This story is partly playing in another fandom. I wanted to write a story for this for a few years now. And here it finally is. I already started writing it some time ago. Actually, I believe I have also published it before.

But now it is mixed with some hobbit characters in the lead. To make it more interesting for you and to keep me entertained as well. 

Fili and Kili are the headcharacters in this one. Thorin, obviously, plays a part. Because he is still my second husband. I can't just leave him out like that. 

Because of the clear story line the other fandom follows, this book will do the same. So that is why this will start with a letter and the short prologue. I want to stick to the formula.

Without further ado, here we go!

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A quick explanation;

You can earn points in the chapters of this story. I am not yet sure what you can do with the points at the end of this story but I will figure that out along the way.

For every puzzle that you solve, you get points. The amount of points is mentioned after every puzzle. 

Be honest, don't give yourself points if you haven't solved it. You may help each other in the comments. That is alright.

So there are two ways you can play this game;

1. You keep the answers to yourself and try to win.

2. You help other people and give them some hints. Or you can even give the answer. 

If you choose 2 please comment like this;

*SPOILER!*

(Answer to the puzzle)

This way you will prevent spoiling the solution to people who want to solve it by themselves.

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To my dear uncle,

I am sure you are wondering where Kili and I have gone off too this time. Let me just say that you don't want to know. While I can guess that this will only upset you more, I also want to make it very clear that we are safe.

Something came up on our way home. Know that we have not ran away from you. And we hope to make it safely back to you. There is not much I can tell you about our adventure thus far. Not without putting you in unneccesary danger, that is. 

So you will have to forgive me for being so vague in this letter.

We have found ourselves in a mystery with our archeology professor. One that we just happened to stumble into. You always said that Kili and I have a knack for getting ourselves in danger. 

It appears that you were right.

I am afraid that we won't be able to come back for at least another week. It shouldn't take a lot longer than that. And then we will tell you all you need to know. Professor Lay- (this part is partially erased). The Professor believes that it is safer for you not to know too much.

This is all I can tell you for now. If anything happens to us, know that we love you. 

Always your nosy nephews,

Fili and Kili

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Prologue

Some time, long ago, there lived a young man. The young man lived in a giant castle. But he was no prince nor a king. He lived there to clean the kitchen and look after the many dogs his master owned. Every day he would walk them inside the castle walls. 

Sometimes he would take them out for a longer walk.

One day he went out to take them outside the stone walls. The boy told one of the maids he would let them swim in a nearby lake. The dogs were excited when they heard the 'l' word for they had been there many times before.

During the warm summer days they would spend many hours there. And now they were treated to yet another blissful day. 

What neither them nor the boy foresaw was that they would go missing. One would never return. 

After the maid had waved them off, she would never see the boy again. The dogs would return a few days later, on their own. With the young man no where in sight.

The man sat in his purple leather chair and closed the book with a deep sigh. 

Winter had fallen a few weeks ago. It was getting colder every night. He stood up to put the book in it's usual place. It was time to go to sleep.

------

"Professor, can you tell me who we are going to meet in the restaurant?" Luke asked. He sat in the passengers seat, looking outside to all the people they passed by. From time to time he would try to count them all.

Layton smiled. "Did you already forget Luke?"

His apprentice moved in his seat, a look of disbelief on his face. "Me? Forget? Never professor! I simply wanted to make sure I remember correctly."

"What does your journal say?" Layton asked. He took a turn that would lead them to the southern part of London. 

Luke quickly grabbed his journal from his brown satchel. He skipped some pages to find the one he was looking for. "Ah, here it is! We are meeting a 'miss Nathalie' from the 'Early Bird' local newspaper. Isn't that paper all about the small towns nearby London?"

Layton nodded. "You are correct Luke. Nathalie used to be one of my students before she chose to follow another direction."

"She used to be your student, professor?" 

"Yes. She could have made a good archeologist. However, I do think that she made the right decision." He looked at the clock on his dashboard. "Oh my... it appears we are running late."

"Oh no professor! Do you want me to call miss Nathalie to let her know we will be late?" Luke asked.

The professor shook his head. "No, Luke. A gentleman never makes a lady wait for him. We simply have to figure out what the fastest route to the restaurant is. Here, let me give you a puzzle;"

Puzzle 001. 'The fastest way' (10 points)

It appears that Professor Layton and Luke are going to be late for their appointment with the journalist. Which route will get them there the fastest?

(You can find the solution and the three hints at the end of the chapter.)

"I have figured it out professor! We have to take route -" The car suddenly came to a halt on a parking lot. Luke looked up to see the sign of the restaurant. "We are already here" he said astonished.

Layton got out of the car and looked around. The restaurant was located near a river which was one of the reasons this was a populair location to have lunch. The scenic surroundings, far away from the busy city, was welcomed with opened arms.

Only a few other cars were parked on the parking lot. "I am sure that my old student is already waiting for us in the restaurant" Layton said. He lead the way to the door.

Luke hurried out of the car to run after him. "What makes you say that professor?"

The professor held the door open for him so that Luke could get in first. Layton followed. "There is a red car sitting at the beginning of the parking lot. A journalist would park it there so that no one can block the entrance.

Necessary to get back to the office fast. Also, Nathalie has always loved a certain book, 'The Hobbit'. A copy of that book lays on the dashboard in that car." Layton smiled and tapped his hat. "It appears I was right."

Luke followed his mentor's eyes and he saw a young woman sitting in a booth near a window. In that seat she had a clear view over all the roads that lead to the restaurant.

Her red hair reached just over her shoulders, Luke guessed, because now it was tied back into a ponytail. She wore a black shirt with different colored flowers on it, a dark red pants and sneakers.

A pair of black glasses rested on her nose. 

She stood up as soon as she noticed her old professor walking up to her booth. "Professor Layton! It is so nice to see you again" she said smiling.

Professor Layton offered her a hand. "It is good to see you are doing well Nathalie. I have to say that your article about Gressenheller clearly showed your fondness for the university."

Nathalie blushed at the compliment. "Just because I left doesn't mean I didn't like the place. Archeology just wasn't really my thing. But please, sit down. I have taken the liberty of ordering tea for you, professor. And I have ordered apple juice for you Luke" she added.

Luke huffed. "Just because I am young doesn't mean I prefer apple juice" he said stubbornly.

"I am sorry, do you want me to change it?" Nathalie asked.

Luke shook his head. "No, apple juice is just fine."

Layton smiled sheepishly. "Apparently you know a lot more about my life up until now than I know about yours" he said.

Nathalie nodded enthusiastically. "You were my favorite professor at the university, professor. I have read every article that I could find about you. You have been on some amazing adventures."

Before Layton could answer, Luke interupted. "That is right. Professor Layton has solved some of the hardest puzzles that are out there. And he has saved some lives as well!" he said excitedly. 

"I think Luke is trying to say that I have kept myself busy. What about you Nathalie? Don't get me wrong, I was happy to hear from you. But your message sounded rather urgent." Layton looked at her with a worried expression.

She took a sip of her tea. Gently, she put her cup back down on the table.

"A letter?" Luke asked surprise.

Layton took the letter from his inside pocket. He gave Luke a brown envelope. "This came in my mail two days ago."

Luke looked at Nathalie, when she nodded, he opened the envelope. He unfolded the letter. It read;

Dear Professor Layton,

It has been some time since we last saw each other.

Needless to say, I would like to know how you are doing.

Even after all this time I have read

everything there is to find about you. You have

defeated quite a number of bad guys since I last

helped you on our first and only case.

Especially your last case has intrigued me.

Let's meet at the restaurant we last sat. The

pleasure is mine if you would decide to come.

From your former student,

Nathalie

"So, you would like to talk about our last case?" Luke said happily. "I was there too, you know? Maybe my notes will help with your article-"

"She is not here for an article, Luke. Nor is she here to talk about our last case" Layton said. 

Luke looked up at him, confused. "What do you mean professor? That is what she mentions in her letter."

The professor smiled before taking a sip of his tea. "You have read the letter, not the hidden message."

Luke looked over the letter a few times. "I can't find any hidden messages professor" he said eventually. 

"The professor is correct. There is a hidden message in the letter."

Luke took the letter in both hands, bringing it close to his face. 

Puzzle 002. 'A hidden message' (15 points)

Nathalie has send professor Layton a letter. Apparently, there is a hidden message that convinced Layton to come quickly. Can you find it?

(You can find the solution and the three hints at the end of the chapter.) 

Look at the letter in the paragraph above and see if you can find the hidden message.

"There it is! But why was it hidden?" Luke asked.  

Layton took the envelope and letter back from him. He carefully put it back in his coat.

"Because I don't want the wrong people to find out about the story" Nathalie answered.

"Huh? What story?" Luke asked confused.

Nathalie looked around her. There was no one in the restaurant with them beside the waitress. Nervously, she looked outside. The same cars waited there for their owners to return. After Layton, no new cars had parked there.

She sighed. "The story about the cursed heart." 

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* Puzzle 001. 'The fastest way' - Solution and Hints.

Hint 1; Look at the map. That should give you a few hints.

Hint 2; You are trying to get to the restaurant. The right road, C, would take you away from that. So that one is not it.

Hint 3; Notice how the puzzle says; 'the fastest' way. What way would that be?

Answer;

Route A is the fastest way to take. Route C would take you away from the restaurant. And there is no telling how long it will take before the bridge over route B is closed again.

* Puzzle 002. 'A hidden message' - Solution and Hints.

Hint 1; Hidden messages are exactly that: hidden. If Nathalie wanted to make sure no one else but the Professor read it, she would hide it. How would you hide your secret message?

Hint 2; Do you notice something about the writing style? Or how the sentences are written down?

Hint 3; Sometimes, when we are looking for something, we go to the middle instead of starting at the beginning.

Answer;

Look at the first letters of each sentence, apart from the beginning and the ending.

I-N-E-E-D-H-E-L-P

That message is quite and clear.

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As you have probably figured out by now the other fandom is Professor Layton. I am a huge fan of the games and I thought it would be fun to create my own fan fiction in that world.

The drawing was made by me and I hope it was clear enough... Sometimes I think something makes sense and it doesn't to other people xD

Now, this chapter was more about me explaining the rules and showing you how the chapters are going to be written. From the next chapter and onwards, there will be more story and puzzles. And less to none explaining.

In the game you collect 'picarats' to 'pay' for the hints. Here, I will give them to you for free. They will always be at the end of the chapter so that you can choose not to look at them.

Let me know in the comments below if you like it this way, or if the solutions should be in the following chapter. So that you truly don't know and can't cheat.