Hello everyone! I'm sorry this chapter has taken so long. I've been moving house and working a lot, and there was a lot that I wanted to get into this chapter! Thank you for your continued support and love, I really appreciate it! A special thanks, as ever, goes out to those who I cannot reply directly to, include my unnamed guest reviewers and Hermione Granger – thank you, and don't worry about it! I really appreciate all of your reviews so much!

I apologise for any typos that there may be in this chapter, and I hope that you enjoy it.

So, without further ado, please read, enjoy and review!

Chapter One Hundred and Ten # The Unexpected #

"So," Bilbo picked Frodo up off of the floor and plopped him in between Fíli and Kíli. The three boys were now sitting in a row on his dining table, with almost identical quizzical expressions and poorly hidden curiosity. "Dís and I have something to tell you. It's rather important, and it's also important that you don't tell anyone until we tell you to. What we say in here stays in here, alright?"

All three nodded. Fíli and Kíli shared a knowing look over Frodo's head, with mouths twitched into smirks. Dís did not much like the look – Bilbo had told her that they were aware that there was something going on, but the idea that they had the upper hand was somewhat irritating.

"Alright, Uncle Bilbo," Frodo sang, swinging his little legs. "But will it take all of the day? Nelly and Bróin are making cupcakes and it's sure to end in disaster. I really want to see!"

Dís raised an eyebrow as Fíli and Kíli snickered and ruffled Frodo's hair. "You've been spending far too long with these two wind-up merchants. But no, it will not take all day." She glanced at Bilbo and smiled. "Bilbo and I… We're courting."

Fíli and Kíli cheered like hooligans at a wrestling match, but Frodo's reaction was quite different. His eyes rolled upwards and he sighed heavily.

"Finally," he shook his head. "It was getting very hard to keep it a secret."

Fíli and Kíli shut up immediately. Bilbo's jaw dropped and Dís was only just able to keep composure herself.

"Frodo, darling," she said slowly. "What do you mean by that?"

He stared up at her with those big blue eyes of his. "Well, we weren't supposed to say anything, were we? Mama always said that you don't talk about other people's lovey-dovey business unless they tell you to. I thought you were gonna give it away yourselves, to be honest, Uncle Bilbo. You make kissy eyes all the time."

"Kissy eyes?" Fíli frowned, to which Kíli put a hand on his heart, a pout on his lips and batted his eyelashes wistfully at his brother. Fíli slapped him on the arm.

"Frodo," Bilbo laughed slightly. "This, uh, this only just happened."

Frodo shook his head with a smile, tapped his nose and said, "Of course it has, you crazy kids."

"Well," Dís said slowly. "Now that it's in the open and everyone can know, we would like your assistance in telling the others."

The three boys shared a curious look, and Fíli was the one who replied. "We're listening."


The afternoon was waning when Aria saw Grimbold slowing Arod. Relieved, she stroked Lani's neck.

"Whoa now, girl, you can slow down now," she said.

The wolf stumbled then slowed, but two paces ahead Luno's nose twitched and jerked into the air. He howled, a mournful, fearful sound, and dived forward, his legs quickening to a blur. Howling in furious reply, Lani surged forward and Aria almost fell.

She cried out and leant forward, her arms wrapping around Lani's chest and her heartrate quickening. Now behind her, the horse whinnied fearfully, but Grimbold barked out some words that she did not quite catch and she heard the horse hooves speed up.

Luno launched over a nearby rock and soon Lani leapt up too. The wind blew past Aria's face and her stomach twisted as they lurched through the air. Then, so suddenly that she cried out again, they stopped. Lani and Luno let out forlorn howls and Aria gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth.

"Oh, Mahal, Denahi!" she whispered, sliding off Lani's back even as the wolf bounded to the side of a limp pile of dank, dull fur.

Aria slid off Lani's back even as the wolf skidded to her wounded brother's side. The young dwarf could hear the slowing of Arod's hooves, but she could not concern herself with the horseman now. She raced forward, and her heart stammered as Denahi weakly lifted his head.

"By the mark, he's alive," Grimbold murmured behind her.

Aria slowly reached out her hand, refusing to flinch when Denahi bared his teeth in a feeble growl. "Shh, Denahi, shh now, it's alright. We're here to help."

The wolf whined, snapping at Aria's outstretched hand before she could pull away. If she had not already gauged just how weak Denahi was, the grip of his jaw on her hand would have told her. His teeth barely pierced her skin.

"M'lady!" Grimbold cried, but she held up her other hand.

"Stop, he's just afraid," Aria said, carefully easing her hand out of the creature's mouth. She was bleeding, but barely. "It's alright, Denahi. His leg is completely crushed."

"I am so sorry," Grimbold said slowly.

"Just stay back, alright?" she kept her voice light and calm. "Can you and Arod move out of sight? It's scaring him even more. I'll be fine, don't worry."

Grimbold paused for a long moment. Luno whined crawling on his stomach towards Denahi and nuzzling his brother's neck. The man sighed. "As you wish, m'lady."

Aria began to hum gently and slowly removed the silk muzzle from around her waist. She slipped it over Denahi's snout in one swift movement and tightened it just enough to be safe. "There, there," she murmured, gently fondling his ears. "I'm sorry, Denahi, I just have to keep myself safe. Alright, let's just see… we'll have to tourniquet your leg, my darling, so that you don't bleed too much when I take the trap off. Here we go…"

She carefully tied her own belt around Denahi's bloodied thigh, continuing to narrate her actions to the white-eyed wolf.

"We just tie this around here, there you go. Don't cry, don't cry, I know it hurts. I know, I know. But now I can just… there we are; now that nasty metal trap is off. I'm not a healer, so we need to get you back to the mountain as quickly as we can. First, though, have some water. Here…"

She poured the contents of her water skin into her cupped palms and held her hands in front of the wolf's snout. Denahi whimpered and lapped up the little water, before pressing his snout against her palm.

"Good boy," she said. "Now… we're going to need to get you home, so… Grimbold, can you come out slowly? Can Denahi ride in front of you?"

Grimbold nodded. "He is a large beast, but it can be done." He spoke to his horse in his own tongue, and then bent down beside Aria to help her lift Denahi up onto Arod's back. The horse nickered uncomfortably and Denahi howled and whined, but his strength soon gave out and he fell quiet.

"I'm so sorry," Grimbold muttered, snatching up the trap and flinging it over his shoulder. "So, so sorry."

"Let's just get back to the mountain, and get Denahi to someone who knows more about healing than I do."

"That sounds like a good plan to me," said Grimbold. "Let's go."


Taking a deep breath, Dori knocked on his brother's door. His hands were shaking, but he had put this off for far too long. It was so easy to convince himself that he was too busy for such a conversation, that it would take too long, he had too much on, but for months now he had been avoiding it and he did not have the strength to anymore.

It had gone on for too long.

Nori opened the door, his eyebrows rising at the sight of his brother. "Well, this is a surprise. What can I do for you, brother dearest?"

Not much liking the sarcasm in Nori's voice, Dori sighed. However, with Nori it was always better to be subtle and pretend to be pleasant – at least until you got your foot in the door. "Can I come in? I have something to tell you."

"Anyone dead?" Nori drawled, leaning against the doorframe.

Not yet, anyway, Dori thought. "No."

Nori shrugged. "Ah, whatever. I'm not doing anything. Come in."

Well, that was one hurdle down. Dori followed Nori through his pigsty of a home into the living room. Nori gestured to the couch but Dori shook his head.

"No, I, I think I need to stand up for this." Dori took a deep breath. "Nori, Nelly came to speak to me, a while ago."

Nori frowned. Dori could see the protective instinct – and slight jealousy – his brother tried to hide flickering in his eyes. "Nelly? When? Why"

"Day or two after you all arrived." Dori took a deep breath. "She told me that she'd talked to you. Told me that you'd opened up to her. Don't, don't get angry, let me finish! She only told me because she wanted to ask me something."

"Oh?" Nori was not doing a good job at not being angry. "And what was that?"

"She asked me if I had known that Hod was beating you."

Nori froze, in much the same way that Dori had when those words had come out of Nelly's mouth.

"She couldn't wrap her head around it," Dori continued in a shaking voice. "But you could. And that is something I'll never forgive myself for."

"What do you mean?" Nori spoke through gritted teeth. His hand was twitching towards his knives.

"Nori, if I had known that Hod was treating you the way that he had, I would have stabbed his eyes out with rusting forks before he struck you twice."

Nori's face twisted, his eyes bitterer than Dori had ever seen them. "Of course you would. I'm sure that's exactly what you would have done. And what you should do now is leave."

"No," Dori shook his head. "No. I've left too many times. Let you go too many times. I'm not leaving until you know the truth. I made many mistakes when we were growing up and yes, I was an idiot. I always thought that my biggest failure was Rori, but that was out of all of our hands. I was so preoccupied with keeping Ori alive that I told myself you were just scrapping with street kids again, that you were getting skinnier and skinner from grief, or some sort thing. I fear that some part of me suspected, that I could not think that Hod was a monster when he was the only thing keeping us off the streets, but honestly I had no idea what he was doing."

Nori stared at his brother for a long moment, his teeth grinding together and his hands balled into fists. His shoulders were raised and squared for a fight, and his whole body was trembling with rage. But his face…

His face was that of a child, afraid and betrayed, and his eyes were glistening with tears that stubbornness kept from shedding.

"I…" Nori cleared his throat and shook his head, but he could not shake the vulnerability from his eyes. "I don't believe you."

"I never knew, Nori. I never knew," Dori promised, his voice cracking.

Nori swallowed and cast his eyes to the ground. His shoulders slumped and his wrists loosened. "Really?"

"Really," Dori wiped the tears off of his chin. "I swear on my honour, my life, on anything you want me to swear upon. You know how much my word means to me, Nori. You know."

Nori nodded quickly, turning his face away. "That I do know…"

A minute passed in silence, then another and another. For so long there had been a chasm between them, but now that they had a chance to build a bridge neither knew where to start.

Finally, Dori could not stand it anymore. He sighed softly. "The deep ditch, three miles north west of the town, beneath the old dead tree."

"What?" Nori croaked, turning back to look at his brother. "What are you talking about?"

"That's where I left him," Dori said quietly, wiping his hands on his tunic.

"Where you left who?" Nori narrowed his eyes.

"Hod." Dori closed his eyes. "He should still be there, unless someone found him of course."

Nori's eyes and mouth flew open wide. "Dori? What… what did you do?"

"I made sure that he would never strike you again," Dori kept his tone level and stared into Nori's eyes. "I made sure that he paid for every blow."

Mouth ajar, Nori stumbled backwards against the couch, steadying himself with one hand and wrapping his other arm around his abdomen. His eyes searched the floor beneath his feet, wide and roaming and misted with tears and confusion. Dori hung his head and waited for Nori to think things through.

Eventually, Nori spoke. "Does Ori know?"

"No," Dori looked up again. "No, and I'd rather keep it that way, if you don't mind?"

Nori laughed weakly. "I won't tell him, but don't be surprised if he finds out. Ori always finds things out."

Dori could not laugh. The thought of Ori finding out how his father had died made Dori physically sick. "It's buried deep. Even if he isn't."

Nori stared at him with new eyes, but it was not the disgust that Dori had feared he would see. It was understanding, and wonder. "You… you're always so…. Law abiding!"

"I try do what I think is right," said Dori firmly. "And I have never done otherwise."

Nori closed his eyes. "Well… That's… that's a lot of information to take in on one day…"

Smiling slightly, Dori got the hint. "I'll leave you to digest it then."

Nori looked up with a wry smile. "You're dying to crush me in one of those vice grips that you call hugs, aren't you?"

Dori laughed. "You know me so well."

"I'll give you one," Nori sighed heavily, pushing himself off of the couch and holding out his arms. "One." To Dori's delight, Nori suffered through a whole twenty seconds of hugging before he pushed away. "Alright, that's enough."

Dori stepped back quickly, not willing to push his luck further.

"I've got a lot to think about," Nori drawled, his sarcastic mask returning. "So some alone time would be just fantastic."

"Of course," Dori nodded, bowing his head and backing away quickly. He knew full well that a single conversation would not close the rift between them, but they were finally coming close to building a bridge. Nori was right – he needed time to work through everything that had been said. A bit of peace and quiet and –

A piercing shriek burst through the air and the front door flew open. Nelly sprinted through the room, her hands clamped to her forehead and horror on her face.

"Alone time…" Nori muttered, before turning to the girl. "Nelly, what's wrong?"

"My eyebrows!" she wailed, noticing Dori with a stunned gasp. For a moment, her voice was polite. "Oh, hello Dori." Then she turned back to Nori with a much shriller tone. "My eyebrows! Bróin burnt my eyebrows off!"

"What?" Nori cried, falling to one knee to be at her level. "Are you hurt? Show me!"

"I'm not hurt," she sniffed. "But it looks… it looks…"

"Show me!" Nori insisted, taking her wrist gently. "Show me."

She glanced at Dori, who took the hint.

"If you're not hurt," he said, "I do think that's my cue to leave."

Nori watched his brother's retreating back for a moment, then closed off the conversation in his mind. He could think about what Dori said later – now he had to make sure that his Nelly was alright.

"Now, pipsqueak, show me. It's just us, I won't laugh."

Nelly narrowed her eyes. "Do you promise?"

"Kid, look at my eyebrows. You think no one's ever laughed at me?"

"Yeah, but they're braided. They look good."

"Nelly," Nori said slowly. "Take your hands away from your eyebrows."

She moaned and took her hands away, squeezing her eyes shut tightly. Nori raised his own, perfectly full brows and rubbed his chin.

"Yep," he said. "You've done 'em good."

Nelly moaned again, swaying backwards and landing on her backside. "I look like a fopdoodle!"

"Yep," Nori said again, taking her chin with his finger and thumb and tilting her face to study her sad brows. What hair was left was singed short and black, and a couple of her eyelashes were curled yellow at the tips. "You've even singed a couple of eyelashes too. Not much redness though, which can't be a bad thing. You can see alright?"

"Mm-hm," she nodded miserably. "I see just fine. It didn't hurt at all – I didn't even notice until it started to smell all yucky and gross."

"What happened?"

"We were baking, me and Bróin, and we might not have completely had permission and we might hippo-thetically have been using our kitchen in our house when there was nobody else there and Mama never lets me light the oven, so we weren't really sure how to do it."

"And…?" Nori prompted as she trailed off.

"Well, I put all the wood in and I tried to make a fire but the fire kept going out, so I crawled in-"

"You what?!" Nori felt his eyes widen.

"I crawled in – it's so big and Bróin said he did it all the time – and I started blowing on the sparks like you taught me at the campfire and then there was a lickle bickle flame and I was looking at it and bragging to Bróin and helping it get bigger and then… then I started to smell burning so I crawled out and then Bróin gasped. Then when I said 'what, what' he started laughing at me! Then I looked in the mirror and then I came straight here." Nelly finished with a sigh. "I look so stupid."

"And so you should, that was a damn stupid thing to do!" Nori growled, drawing back and glaring at her. "You're a smart girl and it was damned stupid of you to climb in an oven at all – let alone when there's a fire going! You're a fool, and that's a polite term for it. You're never going to be a decent sneak if you don't think before you act – even if someone else's said it's safe. You're lucky that you weren't hurt, and badly."

She hung her head. "I'm sorry, Nori."

"What for?" he demanded. "Go on."

"For not thinking 'bout what I was doing and for climbing into the oven." She sniffed and wiped her nose with her sleeve. "I could've gotten hurt or broken something and it was a really dumb thing to do."

Nori nodded sombrely. "Good. You know as well as anyone I don't care for rules, but some of 'em are there for a decent purpose and they oughtn't be broken. Don't cook on your own again for a while, alright?"

"Alright Nori," she gazed up at him meekly.

"You know that you're going to have to tell your parents, don't you?"

She groaned.

"It's not as if you can hide those brows." Nori smirked. "Don't worry, kid. I think walking around with stubby black eyebrows is punishment enough on its own, and I'll tell that to your Ma and Pa."

"Isn't there some way we can hide them?" Nelly begged. "Not, not just from Mama and Papa but from everyone? I don't want people to see me like this, I don't want people to know I'm so stupid!"

"You did a very, very stupid thing, but you're not stupid," Nori corrected. "Because you know better. And yes there are ways to hide them, but we're not going to do that."

"What?!" Nelly cried, springing back. "Why won't you help me?"

"Because you have to own it, Nelly," Nori said. "You messed up. You have to face up to what you've done, take the blame and the shame, and get over it."

She swallowed this news as if it was a lemon and then spoke. "Is that what dwarves do?"

"Yup. It's how we keep our dignity even when we do something wrong or tarnish our honour."

"Is that what you do?"

Nori paused. "I try to. Never used to, but you've got me telling the truth, you little monster. And you're supposed to be better than me, remember?"

"Pfft!"she blew a stream of air upwards, sending the curls around her face flying for a moment. The locks fell over her face and then she sighed. "Whenever Pearl does that the hair all falls in place. Alright, Nori. I'll tell Mama and Papa the truth."

"Good," Nori grinned. "I'm proud of you, kid."

"Pfft," Nelly repeated. "Yeah, yeah. When Mama bans me from dessert for this you're gonna be the one to buy me cupcakes."


"Now remember, lad, he's been given some medicine's to make him go to sleep, so he won't be very responsive, alright?" Óin said gently.

Merry nodded, wiping his eyes. "I just want to see him. Please."

"Alright, come on in," Óin led Merry from the Waiting Room outside the Healing Halls to a little offset area that was dedicated to healing the pets and working animals of Erebor. Inside, there were a couple of beds as tall as a kitchen counter, and on one of them lay Denahi, sprawled on his side beneath a large blanket. Óin had to pick Merry up to help him get a closer look, and the hobbit knelt on the edge of the bed.

Merry's wolf looked smaller than ever, and his fur was damp from where it had been sponged clean. There was a silk muzzle around his snout and his eyes were closed, but he was breathing. Merry could see Denahi's chest rise and fall.

Sniffing, Merry reached out and stroked Denahi's neck gently.

"It's alright," he whispered. "You're home now. You're safe now. I love you. You're safe now."

Denahi sighed in his sleep.

New tears brimmed in Merry's eyes and he looked up at Óin. "Is it true what you said? Did you have… did you really have to take his leg away?"

"I'm sorry," Óin put his hand on Merry's shoulder. "But it would've been more dangerous to leave it on."

"But how will he move? How will he walk?"

"He'll figure it out," Óin assured him. "You'd be surprised how many three-legged animals walk and run like it's no problem."

"You've gotta hold on, Denahi! You've gotta hold on and get better, alright? You have to." Merry sniffled and stroked Denahi's ear, before flopping forward and burying his face in the wolf's long fur.

Eventually, Merry felt a hand on his back.

"Merry, sweetheart," his mother said. He had not even heard her arrive. "I think it's time we went home now."

"No!" Merry slipped his arms around Denahi's shoulders and held on tightly. "No, I have to stay, he needs me!"

"He has Lani and Luno, and the healers," Esme said gently, stroking his back. "We'll come back and see him tomorrow, but you need some dinner, and some sleep. Besides, Kíli wants to see you. He says he has something very important to tell you."

Be brave, Merry told himself, be brave.

He sat up, kissed Denahi on the nose and took off his waistcoat, tucking it under the wolf's chin. Then he looked at his mother. "So that he knows I was here. And that I'm coming back."

Esme smiled sadly and held out her arms. "I'm sure that he knows that already."


As he rode away from the tower of Orthanc, Gandalf could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. Speaking with Saruman had lulled his fears, as he had hoped it would. He partly regretted telling Legolas anything – even if the conversation that they had held at the end of the festival had smoothed things over a little.

"So Mithrandir," Legolas said, appearing out of nowhere like a blasted hobbit. "Are you ever going to elaborate on what you said? About the halflings? For the ring of power to remain in the mountain…"

"I never said that I believed it to be the ring of power, nor did I say aloud that I thought it a ring of power at all – though it is true that I fear it may well be. There are many questions that need answers before we can be sure of anything. I doubt it needs to be said that no one can know about this?"

"Of course," Legolas bowed his head. "I shall not tell a single soul."

"Good," Gandalf nodded. "Now, I do not believe there is any significant threat posed at the current time, but we must be careful, and clever. I have confided my doubts in you for one reason – if there is a ring of power in this mountain I need someone nearby to keep an eye on things. Someone who will not act rashly and allow past grievances cloud their judgement. These hobbits and dwarves are precious to me, and I will not see them harmed over a mistake, be it mine or not. All I need is someone to watch out for trouble relating Bilbo's trinket until I know more about the situation."

"You can rely on me, Mithrandir," said Legolas, a faint smile on his face. "There are some in this mountain that are dear to me, too, and I will watch over them for as long as need be."

"Good," repeated the wizard. "That is good."

Despite how much he had told Legolas, something had stopped Gandalf from confiding his true fears in the head of his order. He had intended to, but something in Saruman's gaze had stopped him. It was not as though he distrusted the other wizard – he trusted him with his life – but Saruman was always so severe and decisive. Had he suspected a ring of power, let alone the One ring, to be in the possession of a hobbit he might have behaved rashly.

At least, that is how Gandalf rationalised it to himself. Instead, he had spoken to Saruman of the necromancer. The threat that they had battled with the Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond weighed heavily on their mind and he had wished to know of Saruman's actions regardless of the ring situation. It was only when Saruman assured him that the dark lord was contained in Mordor for the time being that he spoke of the ring, and carefully.

"Do you think, perhaps, that his rising could be tied to the One Ring? That it has been found?"

"No," said Saruman. "I do not. The One Ring was lost in the Great River, and long washed out to sea – unless you have information to the contrary?"

Gandalf shook his head. "No, no. I do not. But what, if not the ring, could have riled Sauron after so many years?"

"There are many things that could have done so, and I do not think we need concern ourselves with them. What is done is done, and we must look to the future. Not dwell in the past."

As the conversation replayed in his head, Gandalf could not but feel the same niggling doubt that had kept his tongue in Isenguard. Saruman knew as well as he that knowing what had stirred Sauron from his wretched exile ought to help prepare for what future may come. Did the white wizard know more than he shared?

Gandalf checked his horse, gazing at the horizon as if he had the ability to see the Shire all those miles away. If Bilbo did possess the One Ring, the results could be disastrous for the brave hobbit, and Gandalf had seen quite enough tragedy befall that family, thank you very much, let alone the rest of the world.

No. Suspicions and secrets were not enough. He had to know.

Pulling at the reins, Gandalf changed direction and began to ride northwards, up the Misty Mountains.

He had to find the creature.

He had to find Gollum.


Stifling a yawn, Thorin strode up the stairs towards the Company Room. He was looking forward to his chair more than usual today – that darned wolf had nearly caused a political nightmare, and the total breakdown of one of his young hobbits. While Denahi had lost his leg, not his life, it had done little to make a long day any easier and it had been little consolation to Merry, who had since been kidnapped by Kíli and Fíli. They were plotting something, and Thorin only hoped that it would not affect the Rohirrim that were slumbering with their distant kin in New Dale.

Life was so much simpler when his personal life and politics did not mix.

The Company Room was abuzz, as it usually was for a few hours after dinner. It looked as if his entire 'family' was there, Company, hobbits and all, though Bilbo, Dís and Frodo were missing. As Thorin sank into his chair Pearl came up to him in some extremely pink pyjamas and offered him a cup of tea.

"I made it myself," she said proudly. "Dori's teaching me."

Thorin thanked her and took a long sip, thanking his mother silently for her teaching on the perfect poker face. "Thank you, Pearl. You have a unique brewing style."

She beamed and twirled away, and Thorin glanced around, hoping that a nearby flower pot would appear to spare him from drinking what tasted like a spoonful of water amongst a cup full of tea leaves.

The maid that he had sent for before leaving his offices was quick to arrive with his dinner, and a mug of ale that was downed in one to provide a new home for the tea.

"You can take that away, thank you Lori."

She bowed and left, and Thorin tucked into his roast chicken.

"G'd evening, Thorin," Sam said, appearing almost silently by his side.

"Hello, Sam," Thorin smiled. "Are you feeling better, then?"

"Much," Sam nodded. "I still feel a little bit icky and a little bit tired but only a little."

"I am glad to hear it," Thorin nodded back, ruffling the boy's hair briefly before picking up his knife again.

"Did you have to work all the way through dinner again?" Sam looked horrified at the thought.

"Aye, that I did," Thorin nodded.

Sam shuddered. "That's not fun at all. Is Denahi alright?"

"I think so. The healers seem to think he'll be alright."

"Merry said that they had to cut off one of his legs. Is that true?"

"Unfortunately, yes. They couldn't save his leg. But he's a strong wolf and I'm sure he'll pull through."

Sam wiped his eyes angrily. "I think they should take away one of the nasty man's legs!"

Thorin's fork stopped halfway to his mouth. "You do?"

The hobbit nodded fiercely. "See how he likes it!"

"That man made a mistake, a grave one with grave consequences I grant you, but it was just a mistake, Sam. He did not mean to hurt anyone."

"He meant to hurt wolves with his trap!" protested Sam. "He only felt bad when he knew that the wolves were our friends."

"Not all wolves are our friends, Sam. You must remember that Beorn's beasts behave very differently from most wolves," Thorin said carefully.

Sam sighed. "I s'pose…"

All of a sudden the door was thrust open with a bang and Dís stormed in, stopping short when she saw all eyes on her.

"Oh, now look what you've done, Bilbo!" she jeered.

"What I've done?" Bilbo cried, striding into the room with a wide eyed Frodo on his hip. "So this is my fault?"

"Well it isn't my fault!"

"Hey!" Kíli cried, leaping up from his spot on the floor. "What's going on?"

Dís sent him a furious look. "You stay out of this, Kíli, it has nothing to do with you!"

"Don't you talk to him like that!" Bilbo roared. "He is my son-"

"No, he is my son!"

"Oh, you think just because he was pushed out of your body he's your son! Who raised him?!"

Thorin's eyes bulged at the hobbit's comment, and he looked quickly at Dís for her response.

"I did! For fifty years! You think that your measly twenty can hold a candle to that?! He's not even the same race as you."

"Oh, so you're a racist too," Bilbo smiled scornfully. "That fits. At least I never lost him."

"Oh, yes you did, several times in fact!" Dís stepped closer to Bilbo, posturing as if she was about to punch him. The hobbit stood his ground, glaring at her with such a look that Thorin wanted to run away.

Instead, he stood up, barely noticing when his dinner fell off of his lap onto the floor.

"Dís, Bilbo, I do not know what is going on but-"

"No, you have no idea what's going on!" Dís snarled. "So sit down."

"So ladylike, isn't she?" Bilbo shook his head.

"As if you know anything about manners, halfling. You lived in a hole in the ground."

"What's happening?" Sam whispered with wide eyes.

"That is enough," Thorin said firmly, stepping forwards. "Whatever your fight is, you can take it outside."

Bilbo glared at Thorin. "Oh, do shut up."

Stunned, Thorin shut up.

"Bilbo-" Kíli began.

"I thought I said shut up!" With that, the hobbit hurled Frodo at Kíli's face as if he were no more than a rag doll.

Kíli caught the young hobbit and they crashed onto the ground, lying perfectly still on the carpet.

Startled beyond belief, Thorin put on his most kingly voice. "Alright, this has gone too far."

"Amad, Bilbo, please," Fíli stepped towards them, only to be struck to the floor by his mother's elbow as she drew her arms back into a punching position.

"Oh, wonderful, Bilbo, now look what you've done!" she cried.

"What I've done?" Bilbo scoffed. "Again, you blame me. This isn't my fault!"

"Yes, it is! You started everything!"

"You were the one who accepted my proposal!" Bilbo yelled back.

Dís ran her hands through her hair. "Shut up, Bilbo, I don't want everyone to know we're courting!"

Wait.

Courting.

Courting?

Courting?

What?

"Oh, so it's still a secret is it?"

"Yes, it's still a secret!" Dís' lips curled upwards for a moment before she could compose herself. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"

"Swear to Mahal!" a grin fought its way onto Bilbo's face.

Thorin's mouth hung open as the pair who had been so furiously fighting looked around the room slowly, then back at each other.

Then, they bowed their heads at each other with growing smiles and shook hands.

Fíli, Kíli and Frodo sprang to their feet and bowed deeply.

It was Kíli (unsurprisingly) who broke the stunned silence. "I think my performance was the most convincing, honestly." He drew his eyebrows into a distressed frown. "What's going on?"

Fíli, Frodo and Merry, who was sitting in his father's lap, all snorted with laughter.

"What," Thorin said slowly. "Is going on?"

"Uncle Bilbo and Auntie Dís are going to court together!" Frodo cheered.

"Courting, Frodo, courting, it's all one word." Fíli corrected. "Going to court has somewhat different implications."

"What," Thorin repeated. "Is going on?"

Frodo scampered across the room, somewhat shyly taking two of Thorin's fingers in his little palms. "Auntie Dís said you might need some hand holding. They're in love, Thorin, and they're gonna tell everyone they're in love now. They just wanted to scare you first because it's very funny."

Thorin stared at his sister, then at the hobbit. "Courting?"

"Yes, Thorin." Dís smiled.

"So that arguing was all fake?" Bróin checked slowly.

"It was," Bilbo promised.

"Oh wow, you should both become actors!" Ola enthused.

"It was really good," her twin added.

Balin began clapping. "Congratulations, both of you."

All around him, the room exploded with cheers and clapping and laughter. Though many looked surprised, only Óin, Glóin, and Dori looked just as stunned as Thorin was.

Thorin sat down.

Courting?

Dís and Bilbo?

Courting?

It was going to take a while for him to figure out how he felt about this.

"Thorin?" Frodo said. "Are you alright?"

"Ale," Thorin croaked. "I need ale."

I hope that you enjoyed that chapter! With any luck the next one should be up soon but hey, I say that every time :( I promise that I'll do my best, though!

If any of you are interested in seeing the project I completed at uni this year that took me away from Strangers, I'd love for you to visit my website, collateral, where you can see what I've been doing :)

Please do leave a review if you fancy, I love knowing what you think and I love your suggestions and criticisms. Any way to make my writing better is appreciated just as much as the positive comments :D Thank you!

Other than that I shall leave you there. I have some very exciting (and slightly scary) news that I will share with you all in the next chapter :D

I hope you have a great day, thanks for reading!