~More Than Just Unexpected

Chapter 2

Bilbo Baggins, king of the Shire, son of both Belladonna Took and Bungo Baggins. He stood courtly, his hands together. His features were soft yet refined. He gestured Gandalf to sit and the wizard obliged. Saradoc and Sylvia stood near to hear what this aleged 'offer' was. They watched like hawks as the old wizard took his seat next to their highness.

"This offer, what is it?" The hobbit king questioned genuinly curious.

"I would like someone to join me on an adventure" said the bearded wizard smoking his pipe.

"An adventure?"

Saradoc and Sylvia exchanged suspicious looks. They did not like where this was going. Not at all. Still, they kept themselves from interrupting the two sitting on the porch and bit their tongues. All the while, they listened intently to the conversation.

"Yes, one that I need of someone special"

"Special? Gandalf, I may be king but I am no special hobbit" Bilbo Baggins pointed out.

Gandalf made a skeptical look and raised a brow "Are you? You Bilbo are the only son of two of the most powerful clans" he said "Your father, Bungo Baggins, eldest of the Baggins clan, the most dignified, respectable and refined hobbit clan and looked highly at" he blew out a ring of smoke and continued "Then your mother, Belladonna Took, eldest of the Took clan, the most valiant, stalwart and not to mention adventurouse clan there is here"

Bilbo looked away thinking of his two parents. He was a child of the two clans the Shire saw honorable and special. His father was the previous king of the Shire kingdom since the Baggins clan was seen as the most fitting leaders and his mother was the leader of the Took clan, one of the warrior clans who protected the kingdom while some of the Tooks went outside the Shire to see the world and come back after their adventures to give information on the outside world just in case. His mom had went on many adventures before she finaly caught the eye of the king, his father. Later then, she was queen of all the Shire.

"You do know I am a king" Bilbo mutterd "I have a duty here in the Shire"

Gandalf nodded solemnly "I know that very well, I wouldn't have asked you if there was absolutely no other hobbit for the job" he explained.

"No other hobbit? Gandalf what is this adventure about?" Bilbo demanded.

"One that was suppost to be for your mother"

Bilbo froze. Along with the two other hobbits listening to them. Bilbo was taken back from shock. He stared at the old wizard with surprised wide emerald eyes. He was not expecting his mother to have something to do with this. But it made sense, she was a pure Took, and she went on many adventures and was the hobbit lass who travelled the farthest than all of the Took clan.

"How does this involve my mother?" Bilbo asked now glaring at Gandalf for some answers.

"It did involve her but now that she is no longer able too, you are the only suitable one left" Gandalf looked at the sky, he felt him missing the hobbit lass again.

Bilbo was thoughtful before saying to Gandalf "How did you know her?"

"That was years ago, I was resting under a tree when she was passing by and thought she could steal my staff" he chuckle looking both sad and happy at the same time "I woke up before she could get it and so she settled for taking my hat instead" he laughed at the memory "I remember she gave me quite the chase, I chased her all the way to the borders of the Shire, by the end of the day we were having tea at her house"

The hobbit king chuckled to himself. It sounded like something his mother would do. She was a very bold lass, not to mention fast. Sylvia gave a sad smile remembering Belladonna. It was when she met Gandalf when she walked in on Belladonna and him arguing on who would take the blame for the giant crater on the borders of the Shire that was made by an incoming boulder. She was orderd to keep an eye on those two and in the middle of that process she grew fond of both of them.

"She then on, went on many adventures with me which took her to the farthest places a hobbit has ever travelled before" Gandalf continued "It was in the last adventure of hers that she made me promise to have her offspring -you, to be her subtitute on the one adventure I had just offered if she was not able to"

"S-she made you promise that?" Bilbo ponderd on what he had just been told. Her mother probably wanted her child to have an adventure like every Took child.

"Yes, and if she was not able to come with in the adventure, if she had...passed on somehow..." Gandalf pulled something out from his pouch "She told me to give you this"

The old wizard held what looked like a letter and it was hastily plucked out from his hand by the hobbit king. He opened the letter clumsily and read through what was written. When he saw the handwriting it was confirmed: it was his mother who wrote it with no doubt.

Dear My Precious Child,

If you are reading this, it means I am sadly in the other side but I know you can uphold the position of head of the Took clan. As a Took, I know you will be strong and with out a doubt make me proud. You have probably met Gandalf and yes, I really did want you to go on this adventure if I couldn't, please understand that there is something about this adventure that might change your life and many others. I knew, no one but a Took can accomplish this and you are as the heir of the Took clan can do it.

From,

Your Mother

P.S: Make sure to pack everything you need, especially a handkerchief

P.S.S: And ask that blasted wizard about the adventure IN DETAIL! and be prepared for any surprises, it would most likely be caused by some meddling wizard.

The hobbit king almost spilled some tears in the middle of reading the letter from his beloved mother that was now deceased but smiled faintly at the end. His two subjects were looking anxious on what was said on that letter and growing even more when they thought of their leader actually leaving for this quest. Gandalf stared expectantly at the son of his old freind.

Bilbo looked up at Gandalf "What is this quest about?" He asked solely.

The old wizard saw from the corner of his eyes that Saradoc and Sylvia had stiffened. They saw the look in their king's eyes and knew he was considering this 'adventure' he was offered or was probably already planning what to pack in his head. Each passing moment they grew even more anxious so Gandalf decided to releas them from the suspense.

"NO!"

Gandalf sighed. He had foreseen this coming and already had prepared himself for the consequences. Hopefuly he would still be able to hear properly after this and resist going deaf and stay uninjured. He stared down at the small yet raging form of Sylvia Cornfeed. Her face was red with rage and her eyes were practicaly blazing flames of fire that matched her furious state. If looks could kill...

"Sylvia please, calm dow-"

"Don't 'calm down Sylvia' me! You blasted old wizard, do you realize that his sire is the ONLY direct heir to the throne and our KING?!" She yelled.

Saradoc stepped in but he was more calm and controled than the angry redhead but he still had that stern and serious look that was pointed at Gandalf.

"Captain as much as I dislike this as much as you do, I agree with Gandalf, calm down" he turned to Gandalf "Master Gandalf, the captain is right; My king is more important than anyone else in this kingdom, if he leaves, then we would be leaderless and vulnerable" he said coldly.

"But-"

"Not mention the very fact he could DIE! What then? Hm?! We would have to make those cursed Sackville-Baggins our royal family! You hear me!? SACKVILLE - BAGGINS!" Sylvia roared.

Bilbo swore everyone in the castle heared that. He wonderd how he could calm her down this time. Whenever Sylvia Cornfeed got this made, it did not end pretty. Literaly, they were still fixing the damage she had done and that was three months ago! Though he had to agree about the whole thing about the Sackville's ruling. He shudderd at the thought. His relatives have been after the throne for ages. With trickery or none he was glad Saradoc Brandybuck -his head scribe and right hand man was there to help fend them off.

"But-"

"The king's safety is one of the most important priorities of being a captain! This whole place is fated bad or good on his safety! He can not just go on some wild adventure to RECLAIM EREBOR!"

"Sylvia-"

"Go get some other hobbit who can sneak past a freakin' FIRE BREATHING DRAGON! Better yet let me do it!"

"Captain Sylvia Cornfeed stand down!" A voice said with powerful booming authority.

Heads turned to look at the frustrated hobbit king who after one secont returned his composure. His eyes held that lightning of determination. It made him look like a certain hobbit lass with similar emerald eyes that always held that lightning of determination. It made some sadness wash over Gandalf as he saw them.

"Sire, this is madness!" Sylvia continued.

"You must not go!" Saradoc added.

"Just listen you two!" snapped Bilbo "My mother wanted me to do this, she claimed I was the only one who can do this, and as a Took this is manditory"

"This is foolish my king" Saradoc pleaded "Who would lead in your place when you are gone?"

"Drogo is a Baggins so he can be temporarily in charge of the kingdom" Bilbo answerd swiftly "He is eligible"

"Do you actually think we are just going to let the only son of Bungo Baggins go on some life or death journey?! What if you die? What about the Shire? You can't be that careless" Sylvia protested "Think of your people"

"Yes but think of those people who need help!" Bilbo argued "Those people; homeless, have nothing left but themselves, struggling to live, who wander around in the wilderness, tell me captain, does that description sound familiar to you?"

Sylvia went silent and in the first moment had a look of surprise but then she grumbled and looked away. She could not answer that but she knew the answer. Every hobbit would know an answer to that question. Saradoc took sudden intrest of the floor.

"Well captain? head scribe?" He looked back and forth at the two. His face held more confidence and strong despite the soft and cute looks he had "I'm sure you both remember those days"

Gandalf knew what they were getting at. He stayed silent throughout the arguement and waited for the result and prayed this whole arguement would finish by tonight. He watched as Bilbo turned his back on the two hobbits. His face was almost distant, his mind was deep in the memories of the past. The time he tried hard to not dwell in and yet not forget.

"The wandering days" he whisperd but it was still heard by the three of them.

Saradoc and Sylvia visibly shiverd. They knew all too well about the wandering days. They were not really there but they had heard the stories from the elders and when they were told, they had trouble sleeping for a while. But the entire kingdom had suffered from the past. Because the past came and hit them in the gut.

"Dark, dark days for us hobbits" Bilbo remained looking in the opposite direction of them "Where nothing good ever happend, days of survival and trials" he said and he did his best to not let his voice shake or quiver "When we had no place to call home, when we had nothing left to care for but family, when we faught day and night to live and just wake up the next day to do it all over again, when we thought we would just wander and wander all our lives like outcasts"

He turned back to face them. He stared his determined eyes right at their eyes which had a mix of dozens of emotions.

"Before the Shire, we were just like them"

The head scribe and the captain looked at each other then at their king. His stare was unwavering and they knew that there was no persuading him out of this.

Sylvia spoke "Why you?"

Bilbo thought about it and answerd after a brief moment "I am the son of Belladonna Took, it has to be me" he said "She trained me remember?"

Gandalf decided to say something "Just like his mother, Bilbo is cunning, selfless and most importantly" he gave Bilbo a look "His footsteps have no sound, making him near impossible to find when he hides"

Saradoc rubbed his temples and Sylvia sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. In unison the two said miserably.

"The elders will not like this"

They weren't expecting this.

Bilbo wasn't expecting this.

It turns out that the journey he planned to go on was not only unexpected. They found that out when they came into audience with the hobbit elders who were the council and advisors of king Bilbo himself. They were about a hundred years olg, wrinkly yet very much alive. They were the wisest in the Shire kingdom and knew more about the hobbit kind than the locals did.

When they explained the whole thing and about his highness going in to a dangerous quest to reclaim a lost kingdom and help another race and possibly awaken a fire breathing dragon they were beyond shocked at what was the reply.

"May your courage help you and your consience guide you then my king" said the oldest one of the three elders as he bowed sincerley.

Saradoc and Sylvia nearly fainted. Even Gandalf looked like he was surprised a little. Bilbo opened and closed his mouth again and again trying to find the words to say but couldn't think of any so he settled for a "What?"

"I wish you luck on your journey sire" said Gráin the eldest of the elders. He knew everything that had happend in hobbit history and was there as an advisor since his great great great great great grandfather's rule and loved to tell how he beheaded the goblin king and invented golf.

The four of them continued to gawk at Gráin and to the other elders Möar and Strato. They were expecting the elders to at least look concerned or try an persuade their sire to not go on this life threatening journey. But no, they just sat in their seats in the council room looking ancient with their hundred year old eyes who had seen the Shire kingdom through the bad and good years.

Sylvia had her eyes wide and mutterd "Has everyone gone mad?"

"Gráin...you are okay with this?" Bilbo asked unsurely still in disbelief.

The white haired hobbit nodded his head "I think it would be the best option..." his face went grim "Given the circumstances"

Bilbo reclined and glanced at Saradoc and Sylvia who both looked at Bilbo with knowing looks. Gandalf on the other hand had raised one eyebrow up. He had no clue as to why the hobbits were suddenly looking uneasy and wary. So he asked.

"And may I ask what these circumstances are Lord Gráin?"

"These circumstances? Did sire not tell you?" Gráin questioned, his head tilted to the side.

"No, I beleive he did not" Gandalf gave a look at the hobbit king who avoided his eyes.

"In that case, permission to tell him myself my king?" Gráin asked Bilbo.

Bilbo waited a moment before nodding his head. Gráin cleared his throat and began to explain.

"We have been experiencing dozens of unusual incidents lately in these past months and they only grow more serious every time, they happen here inside of the kingdom near the woods or even inside the Shire at night"

"Sheep or other animals go missing out of the blue, someone's garden suddenly gets destroyed and we even have a few missing reports of people who were last seen going into the woods"

Gandalf stroked his long beard with a worrisom look in his eyes and wonderd how was this happening. The Shire kingdom never had anything like this happening before. This was no mischeif made by any young hobbits -he knew that much- so he feared it was something else, more serious.

"Do you have any idea on what are causing these things to happen?" He asked the elders and Bilbo.

Bilbo sighed. He gave the old wizard a glance that botherd him and said "We fear we do know what it is"

"And we don't like it" Sylvia added. She crossed her arms and her face hardend as she gave her king a fretting look.

"Yes, we don't" Saradoc mumbled looking downcast. He was sweating, like whenever he was fussing over something or someone.

"Through the evidence we have gatherd and after all the investigating we came into a theory on who or what had been causing these things to happen in the Shire" said Gráin.

All the hobbits in the room gave each other wary looks. This situation was more serious than Gandalf had predicted. Why was he not informed of this sooner?! He could have stopped any of those things from happening. No one harms his hobbits.

"Goblins"

The word itself caused Bilbo to shudder and pale. Saradoc let out a shaky breath and winced. Sylvia kept her eyes that held concern of a mother at Bilbo who really needed to sit down. This was all too much. These past months were not his best. He had been fretting and overworking ever since the problems started to get serious. The Shire never had any of these things happening before and it was starting to scare them. They would lock their doors tight at night and forbade anyone especially the young ones from going anywhere near the woods in fear of getting abducted. Goblins was the only possibility.

"Goblins? Here in the Shire? How could that be?"

"We are not too sure ourselves how they got here but we know for sure they are here and most likely plotting vengence" Strato said for the first time since they came.

"And we know very well what comes next" Möar said gruffly.

"Is there anything you can do about this?" Gandalf asked.

"We know what they are after, they are coming for it" Gráin said. A shadow passed his face "And they know how to acquire it"

Eyes trailed on to land on an emerald eyed, brunette, hobbit king who remained standing tall but evidently unnerved by all the eyes on him. But it wasn't just that. It was the fact that the only way to get what their enemies need... was him. Gandalf got it straightaway.

"I see why you released him so easily"

"It is the only way and king Bilbo knows it as well" Möar nodded dreadfuly.

"I don't want to but if I do stay, I'll be indangering the Shire even further" Bilbo said with placidity "I understand"

"And so do I" Gandalf boomed "I will do my best and get Bilbo back to the kingdom as safe as he can be"

"You better" Sylvia growled.

"Sylvia"

"Just warning him sire" she huffed and Bilbo shook his head.

"Sire" Saradoc said still fretting about his king going away.

"Make sure those Sackville's don't get anywhere near the throne Master Saradoc" Bilbo said smiling faintly trying to reassure his freind.

Bilbo turned to Gandalf.

"When do we start?" He asked bravely.

The old grey wizard put his hands together and gave a mysterious smile.

"Let's say, tomorrow night?"

Because this journey wasn't only unexpected.

It was important.