Summary: Belladonna Took decides to give her friendless son a friend, even if it means an inkfriend who he only hears from from-time-to-time. A new intake into penfriend fics, Thilbo-slash version
Spoilers: The Hobbit books, The Hobbit trilogy movies
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit nor any of the characters from the books or movies, they belong to J. R. R. Tolkien. I also do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Beta: none
Pairings in this chapter: Bungo Baggins/Belladonna Took
Warnings in this chapter: Alternate Universe – No Dragon, pen-letter, penfriend, different cultures
Nr words in this chapter: 1,218
"Talking Common"
'Thinking'
{Talking Quenian}
[Talking Sindarin]
«Talking Khuzdul»
Dream/Memory/Letter/Journal/Book/Newspaper
Time change/Date of time
Change of POV
Prologue
TA 2901
Belladonna's POV
Bilbo had always been a problematic Hobbitling. Always looking for fights with his wooden sword, always looking for Elves, never staying in one place… not having any friend because of his unwanted personality.
Belladonna hissed as one more day her boy cried to his sleep because the other children had picked on him. It was enough. She picked her outing cloak and went to the hole of the Old Took – her father. He received her with open arms and a questioning look.
"Bilbo?" he wondered and she nodded. The old Hobbit thought for a while as he served her supper, before he finally spoke. "I have an idea."
This was how the very next day Bilbo found himself - with the help of his mother - writing a letter.
Blessings
You don't know me and I don't know you. My name is Bilbo Baggins, I am a Hobbit from the Shire. I have 10 years old. I like to play with wooden swords and hunt for the tree Elves in the woods. I speak common and Elvish. I have blue/green eyes, brown curly hair, pointy ears, round face and hairy feet (with all it's 10 toes!).
I am writing this letter to you because I don't have any friends, do you want to be my friend? I am too Outsider to my fellow Hobbits, so my family thinks that only an Outsider can be my friend. If you accept to be my inkfriend, then please send a letter back through Gandalf, the giant.
BB
–IF–
TA 2902
Bilbo's POV
Bilbo ran to the house of the Old Took as soon as he heard of the old Man's arrival, Gandalf!
"Gandalf!" he called and the old wanderer turned, smiling. "Did you find it? Did you find me a friend?"
"Easy boy…" the wizard from one of his pockets he took an important looking parchment… it had a wax seal and everything. "This was sent for you."
"What do you say, lad?" the Old Took asked.
"Thank you." Bilbo said, before snatching his letter and running away to read it in privacy.
Greetings, young Bilbo
My name is Thorin, I am a Dwarf from Erebor. Like you I have no friend to call my own in my land. Not for lack of attempts on their part, but my lineage doesn't allow me to mingle among them. I am the oldest son of three siblings, I have one sister named Dís (who is evil reincarnated) and one brother named Frerin. As the first son I have rules and guidelines I need to follow so one day I can follow in my father's footsteps, who followed in my grandfather's footsteps. Even so I was advised by Tharkûn, who you call Gandalf, to accept this friendship. He is of the idea that will do both of us some good (and be quite amusing for him, what he meant by that I do not know). All this to say, Master Baggins, that I accept your friendship invitation.
As I've said I am a Dwarf and by so I'm small in stature (even if taller than any Half… Hobbits). I have long black hair and beard long enough to make a small braid. By Dwarf's standards I'm not considered beautiful, but I am a warrior I don't have time to worry about what Dwarrowdames think of me. I will not worry you with my age, I'll just say that I'm of age by Dwarrow counts.
I speak Common, Khuzdul (the Dwarf language) and am able to write them. I do not speak Elvish (either it be Quenian or Sindarin) though, but if you ever want a fellow companion on your Elf hunts, do tell. I also was taught how to fight with a sword and a bow and arrow. Why don't you tell me how you grab the sword? Then next time I'll be able to teach you how to do it better.
T
Bilbo grinned and hugged his letter to his chest. He had a friend now… Bilbo frowned, a friend with big words and a strange culture – who cared about beards? Better yet, what were beards?
–IF–
TA 2902
Thorin's POV
Thorin looked away from his swordsmanship practice, when his fellow companion and body guard pointed him out the newcomer. It looked like the grey wizard had returned.
"Greetings. I believe you have something for me, Tharkûn."
"Indeed, I do." Tharkûn took a small looking letter that he offered Thorin.
"When do I expect your leave?" he questioned.
"As soon as I finish my meeting with your father."
Thorin nodded, that didn't gave him much time.
"I'll have one ready for you then."
Tharkûn nodded and left. Thorin looked at Dwalin, before leaving and walking to his quarters so he could read the young lad's letter.
Greetings, friend Thorin
It must be horrible to have so many responsibilities that you can't even make friends. I asked the town scribe to draw a picture of me grabbing the sword.
Thorin looked at the back of the parchment letter and looked at it, only to smile at the boyish face… he was barefoot… how odd…
I tried to ask my mother what was beard, she said that it was what Gandalf was. So… are you alike Gandalf but shorter and black haired? Why would beards matter anyway? I think Gandalf quite ugly actually. And he always hears clothes on his feet! Poor poor feet… how do they breathe?
I don't have any siblings. Mother can't have more kids. Healer said she has an infection inside her. I… you understand what I meant, right? I don't know very well and the other Hobbits are always badmouthing mother. They don't know or don't care. The ones that do know said that it's my fault, that I did something to mother as a baby.
Thorin had to force himself to release the letter so not to destroy it. Who said that to a child? No wonder the lad didn't have any friends.
How is it? To have siblings? Hobbits (it's Hobbits not Halflings, we aren't half something!) have dozens of children, so I really want to know how it feels to have a child that lives with you.
Do you want to follow in your family footsteps? Do you like it? Can I say or do something to help you? If you need to speak about it you can write to me. I'm here to listen after all. I want to know everything there is to know about you.
Can you teach me a little about Dwarrow culture? I'd love to learn… nothing that will make you go against your believes of course. We can trade (if you want).
Winter is coming so I'm no longer allowed in the woods, if I'll ever do find an Elf I'll send you a breach of it's hair as proof.
Hopping for a reply
BB
Thorin smiled amused at the eager child. As if an Elf would've allow him to take a single hair out of their heads…
(TBC)
Hi
Here it is, a new intake on the penfriends fics, Thilbo version. This is was a one-shot idea about snow (you'll understand later on) with Riddle-Snape (because of our winter together) which turned into a whole fanfic. I didn't react as Bilbo will react to snow, but I'm certain that if I didn't wear any shoes like him I'd react like him… and that's all the innuendos I'll give, XP
It is finished, only needs to be typed to laptop and posted :)
Hope you all like
~Isys