𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬

A Second Chance | Bagginshield [request]

The journey was long and boring, at least it would be for an ordinary human, but for Thorin it was a completely new world. He had spent days in that strange world where humans lived. He felt a little weird not being in Erebor and never seeing an elf that could bother him, although he was very grateful for the latter. He was standing, clinging to a bar, traveling in a train with his shiny sword that intimidated anyone. At least it did not turn blue, which was another thing to be grateful for, because it means there were no orcs in that place (at least not as he knew them).

He could sit -with difficulty because of his sword and bow- in a seat, without being concerned, ignoring each and every human who met him and who looked at him judging him by his appearance (not to mention those ladies who sighed at the sight of such beauty). He took that strange device that he had just found, his new mobile, and he was trying to understand it, calling some people without meaning to, erasing things from the screen, putting YouTube and marveling at so much witchcraft together. He was so entertained by the device that he didn't realize that the journey was over and that the train had reached its destination.

Everyone got off the train and Thorin was the last one, doubting what he was doing, where he had to go. He was walking through the big city that surrounded him, full of cars, buses, people walking, cycling, wearing strange clothes, all carrying that damn devices in their hands that even Durin would not understand. He looked up at those tall buildings that were as huge as a castle, or even bigger. He was hallucinating. The king crossed a pedestrian walkway with all his majesty, and just ahead was a colorful, garden-filled park. He decided to go there, he found it more comforting.

He walked along the small path that surrounded the park, entering other paths, some of which led to the gardens. In the centre there was a large fountain where many humans gathered in groups. He decided not to get too close and continued walking. There were trees with their flowers and their birds fluttering around the small path that led him to an uncertain destination. It was all too corny for him, but at least it was better than that infernal city full of noises, as if it was taken from Mordor. And suddenly he heard a sneeze that sounded familiar to his ears, a sneeze that brought back to his mind bittersweet memories.

He hurried to get there, thinking that perhaps, and only perhaps, that sneeze could belong to someone who was anything but indifferent to him. He was nervous and impatient to find out who it was. He ran to that place and then he could see that little person, lying on the grass, resting under an oak tree, admiring the butterflies that landed on his nose and made him sneeze but smile at the same time. "That smile... Like that time when he showed me that acorn... So sweet and charming..." he thought, melting inside, while on the outside he kept his composure and kept his serious and cold face. Thorin decided to take a deep breath and walk slowly there, breathing hard, for he did not know how that hobbit would take his sudden appearance.

Bilbo, at the same time, laughed and played with the butterflies like a child with his toys, he was happy. He had been lost in that strange world too, and the garden in which he rested reminded him of his beloved home with its greenery and cheerful colours, but inside he felt nostalgic.

He was still playing with the butterflies when, out of the corner of his eye, he could see a dark, bulky shadow approaching him slowly and uncertainly. His eyes seemed to deceive him, or so he wanted to believe, but after rubbing them he saw that the image was real, that it was not just the fantasies of a dreamy hobbit. Big tears came out of his eyes, sweet and sour tears. - Thorin!? - he asked in a weak voice, he didn't quite believe what he was watching. The king under the mountain could only smile to himself shyly, bowing his head. He blushed as he continued to approach the hobbit. - It cannot be... You were dyi... - Bilbo couldn't finish the sentence, his legs gave him away and he ran to the dwarf king, pushing him over and hugging Thorin with strength and tears in his eyes.

Thorin also embraced him with his sweet smile intact, caressing his hair. Bilbo then turned away, frightened. - I'm sorry! Did I hurt you? I leaned against your chest wound... - But in searching for the wound that Azog gave him Bilbo did not find it, the clothes were unharmed, not a single hole could be found. - And... And your wound? Where is it? - the hobbit asked, perplexed. Thorin began to laugh to himself. - Ssshh, relax master Baggins, it was all a bad dream from which you finally woke up. Everything is fine, Fili and Kili are fine, and you and I can go on with what... with what we couldn't start... But only if you feel the same..." said Thorin.

Bilbo was even more surprised. - What do you mean, Thorin? - asked the hobbit. Thorin smiled sweetly again. - You know very well. - He said with his blue eyes radiating tenderness. The king glanced up at the oak tree branches and raised his arm to pick a fruit. Once he reached it he showed his hand to the hobbit. Bilbo then understood everything. - Did you finally plant that tree in your garden? You can do it if you haven't done it yet. - Thorin said. Bilbo could only sob, beginning to understand things. - Oh Thorin... This can't be real..." said Bilbo, taking the acorn and admiring it. Thorin closed his hand. - It is. - He said, looking into his eyes.

Bilbo, still unbelieving, embraced him once more, this time without fear of harming him, holding his face to that stout chest, and when he came back to his senses he could again admire those blue eyes as beautiful and bright as two sapphires.

Thorin, without hesitation, decided to do what he had been waiting for so long, what he wanted so badly and what he never had the chance to do because of the many battles he had to face. He bowed and kissed the hobbit on the lips. Bilbo was enraptured, he finally tasted those lips where he lost himself every time he heard the king speak, even in his angry voice, and he had no doubt that they were the most exquisite.

Once they parted, Thorin smiled at him again. - And, now that all the bad things have passed and we can start again, what do you think about going around this strange world and give it a chance to know it? - said the king of Erebor. - Sounds good. - Bilbo said. And the dwarf king and the hobbit began their journey, together this time, at last creating the story that was destined to happen.