#erebor

Was thinking a lot about how the Erebor-Dale defence system may have been organised, and why there were ballistas at Dale and not on the mountain slopes. (And why there were anti-dragon ballistas at all).

When dwarves came from the Grey Mountains and developed the area including Dale, they still remembered the dragons and that they can be a threat. Being not good with long-range weapons (I like the theory that beards do not go well with bows) they could arrange a treaty with Dale - with men covering for this. So they created and installed wind lances - so they could try to fell the beast from the sky with dwarven infantry joining on the ground. (I don't see which other foes they could use ballistas against.)

But over the mannish generations more threats came from brigands and orcs and none from dragons - so the wind lances were left without trained crews, and common archers placed in the towers instead. And Thrór was too gold-sick to think about that. That's why Girion himself had to operate the wind lance...

And when the surviving Men fled to Lake-town, they took awind lances and installed it in fear of Smaug, but again the process was the same - and by Bard's generation it was only some obsolete weaponry everybody was too lazy to dismantle... And the last Black Arrow was used as a hanger.

What I'm thinking is that Erebor did think about anti-dragon defences when Thrór was young, but the system degraded over time and nobody cared anymore.

Bilbo busies himself with making a few treats and putting the kettle on to steep as the biscuits finish in his small oven. His rooms had a small personal kitchen, and Bilbo used it liberally for at least a few of his seven meals through the day. It was one of his favorite parts of his chambers. That and the two armchairs seated next to the fireplace. One lovely and hobbit sized and the other a bit bigger to fit dwarven company. 

It was the perfect place to host company.

Bilbo nods to himself and he finishes his preparations.

It had been an eventful day, certainly. After leaving breakfast, with his new token solidly in place on his breast pocket, he ran into quite a few other dwarrow. Some of which looked rather eager until they caught sight of the little thing.

It was quite perplexing. And made the morning rather full of awkward interactions.

It wasn't until after luncheon and he ran into Toldor again that he truly understood what he had agreed to.

***

"Oh! Master Burglar!" The dwarf had said cheerily from behind Bilbo as he walked down the hall. "It is good to see you, have you thought about my offer?"

Bilbo turned around and saw Toldor's face fall as he did. "Ah, I see you have accepted another." He had looked down for a moment before shaking his head and looking back up to grin. "I am happy for you. I wish you much happiness with your potential partner." He bowed deeply before moving to continue on his way.

"Toldor, wait, please." Bilbo called and the dwarf turned back to him.

"Yes, Master Burglar?" Toldor grinned widely at him, his previous melancholy completely shaken off.

"I.... well," Bilbo started. "It is embarrassing of me to say, but I was hoping to ask you about this morning?"

"Oh," Toldor frowned. "I am happy to answer your questions, Master Burglar. But you need not explain anything. You wear the token of another and I will not judge you for it."

"But that is what I need to ask about," Bilbo frowned, a little frustrated. "I did not know, you see, what the meaning of the tokens were when we spoke and you offered one this morning."

Toldor's eyes widened and he took half a step back. "You didn't know?!" he blinked, then laughed. "Why of course you didnt' know! You are a hobbit after all, not a dwarrow. I suppose hobbits go about things differently, then?"

"Indeed," Bilbo confirmed, a bit relieved that Toldor was not upset. "I wanted to apologizing for not understanding what you were offering this morning."

Toldor nodded. "It's alright. I suppose I didn't explain anything either." He laughed a little bit, then coughed. "So what did you want to ask me, then? I'm guessing someone told you about them, if you're wearing one?"

"Oh," Bilbo grimaced a little. "Well, yes. I was told they were and invitation to court. And that wearing one openly would be considered acceptance of a suite. Much like gifting flowers in the spring in the Shire."

Toldor rubbed at his beard. "I suppose. Don't much know about flowers or hobbits, but it is relevant to courting. There's more to it than just wearing the token though."

Bilbo blinked and tilted his head. "More?"

"Oh aye!" Toldor nodded enthusiastically. "Much more. There's the gifts, for one. Either party can offer a gift once a token has been accepted and worn. It's a whole thing. There's meanings associated with different metals or particular gifts as well, and how they are given, of course."

Bilbo nodded. "Not much different than what I'm used to then." He muttered. "Different flowers have different meanings as well, you see."

"Makes sense," Toldor nodded. "The gifting phases can last for as long as the couple likes, or as long as it takes to give a gift the other party will accept. Then there's getting family approval, and after that there's a few different traditional paths the couple can follow before moving on."

"I see." Bilbo hummed. "So accepting and wearing a token is accepting courtship in a serious way then?"

"Traditionally, yes." Toldor nodded. "Although some of the younger dwarrow have taken to using the tokens to find temporary partners and experiment through the winter months. It's generally considered more serious if a relationship continues on to the spring. But for the traditional ones? Just accepting a token is a more serious matter."

Bilbo nodded again slowly then turned up to look at Toldor. "Thank you, this has been most helpful."

"Not a problem," Toldor grinned. "I hope your dwarf treats you right." He paused, then frowned. "Not to meddle where I might not be wanted, but I hope that the token you accepted is one that you're happy with? If they didn't explain all that, did you know what you were getting into?"

"I hoped," Bilbo said simply, then turned to walk away before turning back around. "Thank you for answering my questions. I would wonder if you would do me one more favor?"

"Aye?" Toldor nodded.

"Would you please not let anyone know about our little talk? I have some... planning to do."

Toldor nodded again and grinned. "Certainly, Master Burglar. Have a nice day then." He winked and continued his way down the hall.

Bilbo nodded decisively and turned back, changing his path and heading down to the markets. He would have much to prepare if he was to be ready by this evening.

***

Shaking himself out of his memory, Bilbo looked over at one of the armchairs, and the wrapped package that sat innocently on it. The wrapping was a deep blue color, with a silver ribbon encircling the whole thing.

Such a small thing, yet holding so much weight.

Just as Bilbo pulled the last of the biscuits from the oven, there was a heavy knock on his door.

"Come in, please!" Bilbo called as he sat the hot tray on the counter. "Please go sit in the den, if you would. I'm just finishing up!"

He heard heavy footsteps and the door close somewhere behind him.

It was quick work to place some of the hot treats on a plate and include them on the small tray for two he'd prepared. The tea should just be steeped to perfection now.

"I did notice you didn't have much at supper, so I thought something light could be nice." Bilbo said, walking into the little room with the armchairs. Thorin was standing there, staring at the dwarven-sized one and the package sitting innocently on it.

"Ah yes." Bilbo said, walking around the Dwarf's still form and setting the tray on the table. "I though, considering your generous offer this morning, that it would be appropriate if I took the next step." He sat down on his smaller chair and pulled over a cup. He poured in a portion of tea with a small amount of cream and sugar and stirred before taking a sip. It was perfectly steeped, as he had planned and he nodded in satisfaction.

"I had a chat earlier today," he admitted. "With one of the lovely dwarrow who had offered me a token this morning. Lovely dwarf, really, and was very polite when he saw I was wearing a different token than the one he gave me. Very polite. You dwarves do have a decent system in place with this token business. Simple, and no one gets their feelings hurt or has to have any awkward conversations."

He waved a hand at the chair, "You can sit you know. Though you should probably pick up the gift first." He said with a grin.

"Anyway," Bilbo continued. "I was able to talk with him a little more and he let me know that this tradition is more of a serious matter than I was led to believe this morning. That, in fact, and especially with the older group of dwarrow, that it is particularly serious indeed." He swallowed another sip of tea and picked up a biscuit. 

"It did have me hoping, rather, that your offer this morning, might have more to it as well? Rather than just helping out a friend?" Bilbo smiled over at Thorin warmly. "At any rate, I wanted to offer you a gift. If you don't want to accept that's quite alright, but I had wondered, if perhaps, you might return my feelings?"

Thorin blinked over at the hobbit, then reached down and picked up the gift. Sitting himself in the chair he held it delicately, his fingers brushing over the bow.

"You would... offer me a gift. In return for the token. As a return of affection?" He said, his voice quiet.

"Well, yes." Bilbo nodded, biting his lip. "I had wanted to broach the topic earlier, but, well, I didn't think that you would want me in return." His voice faded quietly.

Thorin looked up at him, his eyes wide. "How long?" he asked.

Bilbo winced. "Well.... well now that is a question, isn't it?" He brought his handkerchief up to his face. "I suppose it has been awhile. Not long into the journey, I suppose. Or, perhaps even, a little bit. Before it?"

Thorin stared at him for a moment before pulling his head back into a laugh. 

"Before it?!" He exclaimed. "You mean before we left your Bag End?"

Bilbo blushed. "Well, yes. If you must know." He picked up another biscuit and took a large bite.

Thorin shook his head. "You have me beat by some time then. It was not until partway through our journey that I realized my own affections for you. And some time longer to acknowledge them," he admitted.

Bilbo looked up at him with a grin, swallowing before laughing a bit himself. "It seems we make quite the pair then." 

"Indeed," Thorin agreed, then looked down at the wrapped gift in his hands. "You made this for me, then?" he asked, voice soft.

"Quite!" Bilbo smiled. "I have been working on it for awhile, and I feel that it is finally finished, at least to my current satisfaction."  He bit his lip. "I do hope that it meets with your approval."

Thorin's grip tightened on the package before he started to open it, gently. "I am sure that what you have made for me will be special indeed." He muttered and then words failed him.

In his hands he held a book. The lonely mountain graced the cover, Smaug's silhouette embossed in gold against a dark sky with a full moon illuminating the landscape. The silhouettes of the company stood near the foreground, each identifiable as an individual dwarf. Leading the company was his own silhouette, and standing close to him, was the smaller form of his hobbit. The whole book was bound in Blue leather with gold and silver detailing. 

Opening the book, Thorin looked at the careful inkwork. Each word done with precision and care. The first letter of the chapter a work of art unto itself. An I encompassing the shire, with Bilbo's own hobbit hole in the center, starting the work.

"In a hole in the ground..." Throin read quietly.

"It's the story of our adventure, you see." Bilbo said, wringing his hands together and tugging slightly on his sleeves. "I've been working on it a little at a time, you see, but I thought that the winter would be a good time to finish it. I did have some help with the binding, but the scribe work is all my own..."

Thorin sat the book down and leaned over to wrap Bilbo in his arms.

"It is perfect." He said gruffly, a slight stinging in his throat. 

"Oh. Well." Bilbo cleared his throat and returned the embrace. "I am glad that you like it then."

"I love it. It shall be treasured here in the mountain forevermore as a record of our journey." He looked down at the hobbit with a smile. "And how we found eachother." 

Bilbo's cheeks bloomed with pink and he looked down. "It meets your approval for the courting then?"

"Absolutely," Thorin grinned, then reached into his own pocket. "We seem to think in much the same way. I also hoped to give you something this evening." He held forward a small, long package to the hobbit. 

Bilbo looked down at the small thing and then back up to Thorin. "For me?"

Thorin nodded as Bilbo slowly unwrapped the box and opened it. Inside glistened a deep red rose. It shone in the gentle light of Bilbo's room, the firelight glinting between carved petals. Gingerly, Bilbo picked it up to hold it between his hands. The petals were hard and cold, but as soft as silk under his hands. The stem, formed of gold, glinted almost molten against the petals. A small leaf caressed the stem, and as Bilbo moved his thumb along the length of it, a small thorn pricked at his skin. 

"You made me a rose." He said thickly, wetness growing in his eyes as he looked back up at his dwarf. "You do know what roses mean in the Shire, right?"

Thorin coughed a little, his cheeks blooming to almost match the color of the ruby rose as he nodded. "Yes, well, Bombour may have told me."

Bilbo laughed a little, choking on the tears before launching himself at Thorin, carefully holding the rose behind them as they embraced.

"Does this mean you accept my suit in full?" Thorin asked, hugging the hobbit to him. 

"Of course it does, you daft dwarf!" Bilbo laughed, happy tears streaming down his grinning face. Thorin chuckled pulled the rose from Bilbo's hand, setting it on the book before he leaned down while pulling the hobbit up to meet him. 

The hobbit stood there gaping, staring at the token in Thorin's hand. The token he had made a thousand times over the past month. It had gone through many iterations, some much more complex and obvious. This one, the final one, was small with an oak leaf curled around the acorn as if embracing it, or protecting it. An oak-leaf shield. 

Thorin grimaced as he looked down at it. It had seemed perfect when he had finished it, but now it seemed too obvious. Too much. 

Too vulnerable.

Bilbo wouldn't want that. Not when he didn't want any other token. No. This would be a shield. A shield for Bilbo from any unwanted advances. 

The hobbit looked up into Thorin's face and blinked. "You," his pink tongue peeked out to moisten his lips. "You would do this for me?"

Anything for you. Thorin thought, but instead he reached out and grasped Bilbo's hand, turning his own so the token fell into Bilbo's palm.

"If it makes you more comfortable in my mountain, I consider it a duty and a privilege." He said solemnly. 

Bilbo stared down at the little token, then, slowly, brought it up and removed the small broach he had on his breast pocket and clasped the token to it, letting it hang down over his chest where it could be seen. 

"That should work for the moment, yes?" Bilbo asked. " I just need to wear it openly to accept?"

"That's right," Balin nodded. "That will work just fine lad."

Thorin nodded, his eyes wide and fixed on the token shining on Bilbo's vest. 

"Well then," Bilbo shakes his arms out to resettle his outfit, and then moves to pick up the other tokens off the table. Thorin resists the urge to knock them out of his hand. "What should I do with these?" 

"I'll take care of them for you," Thorin offers, holding out his own hand.

"Well, I don't want to be rude to the ones who offered them," Bilbo bit his cheek then nodded. "You'll take care of them appropriately then?" he asked.

Thorin nodded. "Of course." He'd throw them right into his forge at the next available opportunity. 

"Very well then," Bilbo passed them over and Thorin placed them in a pocket out of sight. "I suppose I shall leave you all to your day then. See you at supper."

The hobbit quietly pads out of the room and Thorin releases a breath he wasn't aware he'd been holding. 

Which he quickly expels when Kili's elbow jams into his side.

"No intention of offering it to anyone else, huh Uncle?" he asks.

"Drop it," Thorin growls.

"Do we get to call the hobbit Uncle Bilbo now?" Fili wonders aloud.

Thorin growls again and goes to answer, but Balin starts before him.

"That would be moving a little ahead of things at this point lads." He says reasonably. "You'll have to wait until after the third gift, at least." Balin grins, much less reasonably.

"There will be no further gifts," Thorin looks around the room. The rest of the company grins at him and Thorin frowns. "I told Bilbo he would not need to worry about further advances if he wore my token. That includes my own. And none of you will tell him anything different." He would not force himself on Bilbo in that way. He only wore his token to prevent others from approaching him. It was a temporary protection, and once the winter was through, that would be the end of it. 

Some of the company look as if they want to say something, but Thorin moves to leave the room before he has to hear any empty platitudes. 

"There is a full schedule today. We should be going." He says finally as he walks out of the room. Voices call behind him, but he doesn't want to hear it. Not right now.

***

The day moves by slowly and too fast all at once. Council meetings where nothing is really decided (as usual), reading and approving reports, looking over requests from various guilds and individuals. It all blurs together into one drawn out segment of meetings, arguments, and documents. 

All the while his thoughts are pinned to Bilbo's vest. Bouncing along with each movement and step. 

It is maddening. Consuming.

He hasn't seen the hobbit all day, and yet he can't get the image of his token, worn openly, out of his head. He could count the threads in Bilbo's vest by now.

And now it was dinner time.

He made his way back down to the dining hall, nodding at the dwarrow he passed along the way absent mindedly. 

"Well, the hobbit is wearing someone's token!" He heard from a small group as he walked. Thorin slowed his pace as he walked past. It wouldn't hurt to know what the mountain thought of his burglar wearing his token.

"Did you see who's token it was Bernad?" Another voice requested, a little hopeful.

"Nah. It looked like a nice one though. Polished so as to make it less obvious, but I could swear it was mithril. Didn't quite get close enough to see the signet."

"Mithril!" The first voice exclaimed. "It couldn't be mine then." He sighed. "Oh well, it was a passing folly anyhow."

"Ah, you'll find someone there, Toldor. Chin up, eh?" Another voice added. "More importantly, who would offer the hobbit a mithril token?!"

"Search me." The first voice continued. "But I did hear a small rumor that someone saw...." His voice drifted off into a whisper that Thorin couldn't hear before the group laughed as they continued down the hall.

So that was one of the ones who gave his hobbit a token this morning. Toldor. One of the ones from the Iron Hills. A decent silversmith, but not exlemplary.  

Thorin hummed as he stepped into the dining hall. A few of the company were there already, as well as Bilbo.

Thorin froze for a moment as he saw Bilbo, then forced himself to go over to the tables bearing the weight of the food and gathered himself a portion. He brought it over to the table and sat in his usual place, which happened to be near Bilbo's usual place, and took a bite of food.

"So, Bilbo," Bofur leaned around his own seat to talk to the burglar. "Did you have any other trouble with bundling offers today?"

Bilbo finished the bite of food he had in his mouth before responding. "No one else approached me with a token today, if that's what you mean. Though I believe a few may have been wanting to try before they caught sight of this one." He gestured at his breast pocket and the pin that still held the token there. "I did run into one of them from this morning, but he gave me a firm handshake and then went on his way. It was rather cordial, actually. I can see why you dwarrow prefer to do it this way. Much simpler in many ways." 

Bofur nodded. "Aye, the accepting of the token is a simple one. I'm glad no one bothered you about it."

"Did anyone ask you whose token it was you're wearing?" Nori asked, bringing his own plate over and sitting down across from them. 

"Oh!" Bilbo thought for a moment. "Now that you mention it, no, I don't believe they did." He tilted his head. "Is asking frowned upon then?'

"Not really," Bofur answered. "It's fine to guess, really, but asking directly is seen as somewhat forward?" He nodded. "Especially if one already offered their own token. Asking who you chose over them would be...."

"Ah, yes, I understand." Bilbo nodded. "That's not much different than the Shire then. Everyone having their speculations, but no one asking directly. Rather removes the fun of the speculation, I believe." 

"Right," Nori nods with a laugh. "No worse gossips than you'll find in Erebor." 

"Unless it's in the Shire!" Bilbo exclaimed with his own grin before taking another bite of his meal.

The rest of the company joined in the laughter and Thorin managed a small smile of his own. 

The conversation moved on after that, but Thorin didn't pay attention. The gossips of Erebor were indeed formidable. They would figure out whose token Bilbo wore sooner than later. And then they would wonder why no other steps were being taken. Some of the traditions were done more privately, but others were easily seen in public. He had said Bilbo wouldn't need to accept anything further this morning, but, to keep up the image, would they need to change that?

He thought of Bilbo wearing a braid with his bead and his mouth went dry. He could hardly swallow any more of his dinner.

No. They wouldn't have to go that far, surely? 

He shook his head, trying to clear the image from his mind, when Bilbo's hand came up to rest on his arm.

"Are you quite alright, my friend?" Bilbo asked him.

"Fine," Thorin coughed out. "Just fine."

Bilbo frowned and looked down at Thorin's nearly full plate. 

"Right." He said. "I'm sure you are fine, but would you join me for tea this evening? Just something light before bed."

"I..." Thorin swallowed and nodded. "Yes, that would be lovely if you would have me."

Bilbo nodded firmly. "Yes, I think that it would do us both good." He pushed back from the table, his own meal finished. "I will see you later then, Thorin." 

(!!Spoilers!!)

I just realized something that really hurts…

Fili dies. Kili attempts to avenge him, Kili dies. Thorin finished what he started a lifetime ago with Azog and dies.

After their deaths, Tauriel kisses and cries over Kili. Bilbo cries and sits with Thorin. No one is there to cry over Fili’s body or hold him 🥺 and unless you watch the extended addition you don’t see anyone mourn Fili. Not that no one loved him, they all did, but the ones who would’ve cried over him died as well.

Just wrecked my heart to think about Fili’s body stabbed, thrown off a cliff, alone in the snow. To be collected for a funeral later (that isn’t in the cinematic cut) 😭🤧

Lemme know if you are interested in a fili x reader witnessing his death and crying over his body one shot.

On paper, Ariana Vale has everything she ever wanted.

Her face sells clothes and jewellery, her paintings sell out exhibitions, and nearly a million strangers watch her life through a screen.

Only a handful of people know about the messages.

The photos slipped under doors.

The feeling of being watched long after the cameras turn off.

Her solution is simple: move into one of Erebor Holdings' towers, where security is brutal and the penthouse belongs to a man she'll never have to know.

Thorin Oakenshield built empires out of stone and glass. Governments bow. Rivals break. Tenants are background checks and signatures-except the red-haired painter who walked into his building three years ago and quietly rewired his world.

To Ariana, he's just her terrifyingly powerful landlord.

To Thorin, she's the one line he's never planned to cross.

Until a storm, a photograph, and a threat push them onto the same side of the glass.

Now the safest place she can stand is in the spotlight at his side.

And the man who's watched her from the shadows has to decide how far he's willing to go to keep her there-

As his tenant.

As his shield.

Or as the woman he was never supposed to touch.