#hobbit reverse bang

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

“Bilbor, I must go, but I will not go without you.” he said, quietly and clearly. “You are my One, and I could not bear to part with you now, not ever.”

It took Bilbo a moment to find his voice, and when he did he hoped desperately that it didn’t squeak quite so much as he suspected. “I-I... sorry? I don't... what does that mean?”

He felt that he knew, even before Thorin spoke.

Thanks again serenbach86 for the beta! Make sure to also see diemarysue’s A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes, also written for ewebean’s Cinderella AU prompt.

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Always present was the knowledge that with every minute that passed, he was another minute closer to having to say goodbye. He knew he ought to be steering the conversation towards it, trying to make it more gradual and hopefully easier for the both of them, but the moment was never quite right: Thorin was eager to explain something to him, or Bilbo thought of new questions he knew he would regret not asking later on, or it was just too crowded for them to have the privacy they really needed for such a conversation. In a little while, he kept telling himself, just a little longer, and then I’ll do it. 

Bilbo heads off to the third and final ball, knowing this is the last time he’ll see Thorin- the night he’ll have to say goodbye. If he can bring himself to do it, that is.

This is the first half of the massive huge chapter that’s been split in two. Many thanks to serenbach86 for all her help with this over the past forever it’s taken me to get the chapter together!

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It's not fair! his mind raged. All this time waiting for dwarves, and then they have to go and leave! This was always how it was going to be! the Baggins voice snapped back almost immediately. There was always going to be an end to it! There's no use in being... in being, well, hysterical about the whole thing! If anything, it's Thorin who should be upset. And certainly would be, if he knew he'd been tricked! It wasn't a trick! Not really. I never—

Another shorter chapter before the third ball. Whilst Thorin is daring to feel hopeful, things aren’t going so great for Bilbo. Thank you serenbach86 for the beta!  Also don’t forget to check out diemarysue’s A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes, also written for ewebean’s Cinderella AU prompt.

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Thorin considered his options for a long moment. A large part of him wanted to deny that anything was the matter and keep Dís in the dark, mostly because he knew how much it would irritate her. But greater than that and growing ever stronger was his concern for Bilbor and, perhaps, help would be a good thing. Slowly, cautiously, he eventually conceded, "There... there is a dwarf." “Ah.” Dís said, looking more than a little triumphant. “I thought there might be.” “What?” “Nothing.” The loaded tone of her voice suggested otherwise, but she waved a hand and moved the subject on. “So, that doesn’t sound like a bad thing.” “It’s not.” Of course it wasn’t; how could it ever be? "But it's not that simple."

With only one more ball to go, let’s see how Thorin is getting on. Thank you serenbach86 for the beta!

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"You do not need to say anything. I can see it in your eyes." And then, with a sharp intake of breath, anger bloomed across Thorin's face. "A dwarf without a craft, without even their own language! Never in my life did I expect to see such a thing!" Bilbo's voice came flooding back to him, strained and cracked though it was. "Please, I... I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I didn't want to... I mean, I... I didn't know what to say, so I just... didn't. Oh goodness, I just... I can leave, I'm so sorry, I never meant to—” "Leave?" Thorin whirled towards him, face suddenly creased in a frown. "I do not want you to leave, Master Bilbor. That is not what I meant at all, I—”

A thousand million years later... chapter six! I’m so sorry for the delay, unfortunately real life has been determined to get in the way recently. :(  But! In this chapter: Bilbo heads to the second ball, not realising that Thorin might have been more suspicious than he appeared. And Thorin, of course, continues to get the wrong end of the stick entirely. (Thank you serenbach86 for the beta reading and support!)

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Fili and Kíli exchanged a look at that point, before Fíli ventured, “Well, he seems... happy.” “Happy.” Dís said flatly. “Yes, happy.” There was a pause as she considered both of her sons. When she spoke, she kept her tone serious and slow, because being of age or not, they still insisted on behaving like children. “You do realise that that is a good thing, Fíli, and that I’m sure you’ve seen your uncle less than miserable on several occasions over the years—"

Dís knows. She always knows. And when she doesn't know, she makes sure to find out, and then she knows.  aka. it's time to check in with Thorin and family ahead of the second ball.

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“I apologise again if I caused you some grave insult.” he said stiffly, raising his chin and clenching his fists tightly. “But if it’s all the same to you, I’m needed elsewhere, so I’ll be on my way now.”

The dwarf was clearly taken aback, but despite his slight recoil he didn’t release Bilbo’s wrist. Then, all of a sudden, he laughed. It was a short, sharp bark of a laugh, sounding almost stunned, but it was a laugh nonetheless.

“The only insult you would be offering is by leaving so soon— it’s barely past nine o’clock!” He frowned then, but it didn’t seem to have any real anger behind it; instead, he seemed genuinely confused. “Surely you cannot really be going?”

After an unexpected delay (sorry!), chapter four is here! Perhaps the dwarven ball is not quite as bad as Bilbo originally thought. Ewebean's art for the prompt is great, so go take a look: Bilbo's transformation and Bilbo's outfit for the final night. Remember to also check out the other story for this prompt: A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes by diemarysues, which is now up to chapter three and counting!

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Come along, there's work to be done. he told himself firmly, in the same way that he would when trying to tear himself away from a fascinating book to tackle some daunting task or other, whether tidying his writing desk or bringing himself to be polite to his cousin Otho’s dreadful new wife. It's now or never, Baggins. You've always said how much you'd like to meet the dwarves and learn more about them, you can't back down now! At the very least head for some of that food!

The full story of That Time That Bilbo Ninja'd His Way Into A Dwarven Ball. Except that when he arrives, Bilbo finds that things perhaps aren't as easy as he had expected, or hoped. Sorry for the delay, everyone- I've spent the last three days in bed sick and I'm still recovering. But there should be more updates soon!