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lilbardrhi · 4 months ago

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Chapter Two: DWARVES

Pairings: Kíli x Original Female Character; Fíli x Original Female Character

CW: graphic depictions of violence; major character death; self-insert style original characters; The Trifecta (smut, fluff, and angst); time travel; MGiME

Author's Note: Let's see how many chapters I can get from AO3 to Tumblr today lol check out @megjameswrites for more T-V content!

Meg and I spent the daylight hours learning about Middle Earth and Bilbo's family history. When the sun started sinking below the Hobbit hills of The Shire, Bilbo decided it was time to pack up his heirlooms and figure out what to feed us three for dinner.

While he packed things up, I fell asleep at the table. Once Bilbo realized, he shook me awake gently and suggested going to the other room if I was going to nap.

"Oh, I’m sorry. Are you sure?" I questioned Bilbo as he lead me to a closed door just past the library.

Meg was deep in a book, with other books resting in neat piles on the desk she was seated next to and leaning on, as we passed the open door.

"It's fine. You seem rather exhausted so I will have Meg wake you when dinner is finished." He glanced back towards the library after pushing a door open. "If I can remove her from my books."

I laughed and stepped into the room.

"Yeah, good luck with that one. Just put something equally appealing in front of her and that should remove her nose from any book. By that, I mean delicious, home-cooked food."

Bilbo stepped into the room after me to gather some blankets from a chest on the far side of the room.

"The bed is meant for a Hobbit to sleep in but if you stay curled up, you should be fine."

I looked at the bed he mentioned and figured it was probably the Hobbit equivalent of a king mattress back on Earth.

"I think I'll manage. Thank you."

I smiled at him as he made his way back to the door after leaving a small stack of blankets at the end of the bed.

"Those are also meant for Hobbits. I never thought I'd have a Human visitor, let alone two in one day." He paused once he realized I thanked him and he looked over at me sitting at the edge of the bed. "You're welcome. I do apologize for not having more to make you two comfortable."

"Don't worry about it, Bilbo. We'll manage. Plus I enjoyed myself today and I can guarantee Meg is still having loads of fun."

He nodded then stepped out of the room.

"Have a nice nap," he told me before closing the door most of the way.

Deciding the bed was comfy enough, I curled up in it with two of the blankets over me. I was asleep again shortly after.

"Rhi," I heard Meg near me so I slowly but unwillingly opened my eyes.

"Did Bilbo finish cooking dinner already?"

She looked towards the open door then back to me.

"Well, yeah but somebody's eating Bilbo's helping and will probably be working on ours next."

I gave her a confused look, my brain still foggy from sleep. She smiled, probably knowing the next thing she said would have me up and out of bed rather quickly.

"Dwarves."

I sat up and slid off of the bed with a huge grin.

"It's too quiet for everybody to be here already. So either Dwalin just got here or-"

My voice was cut off by the sound of Bilbo's doorbell.

"That's Balin now and, Rhi?"

She raised her eyebrows at me and I gave her an innocent smile.

"Yes?"

"Leave him be for now."

I could feel my cheeks turn pink and I stuck my tongue out at her.

"Shush. He doesn't know who I am. Just 'cause I've got a crush on him from seeing him in movies, doesn't mean I'm gonna be all over him immediately."

I straightened my hoodie and lifted my arms to run my fingers through my hair but just realized that it was way longer than it should be.

"Yeah, by the way. Your hair is long again," she said with a laugh and left the room to go help Bilbo stay calm.

I took a deep breath then exited the room, shutting the door behind me. As I made my way back to the dining room, I could hear Bilbo was about to start spouting his apology to Dwalin and Balin. I turned into the room and stood next to Meg. Bilbo paused to greet us.

"Hello Meg, Rhi." He turned back to the Dwarves and continued, "It's not that I don't like visitors. I like visitors as much as the next Hobbit. But I do like to know them before they come visiting. Like these two, for example. Sure I just met them today but I at least was given their names before they entered my house, invited by me."

I could hear Dwalin and Balin complaining about the blue cheese in Bilbo's pantry and Bilbo looked at us in disbelief. I mouthed a "sorry" to him and he turned back to the two brothers.

"The thing is, I don't know either of you. Not in the slightest."

All three of us watched as the blue cheese was tossed out of the pantry. Meg and I stifled our laughter and Bilbo continued.

"I don't mean to be blunt, but I had to speak my mind. I'm sorry."

The chatter from the pantry stopped and Balin spoke up.

"Apology accepted," Balin announced, then they promptly when back to drinking Bilbo's wine and digging through his food.

The doorbell rang again and I stood straight to follow Bilbo to the door. Meg was on my heels to make sure I behaved.

The door squeaked open as I stood behind Bilbo as if ready to help but Meg knew better. She could see me pulling at the sleeves of my hoodie so she gave me a quick nudge.

"Calm down," she whispered as the door opened completely.

Bilbo let out a small groan as I locked eyes with Kíli. A nervous smile spread across my face and he smirked at me.

"Fíli."

Kíli's eyes ran over me quickly while his brother introduced himself.

"And Kíli," he said, eyes still on mine.

"At your service," they said together with a bow.

"You must be Mister Boggins," Kíli said, now looking at Bilbo.

I couldn't help the small giggle upon hearing the name. No idea where he got "Boggins" from but I will always find it adorable. Meg will probably say it's because Kíli is the one who said it.

"Nope! You can't come in, you've come to the wrong house," Bilbo said as he started pushing the door closed.

I frowned at him but Kíli stopped the door and pushed it back open.

"What? Has it been canceled?" His eyes shot to me briefly and his frown deepened.

"No one told us," Fíli sounded genuinely offended but most of my attention was on his brother.

"No, nothing's been canceled."

Bilbo shook his head in confusion and Kíli smiled, looking back at me.

"That's a relief."

Kíli pushed the door open all the way again and let himself in. Fíli, well... he walked in like he owned the place. My eyes went back to Kíli who was now in front of me and smiling up at me.

I blinked a few times then smiled back, "Hello, Kíli."

"You know mine, so, may I ask for your name?"

"Rhi," my voice was a bit shy and I could feel the blush spreading across my cheeks.

I'm sure he could see it. Besides the fact that he was so close, he hadn't taken his eyes off me since it was confirmed nothing was canceled.

"Rhi," he repeated, and let me tell you, I enjoyed the way he said my name way too much. "A beautiful name for a beautiful lady. You should grow a beard, it would look good!"

My eyes popped open at the comment as he walked away.

Was that meant to be a compliment or...?

Either way, my blush grew darker and I pulled my hood forward a bit to hide the underside of my jaw. I really hope he wasn't referring to that.

"It's nice, this place," Kíli called from down the hall a bit as I reached over to push the door shut. "Did you do it yourself?"

That, I'm pretty sure, was a compliment. Once the door was latched I joined them back down the hall.

"What? No, it's been in the family for years," Bilbo muttered as Fíli dropped random weapons in his arms.

Meg stood next to me with an amused expression while she watched Fíli, her arms crossed over her chest. A scraping noise from my left could be heard and Bilbo turned to yell at Kíli.

"That's my mother's glory box! Could you please not do that?"

"Fíli, Kíli. Come on, give us a hand," Dwalin said with a, possibly confused, glance to me before pulling Kíli towards the dining room.

"Mister Dwalin," Kíli said with a quick laugh.

Fíli followed them and I followed him.

"Shove this in the hallway. Otherwise, we'll never get everyone in," Balin instructed.

"'Everyone'? How many more are there?" Bilbo's panicked voice raised above the noise of moving furniture as Meg pulled me towards the pantry.

The doorbell rang again and Bilbo stomped off to yell about how this was a poor joke.

"I suppose I could," I bent to pick up the blue cheese that was thrown earlier, "try to help? Is there gonna be anything in here I know how to cook?"

I carefully put the cheese back on a shelf and began looking around.

"I doubt it," Meg said while tossing a grape in her mouth. "They have open fires to cook on here not stovetop burners, like our Earth."

She was right. The pantry didn't help me in my quest to cook something. I did, however, get recruited to help set the table since everybody was here now.

Bilbo shouted at the dwarves as they emptied his pantry. I rolled up the sleeves of my hoodie just before Dwalin handed me a bowl full of fruits.

"Put that out on the table, will ya, lass?"

I smiled and nodded then made my way back to the table to find a home for the fruit bowl.

"Rhi," Gandalf called to me so I looked over at him.

"Oh hey, Gandalf! You're back," I said while taking a cube of cheese off the table to pop it in my mouth.

"I am. Are you alright? You don't seem as chipper as you were earlier," he told me with a slight frown.

I looked over the table at all the food that was starting to take up almost every inch of its surface and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Before he could protest, Dori approached him and offered him some tea. Dori left to get the requested wine and Gandalf went to the hall between the pantry and dining room to count the Dwarves.

"He is late, is all. He traveled north to a meeting of our kin. He will come," Dwalin said from the archway to Gandalf.

"Bombur's on his second leg of lamb already," Bofur complained and I smiled.

I didn’t realize just how hungry I was until my stomach growled as I scanned over all the food on the table. Taking the chance before supper started, I escaped back to the room Bilbo let me nap in earlier to toss my hoodie on a chair near the bed.

Sixteen bodies in one Hobbit hole makes things very warm.

While rushing back out, I heard Dwalin yelling.

"No chance. Not from that distance!"

Just as I entered the room on the same side as Bombur, Bofur shouted down the table, "Bombur, catch!"

A huge smile lit up my face as they all cheered about Bombur catching the hardboiled egg with his mouth and I took a seat between him and Gandalf. Food was passed, and tossed, around the table to be sure everyone got what they wanted.

Soon Fíli came walking down the table as he did his best not to step on any food.

"Who wants an ale?"

My hand shot out towards him as my smile grew.

"I'll take one!"

Things went a bit quiet as he turned to me with a smirk.

"Aye, lass! This is Dwarvish ale, strong enough to put hair on even your chin! Ye sure you want to drink?"

I shrugged, my eyes locked with his.

"I'll rock a beard and what the hell do you mean by 'even my chin', huh?" I turned my hand palm up and wiggled my fingers, "Now gimme."

The table erupted into loud cheers as I demanded the drink but before I could accept it, Bombur's large hand thumped me on the back hard enough to send my upper half over the table.

Meg started cackling from the other side of Gandalf so with the hand I wasn't reaching for ale with, I flipped her off.

This only made her laugh more before telling me, "Ain't me you're gonna be doing that to by the end of tonight. Especially if you drink enough of that ale. I'll take one too, though."

I accepted the flagon from Fíli's grip with a large smile as he eyed Meg and me.

"I meant that Human women aren't known to be able to grow such luscious facial hair as Dwarven women. It's a pity, really. You'd both be quite stunning if only you could sprout a good beard," Fíli explained to Meg and me with a shrug.

Kíli reached out and punched his brother's leg as I greedily started drinking from the flagon in an attempt to hide my face.

"Are you calling us ugly?"

I could hear Meg trying to hide her laughter while trying to seem a bit offended. I pulled the flagon away from my lips and set it on the table and stared at my plate, trying to decide what to start with.

Fíli shook his head after turning back to us from glaring at his brother.

"'Course not. You're both very beautiful. I just prefer bearded women is all."

With that, he left us to finish passing out ale.

I took the chance to look over where Kíli was seated and felt my embarrassment grow. He was already looking at me and with a soft smile that grew into one of his usual smiles once he locked eyes with me.

"Ale on the count of three," a Dwarf, Dwalin I think it was, demanded to the room.

I swiped up my flagon again as they counted to two and Kíli shouted, "Up!"

His gaze fixed on me until we all lifted our flagons and gulped down what remained in them. We all slammed our flagons back to the table. When the last flagon hit the table loud burps rang through the room.

They all cheered for Ori's burp and shortly after the cheers went back to chatter a loud burp bubbled from my mouth. I looked around the table until my eyes locked with Kíli's again. They all looked shocked. Suddenly Kíli cheered, and so did the others, so I let a small smile creep over my lips. He looked back at me, the smile firmly in place again.

Everyone, except Bombur, finished eating not long after so we all stood to start gathering dishes. Bilbo followed Nori into the kitchen.

"Excuse me, that is a doily, not a dishcloth."

"But it's full of holes," Bofur complained to him.

"It's supposed to look like that. It's crochet."

"And a wonderful game it is too if you've got the balls for it."

I laughed quietly with the other dwarves who caught it. Then I carried a few dishes into the kitchen just after Gandalf followed Bilbo out of the room. With a giggle at Bilbo's ranting, I began humming softly to myself as I ducked back into the dining room.

My ears caught on to soft thumping so I turned to look at the Dwarves still seated around the table. A very large smile graced my features; I knew exactly what was going on. Bilbo's voice above the house full of Dwarves only confirmed it.

"And can you not do that? You'll blunt them."

"Ooh. Do you hear that, lads? He says we'll blunt the knives," Bofur said with a teasing tone.

Kíli's voice echoed through the Hobbit hole, "Blunt the knives, bend the forks."

My gaze went to Fíli as he continued the song and I joined the Dwarves in their song shortly after which earned me a bit of a look from Nori who I was standing near.

Taking the chance, I stepped from the floor to an empty chair next to me and jumped on the table. Once I made it to the top of the table we all sang loudly, "That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"

I sang the entire song with them and even ended up on the table, dancing. I looked over to Balin who was bouncing dishes towards Fíli like it was an everyday thing. Then I watched Bofur and Oin using random household items as instruments while Dori thumped the table like a drum.

I stopped dancing and threw my arms out and bent slightly at the waist, looking at the Dwarves who surrounded me, "That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"

Bofur and Nori each offered me a hand to help me off the table once the song ended. I accepted their help as Bilbo approached me.

"You alright?"

"I thought you were on my side with all of this."

His expression was one of betrayal.

I took a sharp breath.

"I feel bad that you got dragged into this with no warning whatsoever, yes. However, I love Dwarves! Give them some good food with ale," I winked at our gracious host, "then they become the life of the party!"

I laughed as Bilbo frowned and wandered off to the kitchen. My attention was on Bilbo for a bit so I didn't notice when Fíli and Kíli materialized beside me.

"You love Dwarves?" Fíli asked and I jumped, a bit surprised that they were there.

"Any in particular?" Kíli's voice sounded a bit hopeful honestly, and when I looked at him a soft blush bloomed on my cheeks.

I recomposed myself quickly and smirked.

"Pretty much all of them, though some more than others."

I shrugged then walked over to the kitchen where everyone was still talking loudly. Fíli and Kíli followed me into the smaller room.

Meg was near the doorway I walked through and I nudged her side to get her attention. She smiled at me but before she could speak three loud thuds sounded from the front door. All eyes turned in that direction.

"He is here," Gandalf stated dramatically then got up to answer the door.

"Gandalf," Thorin's voice echoed over to where Meg and I stood. "I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way. Twice."

Dori, Dwalin, and Ori were closest to the arriving Dwarf since they were standing in the archway to the kitchen from the front door. Dori and Ori bowed to him as he entered.

Bilbo pushed through the three Dwarves and Thorin continued, "I wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door."

"Mark? There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago."

"There is a mark, I put it there myself," Gandalf admitted to the Hobbit. "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield. I do believe he also needs to meet our newest recruits as well."

Thorin glanced up at Gandalf with a look of anger and confusion.

"Meg, Rhi, if you would, please come up to the front here," Gandalf called to us.

Dori, Dwalin, and Ori turned back to us with wide eyes. Dwalin didn't look overly impressed but the three moved so we could pass them to greet Thorin, our new Dramatic™ leader.

Thorin looked... well honestly, he looked pissed once we stepped into the entryway with him. Meg and I nodded our heads in greeting while keeping eye contact with the Dwarven king. The air was tense, though I wish it wasn't and that I had a Xanax for his overdramatic ass.

"A Hobbit who hardly looks capable of being a burglar and two Humans, who are women I might add, that I've just now been informed of and don't have a single idea of why they could be useful."

I clenched my jaw at his words and I knew Meg was doing the same. That was just sexist and downright uncalled for.

He turned to Gandalf with an unamused expression as I looked past him to Kíli who was standing at the front of the group behind him. He didn't seem overly pleased with his uncle's comment but as the second prince, he had to keep his mouth shut. Fíli may have been allowed to comment but he was too far back.

"They'll be useful as magic wielders, don't you think?"

I looked over to Meg to see her reaction. Knowing neither of us cared that we had been written into the adventure already, I was happy to be. I also assumed that Gandalf managed to find an opportunity to talk to her about her and me joining them tomorrow so she said yes on our behalf. The look of confusion she held told me she didn't say anything to Gandalf about us being "witches", though.

Thorin looked back at us, seeming a bit shocked.

"Is that right? Tell me, ladies, have you done much fighting?"

Meg locked eyes with him as she spoke up.

"Yes. In ways you wouldn't understand."

I heard Dwalin suck in an irritated breath behind me while Thorin continued.

"Ax or sword? What's your weapon of choice?"

"Preferably an ax but I can manage a sword as well," Meg said then Thorin moved his gaze to me.

"Neither." He opened his mouth to continue but I cut him off. "A bow and some arrows, maybe the occasional knife. A sword when it's called for, I suppose."

I tried to hide the annoyance and irritation I was feeling at his immediate dismissal of us for being female, though I'm not convinced it worked. Thorin looked over his shoulder at Kíli when I mentioned the bow and I scowled while he looked away. My expression returned to neutral by the time he turned back around.

"Fine," he turned to Bilbo to ask him the same questions.

Bilbo's answers were much less confident and very much confused. Once Thorin got his laugh out of the company at Bilbo's expense, he turned towards the kitchen and walked through it to the dining room.

Meg and I stood on either side of the archway behind Thorin while he ate and the Dwarves questioned him.

"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo slipped into the room to ask.

"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light," Gandalf requested.

Bilbo left the room again to grab another candle.

"Far to the east," Gandalf started again while pulling a map from his pocket. "Over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single, solitary peak."

Bilbo leaned in between Thorin and Gandalf and read from the map, "The Lonely Mountain."

"Aye, Oin has read the portents and the portents say it is time," Gloin said firmly and I looked up.

"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain, as it was foretold," Oin chipped in so I followed his voice across the table, stopping briefly to see that Kíli's eyes were on me.

I looked to Thorin and back to the prince with sad eyes then listened to Oin again.

"'When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end.'"

I tuned back out for a bit and watched the faces of the dwarves around the table as they discussed. Fíli's voice brought me back from my attempt to not pay attention.

"We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us, to the last Dwarf!" He exclaimed and slammed his hand on the table.

"And you forget we have not only a Wizard but two Witches among us as well," Kíli added as he looked at me with an encouraging smile. "Gandalf alone will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time."

He moved his gaze to Gandalf and I winced.

"Oh, well, no. I wouldn't say-"

"How many then?" I believe the voice belonged to Dori but I could be wrong.

"What?" Gandalf said, now confused.

"How many dragons have you killed?"

Yeah, it was Dori.

Gandalf began coughing, unsure how to respond.

"Go on. Give us a number," Dori urged but the Dwarves all stood and began arguing.

Even in person, I couldn't make out what Thorin said that made them all quiet and sit back down. It must have been in Khuzdul then.

"If we have read these signs do you not think others will have read them too? Rumors have begun to spread. The Dragon Smaug has not been seen for sixty years." Thorin looked around the table as he spoke, making eye contact with each of the Dwarves in front of him. "Eyes look east to the mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor?"

The excited cheers of the Dwarves brought a small smile to my face. I looked over to Fíli and Kíli while they cheered with the rest. Thorin may be a bit of an asshole but he's still a great motivator, at least.

"You forget, the Front Gate is sealed," Balin's voice broke through the excitement. "There is no way into the mountain."

"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true," Gandalf spoke up again then held his hand up as a key materialized in it.

Well, that was way more trippy to see in person than in the movie, wow.

"How came you by this?" Thorin's voice was strained.

"It was given to me by your father. By Thrain. For safekeeping. It is yours now."

He handed Thorin the key who accepted it then inspected it for a short second.

"If there is a key," Fíli's voice lifted from the far end of the table again. "There must be a door."

"I'm glad your swords were sharpened recently because your wits clearly have not been," Meg said to Fíli over Thorin's head.

A few laughs echoed across the table at her comment and I shook my head while trying not to smile and laugh.

Gandalf nodded and hid a laugh with a cough then pointed back to the map with his pipe.

"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the Lower Halls."

Kíli slapped his older brother's back and smiled, though it wasn't as bright as usual, "There's another way in."

"Well, if we can find it, but Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," Gandalf added with a sigh. "The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and I do not have the skill to find it. But there are others in Middle Earth who can. The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth and no small amount of courage. But if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done."

"That's why we need a burglar!" Ori exclaimed.

"Hmm. And a good one too. An expert, I'd imagine," Bilbo spoke up.

"And are you?" Balin questioned the poor Hobbit.

Bilbo looked back at us but Meg and I shook our heads.

"They're talking to you, Bilbo," I helped him and he turned back to the Dwarves.

"Am I what?"

"He said he's an expert!" Oin cheered and some of the others laughed.

"Me? No. No, no, no. I'm not a burglar. I've never stolen a thing in my life."

"Well, I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material."

"Nope," Bilbo agreed with Balin.

"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." Dwalin's eyes shot back to Meg and me briefly.

I swear I would have thrown a brick at him for that if I could have. Maybe an apple so it does less damage. Are there any left?

"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar then a burglar he is," Gandalf stood from his chair and used his intimidating voice then calmed and went on to explain. "Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact, they can pass unseen by most, if they choose. And, while the Dragon is accustomed to the smell of Dwarf, the scent of a Hobbit is all but unknown to him which gives us a distinct advantage."

Bilbo started to complain but stopped himself so Gandalf continued, sitting back down.

"You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. As well as two extra sets of helping hands, able and willing to fight. There's a lot more to them all than appearances might suggest. And they have a great deal more to offer than any of you know."

I kept my face neutral as Thorin and the others turned to look at us three behind Thorin. I made eye contact with him then he moved to Meg, I looked back at Kíli once Thorin's judging gaze left me. I offered him a small smile.

"Including themselves," Gandalf added so Meg, Bilbo, and I looked at each other a bit confused. Meg and I knew Bilbo's place in all of this but not our own. "You must trust me on this."

"Very well," Thorin agreed, though he still didn't look like he wanted to. "We will do it your way. Give him the contract."

Bilbo's protests were ignored by everyone in front of him.

"We're in. We're off," one of them said in response as Balin dug out the contract.

"It's just the usual. Summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth."

Thorin grabbed the parchment paper from Balin and slapped it on Bilbo's chest.

"Funeral arrangements?" Bilbo sighed as he let the large chunk of parchment unfold and wandered between Meg and me into the other room.

"It's more intimidating in person," I commented and Meg laughed. It took me a second but I looked at her to see her wiggling her eyebrows so I slapped her arm. "Knock it off, dammit!"

"I cannot guarantee his safety," I heard Thorin whispering to Gandalf behind us. "Or theirs."

"Understood."

"Nor will I be responsible for their fates."

I looked over my shoulder at Gandalf then back to Meg.

"Agreed."

"'Terms: Cash on delivery, up to but not exceeding one-fourteenth of total profit, if any.' Seems fair," Bilbo said as he read the contract out loud. "'Present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence thereof, including, but not limited to lacerations, evisceration,'" I did my best not to laugh at Bilbo's expression as he unfolded the side portion of the contract. "'Incineration?'"

He looked at us and I cleared my throat then he looked back to the Dwarves.

"Aye. He'll melt the flesh off your bone in the blink of an eye," Bofur offered and I pushed away the urge to groan but kept watching Bilbo.

"You all right, laddie?" Balin asked.

"Huh? Yeah," Bilbo took a second to breathe. "Feel a bit faint."

Bofur stood and Meg moved from her spot in the archway so he could stick his head out of the dining room.

"Think furnace with wings."

"Air. I need air."

"Flash of light, searing pain, then poof." I wanted to smack the Dwarf. "You're nothing more than a pile of ash!"

All eyes watched Bilbo and I stepped to where he would fall.

"Hmm. Nope."

I caught the Hobbit easily as Gandalf stood from his chair to check on Bilbo.

"Oh, very helpful, Bofur." He put a hand on Meg's shoulder. "Would you make some tea, dear?"

"Sure," Meg nodded and made her way into the kitchen.

Gandalf looked at me and Bilbo but I spoke before he could ask.

"I'll get him to the chair in the living room." I managed to pick up Bilbo and set him in his chair just fine. Hobbits are small after all.

When Meg came into the room with a cup of warm tea Bilbo started opening his eyes.

"Here," she offered him the cup and he sat up straighter before taking the cup.

"Thank you."

I must have looked worried because one look at me prompted him to continue.

"I'll be alright. Just let me sit quietly for a moment." He lifted the cup to drink from it and Meg pulled me back to the other room.

"You've been sitting quietly for far too long," Gandalf scolded him as we left Bilbo for his talk with the old Wizard.

When we returned to the area I carried Bilbo out of, Fíli and Kíli were waiting for us. Fíli was leaning where I was previously and Kíli was standing in the middle of the archway talking to his brother. He looked over to see us coming back and straightened up which caused Fíli to look over as well.

Not sure why they were there, especially after how our introduction to their uncle went, I crossed my arms over my stomach nervously. I jumped when Kíli bowed.

"I'd like to apologize for my uncle's behavior," he said, his head still down.

Meg laughed at me quietly as I hastily responded.

"Kíli, stand up! You have no reason to apologize. I'm also pretty sure if Thorin saw you do that, he'd like us even less. I'm surprised Dori's not over here critiquing the bow," I told him in complete honesty.

He was standing straight again by the time I told him not to apologize and I could also see Fíli laughing a bit now too. The look they both gave me was one of amusement but I'm not sure why.

"So you know who Dori is?"

Meg was laughing harder beside me now and I looked at the floor. That's why.

Meg sobered to the point she could seem serious and came to my rescue.

"We know all of your names."

I nodded then rattled off their names quickly, "Dwalin, Balin, Kíli, Fíli, Ori, Dori, Nori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, and Thorin!"

Meg bent over laughing but this time it was from the looks on the princes' faces. Their eyes were wide and mouths hanging open a bit.

I felt Meg's hand slap my arm as she wheezed from laughing.

"Breathe, bitch. You said that so fast it sounded like one very long name."

Fíli recovered first and pushed off the wall to stand up.

"That it did. You alright, lass? I don't think you took a breath that whole time."

Kíli's smile returned after his brother spoke.

"Did Gandalf tell you?" Meg scoffed and her hand flattened against her chest in mock offense.

"Of course not! She learned them all herself."

Oh, lordy, here we go.

"Meg, no. Please."

She pouted then looked between Kíli and me.

"Aw, come on! You're not gonna let me talk you up?"

"No." I looked over at Fíli who was smirking then to Kíli who looked lost. "Don't believe anything she says about me unless I confirm it myself." This got a laugh from Fíli and I heard Bilbo stomp down the hall behind us. "We should go to the living room."

Grabbing Meg's arm, I dragged her back to the living room and stopped us near the wall the Thorin was facing. They were already humming and I had to resist the urge to join in. My voice would be easily picked out from a group of Dwarrows and I wasn't sure I wanted Thorin's potential wrath for singing or humming one of their songs.

Especially this one.

"Far over the misty mountains cold." King Dramatic™ stared deeply into the fire as Meg and I made ourselves comfy near the wall, leaning against it and each other. "To dungeons deep, and caverns old."

My eyes traveled across the room to where Kíli sat on the table, directly across the room from the blazing fire pace. Good lord, they are so related. He was channeling his inner Thorin with that look. I smiled a bit but tried not to make it obvious. This was an important song to them, I shouldn't seem like I'm mocking it. Thorin would really despise me then.

One by one the other dwarves joined in with lyrics.

I hadn't realized I started humming but I did feel when the tears started threatening to spill from my eyes. It was one thing to hear this in the movie but being in the same room with all of these Dwarves and watching their faces as they relived that day? It hurt more than I could have realized. Being an empath can be nice until it comes to things like this. I picked my head up from Meg's shoulder and sniffled while I wiped the few tears off of my face. I could feel the eyes of thirteen Dwarves on me as I left the room and made my way to Bilbo's library.

I continued humming the song to myself mindlessly as I wandered the edges of the room. The walls were lined with bookshelves. Two-thirds of them were actual shelves, while the bottom third had cupboard doors. The desk Meg was sitting at earlier was in the middle of the room with a chair.

As I circled the room, reading various titles as I passed them I did my best to calm down. My index finger trailed down the spine of a book bound in deep green leather and I pulled it off the shelf. A knock sounded on the open door to the library so I turned my head to find Kíli in the doorway.

He offered me a gentle smile and I put the book back in its place.

"Hi," I said softly to him, keeping my eyes on the books as he entered the room.

"Are you ok?"

I nodded and he let out a quiet laugh.

"I never thought I'd see a Human so emotional over our history, honestly. Especially one who doesn't look like she should know it like she was there."

My brow furrowed and my eyes met his in confusion.

"What do you mean?" He smiled again when I spoke.

"I mean you can't be older than, hm," he paused and tapped his chin as if thinking. "Twenty-five, at most?" I narrowed my eyes at him, not sure what he was trying to do, but this seemed to make him panic and he spoke again. "I meant no offense!"

"Pfft," I covered my mouth as I started laughing then closed my eyes and took a deep breath so I could speak. "I’m not offended and I'm twenty-two. I guess I’m confused as to what you're doing?"

"Checking on you...?"

I sighed and shook my head.

"Did Meg send you in here? Girl's gotta chill-"

"No, she didn't but I told her I would come. She did give me an overly amused look for it. What's that about?"

"Nope, I'm not- No. You might find out, you might not. We'll see but I refuse to flat out tell you." My gaze traveled back to the books then back to him. "How long were you standing there?"

"Would you be upset if I told you I followed you immediately and only stopped to tell Meg I was coming back here?"

I chewed on the inside of my lip as he spoke then shrugged while returning my attention to the books.

"No."

I could see his grin out of the corner of my eye and did my best not to smile too. Him and that contagious smile.

"Fíli, K-" Thorin's voice barked from just down the hall but he stopped on Kíli's name. "Where is your brother? And why do you two look like you're sneaking around?"

Then Meg and Fíli stepped into the room from the direction Thorin's voice came from. He followed them in.

"Uncle!" Kíli said happily as Thorin stared me down.

He doesn't look pleased, but when does he?

"Thorin," I greeted him then looked to Meg and Fíli. "Were you two listening to our conversation?"

"Well, um..." Fíli began sheepishly but Meg smirked wickedly and owned up to their actions.

"Hell yeah, we were!"

I rolled my eyes then gave her a half-hearted scoff with a much more real smile.

"Of course you were."

"We'll be heading to sleep soon. You two should do the same if you intend on joining us," Thorin informed us.

Meg and I nodded then he left the room, Fíli and Kíli trailing after him. Kíli looked back and gave me his full smile before slipping out the door to follow the other two back to the living room.

I motioned for Meg to follow me to the room Bilbo let me nap in earlier. The door closed behind her and I sighed.

"What are you up to?"

"I have no idea what you mean," she told me with fake innocence.

I crawled into the bed on one side and she crawled in on the other. It was a tight fit but we managed.

"Please behave. As much as I would like what you're trying to encourage, I don't think Thorin would approve."

I closed my eyes as I spoke.

"Well, so far it looks like Kíli wouldn't care what Thorin has to say. You might get a chance to- Rhi?" My soft snores filled the room and Meg sighed before closing her own eyes. "I think he deserves your love, affection, and attention before they meet their fate is all. I'm sure you'd agree... and will when we talk about this."

Masterlist | Tolkien Masterlist | Chapter One

#rhi writes #t-v

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