Anime Princess: I wonder as well... (;

Dawnmist 11: You rock! Cookies to you for the longest review I have ever gotten :) Thank you so much! I loved writing in their protective nature. I hope this was soon, and you get what you are looking for!

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Sorry this is on the shorter side; the next one will be longer, promise! Enjoy!


Dark Pasts

"-please, put that back-"

"-my mother's glory box, can you not-

"-tad excessive, isn't it?"

"Confusticate these dwarves!"

Bilbo sighed in frustration as his chairs were led off to slaughter, his parents items destroyed, and his pantry emptied faster than a keg of ale on MidSummer's Eve.

"Bilbo, what is the matter? These dwarves are a merry gathering, and yet you stand here with a scowl on your face."

Bilbo turned to the wizard with a look of astonishment.

"I am surrounded by dwarves. They are pillaging my pantry, ravaging my plumbing, and ruining my carpets beyond repair. What else could be the matter?"

Gandalf frowned.

"If my memory does not fail me from just this morning, you are already living with two dwarves, are you not? How are they any different from your guests?"

"They have manners! Gandalf, just tell me why they are here, in my house?"

"You shall soon find out. May I suggest stepping to the side, lest you would like to be struck with flying crockery."

Bilbo frowned and turned, ducking just in time as a fork flew through the air right where his head had been. He gasped and watched in horror as his mother's precious dishes were tossed to and fro and a rowdy song was struck up.

"Blunt the knives, bend the forks

smash the bottles and burn the corks

chip the glasses and crack the plates

that's what Bilbo Baggins hates!

Cut the cloth, tread on the fat

leave the bones on the bedroom mat

pour the milk on the pantry floor

splash the wine on every door!

Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl

pound them up with a thumping pole

when you're finished if they are whole

send them down the hall to roll!

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"

Bilbo pushed through the crowd of dwarves, only to see that his dishes were all stacked up neatly in a large pile.

"I-how did-what..."

The dwarves laughed at his flustered state.

"Papa?"

Bilbo's heart froze and he whirled around, spotting Lenorah in the doorway with wide eyes. He rushed to her side as the dwarves all turned to stare at them, a few of them whispering amongst themselves. Bilbo ignored them as he grabbed Lenorah's arm and began pulling her back to her room.

"Lenorah, what are you doing out here? Why aren't Fili and Kili watching you?"

"Fee said we couldn't come out, but I wanted to make sure you were alright, so I slipped out when he wasn't looking. Those dwarves are very loud. What are they doing here Papa?"

Bilbo shook his head as he opened the door to her room, gently pushing her inside.

"I don't know, Lee. But do not, under any circumstances, come out unless I come and get you, alright? Fili, do you hear me?"

Fili nodded as he took Lenorah's hand, closing the door after her. Bilbo sighed and returned to the kitchen. But the dwarves were not loud and happy as they were only moments before. Instead, they sat with serious expressions, none of them making a sound. That's when Bilbo saw him.

"Ah, Bilbo, you are back. Allow me to introduce you to Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of this company."

The tall, dark-haired dwarf with authority simply radiating off of him, towered over Bilbo as he looked him up and down.

"So, this is the hobbit then? Tell me, Master Baggins, how much fighting experience have you had? Do you prefer axe or sword as your weapon of choice?"

Bilbo faltered at the rush of questions thrown at him.

"I-I have done little fighting, though I have some skill at conkers. Why that is relevant, I fail to see."

Thorin smirked, returning to the bowl of soup someone had provided him.

"I thought as much. Master Baggins looks more the grocer type than a burglar."


Have you any news from Ered Luin? Did they come?" Dwalin asked, staring at Thorin intently.

"Aye, from all seven kingdoms."

"And? Is Dain with us?"

"No. They say this quest is ours and ours alone."

A grumble of disappointment rippled through the company at his words. This was not the news they had been hoping for.

"You are going on a quest? Oh, this must be the adventure you talked about, isn't it Gandalf?"

Gandalf nodded, snuffing his pipe and pulling something out of his robes.

"Indeed it is. Bilbo, could we perhaps have a little more light? There we are. Far over to the East, over rivers and ranges and woodlands of old, stands a single solitary peak."

Bilbo held a candle over the map spread out on the table, reading over Thorin and Gandalf's shoulders.

"The Lonely Mountain? Isn't that the lost dwarf kingdom of Erebor?"

The host of dwarves looked up at him with varying reactions; some looked shocked, others wary, and even one or two seemed pleased. He took a step back, closing his mouth before he go into any trouble.

"How do you know of Erebor?" Thorin growled. Bilbo blushed.

He was not about to tell his guests that he was the adoptive father of two dwarves keeping a hidden past. He was not about to tell them that he had done research on everything dwarven he could find, just to see if he could help Fili and Kili with their past. While Fili hadn't mentioned any names when he told Bilbo, he knew that these dwarves were somehow involved.

He was not about to let their world be turned upside down.

"I-I enjoy reading, and I came across a book of dwarven history. I-Is it a secret? I did not think that they would put it in a book if it was."

"It is no secret; you've done nothing wrong, Bilbo." Gandalf assured him, giving Thorin a dark look.

"Nevermind the hobbit's knowledge; Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time! Do you not think that others have read them too? We must strike, now." Gloin, (or who Bilbo assumed was Gloin; they all had rhyming names, and there were so many) grunted, smacking a fist on the table.

Bilbo's mind struggled to remember what else he had read about the mountain. Hadn't there been a great foe? Something that took the mountain from the dwarves...

His breath left him in a whoosh.

"E-Excuse me, but is there not a dragon living in the mountain? You mean to tell me that you plan on taking on a dragon and reclaiming your lost home?"

"That is precisely what we mean to do, Master Baggins."

Bilbo gaped at them. They couldn't be serious.

"You aren't serious. Are you?"

The looks he recieved were murderous. Except for one.

"The lad is right," Balin sighed. "We number only eleven, and not eleven of the best nor brightest. And we forget; the front entrance is demolished. There is no way to enter the mountain."

"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true."

Gandalf winked as a key appeared from the folds of his robes into his hands. Everyone's gazes were on the item, and the room was silent.

"How came you by this?" Thorin whispered, taking the key as Gandalf offered it to him.

"It was given to me by your father, Thrain. For safe keeping, until you were ready to have it. It is yours now; keep it safe."

Thorin nodded, staring at the key before slipping it onto a chord and tying it around his neck.

"Now that we have a way into the mountain, the only thing left to find is a burglar." Ori, the youngest of the dwarves, piped up. The others nodded and looked towards Bilbo. He shook his head with a small smile.

"I am sorry, but like I said before, I have never stolen anything in my life. And I have children to care for; I could never leave them behind for a journey that will most likely end up in my death."

Bilbo caught his mistake too late. A sense of dread slithered down his spine, and he prayed they hadn't noticed. But today was not his lucky day.

"Children? You have more than the girl? Where are they hiding?"

Bilbo glanced at Gandalf, who gave him a pitied expression.

Oh good; pity from a wizard. This is not going to end well.

"Ah, yes, I-I do. I have two sons as well. But they are sleeping; I really shouldn't wake them."

The dwarves all nodded in agreement, the prospect of interrupting a child's sleep cruel. Bilbo inwardly sighed in relief. He had managed to avoid that mess.

"Papa."

Nevermind.

Bilbo's heart sunk. He turned slowly to face Fili, who stood in the doorway pale as snow but with a determined look on his face. Kili and Lenorah stood behind him, a mix of concern and confusion marring their faces.

Fili, please. Go back to your room. Don't do this.

I have to. Just like you said; I can't run forever.

No one was speaking; they could talk simply through their eyes. It was a skill they had aquired when Kili was young and they had to say something without saying it aloud.

Bilbo suddenly wished they were alone; no unruly dwarves, no wizard. Just him and his children. He wanted to run and hug them, to speak words of comfort to them.

But he couldn't.

Tears pricked at Bilbo's eyes, and he dropped his head, whispering.

"Thorin, this is my son, Fili. The two behind him are my other son, Kili, and my daughter, Lenorah."

The room fell utterly silent; it seemed like no one was breathing. Thorin slowly stood, never moving his eyes from the blonde dwarf standing in front of him.

Fili's blonde curls flew behind him as he ran down the hall, squealing with laughter as Thorin chased him.

"You can't catch me!" Fili yelled, before tripping over his own feet and tumbling to the ground.

Thorin raced to his side, pulling the dwarfling into his lap.

"Fili, are you alright?"

Fili laughed, and Thorin smiled.

"I'm fine! I'm tough, just like you."

Thorin's smile grew as he cuddled the boy against his chest.

"That you are, Fili. That you are."

"Fili..." He trailed off, lost for words. He could not believe what he was seeing.

Fili smiled slightly, but a dark look shadowed his face.

"Hello, Uncle."


Hope you enjoyed!