Bilbo sat open mouth, pipe half way to his mouth blatantly staring at the wizard in front him. His mind racing trying to discover if this Gandalf was truly there in the flesh or if his mind was making a drastic attempt at adding a little excitement in his life.
Say something...anything.
"Good morning." his words sounding more like a question than actual greeting.
Gandalf being the very clever wizard that was heard the question in the statement; and a natural quirk of being a very clever wizard entailed never passing up a chance to parade ones quick wit.
"What do you mean?" he asked, "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?" He finished with a small smirk hiding behind his impressive beard.
Bilbo barely managed to keep the smile from his lips at the wizards words It seemed Gandalf had not changed even the slightest since their last meeting.
"All of them at once I suppose." he returned.
Silence engulfed the pair as they both eyed the other, each assessing the person before them. After a few moments curiosity bubbled in Bilbo and never being able to hold in a question he asked, "Can a I help you?"
"That remains to be seen," Gandalf answered shifting his weight forward slightly towering over the sitting hobbit. "I'm looking for some one to share an adventure."
"An adventure..." Bilbo breathed.
Out of all of the things Bilbo had thought Gandalf would say that would have been the last on the list. Bilbo's pulse jumped at tHe wizards words and anger spiked in his blood.
How dare he?
Gandalf the only other person aside from his parents who Bilbo genuinely cared for during his childhood; the same man who he hadn't or heard from in over twenty years decided to randomly show up on his doorstep and ask him to partake in an adventure. As if he hadn't completely fallen out of Bilbo's life at a time when the advice of a wizard would have been most welcome especially a wizard one considered to be as much of an uncle as he'd ever known. Furthermore, to add insult to injury Gandalf decides to saunter back to Bag End offering the rush and thrill of an adventure during a time when Bilbo is forced to stay holed up in his damn hobbit hole for possibly four more years.
For as much as Bilbo may want to immediately say yes, rush inside to Bag End and grab his already packed belonging he can't. He has to remind in the shire Like he promised his Kayerith and Kalinth until the young dragons burning is complete. Anger sparked jn Bilbo fierce and strong it was cruel of Gandalf go offer such as thing; lIke offer a man dying a thirst a jug of water only to leave it jnches beyond his reach.
"Well, I don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures. Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner!" He snapped retrieving his a few letters from his mailbox and starting up the path to his door.
"Good morning." he called over his shoulder as an after thought.
"To think that I would live to be 'Good morninged' by Belladonna Took ' s son as if I were selling buttons at the door!"
At his words Bilbo spun on his heel, his chest felt tight as if he'd taken a physical blow.
"I beg your pardon?" he whispered lowly the unspoken warning ringing clear as the sky above his head.
Gandalf was toeing a line Bilbo would much rather him not cross but wizards were difficult folk when they had a mind to be; insisting kn going and doing things other wished they would leave well enough alone.
"You've changed Bilbo Baggins, and not entirely for the better." Gandalf accused with a disa]o intend look.
How dare he!
"I've changed..." Bilbo whispered softly to himself not caring weather the wizard heard or not.
His mind quickly scanned over the last three decades of his life. The Fell Winter, loosing his father, the bond slumber, losing his mother, training to take on the responsibility of being the last lhach ned baudh, and returning to Bag End to quietly let boredom make him slip into madness.
Oh he had changed very much since the wizard had seen him last. Where a young hobbit full of life and innocence once stood was now a hobbit with dragon blood flowing nuts as strongly though his veins with hand that had taken life on d more occasions than he could count.
"You know nothing of the changes made in me Gandalf, do not assume to know me as you once did for you will find us to be strangers where we once were friends." Bilbo spat with the bitterness of his words tasting like acid on his tongue.
Bilbo expect a scathing retort or an insult at best but again Gandalf being annoying wizard like fixed him with a blinding smile as if Bilbo had just paid him the kindest compliment.
"Well that's decided then; it will be very good for you," he laughed pointing his staff at Bilbo, "and very entertaining for me. Consider this am opportunity for is to become reacquainted, I shall inform the others."
"Inform who? Wait, wha- no! Absolutely not!" Bilbo sputtered.
"We do not want any adventures here, thank you- not today! Not- I suggest you try over the Hill or across the Water. Good morning!" he shouted like a mad man as he scurrying into Bag End quickly bolting the door behind him.
Bilbo heard the light sound of metal against the wood on his door and pressed his body tighter against it until the sound of Gandalf ' s retreating footsteps faded into nothing.
As Bilbo sat down for dinner that night he could no longer ignore the feeling of unease and restlessness he'd been fighting off all day. Just what kind of adventure had Gandalf been speaking? Not that it mattered unless it was only a quick trip to Bree and back Bilbo had no hope of joining him; he had to stay near Bag End. Kalinth ' s burning could end at any moment and the idea of the dragons coming to find him, only to see he had decided to traps across the countryside with none other than Gandalf the Grey, was unimaginable. So if his mind wandered ton what ifs he kept them firmly there and tucked into his fish, until the sound of his bell rang loudly through the house.
Bilbo sat in the corner of his kitchen starring at the dwarf before him. He was large with arms think as a man's leg, he had a large scar across his face and a snarl that would cause most to flee if it was turned on them. Dwalin he had called himself as he shouldered his way in the door throwing his coat in the coat rack before helping himself to Bilbo's dinner. When the lare unfriendly dwarf inquired about more food the bell sounded again.
This time as Bilbo swung open the door he was greeted by a smaller much whiter dwarf who at least had the courtesy to smile at him.
"Balin, at your service." he introduced himself sweeping into a quick bow.
"Good evening." Bilbo offered becoming increasingly confused with each passing minute.
"Aye, it is." the dwarf answered stepping through the open door, "but I think it might rain later. Am I late?" he asked seriosuly.
"Late? Late for what?"
Bilbo never received an answer as Balin made his way into the living room to smash his forehead violently against the other dwarfs, who Bilbo gathered was his brother from the bits of conversation he could here from where he stood rooted in place.
What in Yavanna ' s name was happening?
By the third time His bell rang Bilbo had the beginnings of what promised to be a rather painful migraine. He stood with his hand tight around the knob mentally debating if he should indeed answer the door or throw the lock and hope this was all just a bad dream. When his father's faced appeared in his minds eye he had no choice but to do His polite hobbit duty, something he immediately regretted when he came face to face with not one but two more dwarves.
"Fili." The first fair haired one started.
"and Kili." the darker one finished.
"At your service." The said in unison sweeping into a synchronized bow that look a little too practiced to Bilbo.
"You must be Mr. Boggins!" the one who called himself Kili inferred excitedly.
"Nope! You can't come in, you've come to the wrong house!" Bilbo clipped as moved to shut the door.
Kili hand shot out stopping r he Dorr from fully closing, "What, has it been canceled?" he asked panicked.
"No one told us." Fili added shouldering the door open wider.
"Cancled? No nothings been canceled!" he snapped flustered.
"Well that's a relief." Kili mumbled as he shoved his way pushing Bilbo back a step.
It took more effort than Bilbo would like to admitt not to grab the dwarf throw him right back out the door but his attention was soon grabbed by Fili who was piling a mound of weapons into his arms.
This has to be a dream, some crazy stress induced dream.
Bilbo hurriedly followed behind the new pair of dwarves as the wandered through the house shouting when one had the audacity to scrape the mud from his boots on his mother's glory box.
"Kili, Fili here, help us move this table or we'll never get everyone in." Dawson called from the dining room.
"Everyone? Just how many more of you are there?" Bilbo cut in only to be completely ignored as his bell rung again.
Bilbo had had enough! There was only so much any Baggins could take and this was the last straw!
Oh no. No, there's nobody home!" He shouted throwing the pile of weapons to the ground in a crashing heap.
"Go away and bother somebody else; there's already to many dwarves in my dinning room as it is! If this is some plot head's idea of a joke, I can only say it is in very bad form!" he bellowed flinging open the door only to have not one, not two or three, but an entire pile of dwarves crash one on top of the other at his feet.
Bilbo stepped back quickly to avoid being crushed under the dwarf avalanche when his eyes caught sight of a hunched figure.
"Gandalf." he hissed the word like an accusation turned on his heel and stomped towards the disaster that was becoming his kitchen.
He should had known the bloody wizard was behind this.
If Bilbo expected the presence of the wizard to calm the craziness that had become his life he was sadly mistaken. He found himself rushing around shouting at dwarves only to be complete ignored as they ransacked his pantry. As if that wasn't bad enough they piled everything high on his table throwing food from one end to the other not caring one kick if it splattered on the wall or floors. By the time they started throwing the plates while singing a song which he somehow managed to feature he had completely given up and found a quiet place to sit before he gave into the the urge to everyone from his home with as much force as necessary.
Two loud knocks sounded from the door and Bilbo quietly followed Gandalf who quickly opened it. Bilbo's mouth went dry as he took in the dwarf before him, he was unlike anyone he had ever seen with eyes a blue so bright they matched the intensity he'd thought belong solely to dragons. He was strong holding himself in a way that attracted every eye in the room. Voice was low and gravely causing goosebumps to ghost over Bilbo's arm putting his senses on high alert as Gandalf introduced him to the dwarf.
Thorn Oakinsheild was his name.
"So, this is the hobbit." Thorin smirked circling Bilbo in a way that reminded him of predators evaluating their prey.
Bilbo understood the intimation technique but it would much more than a gravely voice and dominating presence to ruffle his feathers.
"Tell me Master Baggins have you done much fighting? Axe or sword What's your weapon of choice?" Thorin pressed turning his back to Bilbo as having already dismissed him as a non threat.
Bilbo was slightly offended by that and his opinion of the dwarfs intelligence dropped. It was foolish to underestimate someone as quickly as he had, if Bilbo had felt so inclined he could have had two daggers pressed into the dwarves throat and abdomen before he could blink an eye. For the moment Bilbo decided he would play the part he had been cast there was no need to correct assumptions.
"While I have some skill in conkers if you must know, but I fail to see how that should matter at all to you." he shot back meeting the dwarfs judgemental gaze.
"Thought as much," Thorin quipped, "He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." he finished as the surrounding dwarfs broke into a fight of laughter.
Grocer my ass.
Bilbo didn't resemble a grocer at all, in fact he was about far from it as Thorin was from Kalinth.
Bilbo had changed in more than just personality during his time with the dragons. With Kayerith's blood coursing through his veins, he had changed physically as well. He'd grown taller standing less than a head shorter than the dwarf before him and instead of the rotund stomach most hobbits his age prided them selves in, he was a wall of muscle. Not like Dwalin, or the one he thought they called Dori, but a lean agile muscle. Much in the same way Kayerith herself was built compared to Kalinth. He also gained more than a few of personality traits from his dragon mother, such as a quick temper when blatantly insulted to his face, in his own home no less.
Bilbo clenched his fists and mashed his teeth forcing himself still while the company of dwarves returned to his dining room. He followed after they had all taken their seats hiding himself in the shadows to go unnoticed. He listened as the the dwarves spoke of a meeting between the seven dwarf kingdoms that apparently hadn't gone their way if their groans were anything to go by.
"They say this quest is ours and ours alone " Thorin examined catching Bilbo's interest.
He listened as Gandalf spoke of a Lonely Mountain far to the east. The name caught in his mind as if he had heard it spoken before but couldn't place any meaning to it. It was Oin's words that struck a spike of fear in him.
"Beast, what beast?" He asked causing more than one dwarf to jump as he stepped out of the shadows directly behind them.
" Well that would be a reference to Smaug the terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals." Bofur drawled while lazily puffing on his pipe.
"I'm well aware of what a dragon is thank you." Bilbo smirked rolling his eyes at the irony of his statement.
The roon was once again filled with rumbles and groans each dwarf talking over the other about the odds of being able to complete such a quest with so little help.
"You forget we have a wizard in our compnay; Gandalf would have killed hundreds of dragons in his time!" Kili cried happily as if it should put an end to all their fears.
"Well, no-" Gandalf started.
"Oh no please tell us just how many dragons you've slain dear Gandalf." Bilbo interupted shooting Gandalf an amused smile.
"How many?" asked Doris impatiently causing the dwarves to argue and shout over each other.
Gandalf turned sending Bilbo a look that clear stated that he was unmasked by his queation and the raucous it caused.
Thankfulky, it was all brought to a quick halt shouting as he stood at the head of the table. Bilbo couldn't help but be slightly impressed at the way he naturally commanded the room. The dwarves went back to ignoring him once again content to go back to discussing their plans. Bilbo watched as Gandalf handed Thorin a key which if he heard correctly, was to a door that was in fact invisible and could only be found by reading the runes on the map. Runes We're beyond Gandalf skill to decipher. They were truly off to a most impressive start, it's no wonder none of the other Dwarf lords jumped on board of this obviously very well thought out plan.
Bilbo listened quietly as they spoke of the need for great stealth and courage only chiming in once the youngest dwarf, Ori he thought, spoke of the need for a burglar.
"Ha!" he laughed, "An expert I'd imagine."
"And are you?" Balin asked.
"Am I what?" Bilbo questioned confused on why every pair of eyes were now directed at him when they'd been happy to pretend he didn't exist before.
"Hear that lads, he says he's an expert!" Oin cheered.
"Me no. I'm not a buglar, I've never stolen anything in my life!" Bilbo exclaimed offend by the very idea.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with Mr. Baggins, he's hardly burglar material." Balin added.
"Aye, the wild is no place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor fend for them selves." Dwain said softly but his words hit Bilbo like a slap.
Can't fend for himself? These dwarves were either extremely narcissistic or stupid to assume that just because someone wasn't a dwarf or have a weapon strapped to their back at all time meant that they were weak and useless. As chaos once again surrounded the table Bilbo stepped back putting as much distance between himself and the dwarves as possible while still keeping them in his sight, lest he be tempted to show them just exactly how well he could fend for himself.
Bilbo's skin began to crackle and his usually dormant magic spiked into awareness ready to deflect an attack as Gandalf stood surrounding the dwarves and himself in darkness. Bilbo tried to catch it in time but after decades of a fight or flight lifestyle he reacted instinctively pushing out a burst of his own magic. Thankfully it went unnoticed by the dwarves whose attention was fully focused on the angry wizard before them.
"Enough!" Gandalf shouted, " If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar than a burglar he is." he warned.
Taking his place back in his seat he continued calmly, "Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet, in fact they can pass completely unseen when the have to notion to."
"You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company and I have chosen Mr. Baggins." Gandalf turned to address Thorin.
"There's a lot more than appearance would suggest and he's got great deal to offer, more than anyone of you know." the wizard proclaimed meeting the eye of every dwarf present, "including himself." he finished sending Bilbo a pointed look.
The conversation between Gandalf and thorin was lost to him as the Rama fictions of this 'quest' ran through his mind. Thirteen dwaves and one wizard attempting to take back a kingdom from a dragon. not just any dragon but Smaug who was known by names much worse than terrible by dragons. It was a suicide mission if he'd ever heard one. One he could not be a part of for more reasons then he had time to count.
He was brought back to himself as thorin roughly shoved a folded pamphlet of paper into his chest.
"Just your usual contract." Balin offered when Bilbo cast a raised brow in his direction.
He quickly skimmed over the contract snorting at the terms and warning provided with in. Once he had skimmed over it once more he turned to the assembled company with a look of pure disbelif.
"You are all in fact quite mad if you think I'm going to sign thus god forsaken thing." he spat tossing the contract in the general direction of Thorin ' s head before stomping out of the room, his exit punctuated by the slam of his bedroom door.
It didn't take long for Gandalf to come to him not even bothering to knock as he entered the room.
Bilbo ignored him as the greed wizard sat down on the edge of his bed.
"You have changed much since I saw you last." he stated quietly.
Bilbo's only response was to huff his annoyance determined not to make eye contact with a man he once considered considered a form of family.
"You have seen things beyond the edge of the shire. Seen the honors that the world has to offer and if I'm not mistaken you so so e of the hope it still holds as well. I came twice while you were away. Your mother wrote me and told me your time had come but I still found myself across the rolling hills near Bag End. I made excuses for it of course blaming it on hobbit but I know why the shire called to me."
"And what reason did you find?" Bilbo asked reluctantly when Gandalf made no attempt to elaborate any further on the subject.
"Fear my dear boy." again Bilbo found himself shocked by Gandalf, though he was being to get used to just expecting expecting the unexpected we it came to him.
"Fear of what, the shire isn't exactly know for its perilous dangers."
"It was not a fear of something, more of a fear for something; fear for you my dear Bilbo."
"Fear for me?" Bilbo asked in disbelief giving up on avoiding Gandalf's gentle gaze, "I was never in any danger from them."
"Oh of that I was very well aware what I feared was your future and what it would bring, You and your dragon have quite the burden to carry."
"His a me is Kalinth and he is my brother." Bilbo snapped.
"You were raised in a life of comfort and happiness only to have it brutally ripped away from you due to forces beyond your control; but fate was not done with you yet. No, then you found yourself the owner of a destiny that would effect much more than just your self, with a legacy as heavy as the mountain around you. You had a choice live your life as best as you could or embrace who you were mea t to be a d face whatever troubles lay ahead of you."
"What does my choices have to do with suicidal dwarves?" the question sounding harsher than Bilbo intended but in his defense he had had one heck of a day.
"You maybe the only one of your kind in middle earth Bilbo Baggins but you are not the only one who has had to face the same e choice as you." Gandalf scolded.
"One of those who faced such a choice is sitting in your living room at this very moment. Thorin Oakensheild had his entire world ripped away from him by a dragon and I was thinking it that may be a dragon could help him take it back." he admitted giving Bilbo an understanding look.
"Now it all makes sense," Bilbo whispered, "Your not here for my help at all are you?"
"I hate to disappoint but if you were hoping to use me as the go between to get my mother and brother to help them you're out of luck, for they are currently indisposed and I have no way to even reach them." Bilbo laughed darkly.
"Do not insult me I had hoped you knew me well enough in your youth to know that I value you for yourself. The dragon in which I speak of is not one with wings and breath of flame, but one who has a true heart, and a brave soul. You have dragon blood in your veins Bilbo Baggins and with your help this quest may just succeed; without you I fear it is doomed to fail."
Bilbo stared at Gandalf as he explained his reasoning and found no lie hidden there. He knew that the tasks the dwarves were undertaking was almost impossible and even with the odds stacked against them they would do their best to complete it a quality he greatly admired. Could he turn them away when he was probably the only person in all of middle earth with a shred of hope to help them?
"As much as I would like to help I can't. Kalinth 's burning could end any day now and I have to be here on Bag End, like I promised I would be. I'm sorry but I can't sign that contract."
Gandalf stood knowing when a conversation had reached its end and made his way to the door.
"You were right this morning when you said we were more strangers now than friends, because the Bilbo Baggins I held close to my heart would never have sat back and let excuses keep him from helping others when he could." Gandalf murmured before enclosing the door behind him leaving leaving Bilbo surrounded by heavy silence and choice that needed to be made.