Chapter One

When Bilbo awoke after the battle was over, he stared up at the clouds for a moment, thinking how the nice day, didn't match the sounds of screaming he heard all around him. He got unsteadily to his feet and took off his ring. He walked through the dead, dying and wounded, feeling as though he were in a dream. There was no way any of this could ever be real. He looked for the Company, but saw only the healers. "Where's Thorin's Company?" Bilbo demanded and the healers stared at him.

"They are saying goodbye."

"Goodbye, who's hurt?"

"The Princes are mortally injured, it will only be a matter of time." One of the healers said and Bilbo suddenly realized just how much these dwarves meant to him and how much their people needed them.

"Take me to them, I'd like to preform a ritual of my own." Bilbo said and the dwarven healer nodded.

"At once Mr. Baggins, we have you to thank for reclaiming the homeland of my kinsmen." The healer said and Bilbo nodded before walking with him to the largest healing tents. The three Princes of Erebor lay on stone slabs, dressed in white robes that were stained red, with their blood, only their breathing showed that they yet lived. The entire company was there, their faces stoney, as they hummed.

"Can I say goodbye to them alone, it won't take more then an hour, but its a Hobbit passing ritual for Heart Kin." Bilbo said and the dwarves stared at him a moment, before nodding. They left the room together, still humming deep in their throats, Bilbo took the hands of the three dwarves, careful of their injuries. "From death to life, Mother hear my call, take from me this life, allow me the sacrifice for those I care for and wish to protect. Allow me the sacrifice, allow my life to be taken and reforged a new, in return for theirs. Take from me my life, all that I am, all that I might have been and give it to them. I am far less noble then they, in spirit and in deed, hear my request, grant me the life boon so that I might give my life for theirs. Allow them to see the grass once more, the mist in the mornings and light of the day. Allow them to feel stone under their feet, to love, to laugh to play. Allow them to be who they were meant to be, before someone tried to take their lives away. Allow them to see all they are meant to see, from this very day. Allow me to give of myself freely and pure of spirit, to those I consider my heart kin. As it began so will it end, by ending their lives shall be spared." Bilbo said and took up a dagger, before slitting his wrists, he held the blood to the dwarves lips and watched as they drank. "Blood of Heart, blood of soul, blood that binds, pay the toll, spare them suffering spare them pain, let my sacrifice not be in vain. Spare them sorrow, allow only for joy, life for life, the bond is set, the price paid now let the terms be met. In Yavanna's name I call, please Yavanna, save them all." Bilbo said, cutting his wrists a second time, before unwrapping the arm bandages on the three dwarves, the wounds were still bleeding. "The river of life runs red, allow them to take my blood, as I take theirs, give them life in my stead." Bilbo said and stared at the wounds as they closed, as the skin healed over, looking as though the injuries had been made months before. Bilbo nodded, this was his price and he would pay it gladly now.

He settled himself onto the cot, before taking the knife and slitting his own throat. The last sight he saw was the three princes sitting bolt upright. He smiled glad that his sacrifice hadn't been in vain and that he had saved those he cared about, then Bilbo Baggins surrendered to the darkness that drew him into its embrace.

Bilbo was in a cave, he stared around him at the glittering jewels in surprise, how had he gotten here? "Do you wish to be my child, you can go back to us again if you wish, to be born again."

"I'd rather live life as a dwarf, then not live it at all." Bilbo said and the voice laughed.

"You are certainly as strait spoken as my people, I asked Yavanna if I could change you, as you sacrificed for dwarves, there was nothing that she could do." He said and Bilbo stared at him for a moment, before the man vanished and Bilbo was surrounded by blackness once more.