Disclaimer: I do not own any of Middle Earth's Characters, places or languages. They all belong to J. . I have merely borrowed them to play with.

Song of the Day: 'Young Wolves' – For Our Hero.

Quote of the Day: "Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Castaneda

Chapter Three - Pàrtaidh gun dùil

Bilbo approached his front door with haste, laying his belongs on a small side table as he passed it, after all it wouldn't do to greet a guest armed. Rolling his shoulders, he adopted a polite smile and opened the door, upon which he blinked in shock. He hadn't realised dwarves could reach such sizes.

Shaking himself as he caught the look of doubt on the other's face he smiled again in greeting.

"Good evening Master Dwarf, are you perchance one of the travellers Sgòthan geala mentioned this morn?"

Dwalin blinked down at the little creature who had opened the door to him. The lad seemed a bit more substantial than some of the others he had seen, with a fine down on his cheeks and familiar eyes. Shaking himself a little he allowed himself to bow.

"Dwalin Fundinaul, at your service."

The hobbit's smile seemed to grow and Dwalin felt himself soften a little as the lad returned his bow with the proper etiquette.

"Bilbo, son of Bungo, at yours and your family." Green eyes blinked up at him and Dwalin allowed himself a small smile, before he could speak the smaller was talking again. "Come on, come in. It would be rude of me to keep any guest standing on the stoop, especially one who was invited."

Dwalin allowed instinct to carry him forward and the smaller male shut the door behind him.

"I don't suppose I could trouble you to leave large weapons out of the main rooms? They are a bit smaller and more breakable than what I remember my mother telling me of the Beanntan Gorm, my apologies, the Ered Lindon I believe you know them as."

Dwalin blinked in shock at the casual use of Khudzul by an outsider, even as he found himself carefully handing over his main weapons. The large hammer seemed to give the lad a pause, but he handled all three well.

"Master Baggins," Dwalin paused wondering how to phrase his question, he wasn't used to diplomacy. He'd come here merely to make sure his kin would be safe, thankfully the hobbit seemed to understand.

"You wish to know either about my knowledge of your Father tongue or why I handle weapons with ease?"

Dwalin nodded, unclasping his heavy cloak at the other's motion.

The hobbit in front of him seemed to dim a little, before throwing a wry smile his way, "The short answer Master Dwalin is from my Màthair. She was well travelled. Will that suffice for now? It's just I believe there are several others joining us and I will probably be questioned to make sure I am who you truly want for your venture."

Dwalin swallowed, the manner of speaking seemed familiar also, then the words hit him. "Aye lad, erm sorry Master Baggins. It was over familiar of me to ask so early on."

A bright laugh left the hobbit's mouth as the smaller male shook his head gently and gestured at the dwarven boots Dwalin still supported.

"All is forgiven Master Dwalin, call me lad if it is easier for you. I answer to many names, titles if you will, and I doubt it is overly familiar. You are the protector are you not?"

Dwalin nodded and placed his boots where indicated following the smaller male further into the passages.

Beside him the hobbit nodded. "I thought so. You are here to make sure those you claim as yours aren't walking into a trap. I can't say I blame you, nor fault you. I could not condemn you for actions I would take myself to protect those who are mine."

Dwalin found himself ensconced in a large chair, a substantial mug of what he assumed was a form of tea at his elbow and a small plate of fruit in front of him.

He blinked up at the hobbit standing next to him as the other started to talk. "You just relax Master Dwalin, I'll be back shortly, there is someone else approaching the door and we can't discuss business until we are all present and fed, can we?"

Dwalin found himself truly smiling as he relaxed into the warmth of the hearth behind him as the smaller male trotted out.

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Bilbo reached his door just as another knock sounded. He hoped all his guests weren't to be of a size as his first one or it would become a mite uncomfortable. Shrugging off his thoughts he opened the door to greet another dwarf. His smile became more real as his new visitor commented on the weather and Bilbo was first to offer his bow.

"Bilbo, son of Bungo, at your service."

Balin smiled warmly at the friendly, but polite greeting.

"Balin, Fundinaul at yours and your family."

His shrewd eyes took in the once over the hobbit gave him even as he was invited in and automatically followed the directions he was given. His red cloak contrasted nicely with the walls and he allowed himself to be led further into the halls. His brother was already present, and if he had given up his larger weapons, then it was probably as safe as they could get in a foreign land. As he stepped forward to great his younger, he hoped the young one who followed him would behave.

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Smiling warmly as the dwarven brothers greeted each other Bilbo hurried back to his front door, he had spied to slighter dwarven shapes as he was welcoming Master Balin. So it was that when the Durin princes reached the door of the hobbit hole they found its owner leaning against the door jamb.

"Good evening boys," They started as the voice was deeper than expected and as the hobbit swept into a deep bow, they spotted the down on his cheeks, "Bilbo, son of Bungo, at your service."

Bilbo mentally swore as he greeted yet more guests, this would have been easier if they had all arrived together, and stopped looking at him as if he was a rarity. He forced his smile brighter as the answered. Making a note that the blond was the elder.

"Well why don't you come in? Masters Dwalin and Balin are already present, and there are light refreshments in the lounge, as we wait for your fellows."

Fili blinked, elbowing his brother until the younger walked forward, "How do you know there are more of us to come?"

Bilbo sighed. "While I am sure Master Dwalin is a great protector, and Master Balin a shrewd and analytic mind, neither seem the type to lead an extradition to tackle the cnuimh teine. You two are, while skilled, untested in the larger world. Therefore, we are waiting for at least one more and Master Gandalf himself."

Fili raised a brow, "We are waiting for several more yes. How…? I mean…"

Kili broke in. "What is a cnuimh teine?"

Bilbo chuckled even as he ushered the two in, wincing a bit at the mangling of his language. "cnuimh teine? I believe in common it translates to the equivalent of, what did Gandalf call it? Oh yes, Dragon!"

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Rolling his eyes at the four dwarves in his lounge, Bilbo ignored the concerned expressions and merely directed them to relax as he headed back to the door.

Fili turned to Balin, a puzzled frown on his face. "What language is he speaking? Why is he so relaxed talking of a dragon?"

Kili cut across. "His eyes are familiar, have we met him before? I can't remember meeting an Aalven before!"

Balin groaned and pinched his nose as he glared at his younger brother.

Dwalin chuckled and patted his brother's arm gently as he thought how to answer. "Fili, Kili calm down. Firstly, I would imagine that the language he keeps slipping into is his own tongue." At Balin's nod he continued, smiling at the ruckus coming from the front door, his kin seemed to be having fun. "Secondly, I should imagine its because he has never met one, and because as a race they seem to have little to attract the damn beasts. No Kili we have never met him before. I however have met a Hobbit before and suggest you don't call them an Aalven to their face. It won't be pretty."

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Bilbo had opened his front door to a cascade of dwarves. Wincing as the large fellow at the bottom seemed to be stunned. Repressing a groan, and wondering how it had actually happened he set about helping the fellows up. Thanking his training as names were poured at him, and making a mental note to check in with the dwarf who appeared to have an axe in his head, he smiled and raised his hands.

"One at a time please, I do beg of you. Bilbo, Son of Bungo at your service. If you would all be so kind to leave any large weapons out here, my home is a bit more breakable than which you are used to. The same goes for your boots, you can keep any cape, or cloaks if you wish, but it might get a bit hot later."

He took a deep breath as most followed his instructions. Giving directions he turned to the three huddled at the door. "Only large weapons Master Dwarf," he addressed the red head with startling green eyes. "You can keep you many knives. All I ask is you don't spill friendly or allied blood in my home."

Those eyes snapped to him and Bilbo forced himself not to swallow or flinch. He raised his head. "If I am allowing you to have weapons in my home in deference to your customs, at the breaking of mine, I have a right to ask that of you."

The younger of the trio stepped forward, breaking the stare off. "Of course, you do Master Baggins. My apologies for our behaviour. It has been a long few weeks."

Bilbo allowed himself to relax slightly as the timid looking dwarf offered a bow. This seemed to spur the other tow into action. And he was once again greeted with names and promises of service. He cocked his head at the steely-grey dwarf.

"Master Dori you said?"

That gained him another look from sharp green eyes, he ignored the rudeness and offered a wide smile, his hands and arms spread in welcome.

"In that case I am very glad to meet you, and welcome you into my home." He drew his shoulders back and place his right hand over his heart, his left still reaching out, "Cuir a-steach agus bi sàbhailte mo charaid, cha bhith cron sam bith ort."

Dori stopped in shock, his smile growing wide and he mimicked the gesture. At his side Nori did the same as they intoned together. "Tha sinn a 'gealltainn aig do theallach agus a' toirt taing dhuinn!"

Bilbo hide his shock at the red head knowing the correct response and his grin at the mousey one's shock. "Welcome, it is good to finally meet you Master Dori. My Màthair spoke highly of you."

Dori grinned widely and stepped forward "Belladonnaul?" He breathed pulling the hobbit into his arm. The lad stayed stiff for a second, but even as his brothers gasped behind him, he felt the lad relax against into him and strong arms hugged him back.

"Uncail," breathed Bilbo. The scent of lavender, leather and wool clung to the dwarf. He allowed himself a few more moments and gently untangled himself from the wool covered arms.

He stepped back and smiled watery up at the trio. "Welcome again, be most welcome. I have food in the kitchen, and I hate to ask could you possibly start that lot off? There is wine in the kitchen also and barrels to be brought up and tapped in the cellar. I…"

A hand on his shoulder stopped him and Bilbo looked up into sharp green eyes, "Relax lad. Breath! I don't know how my brother knows you, but for now we will do as you ask!"

"Nori!"

"No Master Dori, it is well, it helps!"

"Very well, come on you two, we will help Belladonnaul. Come only when you are ready lad." With a smile Dori swept his brothers off.

As the trio left him, the younger two dwarves hastling Dori for an explanation Bilbo let out an explosive breath and sagged heavily against the wall. His Màthair hadn't told him his dwarven Uncail, the one he had been unlikely ever to meet, had brothers. One young enough to be Bilbo's contemporary and the other with eyes so sharp they could cut.

His hands shook as he rubbed at his eyes. One of the dwarven weapons pressed sharply against his hip and he sagged further using the pressure pain to ground himself. Why was he falling to pieces? Why was it affecting his so badly? He had family, he had people who cared, so why was meeting his dwarven Uncail affecting him so much? Why was finding out…his thoughts trailed off as the image of sharp green eyes came back to him…maybe it was how the red head had looked at him.

Balling his fists, Bilbo rested his head against the wall behind him and took a deep breath. He was a hobbit and a host, he had to do better than this. Pulling himself upright and rolling his shoulders he nodded decisively. Feed and care for his guest, overthink everything later.

AN: Please let me know what you think. I always appreciate feedback.

I will be using Scottish Gaelic for the language of Hobbits. Khudzul for Dwarrow and Sindarin for Elves.

Hobbits.
Pàrtaidh gun dùil – An Unexpected Party.
Sgòthan geala – Grey Pilgrim.
Beanntan Gorm – Blue Mountains.
Màthair-mother

cnuimh teine – fire worm

Cuir a-steach agus bi sàbhailte mo charaid, cha bhith cron sam bith ort – Enter my friend and be safe, no harm will befall you here.

Tha sinn a 'gealltainn aig do theallach agus a' toirt taing dhuinn - We sup at your hearth and offer our thanks

Uncail - uncle

Dwarves.
Fundinaul – son of Fundin

Ered Lindon – blue mountains.

Aalven – halfling.
Belladonnaul – son of Belladonna.