Bilbo Baggins Will Destroy the Ring and Find His Husband Again!

Thorin Gets a New Nickname and He Hates It

Thorin spent the next four years preparing as his grandfather wasted away in the treasury. His people would whisper about his strength in the face of such madness and he ignored them. He did not deserve their praise, not yet.
"My son, come join us for dinner." His mother called out as she passed his office. He put away the ledger he had for their food supplies. He had been storing away gold and food in secret foothills along the mountain. If Smaug succeeded in taking his home from him a second time, at least they would be a bit more prepared for it.
"Nadad! Is that grey in your hair already?" Dís snickered from beside him. He reached over and flicked her forehead.
"If you are jealous of my flowing locks, just say so sister." Frerin snorted and a pea came out his nose. He shared a look with Dís and they both burst into laughter as his parents looked on fondly.
"Is grandfather going to join us?" Dís asked and he saw the way his mothers mouth tightened.
"No, he is busy." His father replied and Thorin glared at him.
"What father means is grandfather is sick. If you ever find yourself alone with him, promise me you will come find me. Both of you."
"Thorin!" His father reprimanded him and he ignored him.
"Promise me." He repeated himself and his siblings swore. His grandfather was getting more erratic, convinced everyone was out to get him. He would not allow the crazy old man to hurt his siblings. They finished their dinner and his father asked him to stay.
"Thorin, you should not be saying such things about the King." He clapped his hands together and replied.
"It is the truth, father. You cannot have missed the signs. Grandfather is dangerous and I will not allow him to hurt us."
"He is your King." His father said softly. Thorin straightened his shoulders and replied.
"For now." His father looked horrified at his words.
"That's blasphemy, Thorin! You could have your tongue cut out for such words."
"I will not allow him to hurt us or our people." He said firmly and left. He loved his parents and his grandfather but it had been many years since he had last seen them and he could admit in the privacy of his own mind that his people had been better off without the two dwarfs. His grandfather was mad, throwing their people away like rocks and his father was mad, grief twisting his mind in a dangerous way. He would do what he always did in situations like this. He would carry on.

~~~~~~

It was finally the day Smaug came. Thorin had sent all of the women and children to Greenwood, stating that the elves needed help with some smithing and it would be a good learning experience for the children. Both of his siblings had gone along with his mother. They didn't know why he was so demanding but had understood the urgency in his tone. Thranduil had invited all of the people from Dale as well. Thorin could still remember Bilbo weeping over the burning of Laketown and would not forsake his neighbors again.
"You've been out here for a while, laddie." Fundin said softly, he eyes scanning the area.
"I am simply waiting." Smaug would come and he could only pray to Aulë that he was missing a scale in the same spot as before.
"This fell out of your journal. Should I start the courtship papers?" Fundin held up a drawing and Thorin felt his chest ache at the picture of Bilbo. He had decided he would not seek out his One, he had only brought pain and misery in his life but he could not stop drawing him or making him trinkets. The sketch Fundin held up was when they were at Beorn's. Bilbo had made them all flower crowns and he looked stunning with the sun at his back.
"No." He whispered, his voice cracking in pain.
"There will be no courtship. He does not know who I am and it will stay that way."
"You are a Prince, I am sure he would not turn you away." Funding's voice was gentle as he clapped him on the shoulder.
"I do not deserve him." Fundin opened his mouth to argue when Thorin spotted a dark shape in the distance.
"There you, worm." He loaded the arrow he had forged out of mithril.
"Thorin, what are you doing?" Fundin shouted as the worm got closer. Thoring gave him a viscous smile and said "I am defending my home."
He let his arrow fly and prayed to his Maker that it would strike true. Smaug let out a roar and fell from the sky, his body landing between Dale and Erebor.
"By the Maker, you actually killed a dragon." Fundin blinked before fainting from shock. Thorin watched the dragon for any signs of movement and saw none. He could not believe how easy it had been. All of their pain and suffering for nothing. He was suddenly furious with himself, if only he had been prepared the first time! He took some calming breaths and stared at his sketch of Bilbo.
"I miss you so much,  Amrâlimê."
An hour later, people were surrounding the mountain. His father had been trying to speak with his grandfather when the dragon came and had been surprised as everyone else by its body now rotting away on their stoop.
"Thorin, you idiot!" Frerin shouted as he jumped down from Thranduil's elk and tackled him to the ground. His brother and the elf king had a weird friendship going on. He was pretty sure it consisted of Frerin following the elf around and Thranduil allowing it but it was none of his business.
"I am glad to see you unharmed, Prince Thorin." Thranduil said, his son by his side. He suddenly got the image of Legolas calling Glóin's son a goblin and snorted. Glóin had sworn a fued with every elf after that incident. He hadn't shut up about it either. Thorin wouldn't have been surprised if he had made poor Ori put it in his official report about their quest.
"The Prince killed the Dragon!" The people started shouting out "Dragonslayer!" and he flinched at the name. He would rather be Oakenshield but it was too late.