A/N Just very quick note, I saw there a review re: Kili's use of Boggins vs. Baggins. I've been spelling it like that intentionally cause in the movie when Bilbo opens the door to Bag End, it sounds like Kili says Boggins and not Baggins. My head cannon is that Bilbo would be all like "Kili stfu its Baggins not Boggins you little twat" to which Kili, being the little shit he is, would go out of his way to mispronounce his name until the end of time. So it is intentional and not me butchering the name of the main character thankfully ;) Enjoy!

Bilbo couldn't quite believe it. He and the rest of the company were standing on a ledge overlooking what could possibly be the most wonderful and fantastic sight the hobbit never thought he would witness outside the confines of his own imagination: Rivendell.

They had only just made it out of the rock-studded hills that lay beyond the forest of the trolls. Barely two days had passed since the 'snot-incident that shall remain unvisited in his memories' and Bilbo Baggins had barely taken any time to rest.

Following that night, the group had gotten scant few hours of sleep before they carried on their journey. It was a very rushed and hurried affair, but after some investigation, Gandalf had uncovered the cave in which the trolls had lived.

Bilbo decided to stay outside, and notbecause he was too weak in the stomach to stand the stench as Fili and Kili had accused him, grinning with their stupid dwarf faces. Though considering he had been wiped with troll snot the previous night, he could hardly see how anyone would've blamed him even if that were true.

Bilbo had waited outside flanked by Fili and Kili as they kept watch until Thorin had emerged from the dank hole with a new, curved, and beautiful sword in his grasp.

Bilbo had been about to ask of its origins when Thorin had pushed passed him only to be swarmed by Fili and Kili who were eagerly asking where their new swords were.

The hobbit stood several feet back, not really understanding all the fuss apart from its fine craftsmanship, when Gandalf had approached him with a sword of his own. It was surprisingly light and just the right size for Bilbo, who had tried to reject it based on his inexperience and lack of desire to be near a situation in which the business end of any sword was likely to be aimed at his person.

Gandalf had proceeded to say something profound about courage and Bilbo felt any further discussion would not have been taken kindly by the wizard. Even so, Bilbo felt that this sword, this small elven sword, would likely never leave its ancient scabbard.

Not twelve hours after a run in with the three particularly unfriendly and ravenous trolls, in which Bilbo thought he had seen quite enough danger to last several lifetimes, they were attacked by orcs.

'No, wait sorry, an orc pack, because of course orcs come in packs,' Bilbo had thought angrily as he found himself once again running for his life. Thorin's company had sprinted for what felt like hours, and to be perfectly honest, he was altogether quite chuffed that his small hobbit legs hadn't fallen off.

Bilbo had just about given up on ever escaping their foe when Gandalf had led them down a cave nestled into the ground. But it hadn't been a cave. The back opened up into a narrow path that led them winding through the earth until they came out and were met with the serene, peaceful, and, to Bilbo's immense relief, utterly orc free sight of Imladris.

Thorin's face had been absolutely lividas he conversed with Gandalf in hushed tones, but from what Bilbo gathered, the dwarf was expressing his distinct dislike of elves. The hobbit couldn't fathom why as he gazed open mouthed at the cascading waterfalls and delicate, white architecture of Rivendell.

After several minutes of heated discussion Gandalf, Thorin broke their huddle and the company was met with a very gruff, "we move on," from their leader.

Bilbo found himself near the back of the parade of dwarves close to Fili and Kili as they made there way down the path to the Last Homely House.

"So…" Bilbo began slowly, not sure how his line of inquiry was going to be met by the brothers, "does, uh, does Thorin really hate all elves that much? I mean I know Mister Balin said something about an elf king, but surely they aren't all bad?"

Fili chuckled from in front of him, "well don't let him hear you say that, Master Baggins, Thorin might just stick you right through for implying the lot of them aren't traitors."

"You know what they did, Fili! You've heard uncle and Master Balin, they left us to die! Uncle is completely within his right," Kili shot in from behind the hobbit, his voice low and angry.

Bilbo felt himself frowning as he listened to the two dwarves. Of course he had heard Balin's tale, but there were also his countless books that resided in Bag End, well used and dog-eared, that spoke of the goodness of elves.

He had long since admired the beauty and quiet strength he imagined all elves to posses and, after seeing the outskirts of Rivendell, Bilbo was having a hard time reconciling that view with what Kili was saying.

Fili sighed, turning to look at his brother, clearly not wanting to rehash what must have been an extremely well worn topic. "I know that, Kili. I'm not saying what they did was right, but these are not the elves that left our people to the dragon."

Kili looked as though he was about to argue back when FIli cut in quickly, "anyways, whatever we think of them, we are now in their home. I think we would do well to at least pretend to have some respect."

"I - Well, I..." Kili spluttered trying to find something to further defend his uncle with, "I will be saying nothing to them. Even if they apologize," the younger dwarf crossed his arms in a huff before sticking his nose into the air.

Fili rolled his eyes and shared an exasperated smile with Bilbo, "And I'm sure, dear brother, they will be most repentant once faced with your fearsome glare." Kili realized he was being teased and stuck out a playful tongue at his two companions.

"You just wait Fili, you just wait. When you're booted off the throne for being too soft, I will come swooping in majestically to be king," Kili waved his arms like a great bird, "and there will be noelves allowed within fifty leagues of Erebor!"

Bilbo and Fili laughed as Kili continued to flap his arms, "I'm sure you will, brother. You don't know how relieving it is for me to be assured the kingdom is in such capable hands should I ever be dethroned."

Kili stuck his hand out to Bilbo with his fingers waving as he schooled his face into an imperious sneer, "Clearly our hobbit subject would prefer me as his king. You may kiss my ring, peasant!"

Bilbo swatted Kili's hand away as the dwarf's face broke into a grin. "There are no kings in the Shire, Mister Dwarf, and if there were, I can assure you they would not be so pompous as one of you Durin folk!"

Fili and Kili laughed as they each shoved one of Bilbo's shoulders. "Perhaps Master Baggins would make a good king, what do you think brother?" Began Fili as he looked Bilbo up and down with a grin. "Why I think you might be onto something…" Kili pretended to ponder; "he is as haughty as a king should be."

Bilbo gave a mock gasp of surprise, "I am shocked, Master Dwarves! Us hobbits are not known for our pride! Perhaps you are merely mistaking my lack of patience for your incessant dwarvishposturing as arrogance?"

The dwarf brothers let out a cackle, "Indeed! I believe we have found our replacement, Kili! Our dear hobbit has certainly shown he feels no hesitation in reprimanding royalty!"

Fili and Kili proceeded to give Bilbo matching bows as they walked backwards to face him, "all hail to the hobbit king!" Bilbo was about to tell them which orifice exactly they could stuff their hails when the group finally reached the gate.

The company followed Gandalf into the courtyard when a tall, brown-haired elf came down the steps to greet them before embracing the wizard warmly. Bilbo felt his mouth hang open embarrassingly as he looked at the elf, but couldn't bring himself to stop.

This was the first of the fair-folk he had seen! They had chased and danced in his thoughts throughout his entire youth, weaving fanciful tales of nature and beauty, and now there was one merely feet away!

Bilbo took in the fine auburn clothing that seemed not to crease around the elf's body, but flow like water until it cascaded gently to the floor. Even the elf's hair seemed to be its own living entity somehow, the ends fluttering gently in the breeze.

The hobbit could scarcely believe that a person so beautiful could exist in the same world as him. Bilbo continued to gaze unrepentant until he felt another's eyes upon him. Glancing around hurriedly to see which dwarf had caught him, he saw Thorin glaring at him out of the corner of his eye.

Of all the dwarves, Thorin was probably the most… unfortunate to have caught his awed gaze. Bilbo flushed in embarrassment, quickly shifting his gaze to the floor. The hobbit felt quite irrationally like he had been caught – caught making eyes at the elf.

Bilbo shook his head to clear his thoughts. He didn't hate elves! It wasn't Bilbo's fault the elves had been a fascination of his since his younger days and now he was finally seeing one!

'Thorin's opinion of them has nothing to do with mine!' Bilbo thought angrily, now embarrassed that gaining the dwarf's approval had become so important to him.

Bilbo looked back up from the ground at Thorin, determined to convey that he would not be daunted by the prince into embarrassment! Thorin merely looked at him with narrowed eyes for a few moments before glancing back to where Gandalf and the elf were still conversing.

The hobbit continued fuming, still too agitated to really notice what was going on around him until he heard a shrill horn come from behind him followed closely by the thunderous stamping of horses hooves.

Bilbo turned around to see a group of about a dozen elves coming straight for them. The hobbit was still too stunned to move when Bofur gripped his arm tightly, pulling him into the center of their quickly formed circle.

The dwarves continued to close ranks tightly as the warriors proceeded to circle them for several nerve racking seconds in which Bilbo was not sure if he was supposed to just stand there or pull out his new sword.

The hobbit stole a quick glance at Gandalf, only to see the wizard had an amused smile on his face as he watched the scene unfold. Bilbo's face scrunched in confusion; if Gandalf was smiling they couldn't be in any real danger, could they?

One of the taller elves on horseback came to a halt before taking off his helmet. 'This one was clearly important,' Bilbo thought to himself as the wizard and this new elf conversed in elvish before embracing. It wasn't the armor that signified this particular elf as important, for they all had finer armor than Bilbo had ever seen; it was the strong demeanor and easy authority that he seemed to exude in waves.

The striking elf turned to face their group before addressing their leader, "Thorin Oakenshield," he acknowledged with a nod, "you are welcome here in the houses of Imladris."

Thorin's face grew dark as he looked at the elf with nothing short of contempt, "And how do you know who I am?"

The elf merely raised an eyebrow, "I knew your grandfather, Thrór, when he ruled under the mountain. You and he share a similar bearing."

Thorin all but growled as he stepped forward out of the ring of dwarves followed closely by Dwalin, who kept his hammer raised in warning. "Well," Thorin ground out, "he made no mention of you."

Bilbo was torn between wanting to tear at his hair in frustration with the dwarf's stubborn rudeness and wanting to run up to the front and cover Thorin's mouth before he could offend their host any further.

The elf kept his eyebrow raised before taking a step forward and started to speak in his fluid tongue. The dwarves all seemed to be torn between confusion and anger. "What does he say?" Bilbo heard Gloin shout out from the middle of the group, "does he offer us insult?"

At that, the dwarves raised their weapons in unison, apparently ready to fight all of Rivendell and its master. Gandalf gave a deep sigh before steeping between the elf and dwarves with a glare that clearly meant even children would have behaved better.

"Master Elrond is offering you food."

The dwarves grew silent, all looking at each other, quietly trying to figure out what action to take before Gloin stepped forward, "Uh… In that case, lead on." Bilbo almost gave an exasperated laugh; he supposed he shouldn't have been surprised that food, of all things, would facilitate friendship between the dwarves and elves.

Bilbo felt his shoulders slump in relief, pleased that that they had resolved any tension without resorting to violence. The hobbit felt a hand grip his shoulder and looked him to see Bofur give him a smile. Clearly the dwarf had been following the same line of thought Bilbo had. The hobbit just rolled his eyes and smiled, and together they walked with the rest of the dwarves into the halls of Rivendell.

After their fine dinner had concluded, the dwarves and Bilbo had found themselves an alcove of Elrond's home and made a makeshift camp. The hobbit had tried to protest that while they were in a home they could at least use beds, but the rest of the dwarves seemed reluctant to take any more aid from the elves than necessary.

The hobbit merely threw up his arms in defeat, muttering about the stubbornness of dwarves, and excused himself to go further explore Rivendell. Just because some uncultured dwarves were opposed to appreciating the fine elvish settlement and their undoubtedly extensive library, didn't mean he had to miss out.

Bilbo made his way through the winding halls, moonlight bathing the intricate flooring that twisted and bloomed into many elaborate patterns. The hobbit thought he could have spent a lifetime simply looking at the gentle curves carved lovingly into the wood or the lifelike figures that decorated the thin pillars.

He traced his fingers across a wooden elvish face wondering how many lifetimes of hobbits this still woman had seen and if the hands that carved her ever thought a halfling of the Shire would come from many miles away to stop and stand in awe of their labor.

Bilbo continued down the hallways for what seemed like just a few short and happy minutes, but noticed that the moon had indeed risen well past the center of the sky.

'I should probably start heading back,' Bilbo thought feeling just a tad disappointed, 'wouldn't want them to think I defected.'

The hobbit made his way back towards where the dwarves were sleeping. He was almost to where the rest of the company lay in sleep before he saw a solitary figure sitting on a bench that faced the open sky and valley that Imladris rested above.

Ori was making gentle marks on the small notebook he carried on his person wherever they went and did not seem aware that Bilbo had come back.

"What're you doing? If you don't mind…" Bilbo smiled as he sat down gently next to the youngest dwarf on the bench. They had not talked much on the journey so far, but Bilbo felt that the dwarf who always had his face in a notebook and wrapped in wool was more similar to himself than any of the others.

Ori jumped a bit as he glanced up quickly at Bilbo, "Oh, Master Baggins! I'm terribly sorry I didn't see you!" The dwarf took a deep breath collecting himself before he opened his notebook again, tilting it over so Bilbo could see.

"It's just a sketch…" The dwarf began quietly, "I've been trying to take notes on the journey. You know, the happenings and where we've been going. Just so… people will know when we're done… what really happened."

Bilbo gaped at the sketch; it was almost like he was looking at the real thing! Ori's delicate hand had finely rendered the serene landscape with a practiced skill of many years. "Why that is amazing, Mister Ori! Really, you've done an incredible job!"

Ori turned beet red from his face all the way to his fingers, but gave Bilbo a small, pleased smile. "Thank you very much, Master Baggins. It is nice to have someone really appreciate my work. The rest just think I'm here to chronicle the journey, but it means so much more than that to me."

The dwarf grew less shy as he continued to talk passionately about his duty, "Not only do I get to see these amazing places, I also get to depict them, in both word and drawing, for others to see! So that in a way they may also visit distant lands and hear our tale!"

Bilbo smiled kindly at Ori who liked to gesture with his arms quite a bit when he got to talking. "It seems to me like not many dwarves have a, uh, taste for literature or art."

Ori gave Bilbo a rueful smile, "Oh I wouldn't say that. It's true that the fellows we travel with would probably rather pick up a sword than a book, but dwarf culture is rich in both tale and great works of art."

Bilbo looked out to the night sky thoughtfully, "It's just, well, I haven't really read anything by a dwarf before I suppose. It's hard for me not to imagine you all as miners or fighters."

The dwarf looked at the ground a little sad, his short legs swinging and not quite reaching the floor, "Yes… We dwarves are far too secretive for our own good, I think. We have so much to offer, but often find staying in our great halls to be far more appealing than dealing with the other folks of this world. I must admit even I was reluctant to leave…"

Bilbo looked over at Ori raising his eyebrows, "Really? But you all seem to take to this whole adventure business so well." The dwarf gave a small chuckle covering his grin with a knit covered hand. "I'm glad you think so, Master Hobbit. My brothers would probably not agree with you saying I had taken to adventuring with any skill though…"

"Why did you three come along?" Bilbo asked quietly as he leaned back against the wall the bench rested in front of.

"You might not know this," began Ori, closing his notebook and looking at Bilbo, "but my brothers and I are related to Thorin."

Biblo gave a loud cough as he spluttered, "But – but, you're so… you're so nice!" Ori gave another small laugh, "Ah yes, but Fili and Kili are also amiable, are they not?"

Bilbo gave Ori a sideways glance, "I suppose you're right… Must not be a family trait." The dwarf grinned, "I should say that we are rather distantly related, but I think you are right in thinking Thorin is certainly a unique individual. Though I must confess, our family relation to the Durin line is not why we three set out on this journey."

Ori looked back out to the moon that was casting twisting shadows on them, "We had some… some family difficulties, shall I say, right when Thorin announced his intention to return to Erebor. It was both a matter of desire and convenience that we set out with him."

Bilbo waited silently for Ori to continue his tale, growing more and more intrigued as the dwarf carried on. "Dori, Nori, and I come from a rather well-to do family, you see. We've been merchants as far back as I can tell, buying and trading the rare gems found in the deep of the mountains."

"You'd probably not be surprised, but Dori took after the family business with the utmost dedication and fervor. Our parents were nothing but pleased with Dori and found him to be a rather ideal son."

Ori began to fiddle with the pages of his notebook as he spoke, "our childhood passed with many happy memories and it was, in a way, quintessential. However, as we got older, Dori continued to grow in our parents favor, their future plans for the family empire resting solely on him."

"I think it was then that Nori began to… well, not resent Dori, but the way my parents would often not spare a glance to anyone else. I believe it is for this reason that Nori began to slip away from the family. I was too young to understand at the time, but I know now that he started to become involved in some… less than savory activities."

Bilbo felt his eyes widened at the implication, "are you saying that Nori is a –" the hobbit leaned in closer with a hushed voice, "— that Nori is a criminal?"

Ori let out a small laugh, "Don't sound so scandalized Master Baggins, surely you couldn't think all the members of our company were noble royalty?"

The hobbit leaned back with a scoff, "well of course not, but I didn't expect to have any lawbreakers amongst us. The Shire has very little by way of crime, it just simply isn't done."

The dwarf looked at Bilbo curiously, "you live in a strange place, Master Baggins, sometimes I forget I have been there. The meeting almost seems like a dream now…" Ori trailed off before he shook his head, " anyway, my parents were so caught up in Dori's success that they didn't notice Nori had gotten involved in some of the syndicates. I'm still not sure to this day what he has done specifically, but it never mattered to me because Nori always made sure to pay attention and take an interest in my life."

"Especially when I felt quite alone… I suppose I'm lucky in a way that my parents were so concerned with Dori because I was allowed to pursue whatever interests I wanted. The writing of tales and poetry is not frowned upon, per say, but it certainly isn't a career that is looked upon without much more than dismissal in dwarf society."

Bilbo suddenly felt very sad for his companion. It sounded to him that Ori had spent much of his life up to this point mostly alone. "The tales of old are already written, they say, the great works have already been done. I suppose most look down on paths that do not somehow involve the monetary enrichment of the kingdom."

"Nori practically raised me until he got in too deep with the crime rings. Our parents nearly died of shame and sunk into reclusiveness. I think that's when Dori first started to take the helm of the family. He took over the business and me when Nori's visits grew less and less frequent. Though he has a, uh, unique way of showing it sometimes, I know Dori loves Nori and I above all the riches to be made in the mountains."

Bilbo put a hand on Ori's shoulder and smiled at him gently, "they both sound like commendable dwarves."

A fond expression crept onto Ori's face, "Yes. Yes they are, Master Baggins. We hadn't seen Nori for many years until news of Thorin's intention to return to the Lonely Mountain reached us. That night Nori showed up at our home and said that he would be killed if he didn't leave the city at once."

Bilbo looked at his companion shocked, "Why? What did he do that was so bad?"

Ori shrugged, "I don't know. I never asked. All that mattered was that my brother was back and he needed me. So I packed our things and we were about to set off when Dori caught us."

The dwarf let out a chuckle, "He tried to stop us going, said he was going to tell on us. But! Nori and I stood fast and eventually Dori caved. He said he'd let us go but he was coming with us. I believe his words were something along the lines of us being totally and utterly lost without him."

"Nori and I tried to make him stay, tried to remind him that all the family business was resting on his shoulders, but Dori just said without us there was no family and so off we went to meet our distant cousin Thorin Oakenshield about going on an impossible quest to regain Erebor."

Bilbo looked at Ori for a few moments in awe, "so Dori dropped everything? You dropped everything? Just like that?"

The dwarf absently flipped through a few pages of his journal, "I suppose it does sound a bit ridiculous when you say it like that… But in short, yes. It all seems a bit surreal at times. It feels like only a moment ago I was in the great libraries, taking countless notes on forgotten legends…" Ori glanced at him sideways with a smile, "But now I'm in the Last Homely House that but a few dwarves alive can say they've seen with their own eyes, so I don't think its all bad really."

Bilbo chuckled, "I knew I liked you for a reason, a dwarf after my own heart. It's good to see at least one of you can appreciate fine things even if it was made by the elves."

Ori laughed with him for a few moments before he grew quiet. "I want… I want to thank you Bilbo Baggins." The hobbit looked up startled, "Um, you're welcome I suppose… but, uh, for what exactly?"

Ori merely shook his head with an exasperated grin, "for saving me the other night of course! From the trolls."

Bilbo gave the dwarf a small smile, "make no mention of it Mister Ori, I just sort of… lunged… I suppose. I'm really quite pleased I made it through that whole ordeal without fainting to be honest."

Ori looked at him with wide, sincere eyes, "No, Master Baggins! I owe you my life! You were very brave, I think even Thorin was impressed!"

The hobbit had to laugh at that. The thought of Thorin Oakenshield being pleased with anything he did was almost as ludicrous as the thought of Thorin Oakenshield being pleased.

"Really though, Master Baggins," Ori continued earnestly, "you should have seen Dori and Nori once the battle was over! They just about skinned me themselves for almost getting killed. I know they've been meaning to thank you as well, but… I just thought I would take the opportunity while you were here."

There was a moment of silence before Ori moved forward swiftly and embraced Bilbo in a tight hug. The hobbit was shocked for a moment before he returned it with a few pats.

The dwarf let go and pulled back with a smile, "good night, Master Baggins, I hope you sleep well."

Bilbo just looked at Ori as he turned to walk away before he added a quiet "good night, Mister Ori."

The hobbit sat there for several minutes, alone except for the now low hanging moon. He felt a strong surge of affection for Ori as he pondered their conversation. The dwarf would have done very well as a hobbit, Bilbo thought to himself, and he could only hope that when this whole ordeal was over, Ori had his new legend to tell that would earn him the recognition he deserved.