Disclaimer: I don't own The Hobbit or any of the characters.
AN: This takes place after the Battle of Five Armies. Is an AU version 'cause nobody dies. There are no major spoilers in this…and the summary is below. Enjoy.
Summary: Bilbo wakes in the battlefield with a hurting head and no memories of the company. Before he knows it, he is being banished from the new claimed dwarven kingdom for unknown to him reasons. Thorin, oblivious to the happened, is trying to find their burglar friend, when the latter is already back in his hobbit hole and living as if nothing has ever happened.
Chapter one: Autumn leaves
It is a brisk fall day, just the perfect Autumn day for a quiet stroll outside. With those thoughts in his head, the little hobbit starts walking along his, now deserted, garden. He doesn't shiver or even flinch as a gust of wind races through lines of trees that ablaze with the shades of gold and red. He lowers his gaze expertly, not wanting dust to get into his eyes. He entertains himself with watching the fallen leaves of many colors that are carpeting the ground. They are crunching and crackling under his fuzzy wooly toes. He stops abruptly. There's another sound coming from around the corner too.
He winces as he hears a loud feminine voice bark around orders and make not so pleasant remarks. Before he knows it, his self-preservation senses have kicked in and he is turning around and walking back to the familiar path that leads to his house. He really doesn't have the heart to meet any of his relatives, especially not Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. Well, generally speaking he hasn't had the heart to do anything that involved even the smallest amount of socializing, lately. He'd just say all the things that a respectable hobbit would, smile politely and excuse himself. It is only the second week that he is back from his 'adventure' and he knows that many have already started gossiping about him and inventing various ridiculous tales that spread around with the speed of burning fire. Not that he minds, but he has begun to feel rather trapped in his hole and is grateful when he manages to escape for a walk, without bumping into someone.
He sighs contently as he makes himself comfortable on his bench. Reaching into his waistcoat pocket he fishes out his wooden pipe and puts it into his mouth. He enjoys the smoking smell of his tobacco, mixed with the earthy smell of autumn. The hobbit frowns suddenly an unusual feeling washing over him. It's the kind of nostalgic wave that engulfs...just this one is without any memories. Should he be bothered by it?
He doesn't have much time to dwell on the idea, though, as a chilled, heavy hand settles on his shoulder from behind. He twirls around quickly, startling the intruder himself. The stranger is a tall, old man with a long white beard and in gray robes, who merely smiles at the little man's reaction.
"It's you..." the hobbit acknowledges him and lets out a breath of relief, drawing a light chuckle from the man.
"And what were you doing?" asks Balin in a half annoyed and half amused voice, as he walks in to the king's chambers. Dwalin raises a brow and Bofur pulls a face at the older dwarf's sudden statement, until they also make it through the door.
There on the ground in a tangled mess of blankets and furs lies their fearless leader in all his...might? The miner stifles a chuckle behind his hat, but clears his throat when earns a glare from the dwarven king. Despite of the pretty much compromising and unworthy state he was in, Thorin's murderous gaze is well...a very promising murderous gaze and Bofur quickly straightens his composure, remembering his position.
Thorin sighs, as Balin helps him back into the bed and mutters a quiet 'thank you'.
"I wanted to go see my sister-sons." he explains boyishly. "I can't lie here all day and do nothing!"
Balin nods in understanding.
"Fili and Kili are well." he says, "Both healing from their injuries and driving the physicians insane."
Thorin smiles slightly upon hearing of his nephews but before he can say anything, the older dwarf continues.
"You need to rest too. How do you expect to get better if you keep trying to sneak away like that..."
"I was NOT trying to sneak away!" Thorin snaps and then winces at the loudness of his own words. He has got an awful headache and to make the matters worse he is being lectured by his own adviser.
"I was going for a very honorable and much needed walk..."
"Before you ended up on the floor. I see." Balin finishes for him. "Well now I shall have a healer look at you, to make sure that everything's in order."
Thorin only huffs but doesn't say anything in protest. Taking it as a positive answer, Balin is about to turn around when the dwarven king stops him.
"What about the hobbit? Did you find him?" he asks quietly, trying to sound disinterested and casual, but the older dwarf doesn't miss the twink of hope there is in his voice and notices the obvious disappointment and sorrow when he shakes his head.
"We are looking for him, Thorin." Balin tells him gently, "If Bilbo Baggins is alive, which I'm sure he is, we shall find him."
With those words Balin and the other two dwarves leave the king's rooms, all of them looking rather troubled.
"Do you..." Bofur is the first to break the silence, "Do you suppose we should have told him?"
Balin opens his mouth to speak, but Dwalin interrupts him.
"I agree with him." he states firmly. "I don't approve of this. If Thorin finds out that we have hidden something like this from him, he'll be furious."
"By the way..." Bofur continues, playing nervously with the flaps of his hat. "Isn't it considered treason? Lying to your king?"
"I know, but we shall not fret just yet." Balin heaves a sigh, finally having the opportunity to speak. "We are not lying to our king, we really don't know where the halfling is. We're just not telling the whole truth."
When his two friends look at him uncertainly and not at all convinced by his reasoning, Balin speaks up again.
"You'll see later that this'll only do good to him. He isn't sure himself how to approach Bilbo: see him guilty for his betrayal or apologize." he puts a hand on Bofur's shoulder and grins knowingly. "Besides, if you are correct and you've seen him with the wizard, then he is safe. All we have to do is wait to make sure that he's back in the Shire."
Bilbo doesn't realize it at first, but he is smiling. Something he hasn't done in a very long time. A small warm smile is playing on his lips as he looks at the dying embers of the lights coming from their town and listens to his guest's retelling of a story. And an unbelievable one also.
"Riddled with the dragon?" he chuckles heartily. "I'd like to hear the end of it."
Gandalf smiles fondly at his shorter friend and smokes from his pipe.
"And that my dear Bilbo is a tale for another time. What's the interest if I just finish it off right away?"
"Quite right too." Bilbo agrees and looks up at the sky.
In the velvety darkness he can see the luminous moon gleam softly and the many stars twinkle around her. Bilbo, feeling inspired, suddenly has got a very unusual idea for a hobbit. He wonders if the stars are shining out for him...or for someone in particular. The wizard, as if sensing his thoughts, laughs quietly. When Bilbo looks at him with a puzzled expression on his face, he hurries to explain.
"I do not have the skill to interpret the stars, just yet." Gandalf says and winks at the hobbit, making him flush at being so predictable. "But as soon as I find out how, I promise you will be the first to know."
They sit there for a while longer, gazing at the stars that float above them like autumn leaves and enjoying the serene night. Only when Bilbo lets out a tired yawn, does Gandalf turn his attention back to the hobbit and his eyes widen slightly as if remembering something.
"I wanted to ask you, Master Baggins." he speaks, very serious all of a sudden. "Have your nightmares been bothering you again?"
Bilbo furrows his brows in a thoughtful manner, then shakes his head.
"No. Well, not so frequently anymore." he says, stretching his arms. "These are more like strange dreams than nightmares, truth be told. They just don't make sense...Sometimes I even see some messed up scenarios from your stories."
"Really?" Gandalf asks lightly, but he fails to hide the curiosity in his voice. "And what exactly do you see?"
Bilbo takes a bit long to answer. "There's nothing new. And I've mentioned the usual ones at least five times to you." he says eventually. "Why, is it important? It's not as if they're real or something..."
Gandalf only hums and taking the pipe back into his mouth, smokes a large round circle. Not for the first time Bilbo has the impression that the wizard hasn't heard him and is about to repeat his question but snaps his mouth shut as the old man speaks.
"And who's to say that what's in our dreams and nightmares isn't as real as here and now?"
AN: I know that there must be other stories where Bilbo loses his memory and I'll try to keep it original. The part with the fuzzy wooly toes is shamelessly taken from 'The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins'(why they didn't play it when Martin won the award, is beyond me). I'm not going to put any warnings concerning pairings 'cause I am not sure if it's going to have anything slashy myself. But there's so long before Bilbo and Thorin meet, I'll figure it out till then.
Reviews are very much appreciated.