Chapter two
The company
"Bilbo, my boy, are you nervous?"
Bilbo Baggins, prince of the Shire stared incredulously up at the grey wizard. Gandalf had his eyebrows raised and head cocked to the side. "If you are trying to joke with me Gandalf it will not work, of course I'm nervous. I'll be leaving the Shire, my books- well most of my books and my arm chair."
"But you will gain so much more." Bilbo took a moment to think at Gandalf words. He was correct, he would be marrying Frerin, the very dwarrow he's been trying to get off his mind. He wasn't doing a good job if it, he was nervous and excited to meet Frerin. They've sent a few letters to each other but they soon stopped coming. Bilbo presumed it was some sort of courting ritual to end letters at a certain time. One particular day he received a portrait of Frerin himself on one of the monthly shipments from The lonely mountain. There was not one moment he would not gaze upon it, the color of his blond hair, the fair tone of his skin and most of all his emerald eyes. They were a sight to behold. That portrait was eight years old, so the hobbit was not aware what his intended looked like now. He would soon.
Was it silly to think that way? Loving a stranger that he's never met or spoken to face to face? Their marriage was not created out of love for eachother but to unify two kingdoms. Bilbo knew this very well and he just prayed to Yvanna that things would work out or else his heart would be shattered. He would make it work, he would do anything for Frerin to see him the way he did. So with a smile on his face he looked up at Gandalf, "You are right, I will gain more. Thank you." The wizard tipped his hat.
"Now let's go meet the company." The prince adjusted this flower crown made of mithril, then made sure his weapon was strapped tightly behind his back and proceeded up the tunnel. The guards acknowledge their prince with a nod of their heads, Bilbo smiled as the door swung open. The sound of music playing and cheers erupting filtered in. Taking one deep breath, the prince and wizard stepped out.
It felt so good to feel the fresh air in his lungs, the soft caress of the wind on his face and hair. But most of all the sun. Hobbits were creatures of nature and once in awhile they needed the nourishment of the sun and its surroundings. Bilbo was just glad they didn't go too many days without it. "The company has yet to arrive, go and enjoy the celebration while I search them out." Gandalf said, he took off to the nearest firework station where a couple of fauntlings and young dwarrows surrounded the area. Alone, Bilbo smiled at the wizard then walked around the area. People danced and swayed to the beat of the music, the sun was starting to change and soon the moon would be the highest thing in the sky. The prince that he was he curtly made conversation and avoided Lobelia as best as he could, that women only wanted one thing and he would make sure she would not get a hold of it.
His mind wandered, it was unbelievable that that hobbits and dwarves shared a life together, he wondered what life would have been if the alliance between both kingdoms had not happened. What would have become of his kin? There were so many things that could have occurred but, Bilbo was just glad that his people and the dwarrows of Ered Luin survived the ordeal. Everything was meant to be just as it is now. There was nothing else Bilbo could ask for. The sun finally hid and the moon took its position, that moment the Shire was engulfed in warm white light. Just like so many decades ago. Atop a hill where the remains of an old smial laid, the prince found an old bench, the paint was chipped and its once vibrant red was now a dull color. From this view, Bilbo would be able to see everything, see how everybody enjoyed each other's company but Bilbo wanted to be alone. He needed time to think.
Fear finally settled in, the hobbit hesitantly sat down on the old bench and looked down at his kin, he reached for his inner pocket of his jacket and took out his father's pipe. He held it in his hands, contemplating on what could potentially await for him in the future. Before leaving the safe haven of the underground kingdom, Bilbo was sure he could do anything, he had a positive outlook in his life. The life of marrying a person he never met, but now that he was away from everyone and the responsibility as prince he now felt empty. Since birth he only knew one thing and one thing only, he was destined to marry someone he never met, someone who was chosen for him without his decision. From the start he didn't want anything to do with the contract or the fact that it was his duty as a prince to do as he was told for the better of his people. His mother always sided with him, she encourage him to find someone to love on his own, to not let the alliance between the Shire and Erebor affect him. He was his own person and he could freely choose who to love. That was taken away the moment his parents passed away unexpectant, Bilbo never got the full story but it involved wargs. Since then on, the people around him filled him with ideas of Frerin, the ideal dwarrow for him. There were promises of happiness, of love and Bilbo desperately wanted that...so he held onto the only thing available, Prince Frerin.
Bilbo turned his gaze up at the night sky, his forest green eyes watching as the stars gleamed. Shutting his eyelids, he wished for a love that could fight through anything, have the power to destroy the very contract that bound him to someone else. If that someone never came he would accept his fate. Who knows, maybe Frerin was his one and he just didn't know it. He really needed to stop doubting everything. Pocketing his father's pipe, Bilbo stood up, straightened his clothes and followed the winding path that lead to the party. He needed to greet the dwarrows that would journey with him to Erebor, they were his escorts and guards. Frerin would be there too, since Bilbo was his intended it was his duty to join in on the journey, a time they would spend knowing each other that way upon arriving at the mountain they would be able to get married as soon as possible. Bilbo would take that time to know Frerin, know the dwarrow and maybe just maybe really love him like he told himself a long time ago.
Having his mind wander, Bilbo reacted too slow at the creature that stepped into his path and sent him hurdling back with one push. Bilbo crashed onto the old bench he sat minutes ago, his back ached at the impact but he pushed that away and as quickly as he could he got up. His vision swam, instinctively his arm went to his back where his weapon was strapped. His fingers touched the handle but before he could grasp it, the creature attacked. Its fists connecting to his stomach, Bilbo doubled over in pain. A sharp pull on his head had him looking up, his hands trying to pry off the creatures hold. Bilbo let out a scream at what he saw; it was an orc, its face mangled beyond recognition. Black liquid oozed out its mouth as he opened it, its sharp teeth covered in the same substance. Bilbo froze, he wasn't sure if he anybody had hear his scream or if it was all in head head, Bilbo tried looking around for a way out, everytime he tried doing something he would only suffer a new blow. The orcs hands moved down his face until they wrapped around Bilbo's throat. "Now that I have you, I can collect the bounty on your head." The orc snarled, he tighten his hold and Bilbo let out whimper of pain. "If you're going to kill me...do it already." The orcs smiled, it's skin pulling at the action.
"I can't do that just yet, I'll have my fun before I deliver you."
"Deliver me where?" The orc said nothing. Bilbo felt dread and a sense of defeat, he knew how to fight, hed done it a dozen times when he was training under L'vren. Now, how could he not do anything? He knew the way to disable his attacker but his body was not responding. Bilbo tried everything and yet he could do nothing. Couldn't look away as the orc unsheathed its weapon and seeing his frighten reflection on the blade.
The prince regretted not allowing his guards to accompany him, he shouldn't have wandered away from the celebration. Bilbo blinked the tears away then stared up at the Orc, he would not die, he had so much to explore in his life and that vile creature would not take it away. With renewed strength, Bilbo calmed himself enough to think of his next moves. While the Orc was distracted speaking in his tongue, Bilbo mentally assessed where all his blades were hidden, on the inside of his jacket there were a few but if he tried reaching from them he knew the Orc would see. Not going with that option he remembered a hidden dagger underneath the cuff if his sleeve and wrapped around his wrist. With just one push he would have access to it, all he needed to do was get close enough to a major body part. The thigh could work but it would only momentarily disable the creature, Bilbo would not have enough time to get his blade out. Attacking the hand that held him could work, but it would not be enough. With not enough options he decided with the latter.
Bilbo made him move when the Orc ran its weapon across the expanse of his face, he gulped then pressed the button that would bring out the blade. Not thinking about it, the prince took the dagger and struck the orcs arm. The Orc howled in pain and it hold on Bilbo loosened. Bilbo took his chance and jumped out of the way, his arm went behind his back and proceeded to take out his weapons, silencer, the same blade Bandobras took welded. He kept his focus on the Orc which would result in a big mistake. A pack of orcs appeared all of them running towards the hobbit. There were to many to fight off, Bilbo was already hurt from the start. He could only cause temporary pain in the creatures but not actually be able to finish them off completely. They surrounded him. This was it, his last stand. Knowing he would die, Bilbo looked over at the festivity, he wanted the scene ingrained in his mind. The prince of the shire smiled then turned back at his energies, ready to attack.
Bilbo was ready but what came next was not what he expected. Three arrows whooshed past him and hit three orcs right in the center of their eyes, they crumbled to the ground dead. Everyone looked around for the source and were met with a war cry, a dozen dwarrows came out wielding their weapons in the air. Bilbo knew they were not his guards or the guards of Ered Luin, they were different. Astonished at the sight, Bilbo held silence ready to kill if any came after him and he was right. The same Orc from before, his arm was covered in blood and his eyes held pure evil. He advanced at Bilbo but he was ready, the Orc with its right arm swung the blade at Bilbo, he easily dodged it. It went on like that for minutes until the Orc had enough, it took out another blade then attacked at once. Bilbo managed to spin out the way but the other blade would always manage to cut him. No able to keep up any longer, Bilbo stared with dread as silencer flew out of his grasp. The Orc kicked Bilbo, sending him to the ground. Frantically the prince looked for help but the rest of the dwarrows were occupied.
"Killing you will be better than the reward." The Orc swung its blade overhead, Bilbo closed his eyes ready to feel the pain. Nothing came. Only the sound of blades clashing could be heart.
Fluttering his eyes open, Bilbo saw a person standing before him, their back towards them and their weapons blocking the orcs attack. They had long jet black hair with silver tendrils in them, they wore a heavy dark blue coat other than that Bilbo didn't recognize him.
"Lay a filthy hand on him again and I will kill you." His voice was low and the threat was heard and ignored. The Orc went to to attack and was stopped by the dwarrows sword, the creature fell. Sheathing his weapon away, the dwarrow turned around and Bilbo was struck speechless, his heart hammer in his chest and his breath left him. The most beautiful shade of blue Bilbo had ever seen were staring back at him. "So, this is the hobbit that will be marrying my brother. Thorin son of Thrain at your service." They way he said it sent chills down the hobbits body, Thorin gave his hand and Bilbo took it, and from then on...Bilbo prince of the Shire knew everything would change from this moment on.
Author's note; hello my lovely readers. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Forgot time mention, that in this story, Smaug was slain during his attack on the lonely mountains. Those who read always there will notice a character from that story here. Just briefly. Anyway, Thorin has made his entrance thanks to Thilbo4ever. and what in the hell does the Orc mean by bounty- what do they want with Bilbo? Till next update. Adios.