Chapter Text
In the following months after the battle of the five armies Thorin and company had been enjoying the peaceful days rebuilding Erebor, well peaceful compared to what they had just been through. Help came from the men of lake town (now the men of Dale), as did it come from Dain and what was left of his army from the iron Hills. The rebuild was slow but everything was going smoothly, and everyone was thriving and happy. Thorin had his thrown and his people, many of the company had begun to go back to their old crafts, whether that be cooking, toy making, mining or apart of the new gaurd and the rest had taken to help with the rebuild. No one had any complaints except Bilbo. Bilbo had been wandering around like a headless chicken. He hadn't really put much thought into what would have happened after they reclaimed the dwarves kingdom but it wasn't this. He'd at least thought he'd have been given a job of sorts, but no, many of the dwarves insisted that he'd had done enough and deserved a good long rest. He tried keeping himself busy exploring the city, but as it was only partly rebuilt there wasn't much to explore. He tried reading some of the ancient books that they had shelves upon shelves of, but the majority were written in Khuzdul. The worst part about having nothing to do was that the twisted feeling in his stomach that he had for months had become very tight, especially when he thought of Thorin. After Thorin asked for forgiveness and nearly died on the battle field Bilbo found that he could not talk to him as he had once before. A lot of his words came out all jumbled in a mess, and it didn't help that Thorin hadn't looked him in the eye since that day. The king had taken to either avoiding Bilbo at his every move or ignoring him all together. No matter what Bilbo did he either got a sharp and short answer or no answer at all. He wasn't quite sure what had shifted between the two but it wasn't for the better.
One morning Bilbo had been rudely awoken to the sounds of Fili and Kili arguing. Dreary eyed and yawning Bilbo dragged himself out of his warm bed and walked along the hall to where the brothers stood arguing over who should get the bigger pack. "Fili you don't even need it!" Shouted Kili, snatching the rucksack out of Fili's hands. "Why not? My clothes are bigger than yours!" He yelled in response. "Yes, but I have more of them so I need the space!" At this point Bilbo thought he'd chime in so they didn't wake the entire mountain.
"Why on earth are you arguing over a pack? You do realize that we are in Erebor? Our journey ended months ago." He said while rubbing his eyes. "Yes but this is for the trip over to (can't think of a place). Bilbo have you not even packed yet? You're not even out of your dressing gown?" Asked Kili. Fili smacked him on the shoulder and gave him a stern look, "shut up! He's not supposed to know." He said under his breath. "Know what? Why should I be out of my dressing gown? Who else is going?" Bilbo asked. Fili sighed, "some dwarves from (somewhere) have invited the company to a small gathering to celebrate the reclaiming of Erebor." He said sheepishly. "What? The whole company? I wasn't informed of this. When do we leave?" Bilbo said, shocked and still half asleep. "Maybe you should talk to uncle he was the one who didn't want you going." Fili said.
Bilbo marched into the throne room where Thorin say, surrounded by Balin and Dwalin. "Aye we're just waiting on the others." Balin said. "Waiting on the others so you could go to a secret party?" Bilbo interrupted. Balin and Dwalin both turned to look at him but Thorin was already staring. "Ah, master Bilbo what a surprise!" Balin said wearily. "Why havnt I been invited to this gathering that the whole company seems to be going to? Am I not apart of the company also?" He questioned. Thorin replied, sighing, " I didn't think it was your sort of gathering," "lots of people, lots of dwarves, lots of drinking." Bilbo was deffinetly annoyed now, "if you haven't noticed, your majesty, I happen to be surrounded by dwarves every single day. An I'll have you find that hobbit can hold their liquor better than nearly anyone in all of middle earth." Bilbo said, standing there in his dressing gown. "Very well then, if you shall wish to accompany us, I suggest you pack a bag." Thorin said, not seeming to care if Bilbo decides to go with them or not.
"I can't believe he tried to leave you behind!" Bofur said, as he walked next to Bilbo. "You're one of us. He's just being stubborn is all, doesn't want to say what he really fee-" he cut off at that last word, seemingly remembering who he was talking to. "What?" Bilbo asked. Completely lost as Bofur had been babbling on for hours as they travelled. "Don't you worry your pretty little head about it, what matters is that we are on our way to drinking some of the finest ale known to man." He said. "Really?" Bilbo replied, slightly disappointed. "We are going to (somplace), isn't that just a bar?" He asked. "Aye, one of the greatest bars known to these lands." Bofur said nodding his head. "Seems like an awful lot of trouble to go for a drink." Bilbo said. "Well, we dwarves take our drink very seriously. And I expect our burglar to hold it to the same respect that we do tonight." Bofur added.
They had arrived to (somplace) just as the sun had began to set. Pink and orange painted the sky as they walked through the sticky, splintered doors and into reception, where they were shown to the rooms that they were to take in pairs. "Everyone hand your belongings to Fili and Kili, they will take it to your rooms." Thorin commanded. So Bilbo did, and as he did he couldn't help but wonder, what was Thorin like drunk? Would he even get drunk tonight? Maybe it would loosen him up a bit and make him less bossy. I mean after everything he's been through he deserves to blow off a little steam.
The rest of the company headed straight over to the bar where they were met by several dwarves Bilbo did not recognise. They could have been at the battle, but Bilbo could not confirm nor deny that thought as most dwarves outside of the company looked similar to him
Hugs and head-butts were exchanged as Bilbo stood quietly off to the side and observed. That was until a really short but burly dwarf was headed his direction. Fur coat and lots of intricate dotted tattoos, it didn't matter that they were nearly the same height Bilbo was still panicked. The dwarf leaned back in preparation to bonk Bilbo on the forehead. Bilbo squeezed his eyes shut and waited for it to be over. The dwarf flung his head towards Bilbo, but was met with a solid thump instead as Thorin had stepped in. The dwarf had head-butted him straight in the chest but he didn't even flinch. He sent the dwarf tumbling back and gave him a deathly glare, but still, he didn't say a word to Bilbo and walked off towards the others.
The night went on, half the company were drooling in their owns beards as they had ale after ale. Bilbo however, sat at a little round table consisting of him and Bombur. Although Bomber was passed out, head resting in a pile of crumbs from a muffin he had eaten moments before. Bilbo was quite content as he watched the company blow off steam. Fili and Kili were swinging each other round and round, Bofur and Bifur were laughing hysterically at some joke about elves, he had even seen Dwalin stumble over his own feet at one point. It might have been the alcohol but there was one dwarf in particular that he couldn't seem to rake his eye off of. Thorin sat down at the bar next to Dwalin, many dwarves stood around them watching, as they were about to compete in an arm wrestle competition. Thorin and Dwalin glared at each others eyes intensely as they set their ales down and took each other by the hand, smirking. And so it begun, Bilbo couldn't help but glance at Thorin's bicep hard at work. It was easy to look at him, he wasn't wearing his usual get up. No Cloak or crown, no armour. Just Thorin, as is, just how Bilbo liked him.
Thorin was victorious, of course, their fists slammed down onto the bar smashing a glass and the company, or what was left of it, cheered. Passing around a bags of coins to those who had won the bet. The rest of the company disbarred and went off the do their own thing. Smiling, Thorin stood up and started walking over to Bilbo, drink in one hand, swaying slightly. He clumsily sat down in front of Bilbo nearly missing the seat and said, "your turn." Placing his elbow down on the table and raising his hand. "That's hardly fair." Bilbo said. "Come on," Thorin said, leaning over towards Bilbo's ear, "I'll go easy on you." He whispered. Thorin's hot breath down the side of Bilbo's neck sent shivers down his spine. Slowly, Bilbo raised his arm and took Thorin by the hand. Thorin gripped onto him steadily and started to rub his thumb gently back and forth across Bilbo's hand. Before he knew it the wrestle was over, Thorin had Bilbo's arm slammed into the table in a second. Obviously not realising his own strength he had banged Bilbo's hand into the table quite hard and his shoulder began to ache.
Thorin stood up once again, looked around the room hazily and waltzed outside. Bilbo followed him, not knowing what mischief he'd get up to outside the bar, only to find him sitting on the soaking wet ground looking up at the stars and smoking his pipe. Bilbo layer his coat down on the ground and sat next to him. "You are so drunk." He said. "And you, master Baggins, are almost as pretty as the moon." Thorin said, slurring his words. Bilbo chuckled, "thays a street lamp." Thorin continued to look at Bilbo as he smoked his pipe. He took a sig of his drink and spilt half of it down himself. "Alright I think thats enough for you." Bilbo said, taking away the drink with one hand and patting down Thorin's shirt with the other. Thorin just gazed at him, then slowly leaned in and pecked Bilbo on the lips. He pulled back for half a second contemplating what he was doing and then went in again and kissed Bilbo passionately. Bilbo was half stunned but the other half just wanted to give in so desperately, and having a few drinks in himself he went with the latter. When they finally parted neither really knew what to say, "you taste like trouble." Bilbo said, trying to break the ice. "I taste like beer." Thodin said. "Yeah, exactly." "Is this the reason you've been avoiding me?" Bilbo asked. "Partly." Thorin said, "but partly because after the battle when I asked for forgiveness and you said nothing I thought you wanted nothing to do with me." He said looking down. "Thorin, of course I forgive you, I thought I didn't need to say it, you were sick. You silly fool." Bilbo said grinning ear to ear. Thorin then looked at him with a strange face he hadn't quite seen before. "Thorin? Stop making thay face. I can't tell if you're.about to kiss me or throw up." Bilbo said. "Maybe I'll do both." He said smiling. "You certainly will not." Bilbo then hauled Thorin up tossing his heavy arm around his shoulders and started walking back inside.
"I think someone's had enough." He yelled over yo yhe company where he noticed, Dwalin was asleep at the bar, Bofur was all but dancing on top of him and Fili and Kili were no where to be seen. The only response he got was a dismissive wave from Balin. Thlrin had started murmuring things in khuzdul at this point so Bilbo thought it best to get him to bed. They trudged up the stairs one by one fo the rooms, Thorin half drooped over Bilbo. He had no idea what room was Thorin was staying in so he had to check them all. The first room he encountered had Nori and Ori sleeping soundly, half falling off of their beds. The second room had piles of clothes and belongings scattered all across the floor, Fili and Kili, no doubt. Thankfully the third room had a double bed and unpacked bags in the corner, this must be Thorin's room. Bilbo dropped the heavy dwarf king onto the bed nearly dragging himself down too. He took off Thorin's boots and pulled the covers over him and then set off to find his own room. Except, when he was leaving he noticed his bag sitting next to Thorin's. He gulped. "Why is my stuff here." He whispered to a half asleep Thorin. "Well you weren't originally coming so I guess they just stuck you in here with me." He said without opening his eyes. Bilbo sighed, then marched back over to the bed, "so what do I do." "Well, master hobbit, I suggest you get into bed." Bilbo just stood there overthinking. "I promise I don't bite." Thorin said lazily. Bilbo hesitated for half a second, looked around and with a sigh he wiggled in next to Thorin. "If you throw up on me, I will tell Balin and your nephews." He could feel the heat radiating off of the dwarf as they were facing each other. Thorin opened his eyes looking directly at Bilbo. "Did you enjoy your night, burglar?" He said. "Yes, it was rather interesting." Bilbo replied quietly. Thorin half chuckled, "good." "Thorin?" Bilbo asked. "Mhm." He replied softly. "Are you even going to remember this in the morning?" Thorin closed his eyes and said, " it's not likely."
Bilbo layer there watching Thorin, king under the mountain sleep peacefully before slowly drifting off himself.