Erebor: 2941 TA (Third Age)

Bilbo Baggins sat atop the bridge overlooking the entrance to the Lonely Mountain, watching the empty and desolated city of Dale by extension only. Sure, Thorin had instructed him for the night watch, which he was more than grateful for, as the stuffy air inside the mountain itself was beginning to work on him.

The Hobbit was now left to his own thoughts: of the adventure that had so far transpired.

To think that an unexpected dinner party brought by Gandalf the Wizard and thirteen dwarves had ended with him joining their party as a contracted burglar, and now look at him: sitting on the spoils of Erebor taken back from the dragon Smaug. After all, it only involved a near meal of three trolls, escaping the depths of Goblin-town, winning a game of riddles against the creature Gollum, becoming a near flytrap for some spiders, barreling down the river into Laketown, and it all finally came to a head when he had to use his wits against the very might of Smaug himself. The victory was sweet, until he charged out and up into the sky seeking to take revenge against the people of Laketown.

Sure, the Company had finally completed their quest, but from Thorin's words it sounded like he had no intention of releasing Bilbo from his contract as burglar, which did not sit well with the Hobbit in question. The was fresh, but also frightfully cold, and nipping fiercely at his hobbit-feet. The only other dwarves among him that seemed to also disapprove of the whole situation were Dwalin, Balin, Ori, and Bombur.

All he could clearly think about was his hobbit-home of Bag End, and the calm river of the Shire, and the warm hearth by his sitting room armchair. He missed it all so much, enough that he was scared of simply forgetting it all.

The opportunity was open, there was nothing stopping him from simply slipping away into the night and back to who knows where. Mirkwood? Would the Wood-Elves even take him in? Then perhaps Beorn's house, and then back to Rivendell the first chance he got-

He was suddenly knocked by a fierce gust that pushed him off of the rock he was sitting on. Instinctually, he whipped out his ring and was about to slip it on until the source of the gust came to life, in the form of a great swirling blue vortex. It was entrancing but also shining, sort of like...

"What in Middle-Earth's name are you?" he gaped.

Suddenly, a quick flash and a large figure tumbled out of the vortex, right before it once again collapsed into nothingness.

Bilbo staggered as the figure before him struggled to stand, and when he did he finally got a good look at him. He was fully dressed in a black suit, with the most shiniest shoes he had ever seen, and not to mention the tallest hat as well, which also shined in the night. When the figure stood on his feet, by the hairstyle and shrewd yet young looking face he was definitely male, he easily towered over little Bilbo.

"Ugh," groaned the stranger, "what just happened?"

His eyes then locked with Bilbo's. He was most surprised by the small stature of the little man below him, he almost looked to be about the size of a child.

"Oh, oh uh, hi there?" he nervously waved. "Who are you?"

"A man?" Bilbo said. "What's a man doing here?"

"Well, yes I am a man, Edwin Drood is how I prefer to be called. Edwin Drood, my good sir," Edwin Drood said, bowing while tipping his large hat to the Hobbit, who was still shook with surprise. "And what might your name be?"

"Bilbo," he stammered, also bowing, "Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit of the Shire, at your service."

Edwin was taken aback at little Bilbo's introduction. "Begging your pardon, but what's a 'Hobbit'?"

"Well, a Hobbits, or Halflings if your prefer-"

I prefer Hobbits, Edwin thought.

"-are a more simple folks who prefer the simpler things life has to offer; farmers and the like, you know."

"What about you?"

"Well, I'm a Baggins of Bag End, a well-respected Hobbit family, though I have a bit of Took from my mother's side."

"What's a Took?"

"Another Hobbit family, though more adventurous than we would like them to be. What about you? Where are you from? Definitely not Laketown."

"I have never heard of this 'Laketown', but where I'm from, England is part of an island nation. Cloisterham is where I was born, admittedly it's ancient and moldering and very much behind with the rest of the world. The Industrial Revolution is in full running order, and they still insist on using horse carriages, whereas there are talks of automotive transportation; I for one am keeping my hopes high."

Bilbo simply sat back and listen to the stranger, Edwin, ramble on about how his home city is falling behind on the "innovation of the yet-to-come" as he put it. He seemed to like hearing the sound of his own voice, even if all he talked about was so far foreign to the Hobbit's ears it was like listening to a hobbit-child's best dream. Also, he felt like taking a liking to Edwin Drood; he seemed to find so much of himself in his new friend: fussy, pristine, and even self-centered.

"But enough about me. What brings a hobbit such as yourself all the way out to this desolation?"

"Well uh, it's a long story," Bilbo stammered.

"We have got time on our hands, so don't worry about wasting it; that's what my uncle told me."

So, Edwin now had his turn to sit back and listen intently to Bilbo's entire story of his adventure. To say he was enamored by all the experience the little guy had experienced was an understatement; almost all of it seemed on the surface to be fantastically ludicrous, but like a fairy tale he kept his ears open to soak in every word that was spoken.

"-and that pretty much brings to here: sitting around this wonderful kingdom with its vast treasures and nothing to do with it."

Edwin said nothing, neither did his face.

"The whole thing probably sounds ludicrous to you, doesn't it?"

This made Edwin smirk, genuinely.

"Yes, my dear Bilbo, yes it does. But, then again, I'm a long way away from Clositerham. Besides, with my line of work, I have been anticipating for an adventure for the longest time. Say, how about that trusty ring of yours, if you don't mind me asking?"

Bilbo flinched at the mention of the ring, and using every ounce of restraint in him he begrudgingly revealed the trinket he won from Gollum: it was small, smooth, and pure gold which shine brightly in the flames. Edwin was impressed at its marksmanship, as he would be.

"So, this is the fabled ring of...invisibility, you said?"

"I owe a lot of my skills as a burglar to this ring," Bilbo replied, "helped hide amongst the shadows of my enemies, it did." He then became worried about the look Edwin was giving to the ring. "Would you want it?"

Edwin was surprised. "I don't deny that having a ring of invisibility would be enthralling, to say the least, but it's your ring, Bilbo. You can have it for all I care, because to me it looks like any other ring I have seen."

Bilbo smiled, altogether relieved that his new friend had no eyes simply on his ring. He felt like Edwin was a pleasant enough person, even if he seemed to pride himself on his gentleman status.

"So, what do think of..."

"Of what?"

"You know, the thing that you came out of?"

Edwin stood up and began pacing around the spot where the vortex appeared from. "I can't say for sure what it was; perhaps a gateway between different worlds?"

Bilbo made a face of confusion and perplexity as he also stood up. "Are you sure about that?"

"No I'm not, but that is all I can think of in the present moment." He then shrugged. "Oh well, I suppose since it collapsed that means I'm stuck here under this godforsaken mountain. No offense Bilbo, but I do not enjoy the stench it's giving off."

"None taken," Bilbo shrugged. "I myself am growing tired of this never ending smell of dragon."

Edwin then noticed Bilbo gently patting against his left breast area, nervously looking all around him. "Is something on your mind, Bilbo?"

"Well uh, no-now that you mentioned it," Bilbo stuttered, like he was hiding a rather dark secret. Edwin patiently waited as Bilbo reached into his coat and took out the most shining white gemstone he had ever laid his eyes upon, and it was also the most smooth he ever felt in his hands.

"It's absolutely magnificent. What it is Bilbo?"

"The King's Jewel. The Heart under the Mountain. This is the jewel that Thorin values above all else, too much if you ask me."

"So this is the...uh, what is called again?"

"It's formally known as-"

"The Arkenstone!"

Edwin and Bilbo whipped around to see where a new voice had spoken up. Standing before them was another person, just barely taller than Bilbo, grim-looking, shortened beard, long black hair, and dressed in a regal outfit and robes, signaling his royal status.

"Uh, good evening s-I mean, your majesty," Edwin stuttered, still in shock at his sudden appearance. "My name is Edwin Drood. I take it this belongs to you?"

He held it out to Thorin, who immediately rushed over and snatched it from his hand, glaring deadlocks to both him and Bilbo.

"How came you by this?" Thorin hissed.

"I-"

"I had it," Bilbo interrupted.

"You!"

"I did find it when I confronted Smaug, and I've kept it ever since."

"You would steal from me?" There was a hint of betrayal in his eyes and on his face, even with the glint of the gem in his hands.

"Steal from you?" Bilbo nervously chuckled, "no, I may be a burglar, but I'd like to think I'm an honest one."

When Thorin did not reply, Bilbo spoke again, "I'm willing to let it stand against my claim."

"Against your claim?" Edwin gulped as Thorin grew more shrewd. "You have no claim upon this treasure YOU MISERABLE RAT!"

Bilbo jumped in front of Edwin in hopes of protecting his friend, hand firmly placed on the hilt of his sword.

"You must understand," Edwin spoke up, "that he wanted, many times over, to return the Arkenstone to you, good sir Thorin."

Thorin glared at Edwin in response, then Bilbo spoke again.

"You are changed, Thorin. I should've told you this earlier but I still held hope for, but you are indeed changed. The dwarf who called himself Thorin Oakenshield would never have gone back on his word, or have doubted the loyalty of his own kin."

"Do not speak to me of loyalty! I WILL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND-"

His tirade was interrupted when yet another vortex opened up behind him, this time with more gusto. Right as Thorin whipped around to view this new vortex, the Arkenstone became its subjected target, to which Thorin held it firm not wanting to lose it again.

"THORIN!" Bilbo cried in shock and worry.

Too late; Thorin lost his footing and was sucked right into the vortex, vanishing while screaming.

"THORIN!" Bilbo cried again.

"What must we do?!" Edwin gasped.

"We can't just leave him to whatever horrors are on the other side of it alone! Come on!"

Bilbo then immediately rushed forward, stopping to look back at Edwin. Seeing as he had no other choice, Edwin replaced his hat, straightened his jacket, and adjusted his tie before he followed right behind Bilbo.

"I know I'm going to regret this, but you're just to much of a gentleman, Bilbo."

As soon as the pair hopped right into the vortex, it collapsed into nothingness yet again. Bombur, who was nearby sleeping, was briefly aroused.

"Ey, what just happened?" he said, before he lapsed back into sleep.