When Thorin Met Frodo

It had been quite a leap of faith, allowing Bilbo to invite hobbits to come live in Erebor, but Thorin had allowed it and encouraged it. She just hadn't expected any hobbits to actually come. But here they were, and more than just Bilbo's close family had come.

"Oh, Mrs. Cotton!" Bilbo said, patting the woman on the back. "It's been such a long time!"

Thorin stood tall, smiling at all the hobbits that passed. None actually came up to speak with her, which surprised her. She had expected the fact that Bilbo had married the ruler of Erebor to gain herself a few questions to answer, but Bilbo had been right; they really had expected something like this to happen.

She suddenly felt something pull the leg of her pants and looked down. Two large blue eyes stared up at her. The child must have been very young, though Thorin couldn't think of the exact age. Certainly she was not a tween.

"Are you Aunt Thorn?"

Thorin chuckled. Bilbo had mentioned having lots of cousins, so certainly a few had been informed of her. "My name is actually Thorin, but yes, yes I am."

The child beamed and reached up a hand. Thorin took it, noticing how tiny it was. Not even Fili and Kili had had hands this tiny. And dwarves thought that their children were small! She gave a quick, careful shake.

"I'm Frodo!"

Just as soon as she said it, a dark haired hobbit woman came down and wrapped her arms around the child's waist, pulling her up and cradling her against her chest. "Frodo, I was looking all over for you!" She looked up at Thorin with an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry if she bothered you."

"Of course she didn't," Thorin said. She placed her hand on top of Frodo's curls, the same shade as this woman's hair; Thorin presumed her to be Frodo's mother. She messed up Frodo's hair, causing the little girl to giggle.

The woman smiled. "Alright, good. Frodo's known for causing mischief."

"Am not!" Frodo said.

Thorin chuckled. "What relation are you to Bilbo? If you don't mind me asking." If Bilbo found out that she offended her family, on accident or otherwise, she would have Thorin's head.

"I'm Primula," she said. "I married her cousin Drogo Baggins. I'll admit, he certainly wasn't sure about this moving thing, but looking out the fields, it doesn't seem like a bad thing. Out here there's plenty of space to farm and garden, at least once you get out of the mountain. But it pretty much is just a giant hole." She looked down at Frodo. "So, do you want to see Erebor?"

"I want to be with Aunt Thorn!" Frodo widened her eyes at Thorin. "Aunt Thorn killed a dragon!"

Thorin had to keep herself from laughing. If Frodo thought that then what others rumors would be spread?

"Well I did step on a lizard once," Thorin said.

Frodo beamed. "Really? I choked a frog before!"

Primula turned red. "Really, I think we should be going, Frodo."

Frodo pouted.

Thorin winked at her. "Don't worry, I'll surely see you later at dinner. We can discuss dragons then."

"Really?"

Thorin smiled. "Really."

I'm always up for fluffy suggestions.