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Bilbo took to wandering the rooms of the suite he now shared with his new husband. The space was large. Taking up the same amount of room as that of his old Bag End, and that didn’t even count the dining room or parlor that they shared with the rest of Thorin’s family. He wasn’t sure what else he would expect from a prince though. The Crown Prince to be exact.
Not for the first time, Bilbo found his situation…odd. Shouldn’t Crown Princes be marrying to produce heirs rather than hobbit bachelors? He knew Thorin had a younger brother and two young nephews capable of inheriting after him, but that still didn’t negate the fact that their union went against everything Bilbo had learned about dwarven politics. Which wasn’t much to begin with, but after weeks of lessons has steadily been improving. Bilbo knew why he was here.
The closest to the Thain who was still unmarried to seal an alliance with the dwarves of Erebor so their colony in Ered Luin would become partners to the Shire. It had been a decision that he had grappled with for months before he had given his answer only to be immediately whisked away to this cold mountain home. He felt his wings twitch against his back as he remembered the flight there. The delicate membrane of his butterfly wings no match for the bitter winds of the mountain, threatening to tear holes straight through them.
He knew what the Ereborians, and his husband specifically, must have thought of him. With their corvid wings of bone and feather. That he was too soft, too weak. Bilbo’s wings snapped together angrily as he continued his survey of his living quarters. He wished he could show them. Show Thorin. Prove his worth. However, in the two months of their marriage, Bilbo had left the palace thrice with escorts, and only once on his own. An experience he wasn’t willing to replicate after the amount of stares he had garnered. He sighed as he fingered a strange clamp device that was sitting out on the table.
“I wouldn’t touch that.”
“What?” Bilbo gasped, whirling around quickly.
So quickly in fact, that the clamp bit down on his right wing. The unexpected weight dragged him to the ground to keep it from ripping his wing apart. Bilbo groaned as he heard Thorin snort before moving towards him.
“I told you not to touch that.” Thorin offered as he helped Bilbo to remove it.
“What is it?” Bilbo demanded aghast after being freed and back on his feet.
“Wing weight. Strengthens them for long flights.”
Bilbo’s eyes fell to his husband’s glossy black raven wings, reminded once more of their differences. A silence settled over them that neither seemed apt to break despite the uncomfortability of it.
“So what have you been doing today?” Thorin finally asked, putting the weight away.
Bilbo grimaced, trying to quickly come up with something that didn’t sound like he had been musing all morning over their nonexistent relationship.
“Not much.” He answered lightly. “Did a bit of reading. Wrote some letters for the Shire. That sort of thing.”
Thorin turned to him suddenly. “You didn’t leave the suite again.” He accused.
Bilbo dropped his eyes, letting his wings flit nervously behind him. “Ah…no. No, I did not.”
“I’ve told you before.” Thorin growled. “You’re allowed to leave. You’re not a prisoner.”
Bilbo looked up at him sharply. “No, I never thought I was. But I do have a problem of not knowing my way around yet. Perhaps, if someone were to escort me…”
Bilbo let his sentence hang hoping Thorin would pick up on the hint. He wished to know more about the dwarf. He would like to be on amicable terms with his husband after all. Thorin’s gaze lingered in the distance for a moment before he gave his answer.
“Very well. I’ll get Fili and Kili to take you out tomorrow.”
Bilbo sighed, doing his level best to hide his disappointment. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Of course, Master Baggins.” Thorin responded before turning and leaving the room.
Bilbo watched him go admiring Thorin’s physique from the back. Truly, his husband was an attractive being, and he couldn’t help but wonder, not for the first time, what it would be like if Thorin loved him in return. A fanciful notion to be certain. After all, with his soft body and softer wings, what would a dwarf like Thorin ever want with him?
***
The next morning, Fili and Kili led Bilbo out of the mountain where they flew to Dale for a shopping trip. Bilbo found himself smiling in spite of himself as his new nephews described their latest antics. Honestly, they were like a couple of Tooks. They were also kind enough to slow down and glide alongside him as Bilbo beat his wings as quickly as he could without exerting himself. Luckily, the wind was mild today, and the sun was bright. It was a perfect day for an outing.
“So what’s the deal with you and Uncle Thorin?” Kili asked after a beat.
“Pardon?” Bilbo sputtered.
“You know.” Fili added. “How come we don’t ever see you two together?”
“Oh,” Bilbo said.
He kept his eyes forward and expression neutral. He knew it wouldn’t be good if the Prince’s Consort didn’t look satisfied with his marriage. Even if he was among ‘family’.
“I’m still getting used to things.” Bilbo answered instead.
“Well, and I’m sure Uncle Thorin is getting used to the fact that he actually is married.” Fili offered.
He and Kili shared a long look, and Bilbo couldn’t help but be curious.
“What do you mean?”
Another look was shared.
“I don’t know if we should say.” Fili remarked.
“Come on, Fili. Bilbo’s practically family at this point. Besides, it’s not like it will hurt Uncle Thorin if he knows.” Kili argued.
Bilbo looked back and forth between them wondering if he was ever going to find out what it was when Fili sighed and waved his hand in a ‘go on then’ gesture. Kili beamed before leaning in closer to Bilbo.
“Thorin doesn’t have a One.”
“Thorin doesn’t…” Bilbo repeated, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
“Do hobbits not have Ones then?” Fili asked.
“I guess not.” Bilbo smirked. “What is it?”
“Well the legend says that when Mahal was creating our fathers, he split the soul in half. Only when you find your other half in someone else are you One.”
Bilbo blinked in surprise. He had no idea that the dwarven society believed in the concept of soulmates. How fascinating.
“And Thorin doesn’t have one?” Bilbo pressed. At their nods, he continued. “How does he know?”
“When you come of age, you can go to the temple of Mahal and the priests there will perform the rite. They pluck a feather from your wings and pour some sort of special powder on it, and it’ll change shape into a feather from your One. But Thorin’s feather never changed.”
“And even if your One is from another race, it will still change.” Kili informed. “It’s actually rather unheard of that it wouldn’t change.”
“Uncle Frerin used to tease him that maybe his One was an orc since they have bat wings and therefore don’t have feathers.” Fili snorted.
“He only stopped when Thorin got so pissed he punched him right across the face.” Kili laughed.
They went on from there to laugh over the fights Thorin and Frerin had gotten into over the years while Bilbo remained lost in thought over everything he heard. That would at least explain why Thorin was willing to subject himself to an arranged marriage. But there was something else that stuck out to him. Something that had a blush creeping over his cheeks. Hobbits didn’t have feathers either. What if Thorin’s One was a hobbit?
***
Bilbo enjoyed the markets of Dale immensely. He found the loveliest pair of dark velvet trousers that he couldn’t resist getting for himself. Ignored Fili and Kili’s suggestion of getting beads and other trinkets for his wings that the dwarves seemed so fond of, but did find a small sword (letter opener if you asked Kili) that would strap just under the wing joint that he thought Thorin would appreciate. Buying some savory meat pies to tide over their stomachs, they started to make their way back to Erebor. They were just barely to the halfway point when Bilbo noticed what appeared to be a small dark cloud growing in the distance.
“That’s strange.” He pointed it out to the boys.
They squinted at first not seeing what Bilbo was looking at. He pointed to it again as it grew steadily from the north and that’s when they both sucked in a sharp breath and cursed under their breath.
“That’s not a cloud! That’s an orc pack!” Fili cried out.
“Time to go!” Kili added, grabbing hold of Bilbo’s hand.
The duo immediately tried to zoom back to the mountain, dragging Bilbo bodily along for the ride. Unfortunately, Bilbo couldn’t keep up the pace with his soft butterfly wings and cried out in pain as he yanked himself from Kili’s grasp. They both stopped looking back at him in alarm. Bilbo looked between the orcs and the mountain, judging the distance. He felt the blood drain from his face as he realized he wasn’t going to make it. But Fili and Kili could.
“Keep going! I’ll…I’ll catch up.” He stated.
Fili and Kili both shared a grim look, and Bilbo just knew they were going to foolishly try to protect him. He grit his teeth.
“You are both princes of Erebor. Your deaths would be devastating to the kingdom!”
“And yours would be devastating to Uncle Thorin.” Fili shot back. “No, I won’t leave you, but Kili you’re faster than me. You can go get help.”
Bilbo's eyes were wide as he watched the two of them argue amongst each other. Thorin would be…no, surely that couldn’t be right. They were making assumptions because Thorin was his husband. They were young and naive. That was it.
While Bilbo had been sorting out his thoughts, Fili clearly had won the argument as Kili flew off towards Erebor in a burst of speed that left Bilbo both in awe and a little envious. Fili wasted no time in pulling him into his arms and flying after him. They moved slower and lower to the ground, and Bilbo didn’t know why they didn’t just try to fly back to Dale at this point.
“So it will take longer for reinforcements to reach us?” Fili snarked back.
Bilbo kept quiet after that. It was futile though. He was now about to make out the individual orcs with their massive bat wings as they angled themselves for them.
“Fili.” Bilbo stated softly. “It’s not too late…”
“Not a chance.” The prince insisted. “I will fight until my last breath to protect you both as a prince of Erebor and as your kin.”
Bilbo felt his breath catch. Never has anyone valued him this much. Not since his own parents were alive. Well, that was that then. He certainly wasn’t about to go and die now. His eyes scanned the landscape below before pointing out a spot to Fili. It would put some stone at their backs, and curved to where the orcs would have to put themselves in their field of vision to attack. Fili nodded before diving for the spot.
“I’m sorry to say you may have to learn how to use that little letter opener instead of gifting it to Thorin.” Fili pointed out nodding to the sword strapped at Bilbo’s side.
Bilbo carefully drew the blade. He’s never used a weapon before in his life. He wasn’t sure he could take a life. Even an orc’s life with it. He glanced over at Fili, noticing the fear in his eyes, hidden behind his stoic mask. He was still just a lad. He shouldn’t have to be facing death for Bilbo’s sake. He looked down at his weapon again with more determination. Yes, for Fili’s sake, he could kill an orc.
They held their breath and waited. As the orcs approached, he could hear their screeching getting louder. He feared they were nearly upon them when something else sounded in the distance. It sounded like a horn of some sort. Bilbo tilted his head curiously, but Fili was all but grinning at the sound.
“The Ereborian hunting party.” He whispered to Bilbo.
Bilbo grinned over at him. That meant they had a chance! Kili was able to get some help. Now they might not…Bilbo’s thoughts were brought to an abrupt halt when a menacing face sneered down at them over their cover. Bilbo cried out as Fili wasted no time in beheading the orc. The body slumped to the ground only for two more to take its place.
Bilbo was pushed behind Fili as he went to work, slaying any orc that got close to them. And for all the orcs that Fili couldn’t get to, Bilbo didn’t hesitate to shove his sword right in their chest. However, there was only so much the two of them could do against such numbers and before Bilbo could warn him. Fili’s sword was knocked away, and grubby, nasty orc hands descended upon him.
“Fili!” Bilbo called out only for the same hands to reach for him.
“Pluck every last feather from the little birdie. Rip the wings right off the bug!”
Bilbo felt a grip latch onto his beautiful wings and cried out as he shut his eyes tight. He felt like he was going to be sick. He’s heard of hobbits who had their wings plucked, but he always thought it was a scary story to tell children. Now he would be one of them. Grounded in the worst way imaginable. He could only hope it would be quick when one of the orcs suddenly cried out. His wing was released and when Bilbo’s eyes shot open, he saw a pale grimy hand bounce along the rocks. Bilbo quickly looked back over his shoulder only to gasp at the sight before him.
He didn’t know how, but Thorin looked absolutely resplendent against the sunlight. His wings spread out wide, his face set in a twist of righteous fury, his muscles flexing with every swing of his blade. The guards flew in over his shoulder, and soon the pack of orcs was thinning.
“Uncle! Thank Mahal, you came when you did.” Fili grinned.
Thorin stepped towards him, clapping him on the back of his neck and pressing his forehead against Fili’s own.
“You did well today, madtubirzul (golden heart).”
A smile slid across Bilbo’s face at the loving embrace. Then Thorin’s eyes met his. Any warmth Thorin had was gone, replaced with a crazed look.
“Get back to the mountain. Now.” He demanded.
The smile slipped from his face as his brows pulled together in confusion. He opened his mouth to argue when a shadow passed over the top of them. The largest orc Bilbo had ever seen, pale in color with a cruel smirk landing behind Thorin. The prince pushed Fili towards Bilbo, drawing his sword just in time to meet the orc’s downward slash.
“FILI! GET HIM OUT OF HERE!”
Fili was yanking at Bilbo’s hand, drawing him away from the fight. Bilbo stumbled in the young dwarf’s pull as he turned his head back to watch Thorin and the orc. The pale orc was relentless. Thorin couldn’t seem to even get a swing in as he held his blade out to defend himself against the brutal downward slashes. Seeming to sense Thorin’s hesitation, the orc grinned before kicking him in the chest. Thorin fell to the ground, rolling down the small incline. He came to rest at the bottom, his sword far from his grip, and Bilbo couldn’t stand another second.
Ripping his hand away, he flew as fast as he possibly could to reach Thorin. The orc had already jumped down and was slowly making his way to his fallen enemy. Thorin drew a dagger, and the orc kicked it away before Thorin could do anything with it. Thorin started trying to crawl away when the orc stomped down on his leg, pinning him in place. Thorin’s eyes remained defiant and proud even as the orc raised its blade. Almost there. Bilbo was almost there.
Before the orc could bring down his blade, Bilbo wrapped his body around Thorin’s head and chest, spreading his wings out in some form of defense as he readied himself for the orc’s blade to slide straight through his back.
“Bilbo! No, NO!” Thorin cried, trying to push him away.
Bilbo just tightened his grip and closed his eyes. He wished…he wished he had been brave enough to tell Thorin before it all ended. He loved him. He waited for the blade to come down and after a long moment of nothing happening, he looked back over his shoulder to see what was happening. The orc was just standing there, a peculiar expression on its face.
Curious, Bilbo flapped his wings gently, hovering a couple of feet in the air. The orc just continued to stare at his wings. Bilbo had a thought at that point to try and lead the orc away, but it didn’t matter. Thorin had lunged for his weapon and while the orc was so distracted, ran his blade straight through its chest. The orc cried out in pain before collapsing on the ground, dead. Bilbo landed, looking around to see most of the orcs were dead, and there didn’t seem to be any Ereborian casualties. The orcs that did manage to get away were nothing but specs in the distance.
Bilbo felt boneless in his relief as he wanted nothing more than to sink to the ground and not get up any time soon. He decided he should check on Thorin, only to be spun around by two hands on his shoulder facing the dwarf prince himself.
“What were you thinking?!” Thorin demanded, giving him a little shake. “You could have been killed!”
Bilbo furrowed his brow and opened his mouth, ready to deliver a scathing retort about how he saved Thorin’s life when the dwarf wrapped him completely in a hug. A soft ‘oh’ escaped him as he was pressed securely against Thorin’s chest before he hesitantly returned the gesture. Even going so far as to lay his head against Thorin’s heart. It was so nice, and Bilbo was reminded of the epiphany he had when he thought he was going to die. His cheeks heated up as he tensed in Thorin’s arms. Thorin, taking notice, pulled back just slightly so they could meet each other’s eyes. However, Bilbo was spared having to say anything as Fili and Kili nearly tackled him in their excitement.
“I thought you were a goner for sure!” Fili announced brightly. “I can’t believe you managed to distract that behemoth.”
Bilbo smirked. “Well it’s good to know these wings of mine are good for something.”
“Perhaps you should join us in hunting the rest of those bastards down.” Kili grinned. “You can distract them, and I’ll just pick them off one by one with my bow.”
Thorin’s grip tightened just slightly around his shoulders.
“No. He won’t be going near orcs ever again.” Thorin growled. “We are going back to the mountain. Now.”
Kili and Fili rolled their eyes before jumping into the air. Thorin was getting ready to follow them when Bilbo stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“I’m sorry Thorin. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
Thorin sighed as he gave him a sheepish grin. “I know. I don’t blame you. I just promised you a life of leisure, and here you were fighting for your life. Did I see that right that you had a little blade?”
“Oh!” Bilbo cried out before running back over to his and Fili’s original hiding place. He had to pick his way through orc corpses, but he finally found the little sword.
“I got it as a gift for you actually.” Bilbo held it out.
Thorin blinked. “For me?”
Bilbo nodded as Thorin inspected the blade. He twiddled his thumbs before taking a deep breath and admitting the truth.
“I want…I want you to like me.” He stated, eyes turned down to the ground. “I can’t imagine you were overjoyed at the idea of an arranged mariage, and that I’m just a silly, soft hobbit with soft wings as well. But I would really like it if we were friends, and maybe someday, you might even think of me as your husband in more than just name.”
Bilbo had barely even gotten the tumble of words out before Thorin grabbed his chin and tilted it up. A pair of lips pressed against his own, and it took him a couple of seconds standing there like an idiot before he relaxed and enjoyed it. The warmth of Thorin’s mouth, the brush of his beard and moustache against Bilbo’s upper lip and cheeks. It was even better than he imagined. It was as he pulled away that Bilbo remembered his need to breathe. He looked up at Thorin, feeling a chill down his spine at the warmth and desire pooling in Thorin’s gaze.
“I never thought of you as soft.” Thorin remarked. “You have always been the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”
“Really?” Bilbo asked, almost desperately.
Thorin nodded. “I’ve known since the first moment I saw you that you were my One. I just…didn’t know how to approach it.”
“Maybe…not waiting until I’m in mortal danger next time.” Bilbo teased.
Thorin shook his head as he wrapped his hands around Bilbo’s waist, a smirk on his face.
“No. I’m half tempted to keep you in my sight at all times. For the…foreseeable future anyways. I think I would like to get to know my husband.”
Bilbo felt breathless as thoughts ran through his mind, warming him immediately.
“I might be obliged to agree.”
Thorin kissed Bilbo again, this time with a little more force, a little more tongue, and a lot more roaming hands. Bilbo was rather afraid he was drooling a bit when Fili and Kili doubled back to see what was taking them so long. There was much teasing from their nephews that they had to endure as they flew back to Erebor hand and hand. Bilbo’s home with his husband.