Archive of Our Own ^beta

ACCLAIMED AS THAIN

by Julivadi

Bilbo felt ...strange...uneasy. There was something.... just nagging at his senses!
He shook his head and brought his conscious thoughts back to the list of items to purchase.
He checked his attire in the mirror, gave his foot hair a quick brush and carrying his basket, he let himself out of Bag End and made his way to the market.

He stopped for a moment to speak to Hamfast Gamgee, his neighbour and friend and enquired if he needed anything. "No, thankee Mr Bilbo sir, but it is kind of you to ask!" Replied Hamfast, "Bell was at the market earlier this morning, she was up with the lark and popped out just after first breakfast! We have everything we need for now," "That's fine, Ham," said Bilbo. "It never hurts to ask though." "I will pop along now, I just fancy a nice bit of fish for my dinner tonight, so I will go and see what is on offer!"

Bilbo continued on his way, enjoying the walk and the fragrance of the many flowers in the gardens. It was a lovely, sunny day. Peaceful and quiet.... and yet? He couldn't quite shake off the feeling he had. Like an itch under the skin that you can't pin down to scratch! An anticipation of something....

He thought of his late Grandmother Adamanta. She wasn't exactly a seer, but she did have some kind of foresight, some sense of knowing or anticipating something in the wind!
‘Stuff and nonsense, Baggins!' He thought, ‘get your head into gear and stop being so fanciful, letting your imagination run amok!' He shook his head, making his honey gold curls bounce and continued on his way.

A short walk later and he entered the market. He always enjoyed shopping here, even if he didn’t quite have the welcome that he used to have. Before he became "Mad Baggins". Before his respectability was damaged beyond repair by his "Adventure".
Well, they were entitled to their opinion, no matter how 'provincial' or close minded they were.
He had no regrets! Well, maybe some, Small ones! He would never regret going on the journey to Erebor, or meeting and becoming friends with his bedraggled companions. Or his actions to save his friends from their own folly. He would never have forgiven himself if he hadn't tried his utmost to prevent tragedy. To save Thorin..... and the boys!

He did regret that he was now so far away. He imagined that Fili, Kili and Thorin were fully healed by now and restoring Erebor to its former glory. He did regret that he left so quickly as soon as he was assured of their recovery from their awful wounds.
Even though he was ‘forgiven’ by Thorin on the ice at Ravenhill on that awful, awful day, he did not truly feel absolved.
He shivered and swallowed hard as he remembered the terrible wounds and the blood!

Oh, so much blood! He would never forget the look on Thorin’s face as he held his hands and screamed for help. He screamed and pleaded for someone to help, until one of the eagles saw them on the ice and swooped down to pick them up and take them to the elven healers.

His eyes! Thorin’s eyes! So blue, and so full of pain! He wanted to hold him close and take that pain away! Anything, please!

Bilbo closed his eyes and took several deep breaths to help banish the pictures in his mind. To help quieten his pounding heart as he remembered!
It is gone now, it is over. They are all well and recovered and many, many miles away. I am back home in the Shire and everything is fine!

He took another deep breath and opened his eyes. He noticed a couple of nearby hobbits looking at him warily. “Are you alright Mr Baggins? You looked a bit pale and shaken for a moment, is everything ok?

“Yes, yes! I’m fine Mrs Goodbody! Just a bit of a headache coming on, that’s all. I will pop back home and have a nice soothing cup of tea and it will be gone in no time at all!” “I was probably reading for too long and strained my eyes a little, you know how I can get lost in a book! No need to be concerned on my account. Good day to you!”

He finished off his shopping and turned to go home. Suddenly, there was a commotion further along in the market. “Help! Fear! Fire! Foes! Sound the alarms!”
Bilbo was alert in an instant! He pushed his way through the gathering crowd and saw young Robin Sandybanks on his knees in the market square. “Help! Someone help! There has been an attack at Brookbanks farm! Gaffer Brookbanks and his son are dead and Mrs Brookbanks is badly injured! The farm is ablaze!”

Bilbo reached the distraught hobbit and knelt beside him. “Steady, Robin! Tell us what has happened. Take a deep breath and calm as you can, tell us all you know!”
“Mr Baggins, sir! I am glad you are here! You will know what to do!” “Yes, Thank you Robin, but first I need to know what has happened!” Bilbo tried to calm the young hobbit down and as he did so, he noticed the blood on Robin’s clothes. “Are you hurt? Is this your blood?”

“One of them hit me with something sharp and my arm and shoulder sting a bit, but I charged at them and set the dogs on them and they ran off again over the fields!” “I came to get help as soon as I could. I had to see to Mrs Brookbanks first!”

“Yes, well done! Now then, who were they and how many? Slowly, Robin and clearly! Tell us what happened! Bilbo was gentle, but firm with Robin.

“There were about half a dozen of them. They weren't hobbits, or men! I don’t know who they were, but they were horrible! Ugly! And sort of mis-shapen! They had strange weapons, like cudgels, but spiky and some had swords! I had heard a bit of a commotion while I was in the barn. I was sharpening some of the tools for Mr Brookbanks and I had some of the dogs in the barn with me. They started barking and snarling and I heard Mrs Brookbanks screaming. I let the dogs out and grabbed the scythe I had been sharpening and ran out of the barn to see what was happening. The dogs went for them and I started swinging the scythe around and they turned around and ran off! One of them swung something at me as he turned and ran and it stung a bit, but then they were gone. Then I saw Gaffer Brookbanks and Gordy on the floor! They were covered in blood and Mrs Brookbanks was holding Gordy and rocking and crying! She had blood all down her dress and her arms were all cut up really bad! I helped her to stand up and took her inside. I wrapped some towels around her arms to try to stop the bleeding as best as I could. I could smell smoke and when I looked, the small barn on the other side was on fire! I helped Mrs Brookbanks into the cart and took her to Mrs Gorse’s house first then I ran here as quick as I could!” Robin, by now was shaking and sobbing as he told his tale.

“You have been very brave, Robin, and you did everything right! Now we need to investigate further and get the word out!” Bilbo was suddenly alert and energised after hearing Robin’s story. He unfortunately recognised the description of the ‘Ugly’ attackers. Orcs! In the Shire! This was bad! This was very, very bad!

“Has anyone gone to inform the bounders? Robin, does anyone else know of this yet?” Asked Bilbo.
“I saw Teddy Gorse running towards his mom’s house as I left. He will know what's happened by now and he will let the bounders know. They have an outpost just two farms away from there.
I didn’t have time to let anyone else know,”

“You have done well Robin, let’s get you cleaned and patched up and we will take it from here!”
Bilbo stood up and was promptly surrounded by hobbits.

“What’s going on? Who were these ruffians?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about really!”
“Just a young laddie’s overactive imagination, I would say!”
“But what if it's true, we could all be in danger!”
“Nonsense! The Shire is well protected, the bounders will sort these ruffians out!”

Everyone was speaking at once, those who believed the tale and others who pooh-poohed the very idea of anyone attacking hobbits in the Shire!

Bilbo knew someone had to take control before this turned into a panicking rabble. He straightened his spine, took a deep breath and then blew a piercing whistle as loud as he could.

“That’s enough! We need to find out the full facts of this quickly. Let’s hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. I will go to see the Thain immediately. Blow the horn! Get everyone to the meeting hall in one hour! We will investigate as quickly as we can, but we may need to be prepared to take action. Who will help me to spread the word? I need someone to get Izzy Stormbridge to bring his post pigeons to the hall in case we need to send the word to the other towns! Come on people! Don’t just stand there, we need to get moving. Quickly now! I am going to see the Thain right away!”

All could hear the tone of authority in Bilbo’s voice and without really thinking about it, found themselves obeying his commands. He was astonished that he didn’t have to spend time arguing and persuading. He turned and quickly made his way to see the Thain.

*************************************************************************

He arrived at Took Hall and saw that a small crowd had already gathered at the door.
Isengrim, his uncle, the Thain, was trying to sooth the crowd of hobbits.
“Now then everyone, I am sure there is nothing to worry about. A storm in a teacup is all! We will soon find out what all this nonsense is and everything will be back to normal in no time at all! Please calm yourselves and go home! I’m sure this will all be sorted out without any problems!”

“Ah! Bilbo! I am sure you can help me to calm everyone down and settle any fears!”
“I am sorry Uncle Isengrim, but I am afraid I cannot do that! Their fears seem to be well founded! Young Robin’s tale rang true! I assume you have heard a version by now?”

“Yes! I have heard some garbled tale of intruders! Invaders! Attacking the Brookbanks farm of all things! I am sure there is a sensible explanation!”

“I am sorry Uncle, but I recognize who or rather what they were from Robin’s description.
They were Orcs! Specifically, a raiding party! And, unfortunately, they got away! They would have made it back to their main group by now and that means, they will be back! But this time there won’t be a scant half dozen. No! This time there will be scores upon scores of them. Armed and merciless in their attack. If we stay to fight it will be a slaughter! We must evacuate! As quickly as possible! It may already be too late for outlying villages!

“Bilbo! How can you possibly say such things? How could you know what they will do? I am sure the bounders will be able to sort them out and send them on their way!”

Bilbo drew himself up and his eyes blazed with indignation and disbelief.

“How can I know?! Have you forgotten my journey?! I have travelled countless miles, across rivers and mountains and I have fought in battles with Orcs and worse, many times! How can I know?! I know from bitter experience! I carry the scars! I still hear the screams in my nightmares! I know because I have been there! I know what they are capable of! I know that we will not stand against them without experienced fighters. We will be cut down without mercy and we will die in our hundreds if we do not flee immediately! I cannot believe you, of all people would ask me, how do I know?!”

“I have called for people to come to the meeting hall. You will need to call for the evacuation as Thain. I will make a list of what people should take. We need to do this or we will not survive!”
“Uncle, please? You are needed!”

“Bilbo! I am sure you are exaggerating this out of all proportion! As Thain, it is my duty to remain in the Shire! I have to protect people’s property and holdings! Now you can just go to this ‘meeting’ you have called and reassure everyone. I am sure this is just a small incident and everything will be fine when the bounders catch them! I will not have you worrying everyone unnecessarily! That is my final word on the matter!”

Bilbo was dismayed by Isengrim’s attitude. “You don’t believe me? Uncle, Please! I am deadly serious! People Will Die!”

“No Bilbo! Now go and sort this meeting of yours out! We don’t need you stirring up any trouble!”

Bilbo suddenly felt cold! “Very well Uncle! I will go and address the meeting. You do what you need to do and I will do everything I can to help!” Bilbo turned on his heel and strode away.
He knew now what he needed to do and he had very little time in which to do it. He was filled with resolve. He would warn everyone he could reach and get them moving out of the Shire quickly. He knew that it would be impossible to save everybody, but he would save as many as he could.

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Bilbo mentally made a list of what he would need to pack. He wasn't going to make the same mistake as when he first left on a journey.

He stopped everyone he saw on the way home and told them to get to the meeting hall for the big meeting. They will need to take notes as well, this is important. Tell everyone else they could. Don’t miss this meeting!

By the time he reached home, he already felt exhausted. At least, mentally. Physically, his blood was thrumming through his veins and he could feel the adrenaline kicking in. He felt sad that he wouldn't be able to convince everyone, but he had to try. He knew that some hobbits would no more consider leaving their smials than they would consider flapping their arms and flying into the trees.
He grabbed a notebook and started to write his list.

Bedroll + blanket
Waterproof Travelling cloak
3 changes of clothes
Food (As much non-perishable as possible)
Waterskins/mug
Healing book and kit
Tinder tin + scrap paper/cloth + matches
Cooking pot
Plate/bowl/cutlery for each person
Pipe/Pipe Weed/Tea
Handkerchiefs
Notebook/pens
Foraging book and kit
Fishing kit (Line + hooks)
Sharp travelling knife
Weapon - if you have one

He looked around at his much loved smial and wondered if he would ever see it again. He took the small picture of his parents out of the frame on his desk and put it in his pocket. He then looked at the map on the wall. His framed map of the Lonely Mountain. Without any hesitation, he took it out of the frame and placed it with his parents' picture in his pocket. He would keep them with his favourite picture, next to his heart.
He gathered his available cash into a pouch, ready to hang on his belt and laid everything on his bed ready to put in his pack. He checked the time and with only a few minutes to spare, he left Bag End again to go to the meeting hall.

When he reached the hall it was packed! He pushed through to the front, with many an ‘excuse me!’ ‘coming through!’ ‘pardon me!’ until he reached a small platform at the front of the hall.
He strode to the centre of the platform and picked up the gavel that was lying on the desk there.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The hobbits in the room immediately quietened down from the small roar of numerous conversations.

“Thank you. I will not keep you long, and I will not beat about the bush! I am sure you have all heard some version of what happened to the Brookbanks’. They were attacked and the Gaffer and Gordy were killed. Mrs Brookbanks was injured. One of their barns was set ablaze. Robin gave a description of the persons responsible for this. Does anyone have anything new to add?”
Bilbo looked around the room. Teddy Gorse stood up.

“Yes, Mr Baggins, I have! I got a message to the Bounders and asked if they had seen anything out of the ordinary. They whistled and called each other in, but Monty Bramble was missing. Unfortunately, they found his body on the edge of the Brookbanks’ land. He was…., he was…”

Teddy went a bit green as he tried to explain how Monty had died.

“It was not something I would ever want to see again. I am afraid it was a bit gruesome! He didn’t die easily!”

The room was in shock at this latest news. Bilbo addressed them again.

“There is no easy way to say this, so I will just come right out and say it. I recognised the description Robin gave us. The attackers were Orcs! The small number means that this was more than likely a scouting party. Unfortunately, they got away and have undoubtedly returned to their main group.
They. Will. Come. Back!
But this time they will come in force and when they return they will come to kill. They will not be polite and ask for your valuables, they will just kill you and take them. I have seen what they are capable of! I have fought these evil creatures before! More than once!
They have lots of weapons and do not know the meaning of mercy. They will kill everyone they see, man, woman or child! Our only hope is not to be here when they come back. We must evacuate immediately. This is for our very survival.
I have made a list of items necessary to survive on the road or in the wild. Please write this list down and make sure you pack for each member of your family.”

Teddy Gorse took the list from him and started to copy it onto the large blackboard so that people could make their own copy.
Bilbo continued. “Your valuables are not important anymore! Only your survival. Things can be replaced! A life lost is gone forever!
PLEASE! Take my warning seriously! We don’t have much time. Go home and pack what you can. Remember you have to carry it all, We can't take ponies and carts because we may need to leave the road at some point. I know that this is hard, but it is either leave or die! When you are ready, head for the East Road and move as swiftly as you can.
Izzy Stormbridge! Are you here? Do you have your carrier pigeons with you? We may yet save some of the villages to the east and south of us. We are running out of time.
If you are with me, get home, get packed, get moving as quickly as you can. Every minute may count! Izzy, let's get these messages out! Get moving people! Go! Now!”

As he suspected, there were some people there who shook their heads and disregarded “Mad Baggins”, “Gone off his rocker again!” “What rubbish! There’s no-one attacking the Shire!” “It’s all in his head, stirring people up like that!”

He shook his head, knowing that he wouldn’t get through to everyone, but hoping that those who did believe him would be preparing to get out. He wrote out some messages with Izzy and sent out the pigeons with the warning for people to get out, fast!

Bilbo returned home for what was probably the last time. He busied himself with filling his pack and with his preparations to leave. He filled the small pockets up with necessary items like soap, comb, salves for sores, tooth powder, salt, herbs and spices in small tins for cooking on the road. Then he changed into his sturdy travelling clothes, not forgetting his Mithril Mail coat and his trusted blade, Sting!

Finally, he was ready to go. Before he left, though, he knelt just inside his front door and sent a fervent prayer to Yavanna.

“Gentle Lady, please look down upon us and send us your grace. We are in deadly peril and must flee our beloved homeland. We do not know if we will ever return. I pray that you will guide us and keep us safe on our desperate journey. Please keep us within your sight and within your heart until we are once again able to tend your bountiful gifts that give us all such joy. Guide our steps and our decisions so that we may protect our families and grow in your grace.”

He finished his prayer and was about to leave when he thought of one more thing. He swiftly collected a tin from his cold store and placed it in a pocket in his travelling cloak. He hoped that one day, he would be able to use it. This was his real legacy from his parents, his seed bank!

Everything completed, he opened his door and left Bag End behind.

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A crowd had gathered by the Bywater Pool and were apparently waiting for him to arrive before moving on. They watched him as he walked down the hill towards them and took in his appearance. He strode towards them with a firm purpose. With his back straight, his sword strapped to his belt and his favorite walking stick in his hand. He carried his pack as though it was weightless even though they could see it was quite large. He looked confident and capable and suddenly, they were quite grateful that “Mad Baggins” was going to be with them as they fled into the unknown. Some of them even felt a frisson of shame as they thought back to some of the sniping and ridicule they had indulged in.

Bilbo, however, did not know of the thoughts of the waiting crowd. He greeted them as he reached them and said, “OK, let’s get moving. Quietly, steadily, please help each other as you can. We need to get some miles from here before we can rest. Keep a look out to the Northwest. When they come, they will come from the west of Bindbole Woods. We have the Rushock Bog as some protection, but I still prefer to get some distance from here first.
Move Out!”

The hobbits started their march. As they walked towards the east road, they started to gather other groups until they had a column of hobbits steadily moving. Not everyone was ready to leave though and there were a few snide remarks and sneering from other hobbits standing in their gardens watching the column walk past.

“There is no point in arguing with any who do not wish to join us. We need to keep going, we cannot afford to waste our time. They are entitled to make their own decisions. Right or wrong, we cannot force anyone to leave their home. We can only pray to Yavanna to save them if she can.”

Bilbo was trying to stay calm and give an air of confidence to all the frightened people following him from the Shire. It was strange, even though they were walking towards other groups who would then join them, they joined the rear of the column. Bilbo was now in front of them all and setting the pace. They were all deferring to him. But that was ridiculous, he wasn't the leader! Yes, he had journeyed before, but he was hardly an expert! Well never mind for now, he would walk in the middle tomorrow! Someone else could take a turn in front.

As twilight began to fall, they reached the Brandywine Bridge. As they began to cross, Bilbo heard his name called. He looked over towards the turnoff to Brandy Hall and saw his cousin, Rorimack Brandybuck.

“Bilbo! We got your message earlier and we have been preparing to move out. You have come a long way from Hobbiton though and I doubt you could go any further until you have all had a night's rest. We didn't know how many would be coming through though, so we prepared some large pots of stew and plenty of bread for sharing. We don't have room indoors for everyone, but it is not cold and we have opened up the gates to the Gathering Glen just inside the Old Hedge. There is plenty of room there for everyone and at least you will all get a hot meal and somewhere safe to rest overnight. We will be joining you on the road at dawn.”

Rory then addressed the column of travellers.
“Please make sure everyone knows not to wander off into the Old Forest. We can control the edges nearest to us, but the deep forest is still very wild and can be dangerous. Come this way and we will get you all settled for the night. There should be enough food for all. But, please! This is most important! Light no fires in the Glen. The light from a fire can be seen for miles. We need to stay quiet as much as we can and stay hidden. We will move on at dawn. Get some rest while you can!” Then he spoke once more to Bilbo. “I will join you shortly. We need to talk. If you stay close to the gate I will find you as soon as I can. I will set someone on point duty so that no one wanders off!
By the time night had truly fallen, there were groups of hobbits settled into several small ‘camps’ with the faunts and the elders cocooned in the middle for safety. Bowls of hot filling stew were passed out to everyone and they tried to keep any noise to a gentle murmur. They were tired and sore after the miles they had travelled that day. Up till now, there had been no dissension or conflict and they were too exhausted to cause any rows tonight.

Bilbo had lit a pipe and was sitting thinking when Rory finally found him.

“Well cousin, you have outdone yourself this time haven’t you?”

“What! Hey! This isn't my fault! I just stood up and told people the truth. They were in dreadful danger! I have seen Orcs fight! It is not exactly something you can forget! 3 people are dead, Rory! And from what was seen, it was a raiding party! They do not travel too far from their troop! It was too dangerous to stay. They were not very many miles away! We had to leave as fast as we could! They would report that we were easy pickings and the whole troop would be on us without mercy!”

“Sheesh! Calm down! I know! That isn’t what I meant! I only meant you are off on another journey! But you’ve got a few more than 13 with you this time! Do you know where you are going yet?”

“Not yet! But there is time enough to decide that later! Getting out of the Shire is my only concern at the moment! You do know that they will head this way as well soon enough? I couldn’t persuade everyone to come and it is tearing me up inside! I should have done more! So many people will die and I can't do a damn thing about it!”

“Stop that right now! You cannot be held responsible for other people’s poor decisions! If they decide to stay it is not your fault! You stood up when it was needed and told everyone the unvarnished truth. You have done the best you could! You can only look forward now. Your expertise is going to be needed!”

“Expertise! What expertise! I am barely a novice at this. I was practically useless for the first few weeks of my journey with the company. They basically laughed at my ineptitude! I am far from being an expert!”

“That may be true, but you travelled for months to get to Erebor! And then, you travelled for months to get home again! You may not be an expert, but you are hardly a novice anymore. You have picked up some skills and experience. Something that none of these people have. In their eyes, you ARE the expert!”

Bilbo groaned! “Is that why they were all following me? Every time another group joined us, they waited and walked at the back after we had all passed by! I was walking in front practically all the way from Hobbiton! I am not the leader! I just happened to end up in front!”

Rory broke down into helpless giggles. Bilbo stared hard at him with a disgruntled look on his face, but it made no difference at all. Rory just laughed even more!

Just then, a hobbit came through the gate to speak to Rory. “Young Mr Brandybuck, I think you should come and see this. We have seen something strange over in the west.”

Rory looked at Bilbo and signalled that he should come too, but quietly, without a fuss.

They walked back up towards the bridge, but carried on to a patch of higher ground and looked westward. There was an orange glow in the sky and it definitely wasn’t the sunset as it was now completely dark and several hours past! Bilbo had a sudden flashback to the memory of Laketown burning under dragon fire!

“It is fire! Hobbiton is burning! Finish your preparations Rory! We must be on our way well before dawn. The Orcs will be on their way here tomorrow!

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Bilbo walked back to the Glen and went to each group of travellers. They all had at least one member of the group awake to keep watch over the others. Bilbo quietly passed on the message that they would be leaving before sunrise. They needed to travel swiftly and put some more miles between themselves and the Orcs.

“Stagger your watches, make sure that you all get at least some sleep. It will be another hard day tomorrow. You must all get some rest! We will head towards Bree. We must pass the Barrow Downs by noon. We may have to leave the road soon after! I must pass the message to the others now.”

After he passed on the message, he went back to his bedroll and tried to follow his own advice. His worry made it very difficult to sleep though and he tossed and turned and tried to stop thinking. Another hour passed and he finally gave up trying. He needed to plan the next part of the journey. In the end he started thinking, ‘what would Thorin and Balin do?’ He would have to start thinking like Dwalin and be sneaky like Nori! Think! He walked the route in his memory and remembered that after the Barrow Downs there was a turn off to join the Greenway. This road led south-east towards Tharbad.

But, on the north side of the road, just before the infamous Midgewater marshes there was another, little known path that went around the marsh instead of through it. He remembered seeing a map in Rivendell that was used by the Rangers. The path was difficult to see if you didn’t know of it in advance and it was cunningly marked by the Rangers and Elves to aid in their protection of the Eriador region. The kings of old may be gone, but the Rangers of the north continued their sworn duties.

A germ of a plan began to sprout in his head. If he could lay a false trail for the Orcs following behind, and then use the hidden path to go behind Midgewater, he might be rid of the Orcs completely! He rose from his bedroll and went to find Rory. He would need some help on this!

He found Rory in the massive kitchen in Brandy Hall. He was finishing packing some waybread into large bags that would be carried along with the personal packs of the travellers.

“Rory! Do you have many people travelling with us who know the local paths from the Greenway to Bree? And are there any who know the paths from Bree to Weathertop?!

“Yes, I would say quite a few know the local roads. Most people travel on the main East -West and then take the turn into the Greenway, but a good number of us Brandybucks know the ‘lesser’ paths! We still go hunting occasionally, you know! And we have been known to have a drink or several in Bree every now and then! Why?”

Bilbo had a crafty grin on his face. “I am going to need your help, Cousin! And a few of the local lads to join in as well! I have a plan!”

“Cousin! Are you going to be sneaky? Oh, do tell me all about it! It’s been ages since we were sneaky together!”

Rory poured Bilbo a cup of tea and they sat down and began to plot!

2 hours later, the column of travellers were up and ready to start walking again. Well, ready might be stretching the truth a little too far, but they were up anyway! Rory and Bilbo had another couple of bags added to their packs and supplies of waybread. Rory was speaking to a group of young lads that he had recruited for a special mission. Bilbo started walking back onto the East Road and the column began to follow him. The story of the awful glow over Hobbiton in the night had made its rounds amongst the adults, so there was no grumbling about the earlier start. They were all anxious to be on their way.

They made good progress and were soon past the eaves of the Old Forest and heading towards the ominous Barrow Downs on their left hand side. Even though it was broad daylight, the Barrow Downs always seemed to be in a perpetual twilight. Misty and dark, they gave off a clinging sense of doom. A constant horror at the edge of the mind. No one ever lingered close to the Barrow Downs! Especially close to night! Most travellers tried to pass by in the full light of day!

Bilbo and Rory’s enlisted helpers chivied the column along as best they could so that they would be past the Downs as soon as possible. They continued at a brisk pace until finally, Bilbo signalled a stop for a short break and some food.

As the travellers rested and prepared their lunch break, Rory and Bilbo moved to the side of the column, away from too many curious ears. They signalled the helpers they had enlisted over to them and spoke quietly to them,

“Right then, it is time to put our plans into action. Do you all understand what we want you to do? Now, remember, if you are uncertain or do not think you can do what we ask, there is no disgrace in saying so now! We would rather you pull out now than not complete the mission, or Yavanna forbid, get caught!” Bilbo was adamant that no-one would get hurt by doing this.

Rory reiterated their plan to their volunteers. They needed this plan to look authentic and fool the following orc troop.

“Now remember, we need you to be both swift and stealthy. You will take these bags and drop or scatter a few items every now and then, as though people have dropped or thrown away things without thinking. Do not leave a concentration of items though. We want them to think that this is just detritus accidentally let behind. We want the scouts to ‘find’ these things, but not leave everything in plain sight as that would be too obvious! A small ribbon here, a broken cup there. A child's small toy lost in the grass verge, a button that has come adrift from a waistcoat. Little things that would be overlooked by people escaping danger and rushing to safety.
Little items, spread out by frightened people hurrying away!”

Bilbo continued, “When the orc scouts find these things, they will report back to their leaders on the apparent direction the column has taken. Leave a track in places, dusty footprints, broken branches on bushes, trampled grasses. Again, nothing blatantly obvious, but signs of passage. When they take the bait, they will turn to take the Greenway and give chase. While we will be very carefully and stealthily taking the Rangers’ paths to take us behind the Midgewater Marshes. There are none better than hobbits to disappear into the undergrowth and hide!
When you have dispersed the bait and laid the false trail, make your way into Bree by the hidden paths. Be as quick as you can, but please be as stealthy as you can. The last thing we want is for them to pick up your trail as you escape from the Greenway.”

“When you reach Bree, use the money we have provided to get the supplies on the list you have. These supplies will be essential for our continued travel. We will not succeed without them. We especially need the rope, the oilskins and the extra blankets. We have managed so far, but the extra shelter these will provide will help us to survive the wild. When you have the supplies, head for Weathertop and camp there until we reach you. We will come around the back of the marshland and hopefully be with you by the evening of the second day from now.”

Bilbo stood straight and looked each of the young hobbits in the eye.
“Thank you, all of you, for taking on this task. This mission may seem frivolous, but it could be vital to our survival. We know that we are being chased and without this subterfuge, we may be overtaken. Be careful. We are entrusting our lives to your success. Do not linger once the trail is laid. Tread gently and carefully and get to Bree. Warn the town of the danger so that they can guard the walls and the gates. The Orcs will not attack a heavily fortified settlement, they would much rather chase and attack those they consider weak and unarmed. We will see you at Weathertop. May Yavanna guide your path!”

With that entreaty, the young hobbits made their way towards the Greenway and turned to the south-east. Bilbo and Rory made for the centre of the road and called the travellers to gather round them for a meeting.

Bilbo addressed the crowd. “This is where we have to leave the road for a while. We are going to turn north and follow a little known path to go around and avoid the Midgewater Marshes. This next part of our journey MUST be as secret and stealthy as possible. No sign of our passage is to be left. Our lives will depend on there being no sign of our passage. We will use sweepers to wipe out our footprints when there are any. Make absolutely sure that we break no branches, bend no leaves or leave ANY sign of our being there. There will be no lights at night, no fires and we must be as quiet as we can. Parents, please make sure of your faunts, let us show them how skillful a hobbit can be when they need to be silent and pass by like the night breeze. Now, please gather your belongings. We must be quick, quiet and hide ourselves as we go on our way. We leave in 10 minutes!”

Some of the more prominent hobbit families asked their head of family to speak to Bilbo

“Mr Baggins, if we may have a word with you for a moment?” Asked Gaffer Proudfoot.
Bilbo acknowledged him with a slight bow and signalled for him to speak.

“We have some suspicions, but may we ask why you are taking us off the road and into the wilds?”

Bilbo asked them to gather around a little closer.

“Mr Proudfoot, honoured gentle hobbits, I will give you my reasons and hope that you concur with my decision. Last night, as we rested in the Gathering Glen in Buckland, Rory and I were called back to an outlook by the bridge. We could see back into the west that there was a great glow lighting up the sky. It was bright enough to appear like the sunset, if it had not already passed 2 hours previous. We could only conclude that Hobbiton and the surrounding area was ablaze. As we watched, the glow appeared to spread further and closer to us. We knew then that we were being pursued and that we needed to move on as fast as we could. Hence the leaving before dawn. These Orcs will not give up.
They may not be as skilled as Rangers or Elves at tracking, but a party of hobbits this size is not difficult to follow. So we must disrupt their pursuit. Rory and I came up with a plan to divert them while we escaped in a different direction.
We have sent the young lads to lay a false trail along the Greenway. They will then backtrack and head into Bree before joining us again at Weathertop. We, in the meantime, will use all our inherent skill and head north in secret and follow the hidden paths. This way we hope to use our best weapons, intelligence and skill, rather than weaponry and warfare to make our escape.”

The family elders spoke quietly amongst themselves for a moment, then Mr Proudfoot spoke again.

“Very well Mr Baggins, Mr Brandybuck, we will defer to your judgement in this. We will do our best to direct our families in keeping to your instructions. Silent and stealthy is what you ask of us, then silent and stealthy we shall be!”

Bilbo turned to Rory, “What just happened? Why did they all come to me?”

“Bilbo, consciously or not, you have taken on the role of leader. That was effectively a council meeting and they have deferred to your judgement!”

“No, no, no! Our judgement, I didn’t do all this by myself! You did this with me!

“Bilbo, this was your idea! I just helped with the fine tuning and helped find the volunteers to lay the trail! Like it or not, these people are now looking to you as our leader!”
“No! This isn’t right. I am no leader! We will have to have a meeting when we get to Weathertop and sort this out. Any leader should be properly elected by the people. Yes! We will call a proper council to order and have a fair election as soon as we are safe to rest for a day or so!”

Thoroughly exasperated and disgruntled, Bilbo headed back to where he had laid his pack and prepared to move onto the Rangers pathway. He directed a few of the adults to follow behind everyone and sweep any footprints or other traces of their passage away with some brushwood as they left the road behind.
Rory just snickered at his cousin. ‘He doesn’t even realise he is doing it! He already IS the leader, but his brain hasn’t accepted it yet! This is going to be so much fun to watch!’

************************************************************************

Several hours later, Bilbo, Rory and the travellers came into a clearing well behind the marshland. Deciding that this would be a good place to stop for the night Bilbo called a halt and directed the travellers to make a small camp and settle down for food and a rest.

They had skirted around the marsh at a good distance. They knew well how far to keep away to avoid the aggravating, biting insects that swarmed the marshland. No one wanted to be feasted upon by the little bloodsuckers! Bilbo reminded everyone to avoid making any bonfires and soon, only small travel stoves were lit in swiftly dug holes so that hot drinks could be made. Any light from these stoves was quickly covered so that they would not be observed. They were quite lucky so far with the weather. It was not cold and the rain had held off so they remained dry and comfortable. Bilbo, however, was well aware how quickly the weather could change.
This was why he had given the volunteer trailblazers a shopping list of items to pick up in Bree.
Rory joined Bilbo as they sat down for a bite to eat and a cup of tea.

Keeping his voice low, Rory asked what was next after they reached Weathertop.

“I am not sure yet, but I will put it to the meeting that we should probably head for Rivendell. I am sure Lord Elrond will be able to help us. He was helpful to the Company when I was on my journey to Erebor. Even with the loud, crude and incredibly rude dwarves. They were absolutely disgraceful! He will be able to advise us on our next steps, I am sure!”

“Ok! But, where do you think we should go from there? I am sure he doesn’t mind a few guests for a short period, but there are far too many of us to stay in Rivendell. Do you even know how many of us there are in this column?”

Bilbo looked at him in horror!
“I never even gave a thought to making a count! I have no idea! Oh dear, that will have to be addressed as soon as possible. How else will we be able to plan for food and everything!”

“Calm down! It’s only been 2 days! You can’t be expected to think of everything all at once!” Rory tried to sooth Bilbo’s worries. “Escaping with our lives was the first priority, and so far, we have, thanks to you. We have time for planning and the logistics of everything when we can take a breath and are free from the immediate threat of the Orcs!
For now, we take a break here and rest, tomorrow we turn east again and head for Weathertop and meet up with the trailbreakers. There will be time for meetings and plans can be made there.”

“I hope they are all right! I am so afraid that those Orcs will catch up with them!” Bilbo was gnawing on his lip at the thought of their possible capture.”

Rory laid his hand on Bilbo’s shoulder to try to sooth his worry. “Now don’t fret! I chose those lads specifically. Every one of them is crafty and sneaky. They get into all kinds of mischief and are quite adept at getting out of trouble! They are fast, they know the local tracks like the back of their hands. They know their way around Bree. They should do by now anyway, the young miscreants! They are few in number, which means that they can travel much faster than us. They are known around the town! I am more worried about them deciding to have a skinful and turning up tomorrow with hangovers! They will be fine Bilbo, as you will see for yourself tomorrow!”

Bilbo sighed! “I know, I know! At least my head knows! My heart, however, is pounding at the thought that they might come to harm! Please distract me with something Rory, I need to think about something else for a while!”

“Ok! Why don't you tell me about those rude and crude dwarves in Rivendell! What exactly did they do that was so disgraceful?”

So Bilbo told Rory about the antics of the dwarves. The food fight at the dinner. Bofur, singing and dancing on the table. Breaking up the furniture for a bonfire, Bathing nude in the fountain. Before too long, Rory was laughing fit to burst, with tears running down his cheeks! Oh! I wish I could meet them! They sound like so much fun!”

Bilbo looked up at the stars for a moment. An idea blossoming in his head. Could he? Should he even try? Would they be welcoming, or would they turn them away? Perhaps they could settle by Dale? If Thorin and the boys…..? What if….?

He shook himself mentally and tried to force the idea from his head. Did he dare to try it? Could he guide the remnants of his people to Erebor? Could they possibly make the Desolation bloom again? Has Thorin truly forgiven him? Would he grant his people sanctuary?
With these thoughts whirring in his mind, Bilbo bade goodnight to Rory and settled down to go to sleep. He was dog tired and needed some sleep after the broken rest the previous night, but with these thoughts in his head, would sleep be possible?

*************************************************************************

By daybreak, the hobbits were awake and breaking their fast. It was almost time to be on the move again. Rory looked over at Bilbo and was concerned by the look of weariness on his face.
Bilbo looked exhausted and there were dark shadows under his eyes. Rory went over to him and held him back before he rushed off to do whatever errand he was contemplating.

“Bilbo! Did you get any sleep last night?”
“Yes, Rory! I managed some. Not a great deal if I am honest, but there is a lot on my mind. My brain just wouldn’t turn off last night. I think I finally succumbed in the small hours of the morning. I feel like a wet dishrag at the moment. I hope that I can get some sleep tonight when we camp at Weathertop! Hopefully I will be too exhausted to think too much!”

“Well at least we don’t have to be quite as stealthy today. We are far enough from the road to need to take such extreme care. It may help us to travel a little faster. How long do you think it will take us?” Asked Rory.

“If we set a good pace, we should reach the hill by early afternoon. We can then take more time to set up camp in the Ranger’s Refuge. If I remember right, they keep a good stock of firewood for their fire pit and the dell is nicely sheltered. There is a clear stream with good water, so we should be able to rest up and cook something filling for everyone's belly. A proper night’s rest after some good food will raise the spirits and set us up for our further journey.” Bilbo yawned and then seemed to shudder and draw into himself. Rory was suddenly quite alarmed!

“You turned quite pensive last night after our talk of the dwarves and Rivendell. Is there a problem I need to know about? Bilbo! You know you can talk to me, don’t you? I know that I can tease sometimes, but if you need me to listen to you vent, I will be here for you, anytime! Anything you need to say in confidence will be held as tight as a vow. Really! Let me help? You seem to be shouldering a lot of burdens at the moment. Don’t try to do it all on your own!”

Bilbo patted Rory on the shoulder. “Thanks for that, Rory!. I do have a few things on my mind, but I need to sort out my thoughts in my own head before I can share them with anyone. I find myself going back in my memories to my previous journeys, and they were not always pleasant memories. I just need some time to think and get myself straight. Everything is a jumble at the moment and I need to come to terms with some things. I will talk soon, I promise.You need to know the full story! But right now, it is difficult to think straight when I am so tired! But soon! I promise!”

Rory let Bilbo walk ahead and busied himself with helping some of the larger families with their faunts. They still had a long way to go before their next break.

While Rory was busy and Bilbo walked on, seemingly quite preoccupied, some of the Elders of the families gathered to walk together. Gaffers Proudfoot and Goodbody were talking to Farmers Cotton and Maggot. They were all heads of some of the oldest families in the Shire and were respected by many.

“Well Hob, what do you think? Is Mr Baggins up to the job? He seems to have taken the responsibility in his stride without any coercion and up to now has done a fine job. He takes the safety of everyone as paramount importance and he does have the experience of being on a long journey before?”

Hob Cotton replied. “Well Gaffer Proudfoot, I don’t know for certain. He seems to be doing fine so far, but I am a bit worried about all this ‘Mad Baggins’ business. There seem to be a lot of stories going around and I don’t know the truth of any of them. He seems sensible enough, but he lost a lot of credibility when he ran off after that party of dwarves that time. I must admit, I would be happier knowing a bit more about him before any decisions are taken.”
“What about you Toby? Do you have any thoughts on young Mr Baggins?”
Gaffer Goodbody pondered for a moment. “I think we should make a few more discreet enquiries from some of the Hobbiton residents. They would know him better and could give a more accurate assessment of his character than any others. He should be given the courtesy of a proper assessment, without the stigma of gossip and hearsay.”

Farmer Maggot spoke up. “I agree. I have some friends amongst the Hobbiton residents… although, I suppose that they should be called refugees rather than residents now!
One of my good friends is his close neighbour Hamfast Gamgee. I will seek him out and bring him to have a word while we are on our way. I know that he used to garden for Mr Baggins at Bag End so he might be able to vouch for his character. Leave it with me and I will meet you again later!”

The four dispersed to their various family groups, before dropping by other families and having a quiet talk.

The column of travellers moved on and gradually drew near to the large hill named Weathertop.
The hill used to have a tower built upon it, back in the old days when there was still a King in Arnor. It served as a monument and as a waypoint for travellers on the old East-West road. It also served as a meeting place and refuge for the tall and solemn Rangers who protected the region from harm. They were sworn to protect the population from both evil men and wild beasts. They were the ancient Dunadain, descended from the noble Numenorien from the distant and turbulent past. But now, they were respected rather than liked and were therefore avoided if possible.

Bilbo, though, had met several Rangers in Rivendell on his way back from Erebor. He stayed there for a short while to recover his strength and his shattered peace of mind after his experiences on the road. He made fast friends with a few and with several of the elves.
Notably, although Lord Elrond might have said, unfortunately, he made fast friends with Lord Elrond’s sons; Elrohir and Elladan. They were accomplished warriors, but also inveterate pranksters. Bilbo often gave thanks that the two of them were on patrol when The Company arrived at Rivendell. The thought of Kili and Fili meeting the two elves sent a shiver down Bilbo’s spine.The world would never be the same!

Due to his friendship with the Rangers and the Elves, Bilbo learned a lot about their duties on patrol and where they made camps for shelter, rest and recuperation. He made the most of that knowledge now as the column came into the great Dell at the base of the hill.

It was a large grassy bowl, surrounded by ancient trees interspersed with great rocks. These were probably remnants of the great stone tower that used to dominate the countryside which the road dissected.
Over the years, the Elves and Rangers had made a comfortable space in which to rest and refresh themselves. The clear stream had been diverted into a deep cistern which collected the water. A wide shallow bowl had been cut out of the turf to make a large fire pit. There, a fire could be laid that would be below the sight of unknowing travellers passing by.

Bilbo led the travellers down into the dell and told them that they would stay there for a full day and night before moving on. He suggested that anyone with any hunting experience should try their best to gather in some much needed food for their supplies. Others should collect water from the cistern and start to prepare drinks and a warm meal for everyone to share. The whole group needed to take stock of their supplies and consolidate what they had before moving on.

Rory came up to Bilbo and took a good look at him. “Hmm! You don’t look as grey as you did this morning. You seem to be a little more cheerful as well. Have you had a good long think?”

Bilbo smiled. “Yes, Rory, I have thought long and hard about my old journeys. I have decided that even though I made many mistakes, they are lessons learned. At least I know what NOT to do. If I look at it all as a learning experience, then the knowledge I have gained can only be useful. There were many good lessons as well. Knowledge that can be passed on to the group. I cannot guarantee that everyone will come through this. No one can, but I will do my utmost to keep everyone safe until we reach a new home!”

Bilbo and Rory were then startled by whistles coming from the other side of the dell, behind some of the large rocks. Then the young trailblazers appeared, burdened down with many packages.
Bilbo gave a huge sigh of relief and closed his eyes and gave thanks to Yavanna!
Rory called to some of the hobbits to help collect the packages and strode forward to welcome the lads back to the column.
Bilbo decided they all needed a good cup of tea!

Later, the lads all sat and told Bilbo and Rory what had happened.

“We had made a good start down the road and started to scatter the ‘bait’. We started off with a piece of hair ribbon. We found a nice scarlet piece and attached it to a small bush at the side of the road. It stood out like a flag! Then we carried on for a bit and dropped a bright brass button in the middle of the road. We found a rather dusty patch and took turns running over it to leave many, many hobbit footprints. It looked like a great host had passed by. We continued like this, for a few more miles, never too much, never too close together. Then we backtracked away from the road leaving no trace of our passing. We came to a small rise covered in gorse bushes and we made ourselves a hide and crept inside to wait.“
Bilbo started to sputter and was ready to scold the foolish lads, but was interrupted before he could let loose!
“It’s OK Mr Baggins!, we were well hidden and we were silent while waiting. Even the local wildlife would not have found us! We knew what we were doing! We crushed some of the gorse to mask any scent we may have left and no one would see our hide! Anyway, we stayed there and kept looking to see if the Orcs would take the bait! And yes! They fell for it completely. A couple of scouts were running down the road and they stopped to pick up the things we dropped. They carried on until they came to the dusty patch with the footprints. Then one of them ran back as fast as he could! Less than an hour later a large group came running down the road. They waited for a bit until some more came to join them, then they all ran straight down the Greenway towards Tharbad. We stayed where we were for another hour, then we left from the back of the hide and carried on to Bree. By this time it was getting dark, so we rang the gate bell at the wall and when the Gatekeeper opened up we asked to see the Guard and told them all we knew about the Orcs and the attack on the Shire. They called in the off duty Guards and set a watch on the walls. We made our way to the ‘Pony and toasted to our success! The Barlimans’ have always brewed good beer! This morning, we went to the various merchants and gathered the supplies you asked us to get. When we had them all, we left by the East Gate and made our way here. We hadn’t been here very long when we heard you all entering the Dell. And that’s about it really!”

Despite his worry and his annoyance at the young lads for putting themselves in jeopardy, Bilbo had to smile at the mile a minute description of their adventure. Other than the escapade with the hide, they had done very well. The ruse had worked! The troop of Orcs were now many miles off track and would have great difficulty trying to find them again.
The column of travellers were not yet ‘safe’, but they were no longer in immediate danger!

Bilbo felt like a great weight was lifted off his shoulders. He thanked the young hobbits, but still expressed his displeasure at their dangerous embellishment of his instructions. He praised their resourcefulness and shook their hands for a job well done! As they joined the main group for some dinner, Bilbo looked at Rory and asked if he could see any new grey hairs among his honey gold curls. Rory just curled up in laughter!

Bilbo and Rory sat back after their dinner and with another cup of tea and a pipe of Longbottom Leaf. They relaxed for the first time in many hours. Bilbo was by now, starting to nod his head in sheer exhaustion. Rory took Bilbo’s pipe from his hand and ordered the poor hobbit to his bedroll. Bilbo was asleep before his head hit the pillow!

Before Rory could get to his own bedroll, a couple of the Elders asked for a moment of his time.
“Mr Brandybuck, could we please have a swift word with you?”

“Gaffer Goodbody, Farmer Cotton, I would be pleased to talk with you in the morning, if you don’t mind. I am very tired right now and we are spending the whole day and night here tomorrow. Would you mind very much if we could postpone until after breakfast?”

“Certainly not, young sir. After breakfast will be fine. There are a few of us who would like to speak to both you and to Mr Baggins if that will be convenient?”

“That would be much better, Mr Baggins has finally gone to sleep after 2 sleepless nights and he is absolutely exhausted. He has had a very stressful time getting everyone here safely! Your forbearance will be most appreciated!”

“Think nothing of it, young sir, we will convene a small meeting after breakfast tomorrow! Goodnight!”

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Bilbo lay on his bedroll, slowly waking to full consciousness after a full night’s sleep. He actually felt a bit groggy, but recognised that he had been severely overtired and this was how he usually suffered as a consequence. Still, sometimes it couldn’t be helped. After all, he remembered this feeling from his first journey towards Erebor. Knowing that a good cup of tea would help immensely, he rose from his bed and stretched. He headed towards a group of goodwives who were already doling out cups of warm happiness and prepared to start his day.

As he reached them, he found himself alongside his friend and neighbour, Hamfast Gamgee.
“Good morning Ham, how are you holding up with all the disruption? Is Bell alright? And the faunts?” He asked. “I am sorry I haven't seen you to chat before this, but I have been awfully busy the past couple of days. I guess it must be extra hard on Bell and the faunts. They must miss their home dreadfully!”

“Don’t ‘ee think anything of it Mr Bilbo, sir! They will hold up. We are all just grateful to be alive right now! And that is your doing sir! You took notice of young Robin in the market and recognised the threat for what it really was. It is said that some folks were calling him out for telling tall tales and such, but you took control and went straight to the Thain!”

“Yes Ham, that much is true, but Uncle Isengrim didn’t believe me, I am afraid! He pretty much forbade me to ‘cause any more trouble’ and to tell everyone to go home and ignore it!
Well, you know me! I couldn’t let that stand! Not when everyone was in deadly danger! It pained me to go against him, but I really didn't have much choice! Not when people’s lives were at stake! But, still! That is all behind us now. We have to keep moving forward, just keep going one step after another! Just one step at a time! It may take a while, but we will get where we want to go eventually!”

“I believe you, Mr Bilbo, sir! We won’t go far astray if we follow your advice. I am certain of that!”

“Thank you Ham, I am deeply touched by your loyalty. You have always been a good friend!”

The two hobbits accepted a cup of tea each and moved out of the way of further hobbits seeking their turn. Bilbo could see Rory approaching and waited for him to join them.

“Morning Cousin, good morning Mr Gamgee! I am glad I have caught you bright and early. There is something I need to tell you!”

“Oh - oh! Forgive me for being pessimistic, but those words have never yet signalled anything pleasant about to unfold! It is too early for this! What is going on!”

“Keep your curls on! It is nothing drastic! I was approached last night by some of the Elders, just after you went to sleep. They want to call a meeting and speak to the both of us!”

“Begging your pardon, Mr Bilbo!” said Ham, wearing a bright blush on his face. “Some of the elders came around during the walk yesterday and were asking some questions about the two of you! Tweren't nothing nasty, you understand, just how you were regarded back in Hobbiton and such like! I told them straight up that you were well respected and a very good gentle hobbit and I was proud to have you as a neighbour! Of course, I couldn’t say much in your regard Mr Brandybuck, as I am not well acquainted with yourself!”

“We were being investigated?! By the Elders?! What on earth for?! We haven’t done anything wrong! Have we?” Bilbo was a little uncomfortable about this. Why would the Heads of the families be asking questions about them?

“Well, I am sure we will find out soon enough! They wanted to call a meeting straight after breakfast!” said Rory.
“I suppose so!” said Bilbo, “Well, it is time to speak to everyone in any case. We may as well do it after breakfast. Who approached you last night?”

“Gaffer Goodbody and Farmer Cotton! They are both well respected hobbits throughout the Shire! I am sure there is nothing to worry about unduly!” Said Rory, reassuringly. “Let’s get ourselves some breakfast and then we can prepare for the inquisition!”

“Oh, har har!” sniped Bilbo.

Within the hour, Rory and Bilbo found themselves sitting in front of a delegation of Elders and senior family members. They were asked some questions about their recent decisions on the escape from the Shire and what had prompted their actions so far.
They answered in the best way that they could and held nothing back from the questioners.
Then Gaffer Proudfoot spoke up.

“Mr Baggins, we beg your pardon but we made some enquiries about your previous long journey with a group of dwarves. But it seems that no one can give any accurate information about your journey, only hearsay and speculation. Can you give us an overview of your journey and its purpose? Please take your time, but if you could give us an idea of your experiences, we would be grateful!”

Bilbo had known that this would be asked at some point, and was actually relieved to finally speak of his friends and their quest for their homeland.

“Forgive me if I begin to ramble a little while recounting the journey. It was long and arduous and we encountered many dangers on the road. All the while, heading to a greater danger!

I only met the dwarves the evening before I joined them on the quest. Gandalf the Grey had, unknowingly to me, offered my services to them. They needed someone small, swift and silent to break into their home in the Lonely Mountain. They needed me to retrieve an item that was desperately needed for their return to their homeland. The trouble was, it was guarded by a fire drake! A dragon!
That Dragon was Smaug! The great Calamity!
He had descended without warning and had driven the dwarves from their rightful home! He killed a great many of their people! Flaming and crushing the dwarves indiscriminately. Dwarves, Dwarrowdams and Pebbles. Of those that escaped the destruction in the mountain, many died later from their wounds and from starvation and exposure. You see, the dwarves were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the very few possessions they were able to grab in the panic of the attack!

They were forced to wander for many years. Scraping a living wherever they could to survive as best they could. They came at last to the Ered Luin, the Blue Mountains in the far west.

Their new life was not easy, far from it. The dwarves as a people are great craftsmen. They are renowned for their skills in mining, smithing and masonry, but they are also jewellers, silversmiths and goldsmiths. Their pride is in their creations and their joy is in the making!
Unfortunately, the Blue Mountains are not known for seams of gold and silver. They were reduced to mining for copper and coal, even the iron ore was running out.
They were only just surviving. Living from day to day with ever dwindling resources. The decision was made to attempt to take back Erebor from the dragon and bring their people home again.
A secret way into the mountain was discovered, but they needed someone to sneak in and retrieve a symbol of authority. That symbol would enable their king to call on the other dwarf clans to come to their aid and assist in destroying the dragon.
That was my job! I was to be their ‘Burglar’! I was the fourteenth member of the Company of Thorin Oakenshield, their ‘lucky number’!

It was a long journey. They travelled in stealth, avoiding villages and settlements in order to keep the journey as secret as possible. It didn’t really work! We were being chased by a band of Orcs who were determined to wipe out the line of the kings. The Line of Durin!

We fought Trolls, Orcs, Goblins, more Orcs, Wargs, Wolves and giant spiders in the trees of Mirkwood. We forded great rivers, crossed the Misty Mountains and rode down rapids in barrels!
And that was all before we even reached the mountain and faced the dragon!
Yes, it was a very long, hard journey!

But, they never gave up! By the Great Lady! They were strong! Strong in heart and in spirit! Strong in the face of immense trials. They never gave up hope! This great quest was for the sake of their people. Not for the enormous piles of gold that the dragon made into his bed! But for a chance to return home! A chance for the dwarves to raise themselves from their meagre existence and become a people with purpose again!

They looked upon me with disdain at first, because I knew nothing! I was a mere babe in the wilderness. But gradually, I learned, I became more proficient and could pull my weight as part of the Company. I became a friend and colleague. I was trusted and valued. We saved each other's lives many times in the long months of our journey.
It was without a doubt both the very worst and the very best time of my life! I was terrified, but I do not regret it for a moment!”

The travellers were stunned into silence! They had gathered round as Bilbo spoke and were enthralled at the story of his Great Journey! No one had imagined he had done so much and they were astonished at his resilience!
Bilbo felt drained after recounting the journey and just wanted to curl up and disappear from sight for a while. But no! He was front and centre of the entire column of travellers and had no chance of sneaking away.

He felt on edge again! Just like he had on that fateful morning, Dear Lady! Was it really only 3 days ago! Nevertheless, that tingle under the skin was there again and it signified that something momentous was about to happen!

The Elders were conferring amongst themselves and finally were prepared to speak! Gaffer Proudfoot stood up to address Bilbo.

“Mr Baggins, we thank you for your eloquent description of your journey. We truly had no idea of the trials you had undergone! We feel humbled at their magnitude! We are grateful for your experience and we accept that your actions have saved many lives! We are pleased that you have taken on the leadership of our journey!”

“What! No! No, no, no! I would not put myself forward so blatantly! I only did what I thought was necessary at the time. If you want a leader, then there should be a proper election of our peers. All the adult hobbits should have a say in who should lead them. I will abide by whoever is chosen by the people. I will gladly lend any so-called expertise and experience. I am not the only one with skills to enable and enhance our journey. Really, I am just a simple traveller the same as everyone else.”

“Very well, Mr Baggins. We will take a census of who is here and make arrangements for all the adults to cast a vote for a leader.”

“Everyone! If we could please take nominations before lunch, then we will take a vote this afternoon. In the meantime, please fill in the census that will be brought round with the details of your family and the skills you possess that we may be able to use on our journey. It is nearly time for elevenses, so I think we should all take a break now and have a cuppa!”

Bilbo was glad when the crowd of hobbits started to disperse, He retreated to his bedroll and looked up as Rory brought him a well earned cup of tea.
“Thank you Rory, my word, do I need that! Well, that seemed to go down well. I think I needed to speak of it really. I still feel a bit shaky though!”

“Cousin, I actually feel quite humbled by your experiences. You have gone through quite an adventure. I never knew!”

“Well, that is actually the point, Rory! No one knew! I never really spoke of it before! Oh, I told a few tales of adventure to some of the faunts when they came to Bag End. I was a fairly good faunt-sitter to help out the goodwives when they had lots of shopping to do. I never really minded though. I loved to see their big eyes as I told them about the battle with the Trolls. Not to mention the escape from the dungeons of the Woodland Elves with 13 dwarves in barrels floating down the rapids in the forest. But, they thought they were just ‘fairy tales’. They had no idea that they were real adventures. It’s amazing that I survived it all really!

But, enough of that! We have things to do! Will you help me distribute the supplies from Bree when we have had our cup of tea? We need to sort out the ropes, the oilskins and the extra blankets. We could also make up some drying frames in case anyone needs to wash and dry any clothes. I will show you how to make a travelling frame that can be set up whenever we make camp! They are incredibly useful!”

They busied themselves with chores and after a small break for lunch, Bilbo showed Rory some of the dwarven tricks to make life easier when on the go! They worked for several hours, totally forgetting the voting taking place.

However, just before dinner, Rory and Bilbo were called back again to face the Elders.
“We have a decision on our new leader! All but 2 votes were cast from all adults present.
Mr Brandybuck, Mr Baggins, we assumed you were abstaining from the vote due to being nominees! I now have the result, and by an unprecedented, unanimous vote, we declare Mr Baggins to be our new leader. Please acknowledge your new Thain of the Shire, Mr Bilbo Baggins!”

There was a loud cheer and prolonged applause as Bilbo stared in horror at Rory and tried hard not to faint in front of everyone.

After a few moments, he regained his equilibrium and waved down the applause so that he could speak.

“Well, Thank you! I think?!” There was a smattering of laughter.

“I feel I need to ask you though, are you sure? I am certain I know very little about being a leader, even though Uncle Isengrim was Thain and Grandfather Gerontius was before him, I have never been trained to take on the task. I will be needing the advice of the Elders. The Gaffers, the Farmers, Cooks, Bounders, Lawyers, Merchants, all manner of trades and professions. You are the experts, I am the novice. But, I am willing to learn, willing to take advice, to take chances and to give chances.
My sole desire is to see you all safely through this journey until we find a new home.
Hold the hope in your hearts that we will find one. That we will come through this great trial with our strength and our spirits intact.
There will be times when we must make a stand against adversity and also times when we must bend to the winds of change.
Hold onto the hope! Envision what you want our new home to be.
What you want to be. What you want your faunts to be.
If we stick together, if we work together, we will come through this.
We WILL find a new home.
I give you my solemn vow that I will do everything in my power to see us all through this.
May the Great Lady Yavanna give us her grace and blessing and may she guide our steps to our new home. To our New Beginning!
In the morning, we will continue our journey. We will set our course for Rivendell and take counsel with the Lord Elrond!”

As Bilbo finished his speech, he looked around at his fellow travellers. He saw some with beaming smiles, some in tears and many more looking at him with pride in their eyes. He bowed his head in acknowledgement of their loud applause and feeling quite overwhelmed turned and walked over to the fire pit. There he sat down and tried to calm his racing heart.

In the town of Bree, a dwarven merchant was paying his bill in the Prancing Pony. He had one ear turned to the general gossip in the bar. He made a good living selling information alongside his merchandise. Brandir, son of Bardir, was known for giving accurate and timely intelligence to the discerning customer.
He realised that there was a buzz of concern running through the conversations. He caught the words, ‘Shire’, ‘Orcs’, and ‘Attacked’.
The hair stood up on the back of his neck! This was disturbing! He needed to find out more.

He caught the attention of the one person in the room who would have the most information. The landlord, Mr Butterbur!
“Hi Mr Butterbur, if I may buy a drink of your very fine beer!” He waited until it had been poured and he took a deep drink. “May I enquire, Mr Butterbur, I thought I heard mention of an attack by Orcs? Can you give me any news about that? If there are Orcs about, I need to make sure I am heading in a different direction than where they are to be found.”

“Certainly Mr Brandir. We had some news come in last night that the Shire had been attacked by a large troop of Orcs. Apparently they have destroyed a few villages as they raced through the Shire. We have been told they were last seen running down the Greenway towards Tharbad. Our Guards are still on duty where they will remain until we have verified this and sound the call to stand down.
Where are you headed if you don’t mind my asking?”

“I am on my way back to Ered Luin, The Blue Mountains. I have to return home to rest and replenish my stock before I start my next trip. It will be good to see my One and my pebbles again. They grow up so fast! I have missed them!”

“That is the sorrow of a merchant’s life, Mr Brandir! Having to leave your loved ones at home while you take to the road! I count myself lucky indeed to have a profession where my home is also my business! Take care upon the road my friend! I will look forward to seeing you again on your next trip this way!”

Brandir, finished his drink and left the inn. He turned towards a side street and walked until he came to a smithy. He signed in Iglishmek to the dwarven smith and waited for the existing customer to leave before he spoke.

“Greetings Grindul, I have heard some disturbing news. I need to send a message by carrier bird to Ered Luin. Our usual contact! I am going to take a slight detour and go through the Shire rather than around it. I want to see for myself the extent of the damage. An Orc attack is bad news for anyone, but it would be especially devastating for the peaceful hobbits.

I will try to drop in on our renowned Dwarf Friend, Mr Baggins and see if he can give me any more information. He lives in Hobbiton I believe!
Actually, it might be best to send a copy to Erebor as well. Address it to Nori son of Vouri. This is information he will be interested in for certain!” He dropped some coins onto the counter for the messages and with a bow, he turned and headed towards the West Gate and the road to the Shire. 2 days later, he looked around in horror! He had passed through devastation. Homes, trees, hedgerows. All were burned to the ground.

Hobbiton was completely destroyed. There was nothing left. No buildings above ground, no trees were left! Just ashes! He hadn’t found a single hobbit anywhere in sight! The smials that were partially underground were nothing but smouldering holes. Darkened holes in the earth where there were once gaily dressed windows and doors. There was no sign of life anywhere to be seen. With tears in his eyes, Brandir adjusted the pack on his back and continued his journey westward to Ered Luin.

*************************************************************************
Bilbo looked down at the glistening water in the distance. They were almost at the Ford of Bruinen, just a few more miles to go and they would be in Rivendell. They had the majestic Misty Mountains in front of them and what a magnificent sight they were! Bilbo had forgotten the grandeur of the snow capped peaks and he was elated to see them again.

That’s not to say he was also looking forward to a hot bath and soft sheets on a bed! He was not the greatest fan of sleeping on the ground. Cushioned bedroll or not!
Rory stood alongside him and took in the breathtaking view!

“Wow! Bilbo! It was worth walking all this way just to see this! I have never seen anything like this before in my life!”

“They do look quite beautiful, don’t they? But be warned, Rory! They may look beautiful but they can also be deadly. On my first journey across them, we got caught up in a thunder battle between the Stone Giants. We thought we were standing on a ledge, only to find out we were on a giants’ knee as he moved to throw a huge boulder across the chasm! It was bitterly cold, pouring with rain and the path wasn’t wide enough to go 2 abreast. It was utterly miserable and I nearly died! And that was before we found ourselves in a huge battle with Goblins!
Here on the plains, you can look at them with awe! Once you are on them, you will look at them with terror!”

“Well aren’t you a wet blanket this afternoon? Sheesh! Lighten up a bit Cousin! We are almost at the end of our journey!”

“I am afraid not Rory! Nowhere near the end yet! But we have reached the end of the first part!. We still have a long way to go to the destination I have in mind!
I need to seek counsel with Lord Elrond first, as we may need his help with our further travels.”

“And what destination do you have in mind? Or am I asking a silly question?”

“Nothing is decided yet Rory, Many factors have to be taken into account before we can say for definite where we are headed. I know where I would like to go if it is possible. But I don’t know yet if it IS possible! Hopefully Lord Elrond will allow us to camp in the grasslands on his side of the river. We will be safe to spend a few days resting. That would certainly be a boon!
But for now! Let’s go! I am looking forward to a nice hot meal and a nice hot bath!

Within 2 hours, Bilbo was bowing to the 3 tall elves who had come to greet him.
“Mae Govannen, my Lord Elrond, Lord Glorfindel, Seneschall Lindir. It is very good to see you again my friends. I pray you will pardon this unexpected visit, and with so many of my kinsfolk behind me begging for your aid and your counsel! May I introduce my kinsman, my cousin, Rorimac Brandybuck!”

“Mae Govannen, Mr Baggins, Mr Brandubuck. You should know that you are always welcome here. My heart tells me that you travel here through great sorrow and that your people have suffered great loss!
Come, sit with us and enjoy a glass of wine, then you may tell us your tale and we will see what may be done to help you!”

“Thank you Lord Elrond, you are most gracious, as always!”

“Now, my friend Bilbo, let us drop the courtly mannerisms and speak to one another as the old friends we are! What has happened that has led you to my door with 300 hobbits behind you?”

“There was an attack, Elrond! A murderous attack on the Shire by a large band of Orcs. I never got close enough to count how many! But they cut down and burned everything in front of them.
We had an eye witness to the first attack on a farm to the north and west of Bindbole Wood. His description was enough for me to recognise the threat and raise the general alarm.
I could not persuade everyone to take the threat seriously, and I am afraid that many hobbits perished either under the sword or in the flames.
Those who listened and heeded my call to flee abandoned our homes and fled the Shire to the east. Looking back from Brandybuck Rise towards Hobbiton showed a great glow in the sky that night. Hobbiton was ablaze!
Those who stayed behind had no further chance to flee. I sent messages to outlying villages in the hope that they could get away, but I don’t know if any others escaped! If they did, they could not have found us to join up with us. We made a diversion for the Orcs chasing after us and sent them in the wrong direction. They are probably halfway to Tharbad by now.
Actually, do you think we could send a message to Tharbad to be on the alert for the Orcs? I would hate for them to be taken unaware!”

“We will see to it Bilbo, don’t worry. We will also send messages out to the far Rangers and elves, and also to isolated settlements, to be on the lookout for refugee Hobbits. Some in the west may have escaped and headed to Ered Luin for shelter. The messages will go out before nightfall. Now, is there anything else?”

“Oh Elrond, there is so much, but I can’t think of it all right now! I need to talk with you again after I have spoken to my counsellors and we can make a list of what we urgently need.
May I…? Willit be possible…? Oh for goodness sake! Are my chests of treasure still here? I will need to purchase supplies and various goods to start a new colony!”

“Of course they are still here Bilbo, I told you they could be stored here as long as you wished! Now, then! A new colony? Where are you hoping to settle? Or is that a silly question?”

“That’s funny!” said Rory! “I asked the very same question.”

Bilbo sighed! “Yes, alright, I am going to try to get to Erebor. I am hoping that Thorin was sincere in his forgiveness and that he will allow us sanctuary! After all, he knows how it feels to have your home taken from you with no warning! I pray I am not mistaken. That even if he cannot fully forgive me, he will not turn away my people!”

Elrond looked at Bilbo with a question in his eyes and on his lips.

“Your people? You mean other than in simple kinship?”

“I was elected as the New Thain! They are now my responsibility! I vowed to them and Yavanna to help them find a home! I only hope my old transgressions will not jeopardise that!”

Bilbo and Rory were led to a room, to use as they wished, while they stayed in Rivendell.

“Ok Bilbo, no more prevarication! Tell me! What happened to make you so worried you would be rejected and denied sanctuary?”

Bilbo sighed! He knew that this revelation was overdue, but it was still painful to talk about.

“I betrayed Thorin at the mountain and I was banished for it!”

***********************************************************************

Nori was sitting in one of his favourite spots. It overlooked the main market place in Erebor and he could see the ebb and flow of the many dwarves below. He was an expert in reading a crowd and could discern patterns of movement as people came together and parted ways again. As the ‘unannounced’ head of the fledgling intelligence service in Erebor, he kept an eye open for dissension and internal plots against the monarchy. He had cultivated a persona with a less than stellar past in order to fit in with the petty crooks and villains in the underworld. They were the sources of some rather valuable information. He had stolen, burgled and fenced the proceeds in the past when they were living in Ered Luin.
His king, though, had personally pardoned any and all of his past transgressions and he was now His Majesty's personal spy.

He noticed some movement in his peripheral vision and turned to meet one of his ‘Shadows’. His talented recruits in his intelligence service. Only he knew who they all were, as he recruited them personally.

“Boss!, a letter arrived addressed to you via one of our courier birds. I thought it to be important so I brought it straight away!”

“You did well! Thank you! Any news from your section?”

“No Boss! All quiet at the moment. Nothing flagging my attention.”

“Good, keep your eyes open and report any changes. You are dismissed!”

The young ‘Shadow’ disappeared like his namesake, as though he had never been there!

Nori opened the message. It was written in code, but he had long ago memorised it and could read the message as easily as open language. The code was necessary as messages could easily go astray when using the carrier birds. Nori did not use the Royal Ereborian Ravens for his clandestine correspondence. They were far too noticeable. He relied on the trained carrier pigeons or the swift sparrow hawks for their relative anonymity.

He scanned the letter quickly, then froze and read it again more carefully.
‘No! This can’t be true! This needed to go before the King and the Company immediately!

He left his vantage point and, using his secret pathways in the mountain, headed towards the Council Chambers, where the Council were in session!
He found the Captain of the Guard, Dwalin, who was stationed outside the doors of the Chamber. He drew his attention and signalled in his coded Iglishmek that there was an emergency situation. Clear the room of everyone who were not company members!

Dwalin did not hesitate! He pounded on the doors to the Chamber and on opening them, signalled for the King's First Advisor to receive his message!

Balin, realised that something was wrong and spoke in a murmur with his brother Dwalin.

He then approached the King and quietly spoke into his ear so that no one could hear his message.

The King picked up the Golden Gavel in front of him and struck 3 times on the stone table.

“Honourable members of the Council, I am afraid that a matter has arisen which merits my immediate attention. We will continue our discussion at the next Council Meeting! This Chamber is dismissed! Please clear the room immediately!”

The King waited for the Counsellors to exit the room before he spoke to Balin.

“Right, you have my full attention! What is this about? What is urgent enough to dismiss the whole Counsel?”

Balin called Dwalin into the room. Within moments Nori entered from a hidden door and brought the letter to Balin. As Balin was the only other dwarf able to decipher Nori’s code he read the letter directly.

Balin’s face drained of all colour as he took in the message. “Is this correct?” He asked Nori.

Nori nodded, “As far as I know! The sender is one of my top contacts. He doesn’t send frivolous messages. As far as he knows, this is true! As far as I know, This is true. Of course it will have to be verified.

The King looked at his closest friends and growled! “I am going to lose my temper if someone doesn’t tell me what is going on in the next few seconds!”

Nori and Balin looked at each other in dismay!

“It is not good news Thorin! This message tells us of a Major Orc attack on the Shire! Many deaths have been reported! We don’t have any further details yet!”

Thorin Oakenshield, Son of Thrain, Son of Thror, King under the Mountain, felt his heart sink! Bilbo! What has happened to Bilbo? Fear and panic thrummed through his veins at the thought of losing the only One he would ever love! He thought Bilbo was safe and happy in the Shire. Away from danger and intrigue. Far away from his side, yes! But that was a price he had to pay as his punishment for the trauma he subjected Bilbo to on the battlements.
But this! No it could not be true! The Shire was safe! Protected!
He drew on all his strength to pull himself together and think rationally.
“As Nori says, we need to verify. Prepare messages to your contacts and an urgent message to Ered Luin. We need up to date information as quickly as possible. The messages will leave the mountain today! Summon the Company, they all need to know. We will gather in my private quarters in one hour! This is not to be discussed outside the Company. You all have your duties, now see to them!”

With this pronouncement, he left the room and hurried to his private quarters.

Nori immediately made his way to the Great Library. His younger brother was there as the Chief
Scribe and Librarian. He found Ori in the Hall of Records and very quietly told him of the King's summons!

Ori finished what he was doing and prepared to leave for the Royal Quarters.
“Just a moment Ori! Do you have any of my special paper handy, plus a quill and some coloured inks?”

“Yes, of course! Do you need it right this minute?”

“No, but I want to take several sheets with me if I can. Can you find me a book of Maps? I will need Eriador, Rohan, Gondor, Rhovanion… Ohh! Just grab a book with all of them in and bring that!
Now! Do you have any idea where Dori would be right now? I need to commission a new jacket and I saw some really nice fabric in the market today. I want to get some before it sells out and I am not sure how much I will need for the pattern! Do you want to come with me?”

Ori smiled but looked hard at his brother!
“Yes, of course. Dori should be at his tea shop this afternoon and it is on the way to the market. I can pick up some new yarn while we are there.I have seen a lovely new pattern I want to try out. I will just get that book you want. The paper is in my bottom desk drawer. Quills and inks are in the top left drawer!”

“Great! Ok, let’s go! The market is shutting soon! I know a shortcut to Dori’s shop, it should only take us a few minutes!”

Nori and Ori, left the Library and after a couple of turns on the street, they entered one of Nori’s passages!

“Ok Nori!, drop the act and tell me what’s going on! You don’t normally go onto a full on charm offensive, so this must be something big! What’s happening? Why has the king summoned the Company.?”

“It’s Top Secret Ori! I will tell you when we are in front of the King, but not until. As I have to tell all the others as well, can it please wait a few minutes? It is important. Very Important!”

“Yes! It must be! Ok, I can wait a few minutes. We will go and bring Dori, what about the Ur Brothers?”

“Balin is fetching them and Dwalin is collecting the other Durin’s. We have about 20 minutes to get everyone together or Thorin will explode!”

“Why do you need the maps?”

“Later, Ori! Later!”

Minutes later, the whole company was gathered together in the King's sitting room.

He looked a little dishevelled, as though he had been running his hands through his hair. He was pacing up and down in front of the fireplace with a frantic pace and a lost look on his face.

The Company looked at one another and wondered what on earth was going on!

Balin called the Company to order, and Nori sat down and started to transcribe the message they had received. When he had several copies, he handed them out to the different families.

“Please sit down, everyone and read the message we received earlier today. Please note! It has not yet been verified! But we are trying to do that as soon as possible.”

Silence fell as they read the message. Then, Pandemonium! “No! It can’t be true! It is a mistake, obviously! No! Not the Shire, That's impossible! It is protected. Orcs would never get near it!”

The King sat down! Wearier looking than he had been since he recovered from the battle! Kili and Fili sat with him and hugged him in support! They knew how much Bilbo meant to their Uncle!

Thorin spoke to his friends.

“We obviously don’t know all the details. We are sending messages out to all our contacts asking for news to be sent on immediately! We can’t do much from here. Not yet anyway!
We can only pray to Mahal that our dear friend is alive and that he has escaped the Orc attack! Don’t forget! This is Bilbo! The sneakiest, cleverest, luckiest Hobbit in the whole of Arda! If anyone could escape, It would be Bilbo! We underestimated him before and he proved us all wrong. I will NOT make the same mistake again! Until I have proof otherwise, I am going to believe that Bilbo is alive and well and hiding in the wild. We will collect any news and bring it ONLY to these rooms! This is a Company Secret!. If this gets out into the populace, speculation will run riot and opposing factions will try to take advantage of our distraction. We carry on as normal! Any news from outside the mountain will go via Nori and Balin. They will bring it to us, in here! We will have a dinner for the Company in my private dining room once a week. Bombur, you are in charge of that.
Everyone else, go back to work. We have to carry on as normal as we can. He will be alright! He HAS to be alright! Of course he is alright!”

As The Company left the Royal Quarters, they shook their heads. Obviously the King was in denial!

*************************************************************************
Brandir was sitting in his small house inside the Ered Luin and reading a message that had been passed to him an hour earlier. This wasn’t an ordinary message! It was written on Flash Paper. A paper soaked in a secret chemical, then dried carefully away from any heat.
It was designed for secret messages. Once the message had been read, the paper was burned. It burned fiercely with a bright flame and disappeared completely. No ash residue, no flecks of unburned paper left behind. Read it! Destroy it! Gone! As though it had never existed. But Brandir hesitated! He knew that the news he had to pass on would break some hearts. And yet? The village of Hobbiton had been destroyed! He had walked through it! What was left of it! Only the roads and the fields. Yet! He had not seen any bodies! There was no one there to give a list of who had died and who might have escaped! That in itself may give some comfort.
Until there was absolute proof of death - there was hope of life.

He would send a message of what he had seen of Hobbiton, and also of what he had NOT seen. There may yet be hope for the intrepid Burglar of Erebor. If he could escape a dragon, who were well known to be crafty and sly, surely he could escape from some thick as dragon dung Orcs!

He burned the message from Erebor and started to draft his reply. He was glad he still had some of this fancy paper left! He had completed his message and sent it on by sparrow hawk for the swiftest reply!

Grindal the Smith burned the flimsy paper in the forge. He knew a reply was wanted as soon as possible, but he wanted to make sure his information was as accurate as possible.

A favourite drinking place for local hobbits was the Prancing Pony. He would pop over for a drink or two later and get friendly over some mugs of beer. He would pry every bit of information he could get out of them before he sent off the news to Erebor.

A few hours later, Grindal was laughing and joking with some younger hobbits in the smaller bar of the ‘Pony. He mentioned the small excitement recently over the Orcs on the Greenway.

Oh, I have a funny tale about that, said one of the young hobbits. The night of the alert, some of my friends from Buckland popped in to have a few “celebratory drinks”. I asked what they were celebrating and they said they had pulled a fast one on a band of Orcs and sent them in the wrong direction. They said they had been given a task of luring the Orcs down the Greenway instead of letting them continue on the East Road. They had ‘seeded’ the road with bits and bobs so that they would think they were chasing their group of hobbits down the road.

Apparently it worked a treat and the large group of hobbits got away in completely the opposite direction. Why were the hobbits being chased? The lads didn't know. All they knew was, Mr Baggins came from the Shire and Mr Brandybuck was travelling with them.
The lads were meeting up with them the next day after picking up some supplies.
Grindal said where on earth were a large group of hobbits going? It was unheard of for large parties of hobbits to go travelling.
The lads insisted they had no idea. Only to head east as quick as they could with their supplies.

Grindal started to yawn and said he needed to call it a night. He had a few commissions to get through in the morning and too much beer would make him oversleep. He wished the friendly hobbits goodnight and made his way back to the forge.

Grindal brought out one of his sheets of special paper and started to code his letter. 40 minutes later he brought down one of his special sparrow hawks and sent the message to the Lonely Mountain.

************************************************************************

Bilbo sat in his room with Rory and started to tell him what had happened in Erebor.

The Dragon Sickness, the searching for the Arkenstone, the oh, so special piece of rock that was so important to the king!

The way the dragon had taunted Bilbo with the promise of the King being driven mad by the accursed stone.

How Bilbo had hidden the stone on his person, but he still had to watch his close friend fall to insanity.

How the King had gifted him with the Mithril Shirt in front of the whole Company.

How the King had gone back on his word to the Men of Laketown when they came to seek reparation for the destruction of their town.

The rage of the King when Thranduil, the King of the Elves in the Woodland Realm came to the Gate demanding the Jewels of Lasgalen. Letting spite enhance his grievance with the dwarves, even though they were not the ones to commit the original crime against him!

The sheer hopelessness of the siege of two armies against 13 dwarves and a hobbit.
Leading to his decision to trade the one thing Thorin wanted above all else in return for Bilbo’s share of the treasure.

How it all went so badly wrong and Thorin held Bilbo by the throat and threatened to throw him from the ramparts. Only being stopped by Gandalf asking for his hobbit back unharmed. About his Life Banishment from the mountain and all his friends.

Bilbo was sobbing as he told the tale!

He described the terror of the arrival of the Orc and Goblin armies and how the elves and dwarves and men had to fight together before they were all slaughtered!

Then his total dismay when Thorin, Fili and Kili were so grievously injured on Ravenhill.
Finding Thorin on the ice, so deathly pale with his life blood flooding the ice below his body.
How he held his wounds shut and screamed and screamed for someone to help. The awful smell and coppery taste of blood in the air until he was gagging from it.
The desperate, desperate fight to keep the King and the two young Princes alive!

The halting, whispered apologies for the trauma he had subjected Bilbo to on the battlements. How he forgave Bilbo for his betrayal. How he did only what a true friend would do!

But Bilbo knew that these entreaties were the dying wishes of a wounded King. They weren't real forgiveness. True forgiveness takes work. It is a decision to forgive and forget every day.

How Bilbo had left the mountain behind as soon as he heard the King and the Princes would live. He couldn’t stay. He was already being spat on by the Iron Hills dwarves over his betrayal.

How he had been slowly dying inside of grief ever since he returned to the Shire!
How he had realised, far, far too late, that he had found his true love, only to be banished by him with words of unutterable hatred.

Now he had to return to the scene of his heartbreak for the sake of his people, To give them a new home where they would have room to grow. Where the land, although bare at the moment, was only waiting for the love of Yavanna’s chosen people to bring it back to life.

Rory held Bilbo tight as he rocked in his arms with the grief of losing his friends. Of losing the only one he would ever love! Now he had to face that hatred and plead for sanctuary for his people if not for himself. Knowing that he may be risking imprisonment or death for returning to the mountain.

Bilbo cried until there were no tears left. Only sobbing that shook his whole body! He finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.

Rory didn’t know what he could do to help Bilbo. Brave, brave Bilbo who walked towards his greatest fears. Shaking in his terror, but doing it anyway!

As Rory sat there thinking, he heard Lord Elrond speaking in the hall outside their door. In an instant, his decision was made. From what Bilbo had said on their journey, Lord Elrond was one of the oldest and wisest beings in the whole of Arda. Surely, he would have some words of wisdom to help his distraught and terrified friend!

Rory begged a private audience with Elrond and told him Bilbo’s tale. What could they do?

The next day, Bilbo could hardly speak. He had strained his throat with the terrible crying the night before. Elrond himself brought Bilbo a honeyed drink to soothe his throat. He held his hands close to his skin without touching to give him some healing.
Bilbo, of course, noticed this and looked at Elrond and Rory!

Now Bilbo, please do not chide Rory for telling me your tale. It bothered me that you found yourself unable to tell me what had happened in Erebor when you stayed here on your way home! Rory was distraught that he couldn't think what to do to help. He wisely came to me.

You could have saved yourself so much heartache if you had come to me earlier.
My dear friend, if you don’t know, then ask! Surely it is better to know for certain than to live in fear and uncertainty? Never really knowing because you were too scared to ask!
You are no coward Bilbo Baggins. You have one of the bravest hearts I have encountered in all my long, long life. You are celebrated across Arda! You are renowned as both Elf-friend and Dwarf-friend. This in itself tells me that the dwarves in the Lonely Mountain forgave you long ago!

Now you must set your heart at rest and write to the King Under The Mountain. Speak your heart and send the written words to him.
The very worst he can say is ‘No! The very best he can say is ‘come home!’
Until you face this last fear, you will never know for sure, so be brave! Face your fear and you may watch as this great fear disappears into the morning mist!

Rest now, take plenty of soothing drinks and when you are ready, let your sharp mind interpret the words in your heart!

Seek me out when you are done and we will post your letter to the mountain together.

************************************************************************

The King under the mountain was pale and seemed to be in pain. His court were trying to find reasons for his drastic change in manner!

The Company joined him for dinner in the Royal Quarters last evening, but there was, as yet, no further news to share!

The King was presiding over a Guild dispute, when Dwalin, once again, knocked on the door.
Pray forgive the disruption of our meeting honoured Guild Masters. Matters of State once again call for my attention. We will have to continue at a more convenient time. This meeting is adjourned! Please leave the room, swiftly and quietly. Thank You!

Dwalin, I will wait in my private sitting room for whatever messages have arrived. Please ask Balin and other Company members available to meet me there as soon as may be!

Balin and Nori were the first to arrive to join the King. Nori immediately started to transcribe the letter he had received from Ered Luin.

“It is not what I would call good news, but I would hesitate to call it the worst!
One of my contacts, Brandir, walked through the Shire just recently.”

“He says that Hobbiton was completely destroyed. There was not one building left undamaged and not a single tree left to grow. But, he also says that he encountered no bodies. There were no dead scattered about as you would expect with an Orc attack! Not a single soul was to be seen. He speculates that the hobbits got away in time. He says that while there is no proof of death, there could possibly be proof of life, somewhere! He will not give up hope!”

“Thank you, Nori. Would you be so good as to gather Ori and Dori and bring them here, they will also wish to know the news.”

Nori bowed to his King and left on his errand. He hadn’t reached the Great Library yet, when he was bowled over by a young dwarf rushing through the corridor. “Watch it young one! You will hurt either yourself or someone else dashing along at such a speed.”

“I am terribly sorry sir! Please forgive my mishap!” The young dwarf helped Nori off the floor and in doing so, passed him a folded message. “Now then! No harm done, nothing bruised except my pride. Take care young one, watch how you go in future!”

Nori patted himself down and straightened his tunic, pocketing the surreptitious message as he did so. ‘Clever lad’ thought Nori, for of course, the young dwarf was one of Nori’s ‘Shadows’.

Nori continued on his errand to collect Ori and Dori. He would read the new message when he returned to the King.

Ori saw Nori approaching and was ready to leave before Nori could even say anything. He just passed him by at the door and said “Shall we?” Dori was as abrupt and just as quick to leave.

In fact, all the Company were wound up like clock springs and they were eager for any news on their friend.

On entering the Kings’ rooms again, Nori immediately told Thorin he had received another message.

This one was from Grindal the smith and held a lot more information. It took Nori several minutes to transcribe it for the king, but the contents were worth the wait!

The King sat with his head in his hands when they reached the part where Mr Baggins was giving instructions to the young hobbits. He intoned a fervent prayer to Mahal in grateful thanks.

Now all they had to do was find Bilbo and the other travellers from the Shire!

Thorin suddenly thought, Rivendell! Bilbo would head for Rivendell! He would look to the Lord Elrond for help and advice. He voiced his thoughts. “Balin! Write to Lord Elrond in Rivendell. That would be Bilbo’s destination if he was travelling east!”

“I believe you are right Thorin! Bilbo always held Lord Elrond in high regard. He would undoubtedly head there, if only for respite on a longer journey!

“A longer journey! Balin! Do you think….? Could it possibly be….? Would he head here!? Would he return to Erebor? Would Bilbo come home at last?”

“It is a possibility! I think we are going to need to send more than one letter, my King!
Now is the time to find out once and for all if Bilbo has truly forgiven you!”

“Alright you lot, everyone out! We have some letters to write and possibly some planning to do!

************************************************************************

Bilbo was in one of Elrond's gardens. He always enjoyed wandering through the tastefully planted flowers and shrubs. He found it very relaxing.

He had been doing some hard thinking and had decided that, as usual, Elrond was right!
It was time to write to Thorin and to bare his heart and soul. He could not go through life in perpetual mourning! This needed to be settled one way or another. At least he would know for sure!

His decision made, he collected pen and paper and made his way to his room.

Before he sat down at the desk though, he looked in the halls for Rory.

Rory felt bad for breaking Bilbo’s confidence and was on perpetual tenterhooks just waiting for Bilbo’s temper to explode!

Bilbo thought he had punished himself enough! He walked through a couple more halls before he found Rory admiring some ancient tapestries on the walls.
“Rory,” he called, watching his cousin jump out of his skin, “Would you come with me for a moment please?”

He watched Rory stiffen his resolve and walk towards him as though heading for the block!

When Rory reached him, he smiled and threaded his arm through Rory’s. “I really feel like some tea and honey cakes! Do you fancy joining me?”

“Have you forgiven me then?” asked Rory in a small voice. He still felt bad, but if Bilbo was ready to forgive him?

“Oh, there is nothing to forgive you nincompoop! You have been punishing yourself with your conscience for no good reason! Come on silly, I know you did it from a place of love and care! I tell you truly! There is nothing to forgive! Now come on because my backbone is trying to eat my empty belly! Or is that the other way around? Never mind, Honey cakes are calling me!”

When they had finished their repast, Bilbo told Rory his decision and that he was going to write a letter to Thorin today. “You helped me to decide that. Elrond was right, I can’t live the rest of my life not knowing, and from what he said about being both Elf-friend and Dwarf-friend it is probably not as bad as my imagination made it. There is only one way to know for certain.
So, I am going to lock myself in my room and get to it!
There is something you can do for me though!”

“Anything! Bilbo!” “Right! I need you to give my apologies to the hobbit Elders. Please tell them that I have been under the weather, but am starting to feel better now. I am hoping to have a meeting with them in the morning if Elrond would be so kind as to grant me a room. Can you please ask them to write down any concerns or requests and we will try to address them tomorrow. Also if there are any ideas for our new community, please write them down and we will put our collective brains together and sort things out. We may not get everything done at once, but we have to start somewhere. But please, do not mention Erebor yet! I want to get this letter sent and maybe wait on a reply before an even farther and more dangerous journey is put to the travellers. Hmmn! I think we are going to need a different title for our band of hobbits. That is another thing that we can put to the vote in the near future!
Thank you Rory, I do appreciate all the support you give me. I don't think I could do this without you! Ok! Crunch time! I have a difficult letter to write so I had better get to it!”

“I will see you at dinner.”

Bilbo went back to his room, filled a carafe with cool water and sat down to write from the heart!

***********************************************************************

Rory went to find the Elders. The Gaffers and the Farmers and the senior family members. He gave them Bilbo’s apology and the message about a meeting in the morning.

“Are there any concerns right now that I may be able to help with? Bilbo and I have been a little detached from you since we arrived here, but we don’t want you to think we are ignoring you at all.”

Are you settled comfortably? Do you have enough food and drink? Are you all warm enough? Are there any problems at all that we can help with?

“Now don’t you fret so, Mr Brandybuck. We have been treated gently and with great kindness. Some of the faunts developed a sniffle and the elves gave us a tincture to soothe their coughs and sniffles. We are quite comfortable where we are and we are warm and very well fed!
It seems Mr Bilbo was a visitor here before and they are well aware of hobbit appetites. We are more than happy and enjoying a good rest. Please give our regards to our new Thain and inform him we will be glad to meet with him in the morning.”

“Now, some of the elves are going to show us around their magnificent gardens! This will be quite a treat!”

“Very well! I will leave you in their capable hands! As for me, I am going to explore the library!”
“I will see you in the morning!”

With that task completed, Rory made good on his promise and headed for the library and the thousands of books shelved within!

***********************************************************************

Thorin, the King under the Mountain, was not having an easy afternoon. He was on his 6th attempt at writing his letter to Bilbo. He was like a tongue tied pebble at his first oral Khuzdul exam! How could he write what he felt so deeply? How could he possibly apologise enough?

He stood and stretched to ease the kinks settling in his shoulders and back. What to do? How to do it? He looked in the mirror on the wall and saw a tired, worried, lonely old dwarf! Lovesick and heartsick? How would Bilbo do this?

And suddenly, he knew! Bilbo would just talk. Sit next to him and calmly talk it out. No wild, passionate proclamations! Just a normal, comfortable conversation. When the subject became difficult or embarrassing, Bilbo would just place his hand on his arm and soothingly rub until the passions abated.

Thorin crossed to his desk and unlocked a personal drawer. He withdrew a picture drawn in charcoal on their long and arduous journey! This particular picture was drawn while they rested their wounds at Beorn’s. In this picture Bilbo was sitting in the meadow picking wildflowers and weaving a flower crown. He looked happy and at peace. Thorin had started to realise by then, just how strong the feelings that had awakened in him were. There was no mistaking it! Bilbo Baggins, the fussy, funny, sometimes downright irritable hobbit was the other half of Thorin Oakenshields’ soul. His One! The only one he would ever love!

Thorin sighed. It was time to sort this out! He placed the picture directly in front of him on his desk and bringing his feelings to the surface, he once again started to write. He spoke on the page as though he was speaking directly to Bilbo, and this time, the words started to flow. He laid out his heart directly in Bilbo’s hands and finally said what he needed to say.

My Dearest Bilbo,

This is the most difficult letter I have ever written. On these pages I am going to tell you the truth. All of the truth.
I was rude to you, even from the first moment we met. I was an insufferable boar!
And I got worse! How on earth did you put up with me? ………………….

He spoke of the journey and the fear he had of losing any of his companions. He spoke of the despair he had felt when imprisoned in Thranduil’s dungeons. The misery when he thought that Bilbo had been taken by the spiders. His elation when Bilbo appeared in front of his cell. His total gratitude and soaring love when Bilbo vouched for his character in Laketown. The disappointment and despair when the sun set without revealing the keyhole. The joy when Bilbo once again saved the day when he waited for the moon to rise and shine on the keyhole at last!

Then his descent into dragon fever, the lust for gold and only the gold. The vast treasury of Thror, his insane Grandfather’s legacy. The compelling need for the accursed Arkenstone. How he hated and detested that stone now. His inability to recognise friend from foe. His paranoia and fear of treachery and treason. And finally, his greatest shame! The attack on his one! The attempt to throttle him and then throw him from the battlements. He felt sick to his stomach whenever he remembered. How could he ever wipe the stain of his crime from his soul?
His empty feeling as he watched Bilbo walk away even as he shouted out his banishment!
Then the gold, drowning him, covering him, burying him alive!
And the voice in his head,
“You are changed Thorin! The dwarf I know would never break his word.
He would never turn his back on the suffering of innocents!”

And the glorious unfurling of the deadly golden cocoon, The fell voices were now silent. The air was cleaner and his thoughts were once again his own. He threw away the hated Raven Crown.
That ugly, ridiculously heavy monstrosity. He threw off the musty, fussy robes of state and walked back to his family and friends!

Kili was the first to meet him, and he berated him for hiding in the mountain while others fought their battles for them. Thorin agreed with him and asked if he could follow him just one more time. Thorin knew that their chances of surviving were minimal. But at least he could make an end trying to save his kingdom. He would never see his beloved hobbit again. After the way he treated him, he didn’t deserve to live, let alone rule a kingdom as a just and benign king.
He didn't remember much about the battle, until he got to Ravenhill. Then Joy! Bilbo appeared out of nowhere, warning them of the trap they were walking into.

Then he had to endure the loss of Fili. His Golden boy! Cut down in front of him in an act of sick revenge! Then Kili, his little laughing pebble! His pride and joy! Oh Mahal! What had he done!
He would never be able to atone for his crimes!
Finally, in front of him, his hated enemy. The slayer of his family. Well, he would kill no more! If it took his last breath, he would rid the world of this monster!
His final battle! Against Azog the Defiler. Well he would defile no more!
The fight to the death. The excruciating pain, The final realization that the only way he could win was by losing as well. It worked! Azog was no more! Now he could die in peace! Maybe that would atone some of his many sins!
He fell onto the ice and could feel his lifeblood pooling under him.
Then to his joy and his horror, Bilbo was there! No! He shouldn't have to see this. This vain and messy ending, but maybe there was time. At least he could apologise… He could try to apologise! How do you say sorry and goodbye to the love of your life? There are not enough words in the world!
Oh Mahal! He was holding his wounds closed and screaming for help! Anybody, Help!
Hold on my love! Please hold on! Keep breathing! That’s it! In, Out, in, out. Hold on my love, help is coming! Wait!.... My Love? …. Even after all I have done he calls me ‘My Love!
Oh my darling hobbit! It is too late! I will soon be in Mahal’s halls and paying the price of my foolish pride! It is time for me to go……………………………………

I woke up! I have never known such pain. I would have thought all pain would be gone once the earthly existence was over. Oh that’s nice, Mahals halls have stone just like Erebor!

Then Oin came in, and Balin, Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur. No! No! Is everyone dead?
Laddie, you aren’t dead, it was touch and go for far too long, but you are very much alive!

I was numb! Disappointed? Upset? Ashamed? Yes! I was ashamed!
How do I make amends, How do I possibly fix this awful mess I have caused. Perhaps Bilbo will help me! Bilbo who is full of compassion and brimming over with common sense!

Bilbo? Is Bilbo coming? ……………………….

I’m sorry laddie, but Bilbo went home 2 weeks ago!

And there you have it! My honest and true feelings laid out before you.
No embellishments! No half truths! No Hiding!

Bilbo! Please? Please forgive me. I know I don't deserve it, but Please, please forgive me!

My bare soul is laid out in the stark sunlight.
You deserve nothing less and you deserve so much more than I can ever offer.
You hold my heart and soul in your hands Bilbo Baggins and I will never deserve you!
But, I want you. My soul is empty without you and my life is grey!

Please come back. There is no banishment! It was reversed on my first decree!
Please! Please come back!
I love you! I need you!
I can't bear my life without you!
You are my world and you hold my heart in your hands!

I will always be yours until the end of time.

Thorin

************************************************************************

Bilbo sat in his room with the blank paper in front of him and …….. Froze!

Oh Yavanna! Where on earth do I start?
To His Majesty, Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror. King under the Mountain.

My dearest Thorin,

I have sat and stared at those words for the last half hour. I don’t know what to write. Yes, the motormouth from the Shire doesn't know what to say. I bet you never thought that could happen!

I will start by apologising! Thorin, I am so, so sorry that I ever betrayed you. I didn’t want to hurt you. The last thing I would ever want would be to hurt you. The thing is…The thing is,
I fell in love with you. You are probably falling over laughing right now.

The silly, fussy, can't even handle a weapon, hobbit has fallen in love with a King!
It was not difficult though. I mean how could anyone resist you. So handsome, strong, noble. So very brave, and so compassionate for your people. I am sure they all adore you, Not every King would take labouring jobs to help feed their family. The Blacksmith King!
I am sure some people would scoff, but for me, it is praise of the highest order. There is no higher duty for a king than to love and protect his people.

That is why you took on the near impossible task of reclaiming your home from that snide, rude obnoxious dragon. Well! He was! Really rude! There is no excuse really. Manners don’t cost anything after all. But you can always tell when someone hasn't got any.

He was dreadfully rude about you and your family. He was laughing that he ate….
Well, the less said about that the better! He knew about the Gold Sickness, or is it dragon sickness? I suppose if you are a dragon, it would be Gold Sickness wouldn’t it.
Well anyway. He knew and he laughed! He laughed about it!
I found the Arkenstone the very first time I entered the mountain.
He was laughing and saying how I should give it to you so he could watch it drive you mad.
He said it was the stone that drove Thror mad. It started from the moment he first touched it.
I couldn’t Thorin! I couldn’t let the evil thing affect you! And it WAS evil! I could feel it.
An insidious miasma! It made me feel sick! Even worse than the Mirkwood made me feel.
I think hobbits must be sensitive to certain evil objects. Even my little ring, the one that makes me invisible! It also makes me feel sick. It is like having someone whisper dirty, twisted things in your ear. I actually hate wearing it! If it wasn’t so useful, I would have thrown it away. It keeps whispering ‘Precious’ at me. But I digress! I couldn't give you that evil stone Thorin. It was bad enough watching the gold in the treasury take over your mind.

I knew you were still in there somewhere, There were snatches of lucidity every now and then.
I prayed you would snap out of it. Do you remember the acorn? When you saw me in the corridor and basically barked at me to show you what was in my hand?
You came back to me for a moment, just a brief moment.your eyes were that wonderful sparkling blue again. Clear as bright sunlit skies. I nearly cried when Dwalin came to take you to the battlements.
Oh that bloody Thranduil! He wants his backside tanning. My Aunt Donnamira had a slipper.
Oh my, she could make your eyes water when you were being a naughty little faunt.
Six of the best from Auntie's slipper and Stuck up Thranduil wouldn’t be so stuck up any more. He wouldn't enjoy sitting on his pretentious elk either! Dratted show off!
Anyway, I am getting away from the point again!
Oh yes! On the Battlements with rude Thrandy! Now Bard wasn’t too bad, he just wanted enough to help feed and warm his people, but Thrandy Pandy had to put his oar in didn’t he!
Once again, Rude! And he is Royalty! There really is no excuse at all!
I really do prefer Lord Elrond. Nowhere near as pretentious. He is a thoroughly nice chap, Very helpful to people!
Right! Where was I? Oh yes! Thrandy Pandy really got up your nose. It was inevitable in a way!
If Thrandy hadn't been there I am sure you would have taken one look at those poor people and you would have pushed a wheelbarrow full of gold out to them yourself.
But no! Pretty pretty Thrandy Pandy on his bloody elk, pushed and pushed and yes, you lost it!
No one was going to get anything! “Not one single coin!” I can still hear the roar in my head.
I was rather sad though because he made you go back on your word. I was so proud to stand and praise your character to the slimy Master of Laketown. But going back on your word, was also going back on mine. Those poor people only wanted some food and shelter!
I remember you saying I had up to a 14th share of the treasure, and there was so very much of it, and I didn’t really need it. So I thought of that horrible stone. I couldn’t give it to you, it would only make you worse. So this was a way to get it out of the mountain. I could bargain for some food for Bard, giving some of my share for rebuilding Dale, try and get Thrandy Pandy his jewels, whatever they were and you could have the stone back when everyone was feeling better.

It didn't work! I wasn’t going to run away like a common thief, I was going to stand tall and admit what I had done! After all, I was only trying to help everybody. But I didn't realise how sick you had become. You were really very ill, Thorin. I don't think anyone really knows how ill.

You really frightened me, you know! I didn't like heights before, and I certainly don't like heights now. But, yes, you frightened me, and you hurt my throat! I know you were not yourself though, so I do forgive you. Honestly! I forgave you even before I left the mountain and went back to Gandalf. The banishment hurt me more! Having to leave you and all my friends hurt more than any physical pain possibly could. I cried myself to sleep many, many times because I missed you so much!

And then of course we had the battle of the 5 armies. And who on earth came up with that stupid name? Good grief! Worse than a 10 year old fauntling! My neighbour has a dog that could name things better! I bet it was Thrandy, Oh I’m so clever, look at me everybody! Pretentious Prat!

Sorry, it got away from me again! Anyway! The battle. It was horrible! So much death! So much blood! It made pink mud on the ground and I had to walk in it in my bare feet. It was so horrible.

Then you and the boys were so badly injured! You nearly died in my arms Thorin. In my own arms. I cried and cried. I was still banished, but I would rather have died with you than go on living without you. I managed to hold your wounds closed until you could be sewn up, but it was touch and go for hours and hours. I stayed until I knew you would live, but I had to leave.
I know I did. The other Dwarves, the ones from the Iron Hills, they didn't understand about the Arkenstone and they were really horrible to me.

They spat at me, Thorin, and called me traitor, and thief. Some even offered to do you a favour and execute me for you. I couldn’t stay. I wanted to be near you, but my life was now being threatened, so I couldn't stay.
I still love you, with all my heart, I love you but I am frightened to come back while I am still banished.

There is another reason I need to come back now. I don't have a home anymore!
The Shire was attacked by a large band of Orcs and they killed and burned as they came!
Hobbiton is no more! We looked back when we reached the Old Forest and we could see the glow of the fires in the sky. I lost everything except what I could carry in my pockets and my pack. But we are alive!. Yes! We! At the moment there are about 300 of us. A mix of all ages. We were chased by the Orcs for a while, but we managed to trick them and send them in the wrong direction. To top it all off, they have gone and elected me their leader. I am the new Thain of the Shire. Well, maybe not the Shire anymore, we will have to come up with a new name I think. I won't be asking Thrandy!
Well the point of all this ramble is that , I have to do the best for my people, regardless of my own wishes and desires. So even if I am not welcome, would you consider granting sanctuary for my people? They will be very good for the land. The desolation won't be desolate when hobbits get their fingers into the soil. If I am not welcome, then perhaps I will resign my new office and head south. I have always wondered about Gondor and Rohan.

If you can make me welcome, I will stay out of your way if you wish it. I wouldn’t want to embarrass you in any way.

Please pass on my very best wishes to the Company, if they are amenable. I miss my friends dearly, but I miss you most of all.

I will always love you Thorin, Whatever you decide. Please let me know if I can stay close by, or if I need to move on.
You can reach me at Rivendell for the next couple of weeks. Lord Elrond is being very kind and helpful to all my hobbits.

That's about it then.

I am sending you my love, even if you don’t want it.

All my dearest love,

Bilbo Baggins
Thain Baggins of the Shire
**************************************************************************

Gaffers Proudfoot and Goodbody, Farmers Cotton and Maggot and several senior family members, were ready and waiting for the morning meeting.

Rory went to collect them and escort them to the meeting room kindly provided by Lord Elrond.

Bilbo was nervous again. He really didn't know how to do this!

What was he supposed to do as a Thain? Yes, his Uncle Isengrim had been a Thain, but Bilbo didn't know what his day to day duties had been. He knew that Uncle Isengrim used to answer lots of letters and that he had tea at four with the important local Gaffers and such, but they were closed meetings! Other than the drinking of tea and the eating of assorted sandwiches and cakes, he hadn’t a clue what went on behind those closed doors.

Taking a deep breath, he decided that no matter how the business of the Thain had been done before, Today was a new day. A New Thain. A New settlement, whether that was to be Erebor or somewhere else ... .No! He wasn’t going to address that particular problem today!

Today, he would sort out the business of actually being a Thain. What was expected of him, what he would prefer the elders to do, he would be a Thain who asked and discussed solutions to problems. He wasn’t the sort of person to just order anyone around!

No! Today would be the first business meeting of the New Thain and there would be a new way of doing things, whatever has been the practice of the past.
A new broom, sweeping away old problems! This was a new start for all of them. So let’s start from scratch!

Suddenly feeling a lot less nervous, Bilbo waited for the Elders to arrive.

Rory, knocked on the door and opened it for the Elders to enter and sit down at the table.

Bilbo stood to greet them all and asked them to make themselves comfortable.

There were supplies of pens and papers laid on the table for their use and a side table with some refreshments.

Bilbo smiled and got right to business!

“Good morning, all! Thank you for coming! Now then, it’s cards on the table.

I honestly do not know how to do this! So basically I am going to be making this up as we go along. Please forgive me, if that sounds frivolous. It is not intended to be, I am simply telling the truth.

As a New Thain, with what will be a new community, I am proposing a new start.
A new way to do things! We are all in this together, so that is how I want us to do things! Together! You are the Elders of the major families and between you all there is a wealth of experience and knowledge. My first proposal is that we collectively make use of it!

I am sure that each and every one of you has been stuck in meetings in the past and wished that there was a better way of doing things! Well this is our chance to make things better!
Find ourselves a new and better way of making the day to day business of living and thriving run smoothly.

I am going to make mistakes! I know this! I am not perfect, I have a foul temper when I am severely provoked! But I am hoping that with guidance and patience you will be able to teach me how to lead!

I need you! All of you! I am not saying this to suck up or make you feel important! I am simply stating a bald fact! You are the people who know what is important for the infrastructure of your families everyday lives.

I am an only child, who lost his parents’ far too early in life. I only know how to run my life to my satisfaction. I do not want to dictate to anyone how to run their lives. That would be unspeakably rude and horrendously intrusive. I want to enable people to run their own lives, their own business, but to do it in a way that does not impinge or detract from anyone else.

I will state this now however! I will not allow greed or pride to cast a pall over our New Shire!
I have seen the consequences of that, and it makes people's lives a misery. My hope is that we can share what we have in good times and help each other bear the load in bad times. Isn’t that what good neighbours do for each other? We care for each other, Offer each other a helping hand when it is needed and stand together when we need to be strong! That is how it should be!

I am a new peg in a brand new hole! The edges are a bit rough and there will be splinters! Please help me to smooth out those edges!

Now then, I tend to run my life with lots of lists! This is why I requested you make notes on what you felt was important for this meeting. Let's start with a list of what we need and try to mate it up with a list of what we have!

I have had a lot of help and support from Rory since the first night of our troubles and I would like to continue having him close to hand as a helper day to day.
A second in command, so to speak? Would that be acceptable to everyone here?”

And with that small speech, Bilbo Baggins, the New Thain of the New Shire, began his career as the leader of his people. Acclaimed as Thain, by his people, and by letting his people choose how to live in the best way they could!

************************************************************************

In Erebor, the Company of Thorin Oakenshield met in the Royal Quarters.
The mood was much improved since they heard that Bilbo was still alive. The letters had been sent and now it was a waiting game! They were having a dinner that was cooked to perfection by Bombur! There was a keg of ale and it was not quite, but close, to a party atmosphere!

Thorin, however, was a bag of nerves! He had poured his heart out in his letter and felt lighter in spirit for having done so, but worried about the outcome. How had his letter been received?
Did Bilbo still hate him after his awful treatment? He did not know how he would carry on if Bilbo rejected him outright! His heart would surely break into pieces and he would wither away in misery!

But! If Bilbo came back! Thorin felt a warm glow permeate his soul at the very thought!
He wondered if Bilbo would accept his courtship! He would shower him with gifts fit for a Consort! But Bilbo didn’t actually like gold and jewels and such things! What could he gift a fussy, stubborn hobbit?
Flowers! He knew Bilbo liked flowers, but they don’t last very long once they are picked! But Bilbo liked growing things! He was always going on about his garden and his prize winning tomatoes! Maybe he could build Bilbo a garden! He could forge some garden tools especially made for him!
Cooking! Bilbo loved cooking! He would build him his own kitchen and fill it with brand new pots and pans and baking stuff! He would have to ask Bombur for some tips on that!

He sat there with a small smile upon his face as he planned the courtship of his beloved hobbit!

Balin looked over at Thorin and could almost see what he was thinking. He hoped that Bilbo would come to Erebor after everything that had happened. The young fellow had been through a very rough time. But Bilbo was a resilient little fellow! Most of all, he hoped that Bilbo would be there for Thorin.
Balin was old! Not blind, and he had seen the longing looks that each sent the other. But they were oblivious to each other's feelings! Young idiots! Maybe he could arrange a few ‘meetings’ and arrange a bit more free time to release Thorin from some of his endless duties!
And then, nature would take its course!
He wanted his king to be happy, Mahal knows he could do with some happiness for a change!
Bilbo may be the one person who could make Thorin truly happy. Mahal grant that this could come to pass! We could only wait and see!

There was a knock on the door! A guardsman had been sent to the quarters with an urgent letter for the King. A letter that had been sent by a falcon of Rivendell!

Thorin took the letter with a shaking hand and excused himself from the gathering so that he could read the letter in private!

As he left the room, the others grew quiet. They knew that this could be a letter that could make or break their King! They sat, waiting for him to come and give the news!

Shortly they heard some cries from the King's bedroom. Mahal’s Beard! He was howling!

Kili nudged Fili, “He’s laughing! Laughing! He is howling with laughter!”
The others looked at Kili in shock! Thorin was laughing? They had never heard him laugh with such abandon! They could hear him choking on words that sounded like “Thrandy Pandy?! Obnoxious Prat! Pretty boy Thrandy! Oh Mahal!”

Thorin practically bounced back into the room, with a beaming smile on his face alongside obvious tear tracks!
“Bilbo wants to come back! He wants to come home!”
He wiped his eyes on his sleeve without any shame and chuckled! He actually chuckled!
“He wants to come to Erebor and bring 300 hobbits with him! He is the New Thain of the Shire! He is bringing them here to beg for sanctuary and a new home! Oh Mahal! My heart is fit to burst with happiness! He is safe! And he wants to come home!
Everyone! We need to make plans! The hobbits have little to nothing left of their previous lives! We need to prepare homes, clothes, beds, …everything!
Balin! I want to go to meet him! To welcome him home and escort the hobbits to the mountain. We can take wagons and pack horses to meet them as they come down from the mountain pass. We need to let Thrandy Pandy know there will be a host passing through his forest. We should take the Old Forest Road! Maybe we should request an elven escort along the road as well…..

Thorin suddenly noticed the shocked silence in the room!

Then Kili just exploded with laughter! Thrandy Pandy?!! Where did that come from?
Thorin grinned! That’s my new name for him! Courtesy of Bilbo!
Kili grinned back! Oh I will have to read that letter! Thorin said, sternly, “Certainly not! It is private between Bilbo and I!” “But, I might transcribe some of the funny bits for you!”

The Company cheered! They were all overjoyed with the wonderful news. They raised their glasses and proposed a toast. To our intrepid Burglar! May the hair on his feet always be curly!

***********************************************************************
Bilbo was shaking with nerves! He had just been handed a letter! A letter from the Lonely Mountain!
Oh Great Lady Yavanna! Please give me strength!

He went to his room to open it and read in private! If his heart was going to break he wanted to be alone while it did so!

He sat on the bed and opened the dreaded letter and started to read.

He was in a daze! He didn’t know how long had passed! He had been crying, his eyes and his throat were sore! But he was so very happy! He felt like he was floating along on the breeze! Just like dandelion seeds when you blow on the clock!
He felt like dancing, singing, laughing with joy!

Thorin didn't hate him, he loved him! Deeply and passionately, he loved him! He begged for His forgiveness and pleaded for him to ‘come home!’

Bilbo felt like all of his dreams were coming true! Yes! Thorin was a King! But King or not, he was in love with him! Bilbo’s heart felt like it was soaring among the stars!
He was going to Erebor! He was going home! To the love of his life! He was going to his Thorin!

Oh my! He really needed a cup of tea! He left his room and walked straight into Rory!

“Oh Rory! Everything is alright! I am going home! WE are going home to Erebor!” He burst into tears again! “Oh, I am so very happy! He loves me! I need a cup of tea!”

Rory just laughed at the state of his cousin! He literally didn’t know if he was coming or going!
He took pity on the overwhelmed hobbit and took him by the arm. “Come on, let's go find a nice cup of tea! Maybe even some honey cakes?” Bilbo laughed and cried at the same time and let his cousin guide him and anchor him to the ground again!

A little while later, Bilbo sighed in contentment! He had calmed down a bit now and shortly, he might even be able to think straight again!
He poured yet another cup of tea and spoke to Rory!
“I will drink this last cup and then we really must find Lord Elrond. We need to correspond with both the Mountain and the Greenwood! We need to make plans to continue our journey! We have a new destination and it is still a very long way away! Getting 300 hobbits over the mountain pass is not going to be easy!”

“I will write to Thorin again….” At this he had a sappy grin on his face again, so Rory gave him a gentle kick under the table! “Oyy! There is no need for that” Rory laughed! “Yes there was! Believe me! Yes there was!”

“Oh! Sorry! Where was I? Oh yes! Writing to Thorin. I need to ask him for a formal invitation to bring 300 hobbits to Erebor! We can't just turn up out of the blue! Things like this need to be planned! Lord Elrond has been very helpful and let us camp on his lawn, and he caters to visitors from all over regularly. He has stocks of food put by for that very reason!
But there is no front lawn at Erebor! Or at least there wasn’t when I was last there! Just an awful remains of a battlefield after a war with the Orcs! It was quite horrible! Beyond that, all around, was the Desolation of Smaug! Don’t they have silly, fanciful names!
Anyway, while the dragon was there it was like he poisoned the place! Nothing grew, except some old scraggy weeds!
But, you and I know that if weeds can grow in the soil; it isn’t dead soil!

It will need a lot of work, a good lot of nourishment to bring it back to peak growing conditions, but it used to be good farmland apparently! It would need to be to feed a town and a mountain full of people!

We are hobbits! The people of the earth! With Yavanna’s grace we can grow anything! There are no people on this earth better to bring the desolation back to fruitfulness!

With the river and the lake close by, irrigation will not be a problem. We can make a veritable desert bloom again!

With our expertise at growing crops, the skill of the dwarves providing the tools needed to farm, the strength of the men and their horses and oxen to work the fields, seeds, plants and trees from the elves…. Together we can grow and build a paradise!

But first, we have to get there!”

Rory looked at his cousin. The change in his demeanor was astonishing! From that terrible breakdown the other night to this excited, bouncy Hobbit!
He seemed to positively glow with happiness! He was going to be just fine!

“Come on Rory, we have to go find Lord Elrond!”

***********************************************************************

Lord Elrond sat at his desk finishing a letter to the mountain.

He had sat with Bilbo and Rory and discussed what would be needed to cross the Misty Mountains with 300 hobbits! He agreed with Bilbo that after the letter received from Thorin, there should be no difficulty obtaining sanctuary for all the hobbits. They would have a new home. It wouldn't be easy, but then, life never was!

He was writing to Balin, the King’s first advisor to coordinate their efforts to ease the travel of the hobbits.
If they could possibly provide an escort from their side of the mountains, they could work together for an efficient handover of the column. It was too difficult to travel over the mountains with people not used to travelling with ponies or wagons. Eru knew that it was hard enough when you were experienced! But with novices? No! Far too dangerous!

He was proposing to escort the column over the high pass with a troop of elves providing strength of arms, both for security from attack and literally strong arms to help carry the load!
He would further provide the hobbits with ample food and warm clothing. The hobbits didn’t have anything suitable for a mountain crossing! With that many people, the crossing would likely take several days. He would send a healer with them and plenty of medical supplies.

He thought back to Bilbo offering to pay for all the supplies from his stored treasure. He smiled! He certainly would not offend him by offering everything for free, but he could ensure quite a hefty discount! They might have their pride and dignity, but they were still practical folk!

He mentioned that he would also contact Thranduil and ask for his support by offering guides through the Greenwood to facilitate a swift passage! We certainly don’t want a repeat of the ‘hospitality’ he offered the first time Bilbo and Thorins’ Company traversed the Forest! A little diplomacy between elves and fair advance warning should be enough to soothe any ruffled ego on the part of Thranduil. Really! For an elf lord, he could be a real pain in the ar…..
Well, let's not go there! Diplomacy and poise, dear boy! Diplomacy and poise!
You would think, after a couple of thousand years, he would grow up!
He chuckled as he remembered Bilbo’s nickname for him! Thrandy Pandy! It certainly suits him!

He also mentioned that Bilbo had plans to cultivate the ‘Desolation’. He offered to provide some seed stock and fruit tree saplings as a help with the start of that. He could also provide a supply of fertiliser to enrich the depleted soil. Perhaps, in time, they could think about a contracted trade treaty between the mountain, the New Shire, or whatever they decide to name it, Dale and Erebor. Oh, and Thrandy of course! We can never really forget Thrandy, No matter how much we might wish to!

Finally, he closed with a request. Please don’t forget us if you happen to be sending out any wedding invitations in the near future. He suspected there would be an announcement sooner rather than later!

Elrond read through his letter, signed and sealed it, then before he took it to the falcons, he thought he had better see if Bilbo had another letter to Thorin he was ready to send off. He had mentioned he was writing another asking for an official offer of sanctuary. The letters might as well go together.

Perhaps Bilbo could join him in a cup of tea when he finished!

**********************************************************************

Ori washed his hands again and carefully dried them. He had to be extra careful not to leave any skin oils on the pristine parchment he was enscribing!
When preparing an official document such as this, he had to be diligent in his work.
Crisp parchment, freshly made pigment inks, meticulous lettering and to finish the work of art, some carefully applied gold leaf.
He was almost finished with the embellishment of the signatory, then he could dry, roll and present the document to the King.

He had worked for hours on this and he was quite thirsty and his eyes were dry and stinging a bit. Still, he was proud of his work and this document would become part of Ereborian History.
The Official Declaration of Sanctuary that would be offered to the refugees from the Shire.
He was overjoyed and thrilled that he was the scribe to write it.
There! Finished!
He stood back from the desk a little and looked over his work.
Beautiful crisp and smooth parchment, elegant lettering, colourful illustration, sweeping curlicues and to finish off, the glistening gold leaf.
It was a work of art and he was justifiably proud of it!

Nori knocked on the door before entering. He would not disturb Ori while he was concentrating on his work. He deserved the respect for his craft!
Nori came over to the desk and looked at the Declaration.
“Oh! Ori! It is beautiful!”

“I am glad you like it! Do you want to come with me as I present it to the King and Balin?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world! Do you want Dori to come see as well?“
“Yes! That would be really nice!”
“Come on then, let’s go fetch him.”

A few minutes later, the Ri brothers stood proudly as The King unrolled the parchment.
“Ori, you have outdone yourself. This is magnificent! Balin! You must be proud of your apprentice!” “More than words can say Thorin, Much more than any words could say!”

“When the opportunity arises, I would like you to present this to the Master Scribes of the Guild, Ori. I think this should be put forward as your Master Piece. This is an accomplished work and you are worthy of your Mastership Braid!”

“This is a piece of History, my friends, and to be able to sign this with Bilbo will be a joy and a privilege!”

“How are the preparations coming along Balin?”

“We are almost ready! We have rooms being made ready with new hobbit sized furniture! Chairs, tables, beds and such. We have soft furnishings, sheets, padded quilts, towels and rugs. Cooking pots, crockery, bowls, cups and saucers. Our seamstresses and tailors have been working flat out to make a variety of sizes in hobbit style clothing. Well, as close as we can get it! It may not be to their usual taste, but they won’t freeze in the mountain over the winter!
I am having trouble persuading them that hobbits simply do not wear shoes! It may take a little time. They are just worried about cold toes!

Your other instructions have been carried out! There are terraces dug out on the southern slopes so that the hobbits can plant a little garden for each family if they want to. We need to source some soil for the gardens, but we thought we might send some wagons to the other side of the lake and dig some up from there. Hopefully, that will keep them happy until we can do something more permanent. That might not be until next spring though! We are too close to winter to start building outside right now.

Maybe we could get the glass blowers to make some sheet glass, Do you remember Bilbo talking about glass houses. Green houses? Glass houses? I can’t remember precisely, Why would the glass house be called green? Was the glass green? Never mind, we can ask him when we see him. All I do remember is they used them to keep plants growing even when it is too cold for the plants when planted outside. It could be something we can build for them!

The forges are busy, we are building cookers! Ovens and hobs, even some small bathtubs! You know how fussy Bilbo was about communal bathing! So we thought we would make small tubs for each family home!

We have the junior scribes copying books into Westron, even some school books! I think it is a step too far for the traditionalists to even think about learning Khuzdul!

The people are happy! They are pleased that the kin of our hero Burglar are coming to reside by the mountain. There is plenty of work to go around, everyone is busy!

And they are happy for you, my King! They have noticed the change in your demeanor! They can see how happy YOU are! They are full of joy that your One is coming home at last!”

Nori spoke up. “There is no sign of dissension! No plotting that I can pinpoint! As Balin said, The population is happy! There is work for everyone, All are warm and well fed! I am not saying it will stay like that forever! There is always someone who will nurture a grievance, but at the moment! Nothing untoward!”

Thorin turned to Dori. “What is the gossip from the tea room Dori? Anything worth mentioning?
“Nothing to worry about My King! The dwarrowdams are getting excited about a possible wedding on the horizon!”

The king blushed! Balin and Nori chuckled at their friend and Ori positively cooed!

Dori smiled and said. “Don’t mind them my King! We are all very happy for you, we love you as our King and our dear friend, and we all adore Bilbo as well. We couldn’t be happier! We can’t wait to see you reunited!”

The Cartwrights are almost finished with the wagons and handcarts! As soon as they are ready we will start to equip the formal escort! We will notify Rivendell as we set off so that we are in place at the foot of the mountains when the hobbits descend with the elven escort!

How did Thrandy react to the dual request for an escort along the Old Forest Road?”

“You must stop calling him that, Thorin!” Scolded Balin! “One of these times you are going to forget and call him that to his face!” The Ri brothers doubled up in laughter! “Oh, I do hope I will be present to see it!” Said Nori. “He needs taking down a peg or 2. The pretentious prat!

“Ori giggled!, “Thrandy Pandy, The Prince of Pretentious Prats!” “Bilbo certainly has a way with words!”

“Oh my goodness! I am going to need to have a word with Bilbo too!” groaned Balin, as the others held their sides in mirth! “This lot have not stopped giggling ever since you transcribed some of those passages in your letter!
“And then Kili showed them to Bard as well!” At this they all cracked up again! “Oh well, I can see I have lost the lot of you! I am going to find some sensible people to converse with!”

As Balin left the room, he could see even the Royal Guards had grins on their faces at the sound of helpless laughter coming from the room! Balin smiled. He wasn’t really angry! It was his job to be the sensible diplomat though! He loved to hear the laughter and the joy, but he was still going to be the strict taskmaster when serious business needed serious demeanors!

**********************************************************************

Bilbo called a meeting of the whole host on the great lawn! He had arranged a small dias to stand on with Rory and there were refreshments on several tables set to the side!

Lord Elrond and a small elven entourage were seated to the side of the dias and although they were present, it was clear they would be taking no part in the proceedings.

“Everyone! If I might have your attention please? Bilbo called.
The crowd settled and waited for Bilbo to continue. I have called everyone together because I have some momentous news! We have been offered a home and sanctuary with my friends the dwarves of Erebor! This is a genuine offer to give us land in perpetuity to build new homes and a new independent homeland!

We will not be held to account and will not be indentured tenants. This will be OUR home, OUR land and OUR own jurisdiction!

I once told you of the struggle of my friends the dwarves when they lost their home to the tragedy of Smaug. They now have their home back but they sympathise and grieve with us on the loss of our beloved Shire! They are sadly much reduced from the thousands that once thronged their home. They live in the mountain, but surrounding the mountain is a vast area of land that used to be productive farmland! Now it is known as the Desolation of Smaug!

However, the land is not dead! It is merely dormant! It will be a great undertaking to replenish and restore the land to full productivity again, But we can do it! We are hobbits! Blessed by the Great Lady Yavanna to bring forth the bounty from the land and to love and protect the blessed earth! We are duty bound to use our great gifts to coax the wonderful food and the beautiful flora that we love so much!

My friends the dwarves love beauty too! They find their joy in crafting great works from the stone under our feet, but they work in stone and metal and gems of the earth. They do not have the skill to grow and nurture the plants and trees as we do.
So we will form a partnership. They will give us some of the land that they consider a wasteland. We will live for a time in the mountain, until we can build our new homes on the land. They will provide us with temporary homes to see us through the winter. Then they will provide us with the tools we need to make the earth flower once more. We will grow crops, tend to our beasts, harvest fruit from our trees and bless the goodness and grace of Yavanna with our blossoms.
We have been promised help with building. With breaking the sod and planting the seeds and the trees. We will have treaties with our allies in the elves of Rivendell and the Greenwood, with the Men of Dale and of course our friends the dwarves of Erebor!
It will not be easy! It will be hard work. We are starting virtually from nothing but our skill and experience. But, we can do it. We will do it. With the sweat of our brows and the help from our friends, we WILL build a new life for ourselves!

The crowd of hobbits rose to their feet and cheered!
Bilbo raised his hands for quiet once again.

There is more to say, good people!

This is what awaits us at the end of our journey!
We still have to get there!

It is a long way. Many, many miles to go. We have rivers to ford, we have mountains to climb and large, dark forests to endure. I know only too well how far we still have to travel.
13 dwarves and I made this journey on our own. It was tough and at times it was terrifying.
However, our journey will be escorted!

My Lord Elrond has promised us a troop of elven warriors to help us across the Misty Mountains. When we reach the other side, we will be escorted the rest of the way by my dwarven friends. Thranduil of the Greenwood will provide an escort through the forest when we traverse the Old Forest Road. The Dwarves are bringing wagons, tents, ponies and carts to help us with our belongings and to help carry our tired faunts and elderly in comfort.

We are being provided with food and clothing, both to see us across the mountains and to see us through the winter. Everything we could think of to help with the journey to come has been addressed.

Please! If you think of something we may have forgotten, speak up! When we are actually on our way it will be too late to consider it!

Are there any questions?

“Mr Bilbo, Sir, When are we going?”
I am afraid I cannot give you an exact day at the moment, we are waiting to be informed when all the wagons and carts are ready. The dwarves will then set off ready to meet us as we descend the mountain pass on the other side. If they get there before us they will make camp and wait for us.

“Anyone else?”
“Do we have to pay for this land sir?
“No! The land will be a gift to us. We will be granted this land in perpetuity! That means it will be ours forever! We will enter into treaty with the dwarves to sell the goods we grow at their markets. We will have a similar treaty with the men of Dale. Just to be clear! We will not be given all of the land! It stretches for many miles and some parts of it are arid at the moment. There may be opportunities for further growth in later years. But we will have more than enough to cope with for now!

Why? Mr Bilbo, Sir? Why are they giving us a home and this land? In my experience you rarely get something for nothing.
“Ah, Well! I sort of helped them get their home back, so they are helping us because of that!”

Rory stood up at this, as Bilbo was blushing like a pink peony!
“I think I should answer this one, as our Thain is too modest for words!

Bilbo did indeed help the dwarves get their home back! What he doesn't mention is that he saved the dwarves' lives several times. He rescued them from captivity, He helped them find the hidden door when they thought all was lost. And finally, he faced a fire breathing dragon!

Bilbo is named as an Elf Friend and as a Dwarf Friend. As far as I know he is the only hobbit in the world to be named as such! His bravery is renowned as is his compassion! He will not speak of this for himself so I am going to shout it out for him!

This abundance of help and generosity is a gesture of gratitude from the most grateful people. He is renowned as a Hero of Erebor and is held in high esteem by Dwarves, Elves and Men.”

Lord Elrond stood up.
“In case you think that this is just hero worship and hyperbole, I can confirm that everything Mr Brandybuck has said is the truth!”

The host of hobbits once more stood up. They clapped and cheered! They laughed and they cried! Bilbo was so red with blushing he looked as though he could catch fire! Rory hugged him up on the dias, and then held Bilbo’s arm aloft!

“Gaffers, Farmers, Elders, Gentle hobbits, young and old! I give you our Thain!
Bilbo Baggins! Can we have 3 cheers!”

“Hip, Hip! HOORAY!
Hip, Hip! HOORAY!
Hip, Hip! HOORAY!”

Bilbo burst into tears and hid his face in his hands! Rory just put his arms around him and held him tight!

************************************************************************

1 week later, Elrond received the message that they had been waiting for. The wagons and carts were ready and the dwarves were on the move to the Misty Mountains.

50 wagons, loaded with tents, handcarts, food and clothing. Supplies enough for 100 dwarves as the escort for 300 hobbits.
Balin as senior advisor and Fili as the Crown Prince had to stay behind. Bifur also stayed in Erebor as his strong stone sense was needed in the mines. Gloin as the Master of the Coin was needed to keep control of Expenditure and the extensive Payroll, Oin was of course in charge of the infirmary and was always needed.
The rest of the original Company, those firm friends forged by the journey of a lifetime, a quest for the ages, were determined to welcome Bilbo home!
Bofur and Bombur, Ori, Nori and Dori, Dwalin, the Captain of the Guard.
The Prince of Erebor, Kili, and of course,
His Majesty, Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King under the Mountain.
Nothing on earth could have kept him from journeying to reunite with his One!

The escort had to be chosen by lottery! So many volunteered for the duty that they couldn’t possibly all go. Dwalin put the volunteers through their paces on the training grounds and only those personally passed by him were put forward for the lottery!

It was considered a Great Honour by those chosen and they actually requested a badge to be designed as a commemorative of the great occasion.

When this was discovered by the general populace, everyone wanted one.
It was decided that a commemorative coin would be struck which would be released at the ceremony of The Signing Of The Declaration Of Sanctuary! This would be a double headed coin with a portrait of King Thorin on one side and Thain Bilbo on the other!

It was further decided NOT to mention this yet, to Bilbo, and to present it as a Fait Accomplis when it was far too late to do anything about it.
They just knew he would splutter and blow and declare it as ‘perfectly ridiculous’ and ‘stuff and nonsense’. He was adorably modest and hated ‘too much fuss’.

Thorin seemed to be perpetually basking in a warm glow. He had a gentle smile on his face every day, which was only replaced by a beaming smile and a hearty laugh when he thought about his beloved hobbit. Which was often!

His great friends in the company teased him unmercifully and called him a Great Sap!
But he didn’t care in the slightest.
He was going to meet his greatest love. His One! Who loved him just as fervently.
They could call him any name they wanted.
He was perfectly, ridiculously happy for the first time in his life.
He had lived a long and hard life, full of adversity and pain and loss.
But now, Mahal had smiled on him and granted him the greatest gift.
And it seemed that Yavanna, the Great Lady and wife of Mahal, had gifted Bilbo too!

Thorin had plans to build a new Shrine to Yavanna and place it next to Mahal’s Shrine so that both Bilbo and he could give their grateful thanks together!

Yes! Ok! He WAS a Great Sap! He was loving every minute of it!

The King entered Dale and found King Bard waiting for him! They had patched their differences and Thorin apologised profusely for his actions and they were now great friends and colleagues.
They had a similar outlook. They both thoroughly hated paperwork and both disdained the vain and pompous Thranduil.

It was a necessary relationship with a near neighbour, but one they suffered through!
Bard hailed the King and rode alongside him for a while to speak with him. The Company drew back slightly to allow them some privacy to speak.

“So, you are finally on your way then!”
“Yes! At last, it has been a form of torture having to wait! I would have called on the eagles to pick me up and fly me to Rivendell if I could! Unfortunately, my duty and the complicated logistics of the move had to temper my enthusiasm. But we are moving at last!”

“Could you please do me a small favour?”
“Depends what it is! I am not having Thrandy to dinner again in a hurry, thank you very much!
Bard chuckled! “No, no! Nothing quite so drastic! Are you taking any Ravens with you?”
“Yes! I still can’t get away from the dreaded paperwork, no matter how hard I try!”
“Could you please send me a Raven when you are just a couple of days away from home?

“My people are planning a welcome home spectacle for when you reach Dale again and this will give me a little notice to prepare! It is truly amazing how much preparation work is needed for a spontaneous festival!”

Thorin chuckled! “Oh that is so true!”
“Certainly Bard, it will be my pleasure!” “Do you know if Thrandy is with the Forest escort to meet us?”
“I wouldn’t think so, He will more likely wait until the great host arrives before he makes his appearance! He knows that preening in front of us just doesn’t work! I must admit, I can’t wait to see what will happen when Bilbo forgets himself and calls him Thrandy Pandy to his face!”
Thorin spluttered and barely suppressed a snort! “Oh Mahal! Don’t! I have already got Balin on my case about propriety and decorum! He seems to forget that this nickname has sprouted from the most proper and genteel being I have ever encountered! But I must admit, the thought of that scenario has nearly brought me to my knees a few times now! Apparently even Lord Elrond calls him that now!”

Bard nearly fell off his horse laughing! “Don’t! Dont! Please! Oh my word! The State gatherings will never be the same again!

Safe travels, Your Majesty! May Mahal shield you until we meet again!”

“And may Mahal shelter you and yours, Your Majesty! Until we meet again!”
They clasped their forearms together in a gesture of friendship and then parted from each other!

Kili rode up to join his Uncle for a moment. “What was that! I thought Bard was going to fall off his horse!”

“He very nearly did! I just mentioned that Lord Elrond has adopted ‘The Nickname’!”

“Oh Mahal! Yep! That would do it!” “I can’t wait to see what nicknames Bilbo comes up with for the Guild Masters and the Counsellors of Morgoth we have to put up with every week!”

“Oh Kili! Please! Don’t start me off! We have a long, long ride ahead of us and it is going to be very uncomfortable if we all have aching ribs from too much laughter!”

“Don’t be silly Uncle! There is no such thing as too much laughter! But you do have a point about the aching ribs!”

Thorin smiled as Kili dropped back a little to the other members of the Company.
‘Yes! This was happiness!’ He was so happy, he lifted his voice in song as he led his people on!

***********************************************************************

Bilbo read the message about the Dwarven Escort being on their way and a shiver of excitement played across his skin.
In 3 days they will climb up to the high pass through the mountains. There will be no diversionary excursions this time, thank you very much! No Goblin caves. No thunder battles! No, this time he would be with a host of 300 hobbits and a full troop of elven warriors, led by Lord Glorfindel, the Elven Twins, Elrohir and Elladan and a laughing prankster of an elf called Halrodel. They were part of a troop of 40 elves escorting them through the high pass and down to the plains of Rhovanion.

He was looking forward to seeing the first glimpse of the Great River Anduin. He missed out on that on the first journey. He had devoured the maps while in the library in Rivendell, but due to the blasted Goblin cave and his little escapade in the deep cavern with Gollum, they came out of the mountains too far down and a bit too far north to catch the sights he wanted to see!

The elves had described the great silver ribbon that could be seen from the high places in the mountain. A silver ribbon that threaded through a vista of many shades of green. From the dark green of the pines, the rich emerald shades of the foothills and glens, to the paler green of the new grasses that carried the river on its long journey to the sea.

He couldn’t wait to see it! But, more than that, When he caught sight of the river, he would know they were on their way down to the foothills, where he would finally meet Thorin again.
He wondered if he had changed at all.
The last time he saw Thorin, he had been so very badly wounded and was in a healing sleep. He only stayed until Oin reassured him that the King and both of the Princes were now out of danger. What they needed now was careful nursing and lots of rest.

That same day, Bilbo started to pack for his journey home to the Shire.
He said a tearful farewell to the rest of the Company and wished them a speedy recovery from their wounds, then found Gandalf, who had waited patiently for him and left………

He still carried a picture of Thorin. He kept it close to his heart, his closely guarded secret from everyone. It was just a charcoal drawing from Ori, drawn one night when Thorin was on watch! He was caught in a patch of moonlight, which Ori had depicted in the shining strands of silver in his dark hair, he was staring out into the distance, and Ori had caught his profile. The strong brow, the straight blade of a nose, and his short beard. Kept close cropped to mourn those thousands of dwarves lost in the awful sequence of disasters that had plagued the Durin clan of the Longbeards. The dragon, the exile, the war of Khazad-dum. The long march home after the Night of Flames, where the dead had been burned because there were too many to bury and too few left to do the task!

The anguish showed in his face, even when he slept, and Ori had caught it in charcoal on a moonlit night!
When Bilbo saw it, it almost brought him to tears, but he begged Ori for the picture and put it safe. He treasured it when he reached home for the memory of the one he loved and lost to madness and war!

Oh Thorin! His whole body ached to see him again and this time to hold him and never let go!

Only a few more days, just a few more days!

************************************************************************

Rory was just about ready to pull his hair out! He was trying to get ready to supervise the distribution of winter weight clothing to the hobbits before they made the ascent to the high mountain pass. There were so many different garments, of all different sizes and they were mixed up with male, female and childrens’ clothes! He was a bit overwhelmed and struggling with where to start!

There was no doubt, he needed help with this, and swiftly. Time was moving on, it seemed, at an ever faster pace, as the final preparations were made to leave Rivendell.

Rory needed Bilbo, right now, if you please!
“Bilbo! There you are! I have been looking for you for ages! Please help! I am having an awful bother!”

“What ever is the matter? Is there something wrong? Has something happened?”

“Yes! I mean no! I am a bit stuck and I need your help! Please?”

“Well that was as clear as a muddy pond! Come and sit down for a moment and have a cup of tea. We will talk about your problem, then go and sort it out together!”

Rory gave him a weak smile and sat down for a moment!

“Now, then! What are you doing that has gotten you into such a tizzy?” Bilbo poured Rory a cup of tea and then poured one for himself and he seemed to skewer Rory into the chair with a stern look!

“Oh it’s nothing bad! I haven’t done anything wrong! I just seem to be having trouble doing anything right! I simply don’t know where to start! And this is so very important!”

“Calm down a moment and tell me what it is you are trying to do!”

Rory drank a little of his tea while he tried to order his thoughts and try to explain his problem.

“I have a huge pile of clothes to distribute to get ready for crossing the mountain, and they are all different and all mixed up and I don’t know where to start! How do I do this? I have never dealt with clothes like this and everyone needs to be prepared and I don’t know what I am doing!”

Bilbo smiled and patted him on the knee! “Now don’t fret! What we do is simply get hold of some experts and let them sort it out. Work to your strengths Rory, and this is a lesson in delegating!”

They finished their tea, then Bilbo took Rory over to the camp on the lawn and looked for some of the ladies supervising the faunts.
“Gentle Ladies! I find myself in need of your help. Could you spare some time to assist me please?”

“Certainly! Mr Bilbo, Sir! How can we help you?”

“I think I will need several ladies to help sort and distribute the winter clothing! Being a mere male I have no clue how to do this properly! Could you please assist me!”

“Don’t you worry about that, Mr Bilbo, Sir! We will get that sorted for you in a jiffy! You just leave it to us! If you could just show us where the clothing is we will get it done for you!”

Bilbo escorted some of the ladies to the room containing the huge piles of clothing and explained his dilemma.

The ladies took a moment to inspect the clothing in front of them, then sent back to the camp for several reinforcements! In no time at all there were a dozen ladies swarming through the piles of clothing which shortly became piles of trews, shirts, jerkins, cloaks and sundry items on separate tables. These were then appraised and folded into more piles of each type by their size!

The ladies then called for the hobbits to form an orderly queue by family group and started the distribution. By the end of the afternoon, the massive piles of clothing that had driven Rory to distraction had dwindled to a few lonely items that were deemed unsuitable and surplus to requirements! It was all done with almost regimental efficiency!

Bilbo arranged some pots of tea and some dainty cake fancies to be sent to the ladies as a thank you for their help.

Rory, was quite frankly astonished! “Bilbo! They made it all look so easy? How on earth did they do that? How on earth did YOU know they could do that?”

“Oh! That was an easy fix Rory! Those ladies wrangle a whole party of unruly faunts every day, they take care of bathing, dressing and feeding the whole lot of them! They practically do the same job every time they do the laundry! As I said, we just needed the experts! For a job like this, those matrons ARE the experts!”

“We all have our own strengths Rory, and never, ever underestimate the strengths of the ladies. They may not always do the same work as us, but they have their own knowledge and expertise! We would be the worst kinds of fools to dismiss what they know as unimportant! We simply would never manage without them! They are sometimes the strongest of us all! Don’t ever forget that!”

“Now then, we have all been very busy these past few days! We have some time before dinner, let's have a cup of tea and catch up on the gossip!”

***********************************************************************

It was the day of departure from Rivendell.

Bilbo surveyed the host of hobbits who were arrayed in their new clothing with full packs on their backs and walking sticks in hand. He was once again clad in his Mithril shirt under a warm travelling cloak. He had Sting on his hip and his trusty walking stick with his pack!
The Faunts were already wearing small harnesses made from rope, ready for the more difficult paths leading to the high pass. The Elven escort was spread out across the column of walkers, ready to assist or intercept as the case may be.

At the farewell feast the night before, Bilbo had reminded the hobbits of the dangers of the paths ahead and warned them to keep to the inside of the paths and let the more experienced elves walk on the outside. The faunts would be roped to the adults as they climbed higher to minimise any danger of trips and falls. Bilbo had been quite stern about this! There were to be no exceptions, no matter how grown up the faunts might think they were! Safety first, punctured pride and dented ego’s could be soothed when they descended the mountains again. Their safety was of paramount importance!

The ladies overseeing the faunts had pockets full of sweeties to dole out when the inevitable ear aches started. The change in altitude could literally be quite a pain! Sucking a soothing sweet was known to help! Thankfully, it would not last too long!

Elrond was just saying a last farewell to his sons and telling them to please behave! There were to be no pranks on the mountain slopes.

As the twins turned from their father, Bilbo approached him and took hold of his hands! He held his hands to his brow and he bowed to the Lord Elrond!

“My Lord Elrond, we can never thank you enough for your kindness and compassion. Your help has been invaluable and so gratefully received.
Please accept my eternal gratitude on behalf of my people! You and your people will forever be assured of our deep and abiding friendship!
As we start our journey to our new home, remember, you will always be welcome there!

I will stay in touch, my friend, but I hope to see you soon. Until then, farewell!”

With that, Bilbo turned and walked to the head of the host, alongside the Lord Glorfindel, followed by Rory and the Twins. They turned away from Rivendell and started to walk the path to the mountain. The host followed behind them and raised their voices in a song of parting.

Bilbo took a deep breath and tried to disguise his nervousness! He could feel his heart beating fit to burst and he was shaking underneath his very calm exterior! They were on their way at last! The last few weeks had been full of meetings and planning and preparation until his head felt full to overflowing! Now, finally! Finally they were on their way!
He tried to calm his breathing and his thoughts! On these paths, he really needed to concentrate on what he was doing!

Glorfindel turned his head and looked at Bilbo. It was as if he knew what Bilbo was thinking!
“Relax! We are not near any of the difficult paths yet! We have time to settle into a good pace and make our way through carefully! We will not see anyone come to harm Bilbo! Take your time and relax!

Bilbo smiled at him and nodded in agreement! ‘Yes! Calm down!’ He thought to himself. ‘We have plenty of time! Just have a steady walk and enjoy the views spread out before them’.
‘We are on our way!’

The great host carefully, carefully made their way to the high pass and, at last, Bilbo was rewarded with the view into the Rhovanion and the silver ribbon of the Great Anduin River! He paused for a moment to take it in! He felt as though his spirit was soaring in the clouds and his heart flying with the eagles! He was over the cusp of the mountain and now they would be going downhill!

He had not heard of any slips or stumbles or any gripes and grumbles, The hobbits had been magnificent and he was so proud of them! They had taken it all in their stride. They were halfway through their mountain trek and the gentle green foothills were beckoning below!

The paths had not been as difficult as Bilbo had imagined. Thorin and the company must have used a different pass over the mountain! This one had not been anywhere near as narrow and precarious! The paths were wide enough to take wagons and he realised that this would be the main route for travellers. It had certainly been more gentle than he remembered!

He looked out at the view below and at the distance they still had to go. He turned to look to the north, and glimpsed the Carrock way below. He lifted his eyes, and there! There it was!
The Lonely Mountain! Looking so small due to the great distance, but he could see it at last! Tears sprang to his eyes as he looked at the Mountain, almost hidden in the distant mists.

He finally felt a little of what Thorin must have felt, when they gazed upon the sight from the Carrock, so long ago. The feeling of seeing a longed for home once again!
The tears were running down Bilbo's cheeks, but he didn’t notice them!
The elves and Rory were silent beside him while he lost himself in the moment!
Until Rory took his hand and squeezed, “Alright there Bilbo? Are you ready?
Come on then, let’s go!” Together, they started their descent from the High Pass.

***********************************************************************

Thorin and the Company, along with the Escort, had set up their camp. They were as close as possible to the road leading from the High Pass. They had actually reached the mountains in good time and were now waiting for their scouts to report on the sighting of the host. They had been met with an escort of Woodland elves and had encountered no problems on the road through the forest. No spiders, no orcs and thankfully, no Thranduil either.

He was pretty certain that he would have to endure his presence on the way back though!

The wagons were lined up facing the road and all the ponies were enclosed in a roped off paddock to rest. They had managed to erect the tents in rows and fire pits had been dug into the turf. Large tureens of a hearty stew were simmering away over cooking poles and all was now ready to receive the party of hobbits and their elven escort.

The escorts had previously been invited to stay overnight before embarking on the return journey over the mountain.

Thorin was pacing up and down again! Talk about impatience! The Company tried to distract him from wearing a groove in the grass, but it didn’t last for long!
They shook their heads in fond exasperation and just let him get on with it!

A distant horn blew! The host had been sighted! A signal was heard, 2 long notes! They were 2 hours away! Only 2 hours!

The Escort started to murmur and the excitement was growing. The honour guard were giving their armour a final polish and weapons were checked and flags were unfurled.

Water was put on to boil and teapots were lined up on the tables.
The Company had explained that the first thing the hobbits would want after their trek across the pass was a cup of tea. The general disbelief in this was dispersed when Dori produced a keg of his best tea from one of the wagons. When he mentioned that this was Bilbo’s favourite brew, the tea leaves were distributed to the tables with the tea pots!

Thorin retired to his tent and removed his braids, brushed his hair until it shone and then rebraided his hair as perfectly as he could. He then took his crown from its travel case and placed it on his head.

This was the new crown, made from a simple silver circlet, adorned with multiple peaks of bright mithril, with 7 diamonds studded in the ancient crown formation over a black iron anvil. He had commissioned the new crown with this specific design. The silver circlet signified the rejection of the curse of gold sickness, the peaks signified the mountains that they loved, the diamonds of the Stars of Durin shone for the Line of Kings, and the iron anvil signified the years of struggle, where even a King worked as a blacksmith to help his people survive.

The hated Raven monstrosity had been put in the deep vaults of historical artefacts. Too important as history to destroy, but hopefully never to be used again!

Thorin had vowed that he would never wear gold again. The shame of his fall to gold sickness was still very raw and he abhorred the very sight of the metal now. No matter how important to the economy, he would never be comfortable with gold. Never again!

Wearing the new crown and dressed in Durin Blue and black he left the tent and prepared himself to meet the hobbits. He had to preserve the protocols afforded to leaders of other nations and peoples, but once the ceremonials were done, he was looking forward to a very private meeting with his beloved Bilbo.

He sat down in the impressive chair on the small dias that Balin had insisted upon. (“You are a King! At least look like one!”)

They were only a few minutes away now, and the column of hobbits could be heard approaching! When they came into sight and marched up to him with Bilbo at their head, he rose from the chair to greet them.

Welcome my friends! I am very happy to greet you at last! First, let me express my condolences on the fate of the Shire! We dwarves of Erebor understand only too well the pain of suddenly losing your home!

We offer you the hospitality of our mountain to give you shelter throughout the coming winter and we vow to help you build your new homes in the spring.

We offer you tracts of land to cultivate and to make flourish, until the desolate land is once again green and fruitful.
We have prepared tents for your comfort to rest in after your journey, but first, we would like to offer you a nice cup of tea!

With that, there was laughter and a great cheer as the tired and parched hobbits sought out refreshment!

Thorin stood looking at Bilbo and though he had a smile on his face he had tears in his eyes.
“Hello my dear Bilbo! I am so happy to see you again. I have missed you so very much!”
Bilbo walked up to him and took both his hands and gently kissed them.
“As I have missed you my Thorin, seeing you again has filled a hole in my very heart and soul.”

Thorin escorted Bilbo to the King's tent and led him inside. He turned to him when they were out of sight of the huge crowd and they held each other tight, as they mingled their tears!

Shortly after, there was a discreet knock at the entrance. Thorin and Bilbo hastily composed themselves.

“Enter!” Called Thorin, and the tent suddenly filled with Bilbo’s dear friends from the Company.
“Bilbo!” “Mr Boggins!” “Bilbo! Welcome back!”..........
He was in danger of being buried under them! Just like the day he first met them!
Once again he was in tears! But they were tears of sheer happiness!

***********************************************************************
Later that evening after the host of hobbits, elves and dwarves had been well fed and pampered with tea and sweet honey cakes, they were all ready to make use of the tents provided for them and retire to their sleep.

Thorin invited Bilbo into the Kings tent once again, but had guards discreetly posted at the door. “I hope you don’t object too much to the guard being outside! It is simply as a chaperone!”
“No! Thorin! I understand the necessary proprieties!”

“Bilbo! I want to make sure that our future together is as solid as we can make it! I love you and I want to court you in the proper manner.
As King, I must set an example and I want our courtship to be beyond any doubt and above reproach!

If you would consent to marry me, my love, you would be my Consort under the Mountain, second only to me as Ruler of my people.
The courtship will have to follow strict rules as laid down in our laws. I will be expected to present you with 3 courting gifts. These gifts will signify Protection, Comfort and Love.

It is our tradition that these gifts are made by our own hands and skill. We are taught that nothing but the best that we can make will be suitable. It would shame us to offer our One anything but our very best work!

You would be expected to reciprocate with at least 2 courting gifts. Those that signify Comfort and Love.
As I am the petitioner to court, I would be the one to provide the gift of Protection to you.

When all the gifts have been offered and accepted we would be considered to be betrothed and the plans for the wedding would begin.

It is expected that courting couples are ‘careful’ with displays of affection. It would be severely frowned upon if we were seen to kiss in public. Any meeting we have would be chaperoned to ensure no improprieties were to occur!
We would not be allowed to be alone behind closed doors! This is very strictly observed and we would be censured for infringements. Yes, even myself as the King!
Especially, myself as the King!

The rules while courting are quite strict, but they are relaxed a little once we exchange our courting beads for betrothal beads.
Oh Mahal! I forgot to mention the courting braids and beads!
If?”….. He smiled softly, “When? You accept my petition to Court you, I would put a specific braid in your hair and fasten the end with a special bead. The bead would be either a family heirloom or one made by my hands.

I would expect that this first bead from me would be an heirloom from the House of Durin, The Ruling Line of Kings but the second bead, the betrothal bead can only be made by my hands and gifted to you. I will arrange some lessons in braiding for you, if you wish and you may use any craft you have to fashion your courting bead to me!

After the final courting gifts, there is a betrothal gift, but that is generally something for our home. Then the betrothal bead and braid are taken out and replaced with the marriage braid on our wedding day!

Mahal! Bilbo! You have no idea how much it moves me to think of our courtship and the joy that fills my heart to talk of our wedding day!”

“Thorin, my love, my heart! I know this joy, for I feel it myself! I will abide by all of the rules of courtship to my best ability, and even though it will be so difficult to wait for you, I will bear it! Because, after all that we have gone through, all our trials and hardship, you are the joy of my life and you are worth waiting for!

Are we allowed a kiss before the official Petition to Court? We are not bound by the rules yet, after all!”

“Clever Hobbit! My Ghivashel! If we are strong enough to restrain from going further, then a few kisses will be my greatest wish and my dearest delight!”

Good! Then let me grant your wishes and show you my own delight, my dear love!”

The King and his hobbit may have been truly inside a tent at the foot of the mountains, but their hearts were finally entwined and floating with the stars!