Their send off was a quiet affair, the fellowship rode out while those let behind simply watched, wishing them hope. Bilbo couldn't help but feel a bit silly sitting on his pony while Legolas, Boromir, Gandalf and Aragorn all rode proper horses that towered over his. Fili and Kili seemed to share the sentiment, Thorin probably did as well but he didn't show it.

"Why do we have to go through Mirkwood?" Kili asked, "Couldn't we go around it and still head south, without all the spiders and vines and such?"

"We'd be out in the open, it's too dangerous." Boromir replied harshly, "You will just have to deal with the spiders."

Kili stuck his tongue out at him once the humans head was turned.

Aragorn, Legolas and Gandalf struck up a conversation easily enough and soon the three were conversing casually as if this was just another summer ride. Thorin, as always, traveled in silence while Fili and Kili whispered various rude things about the human who continued to snap at them.

Bilbo had to agree, Boromir's attitude could be a little, harsh, but at the same time he could see something weighed heavily on the humans mind. Perhaps all was not well back in Gondor and he was taking it out on them.

"Fili and Kili are just trying to lighten the mood with their jokes." Bilbo assured him, riding up alongside, feeling very small on his shaggy pony.

"I was told Dwarfs were serious warriors." Boromir replied tersely, "They should be more focused.

"I think in dark times we should try and find reasons to smile all the more, no matter how trivial." Bilbo argued, earning him an impressed look from the human.

"Perhaps."

-oOo-

Boromir was not particularly comfortable with the group selected for him. He and his men could take the Ring without issue, it would be much simpler that way. But no, instead they had this 'rag tag team' that included three so young they were basically children. Or at least they acted like children. Not only that but the most powerful object in Middle Earth was in the hands of the smallest, weakest member of their group.

If anybody should have it, it was Boromir. He was stronger than some Hobbit.

"We should make camp before the sun sets." Legolas suggested, peering up at the small gaps between the trees, "There is precious little light in these parts, we should use it to our advantage."

"Fili, Kili, see if you can hunt us up something decent to eat." Thorin ordered, "Bilbo, stay with me."

"Yes Uncle!" The two Dwarfs replied before diapering into the trees.

Boromir was glad, the two gave him a slight headache. Legolas and Aragorn scouted the area to make sure it was safe as he, the Dwarf and the Hobbit set up camp. He noticed the kings watchful eye on the young Hobbit with curiosity, he wasn't sure about the connection. He had heard about the retaking of Erebor when he arrived in Mirkwood and that the Ring had been discovered by this Bilbo during it. But why would Dwarfs bring a Hobbit with them on a quest?

"I should go get some fire wood." said Bilbo, getting to his feet after rolling out the sleeping mats.

"Stay close." Thorin warned, "I don't want you wandering too far."

"Yes father." He sighed, Boromir's eyes almost fell out of his skull.

Father? FATHER?

Thorin caught him staring and he immediately went back to preparing the Elven bread for their supper. He could ask questions later.

While the bread was indeed filling, it didn't taste good at all, so he was thankful the Dwarfs bought back several rabbits to eat. Legolas didn't touch them of course and mysteriously neither did Aragorn but Boromir didn't complain, more for him.

Gandalf, Thorin and he took the first watch while the others slept. It unnerved him slightly when he learnt Elves slept with their eyes open, it gave him the impression Legolas was among the dead with such sightless open eyes. Gandalf made himself comfortable under a tree at the edge of their camp smoking his pipe while the two Dwarfs settled down to sleep not too far from their uncle. To his surprise the Hobbit laid down to sleep between the two, the three young ones making a huge bundle of blankets and mats that they appeared to be sharing.

"Bilbo confuses you." Thorin noted some hours later, finally breaking the silence.

"Yes." Boromir admitted, "He calls you father and dresses as a Dwarf."

"Bilbo is my son." Thorin insisted, "Maybe not by blood, but I raised him along with Fili and Kili after their father died. Bilbo's family was killed by wolves when he was just a babe, we took him in."

Boromir gave a hum of approval, there were many orphans in Gondor.

"Fili and Kili even gave him a Dwarven name, you will find no three brothers closer than them."

-oOo-

Boromir chuckled as he knocked the blond Dwarf down once again with the sticks they were using as practice swords.

"Again." Fili demanded.

"I can see the tales of Dwarf's stubbornness have not been embellished." Boromir laughed.

"I just can't get the hang of fighting men, Goblins, orcs, other Dwarfs I have no issue with." Fili mattered, preparing his stance once more.

"You need to aim higher." Aragorn yelled, "Or lower, never aim for the middle!"

"But that's where all the vital organs are!" Fili argued before tripping over Boromir's feet once more.

"Yeah but I think the idea is to knock him down." Kili added, sneaking up behind the human and sweeping his legs, "Once a man is on the ground he's much easier to deal with."

"Two against one how is that fair?" Bilbo yelled from his spot next to Thorin, preparing lunch.

The travel through Mirkwood was going well, they stopped only twice a day, one for lunch and then again in the evening to sleep. A few spiders had reared their heads but ran of squealing if they caught a sight of Bilbo and his sword, Sting. Apparently his battle with them was somewhat famed amongst the spiders now and they did not wish to throw away their lives.

Bilbo watched happily as his brothers sparred in the late evening sun, so far this quest hadn't been too difficult but he didn't let that go to his head. Suddenly he felt a strong pull in his chest, like his instincts were trying to get him to move away, or the Ring was. He flicked his eyes in the direction of the pull and spotted stone not far off between the trees. A ruin.

"What's that?" He asked, pointing to it, "I thought Thranduil was the only one to have a house in Mirkwood."

"Dol Guldur." Thorin replied happily, "I don't know how we missed it. Come, we can make camp there tonight."

"I don't think we should." Bilbo argued as the others came over to help gather up what they had already unpacked, "There is nothing wrong with this camp site."

"Solid walls little brother." Fili replied, "Less wind to blow out our fire."

Bilbo followed along feeling uneasy, like he was slowly being dipped in icy water. He knew he should speak up and tell the others what he was feeling but they were all talking at once, he wasn't able to get a word in until they had already clambered up the stairs.

"I don't like this place." Bilbo whispered, "I feel like something is watching us..."

"Maybe some spiders?" Aragorn suggested.

"No, I am starting to feel something in the air." Gandalf muttered, "I believe it would be best if we left this place."

Bilbo heard something with his sharp ears, like a small stone falling. As if something had dislodged it. Suddenly he felt very sure they were not on their own, something was in the ruins with them. Stupidly, he felt himself walking forward, peering into the darkness to try and see what it was.

Suddenly a face appeared in the darkness, pale and gaunt and framed with messy black hair. A Dwarf, but also not a Dwarf, as he face seemed to appear shift and change in the evening light, one moment it was as Bilbo first saw, the face of a corpse, but then another the face was healthy and the hair brushed neatly. Bilbo opened his mouth to cry out but the figure raised a finger to it's lips in a silencing motion, the faded back into nothingness.

"Bilbo, are you alright?" Gandalf placed a hand on his shoulder, making the Hobbit jump, "You've gone pale."

"No, I'm fine." Bilbo assured him, "This place is just, creepy."

Well, it will be less so once we have a fire going." Legolas announced, "Let's set up camp, the light is almost gone."

They swiftly got to their assigned jobs as Bilbo quickly glanced back over his shoulder to where the figure had appeared. For a brief second, the ghostly Dwarf was there, it gave him a wink, and then it was gone.

For all of you who know the lore of Middle Earth I'm sure you know who the mysterious figure but don't spoil it for the others :P