Bilbo had to admit that sitting down, warm around a campfire was something he had sorely missed and it was not until this moment that he realized how much. The group had stopped for the evening and it didn't take long for a roaring fire to get going and Bombur wasted no time in gathering supplies for a hearty stew. Given the still dreary weather (though the rain had given a reprieve for now) the prospect was encouraging to all!
When Kili returned to camp with a pair of coneys raised in triumph, the cries of enthusiasm were hard to drown out and Bilbo was pretty sure the boy's face would have split if he'd the inclination to smile for much longer. Bilbo even caught the familiar clap of Thorin as he said something in Khuzdul when the boy walked close that simply made Kili beam all the brighter.
Bilbo kept a close watch to his younger self. He had gotten roped in with Glóin and Bofur and it seemed to have done its job—even if his younger version looked to be slightly regretful of all the information he had been given! Amid the brief overwhelmed expression though, bloomed the beginning of understanding. There was a warmness about the camp that had been missing. Not completely cohesive to be sure but a welcomed improvement nonetheless!
Oddly enough, as far as the dwarves were concerned, the two hobbits did not seem bothered at all when Kili began to prepare the hares.
Bofur expressed as much. "That don't bother you, does it?" The infliction was clear that Kili could do it elsewhere if need be. The young dwarf even stopped, looking to the two hobbits, the dusting of shame about his face. The prospect that he might be causing them distress bled through his face.
Younger Bilbo, considerably more relaxed than earlier replied, "Not at all, Bofur. And do go ahead, young Kili! My father was quite adept at preparing meats of all kinds though hardly quick enough with eye to catch them himself." Taking a quiet puff of his own pipe, he remarked "And especially on a night such as this when even the stars are shy."
Bilbo after his younger self took a pause in speech, remarked "Young Kili has a keen eye." He gave the boy a smile and the young dwarf grinned as if a warrior given an award for valiant behavior.
Fili laughed and blew out a ring of smoke, "Oh, don't start. You'll give him an ego...even if in THIS case, he does deserve it!"
Kili grinned again, unfazed, stating "Not my fault you can't spear an animal to save your life."
"Hey!" Fili remarked harshly, indignation in his tone. "I've brought home plenty of game."
"But your brother did so tonight so give him his credit," Thorin's voice indicated he would accept nothing less and the topic drifted. Once Kili passed the meat to Bombur, he took hold of the skins and after preparing them and hanging them aloft, he took a seat by his brother, gently shoving his shoulder.
As Bombur began the seasoning, young Bilbo glanced over and Bilbo gave him a soft nod, a hint of encouragement. The young hobbit was making connections and that was what was needed here.
"Might I ask...Master Glóin told me much about his lovely wife and son. Have you all any family?"
Oh, what a wonderful choice as the light that lit up in the dwarves' eyes helped bring even more joy to the gathering. It was Balin that answered.
"I think you'll find, laddie, that most of us brought our families with us. My brother and I are proud to be serving." Dwalin gave a low nod at the mention. "We've found our place by the royal family of Durin for many generations, by both choice and duty."
The young Hobbit took this in stride "You've no small ones of your own?"
Balin chuckled. "Raised more than my share but no, no dwarflings."
Dwalin remarked, "Might as well have raised those two rascals," with a nod to Fili and Kili, "Much trouble as they caused us."
Fili had the decency to look offended. "Hey! We weren't that bad!"
Thorin just scoffed, a bit, and only because Bilbo had grown to know him well did he recognize a muffled chuckle when he heard one. The others choosing not to comment said the rest.
Bofur, luckily, spoke, drawing attention away from the two younger dwarves. Bofur, perhaps more than most, seemed to remember the cultural divide. "Not a lot of dwarves have children, Bilbo. Those that do are treasured and blessed. Among our group here, only Glóin and Bombur have had the Child Longing." He smiled and nudged his brother "Rest of marry our craft to make life better for 'em and enjoy the fun role of Uncle!"
Fili nudged his brother. "Kili has it. Just hadn't found the dwarrowdam to help him with it."
Resisting the urge to explain to his younger self, Bilbo sat back and let the conversation unfold. Yes, young Kili had the Child Longing—the desire to marry and sire children rather than being solely devoted to a craft. The reminder just reinforced to Bilbo, once more, that no matter what was to come, he must succeed.
"Child...longing?" Younger Bilbo soojebit slowiy. "I must say, it must be a dwarf only element. I have never heard of such a thing."
Ori looked up, curiosity evident in his gaze. "Do Hobbits not posses it? When we passed through the Shire, we saw so many children! Or—perhaps I just assumed they were children?"
Young Bilbo smiled brightly, "Oh no, young Ori. I am sure you saw no shortage of young children. The Shire is quite full of them." He paused, considered what the other Hobbit had said about learning. It appeared there was more in common than he surmised "We hobbits are quite fond of our children."
Bilbo waited and as expected, several courses of "hear, hear!" rang out among the group and quite a few remarked on how taking back Erebor was going to be a gift to their children. The older hobbit allowed his mind to paint that, if only for a mere moment. Oh, the wonderful things that would flourish in a restored Erebor. If things went right.
When they went right.
Young Bilbo, when there was a break in conversation, feeling emboldened by the happy tones, asked "And when Thorin takes his place on the throne of Erebor, you two will stand as his heirs?" He directed his question at Fili and Kili.
Thorin, who had been silent the entire time, spoke, accusation in his tone. "Why would you assume such?" The tinge of defense was unmistakable though Bilbo was sure that Thorin thought it very well hidden indeed! The old Hobbit saw the tenderness of muscle as clear as day.
Young Bilbo, to his credit, remained as calm as one could expect, though caution crept back into his voice. "Forgive me, Thorin, if I've spoken out of turn. I must confess, we Hobbits know little of the line of succession, save our Thain—though that is more a title in these times than anything—I just assumed that because they hold your blood that they would be next in line." He ended it at that, genuine confusion conveyed in all the lines of his face.
Silence reigned a moment more and Dwalin, with that protective seriousness to his gruff voice, asked, "And who tol' ya that they were his blood?"
Older Bilbo took a breath to intervene and hopefully prevent an outburst of unnecessary violence but he need not bothered.
The younger Hobbit laughed aloud. "Oh, no one! Is that what all this fuss is concerned about? I must say though that no one would need to." He gestured to the leader of their group "I need only turn Thorin's hair golden and take a few years off his face to be faced with Fili, clear as he sits before me!"
Taking a puff of his pipe and noting the relaxation, although slight, in Dwalin's stance, the young Baggins of Bag End continued, "And young Kili carries Thorin in his face and stance. If you do not share blood then I am an orc!"
After a brief pause, Balin smiled, "Quite astute of you, Master Baggins. And now the lads know that I was not just teasing them when I told them the same!"
Fili chuckled and addressing the hobbit, he said, "Thorin is our mother's brother," in affirmation of his assumption. "And you do us honor by saying we carry any bit of our Uncle within us."
Thorin did not make any other comment on the topic though he did remove his arms from a fold when he took note that, as their Burglar had pointed out, Kili often relaxed in a similar stance. With a huff about patrolling a "bit further out" he left the warmth of the fire circle.
As for the two young dwarves, the smiles did not leave their faces for the rest of the night.
