The worst winter the Shire has ever seen.
Chapter 14: The Fell Winter
It has been close to five years since the Dwarrow left the Shire. Bilbo had sent them many letters but he never received any news about them. He could not help but feel disheartened at this. His Uncle Thorin had promised him that he would send him a letter from thim to time. He did not expect a letter almost every day, but he did want some news from his Dwarrow brothers and his aunt and uncle. His mother told him that he should be patient, his uncle had been missing for quite a long time after all and he had a lot of responsibilities to take care off. This did not stop Bilbo from missing them. It wasn't the same with kin his age. They did not like to go adventuring with him and their parents probably warned them to stay away from him, after he spent such a long time consorting with Dwarrow. He was close to his Took cousins, but they lived so far away, he could not see them frequently.
Winter was approaching faster than usual. The crops in the fields were becoming scarce. He could see that his parents were growing concerned and he did not need to burden them with his loneliness. He felt a sense of foreboding towards this winter also. It was getting colder than what he was used to and the snows had started falling earlier as well. He sighed and had enough of sitting on the window-sill staring at the outside. Jumping off from where he was, he walked to the kitchen where his parents were. His father seemed weaker, but he just smiled brightly at the sight of his son.
"Mother, father, I was going to go to the forest, in search of some Elves or faeries," he said, grinning.
"That is out of the question Bilbo," said his mother sharply.
Bilbo was taken aback. His mother normally encouraged his adventurous streak; she was not one to hold him back.
"Why not," protested Bilbo.
"Because I said so," snapped his mother, "now go to your room."
Feeling hurt Bilbo left the room in a hurry. He did not understand what was going on with her. He stormed into his room and slammed the door. He was tired of spending so much time in his room.
"What was that about," Bungo coughed as he turned to look at his wife.
"I'm sorry I don't know what came over me," she said as she rubbed her eyes wearily. Her husband looked at her in concern. "I received world from my father, he said that the bounders reported that there were wolves in the Old Forest."
"My dear, there is the Brandywine river and wolves can't swim. We're safe here," he said, as he put his arms around her.
Bella tried to take reassurance in her husband's words, but she could not shake the feeling that something was going to happen. She had to apologise to Bilbo, she did not mean to snap at him but she was so stressed out these days.
Her son was in his room, gazing forlornly at outside.
"I'm sorry sweetheart," she said as she approached him, "I did not mean to yell at you. It's just some things may not be as we're used to." She did not know how to explain to a child about the danger that they may find themselves in.
"What's going on mama?"
She looked at his innocent, wide eyes and embraced him tightly, "Don't worry sweetheart, your father and I will make sure that everything will be fine." She was a mother and could do nothing else but offer reassurance to her young one.
Bungo's condition seemed to have worsened. He was coughing regularly and the cold seemed to be making it worse. At first Bilbo was not worried, Hobbits were known to get sick from time to time. But he did not seem to be getting better.
A few weeks later, Bungo did not even seem to have the strength to get out of bed. Bella tended to him at all times and Bilbo helped where he could. He was scared; he never imagined a life without his father in it. He spent most of his time next to him and refused to leave his side. He even slept huddled close to him from time to time.
Bella tried to stay strong for her son, but it was so hard to watch her husband fading and not being able to do anything. She could not break down, she had Bilbo to think of. She asked a healer to see to her husband but she was told the one thing that she was dreading. There was nothing anyone could do.
The one thing that all of the Hobbits feared had come to pass and the Brandywine River had frozen over. The bounders were finding it hard to keep the wolves at bay. And this was not all they reported that there have been sighting of Orcs close by. She had ensured that her all of the pantries were fully stacked but she did not know how long it would last anyways.
She clasped Bungo's hand in her own and held Bilbo close to her. Bungo's breathing was unsteady and his fever had gotten worse. But she did not want to think, she did not want to accept the possibility of losing him.
She had Bungo buried in the garden; she wanted him close to her and the snows made it impossible for them to venture further away. Her tears were frozen and in her arms she held her sobbing son. She did not make any empty promises that everything was going to be fine. She knew that it was not going to be fine. The love of her life was gone and she felt so hollow and empty.
Thorin was mulling over some paperwork. Normally he left such work in the capable hands of his adviser but Balin insisted that he should at least attempt to look over some paperwork from time to time.A loud knocking from his door made him look up in surprise. It was still very early in the morning and he was not expecting anyone at this time.
Nori entered, closely followed by Dwalin both of them looking pale and worried. That made Thorin worried; he had never seen his captain of the guard and his spy master looking concerned and working together. Normally they were at each other's throat.
"Thorin we received some news from our borders," said Nori as he fiddled with his dagger.
"Well what is it?" said Thorin, when it seemed that neither of them were going to speak further.
"We received news about a party of Orcs were heading West," said Dwalin.
"Will our defences hold? Should we expect an attack on our lands," said the King, an angry scowl marring his features.
"They were not heading towards Ered Luin," said Nori, "they're heading towards the Shire."
Those words sent a sense of dread within him. "What?" he said hoarsely as he felt himself going pale.
He heard as gasp and turned just in time to see his sister standing next to the entrance, her knuckles white from where she was clutching the doorknob.
"Gather as much men as we can find, we ride to the Shire, at first light, two days hence," ordered Thorin, gathering himself as fast as he could.
The two Dwarrow nodded their heads respectfully and left to do as their King ordered to. When they left Dís turned towards her brother and said, "Why can't we leave before then Thorin? We may be already too late."
Her brother sighed wearily and said, "I know but we need capable warriors to join us and supplies. And this will take time."
His sister nodded in resignation. Then her eyes turned determined, "my boys and I are coming with you."
Thorin looked up surprised and a protest already poised on his lips. But his sister cut him off and said, "Do you think that boys will want to stay here without knowing about the fate of their aunt and uncle and their brother?"
Thorin knew the answer to that; he knew that his nephews will insist on coming. He did not have the heart to turn them away. They had a right to fight for their kin just as much as he did. Thorin picked up his sword, Deathless, it seemed that he was going to put it to good use soon.
The days after Bungo's days were bleak. Bella seemed to have lost all of her vibrancy. Her hair hung limply and she was so pale. She had her son and she had to carry on for him. The winter was getting worse Hobbits were dying daily and she also heard that Buckland was being raided by Orcs. She feared for her sister who lived there.
Bilbo was getting impatient; she knew that he longed to go outside. But it was just too risky. Food was becoming scarce and she made sure that she portioned her share and gave most of it to Bilbo. She was losing a lot of weight, she knew, but she had to make sure that Bilbo had enough to eat. Come to think of it where was Bilbo, she had not seen him for some time.
She was going crazy with worry, he was not in his room and she had been calling him for the past five minutes but he did not answer her. Did he go outside, in spite of her numerous warnings? She should have told. Quickly she took out her sword that she had used back in the days when she used to go adventuring with Gandalf. She rushed outside, where could she start looking for him. She heard screams in the distance. She had to find her son and fast.
Bilbo had his share of stupid moments. But this most certainly took the cake. He did not know what possessed him to wonder outside without listening to his mother. Only ventured a little bit outside BagEnd and yet here he was hiding in a tree since he was unable to outrun the Orcs and the wolves. There was no one underneath the tree that he had hurriedly climbed. Perhaps if he ran fast enough he would make it back to BagEnd in one piece.
He climbed down stealthily and broke into a run. He heard the howling of the wolves and the guttural language of Black speech behind him. He almost made it toward the lane that lead towards his home, when a sudden searing pain spread throughout his leg. He gasped and crumbled onto the ground. An arrow was sticking out of his thigh. He was scared; he could see the Orcs approaching him. He was going to die. Why didn't he listen to his mother?
His leg was numb and he could not even stand, let alone run. He tried to crawl away but the Orcs were almost upon him. Just when he thought that he was done for, he heard a harsh battle cry, who's voice was so familiar.
"Barûk Khâzad! Khâzad ai menu!"
His uncle, and it was actually his uncle Thorin, burst through the tree followed with an army of Dwarrow and rangers.
He wanted to shout out to him but he was so tired. His vision was darkening and he felt his consciousness slipping through his fingers.
Thorin had encountered the rangers just as his company entered the borders of the Shire. They were most welcome and the greater in number that they were, the better.
He had heard Bilbo cry out in pain and the sight of his nephew wounded sent him in a fit of rage. He wanted nothing more than to kill the Orcs, but he had to get to his nephew.
"Bilbo," he breathed. The young Hobbit did not answer him. He was very pale and as cold as ice.
He lifted him in his arms and started making his way to Bag End where he was sure his sister and his nephews were already, he had send them ahead of him with a small troop of guards. He left Dwalin in charge of the other Dwarrow knowing that he would leave everything in good hands.
"Hold on Bilbo," he muttered, but the boy did not answer him. He exchanged a worried look with Oin, whom he ordered to follow him, to get a better look at Bilbo's injury.
He sighed in relief when Bag End came in view. Not that it lasted long when he saw his sister's pale, distraught face. Her face that turned even more sorrowful when she saw the state that Bilbo was in. Next to her was a Hobbit, whom he did not recognise. He assumed that his nephews were inside to offer comfort to Bella and Bungo, who were most certainly worried sick.
"You found him," breathed the Hobbit.
"Thorin, this is Isengrim Took, Bella's brother," said Dís hoarsely.
"My sister...," the Took paused to swallow harshly. He then decided to start over, "my sister has just died and Bungo passed on a few days before," he whispered hoarsely. Thorin would have staggered if he did not have such a precious cargo in his hand.
"Thorin I need to take a look at Bilbo's wound," muttered Oin.
He would loath to relinquish his charge. Bilbo needed medical attention and fast. He watched as the young Hobbit was swept away, he saw his nephews run towards their brother. But everything was a blur. He remembered Bella's infectious laugh and Bungo's exasperated smile. Things were never going to be the same. He had to help Bilbo live through his parent's death. On the day that the fauntling was born, the new parents had asked him to be Bilbo's godfather. He had accepted graciously but he never thought that he would have to get custody of Bilbo so soon. Pushing aside such thoughts, he had a promise to keep. He should start by standing vigilant next to Bilbo's bedside. He followed his sister and Isengrim inside BagEnd. Where once it was filled with warmth it was now cold and bare.
Nothing will ever be the same again.