Fly Away Little Birds

What's This Insanity?

Fly Away Little Birds Chapter 3

Bilbo was perfectly ready for a quiet night at home where he could enjoy himself in peace and perhaps enjoy some quiet conversation with Fili and Kili. Fili asked him what the wizard was there for, but Bilbo shut that subject down pretty quickly, as he did not want to talk about it. "Something about a damn adventure." He said absentmindedly to Fili. It was best not to press these things. There was a knock at the door that startled them all. Bilbo was more than a little exasperated. "Who could that be at this time of night?" He said in a weary tone. "Kili, go answer it, will you?"

Kili got up and went to the door. When he opened it, he saw someone he had never expected to see again. Dwalin, son of Fundin. And not far off was his brother, Balin. At first Kili didn't quite know what to do. The looks on everyone's faces upon this encounter must have been quite comical, and yet mystified. Bilbo called from the sitting room, "Kili, who is it?"

Dwalin was taken aback after hearing the name actually spoken. "Kili?" He said in disbelief.

"It's dwarves, master Bilbo." Kili said in a faltering voice.

Bilbo came into the entryway. "Dwarves? What do you mean dwarves?" When he reached the door and looked out, there were indeed, a couple of dwarves, and a bevy of them coming up the path. "What is the meaning of this?" Bilbo asked Dwalin.

Balin stepped in front of his brother to speak. "Pardon us, Balin and Dwalin, sons of Fundin, at your service. We were told by the wizard Gandalf to come here."

"He told you to come here, did he? Might have expected something like this from that crafty old codger. Sorry, I have no room for a plethora of dwarves."

"Please tell me one thing." Dwalin said. "Are the ones in your home called Fili and Kili?"

"They are." Bilbo said.

"I do not see how that can be. They are dead."

"And yet here they are, alive and well." Bilbo said.

"Please," said Balin. "let us come in, at least until Gandalf comes. We have traveled a very long way."

"Alright." Bilbo said despondently. "Come in and partake of our hospitality. I would not leave travel weary folk on the doorstep. Especially if they had been told to come here by a conniving wizard."

Bilbo turned and went back to the sitting room. Kili ushered the dwarves in and took their things. They cooked for the dwarves, served the dwarves, and did everything they could for the dwarves. They were old acquaintances and formerly trusted friends. Balin and Dwalin. Ori, Dori and Nori. Bifur Bofur and Bombur. Oin and Gloin. All of them wished to speak to Fili and Kili, but Kili had gone silent and Fili had followed suit. After everyone was settled, Fili and Kili disappeared into the kitchen and stayed there as the dwarves pondered their condition.

"They died, didn't they?" Ori said. "That's what they told us."

"But it is undeniable," Dwalin said. "Those are Fili and Kili."

"How on Middle Earth did they come to be here?" Bofur asked.

The question was directed at Bilbo, but he was not sure if he should tell them just yet. "Strange circumstances brought them to me. That is all I can say for now."

"Are they your slaves?" Balin asked. "I heard Kili call you master."

There was a tense moment. Bilbo thought he should again, tread lightly. "They have been with me for twenty-seven years. They were bought by my father from some inscrutable people."

"Twenty-seven years..."Gloin said.

"Inscrutable people?" Ori said.

"It is a long story." Bilbo said.

"I am sure it is," Balin said.

There was another knock at the door. Both Fili and Kili walked across the sitting room to go and open it. Kili had tried to steel himself for what he knew was eventually coming. Fili had to be there with him for when it did. Kili opened the door, and there were Thorin with Therien and Gandalf. Kili stared for a moment, but he could say nothing. Bilbo had come out into the hall and watched the wordless exchange. In the end, Kili faltered and turned away silently, walking away. He took Fili's shoulder and led him away until they had both retreated down the hallway and into their cellar. The look on both dwarves' faces was one of astonishment. It told Bilbo that these were the ones who had betrayed Fili and Kili. Their uncle and cousin.

33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333

When all the dwarves were dealt with and somewhat settled, Bilbo went down o check on Fili and Kili. The look on Fili's face when Bilbo saw him was one of pure rage. Kili, on the other hand, simply looked confused, and he clasped his little pouch of treasures tightly, as if they would protect him. "So those are the ones who betrayed you?" Bilbo asked.

"Yes master." Fili said. "Thorin and Therien. The King Under the Mountain and his son. The question is, why are they here? Or this some evil turn of fate?"

"I have asked them. Thorin tells me that they have come to reclaim a mountain from a dragon...They presented me with a contract. They want to have me as a burglar. I must say that I was a little incensed by that. I am no thief. Just because I am small and quick doesn't mean I want to sneak into some dragon's den and steal things from under his lizard nose! Give me credit for having a little sense, dwarf king!"

"But you were not chosen by Thorin, were you?" Fili asked.

"No. This is all Gandalf's fault. He chose me for this. What does he think I am, some sort of ignoramus?"

"So you won't go, master?" Kili piped up.

"No indeed. It's ridiculous. Respectable hobbits don't go on adventures."

"Sorry to ask an odd sort of question, master." Fili said. "But when did you become respectable? And since when have you cared?"

Bilbo stared at him for a moment. Fili was afraid he had made Bilbo angry. When the hobbit started to laugh, Fili knew it was alright.

"Alright Fili. Do you want to go?" Bilbo said.

"There are some things I need to discuss with Thorin. This may be my only chance. I wouldn't mind going."

"And you Kili?"

Kili shrugged. "Why not?" He said meekly.

"I guess that's settled then. This unrespectable hobbit and his two dwarf servants are going on an adventure."