Chapter 3

Previously on The Lost Prince...

"It's him isn't it?" Balin said quietly not needing the response to know the answer.

"Yes"

"Haraldur Silver is my SON"

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The company of dwarves began to sit around the fire in the dark sitting room. They began to hum a somber tune. Smoking his pipe near the mantle, Thorin began to sing in a deep somber voice.

Far over the Misty Mountain cold,

To the dungeons deep and caverns old,

We must away ere break of day to find our long forgotten gold.

The rest of the dwarves rise from their seats, joining in with Thorin. Of in the distance Haraldur stood twisting the ring on his left hand. Looking towards Bilbo's room, with a worried look on his face with a deep sigh he headed towards the bedroom.

The pines roaring on the height,

The winds were moaning in the night,

The fire was red,

It's flaming spread,

The trees like torches blazed with lights

Gandalf standing near the window, staring out. The wizard turned around seeing Haraldur walking into the hallway towards Bilbo's room.

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Bilbo sat on the edge of his bed, listening to the dwarves singing. He was staring into the fire, watching the smoke slowly rise. Bilbo was snapped out of his trance by a knock on the door. Walking towards the door Bilbo opened the door and saw Halaldur standing there with a nervous smile.

"Master Baggins, may I come in?"

Not saying anything the hobbit moved out of the way to let the dwarf in. Nodding his head towards the hobbit, Haraldur stepped inside surveying the room.

A cough gaining the dwarfs attention, Haraldur turned around facing the burglar.

"Can I help you, Master dwarf?" Bilbo asked timidly wondering what the dwarf was doing here.

"Oh right, yes! I came here to apologise for the first impression I gave you." Haraldur told the hobbit sincerely, still twisting his ring as he bowed his head to Bilbo.

"No no! It's not your fault! We were arguing and causing a scene! So definitely not your fault!" Bilbo frantically said. "Hey! How about we introduce ourselves properly?"

Staring at Bilbo with a blank stare, the hobbit had no idea what was going through his head, the longer the silence grew the more his nerves began to get the best of him. Bilbo began to second guess his choices. As the hobbit was about to say something, Haraldur stuck his hand out.

"Haraldur Silver, son of Dia Silver and please call me Haraldur." The dwarf spoke with a grin on his face, with amusement and mischief in his eyes. A smile crept up on the hobbits face as he took the dwarfs hand.

"Bilbo Baggins, son of Bungo Baggins, call me Bilbo please," Bilbo said.

In the background you could hear the song coming to an end, as the shuffling of feet and movement of the dwarves as they got ready for bed. Quickly looking towards the door, Haraldur turned back to the hobbit said his goodnight and farewells, he left the room towards the company of dwarves.

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The morning light streaming into Bilbo's room, waking him up, squinting at the morning light realising how quite the house is. Sneaking around the hallway, peering into all the doorways. They were all empty.

"Hello?"

He discovers the mess in the pantry had been cleaned, almost as if it never happened. Victorious, Bilbo waltzes into the sitting room, he gazes at the tidiness of the room, smiling. Slowly, his joy deflates, leaving him almost defeated.

He wanders deeper into the room, stopping next to a table. The contract lies there, unsigned. Bilbo stares long and hard at it, thinking. Suddenly, he looks up, determined.

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The company is trotting down the dirt road leaving the shire. The dwarves are mounted on their ponies, their luggage tied behind them. As they are riding most of the company are exchanging sour words about Bilbo and making bets whether the hobbit would come or not. Haraldur sat there looking somber as he rode next to Fili and Kili, exchanging glances behind him he wondered if his new friend would come or not.

"Are you sure we should not wait?" Haraldur asked looking around at the dwarves with a questioning look on his face.

"Yes, uncle wishes to make a move as he does not want to waste any time, after all the hobbit only cares about his precious garden and the comfort of his armchair," Fili said coming up on his left.

"No that is not true, Bilbo has only know the life he has grown up with and you don't know he might surprise you", Haraldur said the last part with a knowing smirk.

With raised eyebrows and a confused looks on both of their faces. Kili opened his mouth about to speak up, when shouting was heard from a distance.

"Wait!" Bilbo shouting in the distance, you could see him rushing down the road after them. Gandalf, Haraldur and the company stopped their horses, turning to see Bilbo. Haraldur smirks seeing the contract waving above the hobbits head.

"I signed it!" The hobbit shouts slightly out of breath, coming to a stop beside Balin. With a smile on his face Bilbo hands the contract over to Balin, who inspects it with his glasses.

"Everything seems to be in order here. Welcome Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield." Balin said with a kind smile while tucking the contract in his coat.

At the front Thorin had a scowl, an irritated look marked on his face. Huffing Thorin said,

"Give him a pony"

"No, no, that won't be necessary. I'm sure I can keep up on foot. I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. I even got as far as Frogmorton once." The hobbit said with such pride. The mercenary smiled fondly and nodded to Bilbo.

"I'm sure you did, friend" He chuckled lightly.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Fili and Kili coming up behind Bilbo. All of a sudden they hoisted him up, putting him down on a pony laughing loudly Haraldur rode up next to the hobbit patting him on the head still laughing.

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Bilbo is riding his pony while glaring down at the animal. Out of the corner of his eye, the hobbit saw Haraldur riding next to him looking out at the scenery. He looked like a curious little boy taking in the sights in awe. His blue eyes sparkled mischievously and in happiness.

Out of no where Bilbo's nose shrivelled up, suddenly making him sneeze loudly.

"Bless you" He heard next to him.

Turning his head he saw the blue eyed dwarf smiling kindly at him.

"Thank you"  he replied with a nod of his head.

Muttering Bilbo said, "Oh, all the horse hair. I'm having a reaction."

He starts searching for something, unable to find what he was looking for, Bilbo starts to panic.

"Wait! Wait, stop! We have to turn around." He shouts in a panic.

All of a sudden the company came to a halt. Haraldur gave Bilbo an confused look.

"My dear Bilbo, what on earth is the matter?" Gandalf asked.

"I forgot my handkerchief!" Bilbo panicked.

In front of Haraldur, he saw Fili rip a strip of cloth from his shirt. He tosses it to Bilbo with a smirk on his face.

"Here use this!" Fili shouted.

The hobbit catches it and looks at it with disgust.

"Move on!" Thorin pulls on his horse to move forward, with a scowl on his face.

The dwarfs laugh, as Haraldur moved next to Bilbo. He pulled a clean white cloth from his pocket. The dwarf handed it to the hobbit with a smile on his face. Taking it confused, the burglar watched as Haraldur trodded of on his horse. The rest of the company joined as the journey continued.

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Authors note 📝

Hi

Thank you for for reading this far and letting me share my story with you.

Comment what you thought, if there was a mistake or if you have any ideas.

See you next time 👋