Through the dark forest, a figure emerged. The figure had a black cloak, which clung tightly around their body. The person came up to the Prancing Pony and tied their horse to the fence. Entering, the person got many stares from the townsfolk, but ignored them and went to sit in the corner. After ordering an ale, the stranger sat quietly looking around for any signs of danger.
The door opened again revealing an old man with a pointed hat and gray robes. He made his way towards the figure, plopping himself on the chair across. The figure removed its hood revealing a woman. At least, that what people always thought, but if you moved her hair back you could see pointy ear hiding beneath.
She had midnight, wavy, black hair that reached down to her midback. She wore a navy blue tunic with black leggings and brown boots that reached her knees. A sword hung at her side and her bow and quiver of arrows were slung over her back. Gandalf knew better though that more deadly weapons hid beneath her clothing.
"It's good to see you again, Mithrandir," The elf spoke with the hint of a smile.
She took a small sip of her ale, but never let her guard down whether Gandalf was with her or not.
"Yes, it certainly is," Gandalf said, but he seemed rather tense.
She set her ale down and looked at Gandalf in the eyes, "But I know better than that. What reason do you have this time?"
"What?" Gandalf asked, "An old friend can't just sit and chat?"
She arched an eyebrow and said, "Come on Gandalf, spit it out."
Gandalf let out a sigh of defeat and said, "I was wondering if you were interested in an adventure?"
This time the elf sat forward, obviously interested.
"What kind of an adventure and with whom?" She asked.
"The adventure is with a company that you would get along great with. After you get use to them that is," Gandalf spoke, "But if you want to hear more you will have to meet me in a town in the west."
"There are many towns Gandalf. Which one in particular?"
"Meet me in the Shire. You will find a mark on a door," Gandalf spoke much more quietly.
"How will I know what the mark looks like?" Asking yet again.
"You will know when you see it," Gandalf said, "Now I must be off. I have some important business to attend to."
With that, the wizard exit the Prancing Pony leaving the elf alone. She chugged down the rest of her drink and went to mount her black steed. The rain had stopped and she rode into the night.
It took days to reach the Shire as the elf had to go run an errand to another town and then back. Her horse, Daeroch, walked her through every town in search for the mark, but found none. The next town she entered was Hobbiton and found a couple of little hobbits playing in their yard, while others were having a party inside and outside of their holes.
She got quite a few confused or unhappy stares which made Daeroch quite uncomfortable. She was about ready to give up when she noticed a glowing blue mark on a green door. There was loud shouting and laughing coming from inside. She dismounted Daeroch and tied him to a tall tree, since the fence looked to weak to hold a horse with his strength.
She walked up the steps and gave two loud bangs on the door. The clamour inside went quiet and footsteps were heard rushing towards the door. Gandalf opened the door and a group of dwarves stood in the hallway behind him as well as a very flustered little hobbit.
"You could have been a little more specific about where to find you, Mithrandir," The elf spoke, hands on hips, "I practically rode Daeroch to exhaustion."
She entered the house, but she couldn't stand up all the way as hobbit holes were not meant to fit elves or wizards.
"Yes, sorry my dear," Gandalf apologized, "Faedra, meet the company."
She looked at the group of dwarves and didn't seem to happy.
"You never said anything about dwarves," Faedra said through gritted teeth.
Before Gandalf could answer, another knock was heard at the door. He opened it and another dwarf stood at the entrance.
"Gandalf," The dwarf said, "I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. Wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door."
The hobbit looked confused once again and questioned, "Mark? There is no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago!"
"There is a mark; I put it there myself," Gandalf said, "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."
Faedra froze when she heard that name. The last time she heard it was when her hometown was being destroyed. She tried to push the memory to the back of her brain like she usually did, but it seemed harder this time.
"And who is this?"
Faedra snapped out of her daze and realized the dwarf was looking up at her.
"Ah, Thorin this is Faedra," Gandalf introduced.
Thorin had a look of shock at first, but immediately hid it.
"What is she doing here?" Thorin asked, "She doesn't belong here."
Faedra was about to defend herself when Gandalf cut her off.
"Lets not worry about those details at the moment," Gandalf said, "We should start at discussing the important things."
"She's an elf," Thorin stated.
"Well spotted," Faedra said sarcastically, "Did you figure that out all on your own?"
Thorin sent her a death glare, but she stood her ground.
"I will let no elf listen to what we have to say," Thorin said, "She has no business here. We did not agree to this."
"Very well," Gandalf said, sighing in frustration, "She will not attend the meeting as requested, but she will stay as I must speak with her."
Thorin nodded and shot her one more evil glare before walking down the hall. The rest of the dwarves followed and some glanced at Faedra before following. Faedra walked down another hall and found the living room with a warm fire blazing in the fireplace. She sat in an arm chair and threw her leg over one of the arms.
She pulled out a notebook and took out a pencil. It was pretty much just a piece of coal tied to a stick. She started to sketch the first thing that came to her mind which was Daeroch. She could hear the dwarves muttering about different topics in the dining area.
She heard one dwarf shout, "And you forget, we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time."
Faedra couldn't help but snort at the remark. Arguing was heard, until Thorin yelled at everyone for silence. There was more talking and Faedra was starting to get a little impatient, but she decided this once she would listen to Gandalf as the last time she didn't she got in serious trouble. She felt a darkness through the house and Gandalf's voice booming over the others. Faedra shut her eyes as it pained her when Gandalf used such power in his voice.
After after a few minutes she heard a small thud then clamoring of feet, proving the meeting was over. Faedra shut her notepad and tucked it in the sleeve of her boot. A dwarf was heading her way and he looked to be the youngest of the rest. He had little to no beard and his eyes showed mischief. He walked up to Faedra and sat on the sofa next to the arm chair.
"So," He started, "You're an elf."
She raised an eyebrow and asked, "What kind of question is that?"
The young dwarf just shrugged as a blonde haired dwarf, most likely his brother, sat next to him.
"Kili, what did you say to her this time?" his brother asked jokingly, "So sorry miss. My twin here is terrible at talking to woman."
Kili shoved his brother and they both started to laugh.
"Names Kili by the way," He spoke, grabbing Faedra's hand, "At your service."
He then planted a kiss on her hand and winked at her.
"And Fili," His brother said grabbed her hand from his twin, "At yours."
He too planted a kiss, except he didn't wink. Faedra couldn't help but smile at the two brothers. They reminded her so much about herself and her brother. The rest of the dwarves flooded into the living room, talking amongst themselves.
Kili and Fili introduced Faedra to each and every dwarf, naming them out.
A young dwarf walked up towards her with a daisy in hand and Faedra guessed it was, Ori."
"Here you go miss," He said, "I thought this flower looked just as beautiful as you."
He said it as if he had been reciting it, waiting to say it to a woman.
"May I?" He asked, pointing to her hair.
Faedra pulled some hair behind her ear and he tucked it in so it would fall out. Kili looked a little agitated as if he kept asking himself why he hadn't thought to do such an act. Many of the dwarves laughed and patted Ori on the back, joking around about how he found a girl before Kili or Fili. Faedra spotted Gandalf at the end of the hall and she followed him outside.
"So what do you think of the dwarves?" Gandalf asked.
"I admit they aren't all that bad," Faedra answered truthfully.
Gandalf nodded, "And the quest?"
Faedra looked at him confused and Gandalf sighed.
"I thought this one time you would actually eavesdrop on the conversation," Gandalf said.
Faedra looked at with wide eyes as she usually got in trouble for eavesdropping. Gandalf then explained the quest to her and Faedra remained expressionless.
"That is very risky," Faedra said quietly.
"Yes it is," Gandalf agreed with her.
"I would accept, but Thorin would never accept the help of an elf," Faedra said, "You saw that hatred in his eyes when he looked at me. Even if we were friends in the past, times have changed since then."
"I talked to Thorin already and have persuaded him to let you join," Gandalf reassured Faedra, "You just need to sign a contract."
She nodded and headed back into the house. An old dwarf, Balin she believed, handed her a folded up paper and she started to read everything on it. Funeral arrangements, money expenses from the mountain, company will not be liable for an injuries, blah, blah, blah.
So the usual summary of a quest She thought.
She pulled out her pencil, using her knee as table, and scrawled her signature on the parchment. Balin took it and looked through an eyeglass to check it.
"Everything is in order," He said, "Welcome, Faedra, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."
The dwarves clapped happily, but Faedra just nodded and headed back outside. She liked sleeping outside in the fresh air better than sleeping in a house. She sat against the tree Daeroch was tethered to and started stargazing. She could hear the dwarves singing about the Lonely Mountain from inside. Her eyes started to feel heavy and she fell asleep knowing what awaits her the next day.