#gift 10

[stylanficexchange-blog]

Gift 10/16

We Could be Enough

[ by Anonymous ]

One Direction reconvenes after two years at Niall's cabin in Connemara for Christmas. Niall and Harry haven't spoken during the break, but they relearn each other and fall into something they never expected.

For jamesniall

(A/N: Title from Home! Thanks so much to A for the last-minute help, and to the mods for running a great exchange!)

[hobbitadvent]

Prompt fill: Midnight

„Are you sure you wish to go through with this?“ - asked Balin in a concerned tone.

Thorin remained silent for a long while, simply staring into the sky full of blinking stars above. His countenance slowly changed from uncertain to determined.

„If not now, then when? I have no choice, Balin. I have to do it tonight or else who knows what the next days of this journey shall bring.“ - the dwarf sighed and shifted his gaze to his old adviser, - „It’s almost midnight. Can you bring him to me?“

„Aye,“ - nodded Balin and turned to leave. However, after a few steps he halted and glanced back at his king, - „Good luck, Thorin.“

When the dwarf was left alone, save for the distant sound of laugh of his company, did he allow his shoulders to slump a bit and his eyes to lose that spark of surety.

„I’ll definitely need it,“ - he murmured sadly under his breath.

„For what is a king without his kingdom?“

...

The company was preparing to rest when Balin came back. Some of them were already laying in their bedrolls, while the others were smoking the pipe-weed they’d been given by Beorn and talking in merry voices, since their supplies had been restored and the darkness of Mirkwood they were to enter tomorrow didn’t seem as threatening in the warm light of the fire, casting gentle glow upon their camp.

The company’s burglar was sitting on an old fallen tree and discussing some of Ori’s notes with the dwarf. There was a cloud of smoke around them and from time to time there could be seen a smoke ring, that Bilbo was so very fond of making. 

The scribe was the first one to notice the elder dwarf’s arrival and almost dropped all of his loose pages when he jumped to his feet with a little too much excitement.

„Is it yet, Master Balin?“ - he inquired curiously, earning a strange look from the dwarf - something akin to sternness blended with amusement. It was a somehow knowing look, that spoke enough for itself to make the younger dwarf’s face brighten up with mirth.

Bilbo, seeing the suspicious exchange between his friends, blew out a particularly huge smoke ring and frowned, trying to think out their motives. He was a very specific hobbit, since he was of a curious heart, so he instantly knew something was up when Balin walked up to him without vocally answering Ori.

„Master Baggins,“ - the dwarf began, smiling softly, - „Thorin requires your presence. Come with me.“

The hobbit’s brows shot upwards in question, but he wasn’t given any time to ask about the reasons for this happening, since Balin had already turned and was slowly walking through the camp, in the same direction he’d first come from. 

Bilbo looked curiously to Ori but the dwarf only smiled at him, definitely not willing to answer any of the hobbit’s doubts, even under his questioning gaze.

Therefore, he could do nothing else but follow Balin with a sigh. 

Before he catched up with him, the hobbit put out his pipe and put it inside his pocket. 

„What’s up with all of this?“ - he asked curiously once they were out of the campfire’s light.

The dwarf glanced at him, surely at a loss for words and only after a while decided to reply with a simple „You’ll see.“

Soon, seemingly without a reason Balin halted his steps. Bilbo looked around in wonder but couldn’t find anything indicating they had come wherever Thorin choose as his place for brooding, being the grumpy dwarf - the hobbit chuckled at that thought, earning a questioning look from his friend.

„Ow, it’s nothing,“ - he said simply, waving a hand.

Judging by Balin’s face he didn’t quite believe that, but he let it go with a knowing smile and pointed at something ahead. A few steps ahead, under the gloomy light of the half-moon, barely visible behind ragged clouds, there could be seen a dark silhouette. Now that Bilbo had noticed it, he was certain it was Thorin. But he was also sure that without Balin’s help he might had problems finding the dwarf.

The hobbit glanced to Balin, looking for any words of advice, but when he got none, he simply decided to face whatever the leader of the company required of him. 

He slowly walked up to him and quietly called by the dwarf’s name. 

Thorin glanced at him and Bilbo had a feeling he saw something akin to uncertainty flicker upon the dwarf’s face, but in such a feeble light he couldn’t be sure he hadn’t just imagined it.

„What’s going on?“ - he asked with a bit of irritation in his voice, - „Why are you all being this- ...this mysterious?“

Then Thorin turned to him fully, his face adorned with might reminding Bilbo of a true king from legends he’d heard as a child.

„Bilbo,“ - he began, in that low voice, always making the hobbit feel very insignificant, - „I wish to ask...“

...

„Why does uncle insist it has to be midnight?“ - asked Kili with exasperation, looking from each dwarf to another. His brother was wearing almost the same look of confusion and stood beside Kili giving encouraging looks to the others.

„Alright, lads. Wait till Balin’s back, he’s best with explaining things to such thick-heads as you two.“ - grunted Dwalin, earning nods and words of agreement from the others.

Both Fili and Kili whined loudly in protest but not even a minute had passed when Balin was back to camp.

„Master Balin!“ - the two brothers called and run to the confused dwarf.

„Brother,“ - addressed him Dwalin, - „you’ve been given the role of a teacher for those two.“ - he said with amusement, pointing at the princes.

„Please, master Balin!“ - whined Kili, seeing the tired expression on the older dwarf’s face.

„Alright, alright. What don’t you two understand?“

„It’s about uncle Thorin,“ - began Fili, -„Why did he exactly choose midnight?“ 

„Is it because Bilbo’s sleepy now and more likely to ignore his old age?“ - added Kili with a laugh.

„Kili!“ - Fili looked at him with amusement.

„What? But it’s true. He’s not exactly young.“ - pointed out Kili.

„Lads, calm down.“- interrupted Balin, seeing that if he wouldn’t interfere the two would soon start arguing.

That, finally, got him the brothers attention.

„Alright, listen up.“ - he said, - „Back in the days, when Durin’s line ruled Erebor, there was one place in the mountain said to be the most beautiful of all. The starlit chamber. It was a huge cavern deep in the roots of the mountain, but with numerous small tunnels letting the light in. There was a small lake in the middle, filled with crystal clear water. During a day the chamber would be bright and looked like an usual cavern. But at night...“ - Balin sighed at the memory, - „It was probably one of the most stunning places in the mountain. On particular days, exactly at midnight, the moonlight would be let in by a system of natural holes and mirrors. Then it would be reflected on the surface of the lake and reach the ceiling of the chamber, that was full of the most precious of gems. What a sight it was! It looked a hundred times better than a clear, starry sky on the darkest of nights. And, going back to your question,“ - here he looked at the brothers’ curious faces, - „If a king wanted to take a spouse, he’d have to declare the will to court them in that chamber, exactly at midnight. It was tradition, probably as old as our kingdom. And your uncle apparently wants to stick to it.“

...

„Bilbo,“ - he began, in that low voice, always making the hobbit feel very insignificant, - „I wish to ask...“ - Thorin took a deep breath, like if he wanted to postpone the moment of confession.

„I wish to ask for your permission to let me braid your hair.“ -he uttered in a low whisper, giving Bilbo such a fierce look, the hobbit felt as if he would be better off, swallowed by the ground.

„Ugh, is that why you had me come here?“ - he asked with hesitation, and seeing the dwarf’s furrowing brows quickly added, - „Because it’s fine, and you can, you know, braid my hair and all.“

„But I’m simply curious why couldn’t you do it in the camp?“ - he said after taking a breath.

The dwarf was at a loss for words. He stared confused at the halfling and after a very long (and awkward for Bilbo) while inquired - „Is it not customary for hobbits’ to first ask permission in private and only afterwards announce it officially to everyone?“

„Permission?“ - queried Bilbo with confusion coloring his voice, - „like, permission for braiding hair? Well, we hobbits usually keep our hair loose, so I don’t see why...“ - he went silent and frowned.

„Wait, Thorin.“ - he addressed the dwarf, going a bit red, - „do you mean like, permission to- ...to court?“ - the hobbit asked, avoiding Thorin’s gaze.

The king’s expression lost all it’s fierceness and for a second the hobbit had a feeling he stood not before a highly born dwarf but before one lost and lonely, completely unsure of his purpose.

„And if that’s what I meant, what would you say?“ - asked the dwarf with resignation, seeing his failure.

Bilbo once again blushed and looked everywhere but at Thorin.

„Well, I’ve been a bachelor for all my life. I don’t really know...“ - he stuttered, not feeling brave enough to admit to the looks he had been casting just from time to time at the king in exile. 

„I see how it is.“ - said Thorin sadly, once again putting on the mask of indifference, - „you can go back to camp, master burglar.“

Bilbo’s shoulders slumped and he felt utterly lost, but Thorin couldn’t see this since he’d already turned away from him. 

The hobbit absent-mindedly made a few steps in the direction of the camp, but then suddenly came to a halt.

It could be his only chance, for if not now then when? - he thought as he gathered courage to go back.

„Thorin,“ - he prompted, quickly nearing the dwarf.

And when the king turned to him with confusion the hobbit couldn’t stop himself, went up to him, stood on his tiptoes and gently brought their lips together.

He felt the dwarf’s beard scrap against his skin and his warm arms encircle him. Bilbo was like drunk with the kiss and didn’t want to end it but when they finally parted he was met with icy blue eyes, sparkling with joy.

„May I braid your hair now?“ - asked Thorin with a smile.

„Of course, you silly dwarf.“ - chuckled Bilbo, seeing how ridiculously beautiful the dwarf looked with such a bright smile.

Author's Notes: I hope you liked it :) I haven't yet seen the Desolation of Smaug so let's assume it's set in the book verse. Merry Christmas!