Telepathic "(-)"
Sindarín telepathic "(-)" in bold.
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I was hanging from the hand of one of the trolls and I could see how Thorin breath of relief as he saw that I was safe.

"I'm too old for this..." I sighed once Gandalf put me down of the troll's hand and we were getting to their cave.

"Are you all right, Bilbo? It was my fault that they took you..." Bofur couldn't look at me, he was staring to the ground.

"This was not your fault!" I grabbed his arm and I smiled at him. "For what are friends for if not to defend them from a troll's attack?" Bofur smiled briefly and I moved a little bit closer so I could whisper to him. "Go with Nori and get to see if he is okay, I can handle it on my own." Bofur nodded and he went to check on Nori. Before I could get inside of the cabe I saw how Dwalin was helping Ori sitting down on a rock. When I thought about going there with them, Thorin approached to me, stomping.

"Master Baggins do not stay behind, we don't want to get throw anything like what we did last night."

I growled at his words. "It was not my fault thet they took me, besides, I was the only one claver enough to win us some time!"

Thorin kept looking at his feet while he walked away. "If you had stayed where I told you none of this would have happened."

Before I could reply at him, in not a very hobbitish way, Gandalf came closer and he put a hand over my shoulder. "It was a really good idea winning some time dear Bilbo."

"I had done it once before, Gandalf, I don't know how they could took me again this time." I sputtered, but Gandalf only raised an eyebow.

"I have talked with Lord Elrond: he will call Lady Galadriel and we will stay in Rivendel for a few days."

I nodded slightly and I looked at him. "Get into the cave with Thorin, I will wait out here."

"I thought that you will join us in there."

I shook my head and I tried to smile. "Thorin does not seen to be pleased around em right now, furthermore, I know what it's inside there so I'll be here waiting with the Company for..." I cleared my throat.

"Waiting for who?"

"You will know soon enough"

"Bilbo..." He started to say but I was already leaving his side. I decided to stay close to Fili and Kili who were counting our weapons.

"Here, Fili." I gave him his sword and I smiled. "It has served me of much help." Right after that the brothers began to apologize and I could only hugged them. "I will always protect you both, no matter what, okay? I'm older than you, I have to! I laughed because this time it was true: I was 130 years old, and they were barely 82 and 77.

"How old are you, Bilbo?" Asked Kili sitting down beside the entrance of the cave.

I looked at Kili and for a second I hesitated. "I'm one hund... I'm fifty, and I'll be fifty one on September 22."

"B-But then you are a child!" Kili shouted, startling all of the members of The Company. From inside the cave came running Gandalf and Thorin.

"What's going on?!" Thorin demanded and I could only laugh out loud. "Why are you laughing, halfling?" I noticed that Thorin was trying to repress a smile.

"Bilbo's only 50, uncle!" Kili shouted again and the whole Company screamed at once.

"What!"

I couldn't stop laughing and a little bit later Gandalf also was laughing. I laughed so hard that tears ran down my cheek!

"Dear dwarves friends..." tried to say Gandalf without laughing, but he did not succeed. "Hobbits are considered adults at the age of 33!"

I kept laughing. "Your faces!" I said pointing at them unable to stop laughing. Everyone else except for me and Gandalf did not looked too amused.

"Master Baggins... I do not see why is this so funny." Said Thorin serious, which made us laugh harder.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry really, but, your faces! Oh, I could paint you just like that!" I kept laughing, tears were falling down my face from laughing so hard.

Thorin growled and he looked at the Company. "Take everything that we have, we are leaving immediately."

Once I stopped laughing I noticed that Thorin got in his belt Orcrist, and I turn to see Gandalf who was looking to me amused. "I do not know why, but I think this is yours, Bilbo." He give me Sting and I smiled. I stroked my sword which had been so useful for me and for my little Frodo about 20 years ago.

"Thank you, Gandalf." I heard Fili and Kili growl and I laughed again.

"Did you not say that you were waiting for someone?" I nodded.

"He should be hear by now... maybe after my accident and Ori's he came earlier of what I had expected." I looked around me but nothing, Radagast was not any near.

Suddenly a warg attacked us like last time. Radagast was not with us this time so, how could we get out of it alive?

"Let's run towards the esplanade!" Roared Thorin and I ran by his side.

"Thorin, they will take us! We can not run without a plan!"

"There is not plan, Master Baggins, you will have to run like the rest of us!"

We run to a large rock, the orc pack right behind us. Dwalin was carring Ori, and he was shacking because of the fear. Gandalf was looking to everywhere like a mad man, and then I knew that he was looking for the secret entrance of Rivendell, but it was too far away from us yet. We kept running around of big rocks trying not to be seen. Maybe then I was 50, but running around is not something that we hobbits are accustomed of, my body was bearly keeping up and it was thanks to my Took's blood.

"Come on, Bilbo!" Bofur shouted, who was running next to Nori and Dori.

I could not keep running, I was too slow and I thought that the wargs were going to see me and they'll eat me. I was going to give up when strong arms caught me. I wanted to complain, but Thorin looked at me serious. "There is not time for your complains. Get on my back."

I did what he asked. I wanted to tell him that he did not need to take care of me, that I was too heavy, but he kept running like if I was just a little blanket. The orc pack was on our feet, Dwalin and Thorin get me and Ori into the ground, behind them, protecting us. Fili and Kili were at my side protecting each other with their arms in their hands. I also saw how Nori was standing in front of Bofur, also protecting him, and Galdalf was looking around searching for the entrance to Rivendell. After some intense seconds when we were all ready to kill the orcs we heard horns sounding in the distance, and soon enough there were arrows flying and killing the orcs. The ones who survived ran away, probably to Dol Guldur. Little by little the elves, who had saved us, arrived, Lord Elrond ahead, and these did not make the dwarves move, no, they even got more tense.

"Gandalf. I was not expecting you so soon." Said Lord Elrond smiling and looking at us.

Gandalf bow and so I did. "Lord Elrond, thank you for saving us from the orcs." Gandalf came closer to him and gave him his hand to shake it with Lord Elrond, who got off of his horse.

"This must be the Company of Thorin Oakenshield I assume?"

"We had it all under control, we did not need your help." Thorin roared, and I took his arm.

"Thorin..." He growled but did not say another word.

"Thank you, Lord Elrond." I said bowing again.

"I assume you are Bilbo Baggins, Belladona Took's son, isn't that correct?"

I nodded. "I am." I tried to get closer to him but Thorin grabbed me possessively.

"The halfling is with us." He said and I rolled my eyes.

"Stubborn dwarves..." I whispered and Lord Elrond laughed.

"I did not know you could speak Sandarin."

I nodded briefly "My mother taught me when I was a little hobbit, and some elves friends I helped me to improve it some time ago." Thorin looked at me but he did not say anything again, instead, Lord Elrond offered us his hospitality: some food, some wine and a well deserved bath. "Thorin, we are really tired, please..." I begged. "Lord Elrond is not like Thranduil, I assure you that, trust me. Besides, he can read the part of the map which we can't read."

Thorin looked at the Company who we all were about to faint after what we had ran and he nodded slightly. We set up to Rivendell, this time not throw the secret passage.

"I trust you, Bilbo, but them..."

"I knew your father and your grandfather, Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror. I tried yo help your people when you lost Erebor." Said Lord Elrond getting up to his horse. "Thror did not want my help because of his selfish acts and because of what Thranduil did. I hope that our relationship will be better than theirs."

Thorin murmured something in Khuzdul and I took his hand. "Thorin is not like his grandfather." I looked at Thorin and I squeezed his hand. "Look into the bright side, this is better than running around while some arcs are trying to kill us." I smiled brightly to him and he could not hold his smile.

"I guess you are right Bilbo."

"As always." I laughed again.

Thorin's expression changed radically when Bofur came closer to see if I was alright and I had to let go of his hand. Thorin advanced and he stayed right beside his nephews while Bofur and me talked whispering about how Nori had protected him form the orcs. Once we got to Rivendell I was amazed of seeing that place again. The elves lead us to our rooms, one for each of us, and I stayed in the garden next to mine. Barely 20 years before I was right in that place, and I could not content my joy. I turned on myself a couple of times and then I found Thorin's serious eyes watching me.

"I assume you don't like this place?" I raised an eyebrow, smiling.

"No, burglar, I do not like this place, and I hope I will get out of here as soon as Lord Elf has read the map."

I rolled my eyes. "His name is Lord Elrond, and he has only been kind to us all. Thorin, you can not guilt all the elves because of what Thranduil did."

"If you are so happy here then you should stay with the elves. Stay with Bofur since that seems to be what you desire." Thorin left with the others leaving me dumbfounded. What was going on?

"Thorin!" I yelled grabbing his arm before he could get inside. "What have I done to you now?"

Thorin did not leave but he kept avoiding my eyes. "Are we friends, master Baggins?"

I got closer to him. "Well, of course! At least for my part..."

He looked at me then. "Are you in love with Bofur?"

"What?!" I could not believe what he had just said. I didn't know if I should laugh or hit him in the face. "Of course I'm not in love with Bofur!"

"Do not lie to me, burglar." Thorin said, angry.

"I'm not laying, I swear!"

"I heard Kili the other day saying that you were in love with someone of the Company, do not deny it!"

I started to laugh angrily. "Mahal, Thorin..."

"It's that a yes then?"

I sighed in exasperation. "I do NOT love Bofur!" Before he could say anything I kept screaming. "Yes, what Kili said it's true, I do love someone from The Company, and if you did not have your face right inside your... inside your royal ass and if you were not so blind you will see then that I... Agggh!" I did not finished the sentence and I left running, tears on my eyes. "Stupid dwarves..."

After some time running around going to nowhere I found Lord Elrond who was searching for me. "Mister Baggins, we were looking for you. Gandalf said that you needed to talk to us."

I agreed. "Yes, has Lady Galadriel came yet?"

Lord Elrond nodded and he took me to where years before The Fellowship of The Ring had been created. Lady Galadriel, who was beautiful as always, smiled kindly to me.

"(So this is the halfling.)" I heard in my mind and I bowed.

"Lady Galadriel. It's always a placer to see you." She raised an eyebrow smiling but she did not say another word. I saw Gandalf sitting at the other side of the table and at his right was someone who I was not expecting. "Radagast!" The Brown Wizard started and Gandalf laughed at his reaction.

"Have you tell him that I'm here, Gandalf?"

Gandalf did not stop from looking at me with a smile on his face. "Not a word, Radagast."

"Without more consideration I think we should begin, don't you think, Bilbo?" Asked Lord Elrond to me and I sat in one of the big-chairs at the other side of Gandalf. Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel did not sit down and Radagast sat on the table looking at me.

"Tell us, little hobbit, how is that every one of us has dreamed about you and about a future of war and suffer?" This time was Lady Galadriel who spoke.

"It's hard to explain, but I will try..." And that it's how I started to tell them about my first adventure with my dwarves, how I found the One Ring, how we reclaimed Erebor again, how the heirs of Durin died (this made Gandalf really uncomfortable), the years that I passed grieving, the creation of The Fellowship of The Ring with Isildur's heir and my nephew Frodo, Saruman's betrayal, the Great War, our arrive to Aman, my 130 birthday there and how Aulë and Yavanna had told me what I would have to do...

When I ended my story Radagast was the first one who spoke.

"How are we going to know that what he is saying it's true?"

Before I could answer Lady Galadriel came closer to me and took my hands in hers. Her ayes were full of tears. "I, myself, I'm saying it... You have seen so much suffering and you have suffered so much Bilbo Baggins... First your dwarf then your nephew..." Lord Elrond could see also my thoughts as well as the two wizards. I felt exposed, everybody there could see my memories, my fears, my joys and my losses...

I bit my lip. "It's Aulë and Yavanna's plan that we should stop the Great War before it happens, that it's why we should take down Sauron as soon as possible. We must destroy the One Ring after the dwarves had reclaimed Erebor."

"We should go immediately to Mordor and defeat Sauron." Said Lord Elrond and I stood up.

"I am the one send back from Yavanna and Aulë, and we will do the things on my way like they planned it. Aulë wants to see his sons alive and that it's what I'm going to do, keep them alive."

Lady Galadriel looked at me. "Who else died during the war apart from your friends, Bilbo?"

I cleared my throat and I looked at my fingers. "Saruman died prey to his own greed, and you Mithranduir, you died and came back to life as the White Wizard. They were also Haldir, who died in battle and one of the members of the Fellowship, Boromir son of Denethor II"

We stayed in silence for a while until we saw the sunset. "It will be the best if we come back with my guests, they must be hungry and we all have a lot to think about." Lord Elrond and the wizards left and before I could fallow them Lady Galadriel's voice was on my head again, this time talkin in Sindarin.

"(Bilbo, this time your beloved dwarves will not die, neither your nephew will fall to the pain that The One Ring inflicts, I assure you.)"

I smiled at her and I bowed again. "Thank you, Lady Galadriel."

She returned my smile and she kissed my curls. I found my self closing my eyes. "You also will get the love of the dwarf you desire." Before I could open my eyes she was gone, leaving my alone smiling to nowhere.

Dinner with my dwarves was really busy as the one we had, but this time I was sitting between Fili and Kili who were talking about how much Kili did like elves. Lindir and I talked for a long time, meanwhile Dwalin was laughing at Kili because he likes a male-elf and Ori calmed down Dwalin so he could not keep laughing at poor Kili. Oh, how much do people change because of love...

"So mister Bilbo, there is any lady-hobbit expecting you in the Shire?" Asked Lindir curious , and I smiled.

"No, Lindir, and even if there was one waiting for I would be male..." I blushed and Fili and Kili laughed at me.

"I'm sure he is a womanizer!" Cried out Kili and everyone except for Thorin laughed.

"Quite the opposite! I have always being a very responsible hobbit..."

"Are you implying, Bilbo that you have been with no one, ever?" Kili's face looked then like one of Merry's poems, limp and colorless.

"I-I have not found anyone in the Shire with whom I would like to have a family..." I tried not to look at Thorin.

"Bilbo, I'm sure you will find a male hobbit or a dwarf with whom you will want to have family." Lindir smiled and I smiled in return.

"A family? But if Bilbo likes males... you can adopt children in the Shire?" Asked Bofur raising and eyebrow next to Nori.

Lindir looked at me confused. "I think Bilbo may still be able to breed a child, he is not so old, right?"

Everyone fell silence again and this time was Thorin the one who spoke. "Bilbo is... a male, I think that was clear."

Right then I did not know if I should laugh or cry. I decided to laugh with Gandalf, Lindir and Lord Elrond. "Thorin, male hobbits can breed a child just like male elves, you did not know it?"

I noticed how Thorin blushed a little. "B-But... that is impossible."

"Of course not! Why do you think the Shire it's so full of children? Women and men can have them."

"Wow..." Said Kili and Ori at the same time.

"I was not expecting that..." Dwalin said trying not to laugh while he was looking at Thorin and me.

"So..." Started Thorin looking at my eyes. "If you were with a man... you could have children with him?"

"Y-Yes.. b-but the dwarf I loved died and the one I'm starting to love it's an idiot, he will never notice. I will get too old soon enough before he would notice it." I tried to joked but none of them laughed.

"Bilbo!" Shouted Bofur from the other table. "Lets sing a song to cheer up everyone!"

I laughed when I heard Lord Elrond growl. "I don't think it's the best time for it."

"Nonsenses!" Shouted Nori. "Come on, dance and sing!"

I looked at Thorin who was looking at me still in shock. He was looking like he was seeing my soul. I decided to ignore the feeling that I would never be with him, and I stood up in the table. "Come on, Bofur!" and we started to sing:

There is an inn

there is an inn

a merry old inn

beneath an old grey hill,

And there they brew a beer so brown

That the Man in the Moon himself came down

one night to drink his fill.

The ostler has a tipsy cat

that plays a five-stringed fiddle;

And up and down he saws his bow

Now squeaking high, now purring low,

now sawing in the middle.

So the cat on the fiddle played hey-diddle-diddle,

a jig that would wake the dead:

He squeaked and sawed and quickened the tune,

While the landlord shook the Man in the Moon:

'It's after three!' he said.

We all ended up laughing and all the food was all over the place. I was not a respected hobbit anymore, but, who cares? I bowed mockery at Thorin and he raised an eyebrow, he was less tense and thoughtful as before, I could even see I little smile in his face.

When I got down the table we heard horse's steps not far away from us. What was doing a horse inside of the palace? Everyone, dwarves and elves stood up and we all took our weapons. Thorin came closer to me and he grabbed my arm puling me behind him, protecting me.

"Please, this time do as I say and stay behind me, I beg you."

I nodded and I saw how he sighed of relief. When we saw that someone was ridding the horse, Thorin grabbed me tighter, Orcrist in his other hand. I grabbed my 'letter opener' with my other hand and I took Thorin's hand with the other one. When I saw who was on the horse I was shocked. He got off of the horse and looked at us. He had been my friend for almost 80 years and he had helped me and my nephew. He was looking at all of us surprised.

"Legolas?" He looked at me and he opened his eyes even more surprised.

"Bilbo?"