This chapter is waaaaaaayyy longer than the last two lol
This story isn't meant to be that long and I've estimated it to be around 9 or 10 chapters but what with all the things I want to add, it might be a bit longer than that.
In future chapters we'll see just how Kili was as a child with Bilbo and their relationship/adventures over the years since...well, for reasons later made evident in this chapter, Kili will want to talk about it.
So anyways, I don't have much to say other than I have to study for three midterms and therefore won't have a lot of time to write this week. My macro-economy midterm is worth 20% I think, my History midterm is 25% and my History of Religion is 50% so obviously, the struggle is real.
Tho, to be honest, the only real thing I have to struggle with here is macro because of numbers XP I'm essentially a human encyclopedia when it comes to History and, from what my teachers told me, the tests are going to be freaking easy (one of them's a multiple question whereas the questions for the other have already been given to us since my teacher doesn't believe in the element of surprise)
Nonetheless, I will be busy XP
Now, ENJOY! And don't forget to tell me you're enjoying yourself and you want me to continue :D
Kíli lied on his back, his small pudgy hands on his belly as he contemplated the sky. There was something surreal to it and for a moment he wondered why he was a toddler all over again but quickly brushed the thought aside. He sighed and was just about to sit up when a little boy of around his age with pointy ears and honey coloured locks jumped on him. Bilbo smiled brightly, his cheeks flushed with his typical blush as he giggled and kept Kíli in place with his weight. Kíli giggled as well and attempted to push his brother off but to no avail, and so the brotherly teasing quickly escalated to a rough play-fight which normally ended with one of the two bursting into tears.
However, Bilbo suddenly disappeared and Kíli sat up, perplexed. He looked for the little Hobbit and called out his name, standing to go find him when he suddenly found himself next to a river. The sky had turned grey and the sound of thunder rumbled as cold drops of rain fell from the ominous clouds that had been so beautiful seconds ago. Kíli felt fear and anxiety at the strangeness of everything until he saw a man standing in the river with a basket. He couldn't quite make out any particular trait save for his long black hair. And though the man was virtually a stranger, Kíli felt a sort of attachment and love for him and he wanted to go see him but, instead, stayed rooted in place.
"You were loved." He whispered and pushed the basket away, watching it follow the stream.
Suddenly, loud yelling startled Kíli out of his trance and a number of armed Dwarves charged out of the forest and lunged for the man. They dragged him out of the river and began to beat him savagely. For a moment, Kíli stared in horror, unable to act and, when he did decide to shout, his voice was no louder than the man's previous whisper.
"Stop! Please! Don't hurt him! Stop it—"
Kíli awoke in his bed with a startle. His heart was pounding and he was covered in a thin layer of cold sweat, evidently the result of his bizarre nightmare. However, as it was, Kíli found he was unable to remember the slightest detail from his dream other than a group of Dwarves beating someone to a nasty mess. He shuddered and shrugged the memory away, jumping out of bed and wandering to the kitchen where Bilbo had just begun to cook breakfast.
"Good morning." He said with a lazy smile.
Bilbo peered back, "Good morning," he returned hastily, "I'm glad you're up, I need you to run a quick errand. There are a few things I'm missing to cook some of the dishes so I need you to go pick them up at the market."
"Really?" Kíli whined, "I just got up—"
"Do you want to eat?" Bilbo shot back.
Kíli remained dumbfound for an instant before shrinking back and mumbling: "yeah…"
"Good." Bilbo concluded with a grin as he turned back to continue preparing the food. "Now make haste! I want you to be back in thirty minutes which means no lollygagging!"
Kíli pouted and trailed back to his room, quickly changing into more appropriate clothes for an outing in the Shire. He then left, snatching the list left on the table and wandered out of Bag End. As he always had a habit of doing, Kíli paused and took in the fresh air and relaxing sight of the plush green hills trailing as far as the eye could see.
He was going to miss the Shire.
Kíli released his breath and skipped down the stone stairs and jumped over the fence, walking with a light bounce in his step towards the market. It was crowded as usual but there was something about the atmosphere and the hints of laughter behind all the ruckus that gave the area a pleasurable ambiance – something that was mostly absent in all the other market places around Middle Earth, or so he had heard. It was in situations like these that Kíli prided himself more than usual to being a Dwarf since he was naturally taller than everyone and could simply peer above their heads to locate the stands he sought.
"Kíli!" Hamfast called as he pushed through the dense crowd surrounding the cabbage stand of a Proudfoot.
Kíli turned to face the man and smiled, "Mister Gamgee!" He said with a playful grin.
"I told you not to call me that!" Hamfast protested, "It makes me feel…old."
"Well…" Kíli started, his smile widening as offence flushed the Hobbit's cheeks.
"How rude!" Hamfast denounced, but his frown slowly turned to a smile as he accepted the jest with good humour. "Who are you to talk anyways? You're far older than me!"
"And yet not a wrinkle to show it!" Kíli laughed.
"Oh dear!" Hamfast gasped, utterly horrified, "Have I gotten to that point already?"
"I'm just teasing you, Hamfast." Kíli sighed with a chuckle, "You still look young enough to win the hearts of some Hobbit-lasses!"
"And maybe I would if they stopped ogling over you, blasted Dwarf!" Hamfast retorted with a grin. "What brings you to the market so early, anyways? I thought you were a late sleeper, or so Bilbo constantly complains."
"I am! But sleep has been evading me recently." Kíli admitted with a sheepish grin, "And even so, I've never felt more energetic in all my life! I'm just so excited to start my journey!"
"Aye," Hamfast nodded, "Bilbo's been lamenting a lot about that."
"I know." Kíli said, "He's tried to dissuade me a few times by saying it would ruin the respect of the Baggins family name."
"Oh, he needn't worry about that and neither should you!" Hamfast laughed, "A lot of us have discussed it and we've judged that it was only natural for you to want to leave eventually. You're not a Hobbit, you're a Dwarf. Different blood runs through your veins, one that most likely inspires the will for adventure contrary for Hobbits. Besides, we all expected you to want to find answers at some point. They're not going to just come knocking at your door, you know!"
"I'm glad you all understand." Kíli smiled.
"Just don't forget about us!" Hamfast said, "We've loved you for 75 years and it would be utterly cruel to discard it so simply, even if it is over your roots!"
"Don't worry Hamfast," Kíli grinned, "You won't be getting rid of me that easily and Bilbo will definitely see to that!"
"Aye, I imagine so." Hamfast chuckled, "His Tookish blood shows when he's determined to get his way."
"It does." Kíli agreed and shuddered in horror as he recalled the times he saw his brother at his worse. "It's quite frightening sometimes… but anyways, I have to go. I'll face Bilbo's Tookish wrath if I dally a moment longer."
"Of course," Hamfast said as he waved goodbye, "See you later."
Kíli quickly bought the spices, oils and other ingredients Bilbo had requested in his list. He wondered why he had demanded so many things when they would leave in a few days for a long adventure. Surely the things would spoil long before they returned and the money would then do to waste. Nonetheless, he complied with his brother's will and made a b-line for a Sackville stand where he was to buy syrup before returning home to Bag End.
Marcia, the old Hobbit-woman occupying the stand, had dozed off and promptly woken up with a blood curling scream just as Kíli approached. The Dwarf's heart nearly tore through his chest in startled horror at the sudden outburst and it had taken him a long moment to calm down before he could ask Marcia Sackville if she was alright.
"Oh, I'm fine dear." She said with a sweet smile, "You just startled me."
"I startled you?" Kíli repeated.
"Aye, you did!" She confirmed, "Now what can I do for you, laddy?"
"Syrup will be all." He answered.
"Alright, well, you know the price, don't you?" Marcia said as she pushed a gourd of syrup towards Kíli.
Kíli nodded and pushed five gold and two silver coins towards her, "Here you go." He said and then snatched the syrup.
"Thank you." She said and scooped the money into her small, frail hands, "So when will you be leaving us, dear boy? I remember you were just a baby when I first saw you as a little Hobbit lass. It saddens me to see you leave us after al these years."
"We're leaving in a couple of days." Kíli answered.
"We're?" Marcia repeated skeptically. "You're not going alone?"
Kíli mentally smacked himself. He knew Bilbo didn't want information on his involvement in the journey to be leaked and now he had just ruined it.
"Oh," Marcia said before he could fix his mistake, "Are you leaving with that company of Dwarves?"
"I—" Kíli paused, "What? What company of Dwarves?"
"There's a company of Dwarves at the Green Dragon." Marcia said, "They arrived late the night before last. Apparently, they're not saying much on what business they have here but most assume they're travelling on important business to the Blue Mountains."
"Why would they assume that?" Kíli asked.
"Well, the leader of their company, a fine specimen indeed according to the wenches at the Green Dragon, has pockets flowing with gold and jewels." Marcia explained, "The lasses maintaining his room and cleaning his clothes also declared that his clothes and other items of his possession were of the finest quality and craftsmanship they had ever seen. Most think he's just a noble from the East travelling to the Blue Mountains but some say he's a King."
"Why from the East?" Kíli asked, and his heart suddenly started pumping faster.
"So curious!" Marcia grinned, "Well, he came from the eastern road and his clothes don't match the patterns and colours of the Dwarves' in the Blue Mountains. Seeing as there's only one Dwarf Kingdom in the West, the only other possibility is that he came from the East. However, if you ask me, that whole rumour on him being a King is folly!"
"Why do you say that?" Kíli asked.
"Use your head boy, it's quite obvious!" Marcia chuckled, "Why on earth would a King leave his Kingdom? His duty is to govern and he can't do that a thousand miles away! If anything, he's a representative of the King but even that I doubt. The lasses are just speculating excitedly because he's gorgeous – or something of the like."
And for a long moment, Kíli didn't respond as his mind was wandering somewhere far away. The information replayed through his head a thousand times and still it seemed he struggled to come to terms with all of it. He had never seen another Dwarf before and to have a full company of them wander through the Shire was amazing on its own since, aside from the occasional Man, no one passed through. Nonetheless, finally, he had an opportunity to speak with some of his kind! Kíli could ask them about their culture and heritage, explain to them what had happened to him and ask if they knew anything about his origins or where he might start looking for answers. It was a great opportunity and he wasn't about to waste it.
"Thanks a bunch, Marcia!" Kíli thanked as he snapped out of his thoughts. He placed a grateful kiss on her cheek before running off, "You're the best!"
"You flatter me, dear!" She responded with a wave as he left.
Kíli rushed out of the market place, his arms filled with the groceries Bilbo had requested, faced with a decision. He could either run back to Bag End, dump the food he had gathered and hastily explain to his brother where he was going to run off to or directly go see the Dwarves and face Bilbo's wrath later. He didn't know much of his people other than what Belladonna had told him but Dwarves supposedly moved fast during their travels and so there was no telling how long they would remain in the Shire if they were truly headed to the Blue Mountains.
Kíli looked at both paths in distress. Bilbo would definitely be angry if he acted without telling him and if he didn't return with the food in time. Nonetheless, he had been given such a rare opportunity by the Valar and the next thing he knew, he was running down the path to the Green Dragon. Perhaps, if they liked him enough, he could travel with them at some point, when they returned from the Blue Mountains and headed back from East – provided the speculated information he had been given was accurate.
His heart leaped upon the sight of the Green Dragon and he ran faster to the inn, nearly tearing down the door as he entered abruptly. The wenches sweeping the floors and cleaning the tables were startled by his sudden appearance but they had all immediately guessed the reason of his arrival.
"Kíli…" said the youngest, approaching him with her broom gripped tightly in her hands. She almost seemed sad.
"I've come to see the Dwarves—" he declared quickly, peering around.
"I'm sorry," she said, and the other further back turned her gaze away in melancholy, "They left an hour or so ago."
"They…" Kíli mumbled, lost, "What…?"
"I'm really sorry!" the Hobbit lass insisted, inching closer, "We offered them to stay a while longer but they refused, said they had important business to solve and whatnot. We'd thought you'd have come sooner—"
"Did…did you tell them about me?" he asked as emotions escaped him; he wasn't quite sure how to feel at the given moment.
"Aye, we did!" She insisted with vigorous nods, "We even told them you were in Bag End with Bilbo!"
"…And?" Kíli asked.
"They…they didn't say anything." She admitted, regretfully looking at the floor, "They barely spoke with us in general, probably thought we were annoying or something and making up lies. I'm really sorry Kíli! But why didn't you come sooner?"
"I was…I was busy…" Kíli mumbled. "With the preparations for my trip and everything…Do you know where they might have gone?"
"No, I'm sorry…" she said sadly, "They barely spoke about their objectives or what they were doing here, and when they did, it was hushed whispers that ceased whenever we were too near. But they might be headed to the Blue Mountains!"
Kíli smiled, "No," he said softly, "I think I'll just go home. Bilbo's been expecting me for a bit now and he'll be angry if I take any more time. Thank you."
The Hobbit girl called after him as he left but Kíli ignored her. He was far too lost in sorting out his thoughts and emotions to hold conversations with others any longer. In the end, having missed the company of Dwarves by so little time was a great disappointment, that he knew, but it didn't change anything to his original goal. He only wished he could have met them and had a short conversation with them, maybe learn about what to expect in the East.
Thus, as he made his way back to Bag End, he made up a bunch of scenarios in his mind where he had actual met them. Most of them resulted in the Dwarves liking him and accepting him as one of their own immediately and marvelling at his mother's craftsmanship upon seeing the rune she had carved for him which he carried with him everywhere. There were the few scenarios where the Dwarves were apprehensive and hostile towards him, maybe insulting him and challenging his true origins, but Kíli always found the right thing to say to dismiss their words or hateful arguments, eventually gaining their admiration and friendship. Either way, he fiddled with the rune in his pocket the entire time.
He absently crossed the fence guarding the front entrance of Bag End, dismissing the fact that the gate was open and the hinges to the lock had been torn off. He climbed the stairs miserably and walked pass the front door which was also wide open and bumped right into a tall, strong figure. The stranger must have been moving quickly for it had knocked Kíli right off his feet and left him dumfound in the entryway, the groceries he had bought rolling about around him.
Kíli looked up and gawked at the man he had bumped into. He was incredibly tall with an impressive beard and bald head covered in tattoos. His arms were huge and muscular, fit to wield the huge Warhammer he carried on his back. His expression was that of a warrior which had seen many battles and hardships and the scar near his eye attested to that.
And so Kíli attempted to assess the situation. He had been knocked over by the manliest, scariest-looking man he had ever seen and, for some reason, he was in Bilbo's house, a Warhammer strapped to his back. Why would such a person be present in Bag End? And then it hit him.
Bilbo was being robbed.
It all made sense really. Bag End was situated far away from most of the residences of the Shire and near a road leading out of the settlement. Travellers, marauders and thieves would definitely pass on the road for it was one of the scarce ones leading to the Shire. Not to mention that Bilbo had also been bequeathed everything from one of the wealthiest families in all of the hilly green land.
He was the perfect target and Kíli had to act quickly to save him.
Without thinking for a moment longer, he roared and jumped to his feet, tackling the man onto the ground with the use of his weight. He then jumped over him and dashed through the house, grabbing a hold of the coat hanger as it was the nearest object to him and he would need it as a weapon to fend off any more intruders.
Unfortunately for Kíli, there were eleven more intruders. A few stood in the halls or had been attracted to them what with the commotion and had promptly been knocked off their feet as he called out for his brother. Finally, he reached the atrium where the rest stood gathered around a flustered Bilbo. Kíli held the coat hanger defensively, ready to smack anyone who dared approach him.
"Get away from my brother!" he growled.
The men around Bilbo blinked at him dumbly before turning to one of them in particular who seemed to be their leader. Bilbo immediately turned his gaze to the ground and glared at it while Kíli slowly began to lower his guard as an eerie familiarity crept up his back. There was something about the man with the black hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed horribly familiar.
He stepped closer, oozing authority and dominance with every sound of his shoes clicking against the floor and Kíli struggled to hide his growing apprehension. He held the man's gaze as best as he could and tried to meet his might but to no avail. He slowly began to accept that he was going to get a savage beating or was going to be killed shortly for having wounded so many of his companions but the stranger never made a move to hit him or threaten to do so.
He stopped walking, standing inches away from Kíli in pure silence as he was scrutinized. "The rune." He finally said, his voice low and rumbling like thunder, "Do you have a rune?"
"A-and what if I do?" Kíli asked defiantly with feigned courage.
"Let me see it." He demanded.
Kíli found himself complying with the order without realizing it until he was offering the rune to him. The stranger snatched it from his hands and examined it carefully, his stoic features suddenly fading as overwhelming emotion took over him. Kíli was confused by the sudden change in attitude but what shocked him more was when he was pulled into a bone crushing embrace.
"I've finally found you." The dark haired stranger whispered, "I thank Mahal for having protected you for 75 years."
"Wh—" Kíli said but interrupted himself, looking at Bilbo for answers.
"Uncle…" one of the blond haired men said, stepping forward. "Is this…?"
The man released him and Kíli was still struggling to come to terms with the sudden change in situations when he said: "Yes, Fíli. This is your brother."
Now I kinda just wanted to add this bit just to clear a thing up or whatever. I tell (and will continue to) you guys to comment each chapter and what not and I'm not exactly doing it to whore myself out for reviews XP I'm doing it because I'm not writing this story for me.
I didn't come up with this idea, I took it from the Kink Meme and provided a link to the person who prompted it and wrote this story for her/him and a lot of you so happened to have taken a liking to it. I'm thankful for that but, if you remember the author's comment from the first chapter, I wasn't exactly keen or determined on the idea of going pass chapter 1 until a bunch of you told me to.
I've finished this story in my head and I don't need the closure of having it written down somewhere because, well, it's already done for me. The only reason this thing keeps going is because people demand it of me and I'm only too happy to oblige :D
Now don't get the wrong idea, I like writing this, however, the survival of the story rests in your hands and if I find that there are too few people demanding the story, I won't go out of my way to finish it lol (I have a life - sadly).
BUT ANYWAYS, the point is: the survival of the story rests in your hands so comment if you want me to keep going so I know I'm not doing this for nothing. (my minimum is like 4 reviews or something lol which I find pretty reasonable)