|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 12:58 pm
 Thorin's head jerked as a voice cut through the stillness of the night and straight through his slumber. His body tensed in alarm as his blue eyes swept over the area. It was not a familiar voice speaking. Thorin turned so quickly that part of his mane covered his face briefly before coming to rest at the sides of his face. He expected to see a guard or some adviser perhaps. At the very least he had been expecting to find someone closer to his height.
That was not the case. Thorin found the intruder after angling his head downward. Thorin stared. There was something there. Something small, with short of hair wrapped around his head and feet. Something wearing strange garments. Something that should not be there at all let alone in the middle of the night.
Thorin stared for a moment before a deep frown settled on his features. "Why are you here?" He asked in a low rumble doing what he could to disguise the irritation he was experiencing. It carried a weapon but it didn't seem to be an assassin. If it was it was doing a rather poor job of it. Despite sneaking up on Thorin in his slumber it had failed to do anything to injure him.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:02 pm
Frerin kept perfectly still watching from where Bilbo had left him. He worried that any movement would draw his brother's attention and Frerin didn't want to be seen just yet. He wanted to watch them both flounder for a little while. Well, it would be fun except Thorin didn't seem to be panicking. Aside from his rather wild awakening he still seemed perfectly normal and completely poised. Too bad. At least Bilbo might still provide a bit of a show.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:01 pm
Startled, Bilbo jumped a little when the stallion whirled around. Hobbits were known for being light on their hooves but he hadn't intentionally been sneaking up on him. He suspected that Frerin should have announced him or done something different but didn't have time to contemplate it for the moment.
"Why I'm here..." he repeated, distracted by the unexpected response. "Well..." He said the word slowly, buying himself some time to think. "Your brother said that I should come ask for your permission to live in my hole which apparently is in your territory... but I have been living there quite some time and never have had to have anyone's permission, so you'll excuse me if I'm a bit..." Something about the sternness he faced made it seem like berating him wasn't a good idea.
"So you'll excuse me if I'm a bit out of sorts," he finished, with more composure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:25 pm
Thorin watched the little creature, male judging by his voice, as he struggled to find his excuses. It was clear that he was every bit as confused as Thorin was by the situation. It was also clear that he had plenty of time to be wasting by the way he drew out his words. Thorin's expression grew steadily harsher as he was kept waiting.
His eyebrows furrowed. His brother? Thorin tuned whatever the little thing that barely cleared his shoulder was saying as he looked around the area. If this was Frerin's doing then Frerin would be nearby. Thorin spotted him standing suspiciously still several yards away.
"Frerin!" He called fiercely just as the little stallion concluded whatever it was he had been saying. Something about a hole belonging to Thorin. He didn't care to think on that now, he was busy. He pushed past the other not even stopping to apologize when he briefly knocked into the creature. "Frerin, what is the meaning of all of this?" He demanded with not even the slightest hint of good humor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:34 pm
Listening to Bilbo stumble through an explanation had it's points of amusement. Unfortunately Mr. Baggins had given him away early on and Thorin had taken notice of him. As Thorin started over to him Frerin considered running for the hills. Thorin was bigger and stronger but Frerin was faster. Thorin was about as forgiving as a swollen storm cloud though and Frerin just couldn't bring himself to leave little Bilbo to his brother's wrath. It had been fun while it had lasted but now it was time to step up.
"Well, I found a trespasser up north and he seemed to want to keep his little hidey-hole so I brought him down here to petition you." Frerin paused and glanced at Bilbo. That still made it sound like the little guy was to blame. "He didn't know you were sleeping, Thorin. He really does want to keep his hole though. You should go listen to him. He's good fun." Frerin spoke in low tones to keep Bilbo from overhearing the private conversation. He didn't need to know that Frerin had been stringing him along the entire time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 9:38 am
Bilbo skeptically watched the two of them converse. Frerin had done something to annoy the dark stallion, but from Bilbo's experience, it didn't seem to take much. He wondered how long they were going to mutter to each other. He could use a bite to eat if it was going to be a long conversation. He eyed the grass wistfully. The early spring brought with new and tender leaves, and those were always the most delicious...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 10:03 am
Thorin's patience with his brother was wearing thin. "Frerin...you know as well as I that thing's do not work in such a way." He said leveling his younger brother with a tired look. Trespassers were to be removed not dragged down to speak to Thorin. If they wanted to put a claim on the land then there were officials to handle that sort of thing. Thorin was not meant to be directly responsible for handing out land like that. "This is a waste of everyone's time."
Frerin sighed. The joke was no longer fun. Thorin was, unfortunately, right. Frerin did know all about the proper channels. He should have known Thorin would act like this. Not flustered but entirely disapproving and a bit angry. "Alright. I'm sorry. Could you please just go talk to the little fellow? His name's Bilbo Baggins. He's already here." Frerin gave his older brother a pleading look like he used to do when they were young. "It won't take long and then you can go back to sleep."
Thorin fixed Frerin with a steely look. He had half the mind to tell Frerin no flat out. When he opened his mouth the cold answer wasn't what came out, however. "Master Baggins." Thorin said clearly as he turned around to address the little horse that seemed to be inspecting the ground rather studiously. "You have poor timing but I understand you have something you wish to discuss?" Nothing about Thorin's posture was welcoming but everything in his tone said that he would not be kept waiting for a reply. If the little creature wanted to discuss land he had best find his words and quickly before Thorin's patience ran out altogether.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 8:57 am
Bilbo quickly made the decision that he should attempt to be respectful with this one. This wasn't some hobbit dispute that could be won by whoever argued the longest. "You see," he said with considerably more dignity than his previous attempts. "Apparently my home is on your land. I have been coming here for years with no trouble, so obviously I wouldn't be a bother to you. So, with your permission, I would like to stay there."
For the first time since this whole business started, Bilbo began to wonder if he really was going to lose his vacation hole. Would they drive him all the way back to the Shire if he tried to resist?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 12:51 pm
This time Thorin actually paid attention to what Bilbo was saying. His home was located somewhere within their boarders. If he'd been there for years without anyone noticing it had to be quite well hidden. "Where is your home exactly, master Baggins?" Thorin may have directed his question at Bilbo but his piercing gaze was fixed on his brother. Thorin knew exactly where he had sent Frerin, to patrol the very edges of their land, which meant this entire ordeal was probably a dispute of a few feet. Thorin would be finding some new way to ensure that his brother stopped behaving like a child since sending him out on guard duty obviously hadn't worked. "Many miles from here, correct?" Thorin turned his attention back to Bilbo to await for his answer.
Frerin wilted under Thorin's gaze. Was it too late to make a run for the hills? If he ran into elf territory Thorin probably wouldn't follow him. Probably. Thorin might be willing to deal with a few elves to drag Frerin back. Actually if he got to kick the elves Thorin might relish the opportunity. Frerin's ears pinned back as he grimaced. Not a good plan. Frerin's eyes drifted to the side hoping to catch a glimpse of Fili or Kili. Specifically Kili. Thorin had a soft spot for their youngest nephew. The only trouble was they didn't seem to be anywhere around. Dis was probably nearby but she was the last person he needed. Dis would kill Frerin for this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 9:02 pm
"Yes, many miles." Bilbo nodded to himself as he stated the fact. "Far enough, in fact, that it was still rather bright out when we started this adventure." He thought about adding in a quip about how Frerin had neglected to inform him the length of the journey but decided against it. There was already enough tension in the air between the two brothers and it was probably best not to start some sort of fight.
Suddenly, Bilbo realized a problem with being so far away from his hole. It was already dark and it would be a difficult enough task for him to find his way back during the day. At night, that task would be virtually impossible. Where was he supposed to spend the night if this dark fellow didn't want him on his land to begin with?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:55 pm
Thorin snorted softly as he shot his brother a knowing look. "I thought as much." He said deciding exactly how he was going to punish his brother for this poor excuse of a joke. "You are in luck, master Baggins, the land on which your home undoubtedly lays is of no concern to me. In the morning Frerin will accompany you to the proper officials to get you a permit." Thorin kept his eyes locked on Frerin's to ensure that his brother understood without a doubt that he would be doing this and doing it with no complaints. "After you have obtained your permit you may return to your home in peace. Frerin will accompany you on that journey as well to ensure that you do not lose your way."
Well this had all backfired horribly. Going to get a permit meant waiting in what was bound to be a long line and then answering a million pointless questions. Then there would be the sizing to make sure the permit could hang easily around Bilbo's neck for easy identification. Even if Frerin decided to use his rank (which he almost certainly would) to bypass the line entirely the process would still take several hours. On top of that Thorin wanted him to then take Bilbo all the way back? Frerin groaned audibly. That was days of work that just got dumped on him for a joke.
Frerin opened his mouth to complain but found he couldn't even begin to find the words under Thorin's withering looks and obvious dismissal. "Fine..." Frerin finally grumbled turning to Bilbo. "Come on, no one will be up at this hour. Let's go sleep...over there...way over there." Frerin groused as he wandered many yards away from Thorin's tree. Sulking like a child. "We can get that permit in the morning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 3:40 pm
"Thank you, sir!" said Bilbo over his shoulder, feeling a little rushed off by Frerin's departure. "I won't be any sort of bother!" He then hurried to catch up with Frerin, quite pleased to have had a successful end to the day's ventures. He even had a place to rest! He had no idea what the process of getting a permit was like but didn't imagine it would be that difficult with the brother of their leader by his side.
"It seems like things are run in quite the organized manner in your lands," said Bilbo with an approving nod. "I would have gotten the permit years ago if I had known it was required. Imagine, all of this so close and I knew nothing about it." He chuckled as he talked, talking for his own benefit as much as Frerin's. "I wonder if anyone knows how to make bread around here..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:02 pm
Sir. Thorin watched at Frerin and Bilbo Baggins departed for some more distant sleeping area. Frerin's reaction had been entirely predictable but Thorin couldn't recall ever being called sir before. "What a strange creature," Thorin thought as he moved back to his tree to claim what remained of the night.Frerin grumbled quietly as Bilbo praised the organization of the dwarf lands. He sounded a bit like his sister who seemed to value organization over many things. And Frerin was going to be stuck escorting Mr. Bilbo-acts-like-my-sister Baggins all over the place for the next few days. Goody. "Yes, well, we try." Frerin replied dryly rather uninterested with the conversation. Frerin stopped walking as he found a nice spot to lay down for the night. The grass was long here and bore indents from horses often sleeping in this place. He dropped to the ground with a solid thumping sound and stretched out on his side rubbing his cheek and neck against the lovely grass. It felt great. Like being home.
He lay there for a short while before addressing Bilbo again, "You should lay down and get some rest. It'll be a very long day tomorrow." He paused thinking back on what Bilbo had been telling him just moments ago before lifting his head. "And you'll have to tell me what bread is in the morning." Strange fellow, Bilbo, with his precious tree branches and bread.-----------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:20 pm
  "What is it?" Kili asked standing close to where he had found Frerin that morning, munching on some apples brought in for their. Their younger uncle had returned sometime in the night with the most peculiar looking fellow Kili had ever seen. He was almost the size of a dwarf, albeit a short one, but he was round where most dwarves were muscled. He also wore cloth stitched to fit his form and not an inch of it looked to be protective wear. On top of that he had less of a beard than Kili did and most of the hair on his head seemed to have migrated down to the fronts of his feet. "Doesn't even have any braids." He added looking off to the side where his brother stood pointedly avoiding the apples in favor of fresh clover and hay.It wasn't that Fili hadn't noticed the stranger that had appeared over night. I was just that he didn't care to bother the poor fellow while he was sleeping unlike his younger brother. "Let him be, Kili." Fili called after swallowing a mouthful of his breakfast. They had either brought the apples up specifically as a treat for Kili, who loved them, or Frerin had sent for them specifically to torment Fili who hated them. He suspected the former was more likely. If it had been just to bother him there wouldn't have been any alternatives but regular grass for him. The foods had even been placed far enough away from each other that they weren't in danger of mixing together.
The more Fili thought about it the easier it was to conclude that this was meant as a treat for them both and since Frerin was nowhere to be seen Fili could only assume he was the one responsible. It wasn't like their younger uncle to miss out on good food though or let anyone think his gifts were from anyone else. Where had he run off to?
"You don't have any braids either, Kili." Fili pointed out. "Just let him sleep and finish breakfast."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:29 pm
Once Bilbo finished tossing and turning, wondering how on earth anyone could not know what bread was, it was a restful night. He always slept easier in a hole of some sort but was tired enough from the day's exertions to manage outdoors. He was briefly confused upon waking but recovered himself quickly. He was here with Frerin in the land of curiously short (for a big soquili) stallions, going to get a permit so he could continue to enjoy his vacation home.
He stood up, stretched himself, and then blinked around at what seemed to be even more curiously short stallions. "Good morning!" he said with a yawn, blinking drowsily. Suddenly, he noticed what they were eating. With an empty stomach, their food was far more interesting than the stallions themselves. "Are those apples?" he asked hopefully.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
