Prompt from MAPSMonstersArePerceptions.

Oh no! A dwarfling has joined the quest (or where a child managed to follow without them knowing until it is too late - possibly Dwalin's?).

It was the fourth day of Dwalin's journey to Hobbiton from Ered Luin when he heard the faint crackling of leaves underfoot. The day was calm, with only the occasional bird singing in the distance. But as Dwalin adjusted his pack and listened closer, he sensed something out of place.

He whipped around, his hand reaching instinctively for his axe, only to freeze at the sight before him.

"Kralin!" he thundered, watching as his young son, small yet sturdy, stood blinking up at him, wide-eyed but determined. The boy's dark curls bounced as he adjusted his own miniature pack slung over his shoulders. His eyes sparkled with a hint of pride – and perhaps a bit of fear, seeing his father's expression.

Dwalin's surprise quickly turned to exasperation.

"Lad, what are you doing here?" He knelt down, scrutinizing his son's improvised travel gear – a bundle tied with a thick cloth containing what appeared to be food, a few toys, and a lumpy blanket half-falling out of his bag. At Kralin's side was his wooden toy sword, dangling from a belt far too large for the dwarfling that he'd likely swiped from his father's things.

Kralin squared his shoulders.

"I'm coming with you, Da. You always said I'm strong like you, and I know how to fight!" He gave his wooden sword an enthusiastic tap, clearly hoping to prove his point.

Dwalin let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples.

"You're strong, Kralin, no doubt about that," he muttered, "but we're on a quest, lad – a dangerous one."

Kralin puffed out his chest, "I know, Da. That's why I packed! I brought apples and cheese, and I have my blanket, and I won't slow you down, I promise!" His voice was so earnest that Dwalin found his initial irritation waning.

But his gaze hardened again as he thought of Myra, his wife.

"Your mother…" he started, glancing off down the path they'd just walked. They were almost at the Shire now, and even if he were to double back, he couldn't reach home for another four days. His heart clenched as he imagined Myra pacing back and forth, anxiously searching the hills for her missing son.

Still, the journey had already been hard enough on him alone. To take Kralin on now, with the unknown dangers ahead…

He crouched down, putting a firm hand on Kralin's shoulder, "son, you know your amad must be worried sick."

Kralin's bravado faltered for a moment, his eyes dropping to his boots. "I know, Da," he said quietly, "but I didn't want you to go alone."

Dwalin's heart softened, and he couldn't suppress a faint smile. There was a deep loyalty in his son, a fierce devotion that he himself knew all too well. Kralin was his son through and through.

But he shook his head. "This is no place for a young dwarf," he said, although his voice had lost its edge, "do you know what we're even set to face?"

Kralin's mouth opened, hesitating, "not exactly, but I heard you talking to Uncle Balin. It's dangerous, but we're warriors, right?"

Dwalin raised a brow, surprised at the determination in his son's tone. Kralin had sneaked through plenty of his father's training sessions, listening and picking up what he could. "Aye, lad," Dwalin replied, feeling both pride and a bit of helplessness, "but warriors must be ready for hardship. Are you certain you can keep up?"

Kralin nodded with a fervent grin, and before Dwalin could protest, he pulled a small bundle from his bag, "here! I made you an extra sandwich. Figured you'd be hungry."

Dwalin's heart softened completely, and he chuckled despite himself, accepting the offering. "Well, that was thoughtful, lad," he said, pulling Kralin close, "you've got a good heart, I'll give you that," he sighed deeply, looking down the path toward Hobbiton.

"If you're truly coming, then you'll need to listen to everything I say. This is no game, Kralin."

Kralin's expression turned solemn, "I understand, Da. I'll listen."

With that, the two continued down the path together, Kralin's small footsteps trailing in the larger prints left by his father.

The walk was long, and by the time the rolling green hills of the Shire came into view, Kralin was visibly flagging. But even so, he kept his chin up, and every time Dwalin offered to carry his bag, Kralin shook his head.

"Almost there," Dwalin muttered, more to himself than to Kralin. As they neared the rounded doors and tidy paths of Hobbiton, Dwalin couldn't help but feel a wave of relief. If there was a place his young son would be safest, it was the Shire.

By the time they had made it to Hobbiton, after a few misadventures of a wandering dwarfling, Dwalin and Kralin trudged up the hill following a small path leading to the burglar's home – following the direction of a hobbit, who was kind enough to give Kralin a still warm cookie.

The door was large and round like many front doors found within the Shire, painted a fresh bright green colour with the glowing sign carved into the door.

From inside, they could hear the muffled voices and hearty laughter indicating that the other dwarves of the company had arrived. Dwalin felt a pang of relief, glad to be here at last – an gave a quick stern look to Kralin who had been a large part in his delay in arriving.

Whether he want to or not – Kralin was going to have to get back to his amad somehow.

Kralin, oblivious to his father's thoughts, clutched his word sword and flashed him an innocent grin.

"Da, are we really here?" Kralin whispered, his excitement barely contained.

"Aye, we're here, lad," Dwalin grumbled, though a faint smile broke through. They approached the door, and Dwalin gave it a firm knock.

Moments later, a very flustered Bilbo Baggins opened the door, his wide eyes falling first on Dwalin's imposing figure and then trailing down to Kralin, whose big eyes sparkled up at him with curiosity.

"Oh my stars, there's two of you!" Bilbo said, blinking in disbelief, "come in, come in – oh, there are so many of you!"

Now, it wasn't the speech the hobbit had mentally prepared himself to say, but all his thoughts went out the window at the sight of the young child.

Much like how his mother had taught him, Kralin grinned and scrapped his boots on the mat to dislodge any dirt and entered with a grin and a confident, small stride, immediately enraptured by Bilbo's cozy home. As they stepped inside the dining room, the other dwarves turned to greet them with roars of laughter and calls of welcome – until they noticed the small dwarf trailing by Dwalin's side.

"Kralin, what are you doing here?" Balin exclaimed, surprise lighting up his face.

Kili and Fili practically bounded over, Kili crouching down so he was level with Kralin's height. "Well, look who snuck along!" he said with a grin, ruffling Kralin's hair, "did you come to protect your da, little warrior?"

Kralin beamed, lifting his wooden sword proudly, "aye! I brought this, just in case."

"Oh, he'll have to join the training ranks!" Fili said, nudging his brother with a smirk. The two of them had quickly adopted Kralin, treating him like their little brother.

Dwalin cleared his throat, casting a long-suffering look toward his son, "this one got it into his head to follow me. Not much I could do once I found him."

As Kralin explored, Bilbo's initial worry softened, especially when the boy gave him a small, curious smile. "Hello, Master Baggins," he said, politely extending a small hand, "I'm Kralin – at your sur-bus."

Doing his best to copy what he had seen his father do at the door.

Bilbo shook his hand, charmed by the young dwarf's manners, "why, it's a pleasure to meet you, Kralin."

The rest of the company watched the exchange, amused by the sight of the tiny dwarf among them. Even Thorin managed a slight smile at the scene, nodding approvingly as Kralin listened intently to Bilbo's flustered welcome.

"Ah, well," Bilbo murmured, overwhelmed yet charmed, "I suppose one more won't hurt. Welcome, young Kralin."

As laughter filled the room and introductions continued, Kralin looked up at Dwalin with a grin so wide it made his father's heart swell.

As the evening settled into quiet murmurs around Bilbo's dining table, Gandalf pulled Dwalin aside. The wizard gave him a thoughtful look, one that already held the solution to the concern Dwalin had been grappling with since the moment he'd found his son tagging along.

"Bilbo mentioned a cousin of his, Drogo, and his wife Primula," Gandalf began, "they'd gladly take care of Kralin for a few days while we arrange for him to return home to Ered Luin."

Dwalin frowned, casting a reluctant glance at Kralin, who was animatedly sharing tales with Fili and Kili, "Drogo and Primula, eh? You trust them to keep him safe?"

"They're good folk," Bilbo chimed in, overhearing their conversation, "they're fond of children, and Kralin would be well looked after – they often mind children. It would be temporary of course – Gandalf already said he could send a note with one of the rangers asking for someone to come and collect him."

Dwalin sighed, though relief softened his expression, "aye…that's likely best."

A few minutes later, Dwalin and Balin approached Kralin, who looked up at his father with the boundless trust only a child could muster. "Kralin, lad, we've made arrangements for you," Balin began gently, "you'll be staying here in the Shire, with a cousin of Master Baggins, for a while. Just until we can send you home to Ma."

The excitement in Kralin's eyes immediately dimmed, and he scrunched his brows, "but, Da, I want to go with you! I came all this way."

Dwalin knelt down, his large hands resting firmly on his son's small shoulders. "I know, Kralin. And you did well, sneakin' along without a sound," His voice softened as he looked into Kralin's wide, tear-bright eyes, "but this journey… it's no place for you, lad."

"But I can help!" Kralin insisted, his little hands balling into fists. His eyes began to water, and the sight tore at Dwalin's heart, "I'm strong, Da! You said so!"

Dwalin's rough thumb brushed a tear away from his son's cheek. "Aye, you are strong. Stronger than I was at your age," he murmured, "but this journey… it's dangerous. We might face things that even I can't protect you from – and in case you forgot, there is a dragon waiting for us at the end of this journey."

Balin knelt beside them, a kind smile on his face. "Listen to your da, Kralin. He wants to make sure you grow up safe and sound. And your ma, she'll be worried for you. She'd be heartbroken if anything happened to her little warrior."

Kralin sniffled, his gaze dropping to the floor as he processed their words, "but…I don't want to leave you, Da."

"I know, lad," Dwalin's voice cracked with the same regret, "I don't want to leave you, either. But once we're done here, I'll be back, and I'll tell you all about the journey. You'll have tales to listen to for years."

"Promise?"

"Promise – and one day when you get older, you'll be visiting me with stories of your own," Dwalin wrapped his arms around his son, pulling him into a warm, fierce hug. After a long, silent moment, he looked to Gandalf.

"You'll make sure he gets to Drogo and Primula safely?"

Gandalf nodded, resting a reassuring hand on Kralin's small shoulder. "We'll see him there ourselves in the morning, and we'll send for the finest guards from Ered Luin to bring him home to his mother. He'll be well looked after."

Kralin sniffled once more, clinging to Dwalin's hand. Despite the disappointment etched on his face, he looked up at his father with a glimmer of acceptance, "I'll be waiting for your stories, Da."

Dwalin managed a smile, ruffling Kralin's hair, "you'll have the best seat in the house, lad."

The reason for today's dump of one shots is I am finally going on a holiday! I will be travelling and have very limited access to internet - so no need to take a computer with me.

I will not be arriving back to my home state until Thursday the 14th - but I may not post on that day depending on how late I get back (the last time I flew anywhere the plane was five hours late so I didn't get home until midnight).

So, in my week of absence - I hope you enjoyed these few bulk posted/written one shots!