I just loved Bilbo's reaction to the dwarf party in his cosy hobbit hole, so I decided to have a little fun with it. This takes place in the midst of the madness, before Thorin arrives and before Bilbo has any idea what's going on.
Bilbo jumps as an over-full mug of ale is slammed down on the table in front of him. He can't help but whimper a little as the alcohol cascades over the beautiful pine-wood surface. I just polished that last week, he thinks sadly, but his thoughts are interrupted by the slamming down of two more mugs of ale next to the one that is presumably his, swiftly followed by the slamming down of two lithe, powerful-looking dwarves on the bench next to him. Bilbo takes a deep (if somewhat unsteady) breath and turns to face the newcomers with a nervous smile.
It's like facing a wall of solid dwarf. Side by side, they scrutinize him silently. Their eyes are hard like flint.
"So," says the blond one, critically. "This is him, is it?"
"Smaller than I expected," says the dark-haired one, leaning conspiratorially towards the other, so close that their shoulders are touching. They stare at him intently for a few seconds while Bilbo squirms. Then they grin, simultaneously. The effect is disconcerting to say the least. They have altogether too many teeth, he thinks. The blond one puts him in mind of a lion, while the other is just, well...odd. Bilbo starts to be seriously worried that they're going to eat him.
He swallows nervously and tries to smile again.
"We got burgled once," offers the dark-haired one nonsensically. Bilbo wonders if he is quite insane.
But apparently this comment is some kind of private joke, for they both laugh uproariously and turn towards each other so their faces are practically touching. The dark one makes a low growling noise in his throat and play-bites at the other's neck, grabbing his blond braids and yanking him even closer. The blond one's eyes flash with some emotion that Bilbo cannot name.
Dwarves are strange creatures, he decides. These two doubly so.
Sorry for the very short chapter – just getting warmed up. Later chapters will contain both more words and some smut, for I love both these things. Hurrah!