Balin was surprised when Fili and Ori sat down by him in front of the fire. It wasn't too abnormal for them to sit by him, but the number was wrong. Where was Kili? Balin looked to the boy's suspiciously, silently asking his question. Fili noticed and nodded in the direction that they had come from. He turned his head around and looked to a large tree that had Kili and Bilba beneath it.
He wondered why she had sent the others away to talk. Kili seemed close to tears. What could have done that to him? Then he remembered that Kili was the very sensitive one. While the boy could joke around and pull pranks and all, he took quite a bit to heart. He wondered if maybe someone had said something to him.
All of a sudden, Bilba pulled the youngest heir into an embrace. Now he was very curious. Perhaps they had had a misunderstanding and she was sorting it out to him. Maybe she was just a gentle and kind hobbit lass with a heart of gold and a serious drinking problem. He wasn't sure, but he knew that, since Thorins arrival, she had never seemed more kindly. He watched on as the two talked and she kept doing her best to keep him smiling. Glancing over, he noticed that he was not alone in observing the duo. From a slightly farther distance, Balin could see their fearless leader, ignoring the wizard completely as he watched his nephew and the she hobbit. He noticed a special twinkle in the prince's eye that he hadn't seen since Thrain met Thorins mother. It was cordial and warm look that melted away the iciness in his eyes.
Balin kept glancing at the two throughout the evening. She seemed rather comfortable in the company of the heirs and the youngest of the Ri brothers, who had returned not long after Bilba and Kili had finished talking.
To say it was sweet would have been an understatement. She was practically mothering the young boys. None of them minded in the least bit. He knew that Fili and Kili missed their mother greatly. He assumed, even though he didn't know her, that Ori missed his mother as well. For most of these dwarves, you could consider them orphaned. Their parents ripped from them before their time, leaving them to fend for themselves. Balin and Dwalin's own mother had died in the halls of Erebor, during the time of its prosperity. Even they still missed her, after all these years.
Soon night fell and everyone began to settle. Some were gathered around the fire, some setting up there bedrolls. It wasn't long before most of them were going to sleep. Balin looked off toward where the group had been sitting all night. Fili and Kili were asleep, both of their heads resting on her shoulders, and Ori was nodding off, trying to stay awake as he lied with his head on her lap. He watched as Bilba smiled sorrowfully at the boys before untangling herself from the other three. She set out and found Fili and Kili's bedrolls. Once she found them, she laid them out closer to the fire, making sure they were kept warm. Bilba then returned to the three and one after the other, dragged the heirs by their ankles to their bedrolls. She laid the blankets over them and placed a soft kiss on each of their foreheads.
"What a wonderful mother she'll make." Bofur said as those who were still awake watched her repeat her actions for Ori, placing him next to Fili.
Once Bilba was finished with the boys, she quietly walked over to the group. She didn't look so much as tired as she did drained. Almost like having them around had emotionally drained her completely. Balin noticed the glassiness in her eyes and that they were clouded with sorrow.
"I'll be off to bed. Good night lads."
They wished her good night in return and she walked away. Most of the others stopped watching her then. Balin didn't however. He watched as the she hobbit went to her bed roll and carried it over to the border of their camp. Where she lay, the light of the fire was barley touching, let alone the heat. She had to have been freezing. He watched for a while as her shoulders seemed to shake, for her back was facing the company. Balin wasn't sure of it was because she was cold, or if she was crying and nobody could hear her. After a few minutes, she stopped shaking, falling asleep.
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Hey guys! Sorry this took so long to put up and Im VERY sorry its so short. I was going to combine this one and the previous, but I thought it was going to be too long. Anyway this chapter is mostly suppose to just get the hint around that Bilba has a motherly vibe and that Balin seems to be the only one, besides Gandalf and some what Kili, that can see she's hurting...or is he? ;)
Okay, till we meet again! Please review!
