Author's Note - I know it's been an incredibly long time since I worked on this story; my mother was a huge fan of dragons, and this tale has been difficult to work on since her passing. Despite this being a gift for IseeFire as well as my mother, I just couldn't seem to find inspiration for this. I'm so very happy the muses returned, and I'm hopeful I'll be able to maintain momentum for this. Thank you all for being so patient with me. Grief and depression are horrible things to fight through.

Disclaimer – I do not own "the Hobbit" nor do I make any money from this story.

Chapter Six – Last Supper in the Shire

Now that all of the dwarrow that had come to the Shire had found their Ones, it was time to start planning the return trip to Erebor. The community had come together, ensuring everyone had what they needed for the journey since hobbits hadn't traveled in a very long time. The company supervised, crafting items when needed since certain things weren't common place in this peaceful country. Sturdy rucksacks, bedrolls, and other traveling items were made by the clever skills of the dwarrow, and Thorin was grateful they had taken the time to ensure the hobbits would be properly prepared for the lengthy trek. He did not want to see any of the hobbits take ill or be harmed due to being ill-prepared for this journey

Dis had worked with her One and Dori as well as the families who had talent in sewing to ensure sturdy, warm traveling clothing were prepared for the new additions to the company. She and Balin had conferred with Thorin in regards to what was needed and how they should acquire them. The company had been ready to pay for the new equipment and supplies, but the hobbits had gently refused to accept any form of payment.

It had taken time to determine what to do to repay them for their generosity, but Thorin and a few others had quickly found that certain crafts were not practiced in the Shire so they had utilized their crafts to mend or make items that were needed. Since this kept the hobbits from going into Bree often, it was something both races were pleased with since it meant that there would be less attention drawn to the sanctuary created for the hobbits.

Once everything was in readiness, the immediate families of the hobbits who had felt the bonding call as well as the Thain met with the company for a small farewell dinner. The Baggins family had hosted the meal, meaning everyone was comfortably housed within Bag End for the gathering.

The thain had risen from his seat at the head of the table before the meal had been served, and all eyes turned to the older hobbit as the conversations stopped out of respect.

"Since the cyfrinwyr told me about the visions sent to them by the crewyr, I have lived in both fear and happiness. Happiness because it means our people will once again be able to live our lives being true to our purpose. The fear is because I know this means danger for those who have found their cymdeithion in that they will leave this safe sanctuary and face the bradwr once more."

The hobbits' leader quieted for a moment, looking as if he was gathering both his thoughts and resolve, and then spoke once more.

"Despite my fears of the dangers that will come, I have faith that they will succeed and help ensure that Arda sings as she is supposed to. I have faith that our new family members will protect our loved ones and will be happy as our crewyr intended for us to be. I have faith that love will spring between each phâr so that all shall be as it was meant to be. I ask you all to raise your glasses to welcome our new family members and to wish the phâr every possible joy!"

All of those in attendance raised their glasses, adding their voices to the well wishes the Thain had toasted them with. Once the first drink was taken and the hobbit had taken his seat, Thorin tilted his head questioningly to the ruler of the hobbits before being given permission to add his own words. The prince rose to his feet, drawing the attention of everyone there.

"I am not one for pretty speeches," he admitted, drawing teasing jeers from his sister and cousins. "My sister is usually better at it and my cousin, Balin, as well, but I wanted to share how much the welcome you have given us has meant to me. While we have a tenuous relationship with the elves, they tend to look down on us given our creation and what it meant to Eru at the beginning of our creation. It is rare to find genuine acceptance outside of our own people so when Radagast shared his knowledge of our shared history, I will say that we were very unsure of what our welcome would be. As many will tell you, dwarrow can be rather stubborn and very untrusting of strangers."

"You don't have to remind us of that, lad," Bungo chirped from his seat, chuckling at his son's cydymaith. "Remember, our crewyr did not let the memories of your people fade from our minds. There's a reason we're created to be as equally stubborn or there would have been too many rhyfelwyr sat on in the old days."

Thorin chuckled, acknowledging the point, and waited until the laughter had died down before he spoke again.

"The welcome we received here was astonishing and so very heart warming. Considering that we had been sent here to find our Ones, I had worried that we would meet with resistance because that meant some of your families would be leaving this beautiful sanctuary that has become your home. Instead, we were met with joy and friendship. You didn't see this as us taking your family members away but as gaining more family. To that, I thank you both as Prince of Erebor as well as the simple dwarf who has enjoyed himself so very much. It is my hope that we will continue this friendship well beyond the dark times that have begun to grow. To our friendship!"

Everyone joined in on the toast, and Thorin could see the glow of approval on the faces of his family as well as his own One. He took his seat, feeling pleased that he'd managed to get his thoughts across without insulting anyone. Maybe he was getting better at public speaking?

"Nicely done," Bilbo murmured in Thorin's ear. "I think you've managed to squash any nervousness the others might've felt by our departure tomorrow morning."

"That was my hope," he answered back just as quietly. "For all of the bravery you and your families have shown, I know the departure tomorrow is something everyone will be dreading in some form."

"Not dread," the hobbit corrected. "We're actually looking forward to the journey; it's just that we've not been away from our families before nor have any of us left the sanctuary of the Shire since we were brought here by the Istar chosen by our crewyr. It's difficult not to be nervous about that."

"With ample reason," Thorin assured him. "Your pebbles were in danger due to Morgoth and his actions; this sanctuary kept them safe. Now you're leaving that safety to face the darkness once more and, in time, perhaps pebbles will come again."

Bilbo gave a soft smile at that, giving the hobbit term for children.

"One of the words we use for children are fauntlings, but we also call a child deorfa or hatchling," the other shared quietly. "I can see why you call them pebbles though; it's rather cute honestly."

That just made the dwarf chuckle, which was what Bilbo had been after. The hobbit had seen the concern building in his cydymaith, and he'd not liked it. He'd had a few short conversations with Thorin's family about the one chosen for him, and he'd quickly realized that he would have to do his best to keep the stress off of the other's shoulders. Considering Thorin's position, it would take considerable work and effort to do such a thing but Bilbo was not afraid of hard work.

"They can be adorable but terrors as well," Thorin said. "My sister-sons are fine examples of that. I can't tell you how many tutors they've run off since they started lessons. They are incredibly intelligent, though rarely show it outside of their pranks, and they thrive on chaos. My father swears his beard will go white well before his time because of their antics."

"We might be able to help with that," Bilbo said with a wide grin.

"Oh," he asked, startled by the comment from his One.

"Oh yes," the other answered, chuckling. "Some of us are quite notorious in regards to pranking, and I'm afraid my cousin, Primula, is part of that group."

"Oh Mahal," Thorin groaned, a hand over his eyes. "Erebor won't survive it."

Dis, who had overheard the conversation, laughed at her brother. She knew that the tricksters in the group they were bringing home would help reign in her sons without breaking their spirits, and the princess was eager to see what kind of chaos that would ensue before an armistice was declared.

"I promise we'll leave the mountain standing," Bilbo said, making the princess laugh harder when Thorin stared at his One.

"Let me guess, you're one of the pranksters," he asked, turning to face Belladonna when she answered the question.

"Bilbo is usually the leader of the group," the hobbit matron said with a chuckle. "I can't tell you how many times that little group of his has caused all sorts of trouble."

"Who all is in it," Thorin asked, both curious and dreading it.

"Bilbo, Drogo, Primula, Asphodel, Amaranth, Lobelia, Hamfast Gamgee, May Gamgee, and Holman Greenhand," she answered, listing the names off while counting on her fingers. "They have been best friends since they were tiny, and I've been proud of the chaos they cause while reigning mischief down on the Shire."

Thorin thought on that for a moment, wondering if the mountain would hold up or if his hair along with his father's would go white from the stress of having so many prank wars within Erebor. It was obvious what he was thinking because Belladonna, Dis, and the hobbits the matron had listed were laughing incredibly hard.

"Mahal help us," the prince commented, dragging a calloused hand down his face.

"It won't be so bad," Lobelia said, giggling afterwards. "We don't usually go for property damage; it's mainly just targeting one person or a group, but we don't do anything that will damage or hurt anyone or anything."

"Something my boys have yet to master," Dis sighed, shaking her head. "Maybe all of you can teach them that."

"Or find a way to channel that energy into a different direction," Holman said quietly. "I know they're young, but there's ways of burning that energy off so they're not as distracted."

"Too young for weapons training yet," Dwalin said, adding to the conversation. "They do take part in physical exercise to help begin strength and agility building, but nothing heavy that could hurt their bodies."

"There are other things to do to keep fauntlings busy," Asphodel said, running fingers through her dark curls. "We usually have a great many at Brandy Hall, and we've learned how to keep them entertained when the winter is bad. I think we can do that for these two."

Balin perked at that, interested. Anything to keep those two terrors from driving everyone insane and running off more tutors would be welcome. The letters from the king and queen often spoke of having to discipline Fili and Kili more due to them acting out. Lily Brown, Dori's One, had suggested that the increase in acting out was due to missing the rest of their family, and both Thorin and Dis had written notes for the boys. They hadn't been too surprised to find that their cousins had done the same, and Jessamine Boffin had drawn some pictures for the lads to enjoy too.

The notes and drawings had helped a bit, and the family had continued writing while here in the Shire. Jessamine had happily added more drawings so the boys could see a bit of where their family was, though they could not give too many details for the safety of the Shire.

"What kind of ideas," the adviser asked, curious now.

Drogo leaned back in his seat, sharing what he and Bilbo did to help keep the younger Baggins siblings in line during inclement weather. It was a challenge because they had a lot of energy, and Bag End was only so big.

"We have story circle," he said. "It's a game Bilbo came up with, and the fauntlings tend to do their best to have all of us laughing. There's also hide the spoon, which can last for hours, and they love that one because we tend to get creative. They have to ask for hints but get the hints in riddles."

"What's story circle," Gloin asked, sounding curious.

"You start off with a few sentences of a story, and then pass it to the person next to you. They have to add a sentence or two, then pass it on. The story can become rather silly by the time it's done," Drogo chuckled. "The last time we played it, we had a chicken running around scaring elves and trying to eat walking trees. I'm not certain where that particular part came from."

"Hyacinth," Bungo answered, speaking of his youngest child. "They had stories of the tree-herders during lessons and for some reason, she decided to have the chicken eating them."

That had everyone laughing, including the fauntlings who had created the odd story, and soon, everyone was discussing their favorite indoor games. The dwarrow were taking mental notes, having an idea that a lot of them would be good for the two princes, and it would also be a way to help further ties with the family.

The evening passed with merry chatter and incredible food, and it was a wonderful way to spend the final evening in the Shire. Thorin knew he would carry the memories for the rest of his life, and he hoped he would have the opportunity to visit his One's home once more. He rather liked the people here, and he knew his company felt the same.

Leaving the Shire would be bittersweet, but he knew that he was leaving a better dwarf than he had arrived. Thorin was looking forward to the future now, and he was anxious to see what the next part of this journey would bring them.

Author's End Notes – Okay, here's a list of the "hobbit" terms that I used Welsh for. If I made a mistake, I apologize. Google Translate is both a friend and enemy to me! Crewyr means creators, phâr means pair (bonded couple for this story), bradwr – traitor, cyfrinwyr – mystics, rhyfelwyr – warriors, deorfa – hatchling. If anyone who speaks Welsh can tell me what the plural word for hatchling is, I'd appreciate it. Google translate gave me something completely different from the singular, and I'm not sure it's right. Well, it's a short chapter but hopefully, it'll help keep me moving. Please let me know what you thought of it, and I shall see you all next time! ~ Laran