Chapter 3 up I am on a role. So quite a bit of dialogue in this one but still trying to move the story along as quick as I can to get to the main part. How Hildegard is the worst pet owner on the planet. Again I hope this is ok.

"Sire the boys have returned and it looks as if you plan was a success"

Sitting at his desk, The Master looked up from his scrolls he had laid out in front of him. He laid down his quill and gave his assistant a grin.

"I had no doubts Alfred, very good send them in"

Alfred turned and opened up the office door allowing the two men to enter. Carrying the large brown sack that was slung over one of the men's shoulder. The Master looked on watching as they stopped a few feet away and put the bag down onto the floor.

" I can safely assume that their was no problems" The Master inquired.

" Not any that weren't swiftly handled Sir. We did have to move to the backup plan, when the Hobbit didn't seem to respond to the sleep and amnesia potion we slipped it"

The Master raised an eyebrow. " Back up plan?"

"Yes we had to use to knock out agent on it. The thing put up a bit of a fight but nothing major "

"And what of the Dwarfs?."

The second man responded with a smile " Took a few minutes but in the end out like lights. The potion worked a treat on them. They won't remember much of the event, only what we want them to believe"

"Excellent the only task remaining is for the Dwarfs to truly believe the Halfling is dead. That way it will be seen as a tragic accident and not a ploy"

" All taken care off Sir. We placed the pig into the building with the Hobbits clothing on like you said. Lit that place up so now it is nothing but a chard cinder. The body will be burnt unrecognisable with nothing to indicate what species it originally was."

The Master's rubbed his hands together before stepping up from his chair. " Excellent, well then let's not waist anymore time. Let me inspect in before it is handed over to my precious angel."

The henchman nodded. As one fiddled with the ropes knot and opened the top of the sack. The other reached in and picked up the unconscious Hobbit inside.

" Bring it over to my desk and bring me some soapy water Alfred. I want something to wash my hands in ones I finished touching it." The Master then moved some of his scrolls out of the way to clear some room.

The body was placed onto the desk where the larger man began to look over Bilbo. He first ran a hand through his hair then using both hand. Tipped the Hobbits head from side to side to inspect his face and head. He continued on with his inspection, feeling and looking at all of Bilbo's limbs, torso and all the way down to the Hobbits feet.

" Any lacerations or unusual skin lesions that I should be aware of may have missed". The Master inquired not looking up from the body on his desk.

"Nothing major Sir just a few bruises and some old healed up cuts. But apart from that he is in good condition." One of the men replied.

The larger man nodded, satisfied that there was no major issues. He turned and began washing down his hands in the bowl that Alfred had brought in. His assistant then handed him a rag to dry of the water from his fingers.

" Seems everything is in order. Can never be to careful bringing in a wild creature, it could have all sorts of parasites, structural issues or disease. But it looks fit and healthy enough that I am satisfied" The Master finished drying his hands and put the rag down. He was about to speak again. But jumped back when he heard a faint groaning and shifting coming from small figure next to him.

" I seems the Halfling is beginning to wake up Sire" Alfred injected.

Bilbo's head was swimming as his senses began to return to him. He could feel the area round him swaying and distorting in all directions. His body felt heavy like someone had pumped his body full off led. The Hobbit shifted which send a wave of nausea through his stomach causing the small being the groan. He bit back to stop the contents of his stomach escaping him.

'What is happening?, where was he?'

Slowly Bilbo began to open his eyes but hissed as the light sent a painful shock through his skull. As he adjusted the blurry figures in his vision began to become more clear. The Hobbit went to try and rub his eyes but found he couldn't move them. He was laying uncomfortably on his right shoulder unable to bring his arms forward.

" What is this why can't I move my arms?" The Hobbit began to thrash harder, growing more and more despite.

" I wouldn't bother Hobbit, no matter how hard you try. You won't be able to get free of them bonds"

Bilbo stopped and turned to look at the figure who just spoke. His vision now fully returned he could now see the two men he recognised from earlier.

" You...you are the men from...the ones who stopped me going into the building"

The duo looked at each other and snickered " Very observant isn't he" one of them chuckled in response.

The Hobbit shifted to try a little to try and lesson the weight on his now throbbing shoulder. All the memories from earlier were beginning to flood back to him. The house being a blaze, scaling the ladder but being grabbed from behind. A cloth put over his face but there was something else!. THE CHILD! The child trapped in the house, the one he was trying to save.

Bilbo began to thrash harder even despite knowing now he was completely bound. The angry flowing through his body was to strong. " YOU BASTARDS YOU PREVENTED ME FROM HELPING A YOUNG CHILD GET OUT OF THAT HOUSE. THAT WAS WHAT I WAS DOING BUT YOU STOPPED ME. NOW THAT CHILD IS PROBABLY DEAD. THANKS TO YOU...YOU MURDERS."

" Now, Now no need for the name calling. If it makes you feel any better that boy you speak of is perfectly fine. We left him in a wicker basket just across the street safe and sound. Just didn't inform the mother because we wanted her desperation and despair to be authentic as possible. I am sure he has been found by now."

" We aren't monsters you know" he partner finished.

Bilbo who now had stopped thrashing now looked at the duo in disbelief but then frowned. " But I still gather it was you two who started the blaze in the first place"

They both smiled and shook their heads in agreement. "Yes"

" But why? What do you want with me. Why go to all that trouble to kidnap me?"

" Because I paid them to"

The Hobbit shifted his gaze over to the source of the voice. Not realising up until this point there were more individuals in the room with him. His face turned to shock when he realised the owner of the voice belonged to someone he was already an acquaintance with. But also one of the last people he could ever expect.

"You set this up...But why?. The Company and I agreed to help get you and your people out of your plight. To bring back some of the mountains riches to help rebuild your town for the better. I don't understand?"

The Master huffed as he stepped forward to directly look at the Hobbit in the eyes. " Let's just say someone very close and dear to me. Has taken a very special liking to you and as an honourable man. I will not deprive her of what she desires"

Bilbo looked at the larger man confusingly " A liking to me?"

But then the Hobbits eyes then went wide. "Please don't tell me you are acquainted with one of the women where we were staying last night. If so I am sure we can clear this whole thing up. Whatever your agreement and if money is involved. I can assure you once me and the Company have taken back the Lonely Mountain. I can settle any debt and pay double on what this person has promised you."

The room immediately filled with laughter causing Bilbo to ones again look confusingly back and fourth between all the rooms occupants. "What's so funny?"

The Master still chuckling, wiped the tear from his eye. " You are a funny little thing I must admit. I know them Dwarfs did pick to stay in that whore house. Though I do not believe it was intentional. I left that to Alfred to recommend some suitable accommodation to your leader. But to answer your question Hobbit. No it is not one of the ladies of the night who desires you."

Bilbo was growing more and more frustrated. These people were being very vague and not directly answering his questions. " Then why am I here and I want a straight answer"

" Because my dear daughter wants a pet to cherish and to keep. The moment she saw you Halfling outside my residence, she decided that you were the perfect choice"

The Bilbo's mouth dropped, not believing what he was hearing. " A PET! What do you mean I will make a perfect pet?. I will have you know Sir I am not an animal you can just keep on a leash and train to sit and stay."

"But you are an exotic creature in these parts, a rarity. To us you are creatures that can be kept as pets if we so choose. You are small, stupid but have enough brain power. That you can be easily trained and learn your place"

Bilbo could feel the heat rising from his body. His heart rate picking up and the sweat begin to pour from his hands.

"The Company will eventually realise I'm missing and come looking. When they find me, I will hate to be standing in your shoes when they discover what you have done" He hissed at the larger man. Who in turn had stepped closed to the Hobbit and peered down at the smaller being.

"I highly doubt it when by now. I would say believing in the fact you are dead"

"Your lying!"

"Oh but dear boy I am not. Have you not noticed by now your clothes have been switched. Your originally outfit is now probably burnt onto another body that is in the remains of that chard shack. No one is going to be looking for you"

Bilbo looked down and to his horror saw his clothes indeed has been changed. His breathing quickened as the full weight of the situation began to crush him. 'This couldn't be happening!'

The Hobbit took up thrashing and kicking out violently again. Shouting and bellowing out for help, hoping that someone will hear him and come to his rescue. Instead many pairs of hands grabbed his to hold him down. One reaching up to cover his mouth, which after a few seconds Bilbo bit down on.

"THAT LITTLE RAT" The man screeched out as he retracted his now bleeding appendage. Then swiftly and hard he punched the small Hobbit in the face. Causing him to immediately loose consciousness.

"You idiot why did you go and do that" The Master shouted out. " I didn't want to give to Hildegard with a damaged face. Why didn't you just hit it with some more knock out agent?"

" Apologises Sir but I wasn't expecting the little shit to lash out and bite me. I didn't hit him that hard may just have a bit of a lump on the side of his head. Nothing his hair won't cover up"

The Master glared at the henchman before turning away from him. "It better not or I will be docking it from your pay"

Moving along the desk he took his seat back in his chair. "Anyway...Alfred go and fetch Hildegard. While you two do the final checks to make sure the Hobbit is tightly secured and keep under control when it wakes up."

"If I may asked Sire. What if it lashes out again and this time goes for Hildegard. Alfred asked

" Once it awakens I will go through the rules and consequences with him. He lashes out, he stays tied. He shouts out to loudly or the Halfling decides to bite again, he will be muzzled. If all them fail, well. His stay hear will be even more unpleasant won't it"

So there is it Bilbo knows his fate and why. Next chapter will probably be about the Dwarfs and what they are going through right now.