AN: Before the dwarves descended on Bilbo's home, Thorin had met with Gandalf in Bree- afterwards, the word would have gone out: This is my take on it.
Possibly pat of the Haven series because it would start things off nicely.
Standard disclaimers apply: The Hobbit remains the property of JRR Tolkien (and his estate), WB, Wingnut, newline - this is not an attempt to claim any rights... just a chance to take the characters out for a spin. (the road to Ered Luin (song) however... is mine)
Additional note: Since someone kindly mentioned Middle Earth Geography in their comments - I am adding my reply here:
For the sake of this story - I have assumed that there is a city in the norther reaches of the Blue Mountains (Ered Luin) called Ered Luin. Much like in New York State there is a New York City, and within London there is the City of London. (Also because I was reviewing a map that had both Blue Mountains and Ered Luin listed)
In the books (timeline/appendices) , Thorin met with Gandalf in Bree before they set out to meet in the Shire. I am operating on the assumption that he did not bring the entire troupe with him to the meeting since its clandestine, and since they weren't sure when they were leaving... and this would explain the differing arrival times since if they were all in Bree together... they could have easily gone to the shire together and shown up together and this would have kept Thorin from getting lost twice.
(and there's the fact that Thorin said he had talked this relatives in Ered Luin before coming to the gathering at Bilbo's) ... so... Please assume that there is a city Ered Luin within the Blue Mountains/Ered Luin.
Introduction
Fili could feel it in the air. They were on the eve of the great quest, something they had been preparing for all their lives. The trip to Bree had been one thing—that had been more a case of learning how one conducted business for 'dark deeds' as his uncle had called them, but this—this assignment tasked them by their uncle was the first step to finally taking back what was theirs.
The meeting in Bree had gone well, and while Thorin and Mr. Dwalin would turn east back to the blue mountains to tell Balin, Ori, Dori and Nori—he and Kili were heading back to Erid Luin to spread the word to the others.
He smiled. It felt good to be moving, and more importantly to be a part of the quest rather than just—following their uncle's lead.
As they followed the northern route from Bree, he found himself humming the tune the humans often sang of Ered Luin. For the first time, he understood the sense of longing for home, even if it was a home he had never known.
Beside him, Kili took up the song, sounding more like a drunken hedgehog, than someone actually singing.
The road to Ered Luin is long
With mountains high, and rivers strong
Atop the peaks, the mountain speaks
And calls me to my home.
The road to Ered Luin is hard
Where ash has blown to sanded glass in shard
Atop the rise, we touch the skies
With my hearth forever warm.
The road to Ered Luin is steep
Through mountains cold and valleys deep
Across the heights, to eagle flights
The mountains of my home.
The road to Ered Luin is long
With twists and turns that make us strong
And at its end, a loving friend
And hearth forever home.
Fili smirked and shook his head. He loved his brother like… well… a brother, but he was forever thankful that when Kili decided to sing, they were usually alone. It was a beautiful song, but when Kili sang it, instead of majestic mountains and home, he found himself thinking 'wounded warg in rut.'
"I wonder how much it's changed… it's been what? Thirty, thirty-five years?"
Fili nodded. "About that."
"I wonder if they'll let us drink."
Fili let his breath out slowly then smirked as his brother's eyes twinkled and he could see the effort it took him not to smile. Sometimes his brother was just too easy to read.
-:-
For the next few days they rode together in companionable silence, knowing the other well enough that there was no real need to speak. Fili could see something that reminded him of one of their past adventures and with a smile and a slight nod, Kili would pick up on it, smile and laugh, as he too remembered the indecent.
It was one of the signs their uncle was quick to point out that they spent entirely too much time together. Not that either of them really minded. Besides—if Kili had been traveling with Thorin there was at least a fifty percent chance of Thorin trying to throttle him at least once in the planned six day trek. They were just too much alike not to grate on each other's nerves (though perish the thought you ever told them that).
For once when a mischievous smile crossed Fili's face, Kili frowned, unsure of what had made his brother smile. He was, however, fairly certain he was the butt of one of Fili's internal jokes