Author's Note: (READ) So...This is the third time I've posted/rewritten this. I wasn't happy with the last rewrite at all. But I have to say, I am proud of this rewrite. So, this will be the last time I rewrite it lol. My apology's for those who were waiting for an update. For OLD READERS, I suggest you reread this as I've changed quite a bit. I've decided to go a slightly newer route (meaning this is no longer a journal type story). I feel I've grown in my writing since my last update and because of that this story, which I love very much, deserved a well earned rewrite. For NEW READERS, I hope you enjoy the new and improved chapter :)

Constructive criticism is welcomed, please no flames :)

Beta: Myself, If I've missed anything feel free to tell me!

Disclaimer: I, unfortunately, do not own The Hobbit. Which is rather sad if you think about it. I do own Rilin, so that's a plus!

Across plains and waterfalls, over mountains and under bridges, beneath a dark and cloudy sky, there were three dwarves. These weren't your normal run-of-the-mill dwarves, no, these three are nephews to one, Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror. Which made these brothers, princes. Princes to a Kingdom called Erebor, which was lost many years ago to the firey flames of Smaug, a firedrake from the North, who had come seeking –and gaining– the vast wealth of the dwarves.

The eldest of the three was Rilin, son of Dis, then Fili, and lastly the youngest, Kili. And while it wasn't unusual to find them getting into some sort of mischief and thus getting scolded by their uncle or even Balin, you would find that Rilin got scolded a lot less. His brothers would protest that he was just good at hiding it.

Our story begins beneath a gray sky on a day much like any other; Rilin sighed as he watched his younger brothers argue about which way was the best way to Hobbiton. For you see they were journeying from the Blue Mountains on their way to the Shire, they were following the Baranduin –Brandywine– River upstream but had come to a bit of a problem.

There was, for all intent of purposes, a decision to be made. There were two ways to continue, one was to cut through the forest to which they would come across a paved path, it was quicker, yet rougher or, they could continue to follow the river upstream to which they would come across the Brandywine Bridge, it was longer but smoother. To Rilin it was a logical choice. Rougher? No. Smoother? yes.

Of course, his brothers could be anything but easy.

"I say we cut through the forest, it's a lot quicker," Kili told his brother Fili.

"No, no, no, that's a lot rougher, we should follow the river upstream. It'll be a lot smoother for one." Fili argued.

"Nope," Kili shook his head, hair whipping back and forth, "This is the way, I promise you."

"Kili, you've said that before and look where it's always landed us. Lost, or even worse, late." Fili pointed out.

Kili rolled his eyes, "Just because it happened once- a few times" he corrected himself at Fili's raised brow "Doesn't mean it'll happen this time."

"Kili, for Mahal sake-"

A thus started what would be Fili's fifteen-minute lecture. For Thorin to be late was acceptable because he was their King, for his nephews, the princes, that was to be looked down upon.

Rilin raised his brow at his two bickering brothers, well, one bickering brother the other couldn't seem to get a word in edgewise, and sighed, they've been at it now for the past twenty-five minutes. He was not going to be late to this meeting, he could just feel the two-hour lecture they'd get from Thorin and the intense four-day crash course on royal duties from Balin if they were.

No. He wasn't going through that, again.

Arms crossed and eyebrow raised, a stance that seemed to just scream Thorin Oakenshield, Rilin cleared his throat hoping to gain the attention of his two, frustrating, quarreling younger siblings.

Kili and Fili having heard the sound of a throat clearing; turned in their saddles and looked behind them. Where they saw their elder brother sitting astride his pony, staring at the two with piercing blue eyes.

Clearly not amused.

His expression? Well, the look and his overall stance was a lot like their uncles when the two younger siblings argued or did something they weren't supposed to or did something they weren't supposed to and got hurt.

Which was quite often, except they rarely fought.

At least, that's what they liked to think. Others would disagree.

Fili opened his mouth to say something when Kili beat him to it, "Rilin! Tell Fili we should cut through the forest!" Kili pouted slightly childishly to his big brother while pointing at Fili.

Fili frowned and looked over to Kili "No way, it'll take longer, do you want to show up late? We should go straight!"

"No, through the forest," Kili argued glaring.

"Upstream," Fili glared back just as thunderous.

"Forest."

"To the bridge."

"Um, no, cut through."

"Continue forward."

Kili narrowed his eyes, "Straight!"

"Through the fore-" Fili's eyes widened. That sneaky little shit.

"Well brother, if you think we should cut through then as the second eldest, we shall listen to your wise words of wisdom." Kill smirked at his gaping brother.

"Y-you can't do that, you completely tricked me, that's as good as cheating!"

"I did no such thing," Kili scoffed, "How could you even suggest that I Kili son of Dis, Prince of Erebor, would ever consider doing that to you, my brother. It wouldn't be very princely now would it?"

"KILI!"

Rilin sighed once more, for, of course, they had started arguing again.

Riding between them, he flung his arms around their shoulders and pulled them close to his chest, making them both utter an "oof!" under his weight and manhandling. He chuckled slightly at his brothers, for one was glaring and the other smirking while looking positively smug, at each other from around him.

"Now now children play nicely." He chided gently, smirking when he heard them utter in perfect unison "We're not children!"

"Of course not," he snorted lightly, "Now about which way we should g-" he was immediately cut off.

"Fili said we should cut through the forest!" Kili said trying to get his elder brother to agree that it was indeed what Fili said. Even though they all knew it was not.

Fili glared at his smug little brother "I did not!"

Rilin removed his arms from around his brothers and sighed deeply while praying to Mahal for strength, and rode forward. He stopped and turned his pony half way so he could look at the two "Since neither of you can be sensible and come to an agreement. I'll make the choice for all of us. We'll follow the river upstream to the Brandywine Bridge and from there make our way to Hobbiton."

"Sensible?"

"I still think we should cut through…"

Ignoring his brothers grumbling he nudging his pony forward.

"Perhaps you should hurry up? We wouldn't want to get there after uncle does." He called back, soon the sound of crunching leaves and further grumbling reached his ears as they followed behind him.

He smirked as they silently –although he ignored Kili's mumble of "You hurry up."– rode past him, eye's not once wondering in his direction. With a shake of his head and a fond smiled at their rare –okay so maybe not so rare– childish behavior, he followed after them.

Brotherhood means laying down your life for another, really and truly sacrificing it to protect someone else.

Rilin took in the sights before him as they rode into the Shire, it had been a trying journey –that's very much including his two squabbling brothers– but as they entered the rolling hills of the Shire, even though evening had long fallen, the view was still very much worth it.

How could one place leave a person feeling so much peace?

A cool wet breeze blew throughout the air ruffling Rilin's hair; making him grumbling just a little as a strand flew into his mouth. With the breeze came the faint smell of rain, it would probably fall later on in the night. Another gust had the leaves around them swirl throughout the air, one stray leaf smacked Fili in the face, prompting both his brothers into a fit of chuckles.

"Blasted wind," Fili huffed causing another few chuckles to leave Rilin.

They left their ponies at an inn called The Green Dragon and the innkeeper when asked where a Mr. Bilbo Baggins home was, gave them a suspicious glare before mumbling something and pointing in the general direction of Bilbo's home.

"Well, he was helpful, does anyone know what house it is?" Fili asked his brothers with a sigh.

Rilin looked to the blonde middle child "Yep, the innkeeper mumbled that it was a green door-" he started just to get interrupted and probably not for the last time.

"A green door? There are tons of those, I've seen at least four since we've left the inn," Kili moaned as he turned to look at all the hobbit homes. "Are we to knock on each and every one until we find the right one?" He asked as he made his way to a random door, it didn't even look green, actually, Rilin was pretty sure it was red.

Rilin gave him exasperated look "If you would let me finish," his brother stopped on his way to knock the door, Fili gave him an amused look "It's a green door that will have a mark on it, a dwarvish rune. I was told 'you'll know when you see it.'" He told his brothers, while Kili gave him a sheepish smile.

"It's the home of a hobbit" ignoring the whispered 'obviously' muttered by Kili, he continued walking; his brothers following half a step behind him "One Mr. Bilbo Baggins is his name, at least that's what uncle told me the Wizard Tharkûn said."

"What exactly does Mr. Baggins do?" Fili asked.

"Tharkûn?" Kili put in.

"Well, apparently he's a burglar and is to be the fifteenth member of the company," Rilin responded to Fili before glancing at Kili, "Tharkûn is the name the Dwarves gave Gandalf, surely you remember that from Balin's lesson?" He asked with a raised brow, in return Kili gave him a sheepish grin.

Fili snorted while Kili gave him a glare making Rilin shake his head as they walked passed a blue door.

"A burglar?" Kili questioned changing the subject "What in Durin's name do we need a burglar for?"

Rilin raised his eyebrow again at his little brother, "Uncle told Tharkûn to find a fifteenth member, besides; does it really matter? "

Kili shrugged his shoulders "Not really I suppose."

"I guess we'll learn everything we need to know about this Mr. Bilbo Baggins our new burglar when we get there." Fili put in, Kili nodded at his brother's words.

"If we ever get there," Rilin muttered under his breath.

"What was that brother?" Fili asked looking at him with a bushy blonde brow raised.

Rilin shook his head "Nothing, just hurry up! We're going to be late!" he said walking ahead of them.

After some looking – quite a lot of looking and lots of complaining on Kili's behalf– they came upon a little green door on a hill with a glowing, dwarvish rune on it, Rilin guessed this was the mark they were looking for.

"Finally! I've never been so happy to see a door before." Rilin exclaimed looking pointedly at Kili, who gave him a big innocent grin in return. He walked to the front door his brothers at his heels, both eager to see just who this hobbit was Tharkûn had suggested. Before ringing the bell Rilin turned, bumping into Fili who gave him a big beaming, over the top smile at his exasperated look.

"Now listen the both of you, I want you on best behaviors. Understand? That means no messing around, no pranks! Try and be somewhat respectful, and remember you're princes and for Durin's sake don't break anything!" He all but shouted the last part at Kili.

"I said I was sorry" Kili mumbled while giving him a bashful smile.

Rilin rolled his eyes as did Fili at their brothers, 'I'm-sorry-but-I-don't-really-mean-it-and-will-probably-do-it-again' look.

"Right, well, behave," he stressed the last word, a stern look on his face. Kili nodded as did Fili at their elder brothers warning.

Rilin turned, stood straighter, then pressed the bell twice, his brothers stood on either side of him. They waited a few moments before the door opened and there stood a hobbit who Rilin presumed to be Mr. Baggins, Rilin observed how the hobbit looked stressed with a dash of confusion.

"Rilin-"

"Fili-"

"And Kili"

"At your service," they said in union bowing to the hobbit.

"You must be Mr. Boggins," Kili said with a grin, Rilin rolled his eyes at his brother's mistake in names.

"Nope! You can't come in! You've come to the wrong house!" Mr. Baggins said in a fluster trying to close the door.

Kili put his foot in the door to stop it from closing before –incredible rudely– pushing it open "What?" he asked eyes wide, "Has it been canceled?"

"No one told us," Fili added.

"And I'm sure I would've heard something if it was," Rilin put in from behind his brothers, who were oh so nice to push him out of the way.

Really, you just have to love siblings.

Mr. Baggins frowned and looked fairly confused "Can-? No, nothing's been canceled." He told them with a look of bewilderment.

Kili flashed him another grin "Well that's a relief!" he said pushing his way into the house, Fili not far behind him.

Rilin shook his head at both of his brothers' manners and who so obviously ignored his warning of respect. Really, I think we're going to have a long talk. Rilin flashed Bilbo an apologetic smile before walking into the house, Bilbo following closely behind them.

Fili turned to Bilbo and started handing him his weapons, making sure to grab the ones tucked away in his boots and coat "Careful with these. I just had 'em sharpened." He told Bilbo grabbing yet another dagger from within his coat. Which had Bilbo sweatdropping –metaphorically of course– at the number of knives he carried.

Rilin also started to take off his weapons, which consisted of a sword, bow, and arrows, – after all, he taught Kili– and set them against the wall. Before taking off his dagger and leaving his hidden knives on him –thankfully he didn't have as many as Fili– and put them on top of the pile in Bilbo's arms.

He hesitated for a moment when he saw Mr. Baggins buckle slightly under the weight. When he was sure the hobbit had a good grip on them did he turn around to look for Kili who had conveniently disappeared.

He surely loved to test his brother patience. Perhaps I should find him a leash? Hmm, might have to talk to uncle about that one.

Fili raised a brow at him and looked pointedly to one of the hidden weapons he knew about, his look said everything his mouth wouldn't. Rilin raised a brow right back before Fili gave a slight shrug and looked away.

It wasn't that he didn't trust the hobbit –he barely knew the hobbit and was more than sure he could take him down with one hand, eyes closed– but after what happened before…Rilin shook his head getting rid of the memory before it could even form. He just felt better with some sort of weapon on him.

"Nice place you got here," Kili said coming from down the hall –he had already given Bilbo his weapons–.

Ah, there he was. Leash for sure.

"You do it yourself?" he asked, casually scraping his shoe against a wooden chest to get the dirt off.

Rilin gawked at his brother's behavior, although you wouldn't have known it unless you really looked. His eyes widened ever so slightly and his eyebrow twitched.

How could he possibly be so rude?! You don't just push your way into someone's house then start scraping your shoe against their furniture! Did he have absolutely NO manners? Did he not learn anything from their uncle's or even Balin's lessons? If their mother saw him now, prince or not, he would get a right clipping 'round the ears!

While Rilin silently fumed over his brothers lacking manners, Bilbo was replying to Kili's question.

"Ah, no it's been in the family for years," Bilbo answered looking over at Kili and saw him trying –and failing– to get the dirt off his shoe. "That's my mother's glory box! Could-could you please not do that?!" The hobbit looked worried he would ruin it. It had been his mother's favorite!

Rilin slapped his brother upside his head when Bilbo turned away and gave him a glare. "Ouch! What was that for?" Kili asked rubbing the spot Rilin hit.

"I thought I said to behave!" Rilin hissed, "Now, knock it off!"

Kili pouted a little but mumbled a "Whatever."

Rilin rolled his eyes and saw Dwalin coming towards them "Kili, Rilin, Fili, come on and give us a hand!" he said grabbing Kili from around the shoulders and walking away.

"Mr. Dwalin!" Kili greeted happily as he walked into the dining room and patted Balin on the shoulder. Both Rilin and Fili right behind him.

The older dwarf patted Rilin on the back as he inclined his head slightly to Balin "Let's shove this in the hallway, otherwise we'll never get everyone in." He told the three brothers as they helped Dwalin move things around.

Bilbo looked up in alarm "E-Everyone?" He stammered "You mean there's more of you?" At that precise moment the door rang "Oh no, oh dear me," he muttered as it went off again "No no! There's nobody home!" he shouted towards the door his voice laced with irritation as he contradicted himself; he tossed the weapons he held onto a chest.

"Go away! And bother somebody else!" he yelled. "There are far too many dwarves in my dining room as it is! If this is some CLOTTERD'S idea of a joke," he gave a slight laugh with zero humor in it while walking towards his door, "I can only say it is in very poor taste!" he declared heatedly.

Fuming he grabbed his door handle and opened the door, only to have a bunch of dwarves, eight to be exacted, fall in and over each other, grumbling and shouts of "Get off!" were heard.

Bilbo looked slightly shocked at all the dwarves lying on his floor, trying and failing to get up. He looked up at the person behind them; understanding filled his face "Gandalf." He sighed.

The next thing poor Bilbo knew they were taking all the food out of his pantry and eating it.

Rilin watched from against the wall as his kin took food from the hobbits pantry.

He eyed Bilbo, who had scurried off to change into something decent –not his pajamas and robe– fluttered around telling everyone to put things back; he seemed especially upset over his homemade jam.

Bombur walked passed him with three wheels of cheese, "Tad bit excessive, isn't it? Have you got a cheese knife?" Rilin heard Bilbo ask.

Bofur came up behind him carrying a tray of meat "Cheese knife? He eats it by the block!" he grinned as he walked off.

Rilin felt slightly sorry for the hobbit for having his pantry raided by the dwarves, but then shook his head, there was nothing he could really do about it. It's just how they are.

"I apologize on behalf of my kin," Rilin started, drawing the eyes of Bilbo "But it is the way of the dwarves Master Baggins, its best not to let it upset you too much. That being said, I thank you for being such a gracious host no matter how unexpected it might have been."

Rilin inclined his head to the hobbit in a show of respect, it seemed, for the most part, to sooth Bilbo's ruffled feathers as he relaxed just a bit. That is until Oin and Gloin walked passed with his great grandmother's chairs.

Rilin chuckled and looked away from the hobbit who was half telling, half scolding Oin and Gloin to put the chairs back and instead moved his eyes to Tharkûn, –Gandalf that is– who walked out of the dining room counting up all the dwarves. He let out a small grin as the wizard nearly hit his head on the ceiling and chandelier.

The problems of the big folks.

Rilin rolled his eyes fondly as Kili and Fili walked past him grinning widely at their elder brother while carrying a barrel of ale into the dining room.

He looked back to Gandalf as Bifur spoke to the wizard in Khuzdul, "Yes, you're quite right, Bifur. We appear to be one dwarf short." Gandalf agreed.

"He is late, is all," Dwalin who had come and stood next to Rilin told Gandalf, not looking the least bit worried.

Rilin spoke up from his spot against the wall, "He traveled north to a meeting of our Kin, he will come."

Dwalin nodded his head at his words "Aye, he'll be here." He shared a look with Rilin before taking a sip of his ale.

Gandalf 'hmm'd' at their words before Dori came up to him "Mr. Gandalf?"

"Hmmmm?" was his reply as he turned to look at Dori.

"A little glass of red wine as requested. It's, eh, got a fruity bouquet." Dori told him, obviously quite proud of himself.

"Ah, cheers," Gandalf thanked him as he took his wine and drank it all in one gulp. Rilin smirked as Tharkûn looked down sadly at his tiny cup wanting a bit more and was about to say something when he was grabbed by both his arms.

"Come on brother!" Fili said on one side of him.

"Best hurry before Bombur eats all the food!" Kili said on the other.

Rilin allowed himself to be pulled to his seat between his brothers at the table. Only after rolling his eyes good-naturedly at them and ruffling Kili's hair; smirking when Kili groaned and pushed him away, did he started eating.

After dinner which consisted of food being thrown around, –Bombur catching said food and eating it– and his brother Fili walking on the table handing out mugs of ale, and said ale being poured down Oin's ear trumpet by Dwalin. And a drinking/burping contest –which he had no part in–.

Rilin stood in the hallway leaning up against the wall with his pipe in his mouth, and a mug of ale in his hand occasionally blowing smoke rings out into the air. He had asked Bilbo early if he could smoke inside, the hobbit had grumbled and waved him off before stomping his way to Gandalf. He took that as his sign that it was perfectly okay.

His eyes fell shut as he relaxed and he let his mind wander to his uncle who was more than likely nearly here, to the low hum of the dwarves chatting around him, and he thought of his mother they had left in the Blue Mountains. But soon his thoughts turned down a darker path, to a time nearly 10 years ago.

A low throaty chuckle resounded throughout his mind; "You can't escape little dwarf prince.."

A loud thump startled Rilin, after taking a deep breath and locking the voice away in the deepest part of his mind, did he turn his head towards the pantry and saw his brother Fili rummaging, deciding to see what he was up to Rilin walked over and leaned on the wall of the archway.

"Looking for something?" He asked as Fili moved here and there.

Fili turned to look at his brother and shook his head "No, just making sure there's something left for uncle to eat when he gets here." He smirked at Rilin, turning back to his task.

Rilin lips twitched "And is there?" he asked, knowing how the dwarves –Bombur mostly– eat everything.

"Of course" he replied turning back to his brother and tipped his head towards a shelf in the room "That's for uncle."

Rilin looked to where his brother had pointed and saw a bowl, and a mug of ale sitting there. He hummed to his brother just as Bilbo and Gandalf walked into the hall.

He turned his head slightly at Bilbo's complaining and listened.

"They've all but destroyed my plumbing, I don't understand what they're doing in my house!" Bilbo said frustrated that he wasn't being told what was going on. This was his house, was it not?!

Just then Ori came up to him "Excuse me. I'm sorry to interrupt, but what should I do with my plate?" Bilbo just gave him a blank look.

Fili walked past Rilin and grabbed the plate "Here you go, Ori, give it to me" and tossed it down the hall to Kili who had, in turn, tossed it to Bifur at the sink.

Rilin watched the hobbit panic as his brothers tossed dishes around. To be very honest, it was more than entertaining. Just what he needed to banish that last little bit of darkness that lingered.

"Excuse me! That's my mother's West Farthing crockery, it over one hundred years old!" Bilbo squeaked, terrified they would drop it.

Bilbo then turned to the dwarves sitting at the table, who were, in fact, banging their silverware on the table "And ca-can you not do that, you'll blunt them!"

Rilin smirked around his pipe as Bofur replied teasingly "Ooh you hear that lads? He said we'll bunt them!" Those around the table laughed as they continued to bang and stamp their feet, creating a tune.

Kili who had just tossed a plate to Bifur started singing.

Blunt the knives and bend the forks!

Fili joined in.

Smash the bottles and burn the corks!

Soon all the dwarves were singing.

Chip the glasses and crack the plates!

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!

Rilin grinned, the excitement and joy in the room, as well as the tune, was contagious and he couldn't help but join in with the singing.

Cut the cloth and tread on the fat!

Leave the bones on the bedroom mat!

Pour the milk on the pantry floor!

Splash the wine on every door!

Soon dishes were flying through the air, while Bofur pulled out his flute and started to play.

Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl;

Pound them up with a thumping pole;

And when you've finished, if any are whole

Send them down the hall to roll!

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!

Soon they were all in the kitchen laughing, each with a mug of ale in their hands as Bilbo pushed through them, only to see his dishes cleaned and stacked nicely on the table. Rilin grinned at the hobbits shocked, but relieved face from in between his brothers.

The laughter died down and everyone turned serious as they heard a knocking at the door.

Thump, thump, thump.

"He is here," Gandalf said, the amusement from his, and everyone else's, face slowly leaving.

If you put in google 'Brock O'hurn axe' you'll find who plays Rilin (swoon)

Next chapter will be out in a few days!

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