A Quest Request And Unexpected Guests

*Don't ask why the chapter title is so rhymie I have no idea why it came to mind*

10 YEARS LATER

I groaned as I finally hauled myself out of bed. Life in Bag End has been pretty mundane and boring and I was aching for some change, some true adventure! Bilbo, on the other hand, was more than content living a life where everyday is pretty much the same.

This place gave the saying "Same shit, different day" a whole new meaning.

I got dressed and went outside to find Bilbo.

"Hey, Bilbo! I was thinking today we could...Oh hello." I said pausing when I saw the man standing before my friend.

He was a tall older man with a long grey beard. He wore a grey cloak and a pointed hat of the same color. In his hand was a staff made of wood.

"Go inside, Ashryn. I was just telling this...this lunatic that we have no need for adventures here."

My eyes lit up and I started to get excited!

"An adventure? What kind of adventure?" I asked grinning like a fool.

"Now that's more like it!" The old man smiled.

"Ashryn, please." Bilbo groaned trying to shoo me back into our hobbit hole

I glared at him but he just turned back to the man.

"Well, good morning." He said heading up the steps to the hobbit hole.

"To think that I should have lived to be 'good morninged' by Belladonna Took's son as if I were selling buttons at the door."

That caught our attention. How did he know Bilbo's mother?

"Beg your pardon?" Bilbo half-heartedly demanded.

"You've changed, and not entirely for the better Bilbo Baggins."

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it. I'm Gandalf and Gandalf means...me."

Things seemed to click for Bilbo after that.

"Not Gandalf, the wandering wizard, who made such excellent fireworks? Old Took used to have them on Midsummer's Eve. No idea you were still in business."

"And where else should I be?"

"Where else..." Bilbo cleared his throat of whatever he was about to say and began puffing on his pipe.

"Well I'm pleased to find you remember something about me, even if it's only my fireworks. Yes, well that's decided! It'll be very good for you, and most amusing for me. I shall inform the others."

"Inform the who? What? No! No, no! Wait!" Bilbo said getting all flustered.

I stood there grinning with excitement, glad Gandalf refused to take no for an answer.

"We do not want any adventures here, thank you. Not today. Not..."

"Speak for yourself!" I said.

Bilbo huffed at me.

"I suggest you try over the hill or across the water.....Good morning!"

With that he shoved me into the hobbit hole and stepped in himself shutting the door behind him, making sure to lock it as well.

I stood there with my arms crossed giving him a look he knew all too well. My "I'm gonna get what I want whether you like it or not" look.

Suddenly a scratching could be heard on the other side of the door. Bilbo looked out the window, jumping back and hiding around the corner when Gandalf peeked in.

Bilbo quickly tiptoed to a different window and watched the Wizard leave.

Later that day Bilbo went into town leaving me on my own. I was still excited from the thought of a new adventure so I started packing a small bag full of things I would need if Gandalf and his "others" showed up. I was going on Gandalf's adventure whether Bilbo wanted me to or not.

When Bilbo returned he made us dinner and we sat down to eat. I was just about to dig in when the doorbell rang. I dropped my fork, grinning like an idiot as I watched Bilbo get up and answer it.

Behind the door was a tallish bald man, a bit taller than Bilbo.

"Dwalin, at your service." He said with a bow.

"Um, Bilbo Baggins at yours."

"And Ashryn." I spoke from behind him.

As I looked Dwalin over I got a sense that I'd seen him somewhere before, but I couldn't place where.

Dwalin stepped into the hobbit hole.

"Do we know each other?" Bilbo asked.

Dwalin stopped to stare at him.

"No."

With that he walked the rest of the way inside.

"Which way Laddy?" Dwalin asked taking off his cape. "Is it down here?"

"Is what down where?" Bilbo asked utterly confused as to who this man was and why he was in our hobbit hole.

"Supper!" Dwalin said tossing his cloak at Bilbo. "He said there'd be food, and lots of it."

"He said? Who said?"

I rolled my eyes, Dwalin was obviously one of the "Others" Gandalf had mentioned earlier. I was about to burst with excitement! I had been dying for adventure and finally one has arrived.

Dwalin found the food we'd made ourselves and sat down to help himself. I watched in amazement as he wolfed it all down then asked if there was more.

Bilbo said yes and handed him a basket of bread, but not before pocketing 2 rolls for us, just incase.

The doorbell chimed once again just as Bilbo had finished telling Dwalin that we, well more like he, wasn't expecting company.

"That'll be the door." Dwalin said looking up from his plate.

Bilbo, looking nervous of who it could be opened the door to reveal a short man with white hair.

"Balin, at your service." He said with a bow, not unlike Dwalin.

"Come on in!" I said happily.

Bilbo looked at me, likely wondering why on middle earth I had invited yet another strange dwarf into our home.

Balin asked if he was late, Bilbo stared at him in confusion. Then Balin caught sight of Dwalin.

"Evening brother."

"You're shorter and wider than last we met." Dwalin said with a smile as the two approached each other.

"Wider, not shorter! Sharp enough for both of us."

They both smiled as Dwalin grabbed Balin by the shoulders. Next thing I know they're bashing their heads together.

I jumped a little in surprise and Bilbo looked completely stunned at their little greeting.

"Excuse me, sorry, hate to interrupt. But the thing is I'm not entirely sure you're in the right house."

They began looking around the pantry as Bilbo tried to explain that although he liked visitors he preferred to at least know them first.

The door bell rang for the third time tonight and once again Bilbo answered with me right behind him.

This time when he opened the door to reveal two men standing there I felt like the wind was knocked out of me.

"Fili."

"And Kili."

"At your service." They said together as they bowed.

When they were once again up right Kili caught me staring wide eyed from behind Bilbo.

"It can't be." He said pushing past Bilbo. "Ashryn?"

"Kili!" I cried.

He held out his arms and I jumped into them. He laughed as he spun me around.

"So this is where you've been? You just stopped coming 'round, I thought something terrible had happened to you!"

I grinned up at him and that's when he noticed the scar running down the left side of my face. The scar started just above my brow and extended down over my left eye and down my cheek.

"Something terrible did happen. Didn't it?" He asked softly.

"Don't worry about it. I'm fine now." I said smiling up at him.

He hugged me again.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"Um, excuse me, how exactly do you know each other?" Bilbo asked looking totally lost.

"I'll tell you later." I assured him.

"Little Ash." Fili said stepping into the house.

I smiled and hugged him as well.

"Fili, it's been a while." I said.

"That it has."

He ruffled my hair and turned and started unloading all of his weapons into Bilbo's arms, warning him they'd just been sharpened.

Suddenly Dwalin strode over throwing an arm around Kili.

"Fili, Kili, give us a hand."

Kili looked back at me but I just smiled and nodded toward where Dwalin was taking him.

Balin said something about moving something to fit everyone in.

"Everyone?! How many more are there?" Bilbo asked.

As an answer the door bell rang once again.

"No, no! There's nobody home!" Bilbo yelled. "Go away and bother somebody else! There's far too many Dwarves in my dining room as it is! If this is some clot-head's idea of a joke, ha ha, I can only say it is in very poor taste!" He finished as he opened the door.

A handful of dwarves tumbled in with Gandalf standing behind them.