DISCLAIMER: SAME AS EARLIER CHAPTAHS. DANKE.
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Bilbo blinked as he saw the warm and cheery glow of a torch coming towards him. Standing up and coming close to the bars, he was barely able to make out the form of the creature holding it. It was small, smaller than he was, if that was possible. It wore plain garments, dark in color and easily blending in with the surroundings. The only bright color about it was its hair, being carrot red in color and having an ornately braided beard. The only sign of wealth about it were the few rings of metal separating strands of beard.
Coming close but keeping a look of suspicion, it raised the torch casting the light over the Hobbit and peering at it with bright and inquisitive eyes. It muttered something quietly to itself, staring at the Hobbit and looking a bit perplexed. In all its years it had never come across a creature such as our Burglar Baggins.
"Well?" Bilbo said a bit impatiently, when was it going to realize that he meant no harm and only wished to leave?
"Eh..." the small creature said finally, "You're no Orc. I know one when I see one."
Bilbo sighed in relief but the creature only furrowed his eyebrows as he continued his train of thought.
"Only question is," he said, "is if Hobbits exist. And if they do, are you even telling the truth?"
"But I am-" The Hobbit protested, but was interrupted by the small person.
"And even that doesn't tell me whether you mean harm or not. You could be lying."
"Look," The Hobbit replied with some vexation, "I am Bilbo Baggins of the Shire, member of the Company of Thorin Oakenshield. All I want now, is to leave. Please open this ca-trap?"
The red-haired creature chuckled, seeing Bilbo remember its preference for the name of said prison. It placed the torch in a convenient place on the wall, and returning to the Hobbit sat down comfortably with a sigh. This would be an interesting conversation, which did not happen all that often in this part of the world. It crossed its small arms, which though diminutive in size showed an impressive amount of muscle, for our creature was not an idle one and worked hard. The Hobbit was disrupting his schedule terribly it was true, but then again perhaps a break from work would not go amiss. He had precious little as it was, and though he did not say it, he welcomed the distraction. He remained silent and did not answer the Halfling's question, purposely shaping his features to have a rather fierce expression, and waiting to see how the Hobbit would react.
Bilbo however did not scare easily, and sensing the creature's game sighed in exasperation.
"What are you anyway?" Bilbo asked, "Are you a Dwarf?" Indeed, the creature both in build and looks appeared much like Bilbo's companions. The Hobbit looked at it expectantly for an answer of some sort.
The creature snorted at this, and Bilbo took it as a no.
"Alright." said Bilbo slowly, "Not a Dwarf...What are you then? I mean..no offense, but you do look like one. Very much so."
"An' you look like an Elf." The creature growled out the word as if it had a bad taste and continued, "An' why should I tell you?"
"Well..." said Bilbo slowly, choosing his words with care, "I'm not exactly going anywhere, and I am curious."
The small person's face took an expression of pleasure at the word curiosity, sensing a game. Crossing his arms again and looking very solemn he spoke.
"Guess."
"What?!" Bilbo said, looking horrified at the prospect of losing yet more time.
"You heard me. Guess!"
The Hobbit looked long and hard, running over in his mind all the different peoples of Middle Earth that he had ever heard about. Checking them off one by one, he finally narrowed it down to two, and neither seemed very likely.
"Well...The only creatures that I know of that you resemble at all are Dwarves and Hobbits. I would go with Dwarf but yo-" he was interrupted here.
"Not a Dwarf." It said triumphantly.
"I can't think of anything else then." The Hobbit shrugged, showing he had lost the game.
The red-haired and very Dwarvish-looking creature tapped his booted foot for a few moments waiting, and finally burst out.
"I'm a Petty-Dwarf simpleton!"
Bilbo eyes widened. A Petty-Dwarf?!But Thorin had said they had all died out...
Seeing Bilbo's wonder the creature chuckled, but then looked thoughtful as the reason came to him for the Hobbit's ignorance.
"Although..." it said with some solemnity, "there are precious few of us left. I think I might be the last one. 'round here anyways." His face took on a look unhappiness, and Bilbo thought, a tired loneliness. Was that why the creature was taking so long and talking so much?
"I'm sorry." Bilbo offered, the Petty-Dwarf merely nodded in reply. They were both silent for a few moments until Bilbo attempted to strike up the conversation again.
"How long have you been on your own?" He asked quietly.
The Petty-Dwarf gazed upwards into the Hobbit's face and answered without flinching, "29 years, this Summer'll make it 30."
"Long time." Bilbo nodded in sympathy. 30 years? 30 years alone in this dark forgotten place, inhabited by ghosts and one small Dwarf...The Hobbit shuddered to think of it. It was a wonder this Petty-Dwarf had not gone mad.
"Aye." The Dwarf said sadly, with a distinct tone of bitterness, "It is."
Bilbo shifted, he knew little of Dwarves, and less still of Petty-Dwarves. But if it was a Petty-Dwarf, surely it would be similar to Dwarves...
Fumbling a little with the words he replied to the little fellow and introduced himself in the queer way Dwarves seemed to like. If there is one thing that Dwarves appreciate, it is manners.
"Y-you have my deepest sympathy...I am very sorry for your loss." awkwardly he gave a little bow, "Bilbo Baggins of Hobbiton, at your service and your family's."
This show put an amused smile of the Petty-Dwarf's face, it had been long since he had heard those familiar words. He chuckled and bowed back.
"Honored I am sure." The Petty-Dwarf replied properly.
"Oh.." He said, furrowing his eyebrows as he remembered something, "Now I suppose I have to tell you my name. Or I'll come across as rude...Very well then." Straightening himself and looking quite dignified he continued.
"I am Noeg, son of Nibin, of the Faindal family. Although you probably have no idea what I'm talking about."
"I am honored to make your acquaintance Noeg, son of Nibin." Bilbo answered, extending his hand through the bars in true Hobbit fashion.
Noeg looked very pleased at this show of friendship, and extended his own hand giving Mr. Baggin's a hearty shake.
"It's been a long time," he mused, "since I shook a hand of flesh and blood. You're familiar with Dwarvish ways I see Mr. Baggins, and the name of your company also sound Dwarvish. Am I correct in presuming you are or were traveling with Dwarves?"
"Yes," The Hobbit nodded in agreement, "That's right."
Noeg gave the Hobbit one last good stare, trying to read his face, and then with a sigh gave in. Perhaps it was the prospect of someone to talk to, or perhaps he was finally satisfied with the Hobbit's story. At any rate he began circling the cage, much to Bilbo's surprise.
"What are you doing?" The Hobbit asked.
"Tryin' to figure out how this old thing works." The Dwarf answered. "I've never opened one y' see. One false move and I might kill you."
"What?! Kill me?!" The Hobbit gulped, while he felt an uncomfortable mixture of confusion and distress. "You've never even opened one?!"
Noeg shrugged. "No. Never. You're lucky I came by here though. It isn't my usual route. I wouldn't have come back here for at least five days, and by then you'd be dead. Only reason I came here at all is because my usual road caved in. Bad for me, remarkably good for you."
"Caved in?!" The Hobbit was felt his heart thump against his chest as a feeling of panic rose in him.
"Yeah, that's the way of it. Old halls. No one cares for them. I can't by myself you know, bein' one fellow and all. So they fall in on themselves. Happens all the time."
"All the time?" Bilbo squeaked in fright.
"Aye. Shouldn't wonder if this bit fell in on us." The Dwarf began tapping the walls listening for the hollow place that would contain the gears of the trap. Bilbo however found this all a little much, and without another word sat very still indeed in the very middle of the trap. At what he considered the safest place to be, as he glanced about wildly for any cracks to grow from the floor and reach out hungrily towards him.
"You shouldn't be so nervous Mr. Baggins!" Noeg laughed as he worked. "I was born and raised in these halls, and I'm not dead am I?"
"Yes well," Bilbo answered, "You're a Dwarf. You're used to this sort of thing."
"Petty-Dwarf." Noeg corrected, "Dwarves and Petty-Dwarves are as different as peas and apples."
"Right, Petty-Dwarves." Bilbo repeated, "But fact is that you're still used to this! I'm not. And the sooner I get out of here the better."
"You won't be leaving too soon will you?" Noeg asked, with almost a wistful look on his face.
Bilbo, remembering the look of loneliness he had seen earlier, and thinking of how empty this place felt without another person, amended his earlier statement.
"No...I suppose not right away."
"Good!" Noeg grinned, "We can have tea or something."
"Oh, well I have a friend up a level that I need to check on..." The Hobbit said.
"Well he can come too." Noeg answered, "So long as he isn't an Elf."
Bilbo furrowed his brow, why was there so much hate among Dwarves for Elves? First Thorin, and now Noeg. Bilbo could not possibly fathom what Noeg had against the Elves, he seemed a cheery enough fellow, and goodness knows he had little enough chance to talk with them.
"No." Bilbo said slowly, "He isn't an Elf. He's a Dwarf."
"Oh?" Said Noeg, becoming more interested, "Longbeard? Stonefist? Broadbeam? Firebeard? What family?"
"Longbeard I think."
"Oho! Well I am honored. One of Durin's people under my roof!" Noeg seemed deeply amused by this fact, "There was a time you know, when my people would have nothing to do with them. But time and fate has bounced me about that I am that desperate for company. So I will suffer him, but whether or not he will suffer me remains to be seen."
"Oh, I think Thorin will!" Bilbo said, silently praying that Thorin would. Thorin seemed to hold on to the old grudges more than most, and there was obviously some bad blood between Petty Dwarves and their larger brothers.
"Thorin? Interesting name. Means bravery of the heart and something to do with Thunder. I forget what. Wonder what his real name is. You do know that isn't his real name right?"
"What?" said Bilbo, confused.
"Thorin isn't his real name. Dwarves have an interesting custom of never telling anyone but their own people their real names. The name Thorin is the one he goes by to outsiders." The Petty Dwarf paused in his work for a moment, "You know, they don't even put them on their tombstones? Imagine that!"
"Is Noeg your real name?" The Hobbit raised his eyebrows, Dwarves were indeed peculiar. What did it gain someone to hide their real name?
"Bless you!" Noeg laughed, " 'course it is! We Petty-Dwarves don't hide them."
"Then why do Dwarves?" Bilbo wrinkled his forehead in puzzlement.
Noeg shrugged. "That I don't know. It's a tradition really, and considered bad manners to just blurt your name out. Least that's what my Dad told me."
"Odd." Bilbo mused, Noeg cracked up at this.
"I agree with that Mr. Baggins! I do indeed!" There was silence for a few moments save for the sound of Noeg's labor against the ancient Dwarf structure. He grinned in satisfaction as he tapped and found the desired hollow place in the wall, taking a hammer and chisel he struck it square, sending shards of stone about. The stone had been very thin, and cunningly placed over in order to conceal its secrets.
"Uh, Noeg?" Bilbo suddenly asked.
"Hmm?" The Petty Dwarf answered, his voice muffled by the chisel he held in his mouth.
"My friend. Thorin."
"What about him?" Noeg asked without looking away from his work.
"He's sick, and in a very bad way."
Turning Noeg asked the Hobbit, "Sick is he? What happened?"
"He got in a fight with an Orc. Got a dagger in his side, he said it was nothing but a scratch but I really don't think so." Bilbo could not help the worry from his voice, "I think he might die unless he gets attention. And soon."
Noeg nodded. "Well." he said slowly, "I have a little experience in healing. I can see if I can help your friend, if he'll let me."
"Thank you!" Bilbo exclaimed, "You don't know how much this means to me!"
Noeg smiled sadly and nodded. In the years he had lived here he had had very few friends indeed, and they were mostly his siblings. But one by one they had all gone, leaving him alone in these now empty halls. Even now he could see their faces as vividly as when they had been alive. He knew what it was like to lose a friend.
"Here we are!" Noeg exclaimed, pulling a chunk of stone out and discarding it, he revealed an old and worn lever.
"I don't know if it'll work or not. But I hope so, seeing as that" he gestured towards the trap, "has no door, this has got to be the answer. Either that..." He fell silent.
"What?!" Bilbo prodded.
"or it'll kill you. As it is a trap for enemies." Noeg look grim. "Are you ready?"
Bilbo took a gulp. It was now or never. He nodded, "I'm ready. Go."