b2mem | The Last River by smallhobbit

B2MeM Prompt, Card and Number: Rivers, Color Burst 5 Blue B11
Format: Ficlet
Genre: Deathfic
Rating: G
Warnings: End of life, but peaceful
Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield
Pairings: n/a
Creator’s Notes (optional):
Summary: Bilbo stands before another river

Bilbo stood on the bank of the wide river. He had seen many rivers in his long life, but this wasn’t quite like any of them. Although, looking at it more intently, it reminded him a little of the river the dwarves had ridden in their barrels.

As if on cue, he looked across to the far side of the river and saw Thorin waving to him. And then Thorin was joined by Fili and Kili, followed by other members of the company, until Bilbo could see seven or eight dwarves on the far bank.

He longed to join them as well, but how was he to cross the river?

“Just step into it and come across,” Thorin’s voice said.

Cautiously, Bilbo stepped into the river, bracing himself for both the cold, and to withstand the current, for the river was fast-flowing. To his surprise the water was pleasantly warm, the current was not pulling at his ankles, and as he walked further in, the water simply lapped gently against his thighs.

He headed towards the far bank and saw the dwarves coming towards him. They met in the middle of the river and Thorin threw his arm around Bilbo’s shoulders.

“Master Hobbit,” he said, “You are with us once again.”

Together, the dwarves led Bilbo to their side of the river bank.