Chapter Seven

The next several days Bilbo spent seeing to the needs of Thorin and his newly carved girls. The first day all three slept all day, waking only for food and to use the bathroom. The second day was better, as Thorin at least was awake for half of it off and on, staying up a couple of hours, playing with the children and watching the girls sleep with wonder in his eyes. There apparently had never been three girls born to the line of Durin, having three girls with the same parents was nigh on unheard of by dwarves. Already people were considering it to be a good omen, but Bilbo didn't really care about that, he just wanted them to wake for longer than a few minutes. He hadn't been concerned the first day, but by the second he was worried, his worry nearly turned to fear, when on the morning of the third day and morning of the first day of Midwinter both girls fully woke.

Bilbo smiled and turned to his other children who were half asleep. "Come on then, lets go get a wagon and find your trees." Bilbo said and the children scrambled to find their warm outer clothes. Bilbo then knocked on the door to Frerin's room; he heard a muffled groan from inside before Frerin came to the door, looking tiredly back at him, before smiling when he saw Bilbo.

"You said something about a hobbit tradition?" Frerin asked and Bilbo nodded.

"Come and get warm clothes on, we're going to look for saplings and put them in pots." Bilbo said and Frerin nodded, he closed the door and emerged fully dressed a minute later. Bilbo smiled and walked back to where the children were, he smiled at all of them, before lifting Freyis onto his shoulders, as Thorin did the same with Tris and Frerin put Tris on his shoulders. The twins each grabbed Bilbo's hands and Brando grabbed Thorin's, before the family walked down to the market. They bought seven fairly large pots and a shovel and rented a wagon and a horse. The boys rushed off to be in the back of the wagon, which Bilbo had bought a tarp for, as well as nine pillows and plenty of blankets. He also brought a teakettle and tea, ingredients for soup, bread and cookies, as well as hot coco to drink after they finished finding the trees. He then let Freyris off his shoulders and the little girl promptly ran to the wagon and crawled inside of it with her brothers.

"I wanna sit on Daddy Thorin's lap and you can sit on Daddy Bilbo's Bellis." Tris said and Bellis smiled.

"Alright, there's room enough in the front of the wagon for you too Frerin, or you can go back to the cart and be with your siblings if you prefer." Bilbo offered and Frerin smiled.

"I'd like to ride with my brother and sister." Frerin said and Bilbo smiled.

"Alright, shall we get going then?" Bilbo asked once everyone was settled and Thorin jangled the reigns. Bilbo was surprised at the amount of guards that followed them, but then he supposed it was better to error on the side of safety.

"What do you think of the snow Frey?" Frerin asked his sister.

"Its so big and white, is this how big the world is?" Freyis asked and Thorin, Bilbo and Frerin laughed.

"Not quite, its much bigger then this, one day we'll go visit the place where I grew up and you'll meet your cousins there." Bilbo promised. "Not until you're at least in your early tweens though, I'm not walking the length of Middle Earth with children."

"Tweens, more like fifties and some will have to stay back here with me." Thorin said and frowned. "I don't like the idea of having all of you children out of the mountain at once."

"Stop the cart!" Freyis said excitedly racing over to a small pine and looking back to Bilbo. "I found the tree I want."

"And a very fine one it is too, come, I'll help you dig it out, but you've got to do some of the work my girl." Bilbo said and showed Freyis how to shovel, as the others watched. After half an hour they had the tree loaded in the back of the cart, a beaming Freyis holding onto it. "I found mine first." Freyis said and Bilbo laughed.

"Its not a competition, this is an important day." Bilbo said and all three children looked wide-eyed at him, as he smiled. "We do this, because Mahal who is the Father creator of both Daddy Thorin's people and my own, met the Mother Creator Yavannah for the first time, when she was standing in front of a tree. It changed his life from then on; he would follow where she went. It took her a while to be convinced of his good intentions, but she fell for him in the end and out of their love, the hobbits were born."

"What's a hobbit?"

"I'm a hobbit, we live in holes in the ground, which are as warm and comfortable as our quarters in Erebor. We like to eat a lot and are a merry people who live off the land, raising livestock and growing gardens." Bilbo said.

"It sounds boring." Freyis said and Bilbo laughed.

"Looks like one of our children inherited your bluntness." Bilbo said and Thorin laughed as well, slinging an arm around Bilbo and freezing for a moment, before Bilbo reached up and grabbed Thorin's fingers with his own. "Your hands are like ice."

"Mine are colder." Freyis said and Bilbo shook his head.

"Not everything has to be a competition Freyis." Bilbo chided gently and the others laughed. They continued on until near lunchtime.

"I'm really hungry, lets stop and have lunch here, we can find the rest of the trees a bit later." Bilbo said and the children got out of the cart.

"Help me clear away some of this snow boys and Frerin, could you look for broken branches?" Thorin said and Bilbo smiled as the Company road up to where they had set up camp.

"We wanted to give you some time to yourself, but were wondering if we could join." Fili said and Bilbo smiled.

"Of course this is a day for family and friends, we're just about to light a fire, I'd love some help making the soup, I didn't think to bring a larger pot."

"I brought one." Bomber said. "Once you bought some ingredients for soup, I thought it would be best if I bought some and brought a proper cooking pot along as well." He said and Bilbo laughed.

"By Mahal, she looks just like you Gloin, she could be Gimli's sister." Bomber said and Freyis smiled at the fat dwarf, before looking at Gloin, eyes wide, as he stared back at her.

"Well we do share a Great Grandfather, I bet this little pebble takes after Nain the Second." Thorin said and chucked his daughter under the chin.

"And I look like Bellis." Tris said and dragged the other child with her. "See Uncles, we look just alike."

"You do look a lot like one another, we could play some interesting pranks on..."

"Kili! You won't go encouraging my sister to prank others, thank you very much. I'm sure they will have enough ideas on their own, without you meddling." Bilbo said hands on his hips and Brando stood beside him nodding his head.

"Yeah Fili, I don't think Uncle Dwalin would like his beard to be pink and you told them to never mess with a dwarf's weapons." Brando said and everyone laughed.

"There's my proper lad, shall we get out some bread and cheese for this lot of uncivilized warriors?" Bilbo said teasingly and everyone laughed.

"I'd love some cheese and bread, I also got a pot of honey and some canned peaches from Dale." Bombur said and the food was set out to snack on, before they cooked the soup. Bilbo helped Bombur cut the vegetables, after he told everyone to set aside a plate for Bomber and himself. They then ate what was left of the bread cheese and peaches, while they cooked the soup. Soon steaming bowls of soup were passed around and they sat around the clearing they had made, eating it. Freyis was the first to finish, licking the last out of her bowl with a satisfied smile.

"I'm done, I finished first."

"Sweetheart it's not a race." Bilbo reminded his daughter as she raced off into a snow bank, a second later she yelped spun around and ran back to Bilbo.

"Daddy its cold and wet!" She said and Bilbo laughed.

"Didn't you help clear the clearing?' Bilbo asked and Freris shook her head.

"I'm a girl and girls are better than boys, that's what everyone thinks, so I gotta be the fastest and the prettiest and marry a good dwarrow and do a lot of other stuff that's really confusing and I don't understand." Bilbo groaned, he had thought having one child with strong mental abilities was hard enough, but now apparently he had two. Freyis frowned. "I can too do stuff Brando, just cause I'm littler than you doesn't mean I can't do anything you can do only better." Freyis said and the two children started glaring back and forth, before Freyis yelled and sprinted forward hitting Brando with a kick which went strait to his ribs. The air was knocked out of him as he was knocked back a few steps and hit her in return, Bilbo stared at his now brawling children in shock a moment, before grabbing each by the back of their robes and separating the two scrapping dwarflings. "I take back what I said before, Brando Baggins Oakenshield, brawling with your sister, for shame lad."

"She started it and she wasn't gonna stop, so I did what Tarin and Torin has been practicing, then she took what they did from my memories and used it against me. Its not fair!" Brando howled and burst into tears. "I hate her!"

"And I hate you, your weak, won't fight anyone and all you wanted to do all day is either look at some stupid story, or read one!"

"You don't truly hate one another." Bilbo protested and both children glared at him, he glared back at them. "Like it or not, your family and family doesn't attack family, unless its in the practice ring. Now I'm going to block your mental abilities, because you aren't using them wisely. Then I'm going with sisters and the twins and we're going to play in the snow, with your uncles but you can help Bombur clean out the cook pot, and think about why what you did was wrong, after Oin sees to your injuries." Bilbo said and set both children down. "You sit here and you sit here." Bilbo said and then blocked both children's mental abilities, both screamed and cried.

"Bilbo they are just children, she's not even three days old. They were only fighting" Thorin protested.

"Oh then lets do let our children fight each other Thorin. They need to know that they can't fight each other, or else they will choose to do so constantly and I won't stand for it. They will learn that such behavior is unacceptable." Bilbo said and Thorin frowned. "Come on lets go play."

"I don't wanna without Freyis." Bellis protested.

"Freyis was naughty Bellis, that doesn't mean we can't have fun." Tris said and Bilbo nodded, he smiled at his five children and took off running half as fast as he really could, the children chased after him after hesitating a moment and when they caught him he fell to the ground laughing, before picking up a snowball and throwing it at them. Half the company came running after them and soon snowballs were flying everywhere. Bilbo waited ten minutes before going back to the campsite and finding two sobbing dwarflings and several displeased looking dwarrows. Still Bilbo had to stick with what he believed was right.

"Did you learn your lesson children, will you promise not to fight each other?" Bilbo demanded and used his gift; both were sorry but not sorry enough that they wouldn't go at it again if his back were turned. Bilbo glared at both of them and they both were slightly frightened of him. "I suggest you don't try my temper, I'd prefer to avoid hitting the both of you, but if you won't learn any other way, I'll do it." Bilbo said and showed them he was serious removing his mental block, they also saw that he loved them unconditionally, hated to see them hurt and refused to allow them to constantly fight each other. "If you feel that you simply can't get on, do what I do with people I don't like and either avoid one another, or if you must make everything a competition Freyis, try to outdo one another. As long as your not trying to do one another serious injury and scrapping like bloody berserker pups, I don't care what you decide to do. As long as you don't start fighting one another as soon as my back is turned, because I will find out about it and you will be punished for it, suitably." Bilbo said and crossed his arms glaring at both of them, both children looked to be about the human age of six, but Bilbo knew that even Freyis knew enough to know when he was serious. They both continued to cry and Bilbo sighed. "Unless you change your minds about planning to attack one another while my back is turned, you can stay here with Uncle Bomber while Tarin, Torin and Frerin find their trees." Bilbo said and the children cried harder still.

"They are just wee bairns Bilbo." Gloin protested and Bilbo raised an eyebrow.

"If you're old enough to strike at your sibling, your old enough to know certain behavior won't be tolerated. I was raised this way and I turned out fine."

"Shy and reticent until halfway through the journey you mean." Thorin said.

"Yes well I have a duel nature don't I, not everyone is just one thing and one thing all the time. Now I need to be prepared to start the ceremony by sunset, if these two won't behave, I'll continue on with the rest and anyone who wishes to stay behind with them can do so, but if your allowing them to do anything but sit and think about what they've done, I will know about it." Bilbo said and glared at half the company, before giving a shrill whistle. The other half of the company and the rest of his children came racing out of the trees. "Now as your brother and sister have decided to have a blood feud between their own blood, we're going to find trees for the rest of you. This should have been a family gathering, but I refuse to let the ceremony be ruined and the trees put into danger by their brawling." Bilbo said and the boys and Tris and Bellis practically ran for the carriage. Bilbo nodded and turned to Thorin. "Are you coming with or staying behind, I can just as easily direct the horses."

"I'll stay with my distraught CHILDREN Bilbo." Thorin said clearly furious, but not wanting to go against Bilbo's wishes for some reason.

"I gave them a choice and several chances Thorin, they need to really understand that I won't tolerate them fighting each other out of sparring matches." Bilbo said and he glared at Brando, whose eyes lit up. "That does not mean you get to freely attack your sister when in sparring matches." Bilbo said and Brando looked down at the fire again. Bilbo took the reins of the horse and moved off. The others found their trees rather quickly and Bilbo checked several times with each child to be sure that the tree they had chosen was the tree they had wanted, before they went back to camp. He invaded his children's thoughts and though he still saw a lot of negative feelings towards each other and the other's way of thinking, Bilbo felt that they had learned their lesson. He allowed them to use their mental abilities and both their heads snapped up, before they ran towards Bilbo.

"I'm sorry Daddy Bilbo."

"I'm sorrier."

"Are not!"

"Are so!"

"Children." Bilbo chided gently and they both stopped, Bilbo smiled softly and kissed them both on the forehead. "Did you learn that it's wrong to hurt your sibling?" Bilbo asked and both nodded. "And do you know why?"

"Cause you love us both and it will make you said and they can hurt us too?"
Freyis asked and Bilbo nodded.

"Yes little one, that's right, your Uncle Oin is a busy dwarrow, he can't be having to stop his work every second of the day, while you two are scrapping with one another. You can of course play pranks and games against each other, but its important to have fair sportsmanship even when you don't like the other person your playing against." Bilbo let his shields down and let them see why, showing himself as a lad and Lobelia, how they had both disliked one another instantly, played pranks on one another all their childhoods and constantly played games against one another. They also threw barbed insults back and forth at tea parties, while outwardly showing an appearance of getting on fine with one another. How he had learned from his childhood squabbles with Lobelia to debate with others and how to try to see another's point of view. "It hurts me that you don't like each other, but rather than fighting one another, think of what you can learn from one another. With time you'll find things your good at and because you both likely will refuse to shield against other's thoughts, you will learn much from one another."

"How do I stop her from getting into my head?"

"As a novice with mental ability, you can't unless you shut your mental doors down completely. With time you'll learn how to shield your own thoughts, but for now you can't." Bilbo said and both children nodded.

"I really am sorry Daddy Bilbo."

"I know my boy, it's alright, how about I tell a story and you can both sit on my lap by the fire." Bilbo offered as the shocked dwarrows stared at the three of them. Bilbo smiled and sat cross-legged in front of the fire, putting Freyis on one knee and Brando on the other. "Come around children and I'll tell you a tale of the Mother and the Father, who created you and me and all hobbits, who live underhill, over water, by hill and dale and stream, in the hearts of their kindred and in the memories of their people. Once long ago, the All Father created our brothers and some say sisters the dwarves, but Ilúvatar wished them to be born after his own children and Mahal could not give them life by himself alone. So for a time in the beginning of the world, the All father was alone and very lonely, he would sit beside his children and enter their dreams, telling them of the world that they one day would see, but entering the dreams of his sleeping sons and some say daughters, was not enough for Mahal and he grew lonely and sad. He started to cry and where his tears fell, diamonds and emeralds and all manner of precious gems fell as well, for Mahal was connected to stone and the stone wept as well at his unhappiness. It so happened that the stone fell into the rivers and crashed against rocks, until several of the stones landed at the feet of the mother of all Hobbits Yavannah, she stared down at the stone, full of such sadness that it brought tears of sympathy to her own eyes and she followed it back to the caves. Yavannah wasn't comfortable with having her feet not touch the earth, so she stood by a tree and called inside the cave to Mahal.

"Why are you crying so, I have felt your sadness and no being should be so sad." Yavannah called into the cave and at the sound of her voice Mahal stopped crying, do you know why Brando?"

"Cause the sound of her voice was really pretty." Freyis said.

"My heart, I asked your brother, but yes, it was so beautiful that it called to his very soul, as your Daddy Thorin's soul called to mine. He stepped out of the cave and stared at her in wonder and she smiled a warm smile in return.

"I was sad because Ilúvatar refuses to allow my children to wake and while they sleep I am alone." Mahal and as any mother and soul bond would do, she gathered Mahal against her chest.

"As long as you let soil into the mountain, I can remain by your side. But I need the light and green growing things just as you need the stone.

"Aye my Lady, we'll find a way that we can live together, always."
Mahal said and kissed her hand. "For you are my Lady and my Love, we will never be parted." Mahal said and Yavannah smiled.

"I have children as well and so I know a parent's love, I would not wish to be far from my Ents and I understand your need to be close to your own children, but together we can be one family and I'll guide your sons and daughters as best I can."

"Aye my Lady and I will lay stone to keep your children's roots from eroding." Mahal said and they walked the world together, making it so that on every path, and in every field, you'll find at least one stone and no matter how hard you try to sweep, there is always dirt yet in the mountains. Still after a time this was not enough for them and Mahal longed to do more than simply to hold his sleeping children and tell them of their lives to come. He wished to play with his children and that desire changed over the years, until he wished to have a child with Yavannah. He talked to his wife about his desire and she smiled.

"The elves have just woken my love, why shouldn't we create what our hearts most desire?" So they made the first of their attempts at making their children, but these children were too powerful and would not wake. They tried again a second and third time, they tried and tried until the seventh time, where Yavannah turned to Mahal and said, "not all children are exactly like our parents, why don't we allow them my gifts, or yours, but not both?" Mahal agreed and so they made the first hobbit child on the shores of the Anduin. The first was a little Boy named Took and thirteen other children followed, half were girls and took after their gentle green mother and half were boys who took after their strong and steady father. All the children lived happily for a time, but it was not long before a child longed to be like their brother and another longed to be like their sister. The Valar didn't know what to do and so they decided to give their children a choice, a chance to choose who they would look like and whose skills would be passed on. More time went by and more and more children were born and children passed as well. Mahal and Yavannah couldn't bare to watch the deaths of their children and so went instead to Mahal's halls and Yavannah's Green Fields, making it so that each could visit the other's realm in the land of the Valar. Still they loved their children and wanted them to be happy as they were and so as a parting gift, they allowed all of their children to be able to feel the soul bound with their One kindred soul in all of Middle Earth. One day you will find your One, as your fathers did before you and their parents did before them and they cycle will repeat until the world is reforged. Still there are always those among the hobbits who are destined to dwell with our other kin and they are called those that are blessed by Mahal, as everyone around this fire receives his many blessings, so to did our ancestors choose to be blessed by him, or the goddess. The children that chose the way of Yavannah settled in the Shire, where they grew the juiciest fruits and the most beautiful vegetables for the soil was rich and plentiful. The children that chose the way of Mahal took to the mountains and went to live with their elder brothers the dwarves. The dwarves couldn't tell the difference between these hobbits and themselves, as they all looked like dwarves, from the beards on their faces, to their strong arms and backs, to their bare toes. They had the stone sense as dwarves do and could speak the language of Mahal, for he was their father as well. So it is that dwarven blood runs through every family in the Shire and you'll never know when a dwarven relative will come calling, so if they do, invite them in for a spot of tea, as is the only neighborly thing to do with extended kin." Bilbo finished his story to a slightly stunned audience.

"Mahal likes to keep his own council, so we never heard the tale in full before in full."

"That is how it is always told and will ever be told, for when I am gone, my children will speak the tale to their families and their families will speak it to their families. What I just told you is never written down, but spoken only of on this day." Bilbo said and smiled softly. "Come now children, lets return to the mountains, we have trees to decorate and All Father bread to bake and Yavannah's tea to drink. You will be allowed to stay up as late as you like and eat as much as you want, but only Frerin can drink the ale or miner's friend, no more than two cups of the miners friend, or four mugs of ale, Frerin."

"Yes Daddy Bilbo." Frerin said and smiled at Bilbo who smiled in return.

"On the way back I'm taking a nap, so please be quiet children if you decide not to rest, tonight will be very fun and I doubt you will want to miss out on the festivities because you fall asleep too soon." Bilbo said.

"Can we join in the celebration?" Brando asked and Bilbo nodded.

"Of course you can, you have learned your lesson have you not, you know now not to fight with one another don't you?" He asked and both children nodded.

"But I play fight with Tarin, Tris and Frerin all the time." Torin said confused.

"Your not trying to hurt Tarin, Tris or Frerin though are you, play fighting is fine, but I won't stand you deliberately trying to hurt one another outside of practice." Bilbo said and all six children nodded. "Good now that we have the trees, lets get going." Bilbo said and smiled at his children, before walking to the cart. He smiled as Freyis ran to his lap and looked down at the little girl. "I'm going to take a nap, do you want to take one too?" He asked and Freyis nodded, Bilbo smiled softly, smoothing her curls back with a hand, as she curled against him, one hand clutching onto his shirt.

"Can I nap with you and Freyis?" Tris asked and Bilbo nodded, it was a bit of a tight squeeze having both daughters on his lap, but he managed to get them settled, as Frerin sat beside him and the twins crawled into his lap, closing their eyes, and curling against one another and Frerin's hold. Fili and Kili got into the back of the cart with the remaining children and curled against one another in a heap of blankets and pillows, while still being careful of the trees which had been loaded into the back of the cart. Thorin took the reins and smiled as one by one his kin slipped into sleep.

"See I told you snored louder than me." Bomber teased Gloin who laughed in return.

"Aye I suppose I must, if I'm as loud as that little wee bairn, we won't need to fear wargs with her fierce growls." Several others laughed before Bilbo snorted in his sleep and they fell into silence, not wishing to wake the hobbit. They traveled in this way back to Erebor and Bilbo woke when they reached the city. He blinked sleepily at Erebor, before smiling at Thorin and picking up both Tris and Freyis. Frerin did the same with the boys.

"Where should we put them? Or should we wake them?"

"No let them sleep, we can unload the cart ourselves." Bilbo said, before laying both children in the back of a van and picking up one of the saplings. He moved it to the center of the market and soon all seven trees stood there.

"Beggin your pardon my Lord, but I got this tree with my little one, could I put it in with yours?"

"Of course you can, hello Vira, happy First Day, today is the day my people celebrate the union of Mahal and his Lady Yavannah, and everyone is welcome to join in the celebration. This is a time where the community comes together and shares with one another and offers freely of themselves to their communities. Spread the word, I want a party tonight, the likes of which Erebor hasn't seen in many a year." Bilbo said and the people cheered. "Any young ones who wish to find a tree and decorate it with their kin are welcome to." Bilbo added and smiled at little Vira. "Now I'm going to go to the kitchens and my cousin's distillery." Bilbo said and was met with further cheers. He went first to the kitchens and showed them how to make the All Father's bread, which had honey, cinnamon and raisins in it, as he would never be able to bake enough to give some to every dwarf in Erebor by himself. He then bought up the ingredients for his miner's friend, before going to the distillery and smiling when he saw the ten stills set up. He liked running more than one still at once and soon he was running back and forth laughing, like his grandfather used to on a festival day, making more than enough miner's friend to last the night. He smiled when he saw his cousin; his eyes wide as he saw Bilbo had all his stills going. "I'll pay for the bottles, it will be my gift to everyone tonight, but could you help me pass them through cousin?'

"Of course Bilbo." His cousin said and Bilbo nodded, finishing each of the batches and carrying them out to beside the tree, then he dashed back up to the kitchens and smiled at the children and Bomber who were each arms deep in dough.

"You were gone when I woke up." Bellis said and Bilbo smiled.

"I was making whiskey for tonight, I'm sorry I didn't rest with you, but I'm going to be busy in order to get everything ready for tonight. I can stay for a little while and help you to make All Father bread."

"It smells yummy."

"It was Mahal's favorite, we'll give a loaf to the fire later tonight, so he can enjoy the bread as well and Yavannah might enjoy her tea." Bilbo said and frowned. "I just remembered, I need to get someone to make the bonfire." Bilbo said and a messenger boy leapt up from his seat at the table.

"I can go my Lord, see that we have a proper bonfire built, so you drink and feast and light fires every night for fourteen nights?"

"Yes and give gifts, get thoroughly drunk and celebrate ourselves, our creators, the goddess and pray for a quick spring and quicker harvest, as well as to Mahal to shelter us from the storm and give us protection against those that wish us harm. Its a bit like your Durin's day, though I never celebrated that properly before, its a very important holiday to hobbits and I'm glad that everyone is eager to join in. Now I've got to get going again children, be good for Bomber."

"Can't we go with you?"

"And ruin the surprise of your presents?"
Bilbo asked and the children grinned.

"We get gifts?"

"Lots of gifts, one for every night of the festival and sometimes more than one person will give you gifts, but don't expect it." Bilbo said and the children nodded, Bilbo smiled and ran off down the halls to the market. There he bought different toys for each child, books for Brando and gifts for the company as well as Ogdin, Ogbrin, Ogvrin, and Hildrin. He also got toys and sweets for all the children he'd had a hand in creating. He labeled each of the gifts he was giving that night and set them in front of the tree.

"What are you doing?" Someone asked and Bilbo smiled.

"Laying out gifts for those closest to my heart, your welcome to do the same."

"Won't they get confused though?" The same dwarf asked and Bilbo smiled.

"The spirit is in the giving, not knowing who gave what is part of the fun. As is gifting gifts back, or gifting them to others, a particularly ugly clock made the rounds at every midwinter for fourteen years, before someone finally took a liking to that piece of shoddy workmanship." Bilbo said and the dwarf laughed.

"So the point of this is to give the most outrageous gift you can think of, to your friends and family?"

"Yes but set aside the ones not suitable for the eyes of young children away from the others if you please." Bilbo said and the dwarf laughed.

"I think I like this festival."

"You haven't tasted the All Father bread yet, or shared in the ale and miner's friend. Nor have you danced a proper dance, you been to a proper hobbit midwinter festival until you've done all those things and more." Bilbo said and grinned at the man, before going to where he had found a bagpipe earlier.

"Buying a gift for a friend?" The stall vender asked and Bilbo smiled remembering him from camping with his cousins.

"For myself actually."

"Then I'll give it to you, I consider you to be family."

"I couldn't accept its only close kin you give gifts to."

"I consider you to be close kin, please take it." The dwarf said and Bilbo smiled softly.

"Happy Midwinter, the Mother and Father's blessings to you then."

"And to you." His cousin said and Bilbo nodded. "Just tell the others to pack everything away by sundown, you shouldn't be tending a stall during the festival, most people will be too busy partying to buy anything anyway. People in the Shire watch each other's goods in turn, so everyone can experience the fun of the festival. Have a good day." Bilbo said and smiled, making sure everything was set up properly before going back to the trees and attaching a note for each child. He knew each of them and it was traditional for the carver of a child to leave a note for the child and a toy for each day of the festival for them as well. He smiled at the growing pile and the kegs of ale and wine scattered among the miner's friend, which had no label on them at all, as his were unmarked. He was glad that he didn't have to see to the ale and wine as well as the miner's friend. He bought several boxes of oranges, which he squeezed into juice and put in clear jugs for the children. he laughed as some of the juice squirted him in the eye and several dwarves smiled at him as he poured the juice into jugs. He smiled as he finished juicing the oranges, making four times as much as the children of Erebor would drink. By that time the dishes started to arrive, carried in by slightly bashful and messy dwarves, Bilbo smiled at each one, as he finished making the orange juice and set out the plates, knives, forks and glasses. He was leading the ceremonies as there was no one else that had been taught the rites. "The feasting starts at sundown, but hungry children are welcome to help themselves to bread until then. Once we start see that the children, elderly and sick get a plate first, before filling your own plate." Bilbo said and smiled at the gathered dwarrows, as his own flour streaked and grinning children came down with the cooks in the kitchen, carrying with them tons of All Father's bread and Yavannah's tea. "Those younger than fifty should ask their parents before getting anything other than the orange juice or tea." Bilbo said and the other dwarves nodded, by the time sunset had come, the bonfire was lit, as well as the torches around it. Bilbo smiled softly as he felt the warmth of the fire.

"Children, the elderly and the sick eat first then everyone else may form a line."

"What of the King?"

"He can eat when he wishes to, but I will be eating last, as the one who is the speaker for the creators. However if someone wants to set aside some of something for me I'd appreciate it." Bilbo said and smiled softly. "We can begin but before we do, there is a traditional prayer we must offer. Thank you Green Mother for the bounty of your land, for the wheat, fruit and vegetables you grow, which feed the animals, which in turn feed us. Thank you All Father for you're continued protection and guidance, may you accepts a portion of our meal in thanks for all your blessings."

Bilbo said before filling two plates full of everything that had been gathered. He set them before the fire, before doing the same, putting a small amount of each of the drinks into a jug he'd kept back for just such a purpose. "We are a people of fire and stone, we are your children Mahal, please accept our offering on this day and offer your protection to us in the days to come. Mother help our fields get thick with wheat, our crops be bountiful and our cares be few. Allow us to love and be loved by those who surround us, as you love one another. May you feast this night as we feast and celebrate till the coming of the dawn." Bilbo said. "Stand back from the fire now, if you are close, as I give offering to my creators and the All Father." Bilbo said and everyone stood as far back as five feet. Bilbo smiled, as he tossed the plates and jug onto the flame, the fire leaping up five feet as the jug broke inside the flames. Bilbo laughed, as he nimbly dodged out of the way of the flames.

"They have received our offering and now lets eat." Bilbo said and went over to his children who were first in line and eyeing the food hungrily. He tapped the keg in front of the plates and water fell out of it. "Wash well children." Bilbo said and then smiled as they finished cleaning their hands and he cleaned his own "What do you want?" Bilbo asked each child and helped them choose from the feast that had been prepared. "Feel free to grab a plate as well, the food is for everyone and there's no need for you to wait for my children to eat. They are as much Tooks as they are from the Line of Durin and hobbits handle matters differently than dwarves do. This is a festival day, so come forward and choose a plate, but kindly wash your hands first." Bilbo said and several people laughed, before several parents helped their children choose what they wanted, soon all seventeen of the mountain's dwarflings were gathered around in a circle eating happily. Bilbo smiled at the little boys and girls, before stepping back from the line and finding his place at the back of it.

Thorin and the company waited there as well and the council decided to wait close to the back too. "Those that have more and can afford to wait are expected to, am I correct Bilbo?" Thorin asked and Bilbo nodded.

"That is part of the festival as well, but it's up to the individual after the children and elderly are fed of course. Balin and Oin should be up there with them, not back here with us."

"I'm not that old."

"It's not a matter of age, but of respect towards ones elders and I think anyone over two and a half centuries could be considered an elder in the eyes of your people." Bilbo said. "You are valued for your council and years of wisdom, old age is nothing to be ashamed of in the Shire, it's to be respected." Bilbo said and both dwarfs huffed once Balin translated what had been said to Oin.

"If you wish for us to go to the front of the line, we will and we'll just come back here all over again."

"Go and bring back a jug of miner's friend." Bilbo said and both old dwarves laughed.

"Ah so that's your reasoning behind it. So that we might pass off food and drink to you."

"No it's to make sure those that are elderly are fed first, but sharing is encouraged during Midwinter." Bilbo said and everyone laughed. Soon Oin and Balin returned with full plates and a jug each of the miner's friend.

"Would you be wanting a taste of this? Young whippier snapper?" Oin teased and Bilbo laughed, as he was handed the bottle, he took a long swallow, before handing the jug off, it was passed back and forth between everyone as the line grew shorter and his friends grew progressively drunker. It seemed that the bottle was bottomless, because as soon as he thought the jug was emptied, another dwarf would pass him a jug with a wink and a laugh.

"Oi you lot want to get me proper drunk." Bilbo said at last and everyone laughed. " 'S'workin, just a bit." Bilbo said and smiled, before taking his bagpipes off his shoulder and playing a fiddle reel

"You didn't say anything about music." Thorin said and Bilbo laughed.

"Its a festival, of course there's music, you can grab a harp or borrow someone's after the meal is done if you want to join in." Bilbo said and danced a jig around Thorin, as he played the bagpipes.

"I never knew you could play bagpipes, they are a dwarven instrument." Dwalin said and Bilbo shrugged.

"Sooner or later everything makes its way to the Shire, there's been bagpipes there for years." Bilbo said and smiled when he saw that the children had finished eating. "Come over here children, not just mine, mind but all of you, I'll teach you how to step proper." Bilbo said and led the children through the easiest step dance he knew. They soon understood the steps, though some were a bit slower than others and Bilbo kept the pace slow, until he felt they were ready for him to quicken it. They laughed as he played and several other dwarves joined in, both with instruments adding to Bilbo's reel and with the dancing, one of the miners put Vira on his feet and the little girl laughed as he danced a jig with her on his toes. Bilbo smiled, continuing to play the reel until the song was over. "Now how about a dwarven reel, there was one my Grandpappy was fond of. He never would teach me the lyrics to it, though he was found of belting it out when he had enough drink in him" Bilbo said and launched into a song with the dirtiest song his Grandpappy ever sang, which was in old Khudzul and nigh incomprehensible, compared to the modern Khudzul his family and friends spoke. Many of the adults laughed and started singing, dwarves from all the different professions joined in and laughed as they danced with the children on their feet. Both Brando and Freyis looked somewhat smug at knowing something their sisters didn't, that was one battle Bilbo had given up fighting, as long as they didn't swear in front of the others or make unsavory comments, what they wished to learn was their business. Then both of them started laughing and sang the chorus, Brando's voice had much to be desired much like Bilbo's, but Freyis seemed to have inherited Thorin's gift for singing, he was half tempted to simply watch his daughter sing, as she arched an eyebrow at her brother, looking every inch the princess. After the song was over, Bilbo smiled at his daughter. "Why don't you and Freyis sing together Thorin?" Bilbo asked and Thorin appeared startled a moment, before he smiled softly.

"Would you like to sing with me Freyis?" Thorin asked and the little girl nodded.

""Oh, misty eye of the mountain below

Keep careful watch of my brothers' souls
And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke
Keep watching over Durin's sons.

If this is to end in fire
Then we should all burn together
Watch the flames climb high into the night

Calling out father oh
Stand by and we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on
The mountain side

And if we should die tonight
Then we should all die together
Raise a glass of wine for the last time

Calling out father oh
Prepare as we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on
The mountain side
Desolation comes upon the sky

Now I see fire
Inside the mountain
I see fire
Burning the trees
And I see fire
Hollowing souls
I see fire
Blood in the breeze
And I hope that you remember me

Oh, should my people fall
Then surely I'll do the same
Confined in mountain halls
We got too close to the flame

Calling out father oh
Hold fast and we will
Watch the flames burn auburn on
The mountain side
Desolation comes upon the sky

Now I see fire
Inside the mountain
I see fire
Burning the trees
I see fire
Hollowing souls
I see fire
Blood in the breeze
And I hope that you remember me

And if the night is burning
I will cover my eyes
For if the dark returns
Then my brothers will die
And as the sky is falling down
It crashed into this lonely town
And with that shadow upon the ground
I hear my people screaming out

Now I see fire
Inside the mountains
I see fire
Burning the trees
I see fire
Hollowing souls
I see fire
Blood in the breeze

I see fire (oh you know I saw a city burning out) (fire)
And I see fire (feel the heat upon my skin, yeah) (fire)
And I see fire (uh-uh-uh-uh) (fire)
And I see fire burn auburn on the mountain side." Thorin smiled at Freyis as she smiled up at him holding up her hands, he swung her up into his arms and she laughed, breaking the silence which had filled the hall.

"You are very good at singing my dear one." Thorin said.

"I can sing too!"Bellis said and Thorin smiled.

"Can you dear one?" Thorin asked and Bellis frowned.

"I've never tried before, but I want to sing with you."

"How about a simple round song?" Bilbo asked and his children grinned, nodding. "Green the moss does grow, upon a sturdy bolder, though it grows older and greener and little hands grow bolder. Come and touch the moss child, which grows upon this bolder, but if you eat the wrong plant, you won't grow much older." Bilbo sang and smiled as the children laughed, before joining him the second time round. "Belladonna is a tricksy one, she helps old keep ticking, but eat too much of her and you will get a lickin."

Green the moss does grow, upon a sturdy bolder, though it grows older and greener and little hands grow bolder. Come and touch the moss child, which grows upon this bolder, but if you eat the wrong plant, you won't grow much older.

Bilbo said and the children laughed. "A daisy is a pretty flower, pretty as can be, be sure not to pick that daisy too soon, or a parent to a little babe you will be." Some of the children looked confused at that, though several of the dwarves laughed, Bilbo continued on with his song.

Green the moss does grow, upon a sturdy bolder, though it grows older and greener and little hands grow bolder. Come and touch the moss child, which grows upon this bolder, but if you eat the wrong plant, you won't grow much older.

Gladiolus standing strait and tall helps us to remember all, full of honor, strength and faithfulness for all."

Green the moss does grow, upon a sturdy bolder, though it grows older and greener and little hands grow bolder. Come and touch the moss child, which grows upon this bolder, but if you eat the wrong plant, you won't grow much older.

"Oh young one standing there, I would braid a crown of Lillys of the Valley for your hair, for beautiful and pure of heart, you stole mine from the start." Bilbo said and Bellis ran up to him Bilbo laughed as he swung her up into his arms.

"What of me Daddy, what flower am I?" Freyis demanded and Bilbo laughed.

Green the moss does grow, upon a sturdy bolder, though it grows older and greener and little hands grow bolder. Come and touch the moss child, which grows upon this bolder, but if you eat the wrong plant, you won't grow much older.

"For you my newly carved child, I would make a crown of daffodils, for your new beginning and chivalry you will learn, as well as the joy and happiness you will give and receive in return."

"What about me?" Brando asked and Bilbo smiled.

"Green the moss does grow, upon a sturdy bolder, though it grows older and greener and little hands grow bolder. Come and touch the moss child, which grows upon this bolder, but if you eat the wrong plant, you won't grow much older."

"For you my son oh my thoughtful and studious one, I would make a crown of Purple and Blue Iris, for wisdom and faith and hope is what I want for you."

"And me and Tarin Father and do Tris too, give us all flowers."

"Well I don't have the time to give everyone here flowers, or make up rhymes about those I don't know, but I'll sing them for you if you like them children."

"Green the moss does grow, upon a sturdy bolder, though it grows older and greener and little hands grow bolder. Come and touch the moss child, which grows upon this bolder, but if you eat the wrong plant, you won't grow much older."

"For you my first born child, wild as you are free of cares, I would make a crown of Lilac to capture all your fly away hairs. To give to you a sense of sharing and caring for those those are around you. To speak of your confidence and innocence and of the new love that surrounds you."

Green the moss does grow, upon a sturdy bolder, though it grows older and greener and little hands grow bolder. Come and touch the moss child, which grows upon this bolder, but if you eat the wrong plant, you won't grow much older.

For you my boys, my twin treasures of my heart, I would make you both crowns of Delphinium, both for your laughter and gaiety I hope from your laughter joy and one another you will not long part."

Green the moss does grow, upon a sturdy bolder, though it grows older and greener and little hands grow bolder. Come and touch the moss child, which grows upon this bolder, but if you eat the wrong plant, you won't grow much older.

For you my son Frerin, I would braid your hair with Chrysanthemums, both for fidelity and the long years I hope you live, to give you joy and hope for all your life to come."

Green the moss does grow, upon a sturdy bolder, though it grows older and greener and little hands grow bolder. Come and touch the moss child, which grows upon this bolder, but if you eat the wrong plant, you won't grow much older.

"For you my love, I would braid your hair with roses, lavender, red and orange would be your crown. Lavender for the love I felt the moment I saw you, orange for your passionate nature and red because I want you to be made mine for all of time." Bilbo sang and blushed, public declarations of love weren't something he'd ever be fully comfortable with, but he doubted little could be private from his people. Dwarves were just as gossipy as hobbits.

"That sounds like a very fine crown my heart, you may braid my hair with anything you choose, anytime you chose to." Thorin said and several gasps rang throughout the hall, Bilbo smiled as it was nearly the company's turn.

"And what would you braid in mine?" Bilbo asked softly, his mouth brushing against Thorin's ear. Thorin squirmed slightly at the contact and he smiled at Bilbo.

"You must wait to see, but I'll have my courting beads in your hair before the night is out, I've waited long enough." He said and Bilbo smiled happily.

"You got me beads? You aren't supposed to tell me you got them for me, but thank you!" Bilbo said and Thorin laughed.

"I love your traditions, this night has been more fun than I've had in a long while." Thorin said and Bilbo smiled.

"Everyone needs a bit of good cheer now and then, I'm not going to insist that everyone stop working, though that's what we do in the Shire. We simply enjoy one another's company cook entirely too much food and drink too much."

"You don't do anything but that all day?" Thorin demanded and Bilbo nodded.

"Those that can afford it give more to the gathering, it's seen as good luck to be generous during Midwinter. Still we don't do anything but what we wish to do, for those fourteen days. It drove Grandpappy crazy for the first few years, from the stories I've heard in the Shire, but he got used to hobbit parties after a decade or so in the Shire. Though he'd still curse a blue streak if he found some tricksy boys who had snuck some of his whiskey."

"I thought you said the children weren't allowed to drink."

"They aren't allowed it, but that doesn't mean they can't sneak it if no ones paying attention to a bottle or two. Though if they get sick off of it, little mercy is shown to them." Bilbo said and Thorin laughed. "Looks like our Frerin is taking after his trickster cousins." Bilbo said and grabbed the miner's wine from Frerin's hand, he pouted as he swayed.

"You said that I could have, have two cups."

"Aye and you've had that and more, you're too young to be knock down drunk Frerin and your headin' towards that if I don't take the bottle from you."

"He's lying he's had five glasses worth of that funny juice, it smells awful and tastes worse, why do you drink it?" Freyis demanded and Bilbo sighed turning to his daughter.

"Cause adults need funny juice to feel like a child again, a child doesn't need it because they are a child still." Bilbo said and Freyis eyes opened and she nodded her head in understanding. Frerin bent over double laughing and then started to heave. Bilbo took the young man by the arm and quickly ran him away from the festival, running him down a side street, before he couldn't hold it in any longer. Bilbo held back his hair as Frerin heaved. "If you don't want to get sick again you should listen to me Frerin, two cups will get you swaying and muddy your thoughts, but it won't make you sick, more than that and you might not be so lucky."

"How can you drink so much?" Frerin demanded as Bilbo handed him a washcloth and walked with him back to the festival.

"Years of drinking off and on and it burns through me quick. I know enough to stop when I start to feel sick, then drink some more after my tummy feels better. Not that I'm telling you to do that my boy." Bilbo said and Frerin nodded.

"The food disagrees with you cousin?" Fili asked.

"The ale more like, there's plenty more if you want some." Kili said and Frerin turned green at the mention of both food and ale.

"Why don't you lie down for a bit, I scattered some of the pillows I brought earlier around, I'll get done with the line and go back to you." Bilbo said and Frerin nodded, falling miserably onto the pillows, both Kili and Fili laughed. "I'm sure you've been just as drunk before."

"That we have, that's why it's so funny."

"Don't tease him too hard, not when he's feeling poorly." Bilbo chided.

"Yes mother hen." Kili teased and Bilbo laughed, walking back to the line.

"Is Frerin alright?" Thorin asked and Bilbo nodded.

"Sick from the drink and me not paying attention, but he's alright." Bilbo replied and Thorin nodded. Finally it was Bilbo's turn in line and he smiled as someone had left him and Thorin out a plate, piled high with food. He took his and a half empty bottle of miner's friend, mixing it with the orange juice and adding some cinnamon, before filling a jug with tea and honey. Bilbo then walked back to Frerin. "You don't have to look at my plate, but drink some tea." Bilbo said and smiled softly. "There's a reason we have it here, its good and helps a floppy belly and eases headaches."

"Yavannah's tea indeed, what you make Bilbo?" Thorin asked as he took a seat on one of the cushions beside Bilbo.

"Just some summer's day, that's what my Grandpappy used to call it. He claimed it was like a summer's day in winter. He made it with chili powder, but that's too spicy for me. His Mom was a Blacklock, but all I got from her was my ability not to fry like a ripe tomato in the sun." Bilbo said with a laugh and Thorin stared at him a moment, before nodding.

"You are a lot darker, than when we started this quest." Thorin said, as Frerin started to snore, Bilbo laughed, before covering Frerin.

"Hopefully his head won't pound like the drums of his ancestors come morning, he can just as easily open his gifts tomorrow, instead of tonight." Bilbo said and Thorin laughed as well, before the applied themselves to the food. "Now that everyone's done, its time to open presents, children find yours first and don't step on anyone else's. We're not opening them until everyone gets what others gave them" Bilbo said and the fifteen children laughingly went into the pile, Bilbo was surprised at how many gifts his own children got, but then he supposed that they were special to his people and whatever they didn't use they could share with their friends, or gift again the next night. Bilbo didn't expect his pile to be nearly a cartful either. Thorin's was nearly as big and the others ranged in sizes, he noted the names of those who didn't receive much by way of gifts and their names. Bilbo smiled when all the presents had been claimed. " Now we open them all up, going around in a circle, one at a time. Though the children go first. Did you save back the naughtier ones?" Bilbo asked and everyone nodded. Bilbo smiled softly and turned to his half asleep children and the other half asleep dwarflings, they perked up a bit at the mention of gifts, but the late hour and their full bellies was making them just as sleepy as the faunts Bilbo had known and had been himself. He smiled at each of the children opened their gifts, laughing at the silly ones and smiling at ones they liked. Bilbo smiled at the children, as they finished unwrapping their gifts. "If you want to lay your heads down in our laps I doubt Daddy Thorin and the company would mind, this will take a while yet and I'll wake you if anything truly interesting happens." Bilbo said and soon his lap and the laps of Dwalin, Bomber, Fili, Kili and Thorin each had the head of a sleeping child in them. Bilbo laughed remembering how Brando and Freyis glared back and forth, before Brando settled in Bilbo's lap and Freyis in Thorin's.

He nearly didn't realize it was his turn, he was so busy being captivated by his little boy's face. Bilbo accepted the package someone handed to him and smiled, it was a good set of carving tools. "Thank you, mine were starting to get chipped, you can only carve so much, before the points get worn down, I'll be able to use this in my carving and bead making."
Bilbo said and frowned. "I forgot to mention, you're supposed to try to say something polite about the gift, even if you hate it, especially when you hate it." Bilbo said and the dwarves laughed, as Thorin took up a package and frowned down at a hideous portrait of himself, that Bilbo felt any of his children could do a better job on. Thorin stared at the monstrosity, before flipping it over to back and laughing.

"Frerin always knew how I appreciated his art, I made sure of it." Thorin said and several others in the company laughed as well. Dwalin went next, grabbing something at random and looked uncertainly at a pair of black knitted things, which Bilbo didn't know what they were for a minute, before he realized.

"Those are axe covers, someone's knitted you axe covers Dwalin." Bilbo said and was half tempted to tease the dwarf.

"These are of fine quality, I'd be afraid to use the blade covers, as Grasper and Keeper would cut such fine work in two."

"You use practice axes when you're training my children, you can use them then." Bilbo said and Dwalin nodded.

"That I could, they are really warm." Dwalin said and put the handle covers on his axes, smiling when he felt the warmth of the wool against his hands. Balin went next and opened his present laughing as he did so.

"Thank you for remaking this family heirloom, you know how much I treasured it." Balin said and Bilbo smiled at the ugliest piece of emerald, sapphire and diamond wrapping he'd ever seen. "It is similar to a belt buckle my father wore when courting my mother."

"Actually I was playing with it in my rooms, before the fall and when I went back, it was still there." Dwalin said and laughed. "As oldest you should have such a magnificent and beautiful symbol of our parents love and our line."

"Thank you, I am truly touched." Balin said.

Bilbo and Balin laughed at Dwalin's lowly mumbled "in the head." People continued to open presents and Bilbo was slightly astounded at the amount of carving tools he received.

As he opened the twenty fifth one, he smiled at everyone, took a sip of orange juice to contain his laughter, as everyone else's eyes danced in laughter as well. "Its clear that you want me to carve an army of carvers, so they might carve another army in turn, because that's how I'll be using this fine example of a carving tool." Bilbo said and everyone laughed.

"You could at that, with how many tools you have at your disposal."

"Its Mahal who decides when to bless someone not me, though I do thank each and everyone of you for your generous gift of carving tools." Bilbo said and everyone laughed again. He'd also gotten a clumsy drawing of a child's self portrait of their family and the brother the child hoped for, as well as keys with addresses written down on them and other childish scribbles and drawings. Either one child was trying to improve their skills, or everyone had encouraged their children to draw pictures to give to Bilbo, that most children that age happened to draw pictures of family was entirely a coincidence Bilbo was sure. Bilbo smiled he did like the picture one little girl drew of a flower about to bloom, it was very good for her age and Bilbo smiled at the drawing, before stacking it with the others. He'd also gotten a lot of crafting supplies, which was good, but he didn't know how to make half of what he was given and he'd even had to ask the purpose of one of the tools he had been given. Apparently it was the most elaborate needle threader Bilbo had ever seen and Ori enthusiastically explained how it worked to a highly confused Bilbo. Well he knew what to get Ori tomorrow, that and the yards of thread he now owned, would make a fine gift both for Ori and for Hildrin, because Bilbo surely didn't know what to do with it. When he unwrapped the latest spool of thread, he grinned. "I'm sure I can find a good home for this, I might be a hobbit, but I never could sew. I was always more of a knitter and a worker of small stones, than a sewer of clothes."

"He's hopeless, I tried to teach him once and he managed to knot the thread on the bobbin." Ori said and laughed.

"That I am, I'd love some dwarven recipes, most of what I know how to make is hobbit fair."

"You'd be welcome in the kitchens anytime." One of the cooks said. "You know what you are doing and we'd be happy to help if you find the time to visit the kitchens."

"I'd like that." Bilbo said and smiled, most of his friends now had an impressive collection of weapons and when Dwalin opened a knife, he grinned.

"The armories are set, that's one less thing to worry about." Dwalin said testing the edge of the blade and nodding his approval.

"You can only gift what you got at Midwinter again, you can't add it to the arsenal, or give it to a stockpile."

"But can we share with our friends, I enjoy my share of cakes and pastries, but this is more than one dwarf could eat in a year!" Bomber said and Bilbo laughed.

"You can always give your goodies to some children I know, or put them under a tree to be shared between everyone."

"Can we put weapons under that tree as well?" Thorin asked.

"Heavens no, but you can give and leave parchments, showing what the item is and allowing for later collection of that item. Some make a game of hiding them in branches and around the floor by the trees, if they get too many of one item one year. There was one year when a Brandybuck was courting a Proudfoot and made him eighty honey cakes, everyone that wanted honey cake had enough honey cake for two weeks after that." Bilbo said and everyone laughed.

"Are grad gestures normal in courting at Midwinter?"

"Its up to those courting, they can range from simple wreaths of holly, to a smail." Bilbo replied with a smile. "My mother shrieked when she was given that by my father, but my father was a man who was fond of grand gestures and believed that his generosity would win the heart of my mother. It did in the end and I came along several years after that." Bilbo said with a shrug. "I've always preferred things of a simple nature, to me something heartfelt and loving is more beautiful than some expensive trinket that I have no use for." Bilbo said and shrugged. "But everyone is different." He said and smiled, Thorin hadn't gotten to his gift yet. He'd carved out Thorin's necklace at the same time he carved the children's, while Thorin recovered from the carving and his daughters slept. Thorin's was the best carving and wire wrapping he'd ever managed to do and he smiled as he opened his next gift and stared down at two mithril bracelets, set with sapphires and diamonds. He stared stunned at the amazing bracelets, not entirely sure what to say. "I'll be wearing these at formal ceremonies and occasions." Bilbo said and smiled softly, clasping the bracelets around his hands and felt Thorin relax next to him. "I would ask that no one give me any crowns, now or in the future, I'll only wear flower crowns, thank you very much." Bilbo said and everyone laughed.

"But Bilbo, you would have looked so lovely in the crown we were going to get for you." Fili teased and Kili stopped laughing long enough to speak.

"Oh yes we would have had it outshine even Thorin's." He managed to gasp out and Bilbo smiled at both boys.

"Thank you boys, if you love crowns so much, I can easily get someone to make one you can wear all the time." Bilbo said and both boys paled and Bilbo laughed, which made everyone else laugh as well.

"I only wear them when I have to, will I have to for any day during the festivities?" Thorin asked.

"Yes a crown of evergreen on the third day and a crown of holly on the forth are traditional, but other than that you can wear or not wear whatever crown you choose. I didn't have time to make one today, but crowns of plants are also traditional and can be made for yourself, or for others." Bilbo said and opened up a package which contained a piece of emerald that was about as big as Bilbo's thumb and forefinger together, Bilbo stared down at the uncut emerald, tracing the axe marks where it had been cut and noticing how Vira's parents stiffened. "My thanks for this gift, I think I see its purpose now. When he is more sure of hand to carve such a precious thing as I've been given, I'll bring it to young Hildbrin to carve. Thank your daughter for me and tell her that I'm honored to receive on of the first stones she cut." Bilbo said and silence filled the hall as he smiled softly down at the emerald, he fingered the little shards where it was clear an inexperienced hand had taken it from the rock.

"It's not one of her first, its her first, we had thought that she would give it to us." Vira's mother said and gently woke the child, Vira yawned and smiled at Bilbo.

"Hello Bilbo." She said and Bilbo smiled at the child gently.

"Hello little one, your parents are wondering why you gave this to me."

"I love Mama and Papa and my Uncles and Aunties and I always play with Jirgar and everyone sneaks us food when others aren't watching or we're playing in the markets. Mama said that my stone should go to someone I love most and I love you most Carver Bilbo, because without you I wouldn't be born."

"I see, though I am honored by your gift, perhaps your parents should attempt to explain the tradition better and make sure that you still wish to give it to me. "

"I won't change my mind, Papa says I'm as stubborn as the rock I was carved from and the rock I'm gonna carve." Vira said and Bilbo laughed.

"Well then, a tradition for a tradition, as you have given something so important to your traditions to me, I will give something equally important to the traditions of my people to you little one, if your parents would allow it."

"What is it?" Vira asked and Bilbo smiled softly.

"How would you like a necklace of stones, they are only given from older hobbits to their close relations, but as you broke with your traditions in giving me this, I will break with mine." Bilbo said and smiled softly. "We believe that the necklace helps guide the child and helps them to become their best selves."

"Then we would be honored to accept, as long as we had some say in what was on it."

"You will be able to determine everything that's on it for your child, though anyone close to your family can give you the beads. Usually they are handed to the parent of the child directly and these words are spoken, "I saw your child might have need of this stone, accept it and my love and warm wishes for them, throughout their days." Bilbo said and smiled at Vira and her parents that stared wide eyed at him. "Its nothing more than I haven't already accepted, sorry to sleep for so long and then to be busy with my own children. I feel it is my duty to ensure the well being of the people in this Mountain, as a Took I take that duty seriously and I'll do whatever's necessary to ensure your well being. My people don't have this divide between farmers, crafters or kings, all go to bed knowing that they will be full and find fulfilling work, regardless of what that work might be. We don't think any more or less of a farmer, than we do the Thain, which as close to a king, as my people have."

"Without a system that balances power, what do you do?" Someone asked shocked and Bilbo grinned.

"Simple we share it, anyone can come before the council and state their concerns and be listened to just as much as any member that sits on the council full time. Then we vote on what is to be done about that issue with the next meeting of the council. That I think is the difference between the duty my ancestors assumed and the dwarven royalty. Duty isn't passed down and is up to Thorin to accept or reject, where as I never had a choice, I was meant to be a servant of my people from the first day I crawled from the clay." Bilbo said and fiddled with the stone under his robe. "We learned to live together, to tolerate one another and allow our children to play together despite our differences. If you have a child and your busy send them to the markets, I'll hire someone to look after them while you are working. If you are concerned about the food supply, the cost of goods, or any other issue, approach me and I'll bring it before the council. Don't however give me frivolous concerns, I'm really rather busy, when I'm not with my children, I'm either carving or on some business or other. If you have a legitimate concern, you can approach me and we'll talk about it, any hour of the day, or night." Bilbo said and the dwarves stared at him in shock.

"Any hour?" Thorin demanded and Bilbo nodded.

"Duty honor and a willing heart, those are my family words. I felt it strange that you should echo them on the night we first met. I'll never forget when you said, ' I would take each and every one of these Dwarves over an army from the Iron Hills. For when I called upon them, they answered. Loyalty. Honor. A willing heart... I can ask no more than that.' To hear my own family words echoed back to me by my one, I was still terrified, but the next morning I chose to follow you and here were are. Admittedly its considered bad form to wake someone who's asleep or state a request at night, but if something is urgent enough try to wake me. Admittedly after a carving, you might have to try very hard indeed." Bilbo said and smiled as he felt the need to carve wash over him and he smiled excitedly when he realized who he was to carve for.

"You were saying Bilbo?" Thorin asked and Bilbo grinned, putting a finger to his lips and making sure he had the right sense of it, making sure that he was supposed to carve a child for Dwalin and then his mouth dropped open when he realized that Ori was to be the other parent. Apparently the lad thought himself old enough to be a father and both loved another for a baby to be given to them. Bilbo opened his senses and laughed, because the two dwarrows didn't even know how the other felt.

"Well a midwinter bairn is just as good of an excuse as any. I'd like the old Company to come with me, where we can be in private, I'm to carve for two dear friends, who Mahal's decided its time for them to admit their love to one another and the Company, but such things are best done in private." Bilbo said and the company stared wide eyed at him, as he stood. "Those that wish to come, are welcome to, but it's a fairly private matter." Bilbo said and walked with the gob smacked company, to where they would be out of the hearing of others.

"Who is it?" Nori demanded nervously and Bilbo stared at Nori, reading his devotion to Bofur and Bofur's returned love for Nori.

"Its not you Nori, you and Bofur don't long for a baby the way Ori and Dwalin do yet." Bilbo said and Ori fainted, but a unsteady Dwalin managed to catch him, before he touched the ground.

"What do you mean my baby brother wants a child? He's barely more than a child himself."

"Yes and he knows his mind as well as anyone, this isn't for you to decide for him Dori, if he rejects the chance he might not get another." Bilbo said. "So as surprising as this is to everyone, including me, do try to be supportive and not at one another's throats." Bilbo said and the entire company stared at him, as he calmly brought a glass of water from under the trees and poured it over Ori's head. Ori woke with a start and stared up at Bilbo eyes wide.

"I'm ready for this?" He asked and Bilbo smiled.

"Mahal doesn't bless anyone with the carving, unless he feels they are ready, but its up to you." Bilbo said and both nodded.

"We'll go." Dwalin said and his face changed from joy, to uncertainty, Bilbo smiled and reached up on tiptoes, touching his forehead to Dwalin's, in what he believed to be a show of support.

"Every parent is nervous at first, you'll do fine, you both will love whatever child Mahal seeks to make for you and you both are big hearted enough to share your newly found love with that child." Bilbo said and both dwarves looked relieved, Bilbo ran back and grabbed a set of carving tools, as well as a bag he'd been given to carry them in. "I may be back this night, I may not be back till morning, eat, drink and laugh, enjoy one another's company." Bilbo said and walked with both Dwalin and Ori back to the cave. He chose a large piece of rock, easily three times the width of the ones he'd carved his children out of and the three of them carried it together. Bilbo smiled as he carefully cut out a medium sized chunk of the rock, before starting to carve, explaining what he needed his friends to do, as he went along. Soon both their heads were nodding, as full of ale and food they were and with the exhaustion of the carving process, Bilbo sighed and took a ribbon from his hair one handed, carving out the little one's hands with carefully, before carving out another hand that jutted out from the rock, the wrist on this one was larger than the one he was working on. He then bound his friend's hands to the hands of both their children, binding them one on top of each other on the child he hadn't started yet and giving them a hand each to hold. The dwarves didn't protest and a moment later they were both asleep. Bilbo continued to carve, moving around their sleeping bodies, as they practically collapsed on top of the rock. Bilbo had to shove them both upright when he needed to get to the stone and sit in Dwalin's lap in order to carve out the stone properly. When that child was finished, he woke the little boy who blinked up at him in surprise.

"Why are both my Daddies still asleep?" The little boy asked, he had Ori's build, but Dwalin's hair and eyes.

"Because they were sleepy little one, you have been carved on of the long nights of celebration. You can stay here with me and your daddies, but I'll be focused on bringing your sibling into the world."

"I'm Orlin and I can wait for my siblings." Orlin said and Bilbo nodded, he set both their now free hands on top of the stone, as he unbound each of their wrists and set the hands he had unbound on top of the stone, before taking their other hands and retying them to the stone. He then separated the middle part of the stone, before waking them both.

"I need you to keep a hand on top of this side of the stone, while I carve out this child's hand." Bilbo said and the two nearly asleep dwarrows did as he asked, Dwalin going so far as to move one stone slightly away from the other, using his free hand to heave against it. With Dwalin's strength, Bilbo was able to separate the stone and carve out a hand, before binding his friend's hands to it. Orlin had fallen asleep part way through the carving and Bilbo stared at the child.

"Orlin?" He called and after the first several times the boy woke and rubbed his eyes.

"Wha?" He asked blinking owlishly and Bilbo smiled softly.

"You should sleep inside your Daddy Dwalin's cloak. It should help to keep him upright and it will be warmer for you."

"K." The child said sleepily before curling into Dwalin's arms and Dwalin's cloak, resting his head on one of the warrior's arms, all Bilbo could see was his little feet sticking out. A moment later those were drawn in as well and Bilbo sensed he fell asleep. He was glad that the little one hadn't inherited Dwalin's snoring as it was distracting enough to listen to. Bilbo finished carving out the two remaining dwarflings and woke them both. As he did so, he felt dizziness, hunger and exhaustion pull at him.

"Hello little ones, your Daddies are tired from carving you, but they will wake up again soon, as will your older brother. We need to get some food into me and you little stones and then we can all sleep again." Bilbo promised the children who both nodded.

"I'm Dalri." The little boy said and settled his hand in Bilbo's.

"I'm Linris." The little girl said, taking Bilbo's other hand, Bilbo opened the door and narrowly avoided hitting Bombur. The entire company was squeezed into the corridor and none of them had managed to stay awake. Bilbo laughed softly as the little ones looked confusedly at both the Company and Bilbo's children, who were splayed out in the corridor, snoring, mumbling, talking and farting in their sleep. "Who are they?"

"Your family and mine. We need to be quiet if we are to sneak past your Uncle Nori." Bilbo said and lifted each of the children to his hip, as he tiptoed through the Company. The silly dwarves hadn't even had the sense to bring blankets and Bilbo shook his head, before continuing onto the trees, the Bonfire was still going, but a quarter of the dwarves had fallen asleep, while the others were dancing around the flames singing songs. Bilbo laughed as he walked over to the pile of clothes and other things Tris had been given and got out a dress and warm cloak for Linris. He dressed the child, keeping Dalri wrapped in his cloak, before dressing the boy as well. Both children quickly went towards the fire and Bilbo laughed, chasing after them, snagging some All Father bread and Mother tea and gulping down the cold tea, as well as eating the bread, as he chased the two laughing children around the flames, someone swept both children up in their arms and smiled down at them.

"Now your carver is tired young ones, you shouldn't be getting so close to the flame. Come and eat something." The dwarf said and Bilbo nodded his thanks to the stranger, who was on the council. Bilbo sat down and devoured the bread, as well as a plate someone set out for him. Two further plates of leftover food were given to the children. Bilbo ate hungrily and drank the tea. "You carved two at once?" The councilor asked and Bilbo nodded.

"Three actually, they have a brother, but he was sleeping in Dwalin's cloak and I didn't want to wake him. This is Dalri and the little girl is Linis, their brother is Orlin." Bilbo said and finished his food. "I'd appreciate it if someone could bring some of the blankets to the tunnels, my friends weren't exactly thinking clearly when they decided to go there." Bilbo said, before getting out a pillow and a blanket for himself.

"I want to go back to our Daddies." Linris said and Bilbo yawned.

"Someone take the children as well, someone who won't wake the entire Company." Bilbo said before falling fast asleep.