Nell, Fili, and Kili hummed a soft tune as they rode closer to the Shire, to Hobbiton, and the little hobbit known as Bilbo Baggins. She wasn't sure why Gandalf had chosen a hobbit to be their burglar or why he had chosen this specific hobbit, but she trusted the wizard's judgment. If he thought a hobbit was their best chance at getting the Arkenstone, at restoring Thorin to his throne, and getting them their homeland back then so be it. She would meet the hobbit and she would befriend him. Being kind was second nature to her, just like being protective. Did Nell enjoy playing pranks and having a good laugh? Of course she did just look at who she was married to. But that didn't mean she wouldn't be kind.
Nell could remember when she was young, her father and her visiting the other dwarves of Ered Luin and giving them the blankets and cloaks she had sewn. Bryn had taught her how to sew and knit when he wasn't working in the mines. Of course she would pick up another trade as she grew older, but at the time making things from cloth, wool, and fur was all she knew how to do. When she asked her father why they were giving the items away he told her that being kind, doing something for someone without expecting something in return, watching someone's eyes light up with joy was a much richer reward. It was something that stuck with her.
That was why Nell swore to herself that she would be kind to Mr.Baggins and become his friend. If they were to travel together for an unknown amount of time, she didn't want the poor hobbit to feel left out and like he didn't belong. She knew the others would give him a hard enough time as it was. "What do you think he will be like, Nell?" Kili asked. Nell shrugged her shoulders. "I'm assuming he'll be a small fellow, and gentle." More than that she had no way of knowing.
Fili let out a sigh. "Of course he'll be little and gentle, he's a hobbit, but is he going to be brave and capable of doing what we ask of him?" He wondered out loud. Nell wished she had the answer, but she didn't. "We'll just have to wait and see," she replied just as they reached the borders of the Shire. From here they would walk to Hobbiton where they would meet the others in Bilbo's hobbit hole.
The tricky three walked up to Bilbo's house. Nell smiled seeing the little green, round door. It was so tiny and adorable. She stood in between Fili and Kili slightly in front of them and knocked on the door. As soon as it opened Nell spotted the little hobbit and couldn't help thinking he was the cutest little thing ever, but she kept that thought to herself. It would be rude to say such things to someone she had just met.
"Fili."
"Kili."
"And Nell."
"At your service." The three of them said at the same time bowing together. It was so perfect one would think they had had practiced it. "You must be Mr. Boggins," Kili said with a child like grin. The one that always made Nell's heart flutter.
"You can't come in you've come to the wrong house." Bilbo tried to slam the door closed, but it didn't work as Kili's foot was in the way and stopped him. "Has it been cancelled?" The dark haired prince asked. "No one told us," Fili added after sharing a look with his brother and their wife. This just caused the little hobbit to stare at them completely confused.
"Canc...no nothing's been cancelled," Bilbo told them at a complete loss of what was going on. "Well that's a relief," Kili said pushing the door open and letting himself into Bag End. Fili followed as did Nell. She smiled at Bilbo trying to be friendly. She could tell he was already becoming overwhelmed.
"Be careful with these I just had them sharpened." Fili began laying all his assorted weapons into poor Bilbo's arms. "Oh dear give me those." Nell grabbed the blades not wanting the hobbit to harm himself on the sharp edges. "Nice. This place you do it yourself?" Kili asked as he started wiping his boots on what looked like a chest. Nell shook her head and gave him a pointed look, almost like a mother scolding a child. Kili knew better than to do things like that.
Bilbo quickly became upset seeing what Kili was doing. "It's been in the family for generations and could you please not do that, that's my mother's glory box." He was very unhappy with all the dwarves now in his home. The only one that seemed tolerable was Nell as she had tried to help him and even given the dark haired one a scathing look for his lack of manners. "I'm really sorry about them. Sometimes they act before thinking and well Kili, bless his heart can be quite silly," Nell apologized.
However before Bilbo could respond Dwalin came walking into the entryway; he had already shown up and introduced himself to the small man. "Come on lads give us a hand," the tattooed dwarf grabbed Kili causing him to smile. "Mr. Dwalin." Kili walked with the older dwarf to help move a table and as they neared Balin, Dwalin's older brother who had showed up to Bag End shortly after him, he spoke up, "If we don't move this we'll never get everyone in."
Bilbo paled. "Everyone? How many of you are there?" Nell frowned. It would seem that Bilbo wasn't just flustered, he had no idea what was going on. "Did no one tell you anything?" She let out a sigh, "That doesn't really surprise me, but I promise Bilbo everything will be alright in the end." She promised herself that she would make sure they straightened up any mess they made and that his home was left as neat as it had been before they showed up.
Just as they finished their short conversation the doorbell rang again. This time when Bilbo opened the door a tangle of eight dwarves fell in leaving Gandalf standing behind them. Bilbo narrowed his eyes at the wizard and let out a sigh. He should have known he was behind this mess, all these unknown, uninvited guests. "Gandalf," he said with a clipped tone.
Now that all the dwarves were there, they began raiding the pantry sitting out all sorts of food on the long table. Nell sat beside Kili, the seat next to her open for Fili who was currently walking over the table passing out ale. "I can't say I'm surprised. You lot are a bunch of rowdy boys when you get together." Nell shook her head and took the mug offered to her as Kili smacked his brother for almost stepping in his plate. "It's part of the reason you love us," Fili said plopping down next to her. She let out a chuckle and nodded causing both her husbands to kiss her on the cheek.
Bilbo watched the exchange between the three with curiosity and confusion, but it quickly went away as he once again became worried about the state of his house. What made it worse was when Ori walked up to him and politely asked him what to do with his plate. Because the next thing the hobbit knew his dishes were being tossed around.Hearing knives and forks clash together he looked at the dwarves still at the table. "C-C-Can you not do that, you'll blunt them." He was very concerned for his mother's pottery and his silverware.
"Oohh, you hear that lads and lady, he says we'll blunt the knives," Bofur spoke up a playful look in his eyes and a grin upon his lips.
Blunt the knives, bend the forksSmash the bottles and burn the corksChip the glasses and crack the platesThat's what Bilbo Baggins hates!Cut the cloth, tread on the fatLeave the bones on the bedroom matPour the milk on the pantry floorSplash the wine on every door!Dump the crocks in a boiling bowlPound them up with a thumping poleWhen you're finished if they are wholeSend them down the hall to roll!That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!
All the dishes were now stacked neatly on the table, Bilbo was staring at them completely surprised as all the dwarves stood there laughing. He hadn't expected them to do such a thing, but he could admit he was happy with this turn of events.
A loud knock at the door stopped the laughter. "He is here," Gandalf said with an ominous tone. Nell gulped down the last of her ale. She knew who he was and she was very nervous about how this encounter was going to go.
