Chapter 2 is here it's only a short chapter, my brain seems incapable of writing anything long at the moment and I would rather get out short chapters then nothing at all. I hope you all enjoy it! Feedback is always appreciated
Chapter 2
Thror, Thrain and Thorin were in an important meeting negotiating a trade deal for more wheat, when news of the unexpected visitor reached them. Now, an unexpected visitor wasn't unusual for the mountain. Erebor was a large and prosperous kingdom and regularly housed travellers from all over, but the identity of the visitor and the way in which he arrived seemed to have stirred up a certain amount of interest amongst the guards who found him and brought him to the healing rooms.
Dwalin had knocked on the doors before letting himself into the room where the meeting was taking place.
"Forgive me my king" Dwalin said with a respectful bow. "There has been a development which you need to be made aware of."
Thorin looked at his friend in interest. Whatever the news was must be important to interrupt the meeting.
Thror nodded seriously, before turning to the assembled merchants.
"Please excuse us, we will resume tomorrow morning."
Some of the merchants grumbled, but no one put up much of a fight, all eager to have a break from the tedious talks.
When the four were alone Thror reclined back in his chair and looked to Dwalin for answers.
"What is the issue?"
Dwalin didn't quake under the combined stare of the three Durin men, he'd grown up with Thorin and could withstand much. Which was why he was usually the one chosen to relay messages to the king.
"Our patrols discovered something interesting in the eastern meadows this morning. An injured traveller, though we aren't sure what exactly he is."
"What do you mean you aren't sure?" Thrain asked with a raised brow. "Be he some kind of goblin or orc?"
"Nay, he be neither. He is small and delicate with large hairy feet and soft golden curls."
Thorin felt his own eyebrows raise at the description, definitely not an elf then.
"He is severely injured, covered in cuts, bruises and blood, as we speak Oin is removing an arrow lodged in his back."
All three males froze at Dwalin's words.
"Have you increased patrols?" Thorin asked concerned.
"Yes, more guards have been sent out on patrol and we've sent several scouts to search for the perpetrators. If there are any orcs nearby, they will find them."
"Good" Thror said. "It would not do well to be caught unawares by an orc attack."
"The creature is unconscious at the moment" Dwalin continued to explain. "Oh, there is something else, before he passed out, he asked for Oin."
"Oin?" Thorin grumbled. "How would he possibly know Oin?"
"We are unsure. Oin doesn't recognise him, but when we were discussing getting him to a healer, he specifically asked to be taken to Oin, like he knew him and that he's a healer."
"That… is concerning" Thrain said slowly. "Could he be some kind of spy?"
"At the moment, we can't rule anything out."
"Come let us go and see this strange creature that provides us with such a mystery" Thror said, pulling his bulk up and making for the door.
Thorin stared down at the golden mop of curls laid out on the pillow before him. He had never seen anything like him before. He was small and delicate with long lashes that fanned across his slightly freckled cheeks. Thorin was mesmerised.
Thror nodded decidedly beside his son and grandson.
"I have seen one such as this before, a long time ago. It is what is known as a hobbit. They are a gentle, nature loving people, who dwell far from here. I cannot fathom what one would be doing here, so far from home, all alone."
He rubbed his beard thoughtfully.
"We will have to wait until he has recovered to question him. Oin, any idea how he knew your name?"
"None, your majesty. I've never seen this – hobbit did you call him? – before in my life."
Thror nodded gravely, before looking to the guard assigned to the room.
"Send for us immediately when he awakens."
Thorin paced anxiously through the mountain, it had been days since the hobbit creature had been found but still, he had not awoken. He had been most gravely injured, as well as suffering from exhaustion and starvation. Whatever the small being had been through it must've been traumatic. Anger rippled through him at the very thought. More patrols then usual had been sent out, searching for the ones responsible, but so far no one had been found.
Thorin wrenched open the door to the family sitting room before stomping inside, face set in a scowl. He was unsurprised to find most of his family there. Dis raised an eyebrow at his dramatic entry but otherwise didn't comment. Frerin sent him a big grin, "charming as always, brother."
Thorin ignored him as he dropped down onto a free seat in front of the fire.
His father and grandfather looked at him in amusement.
"Something on your mind, Thorin?" Thrain asked.
"Just these trade talks" Thorin said, fooling absolutely no one. The mystery of the hobbit had been playing on everyone's minds the last few days. Dwarrow were not know for their patience and days and days of waiting for answers were making quite a few irritable.
They were just settling around the table for dinner, Vili whispering in Dis's ear what was no doubt sweet declarations of love, when the door burst open and in hurried Dwalin.
"He is starting to stir" the large dwarf gasped.
No one had to ask just who Dwalin was talking about. Thorin was the first up and out of his seat, following Dwalin as they hurried down the hall, his family not far behind him. They slowed as they approached the healing rooms, knowing that Oin would have their beards if they were to disturb anyone.
Dwalin pushed open the door gently and strode inside, Thorin close behind him. The rest of his family edging slowly into the room or lingering near the door, no one wanted to incite Oin's wrath.
Oin didn't look surprised to see them all there. But Thorin barely spared a thought for the knowledgeable healer, instead nearly all his focus was on the small being squirming on the bed. Sweat beaded the hobbits forehead and his curls lay in a messy halo around his petite face. Legs tried to move restlessly beneath the thick blanket and Thorin could see small hands twitching at the hobbit's sides. The head moved from side to side, small noises escaping him, as though he was reliving some particularly horrid dream.
Thorin ached to comfort him, edging closer still to the bed. Dwalin right beside him, hand on the hilt of an axe in case the hobbit suddenly jumped up and tried to murder the heir to the throne, as unlikely as that seemed at the moment.
Thorin watched as hazy green eyes slowly blinked open.
"He is likely to be a little disorientated" Oin whispered from the other side of the bed, where he was watching the hobbit closely.
Green eyes looked around blearily before settling on Thorin's face.
"Thorin?" the soft voice whispered and Thorin had to use all his self-control not to stumble back in surprise. How did the hobbit know his name?
"Oh, thank Yavanna you are still alive" the small being gasped, reaching up to grip his chest as though in great pain.
Green eyes flicked to Dwalin and then Oin.
"Dwalin? Oin? What's going on?" the hobbit tried to push himself up but collapsed back down with a painful grunt.
"Stay down, you have been gravely injured" Oin said gently, resting a large hand on the small shoulder.
"Oh. B-but everyone else is, OK?"
Thorin had no idea who the hobbit was talking about, were there others with him when he was attacked. No one had been found even after extensive searches.
Oin shot Thorin a small look before nodding sagely. "Ay, everyone else is fine, just resting."
The hobbit looked relieved at that news, immediately relaxing back onto the bed, stopping any attempts to sit up.
"What a relief" he murmured blearily.
Thrain stepped up beside his son, "and what might your name be, little one?" Thrain asked gently.
"Oh, Thorin, did you really not introduce me?" The hobbit said dismayed and Thorin blinked at the fact he was being chastised by someone he doesn't even know.
"Bilbo Baggins at your service" Bilbo said expectantly and Thrain had to bite back a small grin.
"Thrain, son of Thror, at yours."
Bilbo's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, he glanced between the immediate dwarves as though trying to solve a particularly stubborn problem before it all became to much and his eyelids once again grew heavy.
Thorin let out a breath he didn't even realise he was holding as the hobbit, Bilbo, succumbed to sleep once more.