Chapter Four
Bilbo woke up the next morning to the sound of people stirring in the nearby campsites, he yawned and stretched and got out of the bedroll he was in. On the quest he'd gotten used to waking when he heard the others wake, mostly because he didn't want to be woken by someone else and slow down the rest of the dwarves he was traveling with. He smiled when he realized he could finally have a proper cup of tea, when he saw the camping kettle among his kin's things and went to the market. He bought a tea that he recognized the ingredients of and had a similar brew at home, milk, honey, as well enough bacon eggs and toast for the entire camp of his kin for that morning. He made a fire and lit it and decided to make the tea in a pot large enough to steep it all at once, whatever wasn't drunk in the morning could be used throughout the day. He put the bacon on one side of the large griddle and the toast on another. He scrambled the eggs in a large pot while the bacon and toast cooked. Soon some of the others woke to the smell of frying bacon and the spicy scent of the tea.
"That smells good, what are you making?" Ogdin asked and Bilbo smiled.
"Just eggs, bacon and toast, as well as some tea."
"We'll pay you back for it."
"I want to make breakfast for everyone." Bilbo said. "My people show affection through making food for others, really all this is no trouble." Bilbo turned the bacon, making sure it crisped easily. "If I couldn't make enough breakfast for a hundred or so hobbits, I wouldn't be considered a proper cook in the Shire."
"You all cook in those amounts?" Ogdin demanded.
"Not every day, I lived alone, though those that live in the halls with their kin do cook meals together every day. I've had some wonderful meals at Took Hall, though it was sheer chaos often in the halls. I think the tea is done, if anyone would like a cup."
"I'll have one." Someone said
"And me." Someone said and Bilbo nodded towards the pot.
"Just get yourself a cup from the pot, I like it nice and strong, so I'll wait a while. I just realized I forgot to buy honey."
"That's alright we have several jars of it." Ogvrin said and Bilbo nodded.
"Could someone get me a large plate for the toast?" Bilbo asked and was given the plate; he flipped the first pieces of the toast onto the plate and started the second batch cooking. Soon the first batch of bacon was done and he flipped that onto the plate as well. He then poured the eggs on the griddle and stirred them as they cooked, before transferring them to the serving plate and set aside. "Help yourself, I'll just cook up the rest." Bilbo said and started on the second batch, he finally finished cooking everything on the third batch. He helped himself to some tea and took a spoonful of honey, before loading up his own plate and sitting down eating his food. "I should get going, it was lovely spending the night with you, but I think I better be getting back to the children now. I'll bring them over to the market later and you can meet them, sorry to leave so quick."
"Several of us have children of our own, we understand." Ogdin said and Bilbo nodded.
"I could make a better coat for you, though you way want to start wearing more dwarven styles, or at least some fur." Someone offered and Bilbo smiled.
"I remember you, you made my daughter's first dress."
"Yes I married into the family, I thought it might be good to sell some children's clothes and I'm glad I decided to do it. Business has been going very well since you visited my stall. I could easily make warmer clothes for your children as well."
"I'd appreciate it, sewing was never a skill I learned, nor was knitting." Bilbo said and the man nodded.
"That hump of snoring blankets is my husband Ogbrin, but I'm Hildrin." Hildrin said and Bilbo nodded.
"Its nice to meet you, if I'm allowed to teach others to carve, would you be interested in learning?" Bilbo asked and Hildrin nodded.
"Thank you for offering, I'd love to have a babe of my own." Hildrin said and Bilbo smiled.
"They wouldn't be a baby most likely, though Mahal has guided some to carve infants before, mostly those carved are toddlers or just coming out of being toddlers. Its rare for someone like Frerin to be carved and that usually only happens when someone has lived before and died young." Bilbo said and smiled, picking up his sack.
"Do you want the miners friend now, I could load it into a cart." Ogdin said and Bilbo nodded.
"Yes thank you Ogdin." Bilbo said and took the cart from him, wheeling it back to his quarters, whistling a jaunty tune. He opened the door of his quarters and set the crate inside the empty room. He then went to his bedroom and smiled when he saw Frerin and the children curled against one another, all were still fast asleep. He went to the dining hall next and noticed how Thorin glared at him, as did several of the Company. "I was visiting with some extended family, I made contracts with them, as is my right. I have the right to move around the mountain as I choose and I had an opportunity to make some money and help my family, I chose to do so."
"These dwarrows could have..." Thorin started.
"No they couldn't have, its standard practice to sense the thoughts of others in the Shire to ensure that others are being honest in their dealings. They are honest dwarrows and a great deal like my Grandpappy." Bilbo said and stretched out his arms. "I visited you as a courtesy Thorin, for no other reason than that. You don't have the right to dictate to me where I can't go and who I can and cannot do business with." Bilbo stated.
"But Bilbo, staying out all night, getting drunk and leaving the children at home..."
"That was one night, its not something I'll do often and at any rate the children are fine."
"Aye when we finally got them to sleep, they were near inconsolable Bilbo. You should realize how attached to you they are."
"I do, that's why I left, and I'm allowed to have my life, as well as have children. My mother often left on camping trips when I was small and my father was fine with watching me for a few days. I really don't understand what your problem is." Bilbo stated. "I clearly said I would be back in the morning and I am back." Bilbo said.
"After selling off the best tunnels to a band of ruffians."
"Oh for the love of...If they are ruffians, so am I! We share blood, I'm not that fond of your cousin Dain, he's got the most dreadful sense of humor and he likes his war rams to an unhealthy degree, but I don't say anything about your kin, kindly don't say anything about mine." Bilbo stated. "I came to tell you I came back, but if you need me, I'll be with the children." Bilbo stated turning his back.
"Don't you walk away now, if we must have this out in public then we will finish this argument."
"I live here Thorin, but you aren't my King, I won't be taking orders from you. You can't demand that I do whatever and I will not be at your beck and call. It was one thing when we were on the quest, but I refuse to have you dictate to me!" Bilbo said and stamped his foot tossing his curls back over one shoulder and a strange gleam entering his eyes. "You don't want to make me angry Thorin and your making me very angry, I'm trying to control it but honestly you can't expect to control me, or my business dealings. Nor can you expect me to give everything to the crown, I'm more than willing to pay the normal tax rate, but I'm not a member of the royal line of your house, nor have I been raised with dwarven customs don't expect me to act like I have been. I sold those chambers for a fair price and I will sell the other chambers for the same price, to the guards."
"The guards? When I'm living on the streets?" One of the council members demanded.
"Aye from what I heard they are building your houses first, you'll be fine there, but our guards shouldn't have to live out in the elements." Bilbo stated.
"We were going to take them into the homes we finished and share it with them this winter."
"And what about next winter? By then the next tunnels should be dug out and honestly I don't think these small tunnels would suit someone of your stature." Bilbo said his voice clearly betraying what he thought of such things. "It wouldn't hurt any of you to have some humility and to focus on the needs of the people, rather than your own need for power." He angrily took out his necklace. "I've been wearing this for my people since I was a faunt and its guided me through the years, you have the stones, bloody use them." He said and doused his head with a water jug, the cold water didn't help his mood at all and he took several deep breaths, fingering the stones. "No one talk to me, I'm close to the edge." Bilbo stated, continuing to calm his breathing, moving his fingers back and forth over the familiar beads.
"You wouldn't truly harm me, even if you were in a rage." Thorin said and Bilbo raised an eyebrow.
"I'd rather not test that myself Thorin, its not something to be taken lightly, I should have added some Smokey quartz earlier, I'm going to have to think about what stones to add. At any rate I care for your people Thorin, I just have a different way of doing things than you do, I'm descended from our line of kings, though my dwarrow blood is common, I don't see anything wrong with that." Bilbo stated. "There's nothing wrong with someone being of common birth and you lot need to realize that and stop pretending your better than everyone else. Frankly you aren't, nor are you worse than anyone, I see myself as an equal to my gardener back home and we're the closest of friends. You took people from all walks of life on your quest, why can't you see that loyal guards that will lay down their lives for us, deserve proper lodging for themselves and their families just as much or more than you do and most don't have the means to afford such."
"And so you're giving them the tunnels out of the kindness of your own heart?" Thorin demanded and Bilbo shook his head.
"I'll be charging them for it at a rate I think fair, the tunnels are safe, but rather damp." Bilbo said. "I've made up my mind on this."
"And you've also decided to hire a group of miners to dig out the next closest tunnels."
"Aye, I have, they need my guidance on where to dig and you have quite enough gold as it is." Bilbo stated.
"And what about the gem deposits, I suppose you'll be hiring miners to dig the best places?" Thorin demanded.
"As is my right, I'll of course pay the taxes, but I have the right to wish to keep my finances separate from the crowns, after the last time I agreed to take a portion of royal gold."
"Oh don't start on that." Thorin said and Bilbo glared at him.
"That's the thing of it, I did it because you were bloody crazy Thorin, accusing your friends and treating them like they were your enemies. I won't be taking a single coin out of the treasury; I'll make my own fortune here easily enough. I'm from a merchant family Thorin and I was managing my own businesses and properties, before you showed up at my door. I know what I'm doing and I won't horde the gold I make until it brings out madness or worse to the ones I love." Bilbo said flatly. "What I'm making I'll share with others and do with what I see fit, I will of course go to you for forms and to register the contracts, but I have the right to do my own business in the mountain and carry out my own affairs."
"But your affairs effect me and everyone else Bilbo, because your my One." Thorin said and Bilbo laughed, until he started to cry.
"Oh I am your One as you are mine, but that doesn't mean we share everything Thorin, it can't." Bilbo stated. "Or should I be co ruler with you, knowing what I do about your people. If you say I'm to share everything with you, the opposite is true as well. It's entirely sensible to share living expenses and finances, but beyond that both my parents had their own gold."
"Then if you wish to be like this, you can eat elsewhere."
"I have no problem with cooking my own food, or cooking food for my family Thorin, I'm a hobbit we love to cook." Bilbo stated. "Though banishing me from the table like an errant child is beneath you." Bilbo said and Thorin blushed. "All of the Company are welcome at my place anytime and Thorin, you'd better be more careful of the council you keep, some would turn on you as easily as breathing." Bilbo stated and walked from the room, his head held upright, his back strait and proudly and Nori followed after him immediately.
"What did you mean about that?" Nori demanded.
"Precisely what I said, Brando can't control his mind sense yet and why you let such cut throat politics to exist is beyond me. Most on the council are focused on how they can gain the most power rather than anything else, its what's making my boy so timid in part." Bilbo stated and Nori stared at Bilbo in shock.
"Brando can read minds?"
"I doubt he understands half of what he's hearing other people think, but yes he can, as can I. Don't worry I'll be teaching him how to control it over the next few days and working on that control with him. Its rude to spy on others."
"Hang rudeness, if there is a threat to us, we need to know. You would be the best spy Erebor could have."
"I have interests elsewhere, I don't want to get involved with dwarven politics."
"Like it or not, your involved, just by having children with Thorin your involved." Nori stated and Bilbo nodded.
"I see your point, I'll consider what you said, but I have no desire to be around Thorin at the moment." Bilbo said.
"Your hurting him by keeping such distance, you agreed to see him."
"That I did, that was before last night and before he started treating me like an errant child, rather than the free thinking individual I am. I should be allowed to do as I see fit, without always asking Thorin for a by your leave, that's how its done in the Shire. My Grandfather certainly doesn't control all my Grandmother's actions and I refuse to be controlled in such a way. I refuse to be used by Thorin, regardless of if he's my One and I refuse to accept his gold." Bilbo stated. "I can find my own easily enough and I can leave easily enough, if he makes me but if I leave, I'm taking both Tris and Brando with me. Frerin is nearly grown and can do what he wants, but if Thorin drives me to leaving I refuse to allow him to keep the children here." Bilbo said flatly. "I'm not there yet, but I refused to be dictated to, like some servant. It was one thing when I was on the quest and in his employ, but its quite another now. Tell that to Thorin when you see him, because I know you'll tell him of this conversation anyway. I know that if its between me and Thorin, the Company will side with Thorin and I understand why, I'm not hurt over it." Bilbo said and Nori nodded.
"You understand that much then?" Nori asked and Bilbo grinned.
"I'm rather intelligent and some say I'm much like my Grandpappy, the dwarven blood in me runs strong." Bilbo stated. "Though I was never taught your customs or your culture, I'm a fast learner." Bilbo grinned at Nori. "I'm going to learn dwarven law from my cousin and I'm sure most of your customs will go along with it. I'm not going to try how you run your society, but I am going to make things better for the common people." Bilbo stated and Nori frowned.
"How are you going to do that?"
"I have several ideas, but first I'll have to amass enough gold for it." Bilbo said and Nori looked shocked. "I'm not going to tell you all my plans, partly because I'm somewhat undecided still as to how I'm going to go about it. Still by the end, I'll ensure no one will go hungry and the people will be happy, it might not be traditional but if tradition dictated that those from Erebor went hungry when their home was destroyed, hang tradition." Bilbo said and Nori laughed.
"You are going to make things interesting, I might stay back from the council today."
"Oh I'll be keeping my son away from the council until he can control his abilities. As for what I'm doing today, I'm simply going to market and spending time with my cousins." Bilbo said. "You're welcome to come, I think you'll like them."
"I'd like to meet them." Nori said and Bilbo smiled, walking to his chambers and opening the door, he gently woke his children and a moment later had his arms full of them.
"I missed you Daddy Bilbo, you were gone a really long time." Brando said and Bilbo gently ran a hand through his hair.
"I know sweetheart, I was meeting with my cousins, why don't you take a couple of your toys and you can play in the markets today and we'll meet them."
"Yay cousins! Are they like our Uncles?" Brando asked.
"A little do you think you can handle the market."
"Yes, most are happy at the market." Brando said and smiled at Bilbo and Bilbo returned the smile, he helped Brando into his clothing and then helped Tris to get dressed. He braided his children's hair as well and rebraided his own. He then unloaded the cart he had borrowed and put Tris and Brando in it. They both laughed as he steered the cart towards the market. "Keep sitting down." Bilbo told his children and both nodded, he walked the market streets, smiling at the sound of his children's laughter.
"Bad man." Brando said and huddled against his sister.
"Where's the bad man Brando?" Nori asked and Brando pointed.
"He wants to steal from that dwarf and he doesn't mind killing others to do it." Brando said. "Why's he so mean."
"I don't know sweetheart." Nori said and looked at the dwarf frowning. "I recognize him, you did well to point him out to me." Nori said and called a guard over, within a moment the dwarf Brando pointed out was subdued and had his hands in chains. "If you hear the thoughts of any more bad dwarves, tell me."
"Alright."
"You should also be learning how to control your gift, how about something sweet and some tea, I find a good cup of tea and something sweet always steadies the nerves." Bilbo said and smiled when he saw a stall selling tea and pastries. "Would you like to try some mint tea, or some hot chocolate?"
"Hot chocolate." Brando said.
"I'm shook up too." Tris said and Bilbo laughed.
"I wouldn't get something for Brando and not for you, what do you want?"
"Can I have both?" Tris asked and Bilbo smiled.
"Can you mix some mint with the chocolate?" Bilbo asked the stall keeper.
"Of course and what else will you be wanting?"
"Two scones." Bilbo said and paid for the scones from his money pouch. He handed the drinks and scones to his children. "Be careful not to spill your drinks, it will hurt if you do."
"Yes Daddy." They both said and blew on their cups, as they ate their scones.
"They are very well behaved."
"For the most part, but they haven't really settled into themselves yet, talk to me again in a year or so and we'll see how well behaved they are then." Bilbo said and the stall owner laughed.
"My wife is coming once winter is over and she'll be bringing our two little ones with her."
"I'll be glad when there's more children in the mountain besides my own, siblings are well and good, but children should grow up with lots of friends. Once your children we should schedule a time for them all to play together."
"I wouldn't want to presume."
"They might be the King's son and daughter, but they're also mine. We will raise them as we both see fit and if I see fit to have them run wild in the market, laughing with other children, that's my decision."
"You would have your children run wild in the markets, like any other dwarflings?"
"Of course I would, they need to get to know the people they are going to serve, but first I'll need to make the markets safe enough for them and the other children, that's why other than my family I'm giving the first tunnels to the guard."
"So the rumors are true, about you selling a part of the mountain to your kin."
"Yes I have the finders rights to that passage and I sold it to my kin and their families." Bilbo said and smiled. "I'm going to do a similar thing with the guards."
"How much are you charging if I might ask?" A guard said and Bilbo smiled, opening his stone sense and finding the dwarf to be an honorable man.
"A thousand gold for each house spread the word, though there's only about forty or so houses and the passage needs some cleaning." Bilbo told the guard.
"Thank you for caring enough for the guard to ensure that we have proper housing and a thousand is more than fair, you could get much more if you sold elsewhere."
"Those that can afford to pay more, will easily find shelter elsewhere." Bilbo said and the guard nodded, they moved from the food stalls, Bilbo buying some egg and bacon filled pastries for the children from a stall. He smiled when he saw his relatives and waved, going over to each cart and asking them to help him watch his children, while they were in the stalls. After everyone agreed he lifted both Tris and Brando out of the cart. "Don't run out of my sight, but you can explore the market as much as you want."
"Yes Daddy, can we meet our cousins?"
"They don't have any children with them."
"That's okay, I still want to go over and be with them, they feel nice."
Brando said and Bilbo smiled.
"Alright, you can go where you want, as long as someone is watching you."
"Yes Daddy." Brando said and Bilbo smiled as Brando walked over to Hildrin and looked up at the dwarf. "Can I sit in your lap, I got my knight to play with."
"Of course you can child." Hildrin said and smiled as Brando settled himself, content to watch people walk through the markets and sit with Hildrin.
"And what do you want to do sweetheart?"
"Watch the practice matches!" Tris said and Nori laughed.
"I'll take her there and watch over her, if you're not interested in watching such bloody sport."
"Alright, if they want me, send a messenger." Bilbo frowned his hands starting to itch in a now familiar way. He groaned knowing he'd be spending the next several hours carving at least. He walked back to the council hall and up to Thorin. "I feel the need to carve, I need some of your hair, if you want another child."
"I do, even though we're at odds."
"Then we are in agreement, the hair please Thorin."
"How much do you need?"
"two locks will be fine." Bilbo replied and Thorin nodded, cutting a lock of hair from the back of his head. Bilbo took Thorin's hair and walked back down to the tunnels.
"Bilbo, its good to see you." Ogdin said and Bilbo smiled at the dwarf.
"I'm going to carve, I'm sorry but I won't be able to focus on a conversation right now."
"Can I watch?" Ogdin asked.
"Carving is between the carver, the stone and sometimes who they are carving for, it's a very personal moment. I wouldn't ask to watch you conceive a child with your wife." Bilbo pointed out and Ogdin laughed.
"I see your point, well good luck, er happy carving." Ogdin said and Bilbo smiled, picking up a round piece of stone that was the size of his hands extended. He went into the chambers and started to carve, feeling their faces form under his hands smiling at the feel of them and the stone under his fingers. Two identical little boys came to life under his hands, they would have his Grandfather's eyes and his eyes. Carving multiples at the same time happened sometimes and Bilbo smiled at his children's faces. He'd dress them alike and they would have fun endlessly confusing the others around them. He could already hear their laughter. He continued to carve until he finished the ritual and held two young boys in his arms as they both woke for the first time, coming out of the stones.
"Hello little ones, I'm your Daddy Bilbo."
"Daddy!" One said and the other wrapped their arms around Bilbo at the same time, they both grinned up at him. "I'm Tarin and he's Torin."
"I see and why doesn't Torin speak?" Bilbo asked.
"Because we can speak for each other." Torin said and grinned at his brother. "We share a spirit."
"Two spirits are rare." Bilbo said and smiled when he reached into his children's minds, they were indeed thinking the same thoughts at the same time. With time they would get used to their own minds, but in the start of life sometimes two spirit twins functioned as one person. "Now lets get you some clothes and food, then we can rest."
"That sounds nice." Torin said and Bilbo smiled, bundling them both in his cloak he smiled when he saw useable children's clothing outside his door, it was a bit big, but the boys would grow into it.
"Do you want to walk, or do you want me to carry you?" Bilbo asked and frowned, he realized it was quite late at night if the dimmed torches gave any hint to the time.
"Carry us." Tarin demanded and Bilbo picked up both boys after dressing them. He found a guard watching over the tunnel, who stared at Tarin and Torin.
"Hello, I was wondering if you might take me to the stalls, if any are open right now."
"Some are always open, for those that prefer to work at night, your boys are quite handsome."
"Thank you, say hello boys."
"Hello Mr. Guard." Both boys spoke in tandem and Bilbo laughed, walking with the children and the guard.
"I see why you were speaking for one another." Bilbo said.
"We thought it might be clearer that way." The boys said and Bilbo nodded.
"You were right to think so, now lets get some food." Bilbo said and both grinned.
"Thank you Daddy." They both said at the same time and Bilbo bought half a dozen hand pies from the stall eating two himself and giving two to each child. The boys actually fed one another.
"Feed yourselves boys." Bilbo said and smiled, it was cute the way they moved together and cared for one another.
"Yes Daddy Bilbo." Both boys said and they walked together eating their pies, gathering several guards as they walked, as well as other dwarrows, more came out half awake and the boys smiled and waved to everyone.
"They look exactly alike." Someone said and another nodded.
"We're from the same stone, but we're different people, once we figure out what's him and what's me." Torin said and Bilbo smiled.
"They share their thoughts and will remained connected strongly with one another throughout their lives." Bilbo said and gently ran a hand down Torin's hair, before tickling Tarin, both boys laughed and he smiled.
"That's amazing, are they as rare for your people as they are for ours?"
"Those carved out of the same stone are very rare for us as well, but the Father has been very generous with his blessings of late." Bilbo replied and yawned. "I'm going to go up to my chambers and get some sleep, I won't mind talking with anyone who wishes to come morning, but both me and the boys are exhausted right now. Coming out of the stone is as taxing on the carver, as it is for those who are born from it."
Bilbo said.
"Goodnight sleep well." Tarin said and Torin waved, having finished one of his meat pies. They walked together to Bilbo's chambers and Bilbo smiled when he saw Tris, Frerin and Brando asleep in his bed.
"These are your siblings, looks like I'll have to buy a bigger bed." Bilbo said and smiled as both boys got into bed curling against Brando and one another. Bilbo got in on the other side, turning on his side so there would be enough room and curling his arms around Tris and Frerin and closing his eyes.
My children have been petitioning me to allow them to carve, is this your doing Bilbo Baggins?" Father Mahal asked and Bilbo smiled cheekily.
"Well they asked me to teach them how to carve, I told them that I'd only teach them if you allowed it."
"You have that much sense at least, I'll allow you to carve their children for them and only those that want it most."
"That's fair, thank you Father."
"Don't thank me, you'll be very busy over the next few days and will barely see your own children."
"My family will care for them, as will their family, they will be fine." Bilbo said and Mahal smiled.
"I am proud of you Bilbo, you are a credit to my line and I've always been one to keep others on their toes, I like that quality in my children. My wife sends her love as well and understands the choices you made, she loves you very much and we are both watching over you and the rest of our children."
"Thank you creator, for your many blessings." Bilbo said and smiled, as he felt little hands patting his face.
"Seems as though its time for you to leave, may your life be full of happiness Bilbo, do try to not call on me often, as I have to see to the wellbeing of all my children.
"I won't call often, I promise."
Bilbo opened his eyes and smiled at Tris, who put a finger to her lips. "I'm hungry, but its still early, can you make me something to eat?" She asked and Bilbo smiled, his body felt full of energy and his fingers tingled.
"Not today sweetheart, I've got to go somewhere."
"Your never here." Tris protested.
"In a bit I'll be free and we can spend the day together I promise." Bilbo said and Tris nodded.
"Alright Daddy Bilbo, but I want time with you, more than more brothers." Tris said and Bilbo laughed.
"Perhaps you'll have a little sister next Trissy. Soon there will be more dwarflings in the mountain for you to play with." Bilbo promised and Tris nodded, Bilbo walked out the door to his chambers. "Could one of you watch my daughter, she's up, but I have to go somewhere."
"Of course." One of the guards said and Bilbo felt his stone sense lead him to where two members of the council slept, the guards let him pass, though they were very puzzled by why Bilbo would want to see two council members. Bilbo woke both men and they looked up at him in surprise.
"Come with me now, if you wish to create a dwarfling, you must choose quickly."
"Aye we'll follow you, tell us what we need to do."
"I will be the one carving, Mahal won't allow his gift to be passed directly to you, but is allowing me to carve for you." Bilbo said and both nodded, he took them down to the tunnels and felt for the right piece of stone. He chose one that was much smaller than the ones he'd carve before. "You need to keep a hand on this stone at all times, think of what you want for your child, who you want them to be, what you wish them to look like and send that to Mahal and he'll guide my hands."
"Thank you." One said and Bilbo smiled.
"I'm simply doing the will of the Father, who am I to question who he chooses to bless." Bilbo said and together they lifted the stone and took it back to the house Bilbo had been using, Bilbo fell into the trance soon afterward, his fingers moving along the stone, feeling the child come to life under it. He smiled, seeing a little girl, half the age of his own children, just a toddler really, with one of her father's riotous curls and the other's eyes. He lovingly carved out her face and body, feeling the hands move around him as he moved, feeling the love the two dwarrows already had for their child. He finished carving her and said the prayer to bring her to life in his head, the stone cracked and the two men rushed forward cradling their daughter in their arms, she cried at the cold air on her skin and one hastily took off his cloak, wrapping her in it. "She'll be hungry." Bilbo said. "Eat and then rest, the carving is taxing on all who participate."
"We can never repay you."
"Just love your child, you don't need to worry about repaying me. This is the blessing of Mahal and it was his will that your daughter be born, I just helped her come into being." Bilbo said and smiled. "Congratulations on the forming of your daughter, she's a lovely little lass." Bilbo said and smiled at the child who stared at him, he put his hand in front of his face and took it away, grinning as the child laughed. Bilbo walked from the room with the two other dwarrows and outside to where the whole mountain waited. "Its Mahal's blessing to give, he won't allow me to show you how to carve for yourself, but if your desire is great enough, he will allow me to carve children for you. Now I'm going to get something to eat and possibly a few hours sleep, before I carve the next one, he did promise that these days would be taxing, but unless you know me, please don't talk with me right now. Its very taxing to make a child and all my energy will be focused towards that for now." Bilbo said and someone handed him a couple of filled pastries, he ate hungrily and finished off the meal, before going back to his carving house and falling into sleep.
He woke again several hours later, feeling the need to carve again and smiled when he felt where he should go next. He went to the markets and stood before Hildrin. "You should get someone to watch your booth."
"Now?" Hildrin said and Bilbo smiled.
"Now, come lets get your husband." Bilbo said and the slightly dazed Hildrin followed after Bilbo, to where his husband stood by a tavern.
"We need to go now Ogbrin."
"Of course." Ogbrin said and looked at Bilbo excitedly, Bilbo smiled in return, taking them down to the tunnels and feeling for the stone, this time it was a larger stone that called to him and he smiled at the feel of it.
"You need to keep your hands on the stone at all times, focus on who you want your child to be, then send those thoughts of what you want to Mahal and he'll send them through to me." Bilbo said and walked with the other dwarrows to where he carved. He started the feet first, slowly making his way up the little dwarfling's legs, feeling the stone move over his fingers. He smiled when he saw the child would be a boy, before he continued to work the stone, slowly moving his hands up what would be the dwarfling's body, feeling the child's body take form under his fingertips. He finished with carving a riot of curls on top of the child's head and woke the dwarfling.
"Daddy, I'm Hildbrin."
"That you are my boy, that you are." Ogbrin said tears in his eyes as Hildrin held back tears of his own. "Are you hungry little one?"
"Aye that I am, can we go get food Daddy, what's your name?"
"I am Daddy Hildbrin, this is Daddy Ogbrin and this is your Godfather Bilbo."
"What's a Godfather?"
"Someone who watches over a child and sees to their well being."
"I'm honored, but you don't need to call me Godfather Bilbo, just Bilbo is fine, soon I'll introduce you to my own children and you can play together."
"You have children?"
"Three little boys and one little girl and an older son." Bilbo said and Hildbrin smiled.
"I wanna meet them, can I play with them Daddy Ogbrin please?'
"Later my beryl, for now we need to get food and rest."
"Resting is boring." Hildbrin protested and Bilbo laughed, they walked to the market together and Bilbo smiled when he saw his children waiting for him with Odgin.
"The King agreed to let them come down to the market and wait for you." Ogdin said and Bilbo smiled, picking each child up in turn and tossing them in the air.
"Its good to see all of you, but I'm not able to play right now."
"We understand, your sleepy like you were sleepy when you carved us."
"Not as sleepy, but I need to rest and eat, but we can cuddle together on my bed and you can go play with Hildbrin when I wake up again."
"Hildbrin?" Tris asked
"Your little cousin, he's under his Daddy's cloak right now." Bilbo said and Hildbrin poked his head out of the blankets and waved.
"Hello cousins." He said and Bilbo smiled softly.
"Hello Hildbrin, I'm Tris, these are my brothers, that's Brando and the twins Torin and Tarin."
"Its nice to meet you." Hildbrin said and yawned.
"I'll go get him dressed and we can eat." Ogbrin said and Bilbo nodded, he settled both twins on his lap and set his arms around Tris and Brando.
"So how was your day?'
"Everyone's escited and happy." Brando said and smiled. "It makes me happy."
"Excited dear one." Bilbo corrected and Brando nodded.
"I got to watch warriors sparring, cousin Ogdin took me and the twins, but Brando stayed with cousin Ogvrin and they made honey cakes." Tris said and the twins both smiled.
"We want to learn soon, please Daddy Bilbo?"
"Of course you'll be learning soon, I need to talk to your Daddy Thorin about your lessons, after I've finished with carving, but why don't you ask Dwalin to show you a few things in the meantime." Bilbo said and both boys and his daughter grinned.
"Do I have to?"
"Yes you do Brando." Bilbo said and sighed. "But not until we work on controlling your mental abilities."
Bilbo said and Brando nodded. Ogvrin gave him a hearty bowl of stew. "Thank you this smells good."
"Thank you for making me an Uncle." Ogvrin said and Bilbo smiled.
"Its Mahal who made you an Uncle, I just carved the stone." Bilbo said and started eating hungrily, the stew was hearty and precisely what he needed after the carving, he finished the bowl and was brought two more before he felt full. "Would you like to take a nap with me, or be with your Uncles or cousins?"
"We wanna go with you Daddy Bilbo."
"I'm not sleepy." Tris protested rubbing her eyes.
"I know your not, but I am very sleepy, so if you are coming with me, your going to need to either play quietly or cuddle with me and take a nap." Bilbo said. "You can of course stay with your cousins if you prefer."
"I'll stay here, I love you Daddy and I'm tired, but not as tired as you and I think it would be easier for everyone."
"Don't worry about what everyone else wants Brando, think about what you want."
"I want to stay with Cousin Ogdin." Brando said and Bilbo nodded.
"I'll see you later then." Bilbo said and walked with the twins back to his bedroom in his carving house. He lay down on the bed, smiling as the boys curled on either side of him and fell into a deep sleep for several hours. He was woken again several hours later by the need to carve again. He picked up both the twins, deciding not to wake them and walked with their heads nestled against his shoulders back to his cousins' camp. They smiled when they saw him and Bilbo returned the smiles. "Can you watch the boys? They should sleep for a while yet."
"Of course, you can put them on one of the bedrolls, I'll put two by where your little boy and girl are sleeping."
"They finally went down for their nap then?'
"After running wild for half the afternoon." Ogdin said and grinned. "They are a joy to watch over, its wonderful to get to know them and the lads."
Ogdin said and Bilbo smiled settling both boys down on two bedrolls next to Tris and Brando. They curled against each other, two little hands finding their mouths and sucking on their thumbs. Bilbo smiled softly and left them to sleep, walking towards where his senses were leading him. He smiled at a guard and stood in front of him. "Would you like to become a father today, you need to decide quickly."
"I would love to, where's my husband."
"We're going to get him, I just found you first." Bilbo said and walked with the guard to where one of the biggest dwarves Bilbo had ever seen was standing guard over the entrance to the market.
"Call for a replacement, Mahal's chosen us to receive a babe." The guard said and the other guard started crying as Bilbo felt his joy, Bilbo smiled softly and patted the dwarf on the back, before walking with them both to where the stone lay. He picked out a very wide stone although length of the stone was just as big as the ones he'd carved his children out of.
"I need you to keep hold of this stone while I work, you must touch it at all times and think of who you want your child to be. Send those thoughts to Mahal and he'll use my hands and stone sense to carve your dwarfling." Bilbo said and both nodded, he took them to his carving room and started. He smiled softly at the face of the child who emerged, her face was beautiful, he carved the hair carefully and then moved onto the shoulders, moving down her body, until she was fully carved. He then started on the stone he had left over, carving a child that was little more than a babe from it. The little one was male and Bilbo smiled softly as he finished the carving and woke both children. The little girl started crying when her baby brother started crying and the burly warrior wrapped them both in a cloak.
"Thank you."
"Your welcome, it was a pleasure to be of service, both to you and Mahal, the babe should be old enough to eat food instead of milk, but I'd suggest getting clothes for both of them soon." Bilbo said and yawned, he walked from the room and to a food stall buying a meal, before going to the camp and curling into a sleeping bag beside his children. He fell into a deep sleep once more sleeping until he was woken again by the need to carve, he sat up and smiled at his children who were sitting in his cousin's laps talking animatedly with Hildbrin. He walked over to the fire and kissed each of his children on the forehead.
"Are you leaving again Daddy?" Tris asked.
"Yes my pebble, but I'll be back when I can, sorry I won't be able to play."
"That's okay, I get to play with Hildbrin and there's another little girl that was born last night that we're going to play with too."
"I'm gonna find her." Brando said and Bilbo smiled.
"That sounds like fun, I love you my loves." Bilbo said.
"Love you Daddy." His children replied and Bilbo smiled.
"Take this with you, you can eat as you walk." Ogdin said and Bilbo smiled as he was given a basket of hand pies.
"Thank you." He said and took one out of the basket, he ate them as he walked to a poorer part of the settlement, people stared at him and a few licked their lips at the hand pies. He gave one to a dwarrow who looked as though he was half starved. "Eat slowly, otherwise you'll be sick." Bilbo said and continued walking to where two people sat huddled under blankets. "Would you like a child?" Bilbo asked them and they both nodded.
"We would." One said and Bilbo nodded, he walked with them back to his carving house and gave them the basket to finish as they walked, he explained how he would carve their child and started to work on the boy. He smiled as the child came to life under his fingertips, he lovingly made the child from the stone, watching as the little boy came to life under his hands. He felt the exhaustion of the boy's parents.
"You can close your eyes, just don't fall asleep until after he's created." Bilbo said gently and continued to carve, smiling as one man held the others in place and the other man rested his head on his lover's shoulder. Soon the man was falling asleep and jerking awake, before falling asleep again.
"He was trying to find a seam last night, we take it turns to look for rich deposits." The dwarf said and Bilbo nodded, continuing to carve.
"I'll be hiring a team soon, to mine a good place I found, but I'll be buying some meals for the miners in the meantime, until all of you are strong enough to work, I need to focus on this now though." Bilbo said and the other dwarf nodded, Bilbo finished the carving and woke the child, a moment later the man was unconscious sleeping deeply, as the other man smiled at the little boy.
"Hello little one your Daddy Jiran was very sleepy, I'm your Daddy Hirgar, welcome to the world."
"I'm Jirgar, hello Daddy Hirgar, I'm hungry."
"There's some hand pies left little one, help yourselves, I'm going to get something to eat, Jiran can rest here a while, but you'll need to be out in a couple of hours, so I can carve for the next people who need my skills." Bilbo said and yawned, before walking from the tunnels and to the marketplace. He stumbled as he walked and someone shoved a hand pie into his hand, as someone else lent him their shoulder. "Thank you, I'm tired, carving so much is tiring even with Mahal lending me his strength." He murmured and ate his pie, concentrating on his feet.
"You want to go to your cousin's camp? Next time you should stay in your carving house lad." The dwarf that was half supporting him said.
"Promised my children." Bilbo muttered and continued to walk to the camp smiling when he saw his children.
"DADDY!" Brando screamed.
" I'm fine little one, jus' tired." Bilbo said and collapsed on top of one of the bedrolls falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He slept until he was woken again, he felt ravenous but he also needed to carve. He stood feeling much better than he had before, but still tired, he started to walk towards where his senses called to him and a guard handed him a basket of hand pies.
"Thank you." Bilbo said eating the hand pies hungrily, as he walked to a food stall. "Come with me if you want a child." Bilbo told the owner of the stall, who flung off his apron and followed after Bilbo to the royal kitchens. He brought both dwarves down to his carving room and started on the carving, glad someone had cleared away the chips from the last one. He finished carving the little girl dwarfling and felt the need to carve another. He groaned and ate more of the food in the basket, before walking from the carving room and found two guardsmen bringing them back as well and carving a son for them who was the same age as Bilbo's own children. He smiled as the boy woke from the stone and promptly passed out.
When next he woke, he felt much better and started walking to where he needed to carve next. "Are you sure you'll be alright Bilbo?" Ogdin asked. "You slept for a day, after the guardsmen brought you back."
"I'll be fine, Mahal wouldn't harm me, and he knows what I can handle. Thank you for watching over my children." Bilbo said and smiled at his sleeping children, it was quite late at night, but he knew where he needed to go. He went back to the miner's quarters and woke two of the miners, bringing them with him to where he was carving. He smiled as he finished carving the little boy and the child woke, but left before they could thank him. He felt his fingers twitch again and came to where two council members slept, he woke them both and filled his basket, eating as he walked back to his carving room. As he did so he passed a messenger and smiled at the man. "Could someone bring more stone, about this big and some smaller pieces about this big? I'm running low on useable stone for carving." Bilbo said and chose another piece of stone, taking it back with him to carve. This time it was another little boy and Bilbo smiled at the child, before going to the market. Surprisingly he actually had some energy left and he was able to buy some meat and potatoes, which he tore into hungrily reveling in being able to eat something other than meat pie. He took the basket with him as he walked back to where his children were staying and laughed at the sight in front of him, the six children were running wild with his own children as his cousins and several other dwarrows laughed at their antics.
"Daddy, your back and you can stay for a while now?" Brando said and Bilbo smiled.
"For a little while, he might call me to carve at any time, but I could tell you a story if you liked."
"We want a story Daddy." Tarin and Torin said in tandem and Bilbo smiled, launching into how he had tricked three trolls. Soon he had all the children laughing at his tale, he smiled softly enjoying being surrounded by children both his own and the children he had helped to create.
"Tell another one, please Daddy Bilbo?" Tris asked. "Tell me about a battle."
"Little girls shouldn't be hearing stories about battles, how about I tell you how I escaped with your Daddy Thorin from the elf King's halls?" Bilbo said and little eyes widened as he started to tell his tale, he frowned as he felt the need to carve. "I'm sorry children, but this story will have to wait for another day."
"Daddy's got to go carve us another friend, right Daddy?" Brando said and Bilbo smiled ruffling his son's hair gently.
"That's right my boy." Bilbo said and smiled, before he stood and laughed. "Looks like I won't have to go trekking the length and breadth of Erebor this time, I don't think we've met cousin, but come and lets carve." Bilbo said to a dwarf who was polishing a rock across from him, he jumped up and his husband followed after him. Bilbo explained how the carving worked to both his cousins and smiled at the large variety of rocks he had to choose from. "I'll be sure to find somewhere else to carve."
"We don't mind a bit of rock, so long as its not blocking the doors to our home and it will be good to see the bairns and the joy you bring to others. We all decided that we're fine with you using our tunnel as a carving space."
"Are you sure even when this slows down, I'll need to carve at odd times."
"We're certain, we're waiting to move until you've finished most of the carving. I'm Frigrin and this is my husband Ogdrick."
"Nice to meet you both." Bilbo said as they moved the large stone Bilbo chose and Bilbo started to carve. He smiled at feel of the child under his hand, splitting the rock down the center first. "Keep holding on to both of them, they might be like my sons." Bilbo said and started to carve, he worked on both of them at the same time, by the end he had a little boy and girl, one who looked more like Frigrin and the other who looked more like Ogdrick. Bilbo smiled and woke both children from the stone.
"Daddy!" The little girl cried out and hurled herself into Frigrin's arms, as the little boy blinked confused up at Ogdrick, he yawned and stretched.
"Hello Daddy, I'm Ogfri.
"I'm Freris." The little girl said and smiled at both dwarves. "Its cold down here."
"Yes it is little one, you can use my cloak, and the others might have left you some clothes outside." Fregrin said and opened the door, smiling when he saw the clothing. Together Fregrin and Ogdrick helped both children to dress and they walked back to the campsite. "Now you need to be quiet the other children are sleeping." Fregrin said and the little girl and boy nodded, they sat down by the fire and ate some of the stew that had been left for them, Ogdin smiled at the five of them and walked over from the pile of sleeping dwarflings. "Will you be resting after you eat?"
"Aye, it takes a lot out of you and there were two, which was a lovely surprise, this is your cousin Ogdin, say hello children."
"Hello I'm Freris, he's Ogfri."
"Its wonderful to meet you both, we'll have to get you some toys soon, but for now how about you rest with your Daddy Fregrin and Daddy Ogdrick."
" Sleepy." Ogfri agreed and curled up in Fregrin's lap.
"I didn't mean this second finish your soup first lad." Ogdin said and laughed as Ogfri drank his soup from his bowl, he stopped mid swallow before closing his eyes and falling face first into the bowl sound asleep.
"Sometimes it takes them a bit to wake up properly, its nothing to worry over." Bilbo said and smiled down at the dwarfling. "How are you feeling Freris?
"Not so sleepy I'm a gonna fall into me soup like me brother." Freris said and everyone laughed, Fregrin gently moved Ogfri so he was resting against him instead of curled over the bowl of soup and wiped his face, before continuing to eat his meal, occasionally adjusting Ogfri's head so it lay back against him, rather than slumped forward.
"How long will he be like this?"
"Not more than a day, occasionally a little one is slow to wake, when he does wake up properly, he'll tire more easily for the first week or so, its nothing to worry about. It can happen sometimes when the carver is fatigued. Since the children are all asleep I'll be going back to my carving house for a bit." Bilbo said.
"Your welcome to stay here." Ogdin said and Bilbo smiled softly.
"Alright then, I'll just find some spot out of the way, don't want to be trod on by half a dozen little feet. Don't worry about them waking me, I won't wake until its time to carve again." Bilbo said and yawned, he was given a bedroll and he found a spot by the wagon to curl into, he fell into a deep sleep.