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green-fifteen · 1 year

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Day 2: Soft

Fandom: The Hobbit

Pairing: Gen (background Bagginshield, Kili/Tauriel)

Word count: 2,059

written for: @fluffyfebruary

Bilbo and Kili stomped over the doorway into Bard's house and were greeted by Tilda's cries of delight. She was always happy to see Kili because he put her on his shoulders whenever she asked him to. By the time her father emerged from an inner room, she was already perched there and grinning.

"Bilbo," Bard greeted him warmly. "I see you've brought trouble."

He smiled. "His mother deserves a break."

"Hey!" Kili said, and bounced a little to hear Tilda laugh.

They made tea and sat around the table in the parlor. Tilda ran off to play with her siblings.

"The wind is good for practice, today," Bard said to Kili mildly. "If you can wait until midday. I've a counselor coming shortly."

The Prince beamed at him and launched into talk about his latest archery innovation. Bilbo made impressed noises at what he thought were the correct moments while Bard threw him amused looks.

They would stay two nights in Dale, in an unofficial capacity. Bilbo had been aching to get out walking and wanted badly to see his friend. The King Under the Mountain, busy with plans for Durin's Day, had told his husband not to go alone. He'd proposed Dwalin escort him, but Fili had seemed restless for weeks since Tauriel had gone to visit the Greenwood, and asked to go instead. He always enjoyed visiting Bard's family. Bilbo suspected he just liked being around other young people who weren't Gimli.

After tea, Bilbo settled his things in his usual room and made his way out into Dale. It was still developing, barely two years since the dragon brought his devastation. It was doing well, however, and Bilbo could see the young metropolis it would turn out to be. Already traders from the other kingdoms of Men had set up in the markets and the ports of the Long Lake. There was much to see and even more to buy. He caught a good smell on a crisp breeze and let it draw him further from Bard's home, deep into the heart of Dale.

At midday, Bard and Kili took a pile of bows to the practice yard behind the house. Bard's children wandered out to watch them from under the eaves, wrapped haphazardly against the cold in socks and blankets. The young Dwarf showed off eagerly to entertain them. Bard only rolled his eyes and issued a new challenge.

The children went inside when the air turned colder. As the sun began to set, Kili and Bard followed them. They were not surprised to find Bilbo still gone, for he was always chasing down some fancy tasteful trinket or jammy tart.

When Bard's head of house called for supper and Bilbo still had not returned, they began to shoot each other worried looks. When Sigrid asked, "Didn't Bilbo come with you from the Mountain, Kili?" he assured her the Hobbit was probably out taking supper with a boat of bass fishermen or some baker's family. He had done similar things before, he said. But never without sending a note, he didn't say.

Finally, after the children went to bed, Bard informed his staff to keep a tight eye on the house and sallied forth with Kili to find the Prince Consort. He did not know which idea terrified him more: his friend being in trouble somehow, or telling the King he'd let his husband out of his sight long enough to get into trouble in the first place.

They were still out searching when Bilbo reappeared on the front steps of the house, dragging a pair of men in a cart behind him and wearing clothes that were noticeably grimier than they had been when he left. He pulled one Man and then the other from the wooden cart, heaving and panting and sweating. He cursed them irritably as they dropped to the ground. He left their weapons in the bottom of the cart, carefully covered them with his own overcoat, and moved the cart just out of view.

He glanced at the two Men lying at his feet on the ground. Soft-hearted old fool he thought, and then the door opened.

Bard's head of house, a man called Jorn, directed bowls of warm water to be brought to the sitting room and helped Bilbo carry the Men through the house to sit near the fireplace.

"I found these two near the Lake," he told Jorn, lying masterfully. "I was sure they'd had too much to drink, but then I noticed the lumps on their heads. Poor dears."

They patted the wounds on their heads with damp cloths and arranged them on pallets near each other. Bilbo dismissed Jorn with his sincere thanks and then settled in to wait.

It didn't take long for the young Men to wake. The first woke with a start and a cry, making Bilbo jump and spill half his tea in his lap.

"I say!" he demanded in a hushed voice, knowing the children had to be asleep upstairs. "Quiet, if you please!"

The Man looked around him, seeming confused and more than a little panicked. He saw the other man lying at his side and grew frantic, trying to wake him.

Bilbo stood from his chair to do his best version of looming. It wasn't normally that impressive, but this Man had already been on the wrong end of an angry Hobbit once tonight.

"I said be quiet," Bilbo intoned gravely. He tried to borrow the voice Thorin used whenever a ruckus erupted during council meetings.

It seemed to work and the Man went silent, looking at him fearfully.

The other Man suddenly woke up groaning and clutched his head.

Several minutes and a bit more delicate intimidation later, both Men were sitting in armchairs across from Bilbo, who had refilled his teacup.

"If you wouldn't mind telling me," Bilbo started, politely, "What were the pair of you thinking, attacking a gentlehobbit on the road at night?"

As Bilbo watched them, noting the nervous way they seemed to communicate with their eyes and the concave shells of their cheeks, he realized for the first time how young they were. He was never very good at knowing the ages of Men once they grew past his own height.

"We're sorry, Mister Hobbit," said the first boy, a blonde wisp of a Man. To Bilbo's satisfaction, tears gathered in his eyes. He did like being right about this sort of thing.

"I figured as much," he drawled, placing his cup on the saucer with a clink of china.

"We've never hurt anybody before," the blonde boy said again, his breath hitching. Bilbo thought he might be the older of the two. He hummed at him to go on and the boy took a few deep breaths, scratching at the arm of his chair.

"I'm Pater," he said eventually. "And that's my brother Liom. We saw you and well." He stopped, looking miserable.

"You don't know how to use that axe out there, do you, my boy?" Bilbo guessed.

He shook his head and the tears in his eyes slid down his face.

Bilbo looked at Liom, who was gazing at the coals in the fireplace with no expression. The Hobbit sighed.

"I'm sorry I knocked you boys about as I did. Only, you gave me quite a fright, you know."

Pater looked down. "I know."

And, because he was very hungry and his young ruffians looked half-starved, he bade them follow him to the hall where Jorn had set out Bilbo's supper. The Man was familiar with the Hobbit and his appetite, so the food he'd left him was more than enough to feed two scrawny boys. Their eyes went wide as they took in the table.

"Now," said Bilbo. "I'm willing to forget the circumstance of our meeting, so long as the both of you will do me a few small favors."

Liom looked very skeptical, but Pater nodded immediately.

"Of course, Mister Hobbit."

Bilbo counted off on his fingers. "First, I'd like you not to mention my roughness with you to anyone. It's a terrible thing to do, you know. Bashing people. Second, you'll need to help me with this supper here. I'm far too small a fellow to finish this off myself." He heard Jorn's affronted sniff from around the corner and supressed a smile. "Third, call me Bilbo."

They gaped at him, then fell on the food with ravenous hands. He watched them ignore the forks on the table, appalled. The Hobbit batted them about the shoulders and made them sit down and use the cutlery.

When Bard and Kili arrived, they were glum and exhausted. They were sure Bilbo was dead and dropped in the Lake or someplace. Bard was mentally drafting a letter in his head that conveyed both Your consort is missing and Please don't start a war. Kili was crying.

They heard voices in the hall and followed them to hear Bilbo saying, "Now, now! I won't have that fine flaky pastry treated like a mop, you villain!"

The two of them rushed in and saw the Hobbit seated across from a pair of adolescent Men, barely out of childhood. One was blonde and clearly terrified to see them. The dark-haired one looked over at them with a hard expression. Their faces were stuffed with Bilbo's supper.

Kili lifted Bilbo out of his chair and into the air with a shout that had Bilbo smacking at his head to be quiet. Bard watched the boys at his table carefully, but smiled with real joy and relief to see Bilbo safe in his home.

Pater and Liom were introduced to the King of Dale, who grasped their shaking hands and said he was glad to know them. They also came to know Kili, a Prince of Erebor. He grinned toothily at them and demanded to know how they came to meet Bilbo.

"Did our Burglar decide to kidnap you, then?" he said, guffawing with his arm around the Hobbit's shoulder.

Bilbo told them his story about finding the boys unconscious at the shore of the Long Lake and dragging them back to the house. Kili didn't hesitate to believe him, but amusement gradually entered the slant of Bard's eyebrows as he listened to Bilbo speak.

Eventually, he leveled the pair with a steady look.

"Is there someone in town waiting up for you tonight?"

They spoke to each other in furtive looks, as they had in the sitting room.

"No, Your Majesty," said Pater, lowly, eyes on his empty plate.

Bard slapped the table lightly. "You shall sleep here. See that you do not bother my children as you climb the stairs. Jorn will show you the room."

His tone was final and they did not argue with him, thought Pater's wide eyes found Bilbo's face. He lifted his eyesbrows at him and inclined his head toward the stairs. They went up to bed.

When they were gone, Bard watched his friend fidget with his napkin and waited for him to speak. Kili was finishing Bilbo's apple cake.

"I could not leave them lie there, Bard," the Hobbit finally said. "It is very good of you to let them sleep here. Thank you."

Bard snorted. "Oh yes, I let them. As thought you would not have snuck them in, regardless. I do know you, my friend."

Bilbo scowled at him, but did not argue. Kili still was not paying attention, so he said, "I'm afraid I may have been a little hard on them, at first."

"Knocked unconscious, you said?"

"Yes. Well. They were only trying to frighten me, but I didn't know that."

Bard slapped him on the back and laughed. Kili reached for a rasher of bacon.

"I can only imagine they thought you a soft target. I am sure they know their error, now." His voice was warm with fondness for his little friend.

Bilbo shrugged off his hand and flicked Kili's fingers from his pan-fried potatoes.

When they went to bed, Jorn and a kitchen maid cleaned the table, conversing a little about the events of the evening. When that was done, they doused the lights. The house was silent, but for the quiet sound of five children, two Princes, and the King of Dale resting peacefully.

FIN

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middleearthpixie · 3 days

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Something in the Night ~ Chapter Twenty

Summary: Following the Battle of the Five Armies, a seriously wounded Thorin Oakenshield returns to Erebor to recuperate and eventually ascend the throne as king. With the deaths of Azog the Defiler and his son, Bolg, Thorin no longer has to worry about the bounty the Defiler placed on his head and can instead concentrate on restoring Erebor to its former glory.

Nina Carren of Esgaroth has one goal—to make Thorin Oakenshield pay for unleashing Smaug the dragon unto her home—where he destroyed the town and killed her family. The Defiler might be gone, but his bounty remains very much in place, and she fully intends to collect on it.

Finally, the opportunity shows itself for her to do just that, only to have it go horribly awry. Wounded and now at his mercy, neither Nina nor Thorin stopped to think what might happen, should things not go quite according to plan…

Pairings: Thorin Oakenshield x ofc Nina Carren

Warnings: None

Rating: T

Word Count: 2.2k

Tag List: @night-ace @way-too-addicted-to-fandoms @asgardianhobbit98 @evenstaredits

@heilith @glassgulls @msjava1972 @dianakc @quiall321

@frosticenow @ruthoakenshield @jotink78 @guardianofrivendell @medusas-hairband

@myselfandfantasy @sazzlep @notlostgnome @knittastically @xxbyimm

@fizzyxcustard @i-did-not-mean-to @mrsdurin @legolasbadass @lathalea

If you’d like to be added (or removed) to the tag list, please just let me know!

Previous chapters can be found here.

Nina couldn't remember the last time it hurt to breathe, and she was ever so thankful when the healer at Erebor made the pain stop. The tube was only slightly more comfortable, but at least she could breathe.

The first two days she was in the infirmary were a blur, as she slept more often than she was awake. But from what she recalled, the healer’s name was Narnerra and she was a dwarf with blonde hair and blue eyes and an easy manner. She didn't seem at all concerned with having a daughter of Man in her infirmary, and neither did her partner, Óin. They treated Nina with courtesy and kindness and Narnerra especially reminded her of her mother, which brought tears to Nina’s eyes her first night there.

The most surprising part of the entire ordeal was Thorin. He’d been to see her several times and there was no sense of anger about him any longer. He made no mention of what happened at Mirkwood, no mention of the bounty, no mention of any of it, which confused her to a certain extent.

But she tried not to dwell on it, and instead concentrated on healing, so she could go back to the flat in Dale, as Sigrid had to be worried about her, and Harald had no idea what had happened, only that she’d stopped coming to work. She only hoped she still had a job when she returned.

Narnerra, however, was not about to let her leave until she was satisfied Nina wasn’t about to drop dead. And that meant remaining in the infirmary until further notice, despite the fact that Nina was so impatient to leave.

On her third day, Nina was relieved to have the blasted uncomfortable tube removed from her side. “I was going mad with that, you know.”

Narnerra smiled as she bandaged the small incision she’d finished sewing. “I know, it’s not the most comfortable thing in the world. But, it’s better than not being able to breathe.”

“That I will agree with. So,” Nina tugged her tunic back down, “does this mean I might be able to return home today?”

Narnerra shook her head. “Not quite yet, I’m afraid. I want to keep an eye out for infection. Another day or so should be time enough.”

Biting back an impatient sigh, Nina offered up a long look. “I really do need to go. It feels as if an eternity has passed since I last saw the sun.”

“Another day won’t hurt.”

“Narnerra.”

“It won’t. But, if you are so impatient to see sunlight, why not go and sit in the courtyard for a bit?”

“A courtyard? You mean to tell me there’s an actual courtyard here?”

“Yes. Come and I will show you.”

Nina slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed. She was still achy, from the battle, from the wound, from the treatment for it, but as she got to her feet, it eased a little. Then it eased more with each step as Narnerra led her out of the private chambers and through the infirmary’s main room.

Several dwarves were there, and she felt their stares as she passed them by. Narnerra led her down the narrow corridor to the door at the end, which opened into a sun-splashed courtyard shaded in one corner by towering oak trees.

“You won’t try to run off now, will you?”

Nina slowly shook her head. “No. I won’t. I give you my word.”

“Very well. Enjoy the sun.”

Nina smiled, pulling away from the healer to step out into the middle of the courtyard. In the distance, a tower of black and gray mottled stone rose toward the sky, but that was the only other structure around her.

The sun wrapped warm arms about her and she lifted her face to it, letting her eyes close as the gentle breeze wafted through her hair. For the first time since Smaug destroyed Esgaroth, she felt at complete peace.

With that, she moved to the wall, sinking onto the warm stone. As she sat back against a stone pillar, she thought she could actually remain right there and be perfectly happy about it.

Thorin stepped out into the courtyard. “There you are.”

“You sound as if you’ve been hunting for me. Where else would I be?”

“Fair question.” He crossed over to where she sat. “How do you feel this morning?”

“Better. Narnerra took out the infernal tube, so now it’s only a bit sore instead of very sore.” She shaded her eyes with one had to look up at him. “And how do you feel?”

“I’m fine. I told you, I had not a scratch on me, thanks to you.”

“I apologize. My memory of that night and the first days here isn’t so clear.”

“Worry not. It seems I owe you my life yet again. I had no idea I was being followed.”

“You owe me nothing,” she said after a short silence, lowering her hand to fold it with her other hand in her lap. “I owe you. I can never make up for what I’d done. What I tried to do.”

With a soft groan, Thorin settled beside her. “No, you don’t. I’ll admit, I was furious, as you know of course, but…”

“But you are no longer?” She turned to him. “Why? By all rights, you should hate me until the day you die. Or until the day I do.”

“That was what I thought at first, but since then, I’ve had plenty of time to think and in truth? You should hate me as well. You have even greater cause to do so. I am responsible for the deaths of your family members, for the loss of everything that you held dear. And when I thought of it that way, I realized, I could not fault you for trying to collect the Defiler’s bounty.”

She could only stare up at him, as if seeing him for the first time. He looked far more serious than she’d ever seen—which was saying something—but it was more than that. As his pale blue eyes met hers, her heart gave a leap. “Thorin?”

“So, why don’t you? Hate me, I mean. I cost you everything. All you did was try to avenge that.”

“I did hate you. I hated you for a very long time and that was why I thought to try to collect Azog’s bounty. I thought it would—that it—” she shook her head—“I don't know what I thought it would do, but I thought it would make it, I don't know, hurt less, perhaps?”

The wind stirred again, riffling through her hair, sending his fluttering as well. She managed a slight smile. “But, in the end, it wouldn’t have. It still hurts. It will always hurt. Killing you wouldn’t have changed that, nor would it have brought them back. And besides,” her smile grew easier to show, “I’ve grow fond of you.”

“Fond of me.” A hint of amusement crept into his voice and the corners of his lips turned upwards.

“All right, perhaps a bit more than fond,” she admitted. “Either way, I couldn’t do it. I just… I couldn’t. But, at the same time, I think I—”

His hand came to rest atop hers. “You think what?”

“I think I might have led the orcs to you. I—I went to see Tarog, Azog’s heir apparent, to try to claim half the bounty up front.” Heat crept into her cheeks, swirled through her entire body as she met his gaze again. He said nothing, his expression remained neutral, but she felt so very guilty for everything that happened up to that point.

Still, she went on, “It was arrogant of me, and foolish and he let me know he shared that sentiment. He laughed me out of his camp and that was that. I thought nothing of it, but now, I think he most likely set that orc pack after me, thinking I would lead them to you.”

“You’ve much to learn in being a bounty hunter.”

He said it softly, but with a smile, and it was so unexpected that she couldn't help but laugh, only to clap her hand over her mouth as she stared up at him. “I’m sorry.”

“Why? You said nothing wrong. It’s true.”

“I know, but,” she lowered her hand, “I have no desire to be a bounty hunter any longer. I’m not very good at it, you know.”

His eyes softened.”Is that so?”

“It is, yes.”

“Then what would you like to be?”

“I haven’t the foggiest.”

The hand that had been resting against hers came up to curve against her cheek. As he leaned in, her heart sped up, and when he nuzzled her, her eyes closed of their own. His touch was so gentle and yet, it shot through her like a lightning bolt.

She turned toward him, her lips seeking his, his whispered, “Nina…” making her heart beat faster still.

“There you are! I’ve been going mad searching for you.”

Thorin jumped back at the unexpected female voice and Nina swallowed hard at the dark-haired dwarrowdam in the doorway. It was the same woman she’d seen with him at the tavern and although she smiled, Nina saw the definite coolness in her dark eyes. “Oh, well, good afternoon,” she said, her voice warm and almost syrupy sweet. “I don't believe we’ve met.”

Nina almost smiled at the fact that the woman did not remember her from only a few nights past, but then thought better of it. “No,” she replied, “I don't believe we have.”

“You might introduce us, Thorin,” the woman told him pointedly.

Thorin rose and turned toward her. “Elisin, this is Nina Carren. Nina, this is Elisin of Ered Luin.”

“A pleasure,” Elisin said.

“Likewise.”

Looking up at Thorin, Elisin said, “I thought we were going to have luncheon together?”

“Ah, yes, I apologize. I just came to check on Miss Carren. She came to my aid on the road from Dale the other evening.”

“She is the one?”

“I am, yes.” Nina replied, also rising. “And if you will both excuse me, I think I will go and lie down a bit. My incision is beginning to ache.”

She forced a smile as she looked over at Elisin. “It was lovely meeting you.”

The smile she received in return was just as frosty. “Likewise.”

Nina brushed by Elisin and as she reached for the door handle, she’d swear she could feel the dwarrowdam’s eyes burning into her back. What was more? She could almost feel the daggers in the woman’s stare.

“You traveled with her all the way from Rivendell?”

Thorin nodded, turning back to Elisin as the door swung shut. “We crossed paths on the road leading to it, when she came to our aid.”

“Your aid? A lone woman?”

He nodded, not at all inclined to give more details than was absolutely necessary. “She was quite impressive, really. So, when she offered to accompany us back, Dwalin and I saw no reason to turn her offer down.”

“No, why would you?” Elisin’s voice remained light but he did not miss the darker undertones. “Why do I feel as if I’ve seen her before?”

Before he could answer, she waved off her own question. “Oh, never mind. It hardly matters as I assume she will be leaving before long. I’m actually quite surprised Narnerra did not put up a fuss over having her here.”

He was as well, although he assumed it was because he was the one who brought Nina to Erebor’s gates, to its infirmary, and no one in their right mind was going to question the king about it. He almost smiled at the memory of how Grelber’s eyes went wide at the sight of him, streaked in Nina’s blood, ordering the gates of Erebor be opened at once.

“She is a healer and looks beyond a body’s origins. In the aftermath of the Battle of the Five Armies, I’m told we had elves, Men, and dwarves in the infirmary and all received the same standard of care.”

“Of course they did. I expect no less from her or Óin,” Elisin replied, tucking her arm through his. “I certainly didn't mean to imply otherwise.”

He nodded. “Of course not. So, you said you were looking for me?”

“Oh, right. I was. I thought we might go—”

“Thorin?” Balin appeared in the courtyard doorway. “We’ve a bit of a problem in Esgaroth and Bard has asked we meet to discuss it?”

“A problem?” Thorin pulled away from Elisin. “What sort of problem?”

“The missive did not say.”

“Very well.” Thorin let out a slow sigh as he turned back to Elisin. “I do need to tend to this, I’m afraid. Can what you wished to ask me wait for a bit?”

Elisin didn't look at all happy even as she nodded. “Of course it can. Go. A king’s work is never done.”

“We will talk later, when I return.” He started toward Balin.

“Yes, but Thorin—”

“Later. I promise.”

#Richard Armitage #AU #The Hobbit #Thorin Fic #Thorin Oakenshield #Is it hot in here?#Hobbit Fic #Romance #Hobbit Fanfic #Thorin x OC #Fan fiction #The Hobbit fan fiction

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