Chapter Two

Many Meetings

Even though Bilbo was a little put out that Loki was now with us, he finally relented when Loki offered to place the birthday banner for Hetti on the archway. Loki was taller than Bilbo and with my help, we both managed to stick the massive banner up.

It was a simple banner which read,

'Happy Birthday Hetti. Here's To Many More.'

"Not bad at all." smiled Bilbo looking at the finished job.

For the past three hours, we had put a lot of food on the long table. In the middle of the table was a massive strawberry cake, which both Bilbo and I knew Hetti loved. There were mixed salads, a massive array of cheese and cold meats, like chicken legs, ham and little sausage rolls that Hetti had made the night before. There were also an assortment of little cakes and biscuits placed next to the birthday cake.

By the time everything was done, night was fast approaching. Bilbo was in the kitchen making himself his dinner of smelly fish. He did offer Loki and I some fish, I shook my head while Loki turned his nose up as the smell was pretty strong.

While Bilbo was preparing his dinner, I went to my room and retrieved Hetti's birthday present. I had wrapped it up in basic paper, but the thought was there. I really hoped she would like it.

Walking back in the dining area, I saw Bilbo place his fish supper on the table. Bilbo was in his dressing gown. He placed his napkin in the collar of his dressing gown and began sprinkling a pinch of salt on the fish.

I placed my gift for Hetti next to Bilbo's and the other gifts that the other villagers had left for her. Ever since we were young, the other hobbits have treated Hetti and I with content. I was especially fond of them all. Though there was one that always acted suspicious to me.

Her name was Lobelia Sackville Baggins and I have always caught her watching our home, Bag End. She would look lovingly at our home and I once asked Bilbo why she acted like that. He explained that Lobelia has always wanted Bag End for herself and all the contents with it. I remember at the time, Bilbo tried to laugh it of but I could see his pain. Lobelia was not to be trusted unfortunately.

Snapping back to the present, I could smell lemon and return my attention towards Bilbo, he is squeezing fresh lemon juice onto his fish. He then grabs his knife and fork and was about to tuck into his dinner when we all heard the door chime.

"Hetti, probably has to many apples again!" I say to Bilbo, laughing softly.

"She never learns." laughed Bilbo.

I get up but was stopped by Bilbo.

"No, I'll go." he smiled standing up.

He walked in the hallway.

"Now the fun begins." smiled Loki, stretching out his arm to grab a biscuit.

I was about to question him when I heard an unfamiliar voice.

"Dwalin, at your service."

Getting up from my chair, I walk towards the door and have a look down the hallway. Standing in the threshold, was a bold man who I realised at once, was a dwarf. He had bowed at Bilbo and I noticed a tattoo on his bold head.

I could see Bilbo was a little put out as he tightened his robe and stands taller then usual before saying,

"Bilbo Baggins, at yours."

The dwarf Dwalin just barged inside, which I thought was very rude of him. He caught me staring at him and winked at me. I raised my eyebrows at his cheek.

"D-do we know each other?" asked Bilbo, clearly confused by these turn of events.

Dwalin turns around and faces Bilbo.

"No. Which way, laddie? Is it down here?"

"I-is what down where?" exclaimed Bilbo, staring at this newcomer.

Dwalin then dumps most of his possessions on the ground, before dumping the rest in Bilbo's arms.

'The cheek of the man!' I fumed to myself.

"Supper. He said there'd be food, and lots of it." remarked Dwalin, clearly not fazed by his bad attitude problem.

"H-he said? Who said?" asked Bilbo, looking more confused than ever.

It finally dawned on me, this had something to do with Gandalf and poor Bilbo had no idea. Dwalin walks to where I was, and brushed past me. He went straight towards Hetti's party food and grabbed a lot of food on a plate, before sitting besides Loki, stuffing his face. I was not happy about this but remained quiet.

If that wasn't enough, Dwalin, grabbed hold of Bilbo's dinner and tucks in to the fish. He actually made me feel quesy when he even ate the head of the fish and I had to turn my head from watching what he was eating.

Bilbo was not amused either by the looks of it and was glaring at Dwalin.

"Mmmm. … Very good, this. Any more?" asked Dwalin, finishing of Bilbo's fish supper.

Was Dwalin blind, there was a lot of food on the table?

"What? Uh, oh, yes, yes!" I heard Bilbo say. "Help yourself."

Bilbo pulls the assortment of cakes and biscuits towards Dwalin, noticing Bilbo take a couple of biscuits and place them in his pocket.

"Mmmm. It's just that, um, we wasn't expecting company." said Bilbo, watching Dwalin make a pig of himself, by stuffing cakes and biscuits in his mouth.

"Disgusting!" I whispered to myself, shaking my head.

The door chimes go again and this time, I went instead of Bilbo. I walked down the hallway wondering and reached the front door, before opening it. Upon opening it, I saw a white haired dwarf watching me back intently. I knew even then, I would like him.

"Balin at your service." smiled Balin, bowing at me.

In respect, I did the same to him saying,

"Good evening to you. I'm Elaina. "

"Yes, yes it is, though I think it might rain later. Am I late?"

"Um?" I began "Late for what?"

Heavy footsteps come from behind me and I turn around, seeing Dwalin with his hand in Bilbo's biscuit jar.

'He must have a bottomless pit!' I thought.

"Oh, ha ha! Evening, brother. Heh, heh." I heard Balin say, before walking in.

"Oh don't mind me!" I scoffed, closing the front door but not before noticing the rune shine a blue colour "Probably best to pretend I didn't see that!"

"Oh, by my beard, you are shorter and wider than last we met." smirked Dwalin.

"Wider, not shorter. Sharp enough for both of us." commented Balin.

They both suddenly laughed at one an another before placing their arms around each other. They both surprise me further by headbutting their heads together.

"That had to hurt!" I say to myself.

"Definitely!" agreed Loki, leaning against the wall, watching the two brother walk in the larder.

I was beginning to get worried, just where was Hetti?

o0o

~~Hetti's POV~~

It had been a lovely day, not only did I manage to find plenty of blueberries on my travels, I was at this second, picking apples from the tree. I edge a little closer to a massive looking apple I had my eyes on and grabbed it. To me, the apple tastes much better from the branch. As long as the apple was ripe that is.

I managed to pull the apple and I held tight to it as I slowly climbed down the tree. Brushing my dark trousers, I bend down and place the last of my apple collection. I knew fifteen was more than another to make apple crumble plus I decided on making apple sauce as well.

I knew it was time to head for home, so I picked up my basket and began walking. I was in such a merry mood, I began singing one of Bilbo's songs

"The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say."

"I tell you, I hear singing!"

"The Road goes ever on and on

Out from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

Let others follow it who can!

Let them a journey new begin,

But I at last with weary feet

Will turn towards the lighted inn,

My evening-rest and sleep to meet."

I was finishing the last note when I bumped into someone, knocking my basket out of my hand. I watch as all my apples and blueberries were all over the grass.

"Terrific!" I mutter under my breath, as I kneeled down and started picking up the blueberries and apples from the ground.

"We are so sorry My Lady, aren't we Kili?" said a male voice besides me.

I turn my head while placing my apples back in the basket, I watch as two men were staring back at me.

One had long blonde hair, several braids in his hair and had two braids in his moustache. The other had long dark hair no braids, or beard only stubble. Both were quite handsome.

"Aye we are My Lady." smiled the dark haired man "We were distracted by a beautiful singing voice."

I just roll my eyes and turned around again, putting more apples in the basket. I noticed some of the blueberries had been trodden on and I growl in frustration.

'Bang goes the blueberry pie.' I thought.

I then stood up, brushing dirt from my trousers once more.

"It was you, wasn't it?" asked the same man from before, watching me.

"Excuse me?" I reply, clearly puzzled.

"It was you that was singing, wasn't it?"

"If you say so," I blushed, thankful that my face was half shielded from the dark. "Well, nice meeting you both. Goodnight and god bless."

I then went on my way. Only I realised I was being followed, I glance over my shoulder and see the two men behind me.

"Are you following me?" I asked them both, feeling nervous now.

"Yes!"

My eyes go wide.

"No," said the blonde haired one, seeing the shock on my face. "We are just heading in the same direction."

"You both have business in The Shire?" I query, as I stop walking and watch them both.

"You could say that!" grinned the dark haired man.

"Kili!" the other one said, glancing over to his friend "Maybe we should go another way."

I laugh softly.

"There is no other way," I point out to them both "Well, there is, but you have to walk through The Shire to get there but considering you want The Shire-," I trail of, noticing their confused faces.

"Do you live around here then?" asked the blonde haired man.

I nod my head.

"Hmm, yes. For the past twenty years in fact," I pause looking up at the night sky. "Damm, Bilbo will not be amused by my lateness!"

I turn around and begin walking towards home again.

"Wait!" cried out the men behind.

I stop and turn again.

"Did you just say, Bilbo?" asked the dark haired man named Kili.

He was looking at his friend then back at me again.

"Yes why, do you both know him?" I asked them both.

"No, but we will soon enough!" grinned Kili.

"Your here to see Bilbo?" I ask them both, noticing they won't say anything else "Funny, I've never heard Bilbo mention he was expecting guests. I should know, I live with him!"

"Why didn't you say?" smiled Kili "We can go together."

"Oh joy!" I mutter.

I walk in front, noticing I was shaking. I willed myself to calm myself down. These men seemed alright but I was not used to seeing newcomers appear from nowhere. I only hoped they haven't noticed. Unaware that they had noticed but said nothing.

"Hey, what's your name?"

"Hetti Baggins." I reply, glancing at the two men once more.

"Fili." replied the blonde haired man.

"Kili."

"At your service." they both said in unison.

"Pleased to meet you both."

"You don't look like a hobbit!" observed Kili, as we neared my house.

"That's because I'm not," I reply noticing a blue hue coming from Bilbo's front door "What on earth is that?" I muse, inspecting it.

'Did Bilbo do this?' I wondered.

I was about to open the front door, when Kili rung the door chime.

"Um, I do have a key to open this door." I say to him, he only grinned at me.

The front door opened and saw Bilbo standing there watching me.

"Sorry I'm late Bilbo, I was distracted!"

I then grin at him, hoping he would not be to angry with me.

"You couldn't use your key?" was all Bilbo said.

"No, it was Kili here, who pulled the door chime not me. If you don't mind, I will be in my room to get changed." and with that I brushed past Bilbo and went in my room.

Where I stayed for a while.

~~Bilbo's POV~~

I was about to shut the door when I heard a yelp, opening the door once more, I saw more dwarves staring back at me.

"Fili."

"And Kili."

"At your service." They both say together, before bowing.

"You must be Mr. Boggins." grined Kili.

"Nope, you can't come in, you've come to the wrong house." I exclaimed and try and close the door on them both, a black boot stops me from closing the door however!

"What? Has it been cancelled?""No one told us." remarked Fili, looking at Kili with concern on his face.

"Can-? No-nothing's been cancelled." I stammer, what were they talking about?

"Well, that's a relief." smiled Kili, pushing the door inwards.

I was even more bewildered by the thought that these dwarves were dumping their weapons on me. What was I, a pack mule?

"Careful with these, I just had 'em sharpened." said the blonde haired dwarf, named Fili.

"It's nice, this place. D'you you do it yourself?" asked Kili, scraping the mud of his boots on the edge of my chest of drawers.

I saw Elaina walk up to us and she looked angry.

"Would you please stop doing that?" she began, glaring at Kili who seemed shocked to see her there "You might do that sort of thing in your own home, but please show some respect while you are here!"

"Exactly my point," I agree with Elaina "That is my mother's glory box, can you please not do that!"

"Ah," we all heard Dwalin say "Fili, Kili, come on, give us a hand."

"Mister Dwalin." smiled Kili.

Were they about to headbutt again, I wondered.

"Let's shove this in the hallway, otherwise we'll never get everyone in." remarked Balin.

I look at Balin with a confused look on my face. The dwarves were now moving my furniture around. I had no idea what was going on but I knew I would not like it, one bit.

"Ev-everyone? How many more are there?" I asked anyone that was listening, they wasn't of course.

"Where do you want this?" asked Kili, holding two chairs in his hands.

I was about to say something, when the door chime went once more. By now I was getting more angry that Hetti's birthday celebration was now ruined by all these dwarves. I dumped all of Fili and Kili's weapons on the table, before heading towards the front door.

"Oh no. No, no! There's nobody home. Go away, and bother somebody else. There's far too many dwarves in my dining room as it is. If- if- If this is some clotterd's idea of a joke, ha ha, I can only say, it is in very poor taste." I shouted through the door.

For a second I just stare at the door before opening it. As soon as I opened it however, several more dwarves fell on top of each other. I did hear them shout to themselves but I wasn't sure what they were saying. I glance up when I saw a tall figure watching everything and sighed.

"Gandalf." I say to him, seeing Gandalf smile down at me.