I'm so excited that a bunch of you like my interpretation of Bilbo. I feel he ignores most people and that's why he's always so confused. HE still doesn't know what's going on!

Chapter 4

Dwarf training started bright and early the next morning. Bilbo was up with the sun and already soaking the fire. Stealthily he crept over to the sleeping forms of Kili and Fili grinning the entire way. Oddly enough Gandalf was up and still smoking barely giving a glance to the silent hobbit. As he approached the brothers, Bilbo dug some red and blue berries out of his pocket. He had been slowly gathering supplies as they traveled and had found a thicket of berries a few minutes' walk away. In Fili's hair and beard he smeared the blond locks dark blue while Kili's dark black hair was colored light red. Bilbo stepped back with a smile, they'd be surprised to find their hair colors swapped and the best part was if they didn't have the sense to wash out the berry juice soon it'd stain!

Chuckling Bilbo moved onto Dwalin, who had been especially rude to the hobbit. So in return he had a devilish plan. None of his tricks included pain, or even total humiliation, he just wanted to knock them all down a peg or two. Being humble was an attribute of the strong. Bilbo took in a deep breath and let the true world swirl behind his eyes. The earth glowed, showing the true strength and potential of each growing plant, bush and tree. The Mountains where thumbing with growth and energy. Bilbo turned his gaze to the large sleeping dwarf in front of him. Dwalin was a fine warrior and best of use when loyally following a king, and although Thorin was a great leader he had yet to prove himself a king. Dwalin doubted the quest but had little less to even dream of.

"You are the judger and the executer?" Gandalf commented.

Bilbo didn't turn around or even give the wizard anymore of his time. "Whatever misbeliefs you have I do not have unforeseen powers. I can only see the potential. They all have such great destinies but their doubt is slowly clouding it."

Bilbo left Dwalin and instead headed to his horse. He loosened the all of the straps. The dwarf would later fall off his mount. Satisfied with his own batch of pay back Bilbo settled back into his blankets, but not before glaring over at Gandalf. That wizard was next!

-/-/-/-/-/-

The company of dwarfs was awoken with the terrified screams of Fili and Kili, Thorin jumped to his feet and had his sword unsheathed in seconds, Dwalin close at his heals. Everyone turned and stared at the brothers who were clutching their hair with shock. Balin and Oin where the first to chuckle and soon the whole group was laughing. It was music to Bilbo's ears. Sure they had partied and celebrated the night before at his house but this playful laughter seemed to lift the heavy fog looming around the group.

Bilbo patted himself on the back. He'd just hit two birds with one stone. The brothers would get their payback and since the dye had stained their hair, the group would have a small reminder of cheer.

"Pack up," Thorin's voice boomed through the laughter. The hobbit frowned as the company quickly sobered up and went about hastily packing and mounting their ponies.

Why was Thorin so against fun? The not-king shot Fili and Kili twin glares as they mumbled unhappily about their new hair. Which was odd since obviously they didn't voluntarily change their hair color. The halfling wondered how long it would take them to realize it was him. As Thorin sat tall and ready on his horse the group scrambled around. Thorin dared to glare at Bilbo as if his eyes could force the hobbit to move any faster. When Dwalin slipped off his horse, laughter bubbled through the group once more.

Bilbo decided to make the company laugh at least once a day. As his mother always said laughter was the best medicine for heartache.

"What is the meaning of this?" Thorin bellowed.

Enough was enough. Thorin may have been the leader, he may have been an exiled King but he was just as mortal as the rest of them and Bilbo was going to remind him of just that. Sucking in all his courage Bilbo stepped forward. Things were about to change.

"Get down off your high horse and help us," Bilbo commanded.

The group fell silent, every one freezing in place to stare open mouthed at the small hobbit. Bilbo tugged at his green waist coat before meeting Thorin's eyes straight on.

"What did you say?"

"I know you heard me Thorin Oakensheild. A good ruler helps his subjects personally. Being the leader isn't just about carrying all the burdens and shoving us aside. It is your job to encourage us and be fair and courteous. I still don't know where or what we are doing but having you for a king would be a disastrous. You have showed no qualities of a king."

Thorin glared down at Bilbo, stunned by the halfling's words and unable to come up with a comeback. His pale skin flushed as the words replayed in his head. Pride had him gripping the leather reins harder while another part of him whispered the hobbit was right. His eyes flickered around the company and to his dismay a few dwarfs where nodding to themselves. Thorin jumped down from his mount and stormed towards the hobbit. He reached the halfling and with a mighty yank pulled the small man towards him by his collar.

"You have no clue what I have gone through. I am trying to restore the rightful home of my people."

Bilbo glared back at Thorin, not even putting up a fight. "You will get no were using fear and intimidation. What use is a king when his subjects are too scared to voice their opinions?"

Thorin dropped the halfling like he was a hot iron and stepped back. His blue eyes once again flickering over his company. No one would meet his eyes. The not-king turned on his heel his cape swirling around him. Without a word he disappeared into the forest.

"Ye shouldn't have said that laddie," Balin said after a moments of tense silence.

Bilbo turned to the white bearded dwarf. "I said nothing that wasn't true. He needed to know. Being a strong ruler isn't just about physical or mental strength."

Caring and love are important too.

-/-/-/-/-/-

When Thorin finally returned he had a handful of green berries to which he silently handed to Fili and Kili. Bilbo frowned, now they could wash out their dyes. The group continued on, tensely talking and casting glances at their leader as he stiffly rode in the front.

"You passed sound judgment," Gandalf mumbled beside Bilbo.

Bilbo glanced sideways at the wizard, hating that he had to look up. "I am not perfect. I make mistakes and I know I'm a coward but his potential…..he's slowly poisoning himself."

The wizard cocked his head to the side and for a moment Bilbo thought the brothers fell silent to listen before they returned to their own conversation. It was bad enough having the wizard know but if the brothers found out, his secret wouldn't be a secret much longer.

"He's chained with anger," Bilbo said as he wrapped a hand around his own neck. "It fuels him and makes him great, but I'm afraid when all his anger is gone he'll be just a used out shell."

"How very wise of you Mr. Baggins," Gandalf said with twinkling of his eyes.

'In truth the anger will just be replaced with something else like greed, envy or worse,' Bilbo thought not wanting to voice the truth. In any of those cases Thorin would be lost. Bilbo glanced up and looked at the straight back of the dwarf king leading the odd group of men. His heart skipped a beat for a brief second. Shaking his head Bilbo frowned, he wouldn't let Thorin waste his potential, because it was too great.

Telling himself it was just because of his gifts and no other reason, Bilbo refused to look into any other possibility on why he wanted to be around Thorin. The true reason why he pushed a stranger to become a better man. When all was said and done he'd just slip into the night and disappear like he was never there. That's what was best.

Bilbo didn't feel very wise nor brave. He felt used and abused. Tiredly his shoulder slumped with a sigh. This was going to be a long journey.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

The next week passed in the same fashion. Bilbo would point out that Thorin wasn't very kingly and the dwarf would sometimes storm away or angrily shout back. The company soon got used to their arguments and soon ignored them. Fili and Kili had struck up a tentative friendship with the hobbit, wearily respectful of his punishments. Bofur- the dwarf with the oddly winged hat- surprised Bilbo one night by offering to teach the halfling self-defense.

By the third night it was painfully obvious Bilbo would not be handy in hand-to-hand combat. Bofur finally decided Bilbo should use throwing knives. He excelled at it, much to the entire companies amusements. Apparently most of them bet he wouldn't be able to even hit the target.

On those nights Thorin would join the group critiquing the hobbit on his form and aim. He let the snide comments slide and soaked in the useful information. Lowering himself to a humble position endeared himself to the dwarfs and set small bonds with each of them. He learned Bombur loved to cook; it was his joy in life. Fili and Kili thought he was Trickster god and even came to him for a few of their own pranks. Even Dwalin gave the hobbit a bit more respect.

It was raining one day, no pouring down buckets would be a better term. The group was solemn and drenched. Wet people didn't make happy people. On the only brightside Bilbo could find, they were all taking baths. Which was be a huge improvement over their usual smell. He wasn't sure if it was a dwarf thing but for the entire week none of them bathed. Bilbo had taken to stuffing herbs into their sacks and armor when they weren't paying attention if only just to make the smell bearable.

"Gandalf can't you make the rain stop?" Dori called over the downpour, voicing everyone else's thoughts. Except Thorin who looked as stoic and uncaring as always.

"It's raining Master Dwarf. And it will continue to rain until the rain is done," Gandalf shot back with a bit of irritation lacing his words. "If you wish to change the weather of the world you should find yourself another wizard."

Bilbo perked up in his saddle. "Are there other wizards?" Maybe they could exchange Gandalf for one of them.

"There are five of us," Gandalf replied. "Sauramon the white who is the greatest wizard of our time, then there are two blue wizard and Radagast the brown."

"Is he a great wizard or is he more like you?" Bilbo questioned not even bothering to hide his feeling about the old man. It was no secret Bilbo resented the gray wizard. In front of him Kili and Fili ducked their heads and chuckled.

"I think he's a very great wizard, a bit strange in his own way but-…"

Bilbo's thoughts trailed in a different direction as Gandalf rambled on about his wizard friend. The hobbit choose to rather look around the lush wet forest as they slowly trotted on.

"Bilbo are you listening?"

Startled from his thoughts Bilbo tugged harshly on the reins of Myrtle causing the horse to rear up. Splashing mud all over the gray wizard in question. Bilbo chuckled at the sight of mud sliding down Gandalf's pointed hat to splat onto his lap. A few splatters of mud had even gotten into his graying beard.

"Brown suits you," Bilbo said after a few tense moments. Not sure what else to say but pleased he had finally gotten the wizard back, even if he hadn't planned it. The company chuckled at the sight of the muddy wizard and Bilbo checked daily laughter off his list.

"Save me from the fools of a Took," Gandalf grumbled as he attempted to rub the mud for his beard. But it just ended up smearing everywhere.

Thanks for reading

Guest- no need to wait any longer

Sazubo- Hahahaha Bilbo with a newspaper sounds hilarious!

LuffyMarra-Hope this explains a bit more

Leahreyan-Oh my gosh your favorite?! Well I am honored you think so highly of my story. I hope to never disappoint!

Guest- I'm glad u find him funny…I love writing his inner thoughts.

Rikkamaru-It's not a lot of retaliation but Bilbo will give Gandalf a run for his money!

Remus san- Oh noes you need to clean silly! But Im glad you read this chapter! Oh Thorin will get his dues don't worry!