Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit. J.R.R Tolkien does. I just plan to borrow the characters for a little while.
A/N: This will begin AU then these two OC's will join Thorin's party to Erebor.
The sun began to turn blood red as it set. A lone dwarf quietly watched the sun fade behind far off mountains, he quietly hummed.
He turned hearing laughter, he saw a few Hobbit children pushing each other and running around. He noticed they were rather far from the Shire, though they didn't seem to notice. He stood up and walked over to the young hobbits.
"Hello," he said, the children stopped, all looking at him wide-eyed.
"W-who are you?" asked a hobbit boy with curly blond hair and sparkling sapphire blue eyes.
"Värren at your service, youngsters," said the dwarf smiling as he bowed.
"K-Kärn at yours, sir," said the blond curly haired boy, who looked a bit nervous.
"Kärn, we need to go back to the Shire," said a red haired girl, her curls almost wrapped around one another.
Värren stood up, he held his hand out to Kärn.
"I know the way," he said as he kindly smiled at the children.
Kärn took Värren's hand and let him lead them back to the Shire.
Kärn didn't want to leave Värren outside.
"Please, don't go," begged Kärn. Värren looked at the pain in Kärn's eyes.
"Why don't you want me to leave?" asked Värren. Kärn clutched onto Värren's hand as tightly as he could.
"Please," begged Kärn. Värren knelt down in front of the young hobbit boy.
"Kärn, why don't you want me to leave?" asked Värren as he brushed Kärn's hair out of his face.
Kärn's eyes filled with tears, his lip began to tremble. Värren wrapped his arms around the child.
"Please, tell me why you don't want me to leave," he quietly begged.
Kärn gasped as he tried to keep from crying.
"E-everyone abandons m-me," said Kärn. Värren looked at him, gray-blue eyes filled with understanding.
"I won't abandon you, but don't you have parents who will be worried about you?" asked Värren. Kärn shook his head as he wiped a grimy sleeve against his face.
"No, t-they died when I-I was very young," said Kärn. Värren looked at the child he hugged.
"How old are you?" asked Värren. Kärn looked at Värren through curly bangs.
"I-I'm four, s-sir," said Kärn, tears beginning to fall down his cheeks.
Värren wrapped his arms around Kärn and patted the lad's back.
"No one takes care of you?" asked Värren, the boy shook his head.
"No, they feed me on occasion, but they d-don't help me when I n-need them most," said Kärn. Värren studied the child's face, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, dipped it into a bucket he stood next to and wiped the dirt from Kärn's face.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you," said Värren as he felt Kärn's arms wrap tightly around him.
"T-thank you V-Värren," said Kärn. Värren stood up, he ruffled Kärn's hair.
"Come," he said holding his hand out to Kärn. Kärn took his hand and let Värren lead him away from the Shire and bad memories.
Kärn opened his eyes, tears fell down his cheeks as another nightmare plagued his dreams. He felt large, warm arms wrap around him. He curled into the protective embrace and quietly cried into Värren's chest. The dwarf patted and rubbed circles into his back.
"It's alright Kärn," said Värren's voice. Kärn gasped as he tried to catch his breath. Värren patted his back.
"T-Thanks you f-for being my f-friend Värren," said Kärn as he looked up at Värren.
"Shhh, sleep," whispered Värren as he kept the young hobbit against him.
Kärn shook his head, tears still falling down his face.
"I-I can't," he choked as he tried to catch his breath.
"Try," said Värren. Kärn curled as close to Värren's chest as he possibly could, he felt his eyes drooping, before he fell asleep.
Värren woke the next morning, Kärn still clinging to his tunic. He patted the boy's back, slowly prying the boy's hand from his tunic. The boy murmured, curling into a ball. Värren wrapped him in two furry blankets, before he stood up and went to make breakfast.
Värren stirred the large black pot, a nice smelling stew was cooking rather well. He looked up as Kärn stepped out from the cave they slept in.
"Morning," said Värren. Kärn looked at him, giving a slight nod.
"I guess it is," said Kärn as he sat down and hugged his knees to his chest. Värren knew this posture well, he'd seen it the last two years, knowing that it was the usual position Kärn assumed when he had a terrible nightmare.
"Wish to talk about it?" asked Värren. Kärn shook his head, his blond curls falling into his face. Värren knew not to ask Kärn if he wasn't ready to talk.
"When you're ready I'm here," said Värren. Kärn nodded. Värren poured a ladle full into a bowl, before he handed it to Kärn. Kärn took it, he lightly sipped at the broth held in the spoon.
Värren watched the lad for a moment, before he made himself a bowl and began to eat it. Värren looked at the east horizon as the sun peeked over the mountains.
"What will we be doing today?" asked Kärn after an hour of silence.
"I don't know, we might go hunting, or fishing," said Värren as he set his bowl on the ground, the fire beginning to burn out. Kärn nodded.
"Why do we never go visit Mirkwood forest?" asked Kärn as he set his own bowl on the ground, he brushed his curly bangs out of his face.
"Because they don't like my people very much," said Värren as he stood up, he was still rather young, only beginning to get used to being an adult.
"Oh, why's that?" asked Kärn.
"Our two peoples haven't gotten along very well," said Värren as he scanned the woods.
"Oh," said Kärn as he stood up too. The wind lightly blew both males hair against their faces a bit.
Kärn had captured at least twenty rabbits, he saw Värren returning with the same number of fish. Kärn had somehow managed to get himself caught in one of his rabbit snares. Värren laughed as he spotted him.
"Need some help?" asked Värren as he set the fish on the ground. Kärn nodded.
"I would appreciate that," he said. Värren walked over to him and released him from the snare.
"There we go," said Värren as he reset the snare.
"Thanks," said Kärn as he rubbed at his wrists. Värren nodded and got started on cleaning and scaling the fish. Kärn followed suit as he began to clean the rabbits.
Värren finished cleaning and scaling the fish as Kärn finished cleaning the rabbits. They both spitted the fish and rabbits, they roasted them over the fire.
"That was fun. It's not even noon yet," said Kärn as he dusted his fur covered pants off.
"Indeed," said Värren as he brushed the scales from the fish off his own pants.
"Can we please go to the forest?" begged Kärn as he stood up. Värren wiped his hands on his pants, before he too stood up.
"I suppose it won't do any harm, let's finish cooking this first as it will be a three day hike to the forest floor from here," said Värren. Kärn whooped and jumped about with glee.
Värren felt Kärn press against him as they were captured by the Elves. Värren patted Kärn's back.
"Don't worry buddy, we'll be okay," said Värren as he gently squeezed Kärn's hand. Kärn leaned closer to Värren a bit afraid.
"I-I can't h-help but w-worry," said Kärn as he clung to Värren's tunic. Värren patted Kärn as they were lead through the forest.
