Chapter 1 - Bag End

-APRIL-

"This is madness…" said Dis her arms crossed on her chest, looking at her beloved sons saddling the ponies. "You will only find ruins and desolation in this quest."

Kili finished to tie her sword on his saddle then turned back to face his mother. He looked at his brother Fili whom seems also devastated by the incoming separation. The older one walked slowly toward Dis and took her head inside his hands.

"Mother, you cannot ask us to let our uncle take back Erebor by himself", whispered Fili, smiling at his mother with love. "If anything would happen to him, I will become the Heir of the Lonely Mountain, it is our duty to be there", he added then with even more softness "as the descendants of Durïn."

Dis looked down, not knowing what she should answer. Kili never saw his mother being in so much pain and despair, the woman he knew always looked so proud and strict. He joined his mother next to his brother.

"We will be careful, I promise you" said Kili with a malicious smile on his lips.

"You? Careful?" Respond Dis with a hint of irony. "You have always been careless and unaware of the danger! Do not try to convince me of the opposite".

Kili laughed out loud, she was not completely wrong. He gave her really hard time during his childhood.

"Gandalf will be with us" added Fili. "He is a powerful wizard."

"He is a trouble maker" claimed Dis clenching her teeth. "He put in your and your brother's head false ideas. You do not know anything. I have seen the dragon with my own eyes, I have seen Dale in ruins, devastated by the desolation of Smaug. No one can kill him..."

The brothers looked at each other again, they already knew that the memories of this terrible night were still hunting their mother, years after. Neither his brother nor Kili have known Erebor, they were born years after the lost of the dwarf city but even if they have a peaceful life in the Blues Mountains, something beyond understanding was attracting them to the Lonely Mountain. Dis sighed loudly, she took her sons in her arms.

"Come back to me..." Pain can be heard in her voice as she talked.

She stepped away from them after a few seconds, keeping her hands on their cheeks. The expression on her face changed suddenly. Kili understood at this moment that his mother gave them her blessing. Fili couldn't hold back a smile.

"Please look after each other" She said with a strong voice. "Fili, keep an eye on your brother. He is still young and unconscious."

Kili laughed again, he and his brother were only 5 years apart, which is nothing compared to the long life of the dwarves, but in the eyes of his mother, he was still the young little tumultuous child with the bad habit to put himself in trouble. And Fili has always been there to put him out of this. Dis regained her strength, she stood straight and said with a strong voice:

"Take back Erebor."

Kili said to himself looking at his mother that at that right time, she looked exactly like his uncle Thorin, the same strong mind. She also had the blood of Durïn inside her veins and her aura was royal.

"Tell your uncle that if anything had to happen to you, I will kill him myself."

The brothers knew deep down that she was not joking and imagining their mother angry scared them immediately. They stepped back to join their ponies, Fili helped his brother onto his pony and then got on his.

"Kili"

He turned his head to his mother, she took his hand and placed something inside it. It was a black stone with dwarvish runes on it.

"Return to me..." read Kili.

He stared at his mother with love.

"You do not know all the danger of this world, you are still young." She paused before adding "I have a bad feeling about this quest that I cannot get out of my head. A dark shadow is upon you my sons."

He tossed the stone into the air, grab it and put it into his pocket.

« May those runes protect you."

They glanced one last time at their mother and spurred their ponies. They didn't see their mother hiding her tears. She somehow knew that it was the last time she will see her sons.

In a hole in the ground there lived a honorable Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. It wasn't a nasty, dirty wet hole full of warms and woozy smells, this was a hobbit hole, and that means, good food, a warm half and all the comfort of home. Son of Belladonna Took, Bilbo lived a peaceful hobbit life, as calm as the shire could be. This day started wonderfully well and he wanted to enjoy the first lights of the sun by smoking in his garden in front of his house. As he was throwing the smoke out of his mouth, the sun suddenly disappeared. Biblo opened one eye and saw an old man dressed with a long grey coat, a large hat and he was holding a wooden staff. Bilbo knew that face but couldn't put a name on it. He looked around him but the wizard was not moving.

"Good morning" said Bilbo.

Bilbo said that as a simple form of courtesy but also because it was actually a wonderful day. The old man raised one eyebrow under his hat.

"What do you mean?" answer the old man. "Do you wish me a good morning or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning? Or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on? "

Bilbo frowned his eyebrows, puzzled by this answer.

"All of them at one, I suppose. Can I help you?"

The old man changed the wooden staff to his other hand. Bilbo waddled on the bench, waiting for the answer.

"That remains to be seen. I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure"

The hobbit looked at the wizard in the eyes, surprised.

"An adventure? No, I don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures." Said Bilbo as he stood up.

Bilbo goes to his mailbox to take out the letters. He put his pipe inside his mouth as he reading the letters, looking discreetly toward the old man.

"Nasty, Disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner." He put the letters inside his pocket and walked to his door." Good morning."

"To think that I should have lived to be "good morninged" by Belladonna Took's son as if I were selling buttons at the door"

Bilbo turned back as the wizard mentioned the name of his beloved mother. Who was that man? How could he know all this sort of thing about him?

"Beg your pardon?" Asked Bilbo with bitterness in his voice.

"You've changed and not entirely for the better, Bilbo Baggins." Answered the old man.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it. I'm Gandalf"

Bilbo suddenly remembered the fireworks of the old wizard when he was a child, always here to celebrate all the birthdays and celebrations with them.

"Gandalf the wandering wizard who made such excellent fireworks? Heh Heh No idea you were still in business."

Gandalf laughed frankly in his beard, changing again the staff from hand.

"Well I'm pleaded to find you remember something about me even if it's only my fireworks. Well that's decided, it will be very good for you and must amusing for me. I shall inform the others."

The Bilbo's enthusiasm went down immediately. He loved his life here in Bag End so much and he didn't want anything unexpected to happen.

"Inform the who? What? No. No. No wait, we do not want any adventures here, thank you. Not today. I suggest you try over the hill or across the water." As he was speaking, he moved toward the door. He turned to goes in but turned back. "Good morning."

Bilbo closed the door, breathing out. He locked the door, hoping that it will be enough to discourage the old wizard. The hobbit heard a weird scratching on the door, he put his ears against it but the strange noise stopped. He goes next to the window and saw Gandalf leaving. Bilbo felt immediately relieved.

Fili and Kili arrived very late in the night at Bree after riding all day. They were exhausted but happy to finally being able to rest. The brothers received during the day a message from Gandalf giving the meeting point at the house of man called Bilbo Baggins. They will have to go to the shire the next day. They leaded there ponies to the prancing pony's stables before heading to the tavern. They rented a room for one night and paid for two evening meals. They ate in silence and then want to their room, it was sold as a special dwarf room, but they didn't expect it to be this much accurate. The furniture was made by dwarves cabinet markers from the Blues Mountains (regarding the style) and there was also tapestries made in the iron hills. A warm wood fire has been lighted on the chimney and somehow it felt like home to Kili. And it made him feel nostalgic. It has been three weeks since he left his hometown and his mother and seeing this place brought him back memories. Fili put off some clothes to keep only one shirt and his trousers, and then went to bed. Despite his tiredness, Kili wasn't in a mood to sleep. He changed also clothes but instead going to bed, he sat at the windows. The dwarf took the black stone outside his pocket and looked at it. It was raining and not a lot of light could be seen. As he thought his brother was asleep, Fili came sitting in front of him.

"You should sleep Kili, tomorrow will be a rough day."

Kili didn't answer, he couldn't clearly see his brother in the darkness but he tried not to cross his eyes. The rain was hitting hard on the window, the drops were reflecting on his face. The incoming reunion with his uncle made him feel happy but at the same time, he was anxious. He was the youngest and he knew Thorin had high hopes for Fili, as he was his legitimate heir, but he was also very proud of him. He always has show the same love for both of them but deep down, it seems to Kili that their uncle hold his brother in a higher esteem. He wanted to prove to the others that he, too, could be a brave warrior, but not everyone seems to believe in him, including his own mother. Fili knew that something was wrong with Kili, it is not really in his habit to stay silence. He saw the little stone in his brother's hands.

"Mother gave you this isn't it?" murmured Fili looking at it.

"She seems doubting me, doubting that I am able to be with you in this quest" said Kili looking at the stone sadly.

Fili put his hands on Kili's shoulder squeezing it softly and smiled at him.

"Your place is next to me Brother, I know better than anyone your skill with a bow and a sword, and you are one of the smartest dwarves." Kili winced with a half smile at the last compliment, doubting about this one. "Our mother is worry because you are the young one, brave but a little unconscious. I promised to keep you safe and I will."

Kili gave to his brother a sweet smile, he has always been here when he was feeling down and knew exactly what to say to make him feel better.

"I will protect you too brother" he answer with love.

Fili put his hands on Kili's neck and pressed his head on his. It was a soft act of brotherhood very common in the dwarvish culture.

"Now you need to rest" said Fili as he stepped back from his brother.

Kili nodded silently and put back the stone in his pocket. He felt more peaceful thanks to his brother. He was determined to prove his value to his mother but also to his uncle, Thorin Oakenshield.

At the first streak of dawn, they took the road to the shire, it was at one day of travel. They were really enthusiastic thinking about meeting back their uncle and Gandalf. However they didn't know who has been invited besides them. Balïn and his brother must be among them as they are Thorin's closest friends. They also didn't know the reason of their visit in this land, this far from the glorious dwarven kingdom of Erebor.

The travel to the shire was very quiet, they only have met a few travelers and some traveling merchants who were surprised to meet dwarves in those lands. The first hobbits they met were in a forest not far from the shire. They were barefoot, hairy foots, with shorts and one of them was holding a fishing rod. The brothers have nether met any hobbits but they knew how they look.

"Good morning master Hobbit" Said Fili bowing his head a bit. 'We are looking for Bag End, is it the right way?"

The hobbits looked at each others, surprised to meet armored dwarves so close to their borders. One of them however showed a direction with his finger and said:

"This way master dwarf, you still have half a day at ponies."

"Much obliged. Have a wonderful day master Hobbit."

As the sun started to fade behind the hills, they arrived at their destination. The brothers appreciated a lot the shire, seeing how simple the hobbits were living, but also how much they enjoy their life. Their house dig into the ground intrigued Kili a lot. They tied their ponies and climbed on the last house, where mister Boggins was supposed to live. They saw the blue mark of Gandalf burnt on the door. They were relieved to eat a good meal tonight after this long riding day. Fili walked up to the door and rang the bell.

Bilbo has spent his day on his guards, afraid to meet again Gandalf. He was now tired and his suspicion went down a little. The wizard must have given up the idea to take him in an adventure as he said.

The night has come and Biblo felt a little hungry. He lighted a fire and put in his plate a fried fish and some vegetables with potatoes. He sat down, tied a napkin around his neck and when he was about to pierce a potato with the folk, the bell rang. Bilbo looked up, freezing for a moment. He wasn't expecting visit tonight… He stood up and opened the door. A dwarf armed with tattoos on his head was standing here in front of him.

"Dwalin, at your service"

Bilbo quickly closed his dressing grow, not knowing what to say or why this dwarf was here.

"Uh, Bilbo Baggins, at yours." Answered the hobbit as the dwarf entered his home. "Do we know each other?

"No" simply said Dwalin.

He goes in the hallway, looking around him as if he was searching for something.

"Which way laddie? Is it down here?"

"Is what down where?" Asked the hobbit, more and more confused by the awkward situation.

"Supper" He put off his coat and through it into Bilbo's arm."He said there'd be food and lots of it. »

"He said? Who said?"

As Dwalin was swallowing the entire diner that Bilbo made earlier for himself, the bell rang again. The hobbit opened the door to found another dwarf.

"Balïn, at your service" said the dwarf as he bowed.

"Good evening" answered Bilbo, more and more lost.

"Yes, yes, it is. Though I think it might rain later." Added the new arriver. "Am I late?

"Late for what?"

"Oh! Evening brother!" shouted Balïn entering the house without being invited.

"By my beard, you're shorter and wider than last we met."

Bilbo closed the door, upset. He didn't understand what's going on. The two dwarves moved toward each other and as a greeting, they knocked their forehead. Then, Dwalïn took his brother to the pantry as the hobbit was trying to understand why they were here and if they could leave. But the dwarves weren't listening at all, more interested into the cheese of the poor Bilbo. As he started to despair, once again, the bell rang. Bilbo was more and more upset and this time, he opened the door without any sort of gentleness. Two young dwarves this time, one blond and one brown, were at his door.

"Fili" said the blond dwarf.

"And Kili" added the other.

"At your service" said the two at the same time, bowing.

"You must be mister Boggins." Asked Kili.

"Nope! You can't come in. You've come to the wrong house." Could finally say Bilbo, closing the door.

Kili put his foot to block the door, preventing the hobbit from locking it. They certainly didn't come all this way from the Blues Mountains to be sent back like that.

"What? Has it been canceled? He asked.

"No one told us" added Fili, looking at his brother.

"Can- No, nothing's been canceled." Answered Bilbo, wanting to add that nothing has never been organized this night at his home, and certainly not a diner with four dwarves.

"That's a relief." Said Kili with a bright smile.

Then again, the dwarves came in without being invited. Fili put into Bilbo's arms his weapons including swords, a lot of knife and axes as his brother was looking at the house.

"Careful with these. I just had them sharpened." Said Fili.

"It's nice, this place. Did you do it yourself?" Asked Kili as he was cleaning his shoes on a wooden chest.

"What? No, it's been in the family for years. That's my mother's glory box! Can you please not do that?"

"Fili, Kili, come on, give us a hand." Said Dwalin.

He took Kili by the shoulder to lead him at the dining room. It has been a long time since he has not met Dwalin and seeing him made Kili happy.

"Mister Dwalin." He said with a smile.

Kili arrived with Dwalin in the dining room where they met Balïn.

"Shove this in the hallway. Otherwise we'll never get everyone in." Ordered the old dwarf.

Fili arrived too and grabbed with Kili a side of the table. Kili saw Bilbo coming to them, still holding his brother's weapons. He said to himself that the hobbit looked too surprise for being aware of this meeting. Fili doesn't seem to be bothered by this question, too happy to be with Dwalin and Balïn. And if Gandalf told them to come here, it was for a reason thought Kili.

"Everyone? How many more are there?"

The bell rang again.

"Oh no. no. There is nobody home!" screamed Bilbo, throwing Fili's weapons on the chest. "Go away and bother somebody else. There are far too many dwarves in my dining room as it is. If this is some clot-head's idea of a joke, I can only say it is in very poor taste."

Bilbo opened the door and a whole bunch of dwarves felt on the floor. The face of the old man from this morning appeared in the door opening.

"Gandalf…"