Taking the little ones with him to Bree was a hard decision to make. There was no requirement for his family to even go. Bofur and Bombur were capable dwarves, they had packed efficiently and quickly pulling as much information from Nori as possible as they did. Bifur has been on his trading route not much more was known as Bifur was the only survivor, even that was not guaranteed.

It was when Nori went to fetch some ponies that Thorin looked down at his two little ones. He didn't know what to tell them. They had never met Bifur, they were upset mostly because Bofur and Bombur were. But something in their little faces made him do something he usually wouldn't. He took a risk with them. He packed up their bags, got two ponies, and joined Bofur and Bombur on the road.

Fili was not nearly as happy to be moved about the countryside as much as Kili was. The brunette took as much time as he could to be on his feet, running from field to forest, to creek. Anything new he touched seemingly amazed by the condition of the soil from one spot to the other, even more so with all the different plants. He would grab fistfuls of the strangest leafs, dug until his little fingers bled to fish out roots. Thorin had tried his best to keep the child from damaging himself, he had to scold him for bringing along useless grass every time they packed up camp and traveled for the day.

One day Bofur handed Kili a small satchel. "Here you go laddy, keep your things in this."

"You are not helping the situation." Thorin pressed his palm against Fili's head, the youth had been acting odd for the last couple of days. Not venturing far from Thorin's side even refusing to tag along with Kili as he usually did.

"He's a child, not even old enough to pick up an axe. It's good to encourage curiosity, keeps the mind sharp." The miner rubbed his hands together. It was obvious he was desperately trying to keep the worry at bay. He watched Kili run around, grabbing things and stuffing them into his new satchel. Bofur swallowed hard, a smile forced onto his lips. "I used to watch over Bifur's little girl, Mythur. She liked to collect stones. Said she could talk to 'em." His lower lip trembled, his eyes misting as his voice came distant, cracking under the hurt. "Was hopin' the lads would have g-gotten to meet the lass. Lovely thing she was, they would've liked her."

There was a heavy silence. Thorin reached over, his hand patting the back of Bofur's elbow in condolence. It seemed to be all the comfort the miner needed as he nodded several times, swallowing hard and moving back to his brother and Nori. That night Thorin didn't sleep. Bofur and Bombur's grief weighed heavily on him, it was palatable and brought back many memories of his grandfather, father... and of dear Frerin.

The next day they entered Westmarch, it was also the day Fili became upset over nearly everything. When he hate it was little, when he drank he complained, when he was picked up and placed on the pony he moaned his dislike. Kili could keep him silent for a few blessed hours, petting golden hair, whispering sweet things making the larger of the two boys lean against him heavily. Fili developed a raspy breath soon after and a fever that hurt his skin. It forced Thorin to find shelter as soon as he could. It was difficult as the nearest place was a small area called Hobbiton. He had never been there before, always having passed by it to the north in favor for a quicker passage to Bree. There he was not well greeted by the town's folk as hobbits prefered to stay by themselves and didn't like the intrusion of outside company. He was on his own as he had encouraged Bofur and Bombur to continue to Bree. He would meet with them there after Fili recovered.

From hobbit hole to hobbit hole he went, knocking on doors, or asking hobbits that were working outside for aid. All turned him away.

Fili whined in the heat of the summer sun, his fever starting to worsen. Thorin kissed the top of his son's head.

"Why aren't they helping us?" Kili asked. Even he knew, as small a child as he was, this was terrible behavior.

"Do not concern yourself with it." Thorin said. He closed his eyes for a moment, his mind silently pushing down the welling fear that was squirming in his stomach. Fili was only getting worse.

Eventually he met a tall human in gray clothes that brought him to a large hall that was barely tall enough for the human to stand in. He held Kili's hand and hugged Fili to his hip, his chin held high as he scrutinized this place.

So far his opinion of hobbits was of a low standing. Any dwarf and most humans when called to help an ill child would leap at the chance. They would be properly hospitable and do everything in their abilities to make sure the child recovered. Here, they scowled because there was a stranger. They turned their noses, shook their heads and left them out in the beating sun. One one was kind enough to offer them water but nothing more. Terrible things, these hobbits nothing at all like what Frerin had read in his studies.

"Gandalf." An old hobbit hobbled on his cane over to the human that looked just as old as he. The old hobbit reached up like a child forcing the human to bend down to share a hug. The hobbit laughed a soft sound, much akin to not seeing an old friend for a long time. "I wasn't expecting you for another fortnight! What brings you here so quickly?"

"Grave business I'm afraid Gerontius. May I introduce you to a new friend of mine, Thorin Oakenshield." Gandalf moved as best as he could to the side.

The hobbit looked to Thorin then the children. While he hobbled to the dwarf Gandalf continued to speak. "His child, Fili, has fallen ill during their travels and cannot go any further."

Gerontius held up a hand, "May I?"

Thorin hesitated before he nodded. The hold hobbit barely came up to his chest and his back was bent but he was did not seem hindered by either as he managed to reach up and slip his fingers into the thick mess of Fili's hair to feel the back of his neck. He frowned and rather rudely stuck his finger into Fili's mouth eliciting a weak protest and shake of the boy's head.

He took his finger to his nose and took a deep sniff, his wrinkled face pulled into a deep scowl. "Where did you come from?"

"The Blue Mountains." Thorin answered.

"South, north or directly across from here?"

"Somewhat north. Why?"

"You're boy has Rushock Bog Fever, or also called Bog Sickness. Your travels would not have taken you through there if you were on a good path." The hobbit scratched his sideburn in thought. "A list of reasons as long as my arm could be given as to why he contracted it, drinking bog water, bitten by the right bug, exposed to animal droppings from an animal that wandered out of the bog... but it is peculiar that a dwarf would have contracted it... Dwarven kind never get ill."

"Some of our young and elderly will." Thorin said softly as Fili gave a rattling cough while wrapping his little arms around Thorin's neck. "Do you have medicine that I may be able to purchase for him?"

"No." Gerontius said sadly. "There is no cure for Bog Sickness, he must fight it off." He then slammed his cane down a few times the loud tapping done more of him making a decision than to get anyone's attention. "Right! We'll find you a nice place to stay while he recovers, there is little we can do for the pain he suffers but what we have is yours. But it is best that your other sweetling is not exposed to the illness any farther. It is contagious and will become more so soon as the fever burns hotter. I'll have my daughter watch over him." He turned a little shouting down the hall with a set of lungs that Thorin was surprised he had. "Belladonna!"

"NO!" Kili shouted grabbing onto Thorin's leg.

"Kili I-" Thorin's words stuck in his throat as a pretty hobbit lass came into the room. Her hair was dark and flowing, face heart shaped, brown eyes starkly different from the blue dress she wore. If it wasn't for the hairy feet poking underneath her skirt he would have sworn she was of human noble birth. There was something so very strange about her.

"Master Oakenshield has a child with Bog Sickness, I need you and Bungo to watch over his other litten one." Gerontius motioned over to them with his cane.

"Of course." She smiled. It was a lot like Thorin's own mother's smile, it stirred something inside him that he wasn't quite comfortable with.

Each step she took towards them Thorin felt his heart beat a little harder. When she came up to them he took a step back, pulling Kili with him. She looked to him with something that made Thorin look away. He swallowed hard, his hand pressing Kili's head against his leg. She unnerved him. Why did she unnerve him?!

"It's alright," she said softly. She held out her hand like the human males do. "I'm Belladonna Took-Baggins."

Took? Thorin felt his heart skip a beat. He hadn't heard that in so long. Why did it give him hope?

He slowly took his hand from Kili and took hers into his. He squeezed gently only to have her give a rather crushing grip. She shook his hand with viger. "Master Oakenshield it's a pleasure to meet you."

"As you Madam Took-Baggins." He managed to push out.

"Pleasantries to the side, I imagine my father has a place well thought out for you and your son to stay." She let go of his hand. She tucked her skirts behind her knees as she squatted down to look at Kili. "And you'll be staying with me at Bag End sweetling. Your papa can visit a lot, it's just down the road."

"He's not my papa." Kili frowned. "And I'm not a sweetling! I'm a dwarf!"

"I'm his uncle." Thorin filled in.

Belladonna gave a nod as she frowned and touched her chin in thought. "Well, if you're a dwarf then flex your arm so I can feel your muscles, all dwarves have muscles."

Thorin couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of his lips when Kili was egged out from behind his leg. The boy stood proud flexing his arms like he had seen Dwalin do a few times that he had visited. The hobbit lass reached out and made a rather big production of feeling Kili's nonexistent muscles. She fanned her face with her hand, "Oh my~, you're so big and strong! You definitely are a dwarf!" This instantly gained her Kili's favor as she gave him more compliments and he preened over every single one.

It relaxed Thorin a bit, especially when her words held true. They had taken Thorin to a little hut not far from Bag End. Its structure was temporary, even the straw stuffed mattress was badly stitched having been meant to be emptied and disposed of.

"I'm sorry that the conditions are not better." Belladonna said softly as she was stepped in after Thorin, her hand holding Kili's. "My husband, Bungo, and I were staying here while he finished up Bag End. We were going to take it all down in a week."

"As long as there is a roof over the children I cannot complain." Thorin said truthfully. He used one hand to adjust the mattress before laying Fili down. He was asleep, worn out from travel, heat, and sickness.

"We'll bring you some supplies and dinner and supper when it is done."

"Dinner and supper?" Kili asked after he was caught in trying to go to Fili's side.

Belladonna smiled, "Hobbits have many meals little dwarf and we need to make sure everyone stays strong and gets better. So I need all the help you can give me."

Kili gave a worried noise looking back at Fili. "I-if I help you will Fili get better?"

"Of course he will." The hobbit stroked Kili's back. "Now, lets go get those supplies."

Kili looked back several times before the door to the hut was shut, his eyes having a hard time leaving Fili's figure.

It was late that night when Gandalf came to visit, Belladonna and her husband were good folk, much better than the other hobbits in Hobbiton. Gandalf sat in a little chair looking much a giant as he looked over Fili. "His color is fading," he said softly.

"He worsens, his pains making it hard for him to sleep." Thorin stated as he refreshed the cold cloth he pressed to his son's forehead.

"Rushock Bog Fever is a terrible thing, will claim many lives in a year." Gandalf sighed. "But, if symptoms are treated and he drinks plenty of fluids he will pull through. I do believe... yes, yes, I do." Gandalf took up his travel bag and searched through it finding several leaves and roots that he handed Thorin. "These should help. Create a paste from the roots and put some under his tongue twice a day and it should help keep him from vomiting. Make a tea with the leaves and it should help reduce his pain."

"Where did you get these?" Thorin looked at the plants, he recognized some as things Kili picked up.

"In my travels. They are rare, it is wise to collect them when you come across them. I take you have seen them before."

Thorin didn't reply he only set about making a tea from the leaves. Fili was already making terrible noises that stabbed at his heart, every once in awhile his tiny voice would croak out, "It hurts."

"I owe you much." Thorin watched the kettle as it heated over the wood stove. "You have helped us without mention of payment. Tell me your price and you shall have it."

Gandalf smiled, his old eyes twinkling. "You do not remember do you?"

"Remember what?"

Gandalf leaned back pulling out his pipe and stuffing it. He lit it with the a small flame from the tip of his finger, taking in a long drag. He let the familiar soothing buzz of old toby wrap around him before letting out the smoke towards the cracked window.

"I remember a raven haired lad from a long time ago who had a little brother with golden hair the same as your son's. The raven was fiercely protective of his brother. Even kicked me in the shin when I dared to ask why he was practicing with a bow and not a sword. Called me a string of things a boy at that age had no business knowing what they were and proceeded to try to shove me in the dirt."

Thorin's attention snapped to Gandalf, his blue eyes narrowing at the old man. "That was you?"

Gandalf laughed, "Quite. I still recall I had to apologize to you and Frerin for my rather innocent question. The lad looks much like your brother. How is Frerin?"

Thorin looked away, his jaw tight, "He... died in battle many years ago along with my grandfather."

"I am sorry to hear that, Thror was a good king. Frerin was a good sort as well. Smart too. Gave him a book once that even I couldn't read." Gandalf sighed wistfully the pipe tip to his bottom lip. "As for your question before, of stating a payment I require nothing but the boy to get better. He's a special one."

The king pressed his lips together, tight, as he ran through his brain trying to remember everything this man was. He had vague memories that he had forgotten up until then. If he remembered correctly he had indeed tried his damndest when he was only twenty to beat up Gandalf, barely able to lift up a practice hammer and he was trying to take down a grown human who imight/i have the idea to insult Frerin. He remembered seeing him with his grandfather, and his father. Then a recent memory hit, Gandalf's finger being bright for a moment while Thorin was busy.

"You... are a wizard, correct?"

"Yes."

Thorin steeled himself. "I must request something of you then."

"What is that?"

"Tell me about those who can change their form."

Gandalf frowned, "Skin changers? Unusual request that I do not feel obliged to fill. I am sorry."

"It's important!" Thorin barely kept himself from screaming. "I..." He took a deep breath. "I must know everything I can. It is of the utmost importance, you must believe me."

The wizard leaned forward, his eyes searching over Thorin's for any sort of deceit that might be given. When he saw nothing but honesty and truth he leaned back. "Before I do... I must ask you for a favor."

"What sort?"

"My travels have taken me far and wide upon Middle-Earth, and I regret not being there when Smaug the Terrible descended upon your home. I had tried to come to your aid but was much too far away. The favor I must ask of you; When the time comes, you must try to reclaim Erebor and I must be with you in your quest."

Thorin felt his throat constrict. Something about this made it feel as if he was making a deal with the devil. He had little choice though. Fili needed to control himself to be safe. If he changed again he would be treated like a dangerous animal and hunted. Even though Thorin would give his life for his son, it did not guarantee that Fili would live after Thorin had perished at the end of someone's sword while protecting the boy.

"Very well. You have my word."