Chapter 11

Dwalin pulled Bilbo into his hard side. "She was a good Hobbit. Did you know the story of how she and Thorin first met?"

All the Dwarves were aware of Dwalin's attempt at changing the subject. Bofur laughed. "Tell us!"

Thorin glowered at Dwalin. "Don't you dare-"

"Belladonna owned a tea and pastry shop in mountain. Her fame was spread throughout the entire land. Finally, I convinced Thorin to leave his paperwork for once and have a little fun like we used to. After sparring, we changed and went in search for food that wasn't made in the palace. I smelled the cookies and heard the laughter and decided to go into the shop called The Silver Leaf. I still swear to this day that I didn't see the sign tell us to wipe our boots."

Bilbo started laughing. Thorin smiled slightly to himself. He could hear Bella in Bilbo's laugh. He turned away as tears pricked his eyes. His Bella. He missed her so fiercely.

Dwalin continued on with his story. "Well, we sat ourselves down and gave our orders. Miss Bella came by our table and spied the mud dripping from our boots. She saw the tracks we made coming in. Well…" Dwalin chuckled. "She lambasted us both. I was willing to just forget it and let is pass and wipe my boots next time I came to the shop, but Thorin…" He shook his head. "High and mighty King Thorin was not used to being lectured! He raised his nose and said in his deep, kingly voice, 'You talk too much. Silence is much better from a serving girl. Get our food now!'" Dwalin mimicked Thorin exceptionally well and had all the Dwarves holding their sides with laughter. Fíli and Kíli were using each other for support.

Thorin growled. "I said no such thing, Dwalin! You are a liar!"

Dwalin chuckled. "I was there, Thorin. I heard it all!"

Thorin started snarling in Khuzdul. Bilbo blinked in shock. He hadn't heard half of the words that Thorin was using. Kíli and Fíli were slack jawed. Kíli snickered and whispered. "I'm pretty sure he just made up a few new ones!"

Bilbo snorted in laughter and watched the two adult Dwarves bicker and insult each other like children. He saw another side of his father then. The childish side of him. Bilbo smiled sadly, wishing he could see more.

They trekked on and on, deep into the mountains. Bilbo shivered as the rain slapped him across the face. The wind was so strong and he was nearly blown off the mountain. Dwalin held him down the to ground.

Suddenly, the entire mountain rumbled. Bilbo's heart stopped. He looked up when Bofur gave a cry.

"GIANTS! STONE GIANTS!"

Everything was chaos. Bilbo couldn't see. He couldn't see where the others were. The rain was stinging his eyes. The wind was whipping his hair into his mouth whenever he called out. He lost Dwalin. He didn't know what was happening.

Until he found himself hanging onto the edge of the cliff.

Thorin saved him.

Bilbo turned from Dwalin to thank him but froze.

"He's been lost from the very beginning! He shouldn't have come. He has no place amongst us." Thorin turned away.

Dwalin snarled slightly, but Bilbo squeezed his arm. "No…" Bilbo gave a broken laugh. "He's…right." He pulled away from Dwalin and followed Balin to the edge where the cave was. Dwalin went in and explored it. After they settled in, Bilbo stared listlessly at his sword. He ignored all the worried looks that the brothers were sending him.

He has no place amongst us.

He doesn't belong.

He looks more like a grocer…

Head is full of flowers…

Master Hobbit

No place…

Doesn't belong!

Doesn't belong!

DOESN'T BELONG!

Bilbo jumped up from his bedroll silently and started tip toeing out of the cave.

"Wait!" He turned and sighed at the sight of Bofur. "Where are you going? You can't leave now!"

Bilbo sighed. "I'm going back to Rivendell."

"But why? You belong with us! You're a Dwarf too!"

Bilbo laughed brokenly. "Not really. Thorin's made it quite clear that I'm not welcome, nor am I a Dwarf! I'm going back to the Elves."

Bofur tried to urge Bilbo to stay but paused. "What's that?" He was looking at the sand and pebbled covering the cave floor. The dirt was falling through a crack that was forming.

Bilbo blinked. "Get up! The cave is opening!" He looked into the back and saw the last of the ponies disappearing through the hidden wall in the back of the cave. Thorin gave a shout, but the Dwarves were caught unawares and were captured by the goblins. They were led to the heart of Goblin Town, with Bilbo nearest to the whips. Bilbo tried to push Bombur to go faster than he was. He didn't relish the idea of feeling the sting of a lash.

However, when they got to the Great Goblin, it seemed that Bilbo was quite forgotten. Gandalf appeared out of nowhere and extinguished all the lights. He shouted for the Dwarves to turn about and run. They ran through the tunnels until they found a silent spot to catch their breath. Gandalf lit his staff and looked around.

"Are we all here? Let me see: one-that's Thorin; two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven; where are Fili and Kili? Here they are, twelve, thirteen, and here's Bilbo, fourteen! Well, well! it might be worse, and then again it might be a good deal better. No ponies, and no food, and no knowing quite where we are, and hordes of angry goblins just behind! On we go!" Gandalf smiled brightly and started running again. *

Dwalin grabbed Bilbo and had the Dwobbit ride on his back. "Not letting you get lost down here, Little Prince." Bilbo whacked his head.

They had journeyed through the tunnels quickly, but Bilbo…poor Bilbo was grabbed from behind and fell down the chasm getting rather badly bruised in the process.

Bilbo shook his head and looked around; it was a futile effort. It was as dark as if he had his eyes closed. He looked around and then stepped on something. "A ring?"

He picked it up and then quickly put it in his pocket when he heard a voice in the distance. He followed silently, which was pretty darn silent, and edged closer until his foot touched icy water.

Bilbo hopped back in surprise and muffled a curse. The voice stopped, but then it started again, altogether too close for Bilbo's comfort.

"Blessss usss and splash uss, preciouss!" Bilbo cursed when he found a emaciated and nearly bald creature staring at him hungrily with big, bright eyes.

And that was how Bilbo found himself in a game of riddles.

* Direct quote from The Hobbit. I do own it, JRR Tolkien does (and his sons).