Sorry it took me so long to update. LOL School is getting the better of me.
The founding dean of Erebor University was a proud and regal dwarf by the name of Thror. He was a prideful man, born even before the ages of war and tyranny against the orcs. He had fought in many a battle for his homeland, the land of Dale. Though, above all else, he desired the mountainside of Erebor, of which Dale was settled no more than ten miles away. The mountain of Erebor stood tall against all the elements and the world before it, and as the years past, Thror desired to conquer it.
Alongside the passage of time, Thror lived through the invention of electricity, flight, automobiles, and so much more. The world had a desire for knowledge, for endurance, for power, and he was more than willing to sustain it. He had initially intended to built a great throne, a castle to himself, but the fates would not have it. The buildings grew, the towers scraped the sky, and just as slowly as his conquest of knowledge, came the revelation of what Erebor truly was.
A place for said knowledge.
Large enough to house any who had a thirst for adventure and for all the information of the world, Erebor was a force to be reckoned with. It was at the top of the fields for medical, engineering, architecture, fine arts, and language studies. It was a powerful academy, but also profitable.
But that's why Thror simply couldn't last. In their digging and building, they found the single richest vein of gold and silver in the entirety of Middle Earth. Eyes clouded with lust, deep desire of the gold. He hoarded himself at the very peak of the mountain for years, pouring himself in the gold. Rooms filled to the tops with gold and silver, trinkets and adornments, metals and jewels.
But above all else, he hoarded a stone. A stone they'd found, deep within the earth; a stone that shone like the moon in the water. It's beauty was unrivaled by all the gems and jewels in the world, it sone like the sunlight through the clouds.
The Arkenstone.
The heart of the mountain soon became the heart of Thror, for nothing entered his thoughts once he found it. It was testament to his power and will, and it drilled itself into his soul, leaving him blind to all.
That was why it was so easy for Smaug to take everything from under his feet. Smaug was a dragon-like creature, rumored to be a skin-changer, one moment having the form of a man, while the next a fiery dragon. He was ruthless, tyrannical, and oh so powerful. It took no power at all for him to sneak in under the feet of the Durin line, knocking Thror off the throne.
He claimed many things, had all the right people on his side, working the law and the underground workings like puppets. He was a conniving creature, with his talons wrapped around everyone he deemed fit. It was simple for him to take everything that was Erebor, taking the gold as his own, taking the heart of the mountain as well as the heart of Erebor.
"Are there any developments?" Thorin spoke slowly as he sat perched on the edge of Bofur's bed, eating a slice of pizza as if he were regally eating a feast. He rolled his eyes over Kili and Fili, before landing on the old grey wizard, "Gandalf, you said you had more information."
"Yes. The board of education is starting developments on the internship." Gandalf coughed, glancing at each occupant of the room, keeping Bilbo's gaze for a long moment, before turning back to Thorin, "It's the perfect opportunity. They must accept a representative of each species in attendance to Erebor University."
"You're positive?" Thorin leaned forward, his eyes intent and dark.
Gandalf nodded, "I'm not part of the school board for nothing, Thorin. I've been searching for a way to uncover all that Smaug has done. I do believe this is our chance."
"And we found Bilbo!" Kili exclaimed from his seat beside his uncle, hand nervously clutching at his jeans as he gestured toward Bilbo with the other, "He was just what we were looking for, right uncle?"
"We were looking for a burglar." Thorin mused, once more finding his eyes locked on Bilbo's, rather unimpressed by the Hobbit. The creature was small, unassuming, pudgy, and looked as though he'd rather hide under his covers than help him reclaim his birthright.
Thorin sneered, not even bothering to try and cover his contempt, "He looks more like a grocer than a burglar."
The others nodded in agreement, all except for Kili, Fili, and Bofur. Bilbo still would not forgive them all, for conspiring against him and holding this pow-wow in his dorm room, the point of which he still wasn't sure of. He'd been quickly filled in on the story of Smaug, but with little detail and no elaboration.
"Wait, wait, wait." Bilbo huffed, standing quickly to his feet and moving to the middle of the room, standing before Thorin and Gandalf. The crowd around the room stilled, their eyes locking on him as he dared confront their leader. They were all very nervous about the Durin boy's choice in burglar, and they were all inclined to agree with Thorin.
"What does this all have to do with me?" Bilbo started, shifting nervously on the carpet once he realized that Thorin's full attention was on him now, "Why me?"
"Because you, my good sir, are currently the only Hobbit attending Erebor University." Gandalf leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. It was truly the first time that Bilbo had gotten a good look at the old man, shocking him at how old the wizard was. He held immense wisdom, that much was obvious, but his eyes held back none of his hope. Gandalf continued to survey Bilbo with no ounce of fear, "We had to make sure that you were capable, though, that you would agree."
"That's what Kili and I did." Fili smiled sheepishly, looking up at Bilbo from where he was seated at his brother's feet. He gulped, quickly gathering himself, "Don't get us wrong, we initially just wanted to be your friends. But when we figured out that you were the Hobbit, the only Hobbit attending Erebor, we had to make sure you could help us."
"And you can!" Kili shouted, quick to reassure Bilbo, "you can be our burglar!"
Bilbo held up a hand to ensure that the brothers wouldn't interrupt him again, his eyes shifting from Gandalf to Thorin, "That still doesn't explain to me why I need to be your...burglar?"
"Erebor University has a Dean Internship." Gandalf answered once more, "Every year, a representative is chosen from each species of creature attending the university, to work personally with the dean and staff. For two months, you will be in contact with Smaug, work with Smaug, and most of all, get close to Smaug."
Well, Bilbo wasn't looking forward to any of those things.
"Smaug has an intricate system of people working for him, he has dealings in the black market, followers in the mob." Balin spoke up for the others when they stilled at the positively sick look on Bilbo's face. Balin had been there when Erebor had been taken down, he'd been the right-hand-man of Thror, and had been distraught when the kingdom had fallen. He'd seen a great man fall that day in the War of Moria, "we can't get past all those people. We've tried, we've lost many men. Every time we try and get close, Smaug uses his connections and pushes us three steps backwards. We need an unassuming-"
"Small!" Cried Gloin.
"Invisible!" Cried Nori.
"Microscopic!" Cried Dori.
"Me?" Bilbo ground out, oh so pleased to hear how this group of people thought of him. If one more person yelled out another adjective, screw the consequences, they'd be booted out of here faster then they could get to their feet.
"You." Balin smiled fondly, sighing and letting his shoulders sag, "We need you, Bilbo. You're our only chance."
At this final word, the room went silent. It was an uncomfortable silence, the impending situation lying heavily on everyone's shoulders. This was Thorin's legacy, he was to inherit the mountain and everything that came with it. The university had been under the tyrannical rule of Smaug for too long, but these few dwarves were the only ones brave enough to try and stand up to such a man. His power was even greater than words could do justice to, but if they could find something, that undeniable proof of all his crimes... they could put him away for life.
Thorin stood, his might towering over Bilbo once more, stepping in close to the Hobbit and peering down at him, "You may be the only Hobbit, and my nephews may say you have what it takes, but that does not mean you are correct for the job. We do not need a burglar who will flounder about like a fish."
"Flounder!?" Bilbo huffed, his face growing red at the accusation, his hands tightening into fists. He poked Thorin in the chest, hard, his voice suddenly confident in his laughable attempt to confront the dwarf, "Who are you to come in here and insult me? This is my dorm, and you are not welcome to barge in here like you own the place! You have no right to demand anything of me, Mister Oakenshield!"
A long, pregnant silence ensued, leaving all those in the room in a state of shock. There was nary a sound, nary a breath, not even a look as all the eyes were trained on either Bilbo or the king, wondering what calamity would fall. No one had spoken to Thorin in such a way, not in a long while.
They weren't sure which of Bilbo's bones he would break first, but they were willing to bet his neck would be at the top of that list.
But instead, he shocked them all when a small smirk flitted to his lips. He gave a look back towards Balin as he took a seat once more, nodding his head in Bilbo's direction pointedly, "Give him the contract."
The sudden cheer of excitement was what made Bilbo jump nearly out of his skin, Kili and Fili jumping into the air and shouting. Bilbo was half tempted to dive under a bed or something similar, as he didn't want to be caught in their spinning grasps again. The Durin boys were like octopi, wiggling around and grabbing anything within their grasp.
"C-contract?" Bilbo gulped, not given a second thought as a long roll of paper was shoved into his hands by the elder Dwarf. It looked as if it had been drug through the ringer, crumpled and old. When he slowly started to unroll the scroll-like document, he felt the reality of the situation fully sinking in, when the words of the scroll were revealed.
"Terms of conduct, summary statement, funeral arrangements; the works." Balin explained shortly, tilting his head in the direction of the contract. It shook in Bilbo's hands, at the mere mention of the words 'funeral arrangements', his face pale.
What on earth was he getting himself into? How could a internship lead to the need for funeral arrangements?
Quickly spreading the contract in his palms, Bilbo took a few steps back and took the words in by himself. He could find nary an area where there was no dwarf trying to peek over his shoulder, so he scuttled over to where Bofur still stood against the wall. He pressed his back against the wall and continued to murmur to himself as he read, "...up to but not exceeding one fourteenth total profit if any..."
Bofur laughed at this, leaning against Bilbo's side to get a better look at the contract, his furred hat curling around Bilbo's chin as he did so.
Bilbo scoffed, laughing as the hat tickled his neck, trying to push the other away, "Bofur! Get off!"
The dwarf merely laughed, nudging his head further under Bilbo's chin to see the contract better. He mused as he read it, "present company shall not be liable for..."
"Laceration?" Bilbo cried, stepping around Bofur and shifting to the middle of the room, his voice rising an octave as he continued to read. What was all this? Did he really agree to this? Never in their conversation did he agree to anything, and yet here he was, reading a contract with Kili and Fili doing a jig across his carpet.
"I..I...I didn't agree to any of this." Bilbo murmured, the severity of the situation rolling over him. What was going to happen where the company wouldn't be liable for incineration?
"Ah..." Bilbo could feel it growing in the pit of his stomach. He had felt it before, on many a stressful situation. Gulping just a bit, he took a deep breath.
"Yup." Nodding more to himself, he barely had time to utter another syllable before he was falling backwards, his world going completely black.
It was to the press of a cool damp cloth against his cheek that Bilbo finally came to awareness, his head pounding something awful. His ears rung, and he could faintly feel a warm weight against his legs and stomach. He was in his bed, under the warmth of the comforter, save and secure.
Letting out a brief breath of air, Bilbo chanced to open his eyes, blinking rapidly as he grew accustomed to the artificial light. More than that, he trained his eyes on the curled braids coming from under that familiar hat, the friendly eyes masked in concern. Bilbo couldn't hold back a chuckle, humming in appreciation as Bofur ran the cloth over his forehead, "I passed out again, didn't I?"
"That you did." Bofur's words were curt, but soft, holding an edge of worry as he continued to pamper the Hobbit. With a sigh, he finally drew his hand back, "You okay?"
"Okay as I'll ever be." Bilbo sighed, reaching up slowly to rest his wrist against his forehead, closing his eyes for just a moment before regarding Bofur again, "Thank you."
"There's nothing to thank." Bofur was cross with himself, figure tensing as he sat on the edge of Bilbo's bed, his hand tight against the cloth he held, "I should have stopped this before it even started. You can't do this, you can't take this risk to get back Erebor."
Bilbo turned his head to the side, glancing around the room to see it was miraculously clean, every stray crumb and loose napkin thrown away and every inch of the carpet clean. Bofur and Bilbo were alone in the room, but there was a stray piece of yellow lined paper perched on Bilbo's dresser, and he had a feeling he knew exactly who it was from.
The decision was still whirring in his mind, even as he rose to lean against the headboard.
He could see the contract lying inconspicuously on the top of the television.
"Bofur...what would you do?" Bilbo asked slowly, raising his brows in hope. He'd never been so conflicted, not even with his decision to come half way across the country to Erebor University. The room was chill around him, his skin raising in the cold, his eyes withdrawn.
The hatted man sighed affectionately, reaching out to tussle Bilbo's hair, before standing to his feet. Groaning as he stretched, his back popped a few times. It was late, and he'd wanted nothing more than for Bilbo to stay asleep, so they could deal with this all tomorrow, but it was just fate that made Bilbo wake up minutes before Bofur himself was to turn down for the night.
"You're my best friend, Bilbo." Bofur glanced back over his shoulder, offering a small smile, before reaching up and dragging his hat off his head and setting it on his dresser, "you always have been. But...this is not my decision to make. You have my opinion on the matter, but it's up to you now."
With that, Bofur pulled back the duvet on his bed and clicked off his light.
The single lamp on Bilbo's dresser filled the room with little light, the artificial glow gleaming off the television and illuminating his reflection in the screen. He felt so small, looked so small in that huge dwarven bed. What on earth could he offer these Dwarves? He was just a simple Hobbit, so small and humble.
He tried to be courteous, kind, and polite to those around him. He was good at being inconspicuous. He was nothing, really. He wasn't the adventuring type, and he'd already filled his quota with coming to this strange land for college.
Reaching up to turn off his own light, ready to sleep this whole thing away and forget out it. Just as he was reaching for the switch, his wrist brushed against the yellow paper, letting it fall into his lap.
Folding it open slowly, he couldn't help the small huff of laughter that escaped him, as he saw yet again the crudely drawn figures of Kili and Fili. There was a mess of messages written on the small paper, most of them wishing him well and hoping to see him tomorrow.
Upon further inspection, he saw elegant writing upon the backside, curved and more beautiful that even a hobbit could produce. It was obviously the wizards, his curvature and lettering beautiful even upon the yellow paper.
'Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay... small acts of kindness and love.'
He quickly folded the paper, pressing his knuckles harshly against his lips.
Was he up for another adventure? Was he ready for what these dwarves were going to put on his shoulders, the intense magnitude of what they were asking of him?
Bilbo was shocked to find he'd known the answer all along.
"No, no, no, you see." Kili leaned forward, pressing his finger harshly against the application form splayed in front of him, "I'll be John Mitchell. You'll be Chris. It's the perfect plan!"
Fili glanced at the form his brother was filling out, raising a brow, "But they'll ask you for an interview, everyone knows your face."
"I can grease my hair back or something. You know chicks dig that whole dark brooding type." Kili waggled his brows, smirking wickedly as he gazed at his brother.
Fili groaned again, flopping forward and landing his head on the table, "Just because you put a fake name on an application and push back your hair doesn't mean people won't know it's you."
"But do people know of angsty heart-throb John Mitchell? I think not." Kili stated triumphantly, hunching over to continue working on his application, filling in completely random information.
Merely sighing, Fili perched his chin in his palm and swept his gaze out the window. They were currently in the living room of the house they shared with Thorin, having been collected here with the rest of the group to further their plans. It had been with a deep wave of uncertainty that they left Bilbo's dorm last night, seeing as it hadn't ended quite as well as they'd hoped. They'd fully been expecting Bilbo to accept and jump for joy, much like Kili and himself did, but they'd been completely unprepared for the near nose-dive the Hobbit took.
They'd been promptly thrown out by Bofur, the usually kind and joyful dwarf's face taught in concern and barely restrained anger. He hadn't said a word, merely slammed the door.
Two mugs appeared in front of them, steaming from warmth, as they were placed upon the table. A soft chuckle met their argument beforehand, and Thorin's deep voice broke through their concentration, "Having a fun time?"
"Just perfecting my persona." Kili answered with one hundred percent seriousness, his brows knit as he pulled over another blank piece of paper, starting to brainstorm possibilities for his fake resume.
Fili hummed in appreciation as he brought the mug to his lips, smiling as he tasted chocolate. If there was one thing that remained a constant in their house, it was that Thorin always served them hot chocolate, despite their age. Thorin would always see them as the younglings that enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies.
Not that they still didn't, Fili noted with particular amusement as he saw Kili look up and give a squeak of excitement, bringing forward the mug to happily sip at.
Thorin barely let a smile past as he watched the two boys, but it grew no larger. Thorin had invited the rest of the company here to continue their planning. They needed to find a way to regain Erebor, and quickly. They were in no position to scuffle their feet or dawdle, and just the thought of bringing that Hobbit in was ludicrous.
The tiny thing had even fainted. There was no way a creature such as that one could ever be of help to them, no mind the internship or anything else. The Hobbit would have probably messed it up anyway, shown to Smaug that he wasn't a serious candidate, or revealed their plan before they even got their feet of the ground.
Sneering to himself at the pang of something in his chest at the thought of the Hobbit, Thorin slowly brought his mug to his lips as he sent one more look at the boys, before turning around and crossing out of the room and into the hallway. The house was warm in the afternoon air, enough so that they could keep the windows open for the breeze, leaving a warm glow in the air. It was comfortable, but Thorin took little happiness from it.
He was barely crossing the hardwood to enter into the living room, when he heard a small knock at the front door down the hallway. It was small, subtle, and Thorin wasn't even positive if there had been a sound. He was proven wrong when Fili took a large sip of his drink before standing slowly to his feet, yawning as he made his way to the front door to answer it.
The boy's back disappeared around the turn of the hallway leading to the front door. Curiosity got the better of him as he awaited whoever was at the door, slowly nursing his coffee.
There was a flurry of hurried steps, and before Thorin could even think twice, there was a small halfling at his feet and a contract under his nose.
"I signed it."
Thorin had enough dignity not to splutter, humming around his mug and lowering it as he regarded the Hobbit with an indifferent air. He was very surprised, to say the least, but let none of his astonishment show physically.
The Hobbit, Thorin remembered his name to be Bilbo, stood there with pride, his eyes glowing in concentration as he held his gaze. There was no fear in those eyes, but a substantial amount of indignation, and was that...excitement?
Thorin tilted his head to the side and slowly reached up to grab the contract, bringing it up close to his eye to glare down at the writing. It was broad and confident, Bilbo's signature, but as Thorin continued to decipher the writing, the Hobbit looked less so. The longer Thorin took to answer, the less certain the Hobbit became.
The contract was signed; they had their Hobbit, their fourteenth member, their burglar. Thorin couldn't stop the tendril of hope welling in his stomach, the tendril turning into a full swirl as Bilbo's confident eyes locked on his.
"It is done." Thorin folded the contract easily in one hand, before turning back into his living room to meet with his company, though the conversation would be vastly different.
There was another set of stomping steps that came up the wooden hallway up to Bilbo, and he couldn't even prepare himself as an arm was thrown around his middle and he was swung around again.
Fili laughed as he swung the Hobbit, moving him so that they could meet his brother in the dining area, "That was brilliant, Bilbo! You are truly something, you know that?"
"Bilbo?" Kili's head popped up once more, his confusion turning to excitement as he spotted their favorite Hobbit. He was on his feet in a matter of seconds, his arms outstretched to take Bilbo into them.
Ducking behind Fili, Bilbo spun around his other side to escape another spinning hug, darting forward. He made it no more than three steps before he was caught from behind, large arms wrapping around his stomach and lifting him. He couldn't hold back a laugh, even as Kili spun them around again.
"I knew it!" Kili exclaimed, laughing boisterous and loud, though his voice was happier than Bilbo had ever heard it, "I knew you'd come back, Bilbo! I didn't doubt you for a second!"
"Yes, is that why you started filling out applications with fake personas?" Fili laughed along with them, though, his heart lifting with joy.
They were going to get their true home back, their birthright, their mountain.
Unbeknownst to them, the boys' Uncle leaned against the door jam, a unhindered smile lifting on his lips.
Though, he didn't want to admit that he wasn't only smiling fondly at his nephews.
Hope you likey!
