I have thought on it and decided that when it feels appropriate I will put the translations next to the words, but for larger pieces it just wouldn't work.

I got my Khuzdul translation from: doc/98387422/Khuzdul-Dictionary-E-K-v01-JUN12

This is your end-of-year gift from me.

Love King Simin the Warrior

Thanks to ShinigamiSeniade for pointing out the mistake with the timing. I have fixed it. I have started a new poll, this is the last big decision that needs to be made which is: do you guys want to see Estel (Young Aragorn)? I will need to have at least ten votes before I can write the next chapter, so I will take it down sometime next week, please vote! I don't want to have to use again!

Tsí-Cineál, Fae-Kind

Chapter 4

Nearly a month into their journey the Company stopped at a half-destroyed cottage, "Fíli, Kíli watch the ponies," King Thorin called as he headed off to check out the cottage. Bilbo looked over his shoulder feeling uneasy, he drew closer to Gandalf, there was a foul stench in the air and the forest surrounding them was unnaturally silent. Bilbo's attempts to call the others attention to the wrongness around them were useless, "Bilbo, dear boy what's wrong?" Gandalf asked after taking Bilbo to the edge of the camp.

"I have travelled this way many times Gandalf. This forest is always teeming with life, now it's silent. Can't you feel it?" Bilbo asked desperately.

Gandalf nodded slightly, "Indeed I had noticed something wrong, but Thorin is intent on having a roof over his head."

Bilbo sighed, "Cadránta Áit Fosta!"

Gandalf laughed, "Indeed my dear boy! Perhaps, you should try talking to him?"

Bilbo glared up at the Wizard, "And why do you think he'll listen to me over you?"

"Oh how about you being Kindred-Spirits?"

"Just because we're Kindred doesn't mean he'll listen to me," Bilbo snapped.

"Trust me, Bilbo. Trust me."

Bilbo saw the stubborn look on Gandalf's face and threw his hands in the air, "Draíodóirí!"

Bilbo turned and headed over to King Thorin, "May I speak with you?" Bilbo asked.

"Aye," The King answered.

"Something is not right with the forest, I've been past here many times with my mother the forest was always so alive. But listen, the sun is setting, can you hear any birds or other wild life and who demolished this house, it wasn't natural causes!" Bilbo said keeping his voice down enough so as not to disturb any of the other Dwarves.

"What, you want me to give up a chance of shelter after the downpour we suffered through? Whatever destroyed this house is long gone! Go and help set up the camp," King Thorin said dismissively, turning back to his map.

"Leathcheann! Just think about what I said! Please?"

"What did you call me?"

"Idiot," Bilbo called over his shoulder as he returned to Gandalf's side.

After Gandalf threw a big hissy fit and left, dinner was served and Bilbo was given the task of delivering Fíli and Kíli's food to them. It was a short walk to where the ponies were being kept, Bilbo noticed that there were decidedly fewer than there were supposed to be. "Fíli! Kíli!"

The two Darrows spun around and Kíli exclaimed, "Mister Bilbo!"

Bilbo tapped his foot while the two boys looked at the ground guiltily, "What were you doing?" The boys looked at each other, "I'm waiting!" Bilbo said.

Kíli mumbled, "Sleepin'."

Bilbo frowned, "Louder please."

Fíli sighed, "We fell asleep," He rubbed the back of his neck.

"That was very irresponsible, you should have gotten someone else to watch the ponies if you were too tired to," Bilbo said handing the boys their food.

He slapped them both on the back of the head, "Hey!" Fíli protested.

"There is such a thing as to much pride!" Bilbo said sharply, "Now eat your dinner and then you go and tell your Uncle what happened. No protesting!" Bilbo said when he noticed the mutinous expressions on the boys' faces. "I'll go and see where the ponies got to and for the sake of all that's good and kind, don't fight the trolls!"

Bilbo followed the stench he noticed earlier and came across an up-rooted tree, Bilbo frowned and sniffed the air again, "Ugh! Ghealach-fathaigh! Mountain Trolls!" He walked as quietly as he could, which for him was more silent than the wind in the grass, Bilbo snuck up to the Trolls' camp and watched them. Bilbo noticed that the ponies were being kept well away from the campfire, Bilbo drew the light and shadows around him in what was called 'cloaking' and hurried to the enclosure holding the ponies. He drew one of his sharp throwing knives and easily removed the ropes holding the enclosure closed.

Suddenly the clearing was filled with Dwarven shouts and cries. Those Idiots! Bilbo thought as the ponies bolted at the sudden noise. He slipped into the shadows and drew one of his Katana from the harness on his back, then he circled the clearing and watched as the Dwarves were, one by one, bundled into sacks or strapped to a spit over the fire. Gandalf was still not back so Bilbo would have to save them himself.

Bilbo wrapped himself in shadows and snuck over to the pile of Dwarves when he was crouching next to the King he dropped the shadows. The King jumped at his sudden appearance, "Ulganel! Where did you come from?"

"Shh!" Bilbo replied, "I have a plan, but you all have to be quiet for it to work, okay? I'll be back in a moment."

Bilbo headed off into the forest and started yelling random comments about how to cook Dwarf and the Trolls all became confused and started fighting amongst themselves. Bilbo headed back to the Dwarves and began untying the sacks. "Head into the forest," Bilbo whispered, I'll meet you there with the others." After many quick, quiet arguments Bilbo managed to convince the Dwarves to remain behind.

It took very little to escalate the Trolls' argument into a full physical fight that ended very quickly, with the largest of the Trolls sitting on his companions, they soon noticed the lack of Dwarves in the clearing and all ran off into the forest to find them. Bilbo made short work of the fire and the straps holding his companions over it, Bilbo could hear the Trolls screaming as the newly risen sun turned them to stone.

Extract from: A Stairiúil De Ag Glaoch (A Brief History of Callings) By Cionaodh of the Northern Fire-Pits

Chapter Two: A Typical Calling.

A typical Calling takes place in the twelfth year of life, the youngest recorded Calling occurred in the tenth year of life and the oldest recorded Calling occurred in the fourteenth year of life.

The Calling is always in two parts the first is a dream consisting of the elements of a profession, the second part of a Calling is different for every Fae-Child some describe a tug toward a certain type of Craft and others a sense of peace obtained when practicing a certain Craft.

Bilbo closed the book Grandmother Fedlimid had given him to study. Bilbo had definitely had a Fae-style Calling, Hobbits only had the Tug for their Callings and only their Hobby or Craft was revealed, a Profession was built on that. Bilbo recalled dreaming of fast precise movements and shining blades of folded steel, a Warrior's Calling, he'd felt the Tug at fifteen when he started studying Botany and Anatomy in his Science classes and knew instantly that medicine was his Craft.

SIX YEARS EARLIER

"Mother?" Bilbo called as he entered the smial, he'd just gotten off his shift at the Hospital where he worked part-time as a Fear Leighis. "Mother?" Bilbo called again after putting his bag down near the door. He turned down a corridor and saw a sight that would haunt him for the rest of his life. His dear mother was standing on a chair, she had a noose around her neck and was tying the other end to the exposed rafter above her, Bilbo's blood ran cold, "Mhamai?" has said softly.

Belladonna gave a small start and looked at her son, the wild light that filled her eyes since her husband's death had disappeared and a dead look had filled them, "Uilliam, I'm sorry, I can't!" she said as she made to take a step of the chair.

"No!" Bilbo called taking a few steps closer. "Uimh! Uimh! Uimh! Mamaí!" he said rushing forward after Belladonna had stepped of the chair.

Bilbo cut her down and laid her on the floor, he checked the pulse at her wrist and breathed a sigh of relief when he felt the faint thready beat. Bilbo scrambled for his portable communicator and called the hospital and then the Thain.

Bilbo sat by his mother's hospital bed, the other Fir Leighis said that she wouldn't live much longer, her neck was fractured and her spinal cord was bent in such a way that they could do nothing for her, it was a miracle that Belladonna hadn't died already, Bilbo had to agree with their prognosis so he had sent for his mother's old friend Gandalf. Who had come and tried to save her but was also unsuccessful, Bilbo thought back to the conversation that the two had before Belladonna had slipped into the coma.

"Bellie, why?" Gandalf asked he sounded so old to Bilbo.

Belladonna's voice was quiet and raspy, "I can't live, not without my Bungo," she said then she looked right into Gandalf's eyes, "You promise me Gandalf, you will care for Uilliam, protect him, promise me Gandalf!"

"I will Bellie I promise," Gandalf said though Belladonna had already slipped into a coma.

Bilbo looked up as the machines wired to Belladonna all started flat lining, the room was almost instantly filled with medical personnel. Bilbo sat and stared at his mother's face as they prepared to shock her back to life, he was struck suddenly with the overwhelming realisation that his mother wouldn't want this, she was ready to go, she had stayed longer than she should have, "Scoirfidh!" Bilbo said rising to his feet his voice was a whisper but was so full of authority and grief that everyone present stopped, "Let her go," Bilbo commanded with tears rolling down his cheeks.

Bilbo jolted awake and stared at the sky, it was dawn and Trollshaw Forest was just waking up. Bilbo grabbed his pack and detached the compartment that contained his toiletries, he headed into the forest and found a quiet place to do his morning absolutions, the first of which was to take the pill that stoped his monthly bleed, after swallowing the tiny capsule Bilbo reached for his shaving kit. Bilbo was sure he had just heard a rustling in the undergrowth around him, he looked up but couldn't see anyone around so he continued to retrieve his kit, Hobbit males didn't as a rule grow facial hair, unless they were a Stoor, but Fae males did, Bilbo had inherited this trait, but as neither his mother nor his father had Stoor blood Bilbo shaved his beard off every morning to avoid rumours of infidelity.

Bilbo knew the importance of beards in Dwarven culture and felt that if he shaved in front of his companions it might make them uncomfortable. As he went to make the first swipe with his safety razor, someone jumped out from behind a tree and cried, "What are you doing!?"

Bilbo jumped to his feet and threw the small sword he had collected from the Trolls' horde. The person skilfully dodged at the last second, "Nori!" Bilbo exclaimed aggravated, "I wanted privacy!"

Nori raised his hands and came to a stop in front of him, "What are you doing Prince William?"

Bilbo jabbed at Nori with his razor, "Why are you following me?"

Nori narrowed his eyes, "I asked first."

"And my question doesn't have an obvious answer," Bilbo replied once again sitting on the soft ground, "Why are you following me?"

Nori also joined Bilbo on the ground, "I've seen you sneak off most mornings and when you don't, you always swallow something when you think no one is watching, I was worried you were sick and not telling us. And now I find you trying to shave off your first growth!"

Bilbo sighed, "I'm not sick Master Nori," Bilbo looked into Nori's hazel eyes and could tell that he wouldn't get away with any half-truths, he passed the pill bottle to Nori, "I take one every morning," Bilbo said as Nori examined the bottle, "It stops monthly bleeds."

"You're a woman?" Nori asked confused.

"No I'm male," Bilbo said and took the bottle back, "All Hobbits both male and female menstruate, any Hobbit can carry a child and any can sire a child," Bilbo said picking up his razor, "As for the shaving, I've been doing it since I was eighteen. As for why? Well that is a secret, and if I tell you any more I will be breaking Hobbit law."

"Why did you sneak off to shave your beard?" Nori asked.

Bilbo smiled, "Because I knew it would make you all uncomfortable if I did it at camp," Bilbo answered with a shrug.

Nori grabbed Bilbo's hand as he went to swipe at his beard with the razor again, "keep the beard Prince William, it'll help you blend in better and it's a very good look."

Bilbo smiled, "I will Master Nori and please just call me Bilbo or William if you prefer, just none of this Prince business!"

"Then you must call me simply Nori," The Dwarf replied.

"Nori," Bilbo agreed with a smile, "I'm sorry for throwing my sword at you," Bilbo said as he retrieved said sword.

Nori gave a careless shrug, "I snuck up on you. That makes us even."

"Well done by the way, it's very difficult to go unnoticed around a Hobbit."

Once they got back to camp Nori and Bilbo went their separate ways. Bilbo prepared his pack and got ready to have breakfast on the back of a pony. After being beset by Trolls no one was keen to stay in one place very long. While he was packing up his bedroll a shadow fell over him, "Hobbit," a deep voice, which sent delightful shivers down his spine, said.

Bilbo looked up at the Dwarven King, "King Thorin?" Bilbo asked pleasantly.

"Follow me," The Dwarf said walking away in a Majestic Huff tm. Bilbo followed at a sedate pace, soon they reached the edge of camp and were out of ear shot, "I don't appreciate you sleeping your way through my Company."

Bilbo raise an eyebrow feeling his temper rise at the accusation in the King's voice, "You think I'm sleeping with multiple members of your Company?" Bilbo asked incredulously

"Don't deny it!" King Thorin growled his blue eyes flashing, "First my nephews and now Nori! Who's next on your list!?"

"Oh my Goddess you're serious!" Bilbo exclaimed, his anger rising more and more with every word out of the Dwarf's mouth, "I'm not sleeping with anyone!"

"Do not lie to me!"

The tenuous hold Bilbo had on his temper snapped and he punched the Dwarven King right on the nose, "You think I would whore myself out to a group of people I barely know!?" Bilbo yelled drawing the whole Company's attention. He could feel his wings flare out showing his anger, even if only Gandalf could see them. Bilbo turned on his heel and left the camp but stopped still well within hearing distance.

"Prepare to leave," King Thorin commanded, Bilbo found it hard to discern what the King was feeling through his voice alone.

"But what about Mister Bilbo?" he heard Bofur ask.

There was a growl and Gandalf said, "He can meet us at Rivendell."

"We will not be going to the Elves, Gandalf!" King Thorin growled.
"We need answers and Lord Elrond is the only one who can give them to us."

Gandalf and King Thorin started bickering as the party left, Bilbo knew that Gandalf would get his way so he collected his pack and continued the journey to Rivendell along the Hobbit paths that ran nearly parallel to the East-West Road. The Hobbit paths through Trollshaw Forest were faster to travel along than the East-West Road as they were better maintained.

Bilbo quickly overtook the Company. He reached Rivendell within three days, Bilbo was pleased to find that he arrived in time for lunch.

Lord Elrond meet him in the courtyard in front the Last Homely House East of the Sea. "Young William," The Lord of Rivendell said opening his arms, "It feels and age since I last laid eyes upon you!"

Bilbo laughed as he ran into his mother's old friend's arms, "Uncle Elrond you haven't changed at all!"

"Yet you have! You're growing your beard out!" The Elf said eyeing the three days' worth of golden stubble.

Bilbo smiled, "Yes, I am traveling with Gandalf and a group of Dwarves, one of them caught me about to shave and stopped me, he thought I would blend in better if I grew it out."

The Elf Lord smiled, "It is good to see you not hiding yourself, though must you wear that ridiculous Glamor? You are safe here."

Bilbo smiled up at his adopted uncle and dropped the Glamor, he stretched his wings out sighed, "I'll have to put it back on before my Company arrive," Bilbo warned.

Elrond nodded and then smiled, "You and your Company are welcome here. Your room is still as you left it thirteen years ago."

The next day after lunch Bilbo followed Elrond into the courtyard, as he stood beside the Elven Lord Bilbo reconstructed his Glamor, Lord Elrond sighed, "I'm sorry Uncle," Bilbo said wrapping an arm around the Elf, "I know you don't like it, but the Dwarves don't know."

Elrond smiled down at the Hobbit-Fae hybrid beside him, "I will always see you as you are."

Bilbo stood straight when he saw the Dwarves arriving in the distance. As soon as Kíli could see him he dismounted his pony and dashed past his uncle with a cry of, "Aunty Bilbo!" Fíli followed at a slightly more sedate pace with young Ori on his heels, they all threw themselves at Bilbo who collapsed under the sudden weight. "We missed you!" Kíli and Fíli said in unison, Ori nodded in agreement.

Bilbo looked up at the sky, "I missed you too boys. Now let me up!"

There was a chorus of, "Sorry Aunty Bilbo," as the young Dwarves picked him up and placed him on his feet.

Bilbo looked over at his Uncle and saw the laughter in his eyes, "It's not funny! They're heavy!" Bilbo pouted when the repressed laughter escaped. The Dwarves all stared at the Elf Lord, Bilbo thought that they had never seen an Elf laugh before.

"Come Bilbo, introduce me to your young friends."

Bilbo smiled and turned to the boys, "Fíli, Kíli and Ori, I want you to meet my Uncle, Elrond Lord of Rivendell, the Last Homely House East of the Sea. Uncle these are Fíli, Kíli and Ori," Bilbo said indicating to each of the Dwarves in turn.

"Uncle?" Kíli asked. "How can an Elf be a Hobbit's Uncle?"

Bilbo smiled at Kíli, "Uncle Elrond was my mother's greatest friend we used to send many months here every year. It's kind of like how you three seem to have started calling me Aunty?" Bilbo raised an eyebrow, "When did that start by the way?"

Young Ori blushed and tried to stutter out an apology while the two princes shrugged, "It felt right," they said in unison.

Bilbo smiled, "Then I shall be happy for you to call me Aunty," it was quite common in the Shire for males and females to swap gender roles as the sexes were so similar physically. Bilbo always preferred to be an 'aunty' instead of an 'uncle'.

Lord Elrond turned to the group of Dwarves entering his courtyard, "Welcome to Imladris, your Company is welcome to rest and refresh in my House for as long as you need Thorin son of Thráin."

Bilbo got his first good looked at the Dwarven King and very nearly laughed, King Thorin's eyes were bruised and his nose was wonky. Bilbo turned to Kíli, "Did I do that?" he whispered.

Kíli started shaking with repressed giggles, he nodded. Bilbo felt quite proud of the strength he must have mustered to accomplish that.

It was the first night the Dwarves spent in Rivendell that Bilbo caught a glimpse of the deep blue cord necklace Bofur wore, it was not extraordinary in and of itself, for all the Dwarves wore some sort of adornment. It was the fact that this blue cord was tied in the traditional Wedding Knot, did this mean that Bofur was married to a Hobbit? Bilbo wasn't sure, but all Hobbits knew that giving a knot, of any meaning, to an Outsider was all but forbidden.

If a Hobbit found their Kindred-Spirit outside of their race, a somewhat uncommon occurrence but definitely not unheard of, then many Assessments had to be made of the Outsider in a certain order and structure. It is ultimately the King's decision just how much of Hobbit culture the Outsider was allowed to be privy to. Bilbo didn't remember such an assessment happening in a very long time and that was with an Elf as the Outsider.

This could mean that a Hobbit had broken the Dlí Ársa and as a Lord and Prince it was Bilbo's sacred duty to bring them to justice. Bilbo stewed in silence for a few minutes before slapping his hand to his forehead, something the young Hobbits of today called 'face-palming', "Leathcheann!" he exclaimed softly causing the few Darrows around him to look at him funny, especially Bofur, who had a glimmer of recognition in his eyes. Of course, Bofur could be married to a Buck-Lander or even a Bree-Lander, Bilbo would not be a member of any Assessment Council in that case and would be unlikely to have even heard of the union.

Bilbo looked up and caught Bofur's eye, he nodded to a dark hallway where no one would see them Bofur looked resigned but followed none the less. After walking just far enough to not be over heard Bilbo turned to Bofur, he looked pointedly to the cord around Bofur's throat, close quarters allowed Bilbo's sharp eyes to pick out the red, pink, brown and white flecks in the cord. Bofur sighed, "My Sallgard gave it to me she said that the Mayor of Bree-Land had gotten permission for my admittance to full Hobbit culture through marriage."

Bilbo relaxed the tense set of his shoulders, he wouldn't have to drag Bofur back to the Shire. Bilbo smiled, "I apologise for being icy, but I had to be sure that your wife had not broken the Dlí Ársa, Ancient Law," Bilbo bowed his head and then smiled at Bofur, "Will you tell me of her?"

Bofur smiled and got the same sappy look in his eyes that Glóin got whenever he spoke of his lovely wife, "Sallgard's family don't come above ground very often but Sallgard and I all but ran into each other when I travelled through the Shire once," Bofur sighed, "She has the most beautiful dark hair, it's like liquid obsidian, her eyes are like the brightest aquamarine. She's a Healer, a Doctor."

Bilbo smiled at Bofur as they walked back to the rest of the group, "What is Sallgard's family name?"

"Banks," Bofur answered. Bilbo nodded, Banks was a good family consisting of mostly Bounders and Doctors.

Translations Chapter Four

Cadránta Áit Fosta! = Stubborn Dwarves!

Draíodóirí! = Wizards!

Leathcheann! = Idiot!

Ghealach-fathaigh! = Moon Giants! (Mountain Trolls)

Ulganel! = (the) god of (all) gods: i.e.: Great God! Oh My God!

A Stairiúil De Ag Glaoch = A Brief History of Callings

Dlí Ársa = Ancient Law

Fear Leighis = Healer (Medicine Man)

Mhamaí = Mum

Uimh! Uimh! Uimh! Mamaí! = No! No! No! Mama!

Fir Leighis = Healers (Medicine Men)

Scoirfidh! = Stop! (Cease)

The colours of Bofur's necklace are significant!

Blue: Peace, tranquillity, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, technology, depression, appetite suppressant.

Red: Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and passionate.

Pink: love and romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance and calm.

Brown: Earth, stability, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and comfort.

White: Reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical.

The meanings come from: .