The way was dark, the only light illuminated was from the moon. Her cloak flowed behind her, her gaze never leaving the road ahead. She had traveled this way before but this time, she must linger. the payment she had taken sat silently in her pack. Why did I agree to this? She shook her head, Because he asked me to. Her mind flashed to the events of earlier that week.
The inn was lively that night, aside from the drunkards slowly drinking their pains away. A lone woman sat in the corner and observed. Her eyes were not on the drunken merriment of the men around her, but on a man in a corner silently watching her. She tensed a little as he rose and started her way, his grey robes slithered behind him. Her hand rested on the hilt of her dagger, her voice came as a sharp knife when he approached," Speak your business, or I will have no choice but to end you. " the man chuckled and lifted his head, "Is that anyway to speak to an old friend?" her grip on the dagger lessened," Gandalf, what brings you here," her voice still just as cold as before. The old wizard sat down, and pulled out his pipe," Can I not visit for the sake of just having a quaint conversation?" she sat there and glared at him, which made his smile fade and him to cough uncomfortably, " Well I do believe you are correct, I do need something of you, but," he paused as he glanced into her pale blue eyes, "I assure you it will be worth your while." He smiled when he saw her eyes shift, she still had no emotion on her face, but her eyes had interest, " What is it you need?" she replied with less of a bite in her tone, " Your aide in retrieving something stolen, something of value to you and your kin." her eyes widened slightly, " You mean,"
" Yes, it is time, and your aid is most crucial."
" What am I to do?"
" Anything to make this quest a success."
" How many?" he looked at her puzzled, " What do you mean?"
" How many will be on this quest?"
"sixteen, that is, if you agree to join." She leaned forward again, " I cannot guarantee their safety."
" I know." she leaned back again, she shook her head, " When and where?" she asked. The wizard was stunned for a moment, and then smiled, " The Shire In three days , at bag-end, you won't miss it. ." She shook her head and rose. the entire inn was silenced from its merriment as she left for the door, she reached for the handle and turned her head to look at the wizard once more, and exited the door.
She had only walked a couple of minutes before she stopped. She lifted her hands and whispered something and vanished, in a flurry of wind.
Thorin stood at the doorway as he was greeted by Gandalf, his gruff voice echoed throughout the hobbit hole, " I thought you said this place would be easy to find, I lost my way twice, would never had found it if not for that mark on the door." Gandalf shook his head as Bilbo was muttering to himself, and then the walls of the hole were shaking and the candles started flickering out, " Whats that Gandalf." whispered the mortified hobbit, " That, master baggins, is someone with great power, and also an ally." Gandalf spoke these words as a person in a black cloak appeared in the dimness of the room, and with a flick of the wrist the candles were bright again, and Thorin spoke, " Who is this stranger?" Gandalf chuckled, " You will find out soon enough," he turned his gaze to the hooded figure, " Let down your hood, Hana." The woman stood there and her red hair illuminated her blue eyes. She never spoke as she crossed the room, the dwarves clearing her way, as she sat in a lone corner in the shadows. Thorin was the first to speak, " Why did you invite a woman, we have no need for a house wife for our journey, I required someone with much skill, this woman will be a burden and-", her cold voice slit through the room like a knife, " You think me useless, someone of your own kind." she stood and Gandalf shifted uneasily as she approached Thorin, " A woman has no place among men." her chuckle was colder then her voice," The man who says this, is not only prideful, but a fool among the ignorance of his own people who so gallantly follow him." Thorin was baffled at her statement, " You dare speak to me in such a manner, do you know who-"
" Yes I know who you are Thorin Oakenshield, High King under the mountain, and I assure you while you think I am a burden, I hope you will not be mine." And with those words and a baffled Thorin she sat down in her previous place, having said what needed to be said. A dark haired dwarf walked over as Thorin was speaking to Gandalf, He was tall for a dwarf, and lacked the facial hair to be recognized as a dwarf, his face was intriguing though, he had dark brown eyes that seemed warm compared to hers that were so cold, his smile was almost contagious, almost. " I'm Kili," he pointed to the blonde dwarf that was beside him earlier, " That's me brother Fili,." She nodded her head, her voice wasn't as cold as it was towards Thorin," Yes I know who you are as well, the last of Durins line, Thorins nephews in fact."
" How did you-"
" I know, and can do much more then you believe, now leave me be." She didn't want to talk to him like he was some dwarrowiling under her feet, truth was she wasn't that much older then him, she was barely younger then Thorin. But her age made no difference, she had to grow up, in fear of dying if she didn't . He left but with his usual smile on his face. He settled by his brother and Fili nudged him, " Don't let uncle see you speaking to her, after she insulted him, I am surprised he didn't kill her." Kili nodded, he glanced over at Thorin who he could see was glaring at Hana, not with anger, well slightly with anger, but with amusement, in which severely confused Kili, this mystery was something he wanted to unravel. as everything died down Thorin took his place at the head of the table, and spread a map across the table. The hobbit glanced over his shoulder to read the top, " The lonely mountain?"
"Yes master Baggins the lonely mountain." One of the many dwarves stood, " Yes, Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time."
" Ravens have been spotted flying back to the mountain," Said the dwarf named Oin, " When the birds of old return to Erebor," Hana interrupted with a low sharp voice, " The reign of the beast shall end."
" What beast?" Asked the nervous Bilbo. Bofur, the only one willing to inform the poor fellow spoke, " That would be a reference to Smaug The terrible : Chiefest and greatest calamity of our age." Hana sat in the back and almost chuckled, He is going to make the poor fellow faint. Bofur continued, noticing the questioning look on the hobbits face, " Aireborn firebreather, teeth like razors. Claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of treasure." The extremely flabbergasted Bilbo soon spoke, " I know what a dragon is thanks." Hana sat in silence as the youngest, Ori, stood in his chair, " I'm not afraid of the dragon, I'm up for it. I'll give em a taste of dwarvish iron right up his jacksie!" The company cheered as Dori, his older brother , pulled Ori down, "Sit down." he growled, as Balin spoke," This quest would have been difficult enough with an army behind us, We only number fourteen, and not fourteen of our fiercest, nor brightest.." Fili slammed his fist onto the table," But we are still fighters, right down to the last dwarf!" Kili soon followed," We also have a wizard in our company," he glanced over at Gandalf," Gandalf would have killed hundreds of dragons in his day." Gandalf replied nervously, which made the woman smile slightly, " Well I wouldn't say hundreds..."
"Well how many then?" Asked Dori.
"What?"
" How many dragons have you killed?"
" Well I ..." The room erupted in chaos, and Thorin stood, " Enough!" the chaos died as fast as it had started," If we have read the signs, do you not think others would have seen them as well." Thorin glanced around the room," Rumors spread. Eyes turn to the East mountain, no one has seen the Dragon Smaug in sixty years. People are wondering, assessing, weighing the risks." "Maybe the wealth of our kin lies unprotected, are we to just sit around while others claim what is rightfully ours, or do take a chance and seize our homeland?!"
"You forget, the front gate is sealed, there is no way inside." Gandalf spoke as he pulled a key out of his robe," That is not entirely true." Thorin glanced at the key, " How did you come by this?"
" It was given to me by your father,Thrain, who came by it by his father, Thror. It was given to me for safe keeping, now it is yours." Fili looked up his now solemn face was jolly again," If there's a key, " Then there must be a door." Kili nudged his brother," There is another way in." Gandalf smiled, " Yes but Dwarven doors are invisible, the answer is hidden in this map, and I haven't the skill to read it. But, there are other in middle earth who do." Gandalf glanced at the unsuspecting Bilbo and spoke again,"The task I have in mind will take incredible stealth, and no small amount of courage. But I believe if we are careful and clever, it can be done."
" That's why we need a burglar." Ori said with enthusiasm. Bilbo soon spoke as well, " Ah yess, an expert I'd imagine."
"Are you?" Questioned one of the dwarves.
"Am I ..?" Bilbo was very confused
" He says he's an expert!" yelled Oin in delight, Bilbo shook his head, and the woman in the corner spoke, her voice cold and hard," This hobbit has never stolen anything in his life, he is no burglar." Bilbo quickly agreed, Balin sighed ," I have to agree, he is hardly burglar material." he continued," The wilderness is no place for gentlefolk such as yourself," he turned his glance to Hana," or a woman for that matter." Hana chuckled at this, and Gandalf stiffened, she was watching his beard and smiled as she spoke," Burn." It was barely above a whisper, but everyone heard, and watched as Balin's beard ignited. She smiled slightly as he was screaming frantically to put it out, she held up her hand and spoke," Dissipate." the fire disappeared and the room fell silent. She spoke again," I assure you, Balin, that I am well capable of protecting myself." Thorin was now glaring at the Dwarrowdam in the corner when he spoke," As he said the wilds are no place for someone who cannot defend themselves." Gandalf stood and the room grew dark,"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar then a burglar he is." he had calmed down a bit and a slight chuckle came from Hana's lips, and Gandalf continued," Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet, and can slip through crowds unnoticed, and while the beast is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of a hobbit is quite unknown to him." he then turned to thorin, " You asked me to find you a burglar, and I have chosen master baggins ." Thorin still looked doubtful as Gandalf continued," there is a lot more to him then appearance suggests, and he has a great deal more to offer you then any of you know, even himself."
"fine, give them a contract." Kili handed Hana her contract. Hana was slightly confused as the dwarf walked away after giving her a strange look,What was that look for, I mean I've seen strange looks before, but that, is something new to me. She shook the thoughts away, and started to read her contract, but only to give up on actually finishing it and then signed it. she arose and handed the parchment to Gandalf. She slowly made her way to her chair, and awaited the panicked antics of Master Baggins, She only caught the last bit of his lament," Incineration?"
"Aye he will melt your flesh off in a blink of an eye." added Bofur, nearly sending Bilbo into a panicking frenzy," You alright laddie?" asked Balin, and Bofur added,"Think furnace with wings", Bilbo started shaking and spoke," I.. I need air."
" Flash of light searing pain, and poof your nothing but a pile of ash." Bilbo started to rock and suddenly was still, his eyes changed agin,"Nope." and he fell to the floor with a thud.
Later on, Bilbo was sitting in his arm chair and Gandalf was speaking to him as Hana watched, not really paying attention. She almost didn't realize Kili had sat right beside her until he spoke, " I know you know who we are, but who exactly are you?" She glanced over and as soon as she looked into his eyes she saw a copy of Thorin in them, she shook her head and decided to speak," I am Hana," he was still looking in her eyes and she suspected what he was asking," I am from the black mountain, in the West." his eyes furrowed up as he heard black mountain, and he spoke," I thought that mountain had the same fate as Erebor, only years later." Her voice grew cold as memories flashed in her head," Yes, but the dragon no longer resides there."
"What happened to it, I mean I heard someone had slain it but," hana interrupted him, " The dragon was destroyed, and that is all I will say." She got up to leave but kili spoke,"wait." she stopped and turned," Yes?"
"Atleast tell me how old you are." she looked down, and her eyes rose to his," I am One hundred and eighty nine years, and that is all I will reveal to you," she bowed her head," Good night master Dwarf." And in a moment she vanished. he nearly thought she had runaway until he glanced out side the window to see her settling on a rail to sleep. Kili didn't realize how long he had been standing there staring, until his brother approached him," She's pretty isn't she," Kili was caught off guard by this question and his cheeks flared red," I suppose so, but I think only as a friend." Fili laughed," My brother, you should know better then to fall for someone that is so many years older then you, and possibly even older the Uncle," Kili turned his head and nodded in disagreement," She isn't older then him"
"Then how old is she?"
"She is only one hundred eighty nine."
"one hundred eighty nine, how is it she acts as though she is fifty years older."
"I don't know. But brother may I ask a question." Fili nodded his head, and Kili continued," What happened to the Black mountain?" Fili's face turned grim, and he shook his head, " You know what happened, mother told us the story a couple of years ago."
"I know, but what of the survivors?" Fili was quiet for a moment, and he soon spoke, "The only one to survive was the slayer of the Dark Blood dragon. And no one knows who it is." Fili's eyebrow furrowed," Why the sudden interest?"
"No reason brother, lets get back to the company." Kili's mind was racing, Did she lie ? Is she a second survivor? Or did she slay the dreaded blood dragon? He had many questions but he had to be patient, she wasn't letting anything go easily. I wish she would trust me, but I don't blame her if she doesn't. He shook his head as he made his way to the company that was gathered around the fireplace, and Thorin started the lamenting song of Erebor.
Far over the misty mountains cold
to dungeons deep and caverns old we must away ore 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 its flaming spread
the trees like torches
blazed with light
Hana listened intently as she sat on the railing. The song they sung, it struck her more then most. The next day would lead to a new chapter in her life, but the previous will never leave, no matter how many pages she turned. Whether it return in her dreams, or some poor unsuspecting soul manages to get her to speak. They had gotten more words from her then she usually gave in a year. Kili, he had managed to have an almost civil conversation with her, but Thorin, he had brought the worst out of her, she didn't understand why, but it just happened. Why do I feel this way? He probably doesn't even care, so why do I care?Why would he care? Caring only brings heart ache in the end, along with destruction. But as she thought this one gaze turned from the fire to the outside, to the one woman who had actually stood up to him in his many years. Something intrigued him, and he didn't know what.