A/N: Hey there, I've kind of left this story in the corner for way to long, so I'm cleaning it up with a rewrite. In fact I'm kind of rewriting the whole thing in a different way than it originally was.
So please enjoy!
The night the company of Dwarves came to the Shire was one remembered for many things. For some of Bilbo Baggin's neighbors, it was a rowdy night that gave them little sleep thanks to his unexpected guests. For the others that lived further away from Bag End however woke in the morning to interesting whispers and rumors. The information of the strange, loud thirteen Dwarves and the old man best remembered as Gandalf the fireworks vendor was interesting enough on its own. However there was one more visitor that night that especially sparked the attention of the Shire. A person whom had the Hobbits looking over their shoulders as they spoke, paranoid that somehow the subject of their discussion could hear them from a great distance. And they would be right in that fear, for if the whispers were true, that meant only one thing.
A Witch had come to Bag End.
That merriment of Thorin Oakenshield's company that had been carrying on through most of the night had dulled by this time into argument and debate. They were interrupted from their reason for congregating at the Hobbit's home, by a slight and almost forgettable knock on the front door.
For a moment the unwilling host of this meeting, Bilbo Baggins, felt it best to ignore it. After all it was a sound easier to blame on the wind than a person. However the grey wizard Gandalf could already tell that Bilbo had heard it, and gave him such a stern stare. As if the Hobbit was the one being rude throughout this whole night so far.
Bilbo grumbled and hummed in annoyance, but all the same stood to open the door. Thorin casted a look himself in the Wizard's direction, no doubt frustrated at the thought of another person being involved in this so far secret quest. The other more merry Dwarves of the company has noticed Bilbo's exit to the doorway as well, and let their curiosity lead the debate into utter silence.
Trying to ignore the sudden ominous silence, Bilbo grabbed hold of the doorknob and fought away an odd chill that ran up his spine. It must be a colder night than he was expecting, not that it would be the only thing unexpected about this night. After all, even if there was someone at the door, Bilbo guessed it would just be one of his neighbors, ready with a list of complaints. In which case, he would gladly direct their ire to the Prince of Dwarves that was sitting at his table.
It was just as the Hobbit gave the first tug to open the round door, that a force on the other side assisted him when he was least expecting it. As a result, Bilbo was knocked to the floor in a rather undignified manner. Bilbo sputtered and pulled himself back on his feet, just in time to know that instead of the grouchy faced Hobbit neighbor, stood a cloaked figure much to tall to be considered one in the Shire at least.
The Hobbit stood back a step, and the figure took that as a sign to enter, doing so only after they had had the decency to wipe their feet on the mat provided. Their height was much too tall for the ceiling allowances of the Hobbit Hole, causing them to stoop somewhat. The head of the hidden person cocked to the side in interest as they observed the Hobbit in front of them, and just as it seemed that they were going to say something to Bilbo, Gandalf interrupted them both.
"Ah Miss Everin, so good of you to accept my invitation, come. Leave your cloak with the others and come greet your host," The Grey Wizard had moved from his chair and grasped the unseen hand of the new person with much enthusiasm. As he said the last of his greeting and request of the newcomer, they seemed to become only more perturbed by the request with every passing second.
"I do not-" the words were theirs, but it was as easily missed as the knock on the front door, quick, silent and almost begging to be ignored. The Wizard interrupted whatever reply the stranger had before it could be finished, his reply more firm than before.
"It will be fine. Now do not be rude,"
A soft sigh that could once again be forgivably unnoticed and the figure nodded. As they turned back towards the cloak rack that some of the Dwarves had used as shoe trees, the Hobbit spared a look to the company of his other guests. It wasn't hard to see their eyes peeking out from their temporary meeting room, no doubt as intrigued by this person as Bilbo wished he was not.
The stranger relinquished the cloak from their shoulders and hung it up onto the rack, their true form and features now free for all in the Hobbit Hole to see.
What was revealed from the long black fabric was thought to be a tall human woman at first glance, with long brown hair and blue eyes. But that first glance would lead to another when catching sight of the marks that Bilbo could only see on her arms and face. The rest were hidden by clothing that was clearly not her's, since the Hobbit doubted that the large, billowing shirt that was tucked into rope tied pants were something she bought off hand.
The marks of deep black that covered her body were either scars or tattoos, the Hobbit could not tell for certain. Some were easily mistakable for small cuts or lines of age across her face, but then there was the fact that her left arm was completely covered in these strange occurrences of the skin. It looked as though the woman had dipped her arm all the way up to her elbow in ink.
The Hobbit Hole had descended into silence at the moment the woman's cloak had left her shoulders, any Dwarf merriment that had bothered Bilbo before her arrival had been easily blown out like a weak flame. No one had anything to say for a strong moment of time, as Bilbo and the Dwarves that were peeking in from the dining room were simply taking in the sight of such a strange creature.
She was the first to break the silence as she did what Gandalf had asked of her, bowing politely to the Hobbit Host that couldn't take his eyes off of her left arm. Her voice was louder than before, the sharpness of her tone and intensity of the twisted accent she spoke with knocking everyone in the Hole out of their strange stupor.
"I am Everin, at your service," She rose again from her bow quicker than most, no doubt expecting a negative knee jerk reaction to her appearance, and she was not incorrect.
"A Witch," The Hobbit breathed his words with a mix of horror and surprise. Stories of Witches were not as common as those of Wizards, partly because of the appearance of Gandalf in the Shire, but mostly because Witches were never really cast as the heroes of those tales. Bilbo's mind raced with the terrible tales he was fed over campfire and fireplace as a child, and began to become more wary.
Everin noticed the fear in the Hobbit's voice more than the intrigue, and so moved herself away from him and closer to the wall. The Grey Wizard was about to say something to the effect of how rude it was to refer to someone as race rather than name, when finally the thought of speech had returned to the Dwarves in the other room.
"What's going on Gloin? What did the Halfling say?"
"It's a Witch! Gandalf invited a Witch!"
"Here now brother what did you call me?"
"No not- A WITCH OIN. GANDALF BROUGHT A WITCH!"
At that loud proclamation form one Dwarf to his brother, the rest of the company seemed to erupt into talking in their own language, seemingly unaware that the topic of their conversation was still in the room across from them.
Bilbo had barely noticed since he was still watching this new visitor very carefully, watching as she gave the Grey Wizard an annoyed and almost tired look as she turned to no doubt grab her cloak and leave as quickly as she had arrived. She was stopped in her haste by two things, one being a gentle hand on her arm, and the other being her forehead colliding into the chandelier that was too low for her height.
"You have nothing to fear here my friend; they simply haven't met you yet,"
"I have no need to subject myself to a group of rude Dwarves and a petrified Hobbit. You said you needed my help-" Her voice had lowered again into whispers, in a way that reminded Bilbo of petrified prey, wanting to scarper away from the smallest semblance of a fight. The Wizard himself seemed to notice Everin's fight or flight mode was swinging greatly into the latter direction, and so softened his tone as he convinced her to stay.
"-And I do. Come and have a cup of tea and listen in at the least. Once you have heard everything you can decide whether or not you want to stay," Gandalf's pressing wore Everin down into agreeing and her arm being freed from the Grey Wizard's hold. Bilbo was freed as well from his place as a gawking spectator as Gandalf turned to him with that infuriating warm smile as he made a request of the Hobbit.
"I don't suppose there's any chamomile tea left over Bilbo?" The Hobbit was about to utter a sarcastic reply about how unlikely the Wizard's request was considering how everything else in the pantry had been scoffed down not thirty minutes ago. But he was cut off by Gandalf patting him on the shoulder and turning him in the kitchen with a cheerful, "I don't suppose you could go look all the same? Much obliged,"
The Hobbit wandered off with a polite yet annoyed sniff, and ignored his still hammering heart beat as he left for the kitchen.
Everin stood in the hallway of the Hobbit Hole, watching Bilbo wander off into the kitchen without another word. It was easy to tell that he was still wary of her being here, a sentiment she could share in since this was the second last place she wanted to be in that moment, the first was in the room just across from this one, where a company of suspicious Dwarves were sitting.
"Well now, while that is done, why not meet the rest of the guests," Gandalf said in a cheerier tone that most people who weren't ignorant of the situation would use. Everin bit her tongue before she could cut out a sarcastic reply of a hundred reasons why she didn't want to do that, and decided to accept her fate for the next hour or so, and followed the Grey Wizard into the next room.
At seeing the two magical beings approach, the Dwarves that had been peering around the corner straightened themselves back into their seats as the conversation around them fell into another incredible hush. Gandalf entered first, but gave no chance for Everin to find shelter from their stares by hiding behind him as he stepped out of the way and gestured as though he was introducing a lady into the room rather than a Witch.
Everin stood as well as she could, the doorway of the room softly touching the back of her head and looked out at the silent group of Dwarves.
"Well then, this is Everin, Witch of Middle Earth. And this is the company of Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror," Gandalf gestured this time to the company of Dwarves, and the one sitting at the head of the table stood up. Everin guessed that this was the Thorin Oakenshield and greeted him in the proper manner.
"At your service," Everin bowed respectfully, and if she was surprised at Thorin doing so back, she did a great job of not showing it. Thorin did manage to surprise her however, when after meeting and knowing who she was, asked what she felt was the strangest question.
"Axe or Sword?"
"I-I'm sorry?" Everin rose from her bow in time to notice the Hobbit standing in the doorway, a pot and cup of chamomile tea on the tray in his hands. Gandalf took the tray and placed it down on the table, but Bilbo did not move from his place. He, much like the other Dwarves were curious for her answer.
"Your weapon of choice, Axe or Sword?"
Everin gave a small wary look to Gandalf as he was pouring himself a cup of the tea. He answered only in a curt nod before sipping the drink. Deciding to take liberties on what that could have meant, The Witch settled on telling the truth.
"Magic," Her tone was littered in confusion, as though her answer was so obvious that she wandered why it was even being asked of her. The reaction was of course not good, as once again a few of them descended into whispers again.
"Witchcraft," Only one of them seemed brave enough to voice what half of them seemed to think. As he muttered his reply, his arm protectively clutched onto a younger dwarf to him, as though he expected her to jump across the room and attack them both without another word.
"No, I use magic," It was the first thing she had said in a tone of anger, and was the only thing she had done so far that could categorize her as a slight danger to them. Nevertheless Everin could see some of their hands idly reaching for the knives on their belts. She took a step back; her body ready at a moment's notice to flee again, meanwhile her brain cursed herself for speaking so freely and without thought.
It seemed like the situation was just about ready to take the worst possible turn when another Dwarf of the company, one which Everin noticed had not placed his hand even absent-mindedly on his dagger, removed the pipe from his mouth and spoke up.
"Are you any good at it?" Everin stared at the Dwarf for a moment, noting how he stood out amongst the group a little in his strange floppy hat and braids longer than his beard. His most noticeable trait to her however, was a face that had grown use to smiles that reached his eyes. His seemingly constant good mood threw the Witch off point and had her mind stuttering for a moment for the right answer.
"What?"
"Magic, can ye cast a neat spell in a fight?" The Dwarf asked before taking a slow puff of the pipe in his hands, waiting more patiently for an answer than his fellow Dwarves around him. Despite the simple question with which she obviously knew the answer, Everin again faltered. This time it was because of a swelling feeling in her stomach as the thought of a fight lead her mind… elsewhere.
"Uh-"
Gandalf felt her unease, and slid back into the conversation to answer for her before she managed to self destruct.
"She was trained under my teachings of magic for many years Master Bofur. I can attest to her abilities well enough to anyone who would ask. I would hope therefore, that no one assumes that I am something in the kind of Witchcraft ilk, Master Dori?" As Gandalf spoke he pushed a cup of warm tea into Everin's hands and with a hand on her shoulder lowered her into a nearby seat in the room that was against the wall. She did as he wordlessly asked without complaint, as the conversation continued with her as a talking point.
The Dwarf that had voiced his suspicions of her before, now named Master Dori did not meet the Grey Wizard's gaze, instead looking back down into the drink of mead in his hands. Master Bofur, who had seemingly saved the conversation from turning into a dark place merely smiled and nodded before continuing to smoke his pipe.
"Will we need another spell caster? I had assumed-" Thorin on the other hand was still not assured of the Witch's presence, this time seemingly more concerned with her place in what he was planning than her pedigree. Everin on the other hand was confused by what he had said; since she was still not completely filled in with what exactly she was invited to the Shire for in the first place.
"I cannot be there every step of your venture Thorin, in some cases there will be moments where magic is essential to your survival where I will not be there to assist. And in those times I can personally say that Everin will be of perfectly adequate use," Gandalf's words had Everin sputtering on her first sip of the tea, and looking up at the Wizard in shock.
"Whoa wait, a venture? Survival? What exactly is going on?" Everin asked her question with all the anticipation of a fly in a spider web. The cup jittered nervously in her hands at the thought of the word 'survival'. As if she wasn't regretting showing up to this get together enough, this added information was not helping.
"Yes I would like to know what is happening as well," Bilbo spoke up from the corner he had been huddled into during the whole affair. The group only glanced at him out of courtesy before answers were finally given. Thorin dug into his coat, and pulled out a piece of old parchment, dropping it carefully onto the table before opening it for all eyes to see.
Everin had to stand from her place and look over the shoulders of Bofur in order to see what it was, her eyebrows rising when she recognized the images to be that of a map. And not just any map, but one of Erebor and the nearby city of Dale themselves.
"The Lonely Mountain?" Bilbo spoke up again; clearly less informed about this than even the Witch was, as the sight of the mountain was unfamiliar to him. Nobody answered his subtle question however, as instead the reason for all of them congregating to this place was finally made the main topic of conversation.
"Aye, Oin has read the portents and the portents say, it is time." One of the Dwarves spoke up, looking around the table as he did so, as if daring someone to argue with his words of apparent truth, but of course none spoke up. Everin sat down again after having a longer look at the map, ignoring a good bit of their discussion. Until at least, one of the grey haired Dwarves said a particular phase that got her attention completely, and apparently, the attention of the Hobbit as well as he entered back into the room.
"When the birds of yore, return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end," At those words already Everin knew what was happening, and did not like the sound of it at all. The Hobbit on the other hand was still a little behind.
"Uh, what Beast?" Bilbo asked with a tone that also asked whether or not this was something he was meant to be afraid of. Master Bofur, instead of answering the Hobbit's questions, instead seemed to see it as a chance to have fun with the Halfling instead.
"That would be a reference Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne Fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks. Extremely fond of precious metals," Bofur said it with all the calm of describing a summer's day, no doubt just to rile the Hobbit up since Everin could see the growing seriousness on the faces of the rest of the Dwarves around him.
"Yes I know what a dragon is," Bilbo replied, attempting to look affronted but that didn't hide the slight shaking on his frame that told of his fear. That wasn't to say that Everin was unaffected by the news that their apparent destination was currently housing a great and terrible dragon that would no doubt need to be slain.
The tea cup rattled a little in her hands again, but she ignored it in favor of biting down on her lip. Despite all knowledge that it would be impolite the Witch wanted to shout to the top of her lungs at the Grey Wizard sitting across the room from her. To demand exactly what he had been smoking in his pipes lately that would make him think she would ever be interested in such an insane quest. But she kept her mouth shut all the same, at least for the moment.
Her concentration was lead elsewhere in the meantime when one of the youngest of the company suddenly stood from his place at the table. An awkward confidence had no doubt suddenly rushed through his veins as he felt the need to prove himself.
"I'm not afraid, I'm up for it! I'll give him a taste of the Dwarf Iron right up his jacksie!" Everin couldn't help but smile a little at the way this young Dwarf said his declaration. It was as though he was a child making a speech of how he was the better conker player than a dragon slayer. However, she bit her lip to quickly wipe the smile of her face, as when the others got him to sit down again, the discussion returned to its serious roots.
"It would be difficult with a whole Dwarf army behind us, but we number only thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest." Another grey bearded one muttered, which of course insulted a few of the Dwarves into squabbling at the open suggestion of being dim. Their squabble did not last, as instead it was again interrupted by another one of the youngest members of their company.
"We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us. To the last Dwarf!" That seemed to get them up in spirits, a few of them raising their mugs to the Dwarf who had spoken. The Dwarf next to him, that Everin noticed seemed to share some kind of familial connection between the two of them, continued to raise the spirits with his own declaration.
"And you forget we have a Wizard and now a Witch in our company. They would've killed hundreds of dragons in his time," Those words garnered attention back on Everin and Gandalf, the Witch especially not liking it, since now they were somewhat placing their hopes into her hands. So before that could really happen, she set to work letting them down carefully.
"I haven't killed any Dragons, in fact I've never seen one in my life," She held her hands up carefully before looking over to the Grey Wizard for confirmation on whether he was in the same boat as her, or was the Dragon Slayer that the young Dwarf claimed him to be.
"Gandalf?"
The Wizard went quiet and puffed uneasily on his pipe, which only escalated the Dwarves interest.
"How many then? Well how many dragons have you killed? Go on, give us a number!" And just like that the conversation once again dropped into squabbling, this time it was more of a debate on exactly how many dragons the Grey Wizard would have killed in his time. Everin remained silent during this fight, unwilling to voice her own opinion since she was completely unsure of the answer. In seconds they were out of their seats and standing as they pointed wildly at one another in attempts to dis-value each other's bets and claims. Bilbo attempted to silence them, but of course met with little success. They all fell silent and sat back in their seats however, as Thorin alone yelled out two words in his language, letting the silence linger a few seconds more before he spoke again.
"If we have read the signs, do you not think other would have read them to? Rumors have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been seen in over sixty years, and eyes look east at the Mountain. Assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected, do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours, or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor!" They cheered again, their emotions on this night defiantly being a mixed bag in the Witch's opinion as they seemed to skip from angry, happy and serious in an instant. This case being a good one as their cheers were again silenced by the serious talk of one of the grey bearded Dwarves.
"You forget that the Gate is sealed. There is no way into that Mountain."
"That my dear Balin; is simply not entirely true," Gandalf said mysteriously, pulling out a strange key that the Witch swore she hadn't seen him holding before as he held it out to Thorin, who looked upon it with apparent and complete awe. The other Dwarves in the room, Everin noticed, seemed also completely surprised by the new addition of this key, and sat in silence for longer than they had the whole time that she had even been here. The key didn't seem to draw any real significance to her, nor to Bilbo either it seemed, as she saw from his expression, which hadn't really changed from the annoyed look one would have when Dwarves show up unexpectedly in your home and start yelling to each other of secrets that the whole Shire must have known about by this point.
"How came you by this?" Thorin asked a slight tone of sadness in his voice that Everin felt sympathy for despite herself.
"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safe keeping. It is yours now." Now there was intrigue from both the Witch and the Hobbit, as they watched as Gandalf gently gave the key to the Dwarf leader, the other Dwarves still silent until one spoke up again.
"If there is a key, there must be a door," Apparently then, this wasn't the key to the front door as she had first thought, and Gandalf nodding along with the Dwarf cemented this fact as he pointed with his pipe to a certain corner of the map, a hand pointing towards the mountain with Dwarven script written under it, that of course she couldn't ever hope to read as she herself didn't understand the language. However, of course Thorin and Gandalf could from their expression, and from Gandalf's words as he spoke up to any of the Dwarves on the other side of the room that couldn't see the map, Bilbo leaning over again to get a better look at the words that he didn't understand.
"These runes speak of a hidden passage in the lower halls," They looked more amused now at their certainties, the dwarf that had spoken before clasped the shoulder of the Dwarf related to him, other Dwarves doing the same to what Everin then assumed was also their kin. The woman couldn't help but admire the family closeness of the Dwarves for the millisecond it lasted before the mood of the room and discussion changed pace again, all of them apparently very comfortable around each other, as if they had been together as a group for a while longer than she would know. Gandalf, of course, was the one to break the mood from merry to serious again as he continued with what he had been stating previously but never got the chance to say.
"If we can find it, but Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," Now, Everin found that to be an engineering error on their behalf, since it did seem that having an invisible door like that would only ever lead to annoying situations like this, were it would be impossible to really find it fast enough. The Witch of course she never dared to state her opinions out loud to the group, since that would have been rude of her. Even if it were true, it was still rude.
"The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map, and I do not have the skill to find it, but, there are others in Middle Earth who can." That look that Thorin gave Gandalf in that second, it was one that even Everin would dare to question, the look of knowledge, and yet disapproval. However the look lasted only a second as the Wizard continued to explain his point.
"The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth, and no small amount of courage. But, if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done."
"That's why we need a burglar!" The young Dwarf that had before declared his confidence in one of the more amusingly adorable ways spoke up again. And it was a point that Everin couldn't help but agree on, that was until she noticed that now all eyes were on Bilbo as he was still huddled in the corner of the room.
Everin became unsure again pretty darn fast when she realized that the Hobbit was much like herself, pulled into this quest by Gandalf at seemingly the last second. A burglar he was most likely not, just as much as she was unlikely to be a helpful magic user on their quest. Her unsure belief in the Hobbit was founded mostly in when Bilbo himself was asked after whether or not he was an expert, and he vehemently denied it.
Gandalf attempted to quite down the young Baggins, but was unsuccessful as now the Dwarves were wary of their apparent applicant, the grey bearded one speaking first to agree with the Hobbit, and was closely followed up by the Dwarf sitting next to him.
"Aye, the wild is no place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." The mumbled in agreement, but Everin just didn't like the look he gave to the Hobbit, which briefly lingered on her before she looked at him right back. They started chatting amongst themselves again as Gandalf started to get more and more annoyed until finally he boiled over and started to speak with the same lowered and scary tone that he knew the Witch disliked immensely, as it caused long lasting Goosebumps to trail up her legs and arms. She looked, and sure enough there were the bumps on her skin. While she was busy rubbing at her arms, the company went silent, and for good reason. The Wizard went on to explain why he had chosen Bilbo to be a part of this expedition.
"-There is allot more to him than appearances suggest, and a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself." The discussion then seemed to change to only include Thorin and Gandalf as they started a staring contest, both of them not looking away for the longest time in the chances that they might lose the discussion, though of course Thorin verbally agreed in the end, even if his expression said exactly the opposite.
"You must trust me on this,"
"Very well," There was a period of silence in which the Hobbit and Witch had time to realize that they were both now apparently been roped well and truly into this quest altogether. Two odd pieces of parchment were given out from the old grey bearded Dwarf, one handed to Everin and the other to Bilbo. The Witch stared at it for a time, unfolding bits and pieces to inspect what had been written into the sides of the parchment that apparently could not be contained on one singular straight piece.
"It's just the usual summary of out of pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth." The old Dwarf said as the two mused over the parchments. Bilbo looked back at the Dwarf in horror at the statement, while Everin merely nodded and continued reading.
Bilbo's unhappy murmurings of the contract only grew as he read ahead of the Witch, and reached a point where it was stated that no one would be held responsible if he was burned alive. That was around the point where the Hobbit had to stop, since the whole situation of a Dragon finally seemed to hit him straight on. And yet again the Dwarf Bofur couldn't miss the opportunity to light-heartedly tease the Halfling some more with that information.
"Aye, melt the skin of yer bones in the blink of an eye," That was obviously really not very helpful as Everin could see that the Hobbit was starting to look paler with every taunt the Dwarf let out about being burned alive. After a few words Bilbo finally caved and crashed to the carpeted ground. Everin blinked in surprise before walking swiftly into the hallway to check if he was all right. She spared a look in the Wizard's direction before she gently picking up the passed out Bilbo and helped him into a chair in the other room, his contract placed on the small table beside his, while she kept her's in hand.
"Oh very helpful Bofur," The Wizard muttered before returning to his seat, puffing some more on his pipe.
Everin had been sitting by the fire with Bilbo for a time, reading over the contract silently as she waited for him to wake up. The Dwarves in the meantime had disbanded all over the Hobbit Hole to either smoke or drink alone in their thoughts, or with while in discussion with their kin.
The uncomfortable swelling feeling from before made a comeback as she continued to read on, the thought of the one fifteenth of the treasure belonging to her should they succeed not being even a little interesting to her. What did interest her however, was a question she was finally given the opportunity to ask the Wizard when he joined her and the still passed out Hobbit in the sitting room.
"Why do you think I can help them? There are other spell casters in this world for you to call on, and they are-"
"Not as trustworthy as I deem you to be," The Wizard cut off and finished that question before Everin was finished asking it. However his answer only seemed to cause her more grief and uncertainty than before.
"Trustworthy," She breathed the word with sadness and a bitter taste in her mouth before she continued, "You think that I can be trusted?"
"You are more capable of control than you know. I believe that," The Grey Wizard said his words in confidence, but Everin was not appeased.
"Your belief will put them in danger. I cannot agree to this," She held up the contract for emphasis, before looking over at the fireplace. It would be easy for her to simply throw the contract into the flames and leave, forgetting this group of rude Dwarves and the terrified Hobbit. This was no problem of her's; she had far too many issues to deal with as it was.
Gandalf sensed that her nerves were heightened at her implications, and offered her a puff from his pipe to settle them once more. She accepted and felt the same calming over powering effect that now garnered a sense of nostalgia with the Witch.
"May I ask one more thing of you then, before you throw the contract into the flames?"
"Another cup of tea Gandalf?" She smiled sadly and held the contract away from the fireplace, already prepared to accept his terms; after all, the tea was very good.
"You know me so well. Just stay for one more cup. I think you may change your mind in that time," Gandalf said and Everin nodded her head in agreement. She would stay, but the Witch doubted if her mind could really be changed. She noticed that Bilbo was coming too, and decidedly stood to leave him to have his talk with Gandalf, in which the Grey Wizard would no doubt sway the Hobbit to his opinion as he did to her.
Everin settled herself again in a spot that the Dwarves could easily ignore her in, and enjoyed the warmth of the tea cup in her hands. Drinking it cleared away the sick feeling in her stomach, but did nothing to assuage the unrest in her mind at the thought of this odd quest. She was interrupted in her silent musings by the approach of a Dwarf.
She didn't recognize him, mainly because when he first approached she was looking down and thus could only see his feet. When she did look up to his face, it was a little hard to hold back the widening of her eyes and the gasp that found its way out of her throat. It wasn't often after all that she met someone with an axe in their forehead and still be walking around.
He smiled and said some words in a language that Everin couldn't hope to understand. It was just as the Witch was going to try and explain that she did not understand when the Dwarf was joined by Master Bofur.
"There ye are Bifur, ye not supposed to be wondering off by yerself-"At this point Bofur noticed Everin sitting all hunched up in the corner. She worried for a moment that whatever friendless she had seen in the dining room before was merely a creation of her own mind, but he proved her wrong when greeting her at first with a warm smile.
"Hello again,"
"I don't believe we ever said goodbye lass, but hello all the same. Actually, I don't think we've met properly at all," Bofur took off his hat, revealing only more braids that were hidden underneath.
"I'm sorry-" Everin said, wondering at what point she had missed her chance to be polite, and cursed her for it.
"No need to apologize lass, I'm Bofur, son of Bofnur. This is my cousin Bifur, son of Bifnur. My brother Bombur is- ah here he is now," Bifur bowed at his introduction with his hat still in his hands, Everin doing the same. In the meantime Bofur turned and signaled over to his brother, one of the bigger Dwarves of the company, to join their conversation. At the sight of Everin Bombur looked unsure, nevertheless approached all the same.
"Bombur ye're just in time to introduce yerself!" Bofur made no comment of his brother's discomfort, instead patting his brother on the back and gesturing to Everin with the other. The brother looked as though he wanted to say something else, but Bifur again spoke in the mysterious language, and that seemed to persuade Bombur to greet the Witch.
"Bombur, son of Bofnur at your service," The portly Dwarf bowed, and the Witch did the same with a smile.
"Everin, at your service," Her calm demeanor and politeness spread into Bombur's attitude within seconds as he mirrored her smile.
"Everin, daughter of…?" Bofur's question lingered into silence before Everin recognized it to be a question at all.
"No one," Her answer obviously confused them, not that Everin was given a chance to clarify her statement, as already Bombur seemed to grasp onto what that could mean.
"Ye have no kin at home?" Bombur asked, his tone littered with emotions that Everin decided to leave un-deciphered.
"I don't have a home to start with, much less any kin," The blunt clearness in her tone, as though this was the most normal answer for her to say, seemed to make the Dwarves even more uncomfortable than any part of the fact that she was a Witch could ever hope to do.
"Aye well, some of us here know what that feels like, to be without a home," Bofur looked around to the other Dwarves wandering around the Hobbit Hole, and Everin followed his line of sight, noticing at last that a real hush had fallen over the house, and whatever merriment that Bilbo had complained of before was long gone. Seeing their expressions of deep thought or morose concentration clicked the pieces together in her mind on why this quest was truly being undertaken.
"The mountain was your home?" Her question was less for the Dwarves and more a revelation for herself. Of course they would return to the mountain for far more than just gold.
"Not ours, but it was to Thorin's kin once. That's every other Dwarf in this company; they're all Durin's folk. They've been without the mountain for sixty years now," Bombur said looked over to where in the same hallway as them, the contract keeping Dwarf and Thorin were quietly conversing. Everin peered around Bifur and Bofur to look as well, but turned away again quickly when the Dwarf King's eyes found her out. The Witch shuffled a little, the contract in her hands unfurling to reveal the unsigned line at the bottom for all three Dwarves to see.
"I know he doesn't look it, but Thorin would be pleased if ye came with us Lass. Another helping hand and all that," Bofur said, and Everin found it easier to believe him than perhaps before. Regardless of whether or not that was true, the Witch still felt that this quest had no place for her in it. She opened her mouth, ready to let the three of them, and eventually the entire company down.
"I-" Her difficult words never made it out of her mouth as Bilbo wandered out, contract-less and defiantly awkward as he walked off into his home. It seemed then that this company was now without a burglar in their quest.
Everin shut her mouth and went back into silence, a little upset with the Hobbit for dropping this quest before she could, since it now left her with the dilemma of making the Dwarves feel even worse. The Witch didn't miss the look that Master Bofur gave her, but she still chose to ignore it and look back at the contract in her hands.
This was ridiculous, her mind repeated this thought in a mantra. This was ridiculous; there was no way she could agree to do this. This quest had no reason to involve her; or rather a certain Grey Wizard had no right to throw the problems of these Dwarves at her feet. It was ridiculous, ridiculous and no amount of sympathy or words would change her mind. She should continue with her previous idea and cast this contract into the fire, because this was ridiculous.
Ridiculous, Ridiculous, Ridic-
Everin noticed that the three Dwarves she had been speaking too had moved into the sitting room, which was now crowded with the rest of the Dwarves in Thorin's company. They were in groups of their kin and yet were together as a whole, smoking their pipes and staring into the small flickers in the firepla
It took a moment for the Witch to realize that the feeling of vibration in her stomach was from the Dwarves themselves, humming. Once recognizing the sound, it was hard to then ignore it, and so Everin found that she was entranced as their hum fell into words.
Far over, the misty mountains cold,
To dungeons deep and caverns old,
We must away, ere break of day,
To find our long, forgotten gold,
The pines were roaring, on the height,
The winds were moaning in the night,
The fire was red, it flaming spread;
The trees like torches, blazed with light,
It took some time after the song had ended before Everin felt the power to move by herself again. The song however was still held within her chest and moved her throughout the Hobbit Hole to where the Grey Wizard was quietly sitting, no less moved by the Dwarvish lament than she herself was. He made no verbal confirmation that he knew she was there, instead handing her a small bottle of ink and a black quill for her to use without turning around.
She took it with small thanks, and without even the slightest reminder of the mantra her mind was repeating not moments before about how little this quest should mean to her, the quill dragged across the line meant for her name. Everin signed herself away to this quest without the slightest pause or utterance of the word 'ridiculous'. After signing, she held the end piece up in order to see it better in the candle light and nearly jumped when she noticed the shadow of one of the Dwarves behind her.
It was what seemed to be the eldest Dwarf of the company that was standing behind her, and it was a good thing too since he was the one that was apparently in charge of the contracts to do with the quest. Wordlessly she handed over the signed document into his hands, and he accepted it with only mild pause, a great work on his part.
He tucked the contract away into his jacket pockets just as the other Dwarves filtered into the room, or lingered in the doorway, quietly watching. She didn't meet the gaze of the thirteen Dwarves, not wanting to read what could possibly be in their eyes.
"Do you Thorin, hold any objections to this induction?" the older Dwarf turned to the group's leader, waiting for either an objection or confirmation to absolutely agree on the terms of the contract. Thorin made no verbal reply from his place leaning against one of the many bookshelves of the Hobbit Hole, and was silent on his answer altogether for a few moments.
Everin looked to Thorin, and managed to make eye contact with the Dwarf leader. His expression held back much, though the Witch could see from the lines in his face that he had grown use to frowning for the last sixty years and was weary from it. While reading his expression, Everin wondered if even that much of her life was now open for the Dwarf to read.
She looked away, but not before seeing him nod stiffly to the old Dwarf. The odd stand still the night had taken was then ended with a flourishing of movement from the dwarf with the contracts as he then stood and spoke loud enough for the whole room, and those lingering in the doorway, to hear.
"Well then, welcome Lady Everin, to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield. I am Balin, son of Fundin as is my kin brother Dwalin," The Dwarf now named Balin said and gestured to the burliest one of their company, with twin axes strapped to his back and a hammer on his side. He nodded curtly and Everin returned that with another bow.
"Everyone else introduce yourselves, then we'll head back to the inn and rest up for tomorrow," Thorin said and left the Hobbit Hole without another word. Everin, along with everyone else, wordlessly watched him leave before returning to the matter at hand.
"Okay well, to make it quick lads I should just introduce us as a whole," Bofur said as he pushed through the group and stood to the side of the Witch.
"You've already met me and my kin of course. That only leaves Gloin, Oin, Dori, Ori, Nori, Fili and Kili," Bofur said, gesturing to each Dwarf left that she didn't know the name of. Fili, Kili and Ori were of course the youngest of the group, that was easy to see by their lack of long beards, but it was made more apparent when they were the only ones apart from Bofur's kin that smiled.
Ori looked as though he was going to return the respectful bow that Everin gave to the group as a whole, but one look at his elder brother seemed to change his mind and he stopped. Master Dori and his apparent brother Nori eyed her with suspicion, something Everin was not unused to seeing, but never failed to put her on edge.
"Right then lads, we better be going. Erebor awaits!" Balin said, refusing to allow the room to fall again into that awkward lack of sound from both sides. Instead the opposite happened at the old Dwarf's words as the room was filled with Dwarvish cheer, and they all as a group left the little Hobbit Hole.
Everin followed behind at a distance, just as Gandalf caught up with her pace. He made no comment on her change of heart towards the Dwarf Quest, not that she would have let in the first place. They instead walked together through the Shire and off to Bree, where the Dwarves Inn was waiting.
When reaching the border's of the Shire, Everin covered herself again in the shield of her long cloak, wanting to remain unnoticed by the people of Bree. Though her status of invisibility was helped plentifully by having a Grey Wizard walk beside her, since no doubt stares would be easier founded in his direction than her's.
Upon finally reaching the Inn, Everin split herself away from the group without a sound. The Dwarves did not notice her departure, not that she expected them too. Even if they had, there was little they could do about it, since it was obvious that Everin being what she was, was not welcome in any Inns or taverns like the one they entered together.
Everin wandered into the dark forests that stood on the edges of the town, and pulled herself up into the highest tree there was, not stopping her climb until she found the most hidden and highest branch. It was just her luck that where she rested her head, the stars of Middle Earth were visible through a break in the leaves.
The Witch made herself as comfortable as possible as she was swaddled in her cloak, relaxing so that starlight and night winds of Middle Earth could soothe her to peaceful sleep.
Everin woke when early morning dew dropped from the leaves onto her face. She sputtered after one drop hit her eye and sat up, ready but not entirely willing to face the day. Looking down into Bree from her view, she could see no man or Hobbit walking about at this time. It was hard however, to miss the forms of the Dwarves and Gandalf as they wandered about and readied for the venture.
The Witch took a moment to run her fingers through her hair, checking for any moss or leaves that might have gotten stuck there, before jumping out of the tree. She landed on her feet with only the slightest feeling of her chest being winded at the action, and made her way over to the Company.
"Ah Everin, sleep well I hope?" Gandalf asked, being the first to notice her, the others of the Company made no mention other than a nod of recognition. Clearly the early morning was not a time they found most hospitable. Still they were moving about, unlike the still sleeping Hobbits and Men in the houses about them.
"Mmm, Like a log," Everin replied with a smile as she stretched, her arms and back giving a resounding crack to reinforce her sleeping place. The rest of their conversation wasn't incredibly eventful, more talk about the dew and morning showers and when they were meant to set off at last on their venture. After a time Everin was left to herself and Gandalf's horse, a creature she was far more use to than the ponies that the Dwarves had brought with them.
"Won't she need a pony?" Perhaps Kili thought his voice was soft enough for Everin not to hear but she heard all the same, along with Gandalf who answered.
"Animals are often skittish around magic users if the being is unknown to them Master Kili, it is best that Everin ride with me until the ponies are use to her presence," The Grey Wizard said in a tone that was waiting for Everin to confirm or deny the subtle request. His logic was sound to Everin so she made no effort to argue with him, instead nodding and gently climbing up into the horse's saddle.
"Very well, that leaves us with two ponies for cargo," Thorin said with no argument, and Everin wondered like with the rest of the Dwarves, he just did not have the strength for an argument that early in the morning. After following the order of packing the rest of the supplies onto the spare ponies, the company was finally ready to leave Bree.
Gandalf was sat behind her on the horse, the feeling of his beard scratching her neck and the horse's mane held in gently her hands creating a sense of nostalgia for Everin. There was no conversation for a good time of the morning, not that the Witch minded as instead she took in the sights of the realm that the Shire and Bree existed in, enjoying the good weather while it lasted. The fresh green of the Shire grass seemed to go on forever, stretching over hills and onward. And though she liked to entertain the thought that the grass would go on further, Everin knew better than to hope on silly such things.
The group as a whole was a few hills past Bree when a small voice called out from s small distance away. Everin cocked her head at the sound, and tugged on Gandalf's sleeve for his attention.
"Did you hear that?" She asked the Wizard, who seemed confused for a moment before the voice called out again, this time closer than before so it could be heard. The horse was slowly stopped and turned to see the voice that was coming towards them, the Dwarves' ponies following that action in a domino effect. Doing this meant that they could all see the small, familiar Hobbit running towards them with a long flapping contract clenched in his hand.
"Wait! I signed it! Please wait!" Bilbo shouted before he managed to get closer, and allowed himself to slow down and stop at Balin's pony, huffing and puffing as he held out the contract to the old Dwarf. Balin looked over the signed line of the contract, and nodded once with a knowing smile.
"Everything appears to be in order. Welcome Master Baggins to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield," Balin said, and Everin smiled to herself in the thought that she would not be the only non-Dwarf tagging along for this whole venture.
"Give him a pony," Thorin ordered gruffly before leading his pony on forward, everyone else following not long after.
Bilbo attempted to argue, but still not a moment again later, he was on a pony at the front of the line, and looking seriously unsure on how to steer the animal. The other Dwarves, for some reason, starting to throw little bags of coins at each other and laughing, but the Witch decidedly ignored it. Everin smiled to herself and petted the mane of the horse, hopeful at least, that if her doubts about the Hobbit could be swayed so early in this venture, perhaps this wouldn't be as bad as she thought.
"I've forgotten my pocket handkerchief; I'll have to go back!"
Then again...
Please review, constructive criticism always welcome.