Chapter Text
Fundin was content.
It had been several years since his youngest had married and all he had known in the meantime was peace. That was not to say that the marriage between Bilbo and Thorin was always an easy one. But he was a firm believer in passion was necessary in a marriage. Bilbo could be very passionate; it was fortunate that Thorin could be just as stubborn.
He often reflected that they were perfect for each other.
Yet he could not deny that since his three sons had moved to Erebor that he had become…lonely. His days were spent at court and since his sons all carried favor with the Royal Durins he was often left to his own devices. In a way it was calm and peaceful…in another it was maddening. He had, after all, raised three boys on his own and helped maintain a colony. The inaction was worse than anything he had faced before.
So he had taken to touring the nearby Shire. The hobbits had become used to his presence when he had adopted Bilbo. They were an easy going folk and they accepted him well enough especially considering his generous patronage. It was in this way that he met tiny Frodo.
It was a shame when he heard about the young fauntling’s parents. Apparently they had gone on a boating adventure when an ill fated storm crossed them. He could not help but recall the way that Bilbo had lost his parents and the days he had spent alone in their hole waiting for them to return.
Young Frodo seemed to be the quiet sort.
He could easily recall the way Bilbo had stubbornly stuck out his chin when he had dared this stranger to challenge him. The willful determination to make the best of his situation had served him well and had enabled him to rise to new heights that still amazed Fundin every time he recalled his achievements.
Frodo was not that way.
He was quiet and withdrawn. He seemed lost in a world without his mother and father and his big wide eyes searched for guidance from all around him. Unfortunately he had been taken in by cousins who, though they had generous hearts, had enough children of their own that a quiet child often fell down to the wayside.
After frequently witnessing Frodo sit alone in the grass as the other children played Fundin found himself incapable of withholding his involvement any longer. He made his way to the foster mother’s stall, Violet Proudfoot was a kind but firm hobbit that was obviously used to wrangling wild fauntlings but seemed incapable of understanding an easy child. She sold homemade jams as the children ran wild in the Shire and were looked after by passing aunts and uncles and various cousins to ensure they did not venture into too much trouble.
She spoke happily of taking in Frodo but of her worries that he was not truly settling in with their rowdy bunch and her regret that a better suited family was not stepping forward. When Fundin reminded her that he had raised a fauntling on his own she had laughed heartily and rejoined that Frodo was the least likely little faunt to ever find themselves in a foreign kingdom.
And with that Fundin began writing his letters in earnest. For while he was far too old to be raising another child he knew that either of his sons with their well suited matches would be a better fit for the withdrawn faunt than his current situation. Either Dwalin with his quiet husband Ori who had married him three years past or Bilbo and Thorin who had been securely married for five years and perhaps a child was the stability their relationship called for.
What he had not expected was Balin’s response.
Frodo looked up when he sensed someone approaching. He recognized him as the dwarf lord who lived in Belegost and hurried to stand and bow his head. He recalled his mother telling him that a cousin of sorts had been adopted by Lord Fundin and he had eagerly listened to all the tales of what his relation “Mad Baggins” was up to. He wasn’t sure what his cousin’s occupation was but the parts that the Shire delighted in telling the most were that he was the first hobbit in recent memory to take up any sort of weaponry; and that he had been truly honored among the dwarves as one of their own. And had not only grown up outside of the Shire but then had gone on to marry into royalty in another kingdom!
He wondered what the dwarf lord could want with him. He had seen him wandering about the Shire, his stature alone made him notable, but he had at least attempted to blend in with light armor and a tunic with only one sword to be seen. He wondered if he was lonely with all his family gone off to Erebor.
The dwarf smiled down at him, his face was lined but still handsome Frodo would reason. His hair and beard were long with simple braids held together with heavy jewelry and long lines of white and grey with a few dark locks remaining. He held himself tall and proud but his demeanor seemed friendly enough. “Now lad none of that. We are family after a fashion.” He reached out and gently ruffled Frodo’s hair.
Frodo tentatively smiled and nodded. Again he wondered why the dwarf had sought him out and it seemed that his question was more apparent than he wanted.
The dwarf gave a good laugh and his grin grew even bigger. “My what a curious lad you are! More spit and fire in you than I thought. I’m called Fundin and I was wondering if perhaps you wouldn’t mind becoming a bigger part of my family.”
Frodo tilted his head and looked at the other faunts playing in the distance. They were mostly older than him and though they tried not to leave him out of their games he more often than not fell behind. He also thought about his Aunt Violet who seemed constantly harried and she always apologized for forgetting his plate or missing his bedtime. He loved the Shire; he wasn’t sure if he was ready to leave yet but he also thought about the stories of his cousin and turned to look at the dwarf who had come from Belegost just to talk to him. It warmed him to think about. “Did Uncle Bilbo’s husband really fight a dragon?”
Fundin let his head fall back with a laugh as he gently took Frodo’s hand “Aye lad and more than that he’s going to be a king someday. With your Uncle beside him no doubt. And wait until you meet your other Uncles! Dwalin has been spoiling for a child and his husband Ori has more stories than you can imagine. Your other Uncle Balin he’s a quiet sort like you but you’d never want to be on the opposite side of his blade!”
Frodo’s nose scrunched in confusion. They all sounded so wonderful, how would he pick just one to be with? “Which one is going to raise me?” He ventured, he worried about being rude but this was more than he could possibly imagine and he wanted to make sure he behaved himself properly.
Fundin’s excitement gentled and he smiled down at the young lad before ruffling his hair again “All of them lad. They all are going to take care of you. They all want to be a part of your family. Just like here in the Shire.”
For the first time a true smile seemed to bloom on Frodo’s face and he seemed to get dreamy at the thought. “That sounds really nice!”
Fundin’s eyes crinkled “Aye that it does lad.”