Pressing Flowers

Author's Note:This is a chapter mainly about getting bonds started and covering the beginning of sparks on the Dwarf's part. Chapters may start filling with angst, but I promise it will be worth it. On the note of the age difference between Fili and Bilbo I tell you have no fear, the lucky thing about re-creating a species is you have freedom to dictate things like that. I won't tell you why, or even how, but you'll find out within the next 3-4 chapters what I'm talking about. Thank you for the many favorites and story alerts, as well as the beautiful and lovely reviews! I apologize for taking so long to update, but I was really ill for a very long time, and I'm only just recovering now. I'm half way done with the next chapter, so though this update is short, the next one will be more dramatic and face paced. – Cas

Chapter Six: A Breakfast of Kings

Bilbo didn't sleep more than a wink that night, not that he had expected to of course. In fact Bilbo had been preparing to not sleep at all. In his time spent up and awake he found himself fretting over his bag of supplies, he had unpacked and repacked the bag at least five times before he felt that he had done enough for the night. The song that the Dwarrows had sung was still fresh in his mind. He could practically hear every single harmony in his mind even just thinking about it. Normally while he fretted about he would talk to himself loudly about his problems, but this time he had worked in silence.

Firik was sitting calmly on the bed, his eyes alert and watching in an all knowing manner. Bilbo had originally labeled this his judgmental look, but had later realized that it was simply a look of immense interest that the canine had. It was the understanding expression that allowed to him to roll out of his bed, straighten himself, and stride silently from his room, through the sprawled Dwarrows that lay in his living room. Why they were in his living room he was unsure, as he had offered each of them a room to sleep in. Perhaps it was some odd Dwarven custom?

He started his work almost as soon as he stepped foot into the kitchen, only stopping once to settle a very small plate of leftovers and a small bowl of water in front of Firik before speeding off to work again. He somehow worked with almost no noise at all, he seemed to glide around the kitchen, lifting plates, moving pans, kneading doe, and simmering some water for in complete silence. He figured it was an odd way to be spending his birthday; he hadn't honestly expected to live for his birthday if he was being completely honest. It was indeed lovely to be alive and cooking for such a large crowd on what was starting out to be a long day.

He bustled around an hour later, giving the Dwarrows some extra few moments of rest before he could put off finishing the rest of his food any longer. He needed to put the bacon on, or else it wouldn't be finished in time for when Thorin would be ready to leave. In his hour he had made three different types of cobbler (apple, blackberry, and strawberry), had made a large verity of breakfast pastries, finished baking breads, gathered a large spread of jams that he had hidden at some point yesterday, had gathered his collection of smoked fish (haddock, salmon, cod, and catfish), had made some homemade sausage, and somehow managed to silently roll in his last keg of Ale. Needless to say he was quite pleased with himself.

He started the bacon, knowing that as soon as the Dwarrows started to scent it that there would be a flood to the kitchen. He had a large spread of food out on the table again, he was honestly quite glad he had started when he did. He hadn't realized that he had been quietly singing a song in the flowing language of people until he finished and heard a small round of applause from whoever had been watching. He startled, causing him to come close to dropping the sausage he had been taking off of the stove into the fire. He spun around with wide eyes to see the Durin brothers leaning against the door frame as well as Bifur and Bofur standing just behind the pair.

"G-g-g-good morning!" He breathed out as his face slowly flushed to a bashful yet beautiful shade of pink. He placed his hand on his chest as if to will his heart to beat at a slower pace.

"Sorry Bilbo, we hadn't meant to startle you; we simply didn't wish to interrupt." The blonde Dwarf spoke with a small unapologetic expression on his face.

Bilbo quickly gestured for them to enter and sit while still blushing, not speaking for he was afraid he would simply start stuttering up an unintelligent storm at the bright faced Dwarrows. He busied himself with placing all of the food on the table, readying it for the small wave of Dwarrows that he knew would be on the way once the scent of food wafted further into the home.

"I-it's more than alright, F-F-Fili, I s-s-simply wasn't e-expecting anyone to be up y-yet." He answered with a small bow. Placing a plate before each of the Dwarrows who were up, wishing a bright yet still embarrassed "Good morning" to each as he went to collect more food to set out on the table.

"With food tha' smells this good, it's a surprise we're the first ones up, 'aster Baggins." Bofur said with a wink and a thanks as Bilbo settled some eggs on each of their plates before pattering off to refill the egg platter again so it would be full for the others.

Slowly, just as Bilbo had expected, a small wave of tired looking Dwarrows came trailing into his dining room. Bilbo made himself scarce when Thorin Oakenshield strode confidently into his dining hall and sat himself in the head seat. Bilbo tried not to feel insulted, nor intimidated as he settled a plate full of food (mostly full of black berry cobbler which Kili had told him was the King's favorite) and rushed off before the leader could deny the selection of food and went back to feeding the other Dwarrows.

Anyone who looked at Bilbo would know instantly that he was a care giver. Even to people whom he disliked he would tend to them with the utmost care and consideration. He often would be so focused on helping that he often neglected his own needs. Today however a particular flaxen haired Dwarf did not allow that to happen. Instead the second Bilbo had tended to plating all of the Dwarrows the prince gently collected Bilbo by the arm and situated the Hobbit between Kili and himself. He then proceeded to collect a plate of food for the Halfling and instructed with a calming tone with force less than an order to eat.

Bilbo did so with little question, bowing his head slightly, he gazed up at Fili through his lashes before nodding slowly and starting to consume a piece of fruit. He had been pleasantly surprised that the Dwarf hadn't stuffed his plate with some of the grease and fat filled foods he had made for them but with some of his fruit pastries and fresh cut fruits. Apparently the Dwarrow had been watching him closely enough to find his favorite fruit in the massive pile that he had sitting out.

For the most part Bilbo sat quietly, he silently enjoyed the loud boisterous morning, relishing in how wonderful it was to have life in his home again. Firik was wonderful company, but there was only so much silence one hobbit could take. The fact that his table was bursting with joyous noise and cheerful chatter made him content if only the slightest bit.

He couldn't help blushing though, he was slightly bothered by the care he was receiving from the Dwarrows, specifically from Fili. He was drawn to the flaxen haired Dwarrow, though he couldn't put his finger on why, he allowed the male to even look after him. Normally he hated anyone touching or caring for him in anyway, he didn't like being reminded of the things he had lacked in the Shire, let alone things that he would likely never have. There was something strange about the male Dwarrow, something that made Bilbo warm. A sensation he hadn't felt in quite some time.

Bang! The sudden slamming of his front door hitting the wall startled him, and everyone else at the table into action. Everyone seemed to move suddenly Bilbo was in a panic, only one person ever burst into his house. And that was only in an emergency. Bilbo was just barely rounding the corner when Kili and Bofur went sprinting ahead of him. Bilbo hardly made it into the entrance room, let alone attempt to say anything to halt the Dwarrows from taking action.

"'Aster Bilbo!" Hamfast screeched loudly from his entrance. There was a scuffling sound that obviously showed that one of the Dwarrows had caught up with him. There was a yelp from "'Aster Bilbo!" He called again, rounding the corner and practically slamming into Bilbo. They both awkwardly stumbled back a few paces before they stabilized each other by gripping the other's arms.

"Oh my, H-H-H-Hamfast! Whatever is the matter?" He said as he attempted to coo and calm down the erratic Hobbit. The Dwarrows seem to gather at a distance surrounding the hobbits in case of emergency.

"I run 'ere as fast as I could. I saw 'em coming up 'ta hill 'Aster. I was cummin' ta say good bye I was." He rambled, gripping Bilbo's shoulders and shaking him slightly. "I came as fast I could 'm Baggins." He said, confusing the group even more. He had a frantic expression on his face. Bilbo felt dread enter his stomach, he was honestly horrified at what he was going to here next from his gardener.

"Ham. W-w-who was coming u-u-up the h-h-hill?" He stuttered out, his eyes wide, full of fear.

"'Da breeders, Bilba. 'Da Breeders 're comin' fer ya! They 're forsakin' the law, Bilba. They're not waitin'! They're comin' now!" Hamfast called, he looked seconds away from tears. Bilbo could practically feel the man trembling. Or was that himself? Was he the one that was quaking like an earthquake? Was he the one stumbling backwards like he had been slapped?

TBC