Write a fanfic together they said...
It will be fun they said...
Actually this is super fun. My friend and I are the authors of this lovely little fic. It is going to focus around her's and mine OC's and their travels through Middle Earth. We hope you guys like it!3
Sixty Years Later…
One would think that hobbits were gentlefolk, never ones to travel too far from home since that's where their lounge chairs were and belly's could be full. One would think that they never got into any trouble, never bothered with the others nonsenses of Middle Earth. Why would one want to leave the Shire? For that was home...and home meant comfort. Most thought the smallfolk to be too mild for the worries that plagued the common man, dwarf or elf. It was best to leave hobbits to their business, which is how they liked it.
But our story doesn't take place in the green rollings hills of The Shire, it was never meant to be a story told with cheer over a pint of ale with family. It was much more than a tale...It was an adventure, one that held grief and fears, fears that would lead to the deepest of woods and the darkest of pits. A company of only a mere sixteen, filled with dwarves, hobbits and inbetweens, following each other to these places. Not one of them knowing what awaited around the bend, only that they would never be the same afterwards.
Like any journey, it begins in a hole in the ground:
"Mother! I'm off to see Bilbo!" Rían yelled from the front yellowed door, bag and walking stick in hand.
"Wait. Wait!" A voice replied from within.
Digging her feet into the grass below her, she stretched out slightly. Her mother always had something for her to wait on. The hobbit-mother never letting her leave too far away from their home.
"Please give this back to Bilbo, he leant it to us when he came over for dinner….And please remember to come back in before you go off anywhere else." Her mother handed a plate to Rían, which she quickly dumped into her satchel. Bending over ever so slightly, she kissed her mother goodbye and went off.
The walk over was a short one, but still one she could never get used to. No matter how many pleasantries she would show to the hobbits of the Shire, they were slow to return them. Even after so many years. She was an odd one, even for the Tooks. 'Perhaps one day…' Thought Rían who then hurriedly ran towards Bag End.
It was strange to see Bilbo inside this early in the morning, especially on a lovely day but even so she knocked on the door.
"Oh, Rían." Bilbo stated in somewhat surprise.
"Your enthusiasm over my arrival always makes me happy, my friend." Rían spoke plainly.
The relationship between Bilbo and Rían was one that was unexpected. He was much too comfortable with tending to his garden, while she was far too happy exploring the farthest points of the Shire. Bilbo enjoyed being clean and tidy, always hating a mess. Rían who with unkempt hair, clothes that seemed too small and feet that always tracked in dirt. They were opposites in a lot of sense. But after so many years of knowing one another and perhaps some forceful pushing on Rían's side to get Bilbo out more, they developed a deep bond, but certainly one that an outside eye could never tell.
And today was like almost every other day, they would go down by the river and read till lunch, then go to the market to pick out whatever was needed by her mother or for his home. Then they would end the day at the Green Dragon with a small pint and snack. Some days were more calm than others, which is what Bilbo preferred, while others could be more interesting.
Bilbo never told Rían the odd arrival of the Grey Wizard, and soon letting it slip his mind by the time he finished lunch. He never thought it would change his life. But how could know.
Before he could make his feet to the dining room once more to try and stop all his guests from causing anymore gluttonous destruction of his pantry, the door knocked once more.
"No! No more! I cannot!" Bilbo yelled out in utter annoyance, opening the door and was met with another surprise, one that wasn't quite of the dwarf sorts. "Rían?" He stated, more so than asked.
"Oh Bilbo! So you are here! Ya'know the queerest thing is happening, I honestly must be going mad, because here I am, taking my nightly walk and out of the corner of my eye what do I see? Dwarves! All coming up to your door.-"
"Rían-" He tried to interrupt.
"But I first thought that that couldn't be! Dwarves? In The Shire? Not possible! That would be odd. Perhaps at the Tooks- But yet here they are, and here I am. Now leads me to wonder my dear Bilbo, why do you have dwarves in Bag End?!" She finally took a breath of air after what seemed to be a long winded sentence, one Bilbo was used to.
"You have-" Bilbo tried to begin again but was spoken over once more.
"Ahh, my dear Rían! What a pleasure to see you again, although the time is a bit peculiar... Tell me, were you eavesdropping?" The old Wizard asked, bent over ever so slightly in the hobbits house.
"No! I was dropping no eaves, I promise Gandalf, just the sight of these mountain folk peaked my curiosity is all!" She raised her hands up in defense.
"Ah yes! I do suppose the sight of this many dwarves here could be quite the sight!" Gandalf chuckled.
"Wait! H-How did you get in?!" Bilbo asked in confusion to the Wizard. "And how do you know Gandalf?!" He switched over to his friend.
Before anyone could answer, the doorbell rang once more.
Bilbo, in very visible anger walks to the door. "Oh no. No! There's nobody home. Go away, and bother somebody else. There's far too many dwarves- and people in my dining room as it is. If- if- If this is some clotterd's idea of a joke, ha ha, I can only say, it is in very poor taste."
He opened the door and an entire pile of dwarves fell onto his entry hall. Between the yells of 'getting off' and a slightly mad laugh from Rían, the Hobbit finally made the connection from the strange events happening in his home.
"Gandalf."
But Bilbo is now left alone in his hallway, not even his friend is by him. By the sounds of it all, most were in his pantry or at his table.
"Those are my plates! Excuse me! Not my wine. Put that back. Put that back! Not the jam, please! ...Excuse me." He tried to exclaim but no one was listening.
"No, no, that's Grandpa Mungo's chair! No, I'm sorry, you'll have to take it back please. Take it back...It's antique, not for sitting on! Thank you! That's a book, not a coaster. Put that map down, thank you." The Dwarves continued to bring food and furniture into the dining room. All to the Hobbits' unheard attempts for them not to.
Rían sitting at the table, extremely amused by the happenings but not daring to join in with making Bilbo flushed, watched, until an older dwarf came to the table.
"Excuse me, Mr. Gandalf, and Ms., can I tempt you with a nice cup of chamomile tea?" He asked almost softly.
"Oh no thank you, Dori. A little red wine for me, I think." Gandalf replied
Dori looked towards Rían next and awaited her reply.
"Yes please, chamomile tea sounds absolutely lovely! Thank you kindly Master dwarf!" She exclaimed brightly.
"Please, call me Dori." He replied, smiling and then walked away.
After some time, they all sat at the table with what seemed like and probably was, all of Bilbo's pantry. Bilbo sat at and looked rather distraught, after all, food was very important to a hobbit. And even perhaps the fact that Rían seemed to go along with all of this foolishness made it seem worse to him. But I suppose what could you expect from half a hobbit.
'Ah well, at least they are quiet.' Bilbo thought, trying his best to be positive in this rather disruptive situation.
And yet, that didn't last for too long because as soon as things quieted down, it almost immediately began again with doilies being used improperly and Gandalf asking a question that needn't be asked in the first place, Bilbo thought.
"Why Bilbo, what on earth is the matter?"
"What's the matter? I'm surrounded by dwarves. What are they doing here?" He asked.
"Oh, they're quite a merry gathering, once you get used to them." Gandalf said with a rather upbeat smile on his face.
"I would have to agree with Mr. Gandalf, Bilbo! I mean, there hasn't been this much excitement in Bag End since...since well forever!... No offense of course!" Rían yelled from her chair the last part almost as an afterthought, her toothy grin going from ear to ear. The dwarves beside her seemed to cheer at this declaration.
Bilbo's face fell even more, "Well no one asked you, thank you very much!"
There wasn't much to be done about the chaos that was ensuing in this poor hobbits hole, but after some blunting of knives and then singing about said knives much to everyone's amusement...well, almost everyone's. A knock came thrice times, loud and commanding thought Rían, who up until a moment ago joined in on the singing.
There was some talk in the hallway until the new arrival came into the dining mood of the once rather loud and boisterous company of dwarves were all but passive and reserved now that another, new dwarf entered.
He held an air of severity and leadership, Rían could tell by how all others acted around this man. He seemed a bit taller than most, perhaps almost as tall as her and had aged rather gracefully with a strong jaw and nose which most of his kind possessed while having peppered black hair strewn around his furs. He was handsome, but not that she would ever admit to this.
Gandalf began to talk once he saw the confusion grow more on both the hobbit's faces. Bilbo Baggins….ah, Rían, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."
Thorin spoke, his voice gruff. "So, this is the Hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?" He asked, ignoring Rían all together.
"Pardon me?"
"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?"
Bilbo, completely flustered by such a ridiculous question "Well, I have some skill at Conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant." A loud huff of air came from behind him, he could tell Rían wanted to laugh ever so badly.
If Thorin was amused it was hard seen by anyone. "Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar."
As the dwarves laughed they made their way to the fireplace where they talked about nothing that seemed quite interesting to Rían, who mostly tuned them out, while playing with the gap in her teeth with her tongue.
"And who are you?" Thorin asked, attention placed on Rían, who oddly enough, was the only one out of place at this meeting. "Gandalf, you did not tell me that there would be two hobbits."
"Well, Master dwarf, I neither planned nor asked for her to be here, and yet here she is. Perhaps this was intended." Gandalf replied, with not much of an answer to the dwarfs question, but what he has grown to expect regardless.
All eyes were turned to her, who now looked back rather doe-eyed. "The name's Rían Lily-Downs, of The Shire, but I'm sure you knew that part at least. I'm a friend of the grocer."
A small chuckle erupted from the group while the faintest of smiles came from Thorin.
"Now, I have to ask, what on earth are all these dwarves doing in Bag End? I mean, as much as amusement I am getting from all of you being here raiding pantries and what not, I can't imagine that is why you are here. I mean, if it is, you picked a good home to raid-"
Rían was cut off by Thorin before she could finish.
"We are on a quest, one that appears to be ours alone."
"A quest?" Both Bilbo and Rían spoke out.
Gandalf pulled out a map, splaying it across the table. "Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak."
"The Lonely Mountain…" Rían whispered, and gained a soft surprised look from around the table.
"She reads a lot." Said Bilbo, as he looked closer to the map.
Oin spoke up next "Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold: When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end."
Bilbo, now somewhat concerned, asked. "Uh, What beast?"
"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals-" Bofur began to explain before Bilbo cut him off.
"Yes, I know what a dragon is."
Shouting ensued once more around the room as accusations and statements of 'putting something up it's jacksie's' were made until the leader of the company shouted them to silence.
"Shazara! If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumours have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been seen for 60 years. Eyes look east to the Mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!"
As they began to cheer, a key was pulled out that was ornately wrought. Rían looked at it with wonder.
"There is a door, then?" Rían spoke, eyes still on the key.
"Then that will be a way in!" Kíli shouted.
Gandalf took a short drag of his pipe before speaking. "Well, if we can find it, but dwarf doors are invisible when closed. The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and I do not have the skill to find it. But there are others in Middle-earth who can. The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth, and no small amount of courage. But, if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done."
"That's why we need a burglar." Ori explained.
"Hm, A good one, too. An expert, I'd imagine." Bilbo said, oblivious at to what the Dwarves were beginning to hint at.
"And are you?"
"Am I what?"
"Oh no." whispered Rían.
The dwarves begin to laugh, until the hobbit finally understands what is being asked.
"M-Me? No, no, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar; I've never stolen a thing in my life." He put his hands up to his chest.
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material." Balin said solemnly.
Bilbo nods in affirmation.
"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." Dwalin spoke out.
"Well now, not all hobbit are alike Master dwarf! Why you should've met his mother, or any of those Tooks! It's wrong to generalize all us 'gentlefolk' just because we were not born in some rock!" Rían shouted in annoyance.
"No no! That's quite alright, the dwarf is right, Rían, right? Please, generalize us, I agree with you, in fact." Bilbo pushed her behind him, as if to defuse the situation.
The dwarves began to fight again, this time including Rían.
"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is."Gandalf shouted as a dark shroud seemed to appear around the small room.
Once it was quite, the gray shadow dissipated and he began again:
"Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact, they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company, and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There's a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself. You must trust me on this."
Some time passed, in thought, Thorin broke the silence. "Very well, give him the contract."
After giving the contract to Bilbo, he looked it over, with a rather noisy Rían peering over his shoulder, not that he had much choice, giving the height difference between the two.
The contract was long, and it went in detail of what was going to possibly happen, but while Bilbo seemed faint, Rían was rather excited. So caught up in the thought of his adventure she didn't know what was happening until her friend fell at her feet.
Time passed in the hobbit hole and Bilbo was even more so reluctant to go than before. Perhaps knowing that Bilbo was content with his life and how he was happy, and also, perhaps out of wanting, she stepped towards the dwarves.
"Let me go, I'll go in his place."
They looked at her, and then each other for what seemed almost a lifetime before Thorin spoke.
"And what makes you think you can do this odd one? Do you know how to hold a weapon? Do you know how to sneak?"
"Well, I am quite alright with getting potatoes from the farm without him knowing. He has a rather nasty temper. But I suppose it's well deserved, those potatoes are good."
"And what about weapons?" Asked Kíli
"I have a wooden staff I am pretty handy with. I can keep my own" She said, rather proudly.
"Oh you mean your walking stick?" Bilbo barked out from the other room. Her face fell immediately.
The dwarves looked on the precipice of laughing at her words before she spoke up again.
"Well what more do you have? You need a burglar, dontcha? Stop being so snobbish and just let me sign the contract already!"
"If Master Baggins wouldn't sign, then you shall not either. So stay in your homes, be with your folk, it is where you belong." Thorin replied sourly, then turned around effectively ending the conversation.
Rían stood their speechless at this dwarven stubbornness but Balin gave her a short nod of apologies and with that, she left, slamming the green door in a huff.
On the moonlit walk home she could hear the somber song of The Lonely Mountain.
"Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away ere 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, it flaming spread
The trees like torches blazed with light"
The next morning came unwanted, as Rían woke up with a sigh almost in disbelief that the other night happened. 'Maybe it was for the best' …. She thought.
Stretching, she dresses for the morning in clothes that would never fit a hobbit of unusual size. As much as her mother tried to sew, it was always an unsuccessful task. So she compromised with her mismatched clothes. That had dresses too short, and pants that ran to her knees. But as her mother always said, it made sense for her.
She ran her fingers through the well loved binds of her books and chose one to go in her satchel as she grabbed her random things she would need for the day. Such as food, a journal, that was filled with many a thing and her father's cloak. Kissing her mother good morning she grabbed her walking staff and went out her front door. Today would be like any other day now, what with yesterday behind her.
Rían was surprised to see no other than Bilbo Baggins running towards her.
"Good morning to you as well Bilbo!" She smiled, never seeing him this excited. "Where are you going? Isn't I, who usually greets you?"
"We are going on an adventure! Now we must hurry and catch them!" He grinned widely, waiting for her response.
She knew what she wanted in this moment, just as decisive as she was last night, but no matter how much she wished, she wouldn't go without her mother's respects. "I-I...Let me tell mother." She whispered, trying to figure out what to say to the cautious hobbit-mother who was inside washing dishes.
"Mother…"
"I heard Bilbo...And Gandalf came by last night and told me of the happening that went on in Bag End." She spoke solemnly, turning around to face her daughter...She spoke again, coming closer to Rían.
"When your father left and did not come back...I promised to never let you out of my sight. You were my little flower bud...How could I let you go?" She asked, but not expecting any reply. "I thought if I couldn't see you, my little flower would wilt…" She grabbed Rían's face gently in her hands.
Rían smiled softly, taking her mother's hand gently. "The roots become strong over time when they are tested by the harsh weather…They become strong when the sun shines on their petals. That's how they grow."
Small, plump tears fell down Daisy Lily-Downs face. She laughed slightly at the rather sad situation. "You are too smart...Just like your father." Her mother turned around and grabbed a well worn but loved leather bound journal from the cupboard.
"Don't read it, until you get the first half. Now go, Bilbo is waiting, love." She spoke, hugging her daughter tightly.
Moments later she went out the door and down the path with Bilbo. Excited and ready for whatever may be ahead of her and her friend. Perhaps it was foolish to have this blind positivity, but how was anyone to know the true perils of their unexpected journey?
Hope you guys enjoyed Chapter 1 of Embers!
If ya did, please consider leaving a review:D
- Ellie & Sparrow