This is chapter two of my first ever fic! It is definitely a longer chapter than last time.

I find that the days in Hobbiton tend to be slow and utterly boring. Bilbo wonders why I stay cooped up in the pantry with my head in a book of adventures. I'm surprised he doesn't know, all he does is sit outside and smoke his pipe. Today was moving as slow as yesterday, uneventful and this meant another day cooped up in the pantry. It was hard, however, to concentrate on my book when all I could think of was Gandalf and his proposed adventure. I wasn't sure what I would do if I was sitting outside when Gandalf arrived, I probably would have done the same as Bilbo, told him how preposterous it was that a Baggins should leave Bag End and hurry inside. I don't understand why the idea of an adventure bothers us so, it would be extremely exciting to see past the waters and over the hills, but I have heard so many stories of Goblins and Trolls. Not to mention Orcs, they're meant to be the foulest of the lot.

I flick the page of my book, a new one since yesterday, and try to concentrate on the words of another great battle. The smell of the onions that I have perched myself under is strong in my nose, it is a welcoming smell, a homely smell. But once again the words were lost to me; yet again all I could think of was the adventure that Gandalf had proposed to my brother… Bilbo has asked him back for tea, but I doubt he will take up that offer considering he is probably busy on one of his adventures. I sigh and shut the book, another smell invading my nose that is not onion but fish.

I traipse into the kitchen, my book forgotten on the pantry floor. Bilbo is bent over the fire, two fish are frying in the pan he holds as the light fades from the windows. "That smells lovely," I say, taking a knife from the side to cut the squash that he had not yet sliced.

"It will taste even better, I can assure you." I smirked at him, always so confident. I had just finished laying the cut squash on our plates when Bilbo dropped a fish onto mine. I pull a small piece of the meat off with my fingers and pop it into my mouth, smiling as the saltiness drops onto my tongue. I go to sit, but stop myself before my bottom touches the chair; both Bilbo and I look towards the door as another knock sounds throughout Bag End.

Bilbo hurries to the door quickly, wondering as much as I am who is visiting late at this hour. I pull off another piece of fish and head to the doorframe where I lean and watch Bilbo answer the door. The person's voice, which is hidden behind the door, is muffled; I only see Bilbo's shocked expression as he replies, "Bilbo Baggins, at yours…"

I contemplate heading towards the door to take a look at the stranger who is causing our meal to go cold. But no sooner had I taken a step forward, the stranger walked into our home. "Do we know each other?" Bilbo stuttered as the rather wide, but short man stepped further into our home.

"No," He stated matter-of-factly, and then continued looking around. "Which way, laddie? Is it down here?"

"Is what down where?"

"Supper," said the man, as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. "He said there would be food, and lots of it." He said? Who's he? Has this man even got the right house?

"He said? Who's he?" Bilbo asked as if he had read my mind. His question fell on deaf ears however, as the man walked down towards the dining room where the smell of cooked fish was coming from. I stepped back from the doorframe as he walked in.

"Dwalin," He said, bowing a little. "At your service." He then sat down in front of Bilbo's dinner and began to eat. I was aghast at the man's forwardness; he had just invited himself into our home and then decided to eat my brother's dinner. Not wanting to be rude I simply replied,

"Rosa Baggins, at your service… I think."

I sat down when Bilbo walked into the kitchen, leaving my dinner on the table and to the mercy of the man named Dwalin. We said nothing; all that could be heard was the chomping of Dwalin's teeth as he finished off my fish. "Very good this," said Dwalin waving the fishbone in the air, "Got anymore?" I forced myself not to scoff.

"What? Oh… Yes, yes…" Bilbo looked around quickly and grabbed a plate of scones from the windowsill. He looked from Dwalin to the plate full of scones and then deciding that this man would devour all of them, he stuffed two into his pocket and handed the plate to him. Dwalin wasted no time in scoffing the first scone… and then the door knocked again.

"That'll be the door," said Dwalin, wiping the crumbs from his beard. I looked at Bilbo and then to the door, then stood and followed my brother towards it. I involuntarily swallowed as Bilbo opened the door; there standing on our doorstep was another man. He was significantly shorter than Dwalin and rounder too. His hair was white and he had several weapons sheathed in his belt.

"Balin, at your service." He said, bowing lower than Dwalin had… or perhaps it seemed like he had bowed lower because he was shorter.

"Good evening," Bilbo replied, to which Balin looked to the sky and declared,

"Yes, yes it is, although I think it might rain later. Am I late?" He asked.

"Late for what?" Bilbo and I replied in unison, we never received our answer as he walked past the two of us. I looked up at Bilbo who was clearly trying to figure out what to say to the two men who greeted with a head-butt. I shook my head and watched as Bilbo tried to tell the men that they weren't welcome, but they were too caught up in their own convocation to even notice that my brother was speaking to them. In fact they were too busy eating our food and drinking our ale. Not that I'm a big drinker of ale but it would be nice for them to ask if they could drink it first.

"Bilbo, say something." I whispered, nudging him in the ribs with my elbow. "At this rate there will be no food in the pantry by the time they have finished." Bilbo opened then closed his mouth, then shuddered as the door was knocked again.

Bilbo turned towards the door but I shook my head at him. "No, let me get it. Perhaps if I answer they will think they have the wrong house." The door knocked again and I made my way towards it albeit cautiously. Taking a breath I grabbed the handle and pulled it open.

I suppose I would have stood my ground if there was only one person at the door. But it was just my rotten luck that at the time I decided to give this person a piece of my mind there had to be two people at the door. The first and the second in fact, looked younger than Dwalin and Balin, the first was blonde with a slightly longer beard than his companion, who was his opposite. The second had black hair, but if they were judged on movement alone they could have been twins. They bowed together before the first introduced himself, "Fili," he said.

"And Kili," said the second. "At your service," they said together.

"You must be Miss Boggins," Said Kili, I was about to reply when Bilbo joined me at the door.

"Nope, you can't come in," he said nudging me to the side so he could grip the door. "You've got the wrong house." He was about to close the door on them but Kili pushed the door back and exclaimed,

"What? Has it been cancelled?"

"Well nobody told us," said Fili.

"Cancelled? No, nothings been cancelled." Bilbo stuttered.

"You might as well just let them in," I say quickly. "They're going to barge in anyway."

"Well that's a relief," The door swung open and the pair walked in.

"I told you so," I muttered.

Kili looked around excitedly, was that mischief I saw in his eyes? Fili followed him in but not before he dropped his weapons into my brother's arms. I am completely at a loss for words, we couldn't very well tell four men, dwarves whatever they are, armed to the teeth with swords and knives to clear off. I glanced back at the pantry where Dwalin and Balin were still guzzling the ale.

"It's nice, this place. Did you do it yourself?" I knew the question was directed at Bilbo but he was otherwise occupied with Fili's weapons so I answered.

"No it's- Wait a minute, don't do that! That's my mother's Glory Box!" I exclaimed as Kili finished scraping his boot on the corner of the lid. I frowned at the mud that had gathered and then quickly scraped it away with my sleeve. I didn't bother following Kili into the kitchen after Dwalin grabbed him around the shoulders and dragged him away. I sat down on the Glory Box and put my head in my hands… I need answers. It didn't take long. A moment later the door rang again and I didn't even bother moving because I knew who would be there. As soon as Bilbo answered the door, around eight others fell onto the mat, all mumbling that they were at our service. I turned however with the utterance of a name that made my heart drop and leap at the same time.

"Gandalf…"

I'm up from my seat in an instant and it takes me no more than a second to reach the door. "Gandalf!" I exclaim, smiling from ear to ear.

"Hello, Rosa. My, haven't you grown."

"Seems like I'm not the only one," I chuckle, moving out of the way so the other dwarves could stumble their way into the kitchen. Gandalf ducks under the door which the dwarves had so easily fit into and smiled warmly at both me and Bilbo.

"You have the wit of a Took, and a thirst for adventure like one if I remember rightly." I chuckle at this; there was no doubt that he and Bilbo had quickly discussed me yesterday.

"Yes, and you still make those fireworks if I remember rightly."

"Put that back!" I turn quickly, watching as Bilbo attempts to tell the dwarves to return all our food to the pantry. "Put that back!" Gandalf merely chuckles.

"I better go and save him," I say scurrying towards the dwarves. In mere seconds I don't know where to turn, there are so many dwarves moving at quite a speed that it is impossible to tell how many have actually entered Bag End. "Will you please put that down… or eat at the table." I say as the one called Bifur trudges past with a plate of chopped peppers. "Wait a moment, you can't sit on that- Isn't that a bit- Do you even have a cheese knife?" I smack my palm to my head and turn to hurry back to the pantry, but I crash into someone on my way. "Sorry,"

"Not a problem," I look up at Kili who is carrying a plate of sausages. I'm about to tell him to put them back and that they have quite enough food on the table anyway, but I silence myself and move out of his path.

"Just be careful with the plates." He nods quickly and continues on his way.

A small squeak leaves my mouth as I stare into the cleaned out pantry. Not even the onions that I liked to sit under remained. I knew there would be no food left as soon as Dwalin walked in. I sighed and began walking back towards the dining room; there were crumbs and even a stray tomato in the hallway. I pick up the tomato and shove it in my pocket, before walking past Bilbo who is more stressed than I have ever seen him in my life. Gandalf is pacing just before the dining room, turning this way and that and counting dwarves on his fingers.

"Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Dwalin, Balin, Bifur, Boffur, Bombur… Dori, Nori, Ori… We're still one dwarf short." I would have chuckled at the unintended joke, but from the state the house was in with- I quickly did a count up- twelve dwarves already in our house, not to mention a wizard, we were full to bursting… One more dwarf certainly wouldn't do.

"He's just late, that's all." Said Dwalin, "He travelled north to a meeting with our kin."

I wondered momentarily how late this final dwarf would be, by the time he arrived there would be no food left for him- wait a moment, why am I worrying about a dwarf when there will be no food left for me and Bilbo by the time this is all over? "Tea, Miss?"

I turned towards an elderly looking dwarf, he was being very careful with the china he was holding. "Yes, please." I say, taking the cup from his hands. Without a moment to spare he scurried off into the dining room where the others were throwing food at the rather large dwarf, Bombur. A cheer rose up as he caught a round of cheese in his mouth. I chuckled and glanced at Bilbo who was practically pulling his hair out.

"They might have travelled a long way…" I say, nudging him in the shoulder. "We could always restock the pantry…" Bilbo turned, as did I, towards the pantry that was now empty. There wasn't even a crumb left on the shelves.

"I think I should talk to Gandalf." Muttered Bilbo as he scurried away to find the elderly wizard. Giving up on worrying about the pantry I headed to the dining room and sat down on the spare stool in the corner. The dwarves were quite a merry gathering, but I suppose it took a lot of time to get used to their habits.

"Here, Miss." I reacted just in time and caught the tomato that had come sailing towards me. A loud cheer rose up and my cheeks went beat red.

"Thank you," I said. "My name is Rosa, by the way." There is another cheer as they clunk their mugs together, then silence as they drink. I sigh at the sudden silence, but it is interrupted by several loud and drawn out burps. "Charming," I mutter.

"Excuse me! That is a doily, not a dishcloth!" Bilbo said angrily, he snatched the doily away as the dwarf who had been holding it explained, 'but there are holes in it,'

"Crochet…" I said, as Bilbo explained why there were holes in it. Don't even ask me how it got onto the subject of croquet.

The evening drew on, I became calmer as I got used to the company of the dwarves. Bilbo, however, was at the end of his tether; he would surely be bald before the night ended. Every now and then I would glance over at Bilbo; he was huffing and puffing like no tomorrow. At the moment he was asking Gandalf what exactly these dwarves were doing in our house.

"Excuse me," said one of the dwarves, "Sorry to interrupt, but what should I do with my plate?"

"Here you go, Ori." I turned to see Kili out of the corner of my eye; he had just appeared from the darkness of the opposing hallway. "Give it to me," He caught my eye and smirked as Ori threw him the plate. If I didn't want to see how this played out I would have hid my eyes and waited for the crash of breaking china. But I did want to see how this played out, so I watched as Kili caught plate after plate and fling them into the next room- there was no crash of breaking china. It was incredible to watch as Kili juggled the plates from his knees to his elbows and then throw them to whoever was waiting in the next room. There was a rumble, like the sound of stamping feet as the dwarves who were still in the dining room took up their knives and forks and bashed them together and off the table.

"Don't do that!" I heard Bilbo yell, "You'll blunt them!"

"Oh, did you hear that lads? He says we'll blunt the knives!" I snorted into my palm as the beat rose even louder. What surprised me most was that Kili burst into song behind me.

"Blunt the knives

Bend the forks,

Smash the bottles,

And burn the corks!" It wasn't long before everybody joined in Kili's song.

"Chip the glasses,

And crack the plates!

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!

Cut the cloth,

Tread the fat,

Leave the bones on the bedroom mat,

Pour the milk on the pantry floor!
Splash the wine on every door!

Dump the crocks in a broiling bawl,

Pound them up with a thumping pole,

And when you've finished, if any are whole,

Send them down the hall to roll!
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"

It was quite amusing to see Bilbo's face as he stepped into the dining room. Instead off the mess he had expected the plates and bowls were stacked neatly on top of one another. The dwarves found this highly amusing too, they laughed heartily at Bilbo's expression… that is, until the door knocked. My heart jumped into my throat and I, as well as the dwarves, turned towards the door. Nobody made a move, until Gandalf spoke.

"He is here," He said, his voice slightly grim. He rose from his chair and walked towards the door. All I could hear was the clicking of the latch and the squeal as the door opened. I glanced around at the dwarves, all of them either had their eyes turned away from the door or their faces turned anywhere but the hallways. All of the merriment had faded in less than a second. Bilbo carefully walked towards the door and I followed him albeit cautiously. There, in the doorway was another dwarf. He looked younger than most of the others that were in the dining room, but older than Fili and Kili who I guessed had to be the youngest.

"I got lost- twice." He stated, undoing his cloak. "I wouldn't have found it if it wasn't for that mark on the door."

"What mark on the door?" I enquired.

"There is no mark on that door, I painted it last week!" Bilbo said, aghast.

"There is a mark," said Gandalf gently. "I put it there myself."

"Are we going to hear about the adventure now?" I asked, unable to stop the words spewing from my mouth. Gandalf chuckled.

"In due time, my dear." He spread his arms towards the dwarf that had just entered our home. "Bilbo and Rosa Baggins, may I introduce you to the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield." If my jaw could have dropped any further than the floor it would have. Thorin Oakenshield, the rightful king of Erebor, son of Thrain, son of Thror! This is madness, complete madness.

"So," He said, stepping forwards and placing a hand on each of our shoulders. "These are the Hobbits…"

One thing I can certainly say about Thorin Oakenshield is that he is quick and straight to the point. He didn't even sit down like the others and eat; he didn't even touch a sip of ale. "Tell me Mr Baggins, have you done much fighting? Axe or sword as your weapon of choice?"

"Well I have some skill at conkers, if you must know." I couldn't hold back the snort that came from my mouth. Bilbo scowled at me, he was very proud of his skill at conkers. "I fail to see why… that's relevant."

"Thought as much, he looks more like a grocer than a burglar." Thorin said, turning to me. "And you, Miss Baggins, have you done any fighting?"

I swallowed and shoved my hands into my pockets. "I- um… I haven't done much fighting per say… but my weapon of choice would be a sword… stabbing something when it is running at you with intent on doing some damage seems like a good idea." The dwarves chuckled, but I failed to see what was funny.

"Once again, more of a grocer than a burglar." Thorin turned from us and headed towards the dining room. Bilbo looked downcast; Gandalf merely smiled kindly and followed Thorin to the dining room.

This time I didn't follow them into the dining room. I stayed in the lounge with my feet curled under me, while I sat on the chair. Bilbo was stood close enough to the dining room so he could hear parts of what was going on, but close enough to me so we could talk. "From your slack-jawed expression earlier, I gather you know a little about Thorin Oakenshield."

"I'm surprised you haven't," I whisper. "Do you recall the stories of the Lonely Mountain?"

"I don't remember much about them… but you do, so you might as well tell me."

"I don't recall how long ago it was, but the Lonely Mountain wasn't so lonely once. Once, it was called Erebor, the greatest city of the dwarves… I suppose it's still called Erebor, but the Lonely Mountain name has stuck. Anyway, the dwarves the dug for miles under the mountain, harvesting gold and other jewels, but there was one jewel that outweighed all of the others… It was called the Arkenstone or the Kings jewel, as Thror the king at the time called it. One day, there was a foul wind and it tore and cracked the pines, a Dragon had come seeking the gold under the mountain. It was a Fire Drake from the north, his name was Smaug, and he broke into Erebor and took the mountain as his own. That's how the feud between the elves and the dwarves started, Thranduil the leader of the elves wouldn't risk his own kin for the dwarves and since then the elves have never come to the dwarves aid."

"-the reign of the beast will end." Bilbo turned from me and headed towards the dining room. I followed behind him.

"What beast?" I smacked my palm to my forehead, had we not just discussed said beast only moments ago?

"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, greatest calamity of our age." Bilbo was rubbing his hands together, like he usually did when he got nervous. "Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals."

"Yes we know what a dragon is." I but in, before Bilbo could say anything.

"I'm not afraid of it! I'll fight! I'll give him a taste of dwarvish iron, right up his jacksey!" There was a cheer and I chuckled at Ori's forwardness. But Ori was pulled down quickly.

"Sit down," one of the dwarves muttered.

"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us, but we number just thirteen," noted Balin. "Not thirteen of the best, nor brightest."

"Hey, who are you calling dim?" The call rang out over the muttering that had burst up after Balin's comment. There was a clang as a mug was brought down upon the table, silencing the group.

"We may be few in number, but we are fighters! All of us! To the last dwarf!"

"And you forget that we have a wizard in our company! Gandalf would have killed hundreds of dragons in his time!" Kili exclaimed. I glance excitedly at Gandalf. Maybe I should call him dragon slayer from now on.

"Well now- I uh… wouldn't say…" Gandalf stuttered.

"How many then?" Asked a dwarf.

"What?"

"Yes, Gandalf, how many have you slayed?" I ask, earning a scathing look from the elderly wizard.

"How many dragons have you killed, Gandalf?" Asked another. Gandalf coughed on the smoke from his pipe, "Well go on! Give us a number!"

The yells that echoed around the room were loud and boisterous. Each dwarf yelled a number that he thought Gandalf had slayed. In reality I knew Gandalf had probably never even lifted a sword to a dragon. I jumped and covered my ears as Thorin yelled, silencing them all again.

"If we have read these signs don't you think others will have read them too?" No dwarf looked up from the table at Thorin's words. They looked ashamed. "Rumours have begun to spread. The dragon, Smaug, has not been seen for sixty years. Eyes look east to the mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the wealth of our people lays unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor?" The noise erupted around the table, but there was one who was sitting solemnly. Balin glanced up and then raised his voice above the others.

"But the front gate is sealed; there is no way into the mountain."

"Actually, that isn't entirely true…" Said Gandalf, pulling a key from inside his grey robes. Thorin looked at the key and then to Gandalf, something told me he didn't expect the old wizard to have that in his position. There was something else, however, that was playing on my mind, other than the fact that these dwarves were going to face a dragon and take me and my brother with them. There was something I had read in one of my books…

"There's another way in!" Kili said excitedly, he smacked Fili on the back and smiled toothily.

"Forgive me if I'm wrong," I say, interrupting. "But aren't dwarf doors invisible when sealed?" There was a collective groan, and I immediately felt bad for mentioning it.

"Correct you are, Rosa." Said Gandalf, "This is why the task we are required to do involves a great deal of stealth and no small amount of courage. But if we are careful and cleaver, I believe it can be done."

"That's why we need burglars!" Ori said, pointing at me and Bilbo. I swallowed, but I couldn't help the excitement that was building inside me. Bilbo looked a little clueless; he gripped his braces and studied the map.

"Hmm… and a good one too. An expert I would imagine."

"And are you?" Balin asked. Bilbo glanced back at me and I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Am I what?" Bilbo asked, I groaned at him.

"He said he's an expert!" One of the dwarves laughed. I opened my mouth to speak but Bilbo beat me to it.

"Me? Us? No, we're not burglars. We've never stole a thing in our lives." I placed a hand on Bilbo's shoulder.

"Think about it," I whispered to him.

"Think about what? It's dangerous, Rosa. I can't believe your even consider-"

"Then I must agree with Mr Baggins," Balin interrupted my brothers rant easily. I looked down at the floor, bringing my eyes up only to see that Kili had been staring my way. "They're hardly burglar material."

"Aye, the wild is no place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." Dwalin commented.

"We can fend for ourselves just fine," I say, tuning to Bilbo. "Bilbo it's an adventure."

"But they're horrid-"

"Nasty things that make you late for supper. I know. But don't you think the world is better outside?" I turn and look at the dwarves who are all sitting around the table, "I've had enough of this, I won't argue with you, Bilbo."

I turn from the dining room, only just hearing Gandalf raise his voice to declare that we are burglars.

I hope that you are enjoying my fic. I hope to get chapter three up soon!