The Prince of Erebor

by Anonymonimus

King Thror sees Dis' newborn as a curse to the line or Durin and orders his death, however Thorin won't allow it and escapes with Kili. He brings the babe to the West where he is found by a Hobbit lass and raised as one of their own until the day where Thorin returns to him and wishes to bring him home. But Kili isn't particularly keen on it and neither is his brother Bilbo.

6. Journey or Home

Five million years later (AKA 1 year later) here's chapter 6.

I think I had already written chapter 6 a year ago but I hadn't liked it so I deleted it. Then I never got around to writing it again until now.

I also vaguely remember mentioning that this story would only be around 10 chapters long but I think it'll end up being a little more than that. I plan to make 5 chapters about the journey to Erebor and then around 5 more chapters on their adventures in Erebor though the "Erebor Arc" might easily exceed 5 chapters.

I sorta got this all planned out in my head.

Anyways, ENJOY!

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Kíli awoke in his bed alone. Fíli had pulled a cot into his room the previous night so he would have some comfortable place to sit while they chatted the night away. He had learned many things about their culture and about Erebor. Apparently, the Dwarves had a language of their own known as Kudzhul and very few outsiders knew or could make sense of it. He was taught a few basic words and a couple of swears and Fíli had been surprised by the speed at which he seemed to master the pronunciation. Kíli felt proud of his accomplishments.

Fíli had also gone into detail of what his newfound brother should expect upon arriving in Erebor. He told him the kingdom was situated beneath a mountain and stretched to its very tip just as it also reached for the deepest abyss down below.

Erebor had been made in harmony with the Lonely Mountain. The first Dwarves tried to conserve the paths already created by the mountain but had to enlarge some others and destroy certain sections but, if they didn't have to they didn't. Most, if not all, the houses and homes of peasant Dwarves living within the mountain were made by carving its stone into something suitable. Some of the richer Dwarves who wished to expand on some parts of their homes brought in fresh stone for the feet or simply carved further into the mountain walls. In any case, the most modified part of the mountain was the entrance. The front of the Lonely Mountain bore large and tall doors that were always open in favour of easing the hustling and bustling of trade and whatnot. Beyond the large doors was a vast open space filled with stalls and booths were common Dwarves sold their goods and made some of their fortune or simply shopped for groceries. Lately, Men have been seen gradually more often.

Fíli went on and on about his home for hours. It was evident he was very much in love with the place and yearned to return to it – regardless of his limited freedom. He had nothing but good things to say about its people and their beauty which told Kíli he would one day make a remarkable and loving King.

Kíli shifted in his bed and looked out the window. The sun was shining brightly as it always was in the Shire and the sky was ever so blue. Today was meant to be a gloriously wonderful day. He smiled and glanced down at Fíli's cot but was surprised to find it empty. It was then he remembered how Thorin planned to leave the Shire along with the rest of the company in what Kíli could only imagine would be in a few hours.

He got out of his bed and pulled some clothes on. This was likely the first time he got out of bed and dressed himself immediately. Every other time he remained in his night clothes and trudged sleepily to the kitchen where he knew he would find Bilbo doing what he did best: cooking. A pang of pain hit Kíli right in the heart at the thought. Leaving for Erebor would mean never waking up to the smell of crisping bacon and baking bread. It would mean never being greeted by the lovely and warm weather of the Shire and leaving its comfort forever.

Kíli sat back on his bed and contemplated his emotions for an instant. Before he had gotten news of the Dwarf Company in the Shire and before they had turned his life upside down by claiming him to be the lost prince of Erebor, he had actually been rather excited to leave the Shire. None of the afore mentioned painful feelings weighed him down or made him hesitate but it might have been because, no matter what Kíli would have found on his adventure, he knew he wouldn't stay. He had honestly expected to find his parents which he believed would have been farmers or miners – something common and with feeble income. He thought he had been sent away because his poor parents couldn't afford to feed him and thought he would have better chances to live elsewhere regardless of what Belladonna had told him. But he was the son of a princess and second in line to the greatest Dwarf Kingdom of Middle Earth: Erebor.

And the longer Kíli sat on his bed and remembered what he loved so much about the Shire which he would later be abandoning, the more he felt reluctant to follow his uncle – the King – back to his roots.

Suddenly, the door creaked open and Fíli popped his head in. He spotted Kíli immediately and grinned upon seeing his newfound brother sitting on his bed, dressed and ready to go. "Uncle told me to see if you had awoken." He said as he entered the room and closed the door behind him, "He told me not to wake you if you were still sleeping."

"Ha…" Kíli huffed. He had half a mind to ask Fíli to lie for him.

"Something the matter?" Fíli asked and took a seat next to him.

"I…I don't think I want to leave." Kíli admitted. "This is my home. Sure it might not have all the excitement and wonder of Erebor but it's beautiful, quaint and welcoming. I've lived here my whole life."

"You belong in Erebor." Fíli said. Kíli looked at his newfound brother in shock, unable to believe he would say such a thing after the impression he gave off the night before. Fíli looked at him sternly but only for a brief moment before he exploded in laughter. "Ah, you should see your face!" He grinned, "That's honestly something Uncle would say, I think I understand where you're coming from."

"You do?" Kíli asked.

"Had Hobbit royalty wandered to Erebor and claimed me to be the long lost Hobbit prince of their line and requested I leave everything I've ever known from the moment I was born," Fíli started with a smile, "I think I would also be rather conflicted and tormented. Especially if the family of Hobbits was as powerful and naturally menacing as I can imagine we are."

"Hobbits don't have a monarchy." Kíli said with a huff and a smile, "And you guys aren't so bad."

Fíli paused for an instant and looked Kíli over. "The last thing you were expecting was discovering you are of noble descent." He concluded, "I reckon the thought wouldn't even have crossed your mind even in your wildest dream."

"Yeah…" Kíli admitted, "The most I was willing to imagine was a well off merchant's son that had gotten involved with the wrong crowd and had to send me away for my own safety. Until things were sorted out, of course, but by then he would have lost track of me."

"Did you, maybe…" Fíli started and trailed off. He seemed to hesitate to ask his question as though he was afraid of giving the wrong impression, "Not that this is the case but, did you ever, maybe, envision a scenario where you weren't welcome home?"

"Of course," Kíli smirked and he pulled out the rune his mother had made him, "But my mother, Belladonna, kept insisting I was loved otherwise I wouldn't have this with me. Even then, I still thought that maybe my other mother loved me but my father might have not."

"You know," Fíli said, "The only memory I have of you is when you were just born. I was in the nursery, holding you and singing to you while mother carved your rune." He leaned back and placed his arms behind him as support as he stared at the ceiling, "Uncle says that was the day he took you and left." He then looked over at Kíli, "I know how scary it must be to leave this place and go somewhere new and dangerous. However, for the sake of our mother and uncle and everyone who gave up so much to protect you, please come home for just a short while. If you truly do not wish to stay, I don't believe any power in the world can keep you there."

"What did people give up for me?" Kíli asked, "No one ever really goes beyond that."

"Uncle will tell you when the time is right." Fíli said, "He knows more than I. I was just a babe when you left."

Kíli nodded and their conversation ended as such. He still wasn't sure whether he wanted to follow the company to Erebor anymore but figured he might as well do it for the people who seemed to have given up so much for him. However, he wondered if Bilbo would still like to tag along.

Kíli and Fíli left his room, making way to the kitchen where Bilbo and Thorin were bickering at each other. The sight was amazing and funny. Though Bilbo had apparently been very flustered about having initially treated a king so poorly, he had since then graduated from the feeling. As it was, he was schooling Thorin for his poor table manners and the latter was defending himself arduously.

"It's really simple!" Bilbo snapped, "No elbows on the table! Period!"

"There isn't anyone else at the table and it's not as though we're eating!" Thorin snapped back, "You're exaggerating!"

"Exaggerating?" Bilbo snarled, "Would you have done such a thing back in Erebor with your distinguished noblemen seated around you and observing all of your actions!?"

Thorin pinched his lips together, glaring at Bilbo, "This is different—"

"Hardly!" Bilbo cut in immediately, "You're being extremely rude both in table manners and as a guest!"

Suddenly, the stench of burning pork caught Bilbo's attention. He darted back to the meat cooking in his pan and despaired at the fact that one side was burnt, "Look what you've done!" he blamed Thorin.

"Me?" Thorin repeated, incredulous, "You're the one cooking!"

"And you're the one who distracted me!" Bilbo fired back, "Had you used proper table etiquette and not have whined like a child when I corrected you, I wouldn't have burned the meat! Now I can't serve this and I've wasted it!"

Thorin was a loss of words to defend himself. Fíli chuckled, having never seen his uncle so dumbfounded and disoriented in an argument, "You're insufferable." Thorin muttered, slinking back into his chair with his arms folded over his chest.

"As are you." Bilbo grumbled back and took care of the other things he had been cooking before going back to replacing the meat with something else.

"Are we interrupting something?" Fíli asked.

Both Bilbo and Thorin jolted violently; Thorin hit his knee on the table and Bilbo nearly dropped the loaf of bread he had made.

"Aye, I do think so." Kíli snickered, "We should go, I know what normally follows a lovers' spat."

"Kíli!" Bilbo exclaimed, aghast.

"A gross exaggeration." Thorin declared, clearing his throat and turning his head away slightly to hide his blush, "I would never bed someone of such a low stature."

"How pretentious of you." Bilbo glared, offended.

"We jest!" Fíli declared with a laugh and took a seat next to Thorin. Food pilled on the table more so than usual. The smell was as divine as ever and it seemed that Bilbo had finally outdone himself. "This seems heavenly, Master Baggins."

"Thank you." Bilbo said promptly with a brief nod, "I'm afraid there won't be any pork to accompany all of this thanks to your uncle."

Thorin groaned in irritation but said nothing.

"I think this'll be more than enough, Master Baggins." Fíli smiled politely, "I don't believe we'll manage to finish all of this just the four of us."

"Speak for yourselves!" Kíli laughed and took his typical seat at the table, "This doesn't even compare to a typical Hobbit breakfast!" he turned to Bilbo and asked: "Had a late start?"

"Yes." Bilbo said with an icy smile, "You have your glorious Majesty I-don't-understand-how-the-sink-works, the King, to blame for that as well."

"They're different in Erebor." Thorin defended.

"I'm sorry, I was unaware turning a nob was complex." Bilbo said and brought a bowl of grapes and a fresh loaf of lemon bread to the table. He turned to Fíli and Kíli with a smile and said: "Eat to your fill."

They ate and though the atmosphere was partially tense, Kíli did rather enjoy himself. He thought it was quite funny a Hobbit such as Bilbo had the guts to stand up to a powerful King and shamelessly call him out on his mistakes. Fíli seemed to be of the same mindset whereas Thorin was greatly flustered. However, he never yelled at Bilbo.

When they finished, Bilbo forced Thorin to help him clean the dishes while Kíli took out Bilbo's pipe and weed and went outside with Fíli for a smoke. The action was essentially he and Bilbo's tradition. Whenever they would finish breakfast, they would smoke a bit of Old Toby's outside before coming back in and preparing for Second Breakfast. Kíli savoured the moment as much as he could this time knowing that it could easily be the last or simply a long time before the next opportunity would arise.

"Are we leaving today?" Kíli asked, blowing out smoke from his mouth and passing the pipe to Fíli.

"I think so." Fíli said. His eyes widened in delight when he tried the pipe weed, "This is really good."

"You won't get anything better than Old Toby's, ever." Kíli grinned, "Anyways, I thought I heard Thorin say we would leave in the morning."

"I feel like the reason we haven't left yet is your brother, Master Baggins." Fíli grinned and passed the pipe back to Kíli.

"You think he really fancies him?" Kíli asked, surprised.

"In all honesty I think he's very much the type Uncle likes." Fíli smiled, "However, I don't think love is the reason we're still here. At least, not that kind of love. I think Master Baggins is stalling."

"That sounds like something he would do." Kíli chuckled softly. His smile dropped after a brief moment of silence, "I'll miss him."

"The same way he'll miss you, I'm sure." Fíli said. "You could always ask him to tag along."

"I don't think Bilbo will abandon the Shire for a kingdom within a mountain." Kíli laughed, "He's far too much in love with the Shire."

"Remember what I said?" Fíli reminded, taking the handed pipe to him again, "Come to Erebor and see the place for a short while and if you don't wish to stay, you can go home. Bilbo can do the same except he'll have an easier time leaving than you."

"I suppose it'll be like the journey we had initially planned." Kíli reckoned.

"You planned to visit Erebor?" Fíli asked and took a puff.

"Yeah," Kíli confirmed, "We meant to start by going to Moria—" barely had Kíli finished saying the name of the lost Dwarf Kingdom did Fíli choke on the recently inhaled smoke and coughed violently. Kíli helpfully patted him on the back, "We weren't going to go in…"

"Still a terrible idea." Fíli wheezed. "I'm glad we got to you first then. You likely would have been killed on your insane journey."

"I just wanted to see the ruins…" Kíli mumbled.

"I'm sure." Fíli laughed, "But the Orc infestation spans beyond Moria's walls. You would likely have been intercepted on the road and killed on sight or taken as a prisoner and eaten later."

"Well…" Kíli huffed. "Glad that never happened."

They smoked for a while longer before retreating back into Bag End. By then not only had the dishes been cleaned but Bilbo had suddenly forced Thorin into helping him prepare for Second Breakfast so as to make amends for the burnt pork. Thorin wore an apron that was clearly too small for him and grumbled angrily as he peeled potatoes. One could vaguely make out complaints on how he was a King and shouldn't be forced to do such a thing.

"Back already?" Bilbo asked, "You'll have to help for Second Breakfast then."

"How much do you Hobbits eat?" Fíli asked in astonishment.

"I was wondering the same thing." Thorin grumbled in his corner.

Kíli shifted awkwardly at the kitchen's entrance. He was trying to find the courage and the words to make a proposition with Thorin but as it was he was struggling to figure out how to address him. Fíli called him "uncle". Fíli was his brother. Did that mean Kíli should also call him "uncle"? The Dwarves of the company called him "Thorin" but they were all close to him and Kíli had only met the man the day before. Should he call him "My Lord" or "My King"? Again, he had only met him the day before and though they were family, they were still strangers.

"What is it, Kíli?" Bilbo asked before Kíli could decide on how to address Thorin.

Thorin looked up from his position in the kitchen and Kíli knew then it was too late to brush it off. He took his courage in both hands and took a step towards Thorin, "T-Thorin," He stuttered clumsily and unsurely. When Thorin simply waited for him to continue without showing anger or offence, Kíli proceeded, "I would like to make a proposition."

Thorin put down his knife and potato, wiping his hands on the apron before giving Kíli all of his undivided attention. "Speak."

"I would like for Bilbo to come with us to Erebor." Kíli said.

"That isn't much of a proposition." Fíli teased.

Thorin took a moment to answer. It was clear he didn't want to say no so bluntly. "Master Baggins doesn't have much of a place in Erebor." Thorin explained, "He—"

"I didn't know tourists were forbidden to break Erebor's walls." Bilbo said sharply and Thorin sighed in frustration audibly.

"They're not—" he tried but Bilbo cut him off before he could elaborate.

"Wonderful." He said, "Then I'll be tagging along."

"We don't have enough resources." Thorin claimed.

"Kíli and I were meant to go on a journey in a few days, we can just take a portion of what he already prepared." Bilbo said smoothly, "In any case, had this solution not been an option, I'm sure a wealthy King who had previously offered to repay the damages made by his kin would have no trouble purchasing an extra pony."

Thorin didn't say anything and instead returned to begrudgingly keep peeling his potatoes. Bilbo smiled and huffed victoriously, returning to the pudding he had been making. "We'll leave you behind if you slow us down." Thorin said.

"I wouldn't expect anything less." Bilbo responded.

Fíli and Kíli exchanged glances. "This is going to be amusing."