Prompt from MAPMonstersArePerceptions.
Frodo ends up in Erebor. The younger dwarves take him under their wing.
The mountain loomed high above the little hobbit's head, casting a grand shadow over Frodo Baggins. Though he'd only been in Erebor for a day, the very thought of living inside a mountain felt strange and wonderful to him. Erebor was a maze of echoes and glistening halls, stone walls adorned with tapestries, and floors that gleamed like glass.
The sheer scale of the place overwhelmed him, but Frodo's uncle Bilbo stayed nearby, a reassuring presence as they wandered down corridors of bustling dwarves.
"He'll be fine, Dwalin," Bilbo assured the burly warrior as they arrived at the large dining hall, "he's tougher than he looks."
Frodo took in a deep breath, stepping forward to peer around the grand room. He'd never seen so many dwarves in one place before. It was noisier than he expected, full of loud laughter and clinking goblets. Young dwarves ran between tables, older dwarves reclined, telling stories in deep, rumbling voices. Frodo's heart sped up as he caught sight of a dwarf with a golden braid flicked back over his shoulder.
"Uncle Bilbo, is that... is that Prince Fili?" he asked in a low whisper, eyes wide.
"Aye," Bilbo said, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Prince Fili and his brother, Prince Kili. You'll meet them soon enough, Frodo."
Just as he said this, a dark-haired figure darted across the room and nearly collided with Frodo.
"Whoa there!" The dwarf steadied him, and Frodo looked up to find none other than Kili, his bright eyes filled with surprise and curiosity, "well, who's this little thing?"
Bilbo nudged Frodo forward. "This is my nephew, Frodo Baggins," he announced, his voice a mix of pride and protectiveness, "he's here for a little visit, and I'm hoping that you and your brother might show him a bit of dwarven hospitality."
Kili's grin widened, and he crouched down to Frodo's level. "Dwarven hospitality, eh? That means you'll be needing a whole lot of mischief, young Frodo," he said with a wink, "come, let's find Fili. He'll be delighted!"
A mixture of excitement and shyness filled Frodo as he allowed Kili to take his hand and lead him toward a table where a group of young dwarves was gathered. Fili sat at the head, his golden hair glinting in the firelight, his eyes twinkling as he caught sight of Frodo.
"So, this is your nephew, then, Bilbo?" Fili asked, rising to his feet and eyeing Frodo with interest.
"That he is," Bilbo said, his arms crossed as he watched the two princes. "Frodo, this is Fili. Now Fili and Kili – they've made a bit of a name for themselves, though you'll likely be the first to tell them they're not nearly as impressive as they think."
"Welcome to Erebor, Frodo," Fili said, dipping his head in greeting, "come, sit here with us. Have you ever tried dwarven food?"
Frodo shook his head, his curls bouncing around his face, and Kili gave a cheer. "Well, that's about to change!" he said as he set a plate in front of Frodo.
Throughout the meal, Frodo marvelled at the different foods – meats and cheeses and bread that dwarves dunked in thick, rich stews. He ate with wide eyes, enjoying every bite as Fili and Kili peppered him with questions about the Shire. Frodo did his best to answer, though there were moments he felt a little overwhelmed by their exuberance. Still, the brothers were kind and kept him laughing with funny stories of Erebor's bustling life.
As they finished the meal, Kili slapped his knee and grinned at Fili, "shall we show Frodo the treasure halls? He's come all this way. It would be rude not to let him have a peek."
Fili raised an eyebrow at Bilbo, "do you suppose he's ready?"
"Oh, I think Frodo can handle it," Bilbo said, sharing a conspiratorial smile with his nephew.
The brothers took Frodo by each hand and led him through twisting hallways, down into the heart of the mountain. It was a longer walk than Frodo expected, and the air grew cooler, though he didn't mind as he listened to Fili and Kili argue about who had once slipped on a loose stone while carrying a stack of swords.
"Was not! That was you, Fili!" Kili declared, his voice echoing through the stone halls.
Frodo couldn't help but laugh, "do you two always argue like this?"
"Always," Fili said with a grin, mussing Kili's hair, "but only because he's wrong most of the time."
Eventually, they arrived at a grand chamber, with huge iron doors that quite an intimidating looking guard pushed open with a grunt. Frodo gasped, his eyes going wide as he stepped into the treasure hall. Mounds of gold and silver, jewels of every color, and artifacts of all kinds shimmered before him. The light of torches caught on the gold, filling the chamber with a warm, magical glow.
"Go on," Fili encouraged, "take a look."
Frodo stepped forward, his fingers brushing a goblet encrusted with sapphires. "All of this… it's amazing!" he breathed, looking up at Fili and Kili in awe, "is this really all yours?"
Kili chuckled, "well, it belongs to Erebor. But as princes, I suppose some of it is ours."
Frodo's gaze wandered to a simple, silver pendant lying atop a small pile of coins. Unlike the extravagant pieces around it, it was understated, with a single emerald in its center. His fingers hovered over it, but he pulled back, glancing uncertainly at Fili.
"Would it… would it be alright if I held it?" he asked.
Fili smiled, taking the pendant and placing it in Frodo's hands.
"Of course, Frodo. Take a good look."
The little hobbit studied it with wide eyes, feeling the cool metal against his fingers. It was beautiful but also comforting in a way he couldn't quite describe. He looked up at the two dwarves with wonder in his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered, clutching it carefully.
"You're welcome, lad," Kili said, placing a hand on Frodo's curls, "but that's not all we've got to show you. There's still the forges, the library, the training grounds…"
The tour continued through various parts of Erebor, each new sight filling Frodo with wonder. At the training grounds, he watched in awe as Fili and Kili showed him their swords, laughing and sparring for his amusement. Kili even handed him a small dagger, its hilt made for dwarven hands but not too large for Frodo to hold comfortably.
"Perhaps you'll grow into it," Fili teased as Frodo grinned, feeling the weight of the dagger in his hands.
"I'll be a warrior yet," Frodo replied with a small, proud smile, though he struggled to hold it upright.
The dwarves laughed but made no jest of his attempt, instead guiding his hands and showing him how to balance it, how to stand. Though he was young and small, the day filled him with pride and a sense of belonging he hadn't felt in a long time.
When they finally returned to Bilbo that evening, Frodo's face was flushed, his eyes bright with excitement. Bilbo chuckled, seeing his nephew clutching the small pendant and carrying the dagger carefully.
"Well, Frodo," Bilbo said, beaming at him, "how was your day?"
Frodo's eyes met his uncle's, and in that moment, he felt that strange ache of loss from his parents' passing ease just a little. "It was wonderful, uncle," he said, his voice filled with new confidence, "I'm glad you brought me here."
Fili and Kili gave him proud pats on the back, knowing they'd made a yet another hobbit friend who would always have a place in Erebor.
"Good," Bilbo said, smiling softly, "for as long as you're here, remember – you've a family in this mountain too."
And as they tucked Frodo into bed that night, Fili and Kili whispered to each other about all the adventures they'd show him tomorrow, making promises they both intended to keep, in the way brothers always did.