Previously-
"He's here." Gandalf said in a low voice, everyone silenced.
I froze on the spot, knowing exactly who he was and I wasn't sure I could handle seeing him again. The very last words he spoke in his life were to me. I wasn't sure I could face him again without breaking down completely.
You can do this, you have to in order to save them!
I walked to the front door, where everyone had gathered and went to open the door. With one pull, I swung the door open and there stood Thorin Oakenshield in all his glory. I almost thought my heart would falter, seeing him again, alive.
"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find? I lost my way… twice." Thorin said as he walked inside, untying his cloak. "Wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door."
"Ah yes, Gandalf, we really must discuss you marking up my freshly painted door." I said, effectively causing Thorin to look in my direction.
"Bilbo Baggins, may I introduce you to the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield." Gandalf said as Thorin handed his cloak to Kili before looking me over.
"So this is the hobbit?" Thorin said as he walked around me. "Tell me Master Baggins, have you done much fighting?"
"I've done my share." I replied honestly. His eyes rose.
"Axe or sword, which do you prefer?" Thorin asked next and I smirked up to him.
"Sword, thank you very much." I responded, even though I didn't have Sting yet. "Though a hobbit-sized sword would look more like a letter-opener to you lot."
"If that is so, then why do you not carry one?" Thorin asked, shaking things up a bit.
"I live in the Shire, Master Oakenshield, a land of peace, and we are currently in my home, if you haven't noticed. There are no enemies here, so I do not feel as if I need a weapon at my side at all times." I replied, smirking at him. "And if I am so bold to say, you are in my home and I have made a lovely meal for you and your companions, so please hold back any remarks you wish to make about my looks, for I am far more than the eye can see, and it would be very- unkingly of you." Thorin stood there, shocked, just as the rest of the company and even Gandalf.
"I apologize, Master Baggins. You are our host and I mean no offense." Thorin said, officially surprising me for the first time. Maybe he needed to be put in his place more often.
"Thank you, now follow me, I am sure there is some food left." I said, motioning for him to come into the kitchen.
When he arrived in the dining room, his eyes widened at the sight of the food, or what was left of it, and he took his place as head of the table as I stood behind Gandalf.
"Did they all come?" Balin asked.
"Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms." Thorin replied as he ate.
"And what did they say? Is Dain with us?" Dwalin asked quickly and Thorin looked down.
"They will not come. They say this quest is ours and ours alone." Thorin replied.
Dain Ironfoot. I remembered him, and I didn't like him. He did nothing to aid us in our quest and in return gained all of Erebor after Thorin, Fili, and Kili, had all been slaughtered. He did not deserve to have such an honor. He wasn't even very kind! Not very kind at all.
"My dear Bilbo, may we have some more light?" Gandalf's words broke me from my thoughts and I walked out of the room to get a candle, bringing it in and leaning over Gandalf's shoulder as I looked at the map. The map that I had kept and placed in a frame, laying in my sitting room.
"The Lonely Mountain." I whispered as I looked at the map in awe at it's nearly pristine condition.
I listen to them speaking about the mountain and the dragon, and how the gates were sealed. Then Gandalf revealed the key and I turned to watch as Fili and Kili stared in awe.
Kili was found laying pale and lifeless in the arms of his older brother, mere feet away from where Thorin had been found. Fili had his arms wrapped around Kili, tear marks tracked down his face as they both lay dead in the battlefield. Even in death, he still held his brother as if they both slept. It was an image that never once left my mind. I wondered if the brothers had ever realized that they were truly two halves of a whole.
Once again I was broken from my thoughts as Ori screamed, "That's why we need a burglar!"
"And are you?" Oin asked, looking up at me.
"I wouldn't say that I am a burglar, but I am quite light on my feet, us hobbits can go unnoticed by most if we choose. Not to mention I am sure this dragon you speak of has never smelled the scent of a hobbit, whereas he knows the scent of dwarf easily." I told them, trying to convince them.
"You asked me to find the fourteenth member of our company and I have. Master Baggins may surprise us all, Thorin, you must trust me on this." Gandalf said, persuading the stubborn dwarf king.
"Very well, but I cannot promise his safety, nor will I be held responsible for his fate." Thorin said to Gandalf.
"You needn't worry about that, Thorin Oakenshield. I am the only one responsible for my own fate, and I understand the dangers of this quest. I am merely trying to help you get your home back." I told them honestly.
"Very well, Balin, give him the contract." Thorin said and Balin handed me the contract. I opened it, pretending to read it, even though I knew what it said. Much to everyone's surprise, I signed it and quickly handed it back to Balin with a smile on my face.
"Well then, everything seems to be in order. Welcome to the company of Thorin Oakenshield, Master Baggins." Balin said smiling at me.
"You all may stay the night if you wish, just make yourselves comfortable." I told them.
Soon enough, they were all sitting in my sitting room around the fire, though I didn't see Fili and Kili anywhere.
FILI POV
"Kee, what are you doing?" I asked as I approached him in the pantry.
"Seeing if there's any of that sweet bread left." Kili said as he searched, finally focusing on a wrapped parcel. "Aha!"
"Have you noticed that Master Baggins always looks sad when he looks at us?" I asked him as he shoved the parcel into his bag.
"You mean how he looks like he's seen a ghost?" He asked, I nodded. "I've noticed it, too."
"Nadadith, why are you taking the entire cheese block?!" I asked him as he wrapped it up and ran out of the pantry. I followed him quickly.
"I'm putting it in Dori's bag, when it starts to smell, he won't know what hit him!" Kili said, shoving the cheese block into Dori's bag. I laughed at my little brother's joking nature.
"Oi, come on, I think I hear a song starting." I told him as I dragged him toward the sitting room where everyone else was humming. I recognized the tune immediately, as did Kili and I sat on the stool, Kili sitting between my legs as the song began.
"Far over the Misty Mountains cold,
to dungeons deep, and caverns old.
We must away, ere break of day,
To find our long forgotten gold."
I began to sing the next verse with everyone else, knowing the song by heart as Uncle had sang it for us since we were born.
"The pines were roaring on the height,
the winds were moaning in the night,
the fire was red, it flaming spread,
the trees like torches, blazed with light."
We were all too tired to continue the song, the reality of it all crashing around us as we listened to the words.
"It's really happening, isn't it, nadad?" I heard Kili ask, looking up at me.
"It is, brother. We are going to reclaim Erebor." I told him reassuringly as I shifted to the ground beside him, leaning on the wall.
"Do you think the dragon is still alive?" He asked, looking over to me.
"I don't know, Kee. I guess we will find out eventually." I told him as he rested his head on my arm. After a few minutes, I heard his breathing even out and I knew he was asleep. I only hoped that I could keep the promise I made to mother to protect Kili. Soon after, I felt myself fall asleep as well, leaning on Kili's head.
Khuzdul-
Nadadith- Little Brother
Nadad- Brother
SO, I had to get my little prankster in there somewhere! And BTW- there is no Durincest yet, it wont be until later on, just so ya know. Kinda slow-burn for my romance in this story. Let me know what you think and soon my little twist will pop up! REVIEW, it keeps me going! I love you guys, BEX.