Your Friendly Neighborhood Hobbit

After waking from his grievous injuries sustained during the battle, King Thorin ll asked his burglar to stay. Bilbo Baggins agreed, returning only twice to the Shire in his lifetime. Once to settle his affairs in the Shire, giving Bag-End into the hands of his former gardner, Hamfast Gamgee and his family (- thus keeping it from a cousin that tried to get him declared deceased). The second time it was for a more somber reason, the funeral of his dear cousin, Drogo Baggins and his wife Primula...and the subsequent adoption of his godson, Frodo Baggins. There followed many years of joy and prosperity for Erebor, shared in turn by the surrounding kingdoms of elves and men.

It was thus that the north stood stronger than ever when the War of the Ring began during the final years of King Thorin ll and his king consort, Bilbo Baggins.