Chapter Text
Bilbo’s Dwarves were being far too loud. Granted, they were enjoying the last bit of calm before the metaphorical storm would hit. Before Gandalf had told him this, he was hissing at everyone to quieten down before Orcs discovered their campsite. This whole evening had started when Dwalin pushed Bofur into a creek, claiming he smelled of, ‘Warg shite’. This snowballed into an Every-Dwarf-And-Hobbit-For-Himself water battle, which later transitioned into loud storytelling and singing around the campfire as the Company stripped off their sodden clothes to dry.
‘Oh well, at least I don’t have any socks to dry out.’ Bilbo thought as Bofur finished his tale. It was about a lonely undead maiden dressed in white who wandered the coastline of a giant lake. She would steal young children who dared to venture away from their families and sacrifice them to appeal to the Ancients so they could let her be at peace.
“That wasn’t a very nice story, Bofur.” Kili whined as the aforementioned Dwarf concluded the story.
“Hey, don’t blame me! I’ll have you know this folktale has been in my family for many generations!” Bofur retorted, crossing his arms defensively in front of his chest.
“Say, Bilbo, you haven’t shared a story or song yet, why don’t you give it a shot?” Dori piped up seemingly from nowhere. The others murmured their assent
“Indeed I haven’t, and frankly, I don’t particularly want to.” The Hobbit huffed, still irritated from the noise level. ‘Orcs may be dumb, but they have better ears than Dwarves or Men, that’s for sure.’
“Tell you what, Master Baggins,” Thorin (of all people) started, “if you participate in the campfire storytelling, I’ll make everyone go to sleep. Do we have a deal?” Bilbo jumped at the opportunity.
“I believe we do, Master Oakenshield. Goodness me, the lengths I must go to for some peace and quiet these days!” The Hobbit grouched as the Company chortled at his expense. “I can’t think of a story to tell, so I will need a topic or an idea.”
“Why don’t you sing a song, old friend?” Gandalf said as he puffed on his pipe.
“That’s a lovely idea, Tharkun!” Ori said excitedly. “We overheard you singing in back Rivendell, we were on our way to bed you see.”
“Dwalin cried!” Kili shouted over the fire. The Dwalin jumped up and lunged at him.
“LIES! Don’t listen to him! Come here you little bugger, I’ll wring yer neck with my bare hands!” As the two Dwarves tussled on the ground, Bilbo noticed that Dori and Fili were exchanging coins.
‘Typical Dwarves…’
“Alright everyone, listen up!” The Hobbit called. “This song was used as a rallying cry in the War of Wrath. These words have been long forgotten by historians and descendants alike, so listen, and listen well, for I shall not repeat myself.” Once Bilbo was sure he had everyone’s attention, he took a deep breath and began to sing.
“In nocte
Tenere spiritum nostrum sumus
Exspectantes signum
Ita ut manibus meis
Et oculos tuos
Non est celare nihil
Atque utinam nostri angeli exaltatus fueris
Parati ad bellum
Cor meum tuum est
Iter enim introduces
Et sagitta volat
Nostra perit aquilae
Sed oriri voces nostras
Sit scriptor studio venandi lassus est Sol in sua inferna
Phoenix sunt corda nostra et in ortu flammae
Sit scriptor semine caeli siderum
Libare nomina noctem
Fiat lux noctem
Fiat lux noctem
Fiat lux noctem
Fiat lux noctem
Hic ager ipsosque rupto
De somniorum confringetur
Vultus enim ad lucem,
Nos gluten ossa nostra
Et invenies spem nostram
Non est celare nihil
Atque utinam nostri angeli exaltatus fueris
Parati ad bellum
Cor meum tuum est
Iter enim introduces
Et sagitta volat
Nostra perit aquilae
Sed oriri voces nostras
Sit scriptor studio venandi lassus est Sol in sua inferna
Phoenix sunt corda nostra et in ortu flammae
Sit scriptor semine caeli siderum
Libare nomina noctem
Fiat lux noctem
Fiat lux noctem
Fiat lux noctem
Fiat lux noctem
Vestri Pugnator sit tu scis qui es et non sum turbatus,
Non ergo fugiendum
Quia fortes estis et vos can sumo eam
Non fugit ne fugite
Si ceciderit ibi erit et capere non
Et exspectabo Et ego expectabo
Quod suus non videtis me
Et salvum facere quod ille non sum
Et salvabo vos
Yeah ego salvum te quoque
Ego salvum te
Sit scriptor studio venandi lassus est Sol in sua inferna
Phoenix sunt corda nostra et in ortu flammae
Sit scriptor semine caeli siderum
Libare nomina noctem
Fiat lux noctem
Fiat lux noctem
Fiat lux noctem
Fiat lux noctem.”
Deafening silence was all that followed. Even the forest made no noise. Everyone present (save the Hobbit himself) was transfixed by the performance, even the fire had swelled, seeming to respond to the ancient words.
“Well then,” Bilbo clapped his hands awkwardly, dispelling the glazed look in his Dwarves eyes. “if it’s all the same to you, I’m off to bed, and you should be too.” The Hobbit curled up on his bedroll and fell asleep almost instantly. If he stayed awake just a little longer, however, he might have caught the amazed and shocked looks on everyone’s faces as they followed his lead and went to bed. Gandalf took his post and watched for danger as the Company slept.
________
The next day had the Company heading East once more. They had stopped for a quick lunch by a river that ran through an expansive meadow with rolling hills and warm sunlight. Bilbo sighed as he watched a large flock of birds swoop over the landscape. The flock moved as one creature, twisting in the sky, looking almost like a blanket that blocked the sunlight. ‘Starlings.’ He thought absently. The birds reminded him of his long lost love, who he had not thought of in nearly five centuries. Bilbo felt immense guilt for not paying more thought to her, as she had been the single most precious thing in his life until she had passed. The Hobbit was old, however, and he understood that even Soulmates cannot last forever. Bilbo learnt this the hard way, and the ache in his heart has still painful even after thousands of years without her by his side.
He heard laughter behind him and looked over his shoulder. The boys were messing with Dwalin again. They had tied a pretty bow using a few reeds from a nearby river onto his axes. Needless to say, the warrior was not impressed and was currently chasing Fili and Kili around with one of his beautified battle axes. Bilbo absently rubbed at his chest as he felt the near constant ache lessen somewhat. He smiled to himself and turned his attention back to his conversation with Balin. The old Dwarf was curious about the birds. Bilbo gladly told him all he could about the starling flock that was slowly meandering its way towards the Misty Mountains.