SunnyRose Writer Blog

Inspired by these two things lol:

Bilbo and Gandalf crested the ridge, stopping to stare down at the Mannish city spread out below them. The city of Dale, and beyond that…Erebor. Bilbo had read about it, made a study of it, but to see the legendary kingdom of the Longbeards actually there before him. A mere day and a half’s ride away had Bilbo’s heart about to beat out of his chest. He reached down into his pocket to pull out the ring Gandalf had given to him back when he summoned the wizard to Bag End months ago. 

“Are you sure about this, my friend?” Gandalf asked him.

Bilbo took a deep breath, remembering why he was doing this. He was more than ready.

***

Bilbo puttered around his sitting room making sure everything was ready for his appointment when there was a chime of the front door’s bell. Bilbo nearly jumped, his heart beating in excitement. This was it! He made sure all his papers were stacked nicely before going to answer the door. The wizard greeted him fondly, forgetting to duck and hitting his head on the chandelier as Bilbo took his hat and staff for him, leading him to the parlor. 

He pulled out the biggest chair he had for Gandalf, which was still a bit small for the wizard, but if he had any complaints, he did not voice them. Bilbo asked after Gandalf’s travels, and told him of the going-ons of the Shire. His leg bounced a quick rhythm as he poured them both tea. Bilbo was quite certain his nerves were not hidden from the wizard, and his next comment made that clear.

“While I’m not opposed to merely taking tea for the sake of it, your letter indicated that you had something important to ask me.” Gandalf mused with a small smile.

Bilbo froze for a moment before completing his task of adding biscuits to Gandalf’s plate, wiping the crumbs off on his napkin.

“Apologies, Gandalf. You know how easy it is to fall back on Shire pleasantries when I’m nervous.”

“And what do you have to be nervous about, my dear friend?”

Bilbo took a long sip from his cup, rehearsing his speech in his head before giving Gandalf his full and undivided attention.

“Well, as you know, I’ve been doing my best to piece together a comprehensive study of the dwarves.”

“Aye.” Gandalf agreed happily. “I would say that you are easily their top historian outside of their own people. You are actually well-known inside certain circles because of it.”

Bilbo felt his ears wiggle, wanting desperately to find out more about his supposed fame, but he had a big ask that he needed to make first.

“Gandalf, you are the Grey Wizard. You are welcome inside any settlement that would count themselves amongst the Free People. You are, in fact, the only non-dwarf who has seen the city of Erebor in centuries. My research and correspondence will only carry me so far unless I see the kingdom of the Longbeards for myself.”

Gandalf did not make a move to stop him, and Bilbo allowed himself to continue on as he grabbed his papers.

“The dwarven law says ‘only dwarves and dwarf-friends may enter their sacred city’. I know you can’t make me a dwarf-friend, and despite all my attempts to befriend the scholars I talk to, they cannot grant me that title either. I had thought…perhaps, if I was your ‘assistant’ even for a little while, that might be a loophole to allow me entrance.”

Bilbo held Gandalf’s stare for as long as he was able. Hoping the wizard could see his desire, his yearning for this adventure. After his mother’s passing, he did not allow this side of himself to show often. He had thought he would be perfectly content with his books and his histories, and that had worked splendidly all up until he read about the friendship between Celebrimbor and Narvi. His studies quickly switched from Lothlorien to Khazad-dum only to find there had been little to learn there. As most of the dwarves' histories were either lost or closely guarded. A mystery that nagged at him relentlessly until he got to this point. 

“My dear Bilbo,” Gandalf began sucking out any hope that Bilbo had with that tone. “Dwarves do not take kindly to loopholes. You must be a dwarf or dwarf-friend to enter.”

Bilbo did his best to disguise his disappointment.

“I-I understand. Truly I do. It was a longshot anyways. I just thought…”

“So if we cannot make you one.” Gandalf interrupted, causing Bilbo’s head to fly up. “We shall simply make you the other.”

***

Bilbo looked back down at the ring in his hand. The ring that would apparently transform him into a dwarf. He looked up at Gandalf with a wry smile.

“Well…here goes nothing.”

He placed the ring on his finger and closed his eyes tightly only to feel…nothing. He didn’t feel any different at all. Bilbo frowned before looking up at the wizard.

“Gandalf, are you sure…?”

Bilbo gasped lightly feeling something moving on his face. He carefully prodded around his mouth, only to laugh in delight. He had a beard and mustache! Well that was quite odd indeed. Bilbo swung his head around to get used to the feeling, and long curls and braids hit him in the face. He quickly grabbed onto the end of the braids, knowing the beads attached would have symbols that implied the meaning behind such braids. He traced his finger over the cirth, wishing he knew what it said. And then suddenly, it changed before his eyes to where he could read it. ‘Historian’ and ‘adventurer’ swinging on twin braids on either side of his head. Bilbo looked up at Gandalf who was smiling down at him.

“I may have added a little something to make your time easier.” Gandalf explained. “You will not be able to read or speak Khuzdul as I would not betray my friends in that regard, but if someone speaks to you in the language or something is written before you, it will change into Westron for you to understand.”

“I wish I had a looking glass on me.” Bilbo chuckled as he flexed his arms.

He was by no means muscular, but there was definitely some dwarven heft there.

“There will be plenty of time to explore your disguise later, I dare say.” Gandalf teased.

Bilbo beamed up at him. “Thank you, Gandalf. Truly.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You are still entering the Longbeards stronghold illegally after all. Just make sure you keep that ring on, and you should be fine.”

Bilbo nodded solemnly, or at least as much as he could. The excitement of it all was a little too much to overcome. He looked to Erebor again, this time in a new light. At last, his journey well and truly began.