."

Fíli hugged him fiercely regretting the fears that he had allowed to keep them seperated for so long.

Bilbo rubbed his back, "Oh, and if your mother seemed a bit smug, it's because I told her everything the first time we met."

Fíli pulled back and squeaked, "What!?"

Bilbo patted his cheek, "Thorin is your uncle but Dís is your mother. Which I think makes us even for your failing to mention in any of your letters that you were of Durin's line."

Fíli could only blink.

"Speaking of which, if you find Estel, I need to give his ear a good twist for his manners of introduction," his dah went on.

Fíli met Kíli's gaze but his brother just smiled.

Sara laughed, "I always knew you were crazy, Uncle Bilbo, but watching you intimidate Big Folk is honour to see in person."

Fíli stuck his tongue out at him.

oOo

Thorin had overheard from a balcony below all that was said.

Hobbits did indeed have Ones.

But like the elves, they died with the passing of their soul halves.

Heartsong.

He couldn't even protect Bilbo with his life because that would simply damn them didn't know what to think anymore his thoughts had dissolved into I miasma of emotions.

He was not surprised that it was Bilbo who found him in the secluded garden he standanded himself in.

He was surprised that it was Bilbo who lost his temper first. "It's not a danger to you and your people to have an ally among the elves. It does not hurt your people to have a prince fluent in Sindarin and knowledgeable about elven history."

"And what about our history?" Thorin demanded.

"I discouraged his teachers from teaching him about modern dwarvish history because I knew they would be basis. He knew the facts, not the details."

Thorin grimiced, thinking of Balin's comments about how the little Fíli had known had surprisingly added, not waylaid, his education.

While Kíli was better at reading, economics, and strategizing, Fíli was the better diplomat.

Because Fíli had been raised by a hobbit, a hobbit who had been raised by an elf.

Thorin couldn't meet Bilbo's gaze, not when his heart felt as if it was bleeding.

Bilbo stepped around him, and looking down meant Thorin looked directly into those eyes.

Those eyes whose tears were the only things that stayed Thorin's own self-directed anger.

"Say something," Bilbo demanded.

Thorin took a deep breath, then released it before he said, "Your mother was killed in defense of my nephew. You lost both your parents. Your grandfather, whose the daughter had murdered in defense of my kin, was wrongly attacked by my guards when he came to confirm Fíli's heritage."

Bilbo blinked, "What?"

"When Glorfindel came to Ered Luin, he was greeted with mockery and an arrow aimed at his heart. Those two guards are serving a life sentence for nearly starting a war."

Bilbo paled and for a time, all he did was stare at Thorin. He opened his mouth, then shut it.

Finally, he managed to say, "Thorin… Thorin, Glorfindel is a lord equal to Lord Elrond or Lord Celeborn. And he died fighting a balrog who the dwarves woke."

"I know."

"I– he lied to me, he lied to Fíli, but– Thorin, Glorfindel is thousands of years old, twice born, and has the magical talent of a wizard. He could have brought part of the mountain down on you."

It was Thorin's turn to take a breath, "I did not know that."

Bilbo ran a hand over his face, "What a mess. Hard to believe it could have been worse, but it could have been. It could have easily been so much worse."

"If it helps, I don't think your Glorfindel knew who Fíli was until Dain travelled with him."

Bilbo sighed, "That would explain why he was so upset when he returned from Moria. Aside from surviving a second balrog, that is."

Thorin laid a hand on Bilbo's shoulder, drawing the hobbit's attention back to him. "You lost your mother and your father for my sister's son. You killed Sozan, avenging Mori's death and Fíli's kidnapping. Then you adopted a dwarfling who you believed to be an orphan. You protected him from unknown threats all his life and enabled him to pursue his craft. You kept him fed and warm through the winters. Bilbo, were you even of age yourself?"

"Losing your parents ages you. If I had only known you were alive, I would have returned Fíli to you earlier if I could have. But I do not regret the years I had with him. They were among the best in my life."

Thorin cupped his face between his hands, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Bilbo shut his eyes tight as he leaned into Thorin's touch. His hobbit whispered, "Because I couldn't lose you too if you blamed me. Because I couldn't betray Fíli, I couldn't fail him again. His secrets are his own. I lost the right to be a part of his life, no matter how much I love him."

Thorin gently pressed his forehead to his, "But Fíli is a part of your life once more. You are forgiven, though in truth there is nothing to forgive. Our family owes you so very much, our people owe you."

Bilbo placed shaking hands over his, "Your forgiveness is all I want."

Thorin took a step closer, "Is that truly all you want. Dís didn't tell you what that ear cuff means, did she?"

Bilbo bit his lip, shaking his head which pressed his cheeks against Thorin's hands.

Thorin stroked a finger along the side of Bilbo's ear, over the warm piece of silver.

His One's legs went weak and Thorin caught his weight, cradling his hobbit against his chest, "You are kin of Durin. Dís acknowledged you Fíli's father. You are not in the line of succession, but you are ours."

Bilbo clung to him, tears finally spilling over, "I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

Thorin brushed away his tears, "We know, my love. I'm sorry you feared my reaction. I do understand how so many things could have led to war. But I want you to know that I am not my father or grandfather, my pride is not larger than my regard for my people's well-being. Nor my mistrust of the elves so deep that I would hold bad blood against those elves who opened their homes and hearts to my nephew."

Thorin pressed their foreheads together, deliberately letting the pendent fall from his tunic, so the mithril and gems crafted by said elves glowed between them.

Bilbo sucked in a breath as he reached up to place his hands at the nape of Thorin's neck, causing him to shudder from the intimacy.

"I never wanted to hurt you."

Thorin wrapped his arms around his hobbit, "Then tell me I have more than your heart, tell me you will share your life with me."

"Yes," Bilbo breathed. "I love you, a life with you is what I want."

Thorin brought their lips together, sweet and salty. His heart thundered in his chest.

What were misunderstandings in the face of love?

It had never mattered to Thorin that Bilbo was the son of an elf and that he was the person who raised his beloved sister-son only made him love him all the more.

When they parted, Thorin asked, "Why do your people call it Heartsongs? In our culture, we believe Mahal crafted some of to only be whole when we find the other half of our souls in another."

Bilbo laughed. "We find our life partners when we hear each other sing. Not everyone finds theirs and we don't even necessarily believe there was only that one person. But our mothers tell us that the song that changes our hearts irrevocably, is love. It's the choice our hearts make and once accepted can never be undone."

Thorin thought back to the first song he'd sung for Bilbo. He had sung of Erebor and his hobbit had been moved to tears.

"Would you sing for me?" Thorin asked.

Bilbo laughed, "I'm afraid I don't know many love songs, and most of those are a bit tragic."

Thorin smiled, "So long as it makes you smile."

Bilbo laid a hand over Thorin's heart over the pendant, "I– well, there's this song my mother sang to me when I got into a rather nasty row with Drogo, Frodo's father. Though I can't remember now what the fight was about, that was a terribly long time ago."

"Do you remember the song?"

Bilbo nodded, steadying himself before sang so sweetly that Thorin knew that if he had not already loved him, he would have fallen for him then.

"You've seen the damage words can do

When full of thoughtless pride

Now heed the wiser voice in you

That calls to be your guide

"The flowers reaching for the sun

Are all uniquely blessed

But though each is special

Not a one is better than the rest

"Bloom, bloom, may you know

The wisdom only time breeds

There's room, bloom and you'll grow

To follow where your heart leads"

It was Bilbo's turn to wipe tears from Thorin's face. When his fingers lingered against his beard, the furthest thing from his mind were the trials behind them and before them.

For a time, it was just a dwarf and his Heartsong.

oOo

AN: Y'all can thank DomesticGoddess (I highly recommend her works) for leaving me on too many damned cliffhangers, and Maura_Slay for my lack of sleep to deliver this rapid update ;D

Please do comment with your thoughts, Egyptian kitty-cats, or your reactions? Pretty please?