CHAPTER ONE (Editing

-Bilbo-

"So this is the hobbit," I hear once again in my head. Never have any words caused me to feel so many emotions.

It doesn't matter that he was trying to be menacing when he said it, but the way he smiled afterwards still melts my heart.

Thorin Oakenshield. It's too bad that I had to leave Erebor, and just as I was beginning to come to terms with my feelings for him.

We were sure he was dead. We carried his body down to the hall, and we were about to announce his death to his nephews, when Gandalf said that he was in fact still alive.

I thank Gandalf for forcing me into this adventure in the first place, or I would have never met Thorin.

I pull out my phone and go to my photos. The most recent one was the one I've been looking at since I left. It's me and Thorin. Like nothing had happened. We look so happy. It was right before I told him I was planning to go back to the Shire.

He thought I would stay with the dwarves in Erebor, and I wish I had, but the truth is, no matter how much I love the dwarves, I miss Bag End.

I think I'll go back someday though. Now that I've spent a year with Thorin, I don't know what life will be like without him. Certainly more boring.

Gandalf says we're only a day or two from the Shire, and we might stop in Rivendell before we head to Bag End.

My phone makes a singing sound as a notification pops up. I haven't seen one of those for a while. I had no service since I left the Shire, and I actually lost my phone in Mirkwood. Bofur bought me a new one after the Battle of the Five Armies.

It's an update from Instagram. It's Kili and Tauriel in front of the newly rebuilt Dale. I was so happy that Fili and Kili were wearing steel mail during that battle, and that Gandalf got to them quickly, or they would've been dead.

Wow. I'm going to miss them so much. They protected me when Thorin threatened me before the Battle. I hope they're happy.

I sniff, and reach for a handkerchief. I pull it out, but it looks different. It has a word stitched into the corner, something in Dwarvish, I can't read.

"Gandalf," I call to the wizard. "What does this say?" I hand it to him.

"Well. It has the same markings as those on Kili's runestone from his mother. Loosely translated, it says 'return to me'. Now Bilbo, my good friend, it seems someone wanted you to stay in Erebor," he answers with a smile.

I smile too, tears in my eyes. I don't think I'll stay in the Shire for long.