Author's Notes: Hello everyone!
I'm so very sorry it's been so long since my last post of Demons (This is a Christmas gift (or Yule, or any other holiday you might celebrate) for you guys!); just do remember it has been even longer for my other stories, so let us count our blessings, yes? I was originally going to have Bilbo be super secretive, but really I've read so many stories about how he hides everything until it hits a point where it comes out and breaks everyone's trust. Not in my story, I don't think he'll be screaming "I'm a dragon" but he isn't going to hide additional gifts and powers that comes with being a dragon. Also I'm not sure how I feel about this being a Thilbo story, I just think their personalities would clash way too much… what do you guys think?
Someone sent me a message and asked where fan-art can be sent a few months ago. You can send it to my DA- Effiebelle430, or to my Tumblr-The Lost Fawns. Either way is fine with me, I'm ecstatic anyone even liked my story enough to want to do fan art! – CAS
Demons
Chapter Three: The Last Arrivals
Colliding with a solid body was the last thing Bilbo Baggins had expected when storming out of his Smial. In retrospect he should have, seeing as his night had been going in a manner that was anything but normal. He should have simply opened the door and let the bastards in without even thinking before storming off to the off season orchard to transform and destroy something. He knew that even if he wanted to halt after that exit he wouldn't have been able to; his body was thrumming with anger and his momentum was working against him at the moment.
He was already trembling with badly concealed rage, and the appearance of yet another unknown person was making him even less pleased then he already was. When he looked up to see person he had actually run into, he could do little more than stop and stare at the creature that was blocking his door. His eyes staying a sharp golden rather than their normal hazel shade. His eyes trailed from the man's chest, to meet the iciest blue eyes he had seen in a very long time.
The Dwarrow was built; he was easily the tallest Dwarrow that was currently residing in his smial. He was clearly someone who shouldn't to be trifled with. He had a stern gaze with a piercing glare, and obviously wasn't amused that he had been run into, not that Bilbo was entirely happy with that either. He had the most amazing eyes Bilbo had seen since the death of the last Ice Drake lord, and that was saying something. Ice Drakes used to be known for their vanity and their beauty, Drake lords in particular were known to be for unspeakable beauty. He looked like he was closely related to Fili and Kili, perhaps a cousin maybe even an uncle? He had deep dark colored hair, a short beard that at first confused Bilbo, but he understood that with Dwarrows that they only had short beards if they were extremely young, or they cut it out of shame. The Dwarrow didn't look young, so perhaps the Dwarrow had done something he viewed as shameful?
He heard a throat clear from behind the Dwarrow, and his eyes flicked to the figure standing behind and he practically felt his lip curl at the face he saw. He ignored the Dwarrow in favor of unleashing a wave of hot air flare toward the wizard, it brushed past the Dwarrow with light warmth before bursting into the Wizard.
"Trollkarl…" He said in a snarl, instead of the normal very formal snarky greeting he typically could conjure up. Frankly it had been a number of years since his nerves had hit this level of fried, he hadn't had to practice restraint in even longer, and Gandalf was lucky that he didn't change forms and pounce right now. He looked back at the last arrival with a sharp look. "Pardon my rudeness, Master Dwarrow, but I have business with this Wizard, as he invited 13 of your kin to my smial without my knowledge." He stepped aside for the Dwarrow to step into his smial but holding his hand up to stop the Wizard. "I shall be at your service in but a moment, ask Dori to show you where the stew is." He said with little room for argument stepping out the door and shutting behind him before the Dwarrow could say anything.
Bilbo was aware he was rude to the Dwarrow, but he figured he would allow the other Dwarrow in his home to talk to the mysterious Dwarf while he let off some steam at Gandalf. He turned to face the wizard when he felt the wind pick up a bit, he was suddenly so very angry at the Trollkarl. Where had he been when Belladonna and Bungo had been murdered? Why had he done that to the Shire, letting the fell winter hit when he was off doing whatever he had been doing? Bilbo had been too young at the time to stop himself from getting sick, but the moment he was healthy he struck the wolves, the orcs, and he slaughtered the Goblins the second he could. He protected his people, while the rest of the world had left them to suffer.
"How dare you come here after all this time." Bilbo he stated with a harsh expression, his power crackling around him. Gandalf stood with his hands raised in innocence, but Bilbo knew better.
"I had planned to arrive before the others, but I was delayed," The wizard said, the expression on his face was stone-like, but Bilbo could see the hint of apprehension in his eyes. Arandur was not someone to mess with, he was dubbed the Golden for a reason, and while it mostly referred to his breed of drake, it also implied that he had magic within his blood. He briefly looked over his shoulder to look at the window to make sure no one was listening; he saw a flash of fur (As he noted Dwarrows almost seemed to have pelts rather than normal hair) and decided that Dragon tongue would be safest for this situation.
"Det är sådana saker som brev, trollkarl. Hade du inte tänkt att skicka mig en? Eller var du upptagen inblandning i det som ingen av er oro?" He hissed out, his golden eyes shifting into a serpent like slit, his face was showing all of his emotions, and none of them were proving good for the wizard. He tried to keep himself in check; his voice was low as to not draw attention from nosy neighbors, always interested in the comings and goings of "Odd Baggins". He sighed loudly, a small growl escaping through his lips in attempt to gather his thoughts. "Min integritet betyder så lite att du längre? Det har gått femtio år sedan du har sett i denna del av världen, varför nu? Varför bara när du behöver något? Vad av föll vinter, "Gamla vän"? När jag behövde dig, du var nr var att ses!" He hissed with a raised brow, taking a step towards the Wizard who took a step away.
"If I could have been here Ormen, skulle jag ha. Något mörkt flyttar i öst, och jag var tvungen att inse det. När jag hörde av Belladonnas död försäkrar jag er jag var bara så trasig." He slipped into the rolling language of the dragons as if he had been born speaking in it. Bilbo knew it was only due to his own personal dutiful training of the Wizard when he was but a hatchling that had barely been on this world but a few years.
He honestly wasn't sure how to feel, his body was still raging from the fact that one of the Dwarrow that had come into his home uninvited and had broken Belladonna's teacup. It would not have typically been a big deal, he would have simply fixed it and forgotten about it, but he had just been so angry. It wasn't often Arandur got so fired up, he supposed it had been so many years living in a rather uneventful environment that got him so worked up so easily now. He had been too lax; he had grown too accustomed to the warm rolling hills of the Shire, the comfort of knowing where your meals would come from, when they would arrive, and how often. He had grown comfortable with the people; even if he was viewed as "mad Baggins" he didn't even care. Because he was at home here now, and that thought frightened him.
Home, something he didn't even want to think about. His home was within the western sea, his home that had been destroyed by Smaug. His home that now lay in ruins, yes, Arandur wanted revenge, but would he risk his new home? Or anyone else's home while he was at it? What happened if the Shire experienced another Fell winter, or was raided while he was away? Hobbits had no protection; they could barely survive wolves and wargs, if men or orcs decided to raid The Shire, there would be barely any survivors. So many thoughts swirled through his brain; he hadn't realized that he had been quiet for quite some time.
It wasn't until he heard someone's throat clear that his gaze snapped up to lock onto the Wizard. That was when his eyes started to scan the creature before him scanning, taking in every detail, every new wrinkle, and every new scar. It honestly had been so long since the Grey Wizard had come to visit his abode, very little had changed on the man, but Arandur could see new lines of worry, new signs of stress and worry. His eyes narrowed at this, surely this quest couldn't be the sole reason for these new signs of worry. Dwarrow could be tiring creatures, but Arandur had done business with them since the dawn of their creation. They couldn't be much worse, could they?
"Something far larger than this quest bothers you, trollkarl, what trouble has come from the east?" Bilbo questioned, his voice was accusative, but really he was far older than the wizard, he had to use his slight status difference to his advantage somehow.
"Of exactly what is occurring I am not completely certain, but I am quite certain it is extremely serious, and the full extent of how serious it is will soon come to light." The wizard said with a defeated expression, Bilbo understood of course. He himself had felt the shifting of the shadows; something grew anxious, unsteady in the darkness. Whispers of increased orc activity had hit his ears; he himself had slain a small orc pack just outside of the boarders of the Shire not 10 days ago. Whispers that Trolls, wargs, and various other unsavory creatures had been sighted mere leagues from the Shire had caused him to tighten up his voluntary "adventures" under the guise of business in Bree.
He had wanted to ignore the signs that the shadows were shifting. His involvement in the War of the Ring, and nameless other battles had been massive, and to be honest he still suffered the backlash of his involvement. He didn't even want to dwell on the nightmares he still suffered with, even thousands of years later and in a new body. The thought that he might potentially be pulled into another fight for the freedom of Middle-Earth was almost more frightening than the idea of traveling with Dwarrow again.
It was after a few moments of silence that Bilbo decided he would finally start playing his part as a good host to Gandalf, and in turn the company he brought along with him.
"You may tell me of all these troubles, including this mad adventure you want me to attend, over a nice steaming bowl of stew. I say we quite deserve it. I'll allow your Dwarrow to explain everything, and reserve my judgment until the very end, like the good little serpent that I am." He said with a huff and a quiet snort to show his disgust at the idea. He didn't even want to think about what his smial would look like after the Dwarrow were left unattended for so long. He almost didn't want to open the door, but knew eventually he must face the company.
He just hoped he could keep from killing both the Dwarrow, and himself. If there was one thing both Arandur and in turn Bilbo remembered, it was that one could not be saved from the stubbornness of Dwarves.
TBC
Translations by Bing Translate (I apologize if the translations are bad; I just use what I get my hands on!)
Trollkarl: Magician.
1. "Det är sådana saker som brev, trollkarl. Hade du inte tänkt att skicka mig en? Eller var du upptagen inblandning i det som ingen av er oro?" - There are such things as letters, Magician. Had you not thought to send me one? Or were you too busy meddling in that which is none of your concern?
2. "Min integritet betyder så lite att du längre? Det har gått femtio år sedan du har sett i denna del av världen, varför nu? Varför bara när du behöver något? Vad av föll vinter, "Gamla vän" när jag behövde dig, du var nr var att ses!" - Does my privacy mean so little to you anymore? It's been fifty years since you've been seen in this part of the world, why now? Why only when you need something? What of the fell winter, "Old Friend"? When I needed you, you were nowhere to be seen!
3. ""Ormen, skulle jag ha. Något mörkt flyttar i öst, och jag var tvungen att inse det. När jag hörde av Belladonnas död försäkrar jag er jag var bara så trasig." – ""Serpent, I would have. Something dark moves in the east, and I was forced to face it. When I heard of Belladonna's death I assure you I was just as broken.""