The English Paper : A "Hobbit" FanFic.

*Disclaimer on all LOTR/Hobbit material belonging to Tolkien and movie lines from Peter Jackson*

XXXVI: Pre-Battle Problems

"Has anyone seen Mister Baggins?" Bofur asked as he set down the wood that wood be used in the fort the dwarves were making for themselves. It was the afternoon following the previous night's news that the elves and Laketown survivors would be making their way to get gold. Bilbo had left during the night without so much as a word of where it was he was going.

"Probably ran off back home so he didn't have to be in this battle," Dwalin suggested as he lifted two large pieces of wood.

"You can't blame him," Dori added. "He's never been in a battle."

"But he's a burglar!" Ori protested.

"Aye laddie, but that doesn't mean he's skilled in war," Oin told him.

As the dwarves chattered amongst themselves, Pippa and Fili practiced sword fighting while Thorin was speaking with Kili. Unlike Thorin and Kili, Fili didn't treat Pippa gently because she wasn't a man. He teased her in the same way he teased Kili and during their practices he treated her like the others. He had faith in Pippa and knew that it was her own decision to fight in the battle.

"Make sure when you block, you hold on tightly because the moment that sword is out of your hands, you're dead," Fili reminded her. Pippa nodded and Fili went to swing again, but Pippa tightened her grip and blocked his swing and ended up knocking his sword down. Pippa smirked as Fili looked down at his sword on the ground.

"So that's what's going to happen to me?" Pippa sarcastically asked with a little laugh. Fili picked up his sword and swung at her, but their swords clinged as she kicked him in the stomach with her leg and he fell to the ground.

"You ok?" she asked. Fili nodded and got himself up.

"Not bad," Fili remarked. "Just make sure no one cuts your leg off when you do that." Pippa lent him a hand and pulled him up. He wiped off the grass when Thorin called," Fili! Pippa!"

Fili turned to Pippa who sang," Bum, Bum, Bum, Bum, BUUUUUMMMM!" They burst into laughter as they made their way over to Thorin.

"Yes Uncle?" Fili asked as he managed to calm himself before his stern uncle. Kili stepped next to Thorin with his eyes lowered. Fili noticed his brother's expression right away and his smile faded.

"Kili, what's wrong?" Fili asked.

"Kili and I have talked and we both find it's best if Pippa were to stay out this battle," Thorin stated looking at Pippa. Pippa's smile faded and she looked to Kili. Her eyes fixated on him.

"Is that true?" she asked sounding offended.

"Pippa, you don't know what it's like out there," Kili told her finally looking at her. "It's dangerous."

"Well excuse me but I don't believe you and Fili have been in battle either," Pippa argued as she folded her arms across her chest. Kili looked to Thorin and Thorin added," But they have been trained since they were younger. You lack the amount of training they have qualified to fight."

Pippa scoffed and shook her head as she asked," What about the fact I went in with Bilbo into Smaug's lair? What about when I went in to get Bombur when he fell in the river? What about the fact I helped fight when Azog attacked us? What about when I helped Bilbo fight off the spiders that nearly killed all of you? What about when-."

"Need I remind you when you burnt your arm, had your back cut by a warg, Kili coming in the water to get you?" Thorin cut her off. "You have done many great things and have been loyal to us Pippa, but this is something that you don't need to be part of."

"What about when I risked my fucking life for all of you in Mirkwood?!" Pippa exclaimed angrily. The dwarves who were building the fort and who eavesdropped on the conversation stopped to look at her. Thorin shut his mouth and Kili and Fili looked at one another. Pippa stepped back and looked at all of them.

"I offered myself up to Thranduil just so you all could get here and yes, luckily Bilbo saved us, but I'm making the same sacrifice by fighting with you all in this battle. I promised you all that I would help you all get back home and I meant it. We all may annoy and tease and not always get along with each other, but I love you all because you're all still my family. I would never live with myself if anything were to happen to any of you in this fight and I wasn't there to help."

Her voice began trembling and the sun's rays made her eyes glimmer as tears began to form. Her words were true and the dwarves knew it.

"I can't lose any of you," Pippa whimpered. "I can't."

"We can't lose you either," Thorin stepped in. Everyone was taken back by Thorin's gentleness in his tone. He turned back and made his way back into the lair with gold. Pippa looked down to the ground and Kili touched her arms. She pushed them off and Kili sighed.

"She should fight Kili," Fili persuaded. "She's just as good and we can help her." Kili looked back at Fili and lowered his eyes when they looked back to see Pippa gone.

"She went to go talk with Thorin," Gloin told them.

"Let them talk," Balin concluded. "Then we will talk to her."

Thorin stood in the gold-filled lair that carried memories from his grandfather and father. He had risked his own life for their greed and now he was doing it to his own men. He pondered how they didn't mind doing so and he felt himself lose respect of his own self.

"This all belonged to you?" he heard Pippa ask as she jumped off the small ledge to walk over to him. He nodded and replied," This is everything that's left from my father and his father. My grandfather died to save his gold instead of his people when Smaug attacked. I wanted to risk my life to save him but it was too late. He died the way he lived. Greedy."

He picked up a gold coin and studied it. Pippa watched his face soften and his eyes darken in anger. The pain in his tone showed his vulnerability to the gold and Pippa put a hand on his shoulder.

"I can't let you die because of my greed," he told her. "I can't let any of those men die, but they are willing and although you are, you're not them. You've held us together since the first night Pippa of Ellingale, even if we don't admit. I can never imagine how this journey would be if you weren't there. Kili was the one who begged me to take you out. He didn't have to, but he's doing it because he and Fili have been prepared for this. He's terrified you're not and he will never be the same if you died. In fact, all of us have agreed we would be to blame for you. I know I had said that I couldn't guarantee your safety, but I'm going against my own word by keeping you out. This isn't your war to fight, Pippa and we can't let you die for us."

Tears strolled down Pippa's cheek as she tried taking in what Thorin said. He sounded like he cared and he acted like he cared. Flashbacks of their banters, arguments, and their confrontations went through Pippa's mind as she realized why he had been so hard on her all this time.

"What if I didn't mind dying for those I believe in?" Pippa trembled. She hugged Thorin as Thorin hugged her back. He shut his eyes, preventing himself from crying and let Pippa be the one to weep. He couldn't bare the thought of letting his newfound niece dying for him.

Thorin let go and Pippa wiped her eyes. "God Princess Thorin," Pippa laughed. "You know how to make me cry. Not sure if I'm ok with this."

Thorin laughed and replied," You are a pain in the arse, but you're still family."

Pippa held out her arms and sighed," I guess I can risk not having a house in Rivendell. Now come here!" Thorin hugged her.

Pippa smiled and thought, It took months just to get this emotional with Princess Thorin. So worth it.

"Mr. Boggins has returned!" Fili called out. Thorin and Pippa made their way out of the lair and followed Fili to see the dwarves crowding around Bilbo.

"Where have you been Mr. Baggins?" Thorin asked. Bilbo's smile dropped and he swallowed hard as his eyes turned into a puppy's.

Oh this isn't good, Pippa thought to herself seeing Bilbo's eyes. Bilbo looked back and the company watched as a man made his way over. He had shoulder length raven black hair with a small mustache and wore a long brown coat.

"Morning," he greeted with a nod. The dwarves looked at one another and Pippa stated," Let me guess, you're Inigo Montoya and someone here killed your father and now we should be prepared to die?"

The dwavres made faces at Pippa and Pippa asked," What?"

"My name, actually, is Bard," he introduced himself. "Bard the Bowman. I'm the man who killed Smaug."

The dwarves stared at him in shock. Great, so he's the one who got to kill Smaug, Pippa thought to herself.

"You have no business being here," Thorin declared standing in front of the dwarves.

"I come from the army of elves and my people of Laketown," Bard explained. "They have sent me here to try and make peace."

"Yeah, you're not going to have much luck with us," Pippa told him.

"What makes you think we should make peace with your kind?" Gloin asked. Bard smiled and reached into his pocket and asked," Perhaps this might?"

In his hand was the Arkenstone. Everyone's eyes widened and Thorin stepped forward and asked," Where did you get this?"

Bard motioned to Bilbo and the company turned to Bilbo, who lowered his head. Thorin's eyes became red in fury and he growled," How is this possible?"

"I took it from Smaug's lair and used the ring to sneak out and made my way to the other army. I wanted to see if we could make peace and prevent a war that shouldn't be happening," Bilbo explained. The dwarves' faces fell into anger as they shouted one over the other at him.

"We trusted you and now you have turned your back on us!" Thorin bellowed. He went to raise his fist when Pippa rushed in front of Bilbo and pleaded," Thorin don't!"

"How dare you defend him?! He turned his back on us when we trusted him!" Thorin yelled. No one had ever seen him this angry.

"Still, don't touch him!" Pippa cried. Thorin went to push Pippa out of the way when someone in a cloak stepped in front of them.

"That is enough Thorin!" the man in the cloak intervened. The man revealed himself and the company stepped back.

"Holy shit guys! It's Gandalf!" Pippa cried. Bilbo sighed of relief and Thorin shook his head.

"I...can't believe this," he gasped. "Where have you been? What are you doing here?"

"I finished my other affairs just in time to knock sense into all of you," Gandalf remarked.

Ahh, how I missed thee Sassy Gandalf, Pippa thought.

"Let Mr. Baggins explain himself," Gandalf defended as he stepped to the side of Bilbo. Bilbo stepped up and explained," In the contract, I was allowed to have a fair share of the riches inside Smaug's lair and so, yes, I took the Arkenstone. I used my share to try and bring the elves and dwarves to a more peaceful conclusion."

Thorin looked at his men who nodded and Balin spoke up," He had a decent reason Thorin."

"I will pay whatever to get the stone back," Thorin grumbled. Before Bilbo could speak, Gandalf added," We can discuss those matter later Thorin. We have bigger issues we need to attend to."

"If you're talking about the war, I should have a dwarf army coming in," Thorin told Gandalf. Pippa turned to Thorin and asked," You what?!"

"I am aware," Gandalf replied. "That is why they are on their way and I will bring the elves. You are going to need to rely on each other."

"Why is that?" Thorin asked.

"You'll see."

The moment more dwarves arrived, Pippa watched as the dwarf family reunion commenced. She sat on one of the mountain rocks, when she saw Kili make his way up to her. He sat down next to her and sighed.

"I know you're not pleased with me for not discussing those matters with you earlier, but please understand why," Kili told her. Pippa smiled and nodded.

"Kili, I'm stubborn and you're protective," she remarked. "We're opposites attracting. I'm sorry for going off at you. I know you're only trying to protect me."

"I don't know what I do if anything were to happen to you," he muttered as he intertwined their fingers.

"Well, there's drinking poison but you shouldn't do that," Pippa joked. They let out a small laugh and Pippa said," I love you even though you're overly protective."

"I love you even though you're a stubborn mule." Pippa rolled her eyes and gave Kili a quick peck.

"So, any family or friends I need to meet down there?" she asked. Kili shook his head and replied," Not right now. I'd rather have you all to myself."

"Overprotective."

"Quiet Pippa."

From the corner of Pippa's eyes, she spotted a large group coming towards them. She stood up and called out," Up ahead! Look!"

The dwarf army turned to see the elven army making their way. Pippa and Kili made their way next to Thorin and Fili. Kili took Pippa's hand in his, lacing their fingers.

Thranduil, leading the elf arm on his moose, came to a halt and darted his eyes at Thorin.

"Thorin Oakenshield," Thranduil stated like Thorin had been some kind of disease.

"Thranduil, again," Thorin replied sternly. Thranduil's eyes scattered the dwarf army when he spotted Pippa and he said," Well, if it isn't the little girl who turned against her word."

Kili cut in to say something when Pippa sassed," Aw, you're not that amoosed to see me?"

The dwarfs roared in laughter and Kili and Pippa held back their laughter when Thranduil roared," Useless woman."

"Is that the best you got blondie?" Pippa snapped. Thorin turned to Pippa, motioning her to stop and Kili wrapped an arm around her, kissing the side of her head.

Legolas poked his head from where his father was and Pippa's eyes lit up to see him.

"Legolas?" she mouthed. This time, Legolas's eyes glared at her as if she was nothing compared to him. He looked back and Pippa rolled her eyes.

Like bitch father, like bitch son.

"All we ask is a share," Thranduil declared. "Your hobbit was kind enough to bargain andnow all we ask is that some of that gold comes to us and to those at Laketown who've lost so much."

Thorin stepped up and replied," That gold is everything I have left of my family. I intend on keeping it for myself and my people."

Dwarves roared in agreement when Bard stepped in.

"What about those in Laketown who helped you get here?!" he exclaimed. "I believe Laketown wasted good supplies on you useless dwarves when in the end I was the one who killed the dragon. Unlike someone else who didn't get the chance to."

He eyed at Pippa and Kili roared," You have no right! She was face to face!"

"Then why was he still alive and I ended up killing him?" Bard asked.

"Because shit happens!" Pippa cried."Didn't your parents tell you that when you asked where you came from as a baby?"

More laughter came from the dwarves and Bard went to charge at Pippa when Pippa held up her sword and Bard stopped.

"Sorry but I believe Erebor belongs to the dwarves and that's how it will be," Pippa declared. She lowered her sword and yelled loud enough for all the elves to hear," Do you hear that? Erebor belongs to them!"

The elves yelled in anger and Legolas stepped up with none other than Tauriel by his side.

"Pippa enough!" he demanded. Pippa cocked her head back and asked," Doesn't Daddy know you and your little friend here helped the dwarves escape?"

Thranduil looked down to Legolas and asked," What is she talking about, Legolas?"

Legolas looked at Pippa and Pippa said with a large grin," Legolas and Tauriel were kind enough to help me and the others escape from your prison."

"Is this true?" Thranduil asked Legolas. Legolas looked up at his father and then looked away. Pippa stepped back and shook her head.

Ah, tattling. It comes in handy when you need it.

When she went to turn around, Bard raised his sword to strike her when Kili blocked it, knocking Pippa down to the ground.

"You don't touch her," Kili growled. Fili ran up beside him and pointed his sword at Bard.

"Fili, Kili, take Pippa back and calm yourselves," Thorin demanded. Kili helped Pippa up when Pippa felt a cut in her arm and yelped.

Bard had shot an arrow that cut by Pippa's arm. The dwarves charged for the elves when Gandalf stepped in and yelled," ENOUGH!"

The dwarves took a step back and Gandalf continued on.

"The fighting between you two is getting old now! It is time to let go of the past and move on in the present and future as alliances. Starting now."

"What?" Thorin asked.

"Azog is leading an army of orcs and goblins to claim the mountain from the both of you." The company looked at each other and Bilbo asked," Wasn't Azog dead?"

"Apparently not if he's coming," Pippa replied clenching her teeth from the pain.

"He is, Mr. Baggins, and it is time for the dwarves and elves to become an alliance to fight them off," Gandalf stated.

Thorin and Thranduil looked up at one another and Thandruil declared," I would like to speak alone with Thorin."

Thorin gave a nod and Thranduil and Thorin headed off to converse. Gandalf looked at the two armies and said," Perhaps it is time to start working together."

The next chapter is actually going to be only based entirely on Pippa and Kili's conversation before the actual battle and then there will be the battle scene in the chapter after that.

Thank you all so much for your amazing and love that you have put for this little story and it wouldn't be possible without any of you so thank you, thank you, thank you! Love you all and as a gift, the next chapter will be updated in two hours so look out for it!