Chapter Text
Thorin drew his cloak tighter around him as he rode his pony beside the two wagons as they slowly made their way along. They were nearing The Shire after a very long journey, nearly 4 months on the road so far. But Thorin knew the journey was worth the health of his hobbit and his family.
Dain had been wary of the dwarf king taking an undetermined leave of absence from the throne, and had no hesitance to voice his opinion.
“Are you sure that this is necessary Thorin? You need not leave the mountain for such an endeavor. Simply send your hobbit to live with the elves til he is well. If Thranduil was willing to come all this way to help him, who’s to say he would not welcome him into his halls.”
Thorin shook his head and opened his mouth to speak but was quickly cut off by his sister’s stern and angry voice.
“It is entirely necessary Dain! That hobbit has been through more than any can imagine in the last several years! He joined a company on an impossible quest, helped to save my brother and sons, was cast away while with child,” Thorin flinched as his sister spoke, guilt still eating at him all these years later for his words and actions displayed under the gold sickness, “Bore and delivered my niece and barely survived. Then took in his orphaned nephew to care for as his own, and bore my brother’s twins. Which if you may already know almost stole him away as he clung to life by a thread Dain. Now for this most current predicament we find ourselves in.” The princess set her glare at her cousin and pointed her finger right in his face. “That noble and brave creature stood up to three full sized large human men when they targeted and were attacking a child. That small halfling stood up to those men when no other would, resulting in him being beaten near to death. The only reason my brother’s husband is still with us is due to the kindness and luck that Thranduil arrived in time. Now Thranduil has informed us that the hobbit require a great deal of sunshine and to be around that that grows. Do you see a great deal of vegetation and sunshine in the mountain?” Dis raised her eyebrows as she waited for cousin’s response. Dain looked incredibly flustered and embarrassed under the scrupulous gaze of the Princess Dis.
“No.” Dain grit his teeth as he responded.
“No I didn’t think so.” The princess spat out as she sat back in her seat beside her brother. “So if that hobbit, who mind you is one of the major reasons this kingdom has been flourishing with a king that understands his people, needs to go afar to heal than he will go. AND he will go with the protection of those I trust most with him. My brother, my sons, and our two best friends. Furthermore, if you find it disagreeable to act as steward in my brother’s absence, however long that may be, than you may go back the Iron Hills and I will stand to rule in place of you.”
Dain lowered his gaze to his lap as Dis continued to glare at him. Thorin almost felt sorry for his cousin, knowing all too well the feeling of being on Dis’ bad side. Especially since Dis had seen Thorin through the worst of times in almost losing his beloved. “Dain, will you sit as steward and rule with Dis in my absence? I will be available to communicate through ravens in The Shire. But what it comes down to is, my husband needs this. My one needs this. I have almost lost him too many times to count. I cannot turn my back on him now.” The dwarf king leaned forward on his arms resting on the great table of his council chambers. “Will you stand in my place while I am gone taking care of those who are most important to me?”
Thorin silently awaited Dain’s reply, watching as his cousin entwined his fingers and leaned forward himself on the table. “Thorin, cousin, I cannot say that I understand your need to go across middle earth to help your one. But just because I cannot say I understand it does not mean that I will not support you. I will stand in your place with Dis by my side and I will watch over your kingdom in your absence.”
Dain’s decision left Thorin feeling as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Everything was falling perfectly into place for their departure. The dwarf king had already sent word to The Shire to the Gamgee’s. The letters had gone out the very day that Thranduil saved Bilbo to ensure that Bag End would be ready for them to stay in; explaining in detail the grave events that brought them to need to return. In his letters he had also inquired if it were possible acquire two other smials built or bought in the same area to house Fili and Kili as well as Jocelyn, Kili and Atara, with Bofur. The kind hobbit had written back promptly letting the king know that everything would be set and in order by the time they arrived. Thorin sent Nori, along with a guard, once Master Gamgee had sent word back with the required gold (and some) to cover all expenses anticipated for the big move. Nori decided to stay and watch over the preparations with the Gamgee family; who had taken a liking to the star haired dwarf from what Missus Gamgee’s letters to Bilbo had informed them. Bilbo had spent a great deal of time in the gardens while waiting for Dain’s arrival, but he was not healing as quickly as he would elsewhere away from the mountain.
Thorin made sure that everything was set and prepared for all to leave as soon as possible. The two wagons were packed and readied to leave days before Dain had arrived in the mountain in anticipation for departure. Still being the beginnings of fall, and not yet winter they packed and prepared for the worst of the weather. One of the wagons had been filled with warm blankets and pillows to keep the children warm and comfortable as well as allow Bilbo to rest well through their travels, while the second was filled with supplies for the road as well as a small space set up similar to the first.
When they said their goodbyes there were many tears, especially from Dis. The Princess had stood and held her sons and granddaughter in her arms as she cried before saying her goodbyes to her niece and nephews. Thrayda cried as she clutched desperately to her aunt as they whispered promises of seeing each other soon and reassurances that this wasn’t goodbye forever. She cradled the tiny princess until the wild haired little one would be parted with her and allow her to say her goodbyes to the wee one’s parents.
When Dis walked up to her brother she smiled wetly as tears clung to her lashes, “You take care of that hobbit of yours. As well as your children. Remember your responsibilities to them when things get hard. Do not shut them out. I will not be there to bring you back in those times of darkness. Remember to be strong, patient, and kind. Be the great father and husband you have always been.” Gently she kissed her older brother on his forehead before walking to the wagon where Bilbo was laying and whispering softly to her brother’s husband; causing the smaller man to laugh and let out a choked sob as he nodded smiling in understanding to whatever the princess had said. She held the hobbit’s face in her hands and then kissed him on his forehead as well. They clasped hands and embraced once more as the rest of their group piled into the wagons and mounted their ponies; Dwalin taking the reins of the wagon holding Bilbo with Thrayda sitting beside the great dwarven warrior on the bench and Kili and Jocelyn taking the reins of the second.
Thrayda sobbed as they rode away, waving to her aunt until they were finally out of sight of the mountain, then crawling into the wagon with her Da where she laid wrapped in the hobbit’s arms while he stroked her hair lovingly as he told her of all the adventures that he and her papa had been on together. He told her of trolls, and wizards and goblins while she quietly whimpered and dozed. Though they were slow moving due to the wagons it was nice to enjoy the fall weather, and with each stop in the towns had the children, and Fili and Kili in excitement over the newness of it all.
The whole trip had been a great time for all, each friend they visit bringing a bright and brilliant smile to the hobbit’s face. Thorin felt such joy at the sight of his beloved grinning from ear to ear as Thrayda rode on the back of Beorn, or ran amuck in Rivendell through the elven halls. Each new place they visited helped to ease the pain of the separation for the little ones from their birth place. But Frodo was the most excited as they drew nearer the shire; babbling from his seat in front of Kili pointing out the places that he and his dwarf cousin had stayed on their trip to retrieve the lad when his parents passed.
At the moment as the king rode his pony beside his husband’s wagon and chuckling to himself as he listened to the little hobbit rambling on at the moment to his uncle and adoptive siblings.
“Thrayda when we get there, there will be a grand party under the giant party tree!!! Everyone will be there and everyone will be so excited that we are there. There will be great loads of treats and cakes and I bet Gandalf will be there with fireworks! Bilbo, do you think Gandalf will be there when we get there? I want to see his fireworks! I can’t wait to see Sam and Merry!!! I am so excited I can hardly stand it.”
“Well here we are then!” Dwalin’s voice had Thrayda and Frodo on their feet and jumping onto the bench with him as they rode up over the great hill to look down on all of Hobbiton as the sun was beginning to set. Bilbo propped himself up in the wagon and let out a sigh as he gazed out on the sight before him.
“Home.”