Chapter 5: The Road to Mirkwood
Bilbo didn't get much of a chance tell his story, for Frodo and Sam took that job. They made a very good story telling team. Bilbo was impressed how well they told his stories, just like he told them. He did help when they got to the part with the trolls, for neither Sam nor Frodo could really do the Troll voice.
They told Beorn stories until they fell asleep, right after the eagles. Bilbo joined them in sleeping not long after the little ones.
Aragorn, Beorn, and Gandalf stayed up discussing what had forced Bilbo out of the Shire with the little hobbits, by the fire.
"Brave hobbits." Beorn commented after he had heard everything, Aragorn nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Bilbo Baggins will never cease to surprise me." Gandalf said wisely, "You can learn all there is about hobbits, their culture, their ways, in a month. But they will never stop shocking you with their actions."
"Would it have not been safer to remain in Rivendell?" the large man questioned.
Gandalf smirked, "Indeed."
"I think he was never truly happy back in the Shire." Aragorn spoke up.
"Yes, I agree. I believe Bilbo left his true heart back under the Lonely Mountain." Gandalf said with a glint in his eyes.
"Thorin Oakenshield?" Beorn questioned.
"I believe my burglar was quite taken with the King Under the Mountain. Unfortunately, they are both too stubborn for their own goods."
"Aye, I remember the longing in their eyes."
"Thank you for your hospitality once again Beorn."
"Thank you for the interesting stories."
It was a two day ride to the edge of Mirkwood. Beorn accompanied them, this time riding alongside them. He felt that the hobbits could use some extra protection.
Frodo and Sam - being too small to ride their own ponies - had to ride with Bilbo and Gandalf. The first day, Frodo rode with Bilbo, Sam with Gandalf.
Bilbo decided to tell the boys again, about each dwarf individually. Gandalf rode close to Bilbo so Sam could hear as well.
"Uncle, will you tell us about what happened in Mirkwood again?" Frodo asked, craning his head backwards against Bilbo's chest, to look up at his uncle.
"Of course," he said with a smile. So he told the boys of how they crossed the river, were caught by spiders, and then elves, and how Bilbo saved the day. Twice. That was Frodo and Sam's favorite part.
Halfway through the story Bilbo noticed Aragorn and Beorn riding slightly closer, listening just like the wizard and little hobbits. Who could blame them? Bilbo was a very good story teller.
They made camp as the sun was going down. They could see Mirkwood in the distance.
Gandalf, Beorn, and Aragorn offered to take turns on watch so Bilbo could get a much needed full night of sleep. The oldest hobbit didn't have a problem with this, and was very grateful. He snuggled up with the two little boys. Hobbits were big fans of cuddling.
The other three were sitting around the fire, both Beorn and Aragorn noticed Gandalf was worried.
"Mithrandir?" Aragorn asked the wizard.
"A trouble has just occurred to me." The wizard said staring intensely at the fire.
"What is it?" Beorn asked.
"The message I had received from Radagast the Brown, that alerted myself to the attack on the Shire." He took a drag of his pipe, blowing a smoke ring "it neglected to mention the condition of Bilbo."
"What is wrong with that?" Beorn asked, "Were the hobbits harmed?"
"No, it had no mention of Bilbo at all; I assumed the worst. I fear that same message was sent to Erebor." The wizard said looking up at his companions.
"The dwarves might assume he's…" Beorn trailed off.
"I believe they do." All three looked at the distant forest, for just over them you could see the peek of the Lonely Mountain.
The trip to the edge of the forest would not take more than half a day. Gandalf decided to let the hobbits rest a bit more - traveling is very hard on hobbits, especially young ones such as Frodo and Sam, so he always let the hobbits sleep as long as possible - they would enter Mirkwood the next day. Aragorn would led them to the elves that lived in the woods.
After breakfast they were off again. Today Frodo rode with Gandalf, while Sam rode with Bilbo. Bilbo could hear his nephew ask questions about anything and everything about Mirkwood. Sam was very quiet; once when Bilbo looked down he found Sam asleep.
They reached Mirkwood by mid afternoon. After they had setup camp, they bid Beorn a farewell, and he left with his horses and ponies.
They were all gathered around the fire eating dinner. Gandalf was telling a story about his wonderful fireworks. Bilbo sat on a log with Sam and Frodo on either side of him on the ground, munching on some carrots. Aragorn was enjoying his own meal next to Gandalf.
The grey wizard paused in his story. This caught both Bilbo and Aragorn's attentions. They listened for a moment.
Hooves. There was something coming from the woods. Coming fast.
Bilbo dropped his food and stood between the boys and the forest, Sting at the ready. Aragorn and Gandalf also had their blades drawn, placing themselves between the sounds and the hobbits. Frodo and Sam hid as best they could behind Bilbo and Thorin's shield.
Thirteen ponies burst through the brush, riding past, ignoring the wizard and the others.
Bilbo recognized the rider at the front of the party.
"THORIN!" he called out realizing that it was his friends.
The pony at the front abruptly stopped, causing the others to almost all collided. Just as abruptly all the heads turned.
"BILBO" the hobbit flinched slightly at the multiple cries of his name. The ponies turned around and came storming back. Very soon Bilbo found himself with arms full of the heirs of Durin. Behind him he heard the little hobbits abandon him to hide behind Aragorn (least likely to give them away.)
Each dwarf had a turn to hug their beloved hobbit, until only Thorin was left. The king under the mountain embraced the hobbit as if he had come back from the dead.
"It is good to see you alive my friend."
"A-alive? Why wouldn't be alive?" Thorin released the hobbit to stare at him.
"I believe this misunderstanding comes by the hand of Radagast." Gandalf sheathed the Foehammer. "The message he sent me, must be similar to that of which he sent to Erebor. It made no mention of you, nor Frodo and Sam."
"Frodo and Sam?" Kili and Fili asked together.
"That's us!" Frodo dragged Sam out from behind Aragorn, who chuckled."Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, at your service!" he said proudly.
"You fathered a child?" Thorin asked surprisedly
"Wha-? No! um you see…"
"Bilbo is my uncle!" Frodo said proudly, dragging Sam next to Bilbo.
"I see." Thorin said, smiling down at the boys.
"Nice to meet you." Fili said crouching down with his brother. "I'm-"
"Fili!" Frodo pointed to him,
"And Kili!" Sam pointed to the younger brother.
"Balin and Dwalin!"
"Bifur, Bofur, Bombur!"
"Ori, Nori, Dori!"
"Oin!"
"And Gloin!"
"And Your Thorin!" the boys said together, quite proud of themselves. "Oh!" Frodo let go Sam and ran back behind Aragorn, pulling out something. He brought back Thorin's shield, handing it to the dwarven king.
"Uncle Bilbo found it!" he said.
Thorin looked to Bilbo, who blushed.
"I couldn't leave it there." He said with a shrug. Thorin smiled gratefully at the large hobbit before crouching down to the little hobbits.
"Thank you for watching it for me." He said ruffling their hair.
They all settled down for the night. They all sat 'round the fire, catching up. Thorin sat next to Bilbo and the boys. Bilbo again retired with the boys, holding them close. Thorin laid his own sleeping mat near the hobbits. Only to protect the hobbits of course, not at all to prove to himself that his burglar was safe. However sleep did not find him that night, as did it not reach for him as soon as he knew of the attack on the Shire. Outside of the walls of Erebor, his hobbits were not safe. He would find no proper rest until they were safe.