Adult-FanFiction.org : Lord of the Rings

Nothing Gold Can Stay	By : TAFKAB Category: +Third Age > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 5309 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Bilbo embarked at once on a flurry of packing and arrangements. Sauron or no, he absolutely refused to leave without seeing to the legal disposition of his home, but it took time to move the rusty wheels of Hobbiton’s legal system.

If not for Bilbo’s wariness of him, Gimli would have been quite content. The country was pleasant, meals in Bag End were well-made, lavish, and frequent, and hobbits produced some of the best pipe-weed and ale Gimli had ever tasted. But the halfling was quiet, rather oppressed, and did not befriend new folk easily-- or even mingle with his own in perfect comfort.

“Why is the halfling’s presence so wanted, Aragorn?” Gimli asked softly while the busy hobbit was occupied, digging through his linen closets for some stray scrap he would not do without. “What may he do against the enemy?”

“Gandalf would not tell me all he knows.” Aragorn answered, his voice low. By the window, Legolas turned to listen. “But the creature Sméagol named Bilbo and cursed him, and when pressed, he told us of a trinket he believed the halfling stole. Gandalf thinks it may be of great importance, but he cautioned me against mentioning it to any, most especially our host, if it may be avoided. He wishes to do that on his own.”

The last will and testament governing the disposition of Bag End in the case of Bilbo’s death or extended absence arrived by post, but had yet to be duly signed and witnessed. “I shall have to gather the required signatures.” Bilbo rummaged in his desk and came up in triumph, brandishing a quill and a bottle of red ink. “But we can file this in the morning and be off after second breakfast, if we must.”

“Tonight would be better,” Aragorn said. “The wizard bade us return by early summer, and we may yet be delayed on the road.”

“The registry in Bywater won’t open until morning.” Bilbo folded the parchment, creasing it tightly with sharp motions of his hands, and went out.

He is not happy,” Legolas remarked, looking out through the small, uneven panes of glass into the garden and watching Bilbo pass down the hill. “A burden weighs on his heart that has little to do with our coming.”

“He watched Thorin, his companion and friend, driven mad by dragon sickness, then lost him to it,” Aragorn said. “That could not have been pleasant.”

Bilbo had lost more than a friendly companion, Gimli thought with sorrow. His father had spoken to him once of the courting gift Thorin had presented to Bilbo, a priceless corselet of mithril. The halfling had it yet, though Thorin had repented and named the gift too good for him upon their dreadful parting. Gimli felt his friends' eyes on him, seeking confirmation of their guesses. He tried to choose his words with care. “The rule of the new King under the Mountain has been pleasant for no-one.” Gimli thought of Glóin’s confessions to him regarding Thorin. Despite his vast increase in riches, his father regretted ever marching to Erebor. Gimli thought many of the company of Thorin might say the same, if pressed. The king was much changed. He would say no more.

“There is an anger in him that dismays me.” Legolas tilted his head. “He has a bitterness that does not belong in this comfortable home and pleasant land.”

“Go out and keep an eye on him-- without letting him know it, if you can-- while we finish here,” Aragorn asked, and Legolas went. Gimli and Aragorn set about their final packing, placing all the bags and supplies by the door, while Legolas went to Bywater to fetch their horses. When he returned with them just before dusk, he also led two sturdy young ponies.

“They were on sale in the market as a wagon team, and I purchased them.” He looked pleased. “Now you will not have to ride always behind me, Gimli.”

Gimli pretended to a joy he did not feel. Would the elf change his braiding once more, as if it had never been? “This news is a great relief,” he lied. “No longer will I have to crane my head and ask what may be seen.”

“Bilbo had gathered his witnesses in the market and when I set out we walked together.” Legolas glanced down the road. “He has stopped down the row to speak with his neighbor, and will be with us shortly.”

Bilbo arrived soon after, huffing a little to himself. “Young Master Hamfast says strange folk have been asking after me,” he remarked, patting the neck of his pony. “Oh, these are good beasts.”

“Strange folk? That would be us, no doubt,” Gimli said.

“In fact, no,” Bilbo laughed. “It was a tall man-- one of the big folk, even taller than yourself, Aragorn-- clad in black, he said, riding a black horse, with a bloody great sword on his hip. Talking in a whisper, or more of a hiss really, asking for Baggins of the Shire. Old Farmer Brock spoke of it in the market, and Hamfast overheard his talk. Just last night, it was. Scared Brock half out of his wits. The lad said he was white as a sheet.”

Gimli glanced to Legolas, who was already halfway to the fence, staring keenly up and down along the road. Aragorn rose in haste as well. “Can you leave your document for Hobson Gamgee to file in the registry?”

“Hm, yes, well, I suppose. The mayor won’t like it much, but it’s all properly signed and witnessed. Hobson isn’t one of the signatures, seeing as how he can’t read or write, so he doesn’t stand to benefit from it being made official-- not that he would know it even if he did! I think they’d take it.”

“Legolas?”

“Nothing may be seen from this place, but if you like, I could go up onto the hill and climb the oak, where I might see farther.”

“No. Load the horses while we take Bilbo’s papers and leave them with the Gamgees. Then we ride.” He hustled Bilbo quickly back along the road.

“Now see here…!” Bilbo protested, but then they were gone.

“The wraith has left Dol Guldur.” Legolas breathed to Gimli, with a certainty that made the hairs at the back of Gimli’s neck prickle. “It follows us.”

He and Legolas loaded the animals in haste, then Legolas trotted through Bag End extinguishing lamps and fires, white billows of steam gushing up through the chimneys into the darkening sky while Gimli watched over their gear.

“Very well then, we’ll ride tonight, if you think it so urgent.” He could hear Bilbo complaining as he trotted up the road at Aragorn’s heels. “But I don’t see why we can’t stay here and have one last night in a nice, soft bed!”

“Lock the door, Bilbo,” Aragorn said, his voice somehow both gentle and brisk.

They put Bilbo in the middle of the party with Aragorn in the lead and Legolas bringing up the rear. Gimli heeled his pony up next to the hobbit’s as they rode. Bilbo might not like conversing with someone who reminded him so strongly of his former friends, but they had far to journey together.

“I see your mail shirt is still in your pack. Maybe you should put it on when we stop.”

Bilbo scowled at him. “We are still within the borders of the Shire!”

“As far as I can tell, no land’s borders will stop an arrow.”

Bilbo huffed, but made no more argument.

“The company of Thorin regretted what happened with the arkenstone,” Gimli said to him. “I have heard more than one say what you did was well-done, for all your efforts failed. They admired your willingness to trade your share of the hoard for peace.”

Bilbo flashed him a look that mingled resentment and uncertainty. “They did not admire it enough to stand up for me when Thorin would have thrown me from the wall.”

“Aye.” Gimli bent his head. “And that was wrong of them. But it is hard to defy your king.”

“You did it, didn’t you?”

“And look at the price I have paid.” Gimli tilted his head toward Legolas. “Given to elves for a quarter of my life with no family to call my own, homeless, banished forever from Erebor.”

“Yes. Banishment is hard.” Bilbo swallowed, his adam’s apple bobbing in his throat.

“Perhaps we each have more in common than it seems. Aragorn has not won the right to claim his homeland yet. Even the elf left his father’s halls without leave, and has no surety of welcome when he returns.” Gimli left their talk at that. The halfling would be friendly or not, as he chose.

NOTES:

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Nothing Gold Can Stay