Prologue: An Introduction of Sorts - Gandalf
"The dawn will take you all!" Chanted Gandalf as he hit his staff against a rock under his feet, splitting it in two, and the sun rays of dawn burned the skin of the three trolls. They coiled in pain and shielded their faces from the light, turning into stone.
All the dwarves cheered enthusiastically, while the halfling stared at the stone trolls astonished. The leader smiled towards Gandalf. Soon enough, the dwarves began to free themselves from sacks and the turning kabob some of them were tied to. I looked at my surroundings, unfamiliar with the place as I walked in with Gandalf, who brought me with him. That's when the leader of the company approached, addressing the wizard...
"I thought we lost you. Where did you go if I may ask?" he asked.
"To look ahead" Responded Gandalf.
"And what brought you back?" Asked the leader.
"Looking behind" Replied Gandalf, "In fact, I was missing the company whether you believe it or not!"
The leader nodded to him with a light smirk. That's when his eyes met mine for the first time, "And who is this lass that accompanies you?" He asked, sizing me up and down with a stern gaze, as if trying to learn my worth with just a glance. It made me uncomfortable.
"Oh, allow me to introduce the 15th member of your company. Her name is Wyenne, and her purpose you will know with time. Wyenne, this is the leader of the company. His name is Thorin Oakenshield." Responded Gandalf with a triumphant air of mischief in his old and wise eyes.
Thorin parted his lips and widened his eyes with disbelief, pacing back and shaking his head slowly while glaring at Gandalf, "Is this some kind of joke? Nobody informed me that there would be a 15th member, and even less that it would be a lass! Gandalf, I am the leader of this company and nobody becomes part of it without my authorization, and you know this!" Thorin was visibly irritated, his discomfort made me feel so small. I was obviously a burden to him.
Gandalf grew silent, staring back at Thorin with angry eyes, he was about to lose his temper. "If I say that Wyenne is a member of your company, then a member she is!" The surroundings darkened in a scary way while Gandalf spoke his unquestionable statement. I would have sworn he stretched to an abnormal height. It scared the life out of me, making me curl and shrug my shoulders with fear. I even gulped, looking sideways elusively and then back at him. The wizard regained his composure suddenly and the surroundings changed back to normal. Thorin's blue eyes were wide and the rest of his face was blank like he had seen a ghost. Gandalf then looked at the stone trolls, wondering why they were so far from home in these parts of the land. He engaged with Thorin in a conversation about Trolls, while I looked around and saw the rest of the company. I was severely uncomfortable among so many males, all of them almost as tall as me, if not shorter. I was 5'1 in height.
The conversation ended soon, and Thorin passed me by hurriedly to meet with the others, not even giving me a glance. It was like I was invisible to him. I turned my head to Gandalf, questioning him with my eyes. The wizard made a gesture with his face and waved his hand as in letting me know to not mind Thorin much, "His first reaction is always like that, but it will pass. I can assure you will not be more secure in your entire life. Just give him time." Whispered Gandalf smiling at me. Somehow, his words were not much of a comfort. It meant I still had to earn the Dwarf's trust. Not a minute passed when a really short man with hairy bare feet and short curly brown hair arrived, smiling at the wizard.
"Bilbo Bagins!" Said Gandalf with a smile.
"Dear Gandalf!" Responded Bilbo as they fused in an embrace.
"Wyenne, allow me to introduce Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. He is a halfling and our company burglar. I believe the two of you will get along nicely!" Insisted Gandalf.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Wyenne!" Said the Hobbit, shaking my hand vigorously, "At least I will no longer be the only non dwarf in this company!" His smile was wide, he seemed to me a very sympathetic character.
"Um.. can I have my hand back?" I asked with a wide smile.
"Oh sorry, sure! I tend to be quite enthusiastic." Said Bilbo.
"That's not a bad thing. Thank you for the warm welcoming." I whispered to him with a wink, making him blush deeply.
All of them entered a cave. I stood outside talking to the halfling, who was quite friendly towards me. All of them came out with either treasures, or swords. Gandalf handed Bilbo what seemed to me like a long dagger, saying it was just his size. That's when Thorin gathered all of his dwarfsmen for an announcement,
"Lads, we have a new member in our company. Allow me to introduce Wyenne. Do not ask me what she is proficient at, I guess we will learn it along the journey. I do not want any troubles with her. Understood?" That last sentence he said while glaring particularly at the youngest dwarves of the company, who made elbows to one another and gulped, composing themselves before the leader.
"Understood, uncle..." Said the blonde one.
Gandalf leaned towards me to whisper in my ear, "Those are Fili and Kili, his nephews. They are always up to a bit of mischief. Keep an eye on them." He recommended. I nodded to his advice.
"Let's move on, we still have a lot to walk!" Ordered Thorin, glaring at Gandalf after introducing me to the rest of the company. He was certainly not a happy camper, but what choice did he have?
That day I learned no one says no to Gandalf, not even the most stubborn of dwarves.
