Thank you to the lovely reviewers of the last chapter! Here's the next chapter for you all – apologies for any typos. It's rather late and I have work tomorrow. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Six: Forced Farewells

Knees swaying beneath him, Merry stumbled after Frodo, back towards Hobbiton. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a voice wondered if he had drunk too much, if he should have refused the last two half pints. But most of him did not care. Not one bit.

Happiness was buzzing through his veins, and his head felt weightless. It had to be long past midnight – the Green Dragon had closed half an hour ago, and they had finally made the decision that it would be better to walk home than chatter and smoke on the grass outside the pub until morning.

He had not had such a good night in – well, he could not say. It was easily equal to the party, with their being less supervision from parents who failed to see how grown their children were. Well – how grown they were when sober. Right now, Pippin was giggling so much that he could not breathe, and leaning heavily on Merry's arm, Nelly and Bróin were trailing along behind, making fun of Bofin as they went, and Sam had just tripped over his toes.

"I-" Nelly declared, gripping Bróin's arm intently and drawing them all to a halt. They stared at her, and then she hiccupped with a little jump. "Really want some cheesy chips."

"Wha'?" puzzled Sam, gazing blearily up at her with fluttering, half-closed eyelids.

"Cheesy chips. I want some!" she said, swinging her arm to prove her point, and smacking Bofin in the face in the process. "Oops! Sorry."

Bofin did not seem at all affected by the hit – in fact, a rather stupid smile was sliding into place. "Ohh, cheesy chips! Le's, le's ge' some."

"No, we can't!" insisted Frodo solemnly, helping Sam up off the floor and back onto his feet. "We'll burn the house down. Whichever house. With ovens. And Nelly will lose her eyebrows again."

Merry snickered, and Nelly shook her head slowly. "I know. It's-" she paused for another hiccup "-tragic."

Merry's stomach growled at the idea of cheesy chips. Nice, hot, fluffy chips and melted cheese, and there was nothing quite like them. Except, maybe – he gasped, and threw out his arm. "Stop! I know what to do! Cheesy scones! We can't burn anything down if there's no cooking involved!"

"Yes!" Nelly gasped. "But where can we get them?"

"Bilbo, Bilbo has cheesy scones!" Frodo said eagerly. "A whole, whole stash of hem."

Bofin pouted, scuffing his boot against the floor. "I don' know. Don' know if Bilbo would li'e tha'. He migh' get angry."

"No," Frodo insisted, shaking his head a little more than was necessary. "He won't mind, and they're my scones too! But, but we should go around the back, so we don't wake everybody up."

"Ah, good plan, good plan," Bróin nodded sagely, his eyes closed as he blew a clumsy ring of smoke up into the sky. "Let's go."

They scurried out of Bywater as quickly as they were able to, and made it to Hobbiton in what Merry was sure was record time. Far less quietly than they thought, they scrambled up around the back of the Hill, avoiding the road to Bag End altogether.

Huffing and puffing, they stumbled over each other, around the backs of the houses of Bagshot Row. All of a sudden, Merry stopped, and his ears twitched. There was something hissing, something that made his toes curl around the grass. He seized Pippin's arm, but his young cousin swayed, and pulled him onwards with a whispered hiss of his own.

"Come on, Merry! Scones'll all be gone!" He began to giggle at himself, and Merry rolled his eyes. "Scones, gone, get it? Get it?"

He had drunk too much, that was all. The alcohol in his veins was putting him on edge, it had to be. Old Balin said that it could do that.

That had to be why he felt so nervous.

Someone grabbed his arm and he jumped, but it was only Nelly. Her other arm was looped through Bróin's, and they were walking with wide swinging steps that landed in front of each's other's feet. Eagerly, Merry joined in, with Pippin on the other side, until they were all linked as a chain, all stumbling over each other's feet, and over the brow of the hill to re-join the road.

Where they froze.

There was someone at the door, a figure so large it had to be a Man, cloaked in black. By the gate stood a large, black horse, that stomped and sent a shriek of a whinny into the night. Turned its red eyes onto them.

The figure at the door turned, staring at them, except – except –

Merry could not see a face. Only a black hood, with a deeper blackness inside. It stepped towards them, let out a shriek that pierced through Merry's whole body, and Pippin collapsed to the floor, and it stepped closer –

"Gandalf!" screamed Frodo, and for split second Merry wondered why, wondered how an absent wizard could save them, but then a once familiar voice bellowed words that Merry could not understand, and a shattering explosion of white light flooded the garden of Bag End and blinded him and –

He blinked, and blinked, and it was dark again, and the horse and rider had vanished, and a tall, raggedy figure was leaning against the door frame of Bag End.

"G-Gandalf?" he gasped. "Gandalf?"

"Get inside, quickly," the wizard whispered hoarsely, holding open the door.

Tripping over his own feet, Merry scrambled into Bag End with the others. It was just as dark inside as it was out, especially when Gandalf cursed, and slammed the door behind him.

"We were only going to take some scones," Pippin said in a small voice, and Gandalf stared at him, his brows drawing low over his eyes. For a moment, he looked bewildered.

"Scones? That doesn't – Bilbo? Bilbo!"

But Bilbo was already there, seizing Frodo's hand and staring at the group with a face as pale as the naked moon. "Frodo, are you alright? Oh, goodness, Bofin, you're green, are you hurt? What was that, Gandalf?"

"We're not hurt," Frodo said quickly, glancing up at Gandalf.

The wizard was leaning against the door, and in the gloom he looked so, so old. Merry shivered, and Pippin's hand wove around his arm.

"That was an enemy more deadly than Smaug," Gandalf said heavily, looking straight at Merry. "And now he has seen you all, and he and any who watch know that you are important. You are no longer safe here. We must leave, there is no time to lose."

"Leave?" cried Nelly, though the indignance in her voice was shaky. "Where? Why?"

"To Rivendell, for now," Gandalf said, turning to Bilbo. "Their parents, where are they?"

"Daisy and Adalgrim's, not five minutes down the road. Oh, but Bombur is in Erebor and the Gaffer's still at the end of Bagshot Row, but Gandalf – what is going on?"

"I have not time for an explanation, my dear Bilbo, nor the will to tell it in the dark. But you are all in grave danger. You have bags packed for such emergencies, do you not?"

"Ours are at home," piped up Merry, unsurprised to hear his own voice shake.

Gandalf paused, leaning heavily on his staff. Then, he called, "Kíli!"

In a second Kíli was there, grim faced with his sword-belt on over his pyjamas and his brother by his side. "What do you need me to do?"

"Take these young hobbits down to their grandparents' house, explain that Bilbo is being hunted, and there is a plot toward the lords and ladies of Erebor. Those who were not out tonight must stay in the Shire – it is far safer, and we shall be safer in smaller numbers. It would have been much better if none of you chose to go out tonight…" Gandalf trailed off for a moment, staring sadly at them. "But they did, and the Rider forced my hand. By banishing him when he approached you, I have labelled you as important to me, and therefore likely a mighty prize – you must flee with us. But your parents, your sisters, they can pass as everyday hobbits, still. And they must. Tell them, Kíli, that they must stay."

Kíli looked utterly stricken. He glanced at Merry and the others, and shook his head. "It was dark, Gandalf, their faces may not have been seen-"

"It is not their faces the servants of Sauron will recognise," said Gandalf, and Merry shuddered. He did not know what that meant, and by the confusion on his face neither did Kíli, but the dwarf took a deep breath and nodded.

"Very well," he said.

"If you see a rider, run," Gandalf said gravely. "Run as fast as you can, and hide, for their eyesight is poor. Call for me, I will come. But if not, make haste, and be back within the hour with any packs they need to travel. Light no torches or candles, if you can help it. Not in sight of a window."

Kíli bowed, and Gandalf barked at Fíli to do the same with Sam. Merry was sure that Fíli had the easier job – the Gaffer was used to saying goodbye to his son. Merry's parents had never been parted with him for longer than two days, and his mother would not think much of being left behind.

The thought of bidding farewell to his parents in such a manner made Merry feel very, very cold.

He did not realise that the door was open until Gandalf struck the back of his ankles with his staff as if he was a wayward sheep. "Quickly, quickly!"

Heart in his throat, Merry hurried down the lane behind Kíli, who looked around more often than a rabbit at dusk. At his side, Pippin was breathing quickly, and Nelly took up the rear with a focus any elf would envy. They had sobered in a matter of seconds, it seemed. The fun of the Green Dragon seemed a hundred miles away. Before he knew it, they had reached reach his grandparents' house, and Kíli knocked on the door. Loudly.

His father pulled open the door. The sleep fell from his eyes at the sight of their pale faces, and the sword on Kíli's hip.

"What-"

"Let us in," Kíli hissed, but Saradoc had stepped out of the way before the last word ended. They hurried inside, and Saradoc grasped Merry's wrist.

"What's wrong?" he demanded, but Merry's words seemed stuck in his throat.

Kíli swooped over and put a hand on each of their shoulders. "I'm sorry, Saradoc, I truly am, but we have no time. We must wake the others, quickly."

"We're already awake," Esme said, tying her dressing gown as she hurried over. "What's happening?"

"When we're together," Kíli said, nodding at the dining room. They gathered around the table in the dark, Merry's grandparents and parents, aunt and uncle, and all four of his cousins. He stood between his parents, so close that their elbows were touching. What little moonlight there was seeped through the curtains, so that Merry could just about see everyone. Every face was strained. Every face turned to Kíli.

The dwarf swallowed, and Merry stared down at his feet. He did not want to look at the fear in Kíli's eyes, or the sorrow. It just made everything worse.

"There's been an emergency," Kíli said slowly. Then, he took a deep breath, and relayed the wizard's message, word for word. It sounded like every word hurt him.

As Merry expected, his mother was the first to reply.

"No."

"Esme-"

"No, Kíli, this isn't fair!" she cried, her hand gripping Merry's forearm. Her nails dug deep into his skin, but he could not bring himself to tug free. Instead, he closed his eyes. "You cannot expect us to stay when you're taking our children-"

Merry could not take it. Not now. "Mama," he said, his heart breaking in time with his voice as he turned to face her, and took her hands in his. "No one has a choice. This is what Gandalf said, so we've got to do it. Rivendell's not far, we'll send word, we'll meet you soon – but you'll just make things worse if you come."

Esme's mouth fell open, and for a moment, Merry was worried he had made things worse. There were tears sparkling in her eyes, heartbreak furrowing her brow, and she did not move. Then, she took a deep breath and looked at Kíli.

"You tell this to the wizard," she said, her voice shaking. Her hands tightened around his. "He better bring you all home. I don't care to which home, either will do. But you best be home, safe, before the spring comes."

"I'm sure we will be," said Kíli, striding around the table and swallowing both her and Merry into a hug. Merry clung to them both, his mother and his Kíli, and prayed with all his heart that it would not be the last time he was able to do so.

Across the table, Ellie wiped her eyes, and murmured, "Leave the little ones with us."

"Ellie," Paladin said, brokenly, before anyone else could speak. "Pippin's young, but if this rider saw him-"

"No," she said sharply, even as she rested a hand on Pippin's shoulder. "I'm not, not talking about Pippin. Bodin and the twins – we can hide them here. You will be faster without them, and they will be safer. Three small dwarflings will not be hard to keep safe, and if these riders do not know of them…"

Kíli paused for a moment, finally stepping away from Merry and Esme. "That's not a bad idea. I'll ask Gandalf."

"Do," she murmured, not looking at him as she tucked Nelly's hair behind her ears. "Please."

The next thing he knew, Merry was in his father's arms. It was a fiercer embrace than he was used to, a painful one, but he did not want to let go.

"You be safe, Merry," Saradoc murmured. "You here me? Do what the dwarves say, stay close to Kíli. He'll look after you."

"I know," Merry mumbled, holding on tighter. It was only his mother that could prise him away. She pressed her forehead up against his, and clasped his face in her hands.

"All for a few half-pints at the Green Dragon, hey?" she murmured, a shaky smile on her face. "Just be careful, Merry. Come back to us, or send for us. As soon as you can. We'll be there."

Merry swallowed and nodded, tumbling into her arms. "I know," he said, forcing strength into his voice. "I know. I'll be fine. And I'll look after Pippin."

For a short while, the house became a flurry of activity as they scrambled in the dark to get their packs, to get their travelling cloaks on and to wake the two wolves that had been calling the small house home. Denahi licked Merry's nose and nuzzled at his neck, and Saradoc strode over.

"You look after my boy, Denahi. You hear?" he murmured, stroking the wolf's ears. Denahi let out a soft howl, and licked Saradoc on the chin.

It did not feel like any goodbye he said would be enough. Merry had always known that one day he would face an adventure without his parents, without his aunt and uncle there, but he had never imagined it would happen like this. Never like this.

"We cannot say farewell to the others, can we?" asked Paladin as he released Kíli from a final embrace.

"I doubt it," Kíli replied, tears breaking over his cheeks. "But we will all meet again. I'm sure of it."

"Right," Paladin said, nodding slowly and stepping back, away from the group by the door. From Merry and Nelly and Pippin and Vinca and Kíli. "Tell them we love them."

"We will," Kíli promised, opening the door. "And they love you too. See you soon."

Then he slipped out of the door, and Merry and his cousins followed suit. Denahi and Kya padded along silently beside them, hackles raised, but neither wolf made a sound. Merry would have felt better if they had growled.

They wrapped the little ones under their cloaks, praying that the night would keep them safe in its darkness. Bróin could feel Orla's hands clutch his belt tighter, her fists driving her knuckles into his gut. He rubbed her back and peered outside, but he could see no one save Bofur and Bifur, and the lumpy outlines of Ola and Bodin beneath their cloaks.

Without a sound, Bofur slipped out of the gate, and Bifur followed. Keeping low, Bróin followed, his hand still on his sister. He could feel her stumbling in the dark, but she kept her feet well, and she kept them quiet. An owl screeched into the night and she gasped, driving her knuckles into his gut. Bodin whimpered, and Bofur shushed him.

Silence returned.

They moved on, dodging the moonlight and keeping out of sight of most creatures with eyes. Most. If any trace of alcohol lingered in Bróin's veins, he could not feel it. He felt sharp as ever, and put more effort than usual into keeping his feet silent. That was why he had been allowed to go, rather than Bofin. He was quieter. Sneakier. Better with a sword.

Every step seemed to take them only an inch closer to the Tooks' house. Bróin's heart was beating hard in his chest, and the thrill of danger was numbed only by the fact that his little siblings were with him. If they were not, he would be eager to fight.

When they finally reached their destination, Bofur knocked softly on the door, and it opened into darkness.

"Quick!" whispered Esme, her hand seeming to float in mid-air as it reached out from the darkness of the hall. "Quickly now, come inside."

They scurried in, and Orla wiggled out of the cloak, though she kept a tight hold of Bróin's belt.

"This way," murmured Esme, leading them deeper into the hobbit hole. "We've lit candles in the cellar – there's no windows in there."

The warm glow of the approaching room did not seem to settle Bróin's siblings the way he expected it to. Orla still shifted from foot to foot and kneaded his stomach like it was bread, and Ola was still chewing on her hair. Bodin's thumb was still stuck in his mouth, and his other hand stuck to Bofur like glue.

They knew. Or at least they knew that something about this situation was very, very not right.

"Alright," Bofur said, his voice rough. "This is where we say goodbye, for now."

"Goodbye?" gasped Bodin, his thumb falling from his open mouth. "What, what do you mean?"

"You three'll be staying here, where it's safe," Bróin said, because he knew that he could say it with less fear than Uncle Bofur could. "You won't be alone, Esme and Ellie and Saradoc and Paladin are all going to stay, so is Pearl."

"No!" protested Orla, pushing away from Bróin. "No, if you're going, we're coming too!"

"It's too dangerous, and you're too small," Bofur said, clearing his throat and regaining his voice. He crouched down and put a hand on her shoulder. "You'll be safer here. You'll just have to pretend to be hobbits for a while, alright? Don't tell anyone who your Adad is, or Amad. This is very, very important."

The twins looked at each other, and shared one of those strange moments where they seemed to talk without speaking. Then, Ola straightened up.

"We can do that, Uncle Bofur. If you promise that we'll see you again soon, that you'll come and get us when it's safe?"

"And before twenty-two years," added Orla.

"Of course," Bofur murmured, crouching down and holding out his arms. The twins hugged him tightly, but Bodin just remained hanging on his arm, looking utterly dazed. He remained so as the twins hugged Bifur and Bróin. Bifur leant down and hugged him, and Bodin squeezed their uncle tightly with one arm. And kept the other securely around Bofur.

Then Bróin knelt down and grinned at his little brother. "You're the big boy for now, alright? You've just gotta keep it up until I get back, that's all. Then I'll wrestle the title from you again."

"No," Bodin mewled, wrapping his arm around Bróin's neck without releasing Bofur. "No, no, I don't want to be the big boy, stay Bróin! Bróin, stay!"

"I can't," he said, careful to keep his tone matter of fact. "Because Gandalf said so. Are you smarter than a wizard, Bodin?"

His brother hesitated, his lips quivering, and then shook his head.

"Are you braver? More cunning?"

Bodin shook his head again.

"Then you must trust Gandalf, and trust us. We will be back for you, and if we're not, hey – it's a good place to live. If anything happens to us Adad will come and get you, I'm sure of it."

"But I don't want anything to happen to you!"

Bróin paused. "Neither do I, but we have the wizard. We'll be fine. Keep your chin up, alright?"

Bodin wailed softly, but he nodded, throwing his arms around Bróin one last time, before squeezing Bofur so tight he choked.

"Your brother's right, for once," Bofur said, grinning and nuzzling Bodin's nose. "You'll be safe here, and we'll be fine with Gandalf."

"If, if he doesn't just disappear again," hiccupped Bodin. Thinking of the times that Gandalf had disappeared from the story of the quest for Erebor, Bróin silently agreed.

"See you soon, little one," Bofur whispered, kissing him on the forehead. Then he kissed the girls one last time, and Paladin picked up Bodin.

"We've got you lad. It'll be alright, you'll see," he murmured. He met Bróin's eyes and nodded slowly. Bróin nodded back.

And they shared brief embraces in the dark, and then Bifur and Bofur and Bróin pulled their hoods back over their heads, and slipped out into the darkness once more.

I really hope you enjoyed that chapter! It's pretty much all new, so that's exciting! Please let me know what you think of the arrangements that are appearing, I'd really love to know.