An old friend makes an appearance
Chapter 4: An Unexpected Visitor
Bungo was very good when it came to wood work. After all, he had built all of Bag End by himself as a courting gift for Belladonna Took. So, the next day, he set off with Thorin and started to transform the old shed into a place that the Dwarf could work in.
Belladonna and Dís, for the most part, stayed in Bag End and prepared food for their husband and brother, respectively, or they would take detours to the market together. It was quite a change for Dís, who was used to working her fingers almost to the bone at her brother's side to eek out a living, especially after her husband had passed. She had also never expected to find a friend within a Hobbit. Belladonna was everything that Dís had once been, before the dragon had taken Erebor- mischievous, joyful and unable to see the wrong in others. Belladonna welcomed them eagerly in her home and ensured that Dís' children wanted for nothing.
A month after the Hobbits had welcomed the family of Dwarves in their home; Fíli had slipped up and called Belladonna and Bungo, 'Aunty' and 'Uncle'. The two Hobbits had ended up beaming with pride and had heartily accepted being the boys' new aunt and uncle.
Yet, being in the Shire did not mean that the Dwarves would stop thinking about their absent kin and they prayed every night to Mahal that they might see a familiar face. It seemed that for once the Valar had listened to the Durins, because on the night before Thorin was meant to open up the smithy, after three months of hard work restoring the place, a loud banging could be heard coming from the front door.
"Who could it be at this hour?" grumbled Bungo, annoyed.
Dís and Thorin were immediately anxious and their eyes darted to where their weapons were resting, in case this visitor was anyone trying to seek them out for foul purposes.
Well, it was a Dwarf, but not just any Dwarf. It was…
"Dwalin!" exclaimed Thorin, pleased to see his friend.
The storm brewing in the eyes of the warrior Dwarf faded away into relief when they landed on the Durins.
Striding past the Hobbits, who were openly gaping at him, he head butted Thorin with such a great force that it left both Bella and Bungo wincing visibly. Dwalin then turned to Dís and greeted her in the same way. Then he grabbed both Fíli and Kíli and lifted them as he used to do when they were younger.
After this reunion, the Dwarves and Hobbits settled in the dining area, Dwalin munching on the cookies that Belladonna had prepared.
"If you weren't married, lass, I would have given you my bead after tasting your cookies."
Bella blushed till the tip of her ears and laughed while Bungo puffed up in annoyance and placed his hands around his wife and shot a glare at the Dwarf.
"Dwalin, how did you manage to find us?" asked Dis.
"I left Ered Luin a few weeks after your departure and then I thought that I should go to Bree and look for you there. When I was settling in at the prancing pony I heard some Halflings-"
"Hobbits not Halflings," huffed Bungo.
"-Hobbits say that there was a new Dwarven blacksmith in their lands and it didn't take me long to figure out that it must be you. You really haven't been discreet in your movements; you're losing your touch, Thorin."
Thorin chose to ignore the last comment and instead asked, "How is the situation in Ered Luin? Is it safe to return?"
Dwalin took a long sip from his ale before answering, causing the rest of his kin to shift in anticipation of his answer, "We have restrained some Dwarves that have proven to be suspicious of such treason, but we still believe that this is not the end, far from it. Balin believes, and I agree with him, that there is a wide range of Dwarves who are responsible for this and to arrest them all… we will need much more time."
"Why did you come to look for us then?"
"To ensure that you're all safe. I've sworn to protect the line of Durin and now that I know you're all far from harm, I can concentrate at the task at hand."
Thorin clasped Dwalin's arm, touched at his friend's loyalty.
"Well I best be off to find an inn."
"Excuse me, Master Dwarf, but you're not going anywhere tonight. You'll be staying here to rest," said Belladonna in a firm tone.
Dwalin opened his mouth, no doubt to contradict her, but she gave him a hard glare with raised eyebrows as though she was daring him to.
Thorin laughed and said, "I would just listen to her if I were you, her stubbornness rivals that of any Dwarf."
"So, tell me how come you're so trusting of these Half—Hobbits?" asked Dwalin.
"They gave us everything that we need to survive without expecting anything in return. They have given us no reason to doubt them."
Thorin and Dwalin were sitting on a bench outside Bag End smoking on their pipes in quiet companionship. There wasn't a single person in sight, everyone else already in their smials.
"And the other Hobbits, have they readily accepted you in their lands?"
"Did the Dwarves of Ered Luin accept us readily? The nobles looked down on us, the Beggar King they called me," Thorin snarled narrowing his eyes in distaste. "Other Hobbits look at us with suspicion, but both Belladonna and Bungo have only given us kindness and the chance for me to practice my craft."
"They are no warriors."
"They don't have to be. They live in a peaceful land and, when this whole mess is over and I return back to Ered Luin, I'll ensure that this land will be protected from any attacks."
Dwalin looked at his childhood friend curiously. He had never seen him this protective over anyone, except for his sister and her sons.
"How long will you be staying here?"
"A week at the very most, I shouldn't leave Balin alone to deal with those menu shirumund."
The peace of the Shire was not lost on Dwalin. Other Hobbits simply stared but didn't even dare to say something to this bulky Dwarf out of fear. They had seen his axes when he was wondering about in the paths, before he found his way to Bag End.
The Durins had long settled in and Dwarf-made metal work proved to be much more durable than that made by men and the Hobbits in turn proved to be much more generous.
"Are you sure that it is a wise idea to return to Ered Luin, after this mess is dealt with?" Dwalin asked Thorin.
"Been asking myself the same question. Hobbits value food and good cheer above all else, which makes this a merrier place to be than the mountains are. Dís loves it here, as well; I cannot remember the last time I saw her so happy and carefree."
"Do you think Thrór would have marched upon Khazad-dûm if we had come here before we settled in Ered Luin?"
"My grandfather didn't care about food and safety at the time, Dwalin. You and I both know that he was too far lost in the sickness to even think about putting his people before gold."
A sense of monotony settled over both them, thinking about all of those lives that were lost, the dead that were beyond the count of grief. Had Thrór retained his senses, so many would still be alive and other Dwarrow would have no reason to doubt the line of Durin.
"Uncle Thorin! Uncle!" a youthful voice broke through the daze, startling the regal Dwarf and causing a slight smile to appear on his countenance.
Fíli and Kíli were running towards the forge as fast as their short legs could carry them.
"Does your Amad know that you're both here and not at the smial?"
"Mmm-hmm, Amad knows, she sent us to tell you that dinner is ready."
"Aunt Bella cooked something special cause it's your last night here, Dwalin," said Kíli with his normal joyful face.
"Well, I wouldn't miss your Aunt's cooking for anything, laddie."
Thorin marvelled at the changes in his nephews' appearances that had occurred over the last few months. While before their faces had been drawn, thin and had a sickly pale colouring, now they were slightly plump with a healthy pink hue. They were certainly more energetic than before, probably why his hair was starting to gain a few grey streaks.
True to their word, Belladonna didn't disappoint and the smell of roast made their mouths water even before they entered the smial.
"This was delicious, Mistress Baggins-"
"For the last time, it's Belladonna, Dwalin."
"I do know whom to choose to marry. Do you think I would have married her if she didn't know how to cook?"
"Do you want to sleep on the bench outside the smial?"
"It was a compliment, love."
"I think you need to improve on your complimenting skills."
"AMAD!"
"Fíli, don't throw food at your brother."
Morning came faster than any of the inhabitants of Bag End wished. The time came for Dwalin to leave again for the Blue Mountains. This time, though, he had nothing to worry about regarding food because Belladonna had ensured that he had more than enough.
"Tak natu yenet," he muttered to the Durins as he rested his forehead with each of them in turn.
"You'll always be welcome here, Dwalin," said Belladonna as she embraced him while Bungo shook his hand.
"Gamut meliku, cousin," said Thorin and they watched as the tattooed Dwarf turned and began his journey back to the mountains.
Khuzdul Translations:
menu shirumund—you're beardless—beardless.
Tak natu yenet—until next we meet.
Gamut meliku—good travels