A/N Well, I have a feeling that this story is going to surprise me by the time I finish it. I wasn't actually planning to have another chapter in Beorn's house, but Bilbo has more things to reveal and a lighter chapter was necessary taking into account that next comes Mirkwood and Thranduil's dungeons! I have some plans, but I want your input as well: who wants to see Legolas defy his father and help the dwarves? *grin* On another note: I finally know how this story is going to end *grin* Hopefully it will satisfy everyone, including those who want a sad ending :P Betaed by Wolveyaon ( thank you very much! )

Chapter XI: In security… answers

For the first time in many years, Bilbo had a restful and calm night. He dreamed of laughing friends and kind relatives, of hobbit children running in a field during a party and dwarves partaking into drinking contests alongside his Took relatives. The haze that surrounded the dream told him it was not "real", but it was happy and made him feel warm inside. Therefore, if he woke late that day and cuddled longer under his woolen blankets, no one could fault him. From time to time one of the dwarves would cast an indulgent look at their grocer –turned burglar- turned warrior – seeing him content for the first time and seemed happy to leave him to his sleep. No one had the heart to wake Bilbo up so it was almost noon when the hobbit stretched as a cat doesand blinked, trying to make his eyes settle with the light pouring through the windows.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, lazybones," Bofur grinned at him. "You missed breakfast – and second breakfast I should say -, but woke up in time for elevensies. We have decided to follow the hobbit way as long as we are in Master Beorn's house and eat as much as we can. There's no telling what awaits us in Mirkwood."

Bilbo gave a short laugh and rose to his feet gingerly. His wounds still bothered him, the cracked ribs that were still mending more than the half closed claw marks on his chest, but he chose to ignore them for the moment. His stomach was singing to him in different languages, demanding food right away, so Bilbo allowed himself to be lead by Bofur to the table. The bread smelled delicious as if it had justgotten out of the oven so Bilbo helped himself with as much honey, butter and bread as he could until he was stuffed and certain he could eat no more.

"Where is Gandalf?" Bilbo asked with curiosity, noticing their resident wizard was nowhere to be seen.

"Left in the morning," Nori said between mouthfuls. "Said he had something to do."

Their host was nowhere to be seen either, but Bilbo did not worry. Something told him that Beorn was to be trusted, a deep ingrained feeling in his soul. Taking advantage of the beautiful weather outside, the hobbit left the wooden cabin and settled on the green grass outside. With a wistful sigh he thought about his pipe – lost with the rest of his possessions – and of the great Longbottom leaf that he could not smoke at the moment.

"You look to be in high spirits today," a deep voice came from behind him, but Bilbo had no need to turn around in order to see who it was. Thorin sat down next to him and the smell of Longbottom leaf drifted into the air. Bilbo gave a long suffering sigh when he noticed he had been the only one to lose his pipe, but said nothing.

"I lost hope somewhere along the way…" Bilbo said cryptically. "Last night I found it again, though not in the way I would have expected." The side-along glance he gave to Thorin's pipe made the dwarf chuckle. The pipe was handed from one hand to the other, fingers barely brushing and Bilbo inhaled the Longbottom leaf deeply, before returning the object to its owner.

"You are as fond of riddles as Gandalf…" Thorin remarked then grew solemn. "I never apologized for doubting you during those first days, nor did I thank you for saving my life."

"You were right to doubt me," Bilbo said simply. "You did not know me and only knew what Gandalf said. But Gandalf was wrong though he did not know it at that time…"

Another pass of the pipe took place between the two, but Bilbo had grown silent and Thorin still sought some answers.

"I do not think Gandalf was wrong," Thorin pointed out. "You definitely showed your skill and bravery. Not many would charge Azog the Defiler with such little regard to their safety. I don't think people change overnight."

"No they don't," Bilbo hummed in agreement. "But things might happen overnight to change them. I grew up listening to the Took part of my blood that led me adventuring as it led my mother before me. I wanted to see the world and was not afraid to show it, despite the fact that I was considered queer, unhobbitish. Then, one night, my parents died and I changed and became the Bilbo Baggins that you met. The hobbit that cared about doilies, dishes and cutlery, because they were the only remembrance of the people he loved most and lost because of his own folly…"

Thorin closed his eyes when the hurt in Bilbo's voice passed over him. He knew the Halfling blamed himself for his parents' deaths, just as the dwarf king blamed himself for his grandfather and his brother's death. The years had not washed Frerin's features from his mind… he remembered the brown eyes that sparkled with mischief every time they were together, the lopsided grin that was ever present on his brother's face… he also remembered his brother's broken body, a spear embedded in his chest and blood polling under him near the Dimrill Gate.

"What changed?" Thorin asked, his voice barely shaking, the memories were still there, at the front of his mind.

"You sang and it echoed in my dreams," Bilbo answered with another riddle. "I think I would have followed you even without the dream, because at that moment I desperately wanted to help you take back your home. The dream was just the nudge I needed to get out the door. I think my Took blood also had something to do with this. We always strive to scandalize the entire Shire. If you were to believe Gandalf's stories, one of my ancestors fought goblins and invented golf in the same day. Apparently he was also large enough to ride a horse. Too bad he was long dead by the time the Fell Winter came…"

It was the second time Bilbo had mentioned the Fell Winter. Though the dwarves had also suffered through the Fell Winter, their sturdy homes and burning fires in the Blue Mountains kept them protected. However, it appeared that the gentle folk of the Shire had had their share of grievances during that winter.

"The Brandywine River froze you see," Bilbo shrugged casually as if talking about something that was not related to him, but the pain of loss was vivid in his eyes. He did not know why he had chosen that day to tell his story and why to Thorin of all people. However, the dwarf king made him feelsafe and the warmth of Beorn's home had settled into his bones, casting away some of the darkness of the previous days. For the first time since the death of his parents he felt that he could admit his feelings without being weighted down by guilt.

"Brandywine Bridge is too narrow for enemies to attack using it and the Rangers usually protect it, but with the River frozen the Shire was ripe for the taking. White wolves and goblins came down from the mountains and attacked. The Rangers protected us as best as they could, but even they could not be in all places. The hobbits took up arms and fought…" with a shudder Bilbo remembered the blood coating the white snow and the haunted looks on his kin's faces as they buried their own. He remembered the blood on his mother's clothes and the way she smiled when he bound the bite mark on her arm, promising him it will be all right. He remembered his father's casual affirmation that 'They are mere scratches, my boy,' before the fever took them.

"Then the hunger came…suffice to say that March was a blessed month that year."

Silence once more stretched between them, as both mulled over the things they remembered and the losses they suffered. When noon announced the arrival of luncheon, Bilbo rose to his feet, dusted the grass off his garments and threw one last look at Thorin.

"I promised myself then that I would not lose another person dear to me if I could help it."

With that declaration, he marched inside the house leaving a frowning dwarf king behind. Thorin knew that there was no way he could dissuade the hobbit from leaping into the fray if one of his companions was in danger – in a way he did not even want to -, but he could at least make sure Bilbo knew how to use that letter opener of his. Sheer dumb luck could not support someone forever.

Just then Gandalf appeared in sight and all closeted inside the house to learn what news the wizard brought. The news that a bear gathering had taken place the night before did nothing to ease the Company's nerves and even Bilbo, who placed the most trust in Beorn, could not help himself and asked.

"What shall we do, if he leads all the Wargs and the goblins down here? No one is in any position to fight them again!"

Gandalf brushed all their concerns aside, but after night fell and the darkness echoed with howls and growls, Bilbo felt anything but safe. He wondered what made the house they slept in so special that wolves, warg and goblins would not dare enter it. As he fretted under his blankets, eyes wide staring into the darkness and wolf howls echoing around him reminding him of another night from long ago, a hand settled on his shoulder and a voice grumbled in the darkness, close to his ear.

"Sleep, burglar, they are mere shadows. They cannot hurt you."

With Thorin close by and the dwarf brothers pressed into his sides, Bilbo finally felt safe. Moments later he was asleep…

When morning came again it was Beorn who woke them up, a huge smile stretched on his face. Bilbo barely had time to open his eyes and blink the sleep away when he found himself picked up. He panicked briefly, as he felt his wounds ache and remembered another time he had been picked up – by trolls, who wanted to rip him apart – but stilled immediately when he saw the flash of panic and barely veiled anger that appeared in Thorin's eyes. Next to him Fili and Kili were unable to show the same restraint, as the elder frowned darkly and the youngest clenched his fists.

"So here you all are still!" Beorn said and laughed: "Not eaten up by Wargs or goblins or wicked bears yet I see. Little bunny is getting nice and fat again on bread and honey," he chuckled at Bilbo, keeping him suspended in the air like a cat might with a newborn kitten. "Come and have some more!"

"Do be careful with our hobbit, Beorn," Gandalf said brightly placing a reassuring hand on Thorin's shoulder, warning him silently to keep his anger in check. "He is not yet healed."

Beorn merely laughed and placed the hobbit gently at the table where breakfast had already been prepared for all of them. The Company ate and when all were full they were led outside by the skin-changer who showed them an orc head impaled on a stake and a warg skin nailed to a nearby tree. Bilbo paled and shuddered seeing them, but held his ground firmly and made no step backwards.

"It was a good story, that of yours," said Beorn, "but I like it still better now I am sure it is true. You must forgive my not taking your word. If you lived near the edge of Mirkwood, you would take the word of no one that you did not know as well as your brother or better. As it is, I can only say that I have hurried home as fast as I could to see that you were safe, and to offer you any help that I can. I shall think more kindly of dwarves after this. Killed the Great Goblin, killed the Great Goblin!" Beorn chuckled fiercely to himself.

Beorn promised to give them ponies to lead them to the edge of Mirkwood and enough supplies for them to pass the forest without problems. However, they were warned never to drink water from the streams in Mirkwood and never to leave the pass. At midday they ate their last meal at Beorn's and made their way to the edge of the Great Forest. From time to time the great shape of a bear appeared in their line of sight and they knew it was Beorn looking out for them and making sure his ponies would be returned.

A couple of days later they found themselves face to face with Mirkwood, one of the greatest forests of Middle Earth who was called Greenwood in kinder times. However, the darkness that lay like a heavy cloak over the forest foretold nothing of the greatness it once treasured and made it clear that danger was ever present in the woods. Their spirits dampened at the sight and with reluctance they sent the ponies back and camped at the edge of the wood. Come morning light they would venture in its depth and Bilbo was none too keen on facing whatever peril haunted Mirkwood.

His sleep was restless, the Ring weighing heavier in its pocket, as if drawing power from the darkness that lived in the forest. He saw snippets of his earlier dreams mingling together and drawing a terrifying portrait of death and despair. However, the last dream was his undoing, a dream he could not comprehend, for surely Drogo and Primula would never be so foolish to venture on the Brandywine river in a boat. With a silent yelp he opened his eyes and curled in to a ball on his blanket, muttering soft prayers under his breath for the dream he had seen to not come to pass.

When morning came they found out another distressing fact… Gandalf would not be accompanying them. His business led him someplace else so he was leaving them to their fate. They made their way inside the dark forest in silence, all weighed down by fear and almost desperation – even the younger ones. The forest was suffocating, smelling of decay and mold; more than once Bilbo had the uncanny feeling they were being watched, yet said nothing, merely ventured forward.

"Can anyone see anything?" Fili asked from somewhere at the back of their column, tripping once more over roots and holding hard on his brother's hand, not letting him out of his sight, however dim that may have been.

"Stay together and keep hold at least one another," Thorin told them in a no-nonsense voice and soon the shuffle of feet echoed in the darkness. Dori and Nori grabbed their youngest brother and held him between them. Gloin and Oin stood together, shoulders touching, while Bofur and Bombur grabbed their cousin and ignoring his furious muttering in Khuzdul, held him close. Dwalin threw a heavy arm over his brother's shoulder, nearly toppling the older dwarf over. Bilbo felt a calloused hand grab his wrist firmly; the only thing he could see in the darkness were Thorin's eyes glittering with determination and some of his restlessness faded away.

The path seemed to stretch endlessly in the darkness and they walked for hours. The fire refused to kindle so when they made camp they were cold and miserable; they took watch in pairs of two, even though they were all almost blind in the darkness surrounding them.

It was no surprise that sleep brought nightmares with it… Bilbo dreamed and felt hopelessness catch him in its clutches again. Although the haze of uncertainty was there, making him feel the dream was not all real, there was also vividness to it.

The Shire burns… Bilbo sees everything from somewhere above and he cries out in anguish seeing the orcs and bandits cut his kin down mercilessly. In front of the Green Dragon Hamfast Gamgee lies dying, his throat cut. Next to him, his very, very young son Sam cries brokenly begging his father to wake up. Inside the Green Dragon, many hobbits huddled in fear, trying to protect themselves from the tainted blades that cut them down.

Tuckborough is set ablaze before his very eyes. The Thain fights viciously, protecting his large family, but he is no match for the bandits that have overrun the Shire. A well placed slash brings him to his knees and the swish of a blade sends his head flying. Behind him, Esmeralda Took cries brokenly, valiantly trying to still her shaking hands enough to send a knife flying at the enemy.

Bag End is deserted… nobody can be seen inside it, but the bodies of Otho and Lobelia Sackville-Baggins lay on the doorstep. Amidst everything a shrill cry echoes in the darkness and hundreds of miles away a huge eye burns viciously, glad that its thirst for revenge had been satisfied.

"Bilbo," a hand shook his shoulder and the soft voice made him understand it was Kili who was waking him up. "Bilbo, it's a dream, wake up." His voice was small and uncertain, as if trying to convince himself that what Bilbo was seeing was indeed just a dream and not some sort of premonition. Thorin had told the Company about Bilbo's Sight soon after they had been saved by the eagles. Yet, Kili wondered whether Bilbo wasn't putting too much heart in these dreams…

"Yes, just a dream," Bilbo answered brokenly and started shaking in silence, mindless of the tears that now marred his cheeks. No matter what his heart told him, no matter what he felt, seeing the Shire burning and his kin slaughtered was more than just a dream for him. It was a reality they could have faced during the Fell Winter and it was a reality they were likely to face in the future if darkness spread over the land once more. It was something that had stolen his parents and now threatened to steal his cousins.

During this time, inside his pocket, a golden Ring hummed pleased of itself. It knew that his Bearer would cave in if it kept tormenting him so and \ understood that he had to lay dormant a while longer ; the Ring curled some of its power inside him. It would not do any good to have his Bearer out of his mind, now that he was so close to achieving his goal. There was still time and his Master was close, he could feel him, nearby, somewhere in the darkness... he had to wait as he had waited for thousands of years. Soon… very soon…

A/N So, I'm not sure if it made that much sense, but the last dream Bilbo had about the Shire was not entirely real, more like a foreshadowing of things mingled with the Ring's vindication. It was triggered by the darkness of Dol Guldur that was close enough for the Ring to sense it and Bilbo's dream about Primula and Drogo – which in turn linked him to Frodo who sees the burning of the Shire in Galadriel's mirror ( going movie!verse here ). Also, in the Lord of the Rings, Gandalf hints that had Sauron known the hobbits had the Ring he would have attempted to have his revenge over them for such a fact. So, I find it only natural, that seeing the means to do so, the Ring itself would attempt to vent its vindication over Bilbo. We know it is not fond of either its temporary Masters ( killed Isildur, got Deagol killed, drove Smeagol mad and would have eventually driven Bilbo mad as well ). Please tell me if it's confusing. The lines below are the ones I used for my reasoning.

"'To tell you the truth,' replied Gandalf, 'I believe that hitherto... he has entirely overlooked the existence of hobbits... But your safety has passed. He does not need you — he has many more useful servants — but he won't forget you again. And hobbits as miserable slaves would please him far more than hobbits happy and free. There is such a thing as malice and revenge.'

'Revenge?' said Frodo. 'Revenge for what? I still don't understand what all this has to do with Bilbo and myself, and our ring.'"

'It has everything to do with it,' said Gandalf. 'You do not know the real peril yet; but you shall. I was not sure of it myself when I was last here; but the time has come to speak. Give me the ring for a moment.'( The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring ).