Hobbit Prince
Chapter 3: The First Step.
Welcome back, hm? Where did I go for three days? The same place anyone goes haha! Now sit, I'm sure you're eager to find out what happen to our Hobbit.
Now then, we last left off at the unexpected party where our dear Bilbo fainted at the thought of facing a dragon, when he came to, he was in his chair in his sitting room a cup of warm tea and Gandalf looking down at him eyes worried. Quickly Bilbo reassured the wizard that he was fine that he needed to sit quietly for a moment, to which Gandalf responded that Bilbo had been "sitting quietly long enough" and when had "doilies and his mother's dishes become so important to him?" to which Bilbo responded.
"Since it's all I have left of her"
The Hobbit's voice was soft and a bit tighten with pain, vaguely was he aware of his guests loitering about in his hallway, Gandalf's eyes became clouded with sadness and his body seem to deflate as he sat down in the chair across from Bilbo where silences fell between them.
"Your mother" Gandalf said after a while," was a remarkable woman, strong-willed, kind, gentle, and wise, I dare say wiser then Elves, why I even remember the day we met. I was one my way to visit a very dear friend, I had stopped for a bit of rest when all of a sudden this little lass appeared and snatched my hat and took off like a bolt of lightning!" Gandalf chuckled, eyes distanced as he remembered a warm spring day with clear skies, chirping birds and merry laughter, Bilbo stared at the other in disbelief.
HIS mother stole a wizard's hat!?
"I chased that woman all the way to her home" Gandalf then continued on, "once there she invited me for tea of all things!"
"That…that doesn't sound like her" Bilbo said softly after a moment.
"Yes, well your mother was a different person back then"
"…What happened to her?"
The wizard looked down at the table between them, Bilbo followed his gaze and met the contract.
"Come with us, and you may find out."
Let us leave the two for a moment and turned our attention to the Dwarves, who were curious about Bilbo's hobbit-hole, well the younger ones were. The older Dwarves, those who have lived during the alliance of the Hobbits, were content to merely wait for a response from their host, a response that many to be honest felt to be "no".
"He will not come" Thorin said, from where he had posted himself on the wall.
"One should not judge so quickly" Balin said standing beside him.
"This judgment comes from experience" Thorin said, "the same experience you share with me"
"Yes, that is true, but I have a feeling that this Hobbit will say yes"
Thorin snorted, before looking over at the rest of the company, most of them were sitting or leaning against the wall, he didn't see Ori or his nephews but knew they were up to mischief (at least his nephew were). His eyes then landed to the sitting room where Gandalf and the Halfling were speaking, and his mind wandered.
When he had agreed to let Gandalf find their burglar, he did not expect a Hobbit of all things, truly if he had known he would have told the wizard no then and there, but now he was here. In the home of a creature who knew more about cooking and gardening then fighting and surviving the Dwarf was sure. After all these Hobbits now were nothing like the Hobbits of Old.
What did Thorin mean by Hobbits of Old? Well that is the name the Dwarves calls the generation of Hobbits that had fought beside them and were their dearest friends, remember after the fall of Ysadda, Hobbits became more solitary and suspicious of others more often than not keeping to themselves then helping outsiders.
It didn't matter though, Thorin mused, for Bilbo Baggins will say no in the end, and the Company will be without a burglar.
"I know you have lost much hope in Hobbits" Balin said, taking in the Dwarf's look, "but try to find some in this one, I believe this Hobbit is different"
Thorin doubt it….though he had been surprised the Hobbit knew of the history of Smaug and of Ysadda, and now that he thought about it more Mister Baggins seem familiar in a way…perhaps he should give Balin's words consideration.
Back in the sitting room, our dear Hobbit was struggling to make the biggest decision of his life? What's that? Will he say yes? My dear child, do you think I would be telling you this story if he said no?
"If I go on this adventure" Bilbo finally said looking away from the contract, "I will be different won't I?"
"Yes, though whether for good or bad I cannot say" Gandalf answered, "nor can I say that you will come back alive"
Bilbo looked back at the contract, the Adventure part of him was urging to sign, to see what was behind the rolling hills and past the trees. His Baggins said was telling him no, scolding him for even considering such a non-Hobbit like thing, and his Mother side was oddly enough quiet though there was some hit of suspicion though Bilbo felt that just was natural of him. Though what finally made him decided he suppose was that longing to know.
To know if all those stories told to him were true, just like the Kingdom of Ysadda, to know more about his mother and if she had been truly as different as Gandalf says, and perhaps it also may have something to do with Thorin who thought he looked like nothing more the a grocer.
Bilbo signed the contract.
Gandalf smiled, eyes sparkling with something that Bilbo couldn't identify and made his Mother part of his perk up in attention.
"Wonder! Let us inform the others of your decision" the Wizard then said before standing, he took the contract and made his way into the hall were the Dwarves were.
Bilbo watched him go before just sitting there, a good while he sat before following the Wizard into the hall.
"Here you are" Gandalf said, handing over the contract to Thorin, "Mister Baggins has agreed to be our burglar"
Thorin took the contract, surprised, he opened it and there indeed it was Bilbo Baggins name, he looked at the Hobbit standing by Wizard, the Hobbit stared back, eyes daring the Dwarf to say something.
"We leave at sunrise" the King said.
The other Dwarves cheered, and Thorin ignored Balin's amused and slightly smug look.
After the excitement had gone down, Bilbo was tasked with finding places for his guests to sleep, not hard mind you, for remember Bag End is a big Hobbit-hole, with plenty of place and rooms, and when the last Dwarf was settled, our Hobbit made it to his room.
"I suppose I better start packing" Bilbo thought as he entered, and did just that.
He didn't pack much, the books he read about traveling all advised that he pack light and only the necessities, handkerchiefs included. As he was packing Bilbo thought about weapons, he was well aware of the dangers he was to face on this journey, and knew he had to protect himself. What bothered him was should he bring his hammer?
His hammer was large and heavy, and no doubt would slow down the ponies they were to be riding on (Both Fili and Kili found his horrified face amusing when they told him), and he didn't need Thorin to dislike him more then he already seem to do (even if Bilbo had surprised him by saying yes), so he couldn't bring it but he couldn't rely on his knife alone.
"I know!" the Hobbit then thought, sure it was a little….unusual, but like before Bilbo Baggins was an unusual Hobbit.
Quietly as not to disturb his guests, Bilbo made his way down to his kitchen to get the other weapon, he was making his way back when he heard humming come from the Den, curious he went over and peeked inside. It was the Dwarves, weren't they supposed to be sleeping?
"Far over the Misty Mountains cold, to dungeons deep and caverns old, we must away 'ere break of day to find the long forgotten gold"
Oh, they were singing, and what a haunting melody, such sadness coming from Thorin.
Bilbo soon found himself sliding to the floor and listening, feeling that the Dwarves were singing not about gold but something long missed and forgotten.
I must leave it there for now, and before you go, give this to your parents, I'm sure they'll enjoy. Now off you go!
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