Chapter 4 of In Solitude, enjoy.
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Chapter 4: Expectations

The next time Bilbo woke up, he stared straight into a pair of happy blue eyes. He backed away, startled, until his back hit the stone wall behind him. "You're awake!" Tilda called happily. "You've been sleeping for hours! But dad said we should all walk around the room on our tippytoes because mister Bilbo needs to sleep" she continued, nodding to herself in agreement and pride that she had memorized her father's words so thoroughly. Bilbo relaxed, sighing in relief as he slumped back into his pillows, stretching lazily. "How long have I been asleep?" he asked. "It has been three hours since the wizard left, and before he came you had been sleeping for six hours so that would make" she closed her eyes in concentration. "nine hours!" she called out, showing nine fingers. He nodded, giving the girl a small, unsure smile. He wasn't used to children, especially not human children. "wizard? Did Gandalf come here?" he asked, more to himself than to the child. She nodded quickly, making a mess of her long blond hair. "Yes, the wizard. And he said.. that you will be juuust fine! You just need to sleep. And he also said, we should all be nice to you, because you are a hero!" he chuckled a little at her antics, but he felt too tired to reply. He closed his eyes again, his head resting against the pillows.

"How are you feeling, mister Hobbit?" Tilda asked, reaching over to give Bilbo a few gentle pats on the head. "Does your head still hurt? The wizard told me you'll be seeing stars for a couple of days thanks to that bump on your head. Oh and he also said you might throw up" she said with a bright smile. He blinked in surprise and cleared his throat, uncomfortable. "I..I'm alright. Eh.. I..I didn't catch your name before" he said. "Tilda!" the girl said, smiling brightly. "After the sister of my mommy..she was called Tilda too. Only she had red hair, not blond" she curled a strand of blond hair around her finger. "That's alright, I prefer blond anyway" Bilbo said, giving her a small wink. Her face beamed with pride. "You're blond too!" she giggled. "No I am not! It's not blond. Not really. Not like your hair. Mine has this reddish hue to it, hasn't it? Well, I suppose it's quite dirty at the moment" he spoke up, making her giggle even more. "You're a silly Hobbit!" He huffed, faking offense. "and you're a silly little girl"

"Tilda!" Sigrid marched into the room and hoisted her little sister from the bed. "what did da say? Leave him alone. Did she wake you, sir?" Bilbo shook his head slowly, minding his headache. "No she didn't. she kept me company, that's all. It's alright. Don't..don't be cross with her" he said, defending the now sad looking girl. He didn't want her to get into trouble because of him. "Shall I fetch da for you?" Sigrid said, not knowing what else to say to the strange creature, she had never been too comfortable with other races. Although she wouldn't mind meeting the blond elf again that saved her and her other siblings one night. Bilbo thought for a moment, feeling tired, he preferred to go back to sleep. But Sigrid seemed to have made up her mind already as she hurried out of the room, dragging Tilda along with her. All was quiet again, and he listened to the sounds from outside. He had started to nod off again when he was startled by a rough hand on his shoulder.

"Mister Baggins" Bard said. "Sigrid said you were awake. Did you fall back asleep again? I need you up. You need to take your medicine" Bilbo hoisted himself into a sitting position with great difficulty. His body sore and his limbs heavy, as if they were made out of solid rock. He placed a hand to his forehead to steady himself, feeling sweat trickle down his cheeks. "Your..youngest daughter is a true..true delight, Bard. Really.. she has done nothing wrong, alright?" Bilbo managed to pronounce through the white hot pain in his head. The man smiled, pouring the medicine onto a small spoon. "she's curious. Very different from her older sister. Open up" Bilbo had wanted to give a reply but a spoon was slipped between his lips, sending him into the same coughing fit as the first time. Bard laughed and handed him a glass of water, which the Hobbit gratefully accepted. "Your wizard friend came to see you. The dwarves told him where you were" Bard continued. Bilbo nodded, regaining his composure. "yes, Tilda mentioned something like that. He looked at me and said I'd be fine" said Bilbo, giving the man a quick, unsure smile.

"You will be. You just worked your way through your reserves, according to him. And you're now feeling it. Is there anything else I can get you?" Bard asked. Bilbo thought for a second. "Has there been..any word from.. Erebor?" the man raised his eyebrows in light surprise. "You mean from Thorin?" Bilbo nodded, but stopped when the world started spinning again. Bard shook his head slowly, giving him an apologetic look. "No. Gandalf had to bring you the well wishes of the rest of the group though. They do want to come and visit you but that would be unwise. You're too weak right now. Gandalf's words, not mine" he said. Bilbo sniffed and gave him a quick smile, feeling slightly hurt that Thorin ignored his situation just like that. But then again, why would he expect anything else? Thorin was only displeased when Bilbo told him Erebor was making him sick, and didn't let him heal either. The king under the mountain had a hard time placing himself in the situation of someone else.

"I always thought Hobbits were meant to be these cuddly, little creatures you can eat cakes and drink tea with. I remember my mother telling something about Hobbits when I was a child. She was a healer and she travelled a lot" Bard said, leaning back in the wooden chair beside the bed, his arms crossed over his chest, gazing at Bilbo curiously. Bilbo just rose an eyebrow and cleared his throat, trying to sit up and look at least a little dignified after such a miserable character study. "well I'm very sorry to ruin your expectations about Hobbits. I'm not really the cuddling type" he mumbled, crossing his arms too. Bard chuckled. "So I noticed. I'll warn you now though, beware of my youngest. She likes you so you're probably in for a lot of hugs" At this, Bilbo could only sink back into his pillows and place an arm over his eyes, giving out a long, soft and exasperated groan.