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Mending the Broken Pieces	By : LadyLaran Category: Lord of the Rings Movies > Het - Male/Female Views: 13613 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own "the Hobbit" nor do I make money from this story. Tolkien and Jackson are the ones who own the characters and world.

Chapter List
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Author’s Note – It’s rather funny seeing how many of you guessed what Hawthorn’s main problem was; I kept having to put you all off topic until the last chapter was posted because I didn’t want to spoil it. I felt a bit like River Song there for a while. Thank you all for your amazing support.

Disclaimer – I do not own “the Hobbit” nor do I make any money from this story.

Chapter Six – Discussing Hawthorn

Gandalf noticed his little friend’s distraction over the next few days and wondered at it. Hawthorn participated in conversations, listening to songs and stories with the occasional quiet giggle, but she seemed to be distant in a way that she usually wasn’t. Judging from the looks she was getting from some of the other members of the company, it seemed he wasn’t the only one who had noticed her overly quiet behavior.

Finally, worried about her, he volunteered to sit with the hobbit during first watch and once everyone was resting, the wizard was able to question her about it.

“I’ve been thinking over something Master Oakenshield said to me a few evenings ago,” Hawthorn said, then shared what had happened the other night.

The Istar listened to her explanation, silently thanking Thorin for his words because they had obviously given his dear friend some form of hope. Though he had to wonder at the blacksmith’s actions because he knew the dwarf was fairly quiet around others he didn’t know well, and Gandalf thought that perhaps it was due to how she’d opened her home to them. This would need to be watched, that was certain, because things weren’t quite adding up.

“I think, my dear, that he is correct in what he told you. Not all males are like those in the Shire,” he said to her. “You deserve a chance to be happy, and I’ll see to it you find a home where you will not just be comfortable but also as happy as your parents were. Who knows what could happen on this journey or after? Maybe you will cross paths with the one you are meant to be with, and you will find every bit of happiness you so richly deserve.”

“A small part of me wants to believe you and him, Mithrandir, but I’ve heard those horrible words from the others for so long now. I don’t know what to make of it,” she admitted to him, fingers twisting the fabric of her trousers. “What if he was just trying to be nice to me?”

“Thorin Oakenshield is a dwarf of his word,” Gandalf began. “He can be cold and hard to outsiders due to how his people have been treated, and I’ll be the first to admit that your ritual used to welcome him and his company into your smial really set him on his ear. From what I understand, no one has offered his people that kind of courtesy since losing the mountain. That gained you his attention and respect, and his respect deepened when he realized how little you had when you freely welcomed him and his dwarves into your home. This dwarf is not one to speak words of false comfort, Hawthorn, nor is he one to give respect easily.”

“I didn’t think so, not really,” she said, giving a tired sigh. “From what I’ve been able to see, he hasn’t stuck me as that kind of person. I’ve not heard him speak much, but I figured it was due to the fact he’s still trying to learn who I am before seeing if he can really trust me. Truth is, I don’t blame him for it considering what you’ve shared with me. I’m grateful for his compassion; he didn’t have to follow me out of the camp the other night. Everyone else would have left me to calm myself down on my own, but he made the attempt to comfort me. I’ve not had anyone do that since before Mama and Papa passed on to Yavanna’s Gardens.”

The actions of the dwarf lord had been surprising to the wizard as well, though he said nothing of that. He knew Thorin was fiercely protective of his family and watched over them. He’d seen him lending advice to his nephews, but that was due to the fact the dwarf was a father figure to the two younger ones.

“In time, I believe you will find the one who will see you for who you are, Hawthorn, and you will find the love your parents wished for you to have. As I have said, you need to continue to have hope and it will happen.”

The hobbit lass said nothing in response to his words; instead, she went to Thorin’s bedroll to gently nudge him awake so he could take over as he had second watch that night. She retreated to her bedroll once he was awake and alert, dropping off to sleep fairly quickly.

The dwarf headed to where she had been sitting, noticing the wizard had not moved yet and figured the man had something to say before rousing the one scheduled to sit watch with the leader of Durin’s Folk.

“What is it, Tharkûn,” he asked, lighting his pipe while getting situated.

“Your kindness to Hawthorn the other night,” the Istar began. “Outside of her parents, myself, and the elves who have befriended her, no one has shown her such compassion since the day she was injured. She has been thinking on your words; I noticed her distraction while riding and questioned her on it.”

Thorin took a deep drag off of his pipe, blowing out the smoke slowly as he gathered his thoughts.

“You are questioning my actions towards her?”

“You are not exactly known for being welcoming towards strangers, Thorin, and your behavior is not quite what I would expect for having an outsider in your company. I view her as the granddaughter of my heart and will not see her come to harm,” the Istar said quietly

“I was set to dislike her,” the king-in-exile admitted. “However, she quickly put a halt to that when she greeted me and my people with that welcoming ritual. Ori did some questioning within my hearing; apparently, hobbits don’t use it much since it’s incredibly old and when they do, it’s for honored guests that are considered to be always welcome in their homes. She said it was another reason it wasn’t commonly used because it meant the people welcomed in the ritual would always have a home there, and it made many hobbits uncomfortable. Using that ritual meant we have a home with her, which is so much more than anyone has ever done for my people since the dragon stole Erebor from us. I have never been welcomed in such a genuine manner, and her gracious hospitality set her apart from those who have reluctantly hosted us. Add to that, the tea and bread she used were made by her hands. Gifting of crafts is important to us.

“The lass also offered to place herself between Lord Elrond and myself so that I might not have to ask for aid on the moon runes, and she did this because she knows of the rift between my kind and the elves.”

The dwarf lord trailed off for a moment, taking another deep breath of the pipe weed to help settle his thoughts.

“Miss Baggins, as poor as her financial circumstances were, did more for my people in that one night than others have since Erebor was lost to us. Despite being in pain, she has worked hard each day to help with the setting up and striking of camp as well as other chores. With all of her selfless actions, I find myself unwilling to dislike her and would not see her troubles discussed so freely in front of the others. Nor do I wish to see her in as much emotional turmoil as she was the other night. I simply could not allow her to carry those vile words in her heart and not have some form of hope given to her. Over the years, I have learned that hope is a fragile thing but necessary.”

“All I can say to that is thank you,” the wizard replied, staring into the fire for a moment. “It will take time for it to grow, but you have laid the seed for hope in her heart. Perhaps, in time, she will allow it to flourish and find that there is someone worthy of winning her love.”

The dwarf said nothing, and Gandalf rose to wake Nori for his turn at watch. The company’s leader watched as the wizard leaned against a tree beside the hobbit’s bedroll, eyes going distant as he rested.

Thorin was quiet but watchful as Nori sharpened his knives while keeping his own watch. He was contemplating a great many things, but he was alert enough to notice when the lass began to jerk in her sleep. Before he could move, there was a soft whine from her that brought Tharkûn out of his repose and had him leaning over to whisper in her ear. Whatever he did or said didn’t wake her, but it seemed to ease her out of her nightmare.

“She’s got a lot of heart for one so small,” Nori commented quietly as the Istar drifted back to sleep. “When you said Tharkûn was insisting on a hobbit for the lucky number, I honestly thought we were going to have trouble.”

“As did I,” the older dwarf answered in a voice equally soft. “Miss Baggins has proven to be full of surprises.”

“That she has,” the thief replied. “She’s endearing herself to everyone rather quickly. Did you know the lass even turned a prank around that was supposed to fall on Ori and your sister-sons fell right into it?”

“I didn’t think anyone could do that,” Thorin said, brows arching in surprise. “Is that why they came back from wood gathering with her and Ori soaking wet?”

“That’s the reason,” Nori snickered. “They were sneaking up on him to scare him, and she flanked them and did this imitation of Dwalin that startled them so badly. All it took was one light shove and both were in the creek.”

“She was actually able to imitate his voice,” he asked, startled.

“Not perfectly, but she was able to imitate that gruff bark he does when he’s annoyed. It caught the lads off guard, and I can’t tell you how hilarious that was. They were absolutely stunned when they climbed out of the water and found Ori on his arse, laughing at them. The lass was just watching them with that little smile on her face,” the smaller dwarf replied, laughing quietly as he did so.

“It seems to me that the lads should be wary of pranking around Miss Baggins,” Thorin answered, hiding his laughter while shaking his head.

“I think they took it as a challenge and of course, Ori adores her for protecting him from the prank. She’s offered to teach him crocheting since some things can’t be done with knitting, and now Dori is pleased because she’s the first friend Ori has made that has helped him out of his shyness,” he shared.

“It is good she is starting to be accepted by the others,” the monarch said quietly.

Nori nodded, eyes going from blade to the darkness and back again to ensure the safety of the company. He was quiet for a short while before speaking up once more.

“I’ve heard talk amongst the company about her not going back to the Shire once we’re done with this quest,” the thief began. “There’s been discussions about her staying in Erebor or in Dale if we’re successful.”

“It’s true she is not returning to the Shire,” Thorin commented, expression darkening as he recalled the reason for her desire to leave the lands of her birth. “As far as where she will live once the quest is ended, that has yet to be discussed. Miss Baggins might want to live somewhere else and may not find the lands around Erebor to be to her liking. Regardless, we will help her find a new home where she’s accepted.”

The middle Ri brother nodded, focusing himself back on his task, and the future king of Erebor spent the rest of the watch deep in thought. He hadn’t expected to find that his company was already trying to find ways to keep the lass close to them once the quest was finished, but it didn’t surprise him.

Thorin’s thoughts varied from the hobbit lass to the quest, and he didn’t speak until it was time to wake Gloin for the third watch. As he settled himself into his bedroll, he caught sight of the lass and noticed she was finally sleeping peacefully. The dwarf drew in a slow breath and closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep. Tomorrow would be another long day, and he needed to be rested for it.

Author’s End Note – I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. Please let me know what you thought of it. See everyone next time! ~ Laran
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Mending the Broken Pieces