Never Let Me Go~Bagginshield

Journey's Beginning...Again

It had been nearly six months since the Battle for Erebor. Bilbo had, instead of returning to Bag End, stayed in Mirkwood to help out King Thranduil and his husband, Bard. He was mostly the keeper of the reports, and he made sure no one came through the castle after curfew.

The ghosts of the past still haunted Bilbo, and he wasn't sure he could ever face Thorin again. The anger that he was certain still flourished there was just something he was not willing to face.

It went down in flames, and Bilbo's heart was broken.

Bard entered the room where Bilbo stayed. "There is a mission for you,' he said. "The Dwarves of Erebor request you help them bury their dead."

"It's been six months, they haven't done that already?" He asked.

"They cannot. The Orcs of Moria are just continuing to grow, and getting stronger. They just now returned to the caves of Moria, and now is the time for the Dwarves to give their dead the burial they deserve," Bard answered. "And Balin requested you help."

Memories came flooding back to Bilbo. He had no desire to see Thorin again, but his heart was also wanting to be with him more than ever. He was secretly honored that they had chosen him for this mission.

"If I say no?"

"The choice is yours, Bilbo. I'll send your response within the hour. Let me know when the decision is made." Bard turned and walked swiftly away, back to the throne room, where the affairs of a kingdom waited.

The Hobbit began to think. Half of him wanted to go and help his friends, while the other half was screaming at him to stay here, behind King Thranduil's walls, safe and sound.

A noise sounded behind him, and Bilbo turned suddenly, shocked to see Tauriel. The she-elf hadn't been seen for a while, since she had went off after Fili, Thorin's young nephew and next king of Erebor after Thorin passed on.

"Are you going to help them?" Tauriel asked.

"I--i don't know," Bilbo answered truthfully.

"You are afraid to face him again. Yes?" She looked at him meaningfully, as if daring him to deny it.

Slowly, realizing it was useless to lie, Bilbo nodded. "Yes. After everything that happened between us, I don't know if I would be able to handle it." He sighed. "I feel like a fool."

"Don't," she told him. "I'm afraid to see him again, too. I left with no explanation, and here I am, about to return. It wasn't just their war. It was ours too. The least we can do is protect them while they bury their dead."

"So you are going?"

"I am. And you should come with me, Bilbo. We can both face our fears together."

He stood, thinking again. His heart was screaming at him, but so was his head. Who said he even had to speak to Thorin?

"All right," he finally agreed. "I will go."