Chapter Text
Cold...
Cold...
Frozen...
Need...to ...keep...moving...
Bilbo trudged through the thick snow, the little bundle in his arms feeling like a huge rock after walking for so many hours without stopping, they had been traveling for creator knows how long and it seemed like now they were heading upwards, and this made him hope, at least, a bit, perhaps he was heading into Rivendell now? Even if they did not want to give him sanctuary, elves loved children and would most certainly take Frodo.
They had to ... so cold... he could hardly move...
He had wrapped the babe up as best he could, using whatever proper material and even rags he could sew together, using whatever scraps he had left to lengthen his pants and wrap around his feet, as even his thick soles and fur could not protect him that much from the biting chill as winter drew near, his clothing now looked like it belonged to a rag doll.
Several people paid them no mind, not caring about a strange little creature and its apparent spawn, turning them away if Bilbo did not pay what little coin he had for some form of decency.
A few other beings that he had come across had been merciful and taken the small skills the older hobbit possessed to pay him a few coins here and there, but washing dishes and sewing horse blankets did not pay much, he wished he did in fact possess the same green thumb his kin did, perhaps it would have earned him more if he gardened also, but it was better than nothing, Frodo had not seemed to have suffered too much for it, but he was not as plump as a baby hobbit should be, a fact that scared Bilbo a good bit.
Oh...light..there was light! He saw it, they were almost there! Just a few more feet!
Sharp needles of pain shot through the hobbit's legs and the snow was also biting into his eyes as he tried to focus on the illumination in the distance, stinging horribly as the snow got deeper and deeper, safety only a few moments away ... till finally..
His body gave out
Bilbo fell hard
Somehow he managed to turn his body just enough to avoid falling on and injuring Frodo, the poor infant was shrieking now, scared from the tumble and knowing something was terribly wrong with his caretaker, but could do nothing about it to help.
So the Frodo did the one thing he could do
Scream
--
"You just had to go and get that extra deer for the feast! We had plenty for every dwarrow there and our human guests and now we are stuck in this storm!" Thorin scolded his sibling who was carting a large deer over his shoulders as Thorin looked around trying to look for something that looked familiar, igoring Frerin's complaints about the animal getting heavy.
He had wanted the bloody thing so badly he could carry it himself!
Suddenly an ear-splitting sound cut through the roar of the storm and sent a shiver that was not from cold down both dwarves spines.
"What is that pitiful sound?" Thorin asked, already running towards the noise, the back of his head screaming at him what it was, but at the same time praying that he was wrong.
"Could be a banshee!" Frerin shouted behind him still carting the carcass on his shoulders.
"Do not be absurd!" Thorin scolded as he saw a flash of red through the thick snow and coming closer saw a red-faced baby wailing as loud as its little lungs would allow and the dark haired prince was for once glad his sibling's gluttony had led them outside and scooped the child up before making sure the larger figure in the was alive.
This was a creature he had never seen before, ears shaped like a leaf and thick fur on the feet and its clothing, a jacket that at one point might have been a pretty red was now made to look like some Childs messily made toy from the patches and was filthy.
Thankfully the limbs on the creature were red and had not yet turned black signaling it was too late for much help and Thorin shrugged off his own cloak ignoring the chilly bite into his flesh at this action "Frerin! drop the beast and take the babe! I will help his parent"
The blond prince quickly took the child who's gut-wrenching cries had died down to whimpers as he sensed help had finally arrived and snuggled into Frerin for warmth and comfort, of which the dwarf was happy to give making sure the baby was secured into his vest and pulled his own cloak further around himself to shield Frodo.
Thorin wrapped the fur around the older creature and lifted him up, disturbed by how light it was, dirty curls tickling his nose for a moment before he started heading for Erebor, now being able to see the torches, glad that it was so close and paranoia twisting in his guts at the thought that the pointy-eared thing was so close and yet so far from help and might not have been found till spring, both him and his babe nothing but brittle bones or a preserved horror from the cold.
Warmth...
Softness...
Is this was death felt like? It was not so bad....
Something tight...around his head....
Reality hit him like a bolt of lightning
Frodo!
Bilbo began to thrash
His eyes open but seeing nothing, something was over his eyes, and he was trapped in something!
Strong but gentle hands grabbed his wrists forcing him to stop
"Now now lad none of that... you're safe here, your eyes took a beating from the snow, but nothing too serious, the salve I put on you will prevent infection and soothe any pain you might have, your peepers just need a rest, as does all of you," said a low voice, older, smelled of tea and herbs, the hands that still held his wrists were leathery, hard worker, the hands did not belong to a man, nor an elf, too large.
"F-rodo...where...is..Frodo?"
Oh was that horrible croak his voice?
"Ah the little one! Seems our king has taken a shine to the tiny thing! He could not be in safer hands, I assure you that! But I'll have someone fetch him so you can more or less see for yourself.... GLOIN!!! Make yourself useful and have the babe brought in here for our guest!" the healer bellowed making Bilbo wince at the volume .
An annoyed noise that sounded off near the hobbit's side from another person, dwarf, Bilbo's brain now provided him, the sound of a door groaning open and heavy boots echoing through a nearby hall sounded into his ears.
Where had they ended up?
--
Thorin's dignity was in pieces as he tried to keep a straight face at the scene in front of him
"Oh, I remember when you and your siblings were this little! You used to love to try and chew on my beard! Your mother almost fell out of her chair from laughing so hard!" Thrain gave a laugh himself as he saw his oldest son had turned red.
Thorin was thankful his father did not get around babies too often, as he always got like this, and that the child in question was too young to tell anyone the stories Thrain rained upon his ears as he sat upon his lap, blue eyes looking up at the dwarf king curiously.
"Must you tell him all our childhood stories father?" Thorin asked trying to will his face back to its normal shade and failing.
"Tis my job son! As King to enlighten the young ones with tales and as a father to embarrass you!" Thrain chuckled and patted his son's shoulder as said son hid his face in his hands.
"Your highness.." came a voice and Thrain turned to offer a warm smile to the newcomer
"Gloin! Nice to see you, has our other guest awoken yet?" Thrain asked as he patted Frodo's back.
"He has your majesty, he is asking for his babe to be brought to him" Gloin said bluntly, this was something Gloin was very good at, neither Thrain or Thorin minded this though, as blunt honesty was better than trying to skirt around issues and more often than not just proved to be an early sign the one in question was untrustworthy.
"Understandable, well little one how about we go see your adad?" Thrain asked Frodo as he stood from his seat, securing the baby on his hip who quickly became interested in the decorations in the dwarfs sleeve "Thorin, you come along too, let us all put any fears he might have to rest right now and get his story, anyone who travels in this weather with a babe, not even in his first year from the looks of it is running from something dangerous or escaped a bad situation, perhaps have Bombur bring in some warm food for his belly if he can handle it"
"Right, it will be done"
Time to figure out who their guest was and how he came to be there and why ...