Happy New Year Mellons! I hope you all enjoyed your NYE. Sorry this took so long, I've been busy, and tired. Super tired. But I hope this was soon enough! I might-might-have another chapter up later tonight, when I can write like I normally do. No promises.

Auraelia: I know, I love it! It's so much fun to write :)

Sabrinabella: Thank you! I hope we got far enough!

Anime Princess: I love it too! When I thought about this, I was really excited about the relationships between Fili, Kili and Lenorah. Hopefully this chapter and the coming ones will be able to answer your questions.

*Note: In Tolkien's timeline, the dwarves appeared the day after Gandalf visited, but I just wanted to get straight to it. So same day it is!

I hope you enjoy!


Visitors

"Gandalf." She repeated, still weary of the stranger before her. The old man smiled, removing his hat and bowing slightly.

"Precisely. Again, I am sorry for scaring you; that was not my intent. May I ask your name?"

Lenorah hesitated, but her growing curiosity got the better of her.

"Lenorah Baggins, at your service." She smiled and curtsied, craning her neck to stare up at him.

The man's eyes lit up, his grin widening.

"Baggins, you say! Well, this is a fine chance. Could you perhaps tell me where Mister Bilbo Baggins lives?"

Lenorah's curiosity soared at the mention of her fathers name. What could this stranger possibly want with Bilbo? But before she had the chance to answer his inquiery, the front door opened; Kili strolling out carrying two bowls of what looked like cake mixture. Upon seeing his little sister talking to a tall, strange man in funny looking robes, Kili promptly dropped the dishes, rushing to stand in front of her.

"Hello. Can I help you?" Kili tried his best to sound intimidating while being polite, but the man merely raised his large eyebrows, looking him up and down.

"My name is Gandalf, and I am searching for Bilbo Baggins. Who are you?"

Kili was taken aback at the bluntness of the question. This stranger certainly was comfortable with himself. He reached back and grabbed Lenorah's arm, subtly tugging her towards the door.

"Kili Baggins. What do you want with our father?"

It was the man's turn to look surprised.

"Your father? I was not aware that Bilbo had any children."

"Kili, did you ask her-why are my mixing bowls on the ground? Oh!"

Bilbo's mouth dropped open, staring at the scene before him as he stepped out of their hobbit hole. Fili appeared behind him. Then, before anyone could even blink, he was suddenly standing in front of his brother and sister, shielding them from the possible threat with only a small wooden fence between them.

"Can we help you?" He said, ignoring his manners entirely as he glared at Gandalf, who returned the look.

"You cannot, Fili Durin."

At those words, Fili became shock still, his skin taking on a sickly pale color as he stared at the man disbelievingly.

"How-how did...?"

Kili frowned and looked to his brother for an explanation, but Fili just continued to stare. The man ignored him, turning instead to the hobbit of interest.

"Ah, Bilbo, just the hobbit I was looking for!"

"You were looking for me?" The confusion and fear on Bilbo's face made Lenorah want to run and hug him, but she was too shocked to do anything but stand and gape.

"Yes. You see, I am looking for someone to share in an adventure I am arranging, and I thought you the perfect candidate. Though, these three here certainly do change things..."

"An adventure. Adventure. You want me to go on an...adventure." Bilbo repeated, staring at Gandalf with a look that none of his children could identify. Kili was sure that he knew every expression his father possessed; but this time, he hadn't the slightest idea what he was thinking, and it worried him.

"An adventure, yes. Are you alright, my dear Bilbo?"

"Papa?" Lenorah chimed in, staring at her father with worry in her eyes.

Bilbo nodded.

Then threw his head back and laughed.

Lenorah and Kili exchanged a confused glance before moving as one to stand by his sides, holding him up as he continued to cackle.

"I am sorry, have I said something amusing that I am not aware of?" Gandalf asked, frowning.

"I-I don't know. I've never seen him like this. Papa, are you alright?"

"Fine, I'm fine! Oh, I'm sorry, it has just been a long while since I have ever heard something so ridiculous!"

Everyone, with the exception of Bilbo and Fili, frowned at his rude behavior. This was not at all like the father they knew.

"Ridiculous? I was not aware that my proposition could be considered as such. You have changed, Bilbo Baggins, and it does not seem to be entirely for the better."

It was Bilbo's turn to frown as he ceased his laughing and placed an arm around Lenorah and Kili, who were still standing beside him.

"I beg your pardon? I am not sure who you seem to know me as, but I can assure you that if I have changed at all in my lifetime, it is most certainly for the better. Who did you say you are again?"

Gandalf huffed, growing tired of this exchange.

"I am the wizard Gandalf the Grey, and I have come to ask you to accompany me on a journey across Middle Earth!"

"Well, I am sorry to disappoint you, Master Gandalf, but I will not be going anywhere. Perhaps you could try across the water, or somewhere else other than the Shire. Fili, come along, we have a feast to prepare for."

Fili obeyed, walking slowly to Bilbo's outstretched hand and taking it while still staring at the wizard. Together, the four Baggins' went inside, Bilbo shutting the door and locking it after them.

"An adventure! I wonder where he could be going?" Lenorah chirped, looking out the window at the wizard retreating down the path.

"I have no idea. Fili, may I talk with you please?"

It was not a question, and the brothers picked up on Bilbo's edgy tone. Kili took Lenorah by the shoulders and steered her towards the kitchen.

"Lee, why don't you help me whip up some new cake mixture? What flavor would you like?"

Bilbo made sure they were out of earshot before turning to Fili, who was staring at the door. With a jolt, he realized that he was shaking slightly; worry swept through him, and he was suddenly reminded of the little boy he first met, all those years ago.

"Fili, what was that about?" He asked gently, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I-I don't...how does he...Papa, I'm scared."

Fili turned to Bilbo, his eyes wide with fear. Bilbo's heart picked up speed as he pulled his son into a tight hug.

"Oh, Fili. I am here, you don't have to be. Fee, why did he call you 'Fili Durin'? Was...was that your name, before you met me?"

Fili nodded into his shoulder, pulling Bilbo closer.

"I don't know how he knew...I thought they would have forgotten...what am I going to do?"

"Fili, look at me." Fili pulled back, but still held Bilbo's arms tightly in his. Bilbo smiled, trying to comfort him.

"I think it's time you told me why you ran."

Fili blanched. Then nodded. Taking Bilbo's hand, he led him down the hall and into his room, closing the door and blocking out the world trying to hear.


"This cake is delicious, thank you Kee!" Lenorah praised, taking another bite. Kili beamed, reaching over to ruffle her hair.

"Anything for you, little Lee. I told you I wasn't a bad cook!"

"Baker," Lenorah corrected, flicking a crumb at her brother. He scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Papa, are you alright? You've barely eaten anything." Fili asked quietly, knowing full well the answer. Bilbo, who was absent-mindedly pushing his food around his plate, nodded.

"I'm fine, Fili. Really. I'm just not very hungry."

Lenorah gasped.

"Not very hungry? Who are you and what have you done with my hobbit father?"

Bilbo smiled weakly and took a bite of his cake.

"So...what do you think Gandalf is going to do on his adventure?" Lenorah wondered aloud, looking for anything to ease the tension that seemed to appear. But she was quickly shot down by Kili, who gave her a warning look that said to change the subject. She dropped her head, before looking up quickly.

"Well, what about the mark he left on the door?"

This grabbed their attention.

"Mark? What mark?"

"The one Gandalf put there before he left. I've never seen anything like it before."

BOOM BOOM BOOM

Bilbo jumped up from his seat, Lenorah, Fili and Kili following.

"What was that?" Lenorah asked, grabbing onto Kili's arm. He turned and pulled her against him, hugging her to his side.

"I think someones knocking." Fili replied darkly, moving to her other side and holding her like Kili.

"Stay here. I'm sure everything is fine, Lee. It's probably just a drunk Proudfoot looking for his way back to the pub." Bilbo assured her, but on the inside he knew it was a lie. Making his way to the door, he took a deep breath.

Then opened it.

The deep breath he just took was for nothing, for all the air left his lungs in a second.

"Dwalin, at your service." The huge, bulking dwarf before him barked, pushing his way inside. Bilbo snuck a glance down the hall, where he saw Fili ushering his siblings into their room. His son gave him a frozen look of terror before closing the door, and his heart dropped. Fili knew something about this dwarf. Bilbo turned his attention back to the dwarf at hand, only to find him shed of his cloak and pushing his numerous weapons into his arms. Bilbo stumbled under the weight, but Dwalin payed him no mind as he started down the hall.

"No, please, do come in." Bilbo muttered, slightly annoyed at the dwarf's lack of manners. And the way he scared his son.

"Which way laddie? Is it down here?"

Bilbo frowned in confusion as he threw his guest's things into a chest.

"Begging your pardon? Is what down where?"

"Supper. He said there'd be food, and lots of it!"

"He said; who said?" Bilbo asked, but there was no answer. Well, not the answer he was expecting. Instead, another knock led him to his door, only to reveal yet another dwarf.

"Balin, at your service!"

Bilbo gaped at the older dwarf, his mind failing to come up with a reply.

"May I come in?" Balin asked, his smile faltering slightly. Bilbo closed his mouth and nodded, stepping back to allow the dwarf passage.

"P-please, come in."

"Balin! By my beard, brother, you're shorter and wider than last we met!" Dwalin exclaimed, coming into the room at the sound of voices with a large smile.

"Wider, brother, not shorter. And I'm sharp enough for the both of us."

CLUNK

Bilbo jumped as the brothers promptly smashed their foreheads together.

"Ah, excuse me, but do I know either of you? Please, make no mistake, I like visitors as much as the next hobbit, but I do like to know them before they come visiting."

"He didn't tell you?" Dwalin grumbled, giving Bilbo a dirty scowl. Bilbo returned it with a furrowed brow.

"You keep speaking of a 'he', but I have no idea who you could be talking about."

But once again, he was answered not with words, but by another knock on the door. Only this time, it was much louder, as though there were manyhands pounding on it. Bilbo sighed in exasperation, the thought of ignoring whoever could possibly be at the door crossing his mind. It seemed like a very nice plan, but Bilbo grumbled and went to answer it.

"Gaffer's brew! If this is some blighter's idea of a joke, I can assure you, it is in very poor taste!"

He wrenched open the door, and stumbled back, just out of the way as several dwarves fell in a heap at his feet. They cried out in surprise, but Bilbo could only focus on one thing; the tall figure that remained standing.

"Gandalf."


That was rough! I don't like this chapter very much, it didn't go like I thought it would. But I hope you enjoyed!