AN: The bad thing with cross posting is sometimes you only remember to update on one sight. I am sorry about that.
Niena slips into the room, looking behind her before shutting the door softly. She doesn't want to be caught, doesn't want her secret out. There in the middle of the room is a dark cell, it has not only bars made of a metal no longer on Middle Earth but runes and sigils of all languages new and old. This cell holds a powerful person no one wants out.
"You can't change the past Nienna."
A voice slithers from the shadows like a snake, it echoes around the mostly empty area. Nienna shakes her head in denial though the corner of lips twitches.
"You don't know that," she says stepping closer to the sparkling bars, even from where she is she can feel the power thrumming through them. The voice deep within the cell chuckles. It's neither a dark nor a cruel nor even a malicious laugh but a sad one and it breaks the Queen's heart.
"It's already been set in cloth. You'll only cause more pain to those you love," the voice rasps out.
The voice is resigned and almost regretful as it speaks and the words are accompanied by the clanking of moving chains.
"Nothing is ever unchangeable," Nienna argues grabbing the bars, bringing her face closer to them peering into the dark. She vibrates from the force of the magic but stays still just wanting a glimpse. An ebony hand reaches out, caressing the pale gray one ignoring the sparks that jump.
"You can't save me any more than you can the Dwarrows."
"Don't say that!"
She jerks away, ripping her hand from the bars and begins to pace. Her face is scrunched up in pain.
"Don't say that," she whispers.
The voice sighs, bright red eyes flashing for the briefest of moments.
"They aren't alone."
"What?"
She looks at the cell, hands clenching at her dress. With hesitant steps she goes back to her spot, this time resting her face on the bars.
"What do you mean?"
The hand reaches out and stops centimeters from her face.
"Your Hobbits. The ones you and the others are trying to save. They weren't the only ones sent back."
And just like that, the hand is pulled back and the chains are clanking and chinging.
"M-"
"Leave me for the day. Please."
"I'll come back tomorrow."
When Nienna is no longer in sight the chains move again, a tall body coming into view. He looks at the door that Nienna left through sadly.
"You always do."
"How are you feeling?" Frodo asks his uncle as he dismounts his pony. Bilbo frowns at Frodo, his legs shaking just a tad as he rubs them tiredly.
"Like I rode a devil animal for miles, so perfectly fine," the older Hobbit replies snarkily. Frodo laughs, covering his mouth and shaking his head at Bilbo. They help get camp set up, both ignoring the slight sting when they are shooed away for the most part. Bombur at least looks regretful that he doesn't have anything for them to help with.
"Well if we can't help with the camp then I guess I can teach you a few things about how to use a sword," Bilbo says going to grab his. It's nothing like Sting, heavier and it feels wrong in his hands, but it is a weapon so it will do. Frodo hurries to grab his sword and both Hobbits find a clear spot. Neither of them notice how quiet it has gotten nor that Dwalin and Bifur are staring at them and Thorin is glancing at them from the corner of his eye.
"Now let's see if I can remember my Bounder training," Bilbo mutters lowly, best to start at the beginning. He remembers everything the Company taught him but he doesn't want them asking too many questions. Gandalf frowns from his place by the fire.
"Your mother never told me you were a Bounder," his voice takes on a hurt tone.
"That's because I didn't make it that far."
"Why ever not? Tooks make great Bounders."
"Grandma Laura found out."
Frodo raises an eyebrow at how pale Gandalf gets.
"She did not approve?"
By now everyone is watching them.
"That is putting it lightly. Cousin Waldolanus was very lucky to have all the hair on his feet after she was done with him. Auntie Camelia barely let mother hear the end of it," Bilbo says with a laugh. The only reason she stopped lording it over them was because his mother found something out about Otho. He gives a full body shake and begins to lead Frodo through the motions he was taught.
Fighting has never been something Bilbo enjoyed, he hated every minute, every second he spent fighting but it was necessary. Bilbo doesn't want Frodo to have to fight, hates that he might have to, so Bilbo compromises with himself and focuses on the defensive side of the training. For all their officialness Bounders worked under the Shirrifs and were not expected to fight, they are more of a keep-outsiders-out guard than an actual guard. That didn't stop the Tooks from teaching the basics though.
When dinner finishes they stop for the night and curl up together by the fire. Ori approaches them slowly, a book in one hand food in the other.
"May I sit with you?" the young Dwarf asks. Both Hobbits nod their head. It's quiet for a moment as the three of them eat and then Ori speaks up.
"Do... would you mind telling me more about Hobbits?"
Bilbo gives the redhead a smile.
"I don't mind at all. Hobbits are a very simple race though," he says ignoring the snort that Thorin and Gandalf let out.
"Simple or not I would love to know more about you. I don't think I ever met a Hobbit before."
"Hobbits rarely leave the Shire," Frodo says, "so it's no surprise if you haven't."
"Why don't they?"
Bilbo hums.
"There are many reasons Ori. Some are better than others but the most common reason is that adventures are normally dreadful things that make you late for dinner. They are dangerous and very Unrespectable. We tend to like routine things and security. Give us a warm fire, a fine pipe and a good meal and we're like as not to never leave," Bilbo tells him at last. Ori looks star bound as he writes everything down, eagerly listening and spouting off question after question. Frodo smiles and grabs both his empty bowl and Bilbo's taking them to where he saw the others take them. After he is done rinsing the bowls in the small pot he dries them off and then stays back to watch Bilbo talk.
His uncle is animated in a way that Frodo doesn't think he's ever seen. Not even in the Garden. Fili and Kili, he notes with a chuckle are edging closer to Bilbo as he goes off on a tangent. Judging by the scrunch of his nose Frodo is willing to bet that it is a story dealing with the Sackville-Baggins. The young Hobbit doesn't know how this journey will pan out but he has high hopes for it.