Hold me tight

Chapter 1

Life isn't fair, Thorin had learned that at a very young age. He had lost most of his family before the age of ten. His mother died when he was five, his father fled the country and left his three children behind with their grandfather to take care of them.

Thror always though he had done a good job, until Frerin ran off with a girl who had a drugs addiction and Dis got pregnant at the age of seventeen by a man who was ten years older.

Thror had disowned his two oldest grandchildren and Dis moved in with her lover, who accepted the baby and married her when she became eighteen. A beautiful and healthy baby boy was born, Fili. Thror, who missed his beloved granddaughter, allowed Thorin to visit her and the baby. Two years later, Dis gave birth to another beautiful baby boy, Kili. He was born two months early and had problems with his lungs, but he was still perfect in everyone's eyes.

But when a life is given, another life is taken and six months after Kili's birth their father died.

Dis mourned her death husband, but she reminded herself she had two children to look after.

She helped Thror with his company when she had the time, but had to take over when Thror died, only a year after little Kili's birth. Thorin was only fourteen at that time and his grandfathers dead had hit him like a fist in his stomach. Dis had taken Thorin under her wing, but Thorin saw how hard it was or her to take care of one mourning child and two small children, so he proposed to go and live at the dorms of his new school. It was hard for Dis, but she allowed it.

And now Thorin, who had grown into a young and handsome man, stood in front of his dorm which he had shared with the same eleven people for the last three years. Summer had been great, Fili and Kili were absolutely adorable and they adored Thorin, who looked after them when Dis had to go to the office or when she had to do grocery's.

Thorin already missed them, but in that loud and full house, lived another family of him.

XoXoX

'Pass me the potatoes, please?'

'Are there any chips left?'

'Take your filthy paws out of my plate!'

'Hey, where are those warm buns?'

'Are you going to eat that?'

'Eat your greens.'

'Can someone throw me an egg?'

'Does anyone want the last piece of chicken?'

Thorin smiled at the loud, happy voices as they were all seated around the table for dinner. They were with twelve in total and they were all bothers or at some point family.

There was Thorin.

Gloin and Oin. Oin was the oldest of the group and was studying at a college for people with disabilities, for he was half deaf and wanted to become a doctor.

Bombur and Bofur were brothers, but their cousin Bifur also lived with them. He was an exchange student from Norway who had a lot of trouble with learning English.

Dwalin and Balin were brother close in age, who had not seen each other since Dwalin was nine.

Then there was Nori, Dori and Ori. Nori was the oldest, but still had to finish high school after a few criminal moments. Dori kept dotting over Ori to make sure he would not become like Nori.

And then there was the dorm master, Gandalf. He was not a student, nor a teacher, but he was hired by the school to keep order in the dorm. He had to keep the house clean, cook for the teens and make sure they studied during the exams. Gandalf was an old and odd man with a long white beard and was a bit too often found in the back yard enjoying his special tobacco. The teenagers hoped it was special and medical tobacco, but that was false hope and they also knew it.

They may be a weird bunch of people with sad and strange pasts, they were a family and a happy one too.

'Well, I expect you all had a good summer.' Gandalf smiled as he lit his pipe, but not with his special tobacco. 'But summer is over and we need to discuss a few things.'

Everyone looked at Thorin with curious eyes. They had always seen Thorin as their leader, someone they could follow, and Thorin enjoyed the status and the respect he got from his friends, but it also came with the burden to ask the questions everyone wanted to ask, but didn't dare to. Everyone knew they didn't have to fear Gandalf, but his answers often were strange and even vage, which left them feeling a bit dumb.

'Is something wrong, Gandalf?' Thorin asked and he could have sworn everyone forgot to breath until Gandalf spoke.

'No, not at all, Thorin, just the usual. Now we will start with the chores of the month. Nori, Ori and Dori, you three are in charge of the dishes. Dwalin and Balin are in charge of setting and cleaning the table. Bombur is in charge of the food if he like and has the time, otherwise you'll just go with Bifur and Bofur to get grocery's and I'll cook the food. Gloin and Oin, you two are in charge of the laundry, but you just have to put it in the washer and the dryer, I'll make sure everyone clothing is ironed and gets back to their rightful owner.'

Everyone nodded as they accepted their chores for the month, even if they didn't like them.

'What about me, Gandalf?' Thorin asked.

'Yes, well...' Gandalf paused for a bit. Had he forgotten about chores for Thorin? The old man had to give him something he could do. Thorin may be the heir of an wealthy family, he was not raised to be lazy and let other do the work while he could help.

And Thorin wanted to help, in any way he could.

'This year will be a little different. I will still be here, but I have some urgent and personal matters to take care of this year.' Gandalf answered. 'So you, Thorin Oakenshield, you will look out for everyone when I'm not around and you will help, if someone asks, with whatever chore it is you can help with.'

Thorin wanted to ask what he meant with 'when I'm not around', but he was cut off by Gandalfs next matter.

'Now, I have news for you. As you all know, the school accepts only a small amount of students and new students for their final year are rare, but we have an exception this year.'

'Does that mean there will be a new student?' Ori asked softly. He was the youngest of the group, but he was quite intimidate by Thorin, Dwalin and Balin. They had never meant to be intimidate, but Ori had a vivid imagination and looked at Thorin as if he had royal blood.

'Yes, Ori. There will be a new student and he will be living with us.' Gandalf answered. 'Now, I knew his parents and he is a fine lad, but by recent events he is a bit fragile.'

A stream of questions was fired at Gandalf.

'Where did he come from?'

'Did he live in England?'

'How old is he?'

'Why did he decide to life with them?'

'Why did he want to come to this school?'

It got a bit too much for Thorin and his friends noticed, the questions soon ended.

'Well, where is he?' Bofur asked quite bluntly.

'That is a very good question, Bofur. I believe he is in France with friends of his parents. He should arrive tomorrow though.'

'Is he French?' Dori asked.

'No, he is just as English as you are, my dear boy.'

'Then why is he still in France?' Nori asked, not thinking of the fact it might be a vacation.

'There is nothing wrong with being in France, you brute.' Oin muttered.

'Well, Thranduil and his flock are from France.' Dwalin debated.

'And that makes everything or anyone that is French bad?' Oin questioned.

'Yes, think of all the trouble the fairy put us trough.'

It was true, Thranduil and his flock of tall and almost elfish followers had gotten them into hours of detention, visits to the principal's office and painful humiliation. But everyone agreed it was all worth it when Thranduil sat in the infirmary with a broken nose, his pretty face messed up, while Thorin sat in the principal's office.

Thranduil still hasn't forgiven Thorin.

'Lads, this isn't of importance.' Thorin said in a raised voice. 'If I am correct, then we were talking about the new student.'

'I asked why he was still in France while the schoolrules tell us to be present at the dorms two days before schools starts again.' Nori said.

'Ah, yes.' Gandalf muttered. 'Well, it isn't my tale to tell, but he lost his home and family a few years ago and was told to live with his aunt. Let's say they didn't really got along and then he ran off to France. And that will be all I'll tell you about our newest member.' Gandalf stood up. 'I expect you all to treat him like you do with each other and I expect to have a clean table and kitchen when I come back from a smoke in the back yard.'

Gandalf made his way to the back door when Thorin asked: 'Gandalf, what is his name?'

Gandalf had a twinkle in his eyes as he smile.

'Bilbo. His name is Bilbo Baggins.'