Too Short
Ch. 1~ A Charmer
Bilbo POV
"Where are we going again?" Bilbo asked.
"We have one more member of our party to recruit." Gandalf told him patiently.
"What? Out here? There's nothing out here, we're in the middle of nowhere!"
Several of the Dwarves rolled their eyes at the antics of the Hobbit. Thorin yelled back at him, "Not everything is in plain sight for the world to see, Master Hobbit. Charmers are extremely hard to find, and where they do exist, they must be treasured."
"Unfortunately, the Charmer I have found has not been. When we get there, be extremely gentle with this one."
Hours Later
There was an inn, The Blackwater, up ahead. It was a dingy looking place, somewhere that no respectable person would go, in Bilbo's mind. And he would be right. Blackwater was a rat infested, mold riddled, run-down tavern that catered to the most ragged of bandits and crazy brutes looking for cheap ale and…pleasurable company. What they were doing in a place like this, Bilbo didn't understand.
Upon entering, the company were assaulted with many foul smells as well as sounds. They were urged to stay together.
Kili POV
Fili, Bilbo, and he were all standing right behind Thorin and Gandalf as they spoke to the innkeeper. Kili looked around, when his eyes landed on a small girl, almost smaller than him, skittering out of a private room, pulling her clothes straighter. All the other women were busty, bawdy lasses with tight rags and bad complexions. This girl was shy-looking, with a loose dress so torn and sewn together, there were more patches than original fabric. She was shaking in her bare feet. This small girl gave out a yelp as she was grabbed up by one of the many thugs.
"Haha, Thol, how much for this one, eh? I like a little tender flesh." Kili couldn't contain himself. He ran over and snatched her away.
"Let go of her!"
"Ohh?" The man stood, "And whose gonna make me, Dwarf? You? Pfft! You and what army?"
Thorin stepped up, "This one. I don't think you want the wrath of a Wizard against you."
The brute was smart enough to know he was beaten, and he let go.
The Dwarf king turned to his nephew, "What were you thinking, Kili? We're here for one reason, and it's not to save damsels in distress."
"No, it's not." Gandalf smiled, "But she is." He turned to Thol, the innkeeper. "I'll be buying this lovely lady from you."
"Ai'ght. Uh, two shillings for three hours, five for the whole night."
"Oh, no, my friend, you misunderstand. What I mean, is that I'll be paying you to free her." He plopped a money bag on the counter. "This should cover it."
"Ai'ght, take the bitch. Hardly brings any money anyway."
"Thank you, very much. Come on."
They went to a town not far away, walking since the girl refused to go anywhere near them. Now, Dwarves very rarely get any taller than 5"4', which Kili was. This girl had to be 5"2', if even that. At the inn, they rented a large suite as to keep them together. As soon as they entered the room, the girl broke away form them and curled up in a corner, far from anyone else. She curled up even tighter when Gandalf came over and squatted down.
"Hullo, my dear. My name is Gandalf the Grey. And you are?" His tone was gentle and calming. She waited a moment to long, and Thorin called over to her.
"What is your name, girl?!" But she just shied away even more.
Gandalf glared at him. "Master Thorin, this is a delecate situation, and we must be gentle with her. If you'll, please, let me deal with her." He turned back to her. "You'll have to excuse him, he's not used to being patient. But, we would like to know your name."
"T-Talia."
"Talia, that is a lovely name." He looked back at Thorin again, and nodded.