From Questions to Giants.
Ori approached Galadriel as she settled back in her seat near Bilbo, an empty plate in front of her. They were only a few minutes away from leaving Rivendell and the young scribe decided to ask the questions that had been nagging at him ever since the subject of dragons was raised.
"Lady Galadriel?"
"Yes, Master Ori?"
"There is something puzzling me and I wonder if you could answer a question or two for me?"
"I will do my best, but without knowing the questions, I am uncertain." The elf smiled at him gently.
"Thank you, my Lady." He paused to gather his thoughts. "Master Radagast told Master Bilbo and Prince Thorin that once the Curse on Smaug was broken that her eggs would be safe and that they would be their intended size. But… what about Smaug, herself? Will she remain the size she has been, or will she too, revert to natural size for her kind?"
"Ah. We don't know, Master Ori. There is not enough information to tell us. Radagast is hopeful, however. But Pallando does not feel the same and believes that Smaug will stay as she is physically, but that she will regain the gentle nature of her kind. Alatar feels that she is more likely to fall somewhere in the middle, that yes, she will be smaller but due to having been this size for all her life that she may not be able to revert completely. Regardless of this being the case, she will no longer be a threat to the Throne of the King Under the Mountain."
"Thank you. That make sense. About the eggs…? What can we expect them to look like? I mean, how big? What shape? What colour? Are they hard or soft? If something happens to Smaug how do we look after them? And when they are hatched? What then? Will they only match to a dwarf? How do we match them to a dwarf? How do we tell if it's a match? How do we tell if they don't like the dwarf? How do we feed them? On what? What about-"
"Ori! Slowly, now." A laughing Balin placed a hand over Ori's mouth to stem the flow of questions. "I think that's more than a question or two, lad."
Ori blushed bright red.
"Never fear, Master Balin, Master Ori's questions are relevant." She handed Ori a small book. "Perhaps this will relieve Master Ori's mind."
Ori looked at the book. It was approximately six by eight inches and about a half inch thick. The cover was heavy leather, embossed to resemble the scales of a dragon and there was a cartouche in the upper centre of the front bearing the title of the book and the name of it's author.
'The Handling and Care
Of a Dragon
Hatching and First Year.'
~Gavali Durin~
"This was written by Gavali, wife of Morli, Grandson of Durin the First, and Mother to Durin II. There are six companion books to go with this volume, one for each one ten years of the hatchling's life until it reaches maturity after 50 years and one that will give an overview of their general care and how to breed them. Do not despair." She smiled at the look on Ori's face, a cross between awe, wonder and trepidation. "If something should happen and you loose this copy, simply send a raven to Lothlorien and either I or my husband, Celebron, will send another to you. Elrond and I have multiple copies of these and are pleased to offer some of them to you and to have more copies made for those who are matched to a hatchling."
Elrond joined them and handed Bilbo a similar book. This one's title was 'An Overview of Dragons, Their Breeding and Care', also by Gavali Durin. Much the same size, although a little thicker, with similar decoration to Ori's book, the significant difference between the two was the colouring. Ori's book was a dark red, not all that dissimilar to red wine, whereas the book in Bilbo's hands was a startlingly rich and vibrant blue, what Bilbo knew to be Durin-Blue, with gilt lettering.
"These was sent to Rivendell by Nerís, wife of Durin III, after the capture of his dragon-guard by Scatha the Ice-Drake. Nerís would not have these destroyed when Durin's wrath was turned to the dragons. She wished the history of her husband's people not be lost. This is the volume that she had made for her great-grandson, Durin IV but at the decree of the King was never presented to him. Guard it well." The elf-lord said.
"I will, Lord Elrond." The hobbit replied.
"We will send copies of any relevant volumes we find, by ranger to Erebor." Said Alatar from the other side of the table.
"When we receive word of your outcome, Master Baggins." Added Pallando.
"Thank you, Alatar, Pallando. We will send a raven as soon as Bard has dealt with the Curse." With that the hobbit addressed the Elves. "I would like to thank you for your kindness and understanding, not only of my situation, but for your assistance to Bifur. His cousins tell me that he has suffered headaches, dizziness and disorientation for many years as a direct result of the axe-blade." He paused and quirked an eyebrow. "I'm not sure who's idea it was to clean up the blade, re-shaft it and give it to him, but… I dare say it will come in handy at some point."
"He's had it for so long that he's going to miss it one day." Laughed Bofur as he trotted past with an armful of bedrolls.
"Oh, aye. One day he'll want to return it to an Orc." Added Gloín, carrying a swath of blankets or cloaks, Bilbo wasn't sure which.
"Quite likely." Commented Bilbo. "Well. I guess it's time to go." He turned to Galadriel. "My Lady. Lord Elrond." Bilbo disliked drawn-out, formal farewells. He clearly remembered his departure from Erebor and also watching Frodo's from this very balcony.
"Master Baggins. Travel safely." Elrond and Lindir bowed to the hobbit.
"Namarië, Bilbo. I would name you, elvellon – elf-friend – of Lothlorien." Galadriel stood and watched at Bilbo and Ori went down a staircase and joined the altered Company at the bridge that lead to the trail to the Mountains. As Bilbo shouldered his pack and took his place in the group, she raised her hand in parting.
As they made their way up the stepped path to the north towards the Misty Mountains and the High Pass, Thorin called out teasingly.
"Master Baggins. I suggest you stay with us. Don't leave the Company behind." He waited until Bilbo huffed, but paused to look back at the sight of Rivendell bathed in dawn's soft light. It was such a pretty place and if things came out the way they intended, he would likely not be back in the West again.
"Be on your guard, we're about to step over the edge of the Wild. Elladan, you know these paths, lead on. Elrohir, you next, try to hold back my hobbit if you can." Thorin continued.
There were a few laughs at this, they'd discovered since leaving Bree that Bilbo could walk comfortably and still keep up with the ponies. He was far more used to 'walking holidays' than most of the dwarrow, though Fíli and Kíli could keep up with him, for a while anyway. And a walking holiday it certainly felt like, what with the fine weather and the clear paths.
The hunting was plentiful allowing Bombur and Bilbo to avoid using the dried meats that Bilbo, Fíli and Kíli had spent some evenings in Rivendell's kitchen preparing for this part of their journey. As they moved higher into the Mountains, game became scarcer and many nights they were forced to use a packet of pre-prepared stew mix.
Finally their good fortune ran out and the weather changed as they reached the High Pass, the wind rising and the rain falling. Various members slipped an slid, almost falling off the path, Dwalin and Bofur catching Bilbo as he lost his footing and the Twins bracing Balin and Bombur. The Company struggled on, until a boulder the size of a house of Men hit the Mountain above them, Dwalin calling an alert.
They huddled close in to the cliff face, the dwarrow grasping at the rock, the Twins and Bilbo at a loss, their fingers not strong enough to dig into the rock itself, all they could do was hunker down and wait it out.
"This is no thunder storm." Cried Balin. "It's a Thunder Battle… Look!" he pointed out into the rain.
"Well, bless me. The legends are true. Giants! Stone Giants!" Screamed Bofur.
The next few minutes were a rush, trying to get away from the battle, half the Company made to safe ground, but Bombur, Bofur, Ori, Dwalin, Fíli and Bilbo were not so lucky. They had a terrifying ride on a giant's leg, until finally a boulder thrown by another giant knocked it's head from it's shoulders. The five dwarrow and the hobbit pushed onto a small ledge as the giant fell into the chasm. As the dwarrow gained their feet it was suddenly obvious that Bilbo wasn't among them.
"Where's Bilbo?" Asked Bofur.
"Where's the hobbit?" Asked Nori.
They looked down and saw him, clinging by his fingertips to the edge of the path. As Ori and Bofur leapt towards him, his hands slipped and he started to fall, but managed to grab hold of another ledge. Ori and Bofur both crying for him to grab their hands. Thorin, however, never hesitated, he leapt from the path to a ledge off to one side of Bilbo and pushed him up to the reaching hands. As the hobbits hands met Ori's the ledge under Thorin gave way and he was now the one dangling by his hands. Dwalin's fast reflex's catching him before he dropped allowing the guard to pull the dwarf prince back to safety.
"I thought we'd lost our burglar." He said as both Thorin and Bilbo struggled to steady their breathing.
At this point Bilbo remembered that in his last life, Thorin has made a disparaging comment about the hobbit having already been lost, but not this time. This time he clapped Ori and Bofur on the shoulders and touched his forehead to theirs.
"Thank you for my hobbit. I would be lost without him." He turned to Dwalin and did the same, before beckoning Bilbo past the others and gathering him in his arms.
"Oh, my hobbit. We would all be lost without you." The two touched foreheads for a few seconds, but the weather was against them.
Dwalin and Fíli stepped back to let them pass and saw the mouth of a cave. They entered to find a dry space, with a sandy floor. They made their camp for the night without a fire, Thorin remembering that this was the entrance to Goblin Town. He and Bilbo spent a few minutes talking together and finally Bilbo spoke.
"Lads? A moment?" When he had their attention he continued. "In Rivendell I told you of my tasks. Well… this is the point that we must part for a short while." He waited as they called their objections. "No, lads. There is no choice, here I, and the Twins with me, must go in a different direction. In a few minutes the floor here will split and we will all drop down into Goblin Town, but the Twins and I have to drop even further into the mountain. We must meet the creature Gollum. He has something that I must retrieve, without it Middle Earth will fall to Mordor and I cannot let that happen. Strap your packs under your cloaks and do not fear, Gandalf will find you. Once we have dealt with Gollum, the Twins and I will meet you on the far side of the mountains." He stepped up to Fíli and Kíli, seeing the fear in their eyes, he laid a hand on the back of each neck and pulled them to him, resting his forehead against theirs. "Never fear, my boys. I will find you. Yavanna and Mahal will guide me." He released the boys and reached for Thorin, the two clasped arms and looked into each others eyes, they nodded and stepped back.
Bilbo stood between the two elven lordlings and smiled at the Company.
"This is not goodbye, my friends, just a detour, a delay. We'll be with you in a matter of hours."
As he was speaking, the Twins were tying a rope about him, to themselves. Tying the three of them together, then to an outcrop of rock so they would not fall instantly. The three of them needed to descend through the cave floor separately to the others or they risked capture by the goblins.
Hurriedly the dwarrow did as Bilbo said, slipping off sodden cloaks and putting their packs back on ahead of re-donning their cloaks.
Thorin looked at Bilbo and then at the Twins. He reached out to them and slowly placed a hand on each of theirs.
"Look after my intended, keep him safe,… nephews." For the first time Thorin acknowledged the relationship he now had with the Twins.
"We will not let-"
"-him come to harm, Rhûd-Adar." They said.
Thorin nodded and set his jaw hard as Bilbo's sword lit it's scabbard with blue fire. Sands shushed and the floor opened beneath them. They fell into darkness.
Sindarin = (S) Quenya = (Q) Khuzdul = (K)
Namarië = farewell (Q)
Rhûd-Adar = rock father (literal translation – Rock-hewn Hall Father) (S)