"Bilbo, I would like to introduce you to the leader of our company. Thorin Oakenshield." Gandalf proclaimed.
Thorin
Why on earth had Gandalf insisted that they bring a hobbit along? This small creature looked hardly capable of lifting a few logs, let alone traveling long and treacherous roads for months at a time. The hobbit stared up at him, awestruck. At least he knew to respect Thorin, for he was royalty after all.
"Bilbo, I would like to introduce you to the leader of our company. Thorin Oakenshield." Gandalf stated once Thorin was in the door. He circled the hobbit slowly, observing the state of the hobbit. He had quite a small build, but upon looking closer, Thorin observed many calluses, hinting that the hobbit was not so pampered as he previously thought.
"Have you any skill with a blade, master hobbit?" he interrogated, "What is your weapon of choice, axe or sword?" Thorin doubted as much, but it didn't hurt to ask.
The hobbit stuttered for a moment, clearly surprised by the inquiry. He shook his head after a moment, "It is hardly necessary in the Shire," Bilbo explained, "but I fail to see why that's relevant."
Of course you don't, thought Thorin. "Thought as much." He said with a smirk, "He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." He chuckled lightly, glancing at the rest of his company, and proceeded into the dining room. Sure, he might have been a bit rude, but he was a king.
"Excuse me?!" the hobbit exclaimed, "I will not be insulted by a dwarf in my own home! If you had any manors at all, you would respect your host. I didn't even invite any of you, yet I let you all eat my food, and defile my home. I will not be disrespected like that!" the hobbit stood with his hands on his hips, waiting for him to respond, but he could only stare in shock. As did the other dwarves. Bilbo had just scolded a king. Perhaps Thorin had misjudged him. This hobbit had spirit.
"My apologies, master hobbit. It meant no disrespect, but was merely making an observation. You have my thanks for allowing us into your home." That should do it, Thorin thought to himself.
The entire group looked at him in disbelief. Thorin, a king, had just apologized to a common hobbit. Bilbo was taken aback by his sudden apology.
"Yes, well. Make yourself at home. I'll get you some food. It would seem the others have almost cleaned me out, but I will put something together. You must've had a long journey." Thorin nodded his appreciation, and lead the others into the dining room.
Bilbo
This night was turning out to be more strange than he had thought. Twelve dwarves had shown up at his door upon Gandalfs request, and he had no idea why. Then a very majestic and mesmerizing dwarf had come into his home, insulted him, and then apologized, and now sat at his table waiting for food that he was preparing. And Bilbo could not stop thinking about those eyes. There was something about them, how they bore into Bilbo, that he just could not get out of his head.
After scrounging around his kitchen and pantry, Bilbo had managed to put together a decent stew for Thorin. When he entered the dining room, all thirteen guests were gathered around his large table, staring intensely at a small map Gandalf had laid out. He placed the bowl in front of Thorin. He nodded his thanks and went to the map. They spoke of a secret door, a mountain, a beast, and a great deal many other things that sounded extremely unpleasant.
"It will take a great deal of stealth to get into the mountain unnoticed." Gandalf stated. The group nodded in unison.
"Thats why we need a burglar!" Ori said, nearly jumping out of his seat.
Without thinking, Bilbo opened his mouth, "And a good one, too. An expert I'd imagine." Of course the dwarves interpreted that as 'Yes I am an expert burglar, and I would like to join in your quest'.
Bilbo quickly clarified that he was no such thing, and the whole lot of them were clearly disheartened. Then Gandalf jumped in.
"If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is." Gandalf stood then, "Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet, and can avoid being seen by most if they wish. And he has a great deal more to offer than any of you know," he stated, "including himself." he added in a whisper, and Bilbo almost missed it. He turned to Thorin then, "You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company, and I have done so. I am asking you to trust me."
Thorin looked none too pleased by this, yet he nodded in agreement, "Very well. We will do it your way." He leaned in close to Gandalf and whispered, "I cannot guarantee his safety. Nor will I be responsible for his fate." Gandalf only nodded solemnly..
Bilbo had no idea why Gandalf was so insistent on him joining their quest. He barely knew the wizard, and he was a respectable hobbit. And at this rate, it was looking like he would be going whether he liked it or not.
Thorin
The hobbits look of complete confusion and panic gave him little hope, yet he could not stop himself from thinking that he looked utterly adorable. He mentally slapped himself for thinking such things in a situation like this. After all, no one could know that he saw this hobbit while he slept. Every night, Bilbo was in his dreams. Bilbo was his intended. His soul mate. Every dwarf had a soulmate that joined them in their dreams, and Thorin was embarrassed to say that his souldream was not a dwarf. It is not uncommon for male dwarves to be paired with other males. There aren't many dwarf women to speak of.
Thorin quickly put these thoughts out of his mind, he was distracting himself. Then Bilbo said something about getting some rest, and he realized just how late it really was. His company seemed happy enough with the outcome of the night, so he scribbled a quick note to the hobbit, telling him to meet the dwarves at the Green Dragon Inn tomorrow morning at eleven sharp. He would let the hobbit get one last comfortable night before the long journey began.
That night Bilbo joined Thorin in his dreams once again, showering him with love. It made Thorins heart ache with longing, but he knew there was no way the hobbit would reciprocate his feelings. He had been ecstatic when Gandalf had mentioned bringing a hobbit along, secretly hoping that it would be his hobbit. Yet he was also terrified, for he would potentially be putting his soulmates life in danger. His mind raced back and forth all night, failing to obtain much rest.
When Thorin emerged from his room the next morning, he was greeted by the entire company of dwarves. They were all laughing and enjoying the last hearty meal they would have for a long while.
Bilbo
Bilbo awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside his house. It seemed like he had just escaped a horrible nightmare. As he walked down the hall, he found his home to be in a state of complete disaster. The wooden floors were trailed with mud, there were bits of food everywhere, and the plumbing was all but destroyed. The plumbing was so done with their shit. All the events from last night came flooding back. Bilbo, a respectable hobbit, had been roped into joining a group of dwarves on an adventure that he might die on.
He put together a meager breakfast from what was left of his food, and sat in his living room. He then noticed a small envelope sitting on the mantlepiece. On it was simply scrawled, Bilbo. He broke the seal, clearly Thorin's, hesitantly. The note was fairly brief. It read:
Master Bilbo,
We will let you rest for the night, but tomorrow we must be off. There is a long journey ahead of us. Please meet us at the Green Dragon Inn at 11 o'clock sharp. If we do not see you, we will depart without you. Goodnight.
,Thorin Oakenshield
Bilbo glanced out the window. The sun was quickly rising, and he hadn't even packed a travel bag yet. He quickly set about scrounging his house for things he thought necessary for a long trip. In his rush, Bilbo nearly forgot to pack a few sets of clothes. As the sun continued to rise, Bilbo made one more run-through, and dashed out his door, nearly crashing into the wizard.
"I sincerely hope you are on your way to the Green Dragon, Mr. Baggins. You are almost out of time!" Gandalf said in a hurry. Bilbo only nodded twice, and Gandalf shoved him in the right direction.
When he arrived at the Inn, the dwarves were all waiting by the stables, each with the reins of a pony in their hand. Ori, the youngest dwarf, held a second set of reins, and when he spotted Bilbo bouncing up the path, he hurriedly gave him one of the ponies.
"We thought you had changed your mind, Master Baggins," Balin stated, "The sun is nearly above us." Thorin gave Bilbo a disapproving glance and mounted his pony. Bilbo swore that he saw a glimmer of relief in Thorins eyes before he looked away. Curious.
Thorin
He felt his heart skip a beat when he saw the hobbit bounding up the path towards him. There was a small place in his mind that hoped Bilbo would decide not to join them, and stay safe forever, but he couldn't deny that he was overjoyed when Bilbo showed up. This was going to be a long journey.
Finally, after the sun was very completely in the sky, the company departed, Thorin at the front leading the way. Every once in a while, his nephews, Fili and Kili would ride up next to him, and they would make conversation. But for the most part Thorin prefered his own company, lost in thought most of the time. Every so often he would sneak a glance to the back of the group at Bilbo, who was cheerfully telling stories of the shire with Bofur, Fili, and Kili. They were fascinated by the culture of hobbits, who were so peaceful and welcoming in their way of life. Thorin was content to sit on his pony, look majestic, and listen to Bilbo's cheerful laugh. For a time at least, until Gandalf interrupted his thoughts.
"It would seem our young hobbit is fairing well so far, wouldn't you say?" Gandalf gave him a knowing, sidelong smirk. He knew very well what was going on in Thorin's head. Thorin simply nodded in response, not being in much of a talking mood. Gandalf patted his arm and backed off, leaving Thorin to his thoughts once again. A few hours would pass before Thorin called to stop.
"We make camp here for the night!" He declared in his booming, kingly voice. They set out bedrolls, prepared a fire, and Bombur got a stew going for supper. When everyone had settled down, Thorin decided to occupy the ground next to Bilbo, who had been filling his pipe.
"Oh! Thorin." He said with a start, Thorin couldn't help but smirk.
"Good evening, Bilbo." Thorin began, "How are you fairing, Master Hobbit, on your first day's adventure?"