Summary: Old wounds are addressed and the wedding day arrives.

Chapter Text

Smaug and Thorin

Bilbo sat down in front of Thorin and took his hand.

"So she'll be able to hear me and I'll hear her?" Thorin looked skeptical.

"Well, actually you will both be hearing me and I will hear both of you. I will sense really, not actually hear her thoughts and then speak them out loud to you. I will then hear you speak and I will think what you say and she'll sense my thoughts."

"I see."

"Really?"

"No, but I get the main points."

"Well alright then, let's start."

"Wait, you must not change the words, Bilbo. Don't be diplomatic, don't soften. If this has any chance of working we must be totally, brutally honest."

There was a noticeable pause. "Very well."

Thorin

Smaug

I don't like you.

Hate isn't strong enough to describe what I feel for you.

I respect that; my kind is not normally burdened by sentiment, emotions yes, sentiment no.

You murdered my people and stole our home.

You were weak fools, not strong enough to keep your people or your gold safe.

Bilbo shook his head. "Stop! Both of you. This is about Bella and Fili and whether you love them more than you hate each other."

"Yes Bilbo we know"

" Yes Bilbo."

Thorin reached down as deep within his heart as his could and saw a happy blond dwarfling running to meet him. 'Uncle Thorin!" the child called and jumped into his arms. His heir. The two of them, one blond, one brunette, his sister's sons were his heart. Their laughter had helped to still the screams that echoed through him memory when he thought of Erebor and that damned dragon. The thought of giving them a long life and keeping them safe had in the end been much of what made up his mind to take the Arkenstone and the gold Smaug offered. He would not be the one to still that laughter or take the hopeful light out of those eyes.

Smaug, I'll never forget or forgive, but I will accept Bilbo's child as my heir's One. I will accept their children as Durins. If we must meet it must be brief, you must be in human form and never speak to me of Erebor. For Fili and Bella I will do this.

Can you truly. When your people complain, can you truly choose the daughter of a dragon over them?

Thorin sat quiet for a moment and then said in a slow study voice.

I choose Bilbo... this time... I chose Bilbo over all else.

As do I. I will accept your terms Thorin Oakensheld. But know it is because of the courage I have seen in the boy not you and perhaps for a choice thirty years late but a choice still…finally well made. Though I would not change the first one...I would have my love's heart mended. For his sake and for the boy's and my Bella's I will be in human form and never speak to you of this mountain.

Bilbo shook his head again, wanting to stop before anything went wrong. "Well alright then. Given the circumstances I think that went rather well."

Smaug and Thorin both growled.

Bilbo and Thorin

Thorin looked tired and Bilbo knew he was but some things still needed to be said between them.

"Thorin, may we talk?"

Thorin looked so tired and Bilbo thought he saw something else...guilt perhaps and relief. Like a person who wants to be punished for a crime, just to have the constant overwhelming guilt finally eased.

Thorin looking into Bilbo's eyes saw hurt and acceptance, but yes there was hurt.

"Bilbo," Thorin started only too be cut off when Bilbo held up a hand.

"No, Thorin I have to say this first. I know you are sorry, my friend, I know it was the best, the right, the only choice and in the end I was the one that made it. But as I walked back inside Erebor, believing that I was going to my death I prayed that the last words I would hear from my friend was that he would rather fight for my life than take Smaug's offer. That a living being...his friend was worth more somehow than a cold dead stone. More than even the gold. I would have stopped you, would have gone to Smaug anyway...but I wanted to hear my leader...my friend ...try to stop it from happening. I was a member of your company, I had left my home for your quest and...some part of me wanted desperately to know that I mattered to you...that I wasn't just the expendable halfling. If it all happened again I would do the same thing and the result has been an incredible life and wonderful family. But still.."

"But still I chose the Arkenstone and the gold over you."

"Yes."

"I have no words Bilbo, you have said them all. The reasons, the wrongs, the outcome, the guilt...my guilt. I beg your forgiveness. The gold-madness had its hold on my mind and heart but...the guilt over leaving you there brought me out of it. Even now knowing you are alive, that guilt will be with me for life and in a way... while I abandoned you, you have saved me. I have tried to be a leader Bilbo, a King, an uncle, brother, and friend. You saved lives by giving yourself to Smaug. But, I failed you, there is no excuse, no reasoning that can ever make that right."

Thorin bowed his head and Bilbo could hear soft sobs coming from the King. This time it was Bilbo that drew Thorin into a hug. They stayed there crying together for a very long time. They cried tears that helped to wash the guilt and hurt away. They cried until the years were washed away and the pain with them. They cried until the two old friends were indeed friends again.

On the day of Fili and Bella's wedding Thorin stood before the dwarven Council and the delegation from the Iron Hills that included Dain. He read the Proclamation of Marriage and signed as the representative of the line of Durin. Bilbo signed as the representative of the Bagginses. After the ceremonial toast to the happiness and fertility of the couple Bilbo excused himself knowing that the dwarves would want to talk privately concerning the marriage of the heir to a hobbit and more than that, one with dragon blood.

After Bilbo left Thorin readied himself for what he assumed would be a prolonged argument. He thanked Mahal that Fili was occupied with the last minute details for the wedding itself and not within ear-shot of what was surely about to be said.

"Thorin, I never thought you had it in you." Dain slapped him on the back and winked. "Oh, I knew you were a skilled and brave warrior but this, the very idea, this Thorin... was genius."

Thorin simply stared at Dain, was this a joke? The dwarven Council members looked on in silence, not certain where this was going.

"To be willing to sacrifice your own sister's son in order to gain a dragon and not just one but the whole family will be at your beck and call. Why there's not an orc, globin, troll or even another dragon in all Middle-earth that would risk Smaug's wrath by attacking your kingdom. The Blue Mountains are safe as long as Fili keeps that little hobbit-dragon girl happy. Genius, Thorin, pure genius. You'll never have to worry about your home being taken away again. Never thought you would come up with such a cunning plan. Wish I'd thought of it first. Here's to Thorin, a ruthless genius." Dain raised his tankard in a toast and the drwaven Council cheered.

Thorin for his part simply stood there dumbfounded, thanking Mahal for his luck.

As the wedding ceremony began Thorin and Dis sat wearing their finest robes, watching the future of their kingdom stand and pledge his heart to his One. Bella was beautiful in an emerald green wedding dress, blushing as Fili proudly and lovingly kissed her. Bilbo and Smaug stood with their other four children; tears glistening in Bilbo's eyes. Smaug looked human, just human...nothing more; no wings, no horns, she appeared to be an extremely tall human female wearing a stunning red and gold dress. When Bilbo asked her she said she's used an illusion spell for the sake of the young couple and that probably only Gandalf could see her as she truly was.

Other than a curt nod Smaug, Dis, and Thorin spent the day as far from each other as possible. The Durins sat on one end of the royal banquet table and the Bagginses at the other, with the happy couple between them. It was the best Bilbo could ask for and knowing how hard this was for them he left it alone.

Fili and Bella were so much in love that no one at the wedding or the feast that followed could have imagined otherwise. There was joy, true deep, heartfelt joy in the Blue Mountains that day.

Just as the guests were starting to drift away, after the day-long celebration Smalia, Bilbo and Smaug's second daughter, who was slightly younger than Bella came running up to the royal table with a blushing, grinning Kili in tow.

"Mother, Papa, look what I found! Isn't he just the cutest thing ever!" Smalia, looked at her parents and giggled.

Kili grinned from ear to ear as his face became an even deeper shade of red.

Fili and Bella broke up laughing.

Smaug growled.

Thorin groaned.

Dis fainted.

Bilbo smiled.

The End