Chapter 3 is here! It's been a while, but I was just in the mood to write some Hobbit fanfiction. I hope you enjoy 3
Chapter 3
"We best leave him to sleep" Oin said quietly, shooing the gathered dwarrow out of the room.
No one spoke as they walked, a silent agreement to discuss nothing out in the open. The only sound was Thrain setting another guard on the door to the healing halls.
When they made it back to the royal wing and were safely ensconced in a private sitting room, every word they had been holding back seemed to burst forth at once.
"Who is he?"
"Where did he come from?"
"He looks severely injured will he be, OK?"
"How did he know me!?"
"Who were the others he was speaking of?"
"Enough" Thror spoke up. "Sit down everyone." The King waved his hand, and everyone settled, Thorin somewhat reluctantly, he felt like his whole body was thrumming.
"Something strange indeed is going on" Dis said. "The creature seemed to know you well, brother" she said seriously and Thorin could sense the touch of concern in the comment.
"The hobbit" Thrain spoke up.
"Hobbit" Dis said quietly, trying the name out on her tongue.
"I have no idea how a hobbit could even travel so far" Thror continued. "I feel it is unlikely that he's a spy though, honestly, he stands out far too much and will gather too much scrutiny to be a very effective spy. Also, the little I had to do with hobbits many years ago, they were not the spy type."
"When did you come across hobbits?" Thrain asked curiously, running his fingers through his beard.
"When I was a young dwarf, my father took me on a year long tour. The Shire was one of the places we visited and that's where hobbits live. From what I remember, and this was a long time ago, they are simple folk who rarely leave their homes."
"Well, what is one doing all the way in Erebor?" Vili questioned.
"I'm afraid we won't know that until the hobbit wakes again. Even if he is not a spy he will need to be watched closely until we can determine his purpose here" Thrain said with authority.
Thorin was remarkably silent throughout this conversation. His mind stuck on the mystery of the hobbit. He stood up abruptly, causing all eyes to turn to him.
"I think I will sit with the hobbit a while, so someone is there to question him if he awakes again" Thorin said by way of explanation.
Thorin ignored all the raised eyebrows as he left the room and made his way back to the healing halls. There was a guard at the door but when Thorin entered Oin was gone, and the hobbit was still sleeping.
Thorin pulled up a chair and sat, eyes taking in the injuries that littered the others face and arms. He was small, much smaller than a dwarf, not just in height but in build. Thorin hadn't realised there was another race even smaller then dwarrow out there. He was so used to being looked down on by both elves and men, he'd bet that hobbits suffered even more. Though if what his grandfather said was true, they rarely left the safety of their home.
But this hobbit was here, seemed to not only know Thorin but be familiar enough with him to use his first name.
He settled back in his chair content to wait.
Bilbo couldn't hold back the groan that escaped his lips as he slowly blinked his eyes open. He felt like he was moving through river mud, thick and sticky, trying to pull him down. He became aware of the pain lancing his body as awareness filled his senses. He squirmed, eyes slowly blinking open. The room was full of people, but Bilbo found his attention caught as it so often was, by Thorin.
"Oh Thorin" Bilbo sighed, voice hoarse, he cleared his throat and smiled gratefully as a cup of water was pressed against his lips. He seemed slightly more lucid than last time, though the large lump and bruise above his eye was concerning.
"You're OK, I was so very worried about you."
Thorin's eyebrows furrowed but Bilbo couldn't quite place the reason why. He glanced around the room and spotted a few familiar faces. Oin, Dwalin and Balin all stood, watching him carefully amongst the unfamiliar faces.
"Oin, Dwalin, Balin" Bilbo said happily. "It is so good to see you alive and well."
Dwalin's fist clenched around the axe he was holding. Bilbo tried to sit up but a firm hand on his shoulder quickly stopped the movement. Bilbo glanced up to find that it was Thorin holding him still.
"I'm quite alright, Thorin" Bilbo tried to reassure, but Thorin did nothing more than blink at him.
"Well, where is everybody else? Are they OK? How long has it been since the battle?"
Thorin's grip tightened minutely on his shoulder.
"Who are you looking for, exactly?" Balin asked calmly.
"Everyone" Bilbo chuckled, then winced as pain raced through him. "Gloin, Ori, Nori and Dori, Bombur, Bofur and Bifur and of course Fili and Kili."
"Of course, of course" Balin said soothingly, shooting a sharp look at another dwarf in the room. "I'll send for them soon."
Bilbo settled a little at that, smiling wanly around the room, eyes slightly unfocused.
"So where exactly am I?" Bilbo asked, looking around curiously.
An older dwarf spoke up, pride lacing his words. "This is the great kingdom of Erebor."
Bilbo's whole face crumpled in confusion, he tried to sit up again but Thorin's hand still rested on his shoulder gently holding him down.
"You've managed to do all this so quickly?" Bilbo asked, he tried to raise his hand to indicate the room, but pain pushed it back down. "Did Dain's people bring supplies? I can't believe so much was left intact after a dragon lived here all those years."
Everyone froze at that.
Urgent murmuring broke out in Khuzdul around him, and Bilbo sat back, head pounding as he watched the gathered dwarves whisper furiously.
Dwalin moved forward quickly, gripping Bilbo's shirt and shaking him roughly.
"How do you know me?" Dwalin growled.
"What!?" Bilbo spluttered in bewilderment.
"Let go of him!" Thorin snarled, Bilbo was eternally grateful for the intervention when Dwalin reluctantly released him, though he took no step back.
Bilbo shakily tried to straighten his clothes and blankets, but pain had the edges of his vision turning dark.
"I'd appreciate if you do not manhandle my patient" Oin snapped from beside Thorin, and Dwalin looked suitably chastised.
"You came to my home" Bilbo gasped, "convinced me to come on a quest, a quest to win back your home here in Erebor. We must have been successful for here we are within its great stone walls."
A moment of silence greeted his statement before all hell broke loose. Dwarves were shouting, asking Bilbo questions, but he couldn't make heads nor tails of what was being said with all the cacophony.
"OUT!" Oin shouted, so loud that Bilbo flinched back into the bed. Every dwarf stopped their shouting and turned to stare at the healer.
"Get out! Bilbo is barely recovered. I will not have all my hard work undone. You may speak to him when he's feeling better and out of danger."
One of the older dwarves opened their mouth to argue, but Oin shot him a scowl so fierce that he quickly rethought whatever he'd been about to say.
All the assembled dwarrow started to troop towards the door and Bilbo could do little more then lay there and stare bemusedly wondering what on earth was going on. He was glad for the respite though, his head was pounding, and his vision was beginning to blur. Perhaps a rest was in order.
"That hobbit is crazy!" Dwalin growled as they closed the doors on the royal family's private sitting room.
"He's certainly something" Balin agreed thoughtfully.
"There is more going on here" Vili said. "How does he know who some of us are but not others? And what's this about Erebor falling?"
"That is what concerns me" Thrain said.
"It is possible his mind has been addled from his injuries. We might find him much changed once he is given the chance to heal properly" Thorin spoke up in Bilbo's defence.
Frerin snorted but chose not to say anything.
"Send for the dwarves the hobbit spoke of, they may be of some help" Dis spoke up, ever the logical one.
"I know of Gloin, obviously" Dwalin said. "I know a Dori, who has younger brothers Nori and Ori, though they are underage. But I have never heard of Bombur, Bifur and Bofur or Fili and Kili."
Dwalin looked around the room to see if anyone else had heard of them, he got nothing but blank stares in response. Looking unsurprised Dwalin walked to the door and spoke to a guard before returning into the room.
Balin spoke up, looking at his brother. "He said that ye came to his home, recruited him for a quest."
"Like I said, he's crazy" Dwalin said gruffly as he lapsed into silence.
It took some time before the guards, arrived back with Gloin, Dori, Nori and Ori in tow. Everyone was of course familiar with Gloin as he was a cousin and of a similar age to Thorin and Dwalin. The other three, however, were less known. Thorin knew that Dori was the oldest and was raising his brothers after both their parents passed several years ago, beyond that, nothing. Nori and Ori were still dwarflings, so their questions would mostly be directed to Dori anyway.
All four looked cautious at the unexpected summons. It must be particularly daunting with the room so full of dwarves as well.
"Come in and take a seat" Thror said with an easy smile, gesturing to several soft lounges arranged around the fire. Dis, Vili, Balin and Dwalin all took several steps back, trying not to crowd the newcomers.
Dori edged forward, keeping a firm hold on Nori and Ori's hands, though both looked old enough not to need it. Thorin supposed the silver haired dwarf wanted to make sure they behaved.
Gloin trotted forward, taking a seat and looking expectantly at Thror, Thrain and Thorin.
Thrain took the lead this time.
"We have a matter to discuss, a matter that I would prefer, for the moment didn't leave this room.
Gloin and Dori nodded seriously.
"A traveller has been found just outside our walls. He was badly injured from an attack."
Gloin leaned forward in interest.
"He is not a dwarf; however, he is something different… a hobbit. A small nature loving creature" Thrain explained at the confused looks.
"He claims to know you all" Thrain said, looking expectantly at Dori and Gloin. Even glancing down at Nori and Ori who were sitting quietly beside their brother.
Dori looked perplexed, "I have never met a creature such as you described."
"Aye, me either" Gloin spoke up. "How does he claim to know us?"
Thrain and Thror shared a look.
"He said something about you visiting him and convincing him to go on a journey with you."
"Bah, ridiculous" Gloin grunted.
"He knew Oin as well" Thrain continued. "Asked for him while he was injured, knowing that Oin is a healer."
That caused Gloin to pause.
"His name is Bilbo" Thorin said, watching all for a reaction. "Are you sure you've never heard the name, or met someone of a small, soft stature?"
All four shook their heads, brows furrowed.
Thror let out a gusty sigh. "It was a long shot."
Thrain collapsed into an armchair, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "It seems this mystery won't be solved until Oin deems the hobbit well enough to be questioned."
Gloin snorted, "you may be waiting a while then."
"So, this hobbit claims to have met us?" Dori asked.
"He does" Thorin answered. "We are trying to ascertain just how he knows some of us and if he's a security risk."
Dori pulled his brother's a little closer at this.
"You are all perfectly safe" Dwalin spoke up, seeing the protective movement. "The hobbit is under guard and supposedly of a peaceful race."
"We will call on you again in a few days. I want you all present when the hobbit is questioned."
As awareness slowly returned to Bilbo over the next few days, he began to notice something. Something that he was surprised that he hadn't noticed straight away. He could only blame it on the fact that he had been severely injured as well as suffering from exhaustion and a heavy heart.
Oin looked different.
Not remarkably so, but he noticed the lack of his ear horn and his beard and hair were not as grey as he remembered. His face was still line, but as Bilbo studied him intently as supper was brought in, he thought the dwarf looked younger. He didn't look so world weary or weighed down by life's troubles.
His mind worried at it endlessly.
Could the change be simply from returning to his ancestral home? Could such a change be wrought in one in so short a time?
He tried to question the healer, but the dwarf steadfastly refused to answer any questions.
Also, if all was right, then why were the others not visiting him? Had the others looked different too? He strained his memories but couldn't find an answer. It had all taken on a slightly hazy quality.
In lieu of any forthcoming answers, he resigned himself to waiting.