There's a funeral.

The Company shows up, of course. Bard and his children come- Tilda, Bard's youngest, is crying. She and Bilbo were very close. Thranduil and his son even come to pay their respects- and Thranduil himself even looks solemn. Legolas- if Thorin's remembering correctly- looks horribly upset, and Thorin can't help but wonder why, because the elf never knew Bilbo personally.

Thorin is too numb to cry.

The Company is too stoic.

Tilda has collected flowers from the field. She gently lays them on her small friend's chest and heaves sobs into her da's legs. Bard's lips are pursed so tightly they've turned white.

Thranduil gently fastens a crown of starlight on Bilbo's brow.

The funeral has been held inside the Mountain, but they'll move him. They'll bury him in the field he helped create.

Maybe it'll remind him of his beloved Shire.

The coffin is tiny.

Thorin can't feel his fingers.

Gandalf's cheeks are shamelessly wet. He doesn't look at Thorin, or even acknowledge he's there. Thorin thinks that might be for the best.

Bilbo looks like he's sleeping. He finally looks like he's found peace- his face is less pinched now than it's been in weeks. He is still. He is clutching Benny. Ori's picture is smoothed out on his chest, right by his heart.

He is so, so still.

They bury him out in the fields behind Erebor. It's cloudy and the air smells like rain. Thorin's thinks it's not fair that the sun wouldn't shine for such a sunny person, but then wonders if that's because all the sunshine has been sucked from the world.

"I couldn't keep my promise," Bard finally manages to choke, and Tilda's sobs hitch. "I told him I wouldn't let him fall."

You didn't let him fall, Thorin thinks desperately and wishes Tharkun's sudden gaze wasn't burning a hole through him.

I did.

...

Bofur is the first to leave.

He doesn't say where he's going, only that it's- away. He doesn't look Thorin in the eye, and doesn't look back.

Thorin doesn't blame him.

And he can't find it himself to blame Bombur or Bifur either when he is told that their chambers are empty, and there are no possessions found left behind.

They won't be coming back.

The rest of the Company stay. Fíli and Kíli have lost their luster for life, though, and no longer pull pranks. Thorin is lucky if he sees a smile from them at all, and even then, it is upon the arrival of their mother Dís. Thorin finds he can't look at her.

The Company moves from the royal chambers- they all move on to get their own homes, with their own families. Thorin can't fault them for this, either.

(He'd want to be as far away from him as he could get, too.)

Ori stops drawing completely, and it is a long while before Balin can begin to tutor young dwarflings again.

Thorin spends a lot of time at Bilbo's grave. He talks to him sometimes. Sometimes he's quiet. Usually there's nothing to say because everything he ever wanted to say Bilbo will never hear. And no one is to blame but Thorin.

Because even when Tharkun came up with a plan, a good plan, one that could ensure Bilbo safe and happy, Thorin ruined it.

So he spends most days alone, keeping Bilbo company. There's no gravestone- just a small cross. Tilda visits often, Thorin knows. Sometimes they see each other coming and going. They never visit together, though. Some things- some things you just don't talk about.

But there are always new flower chains and jewelry woven around Bilbo's cross, where his grave is marked.

It's more than Thorin can do.

(Because what use is a mountain full of treasure when you have lost the only one you never knew you truly wanted?)

So Thorin sits.

Thinks.

Wonders if Bilbo, somewhere, finally learned to fly.