Chapter Text
Bilbo shuddered slightly, remembering the way Thorin's eyes had been glued to him, burning with unreadable emotion. He crossed his fingers and knocked on the door in front of him. All the dwarrow were there bar Thorin, who was checking up on Kíli with Gandalf.
Perfect.
"Hey." He said. "I need your help."
To his surprise everyone grinned. "We're in," Fíli told him.
"You don't even know-" Bilbo was cut off.
"Doesn't it have anything to do with a ridiculously pining Thorin?" Norí asked. Bilbo nodded.
"Like he said, we're in."
Thorin looked around the table. Only Gandalf, Kíli and himself were here. Kíli looked vaguely annoyed, but expectant, and Gandalf was quietly sipping on ale. The rest of the Company had made vague excuses before disappearing.
Thorin sighed and turned to Kíli, who's grin had widened.
"What are you so excited about?" He asked, suspicious.
Kíli's eyes widened before he smiled calmly. "I'm just looking forward to the show, that's all." He elbowed Thorin. "I don't think I'm the only one, eh, Uncle?" He raised an eyebrow suggestively.
Thorin muttered darkly, contemplating all the things he would do to the now eyebrow waggling sister-son of his once he was healed. Then Sali was running round the room, blowing out candles and dimming the light.
Meanwhile a helper dragged several lamps to the front of the stage, where chairs were being set up by what looked like dwarrow. Thorin shrugged and took another sip of ale. Bilbo appeared on stage, grinning widely
"Today is my last night, I am afraid." He shouted over several boos. Thorin tried not to focus on the way the candlelight pooled at the stage reflected in the hobbit's hair. "But let's make it fun, eh?"
Shadowy figures sat on the seats behind him, the candles arranged in a way that made thier features unidentifiable. A quick violin started, and was joined by a couple harps, a chello, another violin, drums, a flute and several other instruments. Bilbo clapped along, encouraging the crowd to do the same.
-There is an inn, a merry old inn
beneath an old grey hill,
And there they brew a beer so brown
That the Man in the Moon himself came down
One night to drink his fill.
The ostler has a tipsy cat
that plays a five-stringed fiddle;
And up and down he runs his bow,
Now squeaking high, now purring low,
Now sawing in the middle.
The landlord keeps a little dog
that is mighty fond of jokes;
When there's good cheer among the guests,
He cocks an ear at all the jests
And laughs until he chokes.
They also keep a hornéd cow
as proud as any queen;
But music turns her head like ale,
And makes her wave her tufted tail
and dance upon the green.
And O! the rows of silver dishes
and the store of silver spoons!
For Sunday there's a special pair,
And these they polish up with care
on Saturday afternoons.
The Man in the Moon was drinking deep,
and the cat began to wail;
A dish and a spoon on the table danced,
The cow in the garden madly pranced,
and the little dog chased his tail.
The Man in the Moon took another mug,
and then rolled beneath his chair;
And there he dozed and dreamed of ale,
Till in the sky the stars were pale,
and dawn was in the air.
Then the ostler said to his tipsy cat:
'The white horses of the Moon,
They neigh and champ their silver bits;
But their master's been and drowned his wits,
and the Sun'll be rising soon!'
So the cat on his fiddle played hey-diddle-diddle,
a jig that would wake the dead:
He squeaked and sawed and quickened the tune,
While the landlord shook the Man in the Moon:
'It's after three!' he said.
They rolled the Man slowly up the hill
and bundled him into the Moon,
While his horses galloped up in rear,
And the cow came capering like a deer,
and a dish ran up with the spoon.
Now quicker the fiddle went deedle-dum-diddle;
the dog began to roar,
The cow and the horses stood on their heads;
The guests all bounded from their beds
and danced upon the floor.
With a ping and a pong the fiddle-strings broke!
the cow jumped over the Moon,
And the little dog laughed to see such fun,
And the Saturday dish went off at a run
with the silver Sunday spoon.
The round Moon rolled behind the hill
as the Sun raised up her head.
She hardly believed her fiery eyes;
For though it was day, to her surprise
they all went back to bed!-
Bilbo saw the sky had gotten increasingly darker, steadily more candles were lit around the room, the dwarrow behind him still obscured from view. "Time for one more song?" He asked the crowd to a resounding cheer.
He turned to the dwarrow. "Ready?" He whispered.
They all grinned conspiratorially. "Aye," Dwalin started the song on his harp.
And Bilbo took a deep breath, crossing his fingers in his pocket.
-Everybody needs inspiration
Everybody needs a song
A beautiful melody
When the night's so long
'Cause there is no guarantee
That this life is easy
Yeah, when my world is falling apart
When there's no light to break up the dark
That's when I, I
I look at you-
Bilbo kept his eyes on Thorin, who had paused between sipping on his drink and was now staring at Bilbo with wide eyes, noticing the hobbit's eyes on him. Thorinn noticed the open question on Bilbo's face and went red.
-When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can't
Find my way home anymore
That's when I, I
I look at you-
Thorin gaped slightly as Bilbo's gaze had still not strayed from him.
-When I look at you, I see forgiveness
I see the truth
You love me for who I am
Like the stars hold the moon
Right there where they belong
And I know I'm not alone-
Sali and several helpers rushed forward with lamps, illuminating the entire stage. Several of the dwarrow stood as they played their instruments perfectly, the music filling the room as the dwarrow smiled, concentrating.
-Yeah, when my world is falling apart
When there's no light to break up the dark
That's when I, I
I look at you
When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can't
Find my way home anymore
That's when I, I
I look at you
You appear just like a dream to me
Just like Kaleidoscope colors that
Cover me, all I need
Every breath that I breathe
Don't you know you're beautiful?
Yeah, yeah, yeah-
Bilbo took a quick breath, before raising his voice.
-When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can't
Find my way home anymore
That's when I, I
I look at you
I look at you-
Bilbo's voice was swooping, hitting the notes with practised ease.
The music fell to Norí on his flute, Dwalin on harp and Fíli and Orí on their violins.
-You appear just like a dream
To me-
The room exploded into applause as Bilbo stepped back, the other dwarrow standing up as they all clasped hands and bowed. The cheers quickly dissolved to talking as many ordered more food and ale.
Sali high fived Bilbo. "You were always amazing, Bilbo." He grinned at the hobbit. "And good for business."
Bilbo turned to the dwarrow, not noticing Thorin stand up and make his way over. "Now," Bilbo said. "You lot are terrible."
Their smiles fell in confusion. But Bilbo ploughed on.
"Balin and Dorí, you're the least bad. But that doesn't make you good. Just tell them." He turned to the other dwarrow. "They're dating, because their Ones, and didn't want to tell you in case you guys got mad, which is stupid. Now, Fíli and Orí! JUST ACTUALLY TALK TO EACH OTHER YOU IDIOTS YOU ARE LITERALLY MEANT FOR EACH OTHER!" Thorin stopped short at Bilbo's raised tone. "Although, you guys watching each other and then going bright red is hilarious. And finally, Dwalin and Norí. Don't think you could escape," Bilbo suddenly turned slightly, having noticed the two dwarrow trying to disappear. "Dwalin, give him time. Norí, for Yavannah's sake, you two are destined to be together and besides, when we get Erebor you will literally be a lord anyway, so none of this 'Dwalin would be better without me' seriously, Norí, you're hurting both of you. Everyone clear?"
The dwarrow all nodded, looking shocked. "And Kíli, sit right back down, you were shot by an arrow and the only reason we are not staying here for another week is because we don't have the time!" Bilbo shouted.
Kíli, on the other end of the noisy inn, paled and immediately sat back down.
"How did you?"
"What?"
"He's on the other side of the room..."
Bilbo grinned at all of them. "It's just pure talent."
Thorin cleared his throat and tapped Bilbo on the shoulder. Bilbo span on his heel, still smiling, but faltered and turned bright red when he realised it was Thorin.
"A word?" Thorin motioned outside the inn. Bilbo nodded, suddenly anxious.
The night was clear, the stars shining and the moon bright and full. If Bilbo was in a more calm state of mind, he might have realised how cliché it was.
"Did you..." Thorin fiddled with his fingers. "What you sang, were you? I mean, did you mean it?"
Bilbo turned slightly to look at him. "Yes. I meant all of it."
Thorin let out a breath he didn't realise he had been holding. "I-"
Thorin broke off, and wrapping an arm around the hobbit's waist, pulled Bilbo into him. Bilbo squeaked slightly. Thorin's strong fingers gently tilted Bilbo's chin, and he leant forward and kissed him.
Bilbo smiled against his lips and snuck his arms around Thorin's neck.
Eventually they broke apart, resting their foreheads against each other. "My burglar," Thorin muttered.
"Way to go Uncle!"
"Finally!"
"Ha! Told it would work!"
"That will be ten coins, please!"
"Actually, you owe me twenty. It is after midnight."
"Damm it."
Thorin turned to see the Company watching him and Bilbo, all laughing and grinning. Then Gandalf appeared in the doorway, looking stern.
"Now, with this betting-" He suddenly grinned, looking triumphant. "It is actually gone two, so thank you!" He caught the money bags tossed at him. "And you, Norí."
Bilbo laughed loudly.
"They were betting... on us?" Thorin asked.
Bilbo nodded. "That's why they helped, see. And, because, what was it Dwalin said? Something along the lines of it being hilarious to see your ridiculous pining..." Bilbo's grin was wide. "So about that ridiculous pining?"
Thorin shook his head fondly and kissed his hobbit again.