Hey everyone, chapter 2 is here. I hope you enjoy I decided on a Bilbo/Nori, Bilbo/Bofur combo for this story.
I do not own anything.
Chapter 2
When Bilbo awoke it was to the sound of raucous singing and the smell of sausages. His stomach gave a loud rumble and he pulled himself out of bed, wrapping his dressing gown around himself as he stumbled into the kitchen. He paused for a moment in confusion at the sight of a hoard of dwarves sitting around his table. Then it all came rushing back. The arrival of a group of dwarves on his doorstop last night and the fact he had agreed to help them get their home back. He groaned slightly and rubbed his eyes.
"Good morning little burglar" Kili said with a grin. "Would you like some breakfast?"
Bilbo decided not to point out that yes, he would like to eat his own food for breakfast and simply nodded.
"Eat quickly," Thorin said with a frown, "we need to be gone soon."
Again, Bilbo just nodded, he wasn't much for conversation before first breakfast. Thankfully the dwarves seemed to recognise this, and no one tried to engage him in idle chatter. He ate quickly and hurried off to his room to dress and pack a bag. Ignoring Thorin's rumble of soft hobbits not made for journeying as he went.
Maybe he wasn't built like a dwarf, but that didn't mean he was weak. He could admit that he was slightly scared, but his pulse thrummed with excitement. After close to 40 years of feeling like he didn't belong, his chance had finally arrived to see what else was out there. Even if it turned out that his place wasn't with these dwarves, he would do his best to help them get back their home and maybe find one of his own along the way. Perhaps even find one who would set off his heat.
He hummed as he carefully packed his bag. Clothes, a bed roll, different types of medical ointments and herbs that would no doubt come in handy on a dangerous quest. He made sure to throw in a few handkerchiefs before he went back to the kitchen and began throwing in any food that would fit that hadn't already been demolished by the unruly dwarves.
The dwarves watched in bemusement, before Bombur chirped up. "That's a smart lad right there" before opening his own pack and shoving in a wheel of cheese.
Bilbo let out a soft chuckle. "Why thank you Bombur."
The other dwarves quickly caught on and stuffed any remaining food into their packs. Bilbo was happy to see that they had already cleaned up.
"Let's be gone" Thorin said pulling on his own pack. "Gandalf has readied ponies for us, once we are out of the village."
Bilbo pulled on his own pack and tried not to think about the fact that he would be leaving Bag End and he didn't know if he would ever return. Some of what he was feeling must've shown on his face because he felt a large hand grip his shoulder and he turned to find Ori smiling at him.
"I would love to hear some more about the Shire during our travels" the smiling dwarf said and Bilbo immediately felt comforted.
"Of course, though there probably isn't too much to tell" Bilbo said with a wry grin, Shire folk were simple folk after all.
"I'm sure that's not true."
They were the last out the door, and Bilbo cast back one quick look as they walked away, before turning his back and striding forward, to whatever the future held for him.
They met Gandalf with little trouble on the edge of the Shire proper, a herd of ponies ready to go.
Bilbo glanced with trepidation at his own pony. How on earth was he supposed to get on the damn thing? Before he could think much about it, he felt firm hands grip his waist and lift him up into the saddle of the nearest pony. He squeaked in surprise as he gripped the reins carefully and twisted around to find Dwalin grinning at him impishly. Bilbo didn't know whether to give the large dwarf a good telling off or thank him for his assistance. Before he could decide Dwalin was climbing onto his own pony and trotting off. Fili and Kili trotted past him with similar grins, so Bilbo nudged his heels into his own pony and started following after.
He felt it almost immediately when his nose started to run. A steady drip, drip, drip that had him reaching into his pockets for a hankie to try to stem the flow.
Balin looked over as he heard another sniffle from the small hobbit beside him. The poor thing looked quite miserable, nose running and eyes red rimmed.
"Alright there Lad?" Balin asked kindly.
"Oh yes, quite alright, just some allergies" Bilbo replied with a small smile.
The white-haired dwarf lent over and patted Bilbo gently on the back before focusing back on the path ahead.
The day carried on in a similar fashion, and Bilbo had to fight to hold back his surprise when they didn't have a single food stop the entire day. His stomach was roaring in hunger, and he had been tempted to ask for a meal break, but Thorin had already glared at him several times during the day when he had sneezed, and Bilbo didn't want to do anything else to draw the dwarfs annoyance.
When Thorin finally called a stop for the evening Bilbo thought he might faint from happiness. In his haste to get off his pony his foot got caught and he stumbled precariously before toppling roughly to the ground. He heard laughter and looked up to find 13 dwarves smiling at him. His faced burned as he stood and brushed the dirt from his clothes.
Dwalin walked over and clapped him roughly on the shoulder. "Next time, wait for me" he laughed.
Bilbo sat awkwardly as the camp sprung up around him, everyone seemingly having a job and knowing how to do it. He wanted to be helpful but got the distinct impression that he would probably be more in the way then anything.
When he saw Bombur start to organise dinner he jumped up and hurried over to offer his assistance. He may not know much about setting up camp in the wild, but he did know a lot about food.
The large dwarf was pleasantly surprised when Bilbo offered his help to prepare dinner.
"Many hands make light work" Bilbo said with a laugh as he started chopping vegetables, and Bombur stirred the stew.
"Oh, ay." Bombur chuckled. "Everyone lends a hand when it's supper time at home. Bofur and Bifur combined are a force to be reckoned with when they're around food."
Bilbo looked delighted and turned to look at the mentioned dwarves sitting nearby.
"Do you live together?" Bilbo asked with interest.
"We sure do, Bombur is my brother and Bifur is my cousin. Family is very important to dwarves" Bofur answered with an easy smile.
"Very important to hobbits as well" Bilbo replied as he dumped more vegetables into the stew, not realising that most of the camp was quietly listening in to their conversation.
"Well, why do you live alone then?" Bofur asked in confusion. Bifur whacked him on the back of the head and mumbled something in Khuzdul.
Bilbo glanced down, his expression a mixture of sadness and embarrassment.
"Oh, I'm quite the family shame you see… well my parents passed on a few years back and I don't have any siblings, not much family at all actually. The family I do have is intent on getting me married off to the first available hobbit they come across, so I tend to avoid them as much as possible."
The whole camp looked sad at Bilbo's words. They may not have had much, but at least they all had a loving family around them. None could fathom how a hobbit as nice as Bilbo seemed to be, could be the shame of a family.
Bofur looked sheepish. "I apologise for bringing up such a painful subject for you Mr Baggins."
Bilbo waved the apology away. "Bilbo is fine and it's no worry. That's actually one of the reason's I came, I know what it's like… to feel as though you don't belong, that you don't have somewhere to call home. I couldn't bear the thought of all you nice dwarves feeling that way, especially as there was something I could do to help. And who knows, perhaps I will find my own home and family somewhere out in the world, for I certainly never found it in The Shire."
The hobbit got a faraway look in his eye, as though imagining some far-off future where he was surrounded by a loving family. Every dwarf looked on the sight in wonder. What a singularly peculiar and singularly kind individual Bilbo Baggins was. Every dwarf was moved by this creature who knew nothing of them but still longed to help simply out of the goodness of his heart. A fierce protectiveness swelled up amongst the dwarves for their burglar who had been so ill used by his family and the other hobbits of the Shire, even if they didn't fully comprehend the circumstances. Bilbo, however, didn't notice any of this. Too busy handing around bowls of food with a soft smile.
The dwarves hummed happily as they dug into their food with gusto. Bilbo stared in shock for a moment before chuckling. "I thought you must've been particularly hungry last night, seems that dwarves have an appetite to rival even a hobbit."
Even Thorin smiled at this. "We just know to make the most of a good meal" and Bilbo blushed lightly at the small compliment.
Bilbo took his own bowl and settled down to eat with Bombur, Bofur and Bifur. He didn't contribute much to the conversation but enjoyed listening, even if he didn't understand most of what was being said. They smiled a lot and Bilbo couldn't help smiling along with them.
Ori and Dori took all the bowls and washed them up as the rest of the company started rolling out their bed rolls and settling down for the night. Though the night was warm Bilbo chose a spot close to the fire. The dwarves mostly slept in family groups and several thought about inviting him to join them, but Bilbo was curled up under his thin blanket before an offer could be voiced. Thorin rolled his eyes at his company, group of mother hens, the lot of them.
When Bilbo awoke the next morning, it was to a bowl of porridge being offered to him by a smiling Dori. It took Bilbo several long moments before he was aware enough to thank the kind dwarf and sit up and take the bowl.
Bilbo was not a morning hobbit. It always took him a little while to get going and be ready for polite conversation. When Balin approached and tried to ask him a question all he got was a grunt in reply, much to the amusement of the other dwarves.
In fact, it took until they were packed, on their ponies and riding again before Bilbo was able to join in the lively conversation around him. Which was centred around what each dwarf was planning on spending all their gold on when they ousted Smaug and reclaimed their home and treasure. Bilbo did his best not to think about Smaug, that was a problem for the future, instead he listened with interest to everyone else's plans.
"A solid gold statue of myself!" Kili cried, causing Bilbo to snort with laughter. Kili turned at the sound, "Our burglar has returned to us! We weren't sure if you would ever fully awaken."
"I couldn't resist your dulcet tones, dear Kili" Bilbo quipped back, causing both Kili and Fili to laugh.
"A gold statue would be a waist" Oin argued and so the conversation continued. Bofur wanted to open his own shop, Bombur wanted to pamper his wife with all of his gold and jewels, Kili… was still set on the statue idea. Bilbo had no idea what he would spend his share on.
Bilbo squirmed on his pony; his poor legs were not used to long days on the move. They didn't stop for a midday break again and Bilbo knew if they kept this up, he would be skin and bones before too long.
His back and legs ached as Bifur helped him down off his pony and they started setting up camp again. Bilbo stretched and let out a big yawn.
"You're just like a big cat" Kili laughed as he ruffled Bilbo's hair. "Would you like me to pet you?"
Bilbo scowled and straightened his hair as the dwarves around them chuckled.
"Bilbo, go with Nori and Ori and help them collect firewood" Thorin interrupted as he assigned jobs.
Bilbo smiled shyly at the two copper haired dwarves. Ori smiled back but Nori simply glanced at Bilbo before walking off into the woods.
"Mr Baggins" Ori began cautiously.
"Please call me Bilbo" he said pleasantly.
"Bilbo, I was wondering if sometime you would mind talking with me, telling me about hobbits and The Shire? Remember you agree when we left Bag end."
Bilbo looked pleasantly surprised for a moment.
"I would love to Ori" Bilbo said so sincerely that Ori couldn't help but smile and even Nori turned around to watch the pair.
"Excellent! I have so many questions!" Ori said excitedly.
"We can talk anytime you like, Ori" Bilbo said kindly as he bent to pick up another stick. Bilbo was almost scared by the large grin that broke out on Ori's face.
Bilbo heard a small snort and looked up to see Nori watching them, his eyes alight with amusement.
"Here, let me take those" Nori said, reaching out and grasping the pile of sticks in Bilbo's arms.
As Bilbo went to pass the sticks over his hand brushed against Nori's and he felt a shiver run through his whole body. It was unlike anything that he had felt before. His blood began to heat under his skin and his face flushed, sweat breaking out on his brow.
"Are you alright Bilbo?" Ori asked in concern, hand reaching out to touch Bilbo's forehead.
Bilbo felt his knees weaken and he would have dropped to the ground, had he not been saved by Nori's quick reflexes, who had managed to drop the large pile of wood in his arms and grab Bilbo before he could hit the ground.
Though, if anything, the contact seemed to make Bilbo worse. Nori scooped Bilbo into his arms and made his way back to the campfire.
Bilbo turned even redder, this time from embarrassment as he felt himself begin to leak slick and his small cock started to harden as he was held to Nori's chest.
They burst into the campsite, causing everyone to reach for their weapons as they turned to assess the threat. Still, no one lowered their weapons as they saw Nori and Ori standing there holding a quivering Bilbo in their arms.
"Something is wrong with the halfling" Nori growled.
Oin hurried forward, running his weathered hands over bilbo's face and chest.
"He's burning up, Ori get me a damp cloth to wipe his brow with. What happened out there?"
"Nothing that I saw" Nori answered. "I just reached for the sticks he had collected, and this happened. Perhaps he was bitten by something?"
Fili pulled across a soft bedroll and Nori placed the hobbit down, while Oin started rummaging through his medical kit.
"There won't be any need for that" Gandalf said as he stilled Oin's hand.
"What do you mean Wizard?" Oin rumbled.
Gandalf chose not to answer, simply smiling down as Bilbo writhed on the ground.
"He should be right in about 30 minutes… or so."
"Do you know what's happening?" Thorin asked fixing his penetrating glare on the wizard.
"I do."
Everyone waited for Gandalf to elaborate, but when nothing else was forthcoming Thorin sighed rubbing a hand wearily over his face.
Ori had returned and was gently rubbing the damp cloth over Bilbo's face.
Everyone returned to sitting around as Nori built and Gloin lit the fire. They all kept half an eye on Ori and Fili as they attended to their small hobbit.
Bilbo was barely aware of what was going on around him, so caught up in the heat and desire that was coursing through his body.
Fili paused from where he had been soothingly rubbing Bilbo's chest and took a great sniff.
"He smells nice" the blonde murmured.
"What?" Ori asked, looking at the prince in confusion.
"Have a smell, he smells amazing. I've never smelt anything like it."
Ori leant over Bilbo's prone form and took a deep breath, before nearly groaning. "He smells incredible, what is that?"
Fili merely shrugged.
The other dwarves were watching in interest.
"What does he smell like?" Kili asked.
Fili thought for a moment, "Sweet… like honey-"
"And green apples" Ori finished.
Kili leaned over his brother for a smell himself, the mouth-watering scent hitting him in the face.
"Oh, Mahal," Kili groaned. "Do all hobbits smell this good?"
Gandalf stepped forward looking extremely amused.
"No, no that scent is all Bilbo. But I don't think he would appreciate you all sniffing at him in his current state."
The dwarves were dying to question Gandalf further but knew it was pointless, Gandalf had made it clear he would share nothing.
Nori sat next to Bofur, across the fire from where hobbit was still squirming on the ground. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on.
He felt his own face heating up, his thoughts turning lurid as he watched the hobbit begin to pant.
"Isn't that a beautiful sight?" Bofur murmured beside him, his eyes tracing over Bilbo. Nori couldn't help but agree with his best friend.