The Hobbit Imagines IV

Imagine Thorin and fireflies

And also; the missing scene about Thorin and the fireflies. Because the scene from where him and Bilbo hear Gandalf and Elrond talking just seemed kind of off.

Here is the link to the interview with Richard about the scene;

http://richardandlee.tumblr.com/post/68086565044/richard-armitage-on-bilbo-and-thorin-cut-out

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Bilbo walked up the stairs. All afternoon he had been exploring Rivendell now that he had the chance. And now that the dwarves were destroying yet another peaceful moment, he felt himself craving for some more alone time.

So he wandered off and found himself on one of the many stairs.

"Master hobbit."

Bilbo looked up in shock, placing a hand on his heart and taking a deep breath when he recognised the dwarven king. He was standing on a higher part of the stairs. 

"You really should make yourself known before you speak up. You can frighten someone that way" Bilbo said jokingly. 

Thorin raised an eyebrow, his arms were crossed. "I did not know I was such a frightening figure" he said. 

The hobbit quickly shook his head. "N-no, you are certainly not frightening I just... I thought you would be with the others" he ended softly. 

Thorin stared off into the distance.

Bilbo was just about to turn around to leave the king alone when he spoke.

"I find that solitude at times offers more insights in what is to come than the company of others does" he said calmly. 

Bilbo walked up a few steps on the stairs. "But how will you know that your idea is the right one when there is no one around to help you see the problem in a different light?"

Thorin looks at Bilbo from the side. He puffs out his chest a little. "Perhaps you are right, master hobbit. Many seem to make that mistake." His eyes focus back on something in the distance. Are that the elven lord and the wizard coming towards them?

"I think we all want to be alone at times. My mother sometimes went on her own adventures if she needed some alone time. It scared my father right, I will tell you that. He would always gain a few pounds from eating too many strawberry pies when she was off" Bilbo said.

Thorin couldn't help but to smile at the picture that formed in his mind. "Did she return?"

Bilbo chuckled. "Always. No matter how different they were, they always returned to each other." Memories flooded Bilbo's mind. Some of them contained flashbacks of his mother running into his fathers' arms. "What are your parents like?"

Next to him, Bilbo could feel Thorin's body freeze. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to overstep any boundaries" Bilbo was quick to apologize.

"You didn't." Thorin stayed quiet after that. 

The bright light of the sun was slowly replaced by that of the moon and the many stars. They brightened the dark night, shining light on the places they could reach. Bilbo wasn't sure if he was expected to say something or keep quiet.

"Were you born in Erebor? I mean... in the mountain itself?" Bilbo said, trying to keep the conversation going.

Thorin nodded. "Aye, I was."

There wasn't a whole lot coming from the king. Bilbo figured that maybe he just wanted to be left alone. But on the other hand, he had said more words to him than he had ever had before. So he waited in silence.

Thorin sighed. "As a dwarven prince I was born deep inside the mountain. It is considered to be a safer place because inside you are protected by the many layers of stone." Another moment of silence fell.

"My mother had to stay there most of the time. Like many other dwarrowdams. As you may have heard, our number of woman are low. We need to keep them safe, deep inside where they are protected."

His shoulders visibly relaxed. "There were enough riches to last us a lifetime. Servants were at our command every hour of the day. Food was never scarce." A memory flashed over his face.

"My brother and I sometimes sneaked out to the outer walls. We liked to see the moon. Tell stories to each other about the adventures we would have" he said.

"You have a brother?" Bilbo asked. This was the first time he heard a tale about Thorin's family that didn't only include sorrow and loss -

"Aye, I had a brother" is the hurtful answer he is given.

Thorin looked down at his boots. "We didn't get to spend much time together. He was lost at the same battle I lost my grandfather, and my father. Sometimes I wish we could have had more times together outside of the darkness."

Bilbo keeps quiet.

"Growing up as a prince is not what you think it is like. I didn't have the carefree upbringing that my sister and brother enjoyed. There were expectations, higher dwarves watching my every move. 

A lot is expected of you when you are born a royal."

"Did you have days off?" Bilbo asked.

Thorin smiled tiredly. "There are no 'days off' for a prince, master hobbit. Everyone is always looking at you. Especially when your family has a sickness running through it's veins." He walked back a little, standing on the stairs.

"What sickness?" Bilbo asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"A sickness of the mind, brought upon us by our own treasure." Thorin slowly shook his head as he looked at a ringer around his finger. "I watched my grandfather' mind slip slowly but surely. He needed to be dragged out of the treasure rooms most nights."

Bilbo swallowed thickly.

"My father needed to look after my siblings so it was my job sometimes." The muscles in his face tightened as he held back his tears. "You have no idea what it is like to see someone slip from your fingers... and there is nothing you can do to save them."

"It sounds to me like you were able to save him for a long time" Bilbo spoke softly.

A tired smile played on the kings' lips. "He was beyond our hands. No one could have pulled him back. Nor while any other when the sickness falls upon them."

Down below, Bilbo could hear voices coming their way. He turned around and saw Gandalf and Lord Elrond below them.