You guys spoil me! So many favorites, follows, and reviews in less then a week! I want you all to know that I appreciate it immensely, and will continue to deliver on a semi regular basis of at least 2 chapters a week. Thank you!
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Fili and Kili were received favorably by the hobbits of Hobbiton in the next few days, as Bilbo had already introduced another dwarf to them, and he had turned out to be the best blacksmith these places has seen in a long time. And even though a lot of the people were disappointed that the new dwarfs couldn't fix their plows and hoes, the brothers were still able to find a small number of clients.
One fine Sunday morning Bilbo woke the two up with insistence, fed them a hearty breakfast, and towed them out of Bag End, only giving them enough time to brush their hair until it looked halfway decent, grab their wares, and the little folding table that was found in one of Bilbo's many cupboards. Confused, Fili decided to find out what was happening.
"Auntie, what is going on? It's not even time for first breakfast, never mind second, the sun is just up, and it is hardly the weather to go door to door, look at the speed of that wind!" Cried the dwarf as they were being carted off in the unknown direction. Bilbo shot him a sly glance from beneath his curls, and smiled.
"We aren't going door to door today, Fili. In fact, if today goes well, then no such practice shall be needed from either of you for quite a while." Answered Bilbo, as he continued walking in his brisk pace, heading south from Bag End. "Do you remember how I said that my mother Belladonna was a Took?" Not waiting for an answer he continued "Well, because she was a Took, I'm also considered somewhat of a Took, no matter what every Baggins out there says. Now, as a Took, I am allowed audience to the head of Took family, without waiting for long amounts of time, as is the usual custom with such important matters. I don't use that right often; usually there is simply no occasion, beyond wishing someone from that side of the family a Happy Birthday, or such. But! I have used it now. And if it goes well, then, oh my! I hope it goes well!"
Fili looked as Kili who was staring at Bilbo with a slightly opened jaw. That was a very very quickly-said speech.
"If what goes well, Auntie Bilbo?" asked Fili with an exasperated huff.
"Didn't I say?" questioned Bilbo with a surprised expression on his face. "We are going to Tookbank, to see the head of the family. If, no, when, he likes your work, he will commission from you, and you will be set with both work, and reputation. The Tooks despite being considered rather…strange at times, are still the most well-off hobbit clan in the entire Shire, they hold quite a big amount of influence." Finished the hobbit, as they carried on walking through hills, and field; slowly leaving behind Hobbiton.
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Tookbank was still ways away, and that was the reason Bilbo woke his pseudo-nephews so early; they had to be at the Took family hole by the time elevenses were finished, as that was the brother's best bet of being looked at favorably. Old Took was quite amiable after a good meal, like most hobbits tended to be, and would be much more agreeable to the idea of commissioning work from dwarfs than on any other different time.
And time was most certainly of the essence. Bilbo knew it was a matter of days before the winter came, and spread its cloak upon the towns of Shire, bringing with it frost, snow, ice and cold. It has not been too long since the Fell Winter occurred, and the hobbits still remembered the wolves that came from the Dim Hills and the Far Mountains, the North and South Downs. Hungry and angry the packs tore through Shire leaving broken doors and windows, slaughtered cattle, and trails of crimson in their wake. It was only through the help of the rangers that not more than a few dozens of Halflings were slain. Even still…a lot of families lost their members to the fangs and claws of the grey shadows that haunted the night, and the Baggins family was one of them.
Bilbo's mother has ventured out of the house in order to help their neighbor give birth that night. It was a premature one, and she had not arranged for an escort, as had become custom in those dark cold months. His father was away on business, and Bilbo himself was in bed, sick with the flu. Belladonna had reasoned that she would be back soon, and her son wouldn't even know of her absence as he slept deep, and she would be swift. Alas the Valar had not smiled on her that time, as Bilbo was awoken by the warm, but shaking hands of his father, waking him up from his slumber, and telling him that mommy would not be coming back again.
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Kili thought about what Bilbo said as they drew closer to another hobbit settlement, and decide to ask something.
"But why now, we were fine with doing door to door, we're used to it. In the Blue Mountains that's how most of our work went." Said the younger dwarf coming closer to Bilbo, trying to avoid the mud on the road as much as he could.
"Because winter is coming, and I would be damned if I let you two wander about in the cold, knocking on doors!" said the hobbit with determination. "With this order, you would be able to stay in, the clients that heard about the deal would come to us, and I would not have to…" here he stumbled on his words.
"You would not have to what?" prompted Fili, coming in at Bilbo's other side.
The Halfling kept his eyes firmly on the road ahead. "I would not have to watch helplessly and mourn again." Bilbo knew that the chances of the wolves coming from the hills again were very small. But still... He had absolutely no desire to risk it, safe as the Shire was.
The hobbit continued walking, letting his previous statement hang in the air. "Let the clients see that even an important family like Tooks is so satisfied with you, that it is commissioning your work. Let them see that you are worth the travel, and the expense spend on your wares. Your work in unique, it is beautiful, and rare, and most of all new. We hobbits are set in our ways, that is true, but we have an appreciation for the finer things in life, and from what I have seen, you two are able to create them. Play your cards right, and no family in Shire will see it fit to entertain guests without having a piece of your work on display, be it a ring or a tray. And even though there is not much need for weaponry here, you will undoubtedly find appreciation for it at the halls of the Tookbank Hill." Bilbo paused and looked at two dwarfs still trailing him as they neared the said Hill.
"Fili, Kili." At the serious tone that was saturating his words, both brothers stopped and straightened up, looking at Bilbo with calm eyes. The hobbit allowed himself a smile. "I got to know your uncle, and I am getting to know you. There is a lot of passion in all of you, and it shows when you work. Be it Thorin in his forge, putting his all in the hammer falling hard on the anvil, creating things that will help with either peace or war; you, Fili, as you measure each hit with a precision that I have never seen in anyone, knowing that it will make something bigger than a few dents in metal or stone, that it will make beauty, and function, and bring joy; or you, Kili, who spend so much time, perfecting each line, and groove, so that even if one was to look at your work from a mile, they would be able to see its worth and quality."
Bilbo came closer to them and put his hands on the brothers' shoulders. "All of you have an amazing talent, and I would like the passion that you show in your work to be seen by others, and received by them for what it's worth. That being the highest praise and price, they have given to and for anything before."
"I believe that you are capable of all that and much more, and today, you just have to show some of that fire you both have in the Tookbank Hill, and believe me when I say, that it will be one of the first of the many prosperous deals you will make here in Shire." At those words the hobbit squeezed the dwarfs' shoulders and let go, turning around, in order to continue walking. He was stopped by two bodies softly but firmly winding themselves around his, and two solid chests, covered in fur lined coats, pressing against his back. Slightly frozen cheeks rested in each of his neck's crooks, and hands wound around his front. Bilbo looked slightly down, to see the blond and russet heads buried in his shoulders.
"Thank you, Auntie" chorused two voices somewhere from under his chin, as he was squeezed and then let go.
"No worries, you two. Now let's, hurry; we have to get there at a precise time, and it is almost here" said Bilbo as he smiled and carried on moving his feet, hearing the quickened footsteps of dwarven boots behind him.
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The audience at Tookbank Hill went without a hitch, both brothers brimming with confidence in both themselves, and their skills, as they presented their wares to the happily sated head of the Took family. The old hobbit had just had his fill of a hearty fish soup and a mushroom casserole, was in the process of drinking tea with cakes, and existed in the best mood of the whole day. He had even got up from his seat at the head of the large wooden table in order to observe the presented items better, and left the little folded table with a lot less jewelry, no dagger, a few less spoons and knives, that were all taken as samples of their work, in order to show it to the other family members.
Soon enough the mentioned family members filled into the room and the Fili and Kili were slightly overwhelmed by the amount of hobbits in one place. Luckily Bilbo was there, and was able to diffuse the rush a bit saying that the brothers were accepting commissions, for new items, and then proceeded to take orders for said commissions along with coins for them.
An old matron of the family, Grammy Took, spend a good 10 minutes looking at a particular medallion, made of copper with an inlay of green malachite in it and mumbled something. One of the youngsters nearby translated that Grammy wanted to buy it, as the color of it was the same as her hair when she was young, and her eyes when they were still sharp.
Both brothers heard the mentioned translation, and with a bow and a flourish worthy of kings, presented it to the aged lady for free. She had blushed and stuttered, and for the first time in many many years a shy little smile broke through her aged face. She smiled, crinkling her eyes, patted both dwarfs on the cheeks and proceeded to shuffle out of the room, pausing to stop by the head of the family and mumble something in his ear. As she had done that, Bilbo allowed a relieved slack to come over his body.
Turning to Kili and Fili, who were now busy with folding the table, and packing away the empty clothes the wares were resting on before, he said "That was old Grammy Took. She is over a hundred years old, and despite not being the head of the family, holds immense authority. That you managed to make her like you just landed you a job." With a proud grin, Bilbo was almost bouncing in place. His urge was stopped by his ingrate politeness and the fact that the Head was now coming over to them with a pleased smile on his portly face.
"Bilbo, my dear nephew! You have truly a gift for bringing in talent from lands beyond." Said the hobbit as he neared the trio. Fili kicked Kili who was a bit too slow at straightening up, and they both smiled at their possible patron.
"Truly fortune has been good to us this time, especially in time for my daughter's wedding. I would like to commission you boys to make me a set of silverware for a hundred persons, by spring time. Full set, not just plates. I want plates, bowls, salad plates, dessert plates, forks, knives, spoons, tiny spoons, long spoons, fish knives, fish forks: the whole hallabazoo!" Motioned the excited hobbit to the dwarfs, who stood in front of him; with their eyes slowly getting rounder and rounder, and smiles frozen on their faces, until Bilbo delivered a sharp poke at Fili's side, who then repeated it with Kili.
To their surprise Took was not done yet. "I also want wedding gifts; small things, trinkets really, make them rings, and bonnets, and lockets, but enough for a hundred once again. I shall provide you with money for the materials, but I expect all of the receipts and a monthly missive, regarding progress. It must be done by April, or everything will be ruined. I expect the best quality of course." With these words being his final, the head of the Took family, slowly turned on his heels, which has taken some time to accomplish, and rumbled out of the room.
Bilbo looked at the brothers who were still standing where they were, eyes slightly glazed over. It looks like they were counting the profit that this deal would bring them, and the hobbit was very happy for them. It was truly lucky that old Grammy Took was there, and had persuaded her grandson to make the arrangement for such a large order.
"Well boys. You have just got yourself a deal. Shall we go home and celebrate?" said Bilbo, putting his hands on his hips, and leaning onto one leg. He was answered with a shout and a smashing force of two bodies, as Fili and Kili sprung up on him, laughing and shouting, ignoring his pleas for silence and decorum, too happy to care for it. They have just made their first proper deal outside the Blue Mountains; it was a deal worthy of praise, and they were commissioned for such a large order, too!
Needless to say, that the hobbit and the dwarves were all quite content to journey back home. It was starting to slowly snow, and fat fluffy clumps of white were falling from the sky. The clouds were marring the sunlight from coming through, but a soft dim light filtered all around as the hills of Shire slowly turned silver.
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Chapter 10! More coming soon, tell me if you have any questions, concerns or anything really.
Note: I have already decided what dwarf shows up next, don't worry Fili and Kili will be present at that moment. Hint: it's not Thorin. Guess who it is first, and be mentioned in the next chapter of Last Homely Hole! Have a good time, favorite, follow, and most importantly…REVIEW! Thank you!