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

[queen0fcups]

OH MY HEART

I am so proud of Thorin right now that I barely have the words to express myself, had I not cried earlier in the night there would be tears of joy at the ending paragraphs here (I can feel my tired eyes trying to make them).

And THIS

He threw himself to his knees and brought Thorin's hands to his mouth.

Oh my god this is such a beautiful moment, it is fealty, love, a promise and a declaration all wrapped up together in a bundle of perfection

I believe in Bilbo, I know he's going to use the ring to find a way to save them rather than do what Thorin told him to :D

[mithen]

I am so proud of Thorin right now that I barely have the words to express myself.

Oh yay, I'm so glad, that's exactly what I was hoping for as a reaction. *beams* I was honestly not sure I could make it seem believable that he would relinquish the Ring! But when I realized that the rings of power didn't turn dwarves invisible I knew this was really the only way it could be possible... *pats Thorin*

God, I don't think I will ever get enough of Bilbo kissing Thorin's hands, lol. It's just...that moment of fealty (it's the only word for it!) that isn't the least bit servile (at least when I imagine it) and it makes me every kind of happy. *sighs dreamily*

Thank you so much for commenting when I know you must be tired and worn-out, you have made my day!

[queen0fcups]

He relinquished the ring to SAVE BILBO that's like a 1000x better than any scenario I could have come up with.

You just can't get enough of hand kissing in general ;D though I am completely behind you on why this particular moment is so special. Fealty is a beautiful concept and relationship that has been lost mostly in modern culture and I just, oh, I Love it so. *echoes the dreamy sigh*

The fact that there was a CoV update, and such a eucatastrophic one, waiting for me after an awful work shift made my day, I ought to be thanking you!

[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

[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*

[shirebound]

Oh my, this is so wonderfully creative! The scroll instead of the Arkenstone, Thorin voluntarily giving up the Ring for Love...!

*applauds and happy grins*

[mithen]

Thorin giving up the Ring made me so happy to write, ohhhh. I wasn't sure I could make it believable that he could manage it, but he's a tough soul and, well, the Mirror basically hit him over the head with it, and he sees no other way out...

I'm so glad it worked for you!

[iris_summers]

Haven't been commenting much recently, but after THIS, how could I not?! Thorin has been such an ass in the last few chapters, but I'm so so happy with the pay off.

The cry of anguish when Bilbo got stabbed (the mention of the oatmeal sweater kinda made me go "No, John!" LOL), Thorin's realisation that the Ring wasn't the "only beauty in Khazad dum", Bilbo's kissing of his fingers in a silent farewell and acknowledgement of his love and fealty (so very appropriate for the King under the Mountain), Thorin finally seeing his "Treasure true"... All so immensely flail-worthy.

And of course, the sniffle-worthy "Go back to the Shire, back to your merry green door and the bright flowers above it" speech that was so very reminescent of the canon last farewell in the book... I will be a mess when Richard Armitage and Martin Freeman do that scene in the last movie!

[mithen]

Thorin has been such an ass in the last few chapters, but I'm so so happy with the pay off.

I've been SO eager to finally get to this chapter, because he really has been such a pain to everyone, but things are definitely going to turn around at last.

NOT THE OATMEAL JUMPER, JAWN. :)

And yes, I did love that line because it echoed just a bit Tolkien's wonderful phrasing at Thorin's death--he's just one of those characters who really needs to be facing down death before he realizes what the right priorities are...I don't know if I'm going to be able to bear the actual line! You know they're going to rip our hearts out...

I'm so glad this chapter was satisfying to read--I know I found it really satisfying to write!

[ranger_girl0301]

SOBS

[mithen]

*FLAILS WITH YOU* More soon! Bilbo won't let them down!