"There's a war."
"There's always a war somewhere out there," Bilbo hummed and served the tea from his mother's cups, clean white china, his father's makings. All the Bag End's table-wares were Bungo's makings, he had been skilled so many ways. Gandalf looked at the china with thin but very fond smile, maybe remembering the last time he had been there and looked those cups. When Belladonna had been the one to serve the tea for him.
"And you have seen most of them."
"Maybe. I think that you know better than I." Bilbo just knew that there was a file of him. He knew that Gandalf kept one of him, his organization's eyes everywhere.
"My organization wants to hire you." Gandalf didn't look up at Bilbo who stared him, waiting patiently. This was a first time that Gandalf wanted to hire him.
"As a…"
"As a burglar." Gandalf shipped his tea looking up behind the cup's rim.
Bilbo's hand stopped and he looked his mother's friend eyes wide.
"I have never stolen anything in my life."
"Not true, but it doesn't matter. I want a burglar who doesn't look like a burglar."
"I'm a war reporter." Bilbo muttered and dropped the sugar cube.
"And like I said, there's a war, between Erebor and Gundabad." Gandalf eyed the small pastries and Bilbo pushed the plate front of him.
"There have always been some kind of skirmish between those two and I hadn't heard anything new."
"But we have. King Azog has amassed for himself allies and weapons during the last year. He's planning an attack." Gandalf didn't sound so cheerful anymore, his voice more deeper, eyes more like thunderclouds.
"When?" Bilbo asked quietly.
"Don't know yet." Gandalf frowned.
"And where do you need me?" He put away his cup, placing his hand on his lap, his face blank from emotions. This was now business.
"I need you to go Erebor and steal the King's Jewel."
#
Aragorn leaned on the car's side staring the darkness waiting a call or visit from Gandalf. He had noticed that Ur family had arrived two hours ago and he knew that there would be more to come soon. The one who he didn't expect to show up interrupting his gloomy thoughts was Legolas.
"You cut your hair." Aragorn looked up and down the blond. It seemed odd to see him with short hair, "And where's your shadow? I'm pretty sure that your father do not approve you being here alone."
"I do not care what he thinks." Legolas snapped fishing out his tobaccos. "I left."
"So you run away. Congratulations. I'm not sure was that stupid or wise thing to do." Aragorn smiled and Legolas drew a long breath and let out the smoke, relaxing a bit.
"Not sure myself either. I heard that Bilbo is here."
"He's. Gandalf found him and I drove them here barely two hours ago. It seems that the word runs fast around."
Legolas leaned beside him and with the silence they watched how the new ambulance came lights flashing at the yard. For a moment there were shouts and people running and then it was over again.
"You're waiting him to come." Aragorn said eventually.
"No."
"He's here, came three days ago."
"I know."
"I think that they all come here, eventually. And if Gloin comes, so does his son."
Legolas didn't say anything but Aragorn could see the light blush on his cheeks.
"It will be a long night. Coffee?"
"Sure, why not." Legolas snuffed off his cigarette and they walked inside the waiting hall.
#
"He'll be alright. He must." Bombur murmured and refused the chocolate bar what his cousin offered. Bifur stared him a moment then turned to look Bofur whom hopeful feeling from morning had turned into misery.
"I was sure Gandalf was going to murder us." Bofur said and took the chocolate.
He had time to that, Bifur signed. Then he waved his to the other side of the small room where waited. But whatever that prat is doing here?
Bofur blinked when he noticed Legolas with some strange dark haired man when they sat with steaming cardboard cups in their hands. Legolas had cut his hair was the first thing that Bofur realized.
"Master Thranduilion, fancy to see you here." Bofur straightened his back.
"Fancy to see you in here. Though that you abandoned Mister Baggins to his own." Legolas stared back and Bofur have to turn his eyes away when he felt the guilty sting. "I helped him back at home with my father, when he asked us to help him."
"From Thranduil?"
"Bilbo is friend of us. Of course we helped him." Legolas' eyes were cold and hard and the man beside him land his hand over Legolas'.
"Easy now. I don't think that Bilbo wants you fight."
"And what do you know about him?" Bofur asked and the man's smile was full of teeth.
"I have known him about fifteen years, when we still fought together in warzone in the South. Believe me, I know him very well. And what you know about him?" the man challenged him but Bofur couldn't but let it be.
"Nothing." his shoulders slumped again. "I thought I knew him, but now I have realized that over the year what time we spent together he never truly told anything about himself."
The man smiled now bit more softly. "I think you know him better than you think. Bilbo rarely lies, if he can help it. He doesn't speak much, he just leaves things go unsaid."
"Well, he never lied about his cooking skills." Bombur said dreamily and Bofur started to laugh. He laughed until he sobbed and Bifur just hold him.
"So you were his contact there." Legolas said quietly and Aragorn nodded. "I was there, the whole time."
"Do you…" Legolas hesitated but curious took over. "You know where it is?"
Shiver run through Aragorn's spine but he forced himself to relax and he closed his eyes and leaned back. "No, I don't know."
He felt Legolas' eyes trying to dig through his skin, but finally relented and sipped his coffee.
"Right. Maybe better that no one knows."
Aragorn nodded. He could still feel the weight of that cursed stone in his hands when Bilbo gave it to him.
"Be careful my friend. And don't tell even to Gandalf what did you do to it."
"He'll never know. I promise."