Wee! So many reviews, and favorites, and follows! You guys make me extremely happy, and push me to write more and more! So, without further stalling here is chapter 7!
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Bilbo stood at the door a bit bewildered and it took him a moment to comprehend what was being said. But once he gathered his wits and played the sentence back in his mind, a grin split his face and he moved aside from the doorway, holding the heavy wood open to his guests.
"Uncle Thorin, huh?" he said "He never said he had nephews, I just always assumed he had kids when he said family. Well no matter, come on in, its cold and the wind is picking up, we don't want you to freeze now do we?" At his words the shadowy form on his doorstep shifted, and split in two, both figures quickly picking up their bags and shuffling inside the warm hobbit hole.
"Fili" said the first one as he sat down his satchel and leaned a walking stick against the door. He threw back the hood of his cloak and Bilbo was greeted with a sight of familiar blue eyes, and a head full of wheat-colored hair. The dwarf was slightly taller than Bilbo himself, and considerably younger then Thorin was.
"Kili" sounded from his side, as the second figure also took off his cloak and hanged it on the hook that Thorin used to put his own coat on. He was even younger than Fili from what Bilbo could see, and had a mane of dark wooden colored hair and leather colored eyes. Bilbo privately thought that the brothers divided between themselves Thorin's best features with Fili getting his eyes and nose, and Kili his face and mouth.
"At your service Master Baggins" said both dwarfs as they bowed at the waist to the surprised hobbit. When they straightened out and looked at Bilbo he remembered his manners and hastily answered.
"Oh, Bilbo Baggins of Bag End, at yours." And gave a shallow bow back.
Fili and Kili exchanged glances and their faces lit up with smiles, different from the sullen expression they had on seconds ago. "You're a lot different than what we expected." Said Kili as he eyed the hobbit, that was at the moment closing his front door.
Bilbo's eyebrows rose at that statement. "What do you mean by that?"
Fili stepped forward with a glance towards his brother "What he means to say is when uncle Thorin came back to the Blue Mountains he looked a lot happier than he did before, and it was apparent that it wasn't just the gold weighting his pockets." Kili stepped up at that "Yes, he was more relaxed and less snappy." Fili nodded and leaned against Kili "When we asked him why he seemed that way he told us that he met a very good person, and that if we ever saw that person we were to show him the utmost regard and respect." "But he never said you would be so young and cute!" Finished both dwarfs as they leaned in closer to Bilbo and stared at his face with leers.
On instinct the hobbit reared back and his palms landed on the brothers' cheeks smooshing them together and slamming their other cheeks against each other. The dwarfs ender up mushed together with faces pressed close, puckered lips, and wide opened eyes. Their astonished expression only steeled Bilbo's resolve to establish himself as the master of the house quicker.
Pinching the brothers' ears in his hands Bilbo's face settled into a scowl as he dragged both of them towards the bathroom ignoring their yelps and yips. Showing both of them into the little room Bilbo crossed his arms and glared. "You are here as guests. Beyond your introduction I have no regard of you or your claims of relation to my friend. You will not disrespect and belittle me in my own house, after stepping foot in it for the first time not even a minute ago. And you especially will not be tracking mud and dirt into in after I work hard to keep it clean. Thorin learned to show his manners and if you think of staying here, then so will you. Now wash up, get yourselves presentable and then come out, I'll pull out some food." With those words the hobbit closed the door and chuckling at the memory of astonished faces went towards the cold cellar to dig out some of Thorin's favorite ale left over from the dwarf's stay.
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The two dwarfs in the bathroom could only stare at the closed door and rub their ears. It seemed that when their uncle talked about the hobbit's temper and quick reaction he was not exaggerating. Exchanging glances Fili and Kili imagined Thorin in their predicament and came up short. "I do think brother dearest that we just mucked up any favorable first impression we could have given" said Fili quietly as he went about taking off his dirty clothes and dropping them in the corner.
"It appears so" answered Kili as he mirrored his brother and was already in the process of unlacing his boots. He glanced at Fili from his position on the floor "I really did not expect him to be like that you know. I though all hobbits were supposed to be well mannered, and fluttery, and shy, and all those things. I mean all of the others we met so far were. Remember that fella by the inn? He stumbled when he saw us!"
Kili raised his eyes towards the ceiling thoughtfully. "Yes, but do you remember the first week after uncle came back? Mother was amazed at his behavior. He would wipe his feet before coming in, he thanked her for the meals, and he even was somewhat courteous to the neighbors! Not that that lasted long, but still…"
"I know what you mean…" mumbled Kili as he poured warm water all over his hair and back, attempting to get the debris of twigs and other trash out of it. "Do you really think it was Master Baggins that made him behave so?"
"Well, while I can't imagine uncle being dragged around by his ear, I'm more then sure that the hobbit did something to install the behavior in him" contemplated Fili. "I think it'd be best if we behaved as well" finished the dwarf as he sunk into the barrel of hot water lined with a sheet of white cloth and groaned at the feeling of warm that seemed to seep into his bones.
Kili joined his brother in the wide barrel and let out a moan of his own as his head leaned against the side. It has been a very long time since they had the luxury of such accommodations, and the long weeks of travel had made them weary. Staying in the open, taking watches at night in order not to be attacked; having to scrap by in order to eat; never having enough to get a proper bed or food: all of those things had taken their toll on the brothers and it was amazing for them to finally relax and enjoy the simple comfort of enough hot water swirling around their bodies to cover them both up to their chins and still leave enough space to stretch their arms and legs.
Fili lazily eyed the shelves lining the interior of the bathroom and paused when his eyes landed on a few bottles with khuzdul writing on them. Stretching his arm out from the water he reached over and gathered them close. Skimming through the label the dwarf's eyes widened and he hurriedly pushed the vials towards his brother's face that by now opened his eyes and was watching him with curiosity. Kili's eyes widened as well as he read what was on the bottles. "Is that really?"
"Looks like it is…" drawled Fili as he twisted the bottle of what appeared to be a mixture of herbs and oils used for washing in his hands. The writing was their uncle's but he knew that the dwarf had next to no knowledge of medicines and herbal brews. That left them coming to a conclusion that their host was the one to gather and make them.
"But those haven't been available since the fall of Erebor" mumbled Kili as he opened the sealed vial. He stalled any further questions when the heavy smell of herbs, earth, and rock assaulted his nose. Widening his eyes the young dwarf brought the bottle closer to his nose and drew a deep breath, basking in the aroma that drifted out. He closed his eyes and immediately his uncle's figure sprung to mind. When he had showed up all those weeks ago, smelling faintly of this exact mixture, and how his mother had paused at her hug, and buried her face deep into her brother's neck inhaling the long forgotten smell.
"It appears brother, that we had heavily underestimated Master Baggins" said Fili as he took the vial from his relaxed sibling and took a whiff. The words fell out of his mouth heavy with new-found respect towards their host. The vials his uncle had brought with him were enough to fetch them an enormous amount of coin from the inhabitants of the Blue Mountain, who were in awe over the ability to smell something so long forgotten and sought after. And now here they were about to bathe in the essence that had been since long only available to those of the highest status.
Pouring a bit into his hand and inhaling deeply Fili motioned for Kili to come closer and started washing his long hair with the precious liquid. It gave an even deeper smell now that it was mixed with water, and bubbled on the crown of the younger brother's head. Kili moaned in appreciation at the sensation of tingling that spread over his now extremely sensitive peak. Leaning his face against his brother's shoulder Kili let him massage the mixture in, and then shuddered at the feeling of hot water trailing down as Fili washed it off. Even then he still was able to detect the aromas. Returning the favor to Fili he emptied the rest of the vile on his head and massaged it in, gathering foam in his hands and spreading it to his brother's beard and whiskers as well.
Finished with their cleansing the brothers were surprised to see two piles of cloth at the door, safely away from the water puddles. The hobbit must have come in while they were busy, as their own wear was missing from the corner. Shrugging and putting on the slightly big tunics and breeches the brothers almost looked presentable, even though the outfits hanged on them like they were children. Kili recognized his uncle's signature pattern on the cuffs and pointed it out to Fili. "This must be Thorin's from when he was here" said he tugging at his blue tunic and discovering a familiar weave on the collar as well.
Fili smiled at that and looked over his dark green wear, and spotted the weave his brother was talking about at the hem and collar. The feeling of belonging filled them both as they exchanged glances and smiled. They were in the house of their uncle's friend, wearing his clothes, and smelling like him. It was like coming into his house and being greeted with familiar things, especially when Fili spotted a grooming kit of clearly dwarven origin on the shelf under the looking glass.
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While the brothers were seeing to their needs Bilbo was moving about the kitchen, pulling food out of the cupboards, ale out of the cellar, and setting down cutlery for three. It might have been the middle of the night and he might have already had dinner, but what hobbit would say no to a midnight snack? His temper had cooled off, and he realized that the two really had no way of knowing how to behave themselves in a hobbit household. Even Thorin took a bit to get used to his ways, and though he never fully contorted to them, Bilbo, with the use of a wooden spoon, and sharp tongue was eventually able to install some semblance of polite gratitude into the other. Now he would just have to use his previous experience on the stubborn dwarf's nephews.
Just as he finished setting the table, and the kettle had blown its merry tune, the two aforementioned siblings came through the door. Bilbo raked an appreciative glance over the lithe figures and smiled, gesturing at the spread. "Please, sit down and have some dinner. I know that weather had been getting steadily worse ever since the summer has ended and it must have taken you a long time to get here. Although I must say that you two do look a great deal better then when you just came in". With that the hobbit settled at his chair, leaving two across from him empty.
The brothers glanced at each other and Kili stepped forward. He bowed his head and said "Master Baggins before we eat, we would both like to apologize for our previous behavior and words. They were not spoken with malice or taunt, but rather lack of knowledge, and the presence of previous information. We have not been courteous guests to you, and for that we apologize. We hope to improve our behavior while here, if you would have us." The young dwarf kept his head down, knowing that his brother was mirroring his gestures at his side, and both of them hoping to be forgiven.
Bilbo stared at the spectacle in front of him and bit back a smile. Well, it appeared as though Thorin had told them about him after all. "Masters Kili and Fili, I thank you for your apology and accept in in good graces." At that the dwarfs raised their heads. "A misunderstanding is just that and I take no lasting offence at you words, as long as your apology is sincere. Now please, before the food gets cold".
Kili was the first one to eagerly plop down on the mentioned chair and dig into the delicious food. He moaned in appreciation as his mouth was assaulted with bursts of flavor and spices, some of them stronger than even he was used to. Fili was not far behind, filling his mug from the tankard on the table, and taking a gulp, enjoying the first feel of ale sliding down his throat. He smacked his lips at the taste and let his gaze settle on the amused hobbit, who was watching them over the rim of his own mug.
Bilbo could only smile as he looked over the brothers enjoy his wares. He was once more settling into the feeling of comfort that Thorin had brought to Bag End with his presence, and having his friend's nephews here helped to alleviate some of the loneliness that had settled into his heart since the other left. Now as he observed the cheerful faces in front of him, he could almost imagine Thorin seated at his usual seat at the head of the table, sipping from Bilbo's biggest mug, and looking over him as they ate their dinner after the dwarf came back from the day at the forge.
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Soon the late dinner was finished and Bilbo saw that his guests were nosing the plates in their attempts to stay awake a little longer. The hobbit smiled and said "Well then Fili, Kili. I think it is about time to settle in for the night if you do not mind. Come on, I'll show you where I put your things" With that he rose from the table and led the sleepy duo towards his spare room, where a big bed was located. The bed used to be his parents' and Bilbo never had the heart to throw it away even after he renovated their room and took it for himself. And so the bed migrated into the spare room, taking up most of the space in it. Now though it was the only piece of furniture big enough to take both dwarfs at once as Bilbo did not feel that they would appreciate being separated.
Ushering the two stumbling dwarfs under the covers Bilbo watched as they immediately migrated close to each other and Kili fitted his head under his older brother's chin. The hobbit smiled and pulled the covers over them both, silently creeping out of the room. As he was about to leave and close the door a quite mumble made him pause and listen. As he finally deciphered what he heard, Bilbo blushed and firmly closed the door. Leaning against it the hobbit's cheeks were aflame with the blood rushing to them. He had never been called Auntie before…
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Chapter 7 ladies and gents AS always I thank you for sticking with me, and sending me your love and support through favorites, follows and reviews. I 'm going to make Kili and Fili a bit more childlike, as they are still considered very young by dwarf standards. As you might know Gimli was not let go on the quest because he was only 60, and in this story Kili is only 59. So Bilbo will be a bit more mature then the brothers even though they are older in years.