The Dwarves Took a Tumble

I would just like to thank all of you who reviewed, because I love it when people review. thewingofbutterflies, you seem to be a constant reviewer. Yoo are fantastic! And thank you for reviewing. KannaMatsumoto, I can't tell you anything, because that would be a spoiler. So I am sorry I can't tell you anything. But thank you for the review! I appreciate it! Marion, bonjour. Merci beaucoup pour les phrases. Je suis content pour ton critique. Mon francaise est horrible, je suis desolee.

Please review guise!

Bilbo sighed as he glanced at the empty seat across from him. It was 2 days after he had seen his old wizard friend, Gandalf the Grey. Since then, he had put out an extra sitting of food for the wandering wizard. He had anticipated Gandalf coming sometime this week, he just didn't know when. Bilbo muttered about wizards and their habits before he decided to dig into his own meal, deciding not to wait any longer for Gandalf. He finished his food and got up to put it in his sink. Just as he was about to pick up Gandalf's cold food, his door knocked.

"Well, maybe he is coming tonight," Bilbo mused to himself as he went out to the door. He opened it and came to face a big bald dwarf. 'Uh, what?' Bilbo thought.

"Dwalin," the dwarf grunted, "at your service." He bowed and waited.

"Bilbo Baggins, at yours," Bilbo was confused. Why was there a Dwarf at his doorstep, and why was he coming in!?

"I'm sorry, do we know each other!?" Bilbo asked as Dwalin barged into his home.

Dwalin gave him an incredulous look, "No."

"Then what the bloody hell are you doing in my house!?" Bilbo asked.

"Come now, laddie," Dwalin looked in a room and sniffed, "Surely Gandalf told ye-"

"This is about Gandalf!?" Bilbo scowled, "When I get my hands on that daft boy I'll…"

Dwalin gave a grunt of surprise, "So ye didn't know we were comin. Mighty rude of him."

"We," Bilbo sighed, "How many is we?"

Ten minutes later had Dwalin eating Gandalf's cold food and Bilbo sitting next to him with his head in his hands.

"Thirteen dwarves will be in my home by the end of the night. Fantastic."

Dwalin stared at him, "Ye know, it's quite rude for people to arrive to a home unannounced. If ye want, I can tell the others-"

"No!" Bilbo sighed, "It's not all your or their faults that Gandalf is a manipulative old fool. I would be glad to have you dwarves over for dinner. It's Gandalf I'm less likely to welcome."

Dwalin gave him an appreciative look, "Yer not like the other Hobbits I passed when comin here. Yer a lot nicer."

Bilbo blushed under the compliment, "Thank you." 'If only I was an actual hobbit.'

Bilbo stood and led the dwarf to the formal dining room, "This looks big enough to hold us all tonight, don't you think?"

Dwalin nodded as he took in the long table. There weren't enough chairs. "If ye need help, I'd be glad to."

"That's fantastic!" Bilbo gave him a beaming smile, "Would you be kind enough and go into that room over there," He pointed down the hall, "there should be enough chairs there. Could you bring as many as we need?"

Dwalin nodded and set off. The door knocked. Bilbo sighed. Dwalin called from down the hall, "That'll be the door."

"No really, I thought that was your stomach growling, still hungry!" Bilbo teased as he went to answer it. A booming laugh answered him. Bilbo answered the door and met a short dwarf with white hair.

"Balin, at your service," he bowed.

Bilbo smiled, "Bilbo Baggins, at yours. Come on in! Lovely day it is!"

"Aye, it is. But I think it might rain later."

Balin came into the home and saw Dwalin pass by him with two chairs. He gave a confused look, "Brother!"

Dwalin looked over and set the chairs down, "By my beard! Balin, you've gotten taller!"

"Wider, not taller, brother!"

They held each other's arms before smashing their heads together. Bilbo winced at the display. 'Dwarves and their greetings.'

Dwalin looked at Bilbo, "Master Baggins, if ye want, my brother can help with the preparations!"

Balin look confused. Dwalin gave him a look, "Seems like Mister Gandalf didn't inform Master Baggins that we were coming. Quite rude, don't ye think?"

Balin look affronted, "Well the nerve of that wizard! Do ye want any help, Master Baggins?"

Bilbo chuckled, "Well if you could help me unload the pantry and set it on the table that would be wonderful. I know how much dwarves eat, and I know that it'll take the pantry to feed thirteen of them."

Balin nodded and set off for the pantry. Dwalin gave Bilbo a nod before taking the chairs to the dining room. Bilbo went to the kitchen and gathered all the plates he knew he would need for the dinner. He put them on the slowly filling with food table and smiled at Balin and Dwalin, "Thank you for the help."

They gave him a smile before going to finish their tasks. The door knocked again and Bilbo sighed. "If this dwarf thing is about that bloody adventure, I'm going to throw him down the nearest cliff I find.' Bilbo went to answer the door. He was met with two young dwarves, one fair haired and the other brown.

"Fili," the blonde one said,

"Kili," the brunette greeted.

"At your service."

Bilbo smiled at the young ones, "Bilbo Baggins, at yours. Come on in, you're the third party to arrive."

Fili and Kili walked in and took a look at the home.

"Nice place!" Fili said as he took off his cloak and dropped it on the floor.

Kili scraped his shoe on the glory box next to the door, "Yea, did you make it yourself?"

Bilbo stared at them, irritated. He glared at Kili and growled, "That most certainly isn't a mat for you to wipe your feet on."

Kili shivered under the glare and gave a gulp, "Sorry."

Bilbo just grabbed a nearby rag and threw it at him, "Clean it up, now." As Kili set to cleaning it, Bilbo turned to Fili, "Pick up that cloak, young man, or I'll throw you over my knee."

Fili coughed before picking it up and putting it on the coat hanger next to the door. Bilbo nodded at him before taking the dirty rag from Kili and setting it on the floor.

"Good, now go wash your hands and sit in the dining room." Bilbo watched as they rushed to comply with his demand.

Dwalin, who was passing by, barked out a laugh, "I've never seen those two rush off like that unless it was their mother nipping her fangs at their feet. Glad to see someone knows how to handle them."

Bilbo just grunted before going over to see the full table and Balin sitting at it, already grabbing a plate for himself. Dwalin, who had finished with the chairs, sat down next to him and dug in as well. The boys came into the room and sat down; looking at Bilbo before deciding it was safe to eat. Bilbo smiled at them and gave the other two a grin.

"Thank you again for the help," Bilbo thanked again.

Dwalin grunted and Balin nodded, "We're glad to help."

There was another knock on the door. Bilbo moved away from the table and went to the door. 'I wonder who it'll be. Perhaps that blasted wizard.' Bilbo opened the door and shouted in surprise as an avalanche of dwarves collapsed on top of him. He distantly heard Dwalin and Balin rush into the room and yell at the others to get off of him. 'Ow, it feels like Myserie decided to sit on me.' As the last dwarf got off him, Bilbo was helped up by Balin as Dwalin glared at someone who was still in the door.

"Are you ok, Master Baggins?" Balin prodded the bruises forming on his body and Bilbo squirmed.

"I'm quite alright, Master Balin. It's not the first time I've gotten bruises." Bilbo turned to look at what Dwalin was glaring at. He saw Gandalf in the door and scowled, "Master Dwalin, could you please take the dwarves into the other room and start eating. I would like to have some word with Mister Gandalf."

Dwalin grunted and led the others into the other room. As they passed by, Bilbo shrugged off the dwarves' apologies, showing no concern. He glared darkly at Gandalf before grabbing him by the beard and dragged him to the sitting room, closing the door behind him. He growled at the wizard, eyes faintly glowing red and narrowing. Gandalf gulped.

"Do not think, boy," Bilbo hissed out, "That just because you are 240 years of age, doesn't mean I won't take you over my knee and wallop you. What were you thinking, bringing guests into my home, unannounced!? I should burn you to a crisp where you stand! This has better not be about that bloody adventure you tried to get me to go on!"

"Please, Bilbo, just listen to their story. I feel that you could help them with their problem-"

"And what? Gain a few friends along the way? I am perfectly fine here-"

"Alone?" Gandalf gave Bilbo a sad look, "It is not healthy for you to live a lonely life, old friend. I noticed that the hobbits don't truly welcome you in their homes. What is wrong with me trying to get you some friends?"

"And what happens when they find out what I am? Who I am?"

"That'll never happen. You've lived in the Shire for 5,000 years now. No one here knows what you are. To them, you act like a wizard."

Bilbo heard the rowdy behavior of the dwarves and sighed, "We will speak of this later. I will hear their tale and I will decide then."

Gandalf nodded and followed him out of the room and into the dining room. They took their seats and started to eat. Bilbo gave Fili a sharp look as the young dwarf tried to stand on the table with mugs in his hands. Fili coughed before sitting back down and passing the drinks down the table. The other dwarves laughed at Fili before introducing themselves to the hobbit. Bilbo greeted them all with a smile. As they ate, they joked and played. When they were done, Bifur did the washing while the others threw the dining down the hall. Bilbo watched in amusement and gave the dwarves who were clinking the knives together a dry look.

"Could you please stop that? You'll blunt them."

"Oh, do ye hear that fellows," Bofur laughed, "He says we'll blunt the knives!"

Bilbo listened as they all started to laugh and sing. He laughed as Balin gave an unconcerned look. Bilbo got up and went to the kitchen as they finished the song and smiled at the clean dishes, thanking Bifur for washing them. Bifur signed your welcome as the others laughed. They all stopped abruptly as there was a knock on the door. Bilbo did a quick count and noticed they were missing one dwarf. Gandalf noticed too and sighed.

"He's here."