This story is a collection of one shots on how Bilbo and the Dwarves could have met in different circumstances/before the quest as well as occasional 'what if they did something different on the quest' ideas. No Modern AU's here, it will be working mainly within Tolkien's world. The primary focus is The Hobbit (combining Movie and Book when appropriate) and the Main Characters within. Some will be long, others short, it depends on how much I like the idea.
Some of these, you'll notice, could be their own, multi-chaptered, stories. I'm not going to expand them beyond the one chapter they have here, due to having enough unfinished stories in progress as it is. If you would like to adopt one, I ask that you notify me, as well as credit me.
This collection is the result of some rather interesting Alternate Universes I've read in this fandom, and you may see some similarities to other stories due to the fact those stories have inspired me. You can find these Stories (some of which are Slash or Genderbending) in a handful of communities: Dwarves in the Shire has the main culprits. When I remember the other names, I'll post them.
To Clarify: There will be No Slash or Pairings, just good, old-fashioned friendship (or Bromance, if you must) and family feels. There will be some Gender-bending (and occasional Age-Bending) but those will be played for humor, not romance.
As I am writing a fan fiction, on a site labeled , I should think it is obvious I do not own the rights to the Hobbit . . . I'm just having fun.
Path 1: Those Who Wander
Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, Son of Thror, was lost. Normally, this would not be a problem, as he would travel with a group, but today, he had chosen to travel alone.
The smith who was supposed to travel this way had been injured, and rather than allow him to lose money, Thorin had volunteered himself to go in his place. It had been a nice sunny day with only a few clouds when he had left.
Unfortunately, the weather had steadily gotten worse, leading to the current storm, and his losing his way.
He found a slightly sheltered spot on a nearby hill, and settled down to wait out the storm, and hoping Balin and Dwalin wouldn't go at him at the same time when they found out about this. (And somehow, they always seemed to know when Thorin had done something un-kingly and, more bluntly, stupid.)
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted, by a door in the hill suddenly opening and throwing light on him. Two large dogs barked as they charged out the door, though they quickly retreated at a sharp command.
"Who're you and what are you doing out here?" The one that spoke was small, the height of a dwarf child, yet speaking with the voice of an old man, and more importantly, wielding a pitchfork.
Wonderful, I'm never going to hear the end of this if Dwalin finds out. Thorin thought, then shifted to hold out his hands. "I apologize, I was seeking shelter from the hail . . . I was on my way to the village of Bree for work."
"Bree! You're far from there, lad. Get in here, afore you catch your death!" Thorin bristled at being called 'lad' but pushed aside his pride to obey. "Ma! Visitor! Needs Warmth!" The small man called, closing the door and putting the pitchfork to the side. "Not a man, guess you must be a dwarf, don't get many around here."
"Yes, where am I?" Thorin blinked at the rather cozy hole, and at the strange little man who was muttering about loss of crops looking at the rain and hail. He did a double take as a little woman came into the entrance way, and gave a cry of dismay, and cutting off the little man's answer.
"You poor thing! Let's get you out of those wet things, Da, start a warm bath at once." As the little woman began fussing over him, Thorin noticed her feet- she wore no shoes, but her feet were covered in a thick curly hair.
Small people, smaller than dwarves with hairy feet. "You're . . . Hobbits?" He had heard tales, of course, little people that could vanish, and he had heard that Bree was near the border of their land. But for the most part, Thorin had ignored the stories- Hobbits rarely left their land, and he had never met one before, so there had been no need to listen to rumors of a people smaller than dwarves and capable of disappearing.
"We'll speak after you've soaked and had a bit to eat." The lady hobbit said, and Thorin was far to tired and wet to argue- in fact, he was so tired, he didn't realize he hadn't introduced himself until after he was settled at the table, wearing his spare clothes while his wet ones were drying by the fire, and the man of the house started questioning him.
"Mind telling me who you are, Master Dwarf, and why I found you on my front step, looking half drowned?"
Thorin internally balked a little at the person's tone, but he reluctantly pushed aside his pride to answer. "My name is Thorin, I was heading to Bree for work, and was trying to take shelter from the rain."
"Bree? Lad, you're heading in the wrong direction." The little person studied him.
"I'm telling the truth." Thorin was really annoyed with people treating him as untrustworthy, it was getting under his skin more than ever now.
"Did I say different? What sort of work, Mister Thorin, and why carry a sword?"
" . . . Smithing, the sword's for my protection." Thorin answered, and any more questions were thankfully stopped by the arrival of the man's wife.
"Mister Maggot! I'll thank you to wait until after supper before harassing the poor dear!"
Thorin was starting to think he'd much prefer Farmer Maggot's distrust than his wife's fussing. Any attempt to try and help, or even offer to help, was met with more fussing, and Thorin had to put up with her attentions. Thorin also very quickly regretted mentioning that normally he only had between 2 or 3 meals a day. She promptly began trying to feed him more.
A knock on the door had the old farmer grumbling as he went to open it. In came a very muddy hobbit youth (judging from the size, the mud made it difficult) and two equally muddied dogs, as well as another hobbit who looked very vexed.
"Bilbo Baggins! What are you doing out in this weather!" Farmer Maggot demanded as his wife started fussing over the youth and dogs- or more accurately, the mess they were making.
"Tooks. Several children went out in this weather, and mother insisted I help search. Found yours while looking for that scamp Paladin Took and the three cousins he convinced to go adventuring in this lot."
"Brandybucks at least have some sense." Farmer Maggot muttered. "No help for it." He whistled for the dogs.
"Wait, if you need help-" Thorin started, standing, and causing the new hobbit to start in surprise. "Thorin Oakenshield, at your service," he gave a small bow- really a nod of his head, "This storm is not a safe place for children of any kind to be." Dwarves were naturally protective of their children until they made it to adulthood. The numbers were dwindling, and each dwarfling born was considered a boon.
"Bilbo Baggins at yours. If it's not too much of a bother." Baggins seemed a rather timid fellow, and Thorin was sure he was some sort of grocer.
It was a difficult search in the rain, the dogs' noses were practically useless, and even Thorin's naturally excellent eyesight in the dark could barely pierce the darkness brought by the storm.
They found the children huddling in an abandoned barn, and with much scolding from Bilbo Baggins to the children, two of whom Thorin was carrying while Baggins held the third, they headed towards the children's homes, Farmer Maggot returning to his own.
"Well, you'd have had to meet the Thain tomorrow any way, Tooks are too curious for their own good to let a stranger pass by without questions." Baggins said when Thorin asked where they were going. "Lucky you met the Maggots, they'll bring anything you left there to the Thain in the morning."
A Thain, it turned out, was the Shire Equivalent to a king, though politics were the sole responsibility of the Mayor of Hobbiton. The Tooks were apparently the closest thing to warriors the Shire had, and Thorin found himself fussed over by many of the mothers, who apparently thought he needed more food.
Thorin also discovered that Hobbits were rather business savvy, and despite having a few blacksmiths of their own (lesser skilled than dwarves, but serviceable workmanship Thorin judged) he ended up being given a list of jobs needed doing (room and board included) and paid half up front as soon as the contract was signed.
He was there for a couple months, during which he found Bilbo and Belladonna Baggins to be the most helpful at explaining how the Shire worked (though he disliked the Bracegirdles, a rather silly family who'd die the instant they stepped out of the Shire in Thorin's opinion) and he found that Bilbo was rather learned- though he had a strange fascination with elves that Thorin found unhealthy.
Bilbo also seemed to be just as restless as Thorin, in a way, mentioning that though it was frowned upon (and grudgingly accepted that Tooks and Brandybucks didn't care) he'd like to have at least one adventure, and listened when Thorin spoke of Ered Luin and the fall of his own home.
It wouldn't be until years later, that Thorin returned to the Shire, and Bilbo got his adventure- Though Thorin was late because he got waylaid by Paladin Took and the Thain who thought it was wonderful Gandalf was back, and found amusement that the address Gandalf had given him was Bilbo's- apparently, they thought it would do Bilbo some good to have an adventure.
Next up: No idea, but it involves a certain sticky-fingered dwarf …