Thorin Oakenshield

I skillfully slide off the brown saddle, boots sinking into the rain rich mud on the ground. Kholoh twitches and neighs as I grasp his reigns and pull him towards a wooden beam. Beneath the pelting rain, he snorts at me, unhappy in his state. I shake my head at him and briefly slide a palm down his nose. He calms as I step back and turn, heading into the small but crowded Inn across the muddied road.

I slip through the door, avoiding contact with the men flouncing around the area, clearly having had too many ails already. Slinking through the rambuctious crowd, I sit at a table in the far corner, door still in sight as I wait for the entrance of a tall, elderly man cloaked in grey garb.

My black cloak shields my face from the curious onlookers, though many avoid my presence. Moments pass and I begin to wonder if the wizard will even show his face. I glance to the left as a table flips, ail flying as two broad shouldered men begin throwing punches. The crowd circles the action, and I catch clumsy movements between the forms of the hollering group. It seems no time at all passes before the shouting dims, and I see the victor being led out of the pub as the loser lays sprawled on the floor, unconscious. Helpful hands gather his limp body and haul him to the stairs.

I shake my head at the occurrence.

"Not one for fights, laddie?"

I look up at the voice directed at me. An older man with gray streaked, midnight hair stares down at me, a gentle gleam to his eye. A bubbling pint is overflowing and gripped in his right hand.

"Not when I am unable to see straight," I reply, keeping my hood low.

He chuckles at my words and proceeds to place the fizzing ail before me on the table. I lift a brow, prepared to argue his actions.

"Well, I'm afraid someone disagrees with you," he states humorously before melting into the crowd.

I gaze at the tin curiously, wondering who would offer me such a thing.

"I see you've received my gift," Gandalf spouts warmly, gracing the table.

I shake my head at the amused lift of his cheeks, knowing there is more to this meeting than I once believed. "Ails from you are never means for laughter. You bring news which would be best received influenced by stale liquid."

He hums and leans back in his seat, a mischievous glint in his eye as he lights the end of his pipe with a dull flame from his fingertip. "You are too cautious, Master Oakenshield." His brows raise. "Can I not offer an old friend a free drink for his troubles in meeting me?"

I cannot withhold a quiet chuckle or reel in the subtle quirk of my lips. "Old friends we are; drinking I am not. Now, what brings you to call upon me, Gandalf? We are mere days from the beginning of our travels."

He pulls his pipe from between his teeth, swinging the tip my way. "That is what I wish to speak of with you."

I tense with narrowed eyes. This journey is too important to make mistakes. "Don't tell me you're pulling from the troupe, or has your Hobbit come to his senses already?"

He scowls in return. "Do not think so lowly of Hobbits, Thorin. A mighty folk they are. You would do well to learn as such."

I roll my eyes. "I agreed to his coming at your request that he be notified beforehand. That notification which fell unto your shoulders."

"Aye." He nods. "And a sign shall be awaiting you on his door once you reach Bagend. You and your company will be most welcomed." As he says this, that same spark continues to shine, if not brighten.

I exhale, crossing my arms about my chest. Mighty Hobbits, I scoff internally, or I am not Thorin, son of Thrain. "You hold such confidence in that boy," I smart, "so what other information do you bear?"

He leans forward slightly and pushes the pint closer to me. My eyes narrow at the gesture and the way his teeth gnaw at his pipe. "There has been a late addition," he murmurs beneath the noisy veil of the pub.

I shift forward as well and take a swig of the pint. The ail is aged and warm. It heats my flesh as it travels down my throat and alights my senses. I remain silent a moment, drinking calmly but swiftly. The alcohol is weak in its essence, but it manages to calm my somewhat frazzled emotions. Finally, I rest the tin atop the table and return my gaze to Gandalf.

"You add to my company?" I ask the grey cloaked wizard, unnerved by the news.

He nods and inhales around his wooden pipe, calmly glancing over the crowded Prancing Pony. Raucous laughter and the stench of alcohol permeates the smoky area as drunken fools stumble about. I swallow back my anger at his addition to my journey to reclaim my homeland - my kingdom.

"Can I have a name, then, for the one you've called to join us?"

He exhales a puff of smoke which transforms into a ship, sailing across the room before dissipating against the far wall. "Brielle Dragonkin, the last descendant of King Azaghal."

I stare at him incredulously. "Surely not," I state.

His lips quirk with a smug smirk. "But it is true."

My gaze never shifts. I know well the tale of the Broadbeam Dwarves of Belegost. They were members from the First Age and none existed beyond that time. The greatest tale is that of Azaghal and his fall to the dragon, Glaurung, after bring fatally wounded in Nirnaeth Arnoediad. His passing marks the end of the Broadbeam line as the clan soon faded into extinction among the hills of Belegost and were never seen again. To be a descendant would be impossible, if not only for Azaghal's murder, but the time which has seen the world since the First Age. Few of that age remain and all are immortal. They being the only ones which could live for so many years without folly.

"I believe you have been cheated," I say. "My kind cannot live such an extensive amount of years."

He smiles. "Aye, your kind...but Brielle is a bit different from you, Master Oakenshield, you and your kin."

I lift a curious brow. "And what oddity would that be?"

He shakes his head, storing his pipe with the mass of robes about his forearms. "That is not for me to tell." He rises and places his pointed hat upon his head.

"You're leaving!?" I bark, hopping to my feet. "Is that all you can say?"

He grips his withered staff. "It is all I can relay," he agrees. "If your curiosity is so deep, you may ask the darrowdam herself of that which pardons her from you and your kin." He turns and begins striding to the door. I growl under my breath and quickly follow. I hold my tongue until we reach the horse mount outside.

"A stranger you bring me and my company!"

He never glances back as he begins free his horse from its restrains. "If strangers are your downfall, Thorin, then why do you entertain my addition of the Hobbit in which you hold so little faith?"

I glare as he takes off into night, leaving me to ponder his words in the growing silence of Bree. I growl once more beneath a furious scowl. Such a flighty wizard; a riddle speaking wizard no less.

I shake my head and stalk towards Kholoh, releasing the tied reigns before mounting the dark mare. I steer him towards the entrance of the city, kicking at his sides. Bree disappears behind me as I prepare for the ride to Hobbiton, more than eager to begin the adventure to retake Erebor.

I am bound to be King Under the Mountain, no matter the company which follows me. Not even that of a skilled liar, Descendant of Azaghal.

Hello! This is my first Hobbit story on Fanfiction and my first ever Hobbit story! I'm both excited and terrified to write , just wanna go through a few things about all this:Will I be following the movies? More or less. I'll be adding a few scenes here and there for the stories' lines be read verbatim? I suppose, technically, yes. I'm going to refamiliarize myself with the script in order to do so, but not everything will be word for this romance? Sure. It's Thorin/OC. The level of romantic interest will depend on how this all the history correct? Yes and no. I am tweaking Azaghal and Brielle's histories to fit within the story. According to Tolkien, Azaghal was a Dwarven king, and he was killed by Glaurung. How that happened and how Brielle is involved will be my messing around with other questions, feel free to ask!Otherwise, read and write!Until next time...

*Find me on Wattpad as well.