First Yuletide Under the Mountain

Credit goes to Fantasyinallforms on AO3

The rustling of the sheets and the sudden lack of the warm hobbit that usually would be nestled into his torso jolted him awake.

"Bilbo? What's wrong? What's happened? Thorin said, trying to blink away the grogginess.

"Snow!" Bilbo shouted happily. Thorin watched with amusement as Bilbo grabbed the first article of clothing he could get his hands on, which happened to be Thorin's tunic and pulled it over his head. He didn't seem to mind or care that it enveloped his entire person, and as soon as he had it on, he rushed to the balcony. Thorin rubbed at his eyes and left the bed to join his husband.

"Have you never seen snow before, amrâl?" Thorin asked honestly.

"I've seen plenty of snow in my lifetime. It's not about the snow, Thorin; it's about what it means. It's the first snow after the winter solstice!" Bilbo looked at Thorin like he expected his words to elicit a reaction, but he only stared fondly back. "First snow after Midwinter means Yule has officially begun?" Bilbo said the statement like a question. "Do dwarves not celebrate Yule?"

"Um, no. We don't. I've heard and seen some men celebrating a winter festival, but dwarves spend so much of our time in the mountain that the changing seasons often go unnoticed. Our only real holiday is Durin's day, which is the start of our new year." Thorin watched in heartbreak as the excitement that Bilbo had moments ago fled from his face and was replaced with disappointment.

"Oh... Then I suppose I woke you up for nothing. I'm sorry." Bilbo's eyes fixated on the snowflakes gathering on his sleeves. "Still, it is a very pretty snow." Bilbo thought out loud. The cold seemed to catch up with him now that the excitement was gone, and he started to walk back inside to be near the fire. Before he could get too far, Thorin caught his wrist and pulled him back, snaking one arm around his waist and pulling him close so that Bilbo was forced to brace his hands on Thorin's chest.

"Tell me more about Yule?" Thorin asked, swiping curls from Bilbo's face. Thorin couldn't help but be proud of the blush on his One. Some of that smile returned to Bilbo's face before speaking, and Thorin clung to every word.

*******

The following day Thorin knew Bilbo had plans to visit Laketown. Today was his only opportunity to start working on his plan. He was going to throw Bilbo a Yuletide party; the only issue was he didn't have the faintest idea of how to begin. He figured he would start with the person most likely to point him in the right direction at least.

Balin's office, as of late, was a mess of papers and legal documents. They had only been resettled in the mountain for a few months, and so much still needed to be done. They had spent the first month repairing relations with Laketown and the Elves, and every moment after that had been spent getting Erebor itself in stable condition. Now, at least a few of the main halls were in working order, and the mountain would be ready to welcome some of his people in the Blue Mountains back home.

"Balin! Are you here? I need to speak with you!" Thorin shouted as he walked into the room.

"I'm back here, and I'm glad to see you. I need you to sign this pile of papers so we can get money flowing into our new trade routes and sponsor craftsmen from Ered Luin to get here as soon as possible. Moments after laying eyes on the old advisor, Thorin was assaulted with a stack of papers.

"I will get to these, Balin, but I came here with a question for you," Thorin huffed, setting down the stack.

"Then ask it, laddie, and sign papers while I answer," Balin replied. Thorin was not going to get out of his kingly duties today after all.

"I want to throw a Yuletide celebration for Bilbo," Thorin stated. He explained what had happened yesterday and everything Bilbo had told him. "I'm at a loss for where to start," Thorin explained. Balin cocked an eye at him and put down his papers. He clasped his hands in front of him like he was bracing himself.

"It's my job to ask this, Thorin, so don't bite my head off for it. Are you sure you want to spend the resources on this now? We are working on limited materials as is, and there is still much to do in the mountain. We could always wait till next winter." Balin asked

"No. It must be this winter, preferably in the next few days." Thorin stated firmly. He was still haunted by the disappointment on Bilbo's face when he realized Dwarves didn't celebrate Yule. His lovely hobbit had given up everything he used to know to be with him as his consort under the mountain. Thorin wanted Bilbo to be happy living in Erebor. He wanted it to feel like home.

"Alright, then, I will help you make this happen. Leave the details to me; you have something bigger to worry about." Balin said with a smile.

"Balin, I think the mountain can stand to be without me for a few days," Thorin grumbled.

"Bilbo didn't tell you about one of the most important parts of the holiday. He probably didn't want you to feel obligated to do anything." Balin now had Thorin's full attention. "People give each other gifts for Yule. It's a rather large part of the festivities.' Balin remarked casually. Thorin's eyes went wide. He didn't say another word and started to sign papers with clumsy quickness, his signature devolving on each page. When he finished, he pushed the stack away from him and headed to the door.

"I trust you to take care of the preparations. I'll be in the forge for the rest of the day. Tell no one where I am." With that, he fled the room. Thorin's gift idea was ambitious for the amount of time he had to craft it; he knew that, but he didn't care. Bilbo deserved only the best of what his hands could make.

He didn't leave the forge till late in the evening. When he returned to his room, Bilbo was already curled up on Thorin's side of the bed, arms wrapped around his pillow, snoring softly. His heart was fit to burst. He might never know what he did to deserve Bilbo, but he would make sure to continue working to be worthy of the honor. Thorin took a quick bath before returning to bed. He gently picked Bilbo up and placed him on his side of the bed before slipping underneath the covers. Being moved didn't wake Bilbo; it seldom did. He was the heaviest sleeper Thorin knew. He pulled his pillow from Bilbo's arms and set it back in its correct spot. Bilbo's now empty hands searched for new warmth, and Thorin made himself available. Bilbo's arms wrapped around his middle, and he nuzzled his honeyed curls affectionately.

It was well into the morning when Thorin woke. He was greeted almost immediately by the smell of sausage, eggs, and baked bread. He crossed his arms and leaned on the door frame that led to the apartment's main living area, and took advantage of the view. Bilbo was wearing only a knee-length tunic and standing on a chair frying up some sausages and eggs. From Thorin's vantage point, very little was left to the imagination. Thorin couldn't help the sly smile that split his face. He walked up behind the chair and squeezed Bilbo's hips, pressing a kiss onto the back of his neck. Bilbo yelped and dropped his spatula, which Thorin caught.

"T-Thorin! I didn't know you were up!" Bilbo yelped in surprise. "Second breakfast should be done shortly."

"You should have woken me sooner." Thorin purred. He turned Biblo to face him and let his hands travel further down Bilbo's hips.

"Y-ou looked like you needed your sleep," Bilbo stammered, losing some of his composure. "If you don't stop, I will burn the sausages." Bilbo fussed. Thorin's hands were now firmly on Bilbo's rear. Without breaking eye contact, he removed one hand to reach behind Bilbo and took the cast iron pan off the heat, and placed it on the marble slab table next to the stove.

"Do you want me to stop?" He asked playfully, giving Bilbo's rear a playful squeeze. Bilbo's response was to wrap his legs around Thorin's torso and capture his mouth hungrily. He laughed into the kiss as he readjusted Bilbo's weight to make him more comfortable. Bilbo's hands were already tangled in his hair, and their kissing pulled small, desperate moans out of Bilbo that went straight to Thorin's groin. Bilbo was becoming just as turned on, and Thorin could feel his need growing against his stomach. He hiked Bilbo's tunic above his hips and backed Bilbo up to the nearest wall so he could free one of his hands. As soon as Thorin's hand wrapped around his cock Bilbo let out the most delicious wrecked moan and tried to buck into his hand. He kept his pace slow, whispering words of affection into Bilbo's ear and dotting kisses down his neck and along his collarbone.

"Please, please, Thorin, I-I want to feel you." Bilbo's hand untangled itself from Thorin's hair long enough to shakily point at a bottle of olive oil on the table.

"Here or in the bedroom," Thorin whispered into Bilbo's ear, nibbling at it.

"HERE! Here, by Yavanna's grace here." Bilbo whimpered. Thorin reached around to start prepping his eager hobbit and was met with a surprise that caused him to both turn scarlet and for his erection to throb painfully. Bilbo leaned into Thorin's ear.

"It's the one you made for me for our marriage night. My hope was that you would see me wearing it yesterday, but you came home too late. I put it in this morning in the hope that- ahhhh." Bilbo's words were cut off by the sound of his own moans as Thorin grabbed the end of the plug and lightly pulled.

"And here I thought the hobbit I met in Bag End was an innocent, respectable sort." Thorin teased. Bilbo regained control of his senses long enough to retort

"I was never innocent; you just hadn't gotten to know me yet."

Thorin didn't want to hurt Bilbo in his excitement, but his cock was leaking and begging for friction. He finished pulling the plug out with a satisfying pop. Thorin sat Bilbo down just long enough to slick his cock, then picked Bilbo back up and slipped inside. Thorin had to keep his knees from buckling because Bilbo was tight and warm and amazing. He slipped into a good rhythm, not wanting to buck too hard into Bilbo. His sense of restraint got weaker the closer he came to release. He already knew Bilbo was close because his whines were more desperate and his words of affection less specific. Thorin felt Bilbo's legs start to shake, and the hobbit let out a scream as he tumbled over the edge. Thorin followed him, khuzdul endearments falling from him as he rolled through the waves of pleasure. Bilbo went slack in his arms, and Thorin pushed their foreheads together. Gently he retracted himself from Bilbo and sat him down. They both sat on the floor for a moment, panting and holding each other.

"If you want to go clean up ghivashel, I can finish making our food." Thorin offered. Bilbo looked down at them both.

"I don't think either of us is fit for cooking till we clean up." He was right; they were both sweaty and sticky. Thorin got to his feet and scooped Bilbo up effortlessly.

"A bath first it is." Thorin chuckled.

After their fun that morning and a late second breakfast, Bilbo had plans to help Oin get things sorted in the infirmary. Thorin, on the other hand, planned to head straight to the forge to continue work on his gift. Before he could head out the door, Bilbo stopped him, handing him a long red and white hat with a white pom-pom at the end.

"What's this?" Thorin asked curiously

"Oh, well, you seemed genuinely interested in Yule, so I picked this up in Laketown yesterday. It's a hat people usually wear around the season." Bilbo said sheepishly. "You don't have to wear it if-" Bilbo didn't need to finish the sentence because Thorin had already put the hat on.

"How do I look?" He asked, preening a little.

"Very festive," Bilbo replied, beaming. Thorin brought Bilbo in for another kiss before heading out the door.

In the middle of a forge, it's hard to tell if cold ever existed. The air ripped with the heat of Thorin's work. He had started off by wearing his typical blacksmith gear, but as the 4th hour of his work ticked by, he abandoned his shirt and apron for bare skin. Unlike humans and elves, dwarves could withstand higher temperatures. Small things like sparks from hammered metal didn't burn their skin. Mind you, they could still be burned, but it took a lot more. However, he did keep the hat Bilbo gave him on. It was a pleasant reminder of what he was here for in the first place. Five hours into his work he was interrupted by Balin.

"Still working on your gift, I see," Balin chuckled.

"I'm almost done. What can I do for you, Balin?" Thorin asked.

"We're done with preparation. I just need to know when you would like to hold this celebration." He said. Thorin put down his hammer and looked at Balin.

"Done already?" Thorin asked, surprised.

"Well, it's nothing too big or fancy, just the company. Bombur made a Yule log cake and some dinner. Ori did some more research and made an actual Yule log. Bifur and Dori went and got a tree, and Fili and Kili have been learning how to make ornaments from children in Laketown. They got into a competition on who could make the most in an hour, and Dwalin had to stop them before someone whittled so fast they lopped off a finger." Thorin took a look at his work so far. He could have this done by tonight; he had already finished most of it. It just needed the final touches. He looked back at Balin.

"Tonight. Let's hold it tonight in the empty apartment next to mine. The one that will be my sisters." Thorin replied, unable to keep the excitement from his face. Balin smiled

"That was going to be my recommendation as well. We'll have things set up, and I'll tell Oin to keep him busy till 8 pm." Balin took his leave, and Thorin went to finish his project.

7:50 pm, and Thorin was practically vibrating with anticipation. He had finished his gift and checked on how things were getting set up. The decorations and food looked fantastic to him, but what if it wasn't? He had only ever seen Yule in passing. What if this was so inaccurate it actually offended Bilbo? Thorin alternated between pacing in front of the fire, checking that his gift was still adequately wrapped, and making sure he was still wearing the hat Bilbo gave him.

"Thorin, knock it off already. It all looks great. Your pacing is making me nauseous." Dwalin quipped. Thorin gave him stink eye before settling in a chair. Moments later, the door jiggled, and Thorin bolted into a standing position. Bilbo walked casually into the room with Oin, then stopped dead, his mouth hanging slack. Thorin held his breath, hoping that Bilbo's reaction was shock surprise in a good way, not a bad way.

"Thorin? What is all this?" Bilbo asked breathlessly.

"I wanted you to still celebrate Yule, so I tried to throw a Yule party," Thorin explained. Bilbo stood marveling at the decorations until Thorin saw tears start to form in his eyes. His stomach hit the floor as he ran to gather Bilbo up in his arms.

"I'm sorry amrâlimê I thought you would like it," Thorin panicked as he whipped tears from Bilbo's eyes.

"I DO LOVE IT!" Bilbo nearly shouted. "The last time I celebrated Yuletide with people was with my parents before they died. I was excited that this year with a new family, I could celebrate it again, so when you said that Dwarves didn't celebrate it, I-I thought I had lost my chance. Oh, Thorin, this is wonderful; thank you!" Bilbo launched himself into his arms, peppering him with wet kisses.

"Hey, we helped too!" Shouted Kili from beside the tree.

"Yeah, and when you look at the tree, let us know what the best-looking ornaments are," Fili added. Dwalin walked up beside Fili and smacked him upside the head. Bilbo let out a full-bellied laugh that filled the room and signaled for the festivities to begin. After the cake was eaten, Yule log burned, and the tree thoroughly inspected, they were all starting to settle for the night. When the last person left, Thorin turned to Bilbo.

"I have one last thing for you tonight, amrâl". Thorin pulled out his gift, "Balin told me you left out the part about gift giving." Thorin handed over his poorly wrapped gift. Bilbo's eyes went wide as he took the parcel and unwrapped it gingerly. An Iron frame held what looked like a stained glass depiction of the shire. Specifically the hill of the shire that held BagEnd. The detail was stunning, and It shimmered, casting multi-colored light around the room.

"Thorin, this is beautiful; it's absolutely perfect. You made this all yourself?" Bilbo set down the stained glass to turn and look at Thorin with wide eyes.

"Yes, it was made by my hand for you, ghivashel." Thorin smiled

"But I have nothing to give you in return!" Bilbo's eyes went wide as he started to panic. Thorin swept Bilbo into his lap, his hand resting on his cheek.

"You've given me everything in return. You stayed here to rule with me under the mountain. You left your home to help me win back mine. Even after I proved on the ramparts that I could never deserve you, you still stayed. You could give me no better gift, not all the gems in this mountain or 100 Arkenstones that would mean more to me than you continuing to stay here by my side."

They spent the rest of the evening together, warm in front of the fire, watching the Yule log burn down. Bilbo went to sleep that night comfortable, protected, and knowing he would never spend another Yule without a family again.