Author's Note:
Hello everyone!
Whoa, still amazed that you guys like this fanfic so much. Thank you for the reviews. Love reading from you guys. Including you Haters. LOVE YOU HATERS!
After this chapter, I have to write within my other fanfics. Yeah, those too need to be updated. Though it's a bit hard from switching from 1 fandom to the next. Ah well, I'll figure it out ^_~.
Ivivia is pronounced: I-vee-vee-uh.
Bilbo's pony is the Australian Pony. Ranges from anywhere from 11 to 14 hands tall.
Miron= Jewel or treasure.
If you are wondering what Bilbo's pony looks like go here:
ahorseofcourseandrabbitstooDOTblogspotDOTcom/2012/04/australian-ponyDOT ht ml
Read, review and enjoy!
Alonia143.
Chapter 3.
The sounds of birds greeted Bilbo's ears as he slowly opened his eyes and stretched a little; snuggling more into his pillow.
It seemed that he forgot something. Something to do that was highly important, but with his sleepy mind, Bilbo stayed in bed.
CLINK!
BANG! BANG!
TWANG!
He bolted right up from his bed, darted out of his bedroom and hurried towards the sound with his sword drawn.
What greeted him was huge smack in the forehead of what happened last night: 2 hungry looking little dwarflings wanting breakfast.
"Ooh Fili, Kili," Bilbo softly said, lowering his sword.
"Sorry," Kili said sadly.
"It's OK my boy. Now, what was it that you 2 wanted for breakfast?" Bilbo replied, walking over and picking Kili up and looked at Fili curiously.
"Food," Fili said back.
Bilbo nodded, more of last night coming back to his memory as he then looked around.
"Well how about you 2 sit right here and I'll make us a large breakfast…uh lunch I mean," he said noticing the position of the sun from his window.
Bilbo gently took out 2 stools for them to sit on as he moved around his kitchen. He didn't mean to overslept this much, although he did have an eventful night.
Quick glances to the 2 brothers, Bilbo wondered where they came from. Why they were this far away from Ered Luin and how could he get them back to their parents or guardian.
Anyone who know where the Dwarves live, tend to stay far away from those places. A lot of rumors and tales were passed from 1 person to the other. Bilbo never listened to them because he was judging the dwarves like those people were judging them and Bilbo was not going to be like them. Sure the dwarves were rough around the "edges" but, Bilbo couldn't blame them for it.
"Fili and Kili?" Bilbo asked when he finished with making the food.
They looked at him, curious as to what he had to say.
"How did you guys come this way?" Bilbo further asked, putting their plates in dining room.
Fili wanted to answer this question, truly he did. He wanted his uncle's love to know what caused them to be here. However, the young dwarfling didn't know that much Westron. Kili wasn't that much help either; he only knew so very fewer words then Fili.
The kids slide down and walked over to the table. They sat down in their chairs and started to eat.
Bilbo wasn't surprised by the silence from his question. He rubbed Fili's back smiling softly at him.
"It's OK. I think I can make a trip up to Ered Luin with you 2 in tow. Just need 2 weeks to gather everything," Bilbo explained when Fili was confused.
Both brothers perked up at the name Ered Luin. Their eyes sparkled with hope and knowing that is their home.
"Would you 2 be alright if you drew on some blank pieces of paper?" Bilbo asked them curiously.
Fili tilted his head in confusion, trying to work it out.
Bilbo held up his finger and walked away as he walked to his study. He came back with his arms full of blank paper, ink bottles filled with black and blue ink, quills and a dry rag.
Both brothers finished up their breakfast and gazed upon the stuff on the dining room table.
Bilbo gently walked over, picked up their finished empty plates and walked into the kitchen. He put the dishes in the sink with water on them and walked back to the dining room.
Fili and Kili didn't touch the stuff like Bilbo had hoped they would.
"Alright boys. Let's see what we can make Ok?" Bilbo announced, grabbing some paper, ink bottles and quills.
The 2 brothers just stared at him, wondering what it was that he wanted to write about.
Bilbo sat and thought on the picture that he wanted to draw. He smiled as he then picked up a quill, dipped it into the black ink bottle and then started to draw.
It was quiet for some time as Fili and Kili waited for a good 5 minutes.
Tap, tap, and tap.
Bilbo looked up as Fili sighed dramatically.
"Come here you 2," Bilbo said smiling.
They walked over and looked at the paper before them. It was a chicken on a farm it looked like.
"Why don't you try?" Bilbo asked them, smiling.
Kili looked at Fili as they didn't know what to do. Paper, ink bottles and quills were used for important documents, not for kids to play with.
Bilbo gently picked Kili up and sat him in his lap, gently holding his wrist as he guided the dripping tip of the quill across the paper. Kili gasped as he stiffened.
"It's OK Kili," Bilbo tenderly said to him.
Bilbo was confused, why weren't they coloring? Didn't their parents let them do that?
Kili whimpered and muttered "Fili,"
Fili was standing right next to his brother and rubbed his back soothingly. He couldn't understand why Bilbo was acting like this. What was his important message or document?
Bilbo looked at the oldest brother in confusion as Fili studied him in return.
"Kili," Fili confidently replied back, nodding.
Kili sighed and relaxed as he looked at the paper. His eyes got wide at the picture that he saw.
"I guess, that answers my question," Bilbo muttered to himself in disappointment.
Kili turned but whined at the pain. Bilbo gently twisted Kili back around and held him close as the little dwarfling hated being in pain.
Bilbo looked down when Fili tapped his arm.
Fili pointed to the paper, ink bottles, quills and then back to him.
"Oh, uh…" Bilbo panicked.
He never had children, so he basically didn't know what to do when these kinds of events or moments came up. Blushing a bit, Bilbo thought on what to do.
However, a knock at the front door "saved" him.
He got up, put Kili in the chair.
"I'll be right back, stay here," he told them both and walked out of the dining room.
He wandered to the front door and pulled it open.
"Hello, Mister Bilbo," Belle greeted him smiling.
"Belle! Nice to see you this morning. Sorry for not being properly dressed but, what can I help you with?" Bilbo replied back, seeing that she was properly dressed and holding a basket.
"I was wondering if you would like some more food and any kind of medicine for the children?" she said back, trying her hardest not to look over his shoulder.
"Oh thank you and yes some medicine would be wonderful since Kili is whimpering from his injury. They don't speak Westron at all, so I don't know how he got that injury," Bilbo explained, opening his door wider.
She nodded and walked inside.
"If you're not careful, Mister Bilbo, Lobelia will get wind of this," Belle warned him.
Bilbo snorted and replied back "I would love to see her try,"
Belle sighed heavily as it was an ongoing feud within the Baggins and Took families that Lobelia had married into the Baggins side and has always wanted Bag-End.
Time after time, Bilbo always held her off. Even if she did steal from him; which all of the hobbits in Hobbiton frowned upon, Bilbo kept his best stuff in a chest. Locked away from her prying stealthy "sticky" hands.
"You know that she will try," Belle told him, worried for her neighbor.
"Yeah well. My Will states that she doesn't get Bag-End, whenever I pass on," Bilbo muttered, walking them to the dining room.
Fili and Kili listened to them but shied away when they stood in the doorway.
Belle stared at them both and softly smiled.
"Their names are Fili and Kili. They won't trust you since they are so young," Bilbo said to her, walking over to Fili who glared at him.
"Of course they don't trust me, I'm a complete stranger to them," Belle agreed to that.
Bilbo nodded as he then said "Fili, this is Belle, she was the one who made the stew. By the way, Belle, thank you for it was outstanding,"
"Oh don't worry about it, it's fairly simple to make," she waved him off.
Bilbo smiled and gently picked up Kili. Fili looked a little worried but, when he saw that Kili was sitting on the table, he calmed down.
"Easy there Kili. May I see your side?" Bilbo asked him softly.
Kili looked over his shoulder at his older brother and then back to Bilbo. He nodded slowly, wondering what they wanted with him.
Carefully, Bilbo pulled the shirt up and when they saw his side, they both gasped. Bilbo knew that it was going to be bad, but to see the deep glaring purple and blue buries covering half of Kili's side, he didn't think it would be like that.
"Oh you poor thing," Belle said, shaking her head "I don't know that much on medicine besides the basic normal cuts and such,"
"It's okay Belle. I was thinking of going to the Mid Wife to see if she knew anything," Bilbo told her, softly pulling the shirt down and picked Kili up gingerly.
Kili snuggled into Bilbo's shoulder and sighed.
"I do have to say, children do look good on you Bilbo," Belle replied softly back.
"Oh hush," He chuckled, knowing that she was teasing.
"Well I have some stuff to give you," Belle said, gently putting the basket on the table.
Both boys looked at it curiously.
"Thank you again, for this," Bilbo replied as he peaked inside.
"You're most welcome. But I would get …Kili was his name? To the Mid Wife soon. I'll hold anyone who comes here," Belle stated determinedly.
Bilbo nodded as he flipped the lid and looked at the potato salad, canned pears, peaches and oranges and a large Shepherd's pie with a jar of Belle's secret fruit bubbly.
"Oh whoa," He muttered in awe.
Belle smiled as she walked into the kitchen.
Fili and Kili looked at Bilbo as he took out the food, put them on the plates that Belle got and served them.
Fili and Kili looked at one another and calmly dug in.
"There you kids go. Now, I hope to see that secret recipe of yours Bilbo Baggins, pretty soon," Belle sternly told him.
Swallowing his bite of Shepherd's pie, Bilbo replied back "Don't worry. I will make it for you, but, you won't see how it's made Belle. You know how recipes can start fights and such,"
"Oh, believe me, I know. I still can't believe your grandmother marched all the way from her house to the South Farthing," Belle exclaimed, shaking her head.
Bilbo chuckled and said "That's my grandmother for you. But I will be out probably all day. Shopping afterwards,"
"Alright. I'll see you guys later," she replied and walked back into the kitchen.
Fili tried the fruit bubbly and gasped. Kili looked at his brother as Fili whispered to him in their language.
Kili tried it and he gasped in surprised.
"Taste wonderful huh," Bilbo smiled as they both looked at him in surprised.
"Yeah, I know the faces of how good Belle's fruit bubbly is. Now let's finish up and we'll be on our way," he told the boys.
They finished up and Bilbo walked to his bedroom after they put their plates in the sink. Bilbo picked out his clothes for the day and got changed as Fili and Kili sat on his bed.
"I will get you 2 some clothes soon," Bilbo told them as he walked out.
He puttered about his room as the boys watched him. It was interesting how he had so little of the things that they normally would need. He softly herded the boys to the front of his home and then they were out the door.
The sun was a little too bright but, that is a given from a heavy down pour of rain and angry clouds from yesterday and last night. Birds singing their little hearts out to the world to hear them. The fresh smell of flowers, earth and grass filtered into the air.
The other hobbits of Hobbiton were stunned when they spotted Bilbo with children that weren't his own.
Fili kept close to Bilbo, these were strangers to him and even though he couldn't understand their language, he was on edge.
"It's Ok, Fili. They won't hurt you and if they do, they will have to go through me to get to you and Kili," Bilbo whispered low to him.
Fili relaxed a little at the reassuring tone of Bilbo's voice and nodded.
The walk from Bilbo's house to the Mid Wife's house was a good stretch. Kili kept tucked into Bilbo's neck as he saw more of Hobbiton and the residents then his brother did.
When they got to the front round orange door, Fili swallowed nervously.
"I'm coming!" they heard a woman's voice rang out.
"Don't worry. Ivivia is also a healer. She'll help Kili," Bilbo told them both soothingly.
When the door was yanked opened, an angry looking woman appeared. Her fiery strawberry blonde hair and brilliant emerald green eyes. Her clothes were strange too.
Kili looked at Fili who also thought her clothing was strange.
Ivivia wasn't in a dress, she was in black pants.
"I take it that you are about to travel again?" Bilbo asked her curiously.
"Yes, now what is it that you want, Bilbo?" she replied snippily back.
"I came across these two last night and this one in my arms, Kili had hurt himself while his older brother, Fili here, was protecting him from an orc and warg," Bilbo quickly explained to her.
Ivivia walked out and looked Kili over who shied away from her.
"It's alright child. I won't hurt you. I am here to heal you," she softly said, keeping her movements limited.
Kili huddled close to Bilbo as he rubbed the boy's back.
"She's here to help Kili. I trust her," Bilbo said to him next.
"How about we bring them both into my home," Ivivia told him, knowing that this won't help out in the open.
Bilbo nodded and followed her in.
Her home was very unique. The deep herbal smell helped relaxed the children. Plants were in pots, hanging upside down and weird mixing bowls with round grinding stones. A very medium size cauldron was in the fireplace, something boiling and bubbling away.
Down the hallway, from what Fili could see, were a couple of doors. Those doors held very large rooms. Not only was this place the home of the Mid Wife/healer but, also a medical treatment home. When a stomach virus would sweep through Hobbiton or the Shire, all hobbits would come here and be treated at once.
"Ivivia has had this smial in her family for the last 2 generations," Bilbo whispered to Fili who looked up at him curiously. "When my people were still picking out homes, they forgot this large one until it was too late. If you noticed, when we came up to this lonely hill, there were no other neighbors around. Ivivia's family claimed it and many of the other hobbits are jealous because of how big and long it is,"
Fili nodded to Bilbo as Ivivia walked in and closed the front door. She walked to one of the doors and opened it, gesturing for them to enter. They walked through as Bilbo walked over to a neat made clean bed and sat down.
On either side of the room were a row of neatly clean beds. Probably 9 beds in just 1 room. It was that massive.
"Kili? Can you do me a favor?" Bilbo asked him curiously.
Kili looked up at Bilbo and nodded.
"Can you lift your shirt up for Miss Ivivia to see?" Bilbo asked him nicely.
He shook his head 'no'.
"I wonder if you would like to try my new recipe." Ivivia stated, holding out yellow sugar cubes.
Fili snatched a cube out of her hands and put it into his mouth. Both adults weren't surprised that the oldest brother would protect his youngest.
With a gasp, Fili looked at her with wide eyes.
"Good?" she asked him.
Fili then spoke in his language to Kili. Whatever it was that was said, Kili nodded and lifted his shirt up.
Ivivia gently put the shirt around Kili's shoulder and moved him towards the light to see well.
"Hmm. This is a nasty bruise but, it will heal in time," She said, gently running her fingers up and down Kili's rib cage.
Kili whimpered as Bilbo leaned over and kisses Kili's forehead.
"Nothing is broken of his ribs, slightly bruised like his skin, but I can easily do something for the pain," Ivivia told Bilbo.
Fili watched her and Bilbo carefully.
"Thank you, Ivivia," Bilbo told her with relief.
She nodded, got up and walked out of the large room. Ivivia came back with a bowl and stone grinder with something inside the bowl. Fili looked into it and was confused.
"What is that, Ivivia?" Bilbo asked her.
"This is bark of a White Willow tree. This is mint leaves and some water to blend it all together. The white willow tree bark will help with the muscles aching, the mint leaves to soothe the area and …Kili was it? Kili is supposed to have this treated, 2 times a day; preferably morning and night, until the bruise is fading away," she explained to Bilbo.
"Alright. Is there anything else that I need to do or know of?" he asked her curiously.
Ivivia started to mixed and grind the ingredients together. Pretty soon after 5 minutes, it became a paste and very softly she scooped some up and spread it across Kili's bruise.
"I would suggest that you find some King's Foil if this doesn't work today. This is the closet that I can get without that weed around," Ivivia stated back to Bilbo.
Bilbo nodded as Kili sighed a bit in the paste working it's magic.
"I also suggest, Bilbo, to get these 2 children back to their parents or kin soon. I know that they will be worried, your parents were when you went missing nearly 30 years ago," Ivivia commented to him.
"I know," He huffed out.
Smiling, Ivivia then took a fan and started to wave around Kili's bruised covered paste area. It made the little dwarfling squirm because of the cooling sensation from the mint leaves.
"I would put dressings around him but, I would think he would pick at it. Take this fan with you, Bilbo and do this for 20 minutes or until the paste is no longer visible. I will see you and these children within a week's time," Ivivia said to him, handing the fan over.
Bilbo nodded as he gently put Kili's shirt back on.
"Now, for you," Ivivia told the children as she handed out the candy to them.
They ate it which was really good.
Bilbo sighed and asked "Which recipe would you like, Ivivia?"
"None. Healing and helping others is what I do. Not take from," she replied back, smiling at him.
Bilbo smiled back and gently picked Kili back up.
.
Looking at the hand drawn map, Bilbo swallowed nervously.
It had been exactly 2 weeks since Kili had visited Ivivia and his bruise had healed up. It was annoying for Kili since he wanted to play with Fili on the sunny days that they were in Hobbiton.
Fili held onto the saddle as Bilbo looked around.
"Ever been here?" he asked him curiously.
Fili shook his head 'no' as Bilbo clucked at his pony.
They trotted into the territory of exiting the Shire entirely. They were on the Great East Road. They have been traveling for nearly a week and it was interesting to say the least.
Fili had found some string and tied his end around his wrist and then the other around Kili's wrist. Bilbo didn't know the full story behind this but, it did give some clues as to what happened before he saved them near Bree.
Where they were traveling was to the Grey Heavens. Bilbo figured that it would be easier to cross the river, River Lune, there and also stock up on supplies.
Bilbo wanted to ask the children on how they would take to Elves but, when he saw Fili sneering at some elvin made scarves within the market of Hobbiton, Bilbo got a good idea. But that was only with Fili; Kili however, was still fairly young and might learn that the elves aren't all bad.
In fact, what Bilbo didn't tell young Fili, was that the pony was from the elves too. Oh yes, he had bought this pony some time ago on his last traveling adventure from the elves that sometimes traveled to the North.
The pony was that of a light cream, far lighter then Bilbo has seen of the animals from the Elves. He had 4 white stockings and a black around his lips and nose. They weren't that keen of giving Bilbo this pony, but, the animal took to him right away.
"Miron, easy," Bilbo said to the pony who pinned his ears back and wanted to gallop.
Swinging his head around, Miron chewed at his bit. Bilbo usually listened to his pony but, this time they had 2 dwarfling children with them.
"Slow and easy, remember?" Bilbo whispered low as Miron fought the bit in his mouth.
Kili and Fili were curious as to what was wrong with Miron.
Heavily sighing when the pony bucked a bit, Bilbo squeezed his thighs and loosened the reins for Miron to breathe more easily. And just like a flash, they were galloping away.
'Well there goes for slow and easy,' Bilbo thought as they galloped for a long time.
Kili was smiling as Fili clung onto the saddle and his brother. They never went this fast. Noticing that something was truly wrong, Bilbo leaned forward and that allowed Miron more speed to run.
For over 2 more hours, Miron galloped until he saw the gates to the Grey heavens. Bilbo looked down at his pony with a not so impressed expression when the pony suddenly switched gates from gallop to a near lazy walk.
"Just had to show off huh?" Bilbo asked him as he shook his head 'no'.
Kili giggled as Fili looked terrified.
Miron was a very special pony to the elves. Miron actually does mean "Jewel" or "treasure" in their language. Any elf would know that he was bred for speed but, his attitude and his coat gave the elves a longing and in awe look when they passed by them.
The group was now in the Grey Heavens. It teemed with a quiet buzz as Elves walked about. Fili leaned against Bilbo's stomach.
"Easy Fili. You're safe here," Bilbo whispered reassuringly in his ear.
Bilbo steered Miron to the other side of the Grey Heavens and where the river met the sea. The seagulls cried over them as the salty smell from the sea was very strong on every breath in or out.
"I know an Inn where we can stay," Bilbo mumbled to Fili.
When they got to the Inn, Fili saw the sign: Harbor Inn.
Bilbo swung out of his saddle and helped Fili down. When Kili was put down, Fili held onto his hand tightly.
"Stay here," Bilbo told them both as he walked Miron to the stables.
Fili stayed put as Kili wanted to look around.
It was very different from what they were both used to in Ered Luin. This city looked very clean, elegant and mysterious as Fili stared off into the west.
Bilbo came back and smiled "Ready to get something to eat?"
Kili smiled up at Bilbo at the mention of food while Fili sighed heavily.
'Day and Night with these two,' Bilbo thought to himself as he took Fili's free hand and led them inside the Inn.
The inn was busy; a nice hum of voices floated about, some rangers were here as well as elves.
"A single bedroom, please until tomorrow afternoon," Bilbo said when they got up to the information area.
"Of course, Mister Baggins. And these are your children?" a soothing voice greeted Fili and Kili's ears.
"No. I found them, near my home. I took them in and we're going to be trying to find that dwarven clan up in Ered Luin," Bilbo replied back to the elf.
She nodded and replied "Follow Little Luin and I do believe you will find what you are looking for, but be warned, they will not take kindly that you stole their Princes,"
"I beg your pardon?" Bilbo answered back.
She stared down at Bilbo and said "Prince Fili and Prince Kili. They are a part of the Durin Royal line. I thought you knew that, since you travel a lot?"
"No I didn't know that! Good gracious, they will probably harm me on the spot," Bilbo replied in distress as he looked at Fili and Kili.
The she-elf stayed silent as she handed him his key to the room and walked away.
Heavily sighing, Bilbo then walked them over to the stair case and up them. His feet felt like they were strapped to steel.
"Princes," he muttered as he got to their room and unlocked it.
Kili and Fili were ushered inside, standing in the middle of the room, looking at Bilbo.
He looked at them back and said louder "Princes,"
Fili nodded with "Fili and-"
"Kili," Kili said.
"At your service," Fili ended it with them bowing to Bilbo.
Humming at this, Bilbo wondered on their family royal bloodline. Yes, hobbits don't have royal families, but the other races did.
"Who is the king?" he asked Fili curiously.
"Thorin," Fili replied back, unsure of why Bilbo would ask them this now.
Bilbo nodded and sighed heavily.
"Alright, let's go get something to eat and maybe I can figure out your customs so that Thorin won't kill me of thinking of stealing you 2 away from him," Bilbo said but muttered towards the end.
Kili whispered something as Fili gasped, looking up at Bilbo.
"Bilbo?" he heard behind him and stopped.
He turned around and looked at Fili.
"Bead, s-s-sa-f-f-e, Thorin," Fili tried to say to him.
Bilbo pulled his braid hair where the bead hung.
"So, this keeps me safe, from Thorin killing me because, he will think that I truly did steal you 2 from him," Bilbo said slowly.
Fili nodded and repeated "Bead,"
Bilbo nodded and then walked them out of the bedroom and back downstairs.
They were greeted by the elves and rangers there; it was very different from the Prancing Pony Inn. The Elves put soup in front of the children with honey and oat bread as Bilbo ate his salad.
"Master Baggins. It's been a long time since you came this way," a ranger said, sitting in the booth across from them.
"Yes. Not since my mother was still alive. She loved coming here," Bilbo replied back after wiping his mouth with his napkin.
The ranger nodded with a low tone "The dwarves are agitated. I didn't think it would be because their royal princes were missing. They never tell anyone what is going on,"
"They are secretive just like us hobbits are. Keeping your nose out of trouble," Bilbo replied back, shrugging.
The ranger nodded and stated "I can easily guide you up until Little Luin ends. You can have this bow and arrows here,"
"No, I possibly couldn't," Bilbo told him at once.
"Please, dear friend, it is the least that I can do and besides, wargs are roaming the lands once more. It's troubling," the ranger insisted, handing the small bow and quiver full of arrows.
Bilbo sighed and took the items; putting them on the floor.
"What is your name?" he asked the ranger curiously.
"Arrogate, if you want," the ranger replied back.
Bilbo knew better then to ask that kind of question to a ranger. They would dance around of giving you their true name.
"Alright….Arrogate," Bilbo said not trusting that this ranger would suddenly help them out. "What's the catch?"
"Do not have so little trust in us rangers, Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. We do after all, protect it," the ranger told him, got up and left.
The elves glared that ranger's back.
"Forgive him, please," a small voice from the she-elf from earlier said.
"What is his problem anyway? Shouldn't he have pride in protecting-?"
"No, most rangers do not. They are hurting too, Bilbo. Not all of us can be like your kin," the she-elf interrupted him and left him be.
That made Bilbo angry. He made sure that Fili and Kili had their fill and walked them back upstairs.
"We're not staying here, boys," Bilbo whispered low to them.
He set out some extra coins as he grabbed some things from the room and put it within his pack. Fili and Kili followed Bilbo to the door and then they were outside while more people came inside.
Bilbo walked over to the stables and got Miron ready. Miron didn't like being led away from the nice comfy stable where his food was at, but picked up on Bilbo's mood at once.
Since the city was built over the mouth of the river flowing into the sea, they easily crossed to the other side of it and left the Grey Heavens. Bilbo made sure that Miron followed the small creeks for a good mile and then onto the trail.
"I wonder when it will take for that ranger to realize that we're not there anymore?" Bilbo huffed out as he saw that Kili had the bow and quiver.
Shaking his head at the dwarfling in front of him, they continued to ride North. The sun was now setting and the shadows lingered to jump out.
Bilbo steered Miron away from the main trail and hidden from sight. They passed over a small creek and up into the hills. It was rocky, granted, but it was better than being down below.
Bilbo had halted Miron and looked around the campsite that he had picked. There was nothing around but, that didn't give Bilbo any kind of reassurance.
He took the boys down next and then took the saddle off of Miron. He got the beds out and put Fili and Kili together in their bedrolls with their new pillow from the Inn.
"No fire, tonight," he told them softly.
He lay right beside them as they yawned. Kili fell asleep at once as Fili looked at Bilbo in the dark.
"Hopefully tomorrow you can help me with which way to go?" Bilbo whispered low.
Fili nodded as they looked towards the main trail. They heard some movement and kept quietly still.
It was that ranger from the Inn. He was following the fake trail that Miron had done earlier. Bilbo watched the ranger pass by on his horse, never looking around; just following what was in front of him.
Fili shook his head at that.
Bilbo would have said something but, kept his mouth shut. The ranger rounded the bend and was out of sight.
Miron shook his head with a soft snort as Bilbo sighed. It was going to be a long night.
.
In the morning, Bilbo found himself in the icy cold stream of a river. Fili and Kili were on the bank of it, watching as Bilbo made a fool of himself.
He had that bow and arrow from that ranger in hand and fired away when he lined it up to a trout. He reached down and pulled it up to the surface as it failed about.
Walking through the strong current, Bilbo shivered. This wasn't what he expected to do this morning. He safely made it back to the bank and put the fish in the basket that was already filled with dead trout.
"Alright, I think that will be enough," he said, shivering badly now.
Fili saw this and took Bilbo's hand. Leading him back to their new campsite and over to the roaring fire. Bilbo had to make it himself after they had left their original spot from the night before; that ranger was far too close to them.
Bilbo watched Fili gut and clean the fish. It was curious to watch him do this without flinching. Bilbo dried slowly out but, made breakfast for them. Miron swished his tail as he munched on some tall grass.
"Alright, breakfast will be made shortly boys," Bilbo told them as they smiled excitedly.
When the trout were golden and ready to eat, Bilbo handed the boys their plates.
"How far?" Bilbo had asked Fili.
"Close," was all he could say in return.
They both started to eat like starved dwarves. It was a bit hilarious to see their faces get all messy, food bits flying around as the trout was suddenly gone in a flash.
Bilbo shook his head as he cleared his throat.
Fili and Kili froze at that sound and slowly looked up at Bilbo.
"Slower and here, clean your faces on these instead of your sleeves, boys," he told them both, handing them their napkins.
Fili and Kili looked at each other in awe.
Bilbo looked over his shoulder and found no one as he looked back at the boys. They cleaned their faces on their napkins, used the fork and knife, nodding politely to him.
Chuckling, Bilbo then ate his own breakfast in peace.
After they had their fill, put away their camp and fire, they were riding once more. Kili lay against Fili who lay against Bilbo.
"I know boys. Not very fun is it?" he muttered low to them both.
All he got was silence in return. Miron swung his head around behind them. Bilbo looked over his shoulder too. He didn't hear anything but Miron moved swifter then before.
Miron's trot then turned into a full gallop. Bilbo kept looking over his shoulder but, he didn't see or hear anything.
They rode like that. Fili kept pointing the way for Miron where they had bypassed the man village and heading towards the mountains.
Miron skidded to a halt and reared up, screaming loudly as he pawed the air.
"AHH!" Bilbo yelled in fright as he made sure that he was padding for Fili and Kili to land on.
Miron back up and pinned his ears back. He wasn't leaving Bilbo any time soon.
"Halt! Who goes there, elf?" Bilbo heard the deep angry voice of a dwarf.
"I am no elf!" Bilbo shouted back as Fili sprang up.
He was yelling, shouting, screaming at the dwarf who had tears in his eyes, kneeling down.
Bilbo slowly got to his feet as he held Kili to him. The kneeling dwarf looked up and gasped.
"Could it be?" he uttered low.
Fili shouted at him, his voice carried as it got the attention of other dwarves.
"Easy, Miron. Easy," Bilbo whispered to his pony that snorted and swished his tail in irritation.
Fili continued to shout and yell until it was a deafening silence. Bilbo walked over to him and pulled him close as Fili hugged Bilbo with big tears trickling down his face.
"I don't know what you had done to caused him to cry, but I am just here to bring them both home. They got lost, nearly killed by a rogue orc and warg near my home. Both of those foul creatures are dead. Kili got hurt, from what I don't know, but, I know that their family or families miss them," Bilbo softly stated to the still kneeling dwarf.
"Of course. His majesty will want to hear this in full, Bilbo Baggins," the dwarf said back, standing up now.
"I'm sorry, but have we met?" Bilbo asked him curiously.
"Yes, but ….you do not… remember me …at all," the dwarf replied turning around and walking away.
Bilbo was confused at this but, gently clicked with his tongue and Miron walked beside them as they made their way into the Blue Mountains.