Chapter 1: Prologue: Hey, Isn't It A Little Chilly Here...?

Possible Bagginshield. Eventually. This will be a very slow-building story.

It was cold.

In Bilbo's mind, that was the first word that came to mind. Just...cold. It wasn't winter yet, but up near the mountains one could definitely feel the chill, and Bilbo was a Hobbit, and Hobbits did not care for the cold when they weren't adequately prepared for it, with cloaks and scarves and at least one hat with the promise of a hot meal inside waiting for them thankyouverymuch, and none of this terrible wind.

At least it wasn't snowing. There were small blessings, even now. Hobbits didn't walk in snow, or if they did, it wasn't for long. Hobbit feet may be tough and strong, but when certain Hobbits had never been outside the Shire before, and were only subjected to rolling hills and peaceful, warm ground, Hobbit feet could freeze just as quickly as those of Men or Dwarf.

Discounting Elves, of course. Bilbo still disagreed with the Dwarves on their view about the Eldar, but he was just as skeptical (and slightly jealous) when he learned that they could walk on snow.

Bilbo shivered a bit and continued downward, away from Thorin's tent, to the elven encampment. He still hadn't decided what to do yet, or where to go. He and Thorin had made their peace, yes, but things were still uneasy between them. He had thought that he was beginning to see flashes of the Thorin the Dwarves knew, at Laketown and again at the secret door on Durin's Day. Although, looking back on it, it was fairly obvious. The map and the location of the door were written in moon runes, so why wouldn't the light to reveal the door be the same?

Bilbo quickly buried that thought as he was waved past into the conference tent, where King Thranduil, Bard, and Gandalf were waiting. Of the three, two were magical, and both could probably read minds, and he did not want Thranduil to pick up on that thought and use it as a jab at the Company the next time they met. Thranduil didn't mean much harm by it, Bilbo was sure, but he did like to create—chaos, on occasion.
And although Thranduil could probably refuse to agree if he heard it, in that way, he was much like his son, Legolas.

His arm twinged unpleasantly in his sling as he was waved into the tent by the guards standing outside. It was broken in two places and he had dislocated his shoulder, but that was a small price to pay for saving Thorin at the last moment from Azog's warg. Kili and Fili were saved as well, when Bilbo used his ring and managed to sneak up on their would-be killers before either of them had the opportunity to attack. After the twin princes were safe, Bilbo continued throughout the battle, watching over members of the Company, before seeing Thorin strike Azog the final blow. The dwarrow had stood triumphant for one moment, not noticing Azog's warg behind him. Bilbo, however, had. Afterward, in the healing tents, Bilbo could be heard scolding himself to not continue with such heroics ever again if he was going to end up like this, and next time he would just let Thorin be killed so he could bring him back and kill him again for his stupidity. The elven healers, though amused (especially Thranduil) continued to treat him without any fuss and, in fact, agreed with him, for the sake of their health as much as his.

A wizard who specializes in fireworks and panicking has no place in a healing tent. Ever.

"Bilbo." Gandalf's voice was warm as he knelt to embrace the hobbit for the first time since the beginning of the battle. The wizard about had a conniption when Bilbo was carried into the healers' network of tents by Legolas, with several members of the Company trailing behind. He had bellowed for Thranduil and managed to get him situated on a bed before Bilbo passed out. He didn't remember much after that until he had woke up. As Bilbo stepped out of the embrace, he looked at Gandalf. The wizard seemed drawn and exhausted, with lines around his eyes, although they were warm. Thranduil and Bard had the same visage, and Bilbo wondered if he looked in a mirror he would have the same face.

"It is good to see you up and about, Master Hobbit." Bard nodded at Bilbo and motioned to a chair for him to take at the table. "I have a proposal for you, but it depends on a couple of things. Firstly, were you planning on going back to the Shire anytime soon?"

Bilbo blinked. "Ah. I hadn't really thought of it, to be honest. I don't really fit in there, now, but I would need to sort out some affairs, either in person or by letter, regarding Bag End. And where I could be reached? Erebor isn't closed to me, but it is for the dwarves first and foremost..." The hobbit shrugged. "I would help somehow, because I did awaken the dragon for the Arkenstone, and move on from there."

Gandalf chuckled. "My dear hobbit, for all you have done, I tell you you would be welcome virtually everywhere, although I would personally recommend you avoid Laketown." Bilbo winced and nodded in agreement. The city itself was fascinating, considering it floated on water, but the Master was absolutely repugnant and the majority of Men in the city didn't seem to understand that Hobbits did not equate children of other races.

"And you must know, for what you have done saving my son and so many others," Thranduil's voice echoed resonantly in the tent, "That you would always be welcome in my home, if other places prove to be...inhospitable."

"So you could settle your affairs by letter, you said?" At Bilbo's nod Bard pressed on, "I have heard that Hobbits know a bit about gardening, is that true?"

Bilbo tilted his head to the side, considering his answer. "Yes, it most certainly is. We grow all our own food and livestock, and know quite a bit about medicinal herbs and flowers as well. Outside of the elves-and forgive me, but I didn't notice much in the way of gardens like in the Shire-we hobbits are probably some of the best gardeners you would ever meet. My own gardener-because Bag End is enough to take care of on its own, even without all of the plants outside-was the one who taught me everything I know after my family passed on. Why?"

Bard's face settled in a look of satisfaction. "As you might have known from talk around the camps, I'm to be Lord of Dale after restoring it. However, there is a bit of a problem in that none of the men that will be coming with me know anything about gardening. Or plants. Or flowers. It will probably take a bit for them to take a shine to it, or be successful at all, and getting the rebuilding started and being able to rely on ourselves is incredibly important. My men would need to be taught."

Bilbo felt a wave of shock pass through his frame. "You would have me do this? But would they even listen to me? I'm only a hobbit! Not that I'm not flattered," He rushed to say as Bard exchanged sardonic looks with Thranduil and Gandalf, "Truly, I am! But I am a hobbit, and many of the men of Laketown do not understand that hobbits are not children! I doubt that they would listen to a single word I said."

"And that is why we are choosing who comes with me very carefully, Master Baggins of Bag End, for it will not only be Men that will be rebuilding Dale, but elves too. The dwarves shall be too preoccupied in their mountain and riches to pay attention to what goes on in the outside world for some time, even the goings-on on their very doorstep, despite what Lord Balin may believe." Thranduil interjected when Bard looked as if he was about to respond, "And your people will not starve, Lord Bard. But the Hobbit is right in that there are no gardeners in the world such as those that live in the Shire, touched by Yavanna as they are."

"Gandalf?" The grey wizard looked up to the tent thoughtfully before regarding Bilbo with a measuring gaze. "I told you that you would never be the same if you survived this, Bilbo. And I think, yes, I do think, that this would be good for you."

Bilbo looked away and considered the tabletop before him. But truly, it did not take long for him to decide. "Then you have me to teach and to guide your men in the ways of gardening and agriculture, Lord Bard. But I must settle my affairs first, get things in order, and I would rather go to the Shire to do so. If Gandalf consents to come with me, it shall not take long. Will you wait?"

Bard smiled and nodded, "Yes, Bilbo, and you have my thanks."

Thranduil commented with a small smile, "I look forward to seeing you pass through my realm again, Bilbo Baggins. Until we meet again."

As Bilbo exited the tent for his own to start packing, the delayed panic began to set in. What had he gotten himself into this time?

I just started this on AO3 when I realized that I didn't enter it here on . Uh. Oops. This is planning to be a pretty epic story; I've got a lot of it planned out. Once I get past more of the groundwork it'll get more interesting and entertaining. Enjoy!