AN: Okay, this chapter did not want to be written. I had so much trouble with it. Anyway, I hope it still turned out good. The next chapter should have quite a bit of action in it but I'm not sure when it will be posted. Life's gotten pretty busy for me at the moment. Well I hope you enjoy this chapter. If you do, please leave a review. Your support means a lot to me :)
Disclaimer: J.R.R. Tolkien owns both the Hobbit and LOTR. I can never claim that right.
Bilbo wasn't dense, he knew Beorn had immediately noticed that he was feeling under the weather and he was eternally grateful for the bear man's silence. His friend never said a word to him but the hobbit could taste the subtle flavor of medicinal herbs in his food. Honestly, it brought a smile to his face knowing that there was someone who would care for him while he was busy caring for his boys. It was nice, that's all there was to it.
"Bilbo, help us!" He heard a cry and glanced up just in time to catch the two fauntlings who had thrown themselves into his arms. "He's gonna find us!"
Turning his head from side to side the ring-bearer searched for any sign of danger, letting out a chuckle as their host came strolling around a patch of roses.
"Now where did the baby bunnies get to." He rumbled in his deep voice, winking at Bilbo as Merry and Pippin shifted so they were hidden behind their caretaker. "The other little ones seem to have escaped me but the tickle monster will find these two."
It was amazing how silently the large man could move given his size and within moments he had looped around the back of them so that he was standing directly behind the excited children. The elder hobbit tried to suppress his chuckles as Beorn's voice rang out, causing the faunts to jump in surprise.
"Hello there, little bunnies." The taller being said as he scooped the wriggling children into his strong arms and began tickling them mercilessly. "So this is where you've been hiding."
"Hahaha, let us go, let us go." Meriadoc laughed, struggling to get away from his captor.
"Put us down. Hehe, we need to find Frodo and Sam." Peregrin added, kicking his small feet.
Bilbo was happy to see the boys so active after the last weeks. He had been greatly concerned when they had been sick and it had caused many a sleepless night. Now though they seemed to be completely healed. The halfling's ears twitched as he heard a soft sound come from around the corner of the garden fence and he narrowed his eyes, searching for what had caused the noise. He smiled as he saw his other two children peeking out from behind the gate, watching in amusement as their friends struggled in the giant's gentle grasp.
"Don't you think it would be kind of you to help Pippin and Merry instead of just watching?" He called out, causing everyone's attention to shift to the other two faunts.
With a squeak, the friends ducked back under cover and Bilbo let out a laugh as Beorn carefully placed his new found allies on his shoulders before taking off after the other scamps. It was such a calming sight to see after what they'd been through and yet, the former burglar couldn't help the melancholy feeling that suddenly swept over him.
'I wonder what's become of the Shire?' He thought to himself as he sat down on the steps of the house and pulled out his map, staring at the home he'd once thought he'd never leave. 'I hope for the boys' sake that their families survived. I don't want to see their spirits crushed if I'm forced to tell them otherwise.'
Shuddering at the thought, the older hobbit turned his attention to Erebor. The Lonely Mountain still seemed such a long way away and Bilbo's heart ached for the companionship of the ones he'd been forced to leave behind when he'd returned to the Shire.
'Thorin would have gotten my letter by now.' He realized, eyes glazed as he thought of his stubborn dwarf. 'I wonder what was going through his head as he read it. Was he worried? Angry? Or was he glad that a traitor such a me was getting what he deserved. Am I even worthy of his help after everything I've done? Yes, I thought it was the right thing to do at the time but... that doesn't change the fact that I willingly betrayed the one I loved. How could I ever make amends for that?'
Placing his head in his hands Bilbo let out a quiet sob. He'd never forgiven himself for breaking Thorin's heart and this journey he was on only served to bring each and every one of his doubts to the surface. Before Frodo had come to stay with him, the ring-bearer had rarely left Bag End. He'd become a recluse. Choosing to hide away from the world rather than risk being hurt, or hurting someone he cared for, again. But that had all changed once he'd met the boys. They were so bright, so good. How could he hide in the dark while they shined like the sun? The answer was simple... he couldn't. They had managed to save him from the depression he'd fallen into. It's true he had lost one family, but by the grace of Yavanna he had found another.
'But will my old family accept the new?' He asked himself, self doubt once more creeping into his mind only to be pushed away moments later as a breathless laugh escaped him. 'Of course they will you silly, old hobbit. Every member of the company absolutely adore children... even Thorin. At least, if nothing else, Frodo and the others will be safe.'
He knew he shouldn't be dwelling on this but he found that hard. Here they were safe, there was no danger to be had and that meant Bilbo's mind tended to wander. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing however, it just went to prove how safe and at ease he felt in the skin changer's garden. It was okay to let down his guard and rest. Feeling his eyes slowly slipping closed the hobbit's thoughts once more turned to his dwarves in their halls of stone.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
The preparations were complete, the ponies were saddled, and Thorin was waiting impatiently for Dis to finish lecturing him about what he should do once they finally located Bilbo. This had to be the eighth time his sister had repeated this and by now he had the whole speech memorized.
The dwarven woman was elated at the prospect of actually meeting the being who had saved her remaining family from doom and was determined not to allow her foolish brother to mess it up. That being said there was only so much she could do. After all, she couldn't go with to rescue the hobbit... someone had to stay and look after their subjects.
"Now you'd best be on your way." She said at last casting a stern glare at the gathered dwarrow, her expression lightened a bit as her brother let out a nearly imperceptible sigh, and she continued so that only he could hear. "Bring him home. Maybe then you can stop all your moping."
"Dwarven kings do not mope!" Thorin hissed loudly in retaliation, a stunning blush forming under his beard.
"Keep telling yourself that, brother dearest." She whispered in his ear as she leaned in to give him a parting hug.
The dwarf huffed in agitation as he wrapped his baby sister in a tight embrace. There was no denying how well she knew him so instead of wasting more time arguing he managed to hold his tongue. Within minutes he and the others that had been chosen to accompany him where saddled and on their way out of the gates. It would take several weeks to reach the edge of Mirkwood where they would await their burglar. They dared not venture into the forest for, even with the settlements that had been made between the two races, tensions were still high.
"What do you think the little one's will be like?" Bofur asked as they rode from the mountain, eyes shining with a mix of curiosity and excitement. "Do you think Bilbo would be upset if we spoil 'em too much?"
"If they're anything like my wee lad, Gimli, then they'll be a right handful." Gloin expressed, face lit up in mirth as he thought of his son.
"It depends." His older brother cut in, a serious tone in his voice. "If their journey was difficult it may take some time for them, as well as Bilbo, to recover their strength. We all know how tough the journey was on us and we were use to the hardships. Our burglar was ill prepared even back then and now he has four children to care for and protect."
"He's a tough little thing. He'll be fine." Dwalin grunted from his place at his king's side though his brow was creased in either worry or apprehension, the others couldn't tell which.
"Aye, that's true, but who knows what Bilbo could run into before we find him." Nori voiced, eyes shifting as he searched for any sign of danger.
Bofur's shoulders sagged, he hadn't planned on the conversation taking such a dark turn but he couldn't deny that he was worried as well. Knowing Bilbo as well as he did, the hatted dwarf had an inkling of what could happen and it made his heart clench in his chest as he voiced his concerns aloud.
"Bilbo's always been the type to sacrifice his own well being for others." He said, gazing around at his gathered friends before continuing. "Remember the trolls? He could have gotten killed trying to buy us time. He faced the pale orc alone in order to protect Thorin and even fought the spiders when we were too weak to defend ourselves."
Here Bofur paused, eyes sad, as his next words were spoken in a near whisper. "Bilbo was so weak and thin when he freed us from the dungeons of Mirkwood that I nearly expected him to keel over then and there... we still have no idea what he went through in that place."
Thorin had remained silent up to that point but here his eyes darkened, he knew all too well what had occurred during those days. Maybe it was time to reveal what their hobbit had nearly forfeited in order to free them. Taking a deep breath he cleared his throat, drawing the gathered dwarrow's attention to him.
"I am loath to think of what hardships our burglar was put through in that accursed place." He said, feeling the eyes of his friends lock onto him as they realized he knew at least some of what had happened. "Bilbo came to my cell a few weeks after we'd first been imprisoned. It was during the time that he was passing messages between us but I could tell something was clearly wrong even with him wearing the ring. He practically collapsed against the bars of my cell. Thankfully I was able to catch him before he fell to the hard floor."
The King glanced around, noting how his friend's eyes darkened as they listened in silence.
"Upon taking the ring off his finger I was appalled to find that Bilbo was naught but a wraith of what he'd been at the start of the quest. He was clearly starving and hadn't slept for many days and I bade him to sneak inside my cell when the elves delivered food so that he could rest and eat. It was a close call, he had barely any strength left and collapsed soon after he'd made it past the guards. We were lucky that he was not discovered then and there."
He paused, letting the news sink in as he steadied himself. He hated to remember those days. He was reluctant to think what could have happened if he hadn't noticed the halfling's condition.
"Bilbo nearly lost his life in order to save ours... " Thorin finished morosely, voice nothing but a whisper in the still air.
'And that wasn't the last time.' He thought to himself as the gathered company broke off into whispered conversation around him.
After hearing what had happened the collected dwarves were more determined than ever to find their burglar and bring him home.
Meanwhile, Thorin rode on in silence... thinking of Bilbo and the dangers that he may face before they could be reunited. It was true that his hobbit was strong but anyone could falter, especially when faced with defending their young. If a pack of orcs happened upon the hobbits he knew without a doubt that his One wouldn't hesitate to give his life protecting the children that were so dear to his heart... and that thought terrified him above any other. Spurring his pony onward, he increased the pace slightly. The sooner they reached the campsite the sooner he would be reunited with Bilbo and be able to keep him safe.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Thanking Beorn for his hospitality the elder Baggins gathered the fauntlings to him, ignoring the complaints he was receiving. He knew that if they didn't leave soon then it would mean risking getting caught in the valley if an early winter happened to hit. He refused to take that chance. They'd already stayed an extra two days and yes, it had helped them, but he desperately wanted to reach Erebor as soon as possible. He didn't think he'd truly feel safe until he was back in those stone halls.
"Are you certain you can't stay longer, little bunny?" The bear man asked, eyes furrowed as he held out the full pack he had prepared. "You still look a little pale and I'd rather you wait until you've regained a little more of your strength before venturing into the unknown."
He'll admit, his friend had a point. Although he was no longer running a fever his head still felt a bit clouded and the cough continued to persist no matter how much of the medicinal tea he drank. But even so, he'd rather head out now. The halfling had been sure to procure more herbs and he could easily treat himself on the road as they continued their journey. He knew that, had the boys still showed any sign of illness, he wouldn't have hesitated in remaining here for as long as was needed for them to heal. But seeing as it was just him he was certain that no harm would come of it.
"We'll be fine, don't worry." He declared, trying to reassure the larger male. "I doubt we'll have much trouble and I'll be sure to keep an eye out just in case."
"Then I wish you luck." The skin changer said, concern still clearly visible upon his face. "I would offer you ponies but they will not venture that far so the most I can do is give you these supplies."
Bilbo hefted the pack onto his shoulders and smiled. Their host had made sure that they would have enough food to reach their destination and had also offered some advice about the path they planned to take. It was a great relief to know that there would be plenty of rest areas that were relatively safe for them to use along the way.
"You have done more than enough, my large friend." The ring-bearer spoke, voice soft as his eyes filled with tenderness.
Leaning in, he wrapped his arms around the taller being, well, as much as he could given the other's girth. Soon he felt four smaller sets join his and chuckled as his boys happily contributed to the group hug. When they finally pulled away he could have sworn he saw tears glistening in Beorn's eyes but it could have been a trick of the light.
"Take care of yourself." The larger male declared, placing a steady hand on the smaller being's shoulder. "That's the first step towards taking care of these youngsters."
"I'll keep that in mind." He said with a nod, turning to lead his charges down the path.
He could feel Beorn's gaze follow them until they were out of sight.
Their luck gave out three weeks after leaving the safety of the shapeshifter's home. Their small group was camping in a rocky alcove near the start of the gray mountains when the first howl rang through the early fall air. Immediately Bilbo doused the fire and did his best to disperse the smoke while bidding the boys to hide under the shadowy outcropping where there was a crack in the wall just big enough for the four of them to fit inside. Then, with Sting in hand, the hobbit ventured out in order to get a better vantage point. He needed information. How far away was the enemy? Were there orcs along with the wargs? Most likely. What direction were they coming from and at what speed? Once he learned these things he would be able to formulate a strategy.
'Come on... where are you?' He asked himself, cautiously scanning the horizon between the mountains and the edge of Mirkwood.
Just then another howl rang out and the halfling whipped his head around. There! A large group of orc riders just coming into view on the lower slopes of the Misty Mountains. Bilbo had no idea if these were the same creatures who attacked the Shire or not but he didn't want to take the risk of getting caught. He knew that it would mean certain death either way.
At the pace they seemed to be traveling, it would only take the enemy half a day to reach their current location and the ring-bearer knew that he had to get the fauntlings to safety. Erebor was still nearly a month away but perhaps he could find a small settlement somewhere along the route. Even as the hobbit thought that he knew it was very unlikely. He'd never seen a town in this area on any of the maps he'd studied... but he wouldn't give up hope.
Scrambling down from his watch post, the small man made his way over to the children's hiding place. Stifling a cough, he beckoned them out while making short work of repacking their supplies.
"What's going on, uncle Bilbo?" Frodo asked, uneasily reaching out to take Sam's hand, needing the comfort of his friend's presence.
"Are we going somewhere?" The other child asked, allowing Bilbo's nephew to cling to him. "But it's getting dark."
"I know it is and I'm sorry, lads, you all must be tired... but we need to leave." He said, casting an apprehensive look over his shoulder to where he'd spotted the enemy. "This place is no longer safe. We'll have to be very careful from now on so please try and be quiet, do exactly as I say, and don't wander off. Do you understand?"
The boys, seeming to hear the urgency in the older hobbit's voice, rushed to pick up their own packs.
"We understand." Came the unanimous answer as they followed their caretaker into the deep shadows of late afternoon.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
"Oh dear, this could cause a bit of a problem." Dis sighed as she reread the letter that had just arrived from Rivendell.
It had been nearly a month since her brother departed and now she wished that he had waited longer before leaving.
"Well, best set this straight right away before something dreadful happens." With a sigh, the dwarven princess took off in order to find the company members who had remained in the mountain under Thorin's orders.
Once she had gathered them all together in a small meeting room in the royal quarters she set about explaining their current predicament.
"I'll just get right to the point, shall I?" She said, meeting the curious gazes head on as she set the letter in the middle of the table. "I've just received word from Lord Elrond of Rivendell and it seems my brother and the others are waiting for the hobbits in the wrong location."
A cacophony of shouts sprang up from the gathered dwarrow. Some upset, some angry, but mostly confused. How could this have happened? If Bilbo wasn't coming through Mirkwood then which road did he take? Going through Rohan would take far too long, winter would be upon them before they arrived, so that only left one possible route. The faces of the company turned grim as they thought of what that meant for their beloved burglar and his brood.
Dis continued, ignoring the males as she made clear what exactly had happened. "It appears that even with our recent endeavors to pacify the woodland realm, King Thranduil still holds a bitter dislike of Durin's folk. His own son warned Bilbo away from the path through Mirkwood in fear of what his father might attempt should he be discovered there and instead offered an alternate route. It's just a pity he doesn't know what we do pertaining to the pass."
"Aye, lassie, if he did I'm sure the princling would never have directed Bilbo to that place. As we all know, the path between Mirkwood and the Gray mountains travels through a valley with steep cliffs on either side that has recently become overrun with orcs. There's far more than there's ever been before and I wouldn't be surprised if it has become a haven of sorts for those foul creatures." Balin spoke, brows furrowed in worry.
"The letter also mentions a band of orc riders making their way from the direction of the Shire at a deadly pace. There's no doubt that they'll come up from behind the halflings." The female declared.
At this an angry scowl settled on nearly ever dwarf's face. Were these the vile beasts who had forced their lucky number to flee from his home? Were they now hunting him and the young ones he traveled with?
"If things continue the way they are then Bilbo will certainly be surrounded." Fili declared, face taking on the appearance of hardened stone as he thought of his adopted uncle in danger.
"They'll have no way out of the valley..." Kili added lowly, apprehension showing on the faces of the gathered dwarrow as they realized what that meant. "They're heading straight to their doom!"
The hobbit's adoptive family burst out into frantic muttering as they argued about what to do. It wasn't until the female Durin slammed her fist down on the wooden table that they settled back down, tensely shifting in their seats as they waited for her to speak.
"I can take care of things here. I know that you've all finished the tasks my brother asked of you so now I have an order of my own for you to follow." Dis stated, folding the letter back up before tucking it carefully into her pocket.
The gathered dwarrow sat with bated breath, impatience reining as they awaited their princess' command.
"Go, warn Thorin. Tell him that he's camped in the wrong place." She proclaimed, authority ringing in her voice. "Make haste and don't tarry, for the hobbits' lives depend on you reaching them in time."
She didn't have to tell them a second time. As one, the gathered dwarrow leapt to their feet, nearly sprinting through the halls of the mountain as they rushed off to pack any necessary supplies and saddle their ponies. Within ten minutes Fili and Kili were racing their steeds down the dusty path, slightly ahead of the others as they rode into the sunny fall afternoon. They would push themselves and their mounts to the limit and would hopefully reach their king's camp by the day after tomorrow. Then it would be off to find their missing member and bring him back home where he belongs... even if they had to fight an army of orcs to do so.
AN: Thanks so much for reading and I really hope you liked it. Please remember to leave a review ;)
