"I'll be alright. Just let me sit quietly for a moment" He told Gandalf, clutching the cup Veryan handed to him in his hands.
"You've been sitting quietly for far too long" The Wizard in grey spoke back, holding his pipe in his hand.
Bilbo's mouth dropped as he looked at Gandalf in disbelief, the other continuing to talk "Tell me, when did doilies and your mother's dishes become so important to you? I remember a young Hobbit who was always running off in search of Elves in the woods. Who would stay out late, come home after dark, trailing mud and twigs and fireflies. A young Hobbit who would have liked nothing better, than to find out what was beyond the borders of the Shire. The world is not your books and maps. It's out there" he gestured twords the window as he finished.
Bilbo shook his head "I can't just go running off into the blue. I am a Baggins of Bag-End"
Gandalf leaned forward and responded matter of factly "You are also a Took"
Bilbo sighed at the obvious fact and listened to Gandalf talk "Did you know that your great-great-great-great-uncle Bullroarer Took was so large, he could ride a real horse?"
"Yes" Bilbo nodded, looking so done with Gandalf.
"Yes, well, he could. In the Battle of Green Fields, he charged the Goblin ranks. He swung his club so hard, it knocked the Goblin king's head clean off, and it sailed 100 yards through the air and went down a rabbit hole. And thus, the battle was won. And the game of golf invented at the same time"
Bilbo lightly smiled "I do believe you made that up" he said, his tone betraying his smile.
Gandalf took a seat in front of Bilbo "Well, all good stories deserve embellishment. You'll have a tale or two to tell of your own when you come back."
They sat like that in silence for a second, before Bilbo turned to look up at Gandalf "Can you promise that I will come back?"
"No" the other replied rather quickly and sure of himself. "And if you do...you will not be the same"
Bilbo slowly nodded, having his lip's in a thigh frown before he looked at Gandalf "That's what i thought. Sorry, Gandalf, I can't sign this" he pointed to the contract that sat on the table next to him. He got up from his chair and huffed "You've got the wrong Hobbit" and with that the Hobbit was gone, having walked off further into his house.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It appears we have lost our burglar" Balin told Thorin as the two watched Bilbo walking away.
"Probably for the best" Balin added as Thorin didn't let his eye's wonder away from the Hobbit. It was only when Bilbo was gone out of sight did he turn to Balin "The odds were always against us. After all, what are we? Merchants, miners, tinkers, toy-makers. Heh, heh. Hardly the stuff of legend"
"There are a few warriors amongst us" Thorin replied, smiling at Balin.
"Old warriors" the old Dwarf fixed the other's words.
Thorin, still slightly smiling, replied "I would take each and everyone of these Dwarves over an army from the Iron Hills. For when i called upon them, they answered. Loyalty, honor, a willing heart. I can ask no more than that"
Balin stood up and shook his head "You don't have to do this. You have a choice. You've done honorably by our people. You have built a new life for us in the Blue Mountains. A life of peace and plenty. A life that is worth more than all the gold in Erebor."
"From my grandfather to my father, this has come to me" Thorin spoke as he lifted up the key that was given to him by Gandalf moments ago "They dreamt of the day when the Dwarves of Erebor would reclaim their homeland. This is no choice, Balin. Not for me."
Balin, even though he was troubled by Thorin's decision, only nodded his head in understanding "Then we are with you, laddie"
Thorin could on smile at the older Dwarf as the other patted his arm "We will see it done"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Dwarves gathered in the living room, all taking a seat on one of the sofas, or standing next to their kin, holding drinks in their hands. Thorin stood in the front, leaning on the fire place...
~Far over the misty mountains cold~
~To dungeons deep~
~And caverns old~
~We must away~
~'Ere break of day~
Gandalf stood behind one of the wall's smoking his pipe as he listened to the Dwarves sing. Next to him on the ground sat Veryan, swirling a black dagger between his finger's.
~To find our long-forgotten gold~
Bilbo sat on his bed, leaning on one of the four pole's that made the bed frame.
~The pines were roaring on the height~
~The winds were moaning in the night~
~The fire was read, it flaming spread~
~The trees like torches~
~Blazed with light~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One by one the Dwarves went to sleep in the living room, the only one's still awake seeming to be Dwalin and Thorin.
Veryan listened to the soft whispers of the Dwarves as he stood up, glancing at Gandalf "You should head off to rest too, Gandalf"
Gandalf nodded, almost out of it, before he stopped in his tracks and turned to Veryan "And what about you, son?"
The Heterochromia male smiled and waved Gandalf off "I will head of to sleep, don't worry, I just have to do something"
Gandalf still didn't seem convinced, but none other less once again nodded and staggered further into the Hobbit's house.
When the boy couldn't see the wizard's figure any longer, he quietly tip toed to Bilbo's room and peaked inside, only to chuckle at the sight.
The Hobbit was fast asleep sitting up, arm's wrapped around the wooden pole. Veryan creaked open the door further so he could pass, and went over to the sleeping figure. He gently laid Bilbo down, making sure his feat and hand's were on the bed, before he tossed a blanket over him. With one last glance to see if everything was alright, he made his way out of the room just as fast as he entered it.
He quietly closed the door and sighed in relief, happy to not have waken up the Hobbit. He turned to leave, but quickly yelped in surprise as Kili was standing right in front of him.
"Why did you do that?" he asked the male in front of him, who was still trying to catch his breath.
Veryan took in a sharp breath and turned to Kili "Why did I do what?"
Kili nodded twords the door "Why did you do that?" he asked again.
Veryan finally understood what he was asked, and stood up straighter "He looked mildly uncomfortable, so I did something I would want done for me if I was in such a position"
Kili squinted his eyes, but soon enough nodded "That was noble of you to do. I don't think we were introduced properly. I'm Kili" he extended his hand for the male.
Veryan chuckled, and took Kili's hand "Veryan"
It was true Gandalf has told him everything about the Dwarves. He remembered everyone's name's like they were written down on the back of his hand, but it didn't hurt to be humble.
Kili smiled up at him and pulled his hand back "I look forward to travelling with you, Wizard"
Veryan smiled and put his hand against his heart, before moving it twords Kili "I do too, Master Kili"
Kili raised up and eyebrow at the weird action, but shook it off as being an ancestral thing.