Short chapter is short and the result of my procrastination.

Rather than study my History of Religion thing I wrote this short chapter instead which will set up the next chapter or whatever

Anyways, I don't have much to say and I have to get back to obtaining Nirvana (relevant Buddhist joke is only relevant to me)

ENJOY!

Kíli blinked dumbly repeatedly, staring at the Dwarf named Fíli and then at Bilbo for answers. The entire situation was complete madness and Kíli was sure he would quickly wake up in his bed, Bilbo in the kitchen as per usual, ready to listen to his weird dream. But Kíli was wide awake.

"My…what?" he mumbled, lost, "What's happening?"

"Aye," said an old Dwarf with snow white hair and fluffy beard, "I think we owe an explanation to the lad. He looks hopelessly confused. Let's start with introductions. My name is Balin," he bowed, "At your service. And that Dwarf there," he pointed at the muscular one he had knocked off his feet just as he entered Bag End, "Is my brother, Dwalin, sworn protector of the line of Durin."

"You're lucky you're not anyone else." Dwalin growled, "I would have strangled you by now."

"And these three," Balin said, gesturing a silver haired Dwarf with neatly arranged hair and perfectly groomed beard, a Dwarf with star shaped hair and a thieving air to him, and a dull looking Dwarf, clutching a book to his chest, "Are Dori, Nori, Ori – respectively – from the line of Ri. They're not of noble lineage but they've earned their place and current status."

The three Dwarves bowed in sync, "At your service!" they said.

"And then we have Gloín and Oín," Balin pointed at two old Dwarves, the first had thick red hair and a large beard, he almost resembled a lion, the other was much older and held a horn to his ear as he cringed, struggling to hear, "Our banker and healer, respectively."

"At your service!" They said.

"And I'm Bofur!" Continued a Dwarf with a jolly smile. He wore a funny hat which seemed to mimic his personality in some sense. He then gestured a rather fat Dwarf and one with an axe embedded in his skull, "And the big one's my brother Bombur, the cook, the other's my cousin, Bifur, the odd ball. At your service!"

They bowed and Balin continued with the introductions, "And finally," He said, gesturing the last two, "we have the leader of our company and his nephew, King Under the Mountain Thorin "Oakenshield" Durin of Erebor, the Greatest Kingdom That Ever Was Or Will Be and Prince Fíli of Erebor, son of Dís, daughter of Thrain, heir to the Lonely Mountain."

Kíli blinked again. "You…he…" he pointed at Thorin and then at Fíli and looked at Balin for answers, "He said he was my brother…"

"Aye." Balin confirmed, "You are Princess Dís' second born son, exiled three months prior to your birth for your own safety. However, the danger has now passed and we have come to take you home."

Kíli remained silent. It was absurd. Everything was absurd. They were all mad! He couldn't be a long lost prince to some random kingdom to the East! That was pure folly! Something you would find in faery tales and nowhere else! It was utterly impossible!

"Is this some sort of joke?" Kíli asked, and then he looked at Bilbo who turned his gaze away.

"I understand…" Thorin said, taking a step closer, "This might be a bit overwhelming, but I assure you this is all very real and I haven't made a mistake. I would recognize your mother's runes anywhere."

Kíli looked at his hand, wondering when he had taken it back and, suddenly, he felt dizzy. He abruptly turned white, his knees buckled and he fell over, knocked out cold.

It had to be a dream, there was no other explanation.

It was all just a dream.

It had to be.

Bilbo sat by Kíli's side as he waited for him to awake. The other Dwarves had made themselves at home and were chatting in the smoking room or anywhere else, enjoying themselves as they waited for Kíli to awake. Suddenly, Thorin walked into the room and stood next to Bilbo. They were silent for a long moment and the tension was obvious. Bilbo was still highly offended by the rude intrusion and taken aback by the declaration that Kíli was, in fact, second in line to the greatest Dwarf Kingdom in all of Middle Earth.

"I suppose…" Thorin finally said, "I should apologize for barging in."

"You should." Bilbo agreed bitterly.

"You must understand," Thorin said rather than apologize, "I've thought him dead for over half a century. To learn he had made it and had survived for 75 years was…I can barely describe the relief I felt."

"That still doesn't give you the right to pillage my home," Bilbo said, "Even if you did order the rest of your lot to rearrange everything, a few vases were still broken."

"If those are all your concerns," Thorin said, fishing through his pockets for his pouch, "I will happily reimburse—"

"Oh stop it." Bilbo sighed in frustration. "I don't need your money."

Thorin paused and looked at Bilbo quizzically, "I understand you're angry about our intrusion," he said slowly, "But I feel as though you're also bitter about something else."

Bilbo blushed at his transparency and looked away, "What does it matter?" he mumbled angrily.

"I admit this is rather…improper for a person of my stature," Thorin admitted, "And I see how this could trouble you. Rest at ease, as soon as Kíli awakes, we will leave for Erebor and never bother you again."

"Good." Bilbo sighed, "But you'll have to answer his questions before you go."

Thorin was just about to agree when he paused and realized there had been a misunderstanding. "The boy…" he said, "Will be coming with us."

"No he won't." Bilbo brushed away with a scoff, "Why on earth would he do that?"

Thorin crossed his arms above his chest and stared at Bilbo with authority, "He is prince of Erebor, second in line," Thorin reminded, "He has duties to fulfill for the Kingdom and he must learn to assist his brother in the council chamber when Fíli ascends to the throne."

Bilbo stiffened visibly, clutching at the blankets of the bed dangling from the bedside. "He promised he would stay." Bilbo answered coldly.

"Be that as it may," Thorin said regretfully, "He will have to break his word for the need of the many out rule the few—"

"I will not allow you to take my brother from me!—" Bilbo snapped loudly as he stood abruptly, tipping over his chair.

Thorin frown and matched Bilbo's defiance, "He is not your brother." Thorin growled, "His true brother is Fíli."

"He is my family—"

"His family," Thorin interrupted, "Is Fíli and I. No one else. You just so happened to be born of generous parents who took in an exiled Dwarf out of kindness. You share no blood ties to him and, therefore, have no right to demand anything so selfish. Besides, he belongs with his kind, not here."

"You can't—" Bilbo protested, tears welling in his eyes, "He's all I have left—"

"My condolences to you, Hobbit," Thorin hissed, "But he will be returning home and there's nothing you can do to stop it."

And other than glare and retain his tears, there was nothing more Bilbo could do or say. Thorin walked out of the room with an air of authority and just as he turned the corner and was out of sight, he broke into sobs and crumbled to the floor. Kíli awkwardly shifted to his side, pretending to still be asleep even though he had heard the entire argument.