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Chapter Text

If you had asked Bilbo Baggins a year after he had come back from his misadventure to the lonely mountain if he missed the dwarves, he would have laughed. Loudly and perhaps a bit bitterly. His neighbors had agreed that his trip had not been the best idea and it seemed that the honorable Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End was back to stay. 

That was until he added Zinnias to his garden. 

Hamfast Gamgee was the first to spot this and knew immediately who and what it pertained to. When he told his wife Bell she immediately sent their youngest, Samwise, over with a fresh huckleberry pie, as it was Bilbo’s favorite treat of hers. And the next day, she invited herself over for a bit of a chat around tea time. She had sent a notice because she was a hobbit from a respectable family. Thank you very much. 

“How was it, Mister Bilbo?” She asked leaning on the small gate that separated the front garden of Bag End from the rest of the Shire. Bilbo looked up at her from underneath his big straw hat and rose to his feet. 

“Very good, Missus Gamgee. Was that a new strain?” Bell nodded, delighted over the fact that someone had realized that she had crossbred two of her favorite strains of huckleberry. She opened her mouth to ask if he had tasted the-” And is that blueberry in there with them?” 

“Impeccable taste as always Mister Bilbo!” She said delightedly as the other hobbit opened the gate and led her inside for tea. 

Sometime later after copious amounts of tea, scones, and heaps of gossip Bilbo put his cup down and sighed. He looked up at his long time friend and sighed.

“You’re here about the Zinnias aren’t you?” Bell giggled at his dejected tone but sobered as Bilbo turned to look out his kitchen watching the hustle and bustle of the hobbits passing by. He snorted as one or two looked at the Zinnias in his garden and then at the window before blushing and offering hesitant waves as they passed by.

“If you don’t mind, Bilbo.” She replied softly gently stroking her thumb over the back of Bilbo’s hand as she grabbed another scone. Bilbo snapped back to her as she smiled and bit into the flakey pastry.

“I miss them Bell.” He said earnestly, drinking his tea in mild irritation. Bell giggled again at that and Bilbo joined her. “Even though they are so loud and annoying and and and track MUD EVERYWHERE!” Bell was full-on laughing by the end of his list. “I still miss them.” He huffed setting his teacup and saucer down on the table. 

“You miss some more than others.” Bell pointed out, rather astutely. Bilbo coughed as he choked on his spit he opened his mouth to ask but Bell beat him to it pointing at the Forget-Me-Nots and the Sweet Pea seeds sitting in his gardening box. They both laughed and moved on. 

As they were cleaning up Bell nodded to the box again. 

“Will you tell me about them?” She asked. Bilbo hummed and then looked at the seeds.

“I’ll tell them about them all if you would like.” He offered. Bell raised a delicate eyebrow.

“There’s more.” They made eye contact and dissolved into a fresh round of giggles. 

“Yes.” Bell finished drying the plate and looked out the window at the darkening evening. “Come over for dinner since I imposed on you for both tea AND supper.” 

“Alright,” Bilbo replied with an easy smile as he put away the last dish. 

“Mumma Mumma!” The two elder hobbits turned to the entryway as Samwise barreled in. “There are dwarves in the market.” He paused for dramatic effect and Bilbo suspected for some air. “And they’re headed this way!” He finished triumphantly before running out of the door. The two looked at each other, out the door, and back to each other.

“Shall I instead help you with a meal fit for some undefined number of dwarves?” Bell asked shakily.

“Yes, I do believe that would be very helpful Bell.”

And so the two hobbits hurried to the Gamgees’ for supplies and some good pipeweed. Bilbo was shivering with anticipation and a small amount of fear. Would these dwarves be his company? Or others? Would it be Thorin? Knowing he had a small amount of time the little hobbit let this thought fuel him as he quickly began to prepare a meal fit for...well, a king. 

Thorin Oakenshield was having a hard time celebrating the anniversary of the reclaiming of the mountain, and by the looks of it, his company felt the same way. It wasn’t the same without their burglar. No, not their burglar, but without Bilbo Baggins, their friend. 

“Why don’t you go to him?” Dis’s voice from his right startled him. He turned to his sister and blinked at her like a dullard. Go to him? 

“It might do you some good,” Dain suggested into the beer stein on his left. Thorin turned to him, eyebrows raised. Dain shrugged at his cousin and laughed at his confusion heartily. 

“Could I-” He began.

“We.” His nephews crowed from beside their mother and Thorin looked up to the rest of the Company enthusiastically nodding.

“Could we even get away long enough to make a satisfying trip of it?” Thorin asked.

“Aye.” Came from behind him as Balin put a thick contract on his plate. The Company, his sister, and cousin watched with avid interest. Thorin read over the papers. 

“A contract giving Dis and Dain temporary rulership over Erebor until The Company of Thorin Oakenshield’s return.” The company cheered, Dis, and Dain raised mugs of beer in a toast. “ All important decisions go to me via one of the ravens of Erebor.”

With the throne of Erebor secured the company began to plan for their arrival in the Shire. No one thought to alert the hobbit until they were on the edges of the Shire. Bofur laughed and slapped Bifur on the back,

“He’ll be reminded of the good old days!” And the company roared in approval and joy at the thought of seeing their Mister Baggins again. 

Hobbits, they soon realized, were not all as kind as Bilbo Baggins or as avoidant of gossip. The hobbits eyed them with distrust and they moved through the marketplace with gossip clinging onto their heels. Except for a very round and loud fellow who promptly walked up to Thorin and reached up a hand.

“Hamfast Gamgee, yer highness. Ye look just like Mister Bilbo said ye did.” He rattled off the names of the rest of the company and greeted them in kind. He sat back smiling and a small hobbit boy ran up eyes wide. He dropped down to a small curtsey as he stared at Thorin. 

“Beggin’ yer pardon yer highness. Da shall I go tell Mumma and Mister Bilbo?” He asked eyes incredibly wide.

“Yes, that’s a great idea Samwise!” The hobbit boomed and ruffled his son’s hair before the tike went off running through the market. 

“Now Master Dwarves-” Over the next hour and a bit the dwarves were lead around by Hamfast as he introduced them to Hobbiton. He said it was to help them get acquainted with the village but also to give ‘the missus and Mister Baggins time to cook up a good supper for them’. They had dropped off their ponies at the local barn and paid some fauntlings to take their things to Bag End. 

As they went Thorin had heard mumblings.

“So that’s why he was growing ZINNIAS.” 

“Bag End has ZINNIAS, right?”

“Those ZINNIAS must be for them?”

Based on the looks that the company received with the frequency of the comments it had piqued all of their interests. 

“Mister Gamgee-” Thorin began only to have the robust hobbit cut him off.

“Just Hamfast is fine!” He cried. 

“Right, Hamfast what is the significance of Zinnias?” Thorin asked Hamfast blinked and startled a bit.

“Zinnias are for thoughts of absent friends.” Hamfast recited. “Bilbo began planting them about a week ago I assume that they were for you,” Hamfast said with a shrug before beginning to walk away. “Let’s head off to Bag End, I’m sure those two have cooked us up something marvelous.”

The company felt their hearts lift at the thought of food and what their hobbit thought of them. 

And Hamfast was quite right about the meal. Bilbo had greeted them with enthusiasm and tears in his eyes. He surprised them with rather enthusiastic kisses to each cheek, which left some members of the company blushing more than others. He had introduced them to Bell, who was just as robust as her husband but much prettier. She had given them bone-crushing hugs for ‘taking care of dearest Bilbo on that horrid quest’. They were going to interrupt but Bilbo had laughed and said that ‘the only reason she thought the quest was horrid was that she was a respectable hobbit’. 

They drank and ate late into the night, Thorin noticed how Bilbo and Bofur seemed to be rather close together. Bell began to laugh,

“Sweet Pea!” She crowed, Bilbo and Hamfast began to blush. Bilbo looked stunning with a slight blush on his face. Thorin grumbled into his mug of beer. He thought he had ended those thoughts when the hobbit had left Erebor. 

He looked up and met the hobbit’s eyes. This was going to be a long stay but Thorin knew he was going to love every minute. This was his last thought as his drunken head hit the pillow and he passed out.

Chapter Text

The company woke the next morning to an equally lovely spread. Gloin made his way to sit next to the hobbit who was intently sipping on a small mug of tea. 

“Master Baggins, how do you fare?” He asked the hobbit who looked up with a sweet smile. 

“I’m good, Master Dwarf. How are you and your family?” Gloin immediately brightened and began to tell the hobbit about them. 

“- They are in Ered Luin so I’ll be leaving for a bit as I go get them.” The older dwarf said with a dreamy smile as he imagined seeing his beloved wife and son again. 

“I knew I picked the right one for you,” Bilbo said absentmindedly but before Gloin could say anything he continued. “They are welcome to stay here if you want to get them sooner.”

“Oh no Master Baggins I wouldn’t want to impose-” Gloin began and then laughed at the look that the hobbit was giving him. 

“You have nothing to worry about.” He said sulkily and drank some more of his tea. Gloin clapped the lad on the back and rose to bring his plates to Bifur who was up to his elbows in suds.

“ Hello brother, give these a wash for us eh? ” He asked in Khuzdul, Bifur shot him an irritated look over his shoulder and growled. Gloin laughed and clapped him on the shoulder and wandered off. 

The job that the hobbit had found for him during the day was helping load carts that were meant to go to the different boroughs throughout the Shire. This meant a lot of hefting heavy boxes in front of the woman who ran the stalls in the marketplace. He was flattered by their giggles but largely ignored them. 

But with this job he learned all sorts about the creatures he now lived near. How they ate so much he would never know. But the one thing no one explained to him was what flowers meant. That was until he began making his regular drop-offs to The Lotus Flower, an apothecary shop near Bywater. An aging hobbit ran the place by the name of Orchid Cotton, who had lived in Bywater all her life. She doubled as the midwife of Bywater, Hobbiton, and Frogmorton if they were dedicated enough. 

“Why are you the midwife?” Gloin asked, a little confused. The hobbit looked at him strangely and muttered to herself. 

“Because of my name. Orchids are flowers that often mean fertility and I run an apothecary. So, a lot of children round these parts were made with help from tinctures and the like of my hand. And then these hands helped them into the world. Understand?” Gloin nodded a little shocked. 

“I didn’t know hobbits were named for their deeds like dwarves.” He sounded a bit breathless with awe. Orchid laughed, a deep throaty sound that would put even the most fussy baby into a set of calm. 

“Not quite laddy,” Gloin tried not to be offended at the fact that she saw him as a child. “ I was named Orchid because I was the daughter of an apothecary and it was in a patch of em that I was conceived.” At the look of abject horror on the dwarf’s face, she howled with laughter. “After me, mam knew that she was expecting. She told me da and for a courtin’ bouquet, he gave her Forget-Me-Nots, Orchids, Sweet Peas, and some Myrtle. Hmm, it was a good marriage indeed.” She added shuffling off.

“What does-” Gloin began only to be cut off.

“Before I forget,” The elderly hobbit hustled over with a small bag. “Master Bilbo Baggins of Bag End asked if I had some Myrtle seeds to plant and I did. Would you please take them to him?” Gloin took the bag.

“Why does he need them and what do they mean?” The hobbitess looked at him with fondness and sat on a stool. She pulled a mortar and pestle towards her and began grinding a small yellow flower. 

“He said that he wanted to grow them because they reminded him of one of his dwarf friends. Said that one or two of ‘em was married,” Here Orchid gave him a look that seemed to strip him to the bone before she continued. “He wants to plant them to remember him and his family. As for what they mean, they mean good luck in love and marriage. I think he means it either in this dwarf either got lucky or he wishes him a long and full of love marriage.” Gloin nodded his assent. 

“Thank you Orchid.” He said truthfully. The hobbitess snorted and nodded. She began bustling around. As he reached the door Orchid once again spoke. 

“Master Dwarf,” she began “if you or Master Bilbo Baggins of Bag End know of anyone who could help me out please send them over.” Gloin nodded and waved and remounted his horse and set out back up to Hobbiton. 

When he finally returned he held out the pouch for Bilbo. 

“For one of the two married in the company, I wonder who it could be for?” He asked with an eyebrow raised but with a fond smile on his mouth. Bilbo returned it, albeit sheepishly as he took his pouch. 

“Yes because you love her very much and I wish for you two to have something maybe to remind yourself that it is good. I will make you a wreath one day, dried of course-” Then the hobbit began to prattle on about how Erebor might be too cold for real blooms. 

“I’ll be leaving for Ered Luin in the morning.” 

“Understood.” The hobbit said tearfully. He embraced the hobbit before he quite realized what he was doing. But as Bilbo buried into him Gloin felt part of his heart melt off into the hobbit in his arms. 

“Goodbye, little star .” It was something that he had called Gimli when he was a small child. He had not realized until then that he had viewed the hobbit as sort of a son. He kissed the hobbit’s head and pulled away. 

“We will meet again?” Bilbo asked wiping away his tears. 

“Yes,” Gloin said and made his way to his room, and if he was wiping away tears of his own then really that was his own business wasn’t it. 

Dinner that night was full of Gloin’s favorites, his favorite foods, and songs, and almost all of his favorite people. He also told Bilbo about Orchid’s offer of a job and the hobbit suggested Oin who agreed with only a little prodding. 

Much later when he was headed to his room he saw Thorin. 

“ So you saw the hug then ?” Thorin started but before his king could speak Gloin continued. “ The only thing I feel for that boy is fatherly affection. He is yours should you want him, Your Majesty .” 

Thorin blushed and looked away. Gloin felt his heart fill with affection for this lad, that was how he looked when he first told his dearest she was his One. Shy but hopeful and filled with yearning.

“ I-I- Is it that obvious ?” He sighed finally Gloin huffed a laugh and clapped Thorin on the shoulder. 

“ Only to me lad. I know the sight of a dwarf who has found his One. I shall see you again Thorin Oakenshield but maybe with a consort in tow, eh ?” He said waggling his eyebrows lavisciously. Thorin boomed out a laugh and his eyes softened as he looked upon the hobbit. 

“ Aye, a consort. My One .” Gloin pulled him into a brief one-armed hug and went to his bedroom. 

The next morning he awoke before the others as he said all of his goodbyes the night before. Lying on the table was some bread and cheese left by Bilbo and a small wreath. With it was a note. 

‘Come back for when I grow enough Myrtle to make you a proper one. But this should be mayhaps a nice present for the Missus. Don’t forget to eat up.’ The dwarf chuckled fondly at Bilbo’s message and began the long trek to his wife and son. 

When he arrived his wife promptly pulled to their living quarters and showed him how much she had missed him while Gimli was out with friends. After they had finished Gloin looked over at the small Myrtle wreath on the bedside table.

‘Good luck in love and marriage.’ He thought before pulling his wife into his arms. ‘Good luck in love and marriage, indeed.’

Chapter Text

When the wee hobbit had told him that he needed to get a job Oin almost laughed in his face. Him getting a job? He already had a job as the personal healer to the Crown. And then he had met her Orchid Cotton, middle-aged by Darrow standards but beautiful in his eyes. 

He took the job. What could he say? She was his One. 

Bilbo had run him over on the first day of his official job. Orchid, to Oin’s confusion and surprise, greeted the hobbit with a deep bow. Bilbo laughed it off blushing shyly. They then began to talk of flowers and seeds for growing. 

“Yes, I can get them from Hamfast, thank you though Miss Cotton.”

“Call me, Orchid.” The woman laid a hand on Bilbo’s bicep. Oin felt a jolt of jealousy course through him which surprised him. 

“Only if you call me Bilbo. Have a nice day Oin, Orchid. I’ll be back at the end of the workday to pick you up.” Bilbo said jovially as he left The Lotus Flower humming happily. Orchid watched him with a starstruck look in her clear eyes. 

They worked in tandem making potions and tinctures as they traded war stories and the like. Orchid was a stunningly cheerful woman even as she described the birth of a pair of twins as she had to cut them from their mother’s womb. Oin then shared how he had stitched a man back together. They spent much of the day the same way but the way that she had reacted to Bilbo wouldn’t let him be. 

“Why did you act that way with Mister Bilbo?” Orchid paused and then wiping her hands off idly spoke. 

“The Bagginses of Bag End are very rich and powerful. They are directly related to the Thain, the leader of the Shire, well, through Bilbo’s mother’s side. I believe Bilbo is fourth or fifth in line to be the Thain about now.” Oin couldn’t hide his shock. 

“Bilbo is in line to rule the Shire?”

“He doesn’t really seem like it does he?” She giggled and Oin’s heart warmed. “But the Thain doesn’t do much but collect taxes and dole out minor punishments. We haven’t seen war in many a day but that they also would take care of that too I suppose.”

Oin nodded and then Orchid nodded as well, noticing this the two laughed and continued the same way as they had that morning. 

By the time that Bilbo came to pick up Oin the dwarf had learned the perfect primary courting gift for his beloved and just how much the plants that surrounded them have to give. 

Bilbo had mentioned that he had some business to attend to which led to the dwarves to survive on their own for dinner. Just as they all settled down, Oin picked up a biscuit and began to slather it with jam. 

“Did you know that Bilbo is at minimum fourth in line to rule the Shire?” Thorin promptly choked on the beer he had been drinking. Dwalin, Dori, and Balin gawped at him as Bombur, Bifur, and Ori stared. Bofur turned red while Fili, Kili, and Nori burst out laughing. 

“We pulled a direct descendent through hell and then made him face a DRAGON.” Kili howled as Fili slapped the table. Thorin stared into his drink with a look of abject horror on his face. 

This is why when Bilbo returned home he was surprised to hear all sorts of apologies. He calmed them by saying that he would probably never ‘rule’ because there was nothing to kill off the other heirs. 

The next morning Bilbo was grabbing a basket and a small trowel when Oin walked into the kitchen.

“Morning, Master Oin!” The hobbit cheerfully called. Oin grunted as the hobbit handed him a cup of tea as he took a sip he felt himself wake up. 

“Morning, Master Bilbo. Where are you headed this morning?” He asked as Bilbo hadn’t offered up an explanation before. 

“I’m off to harvest some mushrooms and some wild herbs if you’re interested.” The dwarf hummed and took another sip. 

“Might I come with you? See Orchid,” Bilbo sent him a knowing smile as the dwarf sent him a stern look.” Orchid told me about some things that would help me on the road.” 

So, off they went. In fact, they made a day of it by stopping for lunch with a relative of Bilbo’s. Oin learned more about plants from the hobbit with who he had traveled halfway across Middle Earth with. He vaguely felt ashamed because he knew so little about the hobbit, especially because he had a feeling that his king was rather interested in him. They were making casual conversation as they made their way back to Bag End when Bilbo asked to stop by the market. 

“It’s just to pick up some seeds.” Bilbo made a flippant hand gesture as Oin laughed. 

“Alright lad.” And so they stopped at a local farmer.

“Do you have any uh,” he paused and looked Oin up and down. “Magnolia seeds?” He asked and made a happy deal with the farmer. 

As they made their way up to Bag End Bilbo hummed a bit of a tune. Oin smiled at him and assisted the hobbit with the making of dinner that night. 

It wasn’t until the next day when Orchid had taken some of the plants that he and Bilbo had gathered the day before that he had remembered Bilbo’s conversation with the flower man. 

“Orchid, my One,” as she had accepted his courtship and they were planning to return to Erebor at the end of the month once Orchid had finished training her granddaughter. “What do Magnolias signify?” Orchid shot him a look as she looked up from writing down the tincture and potion recipes. 

“Why darling?”

“Because Bilbo bought some seeds to plant in his garden after looking me up and down and I don’t know whether or not to be offended.” Orchid laughed and kissed him on the cheek.

“Lover of nature and I do believe that quite fits. In more ways than one.” She said with a cheeky wink. Oin laughed and embarrassed his soon to be wife. 

That night he did not return to Bag End for dinner. 

At the end of the month and many tearful goodbyes, Oin and Orchid set off for their new life in Erebor after Thorin had married them in the Shire. The party that followed was one for the history books. Oin and Orchid would tell the tale for many years after. 

Chapter Text

Bilbo had managed to set Dori up with a tailor from Bree. The man had been skeptical at first but had quickly warmed up to him after seeing his work. However, that didn’t mean that other men saw it that way.

“Get your stinking hands off of me you dirty dwarf!” A rather portly woman sneered as she wrenched herself from Dori’s weak grip. The tailor, Alaric, gripped his shoulder and gave him a grim smile. 

“Mrs. Boulder I can take you now.” The woman smiled cruelly at the dwarf and followed the tailor into the back room. Dori huffed and began sorting through bolts of fabric. 

“Hello hello hello,” Came from behind him as Bilbo entered the shop his arms outstretched. Dori accepted the hug from his friend gratefully. Bilbo sent him a bemused smile as he rubbed his hand up and down the dwarf’s strong back. 

“Rough day, Master Dori?” The kindly hobbit asked his friend and Dori felt himself stifle a sob at the care in his friend’s voice. 

“Please by now I think that you can just call me Dori.” Bilbo gently cupped his face and put their foreheads together. 

“Dori, you are very strong not just physically but emotionally too. Once they see your work they will admire it. And even if they don’t then just create masterpieces for yourself or for those you love.” The two smiled at each other as Dori lightly bumped their foreheads together. The hobbit pulled back and pulled a small package out of his pocket. “Roast beef sandwich for my favorite tailor dwarf. I must be off!” Bilbo pressed a sweet kiss to his cheek and was off. 

Dori smiled after him and returned to his work with vigor. 

However, the confidence that had come with the hobbit soon came undone. The men were aggressive and cruel. The women were dismissive and rude. It ground the dwarf down and made him feel tired and broken. 

However, he always stayed the same as he always had. Bright and considerate and damn hardworking. But he could feel it weighing him down slowly but surely until one day, after about a week of this treatment, Bilbo asked him to come and plant some things in his garden with him. 

“So what are we planting today Bilbo?” He asked smiling happily at his friend after they had cleared a small patch. The dwarf felt lighter and happier than he had for a long time. He attributed some of that fact to the pipeweed that he and the hobbit had shared before starting. 

“Chamomile.” The hobbit said with an easy smile. The dwarf hummed and kneeled down beside Bilbo. 

“Isn’t that tea?” He asked grabbing one of the small white flowers and twirled it in his hand easily. 

“Yes. In fact, it’s the one I use to put myself to sleep.” He said smiling at the flower in Dori’s hand. “Plus I like the meaning.” His nose wrinkled as he began to plant. 

“Meaning?” He asked shooting the hobbit a look, out of the corner of his eye. 

“Patience in adversity.” The hobbit replied with meaning as he plucked one of the flowers and put it behind the dwarf’s ear. Before Dori could ask what he meant Bilbo continued. “It reminds me of you.” He said before returning to his gardening. 

After that incident, Dori found himself less tolerant of the prejudice that was thrown at him day after day. After he had put the last customer in their place but before he could defend himself to his boss Alaric walked over with a bottle of scotch and two small glasses. 

“I’ve been wanting to tell the lot of them off for years.” He raised his glass in a salute to Dori. “You are a braver man than I Master Dwarf.” After which he took a deep drink. Dori joined him after a moment. 

“Call me Dori, Master Alaric.” The dwarf said. 

“Then you must call me Alaric.” The tailor said. 

Then after a new glass, they drank to the start of a promising new friendship and patience in the face of adversity.

Chapter Text

Nori had never seen more jewelry in his life. Bilbo had brought the dwarves to his second cousin’s birthday party, Dragon or Drogo, something like that. The others were having a great time drinking, dancing, or eating. Or in Thorin’s case staring at their host with semi adoring eyes. 

“Think he knows how obvious he is about it?” Nori asked and Balin’s returning chuckle made the younger dwarf smile. 

“I don’t think so laddy.” He said handing Nori a mug of Brandywine Brew and walked to their king’s side. It was deceptively easy on the way down but packed a punch when it had sat in you for a bit, the hobbits didn’t mess around. 

“Thanks, Master Balin.” He said taking a sip as he reached out and snagged a small broach off of a nasty hobbitess’s dress. She had been ragging into her wee one about eating too much and that Nori knew was a crime in the eye of any normal hobbit.

“Don’t think I hadn’t seen that Master Nori,” Bilbo said teasingly. Nori tried not to choke on his drink as the hobbit shot him a coy look. “Please Lobelia deserves to be taken down a notch or two. Besides,” He said with a sniff.” She nicked it from my home when I came back from our adventure.”

“Then this belongs to you,” Nori said handed him the piece of jewelry and Bilbo smiled at him kindly. 

“Keep it. If you want.” The hobbit said kindly. Nori smiled and pocketed it. 

“Care to dance?” The hobbit asked and the thief gladly took his hand. And if he had sent Thorin a saucy wink over the hobbit’s shoulder could you blame him?

The rest of the evening was spent enjoying the hospitality of the little folk of the Shire. Nori woke up the next morning in the arms of a hobbit lad and lass and chuckled under his breath. When he returned to Bag End Bilbo was the only one around as the others were still asleep or at work. 

“Morning Nori did the Gaffer twins tire you out?” The hobbit asked a sly smirk on his face as the dwarf choked on the coffee he had just taken a sip of. Nori highly doubted that Thorin knew about the cheeky side of the hobbit, maybe he would have to orchestrate something to show him.

“Morning Bilbo. I did but they’re twins?” He said incredulously as Bilbo shrugged and placed a plate with two eggs on it. 

“They have the same tastes in a partner so they don’t mind sharing. I was quite well acquainted with their parents before they were born.” The hobbit said the last part with a slight blush on his cheeks. Nori, who had just taken a huge bite of egg, choked again. Bilbo wordlessly handed him a glass of water with a devilish smile on his face. Thorin definitely didn’t know about that.

“Is there anything else I need to know that might kill me as I eat my breakfast?” The hobbit, who had been nibbling on a bit of toast, looked thoughtful. 

“I’m related to almost everyone in the Shire. I am technically in line to rule the Shire, but I believe you already knew that. I have laid with many a hobbit some of it because of lust and some because I was seeking intimacy. The Gamgees and I have had that arrangement for a while. Hobbits have both a valley and a trowel because we are the children of the earth. I have never been pregnant before but there have been scares. And if my soulmate, or One as you would say, makes food for me I will instantly become pregnant.” Here Bilbo sipped on his tea as Nori gapped at him. 

“Gamgee...Pregnancy by eating food...trowel and valley! What does that...Oh.” Bilbo giggled over his spluttering. 

“Yes, the Gamgees were very close to my parents. They taught me how to pleasure men and women alike. Yes, it’s strange but hobbits can get pregnant by the one that they were made for. It has something to do with knowing that they can provide for you and for the child. And yes valley referees to the female reproductive organ and the trowel is the male equivalent.” Bilbo said evenly. 

“Do you need anything to help with that?” Nori asked trying not to gap anymore at Bilbo than he already had. Bilbo giggled again.

“You don’t have to step around it. We’re both adults. But yes I have a cycle so I need linens for that but sometimes the stores don’t sell them to me.” He said with a shrug. 

“Do hobbits sell the linen to each other?”

“Well yes but sometimes there are shortages in a fabric delicate enough. Hobbits require a delicate touch on their, well, delicates. That doesn’t mean that romps can’t get a bit rough now and again.”

“Do you have linens? When does your next cycle start and is there anything I can help you with?” Bilbo laughed and drank his tea.

“No, I have to pick some up. Lobelia bought them out of the stores recently, the woman who you stole the broach from. She usually tries to get to them before I can. My next cycle is next week. And no but I might cramp up so cooking and gardening are hard sometimes.” Nori hummed as the hobbit began to clean up the meal. He had a robbery to plan. 

Lobelia Sackville-Baggins was ridiculously easy to burgle. She had even left her back door open for Mahal’s sake. He entered into a spare room and saw strips and strips of linen. He had learned from Bilbo that an average hobbit’s cycle was five to six days. So he left the great Lobelia Sackville-Baggins enough for a week and took the lot. 

If Bilbo needed linens surely the other hobbits and hobbitesses did as well. 

Bilbo crowed in delight as Nori entered with the bag of stolen linens. He took enough for his next two cycles and gave Bell the rest to distribute. 

And the next day Bilbo was in the garden planting snapdragons. 

“Snapdragons. What do those mean?” Bilbo blinked up at him in surprise causing the dwarf to laugh. “ I do know a thing or two about the fact that flowers have their own language. I just don’t know what they mean.”

“Deception and graciousness,” Bilbo said with a pointed look.

“Oh, it’s me isn’t it?” Bilbo gave him a soft smile as he nodded. “Rather fitting it seems.”

“I thought so.”

“Want some help?”

“Yes please!” And so the two got to work and that’s where the two were found when the others returned. 

Chapter Text

Ori had been fascinated with the idea of flower language the first time he had learned about it when he was a young dwarfling. He had followed Bilbo learning about the language, what each flower meant, what Bilbo thought each dwarf was, and how they were used in society. Bilbo taught him the basic everyday meanings of some flowers. 

He had smiled when he learned of Bilbo’s plan to plant something to remind him of each dwarf. He thought that the plants that Bilbo had already planted fit the dwarves they were made for very well. However, the stubborn hobbit wouldn’t tell him what he had in mind for him and it had already been two months since the dwarves had arrived at Bag End. 

“I won’t tell you if you keep being a bother,” Bilbo said sticking his hip out and sticking a batter-covered spoon in the young dwarf’s face. Ori smothered a laugh as he nodded guiltily. “But I will give you some hints,” Bilbo said with a giggle as the young dwarf’s face lit up as he turned back to his breakfast making. 

It wasn’t till later in the day when the dwarves had all returned and it was suggested that they bathe in the Brandywine River that Bilbo gave Ori his first hint. 

“No, I think that we should take turns in Master Bilbo’s bathing rooms to keep up the image that he is a respectable hobbit still.” Bilbo gave him a gentle smile even as his fellow Company members loudly rejected that idea. 

“I side with Ori on this one.” Thorin’s deep baritone cut through the rumblings in the Company as it always did. Ori noted with some delight that Bilbo was blushing as Thorin spoke. By now they all knew that the king and the hobbit were quite smitten with each other.  The hobbit and the king smiled at each other as the dwarves complained. 

“Hey!” Ori snapped garnering everyone’s attention. “Plumming and privacy are much better than what we get on the road so get cleaning.” The dwarves all cheered a hardy ‘Aye’ as they scrambled to get clean. 

“Modesty,” Bilbo said quietly after they had all gone. The young dwarf perked. 

“My first clue?” He asked excitedly as the hobbit giggled and moved to the kitchen. 

His excitement didn’t last long when he realized how many flowers there were about modesty and how many of them had double meanings as well. As if sensing his defeat the hobbit swept back into the room with a plate of Ori’s favorite cookies in tow. 

“The Gamgees are coming over for dinner.” He said while allowing the dwarf to grab one. “I’m sure as your brother mentioned I have had relations with both Bell and Hamfast.” 

Ori promptly choked on his cookie. His brother had decidedly not mentioned that probably due to a certain king. 

“I would like to make sure that only you, Nori, and I be the only ones to know.” Bilbo was nervously rubbing his hands together as he wiggled in place. Ori felt his face blush as he realized how cute the hobbit could be. Thorin was one lucky dwarf. “Please keep Bell and Hamfast too distracted to say anything. I know that dwarves are a little more secretive than hobbits. And well…”

“You don’t want Thorin to know.” Bilbo’s eyes widened and he blushed, nodding his head. 

“You can count on me, Bilbo.” The hobbit kissed his cheek as he moved further into the hobbit hole, Ori assumed to tell the others about the Gamgees. He blushed at the contact and placed his hand on his cheek. 

His second and third clues came at the same time. Ori hadn’t been expecting that but the Gamgees drank a lot and the conversation had quickly become quite scandalous. So the young Darrow had really had his work cut out for him. 

“Loyalty,” Bilbo said the next morning over a cup of tea. “And faithfulness.” He said as he smiled at Ori. Ori decided that that was very specific and that he would wait for when Bilbo would tell him. He assumed it was to be soon as Ori’s birthday was approaching. 

Ori was right as on the morning of his creation Bilbo roused him bright and early to plant something in the ground. 

A small violet sat in the hobbit’s hand amongst some seeds. 

“Devotion,” Bilbo said with a smile and Ori smiled as he had been quite devoted to learning the ways of hobbits, specifically how they courted. And if he had happened to leave a book where anyone, ahem Thorin ahem, could find it then that was his own business. 

“I think that’s quite fitting.” The dwarf said and spent the rest of the day with his blood and found family. 

Chapter Text

Bilbo had grown close to the Ur family over the course of the journey to reclaim Erebor. Bifur had seemingly adopted the hobbit into the family. He had begun to teach him Khuzdul, at least in signed form after Bilbo had helped him when he had caught a bit of a cold. The dwarf repaid this by protecting Bilbo with his life. 

So, naturally, Bilbo already knew that the daffodil would be the flower he would use to represent the dwarf in his garden. 

However, he couldn’t seem to find it. 

This was partially due to a natural shortage among growers but it also seemed that the first courting bouquets of the young tweens had that particular flower in them. Bilbo cursed his bad luck. The hobbit felt a firm hand on his shoulder, he looked up to see a worried Bifur.

‘Something wrong?’ He signed, in Westron, because where Bilbo knew some Khuzdul it was only safe to use it on the road because neither knew how the Company would react. Bifur seemed to think that they wouldn’t mind, especially not Thori, whereas the hobbit believed the inverse to be true. 

‘Actually yes,’ Bilbo signed. Bifur was exceptionally good at finding things so why couldn’t the dwarf be able to help him. ‘It’s a surprise. There is a language of flowers and I need to find Daffodil seeds. Can you help me?’ 

The dwarf shrugged, nodded his assent, and began to leave the hobbit hole, off to find the seeds Bilbo supposed. The hobbit began to whistle a cheery tune as he walked into the kitchen and ‘eeped’ as he came face to face with Thorin. 

“Majesty.” He said teasingly. The dwarf king’s face softened from its trademark scowl into something, softer. 

“Burglar.” He practically purred as Bilbo shivered. Thorin chuckled at the reaction and moved closer to the hobbit placing a hand on his waist. The other hand began to reach up to the hobbit’s face where the dwarf brushed a strand of Bilbo’s hair off of his face. 

“Thorin,” The hobbit breathed eyelids fluttering as he leaned into the king’s embrace. 

“Bilbo,” Thorin said in the same reverent tone that he used when talking to the hobbit, specifically, at night as the two shared a small brandy before bed. 

Just before their lips touched Ori came bounding in with a handful of violets. 

“Bilbo will you teach me how to-  Oh!” The two turned to the young dwarf but neither moved away. Until Bilbo easily laughed unwound himself from Thorin and moved across the room to Ori. 

“You wanted me to teach you how to make a flower crown right?” Ori nodded stiffly. “Let’s go out into the garden and I’ll show you.”

Bifur who had found the daffodil seeds had been returning only to see the poor hobbit launch himself out of his own home with Ori in tow as he dramatically collapsed onto the ground. Bifur began to hurry to the hobbit’s side when he reached it he noticed Bibo’s face was red.

‘What happened?’ He signed to Ori in Khuzdul. Ori smothered a laugh at the older dwarf’s confusion. 

‘He and Thorin almost kissed. I interrupted, I’m afraid.’ Ori signed back almost regretfully. Bifur chuckled and Bilbo’s head shot up.

‘It’s not funny!’ He heatedly signed before noticing the flower and seed bag in Bifur’s hand. ‘You found them!’

Bifur felt himself puff up in pride at the sight of the beaming hobbit. But he felt his face slightly fall when the hobbit signed again.

‘Now help me plant!’ Bifur felt himself seize but the hobbit continued. ‘I promise I will teach you. I want to do it with you because they mean regard and I hold you in such high regard.’ He signed slowly and bashfully. 

“Let’s do it then.” He grumbled making both Ori and Bilbo look at him in surprise. 

“You talk!” The hobbit said excitedly. He shot Bilbo a shrewd look and asked. 

“And why shouldn’t I, Burglar?” Bilbo laughed and they began to work. 

It wasn’t until they were going inside that Bifur handed Bilbo the single daffodil. 

“I hold you in regard to.” He said with a smile as the hobbit blushed tucking the flower into his soft auburn locks. And so they entered and sat at the table, for Dori had offered to cook. 

Chapter Text

Ivy already climbed up the sides of Bag End so Bilbo had decided to make Bombur a wreath. Like Gloin, Bombur was also married. Bilbo had yet to meet the darrowdam but she and Bilbo exchanged letters and recipes and had standing invitations at each other’s tables. 

One of ivy’s meanings was marriage and Bilbo thought that that suited the fact that the dwarf was married rather obviously. However, another meaning was fidelity and that combined with marriage was perfect. 

Bombur and his wife spent much time apart but neither one would ever think of being with another, Bilbo sighed wishing that he had someone that he could share such a bond with. Uninvited the image of his near kiss with Thorin came to mind. The hobbit groaned burying his face in the greenery in his lap. 

“Whatcha got thar Bilbo?” The voice of Bombur called. Immediately, Bilbo’s head shot up and he tried to fight down the urge to hide the wreath. “That for me?” He asked nodding to it. Bilbo blinked scrunching his nose.

“Why yes, but how?”

“How did I know? Well, I’m well-read in all plant things so I am aware of what it means. Loyal marriage am I right.”

“And friendship,” Bilbo said crossing his arms as he pouted unaware that the rotund dwarf was now staring at him with an awed look on his face.

“We’re friends?” He asked blinking tears. Bilbo immediately hopped off of the stool, placing the ivy carefully to the side, as he wrapped his arms around the dwarf. 

“Of course we are. Aren’t we?” Bombur immediately joined the hug and buried his nose in the soft curls on the hobbit’s crown. 

“Aye, we are Bilbo. But I rather see you as a son or at least a little brother.” He confessed. It was Bilbo’s turn to have tears well up in his eyes. 

“I always- My mum and da built this place for a whole litter of faunts.” He said pulling back to gesture around the empty halls. “Obviously that never happened. I always wanted a large family.” He said softly as Bombur brought him back into a hug.

“And you have one now, Bilbo.” The dwarf smiled kindly down at the hobbit as he pulled back with a watery gasp. “You’re one of us now for as long as you live.” 

He kissed the hobbit’s head as they separated. 

“Now help me make dinner.”

That night the Company, or those that remained, were surprised with a veritable feast. And as Bilbo looked around the table he realized Bombur was right, they were his family. Chosen and not by blood which almost made them dearer. 

However, as his gaze passed over Bofur, who winked, and Thorin, who smiled, he noted that perhaps they weren’t strictly family but they were dear to him all the same. 

Dinner lasted for hours, filled with jokes, memories, stories, and songs. Bilbo knew that they would all leave eventually but they would always come back and come together. Ori had asked if he could stay and pour over Bungo’s books and records. Of course, Bilbo had said yes because the young dwarf meant a great deal to him. 

“Bilbo,” Bombur’s voice in his ear startled him out of his thoughts. He looked up to show he was listening. “I’m going home to my wife next month to try to start a family. Bifur will probably come with me. Bofur said he’ll go where he’s needed. I suspect that he wants to help get you and Thorin together.” Bilbo blushed. Bombur gestured over to Kili, Fili, Ori, Bofur, and Balin with their heads together, plotting. 

“Should I be worried?” Bilbo asked his friend. 

“Aye lad very.” He said with a wink as he drained his mug and rose. “I’m off to bed.” 

Bilbo soon followed fearing for his safety after the scheming looks of the plotters and the heated ones from Thorin. 

Chapter Text

Bilbo had planted the sweet pea very soon after he had decided upon this whole thing. Of all the Urs Bilbo and Bofur were the closest as they knew each other intimately.

It hadn’t been planned but neither of them regretted it, besides Bofur was the one who realized that Bilbo was in love with Thorin. They knew things about each other that no one else in the Company would ever know. Which is why the dwarf had burst into laughter upon learning the meaning of the plant.

“Delicate? I hardly thought that I was.” They both shared a secret smile over the plant.

“You weren’t particularly but the overall feeling was rather delicate. Not to mention pleasurable.” The hobbit’s fair face burned at his admission while Bofur looked at the hobbit with such emotion that it wasn’t hard to imagine that they were a couple. Which is why it was only natural that Thorin saw them and became a brooding mess as he was wont to do.

It went on for a few days before anyone could determine why he was acting the way that he was. The Company had been drinking at the local pub as a send-off for Bombur who was leaving the next day to meet up with his wife. Thorin was thoroughly sloshed because he couldn’t stand seeing Bilbo with someone who wasn’t him. Of course, he was happy for the two but he wished that Bofur wasn’t so obvious with his desire for the hobbit. Bilbo had put a hand on his shoulder and asked him if he wanted to spend the night in Bilbo’s room. Bofur, Ori, and the rest of the Company as the two were awful at hiding their desire for each other cheered. That is until the king slurred,

“Wouldn’t want to get in between you and Bofur.” Anger and hurt flashing in his eyes as he half stumbled, half ran from the pub. The Company stared after him, jaws agape at what they had just seen. Bilbo was the first to recover, puffing himself up to give the king a piece of his mind when a hand stopped him.

“I’ll talk to him. He’s hurtin’ and will say something horrible to yah if he thinks he can hurt yah back.” Dwalin said with a kind smile as he moved to go after his king. Bilbo nodded and sank back down into a chair.

“Don’t worry laddy Dwalin will talk some sense into him,” Balin said while putting a firm hand on the hobbit's shoulders. “Now the lads and I,” here he gestured behind him to Fili, Kili, Ori, Bofur, and Bombur. “Have been making a plan to get you and our fearless leader to get together.” Bilbo spluttered before nodding his assent.

The plan was as follows: make it very clear that Bofur is just a friend, this one had been recently added. Next, wear as much Durin blue as possible and touch Thorin a lot.

It had become clear to Bilbo that Balin and Bombur probably had very little to do with the actual planning and had just let the younger members of their group do it.

The next day after Bombur left the plan was put into action.

“Thorin can you help me with this?” The hobbit asked, perhaps a bit breathlessly, but who’s to say. The hobbit was leaning over trying to reach something under a cabinet. Thorin almost choked on his own tongue to the delight of those in the kitchen. He immediately helped the hobbit retrieve the spoon.

“Just tell me her name.” Bofur loudly groused, causing Thorin’s eyebrows to shoot up. He had thought that Bofur and Bilbo were. If they weren't, did that mean-? In a daze, he wandered out of the kitchen.

Thorin spent much of the next week the same way, dazed and confused but pleasantly happy. Bilbo was very happy about this and so were the rest of the dwarves who hoped that their king would make the hobbit his consort sooner rather than later.

“Perhaps it’s time to give our king some sweet peas of his own eh?” Bofur asked only to be thwacked with a wooden spoon by Bilbo. Although Balin didn’t think that was such a bad idea and so he put his own plan to action.

Chapter Text

When Bilbo had asked for his help in the garden Balin knew that his time had come to put his plan into action and that it was time to learn what plant Bilbo believed him to be. 

“So, would you like me to give you dwarven courting lessons?” As the hobbit spluttered, Balin chuckled to himself. 

“Yes.” Bilbo finally said, after having calmed down some. He handed Balin a small trowel and they knelt on the ground. And so they spent the afternoon hashing out what Bilbo was going to do to get Thorin. 

Even though everyone knew that the small hobbit had the dwarven king wrapped around one of his delicate fingers the two aforementioned beings had no clue. 

Balin had said that the first thing to do was to make it apparent that Thorin was the only one for Bilbo. That being said it was rather hard to show that due to the hobbit’s courteous nature. That and hobbit courting was more casual than that of the dwarves. 

So, first Bilbo started courting Thorin, obvious to any hobbit. Only he served him food at parties, a duty done only by mothers or spouses, and he let Thorin eat food off of his plate. Which caused a rather large scandal. Then he gave Thorin flower crown after flower crown. At this point, the dwarves had caught on. All of them, including their king. 

“Bilbo?” The hobbit hummed. Balin tuned into the conversation not obviously but he needed to know. “Why do the hobbit lads and lasses ignore me when prior to that they had practically begged me to do things with them?” 

Here Bilbo and Balin made eye contact, as they had two choices. One, tell Thorin the truth that Bilbo was courting him in the eyes of Hobbiton custom, and therefore he was seen as off the market. Or two, don’t tell him but leave the potential for him to find out elsewhere.

“I’m courting you, obviously.” Balin smiled into his drink as the rest of the dwarves heavily cheered as Thorin blankly stared at the hobbit. 

“You’re courting me?”

“Ey laddy that is what he said,” Balin said, taking a small sip of his drink and giving the couple a kind smile. 

The two disappeared into the hall to talk about how they wanted to proceed with their courtship and what it would mean for the Company and Bilbo himself. It had been two months since the dwarves of Erebor had gone to the Shire. The contract that they had with Dis would allow them two more months of leeway but the sooner they returned the better.

It was later that night when the king returned with Bilbo. A blushing Bilbo who was wearing a courting braid of the line of Durin and a small bead. Balin didn’t recognize it so Thorin must have made it in the Shire or when they had briefly returned home. 

The older dwarf smiled at the now Consort-to-be as he plopped down on the couch beside him. The Company had moved to the seating room that they had been in when they had first banded together to sing of their lost home. The old dwarf smiled again at the memory and groaned a little bit. Balin was an old dwarf and Mahal had given him a long life; it felt as if it was coming to an end. 

“Balin?” Bilbo said softly. “I want you to walk me down the aisle at Thorin and I’s wedding.” The dwarf startled a little at the unfamiliar terminology and blinked. He glanced at the hobbit at his side, Bilbo was tugging on the courtship braid lightly, his eyes hazy and staring into the fire. 

“Laddie?” He asked to get Bilbo’s attention. “What does that mean?”

Bilbo’s eyes widened slightly and he released the braid with a small giggle. 

“Thorin and I wish to be married twice. Once with Shire traditions, here, and then we will move into Erebor and have another ceremony there so that Dis and the rest of the Company would be able to see. Of course, I would love for the entirety of the Company to see our original marriage but that’s not-” Balin held up a hand to cut off the hobbit's mumbled explanation. 

“That makes sense. May I ask about the traditions of the Shire as I assume that I will be taking part in the traditions?”

“Oh yes!” Bilbo said, clapping his hands. “All couples are married underneath the Party Tree at the center of the Shire. The Thain, sort of our king, officiates over it and since he is my maternal grandfather it will probably be a very long and boring ceremony. But first, the bride or whoever wishes to do so will walk down the aisle with a parent of their choosing. Then usually, the couple after the officiant does the legal things will say vows and then they exchange bouquets. Thorin and I will be sharing our vows in private because well,” here he paused and side-eyed said dwarf who was sitting in front of the fire with his sister's sons. Also talking about the wedding Balin could only assume. “Dwarves. We will be wearing flower crowns. After that, there is a big party with food and drink. The couple gives the community a gift and then the couple usually leave to consummate the marriage leaving their friends and family to the party.” 

Balin smiled kindly and placed a hand on the hobbit’s shoulder. 

“I would be honored.” He then touched their foreheads together, then as he pulled away kissed the crown of the burglar’s head. “I’m flattered that you see me as a father figure.” Bilbo turned red and giggled again. “Would you mind telling me what sage means now?”

Bilbo blinked. 

“I had forgotten to tell you that hadn’t I. Well, it means wisdom. Not much of a surprise there I should think.” 

The two shared a small smile and began talking about what Bilbo needed to do for his courtship and subsequent marriage to a dwarf king. And about Bilbo’s present to the community.

Chapter Text

Dwalin had blacked out drunk the night before and awoke to the hobbit being the Consort-to-be and planning for a wedding in another month and the subsequent gifting of Bag End to the Shire as a library. 

The next month moved swiftly and soon his king and their hobbit were married. At least by hobbit standards. Bilbo now sat perched next to Thorin on one of the three carts that they were using to move the hobbit back with them to Erebor. Bag End was to be turned into a boarding school type of deal that would house those in need and educate them on all sorts of things. Dwalin thought it was rather sweet but he would never tell anyone that. 

With a last wave, they were off. 

They didn’t break for camp until they reached Rivendell so Bilbo could personally invite Elrond to the dwarven wedding. Then at Beorn’s they invited their mighty ally. Then in Mirkwood, they invited the hostile king and his gentle son. Dwalin thought that the last two were Bilbo’s way of seeing how much leeway he would have as Consort. 

Which was to say he could get away with murder and Thorin would have punished the dead man for making his beloved One into a murderer. 

Dwalin had spent the journey riding by Bilbo’s side. As the head of the guard to the king, he felt personally responsible to protect the hobbit. Especially, because the people of Laketown, when they had been watched with hateful eyes. The people still remembered the dragon and the gold-sickness. Even though trade had begun to pick up with Erebor and tensions had been softened, Dwalin still kept his hand on the pommel of his sword. 

And so after four months away the King Under the Mountain had returned to his home.

Bilbo and Thorin had decided to tell Dis and Dain that they were already married. But, they also wanted to wait until Thorin was settled back on the throne and when the people of Erebor began to warm up to Bilbo. 

However, three months after the Company had returned to the mountain the hobbit was still talked about behind his back. One day Dwalin had had enough. 

“Is that any way to talk about your king's One?!” He thundered. Silence fell over the great dining hall of Erebor. Thorin began to stand, angry, but Bilbo placed a gentle hand on his husband’s arm and nodded at Dwalin for him to respond. When he nodded back it caused a ripple through the room.

Dwalin knew what they were thinking, if Dwalin trusted the hobbit then why shouldn’t they? And so one by one the opposition to the hobbit slowed. He also had begun working his way into almost every guild possible. Dwalin smirked whenever he heard praise over the small being’s tenacity. And so Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain son of Thror King, Under the Mountain married the Honorable Mr. Bilbo Baggins, formerly of the Shire. 

Dwalin did not cry at their wedding thank you very much.

He did cry not two weeks later when Bilbo led him into the garden that grew up the side of the mountain that he somehow managed to bring from the Shire with him to Erebor. Not at the garden itself but at the Wallflowers that clung to the mountain and seemed to hold the rest of the garden together. 

Ori, at the Shire wedding, had shared with him some of the meanings of the Shire’s flower language. Wallflower means faithfulness in adversity. 

The hobbit said nothing as the massive dwarf pulled him into a hug and cried into his shoulder. He was family now after all. 

Chapter Text

A year after his uncles had finally gotten married, all of Erebor was called together again. But this time for a funeral instead of a wedding. Balin, the advisor to the King and one of the Company of Thorin Oakenshield, died one mid-autumn day. It was expected but the pain of it happening crippled the Company. 

Kili had also learned about some of the flowers with Ori and had searched high and low to find some for the occasion. Bilbo had made a beautiful wreath of sage and forget-me-nots. Kili had hammered a bronze Hydrangea, which means deep love for people, specifically family. He had thought it to be quite appropriate.

Balin had been the one who had taught him to work with bronze after all. When Dwalin had seen it he had burst into tears and slammed their foreheads together. Kili had laughed once victoriously and had returned the sentiment. 

It was a beautiful ceremony and as they buried him in the mountain, Thorin had begun to sing.

He had sung not with words that Kili nor anyone understood but the meaning was easy to decipher, farewell brother rest easy. 

He held Dwalin around his waist for the entirety of the ceremony and helped to carry him to his room when he became tired. 

Over the next few weeks, Kili went to visit the other dwarf every day bringing him meals and stories of the antics that the others were getting up to. He liked spending time with Dwalin, who had become surprisingly sweet over the years.

“So, when are you going to court him?” Fili asked casually one night at dinner. 

“Eh?” Kili responded intelligently. Bilbo made a noise of agreement from the other side of a now very flustered Kili. 

“Please put us out of our misery little archer.” His uncle said sipping on his goblet of wine. The thin Mithril crown glinted in the light of the candles.

“Eh?!” Kili responded again with his quick wit. Fili, his thrice-damned brother, cut into a piece of chicken, eyed him and spoke to their uncle. 

“You can’t say anything Uncle Bilbo, we had to watch you and Uncle Thorin dance around each other for a year and two months. I’m sure that you can handle a couple of months. Bilbo chuckled and popped a grape into his mouth.

“I suppose that you are correct.” He said, with a twinkle in his eye. Kili didn’t like the look of that twinkle. 

He didn’t like the look of this at all. Bilbo’s room was covered in flowers. From roses to carnations, but the ones held in his hand were-

“Lily-Of-The-Valley-” Bilbo began, a cheeky smile on his lips. 

“Which mean sweetness, purity, and pure love.” Kili recited with his own cheeky smile. Bilbo gawfed and smacked him on the back. 

“Good lad.”

“Is this my flower?” Kili asked as they planted side by side. 

“Yes. I also thought that they would be a good base for a courting bouquet.” The hobbit said, sending his eyes to the side to watch the dwarf. 

Kili smiled with a soft flush on his face.

“I do believe that you are correct Uncle.”

He was correct. And the final gift to cement their marriage that Kili gave Dwalin nearly a year later was an ax with Lilies-of-the-valley twirling around the base of the handle and the blade itself. Dwalin had held it up to the light and smiled at his husband.

“Beautiful and deadly just like you.”

That night the traditional sense of the word ‘purity’ was eliminated from the meaning of the flower. At least for Dwalin and Kili. 

Chapter Text

Thorin was stepping down as king. He had been a ruler for many years and Erebor had prospered under his rule. Now that it was his turn Fili was sweating. 

“What if I’m not good enough?” He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. Frodo Baggins stood there. The small hobbit was swiftly becoming a teenager. He sent him a large smile and kissed him on the cheek and ran away. 

Frodo had come from the Shire after his parents had died in a boating accident some months before. Bilbo was old now and couldn’t easily make the journey there and back. 

He had given the ring to Gandalf some months before and had begun to age. Rapidly. That had hastened his uncle’s retirement Fili knew. Thorin wanted to spend time with his One before he was gone. 

Fili also knew that once Bilbo left this world Thorin would not be far behind. Everyone could see the end of one of Middle Earth’s greatest loves coming to an end. And yet some things hadn’t changed.

Bilbo still nagged Thorin all the time while he babied, a now-married Kili and Fili who himself had elected to stay single. Bilbo kept giving him deadpanned looks, especially whenever he was with Ori. The young scribe, now Master of Scribes, had always had a place in his heart and everyone knew it. 

“Before I die I want you to be married.”

“Uncle!” He gasped. Bilbo was knitting a hat, meant for Frodo’s sixtieth birthday, Fili knew. Bilbo had been making or buying his young nephew gifts to last him well into adulthood along with notes and his memoir. 

When he had asked Bilbo had smiled at him sadly.

“This world is cruel, my little prince. He’s already lost one set of parents and he is soon to lose another.” Here the hobbit looked over the edge of the mountain. They were sitting in Bilbo’s garden. Which had somehow managed to flourish on the cold mountain, just like its owner Fili had always thought. “I want him to know that he is loved because even though I have told him time and time again. We all need reminders, hmmm?” Bilbo said with a smile and squeezed his hand. 

“Fine, fine. I’ll ask him.”

And so he did. Maybe the marriage and the courtship were rushed, but it was a long time coming and had a bit of a time crunch to it. 

On the day of his coronation, he couldn’t stop shaking. He didn’t stop when Ori kissed him, nor when Kili clobbered him, not even when Thorin told him he was proud. 

It was only when his mother and Bilbo pulled him into gentle hugs and kissed him on the cheek that he felt the tremors subside. 

“Here. I made it myself.” Bilbo said, holding out a thin Mithril chain of Thyme. Fili let him fasten the chain around his neck. Resting between his clavicles was a small violet. That was Ori’s flower that Bilbo had planted for him many years ago. He smiled at it, his thumb brushing over the flower. 

“Saving the best for the last?” He asked with a smug grin. The hobbit laughed loudly and looked at Thorin with a look that Fili didn’t want to decipher.

“Yes.” The hobbit seemed to be drifting away, so Fili grabbed on with both hands and held him to his chest. 

“What does it mean then oh great and powerful one?” The hobbit let out an affronted ‘harumph’ into his hair. But Fili knew he wasn’t truly mad when his arms wrapped tightly around him in a loving embrace. 

“Courage and Strength. Two things which you have in abundance. It is also a way for you to remember that I love you so very much.” 

Fili cried into his uncle’s hair for a little while longer, feeling like the child he had been when he had first met the hobbit.

“And I love you, Uncle Bilbo. So very much.”

Chapter Text

“It wasn’t meant to be this way. You weren’t meant to go where I could not follow. You were meant to wait for me and we would go together. You promised my love. My everything. My heart’s stone. My One.” Thorin held the body of his beloved to his chest. Bilbo had slipped away as quietly as a thief in the night. Taking with him Thorin’s heart and his will to live. He kissed the brow of his dearest hobbit and began to write the letters he had been procrastinating. Already he could feel his will to live vanishing.

His feelings for each of his members laid bare on paper. But those aren’t meant to be read aloud, not now. And so Thorin set them off to the side and picked up a thin envelope with his name on it.

It was from Bilbo.

Inside were a few seeds, a small card, and an acorn.

Thorin went to the garden which had died overnight as if it had only been living for his hobbit. Thorin wouldn’t have scoffed at the idea of magic following Bilbo. That seemed correct somehow. His magic hobbit.

He clumsily planted the seeds and read the card.

“Yarrow-everlasting love.” Was all that it said. Thorin chuckled as he began to cry. Taking out the acorn he pressed a kiss to it and laid down as he was, bedclothes, with messy hair, and no shoes. He curled around the planted yarrow and the acorn and breathed his last.

For many years after, until the fall of magic and the rise of Man, in fact, yarrow covered the Lonely Mountain. Those who forgot the story of the King and his Hobbit were always confused but those who did know moved them to tears.

And as for the king and his hobbit?

They are having a smoke on a little bench outside of the green, newly-painted door of Bag End, of course.