Chapter Text
The sun had set over Rivendell as Bilbo Baggins walked through one of the gardens. The flowers were in full bloom and his fingers itched to touch them, to pick them and to braid them into a thick flower crown. A sigh escaped him as he took in the intoxicating smell of them. It had been quite some time since he had had the chance to stop and notice those things. A smile spread across his lips as his fingers brushed over the soft green petals of the fern right next to the footpath.
Footsteps behind Bilbo let him freeze for a moment. After being on the road for so long, he just wanted some time alone. Only a few minutes of silence without any of the dwarves speaking. Or rather cursing Gandalf for having invited Bilbo on this quest. A few of them had stopped after the incident with the trolls. Others, Bilbo knew, still thought little of him. And could he really be mad at them for that? He himself had wished more than once to be back home, with his books and his armchair. However, that wouldn't happen anytime soon. If that ever happened at all...
Bilbo shook the thought out of his mind and turned to find Kíli stopping a few feet away. Bilbo raised one eyebrow and tilted his head slightly. Within the first few days of their journey, he had noticed that Fíli and Kíli came as a pair. Therefore, Bilbo was surprised that the young dwarf came alone. Kíli didn't speak right away. He cleared his throat and rubbed his hands against his trousers.
"Oh my, Kíli, you look like a fauntling who had done something wrong. What's the matter with you?" Bilbo asked, when it was clear that the dwarf wouldn't speak first.
"Didn't want to interrupt your... time alone."
A huffed laugh escaped Bilbo and he waved his hand.
"You have not." Yes, you did, but what would Bilbo get from such words other than a sorry Kíli? A breath trembled out of the young dwarf. His back straightened and a grin appeared on his lips. He stepped forward and Bilbo had to force down a groan. That had not been his intention.
"What are you doing?"
"Enjoying the garden..." Bilbo explained, his fingers brushing over creme coloured petals. "The flowers." Kíli stopped next to him, his eyes planted on the flowers.
"Are they important to you?"
Bilbo raised an eyebrow and he wiggled his nose.
"I don't know these," he mumbled. "But yes, flowers in general are very important to me. Probably for every hobbit."
A soft hum left Kíli's lips.
"Why?"
For a moment, Bilbo stared at the dwarf, doubting whether the other really meant the question.
"Why?" he repeated the question, one eyebrow raised. "Because they are life. They are beautiful, so delicate." Bilbo's eyes drifted from Kíli to the bed of flowers. "If you don't take care of them, if you don't cherish them, they will die." The hobbit cleared his throat and smiled at Kíli as best as he could. "Every flower has its own meaning. You can tell someone you are sorry with flowers or that you value their friendship. You can tell someone that you despise them with the right flowers. Even if you want to tell someone that you are deeply, utterly, in love with them, you can..." Bilbo felt his cheeks warming and wiggled his nose. "Well, you know what I mean."
Kíli nodded, and for a moment Bilbo already thought the young dwarf had heard enough. Then he opened his mouth again.
"We similarly use gemstones," he mumbled with a grin. "Which flower means what?"
Bilbo huffed and shook his head. His left hand found its way towards his hip.
"Do I look like a book for botany?"
"Of course not, Master Baggins!" Kíli said hurriedly and his shoulders tensed. A snort escaped Bilbo's throat as he watched the young dwarf. It took a moment before Kíli seemed to relax once more.
"Have you ever received flowers that symbolised lov-"
"Kíli!" A shout came from farther down the hallway. Dwalin stood there, eyebrows furrowed. "You were supposed to get the burglar, not talk to him." With wide eyes, Kíli turned to Bilbo again.
"Yes, right," he mumbled. "Dinner is ready."
Bilbo blinked once, twice. They had had dinner with the elves two hours ago. Not that he was complaining about the possibility of more food, but he almost certainly knew that dwarves didn't eat seven meals a day. Not like hobbits do. Kíli must have noticed Bilbo's confusion.
"Most of the company is still hungry after the leaves the elves served us." A snort left Bilbo's lips. He had seen the glances between the dwarves, had seen the way Gloin had chewed on the leaves as if they were something poisoned. Bombur ate them nonetheless, he had looked happy but Bilbo could also understand why the dwarf was most likely still hungry. He himself was starting to get hungry again. With one last glance at the flowers, Bilbo stepped forward towards Dwalin. After a second he heard Kíli follow.
When Bilbo and the two dwarves walked into the rooms the company would be staying in, Bombur was already filling bowls with soup. And to the hobbits big surprise, they had cooked without him. He was aware that they must have been capable of it. Ever since he had joined, it had been him cooking for them all. He hadn't been satisfied with it, though. It wasn't even real meals with how little he had at hand. Perhaps he would ask Elrond if he could access his pantry. He would give a whole lot for a real, warm, comfortable dish.
Bilbo walked into their rooms right after Dwalin and was rather overwhelmed by the sudden noise. His ears wiggled as they took in the loud laughter, the shouting which could hardly be considered a conversation and some music playing in the background.
"Master Baggins!" Bombur shouted, as his eyes fell on the hobbit. He waved at him to come closer and pressed two warm bowls into his hand. It looked suspiciously like lentils and potatoes. Bilbo suppressed a groan. It was exactly what they had had for the last two weeks.
"Take this to Thorin and Balin. They are looking at some maps in the study." With a huff, the Hobbit nodded and turned. Would he ever be someone other than the footman?
Bilbo knew only vaguely where the study was. With every step he walked, the noise behind him faded bit by bit. A small sigh escaped his lips. Soon only his quiet footsteps were audible in the tall halls.
"He should stay here." Bilbo stopped when he heard Thorin's voice. "He is slowing us down."
"We would have been dead if Bilbo hadn't distracted those trolls," Balin huffed.
"And who got us into the whole situation? He let himself get caught!"
Bilbo tensed at Thorin's harsh words and the bowls in his hands started to tremble.
"Stop being so hard on him, Thorin."
"He is a distraction we don't need on this quest."
Balin began to chuckle.
"A distraction?" he repeated, a sudden softness in his voice. "For whom? Not for any of the company. Perhaps only for you, Thorin."
For a moment, all Bilbo heard was silence and he wondered what was happening inside the study.
"I will not hear another word of your nonsense."
Suddenly the door was pulled open, and Thorin would have walked straight into him had Bilbo not stepped aside just in time.
"Master Baggins," Thorin breathed as his eyes widened. "How long...?" He started but Bilbo cut him off.
"Bombur asked me to bring you your meals. He said Balin and you were busy in the study. You must have been in there for hours. That's not really responsible. It had been a long way so far and you should rest for some time..." Bilbo closed his mouth. He was rambling and it wasn't doing him any favour.
"Thank you, Bilbo," Balin said as he came into view next to Thorin. He pushed him slightly aside. With a gentle smile, he took the bowls out of Bilbo's hands and pressed one into Thorin's hands.
"We were just thinking of taking a break," Balin explained, his gaze briefly drifting to the other dwarf. "We will come with you."
Bilbo's throat left a surprised sound, but he nodded.
"Of course, of course." For another moment, Bilbo didn't move, but then he turned and started walking back to where he had come from. It took a few steps until he heard the sound of heavy boots follow. Bilbo forced a deep breath out. This was fine. Everything was fine.
When Bilbo returned to the noise, Bombur pushed something into his hands.
"For you, Bilbo." It was a bowl full of a warm meal.
Taken aback, Bilbo stopped in his tracks and suddenly a warm body pressed against his back. A shiver ran down his spine. The bowl nearly fell from his hands.
"By Mahal," Thorin's deep voice huffed near Bilbo's ear. "I did not expect that sudden stop, Master Baggins." Bilbo had expected Thorin to move away as if the hobbit had burned him. But to his utter surprise, Thorin stayed behind him for a heartbeat before he stepped back. His hand softly patted Bilbo's shoulder. He stared after the dwarf as he walked further into the room, taking a seat next to Dwalin. Bilbo blinked a few times.
His eyes wandered over the dwarfs and he wondered whether he could dare to sit with one of them. This was different from the nights somewhere on the road. There, they had all stayed close to each other, close to the fire. Now they were splattered across the room.
"Master Baggins!"
Bilbo turned his head towards the voice, finding Kíli waving at him. The young dwarf was sitting between Fíli and Ori. The hobbit hesitated for a moment before he turned towards the trio. Something warmed inside his heart when he saw the smiles that spread across heir lips. With a few deliberate steps, he was in front of them and sat down.
"Do you think Elrond will let us in his library?" Fíli asked, even before Bilbo was able to take his first bite. With a chuckle, he did just that and let the young dwarf wait.
"Why would you even want to get in there?"
Bilbo noticed the shared glances. He raised one eyebrow and his nose twitched. Something was going on and he couldn't get behind it yet.
"Certainly a person can't be a book, so we need to read what we seek to know in a library," Kíli explained with a wide grin.
"That sounded almost poetic, nadadith*," Fíli chuckled and Ori started to softly laugh as well. As he watched the trio, Bilbo felt happy that despite their uncertain mission, the young dwarves found something to laugh about.
"If you asked nicely, I'm sure Elrond will let you in," Bilbo said after another spoonful. A gentle smile on his lips. Kíli nearly jumped from his seat as if he was ready to ask Elrond now, but Fíli held him down with a laugh. Ori said something in Khuzdûl and soon they whispered with each other excitedly. And even as he didn't understand a thing, Bilbo didn't feel left out. With a smile he watched them nodding, whispering and laughing. Soon his bowl was empty and he leaned back against the wall.
Time passed rather quickly and when Bilbo's eyes started to feel heavy, he bid the young dwarves farewell. His feet carried him into the room Elrond had cleared for the company to sleep in. The bedding looked soft and there were even blankets... more than one for each bed. Excitedly, Bilbo padded forwards and found his bedding; a clean set of clothes lay on the bottom of it. A light sound left his throat as he changed into the clothes. He crawled under the blankets. It felt nearly as if he was back at Bag End. With a satisfied hum, he adjusted the blankets once more before he closed his eyes. And for the first time in weeks, Bilbo was able to fall asleep within minutes.