I'm sorry that it has taken so long to get the next chapter out. Life got in the way. If you see anything wrong don't hesitate to point it out so I can fix it.

See first chapter for disclaimers.

Thinking!

Thoughtspeak!

Speaking!

Luna- Nusha (Hopeful Ocean)

Harry- Koehvin (Earth Storm)

A New Life in a New World

Chapter 4

When Bilbo opened the door after the bell rang he was abruptly very glad for the warning Nusha had given him or he might have been more concerned about whether this dwarf would kill him or not. As it was he was still slightly worried that violence would occur. Judging by the tattoos and weapons this was likely Dwalin.

"Dwalin, at your service." The dwarf said bowing slightly.

"Bilbo Baggins, at yours. Please do come in. Leave your boots by the door and put your cloak and weapons in the first room on the right." the confused and appraising look that appeared in Dwalin's eyes showed that he was not used to others, that weren't dwarves, not being intimidated by him.

"Are the others here yet?"

"Not yet. You're the first to arrive. Luckily Gandalf told me how many were coming so I was able to prepare at least a little. Once most everyone has arrived we can have supper."

He enlisted Dwalin's help to start setting the food on the table as it finished cooking. The appreciative that Dwalin gave at the variety and amount of food was heartening.

A few minutes later the bell rang again. "That'll be the door." Dwalin said with a smirk.

"No, are you sure? I thought it was a dog barking outside." Bilbo teased back as he left the room. The last 20 minutes had been enough to make him far more comfortable with the bear of a dwarf.

Opening the door he saw a white haired dwarf that had to be Dwalin's brother.

"Balin, at your service." He said with a bow.

"Good evening. Do come in. Dwalin has already arrived so if you will just leave your boots here and your cloak and any weapons in in the first room on the right, you can go greet him." Bilbo said stepping out of the doorway to let Balin in.

Balin followed Bilbo after he did as instructed and arrived just in time to see Bilbo smack Dwalin's hand with a wooden spoon as he reached for some of the biscuits. Being as Balin was just as used to others fearing Dwalin as his brother was, the fact that the hobbit was willing to smack his knuckles was very surprising.

"No more! You've had 3 already and we want there to be enough for everyone." He said glaring at Dwalin.

"Evening brother, are you making trouble for our host brother already?! You haven't even been here that long."

"By my beard, you're shorter and wider than last we met." Dwalin grinned as he moved towards Balin.

"Wider, not shorter and sharp enough for both of us." It was obvious that Balin was rather amused when he joined in the laughter.

They survived each other for a moment and put a hand on each other shoulders before, with a loud thunk, they slammed their foreheads together. Bilbo winced and was very glad that hobbits weren't a people that greeted each other like that as that smack looked and sounded painful.

Bilbo let Balin have a few of the biscuits and a mug of ale when the bell sounded for a third time. Turning to the door he called over his shoulder to Balin, "Don't let your brother eat any more or we might not have enough for everyone!" before laughing.

Opening the door he was greeted by the sight of two dwarves this time, a blonde one and dark haired one meaning that it was probably Kili and Fili. He wasn't too sure on which name went to which dwarf as they were very similar.

"Fili" the blonde started "and Kili" the brunette continued, "at your service!" they finished by chorusing. "You must be Mr. Boggins." Kili stated.

"Well at least the names were right even if I gave them to the wrong dwarf." Bilbo thought amused before replying. "It's Baggins actually. Bilbo Baggins. Please come in. leave your boots out here and put your weapons and cloaks into the first room on the right and then you can join Balin and Dwalin in the kitchen."

The brothers had been about to protest until they heard that Balin and Dwalin were there already and then they just seemed to want to join them as fast as possible. The look on Bilbo's when face when they were about to protest might have been part of why the protest never made it out of their mouths. Once they finished doing as asked they practically bounced into the kitchen to greet the older dwarves.

Walking into the kitchen Bilbo immediately had to smack Kili and Dwalin's hands from grabbing more biscuits as Kili had one in his mouth and opposite hand already.

"You've each had at least two each and we need to save enough for the rest of the group when they arrive soon." Bilbo nearly laughed at the expressions on the gathered dwarves faces after he smacked Dwalin's hand.

Kili started pouting and all Bilbo did was raise an unimpressed eyebrow before saying, "Those eyes don't work on me. You've never seen a hobbit fauntling pout and they are far more adorable than you." He deadpanned before smacking Kili upside the head when he tried pouting harder.

The bell rang again and Bilbo eyed Kili and Dwalin for a moment before taking the plate with him as he left to answer the door. He grinned when he heard Dwalin groan and Kili curse which caused the others to laugh.

Upon opening the door he had to jump back to avoid the eight dwarves that fell at his feet. Gandalf stood behind the dwarves smirking. Blinking at the group Bilbo blurted out, "I know that I'm pretty, but no one has ever swooned at my feet before!" His eyes sparkled as he grinned down at them knowing that if his children had been here they would have been laughing as well.

Most of the dwarves, both the smial and on the floor started laughing as well though a few blushed instead.

Balin stepped forward to make the introductions. "Allow me to introduce everyone. This is Oin and his brother Gloin. These are Bifur and his cousins Bofur and Bombur. Bifur can only speak Khuzdul and Iglishmek, though he does understand Westron." Bilbo looked at the graying dwarf with the axe in his head with the other dwarves watching his reactions closely. Bifur was making intricate gestures with his hands that Bilbo focused on.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well and thank you for the compliment. This place was actually built by my father as a courting gesture to my mother, so I'm glad that you like it." Everyone's eyes widen and Bifur froze, "Your signs are similar to the ones that Ranger's use to communicate. My mother taught them to me when I was younger so I won't have too much difficulty understanding you though some signs may be different from what I'm used to." He smiled at Bifur who smiled back happily and almost ready to hug him.

Balin shook himself out of his daze, "lastly we have the Ri brothers, Dori, Nori and Ori. Our leader Thorin Oakenshield appears to be arriving later."

Bilbo knew that even with the names and descriptions he would still have difficulty keeping all the names and faces straight and was glad for the earlier warning that Nusha had given him on who was who. "It is a pleasure to meet you all and I apologize in advance as I'm sure I will mess up your names for a while. My name is Bilbo Baggins. Please come in." he said stepping aside to allow them to sort themselves out. "If you will please leave your boots here and put you cloaks, packs and weapons in the first room on the right, then we will be able to start on supper. Please remember to leave some for you missing leader,"

All the newcomers were watching him suspiciously as if expecting him to turn around and try to make them leave. Bilbo held out the plate of biscuits that was still in his hand. "Better eat these before Kili and Dwalin finish them off." He got several loud protests from the two in question protesting their innocence. Bilbo's raised eyebrows and amused look had them trailing off sheepishly. Bilbo knew that the reason the dwarves were suspicious was because they were unused to being welcomed without being treated as if they were going to attack or steal from you at any moment. The rumors about dwarves reminded of the ones about hobbit saying that just because hobbits are pacifists, that they won't fight back or protect themselves.

Hobbits are the younger siblings of the Ents as well as cousins to the elves meaning that like their family they have strong magic of their own. Their magic is of the earth and anyone that visits the Shire finds themselves needing a guide because they will get turned around very easily. It was decided after the Fell Winter to strengthen that magic surrounding the Shire so that anyone or thing with malicious intent would be sent in the opposite direction and not even know. They could be practically standing on top of a hobbit and not even see them. No matter that Gandalf may have done something to lead them to Bilbo's home, it still spoke well that they managed to get there at all. Even Gandalf's magic wouldn't get them there if they meant any harm at all.

The dwarves all gaped for a moment when they saw the amount of food waiting for them before scrambling to seats. Dinner was a rather involved affair what with everyone yelling at each other and throwing things. Bofur kept throwing food that Bombur would catch in his mouth, Dwalin poured ale in Oin's hearing trumpet and Fili walked on the table at one point. All in all everyone was having a great time.

As soon as dinner was over Bilbo pulled Gandalf aside to ask him what the adventure was about, even if he did know, because no one knew that he knew.

"We are waiting for the leader of our Company before we discuss anything." Bilbo was about to start arguing when Ori interrupted.

"Excuse me? What should I do with my plate?"

"Give it here Ori." Fili said as he pulled it from his hand and calling out to Kili before tossing the plate to him. Kili tossed it to someone else and suddenly the air was filled with flying cutlery.

Bilbo was again relieved from having taken Nusha's advice and locked away anything he might be concerned with breaking. Because of that the only thing he said was, "Don't do that, you'll blunt them." When some of the dwarves started play fighting with the knives.

This brought a grin to Bofur face as he was the instigator. "You hear that lads? He says we'll blunt the knives." This brought even more grins to the rest of the group's faces as they started singing.

Chip the glasses and Crack the plates!

Blunt the knives and Bend the forks!

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates-

Smash the bottles and Burn the corks!

Cut the cloth and tread on the fat!

Pour the milk on the pantry floor!

Leave the bones on the bedroom mat!

Splash the wine on every door!

Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl!

Pound them up with a thumping pole!

And when you've finished, if any are whole,

Send them down the hall to roll!

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!

So carefully, carefully with the plates!

Bilbo managed to wrestle his way into the kitchen as the dwarves finished singing to find them standing around the table grinning with a pile of clean dishes and utensils sitting on the table. Bilbo relaxed and started laughing with them.

The laughing cut off as a heavy pounding sounded on the door.

"He's here." Gandalf said solemnly.

Bilbo moved towards the door once more with his daughter's warning of what to expect at the forefront of his mind.

Opening the door Bilbo barely managed to keep from freezing and saw the dwarf do the same. 'Apparently there is something Nusha neglected to tell me. Well I just had to be special didn't I?' He managed to move to the side without giving any indications that he was in pain as the soul mate mark on his back started to expand. All hobbits were born with a mark somewhere on their bodies to represent their mate. When the first meet their mate the mark will expand into a full image of something. The marks could be anything from words to pictures to runes and even just lines and could be found anywhere on the body. He knew one poor hobbit that had it on his foot and since the expanding mark is painful and can take several days to finish he couldn't walk anywhere for 2 days before the pain moved from his foot. Bilbo's mark was in between his shoulder blades in the shape of what Koehvin had called a Celtic knot. This would also be the first time in close to 70 years that a hobbit had a mate from a different race.

'If I wasn't going on this journey before I am now.' Bilbo was distantly amused at the situation that had arisen.

"I thought you said this place was easy to find? I got lost twice on the way here. If not for that mark on the door I wouldn't have known where to go." Thorin said to Gandalf completely ignoring Bilbo after his first view of him.

Gandalf moved forward, "Then it is a good thing Bilbo reminded me to make sure everyone had a way of finding his home." Turning to Bilbo he introduced the last of the company. "Bilbo Baggins may I introduce the leader of our Company, Thorin Oakenshield."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Master Oakenshield. I am Bilbo Baggins." He said dryly.

Thorin evaluated him for a moment. "So this is the hobbit. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar."

Bilbo's eyes narrowed before he stepped forward and firmly smacked Thorin upside the head with his wooden spoon. "I don't care if are one of the Valar themselves! You do not come into someone else's home and insult them! I will not tolerate such disrespect so either apologize or leave!" He glared at Thorin.

Everyone froze as they watched the drama unfold before them, looking worriedly between the two. Thorin tried to ignore him again apart from a glare and move around him, only for Bilbo to grab his cloak as he moved past and heave, bringing him around before kicking him towards the door. "My home, my rules." Bilbo figured to take his daughters advice and show that he would not be bullied now rather than later.

Thorin was holding his stomach in discomfort after feeling the power behind the kick. The fact that he had been sent several feet back had caused everyone's eyes to practically bug out, after all Thorin was wearing over 100lbs of metal armor plus his own weight, yet Bilbo had easily sent him flying.

Thorin finally bent enough to say, "I apologize." Knowing that was the best he would get Bilbo nodded and moved aside saying, "Leave your boots out here and your weapons and cloak in the first room on the right, then join everyone in the kitchen." He left to get the platter of food he had saved earlier and walked back to join the dwarves in the kitchen.

He arrived just in time to hear Kili say, "I'm sorry Uncle, I think we ate everything." only for Bilbo to place the platter on the table before Thorin.

"I saved some when I realized that someone was missing." There was a challenge in his gaze as he looked at Thorin and he saw a spark of appreciation in the dwarf's eyes though it didn't show on his face.

It only took a few minutes before the food was gone and while Bilbo finished the last dishes, they started discussing what had caused Thorin to be so late. Balin was the first to ask questions. "What of our kin in the Iron Hills? Will they be joining us?"

Thorin sighed, "Dain has said this quest is ours and ours alone. They will not join us." Bilbo could see that the older dwarves had been expecting this though they did look disappointed.

"I'm not surprised. Dain may be kin, but he and his family didn't even willing help after the dragon came. They only help if it has monetary worth and little chance of any dying."

Bilbo's eyes narrowed as he hissed, "Mercenary!" under his breath. Nori glanced his way, knowing he had said something, just not what.

"How many dwarves would leave the Iron hills if you take back the mountain?" Bilbo asked ignoring Nori's questioning look.

"At least a third if not more." Was the response given to him.

"Then his reason isn't that it's too dangerous but that he will lose income from having fewer dwarves. Also, if you die Thorin, in the battle with the dragon, will he be able to claim Erebor if the dragon is also killed?"

Realization and anger lit up the eyes of the entire group before Thorin replied. "If Fili and Kili also die and he gets there quickly enough then yes, he can." The rage that was simmering in his voice showed exactly how he felt about that idea. Now he had even more reason to survive the death of the dragon and dislike his cousin.

Trying to stop thinking of the previous revelations, they turned to discussing the journey. Thorin placed an old map on the table that showed their route.

"We know how to get there; it is just getting in without the dragon knowing we need to figure out. After all we can't use the front door."

"That I can help you with." Gandalf said as he pulled a key out of his sleeve and held it up for Thorin to take.

"Where did you get that key?!"

"Your father gave it to me to give to you when the time was right."

Thorin backed down taking the key from Gandalf and examining the map again. "So we have a key, now we just need to find the door. Balin do the runes on this map say anything about another door?"

"I'm afraid if they do I can't read them. Many of these runes are different from what I can read."

"There is only one being I know who can read this map. Lord Elrond of Rivendell. .."

"I will NOT go to the elves for help!" Thorin practically spat at Gandalf. "Not after they abandoned us before."

Deciding to avert an argument Bilbo spoke up. "Even if you do get in how are you going to kill the dragon? You can't just walk up to it and expect it to stay still so you can kill it."

"We need someone to go in and find the weak spot without Smaug noticing him."

"You'll need someone quiet and sneaky for that."

"That's why we need a burglar."

"And are you?" Thorin asked.

"Am I what?" Bilbo asked suspiciously.

"A burglar."

"I would hardly call a bit of pickpocketing when I was younger burglary." Bilbo said rather put out.

"He said he was an expert!" Oin shouted.

"No, I didn't!"

"Balin, give him the contract."

Balin handed the contract over for Bilbo to look over and sign. He moved away from the group to read the contract in peace. He raised an eyebrow at some parts and muttered to himself at others. He could see why Nusha had told him to make changes before signing. Thorin remembered something as Bilbo read.

"Bilbo, Gandalf told us that you were asking two others to join us as well, did they decline?"

"Oh no, they are meeting us in Bree. They wanted to get all the supplies we would need beforehand, so don't worry. They are also renting a few rooms for us, for tomorrow night. I will say that if they can't come than I don't come. Now about the contract I just wanted to confirm some things and change others."

It mentions that I get 1/14th of the treasure or less depending on what I do during the journey and after the worth of the treasure is calculated. Does this mean I will get nothing?"

"Of course you will receive your share! Just by agreeing to join us assures that you will get something, no matter what."

"Good. I want it changed to show that the other two will be included in that 1/14th and their actions will also dictate how much we get, to be no higher than the 1/14th. Now, the decapitation and incineration is self-explanatory after all, dragon. If we are caught at any time the company is not liable for what happens to us, meaning we are on our own. I want that changed to say that if we are in mortal peril you will at least attempt to help us rather than let us die, unless of course it means your death."

"Of course we wills top you death if possible!"

"Very well, but I still want it changed. If there is a dispute a council will be held in the dwarven tongue to discuss the matter. Being as my companions and I don't speak Khuzdul and I'm not allowed to learn it, unless I miss my guess, as it is sacred to the dwarves. Therefore I would prefer if the discussion was held in the Western tongue."

"Reasonable, I will see about making the change." Balin said before Thorin could say anything.

"Thank you. I will sign after we meet up with the others in Bree and they agree as well."

With the discussion over with Bilbo started showing everyone the rooms he had gotten ready for them. He deliberately left Thorin for last so he could tell him about being a Balancer and what it meant.

Currently Thorin was in front of the fireplace in the living room and the others had migrated there after putting their bags in their rooms. Slowly a hum came from Thorin and the rest of the dwarves before they started singing.

Far over the Misty Mountains cold

In dungeons deep, and caverns old

We must away, ere break of day

To find our long forgotten gold

The pines were roaring, on the height

The winds were moaning, in the night

The fire was red, in flames it spread

The trees were torches, blazed with light

Slowly the dwarves drifted away to sleep, leaving Bilbo and Thorin alone to speak.

I took the song bend the forks from the book and Misty Mountains from the movie.