Chapter Text
Bilbo sat near the campfire. They were only four days into the journey and he was wondering what he had been thinking when he had run out his door.
Obviously, he hadn’t been thinking, or else he’d have his pocket handkerchiefs and more of his favorite Old Toby tobacco. He had never been so far from home or in such odd company before. But then, he supposed he was the odd company, being the only hobbit among dwarves. He was still learning their names. It was so confusing. By the end of the first day, he knew Balin, Dwalin, Bombur and of course Thorin’s name.
Later he learned the difference between Bifur and Bofur. Bofur had the hat, Bifur, the axe. He was never sure about Fili and Kili because they were just Fili and Kili. When someone called out for them, he didn’t call to just Fili or just Kili, it was always the two of them together. How was he supposed to learn who was who?
Gloin and Oin? He was pretty sure the one with the ear trumpet was Oin, but he could be wrong about that.
And Dori, Nori and Ori? No idea.
They all seemed to be related to each other. Well, right away, he had learned Balin and Dwalin were brothers because Balin had referred to Dwalin as such. The only one who seemed not to have family was Thorin. Bilbo wondered why.
The dwarves sat together with their family around the fire. Bilbo enjoyed watching them all interact. He had never heard great things about dwarves. They were greedy and selfish. That’s what he’d been told anyway. But it wasn’t what he saw before him. He saw families, taking care of each other and watching out for each other. Bilbo sat near Balin, who so far, had been the most approachable of the group, although Bofur was friendly enough.
“Evening, Master Baggins,” Balin said.
“Hello. Can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead, laddie.”
“I see how everyone sits together. Are you all related?” Bilbo asked.
Balin smiled. “Aye, we all have a bit of our families with us. I’ve got my brother, of course. Fili and Kili are brothers. Dori, Nori and Ori are brothers. Bofur and Bombur are brothers and Bifur is their cousin. Gloin and Oin are brothers. And all of us, except for Bofur, Bombur and Bifur are cousins to each other. Gloin and Oin are Dwalin and mine’s first cousin and we’re cousins several times over and at least once removed from Thorin, Fili and Kili.”
“But Thorin has no brother?” Bilbo asked.
Balin looked to Thorin, who was staring into the fire. “Aye, Thorin had a brother. Died, long ago, at the battle for Moria.”
“Oh, I’m very sorry to hear that. My apologies.”
“His name was Frerin and he was a good dwarf and a good friend,” Balin said.
Several of the others nodded sadly.
The topic of family ended with that. Bilbo still wanted to know more, but tonight was not the night for any more.
“Uncle!” Kili rode his pony back towards Thorin, leaving Fili a ways ahead of them.
“What is it?” Thorin asked.
“The road splits up ahead. There seems to be a nice river and a group of rocks that could offer some protection,” Kili reported.
“Good work,” Thorin said. They rode on.
Bilbo’s eyes were wide. Thorin was uncle to Fili and Kili. So, were the lads the sons of this dead brother, Frerin? He wouldn’t ask. That would be quite rude. Bilbo did a few calculations in his head. If he understood Balin’s story correctly, that Battle at Moria that had taken King Thror and Frerin, had happened longer ago that the lads were alive. He wasn’t sure, but he thought Fili and Kili had not yet reached their one hundredth birthday and Moria had been more than one hundred years ago. So how could Fili and Kili be nephews to Thorin?
“Balin,” Bilbo came up to the white bearded dwarf that evening as they sat around the campfire again. “I need your help.”
“What can I do for ye?”
“Which one is Fili and which is Kili?” Bilbo asked with some frustration.
The group broke out into laughter. Even Thorin cracked a smile.
“Everyone just calls them Fili and Kili or the lads. I don’t know who is who,” Bilbo blushed a bit.
The two brothers in question came up and stood before him, just as they had when they had first introduced themselves to Bilbo.
“Fili,” the golden haired one said.
“And Kili,” the dark haired one said. “At your service,” they both bowed.
Bilbo looked at the two of them, “Fili and Kili,” he said, pointing to the right brother. They both grinned.
“Are you twins?” Bilbo asked.
“No,” Fili laughed. “We're five years apart in age. Dwarves don’t have twins.”
“You don’t?” Bilbo asked with surprise. That must have meant they were born to a female. “Not even your males?”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at the smallest member of their company. “Will you kindly not stare at me like I just grew a second head?”
“What did you just say?” Balin asked.
“I asked you to not stare at me,” Bilbo started.
“No, no, before that. You asked if our males bore children,” Balin said.
“Well, yes. Oh, I see,” Bilbo suddenly realized why they stared at him so. “Your males cannot bear children?”
“Of course not,” Dwalin nearly roared.
“Can hobbit males?” Bofur asked.
Bilbo was blushing now. “Well, yes.”
“How?” Kili blurted out.
Bilbo’s blush deepened. “Well, the usual way. I mean, usual for us. Are you old enough to understand the birds and the bees?” Bilbo asked.
“What in the world do birds and bees have to do with male hobbits bearing young?” Dori asked.
“Ah, well,” Bilbo started, but the far off sound of wolves startled them all.
In an instant, the dwarves were armed and ready. Bilbo had nothing to fight with and so sat as still as he could near the fire. He placed a long stick among the flames. If needed, he could maybe defend himself with the fiery stick. But the attack never came and Thorin placed two on watch and the rest were told to go to sleep. No more noise tonight. Those on watch needed to be able to hear and not be distracted by chatter.
Bilbo was quite glad to be getting to bed. He was keen to avoid the way the conversation was headed.