Clarity of Vision, Chapter 22

[mithen]

Title: Clarity of Vision, Chapter 22
Relationship: Thorin/Bilbo
Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Thorin, Kili, Fili, Balin, Dwalin
Fandom: Hobbit
Warnings/Spoilers: None
Rating: G
Word Count: 2100
Story Summary: In a Middle-Earth where Erebor never fell, a shadow remains in the heart of the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo Baggins finds himself drawn reluctantly

Comments

[starsandsea]

A scrap of midnight-blue tassel deep in a shelf, untouched as yet by the flame. Bilbo seized it and ran, the scorching stone blistering his bare feet. He wrapped himself around the precious scroll, shielding it from flying sparks with his own body, and staggered blindly toward the door. Everything was wavering in a blaze of agonizing light, but somehow he managed to make it clear of the flames and out of the doomed chamber, his prize still safe and undamaged in his trembling hands.

Oh, Bilbo! BILBO! I knew he would save the scroll! *hearts him*

Bilbo set his jaw and began to descend into occupied Khazad-dûm.

Bilbo! *flails quietly*

In the depths of Khazad-dûm, Thorin of Erebor chiseled his own heart into a thousand facets of regret.

Thorin!!!

There was a warning shout from Dwalin and Bilbo barely had time to hurl himself out of the way as an orc guard's jagged sword whistled through the space where his neck had been.

Eeeek!

Thorin heard a cry of unbearable agony, the sound of a heart cracking its sinews, and realized the sound did not come from the grimly silent Bilbo but from his own throat.

*incoherent noises*

he had to stand astride it and stab it again, his throat working and his mouth set in grim misery.

Oh, Bilbo... *hugs him gently*

"Yes you can," Thorin repeated. "Because you will have this."

He reached in his breast pocket and took out his golden ring.

*more incoherent noises*

No, thought Thorin. Not the only.

*squees and flails*

"Take it and go, Bilbo Baggins. Go back to the Shire, back to your merry green door and the bright flowers above it. Be safe and be happy and know that you are--" His voice stopped in his throat and he had to stop and try again, "--that your life is precious to me."

*flails and sobs and squees*

"There are worse ways for a dwarf to die than in the halls of Durin, laddie," said Balin.

*wibbles massively*

the sound was far away and distant through the incandescent pain in his heart as he realized his ring was gone, that he had given it up. Agony ignited his soul, and he sobbed in its purifying fire, sinking to his hands and knees on the cold steel floor, shaken by a transcendent anguish. His spirit was burned to ash and cinders, and he let the pain sweep over him and annihilate him as if he hungered for it.

And somehow he found himself on the other side, tears drying on his cheeks and a strange peace in his heart.

Thorin of Erebor lay in a cage in the depths of Khazad-dûm with the imprint of Bilbo's kiss on his fingers, and knew in the bedrock of his soul that at last he had seen his treasure true.

He would face his death free of the dragon-sickness, with a whole mind and clear eyes.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Oh, that is... *flails and squees and flails and squees again*

Oh, this was a wonderful chapter! Thorin! Bilbo! Ahhhhh!

I can't wait to see what happens next! :)

[mithen]

Oh, Bilbo! BILBO! I knew he would save the scroll! *hearts him*

Of course he did! Sturdy hobbit feet and brave hobbit hearts!

Oh, Bilbo... *hugs him gently*

It's Bilbo's first real kill and it's...not something that comes easily to him, poor guy.

Oh my, I spent so much time flailing writing this, I'm thrilled I could finally share it! There's a real pleasure in getting Thorin through the dragon-sickness before...well, before next month... *sniffles quietly*