The Brother's Vow (on Wattpad) http://my.w.tt/UiNb/hTvr5Z1nWF Alexandra is a highly skilled warrior and commander. What happens when she recieves a letter from an old friend asking for her help? What happens when the dangerous quest she was thinking of turns into something else when love is thrown in to the mix? Find out in the Brother's Vow. The story is based on two wounderful writers; Tolkien and @Crunchie17, and so is most of the cast! So guys if you think you'll be getting spoilers, don't worry the book has been out for almost 80 years now and the films (5,4,3 years respectfully) and Crunchie's Fan Fiction has been out for three years.
The months in Erebor’s restoration had flown by, as had the time it took for Thorin, and his nephews to heal from the wounds they had received during what now was being called the battle of the five armies. He had lain in that cot in the tent just below the slopes of Erebor, his nephews in their own healing tent beside his, and in all that time, Bilbo had stayed by his side. He had hoped the hobbit would not have left yet for the Shire, and he was pleased to find he had stayed with him during his healing.
The Winter had also flown by, and the East had finally begun its thaw into Spring. He had been crowned into a king, but there was something missing. Something inside him did not wish to rule - anymore. He had felt fear in wearing that kingly garb, not for the gold sickness. No. That was gone from his mind, he had broken free from it, but this was something different. This was him not wanting to stay in Erebor, not wanting to be the King.
Thorin felt - out of sorts in the ruling of his own kingdom. Something inside of him wanted to leave. Something inside of him wanted to be with Bilbo. He was afraid to even tell the hobbit he wished to travel back to the West with him. How could he tell him, and all the others of his thoughts, and fears. Would Bilbo even want him - after all he had done under the sickness?
What would his kin say - if he told them he wished to pass the ruling onto his first nephew Fili - and to that of his sister Dis - who had also finally returned to Erebor from Ered Luin during the last of the Winter months. How could he tell Bilbo that he loved him - and that he wished to just be Thorin, and not the king under the mountain.
Thorin did not know how - but he knew he would have to - because the time was approaching for their resident hobbit to leave - to return back to the beautiful green Shire. He had to do it soon, he had to tell him and the others soon - his entire body always shook with fear when he wore the kingly garb. He was not sure of Balin, Dis and the others could see the fear in his eyes - but he had to tell them all, and he decided that this morning would be the time he would tell everyone.
He knew they all always shared a breakfast together - he and Bilbo and the rest of the company. But he would tell his hobbit first, and then the others. He hoped Bilbo would not be cross with him - he just had to tell him how he felt - so he could be happy and settle down - if the hobbit would have him - that would make him very happy. So it was that he waited for Bilbo to join him at his chambers - and he would tell him then - before they both made their way to the common hall for breakfast with the company - and his sister and nephews.
“Bilbo are you looking at those old battle souvenirs again?” You walk into the study room, where books were stacked nearly to the ceiling. Your life partner stands in the midst of the towers, gazing at a gigantic claw in his hands. He got like this sometimes, reliving his adventures, ignoring the rest of the world. Sometimes you could get him to come back to the present and tell you what he was thinking, but most of the time he didn’t even hear you calling to him.
There was nothing pressing that required Bilbo’s presence so you pull up a chair and rest your hands on his knees.
“Bilbo.” There was no response. “Bilbo,” you call again and little firmer. “Supper is ready.”
The hobbit finally surfaces from the memories blinking the haze from his eyes.
“What did you say?”
“I said, ‘Supper is ready,’” you repeat biting back a laugh. “Won’t you tell me what you were thinking about.”
“Maybe over supper. What is there tonight?” He gets up to follow you to the dining room. The large table seems even bigger when it was just the two of you sitting together.
“Boiled potatoes, baked cheese bread, gravy and meat pie. Sorry it’s not much tonight.”
“No, no it’s perfect.”
You sit down next to him and take your fair share of the food. The majority of the meal is passed in silence, the only things breaking it the click of silverware against plates. Finally, as the plates are cleared you decide to ask the same question you always asked.
“So what were you thinking about earlier?” Bilbo sets his fork down and sits back in his chair.
“Just about the trip.”
You roll your eyes. “I knew that, but what part of the trip were you thinking about?”
Despite being together for over a year, you knew very little about this journey. When he first arrived back to the Shire he seemed completely normal, but as time went on the memories seemed to bother him more and more instead of less and less.
You met him at the market only a few days after he returned to the Shire. He invited you to dinner and things progressed steadily from there.
Bilbo doesn’t answer right away, instead his eyes glaze over again and you fear that you’ve lost him to the memories. Just as you’re about to admit defeat he looks back at you with clear eyes.
“Just the last bit.” You still don’t know what the last bit of the journey was, but you’ll take the answer as progress.
“Do you ever miss the adventure?”
“The excitement of it all and meeting so many new people maybe. But the fighting and monsters, no.” Bilbo stands up and takes some of the plates into the kitchen. You take a few and follow him.
“Why don’t you tell me what worries you? Maybe I can help.”
“I wish you could. However, I’m not so sure there’s anything left to help.” This statement only confuses you more, but you’re determined not to lose the conversation like you have so many times before.
“Maybe you should write it all down. Get the memories out of your head and on to paper, and then maybe they won’t bother you so much.”
Bilbo doesn’t show his opinion of your suggestion so you resign yourself to washing the dishes. Afterwards, the two of you sit together in front of the fire. The silence is heavy so you excuse yourself to bed after a few minutes. Once you’re at the doorway, Bilbo mutters something that you don’t understand.
“What was that?” you turn to look at his silhouette.
“It’s a good idea,” he repeats.
“What is?”
“Writing it all down. It might work.”
You nod and smile even though you know he can’t see you. “I’m glad you think so. You should try it. At least for a little.”
“I think I will.” You turn back around and start to walk to your shared bedroom. “I love you (F/N)”
You’re taken a bit by surprise, and it takes you a little while to get a reply out. “I love you too Bilbo. And I always will.”
The torches posted around the field spread enough light for the dancers to see their feet. The air was filled with the giggles and mutters of what appeared to be the entirety of the Shire’s population. The annual spring festival was kicking off to a wonderful start and everyone was having a grand time.
You’re friends had convinced you to go with to the festival. Originally, your plans were to sit in your hobbit hole and read your newest novel, but they believed you needed to get out more and meet new hobbits. They even went so far as to pick out a dress for you and curl your hair. After all their hard work they didn’t stick around for long. They all found a guy that wanted to dance and left you stranded in the middle of the crowd. As soon as you could, you found an empty table along the edge of the dance circle and sat down. It wasn’t that you didn’t like parties, you found them quite enjoyable, but you had to work yourself up to going to one. Being thrust into the middle of one unexpectedly caught you off guard, and you needed to catch your bearings.
Once you knew a few of the faces in the crowd, the thought of dancing became more appealing. You waited for a partner to free up but you didn’t see anyone you wanted to dance with yet.
“Excuse me miss?” You turned in your chair to face a hobbit who appeared your age. “Would you care to dance with me?” You didn’t know the hobbit by name, but you knew his face from around the markets. You stood from your seat and offered him your hand.
“I would love to dance.” With a smile, he led you to the middle of the circle of torches and took lead of the dance. He was a good dancer and you didn’t have to worry about him stepping on your toes like you had to with some of the other hobbits. Soon your gleeful laughter joined the noises of the night. When the small bundle of musicians stopped for a small break, you took a step away from you partner to get a better look at him.
“I don’t think we ever introduced ourselves. I’m (F/N) (L/N)” You held out your hand.
“Bilbo Baggins. It is an honor to meet you Ms. <u> (L/N) </u>.” He took your hand in his and shook it firmly. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
“Oh I don’t do much worth attention. I’m just a normal hobbit.”
“Well I would say you’re more than a normal hobbit.” A blush crept onto your face but the dim lighting of the torches kept anyone but yourself from knowing it was there. Even so, you ducked your head at the compliment.
“Well thank you very much. Would you like to sit and have something to eat with me?”
“I would love to.” You returned to the table you had previously sat alone at and without having to wait long large platters of food were brought to you. A little conversation found its way between the bites of food and you started to enjoy Bilbo’s company.
After you were both satisfied with the amount of food you had eaten, you went back to dancing until there were few people left in the field. The torches were dying down when you finally decided it was too late to dance anymore. You were about to say good bye to Bilbo when he said something that would make the good bye not permanent.
“I really enjoyed dancing with you, so I was wondering if you might like to maybe have dinner with me one night. Maybe tomorrow? I mean you don’t have to, just a thing I was thinking.”
You couldn’t help the small giggle that escaped your lips. This hobbit that seemed suave and smooth at the beginning of the night was now struggling to get his words out. “Bilbo you don’t need to be so nervous. I would love to have dinner with you tomorrow.” A smile breaks across his face wide enough to wrinkle the skin around his eyes.
“Great! I’ll-I’ll see you then!” You nodded as a way of good bye and went on your way with a similar smile on your face.
The next day your friends and you gathered on one of the paths in the Shire to talk about the night before. They all had stories of a variety. Some told of awful dancers, and others told of the best dancers that ever danced. When they finally looked to you for your story you felt like you had the best story out of all of them.
“Oh well I danced with a hobbit named Bilbo. He was quite a good dancer. I wouldn’t say he was the best, but he was very charming. We were one of the last pairs dancing and I’m having dinner with him later today.” Everyone stared at you in silence for a few seconds before bursting into excited chattering congratulating you. The attention got a little overwhelming and your face was as bright as a tomato. The group demanded that you give them all the details tomorrow and finally let you walk away.
For the next few hours you busied yourself with working in your garden and thinking about the night that was coming. When the sun was a little past the pinnacle of its journey, you stood from your kneeling position and brushed off the dirt that clung to your knees.
Getting ready for your dinner with Bilbo was going to be easier than the walk to his house. Already your nerves were making your heart dance. It was the kind of nervous excitement you got anytime you decided to talk to someone you had never talked to before. This would be your very first date and you hoped it’d go as well as you’d been dreaming of.
By the time you’re in front of the green door, you’re as nervous as you’ve ever been. With as much confidence as you can muster you knock on the door. It was soon opened by a smiling Bilbo.
“ Hello! Dinner just finished. You have perfect timing.”
“Actually I’ve been told that before.” You stepped into the hobbit hole and took inventory of your surroundings. It was a neat home. Everything was put in its place. A few jackets hung on a row of coat hooks and a room next to the door held a pile of papers and a number of books. Bilbo led you into the kitchen area where a meal was already set out on the table.
He pulled a chair out for you and then sat down in the chair opposite to you. The beginning of the meal was awkward, filled with small talk and food picking, but as the night went on you both became more comfortable and open with each other. By the time it was time for you to leave, you were laughing like you never had in front of someone.
“I’d love to do this again sometime if you don’t mind.” You were standing on Bilbo’s front porch saying good bye when he said this.
“I would love to. I don’t live to far from here. You can come visit any time you want. Thank you for the splendid evening, Bilbo.”
“Thank you for dancing with me last night. I’ll visit soon.”
You nodded with a smile and said good bye for a second time. On the path back home you couldn’t stop smiling. You had a feeling this was the beginning of a very long and wonderful relationship.
