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Hobbiton
It was time for tea and a snack for little Frodo. Four o'clock in the afternoon. Just as the clock chimed to strike the fixed hour, loud knocks on the front door sounded at the same moment.
“If it’s you again, Lobelia, we don't want to see you in Bag Ends until further notice! Thorin grumbled, passing from the kitchen to the living room with a tray.
But the banging didn't stop and continued even louder. Bilbo, curious, with a little Frodo clinging to his pants, came out of the kitchen too.
“Only the Durin bloodline could be so stubborn as to bang on a door!” laughed Bilbo heartily.
He made his way to the front door to open it, only to discover his two favorite nephews standing before him: Kíli and Fíli. The three of them smiled at each other before Bilbo fell into the arms of his visitors, so happy to hug them. He almost wept with joy; his eyes filled with tears. Curious, Frodo managed to squeeze past the three tall people at his front door.
“Uncle Bilbo!”
“Da'?”
At the same time, Thorin joined them, surprised and very moved to see his two nephews present right in front of him. Despite their regular correspondence, they hadn't seen each other for eight years since Thorin had fled for the Shire. The dwarf grabbed his son and put his arms around him.
“You see, my little gem, these are your two cousins, Kíli and Fíli, who live under the lonely mountain in our kingdom of Erebor. You don't know them simply because they've never visited us since you were born.”
Kíli and Fíli broke off their embrace with Bilbo to look at their other uncle with judgment. Fíli was the first to approach Frodo, under the spell of the little brunette in Thorin's arms. He held out his hand:
“My little Frodo, what your father doesn't say is that we had to organize the whole kingdom without him, because he had run away from his duties to join Uncle Bilbo, your da’!”
“And then you were born, so we knew where your adad's priorities lay,” Kíli added dramatically.
Thorin rolled his eyes, unhappy at not being able to quell his nephews' ardor for mischief. Bilbo had his hands free, and didn't hesitate to slap each of the young dwarves on the back of the head with great satisfaction.
“Come on, let's go inside, it's cold outside and I don't want any of us to catch pneumonia,” declared Bilbo.
The surprise guests entered first, followed by Thorin and Bilbo. The two dwarves breathed a sigh of contentment as they found themselves in the den of their two uncles. Everything was just as they remembered it, between the emanating warmth and the smells of food, in this case cinnamon and honey, and mulled wine. Before entering the living room, the two brothers removed their chaperones and hung them on the coat racks just inside the entrance to the corridor. In the living room, the decor had changed: the room was cluttered with various wooden toys, such as animals, vehicles and fruit, but also rag dolls. And other small, unfamiliar pieces of wood and glass. A new portrait stood above the fireplace: their two uncles with a tiny Frodo in Thorin's arms.
“ And we're not even in the portrait on the mantelpiece, I see we're important to you, uncles,” grumbled Kíli.
“Kíli...don't start,” warned Thorin.
“No, but you can see we don't mean anything to you anymore, Uncle,” added Fíli.
Bilbo couldn't help laughing at the dramatic behavior of his two nephews, who had missed him far too much. It warmed his heart to see them gathered here around this fireplace. The two youngest dwarves were arguing with their uncle still standing close together. Thorin had released Frodo, who was standing on the sofa, watching the exchange more with questioning eyes than anything else.
“What can I get you boys to drink? I doubt you drink tea. I can heat up some mulled wine or eggnog for you,” offered Bilbo, trying to change the conversation.
“Boys? Boys? Uncle Bilbo! You're standing before the King of Erebor, show some respect,” grumbled Fíli.
“I have my doubts when I see you, Fili,” said Thorin in all seriousness.
The tension between all the adults could be felt. The three dwarves glared at each other. Bilbo was beginning to doubt this happy reunion, Frodo was looking at him with the same suspicion in his eyes and he had sat down on the armchair, hiding his eyes with the brown velvet cushion. The hobbit moved closer to his son to take him in his arms and stroke his hair to reassure him. Please, make a gesture.
Suddenly, the three dwarves burst out laughing, before Thorin happily embraced his nephews with tears in his eyes. Thorin's forehead touched those of his nephews in turn, a great show of love. Relieved, Bilbo loosened his grip on Frodo's little body.
“You see, my little sprout, the dwarves in our family's family are perfect idiots!”
They laughed and settled down on the cushioned bench in front of the window. Bilbo had missed them greatly and his heart warmed to see them in his living room. Frodo was still a little wary of them, but his hobbit father had no doubt that he would be won over by Kíli and Fíli's fun-loving spirit, just as he had been by the two dwarves during their adventure. He was even having trouble seeing Fíli as the king under the mountain, with the raven crown of Erebor.
“To answer your question, Uncle Bilbo, a glass of mulled wine would be lovely!”
“I'll have the same, but don't heat something up just for us!”
“No, no, no! You're not bothering me at all! Your uncle Thorin is used to drinking it at this time of year, so you can accompany him while Frodo and I drink tea!”
Still observing his nephews, Thorin settled back in his armchair in front of the hearth before taking out his pipe and starting to fill it with herbs, opening the snuffbox in front of him on the coffee table. Bilbo had already gone into the kitchen to fetch more mugs of mulled wine for his nephews, and Frodo was close on his heels to help him carry all the remaining food into the living room.
“I still can't get used to the idea that you've become King of Erebor,” Thorin began.
“I'm not really, as you well know. It's Aman who's in charge, with Balin's help. They give me invaluable advice. They hope I'll be able to become the rightful ruler of Erebor within two years. Time flies, and you've already been with Uncle Bilbo for ten years! “
Bilbo had returned from the kitchen with Frodo to put down the rest of the snacks and enjoy the moment of reunion. He handed the glasses to the two dwarves before pouring Frodo a cup of tea in his brown bear mug and sitting down in his armchair. Little Frodo also had his own little cloth armchair in the middle of his two fathers' armchairs, a beautiful little leaf-green armchair with a thick blue blanket. Pleased with the warm atmosphere, Bilbo squeezed Thorin's hand tightly. The two youngest dwarves rushed off to try the various seasonal treats baked by their uncle: Yuletide shortbread in the shape of a fir tree or various winter plants, cakes topped with almond powdered sugar and soft orange and walnut cakes dipped in honey-based syrup. Typically, Shire cookies celebrate the time when the night was the longest of the year.
“How is Dís doing, by the way? And Tauriel too? I'm surprised she's not with you,” began Bilbo.
“Aman is always on the move! As for Tauriel, let's just say she wasn't feeling well, and we preferred her to stay in the warmth of Erebor, rather than accompany us on this journey of over a month and a half to join you, my uncles!” replied Kíli.
“Warm in Erebor, to put it mildly,” laughed Bilbo.
At the same time, the three dwarves turned to Bilbo and gave him their darkest glare. In response, Bilbo took a sip of his herbal tea and laughed softly.
“What Kíli doesn't tell you is that this rascal here is about to become a father! That's why Tauriel stayed in Erebor!” enthused Fíli.
“I see I'm not the only one who's been thinking about something other than the throne of Erebor for the last eight years,” Thorin laughed, before taking another puff of pipe-weed.
Kíli flushed at his uncle's remark before drowning in the bottom of his cup. Bilbo laughed, accompanied by Fíli.
“Congratulations, Kíli, the family's about to get even bigger! I'm happy for you!” exclaimed Bilbo happily, before standing up and giving his nephew a hug.
Frodo didn't really understand what was going on and who these cousins were. But he was beginning to like them, especially Fíli's antics with the food. He tried to talk by stuffing several white cakes into his mouth before making faces at Frodo, who couldn't remain indifferent for very long to the infectious good humor of his tall dwarf cousins. Kíli jumped to her feet, suddenly realizing something.
“Oh, but we've forgotten our manners! We haven't introduced ourselves,” said Kíli.
At the same time, Fíli stood up and walked over to his brother's side. They stood in front of Bilbo's armchair, watching him with interest. They both knelt before him:
“Fíli and Kíli, your cousins, at your service, Prince Frodo of Bag End!” exclaimed the two brothers.
“Prince?” Frodo exclaimed, looking at his two fathers in turn.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute! Didn't you tell him he was a prince?”
“What's the point? I don't want anything more to do with this mountain,” replied Thorin, bitterly. “I've abandoned my duties and my rank, and my son doesn't have the privilege of holding that title.”
“But all the same! He remains a prince in our hearts!” argued Kíli.
At this point, the youngest of the brothers lifted Frodo onto his shoulders, intent on committing some mischief. Bilbo and Thorin knew by heart that glint in his eyes, the same one that animated the King of Erebor. They made their way down the corridor and most certainly to their room. All three shared their space, sleeping together in the same bed and sometimes on the same pillows. The hobbit and the former king under the mountain followed, worried by their nephew's idea. They looked at each other quizzically. They all stood at the entrance to the largest room, deep in the burrow.
“Tell us, cousin Frodo, where do you hide your wooden swords? Have you even had your sword ceremony yet?” asked Kíli.
“Swords?” asked Frodo.
“You're a little too young to receive your sword, my little gem,” replied Thorin. “You'll get a wooden sword when you pass into the childhood period of your life.”
“I can't wait! “
“Well, the plan to fight and reproduce the battle of the five armies is dead! We'll have to come up with another idea!”
“Oh, I've got an idea! Take Uncle Bilbo's wooden spoons! They'll do for our makeshift weapons, and that way we can show how heroic we were during the battle!”
Before Bilbo could protest, Kíli was in the kitchen looking for spoons for their makeshift weapon. Thorin couldn't help laughing as he watched the three of them getting to know each other.
“I think your uncle Bilbo can take all the glory for this battle and the outcome!” Thorin agreed, taking his beloved by the shoulder to wrap his arms around him and kiss him on the cheek.
“It's certainly not you’re doing, the end of the quarrel, especially with Thranduil! replied Kíli.
“Too soon, little brother, too soon!”
And they disappeared into the living room, fleeing Thorin's wrath. The two dwarves ran up and down the corridor and into the living room to avoid their uncle, who was determined to give them a beating in view of the fury in his eyes. Despite this chaotic scene, Bilbo couldn't blame his nephews. He knew that the subject of the gold sickness was not one that Thorin was keen on, but Kíli and Fíli had no ill intentions. They just wanted to entertain their little cousin and spend time with him. They were adorable, especially when Thorin wasn't chasing them! Bilbo had just enough time to dodge them, pick up his cup and finish drinking his delicious beverage. They look so much like Dís!
Soon, the den became chaotic with spikes sent back and forth, one feigning seriousness while the other was already preparing his next bitter criticism. Bilbo watched them from his armchair, still spinning around the rooms between laughter and pleading. Frodo's laughter was infecting everyone, too. On the new round in the living room, Kíli and Fíli each grabbed one of their uncle's blankets to start undermining what heroes they were and how princely they were. They also took their spoons to attack their little cousin. Thorin had given up catching them, preferring to sit back in his armchair. He was no longer used to his nephews' boundless energy. He huffed before finishing his cup of mulled wine.
“I hope your child will be as mischievous and have fire in his butt as that, I'll consider myself avenged!” prophesied Thorin, totally slumped in his armchair.
“It's you, my dear uncle, who's made you soft by living here!” replied Fíli.
Bilbo rolled his eyes and laughed at the prince's insolence. He looked even less like a young adult ready to become a father for the first time, like his brother, soon to be ruler of the mountain.
“My little Frodo, do you even know our history to claim our mountain? I hope your adad and your da' haven't hidden this important part of your history from you! It was thanks to this expedition that they met and fell in love with each other!” told Fíli.
“Falling madly in love with each other, you mean my brother! Make yourself comfortable, cousin, and we'll tell you the story!”
“Yeah, the story with Smaug the dragon!”
Thorin blushed at the mention of his encounter with Bilbo, knowing that his nephews would twist their story to turn their living-room performance to their advantage. It was of no importance; the most important thing was the time spent with cousins and family. Bilbo and Thorin had missed this strong sense of belonging. The hobbit could only be grateful that the lonely mountain had come to him. What magnificent proof of love. And what would the walls of Cul de Sac be without a good love story? The story that changed Bilbo Baggins’ life forever for the better, and gave him such a loving family.