Authors note: I do not own anything to do with The Hobbit or LOTR franchises, everything belongs to Tolkien! I am just a poor college student having some fun. Comment and reviews but lease no flames! If you don't like it don't read it- easy enough right?

Chapter 3

With Fili and Kili off doing who knows what, Bilbo began surveying the area. He knew relatively where the path was that the troll took the first time, and if he could get himself situated in a tree beforehand he would (probably) be able to ambush the first. While he didn't have a lot of training, he definitely had more than the first time around. He had spent quite a bit of time Rivendell before the death of Frodo's parents, absorbing as much knowledge as he could. That had included some combat training.

He examined the weapon in his hand; it was quite large, with a slight curve to the blade. While it seemed to have good balance and wasn't too heavy, it was slightly cumbersome. It obviously hadn't been forged with hobbits in mind, and the hilt fit awkwardly in his grip. With a shrug, he slipped it into his belt.

After some thought, he soon picked a tree closer to the troll camp than the horses. That way the others would be less likely to hear and rush to help, and he wouldn't spook the ponies. Pulling himself up into a high branch, he soon settled himself onto the limb with only a little trepidation. He by no means enjoyed heights; Hobbits lived in holes for a reason after all. Indeed, he hadn't been higher off the ground than a stepping stool since… well since that business with the Archenstone.

Shaking himself from the thought, he listened closely to the sounds of the forest around him. The sun had just finished setting, and he needed to get this business over with before Fili and Kili returned to count the ponies. He soon heard audible steps coming from the direction of the troll camp, and it wasn't long before he could see a bald head through the dark coming in his direction.

There was a problem however. While he had picked the perfect tree, he had overestimated the height of the troll and would need to have precise timing for this to work. Of course it had to be something, Bilbo thought to himself, couldn't just go to plan. Taking a deep breath, he flung himself from the tree onto the troll.

He didn't have time to think before plunging the large dagger into the trolls neck with the force of his fall, while he hung down the being's back. Positioning his feet on the trolls back, he gave a great shove to push himself way while pulling the knife through the thick flesh, leaving a large gash and opening up the artery.

"Urgggg" The troll grunted, grabbing at his neck as he collapsed, bleeding out in the cover of night. Bilbo backed up to the tree, trying to calm his breathing as the adrenalin coursed through his veins. Wiping the blade off on the troll's loincloth, he placed it back into his belt and made his way back to the ponies. Fili and Kili appeared not a minute later, laughing at something.

"Ah Master Hobbit, how goes it?" Fili asked coming to stand before him, but seeming distracted.

"All is well."

"Do you mind if we go get something to eat? We will bring you back some." Kili asked, already inching in that direction. Bilbo gave them a smile and waved them away, happy that they were willingly leaving him to himself. He still had two trolls to dispose of, and frankly the princes' timing was extraordinary. Though he would have to ask them what they were off doing for the past fifteen minutes, as he was quite curious. Was that why they never saw the troll to begin with?

Shrugging, he made his way back to his tree. He had thought to maybe approach the camp and call out for the help mimicking the first troll, but had thought better of it as both would have likely entered the forest. Bilbo was only slightly confident in his ability to kill one troll; two would certainly be too much for him. No, it was probably better to wait here as the one called Bert would likely send the second into the forest by himself.

This was the case; not a few minutes passed after climbing into the tree did Bilbo see the second one approaching. Oddly, it was harder for him to hear this one; but the moonlight reflected nicely off of his pale skin as he made his way to where Bilbo hid.

"Tom?" The second called out in a hushed tone; creeping through the trees. Bilbo watched as he stiffened, finally catching sight of his fallen friend. "Tom! Tom what happened?!" he cried out, rushing forward.

Bilbo jumped from his perch just as the second leaned over the lifeless body; the impact forced the troll to his knees as Bilbo plunged the blade into his neck near the spine. He collapsed without a sound, twitching slightly on top the first. Standing, Bilbo again cleaned the blade but kept it in his shaking hand as he made his way to the troll camp. He wouldn't have long before someone from the company would come looking for him, so he would need to get more proactive.

Climbing into a tree at the edge of the camp, Bilbo saw Bert stirring his stew. The clearing was littered with bones and empty barrels just as before, only it wasn't as lively as the single troll waited quietly for his friends to return from the dark forest. Bilbo felt a tug from his conscience over his actions, but shook it aside. His friends' safety was on the line, and he would protect them no matter what.

"Bert! Bert!" Bilbo called from his hiding spot, trying to mimic the voice of the second troll. The third stood cautiously, ladle still in hand as he made his way to the tree line.

"Eh, William? Is that you?" He called into the shadows. Two more steps and he would be under Bilbo. Abruptly Bert turned, lashing out with his ladle and smashing through several limbs of Bilbo's tree including where the small hobbit stood. Bilbo hurtled into the camp site with the branches, landing with a crash in the clearing.

Bilbo gasped as one of the limbs landed on him knocking the wind out of him and trapping him. The troll made its way over to where he lay struggling to breath, kneeling down to look at his prize.

"What are you then, a mocking bird? How do you know my name" he asked, ripping the Hobbit out from under the branch. The grip around him tightened as the troll brought him close to his face to give him a sniff.

"You smell like death…"

Bert's face changed slowly, becoming a mask of pure rage. Bilbo found himself being rocketed again through the air only to be stopped by one of the trees. His body slid down the side, landing in a mass of pain on the ground below. The troll stomped his way over to where he had thrown the smaller creature, screaming and yelling and demanding to know where Tom and William were.

Through the pain, Bilbo knew he had made a mistake confronting this one alone. He regretted that he wouldn't get to see his friends one last time, as he knew he would likely be killed once Bert got him in his hands again.

With hazy vision Bilbo watched the giant approach, and was utterly shocked as blood began spilling from a wound on its leg. His groggy mind was having a hard time registering the swift movements of a dark figure as they fought back the troll. Blurs of movement back and forth until Bilbo felt the shaking of the earth underneath him as Bert collapsed on the ground dead.

Looking up, the dark figure strode up to Bilbo quickly to help prop him up against the tree at his back. Bright blue eyes startled him from his fog, as he found himself face to face with Thorin.

"What were you thinking!" the shout rattled through his brain, causing him to groan.

"What do you mean?" he gripped his head, trying not to concentrate on his various injuries.

"Taking on a troll? By yourself no less." Thorin face looked nearly as angry as the trolls had before him. "I wouldn't have let Gandalf bring you along if I had known you were suicidal."

"I'm not suicidal," he huffed, trying to put some space between himself and the king." I recognized the signs of troll's in the area near the ponies." Not a complete lie, he thought to himself with a flinch.

"Am I actually supposed to believe that? You, who have probably never left your house, know how to track trolls?"

Bilbo rolled his eyes, "And again we have the arrogant king. Yes I know how to do many things that would surprise you. However, if you don't believe me, you'll find two other troll bodies down that trail there." He gestured off the side where the trees parted. Thorin scowled at him, before turning to survey the area.

"Are there others?" He inquired in a low tone, his body tensing.

"No just the three, it looks like they were using this site as sort of a kitchen. But trolls turn to stone in the sun, so they likely have a troll hole nearby." Bilbo shifted, rising to his feet. The king's gaze moved to the opposite end of the camp where a trail could be seen leading up the hill. He began moving in that direction, leaving Bilbo trailing behind him.

Peering at the dark sky, he came to the painful realization that he had made a miscalculation. Gandalf wouldn't come back until sun rise, and he had obviously trimmed a few hours off the top with the troll's deaths. In fact, without Fili and Kili to alert them, the company would never wander up this hill to encounter Radagast or the wargs. Well I can't say "hey we need the rest of the company" now can I? Bilbo berated himself for not thinking ahead.

A few minutes later they found themselves in front of a dark putrid smelling cave. It was slightly ominous in the dim light, and his imagination ran wild with the idea of the maw of a great beast about to swallow them whole. His eyes soon adjusted after slipping inside, and he found that the cave was much the way it had been, a nasty, dirty, wet hole filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell. He shivered and tried not to touch anything as he stepped around the treasure and bones littering the floor.

Thorin made his way over to a barrel of weapons, picking up a sword too examine it. Bilbo followed suit but was disappointed to see that sting was not among the weapons in the barrel. Glancing at the weapons on the wall led to the same frustration, but he was delighted to see Gandalf's blade Glamdring propped in the corner.

"What are you doing?" Thorin eyed him as he attempted to lift the large cumbersome weapon from its resting place.

"I think I'll take this to Gandalf; it seems his size and he doesn't carry a weapon like the rest of you." Bilbo grunted, and made his way out of the cave partially dragging the sword behind him. He didn't wait on Thorin, but instead made his way back to the camp with his prize.

Thorin didn't need him as an escort, and he felt like walking back on his own as his disappointment at not finding sting would linger. He hadn't been with Gandalf when he had found it before, and it would seem suspicious if he just started digging through the mess. Maybe I can buy a blade from Elrond if we make it to Rivendell, He thought; though it was also likely they wouldn't meet the elves thanks to his mess up.

The woods around him were quiet as he walked. He made sure to pick up Fili's dagger when he passed through the troll camp, and it didn't take him long to make it back to camp where he found most of the company asleep with Gloin keeping watch propped against the decrepit farm house. Gandalf was also awake; having made his way back to the company in the time that Bilbo had been away. He sat next to the fire on a rocky outcropping smoking his pipe.

"Umm, Gandalf?"

"My dear Bilbo, what do you have there?"

"I thought you might need this," He hoisted the sword up into view.

"This is an excellent blade, wherever did you find it?" Gandalf's bushy brows rose in shock as he took the blade and started examining it.

"A troll hole Thorin and I found nearby." He looked down at his feet, hoping the wizard wouldn't enquire further. Much to his surprise, though Gandalf did give him an appraising look, they soon parted after much thanks from the wizard for the gift.

Bilbo made his way over to sit beside Gloin in the shadows. He hissed as he slid into a sitting position, his ribs aching in protest.

"Are you well boy?" The dwarf gave him an appraising look.

"Yes, just a little sore." Bilbo sighed. It wouldn't do to complain, as it was his own stupidity that had led to his injuries. In fact, he was glad there was no real outward indication of his having just murdered two trolls and nearly died by the hands of the third. Any blood that had gotten on him either blended well with his red coat, or had dried into a dark mud mixture on his trousers and vest. So unless Thorin decided to tell the company, no one would ever find out about it which suited him just fine.

"Hmmm," Gloin gave him an odd look, "How was your dinner?"

"Pardon?"

"Your dinner that Thorin brought you? Bombur added some rosemary because he saw that you liked it, how was it? I myself can do without the fancy smancy spices, just give me some good pepper corn and I'd be happy."

"Oh yes, um, it was good. I'll have to thank Bombur in the morning…" Bilbo shook his head slightly. Guess that means I won't be asking for leftovers; his stomach cramped from hunger at the thought.

"Gloin? Have you seen Erebor?"

"Nay, I wasn't born in Erebor. Oin was born there, however my father took him and my mother to the Blue Mountains shortly before the arrival of the dragon. I was born within days of the catastrophe."

"I see. I know Oin is your brother, and Balin and Dwalin are your cousins. Do you have a wife?"

"Indeed I do!" He pulled a small frame from his pocket, handing it over to Bilbo." This is my dear wife, and our son Gimli."

Bilbo looked at the beautifully painted miniatures. Gimli was definitely an adorable dwarf as a child, and Bilbo was happy to know he would likely be meeting him again in the future.

Soon the sky began to turn a pink orange hue as dawn approached, while he and Gloin talked of family matters. Apparently, young Gimli has been peeing on things he shouldn't, and Bilbo was pleased to inform him that this phase would pass. Frodo had been the same at about five years old, and his mother's roses had never been the same after.

Thorin strode into camp at day break toting his new weapon on his belt, along with some other things wrapped in a tattered cloth. The rest of the company had begun to rise, putting away their belonging and preparing for the days ride. After about an hour they were off again at a steady pace, which had Bilbo's ribs aching with every jostle. While his guilt at changing their future continued to eat at him, he was glad that they did not have to be chased by wargs and orcs for miles. Fili had had to help him get onto his pony, bruising his ego a bit.

The great troll assassinator, lifted onto his pony by his belt…The thought stung, but it didn't truly matter in the end as most of company didn't have much have a very high opinion of his skills anyway.

They'd been trucking along for a few hours before they heard the horns trill through the trees. Thorin and Dwalin circled around the company, everyone pulling out their various weapons and dismounted.

"Orcs?"

"Likely, everyone together." Thorin ordered, shifting the group into huddle in which Bilbo found himself the center. Gandalf stood off to the side not having drawn his sword, and Bilbo relaxed as he could see him trying to hide a smirk. The horn sounded again, and was followed by elves on tall steeds entering the small clearing to circle the group. The dwarves stood their ground casting hate filled eyes at the riders.

"Mithrandir!" Elrond dismounted his horse to stand next to Gandalf.

"Lord Elrond! What brings you from Rivendell?"

"We were hunting an orc pack near the hidden pass, it is strange for them to have come so close to our boarders."

"Indeed?" Gandalf raised his bush brow wish concern.

"And who are your companions?" he gestured to the huffy dwarves before him. Thorin came to stand in front of the mass.

"Lord Elrond, may I introduce to you Thorin Oakensheild, son of Thrain, son of Thror."

"Ah Thorin, You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the Mountain."

"Indeed, he made no mention of you." Bilbo cringed at the sharpness of Thorin's words.

Elrond seemed to ignore the implied insult, continuing in elvish "please, be our welcome guests and join us for dinner."

The company bristled. "Does he offer us insult!" Gloin called out, as the others tightened their grip on their weapons.

"No, he offers you food." Gandalf chuckled as the dwarves quickly talked it over before agreeing to be led to Rivendell. By sunset, Bilbo was able to cast his eyes on the beauty of the great elvish house once more.