Chapter Text
Thorin held his tongue for their journey from the mountain and if his eyes strayed to the Halfling in their midst one time too many then it was no one’s business but his own. The simple fact that Gandalf had suggested that Bilbo become part of his company spoke to the changes that the Shire had seen because Thorin could clearly recall a time when the only Hobbit allowed to pass the Shire’s boundaries was one that had already been bonded.
Middle Earth’s populace had always been divided by the status that drove their society, the elves and humans could and had interbred because their scents called to each other much in the same way that Hobbits and Dwarves did but Thorin had not seen such a pairing in many a year.
Within the dwarf kingdom only a scant few alphas had remained as they bred with each other, refusing to leave their kingdom to find omegas even after the number of beta children doubled and it had come as a shock to Thorin when he stepped foot into the Shire only to be assaulted by a multitude of scents that had him hardening in his breeches. But he was a prince and he been taught how to conduct himself, truthfully he wasn’t even a prince any longer, he was now a king and the thought of his father’s death made his gut clench so he cast it away and returned his mind to the problem at hand.
Bilbo Baggins was an omega and not just any omega, the hobbit was an omega who had stood before Thorin with none of the simpering that he’d seen in the olden days. Instead Bilbo argued his point and let Thorin draw his own opinion and Thorin was dwarf enough to admit that his opinion had been wrong. He paused for a moment, hand pressed against his chest as the terrifying feeling of defeat beat at his temples when he remembered the way he’d been so weak, nothing more than easy picking for the pale orc, Azog, when Bilbo had leapt into the fray….an omega fighting like he been born to it and Thorin had prayed to the Gods that had abandoned him long ago…not for himself but for the omega that had placed himself in danger because Thorin had not been able to cast aside his pride.
Thorin had been careful to not touch Bilbo before that because while omegas could usually scent an alpha the concoction that Thorin had taken to wearing as a young dwarf had always masked his scent but a simple touch would have given away the fact that Bilbo was not traveling with a group of betas as the Halfling must have believed because no unbounded omega would remain in an alpha’s presence unless they were courting the alpha. Yet the moment that Thorin opened his eyes and realized that he was still in the land of the living his mind had flown to Bilbo and the hug that he pressed upon the Halfling seemed to startle them both but instead of pulling away Bilbo had melted into his embrace even though Thorin knew that Bilbo would have recognized him for what he truly was…
The sound of laughter had Thorin blinking and he glanced at where Bilbo and Bofur were speaking, the hobbit glanced his way, a sly smile stretching across his face before he turned back to Bofur.
“It has been a long while since I have seen an alpha so tied into knots by an omega that he hasn’t even claimed.”
Thorin snorted at Gandalf’s words, eyes flickering to the wizard’s face but as usual Gandalf’s expression gave nothing away.
“It is not often that an omega is allowed to roam near an alpha that he could affect unless that was his wish,” Thorin pointed out and if his words sounded like an accusation then so be it.
“And do you think that our hobbit did not know that he would be traveling with an alpha?” the wizard questioned, eyes shifting over Thorin’s face. “It seems that you did. Make no mistake Thorin Oakenshield Bilbo knew you were an alpha the minute you stepped into his home. The fact that he has chosen to follow you either means that he is assured that you would not lose control of your base instincts….or that he is not worried that you would.”
“And what would a hobbit like him do with an alpha that has no home, nowhere to call his own?” Thorin demanded, the bitterness of his loss leaking into his tone. An alpha was meant to provide and protect, the fact that Bilbo had already had to protect him stung his pride even as it warmed his heart to know that the omega would bow to no one unless it was his choice.
“Perhaps you need to stop thinking of what you could give to Bilbo and start thinking on what it is he could give you….” Gandalf suggested and Thorin glanced at him.
“And what is it that you think he will give me?”
Gandalf smiled. “A home…and a purpose that is not steeped in your need for revenge, these are the things that you could have but none of this will come to pass if you do not cast aside your pride. An omega will only do so much to please his alpha before he begins to look elsewhere.”
Thorin gritted his teeth at the warning, then his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You seem to know a lot about omegas.” He prodded and Gandalf’s smile widened.
“One tends to know a lot about themselves, do they not?” he inquired, inclining his head to Thorin as he strode off to re-join the others leaving the dwarf king to his thoughts.