Six Extra Members

by Elizabeth Twitch

A story where Malcolm travels with the company of Thorin Oakenshield. He thinks the quest is the opportunity of a lifetime, until they encounter the different members of his family along the way. The dwarves are less than happy, but they get more than they bargained for with the whole family on their side! Based on the movies by PJ. All credit goes to him and Linwood Boomer.

1. Arrival

Chapter One

Malcolm landed on the grass with a thump. Dirt stuck to the side of his head as he rolled about, groaning and wondering what the hell had just happened to him. One moment, he was sitting in his room, reading The Hobbit and vaguely listening to Reese shouting at Dewey while his father tried to break up a fight between Malcolm's mother and his brother, Francis, and the next, the room was turning odd colors and distorting itself. Malcolm felt like he was going to seriously faint for a moment, before toppling off the bed that he and Dewey shared, and, instead of meeting the tiled floor, he landed in...some sort of meadow?

Malcolm retched in the grass, trying to shake the feeling of nausea from his worn body.

"I do apologize," came a voice behind him. "Inter-dimensional travelling can be a nasty business. I myself choose to avoid it unless absolutely necessary."

Malcolm started and looked up. Standing before him was an old man. He had a long grey beard and matching robes and pointed hat. He carried a long wooden stick that was heavily twisted up on one end. His blue eyes were looking at Malcolm with something akin to concern, though the boy could swear he saw a twinkle of amusement in them.

"Who the hell are you?" Malcolm asked. "Where am I?"

"Oh yes, of course!" cried the old man, as if he had forgotten something. "How very rude of me. My name is Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey. And you are Malcolm Wilkerson, who has literally just toppled out of bed and into Middle Earth. Good Gracious me, what a day you are having so far!"

Malcolm blinked. "Middle Earth?" Something swam before his addled eyes, a passage from the book he had just been reading. But nothing could truly come into focus, so he waved it away. If it was important, he would surely remember it later.

"Yes, my dear boy. It is a realm separate from your own that represents a period marking the existence of, well, magic. Of myself and those who share my talents," said Gandalf.

"Are you kidding? No, I can't be here. I'm at home, with my family... My family?" He looked at Gandalf. "Are they here too?" He looked around.

A strange smile lit up Gandalf's face. "No, Malcolm. Well, they are not in this very meadow, if that is what you are implying. You will, however, encounter them on your travels."

"My what?"

Gandalf reached down and pulled him up. "Your travels. Come, we have much to discuss."