While they planned, no one saw the man walk up behind Ori and pulls him away from Bilbo. He yelps and Bilbo jumps up and the others wake. Bilbo, who was the only one who had their weapons, pulled Sting from its sheath and pointed it at the Man. The man had a knife to Ori's throat and the dwarf looked fearfully from Bilbo to Nori to Dori and back to his One.

"Why are you here?" The man asks. His arm holds tight around Ori's middle and the knife stays perfectly still against his neck.

Bilbo tenses as Ori closed his eyes tightly. The Hobbit itched to shift and run at the man or run Sting through him but he remained still as Balin came up beside him and spoke.

"We are simple merchants going to see our kin in the Blue Mountains." He says.

The man looks at him and then to the floating barrels.

"Those are from Thranduil's land. Now, I don't know what business you have with the Elves and I don't really care." The man says. He pushes forward making Ori stumble for a second and the knife made a small knick.

Bilbo instantly smelled the blood and began to snarl at the man. He took a step forward.

"Release him at once." Bilbo snarls.

The man looked the slightest bit amused at the Hobbit. The dwarves looked at Bilbo and willed for him not to do something utterly stupid.

"And what will you do if I don't, Halfling?" The man asks.

Bilbo smiles like a predator that had spotted injured prey. He sheathed Sting and leapt forward. The man watched as the Hobbit morphed into a warg before his eyes. He dropped his knife in surprise but kept his hold on the young dwarf. He placed Ori in front of him like a shield and watched Bilbo snarl and growls from over Ori's head.

"Bilbo doesn't take it kindly when someone threatens his One." Nori says smirking at the man's fear.

The black warg takes a step forward and snarls again, slobber dripping from his mouth in a most fearing matter.

"I suggest letting him go before Bilbo loses his temper." Dwalin says glaring at the man.

"How do I know the beast will not attack once I do?" The man asks.

"What is your name?" Balin asks.

"Bard."

"Well, Master Bard, I promise he will not attack if you release him." Balin says.

Bard lets go of Ori reluctantly. The young dwarf runs over to Bilbo and cowers behind him. The warg snaps his huge jaws near Bard and then turns and nuzzles Ori like a puppy. He licks at the barely noticeable knick on the dwarf's neck and then looks him over with keen eyes. He lets out a huff in satisfaction before turning back to glare at the man, at Bard. Bard now has his bow drawn and an arrow notched. Bilbo leaps and the arrow released. It whizzed by Bilbo and taking off a bit of his ear. He howls but runs and knocks Bard over before another arrow could be notched. He holds him down with his huge paws and growls in his face. He opens his jaws wide showing his long, sharp teeth that could easily tear flesh from bone. Drool fell onto Bard's fear filled face as Bilbo lowered his head. Hot, rancid breath assaulted Bard's nose.

"Let him up, Bilbo." Ori says from behind him. Bilbo lifted his head up and heard Bard let out a shaky breath in relief. "I'm fine. Don't hurt him, Bilbo."

He looked over his One and back down at Bard. After a minute of tense silence, Bilbo got off of Bard and bounded over to Ori. The young dwarf hugged him around the neck and Dori and Nori ruffled his fur for saving their brother. Bard got to his feet on shaky legs and watched the unusual scene of the dwarves rubbing and hugging the black warg and said warg enjoying it.

"What is he?" Bard asks.

"He is a Shapeshifter or a Skinchanger if you prefer." Balin says. Then he looks over to see the barge. "You are from Lake Town, correct?"

"Yes." Bard says.

"We would be willing to pay you to take us there." Balin says.

Then Bilbo lets out a huge sneeze and warg slobber and snot gets all over Nori. The thief glared at the warg while Bofur fell to the ground laughing uncontrollably. The others didn't even try to hide their own laughs or smiles. Nori then tackled Bofur and they rolled on the ground with other making Bilbo's snot get over the hat wearing dwarf.

"I would do it for free if you make sure that beast does not harm me." Bard says.

"I can do that, Master Bard." Balin says.

"Alright then." Bard says. "Get them together and we'll be off."

"Let's go. Bard has agreed to give us passage to Lake Town." Balin says. Bilbo nudges Ori to go with the others while he walked over and sat by Balin directly in front of Bard. The man eyes him warily. "Bilbo, he will not harm Ori. You can shift back now."

Bilbo shifted back and eyes Bard.

"I'm sorry for frightening you, Master Bard." Bilbo says. "But I am fiercely protective of my beloved and the others."

"It's quite understandable. I am the same with my children, Master Hobbit." Bard says.

"It's just Bilbo if you please." Bilbo says. The three of them get on Bard's boat. "How many children do you have?"

"A boy and two girls."

"You're married then?" Bilbo asks as the dwarves sit around the boat while Bilbo stands with Bard at the wheel.

"Not anymore. She died some years ago." Bard says.

"I'm sorry." Bilbo says. "May I ask you something, Master Bard?"

"It's just Bard and go ahead."

"Do men take lovers of the same gender?" Bilbo asks. "I only ask because of my curious nature and only because I hope I have not offended your culture in some way by being with Ori seeing as that we are both male."

"You have not offended me, Bilbo." Bard says steering his boat across the lake. "Some men of Lake Town does, yes. I myself have not due to taking care of my children."

"Oh." Bilbo says. "I am glad I have not offended you. It would be incredibly terrible if I got my companions tossed off of your boat."

"Do not be afraid to ask questions, Bilbo. Otherwise, you will never learn." Bard says. "Now, may I ask you something?"

"It's only fair." Bilbo says.

"Why do you travel with the dwarves? I believed Hobbits never to leave their lands." Bard asks.

"Most Hobbits never leaves, Bard. Very few wonder. Some, like my Took ancestors, will up and disappear one day. Few of those return and when they do, they are changed. It was said that the Tooks have Fairy blood in them and seek the world outside the Shire. Me, I came because, well, because most of the Shire had shunned me for being a warg. I was said to be a danger. Then this lot showed up and offered me a chance to get out and I took it. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes." Bard says. "Did you give the Shire a reason to shun you?"

"No. I protected the Shire ever since I was around 2 and could control my shifting. I'm a Ranger or was." Bilbo says.

"You're not really travelling merchants, are you?" Bard asks.

"That would be telling, Bard." Bilbo says smirking.

"How did you get that scar, if you don't mind me asking?" Bard asks pointing to his face.

"Some Elves didn't appreciate me in Rivendell. In my defense, I was trying to stay with Ori and the others. One got me with a sword when I was a warg after he chained me inside a cell."

"You have many scars, Bilbo?" Bard asks. Bilbo just smiles.

He walks over to Ori and sits between him and Fili.

"He's a handsome fellow, isn't he, Bilbo?" Fili asks glancing up at Bard.

"Hmm, for a man, maybe." Bilbo says looking at the oldest Prince. "Why? Do you think he is, Fili?"

"He does. He's had this dreamy look on his face since Bard showed up." Kili says from beside his brother.

"Have not." Fili says defensively.

"You did, too!" Kili says. "It's the same look you had when you had that crush on that one dwarrowdam in the Blue Mountains."

"You mean Kalmia?" Fili asks.

"Yeah! Her! You look at that man like you did when you saw her." Kili says.

Fili slapped his hand over Kili's mouth and looked around. Only Ori and Bilbo was close enough to hear them.

"Kili, don't announce it to the whole world!" Fili whispers. "Thorin would kick me from the mountain before we even arrive!"

"He wouldn't actually do that, would he?" Ori asks.

"I mean, you are his nephew, Fili." Bilbo says.

Kili removes his brother's hand from his face.

"Probably not but he would make Fili marry someone from either the Blue Mountains or the Iron Hills just to keep trade between Erebor remained that way. He was promised to one of the other leader's daughters to marry." Kili says.

"And what of you?" Bilbo asks.

"I wasn't promised to anyone since I'm in line for the throne after Fee. I could marry who I want and Uncle would have no say otherwise." Kili says.

"Lucky you." Fili grumbles. "I've tried to tell Uncle that I wouldn't marry either of those stupid leader's daughters but he wouldn't listen. Mother wouldn't either. I have no say. I bet soon as we fix up the Erebor, Uncle will send for those daughters and have me choose a wife."

"I will make sure you don't marry unless you want to, Fili." Bilbo says patting his hand.

"How?" Fili asks.

"I'm very protective of you two boys. You're like the children I never had back home so I would have to like them and since you don't, I don't so you can't marry them." Bilbo says smiling.

"You'll make sure Uncle won't force me?" Fili asks.

"Yes. Even if I have to bang his hard head against stone." Bilbo says.

Fili beams and pulls Bilbo into a hug. Bilbo holds him and looks up to meet Bard's eyes. He looks from Bard to Fili and back to Bard. He releases the older Prince and leans against Ori.

"You know I'm not much older than them." Ori says adjusting his legs to let Bilbo lay back easier.

"I don't care." Bilbo says shrugging. "They are like my children. I'm protective of them and you and the others. You all seemed to worm you way into this once Bitter Hobbit's heart and made yourselves comfy there."

Ori smiled and leaned down and kissed him. When he pulled apart, Kili and Fili were making faces at them.

"Better enjoy that while you can, boys, because when you find love, I'll embarrass you every chance I get." Bilbo says. The boys stop.

The boat pulls up to the gate of Lake Town and they are let in. Bard makes his way through the town. A few people stop what they were doing to watch and whisper about the dwarves.

"A few of the woman are saying how handsome you are, Kili." Bilbo says.

"Well, I don't think they're pretty." Kili says getting close to his brother.

"Don't worry, Kee. I'll protect you from the women." Fili says wrapping an arm around his baby brother's shoulders.

The rest of the trip through Lake Town in silence with the occasional shout of "Dwarves!" thrown out by someone. The barge pulls up to a bigger house.

"The town's Master will want to speak with you. I must warn you, he is a greedy man. Good luck to you!" Bard says.

The dwarves get off the barge. Fili lingers and looks at Bard.

"I hope we have the pleasure of meeting again, Master Bard." Fili says bowing.

"As do I." Bard says smiling.

Fili gets off the boat and watches as Bard disappears further into town. Fili joins the others in front of the Master's house. The Master, a short and fat man with balding red hair and terrible teeth, stands and talks to Thorin. Beside Thorin is Dwalin and Balin, Head of Guards and Advisor to the King.

Fili went to stand with Bilbo, Kili, Ori, and Bofur. The others were more or less standing with Thorin as he talked to the Master. The people of Lake Town had gathered around them. Quite a few, men and women alike, were whispering and point towards Kili and their small group. Bilbo turned and growled at them and glared. They looked a little shocked at that but continued their whispers. A few even pointed at them. Bilbo felt his temper rise and grabbed the hilt of Sting to try and suppress his urge to shift. Ori placed his hand on his One's shoulder while the Princes got closer.

"Bilbo, don't. They'll kill you if you shift." Ori whispers worriedly looking at the people around them nervously. Bilbo took a few deep breaths and placed his hand on Ori's.

Sometime after that, the Master gave them the use of one of the big houses and gave them food and weapons and a boat to head to the mountain that morning seeing the last day of autumn was the next day, or Durin's Day. All the dwarves sat in the living room of the house and ate. There was cheer all around. Well, all except Bilbo and Fili. The two of them sat apart and was having a bit of depressing conversation.

"What if the dragon yet lives? He will kill us as soon as he saw us." Fili says as he watched Dwalin arm wrestle Dori. The others were gathered around and cheering.

"That's why I'm here." Bilbo says watching as his One smiled. "I go in first to see."

"What if he kills you? It would devastate us all." Fili says turning to look at the Hobbit.

"Then you all run and go back to the Blue Mountains or go somewhere safe." Bilbo says. "And send word to my relatives that they won't have to worry about me returning to the Shire and Bag-End."

"Thorin couldn't go back a failure, Bilbo. He'd rather shave off his beard first." Fili says.

"Then you are welcomed to stay in Bag-End if I die." Bilbo says.

"That's really nice but what of Ori?" Fili asks. "The two of you are courting and yet to do more than kiss. Maybe you and he should, you know, in case tonight is our last night in Middle Earth."

"Then I would tell you the same with Bard." Bilbo says.

"He wouldn't go for me, Bilbo. I'm just a dwarf and he's a bargeman with 3 children." Fili says.

"I'm a monster, Fili, but yet sweet Ori has fallen for me. If something like me can find love in the unlikiest places, than the Prince of Erebor can, too." Bilbo says.

"Perhaps." Fili says not really believing it.

Then Bilbo decided to try and play matchmaker. He waited until the dwarves went up to bed, but not before stopping Ori and asking him to wait. Then the Hobbit went to the guard that was stationed outside and asked him to fetch Bard. Fili watched wide eyed at the whole thing. Then the Hobbit grinned and grabbed Ori's hand and dragged him to his room where they had a bit of…fun. Obviously, sex because they could very well die tomorrow.

That left poor Fili to sit and wait to see if Bard would show. Around midnight, the oldest Prince was going to give up when the door opened and Bard entered.

"I was told that Bilbo wished to see me." Bard says.

"Well, actually, it was I who wished to see you, Bard." Fili says standing.

"Oh?" Bard asks raising his eyebrow. "What does the Prince of Erebor wish to see me?"

"I didn't want to go to the mountain tomorrow and possibly die without seeing if we could be something." Fili says his face going red under his beard and mustache.

"What do you wish for us to be, Fili?" Bard asks.

"Lovers if I survive. Friends if nothing else." Fili says.

"I believe I would like that, Fili." Bard says.

The man walks up to Fili and grabs his hips and leans down and places a soft kiss to the blonde's lips. They pulled apart and Fili led them to one of the empty bedrooms.