AN: OH EM GEE thank-you so much to my 2 reviewers, it's probably nothing much to get excited about, but it really is for me! So, as you seem to like it, I SHALL CONTINUE! So we left off just as we caught up with the dwarves yeah? Coolies! Oh, and don't worry, I am going to explain what she looks like in this chapter. LOVE YOU ALL 3
Only just managing to keep stride with Gandalf, I walked along-side him and the other dwarves. He introduced me to them; there was Ori, Nori, Dori, Bifur, Bombur, Bofur, Oin and Gloin. Gandalf said that there were five more, and that they would meet us later.
I stayed silent until we reached the bottom of a hill when I finally looked up from the ground. Gandalf chuckled as I gasped, I was fan-girling so much inside I almost fell to the ground and started flailing, it was, a real, HOBBIT HOLE! Like, with the big round greed door, the tiny cobble-stone pathway and everything!
After my gasp I was left standing there with wide eyes and my mouth gaping open. I finally came to my senses and I saw the dwarves huddled in a group at the door. I followed Gandalf and stood behind them all. Gandalf took out his staff and knocked on the door, just loud enough to be heard over the racket inside.
The door was answered almost immediately, and a tiny Hobbit stood there looking very flustered and annoyed. I recognized him to be Bilbo Baggins, and once again almost fell over with fan-girl feels. Again.
"If this is someone's idea of a joke, well then they have very poor taste a…" Bilbo then trailed off at the sight of eight dwarves, a wizard, and a… (Well whatever I am) on the porch. He just stared at us in bewilderment until Gandalf bent over to see inside. He gave the Hobbit a nice, warm smile that was not returned. The only expression on this hobbit's face was on of "I should have known" and complete and utter annoyance.
The dwarves, having fallen onto one-another when the door was opened, got up and barged straight inside. They didn't bother to wait for an invite, or a welcome into the home. They were greeted only by two figures, which I recognized from the movie, as Dwalin and Balin. There were also two other figures I could not see properly in the light.
Gandalf and I stepped in; he hung his cloak and rested his staff on the wall as I waited for him to give me some sign of what the hell to do. He merely smiled at me, and told me to "go freshen up, but be quick if you want any food!"
I went to do as I was told; I mean, come on, what the hell else am I supposed to do? I finally find a mirror in the bathroom, and… oh my god… I'm… well, I'm actually pretty! I did not have my old black knotted hair tied back into a ponytail, not my deranged nose the size of Jupiter, not my tiny, small lips and not my small square grey eyes, no, not anymore.
My new features included light golden-brown long, mid-back length hair curled at the tips like I was a model or something. I went to touch it and felt it was silky soft, smooth, and unlikely to ever get knotted. I met my eyes and they were almost multi-colored, little specks of green, blue, brown and even a nice yellow! The where the perfect size for my oval-ish face, as was my small almost-button nose and my full pink lips, I had semi rosy cheeks, a bit too red for my liking, but oh well, what can you do?
I turned on the tap and ran some water over my face. I took all my weapons off and laid them neatly on the bench next to the sink, along with my bag. My stomach rumbled and I remembered what Gandalf said to me. I quick as turned off the tap and ran around trying to find the kitchen.
As soon as I turned a corner I was almost killed by a flying plate. I had no reflexes, but I didn't need to. A strong arm came across my stomach and pulled me to the wall while the other hand caught the plate and threw it through a doorway. That was when I saw it the most beautiful thing on Earth or, the most beautiful thing in Middle Earth anyways.
He smiled down at me with his arm still tightly holding me against the wall. I smiled back and took in hos features. He had longish hair, shoulder length maybe, it was brown and wavy. He had the most adorable nose, and the best eyebrows I have ever seen. (I like eyebrows, a lot). His smile was just so cheeky and adorable that you just… op. wait, fan-girling again. It was Kili.
"Sorry about that m'lady, my brother and I weren't exactly expecting that." He said with the most beautiful deep rough voice as he let me free of the wall. I managed to turn my gaze from him around, to find Fili, smiling his humorous adorable smile at me.
"I'm Fili, and this is my less handsome brother Kili." Kili punched Fili in the arm for that, and I just giggled.
"I'm Laurena, but most people just call me Laurie!" I was so surprised at myself for actually containing my inner fangirl, my feels at this moment, and being able to speak properly. I was so proud of myself considering the fact that I had just been a few mere inches away from the face of Kili…
The song they had all been singing was finished with a pile of clean dishes, laughing dwarves and a homicidal looking Bilbo. Gandalf was about to as me something as Kili offered me the seat in between him and Fili. Gandalf was still trying to get through to me as there was a knock on the door. The dwarves fell silent, and I was sure I could hear someone say "He's here…" in a scared but almost relieved tone.
As Bilbo went to answer the door for the last time, Gandalf finally managed to usher me out of my seat and into the next room.
"The reason these dwarves met here tonight was to discuss a very secretive matter. If you do not mind little one, please wait in the other room until the meeting is done. Then we will try and figure out the how and the why as to your presence here and what to do next with you." I just nodded and went to grab my bag and sit over by the fireplace.
I was eves dropping ion the dwarves without realizing it, going through my bag. I was right – it held yet another dagger. This one had carvings around the handle, which was a nice cold metal, and the blade itself was thin and sharp, very sharp, even though it looked blunt to the naked eye. I wrapped it in cloth so I wouldn't hurt myself accidentally. I then went to find the parcels I felt earlier. There were four of them in total, one holding various herbs, the other a small bottle with dusty brown powder, the third a vile with a clear liquid, almost like what I had seen in Harry potter once, the last one, a big thick roll of bandage, hand woven and very heavy. I then took out the book like object. It was a brand new edition of 'The Hobbit' by JRR Tolkien.
I quickly flipped through the pages and found most of them empty, just blank pages, all but the first few. I read up to where the last page left off, and it was somewhere around what was going to happen this time tomorrow. It only let me read what was going to happen a day ahead. I tried to remember the rest of the book, and what happened, but the memory seemed to elude me, as did the happenings of the Lord of The Rings. Dammit.
Then it dawned on me.
I raced in to find Gandalf, no matter how secret this meeting was, it could wait. I knew why I was here. I walked into the room at just the right time. Bofur had just told Bilbo to "Think furnace, but with wings", and Bilbo had fainted. I saw I looked up from Bilbo lying there on the floor, and found that Kili and Fili where smiling up at me, bit Thorin was defiantly not. As Ori, Nori and Dori went to Bilbo's aid, Thorin just stared at me.
"Who are you? How much have you heard of this?" he said in a very warning voice.
"My name is Laurena Rose Tyler my lord. I swear on my life that I have not heard of any of whatever you are talking about, but I must speak with Gandalf immediately. It may concern the safety of you all." I said firmly nodding in Gandalf's direction. Thorin looked highly annoyed, but also nodded to Gandalf. He rose and followed me into the other room.
"Only the most important thing could have taken me away from that meeting Laurena." He said in a stern tone, almost angry, but nice all the same.
"It is important, very. It might be confusing, because it still is to me, so you will just have to be patient." he looked at me with much confusion already, but with eagerness as well. He nodded, and I continued.
"I was going through my bag, and amongst everything else I found this." I shoved the book into his hands, and he just looked at the glossy cover with Bilbo walking out the door on it, and gave me a very strange non believing look. So I went on before he could ask questions.
"In my world, there is a story of this journey. I loved the story, but as soon as I came here, I cannot remember the contents anywhere past today, right now. It's like the history of this story is being re-written. Anyway, then I found that book. The contents only read to what is to happen about a day ahead, no further." Gandalf flicked through the book, and found that most of the pages where blank. He used some kind of magic and almost absorbed the knowledge of the book, and nodded, looking for me to continue. He understood so far. Good.
"If this book tells me what is to happen on this journey, then might it be safer if I go with the company? I could aid them, and I know. I overheard what Bilbo was talking about. You cannot guarantee my safety. But please understand this is why I was brought here, and this is why the book came with me."
Honestly, I didn't fancy being stabbed by an orc, or eaten by a warg, and I really didn't know what made me want to go so bad. This is gonna sound cheesy, but I think its fate. You know, destiny.
Gandalf stood there flicking through the book for about a minute or two, and we stood in complete silence. I swear I wasn't breathing. Then he seemed to come back to reality, he nodded at me, and said:
"I believe you. I understand now, too. Wait here, I will talk to Thorin." I waited there for what seemed hours, not knowing why I was so nervous about this.
Thorin walked out of the dining room, and stood before me. His expression was almost kinder that before. He motioned to the dwarves to come out, and one by one they formed a group around Thorin and I. Kili and Fili came to stand at my sides, and Bofur was behind me.
Ori, Nori and Dori joined us and Bilbo was left, conscious now, on the chair I was sitting in before.
"Gandalf has explained everything to us that, you have just told him. We need to ask you some things before you are accepted into the company, if we may." Thorin said, in what I assumed was his usual grumpy old dwarf tone. (No offence meant there, Thorin!) I just nodded in response.
He handed me my book, Gandalf must have given it to him to look at.
"Can you fight? Can you cook? What are your strengths?" during my questioning, Kili slid his hand around my back, just hidden from everyone else (except Fili and Bofur) as if to reassure me.
"Well, I took cooking classes at school, so with a bit of help I'm sure I can cook if I try. My strengths, well, I can run, and I can jump far as well. I am very stealthy, and can move almost without being observed at all. As for fighting, my archery skills go… not that far, I used to do lessons with my father and I was pretty good, but that hasn't been for years, so I'm not sure…" I managed to say, without feeling too pressured, hell I was surrounded by 12 dwarves, the 13th interrogating me.
"What about the daggers, axes and sword you were carrying when we met you?" Bombur asked.
"well, I used to fence when I was younger, so my work with my sword will not be too far from acceptable, as for the daggers and axes… I honestly have no idea why I was carrying them. I replied, maybe giving myself too much credit when it came to the sword…
Thorin and Balin exchanged a look, and then Balin stepped forward and handed me a scroll… it looked very long…
"Welcome to the company, Lady Laurena of…?" said Balin, not quite sure what to say at the end.
"Brighton, and please, call me Laurie or Laura okay?"
"Alright then… Laurie. Welcome to the company, Laurie of Brighton!" and I took the scroll of Balin and walked into the dining room to sign it. I couldn't help notice out of the corner of my eye Fili and Bofur laughing as Kili smiled like a complete loon at me. I was happy that we would get more time together, too.
The dwarves all took a last mug of ale, and went to sit by the fire after Bilbo went to bed. Poor hobbit, having to stand thirteen dwarves, a wizard, and me in one night? Someone needs to give this guy a medal, seriously.
I followed them into the room and sat on the floor at Fili and Kili's feet. They both decided to kick me until I leant back on them. That certainly did not help my shoulder, which, yes, was still very fragile. I closed my eyes and listened to the song being sung.
Far over, the misty mountains cold,
To dungeons deep, and caverns old.
We mast away, ere break of day,
To find our long forgotten gold,
The pines where roaring, on the heights
The winds where moaning, in the night
The fire was red, it flaming spread,
The trees like torches, blazed with light
I didn't realize, but I had fallen asleep somewhere during the verse.
-Kili's POV-
She really was beautiful. Wait. What.
Did I just – but she was very pretty, and apparently she was good enough for uncle to take he with us… You cannot and will not have feelings for her. Nope. No. Nada. If uncle found out… if FILI found out… god… wait, found out what? There is NOTHING TO find out. Is there Kili? Hm? It really doesn't help that she's just fallen asleep leaning on you does it?
Okay, this is not working. Face it. You. Like. Her. You've got to tell Fili. He will find out anyway. And I need to know what to do.
Wait, what? She will never like me back, me, the tall, elf-like beardless royal. Eugh….
But I can still try…
I decided to punch Fili in the arm and pick her up, gently; I don't want to wake her. Gorgeous, she is, especially when she sleeps. Fili follows me out of the room and I find a small, spare room with a bed for her. I lay her down and walk out, closing to door to talk to Fili. Oh god. He's giving me a stare. He knows.
"Has baby Kili found his true love?" he smirked at me, laughing. I push his face away and scowl.
"I like her, that's it. Nothing more, I mean, come on, I haven't known her for more than a day!" I reply, only to get another smirk and a headlock in return.
As I'm squirming, trying to get Fili to release his grip, he says to me, "Do not worry brother, I will help you. And, I will not tell anyone else." I look up at him in surprise as he releases the headlock, this is unlike him… suddenly he sprints down the hall and shouts, "EXCEPT BOFUR!" and I just laugh, that's more like him.
I walk off back to where everyone else is, find a seat next to a snickering Bofur and Fili, and shut my eyes for the night.