*breathes sigh of relief* Thanks, guys! I thought you'd all be hugely pissed off at me!


"Well, then! I've only just got home and you lot all come in." Dis said, giving the three young ones a warm smile before placing her hands on her hips and raising a thick, black eyebrow at Frerin.

"Can you believe, he's still in that meeting?"

"Yes, I can believe, as a matter of fact." Dis answered, swooping down to scoop the children up. "Do you want tea?"

"Wouldn't go amiss. Sit down, sister, I'll get it sorted."

Depositing the three younglings on the sofa, Dis sat and began unlacing her work boots, grabbing her silvery, fur slippers from where they lay on the ground.

"Did you find lots of gems today, Mama?" Fili questioned.

"I found a couple of pretty things, yes. It looks as though there may be a new vein of mithril for us to mine, so we'll have a look at that tomorrow."

"Can we come?" Kili asked.

"Not until you're older," Dis answered, inwardly shuddering at the thought of how much trouble her sons could get into in the mines. Particularly with Bella's child. "Wait 'til you're fifty. Then you may." Looking at Bilbo, she asked, "What did Frerin get up to with you?"

"He took us to the Royal Treasury."

"Did he?"

"I did indeed," Frerin proudly answered, returning with two steaming mugs balanced in one hand and three waterskins clenched tightly in the other. "Tell her, lads."

"He showed us the names of our ancestors-"

"Then he told us about courting-"

Dis gave a small chuckle. "Did he get all sappy, talking about love?"

"Yep!"

"Oi, I did not get sappy, thank you very much." Frerin said, looking outraged at the thought.

"But you did talk about it a lot."

"There's nothing wrong with talking about it. I remember, the day before your mother's wedding, she-"

"That is enough, Frerin!" Dis interrupted.

"Come, Dis, it's nothing to be ashamed of. You just wanted us to know how deeply you adored Fiach. I found it deeply moving."

"You found it hilarious." Dis retorted. "Don't think I didn't notice you cackling away, trying to hide your face in Thorin's shoulder so I wouldn't see."

"Well, I find it deeply moving now." Frerin amended.

Dis simply sipped from her mug, though her eyes betrayed a light twinkle. "Why don't we go down to the marketplace in a bit? You know Father won't be finished for a good few hours at least."

Frerin nodded. "Sounds good enough."


Bilbo loved the marketplace. It was always full of people, all calling to each other, all exchanging jokes, stories and a few arguments here and there. He loved the stalls too, the one of leathers, the ones with knives, axes and tinderboxes on display, the ones showing flashing jewellery and other ornaments, and the one with balls of brightly-coloured wool that had been painstakingly arranged by the stall's silver-haired owner.

His favourite of all, however, was undoubtedly the toy stall. Mechanical birds, little boxes that played music when you opened them, soft, cuddly toys, dolls of soldiers and princesses and board games. In charge of this stall was an ever-smiling Dwarf who always had an ancient, yet-warm-looking hat crammed on top of dark braids. He positively adored the Dwarflings who came to visit and when he'd created new toys, he always gave a small group said toy in order to 'test' it.

Today, instead of going directly to the toy stall as usual, Dis led them towards the stall with training knives and heavy swords. Glancing down at her eldest son, she gave a soft, proud smile.

"You will be forty this summer," she said. "It is time for you to choose a weapon of your own."

Fili gazed up at his mother. "Right now?"

"We shall return later with your uncles and grandparents," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But try and think now which you would prefer. Ax, sword, daggers, bow and arrows... any weapon you wish to use, my mountain lion."

Fili glanced over the stall with sudden interest. The weapon he chose now would be his protector through life, he knew, so this would not be a decision to make lightly. The first weapon chosen was the most important, after all. A Dwarf could wield many weapons, but that first one he or she chose, that was the main one they would have until they died.

He was silent and remained so, lost in thought as his mother guided him from the stall of sharp, polished metals and into the crowd of Dwarves behind them.


Thrain beamed at his golden-haired grandson. Dressed in a silken material of Durin blue, a black cloak draped in silvery fur around the nape, he looked every bit an Erebor prince. Soon, he would be choosing his weapon, an exciting time for all Dwarven families. When it was finally chosen, one couldn't rush these things after all, there would be a huge celebration in honour of Fili's future protector.

"Are you well, muhud?" Sanmuhud asked, noticing a look of slight fear in the sapphire-like eyes her grandchild beheld.

"Yes, thank you, Grandmother."

"It is fine to be nervous," she assured him. "Just know that you won't be able to choose it wrong. You'll know it, my lad."

Fili let out a breath he'd not known he was containing. "Thank you." He meant it. He'd been apprehensive about his ordeal the whole day and his grandmother's words did much to soothe him.

Sanmuhud encased his hand in hers, giving him a gentle smile. "Are you ready, sweetling?"

Fili nodded. "Yes."

"Good lad," Thorin murmured.

"Know this, there is no such thing as a dishonourable weapon," Thrain warned.

"You've seen us all hold our axes and swords, I know for a fact that Dwalin has shown you a thing or two." Frerin reminded.

Looking up, Fili saw Sanmuhud roll her eyes at the chattering of her family. Grinning at his grandmother and feeling strangely better about the whole thing, Fili squeezed her hand and walked on, feeling as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.


A sword. An ax. A set of knives. A long, lean bow with a quiver of arrows. There was even a spear which Fili had never seen any warrior use, but that was beside the point.

He'd never much liked the thought of swinging such an ax around, particularly as the blade didn't look at all big enough. He moved past it, hearing a disappointed sigh followed by a painful thud and an indignant 'ouch!' behind him.

He was not at all chappy about using a bow and arrows. Maybe when he was older, but in honesty he had no interest in them. The spear he decided to leave and he stared at the sword and the knives set in consideration. A sword was good. Provided you kept a good grip on it and didn't go overboard when you aimed at your opponent, a sword was a good weapon in battle, yet...

He failed to see himself fighting with a sword. As good as he knew a sword was, he just could not see himself with it. Instead, he pictured blocking an attack with a sturdy knife, attacking with another that was held securely in a free hand.

Knives. He let his fingers rest upon the smooth metal and nodded. They would be his protectors.


This will all come to fruition. Fili's weapons will have a part to play in this story, I assure you. Events are coming up, but I'm going to focus on Bilbo's childhood too, of course :) I hope this chapter was enjoyed and that it made for good reading.

Love from Shania. xx