Hold me tight

Chapter 4

It took them seven hours to finally find their way back to Erebor.

At first, they were okay with Gandalf asking them to go out and buy bread for breakfast, but for some unknown reason all the bakery's were closed, probably because it was Sunday, but that is a rather small detail.

So they went to Dale, a nearby city where the the students of Middle Earth were allowed to go to in the weekends.

Dale was a pretty big city and you could easily get lost in it if you have the same sense at directions as someone like Thorin. At first they searched for an open bakery, but gave up after the first hour only to realise they had no idea where they were. So after another three hours of driving and hoping they would find a street that looked familiar, they found a bakery that was open, but everything was sold except for some cookies which Dwalin eventually bought for on the way back.

They asked the young lady at the bakery how they could get back to Middle Earth and found out they had to drive back for two hours. It took them three hours for they got lost once again because Dwalin and Thorin had a discussion about using an gps or letting Dwalin drive.

'How can have that little sense at directions?' Dwalin asked his friend as they finally arrived home. 'I never met someone who could get lost that easily.'

'I just don't know Dale that well.' Thorin muttered as an excuse.

'Then don't leave the house without a gps.' Dwalin laughed and got out of the car, Thorin following him into the house. Thorin was one of the few students who had the privilege of owning a car and being allowed to park near the dorm.

'I was wondering when you two were going to return.' a voice behind them said.

'Gandalf.' Thorin greeted. 'We couldn't find a bakery that was open.'

'I figured that out after the first three hours you two were gone.' Gandalf said and walked into the livingroom where a cup of tea was waiting for him. Gloin, Oin, Ori, Nori Bifur and Bombur were there also.

'You missed the arrival of Bilbo.'

'Aye, we know.' Dwalin muttered and took a seat next to Ori, who smiled at him with a cute blush on his cheeks.

'I saved you a cookie.' Dwalin whispered and gave Ori his last cookie.

'Thank you.' Ori said with a blush and nibbled on the cookie.

Dwalin was actually very curious about the new lad and a bit disappointed when he heard that Bofur and Nori took him on a tour.

'They should be back soon though.' Gandalf informed them.

'Gandalf, how did you get to know Bilbo?' Ori asked.

'Oh, I was a friend of his mother. She lived in the Shire and in my younger days I used to spend my winters there.' Gandalf started. 'She was a very nice and adventurous woman who was married to Bungo Baggins, a man who rather spend his days in his garden or with his wife. I wasn't able to go back to the Shire until Bilbo was three years old. Such a happy child, always smiling and playing and making up stories. Bilbo has a quit vivid imagination and he would tell everybody about hos made up stories and his mother would write them down for him.' Gandalf laughed. It was quit a sight to see in front of him. Eight young men listening to stories about their new member. 'I remember one time, he was about seven or eight years old, and he went to the library and he was only allowed to take four books with him back home, but he had five books he really wanted to read and he had to leave one book behind. For everyone else it would have been no problem, but for Bilbo, as an seven-year old, it was the hardest thing he ever had to do. So when the library closed, he slipped inside through an open window and took the book home with him, he was a very good burglar. He did that a few times but he stopped when he became nine.'

'Why?' Ori asked.

'Some uneventful things happened.' Gandalf said and his smile disappeared. 'I am only telling you this to avoid unpleasant moments, but Bilbo lost his parents when he was nine. None of his living family wanted to take him in and he was placed into the foster system. He never had a lot of luck with the family's he stayed with and was never able to stay long enough to call it home.'

Thorin, who hadn't really listened to the stories of young Bilbo, suddenly became interested for he also had lost most of his family. But Bilbo had lost his family and was rejected by the still living family. Thorin still had his sister and two young nephews, and some very far and almost forgotten uncles and cousins.

'Bilbo does not like to talk about it, but when he is ready he will tell you all about it.' Gandalf continued. 'For now, there is tea and some biscuits in the kitchen. Dwalin, Thorin, would you help an old man and get the tray?'

Thorin got up from his couch, but Dwalin did not immediately wanted to leave his comfy spot next to Ori. Ori poked him and he got the hint, helping Thorin with the tray with a pot of tea and cups.

They both went back to search for the cookies. 'Are you curious after the new lad?' Dwalin asked, opening a cupboard and closing it again.

'A bit.' Thorin admitted. 'His story is a bit like all of us, problems with family and such.'

'Aye, but you and Bilbo are the only ones who lost family.' his friend muttered.

'This isn't a support group, Dwalin. If he doesn't want to talk about then he doesn't and I won't press it nor will I allow anyone to press the subject. And everyone in this house has lost somebody from their family.'

'And I won't press this subject either, but you can't compare yourself to the rest. Most of them lost someone they hardly knew.'

'Can we change the subject? It is a bit of a heavy subject and neither of us can communicate properly while searching for cookies. Thorin sighed.

'Okay, but we're are those blasted cookies?' Dwalin muttered.

'I'll ask Gandalf.' Thorin said and opened the door towards the livingroom. He did not expect the loud crash of someone hitting the door and falling down.

He looked down and stared down at the most beautiful lad he had ever seen. He was small, with golden curls, soft features and emerald coloured eyes.

This was Bilbo Baggins.

Thorin was a bit shocked to see how beautiful the new lad was and could not stop but noticing the warm feeling he got in his chest. Everyone was surrounding Bilbo, asking if he was alright.

Thorin reached his hand out towards Bilbo and said:

'So, this is the Burglar.'

Bilbo's eyes widened. 'Excuse me? What did you call me?'

He was pulled off the ground and placed on his feet.

Thorin got a few 'That's not a nice way to greet someone' and 'That is rather rude' from his friends, but they knew he meant well.

Bilbo turned around to face Gandalf. 'What have you told them?'

'Apparently you are a book thief.' Gloin snickered.

'You told them that?' Bilbo exclaimed. 'I was seven!'

'Bilbo? A book thief?' Nori asked. ' I need to hear that story.' and sat down with Ori who whispered the story to him.

'You stole books?' Bofur asked a bit shocked.'Should I be worried about my stuff?' He joked. He got to know Bilbo in the few hours they spend, but he never could have guessed that Bilbo was a thief. He looked at Bilbo, who's cheeks had gotten a soft red. 'Why?'

Bilbo just simply answered: 'I wanted to read. And I was a very lousy thief since I always returned the books.'

'So you were just a very clever burglar?' Bofur asked?

'Don't call me a 'burglar'.' Bilbo muttered. 'It is not my fault that the librarian forgot to lock the doors.'

'Well, burglar or not.' Gandalf smiled. 'Bilbo, I want you to meet Thorin Durin. Thorin, this is Bilbo Baggins.'

Bilbo turned back to Thorin.

'I apologise for how we met and I apologise for hitting you with a door, but I did not expect someone to stand there.' Thorin said. 'Thorin Durin.' and he offered his hand to shake to Bilbo.

Bilbo noticed how he did not say 'at your service but didn't say anything about it. He shook Thorins hand.

'Bilbo Baggins, at your service.'

'Well, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Gandalf told us quite a bit about you...' Thorin could not finish his sentence for his friend slipped, with all the grace he possessed, into the livingroom with his head bowed down.

'Ah, Dwalin. So glad you could join us' Gandalf laughed. 'Meet Bilbo Baggins.'

'Dwalin, at your service.' Dwalin muttered.

'Bilbo, at yours.' Bilbo said, a bit shocked by the size of this young lad. Bilbo hardly reached his shoulders and with Thorin it wasn't a lot better for he just reached his shoulders.

'Dwalin, did you find the cookies.' Gandalf asked.

'No.' Dwalin said quickly and swallowed.

I'm still alive! Or at least something like being alive.

School has been a real bitch. I got one week of vacation and I got sick again and all my teacher were like: 'Vacation? Lets give the monsters three drawings, a painting to finish and also five tests to study for.'

I did everything I had to do and then the teachers don't even show up the day of the assignment!

I don't like this chapter. I wrote it under the influence of heavy medication for migraine and half of the time I did not remember what I was actually writing.

Next chapter will, hopefully, be longer but I still have to study for history and French.

Also, a friend of my mentioned that I may give the impression that I hate the French because I decided to make Thranduil (who I don't hate) French and all the dwarves hate him. Just to clear that up: I don't hate the French (you French people are awesome), I hate my teacher French. There is a difference.

All mistakes are mine and I really need to find a beta reader.

Reviews are always welcome.