the Stowaway (Hobbit fan-fic)

Chapter 2

I walked through the Shire, keeping my eyes open for Bilbo Baggins' home. I knew Gandalf would mark it in some way so people could find it as the sky grew darker. I had gotten to the Shire about midday, so I took my time trying to find the home. It turned out that I needed the extra time, because I found Bilbo's home as the sun started to set. I knew I had arrived at the right place because there was a glowing mark on the door. I smiled slightly, knowing Bilbo would not enjoy that. I looked around the hobbit's yard. There were not any trees around the hobbit hole, only bushes that were lined up at the front of the home.

I quietly made my way to the bushes and slipped into them. I removed my weapons and hid them, knowing I would be here for a while. I rested my head against my arm and closed my eyes, knowing it would be a long night.

When I opened my eyes again, the sun had disappeared from the sky and the moon and stars were slowly beginning to show themselves. I stretched a little, but suddenly froze. I could hear footsteps approaching the house from farther down the dirt road. From the sound of it, it was a dwarf. I moved some of the leaves away to see a bald dwarf with tattoos on his head and arms. He walked up to Bilbo's door and glanced at the mark for a moment before ringing the doorbell. A minute later, the round door opened to reveal a very confused hobbit.

"Dwalin," the dwarf said, bowing slightly. "At your service."

"Bilbo Baggins, at yours," he stuttered, still very confused as he adjusted the robe he wore. Dwalin stepped inside the house. "D-do we know each other?"

"No. Which way, laddie? Is it down here?"

"I-is what down where?"

"Supper. He said there'd be food, and lots of it."

"H-He said? Who said?"

Bilbo closed the door and I chuckled. It would be a long night for the poor hobbit. After a half an hour, another dwarf came up to the door. His hair was white and his beard was long and curled at the end. He rang the doorbell and a moment later, Bilbo answered the door.

"Balin, at your service," the dwarf said.

"Good evening."

"Yes, yes it is, though I think it might rain later. Am I late?"

"Late for what?"

Balin didn't answer. Instead, he walked pass Bilbo.

"Oh, ha ha! Evening, brother. Heh, heh."

So their brothers, I thought. That makes sense. Their names sound so alike. Are all dwarf names like that?

"Oh, by my beard," Dwalin said, "you are shorter and wider than last we met."

"Wider, not shorter. Sharp enough for both of us."

Bilbo closed the door again as the brother talked with each other. He tried to talk the dwarves into leaving their house, but they paid him no attention. As they talk with one another, I noticed two more figures approaching the house. As they came closer, I saw one had blonde hair and the other had brown hair. The blonde one rung the doorbell. Bilbo opened the door once again.

"Fili," said the blonde.

"And Kili," added the brunette.

"At your service," they said together, bowing.

"You must be Mister Boggins," Kili said with a smile.

"Nope, you can't come in," Bilbo responded quickly, "you've come to the wrong house."

"What? Has it been cancelled?"

"No one told us," Fili mentioned, confused.

"Can--?" Bilbo replied. "No--nothing's been cancelled."