WOW! You guys are awesome! Thank you so much for the amazing reviews! I'm glad you all seemed to like the cute hobbit children, they were SO much fun to write! I had a couple of inquiries regarding the end and the BOFA after Merry's actions, and I will give no spoilers other than I have not completely decided yet how the end will go. It may be worth remembering that one of my other fics reverses many deaths, so you can probably tell that character death makes me very sad indeed :P
This is a bit of a filler chapter, but it should be okay :P
Sorry for any mistakes.
Read. Enjoy. Review.
Chapter Eight # Letters #
For the first time in years, Bilbo woke before the morning had fully broken.
Upon opening his eyes, the first thing that he saw was Kíli's innocent sleeping face. The previous night, Kíli had insisted on giving up his bed for the dwarves – or more accurately for Fíli – again, so once again Bilbo had found himself sharing with the youngest dwarf, not that he minded particularly.
Careful not to wake his son, Bilbo slipped out of bed and got dressed, ensuring that he had everything that he would need while being careful not to include unnecessary indulgences. As soon as he heard the dwarves beginning to stir, he moved over to the other side of the bed.
"Kíli…Kíli it's time to wake up!" he murmured, rubbing Kíli's shoulder gently.
Kíli groaned and threw an arm over his eyes. "Five more minutes?"
Bilbo laughed. "Do you want to tell Thorin that, or shall I?"
"Alright, alright, I'm getting up!" Kíli grumbled, blinking several times until his bright brown eyes focused on Bilbo. "Good morning."
Bilbo smiled back. "It is…it is…"
Kíli frowned lightly. "That's not your usual response."
"Blame the wizard." Bilbo responded, ruffling Kíli's hair. "Come on, get up, get up!"
Kíli laughed and held out his hand. Rolling his eyes, Bilbo pulled the young dwarf out of bed.
"Hurry and get dressed."
"Are you excited?" Kíli grinned at Bilbo with infectious enthusiasm.
"Yes, I am." Bilbo replied honestly.
It did not take Kíli long to get ready, and Bilbo was reminded just how different Kíli looked from the rest of his kin his hobbit attire. He certainly looked a lot more vulnerable.
Breakfast was a quick but hearty meal, and by the time the sun had come up they were all but ready to leave.
"Kíli!" Esme called as she raced her brother and husband up the hill. Several dwarves looked taken aback when she flew into Kíli's arms and he twirled her around, but Bilbo was pleased to see that Fíli at least looked completely comfortable, if a little sad, at the display. "Oh, I'm going to miss you!"
Bilbo smiled sadly to himself when Kíli whispered back words that none of the others could hear into Esmeralda's curly hair, before releasing her and pulling something out of his bag and passing it to her carefully.
"Look after it for me?"
"Of course I will." She smiled tearfully as she took the huge, leather bound book, folding her arms around it and holding it closely.
Kíli smiled at her and then clamped his hand onto Paladin's arm.
"Take care of yourself, Kíli." The oldest hobbit of the trio smiled wanly. "For once."
Kíli laughed. "I will. Say goodbye to the little ones for me."
"Of course." Paladin nodded with a smile.
Saradoc shifted his bleary eyed son who was tucked into the crook of his arm so that he could grasp Kíli's hand warmly. "Seriously, Kíli, be careful. I expect to see you again."
"You will, if I have half a say in the matter." Kíli promised, and Bilbo smiled sadly.
As the child in Saradoc's arms reached desperately for Kíli, a lump grew in Bilbo's throat. Wordlessly, Kíli took Merry into his arms, shushing gently as the child as he began to cry.
"Don't go!" the little boy begged hopelessly, and Kíli smiled sadly.
"I've got to go, but I'll see you soon enough, alright?"
"How soon?" Merry's demand was weakened by his yawn.
"As soon as I can, and I shall write to you if I get a chance. Merry, will you look after something for me?"
Wiping his nose on his sleeve, Merry sniffed and nodded.
Kíli pulled the tiny bow he had possessed his whole life out of his pocket. "Will you look after this until I get back?"
"I will, I promise!" The child clung to Kíli desperately for a moment, before releasing his grip slightly. "I have something for you, too. It's waterproof and it's not too heavy, in case you fall into more rivers. I made it last night."
Kíli took the tiny, leather wrapped package with surprise, but hugged Merry tightly all the same. "Thank you, Merry."
"Open it later." Merry ordered, before turning his solemn gaze to Thorin. "Look after my Kíli."
Thorin earned some admiration from Bilbo when he bowed at the young hobbit. "I will, Master Meriadoc."
Merry nodded soberly, before giving Kíli one last squeeze. "I love you, Kíli. Don't forget me! Promise you won't!"
Kíli pressed a kiss onto the child's curly head. "I promise. And I love you too."
Bilbo embraced Esme quickly and shook hands with the two boys, and then they were off, down the path to the road they were to wake.
This is it…Bilbo thought numbly. I'm going on an adventure…
A few early rising children came to the window to wave Kíli and Bilbo goodbye, but other than that they saw no one, quickly making their way into the sparsely populated wooded areas of the Shire.
Dísmayed at the knowledge that he was expected to ride a pony, Bilbo's Baggins side wanted to make a fuss when he was told to mount a beast called 'Myrtle', but the worry marring the joy on Kíli's face as the dwarf stared at him was enough to close his mouth.
Though he struggled a little, he mounted the pony with no further complaint, and tried his very hardest to relax into the saddle like Kíli seemed to do so easily.
"Y'alright, Bilbo?" a cheerful lilt asked from his right, and he turned to look at Bofur with a forced smile.
"Me? Oh, yes, I'm fine."
"You've never ridden before, have yeh?" Bofur asked with his easy smile, and Bilbo shook his head.
"I can't say I have, no. I've never really gone far enough to warrant the fuss."
"How far have yeh been before?" Bofur's curiosity was friendly and non-intrusive, and Bilbo found himself warming to the dwarf a little more.
"I've been to Bree a couple of times with Kíli, but that is about it." The hobbit explained honestly.
"I see." Bofur nodded thoughtfully, before nodding up at Kíli. "It was a decent thing you did, taking in the lad like that. Dwarves aren't often shown much kindness by strangers…"
"Maybe I've just led a very sheltered life, but I did not think that any decent person would have left a child in a river like that." Bilbo shifted uncomfortably.
"Aye, but few would've taken him home with them, yeh can't deny that. Raising him on your own can't have been easy either. In my humble opinion, you did well." Bofur smiled at Bilbo, who smiled back.
"Thank you. What do you do, may I ask?" Bilbo asked, genuinely curious.
Bofur nodded with a smile. "I'm a miner, mainly, but I prefer toy-making…"
Further up the line, Kíli himself was engrossed in conversation with Ori.
"What does a scribe do exactly?"
Ori twitched, pulling at his mittens. "Well, we write documents, track records, record events, all sorts…"
"I see…" Kíli nodded thoughtfully.
"It doesn't sound like the most exciting job, but I like it." The shy young dwarf looked as if he expected Kíli to scoff at him.
"It sounds like an important job." Kíli noted seriously, before adding. "I think there are lots of different types of exciting as well. If everyone was a warrior the world would be a very bloody and boring place."
Ori smiled at him happily. "I'm glad you think so."
"Do you have a sword?" Kíli asked with interest. "I don't think that everyone needs one, I'm just curious."
"That's fine… No, though I can use one." Ori answered easily.
"Well, you have one up on me, then." Kíli pointed out, before pausing.
Ori spoke with quiet curiosity. "Do you have a job?"
"I do." Kíli nodded proudly. "I work down at Bywater Smithy. We don't make much more than jewellery and garden tools, hobbits don't approve of ironmongery, but it comes easily to me, and I'm not a leech. Bilbo's money is Bilbo's money, however much he tries to convince me otherwise."
For the entirety of the first day of travel, excited butterflies wreaked havoc in Kíli's stomach, causing him to wonder just how excited he would become when they actually left the Shire. Just as he had in the previous day, Kíli spent most of the day learning as much as he could about his kin and his previous home.
Importantly, he learnt that dwarves most certainly do not have seven meals a day, a detail that he could see distressed Bilbo slightly, though his ever patient guardian would never admit it.
After the first day of riding, he ached ever so slightly, but it was Bilbo that was walking funny.
"So, Kíli…Would you like to learn some of that sword work now?" Fíli offered as soon as they made camp, and Kíli's eyes lit up.
"Yes, please!"
"You're training him?" Dwalin grinned evilly. "How about a demonstration?"
Fíli mirrored his malicious smirk, grabbing his swords from the side of his pony. "I thought you'd never ask."
"My apologies about that pair." Balin shook his head and looked at Kíli. "My brother has a certain lust for action…"
Kíli laughed, turning his gaze to the warrior facing his brother.
They were circling each other at the far end of the clearing away from the fire being built by Bombur and Bifur, but soon enough everyone was watching the grinning dwarves as the friendly tension grew.
Suddenly, the pair roared at each other and Kíli's spine tingled with anticipation as they charged.
Fíli's twin blades clanged loudly as they crashed against Dwalin's war hammer, and the pair began twirling around each other, as graceful and skilled as dancers. Kíli watched in awe as they landed blow after blow, and twirled around each other with unnerving skill.
When Dwalin finally won the duel, Kíli was itching to try.
"You can use one of my swords to train." Fíli offered, but Thorin shook his head.
"No, you cannot." The leader went on to explain, more for Kíli's benefit than for Fíli's. "The twin blades must be shaped and balanced differently from standard swords so they may be wielded together. Use my sword."
Kíli's mouth dropped open slightly. "Are, are you sure?"
Thorin raised his eyebrow, gauging his nephew's reaction. "I am sure."
Kíli swallowed. "Thank you!"
Thorin smiled, handing over the blade easily. "You are welcome."
He pulled out his pipe and leant against a tree as he watched Fíli take his brother through the basics of sword work, from the simplest stance to the easiest attacks. It pleased him that Kíli's muscles seemed to remember the early lessons that his brain could not recollect, and his nephew seemed to slip back into the movements with relative ease.
However, watching the two boys practise sent Thorin tumbling back into an abyss of memories, an abyss that he did not wish to enter now.
He did not want to watch himself play with his lost brother; he did not want to relieve the sheer agony he had felt when his other half was ripped away.
He did not want to watch his sister-sons play; he did not want to re-watch the sheer agony that Fíli had felt when his other half was ripped away.
He did not want to watch Fíli teach Kíli and stir up all of those old memories.
Thorin stood up and strode over to the company's scribe.
"Ori? I need some paper, and a pen if you have it."
"Oh, of course!" the young dwarf stammered, hastening to retrieve Thorin's desired items.
Thorin stared at the piece of paper and then began to write the words he had been mulling over for two whole days.
Dearest Dís,
I have spent this very day thinking of nothing but how to put my news into words, and I hesitantly concluded that the kindest way to deliver it would be to simply write it as clearly as possible.
Kíli is alive, my dear sister, both of your sons live.
While in the Shire we discovered that the burglar Gandalf chose pulled the lad out of the Brandywine twenty one years ago, and the head wound caused by the orcs stole his memory of the past. Though he has no recollection of us, Kíli has grown up safe and healthy.
I have no doubts, Dís that this is your son - even if the scar on his hand from those pipes was not visible I would still be sure - his eyes have not changed a fraction and his resemblance to yourself and to me is strong.
The hobbit seems to have been good to him, and he appears both happy and healthy. He is leaner than his brother with less stubble but he is just as tall and his hair it of the same length. I believe that he still shoots, and as I write this he is receiving a lesson in swordsmanship from Fíli and Dwalin, for yes, we offered him a place amongst the company.
Fíli and I are well and the journey has so far been smooth.
I shall write when I get an opportunity, and when I know more.
Thorin
"Thorin...?"
Thorin's head snapped up to look at Kíli and automatically his hand moved to cover the writing. "Yes, Kíli?"
"I only meant to return your sword, sir, I was not trying to read your letter. Thank you for letting me borrow it." Kíli responded quietly, casting his eyes downward to the floor and guilt tugged at Thorin's heart.
"You can read it if you wish, Kíli. And you are most welcome."
Kíli's eyes flickered to the letter with a sparkle of interest, but then he blushed. "I...couldn't."
Thorin raised an eyebrow and the embarrassment shining from Kíli's face grew.
"I cannot read Khuzdul runes. Excuse me."
Thorin ran a hand over his jaw as he watched Kíli walk away and lean against another tree, and despite all his previous struggles the King-In-Exile was sucked into a memory.
"I cannot believe him!" Thorin fumed, slamming a fist into the beam of the doorway.
"Thorin!" Dís whispered, though he knew that the anger sizzling in her eyes was not directed at him. "You'll wake the boys."
"Did you hear the things he said about the boys?" Thorin hissed back, unable to control his fury. "About our father, about you?"
"I heard him…" Dís murmured, putting a hand on Thorin's arm. "But Thorin, he is just an ambassador. His opinion is not worth your getting so angry…"
"He went too far, Dís, too far!" the dwarf leader fumed, the harsh insults to his family still ringing in his ears.
"Ama?" Fíli asked from the doorway of the room he shared with his little brother, who was hiding behind the golden haired dwarfling. "What's wrong with Uncle Thorin?"
"A bad man said some very mean things." Dís instantly put on a soothing tone.
"What things?" Fíli pressed, and Kíli moved around him a little.
Thorin gnashed his teeth together, the very memory of the offenses making his wrath bubble over.
Kíli tugged on his brother's sleeves. "Uncle Thorin doesn't want to talk about the mean man now. He wants to make him hurt badly."
"Kíli!" Dís raised an eyebrow and Kíli shuffled down the hall, his thumb in his mouth.
Thorin looked down at his young nephew who held his arms up expectantly. Lifting Kíli up off of the floor, Thorin tucked the child into the crook of his arm and pressed his chin onto his sister-sons head.
Slowly, the anger began to seep from his limbs and from his heart with the soothing circles Kíli had started to rub on his shoulder.
"It's alright, uncle Thorin." Kili copied his mother's soothing words that she used so often to lull them to sleep after nightmares. "We're here and we loved you and that's all that matters."
The ambassador's words were not true, and it did not matter if the conceited old Firebeard thought that they were.
The incredibly perceptive child in Thorin's arms was more than worthy of the title 'heir of Durin', and what was more, he was Thorin's heir and he was Thorin's nephew.
Somehow, even at the age of only twenty, Kíli knew exactly what to do and say no matter what Thorin's mood.
Thorin realised with a breaking heart that Kíli did not know how to respond to him anymore, and a strange fear came across him when he realised that he would have to be careful not to humiliate or scare the gentle dwarf.
Thorin did not know how to act around his own nephew, and that scared him. As his sister liked to point out, relationships were not his strong point.
As his uncle searched desperately for ways to rebuild the incinerated bridge between them, Kíli unwrapped the parcel Merry had given him with curiosity.
To his surprise, a letter in Esme's distinctive handwriting fluttered down on his lap.
Dear Kíli,
This letter is from Merry, but Mama is writing it for me because I don't know my letters well. So that you won't forget me if you fall into any more rivers, I've drawn you a picture. Please, please, don't forget me, Kíli. I know that you will never forget me but Mama wrote the wrong thing – I know the dwarves are more interesting than me – yes write every word Mama – but I hope you'll still love me even when they are more better than me.
I also wrote – alright, alright, Mama wrote – all of our names on the back of the present in case you fall into any more rivers and you can put it around your neck if you want to.
We have to go now and say goodbye to you but I know it won't be goodbye forever because you promised.
And even if you do forget me, I know you'll never forget your promise.
Love from Merry.
His young friend's name was written in the shaky hand of the seven year old himself, and Kíli almost felt a tear in his eye as he stowed the note safely in a pocket on top of his heart and picked up a wooden medallion a little smaller than his palm.
Carved into the wood were the stick-figures of a small curly haired child and a taller figure, with the words 'Merry' and 'Kíli' labelling them with wobbly letters, and a leather thong created an effect almost like a necklace.
"Bilbo, look…" he murmured with a smile, leaning over and proudly showing him Merry's craft. "Look what Merry made me!"
Bilbo smiled. "That's…very special."
"I know…" Kíli nodded, running his hands over the carving. "I know…"
Through the dying firelight, Ori glanced up at the younger dwarf as he wrote down the first words of the fresh chapter in his account of the journey.
In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit and a dwarf…
I hope that ending was alright, I felt a little cheeky giving Ori Bilbo's words but who knows, maybe the hobbit will steal them later ;)
See you soon for a chapter with a little more action!
