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It had started with Kíli.
He truly shouldn’t have been surprised
It was always bloody Kíli.
“So should Fíli and I still be preparing to be heirs? Or is that all said an’ done with.” The younger brother asked in the middle of a routine counsel meeting. Thorin and Balin had been discussing roles of The Consort and remaining positions in the counsel when the question had been asked. Everyone looked towards the brunette in confusion. Bilbo glanced towards his King and back towards Kíli.
What??
“Whadya mean?” Bofur was the first to respond to the interruption, with both his brows raised.
“Well now that you are married, you’ll be having children soon anyways.”
I guess that was true enough, but it had only been a few months. Surely Thorin would have discussed this before if there was a timeline.
Bilbo blinked a few times in his direction. He definitely had not prepared for this conversation, especially in front of the Counsel and Company, not to mention his nephews. Crossing his arms and leaning back further into his seat, he decided to not give him the decency of a response.
“Well that isn’t… possible, my boy. I would’ve thought you would’ve quite understood that, or at least been told…” Dori started, speaking gently, in a slightly concerned way, glancing around the room for verbal support. Bilbo continued to say nothing.
This was not business to be discussed in public, or this openly. Dwarves never cease to amaze with their bluntness. Even though the journey they had shared was not particularly polite, he was still a Baggins, and certain topics were to be discussed at certain times. Mahal forbid his father see him now.
Kíli interrupted yet again. For holding such a position as second in line for the throne, his manners certainly left something to be desired. “Yes it is.” He was grinning as if he knew something that the others did not. “They can make children, the same as any Dwarf couple.”
Balin and Thorin blinked at each other, almost in sympathy. It also held a silent challenge of ‘you must tell him, I don't want to.’ Bilbo thought it quite childish how long they held eye contact. He was slightly amused.
Eventually Balin turned back towards the youngest in the room. “Master Kíli, with two men, there are not the correct reproduction organs and materials to create a child.” He paused when he saw one side of Kíli’s mouth quirk up even further. He continued quickly, “There is no uterus or womb to harbor a baby until it may be born.”
“Mahal,” Thorin muttered under his breath, resting his face on his hand.
“Hobbits can get pregnant! They all have a uterus, even the boy ones! So Bilbo can carry the baby.” He says matter of factly, turning towards Bilbo for support. Bilbo himself turns to look towards Bofur and Bifur, the brothers cackling to themselves as Bofur translates what is being said into Kudzul.
Most of the dwarfs are looking at Bilbo in shock.
“Hobbits can give birth?” The King himself asks after a moment, eyes wide looking at his Consort.
Bilbo shakes his head no, an exasperated look on his face. Kíli frowns. “Well yes they can! Gandalf says they can have children and Bofur told me all male hobbits have uterus’ just like females!” He says stubbornly.
So it was Bofur who put the idea in the poor boy’s head. Bilbo is still shaking his head when Kíli finishes speaking. The Dwarfs had begun speaking amongst themselves, whispering and glancing at the Hobbit in a gesture of clear gossip.
He stares towards the brothers in the back, Bombur had now joined the other two in laughs, his adding a lighthearted booming sound to the room. Kíli was staring in confusion for a moment before a nearly visible light goes off in his eyes, and he takes off towards the group of men in the back hastily. Fíli catches him by his wrist before he has a chance to deliver retribution. Bilbo hadn’t missed how the older brother had been sniggering since his younger brother’s outburst and had wondered if he had known about the trick played on Kíli the whole time.
“Hobbits can not get pregnant.” Bilbo finally decides to speak up, quite fed up with the Dwarrow. “But we can have children.”
Eyes do not leave him. “Pardon, but how is that quite possible?” Balin asks, and the rest of the group nod in agreement, waiting for him to elaborate.
“We grow them,” He says simply, “You all seem to use an olden form of reproduction, the poor women who must carry those huge heads you all have.” Several ‘aye, little hobbit-‘ sort of comments are heard and Bilbo smirks slightly but carries on. “We typically take a strand of hair from the parent's head, and plant it in the ground with a seed of any sort. Not in any old spot, but a nearby place in the center of a well loved garden is a necessity. It usually takes around a spring and summer season.”
Óin sits up a little straighter and steps towards Bilbo, “My.. Master Baggins, I had no idea. I didn’t think myself an expert on Hobbit customs but I am surprised to be this undereducated on something such as a birthing ritual. I for one apologize for being as ignorant as the ignoramus who announced to the room that you, well you know.” He nodded towards Kíli at the end, who was protesting to his brother and pointing towards the back of the room.The hobbit himself also looked straight back towards Bofur while Óin spoke. At least Kíli had the decency to look slightly shameful.
“Óin, it is more than fine. There are no apologies needed besides that of a certain hat and axe wearing duo who tricked my nephew.” He says pointedly. Some muttering continues around the room and Bilbo tucks back into his seat. He glances towards his right to find Thorin staring at him dead in the eye, an expression that Bilbo could not quite place. He quirks a brow towards the King but the other simply stares through him.
Dori coughs after the side conversations die down, “Well let’s ar, lets get us back on topic now, the trading market with Dale.”
Thank you Dori, another second of Thorin’s silent staring and the entire room would’ve burst into flames.
They discuss what will be traded with the neighboring city, types of metals and skills, some dwarfs even discuss working part of the week in Dale and how commuting would work. Thorin did not add much besides a nod or furrow of the brow to show which ideas he would approve or disapprove of, respectively. As the Dwarrow began to disperse, the King himself stood, offered his hand to Bilbo to pull him to standing, and exited the room with his Consort.
What could this possibly be about? He knew Thorin could get a bit worked up. Well ‘bit’ was probably the biggest understatement.
They reached their room, a more private space and Thorin immediately sat down on the draped bed. He looked towards Bilbo, dropping his head towards the space besides him, urging his husband to sit. The Hobbit followed the silent task and reached for Thorin’s hand. “What is this all about? It seems to be quite the dramatics, and I can't figure out the reasoning.”
“You can have children? We could…?” The dwarf says after a moment, staring at their hands. Oh. “Together, we could have a child?” Thorin continues, running his thumb up and down Bilbo’s hand.
He hadn’t thought that Thorin didn’t know. “Well, yes of course we could.” He doesn’t move and watches his king’s face, awaiting a reaction.
“Of course?” He quickly turns towards Bilbo. “Oh how casually you should mention that we could have children together and they be of us.” He squeezes their hands together tightly. “Why was I not told of this?” His brows were furrowed tightly. I didn’t realize how intensely this had plagued him.
“I had assumed you knew, my Ghivashel.” Bilbo said gently, pressing their legs together to sit closer to him. “I did not think we were at a point together where we would discuss having children and… I really did think you knew.”
“I never thought I would have any of my own. Fíli and Kíli of course, my beloved sister-sons, and my heirs, but. A child of my own blood? With you?” He says, with his brows relaxing and a lip quirks. “Didn’t think it would be possible.”
Bilbo lays his head on Thorin’s shoulder to kiss his neck gently. “Very very possible, possibly in a year or so however.” He adds at the end, grinning towards him. Children with Thorin Oakenshield. He must truly be blessed.
His husband's expression lightens, and he turns his head downwards to catch the burglar lips in a chaste kiss. “Correct. I’d like as much time with my Consort’s full attention as I can take.” He releases one of his hands to rest on Bilbo's cheek. “Amralizu, adjânê rakl,” he whispers into his ear.
The Hobbit smiles and shivers gently. “I love you as well, my King.”
-
They had a son and a daughter. Adjân and Krajân, for hope and bravery.