Hey there! I know, it's been a month; I feel awful, that was way too long last time. I'm hoping to have another chapter up in a few days to kind of make up for it :\
Sabrinabella: I'm glad that you liked their reunion! Hope this chapter is satisfying!
vlnelson1955: Thank you so much, I am so happy you like it! As for Fili and Esme, we'll have to wait and see...
Vincent Aguila: Yo! I'm also really excited to see how Fili acts towards Thorin and how Thorin takes it, as well as Kili and how comfortable Fili is with everything...this will be a surprise for us all, even me! Hopefully what you find in this chapter is alright!
I will be mentioning a character that does not make an appearance in The Hobbit, but in LotR. I am taking some lines from LotR and adding it in here to fit with the story. Seeing as the character is believed to have lived before the Kings, I am going to assume that he knew his song before FotR. If you are confused, hopefully you will be able to figure it out when you read it. If not, feel free to message me with any questions! So in past chapters I have been using only a few lines of dialogue from the movies. In my other fic, I was basing it a lot on the movies, but I don't want to do that with this one. I want the characters interactions to be new and surprising. That's part of the fun! However, there are some lines from both the book and movies that I really love, so I will put those in here. Just not very many. Hope the unfamiliarity is okay with you guys!
I also would like to say that I am OBSESSED with the soundtracks of all six movies. It's unhealthy. I especially love the music that always goes with The Shire and hobbits. Like the flute and the violin. Concerning Hobbits is one of my favorite songs ever. So is The Breaking of the Fellowship. Ooh, and The Return of the King! Howard Shore is a genius! Anyways, I think that I will start naming the chapters after the songs that accompany them in the movies. What do you think?
One last thing, this is out of curiosity, but if you could be any Middle Earth race, what would you be? I would be a hobbit.
Sorry for the blabber, on with the chapter!
previously-
Bilbo sighed, rubbing his eyes before dropping his hands in his lap in defeat.
"It seems that I have no choice; alright, you can come along, but only if you swear to listen to me better than you have been and stick close to me." He raised his eyebrows and pointed at his children with a look that dared them to disobey. Their faces lit up, and Bilbo couldn't help but smile at their excitement. So why did he feel as though he were going to regret this decision?
Thorin's heart soared, though he didn't show it. It did not entirely please him that another hobbit, a child and girl at that, was joining them, but if that is what it took to have Fili and Kili with him, then he could suffer. He ordered a pony to each of his nephews, while the lass shared with her father.
"Onward! We will make camp at sunset."
With that, the company trudged forward, the sun beating down rays of warmth and light. The birds seemed to sing louder, and the Company's mood seemed lighter with the fellowship of their new friends; but the dwarf leader did not notice.
For the first time in a very long time, Thorin Oakenshield was smiling.
Chapter Ten: In the Night
The group ambled along in the warm spring air, their steeds every so often whickering to one another in content. Nearby, a small creek burbled, a peaceful rush that lended comforting background noise. A tranquil calm surrounded them, the only disruptive sounds being the occasional laugh that came out of the company's light conversations.
"Fee, I'm hot. Why did you make me change?"
Fili rolled his eyes, hiding his flaming cheeks from the others smirks by reaching over to blow in his sisters face. Her hair fluttered from the gust of wind, making her humph in discontent.
"Because, Lee, you can't wear a dress on an adventure; you know that. Now stop complaining."
Bilbo glanced over his shoulder and smiled. It seemed that nothing would stop his children from bickering over the silliest of things. Beside Bilbo, the dwarf with the hat, Bofur, Bilbo thought, smiled as well. From the little interaction that Bilbo had had with the dwarf, he seemed likeable.
"So, Bofur," Bilbo began, waiting to see if his assumption was correct. The dwarf addressed turned his attention to the hobbit, smiling. "What shall we talk about? I believe this journey is going to be a great walking holiday, and I would rather not spend it in awkward silence."
Bofur chuckled and tugged on his beard. "We could always discuss why you came across the lads here. The Shire would be the last place to find a dwarf, if I'm bein' completely honest."
Bilbo bit his lip, squirming a little in his saddle as he glanced at Fili. The dwarf's eyes were large, and he shook his head; no one but Bilbo had seen. In turn, the hobbit gave the smallest of nods, noting the relief that flooded his son's face.
It was not time to tell the truth. At least not all of it. They did not need to know why; not yet.
"Well, erm, that is an option, I suppose. Let's see; it would have been almost thirty years ago, when Lee was only a babe. I had had a rather rough day, and decided to go out for a walk." Bilbo thought back, remembering the day, the one where his life had been changed forever. It happened so long ago, and yet, it seemed to have taken place just yesterday, the memory clear in his mind. "I had, by accident, walked to the very border of the Shire, and the sun was nearly set, when I heard a growl and a child's yell. I found Fili with a small sword, fighting off a lone wolf. They are rare in the Shire, but that's beside the point. I am embarrassed," Bilbo flushed, but grinned at Fili with pride, "to say that while I did try to distract the wretched beast, it was ultimately Fee who ended it's life. That's when I discovered Kee and Lenorah, and decided to bring them home with me."
Silence fell over the company. Wary glances were passed between the dwarves, waiting to see how their leader would react to the hobbit's story. Thorin kept his gaze straight ahead, reticent about his thoughts on the matter. Bilbo once again looked to Fili, giving him a small smile. The blonde returned it, before clearing his throat.
"So, Lee, do you know where we are?"
Happy for the uncomfortable quiet to end, Lenorah scrunched up her face in concentration as she recalled the many maps lying about their home.
"If that creek leads to the Brandywine, then we're in Buckland, north-east of the South Downs." She recited, grinning at the stunned looks she received from a few of the older dwarves.
"Very good!" Fili praised, reaching over to ruffle her hair. "I'm impressed; Kee couldn't tell you even if he had a map right in front of him, and we've explored this place hundreds of times."
"Not so! I knew where we were, you just didn't ask me. At least I know about the Barrow-wights." Kili stuck out his tongue, swatting Fili's arm for his teasing. Ori, who had yet to really say anything, perked up in curiosity.
"What are 'barrow-wights'? Should we keep an eye out for them?"
Lenorah also seemed interested, turning around in the saddle and leaning her back against Bilbo's to face her brothers. "Is this another one of your stories?"
"No," Kili retorted, "this is the truth! Papa used to tell us about them when we were younger, to keep us from straying to far from Hobbiton; we thought they were just made-up creatures. When we got older, though, we were playing a game, and we went farther than we were supposed to. It was getting to be quite dark, and I, being the responsible brother that I am, said we should go back. That's when we saw it; an ugly figure about Dwalin's height, lurking behind a tree in the fog. It was ghastly! It had thin black hair, and it's skin was grey, like a corpse. It let out this eerie screech and made for us. That's when we ran home. I don't fancy ever running into something like that again." Kili shuddered at the thought, unconsciously leaning closer to his brother. Lenorah did the same, trying to erase the image of the wight from her mind.
The rest of the day was spent laughing and trading stories of happier things and times. When at last the sun began to set, Thorin led the company to a small outcrop overlooking a valley, just large enough to fit the steeds and their mounts. The group of dwarves set about making camp, while Gandalf retired to a nearby rock, pulling out his pipe. Bilbo decided to help Bombur in whatever way he could to prepare supper, while Fili, Kili and Lenorah offered to take care of the ponies. After all were done with their work, they settled down around the fire, the crackling of the wood surrounding them.
"Why don't we hear another story? Lads, you have any more tall tales to tell us?" Bofur asked, looking to Fili and Kili where they sat in a small alcove, pressed on either side of Lenorah to keep her warm. The brothers shook their head, not able to come up with anything they thought dwarves would enjoy hearing. Lenorah wrapped her blanket tighter around herself, stretching out so that she lay in both her brother's laps. "What about one of that old man, the one who lives in the woods with his wife?" She suggested sleepily, closing her eyes.
"You mean Tom Bombadil? Goodness, it's been a long time since I've heard that one," Bilbo remarked. "Well let's see; I'm not entirely sure I remember how it goes, but I'll give it a try.
'There once was a man named Tom,
whom always was singing a song.
And everyone the lyrics knows,
But just in case, here it goes!
'Hey! Come merry dol! My darling!
Light goes the weather-wind and the feathered starling.
Down along under Hill, shining in the sunlight,
Waiting in the doorstep for the cold starlight,
There my pretty lady is, River-woman's daughter,
Slender as the willow-wand, clearer than the water.
Old Tom Bombadil water-lilies bringing
Comes hopping home again. Can you hear him singing?
Hey! Come merry dol! derry dol! and merry-o,
Goldberry, Goldberry, merry yellow berry-o!
Poor old Willow-man, you tuck your roots away!
Tom's in a hurry now. Evening will follow day.
Tom's going home again water-lilies bringing.
Hey Come merry dol! Can you hear me singing?'
Bilbo finished the tale, smiling when he saw that Lenorah, as well as Fili and Kili, had drifted off to sleep.
"Who is this Bombadil fellow? Is he like your barrow-wights?"
The hobbit turned to Nori, surprised the dwarf had even acknowledged him. He couldn't recall one time the entire day that the dwarf had spoken.
"You mean to tell me you have never heard of Tom Bombadil? But he is a classic! My grandmother told my mother of him when she was girl, that's how long he's been around, at least!"
"To answer your question, Master Nori," Gandalf interjected, fixing Bilbo with a frown, "Tom Bombadil is, simply put, an ambiguous entity that has allegedly been around since the beginning of the First Age. He is believed to live in the Old Forest with his wife, where they keep watch over the Barrow-downs, keeping them in balance."
"Of course, he's nothing more than a story," Bilbo yawned, spreading out onto his bedroll beside his sleeping children. "No one's actually seen him. Right, Gandalf?"
The wizard kept quiet, his eyes meeting Bilbo's over the heated ashes in his pipe in such a way that made the hobbit begin to doubt his words.
"I will say this, Bilbo Baggins; there are many things in this world that are unknown to a myriad of people, but not unfamiliar to all. There are secrets lying in every shadowed corner; you must simply open your eyes to discover them."
The hobbit sighed in mild irritation. Confound the old man. Why must wizards always speak in riddles?
"Goodnight, Gandalf."
"Goodnight Bilbo."
The last thing the hobbit saw before drifting off to sleep was the sky, a dark canvas of black and blue dotted with the twinkling silver light of stars.
So, this wasn't a particularly long chapter, and I apologize. Let me know if you liked hearing about the barrow-wights and ole' Tom, I wanted to throw those in there for fun. We'll be meeting some unsavory characters in the next chapter. I don't know how I feel about this one. Gah I cant think straight, I'm so tired. Let me know what you think!
